The Road to Darkness

Case 15: The Judgment Era

"A jazz festival? What a fool, if we know we can just cancel it" Kikaru said.

"You're the fool" I argued.

"What was that?!" He yelled.

"Doesn't really surprise me, you've been gone so long you wouldn't know about the importance of the Portland Jazz Festival".

"This festival is held once a year and is known for being the most important jazz music gathering in the world, many musicians from all around gather to show their skills and premise in the music world. Any music lover knows to never miss a year" The chief explained.

"I see, something this big can't be shut down," Kikaru said.

"What are you saying?! People's lives are at stake here! You can't just say no because it's a famous event, I'm sure those people would rather miss a year then die this one!" Shina yelled.

"It seems you're the fool now" Kikaru smirked.

"Don't under mind me!" She yelled.

"Hey, girl, how long have you lived in Oregon?" Kikaru asked.

"Huh? I moved here after finishing college, so about three years" she said.

"Figures, someone like you wouldn't even know what the Judgment era is," Kikaru said.

"Judgement era?"

"It started a total of five decades ago, and also was the push that drove out the Despair score," Kikaru said.

"The Despair score? I've read about that before, yeah it's one of America's darkest hours" Shina recalled.

"That's an understatement, back then my father just passed away and the law was on the brink of breaking," The chief said. "I took control of my father's district and went beyond and became chief, I thought it was only a matter of time before we failed but I knew I had to try".

"That's when the first spark appeared, the first bit of light to be seen in years, this light became know as the Judgment era and lead way to the world we see today," I said.

"One man started that era, he was the spark, he was the hope....that man....was Kotori Ushio!"  Kikaru and I said together.

"What's your point to all of this?!" Shina asked.

"Ever since our father sparked that new era more and more important people in the law world have been appearing, not just from Oregon but all over," I said.

"Just because of that, however, crime has not gone down, it's actually adapted with the ever-growing law and been fighting a battle for supremacy for years now" Kikaru added.

"This still has nothing to do with the case!" Shina grew frustrated.

"No, it has everything to do with it" The chief countered.

"For years many great cops, detectives, and even lawyers have kept crime from winning but this man, Jimmy, could be the one to break through and send the world into the next Despair times" Kikaru shuttered.

"Letting him win, shutting down the festival, it's what he wants. If we do that we'll show we're scared, we'll show we're weak...and once that gets out more crime will rise, it will rise until there's no way to stop it" I said.

"But all the people! You're risking their lives!" Shina said.

"If we cancel this and he wins it will be a far worse fatality rate, possibly the highest in human history" Kikaru pushed.

"This is his shot to take this world back into the darkness, it's up to us, the newest generation of the judgment era to stop him!" Kikaru erupted.

"You, you can't be serious? This one man can do all that?" Shina gaped.

"Only if we allow him, the only way to win now is to beat him and let judgment do the rest" I assured her.

"Now that we're on the same page how about we get to work?" The chief said.

"Yeah, there's no time to waste," I said as Kikaru, Shina, the chief and I had a meeting.

"The Festival will take place in five days in Portland but our deadline is fourteen days from now, on the 15th day at noon, if we haven't caught him by then it will be out of our hands" I explained.

"Why don't we find the bombs before they go off? If that's done then there shouldn't be a problem right?" Shina questioned.

Kikaru laughed "what do you think will happen if we send a bomb crew looking for a bomb at a festival? It would be shut down faster than a greasy spoon infested with rats".

"And I'm sure Jimmy already has a fail safe on the bombs for being found, it won't work" The chief guessed.

"So if we can't do anything to make the festival suspicious we can't have a pat down before entering either then I assume?" She asked.

"We may not be able to do that but we can have eyes set up all around looking for suspicious activity but I don't think we'll find anything, Jimmy will most likely pose as a food salesman and just wait till noon to click a button" Kikaru assumed.

"He tied our hands perfectly, we can't do anything without attracting attention and without any clues, it's like searching for a needle in a haystack" I clicked my tongue.

"This is ridiculous, without any leads how can we possibly do a thing?!" Shina ground her teeth.

"Something's been bugging me," I said.

"What would that be?" Kikaru asked.

"Why the 10th day? Wouldn't the first day be the best because it be the most people?" I wondered.

"You're right and not to mention that would give us no time to stop him without causing a scene, but giving us until the end of the festival? Is he just messing with us?" Shina asked.

"I believe I have the reason behind it," The chief said.

He called in an officer who handed him a laptop "this is all we could find" the officer reported.

After a quick look, the chief spoke up "the reasoning is because of this man" he said turning the computer to show a man's picture along with a few other familiar faces.

"Hey these are all famous musicians, some even say these are the kings and queens of jazz" I pointed out.

"Herbie Hancock, age 76, one of the greatest pianist known to jazz, he's known for being one of the first jazz artists to implement synthesizers and more funk into his music, creating a new form of jazz. Cassandra Wilson, age 60, a marvelous singer and musician known for adding blues and folk music into many of her pieces. Steve Coleman, the youngest of the group at 59 is a saxophone player that has had a heavy influence over contemporary jazz. Finally and maybe most important to our case is Sonny Rollins, age 85 this man is recognized as one of most influential and important man to the jazz world with over fifty albums to his name" The chief explained.

"This is amazing and all but what is this suppose to mean?" Shina asked.

"These four alone can fill a stadium with ease but what if they came together?" The chief asked.

"I see.....so that's his plan" Kikaru caught on.

"These four will be playing together on the 10th day of the festival as a farewell to Sonny Rollins who will be retiring from the music industry". "Not only are four of the greatest influences to jazz going to be at the greatest festival for jazz but it will be the last time one of the greatest saxophonists plays live, no jazz lover would dare miss this opportunity, the festival will be the most packed its ever been, exceeding 30,000 people" I assumed.

"That bastard! Setting up such a perfect plan..." Shina yelled.

"Then we'll just have to come up with the perfect counter," Kikaru said.

"Easier said than done," Shina said.

"Fourteen days is more than enough time" I shouted.

"I'm sure if anyone can beat him it's you three, don't forget, you're part of the Judgment era too" The chief complimented us, heading out.

"Well then, shall we begin?".