Nikki Shore - Ghost Beneath The Ashes

Chapter 5

DAY 2 - New Wardenclyffe, 10:30 PM

Erin is there arguing with Shelley about stuff while FITA was attentively listening to the conversation.

"So, what do you think about that now huh, Felly? I mean you put your money on your dolls and DVDs, and those gay porn comics. And yet you still have the budget to mass produce tech for the military..."

Shelley then adjusted her glasses with her finger,

"Well firstly, dear Watson, it doesn't suit you with your so called fashion sense. Second, the though my tech is helluva expensive to produce and manufacture, it just so happen that I got a contract from the army as the result of my research so I don't pay a dime, you peasant taxpayers do. And finally, what's with the 'Dolls, DVD, and gay porn'? I'm 25, I got adult money to burn for my kid stuff, and these are all the results of my hard work."

"You spent it on all those gay porn, DVD, posters ..."

"Well, the dicks make it better and the balls don't touch ..."

Before things would escalate, I cleared out my throat.

"AHEM"

They all looked behind, except for FITA who was holding a wooden sign with hand lettering saying "It's not gay if the balls don't touch!" I approached towards them.

"You guys have been very busy there."

They pointed at each other. And both shouted,

"SHE STARTED IT!"

Well, it's the case of Erin's open mindedness imposing on others and Shelley's god complex conflicting with each other. They've been at it ever since we three became friends. And despite that, I still don't get why we are still friends for so long. I don't really mind that much. As long as they don't drag me in it.

I then approached Shelley,

"That aside, Shel, Got anything new out from Melden's folder that you've let FITA analyze?"

"Sure Coley, why?"

Shelley said as she pulled out all photos from the case that Melden linked to her as well as the ones that Shelley got from his file into the desktop. Erin, Shelley and I discussed what we had so far and shuffled around the pictures to find what's been missing. The hours flew by as we analyzed the data we got.

***

New Wardenclyffe, 7:35 PM

We've had some snacks in the middle of it. I've also called Melden on several occasions for other leads,

"The number you dialed is either unattended or out of coverage area ..."

The phone keeps running the same line each time. The man is either really busy or doesn't want to get more involved than he already is.

I decided to take a look one more time in a greater scale, and then it hit me,

"Think I've seen something here ..."

As I've stare on all the photos then it became clear to me what they all have in common. They're all textile stores, they're all burned down the ground, and apparently two out of the four arson cases have the same toy barrels with them.

Although they're not as newsworthy at that time, I recalled the biggest stories were the corruption campaign and drug hunts left and right and so on, Melden apparently figured the connection too. But I got the photograph that would give me a head start in this case.

"Okay, I've seen enough FITA. Thanks. Anyway, Shel, I saw something in all of them that were in common, all of them are textile stores."

"Right, Coley, two in downtown, one near the highway, one near Reclamation."