Splinterbark: Chaos of the Coyote Crew

Chapter 12: Firefall

Simon Callum had made up his mind. He had paced on the problem up until the school bell had rung for the last class and all the students from after school activities had gone home. It had gotten a bit dark before he left. He pulled his car in front of the police station he had passed before and told the lady at the front desk he had information regarding the Coyote Crew. He was taken into a small office that had been divided between the two desks in there. He was now facing a thin faced man with a pencil mustache and his arm in a sling. The slight swaying coupled with his eyes not blinking reminded him of that one story arc in the show where the crew had to free the serpent people from the enslavement of Dark Ghost. Focus, Simon! Now was not the time to dwell on the past.

The thin eyed man introduced himself as Bruce Phyrus and casually asked if Simon needed anything like water or coffee. Simon declined both. He was tugging hard at the sleeves of his coat as he told Bruce whom he suspected the identity of the three women were and what they were after. It sounded ridiculous as he told it. Three disgruntled former child actresses with super tech looking to go after a fellow former actor for revenge because he dumped one of them almost a decade ago? Even at its low points Firefall Arcade never made an episode this incredulous. And yet Bruce made no hint of ridicule. He only interrupted twice to clarify a point.

"It is apparent then that police protection will need to be provided to you immediately." Just as Bruce reached for the phone Simon grabbed his wrist to stop him.

"I don't care about myself. It's my wife I'm worried about. I know Jessie Rochet is unstable and she'll take down whatever she needs to get to me. If those rumors about the director and producer of the show are true..." Bruce dialed a number and a loud brisk female voice shouted on the other end, "Sierra, here. What's up, Bruce?"

"Sierra I need you to escort a Pamela Callum to this station immediately. We have reason to believe the Coyote Crew will be after her soon. I'll send you the address." As he texted the address Simon gave him there was an uncertain hum on the phone.

"You sure about that address?"

"Sierra, don't mess with me."

"I'm serious! I stopped by to see an old buddy at fire station 491 and they just got a call. The apartment building that address is on...is on fire."

Bruce had little time to react. Simon had already torn out of the room and was racing down the hall-shoving every officer in his path. Bruce was trying to catch up to him and getting toppled over with the people being shoved in his path. He was trying to tell Simon to stop and for someone to catch him. At least a couple officers were smart enough to actually hear him and tried to grapple the witness. Perhaps it was from the rigorous training he had endured from his old days on the set or a ramped up flight or fight instinct and panic, but Simon was able to duck underneath the first officer and then grabbed the second one with an over the shoulder throw. He was already in his car and violating so many traffic laws by the time Bruce had even gotten outside. He was trying to tell the guy that it was trap and for him to stop. He shoved his way into dispatch and yelled for the officer there to call out an All-Points Bulletin for Simon Callum and fast.

****

The Silver Guardian, Jinn, and Splinterbark raced down the street towards the blaze. Silver glanced at the street signs as they went down. This was the address that Blackbird had given him when Silver asked if there was a way to track Simon Crete down. When he sent the picture though Blackbird thought it looked a lot like one of the school nurses and had a hunch. Silver was just supposed to check it out and report back.

Right now it was only the roof that was on fire. People were shoving and screaming at each other trying to get out. Splinterbark pointed up at the sky to three triangular shapes that were being lit up by the flames. Silver ordered for Jinn and Splinterbark to check to see if everyone had gotten out and he's go after the crew.