1
Royce pulled up to the Belladonna motel and saw that Daniel and Erica were already outside their rooms.
He parked in front of them, and they entered the car and sat in their usual seats, Erica at the passenger side and Daniel at the back.
Royce reversed out of the spot and drove out of the motel’s car park. Royce was passed a hot cup of coffee from Ralph’s, which he placed on the car’s cup holder. They talked about the previous night trip to Engrave Corporation.
‘You’re planning to get me fired.’
‘You weren’t there.’ Erica said.
‘I’m there by association. Why didn’t you get me?’ Royce asked.
‘To be honest, it looked like you were gonna get your cock wet, so I thought for once maybe you just have a good night and enjoy your time.’ Daniel said.
‘You have such a way with words.’ Erica said.
‘I’m a wordsmith with real elegance.’
‘So, you actually think that Oliver Harris is involved?’
‘He got magic around that place, something that affects me. Magic killed Mrs Lange. Maybe it was in his best interest to kill her.’
‘Why?’ Royce asked.
‘Maybe she knew something that she didn’t divulge. Something about him or this man in black. We had what ten minutes with her. We didn’t have long, and she was killed before we could get more from her.’
‘Harris is a lot of things, but a killer slash wizard. I’ve known that fucker for many years and I don’t think he has anything magic other than what is in his bank account.’
‘He maybe linked to the man in black.’ Erica said.
‘That seems more realistic, but why would he kill his best friend? Someone who he’s been close with for years.’
‘Maybe a power play, silent partner now wants to become main player?’ Erica put forward that hypothesis.
‘Taylor wanted the white house. Being involved with this, would make it profitable, but he wouldn’t be the man of the people.’ Royce said.
‘Maybe it was that’ Daniel mused, ‘that he was asked to more for Engrave and see his path to the white house and Engrave was part of that plan. Harris got mad.’
‘It’s all speculation. It’s some fascinating theories and maybe one of them will stick, but right now. We are shooting arrows in the air and not hitting anything vital.’
‘Now he has a way with words.’ Erica said.
‘I don’t appreciate you taking my wordsmith status Royce.’
‘Fuck it. I’m good.’ Royce smiled.
They pulled in and parked in his usual spot.
As they walked in everyone kept their gaze at Daniel.
Russo, the man who back met the wall with pain and nothing else did not even blink as they three walked past the main floor towards Royce’s office. Russo could not hide his rage. Sampson could not stop his stares at him and Kathy who mouthed him to stop looking or she’ll get Daniel to mess up his arm again.
Royce looked at Daniels and Roberts as they walked past. ‘You on it?’
They both nodded and Daniels, put the thumbs up. Both were on the phone.
Sampson swiftly looked away.
Erica entered after Royce and Daniel shut the door behind him.
‘I felt like a rock star just now.’ Daniel said.
‘One that has no fans.’ Erica said.
‘I’m alt rock.’
Royce checked outside as he took off his jacket and hung it at the back of his chair. Rain had started to come down. The first shower in days. The rain fell thick onto the ground.
‘Royce,’ Daniel said as he looked at Erica who nodded at him, ‘We have to ask you something.’
‘We?’ Royce said as he turned around. ‘She finally burned through your psyche, eh?’
‘Ah no, we’ve just had a question or two to ask you.’
‘Why are you nervous Bridgewater?’
‘You’re not good with the questions we normally ask.’
‘Cause they’re invasive, trite and are so way off the mark, that I struggle to wonder why they exist in your minds in the first place.’ Royce said as he placed both his hands on his desk and leaned forward in an aggressive, dominant position.
‘They are necessary questions.’ Erica said.
‘To you two.’ Royce said. ‘Go on, let’s see where this goes.’ Royce said.
‘Well, the actual reason we went to Engrave was,’
The door knocked then opened without Royce’s permission. A youthful looking, white man who had more a passing resemblance to Grant Gustin’s Barry Allen came through the door. He looked excitable. He was one of the department’s three crime scene investigators. His name was incredibly Barry as well. Barry Davidson.
‘Barry? You know you should wait for me to say come in.’ Royce said.
‘I know and I’m sorry, I’m sorry for two things. One for that and two for what I’m about to tell you.’ Barry said in a fast, no- taking a breath type flow.
‘And what is that?’
‘We found a fingerprint, a new print at the crime scene at the warehouse. Like hidden in amongst all the others, we found a new one.’
‘What?’ Royce said in shock. ‘Wait, are you saying,’
‘Yeah, it could be our guy.’ Barry said.
They all looked at each other.
‘You wanna know his name?’ Barry asked.
2
The four walked down the hallway that was leading out of the station.
Barry kept on talking.
‘Giovanni Pinkman, aged twenty-seven, born and bred in Preston. Worked at Engrave for several years.’
Royce stopped Barry, ‘Engrave? He worked at Engrave?’ Royce then took out his phone. ‘Yeah, I need to check on an address.’ Royce looked at Barry. ‘What was his name again?’
‘Giovanni Pinkman and yes, for like ten years.’
‘Giovanni Pinkman.’ Royce said on the phone.
‘Is he?’ Daniel asked.
‘Dead? No. He’s alive, shit I should have led with that.’
Erica asked Barry. ‘So, he’s not a victim?’
‘If he was, he made it out alive and well. A day ago, outside a convenience store. Security footage.’
‘Got an address.’ Royce said as he was now the excitable one, ‘He in the east side of town like fifteen minutes away. Let’s go.’ He looked at Barry. ‘Good work Barry.’
As they left the station, Barry beamed a big smile.
The three got into the Camaro and Royce pulled out the station at great speed.
‘You excited Royce?’ Erica said as she held on tight to the door.
‘Yeah, ain’t you?’ Royce said as the car went down the street, taking as sharp as you could possibly get left then right turns. He didn’t even put the ringer on as he passed red light and cars had to break hard as the Camaro flew through to the road.
‘I’m looking forward to getting there alive Royce. That achievable?’ Erica said nervous for her own safety.
‘Of course, it is achievable,’ Royce said as he had another near miss and that car beeped their horn, ‘Ah fuck you, it’s a police officer here!’ he yelled with righteous rage and mixed in with undeniable excitement.
Daniel liked the drive. Crazy Royce he liked a lot. It was high on the entertainment factor for him.
They arrived at Danson Street, which was a place with high apartments that looked at least thirty years old, all brick and no flash or cladding that could be seen from the outside, flea markets, dry cleaners and all other stores. It was a place that had a lot of alleyways.
The rain fell thicker and harsher at this part of town and the rain hit the roof of the car like it had a problem with it.
They were parked in front of the apartment that above a row of stores below. It looked older than the other apartments and had at each side of the roof a stone gargoyle that looked over ominously at their side of town.
Royce looked at Erica and Daniel. ‘You ready?’
Erica nodded and checked her weapon was loaded. She looked calm and focused.
‘I’ve been ready Royce.’ Daniel said at his most animated at this period. He may have remained a truly placid figure once Barry burst in and changed the course of the investigation, but he was excited too. If this was the man in black, he would take him down with pleasure for the various attempts to kill Daniel, but also as this case ended, he could go back to the place he really wanted to be…
Nepal and a one to one with Wallace.
Daniel out his weapon and checked if it loaded and ready.
‘Let’s go.’ Royce said as they stepped out of the car.
They walked out into the thick rain and walked quickly towards the doors. They entered the building and into the lobby, that looked unspectacular, with light grey walls and white ceiling. The floors had some carpet but were mainly white and grey marble.
To the left were post-boxes. Straight ahead was the stairs. The lifts were under repair and were taped shut with signage.
‘Looks like we are walking.’ Royce said.
‘What floor is he on?’
Daniel looked at the post boxes and saw G. Pinkman 45 ‘Fourth.’
‘I was going to say that Bridgewater. Number forty-five.’
‘I got ahead of you. Unlucky.’ Daniel walked with Erica towards the stairs.
‘I’ll tell you what’s unlucky, me meeting you. That’s unlucky.’
‘You don’t mean that Royce.’ Erica said.
‘Ok not a hundred percent, but my luck since I met you, I mean I lost my car.’ Royce said as they stared the walk up.
3
The three had gone past the second floor.
The stairs were made of thick wood that creaked at nearly every third or forth step as they went up. The first and second floors, sounded silent, but some arguments came through the walls, as well as some music, some sounded eastern European, others had a Latin flavour or Hip-Hop.
‘What were you going to ask me?’ Royce asked. ‘Before Barry came in?’
‘You wanna talk about this now?’ Erica said.
‘Yeah well, I may as well know, just in case it is our guy and things get a little hairy.’
‘We were going to ask you about magic and the fact that I felt the same way coming towards your house, as I did at Engrave.’
Royce stopped as did the others. ‘Like woozy and shit.’
‘Yeah, that’s why he almost broke off your door. Something in front or around your house affected him.’ Erica said.
‘And I, no we, think it is magic.’
‘You don’t think it’s something else?’ Royce asked curiously.
‘It’s been a while, but magic has been in my life for a long time. I have this habit of just sensing it in things and I felt it at your home.’
‘Shit.’ Royce said and he couldn’t look at the stares that came from Daniel and Erica. ‘You don’t think I; I could do any of that shit?’
‘I don’t think so.’ Daniel said.
‘Neither do I.’ Erica said.
‘Then, wait you’re thinking of my,’
‘How well do you know your wife?’ Daniel asked.
‘As well as a Husband can, she’s no witch.’
‘How can you be sure Royce? How do you know?’ Erica asked.
Royce nodded. ‘I can’t be sure.’ He looked a little lost within himself.
Daniel and Erica both noticed that. Erica ushered Daniel with her head to do something, anything.
Daniel put his hand on Royce’s shoulder. ‘Look, what is it that you yanks say? Get your head in the game Royce. We gotta interview Mr. Pinkman. That shit we can leave until later. Park it and we move on alright?’
‘Yeah.’ Royce nodded to himself again, but this time there was more positivity this time in the action.
‘Let’s meet Mr Pinkman.’ Erica said as they went up and past the third floor.
There was more music and more shouting from behind the floor entrance door and all felt little bit of something as they went up that final flight of stairs.
There was a little bit of nervous tension in Royce and Erica but felt it with each step taken. Daniel had to keep a hold of himself. He would normally run up the steps, take a feel of the area and then burst through the door, but that was the normal scenario when he was alone. Now he had to keep an eye on two other people and with his gifts, he had to protect them. Plus, they had families to answer to and he was pretty sure that they would have questions for him.
They reached the fourth floor and went through the green coloured entrance door that had a brass four on just in case people got confused where they were.
There were three or four different hallways and at the end of those hallways were large windows that led out to fire escapes. The floor was carpeted in crimson red. The walls were in a weird mix of Greyish Blue. Every six feet across the ceiling was soft lighting.
‘Should we split up?’ Erica asked.
‘No,’ Daniel said, ‘stay together.’
Royce and Erica both nodded in agreement and picked the hallway straight ahead.
They went past the first five doors, and they numbered the same, the reached the end of that hallway which split to left and a right with apartment on opposite walls and windows. This was the wing sections of the floor.
‘This was too big for a place.’ Royce said.
They decided to take a right.
The door numbers were considerably higher. Thirty-one, thirty-two and they walked down tp the end of the hallway the third to the last door was number forty-five.
‘Here we are.’ Erica said.
Royce stepped forward and knocked on the door. No answer. Royce looked at Daniel and Erica who looked at him not a lot of emotion, but they eyes said clearly knock again and knock harder.
Well, that is how Royce interpreted it and he did just that, he knocked again, but the raps on the door had a lot more forward thrust and fist.
‘Police.’ Royce said. ‘We need to speak to Giovanni Pinkman.’
No answer.
‘Is anyone in?’ Erica said and she looked at Daniel straight away.
Daniel nodded and his irises turned grey. He investigated the apartment.
Royce looked stunned. ‘What in the fuck?
Erica shushed Royce as Daniel scanned the apartment, the radar sense waves that dominated his vision saw someone who was just standing there in the middle of the room. It was a man, but for some reason that he could not explain, his face was indecipherable to him.
‘Someone is there.’ Daniel said.
Royce did not have to wait to do what he did next. He took out his smith and Wesson out his holster and yelled ‘WE KNOW YOU ARE IN THERE! NOW IF YOU DON’T OPEN THE DOOR, I WILL HAVE TO KICK IT AND YOU WILL,’
The door opened. A black man with a white, vest and black jeans and boots stood in front of them. He was well built with zero fat. Deep brown eyes. He had short cut sides, but his hair was grown at the top with curls. He kept the door to right into his side so the three could not see what was behind him.
‘Giovanni Pinkman?’ Royce said as surprise was the dominant emotion.
‘Yes.’
‘Why the fuck didn’t answer the door the first few times?’ Royce said.
‘First of all,’ Giovanni said, ‘I was cleaning up and I had my headphones on so I couldn’t hear and secondly,’ he looked at the gun that was slowly being put back into Royce’s holster, ‘secondly, that real excessive if you’re pulling out a gun just to, I assume to talk to someone.’
‘Gun away.’ Royce said as showed that it was indeed not out for the world to see. ‘Let’s start again. Mr Pinkman, I am detective Drysdale of the Preston PD, and this is out state agents Chandler and Bridgewater. Now if you don’t mind, we would like to come in and have a chat about your whereabouts last Friday night at the warehouse west of Preston.’
‘I’m about to head out.’ Giovanni said.
‘I thought you were cleaning?’ Daniel immediately asked.
‘I was. But I’m heading out.’
‘Is it urgent? As we do have to ask some questions,’ Erica asked.
‘I spent months waiting for this doctor’s appointment that I must pay for and I’m not going to miss it. Surely, surely, I can come to the station, later, to answer your questions.’
‘Mr Pinkman. What were you doing that night?’
‘I was there helping Mr Harris with a shipment that came in late.’
‘How do you know Mr Oliver Harris?’
‘I worked with him.’
‘Worked?’ Royce said, ‘meaning you no longer work for Engrave.’
‘Correct.’
‘And what happened when you got there?’ Daniel asked.
‘We were waiting around for a shipment and then this guy came in, walls shook, this rumbling happened and then it was carnage.’
‘Go on.’ Daniel said.
‘The People there were armed, and I was like what the fuck? Cause I wasn’t and this man covered in black, they were shooting him, but none of the bullets hit the man and then he started taking them out.’ Giovanni said and he looked off into his own memory.
‘How did you escape?’ Royce asked.
‘I ran out the back. The man fucking came out and was killing everyone and I ran. I ran for my life.’
‘How come you didn’t come to the police after it happened?’ Erica asked.
‘To be honest. I was scared. Like that was the most haunting destructive thing I had ever seen.’ Giovanni paused. ‘I didn’t know who to trust if I’d come out would he find me, know I was alive. I wasn’t thinking.’
‘What did you do at Engrave?’ Daniel asked.
‘Logistics.’
‘Meaning?’ Daniel asked.
‘I helped with the planning and execution of deliveries to each of our warehouses, domestic and international. I also helped with the day to day running of offices when Oliver wasn’t available.’
‘Big role,’ Daniel asked, ‘Why are you living here?’
Giovanni looked at Daniel confused. ‘What do you mean?’
‘I mean it’s a big role, I’d thought you live somewhere more befitting of your role.’ Daniel looked around. ‘Here doesn’t seem like a real fit.’
‘I was born and bred here agent, what was your name again?’
‘Bridgewater.’
‘Yes, that’s it. Agent Bridgewater, I love where I live, I’m near the town, close to my stores, my markets and the people here are good to each other.’
Daniel nodded.
‘Look I really have to go, are we good or do I,’
‘We are good Mr Pinkman for now, but we will have to speak to you down in the station as soon as you are free, to get this officially noted for records. I must ask; did you see what the man in black looked like?’ Royce asked.
Giovanni shook his head. ‘A hood covered his head.’
‘You know what he sounded like?’ Erica asked.
‘Yeah, I did. His voice was deep, powerful. A commanding voice. He sounded like a man with a purpose. Like he’s not going to be stopped in whatever he’s gonna do.’ Giovanni said with a mix of fear and almost pride.
‘You got that from his voice?’ Erica asked.
‘You don’t forget a voice like that. It’s the voice of death. He knew it sounded like that and for goddamn sure those men knew it too.’ Giovanni said.
‘Well, it’s good you are alive, in fact it is a goddamn miracle.’ Royce said as his right hand searched in his left hand inside pocket and took out a card and passed it to Giovanni who took it and studied it. ‘Contact me anytime, my details are there. You got a number so I can contact you for a proper interview?’
‘You know I barely know my cell phone number cause it’s my fucking cell phone number, so off the top of my head I’m clutching at straws but, I got your number so I will contact you when I’m free to arrange this. Is that okay?’
Royce smiled. ‘That’s fine Mr Pinkman. I expect something very soon.’
‘Of course. Soon as I’m free. I’ll be there. You have a good day detective and you too agents. Thank you for the card, Detective.’ Giovanni said and he shut the door.
‘Well, that is not our guy.’ Royce said as he turned to Daniel and Erica.
‘You sure?’ Daniel asked.
‘You’re not? I saw him describe our guy with the same fear of God, I expect from anyone who survived that attack.’
‘Did you think it was plausible?’ Erica asked. ‘Not going to the police?’
‘Everyone’s different. Not everyone sees us as the way forward. They see us as that the thing to avoid.’ Royce said as they walked away from the door and went back from when they came.
‘Maybe, but something just felt funny.’ Daniel said.
‘Something always feels funny with you Bridgewater.’ Royce said, ‘and don’t say it’s just the job or whatever you were going to say. Look more than anyone I wish that the guy there was our guy, but right now until we get to delve into his timeline and connect the dots, he just a guy who was there and survived a miracle and that’s what he is for now.’
As they walked, Erica saw a woman peek around the corner. The woman who saw that Erica saw her, turned and walked off. Erica walked with speed around that corner. As she got around the corner, a door down the hallway shut.
Erica remembered that door.
They were about to exit when, Erica stopped.
‘I’m going to stay.’ She spoke.
‘Why?’ Daniel asked confused.
‘I might want to poke around, ask some questions, not to Pinkman, but neighbors. I mean the man survived being killed by some god,’
‘He’s no god.’ Daniel stressed.
‘Ok, but I want to ask around.’
Royce got a text message. ‘Yeah, we’re on something, so if you want to stay because we must check on this hunch. Back at the station.’
‘Yeah, I’ll get a portal in.’
‘During the day?’ Royce said.
‘It will be hidden.’ Erica said ‘and I’ll call you if necessary. Let me do this.’ She looked directly at Daniel who nodded. ‘Thank you.’
‘Ok. We gotta go, we’ll see you later.’
‘Be careful.’ Daniel said with actual care behind his voice. ‘I know you can…’ He stopped himself. He just looked at Erica and nodded at her.
Swiftly, Royce and Daniel left the floor.
Erica took a deep breath and went back to the hallway. She remembered where she saw the door and went up to it. She knocked it. Once. Then twice. The door opened and a female arm and hand came out, grabbed her and pulled her in. The door shut.
4
Royce drove back to the police station with less aggression than before. The rain continued to come down hard.
Daniel this time sat in the passenger seat. Both were surprised this happened.
‘Can I ask you a question?’ Daniel asked.
‘Shoot.’
‘Don’t tempt me.’
Royce smiled. ‘Was that the question?’
‘No, no,’ Daniel said, ‘I did have an actual question to ask you. What made you love American Football?’
‘Football.’
‘Ain’t football from where I’m from.’
‘Oh, you’re talking about soccer?’
Daniel said, ‘Soccer here. Football everywhere else. I blame us for that. We backed down because we wanted the sport to have chance here.’
‘It has a chance here, but it the lowest of the low. Nothing beats football, not round here or any of these great United States.’ Royce said with unfettered pride.
‘So what made you love it?’
‘You know about it?’
‘I know of the sport.’
‘You got a team?’
Daniel smiled, ‘I’m partial to the Eagles.’
‘Why?’ Royce laughed with a smile.
‘Because I love Rocky.’ Daniel said with all seriousness.
‘Well, it is a Penn State team so I can be fine.’ Royce said, ‘We’re more Steelers here.’
‘I can tell.’
Royce paused as he took a right-hand turn. ‘Nothing beats being on the field. It’s a mythical place. One-hundred- yards of fate, destiny. You win, you win here you become immortal. You lose it’s the same fucking thing. Plus, the game makes you play with time, once the ball snaps and you get it hold of it, spot your read, or make a play yourself. It’s the closest I ever felt being invincible. If you love the game, hell if you love anything, that’s living.’
‘And if it’s taken away from you?’
Royce sighed. ‘Then you’re just existing.’
‘You exist for someone Royce. She’s out there, thinking of you. That is a good thing. No many get that.’
They stop at a light as the rain continued to hammer down on the hood.
‘That might be the nicest thing you ever said to me.’ Royce said.
‘Well I’m full of surprises.’
‘Lemme ask you a question Bridgewater and you actually have to fucking answer.’
‘I ain’t making any promises.’
Royce shook his head as the lights went green and he drove on. ‘You said this girl, woman, the one you said you loved, hates you, you even attempt to try and make it work, like say you’re sorry or do some grand gesture?’
‘She’s not the type.’ Daniel said.
‘Trust me brother. They are all the type.’
Daniel laughed. ‘Then you don’t know Larissa.’
‘Oh, she’s a true original?’
‘Yeah.’ Daniel said and his smile faded.
‘Larissa, eh? Nice name. What does she do?’
‘Same agency.’ Daniel said.
‘Oh, shit that must make it awkward then?’
Daniel shook his head. ‘No, she’s based in Asia, Japan. Tokyo. Part of the Pacific Division.’
‘Pacific Division? I thought you guys went everywhere?’
‘No, we look after The Americas, Europe, Western side of Africa.’ Daniel paused. ‘Agents can’t be everywhere at once and the world is split into divisions. Plus, I’m not allowed anywhere in the Pacific Ocean.’
‘Why?’ Royce asked.
‘They call it the Pacific Incident. I fucked up when I was younger and well, I’m not allowed there.’
‘Even on holiday?’
‘Even then.’ Daniel said as he looked away.
Royce noticed this and decided not to pursue. ‘So, she’s doing well in Tokyo?’
‘As far as I know, yeah she is.’
‘When was the last time you spoke to her?’
Daniel sighed. ‘Long time ago, before she left for Tokyo. So, like close to a decade, I guess.’
‘She married or with anyone?’
Daniel shrugged. ‘She’ll only be married to her work. That I know.’
‘No chance of a reconciliation?’ Royce asked.
‘Nope.’
‘Why?’
‘Because we have a past Royce. Larissa and I have…we have too much fucking history. We know each other too well. That’s not a good thing. She knows how to piss me off like no other and I know how to do the same thing to her. She’s weakness to me and I am to her. Us being apart was the best decision we ever made together.’
‘And you say you love her?’
‘Yeah.’
‘But can’t be near her?’
Daniel sighed. ‘What are you getting at Royce?’
‘What I’m getting at is you can’t love someone, something that you can’t be near.’
‘What? Are you protective of the word love and what is means to you?’
Royce laughed. ‘Maybe I’m old fashioned. But love for me is being around something, someone as much as you can, even with distance, it makes you miss them. That you can’t function without them, not truly or operate at you optimum.’
‘We were born alone Royce.’
‘Yeah, but I ain’t dying alone Bridgewater. I got that love.’ Royce said.
‘Not many get as lucky as you got Royce. I mean you live in the country with one of the highest divorce rates.’
‘Yeah, cause people see, most people see love as this conditional, all about the wedding and everything else is you’re just following the contract you signed.’ Royce said as he took a left. ‘It’s unconditional. You sign not your wealth, but your health, your heart and your soul. You make sure she feels the same and you’re good to go. In fact, it’s the only way to go.’
‘Well, you’re better than me Royce.’ Daniel said.
‘You think about her? Now I’m not asking about every day, maybe you do, but do you ever think about her?’
‘Sometimes.’
‘And what do you see or where does your mind go when you do?’ Royce asked.
Daniel thought about this. ‘I think about the last time we saw each other. Outside her parents’ house in one evening in August. How she told me she was going to leave and not come back. I told her I was happy for her, and she was doing the right thing for herself. I told her that staying with me would kill her spirit, kill her soul. The very best thing about her. So, I was glad she thought about herself and left me.’
‘You know that’s not what she wanted to hear right?’
‘Yeah, I know, but it was what she needed to hear.’
Royce smiled. ‘Maybe you do love her.’ He paused. ‘If you could go back, the way you’re feeling now, would you let it play out the same or would you do it differently?’
‘It would be the same.’
‘How do you know Bridgewater?’
‘Cause in the end Royce, I’d bring her down to my level and I didn’t want that for her. I never wanted that for her. I’d rather die than take away what was so good about her and if she stuck around me long enough, she would be. I’d rather her hate me then or now, then spend her life really hating me and then regret her life.’
‘You thought about changing. Being new for her.’
‘I wasn’t going to change for her.’ Daniel said.
‘Why?’
‘Because Larissa is not my focus, Larissa herself won’t make me happy. Where I’m going and what I’m doing is my focus.’
‘And where are you going Bridgewater?’
‘Hopefully to see the ones I love again. Hopefully I see them in Valhalla.’
Royce looked at Daniel. ‘So, your life’s purpose is to die?’
Daniel stayed silent for a moment. ‘Not till I get vengeance. Then I’ll be happy to go.’
‘Vengeance against who?’
‘A man who I want answers, then once I get those answers and I’m satisfied with them. I’ll be happy to go.’
Royce pulls over to the side and stops the car. ‘I don’t believe that. I believe what you say, but to be honest I don’t see you dying any time soon and whatever you’re chasing, won’t give you the peace you’re looking for either.’
‘I’m not looking for peace Royce.’
‘Yeah, but you’re not looking for this either.’
‘You know me now?’
‘No. In fact, I don’t really know a goddamn thing about you.’ Royce said, ‘but despite everything I’ve seen you do, I do see a human being and I do not believe human beings, could have that to live by.’
‘You know of suicide bombers Royce?’
‘Yeah, but those motherfuckers had something to live for before they turned into the evil fuckers they became, and I look at you Bridgewater and I just don’t see some guy who main purpose in life is to just die.’
‘Yeah, ok, who do you see?’
‘I see someone who got fucked over, fucked over real fucking bad and this pain you’re carrying has eat at you and this sadness that is over you, is all on you and dominates you, but you were something before this. I see by the way you talk to people, how you joke with people, Bridgewater, why you probably do this job. You love people. You love em so much you put your life on the life for them.’ Royce said.
‘You’re talking about yourself there, bro.’
‘No, I’m talking about you.’
‘I do this job cause if I don’t find the man I’m looking for, at least with the danger this job has, I’m highly likely to die and I’ll see the ones I love again.’
Royce shook his head. ‘You believe that, and I know you do, but you are not Mr lonely, Mr distant. I do not believe that is you. This hurt you got, I know it isn’t easy to let it go, maybe you can’t, maybe you can’t let it go, but fuck it man we all got scars that people can’t see, but you cannot let this shit dominate your life.’
‘There’s some things you can’t get over Royce, There’s no peace. There’s no Elysium. Not for me. Not in this world. I know, I know you are trying to say something to me, something that matters, something vital, but that only applies to you, but the only peace I made was long ago, when I committed to this path. Nothing’s going to shake me off it.’ Daniel said. ‘I know you care about…I’m fine with where I’m going Royce. I’ve been fine about it, and I don’t need you or anyone else to be fine about it neither. My path is the only true path and when it happens, whenever it happens, I’m going to embrace it, because I’m going to see the ones I love again, and I’ll have them for fucking eternity. No one can take them away for me again.’ Daniel paused. ‘I think there is something immeasurably beautiful about that.’
Royce gave a deep sigh. He looked immensely emotional about this whole conversation ‘Bridgewater. I wish you could see that this life, the one you are living right now is one that is worth living. Just,’ Royce paused, ‘don’t waste it, this life now for something that you will get later.’
Daniel looked like he took some of that onboard.
The police radio came on. ‘Royce? Royce?’
Royce picked up the receiver. ‘Yeah, I’m here, over.’
‘Yeah, we got a call from your wife, she said she couldn’t get your cell. You need to get over to your place as it is an emergency over.’
‘I’m on my way. Over.’ Royce put down the receiver and started the car. ‘Goddamn phone network, goddamn area!’
Royce’s car pulled out and almost hit a car that was going along the lane. Royce put the ringer on his roof and the sirens rang out as he sped across the lanes in the rain.
5
‘Maybe, just maybe you don’t think to grab someone and pull them into your apartment.’ Erica said as the woman who pulled her in passed her a can of diet coke.
‘Sorry.’ The woman who was mixed race, with long black, curly hair in an afro and had some freckles on her cheeks. She wore a loose white vest with a black bra underneath and light brown jeans that went down just above her ankles, white socks and brown trainers.
‘Thank you. So, it is Lia, right?’
‘Yeah Lia Braithwaite.’ Lia said as she sat down.
‘Why did you grab me?’ Erica asked.
‘Well, there’s a lot of crazy shit that’s going on here.’
Erica looked at Lia’s apartment. The living area had loads of old French film posters in frames dotted around the walls. The place was spacious, replete with coffee tables, three settees, candles, bookshelves with books that included David Foster Wallace’s Infinite Jest. Unfinished coffee mugs on said tables and a few flowers in pots that was also spread around the apartment.
‘What crazy shit are we talking about?’ Erica asked.
‘Stuff that’s been happening around town. All these deaths, this god guy walking around town.’
‘They think he is a god?’
‘He moves around like one. Heard them men who died at the warehouse, unloaded full clips at him and they didn’t even touch him. He sent some of them back to those men too, with interest.’ Lia said.
‘Who told you that? Local people.’
‘No, I was told that by one person who made that out night alive. The person whose door you knocked.’
‘Giovanni Pinkman.’
Lia nodded.
‘When did he tell you that?’
‘On that night, I was coming back from a shift, and I saw him run and up them stairs. He was pale as a ghost and looked like he’d seen one, he looked shook enough that he didn’t even notice that he ran past me.’ Lia said.
‘So, you chased after him?’
‘I had some shopping on me and I weren’t gonna catch Gio when he was moving that fast, so I went up quickly, put all the stuff I had down here and went up to him.’
‘He answered the door?’
‘Eventually. That in itself took like nearly ten minutes before he did, and he only did because I started screaming and banging at the door as I was getting really worried, he might do something to himself and said I would call the police if he didn’t open.’
‘Why would you be worried?’ Erica asked.
‘Gio’s been going through a lot lately. He was going through a costly divorce, and he was going to lose most his shit, so he moved down here. Her lived with them rich folk up at Englewood. Sad thing as his wife, well ex-wife was the one that cheated and then filed for divorce, but they were both you know playing away.’
Erica smiled. ‘How would you know he was playing away?’
Lia smiled. ‘I was the one he was playing with. That’s why he is here. Because he needed a place, and I told him the place down the hall was free. I mean he could have lived here, and I would be okay with that, but for the divorce he thought it would look better if he stayed in his own place alone.’
Erica did think that Giovanni did not think that one through. That it would not look the best if he was living a few minutes from the woman he cheated on his wife with. The only balance that would be seen is if she moved the man she cheated with in, but that would be all kinds of messy. ‘So, he opened the door?’
‘And he pulled me in like I did you and Gio was frantic. Like just, out there, speaking in fucking riddles, speaking quickly and none of it was making sense you know? Like it was all scatter logical or something. He was scared for his life. Said the first he called was not the police, but Oliver Harris.’
‘Oliver Harris?’
Lia nodded. ‘Yeah, said if anything had gone down, that was to call him.’
‘Did he say why he was given that instruction?’
‘Yeah, I asked him and Gio said, if any of the subjects came then, call him.’
‘Subjects?’
Lia shrugged. ‘That’s all I know. When I questioned him, that’s all he told me.’
‘What else did he say?’
‘He told me that he was going to lay low, that he was advised not to leave town, but keep his phone close by.’
Erica sat back. Oliver knew there was more than twelve there. ‘Did he say why Taylor Lambert was there?’
‘He said that Lambert was there for his own protection. That some of them knew he was there for it, that they knew he was being hunted.’
‘By this guy?’
Lia nodded.
‘Did Gio know why?’
‘I think he did, but he didn’t tell me.’ Lia said. ‘Said that some crazy things were going down, low down in Engrave.’
‘What did he mean by that?’
‘Fuck knows, I just know that one time as I was coming over for our rendezvous, Oliver Harris was there and he handed Gio something, something that I never saw and that Gio didn’t want me to see.’ Lia said, ‘That Harris scurried off and Gio was funny throughout most that night.’
‘You know Gio well?’
‘In a physically intimate sense, yeah, but I think I was starting to figure him out, like who he is as a person. Kinda geeky, slim, but sweet. Packing. He was packing and you wouldn’t think he was packing like that.’ Lia said excitedly.
Once Erica got over that visual in her mind, something that was just said stuck out at her. ‘Slim, you said slim right? That Gio was slim.’
‘Slim like Chris Rock yes.’
‘Not built like an Olympian.’
‘No. Slim Jim. Though he did tell me that he was going to buy some weights and work on himself.’
Erica kept on thinking to herself. That must mean something.
‘How was he, you saw him just now? Was he ok?’
‘Yeah, he was ok in a rush. Do you have a picture of him that I can see?’ Erica asked.
‘Yeah of course.’ Lia reached for her cell phone and started to flick through some of the photos. ‘Here he is.’ She passed the phone to Erica who looked at the photo.
Her eyebrows raised up.
6
Royce opened his front door, frantic. ‘Honey?’
No answer.
He looked at Daniel and said, ‘I’ll check upstairs, you check down here.’
Daniel nodded and carried on downstairs; he took out his handgun as he carried on.
Royce walked up his stairs and took out his weapon. He looked up and made sure that every angle was aimed by his gun. ‘Honey, you here?’
Again, no reply.
He reached the top of the stairs, gun aimed, he crept around the corner, and slowly opened the nearest door to him. It was one of the spare rooms. He charged in with his gun aimed, but the room was clear.
‘Shit.’ Royce said to himself and walked out into the hallway. Went to the two rooms behind him, one of two bathrooms on this floor and Royce’s man den. No one.
Royce figured he should just go to him and Alyssa’s bedroom. Why save the suspense, even if his heart were beating too fast, he needed to do it. The steps towards the room on his carpet were more considered and quiet. Royce’s aim arm and hand started to shake out of sheer nervousness, and he couldn’t power through it like he always did.
He was not the quarterback on the five-yard line with ten seconds left in the game. He did not have control of what was going to happen.
He took deep considered breaths as he reached the door.
‘Royce.’
Royce span and aimed his gun, at Daniel who stood just behind him. He breathed a sigh of relief.
‘Downstairs is clear.’ Daniel said.
‘You that fucking fast?’ Royce whispered with urgency.
Daniel just nodded. ‘Go on, open the door.’
Royce gave a look that indicated that he did not want to. Daniel recognised that look and went to open the door himself when Royce stopped him. ‘My house, my door, my wife.’
Daniel nodded and stepped back.
Royce gulped and nodded to himself. He turned to the door and his hand slowly moved to the door handle. He caressed the handle for a moment, the possibly last good moment of his life and then opened the door, came in gun first and Alyssa sat on their bed with a bathrobe with headphones on.
She sprung up and scurried and flew off her bed. ‘Royce what the fuck?’ She took off and flung her headphones at Royce who caught him them with ease almost plucking them out of the air like a wide receiver.
Daniel noticed the excellent hand to eye co-ordination.
‘Fuck, honey. What the fuck did I say about wearing your fucking headphones in the house when your alone?’
‘No to wear them.’ Alyssa said with point blankness that Daniel wished he did with Royce ten minutes earlier.
‘Yet, you fucking are and I get a call from the station saying you had an emergency?’ Royce said as he holstered his gun.
Daniel did likewise.
‘I did, but I couldn’t get through your phone.’ Alyssa said as she climbed back on her bed.
‘What’s the emergency hun?’ Royce asked as he sat on the bed in front of her.
Daniel moved to the side, stood between the couple.
‘This.’ Alyssa pressed the play button on the answering machine on Royce’s said of the bed.
“Message one, sent today at ten-fifteen.”
‘Alyssa Drysdale.’ Came the cold chilling voice that Daniel recognised immediately. ‘I know what you’ve done. The most important thing is you know what you done. Come clean or the truth will set your blood in your body free. Come clean to your husband. Don’t let him find out in the bloody way, that others across town have done.’
‘That’s our guy?’ Royce asked Daniel.
‘Yeah.’ Daniel said.
Royce turned to his wife. ‘Why did he call you? What do you know about him?’
‘Royce, I can’t.’ Alyssa could not muster anymore words.
‘You can’t what? What aren’t you telling me?’ Royce said. ‘Alyssa this whole marriage thing is pretty contingent on you and I not having secrets.’
‘So, what are you not telling me?’ Royce said as he stood up. His position was not one of support, but one of unfiltered rage and underlying disappointment.
Alyssa looked away.
‘No, you need to look at me.’ Royce with a detachment that was impactful across the three people in the room.
Alyssa did look at him and wiped a tear.
‘What the fuck aren’t you telling me? Why is that fucker calling you and threatening you?’ Royce said.
‘Royce there’s things going on round here.’ Alyssa said, ‘Things that I don’t even understand, but played a part of when I wanted no part of it.’
‘Is there Magic in our home? In our fucking home, Alyssa, is there Magic?’
Alyssa nodded.
‘What the fuck? You some witch?’ Royce asked.
‘It was not me. That was Oliver Harris, it is a spell of protection in our home, on my car, even at my place of work.’ Alyssa said.
‘Protection from who?’ Daniel asked. He thought it was the best time for him to jump in.
‘From people like this man.’ Alyssa said.
Royce looked at his wife and moved closer. ‘Alyssa, do you know who he is? Do you know his name?’
Alyssa goes to answer but stopped herself. That was all that Royce needed.
‘WHAT IN THE ACTUAL FUCK, ALYSSA? WHAT THE,’ He calmed himself down.
‘Oliver said he would handle it.’ Alyssa said.
‘How?’ Daniel said.
‘He never told me the how. He just told me he would.’ Alyssa said.
‘You knew this whole fucking time; you know his name? The man we’ve been hunting, you knew, and you didn’t say a thing? Why?’
‘Because there’s things at play, that are bigger than us, bigger than even you, Agent Bridgewater.’
‘Mrs Drysdale. You need to tell us his name. Now.’ Daniel said.
A buzz came from Royce’s walkie talkie that was clipped to Royce’s belt. ‘Royce?’
‘Alyssa, you heard the man. You need to tell us this fucker’s name now!’
Another buzz ‘Royce.’
‘For fuck’s sake.’ He picked up the walkie talkie. ‘Yes, Royce here, over.’
‘You need to get to Brandbourne park, east side of town immediately over.’
‘Why? Over.’
‘Fresh body looks like he’s struck again. Over.’
‘Shit.’ Royce said to himself. ‘We’re on our way over.’ He clipped the walkie talkie back to his belt.
‘How far?’ Daniel asked.
‘Not far.’ Royce said. ‘Driveable, like ten minutes the way I drive.’ He looked at his wife. ‘You’re protected here?’
‘We’re protected here.’ Alyssa said.
‘The whole we’re thing is up for fucking debate.’ Royce said, ‘Don’t you fucking leave this house Alyssa, not while we got some major talking to do. You understand?’
‘I don’t intend to leave. I know what I’ve done. Now he’s coming for me.’ Alyssa said tearful. ‘Maybe it what I deserve.’
‘Maybe,’ Royce said, ‘but no one and I mean no one, is going to harm you, while I’m still breathing. I signed up to that shit when I married you. That has meaning for,’ Royce stopped himself. He looked at Daniel. ‘Let’s go.’
Daniel nodded and started to leave the room when Alyssa stood up.
‘Don’t hate me, Royce. Please.’ Alyssa pleaded.
‘I’ve hated you. But now, I’m just…disappointed in you.’ Royce said as he walked out.
Alyssa then sat down as Daniel left after Royce. She cried long salty tears.
7
A canopy protected the body as rain continued to hit the earth with reckless abandonment. The police line was around the body, fifty yards from every side. People had gathered around all either under umbrellas or under hoods and hats.
Brandbourne park was a large green expanse, with basketball courts to the side off to the right. Nearby was the children’s play area an assortment of swings and mini assault course designed to tire out every child who went on them. The goal worked, but also tired out the parents, who often had to deal with precociously energetic children who just wanted to go again and again.
The rest of the park was long paths through woodland and grassy plains for picnics or well anything.
Daniel and Royce came through the crowd and the nearest police officer, lifted the line to let them in. They walked up to canopy as the body was covered.
An officer named Brody who wore a police hat under his hood, came up and stood next to them.
‘How long has the vic been here?’ Royce asked Brody.
‘A few hours, a female runner found him.’ Brody said.
‘It’s a man?’
Brody nodded.
‘Been here long?’ Daniel asked. ‘The body?’
‘Not too long, but I don’t think he was killed here.’
‘You think he was dumped here?’ Royce asked.
‘I do detective. There is no signs of any struggle, virtually no footmarks of aggressive or staggered. The vic was placed here.’
‘How did he die?’ Daniel asked.
‘Broken neck.’ Brody said. ‘The thing is there is not one sign of injury from a physical altercation. No prints either.’
‘We got a name?’ Royce asked.
‘Even better.’ Brody said as he pulled out an evidence bag from his pocket. ‘We have ID.’ He passed it over to Royce who looked at it and his eyebrows rose.
‘Bridgewater.’ Royce passed over the evidence bag to Daniel. ‘Look.’
Daniel did and he did look. ‘Shit.’
The victim was named Giovanni Pinkman.
Daniel said cold with fear, ‘Erica.’
‘We need to get to her now.’
‘That means portal.’
‘Yeah, I’m fine with that.’
‘I know you will be, but your body won’t be.’ Daniel said with caution.
‘I’m willing to take the risk. Come on Bridgewater.’
8
Erica watched Lia Braithwaite pack anything she had into a duffle bag.
‘Agent Chandler, are you sure about this?’ Lia asked startled in frenzy at what she was just told.
‘Yes, you need to leave town. Don’t tell anyone where you are going. Even me.’ Erica said.
‘Why?’
‘Because you know too much Lia!’ Erica screamed. She immediately calmed and passed on a card. ‘Look contact my office on this. Just to let us know you’re safe, but no one else.’
‘And you’ll get this?’ Lia asked.
Erica smiled. ‘I will.’ The smile didn’t last long. ‘Pack.’
Erica watched Lia pack, then watched Lia take one last look at her apartment. She escorted her down the hallway and to the exit door. ‘Whatever you hear or see you don’t stop. You keep on moving Lia. You understand me? You keep on moving.’
‘Okay,’ Lia said, ‘and you don’t die. You understand?’
‘I don’t plan to. Go and when you’re safe. Call that number.’
Lia nodded and took one last look at Erica. ‘What’s your first name?’
‘Erica.’
Lia smiled and then nodded. She left through the door.
There was no goodbye. That was how it should be Erica thought.
Erica took out her gun and walked towards the front of door of Giovanni Pinkman. Slow steps, every step her arms rose slowly. The door grew ever closer, and it faced her. She took a deep breath. She knocked on the door. No answer. She rapped on the door and yelled ‘This Agent Erica Chandler of ADSC, I know you are not Giovanni Pinkman, I need you to come out with your hands up, NOW!’
Silence.
Erica stepped back a few paces and went to kick the door, but the door flew open and smashed into Erica causing her to fly into the door behind her and it broke through into the apartment. She smashed through two walls before she landed hard into a kitchen table. The doors broke the window behind.
Erica woozy as blood poured down her forehead, saw the man in black through the erica shaped holes of the apartment. He was stood in the hallway and tucked something in his pocket. ‘Freeze.’ She screamed and gargled blood in her mouth. She spat out some blood and reached for her gun that was to her right. She got up as quickly as she could as she felt her side, that screamed of pain. She was sure the adrenaline that was pumping through her veins would get her through.
She ran through the various rooms she collided through as the family that was there screamed.
‘Stay down!’ She screamed at the family as she ran and she got out to the hallway, but as soon as both feet hit the hallway carpet, she was lifted off and by the man in black who was several yards away.
Erica was flung into another wall into a room and her back smashed into a thick brick wall and she landed hard onto a table.
The man in black started to run.
‘FREEZE!!!’ Daniel screamed as he careered around the corner.
The man in black lifted Daniel up and he slammed into the ceilings of the fourth, fifth and sixth floor. He almost hit the seventh floor but bounced off the ceiling this time.
He got up immediately and screamed ‘SHIT’ He pressed her earlobe. ‘Royce. He’s coming down to you.’
Daniel’s irises went grey, and he looked down and saw that the man was sprinting down the stairs, he followed. Then he rant high into a spot and leapt high into the air blasting through the ceiling, but then he dropped down going through the ceilings Sixth, Fifth, Fourth, Third, second.
He landed and punched through the wall and grabbed the man in black entered that level. Daniel flung him through the wall and into the hallway. The man in black rolled to his feet and sprung up.
‘Got you motherfucker.’ Daniel said as he ran towards him and threw fast, but heavy-handed punches at the man in black, but as the man in black swerved and blocked, none of the punches got through as they were being blocked but what Daniel felt was some invisible shield.
The man in black moved out of the way with great speed as Daniel punched into a ripped off a part of that wall and that gave the man in black all the time he needed as he lifted Daniel again off the ground and flung him through the hallway, into the big window. Daniel smashed through the glass and was out into the world, airborne before he slammed into the walls of nearest building just next to the street and he hit a few walls before landing hard on near the window at the end of that hallway.
‘Fucker.’ He said as got up and his irises remained grey as he tracked the man. He also tracked someone else running down the stairwell. ‘Erica.’ He said to himself. He ran felt pelt through the holes, he just made and leapt through the air over the street, through the broken the window, but the momentum kept him going past where he wanted to land and flew into another wall, then another and smashed through a window, glass was everywhere, but he held on to the frame and hung off the ground.
‘Bridgewater.’ A bloodied Erica screamed as she stopped her run.
Daniel pulled himself up ‘I’m good, go! Go!’
Erica nodded and gave chase, and she gained on the man in black. She got to the ground floor as there was screams and then she heard Royce scream ‘GET DOWN NOW!!! NOW!!’
She also heard the man’s response.
‘No.’
Gunfire came and rattled across the room. Erica did not need to think, and she ran into the lobby. Royce near enough emptied a full clip at the man in black, hood remained covered as people who were there ducked and his as the bullets, either bounced off something that was protecting man or the deflected and hit walls or anything that was nearby.
Erica fired at the man in black and one bullet grazed his shoulder, he turned and deflected the rest of her clip and lifted her up off the ground and slammed Erica hard not once, not twice, but three times into the wall. Each time the thrust more violent than the last. She dropped hard to the ground and groined.
Royce ran up and slammed a punch into the man in black stomach, that connected, the man doubled back, Royce threw another punch, clear and clean left hook, that connected on the jaw of the man, then he threw a right hook that equally caught a good connection.
‘YOU THINK YOU CAN THREATEN MY WIFE MOTHERFUCKER? DO YOU?’ Royce screamed.
‘Yes.’ The man in black said, ‘I can.’
Royce threw another punch, but his hand was caught and held mid movement and he could not move himself. Royce was grimacing as he was literally frozen as it looked like the man in black debated internally as to what to do with him.
‘MOTHERFUCKER!!!’ came the familiar bellow from Daniel who ran in, a man who was filled with so much rage that he could not conceive at that moment the opportunity that could have had of a sneak attack on the man in Black.
He looked at Royce and flung him through the glass doors. Royce slammed into the hood of a nearby parked car, he rolled off the roof and into the road where a car broke just before it could hit him, but skidded in the rain and hit Royce, not at full speed, but enough to knock him sideways.
This caused the car behind the one that hit Royce to smash into the back which subsequently caused a multiple car pile-up. Carnage on the main street.
Daniel ran up on the man in black and who lifted him off his feet and flung up to the through ceiling on the first floor. He landed hard on the floor. ‘Ah you fucker. I’m gonna really.’ He then looked outside and saw the man in black come out and into the street. He also saw Erica get up and sprint after him from the lobby.
The mam in Black saw Royce and slowly got up and grabbed his gun. He started to run into oncoming traffic, moving cars with the quick swipe of his hands, causing them to hit into the parked cars, the sidewalks, and into other cars coming from the other direction.
Daniel saw this and ran through the hallway, leapt into the big window, across the street and into another building as he slammed through the wall. He kept his run up and sprinted through a stockroom and leapt through another window across the air and street, but landed onto a roof, he looked to his right and saw the man as he ran and moved cars out of his way, or they swerved out of his way in the rain. People screamed and ran into stores, alleyways, and any place they can get safe.
A car swerved and smashed into a bus stop as people dived out of the way. Royce and Erica kept chase, Royce did well just to keep up with Erica, who moved with such speed and agility it looked like that the cars were just hurdles in the way as she leapt above or rolled over the bonnets of those cars, and she carried on her momentum.
Daniel ran across that roof leapt off it to the next roof.
Erica climbed up and ran across the roofs of the cars that had crashed into one another and had started to gain another ground to get a clear shot at the man in black who span and flipped up an entire truck in the air flung it towards Erica who dived to the ground as the truck smashed into the car that she was on.
She got up and was immediately faced with an oncoming car that was flung toward her and then she saw the full body frame of Daniel Bridgewater come from her left and slam into the car that had flew towards her, his momentum smashed the car and him into a nearby store. The car went partly inside the store, Daniel rolled off and groaned.
He looked at Erica and weakly ‘Go.’
Erica did not need to be told twice she leapt up onto the roofs of cars again as main around her were being lifted high into the air and flung in different directions. Erica saw that one family was still one of the cars, a family station wagon. Her eyes rose and she fired at the men in black while she ran to the family.
Cars were being lifted in the air around the car and Erica found a clear line of cars she could leap onto the roof and get to in half the time, so she did and landed on the roof of the station wagon, but it was too late as once she landed, Erica, the family and the station wagon were in the air and headed towards the brick wall of a building.
Erica closed her eyes closed eyes and gripped the roof of the car with all the strength she could muster. Everything occurred in slow motion, and she heard her heartbeat which pumped hard and fast, it was the only fast thing as the wagon was about to fly into the wall.
Daniel got up and Royce got up to him as they saw Erica and the wagon in the air as it hurtled towards the building and then suddenly, it disappeared into thin air. The building was not hit. The station wagon and Erica was nowhere to be seen.
‘What the fuck?’ Royce said. ‘What the fuck happened there?’
Daniel had no time to react as the man in black himself looked at what just happened and stood there. That gave Daniel some time to run through towards him.
The man in black raised two cars and flung both at Daniel who blocked car with his arms but the other smashed into the car he blocked, and he was flung back and slammed into a parked bus. He went into the bus and burst out of the back window and landed hard onto the ground. He got up immediately, a little gingerly, picked up a nearby car and flung in the air at the man in black, who stopped it levitated in and was about to fling it back at Daniel, but did not see the second car that Daniel kicked towards him, and it hit the man in black who was thrown into the air.
Everything moved in slow motion for him as he span, straightened himself and flexed his back. He stood straight and realised, he felt no ground beneath his feet and that he looked down at Daniel and Royce. He floated in the air.
They both stopped.
‘Fuck!’ Royce said, ‘He can fucking fly now?’
‘Seems so.’ Daniel said as he ran towards the man in black.
Royce snapped out and fired at the man in black again.
The bullets flew towards the man in black, but they slowed down and they stopped in front of him.
Daniel stopped his run. They could feel his smile from here.
The man in black said. ‘They made me into a god.’ He flung the bullets towards Royce and Daniel ran towards Royce and leapt in the way of each bullet.
Daniel dropped in front of Royce who looked at him and then looked at the man in black who looked at him. Daniel rolled over and looked up and the rain hit his face. He looked at the man in black as well.
The man in black shook his head and then moved to his left. Then to his right. He then slowly went up high in the air and disappeared into the thick clouds.
‘I don’t, I,’ Royce said as it looked like he could finally breathe as his body finally screamed in pain. He dropped to his knees, unable to stand as the adrenaline that coursed through his system finally subsided. ‘You, ok?’
‘I’ll live.’ Daniel said and grimaced. ‘I’ll be sore, but I’ll live.’
They looked around the sheer carnage and damage left in the wake of that chase. Buildings smashed, cars smashed, overturned or on their sides. People on the ground or coming out of buildings.
‘Thank you.’ Royce said. ‘Thank you for saving my life.’
‘No problem, but we got you boss to think about now.’ Daniel said.
‘Fuck him. I’m thanking you. That’s the most important thing right now.’ Royce said as he exhaled a great big breath.
Daniel then realised. ‘Erica. Where the fuck is Erica?’
Eternal Distance Of The Passionate Mind 