Chapter 9: The Lockdown

The streets of New York were empty. Eerily so. Star and Marco knew something was off. They'd seen movies involving New York, and it seemed that rush hour was every hour. But as they rode their commandeered car deeper into New York, it was still empty. There wasn't even anyone walking outside.

"I thought you were gonna just drop me off."

"I will, it's just that something's wrong. The streets are completely empty!"

"What does it matter? You're just gonna leave anyway."

"I'm just curious. Here." Marco pulled over to a restaurant. "Let's ask about it."

They got out of the car and went into the restaurant. The door opened with a ding, and the place smelled of sterility and disinfectant.

"Ey! What're you doing without a mask 'ere!" the owner of the restaurant, a big fella, said.

"Huh?"

"No service without a mask! Cuomo's orders. But more importantly no Covid spreadin'!"

"Alrighty!" Star magic-ed up some masks on their faces.

Marco smiled, though it didn't matter much under the mask "Thanks Star! So, how come the streets are empty?"

"Covid of course! Although I do sometimes think the new laws are too strict."

"I'm sure it's all in good faith."

"Probably. But sometimes the changes are a bit strange. For some reason there was a uniform change, among other things."

"What do you mean-" Marco was interrupted by the door opening with a ding once again.

"Ey! Big Tony! The Inspector's coming in soon!" A woman came in.

"Don't call me Big Tony-"

"Sorrynotlisteningcan'tstaytoolongbyeeee!" The messenger left as quickly as she arrived.

"What was that-"

"Inspector's coming. Fellas, we need to move fast." Big Tony left the counter and knelt down. He started feeling the floorboards with his fingertips. Then he found a crease. He opened up a hatch disguised in the floorboards "Get in."

Marco stepped forward and looked into the crawlspace "I'm not gonna do that! It's dusty!"

"They've started sweeping the street. I don't care if you run or not, but I doubt you can get far without being arrested. And if I get caught with you two, we all get arrested." He waved them to go into the hatch "So hide!"

"...fine. I'll trust you. Star, you think it's fine?"

"Well, he looks trustworthy! Sure!"

They crawled into the dusty space and the hatch closed. It was a squeeze, and they had to lay on their stomach. Light leaked through the cracks in the floorboards. It was silent, but that didn't take long to change.

The door opened. It did not sound like the frantic footsteps of the messenger, it was more relaxed and slow.

They heard them through the floorboards "Ah, Inspector! What brings you here?"

"I am Polizei Officer Hans Landa of the Social-distance Squadron. SS. I was hoping we could have a… discussion." They had an European accent.

"Of course. Please, come in."

More footsteps. Star and Marco could see shadows move.

"Now, as you may have heard," There was a zipping sound. Hans took off his coat. They took a seat. "I am responsible for rounding up all the non-social distancers in this part of the city."

"Yes, I have heard that."

"Are you aware of any of them hiding in the area?"

"No, there are no non-distancers here."

"Really? Because where you are sitting is not 6 feet away from me."

Tony quickly sat up and walked backwards "Forgive me, officer."

"I could kill you right here and now." Hans tapped the holstered gun on his hip "Or I could send you to… 'relocation' But, there is an alternative for you."

"What is it?"

"All I am here for is the city's safety. A valiant cause, i'm sure you'd agree. So tell me, have you seen one 'Detective Star Butterfly' recently? Blonde hair, about 14 or 15."

"No officer, I haven't."

"Hm. Anybody suspicious come by?"

"There… there was somebody who fits your description. They were in a car, and they passed by quickly." Tony lied.

"How quickly?"

"It was a blur, Officer. All I saw was blonde hair."

Hans reached into his chest pocket "Did she look like…" he procured a picture from his chest pocket "...this?" He slid it across the table.

Tony picked it up "Yes. Yes she looks like that. She looks exactly like that."

"Really? Because I thought you only got a glimpse. And if you got a close look, you must've not been social distancing."

Tony dropped the picture "Must have been a trick of the memory. Officer I-"

"And 'looks' and not 'looked'?"

"...What do you want from me?"

Hans picked up his gun, a Luger, and set it on the table "There are no non-social distancers here?"

"On my life."

"..."

"..."

"I have more buildings to inspect. I don't have enough time for this. I'll just send a team later tonight." Hans put away his gun and stood up.

Star and Marco breathed a sigh of relief, but as he headed towards the door he stopped. He was right above them. He gave the floors two good stomps.

"Your floors… they feel hollow."

"I assure you, officer, it's fine."

"Fine?" Hans approached Tony "Your foundations are either rotting, or…" He took out his gun. He was close to Tony, practically stepping on his toes.

"Officer… you're not social distancing."

"W- wait…" Hans walked back "Nein… nein this can't be…" He aimed the gun at himself and shot. He fell with a thud.

Tony gave the body a firm kick, confirming it was dead "You can come up now!"

Star and Marco opened the hatch, kicking up dust. Tony was inspecting the body "I can cover this up. All I need is a blanket. You guys should leave, I don't know what you did to anger Cuomo but you won't last long."

"We didn't do anything…" Marco turned to Star "Unless?"

"I didn't do anything!"

"Huh. That means…" Marco started pacing "This conspiracy has infiltrated politics. Who knows how far up it goes?"

"Obama did tell us that."

"Obama… you should contact him for your next step. I'll get one of the walkie talkies for you."

"'My next step?'"

"After this i'll go home."

"…Alrighty, I'll be staying here." Star sat on a table chair as Marco left the restaurant.

"So kid, what's your name?" Tony started looting Hans' corpse for valuables. I mean, would he be looting for cheap stuff?

"Detective Butterfly, Star."

"So he was lookin' for you?"

"Yup. We're detectives. Marco thinks what we're investigating is angering those in power."

"Hm. Good luck to both of ya's, then."

"Actually, only one of us needs that luck. Marco's abandoning the case."

"Oh. You guys been partners for long?"

"Nope. But we knew each other before. We're good friends."

"Good friends? And he's leaving you this case?"

"We had a falling out. I got on his nerves, he said some stuff, and we decided it'd be best if we don't talk to each other for a while."

"You seemed perfectly fine when you came in."

"We aren't permanently shutting each other out. It's just for this case."

"I'm sure your friend'll make it up to you somehow. This is just how friendships are."

After a short while, Marco returned with a walkie talkie in hand.

"Alright, I got it." He tossed it to Star.

Star looked down at the radio, then up at Marco "So, you're going home?"

"Yup. Had enough of this. Should I say bye?"

"No… Just go. It's easier that way, don't have to think about ways to say bye."

"Ok, sure." Marco headed for the door. But as he put his hand on the handle, Star stood up.

"You were the best darn rookie I ever had." Star saluted.

Marco smiled "I was the only rookie you had!" He laughed, and gave a salute back. "See ya on the other side."

"Heh, just like that one movie- Hey you remembered a quote!"

"I didn't hate all of them. Just… the vast majority." Marco left.

Star waited a moment. Now, she was alone. But she was sure she could solve the case.

She turned the walkie talkie on and contacted Obama's channel to find out what the next step would be "Hello? Is this Obama?"

"Nope. This is Joe Biden." The voice crackled "Obama is… on a trip. I'm his replacement."

"Oh yeah, he did say that. I'll be in touch again soon, ok Mr. Biden? I need to rest before I follow the investigation again."

"Roger that. I am trusted and skilled enough to be Obama's replacement. If you listen to me, you'll be just fine."