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Chapter 6.
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'Big mouth'
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"Listen Tom!" Fuller raised his voice and with irritation hit hands on the desk. "I've lost twenty precious minutes talking with you. I've got work here and can't waste my time!" He pointed his index finger towards the door and said: "Go home! I don't want to see you today anymore."
Despite the harsh and definite tone in Fullers voice Tom didn't seem to give up. He just sat a bit more comfortably and looked directly in Captains eyes and said:
"No, Coach. It is you who is wasting your and my time, because you are not listening to me. I am all right now, healthy, fit. How else do you want me to say that fact?" As the young man said that, he sent to Captain a special, reserved only for him look.
"Stop it, Tom." Fuller said and turned his finger towards him. "And don't look at me like that! I remember very well how seriously ill you were a week ago. You hardly were able to stand on your feet by your own! Doug had to support you to get you to car and take to doctor".
Tom winced at that faint memory; he really didn't like to think about that. He lowered his head; he felt he will not win with Captain that way. So he said it:
"Okay, Coach, you are right. I was ill and needed some break. So I had one – taking above a week long. But fact is I am here now. And fact is you need somebody to replace Judy in the Sect case".
"Doug and Ioki can manage by themselves." Fuller answered matter of factly starting to write something in the papers.
"Oh, I am sure they could, but it will take time, and you don't have it. There are federals pushing you."
"Who told you that?" Captain raised his head at once.
"Doug."
"I will tear his legs out from his ass!" Fuller shouted irritated.
"Besides" Tom continued calmly, as he saw he could work something pressing him that way. "I am sure you missed my big mouth, didn't you?"
Fuller rolled his eyes up and thought with smile "He is incredible". And then he looked abruptly at Tom with interest, as he had an idea. Fuller watched him carefully for a moment and thought "Big mouth… yes… big and pretty mouth."
Tom felt thrown a bit of balance at that sudden silence and Fullers scrutinizing look. But before he could think about something to say, Captain stood up and went to the door shouting "Doug, Ioki – to my office!"
The two officers entered the room and waited impatiently turning their gaze from Fuller to Tom and back again. They couldn't read anything from their expressions. There was no sign of success or loss on Tom's face he rather was looking confused. Captain on the other hand was excited and pleased. He was looking for something in the drawers in his desk. Doug turned his head towards Ioki with mute question in his eyes. The other cop managed only to shrug his shoulders.
"Got you!" Said Captain loudly as he found whatever he was looking for. He pulled out some files and handed them to Tom saying:
"You should get familiar with that before you join the case."
"Tom!" Doug shouted excited. "You succeeded! How the hell did you do that?"
The asked officer blinked and looked at his friend:
"Kill me, but I have no idea."
20 minutes later
"… And then he started to rock himself back and forth and yell something about angels with bloody tears on their faces and dancing... well I heard he said something about dancing with the death but I am not sure. I tell you Tom, you should have seen him, and he was looking really scared and when we asked about Guardian he went mad."
"And what is happening with that Michael Cooper now?" asked Tom. "Is he any better? Can we interview him again?"
"Not really. Believe me, he won't tell us anything useful. Anyway, doctors moved him to psychiatric ward and as soon as he will be stronger physically he will be transferred to State Mental Hospital."
"It isn't very helpful, is it?" Tom said thoughtfully and turned to Doug. "Is there, in the Sect, anybody else who could know Guardians face?"
"No, he arrives usually on their ceremonies, and always he is dressed in long black cloak with hood hiding his face."
"Besides," said Ioki "as we learned nobody from the Sect had direct speech or even contact with him. He always is surrounded by his own people. I think he wants to be a bit mysterious and scary, but somehow it is strange for me. As if he didn't care about them."
"The only exception was Michael, Guardian liked him." Doug said with disgust on his face. "They say Michael was his lover."
"And that is why," Fuller broke in looking directly at Tom "I think you will be useful in that case, Tom."
"What? Do you want me to be Guardians lover?" Tom asked hesitantly forcing a weak smile on his face with hope it was kind of bad joke.
"Eee… Well, no… Not necessarily. But we know Guardian likes boys, especially pretty ones. Michael himself was... eee... is very good-looking. Maybe that's the way to get to him. To replace Michael by another pretty kid – you, I mean."
"Hey, Captain! That's brilliant!" Ioki shouted. "That can work."
"That's a crap, I am not… pretty" Tom almost spat out that word. "Pretty can be a girl, not a guy!"
Doug and Ioki started make sweet eyes to Tom with maliciously smiles.
"Ok, ok. But you are good looking enough. There is a chance you bring Guardians or his boys' special attention on you." Fuller soothed and looked at two other officers with discontent. "They didn't."
Not affected Doug winked at Tom seductively and said amused: "Welcome back in Chapel, love."
"Oh, shut up Doug" Tom answered resigned.
"Good." Fuller said willing to get down to the business. "Tomorrow Doug and Ioki are back at school. You will join them. They will introduce you to the Sect."
"No." Tom answered thoughtfully looking at the files.
"What? I thought you were desperate to be back!"
"I said 'no' to the idea. I think it would be more useful to join the Omega-Alfa Brotherhood."
"But they have nothing common with the Sect." Doug objected. "It is University student group, there are only those boring scientists who are talking about boring science. You won't find there anything interesting Tom."
"You are wrong, they have. Michael Cooper. He was a member there as well."
"And? It doesn't mean anything. Only that he was a boring scientist."
"No, that's it. Take the facts. Satanists reverse Christian values and signs. Instead love they value hate, they have cross up side down, black masses. Omega-Alfa is opposite to Alfa-Omega, where Alfa-Omega means God, so Omega-Alfa can only mean Satan."
"But we didn't notice any satanic or other illegal activities in there. It is just a group of Chemists."
"They have to hide themselves, they are scientists after all. And their job is to hide Guardian and his activities whatever he is doing. I think all their offences are covered by the Sect, that's why FBI couldn't find rapists of Angela Snow. Every member of The Sect had alibi and Brotherhood was behind suspicions."
"But we can't be sure of that, this is just remote guesswork."
"Maybe, but what about the Sect itself. It is not very inventive name for satanic sect, is it? I think it means they are not important, only a cover. They exist only to pull the wool over our eyes, or eyes of anybody who tries get to Guardian. A dead end street."
"The more I am listening to you" Fuller said impressed "the more happy I am with that idea. What is your plan, Tom?"
"I will start chemistry classes, the same which Michael had…" Tom answered, and checked in files. "It is... Chemical Technology… and then try to get to the brotherhood."
"And how do you imagine to do that, you are raw with chemistry, not to mention that… uh… thing."
"I will take private lessons." The younger cop joked. "What do you think Coach?"
"Whatever you will think of, do this. It will be better than that we were doing anyway" Captain said. "But you will work solo out there. Doug and Ioki have to stay in the Sect. And, if you are right, you will have to be extra careful."
"Aye, sir."
"Now, go back to your paperwork. Doug, I expect you to finish it to next week."
"Uh - huh..."
After they left Captains room Tom went immediately to Judy with Doug and Ioki at his heels. As the young woman noticed Hanson coming up to her, she sent him warm smile and asked:
"So, as I can see, you managed to convince Captain. How did you do that?"
"Oh Judy" Doug answered quickly, before Tom even opened his mouth. He still enjoyed the situation and was amused of Tom's embarrassed looks. "He didn't have to do anything. His pretty face was enough."
"Judy." Tom broke in and then continued seriously to the surprised girl at the same time kicking his friend's ankle. "Can I ask you for your help tomorrow morning before our classes?"
"Yeah." Judy agreed immediately but Tom didn't miss mute question on her face not to mention Doug's immediately focused face.
"I need you to help me to become a member of Omega-Alfa Brotherhood." He explained.
"Of course I will help you, Tom. But actually what can I do, you couldn't do by yourself?"
"A make up" Tom answered with smile.
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