CHAPTER 3 – CURFEW

Pierre Picard was confused and angry. Events from the last few days left him completely puzzled. Now since week he has been patrolling the streets of Paris, but during this time the objectives have changed completely. At first, they had to hunt down everyone that posed a threat to MJ12 – till recently the only actual power in France.

Now the hunters became a prey. A new leader, a mysterious figure, emerged all of sudden. Picard and his colleagues weren't sure who or what is it – but it rendered the government unable to fulfill its tasks, cutting the power to the government buildings, overriding the security and keeping the officials imprisoned.

Getting rid of MJ-12 was, frankly, according to the secret wishes of Pierre and his colleagues. Strangely enough, it took less time than anyone expected. Police was provided with exact data on every MJ12 supporter living in France. The troops, although they resisted, were now a lot of easier target to defeat once they were deprived of their leaders.

No one liked the insolent and arrogant MJ12 troops and, before the change in power, within their limited possibilities, the Paris policemen did everything to make MJ12 slightly more trouble. At the first place, just few days earlier, they pretended they didn't see wanted on a worldwide scale JC Denton sneaking through the streets of Paris, although his description could be found in every public terminal.

"I wonder how long will we have to patrol this place," one of Picard's colleagues complained, watching indifferently the wet after a recent heavy rain and badly lit streets, "Now once everyone is caught, there's nothing besides some stray cats."

"Yeah, that's a good question, Louis", Picard agreed, playing with his baton.

"It's all just too weird."

"Hey, wait! I've got something, two o'clock." Picard stirred, noticing an unusual movement on his thermal vision.

"Another cat?" Louis didn't seem especially interested.

"Quite a big cat, if you ask me," sarcasm in Pierre's voice became very distinct.

Louis, surprised, looked in the mentioned direction. Pierre wasn't mistaken. A figure tried to sneak past a lane, apparently unaware that it was spotted.

"Police!" Picard shouted, drawing his gun. "Put yourself to the ground. Now!"

"Shit!" A man hidden behind the trash bins turned tail, glimpsing in direction, from which the voice came. He ran as fast as he could, aiding himself with a small night vision device.

"Delta, a suspect is heading in your direction, ignoring our call." Picard spoke through the radio.

"Roger that."

Two shots were fired, but both missed. The runaway turned into a nearest street, hoping to lose those who chased him. Both the prospect of being caught and things he learned when he hacked the network just few hours earlier scared him. A security glitch he used was probably already patched, so it was he, who had to share this knowledge. He knew only two people that might help him and one of them lived nearby.

The man didn't go far. Two other policemen emerged from nowhere and started to shoot. One of the bullets hit him in the arm, the other one hit him in the stomach, third one pierced his lung. The man collapsed.
The two policemen approached him and, moment later, Pierre and Louis saw the fugitive as well. He lied in a puddle of water and his own blood.

"Critical…" he groaned, choking with his blood, "…error. It…" he coughed "…will kill… us." He coughed again, but he didn't manage to say anything more.

Pierre and Louis looked at one another and, not knowing what the man was talking about, shrugged.

"Let's search him," Picard stated.

Louis started the search and after a moment he found the victim's ID. He switched on his pocket flashlight and looked at the document.

"Paul Duval", he eventually read. "Interesting. I don't recall anyone of such name from MJ12 database. Still, I doubt it's just a random guy. Look at this gadget" Louis took the night vision device. "Ordinary men don't carry such things around."

"Yeah, that's unusual," Pierre agreed. "I wonder why he tried to escape. I think we should check him."

"Beta here. We have one suspect here, identified as Paul Duval, killed during his attempt of escape," Louis radioed the headquarters, "I don't recall such name from the MJ12 database. We need as much data on him as possible."

"Beta, we'll check the central database and get back to you," the female voice answered after a while, "Now continue your patrol."

"Roger that."

The cold wind, already blowing all the time, now strengthened.

"Up from 6:00 A.M. Paris time the curfew is lifted. You will clear the streets and the traffic is to be resumed," a mechanical voice transmitted.

"About time!" Picard stated.

"Yeah." Louis agreed. "But frankly, this guy gives me the creeps".

"Like the MJ12 agents?" Pierre asked.

"Worse" Louis shivered.

Both of them looked at the corpse once again.

"Whoever is this Duval I have bad feelings about this" Pierre said.

Louis nodded in agreement.