The Following:
Peace, Love, and Happiness
Episode 9
Old Friends New Enemies
Ryan stepped away from Cruz and then glanced at William who was sitting on the bed with a surprised look on his face. Cruz's face was covered blood and three of his fingers were broken. He was breathing heavily and when the pain subsided enough, he began to laugh at Ryan and William. It was almost as if he were taunting them.
"You think that this is going to work here?" Cruz asked rhetorically. He spit blood on the floor. "You guys are so wrong."
"Three fingers down," Ryan said as he cracked his knuckles loudly. "Seven more to go."
"Do your worst," Cruz said roughly.
Ryan looked at William again, who shrugged his shoulders as if to say to do his worst. Ryan sighed and then approached Cruz who was eyeing him roughly. "Do you know what happens when I break the rest of your fingers?" Ryan asked.
"No, what happens?" Cruz asked pretending to care.
William grumbled a curse worse and stood up. He took a few steps toward Cruz. "You are a special kind of stupid you know," William shook his head. "Three of your fingers are broken. You have a busted up face and have lost two teeth as well." He took another step toward him. "Ryan will keep doing this. I know him well. It would be best for you, if you tell us what we want to know."
"It would be best for you guys," Cruz said looking at William as if he were an idiot. "But not for me. I know my fate in this situation and I have accepted it already."
"Have you already?" Ryan asked looking at him with fake curiosity.
"Yes I have," Cruz said with nod. "I am ready to die, whether it is by your hands or by some other pendejo out there." He chuckled and shook his head. "Now I admire your guile, but it will get you nothing from me."
Ryan sighed and looked at William who was looking at Cruz annoyed. He wanted answers and this kid was continuing to toy with him. Yet, he knew, that Ryan would be the one to help him get the answers. It wasn't as if he were in any shape to take any drastic measures anyways. He knew that his stitching could loosen even more and that is something he of course didn't want to happen. Instead he would watch Ryan do his magic.
"Tell me about your friend Michael?" Ryan asked looking back at Cruz.
Cruz began to laugh. "What about him?" He gave him a weird look.
Ryan sighed again and rubbed his temples. He was beginning to get a headache. "Tell me everything you know about him."
"What will that get you?" Cruz asked continuing to laugh. He cracked his neck. "Nothing, because I will tell you nothing."
Ryan cursed and grabbed another one of Cruz's fingers. He bent it backward until a crack was heard. Cruz cried out in pain and shook in his chair, which couldn't support his weight anymore. He fell on the floor, hitting his head once again. This time he saw stars and blacked out for a few moments. When he came to, he was sitting in the other chair on the other side of the table.
"You have no idea what you guys are getting yourself into," Cruz said looking at Ryan and William with a playful laugh. "You really don't."
"So give us a hint," William said knowing that it wouldn't work anyways.
Cruz shook his head and spat out blood again on the floor. "Wouldn't you like to know?" He gave him a blood stained smile.
Ryan sighed and stepped away from Cruz. His headache was growing worse and he didn't have anything to take for it. He rubbed his temples again, applying a little more pressure, but it didn't help at all. Instead, he would have to deal with it until much later. He looked at Cruz, who was eyeing him curiously. It was then when he came up with an idea.
"I'll be right back," He said looking at William who stood up with a painful grunt. "Just give me a sec."
He didn't even wait for William to respond. He turned and stepped out of the hotel room. He quickly made his way his car and opened the trunk. Inside it, was a half a case of water, some emergency items, and a wooden Louisiana bat. He grabbed it and then closed the trunk.
He returned to the room and approached Cruz who began to laugh. "What are you going to do?" He asked, "Beat it out of me?"
"Indeed I am," Ryan said gripping the bat tightly. He narrowed his eyes at him. "Did you know I played in high school? I was pretty good too, could've played professional too." He paused thinking of his father, who was against him playing professional sports for reasons he didn't know. "But instead, I chose this career."
"You are a special kind of stupid then," Cruz laughed louder.
Ryan swung and struck Cruz in the right knee breaking it. He cried out and shook in the chair, causing it to fall over. When the pain subsided a few moments later, he began to laugh. "Batter up," He said.
Ryan grabbed him and placed him in a seating position. "Do you value your other knee?" He asked pointing at it with the bat. "Because I won't hesitate to break that one too." He paused and tapped it playfully. "With one broken knee already, you will never walk the same again, imagine both of them broke."
"Fine, I will give you information," Cruz He said caving in. He looked at William. "Your daughter," He paused for a few moments watching his reaction. "Well she isn't as innocent as you may think."
"What is that supposed to mean?" William approached him.
Cruz shook his head and closed his lips tightly. He wasn't going to say a thing. He knew he would die here and since he knew that already, he would toy with them all he could.
"You mentioned my daughter," William asked raising his voice at him. "What the hell did you mean by what you said?"
Cruz still refused to answer.
Ryan swung and struck his other knee, breaking it. Cruz screamed in pain and fell over. He struck his head on the edge of the table as he fell on the floor, knocking him unconscious. Ryan approached him and tapped him with the bat a few times, but he didn't move.
"Damn," William said shaking his head annoyed. "Now what?" He crossed his arms over his chest. "He is out cold."
Ryan sighed and tossed the bat aside. He turned away from Cruz and rubbed his temples again. His head was pounding and he needed to take something soon or he would have to lie down before a migraine would settle in. He looked at William who was eyeing him.
"I have a few ideas," Ryan said with a small shrug, "But I am not going to get them here."
"What kind of ideas?" William asked.
"Well there is obviously Mike and Max," Ryan began. He saw William shake his head in disagreement. "Since you don't like that idea, there is someone else I can talk tp." He stopped mid sentence and ran a hand through his hair. "But it is someone I don't want to talk to." He paused again ignoring William's odd looks. "Although, if we want to get your daughter back, then I will need to."
It was Thursday night and the bar McFeeley's had a large crowd in it. Some were sitting by the bar watching the soccer game, Chelsea versus Manchester. Others were standing a few feet away, beers in their hands, watching the game as well. They were cheering loudly rooting for their favorite team.
Opposite of the bar were rows of tables where people ate from the grade B kitchen that the bar had. Some were watching the game from the limited view they had, others were listening from their seats, while the rest were conversing amongst themselves trying to ignore the game. But they were having little success, it was just too plain loud.
Michael was sitting alone at a table in the far corner of the bar, trying with all his might to ignore the insane crowd. He had three empty beers in front him and he was halfway finished with his fourth one. The TV screens were too far away, so he was unable to watch the game. Not that he really cared anyways. He was a baseball and football fan.
He sighed and took a drink from his beer. Since he wasn't watching the game, he was going over ideas of what he should do. Should he go back home and tell his father what happened? That he lost Tanya and left Cruz behind? His father wouldn't like it and may punish him, instead of welcoming him home. Should he go and look for Cruz back at the hotel? Who said that he would even be there? Either way it was too risky and sounded like suicide.
Michael looked and saw a young German couple walking past him. She pulled his arm wanting to grab a table, but he had his eyes glued to the TV. He wanted to watch the game instead. She begged him, but he just ignored her until, but she pressed on until he cursed at her in German.
Michael returned his gaze to his beer and took another drink. It was nearly empty so he motioned for the waitress for another one. She gave him a fake smile as she handed him a full beer. He thanked her and then opened it. He took a sip and watched her walk away. She was a cute little thing with a small waist and a tiny behind. Petite girls were his kind of thing.
When she was out of sight, he thought of Cruz. Was he still in the hotel room? Was he even alive? Did Ryan kill him? If he did, then he would have to go and kill Ryan. But that would obviously be harder than he thought. Yet, he didn't want to do nothing, less than getting arrested. He could go out and try to save Cruz or go back home.
Cruz drained the rest of the beer and then belched. He stood up on slightly drunken legs and made his way to the bar. He pushed his way through the noisy crowd and paid bartender for his the last beer. The bartender thanked him for his tip and then hurried to make more drinks.
Michael turned and quickly left the bar. As soon as he was outside, he lit a cigarette and then exhaled enjoying its relaxing feeling. He was about to leave, when he heard arguing in German. From the corner of his eye, he saw the young couple in the bar arguing. He watched him slap her, sending her to the floor.
Michael tossed his cigarette on the floor and then approached them. The guy turned to him as he approached. "Can I help you?" He asked looking at him with suspicion.
"Yes," Michael said.
Michael grabbed him the shirt and tossed him on the trunk of a car with a slam. He heard the girlfriend cry out, but he ignored her. Instead he punched him in the face. He continued to hit him, his vision blurring. He hated women abuse to the core. He grabbed the guy and then tossed him through the car window with a smash, without thinking.
It wasn't until he heard the girlfriend crying on the phone to the cops that he came to and saw what he had done. The abusive boyfriend was one the floor his face cut up and covered in blood. "Shit," Michael said unhappily that he got carried away. Without a second glance he turned and ran away praying that the cops wouldn't find him.
Jeffery was sitting at his desk, coffee in his hand, and the New York Post open in front of me. He took a sip enjoying the taste and the aroma of the pumpkin spice flavored coffee. He was reading an article about a young man lightening himself on fire in the middle of Times Square in the name of Joe. When the body was brought to the ER, the Doctors found the name Joe tattooed from his legs up to his shoulders.
There was not too much on the article. It gave a little bit of a background about his normal life. He had loving parents who weren't aware of his Joe obsession and a girlfriend who was staying at her grandmother's house. His friends weren't talking, which was not surprising to anyone that had anything to do with Joe's followers.
His name was Brian Alderson and he was eighteen years old. Born and raised in the heart of Brooklyn. He was rugged to the core, spent most of his time on the streets, dealing a small amount of weed here and there. His parents, of course, were unaware of their son's mini business. They knew he had some, questionable friends, but didn't know the extent of what they were doing.
Jeffery took another sip when there was a knock on the door. He closed the paper with a sigh. It was too early in the morning and he didn't want to deal with any work related issues until he finished his coffee. "Come in," He said after a moment pause.
He looked up from his spot to see Scott Thompson walk in with an annoyed look on his face. "Good morning Scott," Jeffery said watching Scott close the door behind him.
"That remains to be seen," Scott said taking a seat in front of Jeffery. He glanced at the paper in front of him. "Did you read the article yet?"
"Which one?" Jeffery asked.
"The one that described the incident in Times Square," Scott said shaking his head. "The young man with his love for Joe Carroll."
"Hell half this paper is about Joe Carroll and the repercussions that followed him," He folded the paper up and tossed it in the waist bin beside his desk. "The rest is filled with the ISIS terror and the infamous EBOLA scare."
Scott eyed the paper in the garbage for a few moments and then sighed. "There was also the incident that almost occurred at JFK," He said leaning forward in his seat.
Jeffery took a long drink from his coffee and then stood up. "Yeah I did," He began to pace around his office with the coffee still in his hand. "I was there to arrest the group myself."
Scott ran a hand through his short hair. "I admit it was a genius effort on their part," He said with a morbid laugh. "They are getting desperate with their leader in jail."
"They gutted and removed parts of the internal organs of six dead bodies that were flying to different cemeteries in the country," Jeffery said seriously, "Filled the bodies with enough dynamite to destroy half a mile. Mix that with all the gas in the planes and anything else that is explosive warrant," He paused and made a face of disgust. "I don't need to continue."
"What about the missing FBI agents?" Scott asked. "Have you got any leads on their whereabouts?"
Jeffery was about to take another sip of his coffee. Instead he set the cup on his desk. "We have nothing so far," He said unhappily. "It is as if they are being plucked off the streets like flowers." He cracked his neck and turned to Scott. "At first I could have sworn that they were taken by extremists of Joe or Lily's cult pissed, but with the resurfacing of Molly as well as this gentleman named Amable." He paused and shrugged his shoulders. "I am at a loss."
"Same here," Scott agreed with him. "What does Ryan have to say on the matter?"
"That's the problem." Jeffery said reaching for his coffee. He took a long drink from it and then continued to pace around his office. "I haven't been able to get a hold of him. According to Max, he is working with William on the disappearance of his daughter."
"Good," Scott frowned. "Perhaps Ryan will be able to get a lead."
"What if he doesn't?" Jeffery asked looking at him annoyed. "What if he comes up empty handed or he goes down as well?" He paused and set his coffee on the desk a little rougher then he intended. Some of it spilled, but he didn't notice. "I admire his guile, but he just irks me. I don't want to lose anyone else to this cult bullshit." He cleared his throat and took a few steps toward Scott who was now standing up. "I want him to be open with us. We are a team."
"Technically since he isn't an agent anymore," Scott said eyeing the spilled coffee on the desk. It was dripping on to the floor. "He doesn't have to answer to us."
"Then that makes that a criminal offense," "Jeffery said angrily.
"Yes it does," Scot agreed with him again. "But haven't we been down that road again?" He paused and took a few steps toward Jeffery. "Gina tried to do that and every time she interfered with Ryan there were casualties."
"Are you suggestion we allow Ryan to go on with his cowboy crusade?" Jeffery asked.
"Yes I do," Scott said crossing his arms over his chest. "Ryan is good at what he does and we are good at what we do. We will continue dealing with this just like we always do and I can promise you that everything will work out."
Jeffery was prepared to continue with his argument, but he came to realize that Scott was right. "I hope so," He said knowing that what Scott was saying was the best plan, even if he was beginning to grow sick of it.
Mike pulled up in front of Brian's girlfriend's house. He turned off the car and looked at Max as he unclipped his seatbelt. Max looked at him and then touched his shoulder affectionately. She smiled and leaned close kissing him briefly. He smiled and deepened the kiss.
When they broke apart, Mike ran a hand through her hair and whispered in her ear. "You know we can drive away, rent a hotel room for a few hours, and," He paused and playfully nibbled on her ear causing her to giggle. "Well you know."
"That does sound amazing," She said enjoying his feel. "I really wish we could."
Mike touched her chin and kissed her again. "Are you sure?" He asked with a wicked smile.
Max kissed him again and then pushed him away much against to what she wanted to do. She really wanted to drive away with Mike. Whether it was at a hotel or either of their apartments. She wanted to spend time with him, but now was not a good time.
"I really wish I could," Max said with a sigh. "But we have work to do." She opened the car door and stepped out.
Mike knew she was right. They had work to do. They were going to ask Brian's girlfriend some questions, but afterward, they didn't have plans. There was always work to do. The amount of work that came with the recent cases was unbelievable and one could lose hours of sleep just trying to get all the work finished.
He stepped out of the car and followed Max up to the front door. She knocked on it and waited a few moments until the door open. She saw a young woman in the doorway, looking at them uncertain. She was slightly overweight, wearing a Slipknot sweater, and a lot of makeup. She had red hair, a multiple piercings on her face.
"Miss Charlene Rains?" Max asked studying her.
"Yes," Charlene raised a questioning eyebrow. "How can I help you?"
"My name is Max and this is Mike," She said pointing to him. "We want to know if we could ask you some questions." She showed Charlene her badge and the mike showed her his.
Charlene sighed and stepped away from the door. "I know what this is about and I knew that someone would eventually come here," She said motioning for them to enter.
Mike and Max entered the house and then followed Charlene to the living room. Charlene sat down on a leather recliner, while Mike and Max sat on a three person couch. Charlene's grandmother entered the living room seeing the two of them and introduced herself.
"Are you hungry?" She asked the two of them.
"No thanks," Mike said shaking his head. "I am not very hungry."
"Neither am I," Max said.
"Well I am hungry and am going to make a sandwich," She said turning toward the kitchen. "I have some drinks in the fridge, I bet you guys are thirsty."
With that she turned and walked to the kitchen. Charlene shrugged her shoulders. "That's my grandma for you," She said with a soft chuckle. "Anyways you guys are here, what do you want to know?"
"I know this isn't going to be easy," Max began gently. "But whatever you can tell us about Brian, would be most helpful."
"You know something Max," Charlene said with a friendly smile. "I am glad it's you both and not some other detective junkie," She shifted in her spot. "The both of you are pretty famous, concerning the whole Joe Carroll case that is."
"I am glad that we could be on that celebrity status," Mike said shaking his head.
Charlene took a deep breath before beginning. "I met my Brian at a Yankees game a year ago," She said with a bittersweet smile. "We were both waiting in line to buy beer in between innings. We began chatting and he offered to buy the beer. We then decided to sit next to each other for the rest of the game." She paused and removed a strand of her red hair that had fallen on her face. "But that isn't what you wanted to know though."
"Don't worry Charlene," Max said gently. "Any information that you have to give in important, no matter how big or small."
Charlene smiled at them. They were so nice, which she wasn't expected. She thought that they would be hardcore and tough without a care for her. They would want the information and not care about how she felt about giving it to them. But the both of them seemed tender and caring. Plus, she could tell that there was something going on between them. They kept glancing at each other almost flirtatious.
"Well I know you want to know why he decided to do what he did," Charlene said shaking her head in dismay. "I can remember the moment his interest began in Joe, but it wasn't per say him." She saw Mike's confusion, but chose to ignore it. "When he first saw a picture of Emma on the news, I could see how infatuated he was with her. At first I didn't think it was a big deal, hell I have crushes on TV," She shrugged her shoulders sadly, "But somehow, he was able to get a hold of her and Joe's book. He read it religiously and tried to get me to read it as well, but I just found it to be boring and stupidly preachy." She paused and chuckled bitterly. "And poorly written as well."
Charlene's grandma entered the living room carrying a tray of food as well as three beers. "I know you guys said you aren't hungry," She said sweetly. She smiled at Max the only way a grandma could. "But I hate not feeding my guests. I will be damned if I ever let that happen."
"Thank you," Max said smiling at her.
Charlene's grandma set the tray on the small coffee table in front of Max. "Please enjoy," She said with a small bow before she turned and then left the living room. "If you need anything else dear just let me know." She said as she left.
Charlene watched her grandmother walk away with a laugh. She was short stocky woman who seemed to always be cooking. She would make large meals for the silliest reasons. It didn't matter what the reason or why. She loved cooking.
"So anyways," Charlene said looking at Mike at Max. "In the beginning I let it go. Brian would talk of Emma and of course Joe, but I ignored him. I didn't think it was a big deal. He never mentioned anything about actually joining them, I just thought it was an empty obsession." She paused when her lip trembled. "But that changed when Joe went to prison for the second time." Her eyes brimmed with tears. "He told me he was okay and I stupidly listened to him."
"It wasn't your fault," Mike said gently.
"I know that," Charlene said with a sigh. "I just wish I would have been more attentive to him." She shook her head sadly. "I knew that he took Joe's last arrest personally. I could just see it in his eyes, but I never confronted him about it. Stupidly I didn't think it was a problem." She wiped away her tears. "I feel such an idiot."
"Whatever Brian did wasn't your fault," Max said softly, "You shouldn't let it weigh on your shoulders. It was out of your control."
"I wish I could just believe that," Charlene said sadly. She shrugged her shoulders and was about to say something else, but instead she closed her mouth unsure what to say.
Mike glanced at Max who was watching Charlene. She didn't notice him looking at her. He turned back to Charlene and then asked, "Did Brian leave anything that dealt with Joe here with you?"
"Not at all," She shook her head. "I refused to have anything to do with Joe."
"That's good," Max said with a small smile. "You were smart to make that decision."
"Thanks," Charlene said giving her a bitter smile. "I am sorry I wasn't more help."
"Don't worry about it," Max said kindly. She and Mike stood up. "You were very helpful actually." She looked at Mike for a second. "If you can think of anything else don't hesitate to call us." She wrote down her number and then handed it to her.
"Thanks," She said folding the paper. She placed it in her back pocket.
Mike and Max followed Charlene to the porch. They said their goodbyes and then walked to the car. As they walked, they what they had just learned from her.
"I believe her," Max said looking at Mike as they took their seats.
"You do?" Mike asked glancing at her while he started the car.
"Yeah I do," Max said with a small shrug. "Do you?"
"I am not sure," Mike said driving away from the house. "She could be lying about not being part of Joe's cult or she could be part of it and was the one that told Brian to light himself on fire."
"Perhaps," Max said, "It is hard to find out whether they are hiding something just by talking to them." She paused and glanced at an elderly couple walking their dog. They waved at her as they drove passed them. "Anyways, what is next on the list?"
"Well we didn't get much from her," Max said glancing at her briefly, "So I am guessing we will get more from Brian's parents, even though they were already interviewed." He shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe they will allow us to search his room."
"Let's hope so," Max said with a tired sigh. She could definitely use a cup of coffee. She didn't sleep a lot last night and was definitely feeling the effects of it now. She reached out and touched his arm affectionately. "We will get something out of it, I can feel it."
"I hope you're right," Mike said as he merged on to the freeway.
Joe wanted to think of himself as a patient guy. It took a lot to get on his nerves. He rarely tied to get angry and let his emotions get the hold of him. His success so far was because of that. Yet now, his nerves were being tested by Frank.
It didn't matter whether Frank was awake or asleep, he was just equally annoying. When he was awake, he'd constantly talk about everything, but when he was asleep, he snored loudly. It sounded like an eighteen wheel truck. Now though, he was awake and telling him an awful joke.
"So the cop went into the barn and approached the sack that the blond was hiding in," Frank said loudly. "He kicked it gently and the blond not wanting to give up her whereabouts, said in a loud voice, potatoes."
Frank began to laugh loudly, while Joe groaned. He closed his eyes and shifted on to his back. He was lying down trying to get some sleep, but Frank was preventing him from doing so. If it weren't for the bars blocking both him and Frank, he would've gone there and strangled him just to get some sleep.
"Did you get it?" Frank asked when he noticed Joe wasn't laughing.
"Yes I did," Joe sighed. He rubbed his temples. "It was a horrible joke."
"I think it was funny," Frank said continuing to laugh. "I was married to a blond and she was pretty stupid too. If it weren't for great sex, I would've dumped her lame ass a while back."
"You were married?" Joe asked trying to change the topic. He didn't want to hear anymore jokes from him.
"Yeah I was," Frank said proudly, "Believe it or not, I am quite the ladies' man here."
"I hardly believe that," Joe said looking at Frank who was sitting up in his bed.
"Believe it mister," Frank said with a large smile. "Anyways here is another joke."
"Oh god no," Joe groaned not wanting to hear another one.
At that moment Joe heard footsteps from down the hall. He looked and saw the warden approach his cell and peer at him with disgust. "You have a visitor Joe," He said unhappily. "If it was for me, I would let you rot in here alone, but for some stupid reason there is someone that wants to talk to you."
"Oh thank god," Joe said relieved. He stood up and raise his hands as the warden unlocked the cell.
The warden motioned for the guards to handcuff Joe. There were five in total. Two of them carrying handcuffs and the rest semi-automatics in their arms. He pushed in a wheel chair for Joe to sit in. Joe was then double cuffed to the chair by his ankles and arms. Joe winked at Frank who was watching them with wonder.
"I will tell you the joke when you get back," Frank said.
"I hope not," Joe said shaking his head.
Joe was pushed out of the cell floor and into the elevator. They went to the visitor's room which was four floors up. The wheel chair was then chained to the floor for extra security. The warden looked at Joe coolly before leaving the room, leaving the rest of the guards as means of security.
Not even two minutes later, the door opened and in walked a smug faced Ryan. When Joe saw Ryan he couldn't believe it. "Ryan Hardy," He said watching him take a seat across from Joe. He smiled at him. "It is Ryan bloody Hardy."
Hope you guys enjoyed! More to come soon!
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