The Following:
Peace, Love, and Happiness
Episode 11 – WAR!
Jeffery stepped out if his temporary office in the 61rst Precinct and made his way to the interrogating room that was located on the second floor directly above his office. He was not in the mood for this, but it had to be done. Ever since the attack, something else changed in him. Impatience. It was now at its strongest.
He was one edge. He was stressed. An end to this whole adolescent charade would give him peace, but he didn't know when that would be. Not with ravenous childlike terrorist running through the streets.
A few moments later he was standing in front of the interrogating room looking through the mirror at the suspect Jeremy Valdez. Sergeant Ashley Jones handed him a file. "Good luck," She said sternly.
Jeffery locked eyes with her as he took the folder from her. "Thanks," He said morbidly. "I have a feeling I am going to need it."
He turned and entered the room. Jeremy looked at him smugly as he sat across from him. He place placed the file in front of him and then looked at Jeremy. "So," He began, "What do you have to say?"
"I'd like a steak, egg and cheese mcmuffin with a large black coffee," He said with a childlike laugh.
"You think you find this funny?" Jeffery scolded, "Because I am not amused" He leaned forward in his spot. "Why did you do it?"
"Because I wanted to," Jeremy said proudly.
"You wanted to?" He asked in disbelief. He opened the folder and took out six pictures. He spread them out in front of him to see. "These five are all victims of the attack." He pointed to the last photo. "This is Zoe Leon. She is in the ICU now for a multiple third degree burns all over her body. It is likely she won't survive."
"That is too bad," He said not really caring. He didn't even look at the photos.
"I ask you again," He asked staring at him intently. "Why did you do it?"
"I already told you," Jeremy smugly said, "I wanted to."
Jeffery cursed inwardly as he stared at him for a few moments studying his facial expressions. He was trying to be tough. Trying to be brave. Trying to outsmart him. But in the end he was trying to be stupid.
"Did you do it for Joe?" Jeffery asked.
Jeremy laughed loudly and shifted in his spot. "For Joe you ask?" He repeated his question and then laughed loudly. "Joe is a nobody. He is just a fly on the wall."
"If it isn't Joe, who is it for?" He asked, "Amable? Molly?"
Jeremy smiled at him. "Now that is where the question lies," He said tantalizing him.
"God damn it," He cursed at him. "Do you realize you could make this so much easier just by telling me what I want to know."
Jeremy chuckled mocking him. "Well I want my phone call," He insisted.
"To hell with your phone call," Jeffery said annoyed at him. He shifted in his chair. "You see I know all about you." He cleared his throat. "You are eighteen years old and dropped out of high school to work at the grocery store your step-dad poorly manages. You have two older brother and a younger sister. Every one of them has spent time behind bars."
Jeffery stopped talking abruptly and eyed his expressionless posture. He wished that this kid wouldn't be so stubborn, but of course that rarely happened. If he ended up getting any information, it was very little or nothing useful at all.
"I see you have done your homework," Jeremy chuckled. "Well you know enough about me, so I want my phone call."
"You aren't getting your phone call," Jeffery sternly told him.
"Then I am not saying anything," Jeremy said shaking his head.
Jeffery groaned and rubbed his forehead. He was tired and beginning to get a headache. He hadn't been sleeping well, with his brain constantly active. When he did sleep, it wasn't for too long. After this he would need one long vacation.
"Fine then," He motioned toward the front door. "Have it your way." He turned and looked at Ashley as she approached with two officers. "Bring in his brother," He ordered as he placed the photos back in the folder.
Both of the officers grabbed Jeremy by either arm and led him out of the room. As he walked out, Jeremy looked at and winked. "Good luck," He sneered.
Jeffery sighed and rubbed his temples trying to bring some ease to his oncoming head ache. It was dull and in between his eyes, but he knew that it would be a bad one. There were two more suspects to questions and then he would be able to take a break. Maybe he'd grab something to eat and another cup of coffee.
Ashley came back moments later with the middle brother, Carlos Valdez. Carlos eyed Jeffery harshly as he was handcuffed to the chair opposite to him. They stared at each other for a few moments, studying the other person's expressions.
Finally after a few moments of silence, Jeffery cleared his throat. "Carlos Valdez," He said narrowing his eyes at him.
"That's me," Carlos said toughly. "The one and only."
Jeffery continued to look at him harshly, trying to cause him to waver and fold. "Tell me. Why did you do it?" He asked with a glare.
"For the fun of it," He said with a laugh.
"For the fun of it?" Jeffery asked, "Five people are dead and the sixth is in critical condition.
"Five dead and maybe six," Carlos frowned. "Not too bad. Although I thought more would be killed."
Jeffery groaned and opened the folder in front of him. "You see this," He pointed to each of the photos individually. "This is the outcome of it."
Carlos looked at the gruesome pictures of the victims. "Nice," He said proudly.
"I know about you," Jeffery said placing the pictures inside the folder. "You are twenty-one years old and just like your brother, you never finished high school. Unlike him, you didn't drop out, but you were arrested several times for trespassing and theft. In between your time in juvenile hall and jail, you helped out at your father's horrible grocery store. That was until this recent incident."
"Wow, that is impressive," Carlos said with big smile. "You get an A on your homework."
"So why did you do it?" He repeated his question. He wasn't expecting an answer.
Carlos watched Jeffery stand up and pace around the small room. "I told you already," Carlos responded toying him. "For the fun of it."
Jeffery cursed under his breath. "Do you find this a game? Do you find this funny?" He glared at him beginning to lose his patience.
Carlos smile faded. "Not in the least," He continued to mock him. "I know you are an officer of the law and that you are just doing your job. You are the good guy. I am just trying to do my job as well. Although both our type of work is totally opposite from each other."
"Who are you working for?" Jeffery asked.
Carlos smiled at him. "Now that is the million dollar question," He responded.
Jeffery continued to question him for another ten minutes, but go nothing from important. He was mainly spewing nonsense to his questions. All he found out was that someone hired for the attack, but he didn't find out who hired them. Was it Joe? Doubtful. Molly? Definitely a possibility. Amable? Also a possibility.
He motioned for Ashley to take him away and bring in the third and oldest brother. When he was brought in, he stared at Jeffery in a similar manner that both of his younger brothers did. "Juan Valdez," Jeffery began. "You are the oldest in your dysfunctional family."
Juan cleared his throat interrupting him. Jeffery stopped and watched him cough up and spit on the floor. He then looked at him with a smile. "Sorry about that," He said with fake tenderness. "I have had this cold for the longest time."
Jeffery cursed and pushed the table as hard as he could into the wall. It pinned Juan against the chair and table roughly. Juan began to laugh loudly and shout at him in Spanish.
"Who are you working for?" He shouted as he punched him in face.
Juan didn't answer, but continued to laugh.
"Damn it," Jeffery cursed loudly losing it. He began to rain punches on to Juan.
Two guards opened the door and grabbed Jeffery by each arm pulling him away from Juan. Another guard grabbed Juan and walked him out of the room. As he left, he eyed a beat red and angry Jeffery for a few moments, before spitting blood at him. He began to laugh loudly as he was shoved out of the room.
Jeffery wiped the blood off his face and then eyed Ashley who was looking at him with surprise and disapproval. He ignored it and then grabbed his folder that was on the folder. Before she could say anything, he left the room as quickly as he could.
Carrie was scared. She was very scared. Not only for her life, but for Ryan's. She loved him and knew his life was a dangerous one, so she never truly told her how she felt about it. She wanted to tell him that she wished his life would be safer, but that wasn't going to happen. Not with all the terrorists out there.
Part of her wished that the both of them could move out of busy New York and to a quieter suburban neighborhood. She was from a suburban part of New York and missed it every day. She liked the quiet more than she did the noise. Especially now that she was older. When she was younger, she enjoyed the fast paced city life. There was always something to do.
She parked her car and looked out her window at Ryan's apartment. She took a deep breath and then exhaled slowly trying to relax herself. This was the second time she was threatened like this, except this time seemed more dangerous. More direct. Whoever wanted this shown to Ryan, knew exactly where her family was located and was open in telling her as opposed to Joe. Joe's people just threatened her. If it was from Joe, then somehow he upped his game even from behind bars.
When she was young and in Elementary school, she was constantly bullied. Her love for journalism was the main contribution to that. She pushed herself to the edge to try and write about anything that interested her. One of her favorite pieces was on the fun lunch lady who was actually her Aunt. She would spend her free time there, sometimes helping her out or just watching her cook.
Carrie turned off her car and then stepped out of her car, clutching her purse tightly. She made her way to his apartment and knocked on the door. He opened it moments later with a smile. "You came here quicker than I thought," He said stepping aside.
"I know," She said stepping inside. She gave him a quick hug and a kiss.
Ryan watched her reach into her purse and pull out a small manila folder. She handed it to him with fear and curiosity clearly written on her face. He took it and then eyed her a few moments before opened the folder. Inside was a small flash drive. He gave her an odd look before making his way to his computer.
Carrie stood next to him feeling nervous as he opened a file that said 'To Ryan, With Love'. It took a few seconds for windows media player to open, but when it did, the image was blurry for a few seconds. But when it cleared he could see it was in some sort of basement room.
Amable stepped in front of the camera and gave him a large and warm smile. "Hello Ryan," He said imitating an English accent, one similar to Joe. "I can't begin to express my excitement with the knowledge of you watching this, although I hope to soon meet you in person." He stopped talking like Joe and then looked in the direction of where Carrie was standing. "I want to thank you for delivering this to him."
Carrie swallowed nervously and grabbed hold of Ryan's arm clutching it tightly. She was afraid of him. There was something in his eyes that she didn't like. Ryan looked at her briefly before returning to his laptop.
"So Ryan," Amable continued. He looked at him and smiled again. "I didn't ask Carrie to deliver this just to say hello, although it would have been worth it." He paused and chuckled. "Anyways, I gave this to Carrie mainly because I wanted to show you something. You see, Joe and I are so similar in many ways." He paused again for a few moments. "Ryan I know you. Know you very well."
Carrie tightened her grip on his arm and looked at Ryan, who was watching the video intently.
"From the moment you saw the first video I put out," He continued, "I knew what was going through your head. A new threat similar to your good friend Joe, so to find out more about me, you went to visit him." He paused and smiled. "I know Joe told you everything about me. Especially since he had nothing to lose."
"Smart son of a bitch," Ryan mumbled. Carrie gave him a weird look, but he didn't notice.
"So now that you know all about me," Amable said with a perilous glint in his eyes. "I have something to show you." Amable grabbed the camera and turned to face Claire who was strapped to the bed. "Say hello to your old boyfriend Claire."
Claire looked at the camera and whimpered as a tear trailed down her cheek. "Ryan," She hoarsely said.
Ryan tensed up when he saw her laying on the bed. Carrie looked at him for a few moments watching his unsteady emotions. "Claire," He softly said in horror.
Amable reached into his pocket and pulled out a small switch blade. "I have your old girlfriend Ryan," He said as he flicked it open. He cut her on the forearm drawing blood causing her to cry out in pain. "And I am going to have so much fun with her. Good luck in finding me. You are going to need it." He laughed loudly as he turned off the video camera.
Ryan stood there for a few moments watching the blank screen as he thought of all the horrors that he could be doing to her. She may have hurt him at their last he saw her, but he was still deeply in love with her. He was scared, angry, and annoyed. The only thing he could do was try and find the person who gave Carrie the flash drive.
"Ryan," Carrie gently said as he pulled away from her. He watched him pace around his living room like an animal in a cage.
Ryan ignored her as he thought about what Amable was doing to her. He was trying to rattle him and it worked. His Achilles heel was the people he cared for. He would do anything for them and when they were in danger it always clouded his judgment. People said he often grew reckless and they were right.
"Ryan," Carrie called out to him again, this time a bit louder and more desperate.
Ryan continued to ignore her. His mind was miles away. What if he had kept a closer look on her to keep her safe? He most likely would have been able to stop her kidnapping. She would have hated it and would have constantly cursed him for tracking her, but he wouldn't care too much since she would be safe.
"You have to stop this Ryan," Carrie said gently. She took his arm and looked him in the eyes. "I don't know what to say." She knew how much he cared about her and unknown to him, she was jealous of her.
Ryan sighed and then smiled at her annoyed. "I should have seen this coming," He shook his head angry at himself.
"What are you talking about?" Carrie asked confused. "How could you have seen that something like this would have happened?"
"Because of my curse," Ryan said sourly. "It always seems to bite me in the ass."
Carrie knew of the curse he was talking about very well. During the first time they slept together, he spoke of it for an hour. At that time, she pretended to care, just to get information from him for her book. Now though, she generally cared about him and what he had to say.
"Oh come on Ryan," Carrie said emotionally, "You can't blame everything on the curse. She left you. She hurt you. The both of you moved on." She leaned close to him. "You came into my life again and I fell in love with you."
"That is true," Ryan simply said.
Carrie smile at him and reached out caressing his cheek. "I know what you are thinking," She said with feeling, "And I know what you are feeling in your heart." She paused and ran her hand through his hair. Made his way
"You have always been the perceptive one," He said smiling at her painfully. "So why don't you tell me what I am feeling and thinking?"
Carrie knew he would ask her that. "You feel as if it is your fault that she has been kidnapped," Carrie began, "That it should be you to go and rescue her. You know how dangerous it is, but since you love her." She paused and swallowed nervously. She didn't want him to see her jealousy. She trusted him, but not her. "You may not know it yet, but you have already decided to be her Clark Kent."
Ryan knew she was right. He would go and try to save her. There were many obstacles in the way, but since he loved her he would do whatever it takes to get her back. Even kill.
"You are right," He said noting her discomfort when she was talking about his love for Claire. "Since you compared me to Clark Kent. Don't forget that he loved Lois, who was a journalist, in the end." He leaned close and kissed her briefly trying to bring her some ease. "Don't worry about me. Everything will work out."
Despite his calming words, she knew that saving her would be dangerous and that there would be casualties. She just prayed that his wasn't on the list.
Scott was not in the mood for this meeting, but she had begged for over two weeks now. He could have said no, but she said that it was important. That she had information for him that would help with Amable and Molly. She could be lying to him, but he didn't have anything else to lose at this moment, so he decided to go.
He stepped out of the hospital elevator and made his way through two different security checkpoints before he entered her room. He found her sitting in bed sipping a cup of ice tea and a half eaten tuna sandwich on her lap. When she saw him enter, she turned and smiled at him.
"I didn't think you would actually come," She said happy to see him.
Scott cleared his throat as he shut the door behind him. "I almost didn't," He said looking at her showing her that he clearly didn't want to be here. "So make it worthwhile that I did."
Lily took another sip of tea. "Food here is lousy," She said with a small shrug as he stepped up to the bed. "But I am in the ER for a reason."
Scott didn't have the time for this small talk. "Why did you call me here?" He asked crossing his arms over his chest.
"I saw about the attack on the FBI building on the news earlier," She said nodding her head toward the TV that was playing an episode of Chopped. She gave him a fake concerned look. "I hope it wasn't too bad."
"If you saw it, then you know how bad it was," Scott said knowing that he had to play her game, just to information from her, regardless of its importance.
"How's Ryan doing?" She asked, "I hope he is okay after the attack."
"Ryan is just fine and I will let him know that you asked about him," He said.
Lily gave him a weird look as she took another sip of tea. "Are you really going to tell him?" She asked in disbelief.
"Of course not," He said shaking his head.
"I didn't think so," She said with a small shrug. "But oh well. How is his niece doing? And Mike? How is he doing?" SHe didn't really care about them, but wanted to have some fun. It was so boring in the hospital all alone.
"They are doing well," Scott said with a tied sigh. He took a step away from the bed. "So tell me, why did you ask for me?"
Lily ran her hand through her hair. "I am pretty sure who was behind the attack," She said with a small smile. "And if you are thinking I am going to tell you it was Joe. Well it wasn't. He had no involvement with it."
"We already know it wasn't Joe," Scott said, "So who was it? Amable? Molly?"
Lily chuckled when he mentioned their names. "Molly?" She asked surprised. "She doesn't have the connections to power such an attack, even if she thinks so." She paused and took a long drink from her tea. "It was Amable."
Scott gave her a look of disbelief. "How can you be so certain of that?" He asked her.
Lily chuckled again. "Because I know them," She said as a quick flash of pain passed through her. "I never knew he had the balls to do it though. He is isn't such a violent man."
"Amable isn't a violent man?" Scott asked surprised that she'd say that. "Are you kidding me?" He took a step toward her. "He has been involved in many attacks and if what you are saying correctly, he was behind the attack on the FBI building." He shook his head. "Violent my ass."
Lily grew serious. "He does have some anger issues," She said with a sigh, "But these days who the hell doesn't?"
Scott groaned and scratched the bag of his neck. "What was your relationship with him?" He asked seeing that she knew him better than she was implying.
Lily drank the rest of the tea. "We were romantically involved for a while," She said shaking her head. "But that was a long time ago."
"So the plot thickens," Scott said with a thin smile. He took a step toward her. "Now you are going to tell me everything you know about him." He narrowed his eyes at her.
Amable took a sip of scotch as he paced around Claire who was watching him intently with fear in her eyes. He set the empty shot glass by the mini bar and then looked at her with a twisted smile. "I would offer you a shot," He smirked, "But I don't have a straw for you to drink with."
"I'm not much of a drinker anyways," Claire said in a trembling tone.
"Yeah I know," Amable chuckled, "But what kind of host would I be if I didn't offer you one." He paused for a few moments pacing around her. "So how does it feel that Ryan has moved on from you and is now with the reporter?"
"I'm okay with it," She lied.
"Sure you are," He said shaking his head. "Every time they kiss. Every time he touches her. Every time she moans." He reached out and traced a finger around her neck and down getting closer to her breasts. "If I was in your shoes, I'd be pretty jealous of the two of them." He flicked her ear playfully and then continued, "But I am not you."
Claire closed her eyes every time he touched her. She tried to ignore him as she thought about something better. Something happier. But she found it hard to do so. She kept thinking of Amable and the many ways he could torture her.
Amable saw she was trying to ignore him. "You know Claire, I am glad he has moved on from you," He said reaching for his switch blade. He flicked it open and then placed it by her jugular. "Because you are such a bitch." He whispered in her ear.
Claire whimpered and closed her eyes tighter. She began to mutter a prayer. She wasn't a religious person, but for some reason it felt like a good time.
Amable heard her praying. He laughed and continued to whisper in her ear. "Do you know why Jesus died?" He waited a few moments. "Because he got crossed." He laughed loudly at his horrible joke.
Claire opened her eyes and looked at him. "Did you like that joke?" He asked stepping away. He closed the blade and put it in his pocket.
She shook her head.
"Hmm," He said with a shrug. "Guess I better come up with another one." He paused and began to pace around her. "Well have you heard the one about how Ryan the dumb ass saw the video we made and will attempt to try and find you?" He leaned close to her and looked deep into her terrified eyes. "But by the time he finds you, you will be good and dead." He laughed loudly as he reached out caressing her cheek.
Mark turned on the water and waited for it to get hot, before he washed his face. He liked the water pretty hot, but not scalding. He dried off his face and looked in the mirror. In the reflection he saw himself, but he wished he could see Luke. Luke always gave him good advice, regardless of the situation.
But of course he continue to stare at his reflection. He then left the bathroom and looked out the window. It had begun to rain a little, but he knew that it would pour soon and he was glad to be inside. Imagine if he was still out there on the run and was caught in the rain. He hated the rain. Sunny weather was his favorite.
He thought back to a day when Luke and he met Russian twins at Manhattan Beach a few years back. They got drunk together and ended up hooking up on the beach. By the next morning, Mark had a massive hangover, while Luke was feeling fine. For the next few months Luke never mad her forget that night.
Mark turned away from the window when he heard a knock on the door. He opened his door to see Michael standing there with an emotionless look on his face. Mark stepped aside and allowed him in.
"What can I do for you?" He asked watching Michael looking around the room.
"You are a clean person," He said looking at him. "I would never have imagined that." He turned toward him. "I have always thought you were the messy type."
Mark took a step away from him. "I hate messes," He said with a small shrug. "Kind of OCD in that kind of way. Anyways what can I do for you?"
"I just came to talk," He said taking another step toward him. "There is no crime in that."
Mark looked at him with distrust. He didn't look like he was here just to chat. They hardly spoke before. They had nothing to really do with each other. Nothing really in common. Also they never really saw each other.
Ok," Mark simply said. He took another step away from him.
"So why don't you tell me a little about yourself?" Michael asked pretending to show interest.
Mark was taken back. "Excuse me?" He asked confused.
"Well you are part of the family," Michael said with a fake smile. "So." He paused and made a fist. "Oh to hell with this." He swung and punched Mark in the face knocking him to the ground.
Mark felt his entire face throb as a feeling of dizziness passed through him. He reached up to his lip, feeling blood drip out from a cut. The dizzy feeling faded away as he stood on shaky legs. Michael swung and hit him in the stomach, causing him to double over and collapse on the floor. The wind was knocked out of him.
Michael stepped away from him, watching clutching his stomach painfully. "Do you know why I did that?" He asked.
"No," Mark said hoarsely.
Michael swiftly kicked him in the face knocking him backward. He didn't do it too hard, because he didn't want to knock him out. He wanted to toy with him. He wanted to make him feel pain, before he killed him.
"You threatened my girlfriend," Michael said harshly watching him spit blood on the floor. "You told her that you would kill her." He took a step toward him. "I can't let that go."
He prepared to punch him again, but Mark dodged it and kicked him in the shin hard. He felt pain and then his leg buckled, but right before he fell, he dove and tackled Mark to the ground. He punched him in the face and then grabbed him by the throat squeezing as hard as he could.
Mark began to see stars. He tried to break free, but Michael was too strong. There was nothing he could use within arm's reach as weapon, since he was so clean, but he had a pen in his pocket. With a trembling hand, he reached for it and then stabbed him in the shoulder with it as hard as he could. Michael cried out in pain and let go of him.
Mark turned over and coughed loudly as air filled his lungs. He got to his knees and looked at Michael who grunted as he pulled out the bloody pen. He tossed it on the floor and then lunged at Mark. Mark side stepped away from him and threw him into the dresser as hard as he could. Michael hit it roughly cracking one of the drawers.
Michael groaned and looked at Mark. He wiped blood off his forehead and then spat blood on the floor. "I am going to kill you," He threatened him.
"Not from where I am standing," Mark said watching Michael stand on shaky legs.
Michael glared at him as he pulled out a switch blade that he had hidden. He flicked it open and then tried to stab Mark. He missed twice, but the third time he sliced Mark's arm. Mark cursed and looked at his arm. Blood began to trail from the cut to his elbow.
"I am going to slice the crap out of you," Michael threatened him.
Michael lunged toward him trying to stab, but Mark was faster than him. He kept avoiding the wide slices and stabs coming from him. Mark was a lot smaller, thinner, and faster than him. Michael was stronger. That was his only strength. Mark knew that he couldn't beat him strength to strength.
Mark dodged another stab from Michael and then punched him in the throat. He spun around and kicked him in the stomach sending him into the dresser. It caused Michael to drop the knife. Mark picked up the knife and then growled as he stabbed him in the throat.
Michael had a surprised look on his face as he choked on his own blood. He collapsed to the floor with his eyes wide open and blood dripping out of his mouth and throat. Mark stepped away from him watching him intently until he was dead. When he was dead, it was than his thoughts cleared. "Oh crap," He said realizing what he had done.
He now knew that he couldn't stay here anymore. He quickly washed off the blood, praying that no one would come if they heard the fight. When he was clean, he changed into fresh clothes and then gathered a few belongings. As quietly as he could, he left his room and made his way downstairs. He walked passed the living room and saw Charlene watching TV with Jacob and Ashley. They were so engrossed in their TV, they didn't even notice him.
Mark left the house and made his way to the closest car, which was Michael's. Now knowing that he didn't need it anymore, he entered the car and then drove away with a screech hoping that no one saw him leave.
{Amable is going to be pissed! Hee Hee}
Hope you enjoyed that chapter! More coming soon!
Shaw18