Chapter 33
Mok's private jet landed at Illinois' International Airport late that evening. Angel had been asleep the entire time and she was quite surprised when she awoke to the jet's landing.
"I trust that you didn't have any nightmares?" Mok asked.
"No, actually, that violin song kept playing in my head and I guess it did the trick in keeping the nightmares away," she answered as he fiddled with a strain of her hair.
"I'm glad to hear that," he said and the two got out of the jet and down to a waiting limo.
"Welcome back Mok," M.A.I. spoke, but Angel looked around in the car.
"Who said that?" she asked.
"Don't worry, it's M.A.I., my computer," Mok said and M.A.I. featured herself.
"I am M.A.I., or Mega-Artificial Intelligence. I am programed to do any sort of electronic research," the computer said and Angel was quite astonished.
"You mean anything?" she asked.
"Yes," M.A.I. replied.
Angel began to think of a question and shakes her head. "I really can't think of anything to ask," she said to Mok.
"Allow me," he replied, "M.A.I.; what is the status on the sales of my albums?" he asked the computer.
"Sales have reached 40% higher than before. There is a strong demand for more of your albums across the nation," M.A.I. informed.
"40%? That's incredible," Angel said and a question did pop into her head. "Mok, did you say you were planning a farewell concert?"
"I did and I should ask M.A.I. about the ticket sales for it," he replied.
"Ticket sales have commenced and they have sold out," M.A.I. had informed, again.
"Do you mind if I ask what day the concert is?" Angel asked.
"Mok will be performing in one week from tomorrow," M.A.I. answered.
"Thank you M.A.I. and did you destroy those experiment entries I asked you to do?" Mok asked.
"The Armageddon Experiment records have been deleted as requested," M.A.I. informed and Mok shut her off.
"You deleted the experiment?" Angel asked.
"Yes, I want it out of my life, not even the mention of it," he replied.
"Whoa!" Toad exclaimed and slammed the brakes.
"What's the matter with you?" Mok demanded.
"Sorry boss, but you should look at this," Toad said and pointed to the right.
Angel and Mok looked out the window, seeing that the street was full of police cars and ambulance.
A few people had gathered around some police tape that was blocking the entry way to an alley way.
Angel saw a few police officers tending to a body and they turned it over, revealing Stretch's face.
"Toad, stop the car!" Angel cried out and she bolted out of the limo.
She ran towards her friend, but she was blocked by an officer. "That's my friend!" Angel screamed and she pushed the officer aside and leaned beside her friend.
Angel looked all over Stretch; two crimson blots had bloomed on his shirt and she knew that they were bullet wounds.
She looked further down the alley, spotting a white tarp draped over another body and she dared herself to look.
Underneath the tarp was Dizzy, his eyes were glazed white and she saw a bullet wound on his chest.
"Ma'am, you can't be here," an officer said, pulling her away from Dizzy's body.
"What happened to them?!" she demanded, her heart pounding in her head.
"This is a double homicide. You said you knew them?" the officer asked.
Angel fell to her knees and a scream escaped from her mouth. She felt someone encircle their hands around her, it was Mok and she buried her face into his chest.
"Hey!" someone shouted, "This one's alive!"
Angel looked up and saw paramedics circling around Stretch. She rushed to his side, his eyes had opened and he stared up at her.
"Angel…?" he said in a weak voice.
"Shhh, don't speak, you're going to be okay," Angel replied, taking his hand into hers.
Stretch used a finger to motion for her to come closer and she leaned in.
"Omar…shot us…" he said and Angel felt a brief disconnection from her senses.
"Ma'am, move aside, we have to work," a paramedic ordered and she obeyed.
"Please, save him," she begged and moved away from Stretch.
Angel walked away from the crime scene and laid her back against the wall. She then sank down on the ground and began to sob.
Mok came to her side and took her into arms. He hummed the 'Short Trip Home' to her and rubbed her back.
They watched as Stretch was placed on a gurney and taken to an ambulance. Angel shot up to her feet and rushed towards it.
"Wait!" she called and the paramedics looked at her. "Where are you taking him?" she asked.
"Ohmtown United," one of the paramedics answered and Angel stepped away, allowing them to shut the doors and the ambulance sped off.
"C'mon Angel, I'll have Toad take us there," Mok said to her and took her to the limo.
The limo followed the ambulance at a safe distance. Angel began to pray that Stretch would be saved and live out the remainder of his life.
When they got there, Angel got out of the limo and rushed towards the ambulance. However, she had the feeling that something was not right and one of the paramedics said something to a doctor.
The gurney was pulled out and Angel saw that a blanket had been placed over Stretch's face and she knew what that meant.
"What happened?" she asked the paramedics.
"He died en route, we did everything we could, we're sorry," one of them said.
Angel took a few steps backward and felt the comforting touch of Mok's hands.
"Take me away from here," she said and he took her back to the limo and it left the hospital.