One Week Later…
A week after the events of the warehouse, and surprisingly, the Militia have been real quiet since that day. No radio activity, no sight of them, nothing.
During that week, while the Militia and TYGER Forces were silent, street crimes were all around the same, but nothing the Vigilantes couldn't handle. Including multiple high-speed chases. During the past week, Miranda was working hard to earn her stripes, making a name for herself and proving herself to Arnold, Miles, and Stella.
One thing Miranda had on her mind the entire week was Spinelli's MotoGP side of her life. Stella told her everything about it, including her latest race, which Stella didn't mention whether it was her final or not.
Now, where do we find ourselves?…
Currently walking out of the Augmented Reality training simulator, Miranda had a towel in hand, wiping off the sweat from her face.
There, she met up with Stella, who had an impressed look. "Impressive, I must say. I think Arnold did well in picking you." She smiled after.
Miranda softly smiled back. "Thank you, Mrs. Shortman." Kidd briefly looked around the lair, and noticed the Stealth Cycle wasn't in its usual spot, nor was the black Ford pickup.
"Where's the motorcycle?" Kidd asked.
"Well, Miranda… I think it's time you see something that'll really get you… How do I put it?" Stella thought for a moment, and then snapped her fingers. "Excited, maybe?"
Kidd raised an eyebrow. "Um… And what could that possibly be?" She asked.
Stella looked at Ariel. "All set?"
She gave the thumbs up. "Ready as I'll ever be, Chief!"
Miranda's eyes darted between them for a moment before focusing on Stella. "Chief- What is EXACTLY going on? I'm starting to feel a little freaked out…"
Stella put a hand on Kidd's shoulder. "Honey, just trust me. It'll be worth it." She rubbed her shoulder to calm Miranda down.
At an Off-Road Race Track…
With the QR Jet landing at a distance from the track, Ariel, Miranda, and Stella walked to a good bird's eye view.
"Ok, I'm here, but what is this about, Chief?" Miranda asked. Stella merely showed her.
Down at the start/finish line, there sat Spinelli on the Stealth Cycle, but something looked odd…
With the motorcycle engine currently shut off, Arnold rubbed Spinelli's back comfortingly. Spinelli hung her head.
"Baby, c'mon… You've begged all week for this, and now that you're here, you chicken out?" Arnold questioned.
"Shut up!" Spinelli snapped at him. "It's just-… It's been a while since I went high speed, let alone done my usual tricks… I don't even know if I still have it in me…" Spinelli sighed.
Arnold lifted her chin. "Hey. Look at me…" Spinelli listened. "Ashley, you don't let anything define you. What happened that day doesn't change who you are or even DEFINE who you are! You are Ashley 'Scarlet' Spinelli! Scarlet, a feared Vigilante and fierce motorcycle racer! You've done so much in your time that I'm so blessed to call you my wife! Spinelli, you've done many things no other rider could do…" Arnold touched her shoulder and offered Spinelli her helmet, her latest custom-designed one. "One step at a time. Dominate this track like it's your playground."
Spinelli looked at Arnold, and then her helmet, and back at Arnold. She then gave a confident smile and took her helmet. Arnold smiled back.
"What is she doing?…" Kidd asked. "Shh!" Stella shushed.
With Arnold taking several steps back, Spinelli had her helmet sitting on her head for a moment before pulling it down, her visor still open. With one leg still on the ground, Spinelli finally turned the motorcycle's engine on and revved it with the right handlebar.
Miranda's eyes slowly widened, watching Spinelli's every move. Stella stood with her arms crossed with a small smile growing. Ariel had a hand on her hip with a smile growing.
The sound of the Stealth Cycle's engine purring, light smoke coming from the exhaust pipe as Spinelli gave slight revs to the engine, a look of confidence and determination grew on Spinelli's face as she took her necklace out of her suit, wanting it to be displayed. And with a front view, Spinelli lowered her visor, and let the magic begin.
Revving the cycle, the Stealth Cycle sped off, leaving behind a big cloud of dust.
Miranda's eyes widened as she watched Spinelli speed off.
Completing the first set of turns, Spinelli zipped by another corner with ease, a trail of dust flying up as she raced on.
Soon slowing down for another corner, came the asphalt part of the course.
Spinelli revved the motorcycle, immediately speeding back up for the asphalt part before going off-road.
Zipping down the brief stretch of asphalt, the Stealth cycle soon raced on the off-road section.
Spinelli revved the Stealth Cycle with excitement as she raced on.
Miranda watched in excitement as she saw Spinelli go offroad.
Racing toward a curved mountain-like section, Spinelli zipped by, leaving a trail of dust behind as she raced on. Spinelli's necklace blew in the air as she raced on.
Zipping by and getting off the curved section, a series of jumps was ahead.
Tackling one jump after the other, Spinelli pulled off an amazing series of tricks.
On the first jump, Spinelli clenched the handlebars and let herself fly freely for a moment before getting back on the motorcycle. In the second stunt, Spinelli pulled the motorcycle to an angle midair and made a smooth landing, giving enough momentum for her final stunt.
In her final stunt, Spinelli pulled the same slanted angle, but managed to do a full 360 before making a smooth landing onto the ground and speeding down the long backstretch.
While Spinelli sped down the back straightaway, Miranda watched in amusement, but suddenly, she saw a very tight corner ahead and gave an immediately worried expression. Ariel and Stella kept watching without being phased, and showing their confidence in Spinelli.
Spinelli reassured their confidence and revved her Stealth Cycle, speeding ahead to the tight turn.
In an instant, turning left, Spinelli immediately turned to the right, allowing the rear end to drift.
A cloud of dust was being kicked up while she drifted in the corner. With a confident smile behind the visor, coming to the final stretch toward the finish line, Spinelli straightened out the motorcycle and raced on to the start/finish line.
Just after crossing the finish line, Spinelli immediately applied the brakes, pulling the cycle left and coming to a stop with the dust cloud now clouding her momentarily.
Getting off the Stealth Cycle, and lifting her visor, Spinelli merely stood there for a moment.
A closeup of her helmet before Arnold hugged her from behind. Spinelli held onto his forearms for a moment, taking in how she did.
"I feel so much better now…" Spinelli said with a soft smile. Arnold smiled warmly and held Spinelli close.
"Wow… Amazing!…" Miranda quietly said. Stella put a hand over her shoulder. "Amazing huh?" She smiled.
Ariel looked at her wristwatch. "Dammit already…" Stella looked over. "What?"
"A gunman opened fire at a bar, two off-duty cops were there." Ariel started. "Police ID'd the man, we have a location." She finished. Stella grabbed her radio from her belt. "Arnold, you copy?"
At An Apartment…
"CARL HAAS! OPEN UP!" Shadow banged on the door.
No answer. Arnold gave the go-ahead to Gerald. "Hit it."
Gerald was about to kick open the door, but a man was seen running in the halls. The two looked over and saw it was their perp. Gerald immediately chased after him as Shadow took a different route.
Outside, the suspect jumped the balcony from the second story, but didn't stick the landing.
Gerald reached the white man, tugging on him. "Get up!" He pinned him against the wall. "Hands behind your back!"
Gerald got the suspect in cuffs as Shadow came over. "Open up on a couple of cops at a bar? Huh, Carl?" He questioned.
The man snorted, his face full of anger. He then spat directly on Shadow's boots. Shadow looked down at his boots. "That hurt my feelings." He said sarcastically.
Gerald aggressively yanked away the man, knowing what was next. Shadow merely smirked, almost like he wanted it to happen.
At The Police Department…
Taking the perp into the fenced cage, Trickshot threw him down onto the bench and shut the fence door.
Right after Gerald closed the door and stepped aside, Shadow suddenly appeared from behind, almost like he appeared from thin air…
Shadow and Trickshot stared at the suspect. The man aggressively stared, almost like he wanted to go at them. Shadow kept his cool as Trickshot wanted more. "Don't you have something to do, Trickshot?" Shadow asked.
Gerald looked at him, and then nodded slowly. "Yeah… Yeah, I got somethin' to do." He then walked away, leaving the two alone.
He looked back to see Shadow taking off his blade holster, setting it on the floor as he opened the cage and stepped inside.
THUD
Shadow suddenly punched the guy right in the weakest part of the male anatomy, his nuts… The man immediately went down and coughed in pain.
Shadow sat down on the bench. "Remember the purgatory?" Shadow yanked his ear to make the man look at him. "If you aren't paying attention, it's like a weigh station between heaven and hell. And it's like this place." Shadow grabbed him by the hair and pinned his head on the fencing. "For you, Heaven is upstairs… Comfy chair, cup of coffee, and we talk. Tell me why you opened up on two cops and put a girl in the hospital with a hole in her neck." Shadow pointed out the first option. "Or. Hell. A place 15 minutes away from here. A grain silo. Where I'll make you talk… And you don't want to hear me say those words where criminals never come back from… And believe me, pal, NO ONE ever comes back from that silo…" Shadow was about to punch him again, but the man let a whimper escape him as he flinched. Shadow only flicked his forehead. "Your choice…"
The man sniffled, immediately giving in to Shadow's intimidation.
Upstairs In the Interrogation Room…
In the interrogation room, the man held the cup of coffee in both hands as he explained what happened.
"Some, uh, higher level guys were talking about the bounty on one of the cops… I've been trying to move up, try and impress these guys…" The man explained.
"Just you and that guy?" Shadow asked. The man nodded. "Yeah… Did he give me up?" He asked.
Shadow nodded and shrugged. "Tends to happen when they look at murder charges."
"Yeah well, whatever it's worth, I wasn't going after anyone else on that list…" The man said. Shadow leaned onto the table. "Hold it… What list?"
"A hit list. If he were to be sent to jail, he wanted certain people killed." The man explained.
"How many?"
"… I- I don't know, but all I know is that there's more than just the cop…" The man answered. "I can tell you where and who'll be after the cop. A guy in his 40s, Chase Mullington, he's gonna have the cop kidnapped and taken to somewhere he'll be executed."
"Where?"
"An old building down in LaPorta Street. He'll be driving an old silver Hyundai. That's all I know." The man told him.
"And that's all we'll need." Shadow soon walked out of the room.
Later…
In the car where Chase had the kidnapped cop, he received a photo of his son kidnapped. Whoever had his son wanted the cop dead in exchange for his son.
Looking to his left, he saw a monster of a vehicle, the Hybrid. He immediately pressed his foot on the gas to an alley.
"Move it in." Shadow radioed as he put his foot down on the gas.
Through the alley, the Hyundai raced ahead as a motorcycle jumped from a subway train track. Scarlet was back in business. Revving the motorcycle, she kept on its tail, chasing through the tight alley.
Making evasive maneuvers, Chase turned right into traffic once he escaped the alley. Scarlet didn't lose sight and followed right behind.
Racing on the sidewalk, he made a near-miss against a civilian as the railroad crossing gates were coming down and the chimes sounded.
The man raced over the train tracks as Scarlet forcefully braked, stopping immediately.
"SHIT!" Scarlet slammed the cycle as she had to wait for the train to pass by.
When the train finally passed, Scarlet revved the engine and raced away, but already lost sight of where the sedan could be.
Over with the sedan, Chase parked it near a sidewalk after escaping. He got out and opened the passenger to get the cop out. "Get out! C'mere!" He then saw a woman unloading a box from her minivan. "HEY! YOU! GIMME THE KEYS! NOW!"
And shortly after, the gold Minivan raced off.
The Hybrid and Stealth Cycle saw where the sedan was parked, but no sign of them.
"HELP! HELP!" The owner of the minivan yelled. Scarlet rode over to her. "Hey! What happened!? What car was taken?!"
"A gold minivan, it went that way-" Scarlet immediately revved the motorcycle. "THANKS!"
Minutes later, the gold minivan was parked where Carl said Chase would be. A red dusty Mustang was approaching.
The Mustang stopped as he saw Chase with the cop, holding him at gunpoint. The red Mustang then reversed.
Scarlet and the Hybrid raced into the dusty lot, kicking up dirt behind their trails as they raced to catch the Mustang.
"THIS ONE'S YOURS!" Scarlet shouted on her helmet radio as she let the Hybrid go ahead.
Police vehicles followed into the dusty lot to arrest Chase and get their officer back.
The red Mustang took a sharp turn, not phasing the Hybrid as it easily dominated the turn and continued behind it. Tires screeched from all vehicles from the sudden sharp turns and drifts.
The red Mustang drifted into another turn. The Hybrid cut across the grass and was right beside the Mustang.
The red Mustang tried bumping the Hybrid, but didn't make it budge one bit.
The Hybrid boosted left, sharply hitting the Mustang and making it crash into a parked sedan, making it flip into the air and barrel roll twice before tumbling to a stop.
The Hybrid sharply stopped as the car came to a rest. Shadow got out and walked over. "OUT OF THE CAR! NOW! GET OUT! ON THE GROUND!"
The man got out, with almost no resistance as blood spilled from his forehead. Police squad cars arrived, tires screeching as they came to a stop.
Shadow placed the driver in cuffs and aggressively stood him up. "All yours." He told officers as he decided to search the trunk of the car.
There, he found Chase's kidnapped son. "Get an Ambo down here!"
The Stealth Cycle arrived, Scarlet immediately got off it, letting it drop as she walked to Shadow. "Hey!" Arnold looked over. "We just got a report of a cop's body dumped at the silo… You don't think it's who we think it is… It's Cory's body…"
Shadow looked over, in surprise and deep concern. "Jin…"
"Not just that, Impulse called in and said we got a mysterious package with a USB drive. It has Cory's name on it."
Later…
After looking over the USB and what it contained, currently outside a building, a man in a suit walked out and found Shadow with the Hybrid next to him.
"Need something?" He asked. "I don't, but YOU do." Shadow answered.
"And what could that mainly be?" The man scoffed. "A lawyer. A good one." Shadow showed his papers. "A partial transcript Jin had on us. You spying son of a bitch. You threatened to call the FBI on his father's gambling debts, and forced him to work off the books and spy on us! You threatened to kill him if he told anyone. You know how this works." Shadow handed the papers.
"If I go down for Jin's murder, I'm taking you with me, two things will happen… I will tell everyone you made a deal with Internal Affairs. I'm REAL sure your entire team will love to hear that, knowing who you really are. And then, I'll give a full and detailed description of everything you've done to the police force years ago. I will even make sure the cops will come after you and everything you stand for. So you either go down the tubes and drag both of us down. Or, we walk our different paths and Jin's murder will remain unsolved." The man calmly said and handed back the papers.
Shadow only stood there, thinking what would be his next move.
That Night…
Sitting next to the dusty and dirty Hybrid, Arnold kept thinking back to the friendship he and Jin had. Despite the threats Stillwell made, Arnold knew he had to bring him down one way or another.
"Three threats were made against Detective Jin's life. All recorded." Arnold's voice began.
It transitioned to the next day where he met with the Police Commander. "… 'I will kill you.' Unquote. He also told him how he would kill him and WHERE he'd dump his body. The EXACT location Jin was found." Shadow tossed a stored DVD to the Commander. "You'll find all you want in that."
An Hour Later….
At an outdoor fine-dine seafood restaurant, three suited men came walking over to a specific table, where the same man Shadow confronted was at. Stillwell was currently conversing with a blonde woman.
"Derek Stillwell?" One man spoke. Stillwell looked up. "We're with the FBI. You're under arrest for the murder of Hillwood Police Officer, Cory Jin." The suited man sternly said as the others showed their guns and badges in their belts.
Stillwell looked at their guns and FBI badges. Stillwell reluctantly got up and stood in a T pose so they could pat him down and take away his badge and gun. The second man yanked his gun from Derek's belt and holstered it in his belt. He ripped off the badge from Derek's belt and got it in his pocket.
Once his police equipment was taken away, his arms were yanked behind his back as cuffs were now being placed on him. Stillwell sternly looked at the FBI agents.
Once he was taken away, a faint sight at a building rooftop was seen. Zooming in, revealed to be Shadow and Swoops. Both of them overlooking at the corrupt police Sergeant being placed under arrest and being taken away, with his badge, gun, and Sergeant title stripped away.
Shadow exhaled deeply and stood up from his crouched position. He whistled and signaled Swoops to disappear from the scene. Swoops flew off as Arnold took a few steps back out of view, knowing an explational would be due…
Took me so long to get back to this but one thing I will mention, things will soon shift off police/detective work and more into the action within the next few chapters! Don't want things to be exactly repetitive...