Chapter 51
"No Sympathy is to be Expected for the Wicked"
Back in Frankfurt, Tommy and I had asked Ulrich to be a witness as they inspected the x-ray machines to see if they had been sabotaged. As a technician worked on the machines, I watched as the screen went from black and white to color and then back to black and white again.
"It doesn't make sense," said Ulrich. "How could someone just come in and just mess up the machines? I mean, we run 24 hours a day, but still…"
It's important to note that airlines always run a 24 to 7 operation to account for any delays due to weather, aircraft maintenance or the occasional event beyond their control. But even this was out of the ordinary.
"Ulrich, how long has this been going on since I visited in October?" Tommy wondered.
"About 5 or 6 times a month, Ulrich remarked. "It costs us a lot of money to fix these, so I had to cut back on repairs, being it's Christmas and all."
"Herr Weber," said the technician. "Come here and take a look at this!"
So they all looked to where the technician was inspecting the wiring in the machines. The wires connecting the color screens to the machines was cut away. Bending down, Tommy stuck his hand inside and slightly touched the wiring carefully to avoid getting electrocuted.
"I think this may explain why your color x-ray machine isn't working, Ulrich. The wires have been cut."
Ulrich felt his stomach sink as this revelation was aired. He took great pride in his work and to hear that these machines had been sabotaged on his watch was a tremendous blow.
"Perhaps they were frayed," Ulrich said, trying to come up with his own conclusions. "I mean, look at it this way. Wires fray over time, right?"
But Tommy could only sigh in disbelief.
"Yes, but in this case, they were sabotaged."
It was then that I took notice and began to wonder if any of the suspects being held were given access to be close to the machines at any given time.
"Then, there is also the matter that you may have had your staff go braindead from staring at the screens for 4 hours," he added, with pity in his voice. "That combined with this supposed sabotage could have allowed the bomb that blew up Pan Am 103 to pass through undetected."
All Ulrich could do was lower his head in total shame and disgust. He then walked away from the X-ray area and loudly punched into the wall by the door before letting out a loud yell of anger and frustration.
"You know, I'm also wondering," I said. "Perhaps Ulrich had a staff member who also did technical work in addition to being a baggage handler. What about Andrew Leary, the Irishman?"
"Perhaps you can question him," suggested Tommy and that's exactly what I did when I returned to the Frankfurt Airport Police Station.
…
"I can assure you, detective," Andrew pleaded from the inside of his holding cell. "That I have had nothing to do with what happened to the machines! They had been acting up for some time, I swear it!"
"Andrew, the wires were cut and they didn't just fray on their own," I replied, firmly. "According to your background, you also were trained in technological work, correct?"
"What does that mean?"
"It means that you had been given access to the machines on account that Herr Weber did not have the money to bring in outside help. When did you repair the machines?"
"On December 20th," Andrew gasped, feeling the heat I was bringing onto him. "Herr Weber had me look at the machines because he wanted them to be fully repaired before the Christmas Rush. I told him time after time that the machines needed to be replaced, but he…"
But I was not going to listen to his sob story by any means.
"Oh, don't bore me, Andrew!" I sighed in disgust. "Just tell me the truth and I think you might be easily treated at your trial. The Judge and Jury might show a little mercy towards you."
With nowhere else to turn, Andrew was left with no choice but to tell me the truth.
"Okay," he sighed. "Before I ended my shift on December 20th, Peter pulled me aside as we were punching out that I was to volunteer to repair the machines. It meant staying a few extra hours, but I didn't mind it. So, I volunteered to fix the machines and was instructed to cut the wires connecting the color with the monitors. Then, I made up the excuse that I tried to fix it and left. Oh, God…"
Sighing, I shrugged my shoulders and looked down at the Irishman Team Rocket agent with pity.
"Thank you, Andrew," I remarked and I got up to leave, grateful that at least one of the captured in Frankfurt was willing to confess.
…
"Andrew confessed, Mr. Cronin," I said to Peter in his holding cell. "He confessed to carrying out your orders to sabotage the machines."
"The guy is a fucking liar," Peter growled, slamming his hand down on the metal bench. "He wouldn't dare say something like that. What makes you sure he would say such a thing?"
"That the judge and jury in your impending trial would give him some degree of mercy," I said, scratching my left pantyhosed leg. "You, yourself on the other hand…you might be looking at the death penalty."
"Why?!" Peter snapped in a loud voice, his face filled with anger.
"Because you used Pokemon for terrorist purposes, didn't you know that? The top penalty for a conviction in stealing Pokemon from their trainers and their habitats is death. Then again, you probably are going to be on death row for your crimes in the United States. Kidnapping, Murder, Escape from Prison to join Team Rocket, you've got a laundry list of issues, Pete."
Cronin could only scowl at the words that I was speaking to him.
"Just face it," I said, rising to my feet. "You can try and fight in court, but you are more than likely going to lose and so will your girlfriend. Think of it, the life you and Shayna were going to lead without fear of the law? You might as well just forget it."
Growling, Peter rose and leapt towards the gun in my side only for me to grab my taser and fire electricity in his neck, causing him to scream in pain.
"BITCH! FUCK YOU!"
"I didn't do anything, Peter. You did it to yourself."
And after traumatizing him for a few minutes, I walked out of the cell feeling somewhat satisfied for myself that I was able to break a suspect's spirit. Because after all, no gratitude is to be expected for the wicked.
…
…