The TV in the incident room flickers back into life as an officer hits the AV button. The screen focuses in and the familiar site of Connor Chase appears on the screen. He is dressed in his white tux; this one seems to be cleaner than the other one, likely a switch.

Chief Shaw is watching on as he turns to the group of officers surrounding him.

‘Who has time to switch tuxedos? I’ve been wearing this cheap suit for nearly two days’ He says, the surrounding officers concurring with nods of their heads.

Shaw looks on intently at the TV screen as it flickers the images of oppression brought by Chase and his men who are standing in formation holding automatic weapons. Shaw thinks how stereotypical an image he is witnessing, the essence of terrorism brought by a group of men who claim to be patriots. The speech begins as Chase enters the shot, his follower’s onscreen part ways much like a crowd giving way to the pope. The importance of the man is evident in the loyalty and brotherhood that is seen in the eyes of the men wearing balaclavas. Chase is the only man whose face is visible, a fact that has been gnawing at Shaw for some time. A man that is not afraid to be associated with the events in Boston. A man that is not afraid to die for his cause.

‘Ladies and gentleman, I’m here once again to bring you, the public some troubling news. News that not only shows the corrupt scattering for the hills, but the brave being sacrificed by the so called good. Where I come from, no man is equal. That is a fact. That being said we all like to think that we are of equal ability and status in this messed up world. That too is a lie. You may be wondering, where is this place you talk of. The place where no one is equal? Well my fellow people, its America. I am an American. Not by choice, because god knows, this country is hell bent on making choices for me, such as where I will go to war, who I can marry. Which sex I should be intimate with. What movies I should watch. What adverts I should see. What president I should obey. What laws I should abide by. Not one of these things is a good thing. In this country we have learned to bite our tongue, obey the rich and do their bidding. If they want a new holiday home, we pay for it through taxes. If I want a new holiday home, I must dream on because I know that the government will cut my wages, and every one else’s wages in the public sector before they give me a pay rise. This here isn’t about money though, that’s not why I have come here to speak about. Yes there are many problems in America, and I, Connor Chase plan on addressing them as the time comes nearer. Today’s problems are our future children’s obstacles. This 28 amendment that I am installing is not one only derived for people’s privacy, its one for the people. It’s the amendment that gives us American citizens the power again, the power that this government has confiscated. It’s because of hard working Americans that they can sell our information, use our information and bargain and burden our lives. It’s because of hard working Americans they can spend billions on wars and so called global missions of peace. It’s hard working Americans that pay for the wages of hard working police, fire department and hospitals. It’s because of this government that all three of these vital commodities are in danger. It’s because of this Government that an undercover cop will die today.’

Shaw’s face whitens as Connor grabs a man into view, wearing a bag over his head, his identity is not certain to anybody, apart from Shaw. Connor smiles as he pulls the white sack from over the unidentified man’s head. It’s Nathan.

‘This is here is Nathan. I am not sure if it’s his real name or just his undercover one. I’m pretty sure it’s not his real name, but that’s beside the point. It’s what Nathan is doing here that tickles my funny bone.’ Says Chase while sadistically tickling Nathan’s elbow

‘Now I’m going to ask you a few questions Nathan is that okay?’

Nathan nods his head, the sweat on his forehead strobing on the TV screen

‘Okay, good to know your cooperative. Let’s get down to this.’

Nathan nods once again, visibly in shock of the current situation he finds himself in.

‘Are you an undercover cop Nathan?’

Nathan nods

‘No, I asked you a questions boy, you will have the decency to answer me!’ Demands chase, his tone ever more aggressive.

‘Yes I am an undercover cop, special forces to be precise.’

‘Oh, Boston SWAT. A man of skill indeed, no wander we snapped you up, you certainly have the credentials. Why are you undercover here then Nathan?’

‘I was assigned to this detail to monitor you as an individual, we suspected you of being a radical, or militia leader.’

‘Oh, that’s pretty accurate then, I am a leader but I wouldn’t say this is a militia. Now I’m going to ask you one final question, who is the bad guy in this scenario, me or the government who put you here with no back up and no weapons.’

Nathan swallows hard as he digests the question, the urgency of the situation ever increasing as Chase hovers over him, Desert Eagle in hand, pressed against Nathans scull.

‘Times ticking away boy’ Says Chase while mimicking looking at a watch. The room goes silence as Chase cocks back the hammer and presses down on the trigger. The impact of the shot at close range rag dolls Nathans head as half of his face implodes from the impact of the deafening shot. His lifeless corpse slides out of view leaving a bloody smear on the wall next to the remains of his head. Connor smiles while whipping down the stainless steel of his barrel, he throws a candid wave at the camera as it goes black. The TV screen erupts with static white noise as Shaw looks on in disbelief.

‘Shit’ Says Shaw garnering the attention of his fellow officers.

‘Do you know who that was?’ Asks one of the officers

‘Yeah its Frank’s brother, Adam.’

Sixty Four

‘What the hell are you doing here Eddie? Haven’t you got a city to protect?’ Asks Frank, sparking up a cigarette as he pats Eddie down for a concealed weapon, Eddie shakes his head as he relaxes once Frank has stopped frisking. Both men look at each other intently before Frank flicks a cigarette at him. Frank extends his arm and lights it.

‘So are you going to answer me?’ Asks Frank who’s visibly growing more impatient, jittering his hands at his sides, ash sprinkling off his cigarette.

‘I am wondering the same thing Frank. What are you doing here all kitted up like you’re going to war or something’

‘That’s exactly where I’m going Eddie. I’m going to war with that son of a bitch. He killed all those innocent people and slaughtered Tasha like an animal. I liked her; she was the first person who gave me more than a stale look. The first person to ask how I was feeling and not mean “Are you up for the job”’

Eddie moves in closer, taking a seat on a lopsided crate next to Frank. Frank remains standing awkwardly as he beams his sight down to the visibly tired District Attorney Eddie Smith.

‘Look Frank, we need you back to headquarters…’

‘I know what you’re going to say, I’m not having none of it Eddie. Its bullshit, the whole thing is bullshit. You can’t just take me off a case and then expect me to run back into action blindly. First you guys ring me up yesterday, begging me to come back after I was sent home to “cool off”. I’m not playing these games any more. If you guys aren’t going to make a move on that ass hole Chase, then I will just have to see to his demise myself.’

‘We are going to make a move on him, that’s why we need you. Shaw has said that he wants you back in the field. He says he needs you to get the job done.’

Franks smiles at Eddie who is staring a hole into him, his cigarette is illuminating the surrounding warehouse clutter with a tint of fiery orange.