James parked up next to his apartment. Grabbing his head, he couldn't help but shake the feeling that he was always being watched at all times. First, his apartment, then the ISD, the tracker. Thinking calmly about it, he wondered when things would happen. He put his mind into that of his enemies.
Cain would be the one to strike. Even if it was stupid and they needed to distance him from James, he had taunted the man and opened him to the force. That was enough, and in an organisation that had valued secrecy for so long, especially one with the Gentleman inside, he was sure such mistakes would need to be dealt with by the person to prove they were still useful.
James lowered his head, trying to think when he would strike. It wouldn't take long for them to find out he had been suspended; they had the connections. Having been isolated, they had many chances, but there was one day when James felt it would be best.
'Result day.' James siad to himself. More importantly, when the Mayor was sworn in. Every cop would be on high alert, but only around the Mayoral building. Across the city, things would be light. James grabbed his eyes.
'Less than two days away.' James narrowed his eyes and took out his phone. Calling Phillip, he waited for him to answer. The rugged voice picked up, "What?"
"I need weapons." James knew his abilities. He wasn't a fighter, and in the face of Cain, could disperse an inferno in a matter of seconds; he had to be ready. "And I would like to hire your services." James heard a cigarette burning on the other end, followed by a deep exhale.
"When?" Phillip said without a change in tone. James looked at the date on his car. If he was wrong, then he would be going in alone, but if he had to make a gamble.
"Results day." James replied, taking a deep breath, "What can you get for me in?" Phillip was silent, and James heard him get up and move somewhere else. The sound of the two locks coming loose echoed, followed by a heavy crate opening.
"How much money have you got?" Phillip asked. James thought of his bank account. He was always a frugal person, only ever spending money to feed himself, pay bills and drink with Peter. The rest he kept to the side in case of emergencies such as this.
"Seven grand." It was everything he had left after paying Phillip the first time. The man let out a deep exhale.
"Six grand for me to come out." Phillip was quiet, "Come over to mine, and have a look at what I got." James nodded and hung up. Speeding off, he made his way towards Chaplin, arriving on Maple Street. James looked around and could tell he was out of place on such a road.
Many of the apartment buildings had either iron bars on the windows or were boarded up to prevent anyone from looking in. The people hanging outside all stared at the unfamiliar car, their conversations stopping. Some swiftly put their hands in their pockets to hide what they had.
In between apartments, rows of tents littered the alleyways, the occasional person popping up from between them. James parked up before Phillips' apartment, kept his gaze straight ahead, and let himself in quickly. Stopping before a heavy iron door, he banged on it and waited. Phillip pulled a small hatch and, seeing James, undid numerous locks, letting him in.
Phillip was a burly man, wearing a dirty tank top. With a long, brown beard that was unkempt and messy brown hair, it looked as if he hadn't showered in days. Despite the fact that his apartment was clean, everything was kept neatly in order. Phillip said nothing and moved to the back room, passing through another iron door.
James stepped into a concealed armoury with multiple locked crates scattered around. James knew that any one of them would land Phillip years in prison, but said nothing. Everyone had their informants, and it had become second nature to ignore their dealings so long as they kept them quiet and reasonably moral.
Phillip threw open the crate before him, showing an array of pistols and a few rifles. Looking at them, James' eyes moved past the rifle. Although it would have been perfect, hiding such a thing was nearly impossible. Phillip stayed silent as James chose, not minding his hand reaching out, picking one up and testing its feel before grabbing another.
Feeling the new pistol, James popped the magazine and saw it took 45 ACP. Although the recoil was on the heavier side, he had used them before and knew he could take it. With a nice feel in his hand examined the weapon, finding nothing wrong with it.
"How much?" James asked, looking for a serial number. Seeing it scraped off, he pushed it aside.
"750 plus ammo." James smiled and put the gun in his pocket.
"You trust me to get you the money." Phillip nodded and walked over to another crate. Opening it up, he took out a couple of preloaded magazines and handed them to James.
"What do you need on Results Day?" Phillip finally asked after the first piece of business was dealt with.
"Support. Stay around me and keep watch. I'll be in your ear the whole day if anything happens. Cain is moving, and I have a feeling he's coming then." Phillip frowned and moved to sit on one of the crates.
"This is risky business, James. Not what I like." Phillip looked over at the crate he had opened for James, "Want me to..." Making a gun gesture with his hand, "Might be able to get it done?"
"No. The ISD gave me a call. They want him alive. I'm only asking you to watch my back and, if need be, stop him before he gets close. Non-lethal, however." Phillip frowned, hearing the ISD was involved, but with James' demands, he didn't find it too dangerous. If things went terribly wrong, then he would be sure to keep enough of a distance so he could make a clean getaway.
"Okay. I'll be at your apartment by morning. Leave the money in your letterbox for me." James smiled and felt a wash of relief.
"Thank you." Phillip lazily waved his hand and watched as James left, making sure he didn't do anything. Getting into his car, James sighed and rested his head against the steering wheel.
'Is there anything else I can do?' James tried to think of anything. He already warned Vanessa and Peter. As for the rest of the people Cain could target, they should be safe on duty that night. Taking out his phone, he gave Xavier a call.
"Xavier, I need a favour," James said with a bitter voice. Xavier stayed silent and waited for him. "Keep New Horizon quiet on Results Day. I can't have people causing distractions."
"Is that all. Hardly a favour." Xavier said with slight disappointment. "Okay. Good luck, Dear Detective." Xavier hung up. James stared ahead and made one last call. Ringing Rose, he waited for her to answer. The call endlessly rang, but never picked up. James clicked his tongue and pocketed it, half expecting the outcome.
"Whatever." He could only trust Rose and hope she placed herself near Jeremiah's orbit that night.
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The station was silent, its workers all looked towards a man wearing thin-rimmed silver glasses, holding a briefcase. Walking through the station without a care, Agent S didn't even look at the people and made his way towards the Captain's office, letting himself in.
Taking a seat before the man, the Captain felt tense and held off from berating the man for acting so casually. Agent S took his glasses off and slowly wiped them, clearing the raindrops that had gotten on them. Putting them back on, he hid his white eyes, took off his fedora, revealing his blond hair, and placed it on the table between them. He was a thin, lanky man who fit well into his black suit.
Tightening his tie, he leaned back and looked the Captain in the eyes. "Tell me all the information you have on Sergeant Cain Manning." His voice was emotionless. The Captain stared for a second and nodded. Opening up on his computer, the wall Jame had made, he turned the screen around. Getting up afterwards, he closed the blinds so no one could peek in.
"We have not done an investigation ourselves. This is the work of a detective we have suspended. James Graham." The Captain retook his seat and said, understanding who was before him. Agent S scrutinised it, taking the keyboard and mouse, scrolling through all the information they had.
"It matches." Saying to himself, he nodded and turned the screen around. "Tell me why Mr Graham believes Mr Manning is targeting his life." Agent S asked once more. The Captain looked at him strangely.
"Shouldn't you ask James this? Forgive me, but I can't speak for the man." Agent S blankly looked at him, tilting his head slightly to the side.
"Tell me why Mr Graham believes Mr Manning is targeting his life." Asking again, he waited. The Captain resisted the urge to click his tongue and sighed.
"James was investigating this on his own, outside of the precinct." He emphasised the second part, "I know he saw the man as well as played a part in leading to his arrest, even if he was unofficially involved." Agent S nodded and looked at his watch. "After that, he threatened the life of one of the women in the picture you saw, Maria Beauvau, for information. He mentioned a man named Zoktis."
Agent S froze and took a deep breath. Slowly reaching up, he pulled his glasses off and closed his eyes, resting them on his lap. The Captain didn't question the strangeness of Agent S's action and believed it to be part of another investigation the ISD was doing.
Putting them back on, he spoke, "Forget everything you have heard about Zoktis. It does not concern you. As for Mr Graham, if he reaches out to the station, you will ignore all calls until the ISD is finished. We shall let you know. Adding to your question, we have not approached Mr Graham due to certain reasons and wish to keep our distance until necessary."
Agent S stood up and picked up his briefcase, "All footage of the previous five minutes will be wiped from the Police database. My existence will be kept a secret. If anyone asks, you will say that I am part of candidate Samuel Hopkins' protection detail and that I came to finalise its details. If anyone tries and probes deeper, you will reply that you are held to secrecy to ensure Mr Hopkins' safety. Do you understand?"
The Captain took a deep breath and nodded. Agent S didn't move. "I understand." The Captain said, making Agent S grab his hat and put it on.
"Have a nice evening." The blessing was lost in his emotionless voice. When the door finally closed and Agent S left, the Captain finally felt a sense of relief. Giving it a minute, he requested CCTV footage from the past hour around the station. Checking the date stamps, he noticed the last five minutes were missing.