2. Cpt_Akira_Shinkawa.
1/30/2036
Crime report: Murder at 77_Howard street, Soma.
Offender: unidentified at time of processing
Searching sfOS cameras…
Searching noOS cameras…
Predicting suspect…
Identifying…
Found!
Offender: Felix Anon DeBlanc.
D.O.B: June 22nd, 2009 (age 27)
Nationality: American (New York)
*NO UISC CITIZENSHIP*
Other info: user of various
illegal social media programs, Recorded incorrect speech
*Back in America, we actually HAVE
veteran’s day. * 10/10/2035
*Ok boomer. * 9/22/2030
*I guess… I expected the UISC to
be less crazy than they actually where. * 10/9/2029
Offender location: scene of crime
Offender causalities: Dr Anne Locke
Probability of being armed: High
Probability of holding hostages:
Low
Probability of attacking: Very
high.
Verdict: ATTACK IF ATTACKED FIRST
Sending SWAT team…
This was an overreaction.
A whole SWAT team with live weapons
for one murderer? Declaring the guy insane over a few voice recordings? I’m
starting to think Silicon Valley and the private police corps are trying to
remove Americans from the country. That wasn’t what the UISC I knew would have
done. However, Silicon Valley offered Themis 1,000,000 dollars to capture this
guy. A million is a lot these days. Especially to a private police corporation
that ISN’T IO or GodsEyes. They couldn’t say no to that.
I stepped out of the dingy van and
into to cool night air. If it wasn’t for the murder, the night would have been
almost peaceful. The pre-war street held some of the last houses built back
when California was part of America. Very idyllic design. Wooden porch, brick
driveway, triangular roof and square windows. Far detached from the “Modern Californian
house”.
I was followed by Sarah, who stared at
the house in curiosity. I don’t think she’d seen a pre-war house in a while, if
not ever. Most younger people from LA never had.
“Is it safe in there, Cap?” she asked
“Well no, the man in that house just
killed someone. However, there where no reported gunshots, so its likely he’s
only armed with a knife.” I said.
She looked dazed “How did you know
that?”
“Mind powers, Sarah.” I joked.
For some reason she looked even more
confused.
“Nevermind.” I said.
We walked up to another officer staring
at the main window stroking her chin, quietly muttering “That American is up
there.” When she noticed me, she jumped.
“Oh! Sorry Captain Shinkawa, you scared
me. But not it ‘that’ way, as in, you, just coming up behi- “
“Don’t worry about it, officer.” I said,
“Just tell me the situation.”
“Right, right, ok. The, uh, murderer
is up there, in that window, as you can see. Since he has already killed
someone, we’ve been authorised to use lethal force if necessary.”
Suddenly, the top window burst open. Out
stepped a bare footed man in a Hawaiian shirt and black jeans. He held his
hands behind his head, and a terrified expression covered his face. The most
disturbing thing was his feet were bleeding. Every cop with a gun immediately pointed
their weapons at him. I suddenly had a feeling someone would get shot.
I dashed to a police loudspeaker an
began the tensest conversation of my life.
“EVERYONE, PUT YOUR GUNS DOWN!” I shouted.
The last thing we needed was a foreign civilian casualty.
Only a few officers lowered their guns,
to my annoyance.
“Sir, what’s your name.” I said, as
calm as I could.
“… Why should I tell you!” He shouted
back.
“Sir, I know the guns aren’t helping.
But I need you to calm down. We’re here to help.”
“Oh, of course you are! And your also
here to rig a court case against me and give me in jail for the rest of my
days!”
“I assure you sir; everything will be
fine. We’re Themis, not IO or GodsEyes. Just tell me your name and why you
killed the resident of this house.”
“I HAVEN’T KILLED ANYONE!” he shouted, setting
my heart off. “SHE'S DOWNSTAIRS!”
I signalled to Sarah to call an ambulance.
I had to assume the victim was injured.
“Is anyone else in there with you?” I
asked.
“No, why would there be?”
“Ok, ok. Is the resident injured in
any way.”
“She’s… out cold. But that’s it, and it
wasn’t my fault!”
I felt like I had this man’s trust.
“Ok. Sir, this is what’s gonna happen.
My fellow officers will lower their weapons, and you will come out through the
main door, where you will be escorted to the Themis police station. If what you’ve
said is true, you’ll only serve a maximum of half a month in prison, or no
prison sentence at all.”
Just as he nodded his head. Just as
everyone lowered their guns. Just as my pulse returned to a normal pace. Just
as it looked like this would go down as a successful operation… I heard a buzzing.
It was a GodsEyes ACP drone.
…
Then I saw Sarah had caught the man in
her arms. Almost on cue, the ambulance had arrived to take the man to a hospital.
If it wasn’t for my negotiation and
Sarah’s quick thinking, this could have ended much differently.
btw if you're confused about the date this story takes place in, it uses the american date, which is why it's arranged differently.
ReplyDeleteAdam - I like the continued characterisation of the Captain. I felt like you captured his feelings very well - you show his empathy. I like the way this chapter starts and thought your description of LA was great. The image of the man with bleeding feet and that tension is also well done. If I had one small quibble - it would be how would Sarah catch a grown man? Surely this would be pretty impossible? So if this were my story, I would look at that line again. Anything too implausible takes the reader out of the story. But overall, great writing!
ReplyDelete