Chapter 5: November 20th – New York – Morning

Another rough chapter, not feeling good. I promise chapter six will be better. 

Chapter 5: November 20th – New York – Morning

A handful of sleep aids easily acquired in New York helps Joseph sleep for the night. When he wakes up he doesn’t remember his dreams, which are the best kind for him. He gives Agent Kwok a call soon after waking up and they agree to meet at the station just after eleven. The process of getting ready helps him wake up from showering to putting on his outfit. Hit outfit is a little more casual today, blue jeans and a flannel work shirt with a white t-shirt underneath; he hopes this would be enough to go undercover in a small town called Sunnyville outside of New York, home to the Horizon church.

                Joseph didn’t get out of the hotel until about 10:30, and he’s noticed a huge change in New York compared to yesterday, they’ve moved on. The front page of this morning’s New York Times didn’t mention anything about the attack, just about some celebrity getting married. The Televisions in the Hotel’s main floor have switched back to their sports instead of the news, and everyone seems to have gone back to normal. Even the police station when he walked in is less busy, not as many people waiting in the lobby to share information, and it seemed when Joseph went into the back less officers were on duty than yesterday. It’s odd, almost as if they crossed the 48 hour mark it’s time to pack up and go home.

                Michael Morrow still dressed in yesterday’s suit is standing outside of his office looking at the officers and FBI agents who remain working. The office is less hectic than yesterday, most people were given the day off because they’ve been working almost non-stop since the attack. Desks are a mess with papers and research that it’ll take another few shifts to organize it all. He spots Joseph walking into the office coming his way, when he’s in earshot he would comment. “Well, better than 4pm. Kwok and you still going down to Horizon?”

                Joseph nods, looking around the office. “Where’s the donuts you guys are famous for?” He asks, looking around a few people’s desk within walking range of where Michael and him were standing.

                “It’s at the coffee station just over there, but we usually reserve treats like those for people who actually work.” Michael commented, noticing his friend’s attitude hasn’t changed since yesterday. Joseph shrugs, he didn’t like Morrow much just by the way he looks, runs things, and how he seemed to have a stick up his ass in regards of him being in his case, he seems a bit of a control freak.

                “So what’s your plan of attack? I see most of the office is away today?” Joseph asks. In the office there may be a half dozen people inside still doing research for the Angel shooter case.

                “Well we’re not just looking into the shooter. Courts are back in session today so we have people escorting prisoners, normal everyday patrols, and of course some people are out talking to suspects. Agent Mach decided he would hit up the body modification parlous in New York to see who would’ve done such modification if we still believe that his wings aren’t held up by a harness. Other than that we have you two looking into Horizon, I’ve sent a few officers to the airport to question the few people who hand out pamphlets there as well.”

                “So you think I may have something with this theory?” Joseph asks, smirking at Michael. He is fishing for compliments from the NYPD detective partly because he knows how much it pains a man with such pride like Michael Morrow to admit something like this.

                “Maybe. Anyways, if you find anything make sure you report back as soon as you can.” Michael said, walking back into his office.

                Kwok and Joseph didn’t leave the station till about noon. The plan is for them is to arrive at 3 in Sunnyville, snoop around, and be back by ten at night to sync up with today’s findings with the 27^th precinct. The ride to Sunnyville is a long one reminded him of the times in Vancouver when he had to go to cities up in Northern BC like Hope or even Langley, long and nothing to look at. Kwok who is driving the rental car tried to make it interesting by asking questions about Joseph.

                “So how did you get into police work?” Kwok asks, while driving on a long stretch of road.

                “Life. My uncle was a cop and he was a strong presence in my life. I wanted to be in the army, but my uncle said cops do more good than soldiers. So yeah. How about you?” Joseph says watching the road drives past them. He didn’t know there were parts of New York that just looked like long stretches of country.

                “Eh, it was a job. I had high test scores and the FBI just seemed to have pick me up.” Kwok said with a shrug. “So did you come up with any names?”

                Joseph opened his phone and started to look through it. “Yeah, just give me a second here.” He opened a few folders and found the names he was looking for. “Carl Henderson and Hal Lenthe, both of them are ex-military and are friends. They got discharged few years ago for torturing prisoners in Iraq. They came back and seem to join the church, Carl even has blonde hair and blue eyes. I think he’s a strong candidate for our shooter. Has the knowledge, skills, and being affiliated with Horizon and their stance on racial values…”

                “Yeah I get you, but don’t you think it would be too obvious? Especially for the church cause they must know if one of their own is the shooter.” Kwok says, Joseph is sure that he didn’t want Kwok to admit that a group that his agency declared harmless could do such a thing. Joseph nods.

                “I get you, I do. But even Carl’s last facebook status is creepy. He wrote he’s seeing an angel tonight. There’s something wrong with this group.” Joseph gives more information about the research he did last night about their two suspects and the church. “Besides, once we put pressure on Horizon everyone inside is going to fold on each other, you honestly don’t think hardcore evangelicals like them can survive time inside a prison?”

                “So the plan is go in, ask a few tough questions and they all fold to pressure?” Kwok asks, the way he phrased it made it sound like the plan is too easy and simple. Joseph shakes his head.

                “In this line of work, nothing is easy.”

                Sunnyville is one of those small cities in New York with less than two thousand for a population. Most children have to go to other nearby towns or stay home for schooling. The town has their own Ma and Pop general store for grocers and other merchandise along with a bar. Other than that it’s mostly farms and a few churches taking up most of the town’s space. Most people who work have to end up going to other towns and cities in Pennsylvania or even Canada. When Agent Kwok and Joseph entered the city they knew they weren’t near civilization the place looked as high tech as a first nation’s reservation. They parked on one of the few paved streets and got out of the car, they parked near the General store and across from the Bar called The Laughing Nigger.

                “Some name…” Kwok said, looking at the bar sign. When he got out people who happen to be wandering around the town looked over to Kwok and Joseph. Joseph quickly surveyed the group, all of them seem to be white people just going about their business.

                “Don’t think they see many colour people in here Kwok.” Joseph mentions as he shuts the door to the rental car. Kwok is just getting used to people staring at him, he looks back to Joseph.

                “I hope you weren’t planning of trying to be quiet. Where should we start?”

                “Well, it’s 3pm on a weekday. If you were a white fellow who doesn’t have a job where would you be?” Joseph asks.

                “Either at home or at the bar.”

                “Great, I’m hungry from the long drive.” Joseph said walking across the paved street towards the Laughing Nigger.

                The Laughing Nigger is an old bar, was set up in the early 1990’s and looked like a bar one would see in Western movies with a second floor and patio for guests to stay in. Although the second floor is usually used as storage now and days, the bar is still very active being the only one in the city. The bartender is a burley white muscular dude and the bar is staffed by hick looking waitresses young and old. When Kwok and Joseph walks in the  whole bar looks at them for a moment before going back to their own business, it only took Joseph a few seconds to spot Hal in the bar drinking alone at the bar.

                Kwok took a seat to Hal’s right and Joseph on his left. In between the two investigators sat a nervous Hal now shaking as the two strangers sat down. Hal isn’t what Joseph thought he would be, he was expecting a big military man with a buzz cut and maybe a drinking issue, Hal is a scrawny man with long hair, and seems rather nervous as his sips his beer. Hal looks side to side and trembled as he spoke, “What can I do for you?”

                The bartender gave Kwok and Joseph a dirty look. “Just here to talk, you know Carl Henderson right?” Hal froze, he stopped sipping on the beer he had to his lips and looks to the bartender.

                “May…maybe… why?” He nervously lets out. “Listen… I have nothing to do with anything.” The bartender moved away from the bar and went into the back giving the agents time with Hal.

                “Oh? Well… why don’t you tell me your relationship with Horizon then?” Kwok asks, both Joseph and Kwok are looking at Hal who is busy wiping off the beer that dropped onto his shirt. Hal wore cargo pants and a camouflage t-shirt.

                “I… I just live there. Not party of them. Carl brought me there after we’re discharged. They took care of us let us crash inside the church and gave us a job out on a farm. They’re good people… they have no hand in what happened a few days ago…” Hal said sometimes stuttering his answers.

                “So what about Carl? Where’s he?” Joseph asked.

                “He went to New York a few weeks ago, said that he had some church stuff to do…” Hal stopped for a second realizing what he is saying. “But…it wasn’t him. I mean He didn’t have no wings on his back… I mean, he also didn’t have any weapons on him. He was just doing airport stuff… Oh my god please don---“ A loud bang can be heard as blood is splattered all over Joseph and Kwok. The now headless Hal falls on the ground and the barmen holding an old style revolver still smoking in his hands was pointing at Hal.

                “SHUT YOUR GOD DAMN MOUTH” He shouted after he fired. The people in the bar ran out leaving the three men and a body alone together.

                “Okay, put your gun down and you won’t get hurt.” Joseph says, he is pretending he is reaching for a gun. Kwok on the other hand already has his aimed at the guy. The barmen slowly puts his gun down and lets Kwok put handcuffs on him, Joseph called the nearest police station.

                After a few hours, buying new clothes from the general store, and listening to everyone’s statements Joseph and Kwok are on their way back to New York. The Bartender is a member of Horizon church, and other than that wouldn’t say much about why he shot Hal, it’s assumed for him to stay quiet about something. The local police department were told to bring him in, and transfer him into New York as soon as possible. The rest of the town wouldn’t talk to the police or Kwok and Joseph without some sort of warrant after what happened, it didn’t matter because Kwok and Joseph are convinced that Horizon is involved in it somehow and their main suspect is still in New York by the looks of it.

                The ride home was long, they didn’t have time to call in to home base until after they were in the car already heading home. Joseph called Marrow on his cell.

                “Hey we’re looking for Carl Henderson as a suspect of being the shooter. We just had some rough shit going down here and we think the church is behind the shooter.”

                “Well… that’s easy we found him.” Morrow responds.

                “What? Already? You caught the shooter?”

                “Something like that…” Morrow said letting his voice trailed off. “I mean, we have his head along with twelve other Horizon members…  mailed to random places throughout New York. That’s only what we’ve collected so far…”