"Guess you should have used the confidential code on the radio boss" Patrick laughed.
"Shut up Patrick, just shut up and let me do the talking."
Greeting the craft as it landed onto the patch of dry land, Samuel produced his badge and held it up in the air as he mustered up his most authoritative "cop voice".
"Gentlemen you are going to have to go elsewhere to ambulance chase. This is an active crime scene and you are going to have to leave."
"Hey man, don't bust our ass here. We know something big is going on and everyone is covering something up. Ever heard of something called the constitution buddy? Freedom of the Press? Do these things ring a bell to you, or do they only teach you guys how to beat up homeless men and shake hookers down for blowjobs at the academy."
His face glowing red with rage, it took all of willpower not to deck the reporter gloating into his face. Darren Ross, chief investigative reporter for WDSU had brought his whole crew out to the swamps, having had to use all of his power of persuasion on his general manager to agree to let him have the copter for the day. His police scanner constantly on, he knew something was a foot. Hearing the odd term " Code Mongoose" the night before, when he called his normal and reliable informants inside the department, he was met with a wall of silence. Even his normal bribes did not work and he knew that meant only one thing and that thing led to something big. His big break came when he got Samuel's APB and monitoring the airwaves for the intense and over the top reaction, he knew this was the key. As he continued baiting the officer, he smiled smugly as he saw his camera man begin sneaking around the back of the house. Now he knew, all he had to do was stall.
For the next ten minutes the insults flew loud and increasingly personal and hilarious. Men's mother's virtues were challenged. The size of their reproductive organs were discussed in an open air forum before finally Samuel discussed the possibility of performing a very delicate pedal anus insertion procedure which he assured Darren would smart as he was wearing his steel toes. As the conversation continued, it ended when the scream of the camera man shattered through the air like a gunshot.
"Darren!!! Get in here NOW!"
Temporarily stunned by the noise, Patrick and Samuel stood silently as Darren rushed into the house and burst through the crime scene tape and in the front door. Bounding up the steps, when he ran into the back room and saw ample evidence of the gory scene that must have taken place, he directed the camera man back to the aircraft.
"This is big Jim, REAL BIG. We need to get back to New Orleans NOW!!!" Rushing out of the house, Samuel and Patrick stood defiantly in front of the door, but not wanting a lawsuit, they did nothing as he pushed his way out. It was not illegal to do what they were doing, and both he and Darren knew it. He was licked, and Samuel only hoped the chief would not have his ass as a paperweight on his desk by morning.
Speeding across the bayou in the copter, Darren yelled over the noise into his cellphone as he had just dialed one of his confidential sources in the police department. Barking loudly, he screamed "Look fucker, I am going to find out what is going on soon enough, but if you want your check this month you need to tell me what you know now. I just was at the DuChamp house and what I saw looked like something out of a horror movie. I need to know what you know and I need to know it now." Holding a finger in his free ear, Darren smiled as the informant, now knowing that the news was going to break anyway, spilled everything he knew. Grinning wildly, Darren made another call, but this one was to the General Manager of WDSU. Hearing his story, every camera unit that could be mustered was now en route to East Jefferson Hospital.
Back at "Mom's", a small diner across the street from the hospital, the chief and Bill were enjoying another cup of coffee and an excellent, and quite generous, bowl of shrimp and grits.
"Myrtle, this is absolutely fantastic! Nothing like some good of S&G to fix me right up."
The aging waitress smiled as she refilled both their cups and brought another basket of biscuits. Mom's was a favorite for those visiting the hospital, and the large clear window gave a clear shot of the entrance to the hospital. For the past few minutes the chief and his primary investigator had been discussing the ramifications of the murders of Camille and Marie DuChamp. Everything seemed to be tied together; the murders of Tony, the two women in the swamp, Ed Clearwater and the rape attempt of Lorraine but it was not clear exactly how. Hoping it would snap into place before the glaring white hot spotlight of publicity made his life more difficult, when he saw five WDSU news vans speed into the parking lot, he knew that that window was now closed. When he saw the news copter land on the helipad, he knew the window not only was closed, but locked.
Sighing, the chief got up and took two twenties out of his wallet and placed them on the table. Waving at the waitress, he said "Gotta run Myrtle, keep the change."
"Thanks honey!" she called back, her broad friendly voice dripping with the sachariney sweet accent of a long past time. Walking slowly across the street, the chief shook his head as he saw the place burst alive with energy, reporters and camera men running around like rapid dogs let loose in a butcher shop. Seeing the chief, both he and Bill covered their eyes with their hands as the bright glare of the television lights blinded them both.
Back at Zeke's Jasmine was listening in amusement to the growing theological discussion between her boss and the increasingly drunken priest. Smiling blankly, she had to admit she was impressed by the Priest's case to help out with Gus. Not knowing whether it was the beer, or her obvious attraction for Gus, she was slowly starting to melt, her anger to him dissipating with each drink. Looking up at the TV set over the bar, perpetually muted but always on, a cold icy chill ran through her body.
Pointing wildly with her face frozen with terror she screamed. "Captain Tony, that is Captain Tony!!! Turn it up, turn up the volume Zeke!!!"
Spinning around in his chair, Zeke's face dropped too. There on the screen was a picture of Captain Tony with the red glaring headline "HORROR IN THE BIG EASY!" Turning up the volume, he returned to his seat and watched in shock with Jasmine and Father Aviles as the newscaster began speaking.
"New Orleans is a city of fear today as murder stalks the big easy. Reports have come in overnight of a series of heinous ritualistic murders have claimed multiple victims. We must warn our viewers now, that the content to follow is of a graphic nature and may be disturbing to our more sensitive viewers." Watching intensely, the fates of Tony, Camille and Marie were described, from the beheadings and defacing of Tony, to the complete mutilation and ritualistic nature of their murders. Sobbing quietly, Jasmine put her head down as Father Aviles patted her head and Zeke got up to make more coffee.
"Freaky man, freaky freaky shit!" Zeke exclaimed as he returned with three cups of coffee, now craving the clear headed sensation of sobriety. The sudden news of the murder of people he had just been out with was quite sobering on its own but caffeine would help. "It must be drug related. I mean, Captain Tony hung out with some unsavory people you now."
"I don't know Zeke, I don't know!" Jasmine said through more sobs. "I am really scared now. I mean, they were all with us over at Gus's house and..."
Hearing the news caster break in again, they all three looked up at the screen pensively, scared of what terrible new thing would be revealed. As a file photo of Ed and Lorraine Clearwater flashed onto the screen Father Aviles gasped.
"Dear God no! NO!!! NO!!!!!!"
The newscaster broke in again as old film clips of Ed and Lorraine Clearwater's show played in a side screen. "In a bizarre and macabre twist, Ed and Lorraine Clearwater, world famous supernatural investigators and host of multiple popular television shows have added their names to the growing names of the victims. Last night Mr. Clearwater's mutilated body was found in Saint Louis Cemetery, and his wife was apparently sexually assaulted in their own home. Details are hard to come by as the police are being quite tight lipped, but sources say that he too was decapitated and his face removed post mortem. According to police sources, Mrs. Clearwater was able to successfully fend off her attackers and initial reports indicate that she may have killed one or more of her assailants. She is currently recovering at East Jefferson Hospital, but we have no word on her condition as of this hour. Police are baffled by..."
Holding his face in his hands, Father Aviles felt sick. His good friend Ed was dead and Lorraine was grievously injured. Looking over at Jasmine he saw her face turn pale and serious, tears streaming down her cheeks as she lightly shook. Looking back at Zeke, Father Aviles noted that his normal casual demeanor was gone and his face had an ashen look, like a man who just had received a death sentence. Clearing his throat as he gathered his wits, Father Aviles spoke. "So, do you still wonder if Evil is an active force in this world?"
"GUS! We have to warn Gus!" Jasmine blurted out, her voice cracking with emotion. Pulling out her phone she dialed his number and mouthed a silent prayer that he would pick up. Getting his voicemail message, she sighed and began trembling.
"We will dear, we will. We are not just going to warn him but it is obvious that we have been called to do combat with the evil one." Father Aviles stated emotionless as he sat up ramrod straight.
