Moonlight Symphony

Two

Back in the police station, Jack was sitting in the lobby watching the news. The media were buzzing about Mael's recent accusations that somehow the police were compromised.

“What an asshole!” he shouted.

He had rested his foot on a table in front of the couch.

“Come again?” said Mael as he entered the room.

“Ahm, nothing, I was just saying what an asset you are,” Jack said before he took his foot off the table. “Do you really believe that we are compromised?” he asked.

Mael shook his head. “I'm not sure.”

Jack got up from his table and locked eyes with him. “You're not sure? Then why the hell did you say that to the media?”

“If I turn out to be right, then the organization will panic and make mistakes, if they make mistakes, we catch them,” he sighed. “And if I'm wrong, well, I'm an asshole.”

Jack shook his head gently. Mael had just been assigned as the lead detective in this case. His reputation was well known throughout the police force, but he had lots of enemies due to his tactics in solving cases.

“You know that you just turned everyone in the police force against you right?”

“Sure,” Mael said before he took a pause. He smirked and turned around. “I'm not interested in making friends,” he said as he winked at Jack. Sure, he was a tough person to get along, but even Mael admired the sense of justice that Jack had. He would make an excellent partner he thought when he first knew he would be working with him.

“Come on, let's get going,” Mael said.

“What now?”

“A threat was made against a family close by.”

“Ah alright.” Jack got up, and together, they made their way towards the house where the report was made. It took them thirty minutes to reach the house.

Jack knocked on the door.

A blonde lady opened the door, she was in her early thirties.

“Officer Jack Greyson,” Jack said as he flashed his ID. “And this is Detective Mael, we're here about the threat made against your life,” he paused.

“Please, come on in!” she let them in, shivering in fear. She fit the same mold as the previous victims but something was not right in her. Mael sensed it the second he saw the silver bracelet on her wrist, he turned towards Jack and gave him the look that she was in danger.

The two sat down in the living room to discuss the threat that was made against her life. The place though, was nice. Most of the furniture was made of old wood, a small hint of wealth, but it was just that, a hint.

“It is so weird . . . I don't really understand any of it, but I saw something about this on TV and that's why I am panicking!” she said. She handed the police an envelope that contained a small cassette tape.

Mael quickly noticed an old cassette player nearby and got up. “Do you mind?” he asked.

“No, go ahead,” he had his answer.

Mael played the cassette, and both officers looked at each other in complete shock as the sound that came out was none other than the moonlight symphony. They both understood that this was indeed a threat made against her life.

“You, I recognize you from TV,” the women said looking at Mael. “Please tell me I'm not crazy,” she pleaded, as their empty blank stares drove even more tension into her.

‘We have a report of a nearby robbery, Detective Mael and Officer Jack please respond immediately.'

“We just can't get a break, can we?” said Jack as he quickly got up and was joined by Mael.

“Look, we'll be back in a few hours so don't leave the house and just wait for us,” said Mael.

As the two made the way towards the car, Jack started the engine, as Mael sat on the passenger seat. Within moments, the sirens went off and they were on the way.

“Do you think she's a target?” Jack asked, as he stepped on the gas, and made way to the bank.

“I'm not sure. Not once did we ever hear about a threat being made, it's always the same pattern. A bit of blood on the walls, the moonlight symphony playing, and no body, anywhere,” Mael said as he scratched his lower chin. “Something is different now.” He added.

“Well, maybe your plan ‘compromised police' thing worked, and they are doing this to say, ‘what are you going to do about it?'” Jack replied.

Mael nodded. “If that's true, then this is the mistake I was telling you about,” he said before he turned his palm into a fist and squeezed tight. “I have a bad feeling about this Jack,” he added.

“Well, you and me both,” Jack said before he pulled the brakes. It was a short ride; the bank was close by car.

The support was already waiting for them to come and lead the assault against the bank robbers. They got down from the car and approached them.

“What's going on here?” asked Jack.

“A bunch of thieves tried to rob the bank, and they're holding everyone inside hostage. The idiots . . . triggered the alarm by mistake,” said one of the men approached him, he wore dark protective clothing that covered his entire body, save for his head. The words SWAT was engrossed on the center of his chest.

“Well Commander, look at the bright side, at least some criminals are still as dumb as a rock,” said Mael before he raised an eyebrow. “Get me the bank's blueprints right away.”

They quickly got the blueprints ready, and they all surrounded Mael as he devoured that piece of paper. He looked at it straight, picked it up in his hands and tilted it. He took a hard stare into the monitors nearby, observing every little movement the robbers were doing for a good minute. He didn't blink nor speak.

“There,” he broke his silence as he pointed near a backdoor entrance that was designed to remain hidden in case of an emergency. “I doubt these idiots will have the blueprints, it's clear they're improvising, so it should be safe to go in there.” He said.

“Is it really okay if we just go inside?” The SWAT commander said.

“Once we step foot inside, they will open fire on the hostages! You are nuts!” another chimed in.

“Of course not, idiots,” he said before he took pause. “Once you're inside, wait for thirty minutes, exactly thirty minutes, and then storm in. From the back entrance, you rush in, smoke bomb and all while shouting for everybody to get down. Two minutes later, have the main bulk of the force barge from the straight door.”

As soon as Mael finished those words, he gazed upon his surroundings, and all the gathered had their brows raised. “You are insane,” the SWAT commander said.

Mael grabbed Jack by his shirt and pulled gently. “You are responsible for this, you do what I said, and no one else dies tonight, do I have your word?” he asked before he shook him. “Do I have your word?” he asked again.

Jack nodded, and Mael started walking across. “Where are you going?”

“To clear my head,” Mael said as he kept walking away.

Jack shook his head, and then turned to face those gathered.

“Jack, this is insane,” one of them said.

“I know this sounds crazy, well perhaps it is . . . but I have been through this dozens of times. It's always the craziest s**t that comes from his mouth that turns to be the truest,” Jack said as he felt his words break through whatever obstacles they faced. He exhaled and took in a deep breath.

“Give the command,” he looked at the SWAT commander.

“This goes bad, it's on you two,” the SWAT commander added before he turned and went towards a tent set up nearby.

Jack sighed as his beats grew as loud as a drum. “God help us all,” he said before he tilted his head towards the horizon.