FicStorm's The Chase

PROLOGUE The sound of sirens blaring loudly in the distance made Richard realize it was time to wrap his eulogy to an end. He swept his eyes around the open air cemetery to look for familiar faces amongst the small gathering of big dignitaries. He recognized the lady he had only come to know as Essy a few days ago. She had no idea what he had done, but he hoped she would come to understand. A lot had happened to them and between them within such little time. She gave him the sad smile which had become her trademark smile lately. He barely knew her but he could bet that there was a time when she smiled and showed her complete set of white teeth. A genuine smile without an edge of sadness and he sincerely hoped he’d get to see it one day. Beside her stood the off-putting Tega sporting a Burberry overcoat with thick black glasses that made him look even more formidable. With his face as tough as a stone and his hands deep in his pocket, he gave a slight nod that didn’t look friendly in any way. Richard’s eyes moved on and fell on Henry Paul’s. Their gaze locked and it was an awkward moment for Richard who felt twice the pain he already felt. It went without saying that they shared a mutual loss. But was it equal? Who felt the pain more? He didn’t even want to think about it. He swallowed hard and continued his speech. “My dear friend would say ‘Life is a game’. Well, if life is a game we all play, then death is a stage; we eventually get there. We all do.” Three FAC-Ops patrol vehicles screeched to a halt in a straight file on the asphalt. Everybody’s attention was diverted. Richard caught the puzzled expression on Essy’s face as she saw four agents get out of the vehicles and march up to the assembly. Leading the procession was the one Richard recognized as Agent Preston from the news and bringing up the rear was a CWBU agent armed with an M4 with the muzzle pointed downwards. Agent Preston pulled his badge from the inner pocket of his suit jacket without even breaking a stride and flashed it around for anyone who cared to look at it. Tega did. He gave the agent a once-over then focused on the CWBU agent and his M4. Richard watched him closely. He knew Tega was already calculating just in case ‘crap hit the fan’. As annoying as Tega was, Richard knew at that moment that he was going to miss him. “I am Special Agent Preston of the Federal Anti-Corruption Operations and we’re here to make an arrest.” Gasps escaped the mouths of a few people and some were exchanging glances with each other wondering who the wanted person was. “Arrest him!” Agent Preston yelled pointing at Richard who stood on the pedestal and the two agents flanking his side moved swiftly for Richard. The CWBU agent stayed put with his eyes trained on Richard, his gun still pointed downwards. Essy’s scream was the first sound that reached his ears and then whisperings and murmurs from others followed. Someone was protesting heatedly about the lack of respect for the dead and another cursed the FAC-Ops loudly for barging into a funeral but nobody did anything to stop the agents from getting to Richard. Richard watched the agents approach. He was done running. There was no need to fight anymore. His anchor, the only person worth fighting for, had been taken from him. Now it was past time to let go. Way past time. He stretched out his hands in front of him for them to slip the handcuffs into his wrist but they took his hands behind him and handcuffed him. “You’re under arrest Mr. Richard for the murder of Dr. Sarah Boyle and two others.” Agent Preston yelled out for everyone to hear and accompanied that with the Miranda rights. The agents marched Richard down the pedestal as gently as possible. Essy’s cries reached his ears. He hated himself for putting her through this. He hoped she would forgive him but he didn’t want her to. She didn’t have to. Now he was scared of looking into her eyes and he silently prayed that the FAC-Ops wouldn’t steer him in her direction. They did. Richard looked and saw that it was Tega holding her firmly that stopped her from tearing after the agents. Tega’s hands were wrapped around her in a tight embrace and no matter how wildly she thrashed, she couldn’t free herself. Good job, Tega. Richard thought. As they marched through, people made way for them. Richard glanced around looking for Paul. He found him. Their eyes met again. Paul’s gaze lingered for a second then he turned and walked away reaching for his pockets and pulling out what Richard thought was a phone. Richard watched his back for a while and got lost in a world of memories till Essy’s voice pulled him out. “You didn’t do it, Richie! Tell them!” They were very close now. There was no avoiding her. He was going to have to look her in the eye and see if she would see what he couldn’t tell her. “You didn’t kill my mother! You didn’t kill anyone! Tell them you’re innocent. No, Richard, please!” She was broken. Richard saw it in her face with the way her veins were visible. He heard it in her voice-the ear splitting scream. He felt it in his heart. He would fix her if only he could. The agents paused for a moment when they got to Essy and Tega. So unlike the police who wouldn’t spare you a moment to say goodbye to loved ones. The FAC-Ops, it appeared, wasn’t a waste of government budget after all and Richard was glad it was them that came for him and not the police. Tega let go of Essy and she wrapped her arms around Richard way too tight. Richard inhaled her. He needed it. She cupped his face in her hands and kissed him deeply. Richard kissed her back. It could be his last. “Don’t do this. You can’t do this.” Essy said with tears streaming down her cheeks. Richard wished he could reach for it. He wanted to touch her for the last time. “I’m sorry. I just have to make all this right.” “This isn’t the way. You’re paying for someone else’s crime. It’s about guilt, right? You’re letting it consume you. What happened to him isn’t your fault.” “You don’t know that, Essy.” “Yes, I do. Look at me, Richie. Don’t leave me.” The panic was creeping into her voice and it was sounding shaky. She was going to breakdown. Richard bit his lower lip. He didn’t want to witness it. Richard gave Tega a glance and he understood immediately. He pulled Essy back gently. “No!” Essy cried repeatedly as the agents ushered Richard on. They reached Special Agent Preston and the CWBU agent who let them take the lead while they brought up the rear. Richard was helped into the back of the second vehicle on the line. Before he entered, he took one last glance at Essy, but she wasn’t looking. She was crying with her face pinned to Tega’s chest, her body jerking with sobs while Tega patted her gently with his eyes fixed on Richard. The thick black sunglasses he wore just showing how difficult he was to read through. There were four other armed CWBU agents with complete gear sitting in the carriage. Two on both sides seated on a long bench. Richard was made to sit down between two of them while one of the agents that cuffed him sat on the same long bench with the other two then the door was locked against them. A few seconds later, they were set and rolling. Richard tried to guess if he was in the same vehicle with Agent Preston and how many other CWBU agents were in the other vehicles. He got tired of the guessing game after a short while and decided to think about Essy and the events of the past few days. He decided to think about how he had gotten into the mess that put him between two Counter Weapons and Ballistics Unit agents. He thought as far back as he could, hitting the rewind button in his head until he got to the spot where it all started and there he hit the play button.