Smith & Ronalds-Origins & Conclusions (3) APRIL 15TH 1997- Ella was sitting alone, at her desk. She was all confused. Her boss, Derek Georgeton, had told her to do something that she thought was terrible: lie about what happened to Hector Stone. She had only known him for a couple of seconds, but she saw how much his friends liked him, and how much they seemed to be worried. He must have been a cool guy. She thought. It was not fair to do what she was being told to do. But it was also her job. If she went back on her duties, she would be fired, and possibly arrested. Hector�s disappearance was being made up to look like an episode of �The Twilight Zone� or �The X-Files� or something! But it wasn�t as far fetched, as it seemed. Derek had connections to a person of whom Ella knew nothing about. The reason they were making it sound far-fetched was to make sure no one paid attention to it. Most would say �That�s sounds like something from the �Psychic Today� or something! Yeah right!� It was a very good way to cover something up. Ella thought about telling Carrie about it. Or maybe even Trevor or David. She was beginning to become very good friends with them. Everything was extremely confusing. She had no idea what she should do. She made up her mind. She was going to tell Carrie about it first. Even though they had almost constant arguments, she thought that she could trust her in a situation such as this. They were cousins after all. She left her office, went down the elevator, and drove down to Station Three (it was her break). She went inside and headed towards Carrie�s office. She heard Carrie on the phone with someone. �Yeah...no... sure...but no....FINE!� Said, and then hung the phone up with a loud CLANK. Ella walked into the room. �Who was that?� She asked. Carrie frowned. �None of your Earwax!� She said. Ella rolled her eyes. ��Beeswax�, Carrie!� She said. �What ever!� Said Carrie. �Your butt-hole of a boss won�t let David, Trevor, and me go to California and investigate the bombing!� Ella snorted. �You think I like him any better than you do?� She said. Carrie took that opportunity to show her trademark lopsided grin. Ella rolled her eyes yet again. �Back to the point!� She said. �WHY won�t Derek let you guys go to the bomb site?� Carrie shrugged. �I don�t know.� She said �Something about some guy named Gronic!� Ella stopped dead in her tracks. �Did you say Gronic?� She said in surprise. �Steven Gronic?� Carrie raised her eyebrows. �Yeah.� She said. �It rings a bell but I can�t think of where I heard it before.� All the sudden, Carrie went into a shocked look. �He�s related to Hector!� She said. �The name Gronic was part of his family tree at the meeting!� Ella knew that Gronic was not to be trusted. But he was related to Hector? She was not informed of that! Ella took time to tell Carrie all the details of the conspiracy and her secret warning to Hector. Carrie agreed that they needed to reach Trevor and David fast. �Come on!� Said Ella, as they raced to Trevor�s office. It was nearest. As they ran they saw that the office was blocked up with crime scene tape. They rushed over to see what was going on. Ella saw a familiar figure standing in the doorway. It was Derek Georgeton. �Begri!� He said. �What are you doing here?� Ella�s eyes were full of such a rage that they could have been mistaken for a pair of bloodstained roses. �Where are Trevor and David?� She said. �And why is Trevor�s office blocked with CS tape?� Derek smiled in a most demeaning way. A look a full-grown man would give a child. �I�m afraid they are...unavailable.� He said in a cold tone. �You and your cousin are now going to be escorted out of this building. I warned you not to mess with the big-boys Miss Begri, but you didn�t listen. You are not to be concerned with this any longer. We have it under control.� Ella and Carrie�s faces were still full of rage. Ella could not contain herself. She aimed a kick at Derek�s shin, but he moved away in time. Her foot smashed into a trashcan. Carrie threw a punch at him. He caught her fist in mid air and bent it backwards. She screamed in agony. He let go. �You cannot win.� He said. �I gave you a chance. But now I have to say goodbye.� Derek reached for his holster; it was empty. He turned around and saw that Ella had stolen his pistol and was aiming it at him. �Where are Smith and Ronalds?� She said. He didn�t answer. Ella put her finger on the trigger, but didn�t pull it. �Where are they Derek? TELL US NOW!� He smirked. �You gonna shoot me Begri?� He said. �Or do I look a little more less innocent then those cute little cardboard cut-outs?� He threw his fist at her. Ella pointed the gun down and her finger slipped and pulled the trigger down. She shot him in the leg. He clutched the wound, covering Carrie and Ella from the sight of the blood flow. He fainted. Ella gasped. �Oh my...� She said. �Holy crap! What have I done?� She then dropped the gun and cursed so badly that even Carrie was shocked. Carrie put her hand on Ella�s shoulder. �He�ll be okay.� She said. �Take the gun, keep it. We have to find Dave and Trev! Let�s go!� Ella nodded, slowly. She got up, took the gun and put it in her pocket. Carrie loaded hers and re-holstered it. Carrie tilted her head sideways, to signal that it was time to go. They headed towards David�s office, same as Trevor�s. Same with every one�s as a matter of fact. They decided to try and find Cedric down in the basement. When they went down the stairs, they were shocked to find all the workers of Station Three tied up in chairs, all handcuffed and blind-folded. Trevor and David, unfortunately, were not part of the group. �Whoa!� Said Carrie. She and Ella rushed over and untied the prisoners. It took about fifteen minutes to undo the whole staff. The last one they untied was Cedric Madison. �Took ya long enough!� He said. �What�s going on?� Ella shook her head. �Don�t know.� She said. �We think that they kidnapped Trev and Dave though.� Cedric rolled his eyes. �We know that!� He said. �We saw them taking the two of them away, in handcuffs.� Carrie and Ella�s eyes went wide. �WHAT?� They said at the same time. Carrie slapped her hands onto her mouth. �Why would they do that?� Asked Ella. �Did they find out about what happened to Hector?� Cedric nodded. �They found out that Hector was really alive and on the run and...� Carrie was speechless. �He�s alive?� She said. Cedric nodded. He nudged his head towards a chair she and Ella had not spotted in the corner. In it was none other than Hector Stone. Ella and Carrie gasped. Carrie ran over to him. �Hec!� She said. �Oh my gosh! I can�t believe it!� She hastily untied him. Hector smiled. He then turned his gaze over to Ella. �Ah!� He said, in a �What a pleasant surprise� sort of way. �Miss Begri! How nice to see you again!� Ella smiled weakly. �Hello Dr. Stone.� She said. �Nice to see you too.� Hector�s smile widened about half an inch. �It is thanks to you that I am alive, Miss Begri. I am forever in your debt.� Ella blushed ever so slightly. �No problem, sir.� Carrie was all confused. �How did this nerd save you?� She said in a hateful tone. She saw Hector�s face and rolled her eyes, as usual. �I mean: How did this highly amazingly unique individual save, Dr. Stone?� The last part of the speech was obviously sarcastic. Hector noticed, but over looked it. �Are you two related or something?� He asked. Carrie rolled her eyes again. �Cousins.� She said. � She�s my Mom�s sisters daughter, for the last time!� Hector nodded. �I don�t know who rolls their eyes more,� He said. �You or Garry Knorr.� He opened his mouth as if to say something else, but the ringing of the telephone cut him off. Ella rushed over to answer it. �Hello, BPD, Station Three.� She said. She put the recover to her chest. �It�s for you Carrie.� Carrie looked puzzled. �Who is it?� She said. Ella�s eyes flickered. �It�s Trevor.� Carrie gasped again. When will the surprises end? She thought. Ella handed the phone to Carrie without a shocked look on her face. One of Ella�s many talents was being able to hold the showing of worry and shock from her face. Carrie put the phone to her ear. �Trev?� She said. �What happened? Where are you?� Trevor answered almost as fast as Carrie asked. �I was kidnapped by one of these dummies working for Derek. Turns out he�s a traitor, and has worked in the BPD only to keep an eye on Hector!� Said Trevor. �He works for some guy named Gronic. I managed to escape from Gronic, but David is still there! We need to rescue him.� �Let�s don�t and say we did.� Said Carrie, nervously. �Seriously Carrie!� Trevor said. �I will meet you at Silver Town at 7:00 PM tomorrow Evening. Got it?� �Yeah.� Said Carrie. She then hung up. Ella, Hector and Cedric were all eager to hear what Trevor said. Ella stepped up to Carrie. �What did he say?� She said. It surprised Carrie that Ella had known Trevor for less than a week and was this worried about him, then she thought about how fast she had become friends with Trev & Dave. �He�s fine.� Carrie said. �But David is still with that Gronic guy. We have to meet Trevor at Silver Town at 7:00 AM tomorrow morning.� They all nodded. Cedric stepped up. �What happened to them?� He asked. Carrie walked over to Ella and whispered something into her ear. She nodded. �They were captured by the henchmen of a techno-genius named Steven Gronic.� She said. �He met Hector�s ancestor many years ago, he devised a cover-up story that told of celebrity blood trading. Yes Dr. Stone, I lied to you.� Hector�s face was very taken aback. Ella continued. �It was really just a story made so that people would mistake it as tabloid material, not a true story. I worked for Derek, and had to follow his orders, or he said he would kill me. But I could not stand for Hector to be killed in the bombing, so I warned him, but still lied about the history of his family. The real story is that the underground business was really a technology trade, where groups of very smart people, all criminals of course, would come together and swap their ideas for amazing gadgets and gizmos. Steve Gronic used parts from old computers and VCRs and all sorts of braches of technology and built a gigantic hidden citadel in the middle of the Redwood Forests. I suppose the ones in Yreka, California, I don�t know of any others. He has also gathered some of the most skilled criminals in the country to hunt down Hector, and kill him.� �Why?� Said Hector. Ella sighed. �Let me finish!� She said. �Many years ago, Gronic was working on a major device dubbed �The Easy Robber�. It would make stealing things from houses easy, it would break the data of the item up, and then store the memory into the device and replace it with a fake one, so that the owners of the loot would never know it was stolen. Robert Watson, Hector�s Great-grandfather, was the pioneer of this device. Gronic threatened to kill him if he did not find the last part needed to construct it: a complex computer chip. It was hidden in the grave of Roberto Begri, my Great-grandfather. He was caught and sent to jail for grave-robbery. The rest of the story is as I told you. Trevor and David were captured for ransom. Gronic wants you Hector. We need to go into the forest and destroy Gronic�s operation.� They all nodded. Hector was very skeptical. �How do I know you are not misleading me yet again, Miss Begri?� He asked. Ella shook her head. �You don�t.� She said. �I can�t prove to you that I am being truthful, so you can trust me or not. Your choice Dr. Stone.� Hector sighed. �I will give you one last chance Miss Begri, that�s it! Got it?� She nodded. CHAPTER SIX A MOMENT OF DARKNESS February 17th 1997- Gary Arch sat at a small table at the �Las Grande Duo� restaurant in Mexico, a favorite hideout for criminals on the run; he was waiting for a very important figure to arrive. He had set up a meeting with the mysterious Bernard Wright. He said he had information on a grand opportunity for Gary, a way to get lots of money, and fast. Gary was a criminal, a very successful one at that. He had avoided police and escaped their jails more than anybody else in his home state of Virginia. He had to move elsewhere when his record was too big and his appearance was to well known for him to be safe. Gary had organized a safe haven and a good financial plan for himself afterwards. Gary was in his early forties, had shaded blond hair and a short beard. He was always changing his look, to keep his suspicion level down to a pulp. A short figure in a black trench coat approached his table. He was donning a pair of sunglasses and had a suitcase and a small handgun at his side. It was Bernard. �Greetings Mr. Arch.� Said Bernard. �I have been looking for you.� He put his suitcase on his lap. Gary was skeptical. �What is in the suitcase?� He said. Bernard laughed. �The thing that will convince you to join Steve Gronic.� He said. He popped the case open. It was filled with over a thousand dollars in cash. Gary�s eyes widened. �Where did you get that?� He said, breathlessly. �And who is this Gronic guy?� Bernard put his hand up. �Patience.� He said, with a semi-evil grin on his face. �I made this. It took me five years and cost me all my stealings. Five years! What is the use of waiting so long to make something fake, when you can get the real thing in a mere second?� He pulled out a small black device the size of a snail. �This is what will make stealing easy.� Said Bernard. �It�s what�s called �The Easy Robber�. It can help you steal as many things as you want. It stores them into this little computer, and then it can send them back to you whenever you want. Like a television! It is what all criminals like you and I would beg for! It is defiantly on all my friends Christmas lists!� He twirled the Easy Robber with his fingers. Gary was stunned. �I don�t believe you!� He half lied. �Prove that thing is not just some big lady�s shaver painted black with a few flash lights Super-glued onto it!� Bernard smiled. �My pleasure.� He said. He pointed the Easy Robber at Gary�s tie. He pressed the button; his tie dissolved into a thousand pieces and got sucked into the Easy Robber. Gary grasped his collar. �Wow!� He said. �Who makes these?� Bernard�s smile widened an inch. �Steve Gronic.� He said. �I was contacted a year ago by Benicio Gurtez, one of Gronic�s assistants. He is the supposed sole survivor of what is now called �The Great Gang War�. He hired me, saying he and Gronic were looking for the smartest and most cunning criminals on the face of the earth. The two of them were using combined parts of the latest electronic equipment to build a giant tower in the middle of California. He is gathering all these criminals to build an army. I want you to be part of it.� Gary was stunned at these words. �What?� He said. �I�d love to!� Bernard nodded. �I want to send you on your first mission tomorrow.� He said. �I first have to tell yet another story.� Gary nodded. Bernard pressed a button on the Easy Robber; Gary had his tie back again. �Now.� Said Bernard. �Gronic has been trying to track down the descendant of one of the inventors of the Easy Robber, his name was Robert Watson. Gronic has sent out two of his most dangerous men and women to try and take Watson�s descendant Hector Stone down, Anne Pierce and Jeffery Dayton. Both of them failed. Gronic knew that if he let blood be a factor in every case, that Hector would be on the case with David Ronalds and Trevor E. Smith. Smith and Ronalds both knew, and sometimes worked with, one of our spies, Derek Georgeton. So he made it so that they would be together on every case, but we reached a dead end: Hector used to be Ronalds' best friend!� Gary edged forward to take all of this in. Bernard continued. �All of our plan seemed to be going wrong. So we went for out last resort...� He paused. �...One of Derek's aids was a cousin of Smith and Ronalds� friends. We decided to use her as the lure to get Stone into our grasp, but she realized that we were deceiving her and tattled on us. Here is what you have to do: Go to Bloomington, Indiana and kill Ella Lily Begri.� Gary nodded. Bernard continued. �I made a special fake diary that contains a precise forging of her signature and states that she was lying and that she planned to kill herself on the exact day that you will kill her. It's easy as it gets! Do this job and you will be an official part of the G-Force.� Bernard's smile was now as wide for a smile as Texas was for a state. �I'll do it!� He said. �This Ella hunk of trash is going to be dead faster than a hamster in the microwave, my friend! Or �amigo� I should say!� He tapped his finger on his sidearm. Bernard's smile dropped a bit. �Prove to me you are the one for this job.� He said. �How do I know you are not just a pitiful thief that relied on luck to get you loose in all those situations?� That was the worst thing you could say to Gary. He pulled out his handgun and shot the side of Bernard's sunglasses right off. It hit the ground. He shot again, this time taking half of Bernard�s ear off. Blood splattered all over Bernard's shirt. He yelled in pain. �You�re freaking crazy!� He shouted. Gary grinned darkly. �Maybe.� He said. � But ya got any more doubts about my �qualification� Mr. Wright?� * * * April 16th 1997- �Oh, this is rich!� Exclaimed Ella as she looked through Trevor Smith's computer records. �There has got to be some sort of file on Derek! There�s just gotta be!� Ella has no luck finding anything on the background of her boss, not so much as a pen drop was heard about anything for a long time. They had to meet Trevor in two hours. Ella's dark brown eyes were full of something that never seemed to run out of her: determination. She had been on the computer for hours, no luck but the bad kind. Driving down to Trevor's house was her only highlight of the day. Being in her car was always the best way to escape the stress of the last few months. She could still remember the feeling that she got when she first drove at the age of sixteen: total freedom. She used cars as that ever since. She sighed. She used to be somewhat of a wiz-bang at computers in her years at Brebeuf, but the only silver bullets in this case were the ones dripping from her forehead. This is hopeless! She thought to herself. She looked and looked and looked. Nothing. She glanced at her watch. It was time to visit Trevor. She walked out to her car and got in. As she put the keys into the ignition she felt something touch her neck. She turned around. A gun was pointed in her face. �* * * Trevor sat at an empty table at Silver Town Bar & Grill. He was supposed to meet Ella, Carrie, Hector, and Cedric an hour ago. His car phone rang. �Hello?� He said. A sobbing voice was on the other line, it was Carrie. �Trev?� She said. �I have terrible news.� �What?� He said. Another sob came on the other line. �My cousin... Ella...Ella Begri...she�s missing. She just... disappeared. They think she might be dead.� Trevor dropped the phone on the floor. His head hit his table with a loud bang. Everything was falling apart. This was a very dark hour indeed in the lives of not just Smith and Ronalds, but the whole BPD. TO BE CONTINUED�
Copyright © 2004 Patrick Collins |