Chapter 21
The Task Force
(Ó 2009)
(Ó 2009)
Early October 2000
From his large easy chair in the dark and silent room, he picked up the remote control, pointed it towards the television and pressed the button that would turn the set on. In seconds the room was filled with the light and sound from the television - - -
Announcer: “From Chicago, this is Eyewitness News at six, with James Knightley and Laura Wong, Gerald Tufts with weather, and Mike Giancarlo on sports.”
James Knightley: “Good Evening. Our top story tonight, Mayor Daley has announced early this afternoon that after six years since he first appeared on the scene, that there will now be a special task force formed by the Chicago Police to find the person, or perhaps persons, involved with the string of vigilante activities.”
Laura Wong: “That’s right James. Mayor Daley showed determination at a news conference this afternoon when announcing the formation of the task force. At City Hall now is our political reporter Artie Shale with more details. Artie?”
Artie Shale, (in front of City Hall): “Yes Jim and Laura, Mayor Daley announced today that, after some heavy lobbying by Alderman Dee Dee Stillwater, that the Chicago Police Department will be forming a special task force to find the person, or maybe even persons, involved in the vigilante actions that started some six years ago. The Mayor, who in the past showed some restraint when dealing with the subject of the vigilante today seemed somewhat defiant and took to task those who side with whomever is responsible for these actions.”
(Cut to footage of Mayor Richard Daley in the press conference room. Standing to his left is Alderman Diondra D. Stillwater; behind them are other members of the Chicago City Hall, along with the Chief of Police, also Captain Michael Xiang, Lt. David Todd and Lt. Noel Jaworski.)
Mayor Daley: “I am sorry but like it or not, we are a nation of laws, and no single person, or body of persons are allowed to take the law into there own hands. I am asking the person or persons involved to make this easier for all of us and turn themselves over to Lieutenants Todd and Jaworski, or to Captain Xiang. And please, anyone with information that can help us to find this person or persons, to call the special phone number that will be made available to the public by in a few moments by Alderman Stillwater, who will be chairing this task force, or by contacting your local office of the Chicago Police immediately.”
(Cut back to Artie Shale).
Andy Shale: “Jim and Laura as you both well know the vigilante attacks began some six years ago when two men, who were caught in the act of sexually assaulting a then fifteen-year-old girl, were themselves attacked by the vigilante during that particular sexual assault, and the results of that attack left them both paralyzed from the neck down. Both men were also linked to as many as twenty-five sexual assaults ranging from Kalamazoo Michigan to Milwaukee Wisconsin. Both men confessed to all of the sexual assaults. However, it was the vigilante’s second attack victim that began to bring these events more to light. The attack on the then so-called ‘Prince of the Midwest’ Jared Bartholomew. As you both also well know the attack left Jared Bartholomew paralyzed, however it was Jared Bartholomew’s confessions to sexual liaisons with young under aged boys that surfaced during the investigation of his attack. In these confessions it was later discovered that his father, Mitchell Bartholomew, was also involved in the services that involved child prostitution, mostly under aged girls. These allegations and investigations later brought about the collapse of the Bartholomew media empire. The aftermath of the arrests of both Jared and Mitchell Bartholomew brought about the scandal which was soon after followed by the divorce of Mr. Bartholomew the senior from his wife Laura. There are still to this day on-going and continuing lawsuits against what’s left of the Bartholomew estate. Some months after the attack on Jared Bartholomew strange twist came about when a drug trafficker in Lake County was attacked. This man, Gregior Divic, was using his home in the forest preserves of Lake County to not only smuggle illegal narcotics, but Divic was involved with the smuggling of women from the Baltic regions as well, who were lured and sold into prostitution. Mr. Divic remains in a federal facility in Missouri. However, the vigilante attacks then have since been elevated to the heads of some of the more notorious street gangs on both the north and south sides of Chicago, along with some of their so-called soldiers and bodyguards. Most of these victims of the vigilante suffer from some sort of paralysis or brain damage. However it is the vigilantes’ last victim, Julian Chekov, an alleged mobster that seems to be the most vicious. I spoke with the two detectives who have been in charge of the investigation from the beginning shortly after the Mayors press conference today.”
(Cut to shot of Lt. Noel Jaworski and Lt. David Todd.)
Artie Shale, (off camera): Lt. Jaworski, it seemed obvious that the Mayor is deeply troubled and frustrated by whole ordeal, could you please comment on this?
Lt. Noel Jaworski: “I wouldn’t say it’s frustration, but concern. Like it or not the Mayor is totally correct, we are a nation of laws and no person has the right to take the law into there own hands. The Mayor is up on the case and I would say that if he’s frustrated it’s because Lt. Todd and I are too.” - - -
- - - He noticed as the man Jaworski spoke, that he was nodding his head ‘no’ - - -
- - - Artie Shale: You’re frustrated as well Lt. Todd?
Lt. David Todd: “Yes, because whoever this person is, or these whoever these persons are, they have shown that they do not want to be caught. Usually people involved with serial crimes such as these, start to get caught up in their fame that the media gives them. They usually try to contact anyone in the media and or even the police, mostly to taunt them. However, this person, or persons, have chosen to stay totally silent and anonymous throughout their, to use for a lack of better word, ‘reign.’ He, or they, are extremely meticulous, and have made it their priority to leave no trace of themselves at any of the crime scenes. The one concrete thing that we do know is that these incidents are not random. They are very well thought out and planned in advance.” - - -
- - - He too is nodding his head ‘no’. He also noticed of how they both looked very uncomfortable, these two men Todd and Jaworski, they appeared both uncomfortable and disgusted. Not with what all he himself has have done, no, but rather with all those whom they now are involved with - - -
(Cut back to the live shot of Artie Shale).
- - - His hands began to slowly close then tighten themselves in clenched fists. “Don’t.” He whispered through his now clenching teeth, “Don’t … call me that. Don’t call me a … hero.” - - -
Caller 2: “Hey Reba, have you ever been raped? Huh? Anyone you ever know ever been raped?”
Reba: “No, I have never been raped and I don’t know of anyone who has. But that doesn’t excuse what this vigilante is doing.”
Caller 2: “Well … I AM a rape victim, and I’m telling you that you and your fellow bleeding hearts out there have no idea what you’re talking about or what people like me have endured and continue to go through.”
Reba: “I am so sorry for what happened to you but …”
Caller 2: “You’re sorry my (bleep)! Don’t you dare patronize me!”
Caller 3: “I think that the mayor is going to watch a bunch of phones gather dust. Does he really think that anyone is gonna help him find this guy? Really Dean, I know your little partner there has got her guts all tied up in knots, but like it or not, practically everyone in this town sees this guy as a hero. And I have to concur with one of your previous callers, until Reba there becomes a victim of a crime, then she is never going to understand the whole thing.” - - -
- - - He began to slightly pound the armrests of the chair, “Don’t … call me … that.” he whispered again - - -
Caller 4: “I think the Mayor is just doing the typical things that he and our illustrious Chicago elected officials do what they do best, spend our money and waste our time. It’s all B.S., if you know what I mean. Personally, I don’t think the Mayor really wants to find this guy. He’s just going out there to grandstand and dance the side steps, and makes himself look like he’s involved. You know what I’d like to see? I wanna see the crime rate statistics since this whole thing started.”
Caller 5: “I want to hear from the people living in the neighborhoods that these gang bangers were terrorizing; I want to hear what they have to say about ‘Hizonor’ and about his stupid task force. I know the word ‘hero’ has been used a lot today on your show, and I tend to agree with ‘em.” - - -
- - - He pounded his fists slightly on the armrests of his chair, “Don’t.” - - -
(Cut back to the live shot of Artie Shale)
Artie Shale: “Jim and Laura, the majority of the phone calls on Dean and Reba’s show today seemed to side with this vigilante. If that’s the consensus, then it looks as though the Mayor, the Police and this new task force that will be under Alderman Stillwater’s watchful eye, just may have their work cut out for them. This is Artie Shale live at City Hall, back to you both at the studio.”
- - - He pressed the button on the remote that switched the television set off. Breathing slightly heavy, he then gently pounded the armrests of the chair again trying to stifle the anger he was feeling. “Don’t call me that, don’t call me a hero.” He said again through his tightly clenched teeth. He sat silent for a few more minutes and he began to feel as his anger subside. He turned in his chair and looked at the candle that was burning on the display cabinet behind him. The candle was now burning what was left of its wax and he would within the hour have to replace it with a new one.
He stared into the candle’s soft light, “Being a hero, what did it ever do for me?” He asked in the dark. Soon he was calmer. He thought that when the candle is changed, he will then leave, and begin his next set of surveillances. He had just a short distance to travel, but it was just the initial surveillance and it wouldn’t take long. He would then return home. Besides, he was a little tired, and wanted to go to sleep early tonight. He sat back and relaxed in his large rocker recliner, maybe he nap for a half hour while he waited for the candle to finish burning off the rest of its fuel.
He sat back and slowly began to rock back and forth. He again stared at the gentle light of the candle flame at it softly illuminated the picture behind it. “Being a hero,” he grumbled in the dark quiet of the room, “all that ever did for me … was to destroy me.”
He smiled slightly and said softly, “They’re on to them … they’ve figured it out … and they just may be telling me so.”
No comments:
Post a Comment