Report #3270, Transcript Section #11
(Operation SANDMAN)
©1998 Shane Ivey

Keeper:
Last game I had Rogers say that he was going to take off for a day for his aunt's funeral in Baltimore. But we didn't get that far, so he's still here when morning rolls around, Wedensday, June 3.

Rogers:
So the muscle arrives?

Keeper:
7:18 in the morning. Lundquist has been asleep for maybe four hours.

Lundquist:
Zzzzz.

Keeper:
The security system announces two men approaching on foot along the driveway. The cameras show that they had exited a taxi cab two houses down.

Lundquist:
(gone for two weeks, and I only manage 4 hours of sleep...) :-/

Keeper:
Then, *knock knock knock* on the front door.

Keeper:
Rogers, you hear the buzz and the knocking more clearly than does Lundquist.

Rogers:
"I'll get it, you stay in bed dear!"

Rogers:
;-)

Keeper:
(g)

Keeper:
Rogers, do you do anything weird, or just open the door?

Rogers:
I'm going to be carefull obviously put the chain on etc

Rogers:
But they are expected

Keeper:
You haven't seen the particular men before. Both are caucasian, clean-cut. One is a huge guy who looks like he's got muscles piled on muscles under his coat. Crew-cut dark hair, very tanned, mid-thirties.

Keeper:
The other is more normal looking, about average height, athletic, dark hair and sharp eyes.

Keeper:
A little older. He speaks when you come to the door. "I

Keeper:
"I'm David Kelley. This is Jack Maddux. Osborne sent us."

Rogers:
"He did? What for?"

Keeper:
"You tell me," he says. "He only gave us the time and place."

Keeper:
"But I understand we can expect a night at the opera," he adds.

Rogers:
"Ok come in then, and wait in the lounge"

Keeper:
They grin knowingly and step into the living room. Both carry plain looking duffel bags.

Keeper:
Both look like they are on high alert, despite the grins. They seem to appraise the room sharply as they wait.

Rogers:
"Right, does anyone want any coffee or tea?"

Keeper:
They shake their heads. "No, thanks. How about a briefing?"

Rogers:
"The reason you are here I'm sure you can figure out; we need some help to get some information and we are going to be, shal we say 'unconventional' about getting it"

Rogers gives them a briefing on the DM situation shooting etc

Keeper:
They nod and listen closely.

Keeper:
"Sure thing, son," says the bigger guy. "So what kind of tactical support do y'all need?" His accent sounds cajun, New Orleans.

Rogers:
"Right then gentlemen, you understand that we need to get on or possibly more dealers back here for an interview" /me grins manically

Keeper:
David Kelley shrugs. "Sounds simple enough. Who do you have in mind?"

Rogers:
"We will begin this operation tonight, any suggestions about what we will need for the least risk / best outcome?"

Keeper:
"We'll want a car with disposable tags. But we can steal one ahead of time if we need to. You know your mission better than we do. Point out whoever you want grabbed, and we'll isolate him and grab him."

Rogers:
"Right thank you Gentlemen please make use of the house and acquaint yourselves with the grounds and the surrounding area, I'm going to discusss with my colleagues who we are going to target for today."

Keeper:
They nod and sit down at a sofa and open up their bags. They lift out assorted tools and electronic equipment from metallic cases and start inspecting it.

Rogers goes upstairs and kicks Lundquist from his bed / pit

Lundquist:
"Mrrmph... What time is it?"

Rogers:
"Monday Morning."

Lundquist:
"Okay, give me a couple of minutes... I need to grab a shower."

Keeper:
(Actually it is Wednesday morning.)

Rogers:
"I'll get some breakfast sorted out"

Keeper:
When you go back downstairs, David Kelley is testing the settings on a set of night-vision goggles. He glances up at you. "What do we call you?"

Lundquist:
(Ten minutes later, shaved & dressed)... "Smells good, what's for breakfast?"

Rogers:
"Croissants, Coffe, Tea and Toast."

Keeper:
OK, the two new guys have finished inspecting their electronics by the time Lundquist comes down. They open up lead-lined cases that are marked with diplomatic seals and start inspecting their hardware: top-of-the-line submachine guns with integral silencers, laser sights, the works.

Keeper:
They look up and nod to Lundquist when he arrives.

Lundquist:
Raise an eyebrow to Rogers. "You didn't tell me they were here..."

Rogers:
"Sorry must have slipped my mind I've had a hard weekend!"

Rogers:
;-)

Lundquist:
"No problem. Where's that coffee?"

Keeper:
"So what do we call you folks," says the older of the pair.

Lundquist:
"I'm Mark Green."

Rogers:
"I'm Jack Vert"

Lundquist:
"Do you guys have any more questions, or has Jack briefed you fully?"

Keeper:
"Pleased to meet you," he says. For Lundquist's benefit, he says, "I'm David Kelley. This is Jack Maddux. Mr. Vert gave us a run-down of the situation. He says you need to apprehend a gangster or two."

Lundquist:
"Yeah, for starters."

Keeper:
"Is there anything else we need to know?"

Lundquist:
"I don't think so..."

Keeper:
"All right. Who's the first target?"

Lundquist:
"We'll have that for you tonight."

Keeper:
"Fair enough. We can review maps and any relevant reports in the meantime."

Rogers:
"What are we going to do today Mr. Green."

Lundquist:
Good question, what do you think? Just pass the time until the sun sets? Or maybe go speak to this DEA Agent?

Rogers:
"Could get some backgrond on the drug from her"

Lundquist:
"That's what I'm thinking."

Keeper:
OK. You both get breakfast and coffee and/or tea while the new guys are busily doing their preparations.

Lundquist:
"So. What to do today?"

Lundquist:
"Danforth, anything new on any of the bugs?"

Keeper:
Nothing in Lemonde's place or the church. Lemonde is living life real quietly since you talked to him."

Lundquist:
"I bet he is. Okay, Jack, got any ideas?"

Rogers:
"I'm all out, lets go and put our feet in it with Miss Morgan."

Lundquist:
"Right." I'll call her up and see if I can't get an appointment to see her today.

Keeper:
Her line at the DEA office is answered after five rings by an impatient man's voice. "Special Agent Mirsky."

Lundquist:
"Agent Morgan please."

Keeper:
"Special Agent Morgan's not available right now."

Lundquist:
"When will she be free?"

Keeper:
"I'm not sure. If you want to give me your number I'll pass the message along."

Lundquist:
"Yeah, please have her call Brian Lundquist at Justice as soon as possible. Thanks." Give my digital phone #.

Keeper:
"Will do." He hangs up.

Lundquist:
Okay, I'm going to call Daniels, the IAD cop.

Keeper:
Are you calling his office, or his pager?

Lundquist:
Office

Keeper:
(I don't remember--did he give you his cell number?)

Lundquist:
??? Don't remeber either... Luck roll maybe?

Keeper:
Sure. Luck roll of 11 says you got his cell phone number.

Lundquist:
Works for me.

Keeper:
He answers on the fourth ring. "Daniels."

Lundquist:
"Hello, Lieutenant, it's Brian Lundquist calling from Justice."

Keeper:
"Lundquist, good morning. What can I do for you?"

Lundquist:
"Sorry, just drove through a tunnel... I was wondering if there were any developments on the Carl Williams shooting investigation that you could tell me about?

Keeper:
"Nothing new. We're going to sit down with Detective Kluwer this morning. Later on I'll see if Williams can give a full statement."

Lundquist:
"Okay, thanks. Sorry to bother you."

Keeper:
"No problem. Keep in touch."

Lundquist:
"Will do. Bye."

Rogers:
"What's new?"

Lundquist:
"Nothing yet."

Keeper:
Danforth says, "Maddy just got to work at the church."

Lundquist:
"Is she saying anything highly incriminating?"

Rogers:
"Can you channel it through the speakers if she is?"

Keeper:
He grimaces in your direction. "I wish."

Lundquist:
Wait an hour, call Agent Morgan again.

Keeper:
"Yeah. If she starts singing about her plot to drug the citizens with DM, I'll keep the tapes rolling."

Lundquist:
"Good man."

Keeper:
Morgan's number rings twice, then a woman's voice: "DEA, this is Agent Morgan."

Lundquist:
"Agent Morgan, this is Brian Lundquist over at Justice. How are you?"

Keeper:
"I'm fine. I just got a note here that you called. How's Justice, this morning?"

Lundquist:
"Things are fine, thanks. Listen, I was wondering if we could meet up later, I had a few questions for you."

Keeper:
"Maybe. I have meetings this morning; can you be at the Queens County courthouse at one?"

Lundquist:
"Sure, sounds fine. I'm going to bring a colleague of mine."

Keeper:
"Fine. What does this pertain to, Mr. Lundquist?"

Lundquist:
"An ongoing narcotics investigation. Just some informal information gathering right now, but it may develop into something... I need to look into it a little more."

Keeper:
"All right. I'll talk to you at one."

Lundquist:
"See you then."

Keeper:
(click)

Rogers:
"What you going to ask her?"

Lundquist:
"See what she knows about DM, if anything."

Lundquist:
"Anything you want to do before one?

Rogers:
"Can't think of anything."

Lundquist:
Okay, then I'll spend the morning watching The Anderson Tapes on cable and cleaning my sidearm.

Keeper:
Your two musclemen watch Pamela's acrobatics with great interest.

Rogers:
"I'm going to pine for my lost love"

Rogers:
:-(

Lundquist:
No, not those tapes... I mean the Sean Connery movie! Jeez...

Keeper:
(LOL!)

Keeper:
They watch with considerably less interest.

Lundquist:
:-)

Rogers:
:-)

Keeper:
Around noon, Danforth reports: "The church has a visitor."

Lundquist:
"Do we know who it is?"

Keeper:
"Can't tell... he's coming into view of one of the cameras. Looks like he has a flashlight. Shit! The connection went dead."

Rogers:
"Oh dear, here we go again"

Lundquist:
"What the hell does that mean? Can you restore it?"

Lundquist:
"I'm guessing Lemonde decided to take a look at his regular haunts for more bugs..."

Keeper:
Danforth yanks the earphones from his head and works his jaw, adjusts the volume on the loudspeakers. "Fucking feedback just about broke my eardrums."

Lundquist:
"I thought you liked Sonic Youth."

Keeper:
"It wasn't Lemonde. It was a white guy, looked like. The mikes are dead in the office, too. . . The other cameras are still up."

Lundquist:
"Can we see anything?

Keeper:
"No . . . just the usual. I can't get the office back."

Lundquist:
"Shit... Can you play back the tape right before it went dead?"

Keeper:
Kelley and Maddux watch and listen to the exchange carefully.

Keeper:
"Yeah, on it. . . Here."

Keeper:
The tape plays back in slow-motion. Danforth adjusts the resolution and shading as it plays. It shows a man coming into the doorway, a sort of dumpy-looking white man in some kind of jumpsuit or coveralls.

Keeper:
He's holding what looks like a big flashlight or maglight. He's looking down at it with a thumb on its switch, then the tape goes down and the microphones squeal with feedback.

Rogers:
"You thinking what I'm thinking?"

Lundquist:
"I'm afraid so..." I'm calling the police right now and reporting a violent disturbance at the church.

Rogers:
"Is it the same guy on the video tape with our shooter?"

Keeper:
The police dispatcher asks for your name and phone number, Lundquist.

Lundquist:
I fake a local accent and just tell them it sounds like a woman's being killed in there, @#$%^!!

Keeper:
It does not look like the guy on tape at the Ezekiel shooting. You didn't see that man's face, but height and build look different.

Keeper:
The dispatcher assures you that a patrol car is heading there now.

Rogers:
well thats a relief

Keeper:
You hear more feedback from the speakers. Danforth curses again. "Shit. The bugs in the auditorium just went down."

Lundquist:
"Yeah, maybe... Danforth, see if you can do anything with our other bugs, maybe they're picking something up from the office."

Keeper:
Kelley says, "Looks like he's doing a sweep."

Lundquist:
Okay, I'm going to call Lemonde. On my way out to the Impala. "Vert, Kelley, Maddux, come with me. Bring your gear.

Keeper:
Danforth looks irritated. "A sweep? He doesn't have that kind of gear. It takes a trunkload of shit to do that."

Rogers:
"Have we got a good shot of this guys face yet if not can you try and get one fast!?"

Keeper:
Danforth says, "Yeah, yeah, here." He runs off a print of the best view of the man's face. It's grainy, but it shows a balding man, kind of nebbish and plain, but cold.

Lundquist:
I'm starting the engine and gunning it. Do I have a cell phone number for Lemonde?

Keeper:
Kelley and Maddux stand, each with a metal "camera case."

Rogers:
"Danforth get a copy of that print to Lemonde with a request for urgent information on who it is"

Keeper:
You have a cell number for Lemonde, yeah.

Rogers:
"and what they do"

Keeper:
"Want me to fax it to his desk at the precinct? Anyone there will see it."

Rogers:
"Hang on got my names mixed up I meant Osbourne"

Keeper:
"Oh. Yeah, I'll send it now."

Keeper:
Danforth says, "Shit, the bugs downstairs just went down. I don't know how, but he's taking them out a room at a time."

Rogers:
"How long will it take to get over there?"

Keeper:
It's about a 20 minute drive.

Rogers:
"Danforth is it going to take him 20mins to find the rest of the shit how many room s ahs he searchd, I'm assuming he'l have to check them all even the ones we diden't bug?"

Rogers:
"Do we have time to get there and follow him?"

Keeper:
"Your guess is as good as mine," says Danforth. "At this rate he'll have the rest of the bugs down inside five minutes."

Rogers:
"Mr.L fancy going for a quick spin across NY?:-)"

Keeper:
You pile into a car with Maddux and Kelley. They sport dark sunglasses.

Rogers:
"Lets rock!"

Keeper:
Lundquist drives.

Keeper:
As you race along, Danforth calls to report that the rest of the bugs and cameras have been disabled.

Rogers:
Don't get car sick

Lundquist:
As soon as everyone's on board, I want to drive to the church with a reckless disregard for traffic laws and speed limits.

Lundquist:
I also want to call Lemonde.

Keeper:
In the moment before the last camera was disabled, Danforth saw that Maddy looked like she was walking right behind the stranger, talking casually.

Rogers:
"Shall we slow down?"

Lundquist:
"Not until we get there."

Lundquist:
"They may just be waiting to take down all our surveillance gear before they pull anything."

Lundquist:
"'Hello, ma'am, we're checking out a gas leak, can we take a look around?'"

Keeper:
You pull up to the church twenty minutes later. Danforth has had nothing else to report since the last bug went down.

Lundquist:
Park around the corner. Any sign of the cops?

Keeper:
He sent the stranger's image to Osborne.

Keeper:
A patrol cruiser is pulling away from the curb as you approach.

Keeper:
The officers inside don't look distressed. One of them is talking on the radio.

Keeper:
(Inside the cruiser)

Lundquist:
"Well, Rogers, want to go in? See who these guys with the black magic bug disablers are?"

Keeper:
One of the special forces guys asks, "Where do you want us?"

Rogers:
"What are we going to say we're both known here?"

Lundquist:
"I'm not. We could just go in and grab one of these guys, take him back for questioning."

Rogers:
"I'd better stay in the car, why don't we wait and grab him when he leaves?"

Lundquist:
I circle the block. Is there an unamrked van or anything parked nearby?

Lundquist:
"Yeah, or tail them... This might be a trap for us, too--if they're looking for our bugs, we might have been made..."

Keeper:
Nope. Just the usual assortment of lower-income vehicles.

Lundquist:
"I don't like this. I think we ought to go in there and thake these guys down."

Lundquist:
(Feeling more confident now that Maddux and Kelly are here...) :-)

Rogers:
"We could go in to see how Carl is doing and see what developes after all we are all armed and ready yes?"

Lundquist:
"Yeah, they like you here don't they? Since you treated Carl."

Keeper:
Maddux says, "Don't you boys follow the police bands?"

Rogers:
Doh!

Rogers:
"Hey lets phone Danforth and see whats on the police bands"

Lundquist:
"Yeah, I was just thinking I need a scanner, and I'll probably go to Radio Shack on the way home, but for now, let's phone Danforth."

Keeper:
Danforth says, "I'll check. OK... nothing going from the church, now. Whatever they reported, they finished already."

Lundquist:
Can I call Lemonde? Does he have a cell phone?

Keeper:
He doesn't have a cell phone. You have his pager number and his home and office numbers.

Lundquist:
Okay, I'll page him then.

Keeper:
Are you doing anything while you wait for him to return the call?

Lundquist:
Watching the church.

Keeper:
Several minutes pass.

Keeper:
Slowly.

Keeper:
Then Lundquist's phone buzzes.

Rogers:
"Should we go in?"

Lundquist:
Answer it. "Lundquist."

Keeper:
"This is Leroy Lemonde. I was paged from this number."

Lundquist:
"Yeah, that was me. What's going on at the church? I heard on the radio there was a disturbance or something?"

Keeper:
His voice becomes noticeably frostier as he realizes who you are. "Oh. I don't know anything about it."

Lundquist:
"Listen, something is up. Watch your back. If you have friends at the church, I'd get them out of there right away. I'm not kidding about this."

Keeper:
There's a pause. "All right. Thanks."

Keeper:
He hangs up.

Lundquist:
Hang up. Look to Rogers. "Do we want to go in?"

Rogers:
"I think so what about Maddux and Kelly DoJ agents?"

Keeper:
Maddux and Kelley scan the surrounding buildings carefully.

Lundquist:
"You guys see anything?" By now, they must be convinced we're the Keysone Kops...

Keeper:
They both shake their heads. "You got a hundred dark windows overhead. But I don't see anything."

Rogers:
"Lets all go in"

Keeper:
Kelley nods toward the church. "Drive up close before we get out."

Lundquist:
"Okay, let's go now. If you two have any tactical suggestions, feel free to let me know."

Lundquist:
"Right. Remember, this might be a trap. They knew about our bugs..."

Keeper:
"Are we going in for a raid, or are we playing it cool?"

Rogers:
"Right lets go in playing it cool"

Keeper:
Kelley says, "OK. Drive up, let's go in. You two do the talking."

Keeper:
"I suggest we leave Maddux here with the hardware. He can do support if we need it. Unless you want me to go in sporting an MP-5."

Lundquist:
"There's not going to be much talking. Our goal here is to take these guys out and bring one of them back alive for questioning. Period. If it looks real bad, we'll just back of and get the hell out of here."

Rogers:
"Wow ok"

Keeper:
"So are we going in with the big guns or not?"

Lundquist:
"I mean, those gadgets these guys are carrying pretty much mark them as our adversaries..."

Rogers:
"Can you take them in the cases and still get to them?"

Lundquist:
"Yeah, how concealable are they?"

Keeper:
"Sure."

Keeper:
"They'll fit in the cases. They won't fit under a coat."

Keeper:
"Look, tell them the cases have cameras if you need to."

Lundquist:
"Okay then, we'll bring them in the cases. If the odds are against us, we'll abort and bug out."

Keeper:
They do look just like camera cases: metal and lead-lined.

Lundquist:
I pull up and we pile out. Move up to the church.

Keeper:
They nod. Kelley works the slide to a small handgun and checks the safety, then holsters it again at his back.

Rogers check his gun and whatnot

Keeper:
You pull up directly to the back door of the church. Nothing seems amiss.

Lundquist:
"Vert, for as long as it lasts, we'll tell them I'm a reporter with the Village Voice."

Lundquist:
"You're bringing me here to talk to people. These two are my photographers."

Keeper:
Maddux smirks.

Rogers:
"Ok Mr. Green."

Lundquist:
"I'm sure the Voice employs lots of ex-green beret cameramen."

Rogers:
"Sniper fire can be hell in the Central Park"

Lundquist:
"The Park is Mine!"

Lundquist:
:-)

Keeper:
Maddux's smirk broadens. When the car stops he throws the door open and strolls swiftly to the door, metal case in hand, looking from one direction to the other.

Keeper:
He reaches the door without incident. Kelley piles out and follows as Maddux opens the door and steps inside the building.

Lundquist:
Follow them in.

Keeper:
Things look utterly normal.

Lundquist:
Move quickly though the church, looking for people.

Keeper:
You hear the tapping of a typewriter from the direction of the office.

Keeper:
In the office you see Maddy at her desk, rattling off some letter or other document. She looks up in surprise.

Lundquist:
"Hi there."

Keeper:
"Hello. . ." she says uncertainly. "Can I help you?"

Lundquist:
(I let Rogers make the introductions...)

Rogers:
"Hello Maddy, I'm here to find out how Carl's doing. This is Mr. Green and these two gentlemen work for him."

Rogers:
"I couldn't get any info from the hospital as I'm not relkated

Rogers:
related to him"

Lundquist:
I smile disarmingly.

Keeper:
"Oh," she says, recognizing Rogers. "Doctor Membry. Um, Carl's doing well. I spoke to him this morning."

Rogers:
"I'm glad about that, Maddy when is the Reverands Funeral? I'd like to pay my respects he seemed to be a good man from what little I saw of him"

Keeper:
"Oh--this Sunday. We'll have a service at Glendale Cemetary."

Keeper:
She looks at Lundquist again, questioningly.

Lundquist:
I smile a lot. "Hi there."

Rogers:
"Oh I'm sorry I didn't tell you what Mr Green does, I'll let hime introduce himself."

Lundquist:
"I'm an investigative reporter. I'm doing a story on the drugs here in Harfleur."

Keeper:
She gets wary. "I see." The office phone rings.

Lundquist:
I step away to give her privacy, but let Rogers listen in. I whisper to Maddux that he might want to discreetly check the rest of the building real quick.

Keeper:
She picks it up. "Southside--Oh, hello. . ." After a second she looks up at you, then she looks away again. "No, it's fine--Yes. A reporter. . . What?" She looks up again.

Keeper:
Rogers, she looks like she's getting nervous.

Keeper:
Maddux and Kelley step out and down the hall.

Keeper:
"Oh," says Maddy. "Yes. I'll talk to you then."

Keeper:
She hangs up, then she stands and picks up her purse. "I'm sorry," she says nervously. "Something's come up."

Rogers:
"Maddy, Mr. Green knows me from \a few cases I had to treat for drug overdodses"

Lundquist:
"Okay, we'll get out of your way then. Sorry to bother you. Oh, one more thing real quick..."

Rogers:
"As he knew I knew some people here he asked me to provide him with a way of meeting with you that was a little more comfortable than just turning up and asking questions."

Rogers:
"Now you know who he is we can caome back later."

Keeper:
"I see. Good to meet you. Doctor Membry, something's come up. I'll need to lock up. Can we talk later?" She looks at Lundquist again. "Yes. . .?"

Lundquist:
Okay... "Say, have you ever seen this fellow?"

Lundquist:
(Produce the surveilance shot of the guy, but don't give her a real great look at it).

Keeper:
She looks at the paper or a second, as if you held a roach out to her, before she leans closer to look. "I--Yes, he was just here."

Keeper:
She looks confused. "I don't understand."

Lundquist:
I look at Rogers knowingly. "Who did he say he was?"

Keeper:
"He's--um, he's Miller, Theodore Miller. He was with Evans Plumbing Service. His name tag said the same thing."

Lundquist:
"Did you call Evans, or did this guy just show up with some story?"

Keeper:
"Carl said talked to them this morning about sending someone out to take over his chores while he's hurt."

Lundquist:
"I see. Well, thanks very much. We I'll try to give you a call in the next couple of days."

Lundquist:
"We'll get out of your way now."

Keeper:
"Sure," she says uncertainly. Okay."

Rogers:
"Bye Maddy see you soon."

Keeper:
Maddux and Kelley walk back up the hall as you step toward the door. They shake their heads.

Rogers leaves

Keeper:
The four of you step out the back door again. Maddux goes first. He steps outside, looking around, then he turns and steps back in, directing Kelley and both of you back inside ahead of him.

Lundquist:
"What is it?"

Keeper:
"We got a spy."

Lundquist:
"Let's go get him!"

Keeper:
"About the fifth floor, the shit-brown tenement on the right across the street. I saw a wide camera lens."

Lundquist:
"Okay, let's go out, circle around, and go surprise him."

Keeper:
He nods. He opens the door again and steps outside.

Keeper:
He walks to the car, opens it, gets in. Nothing happens.

Rogers:
"Umm does anyone want to check the car?"

Keeper:
Kelley nods to Maddux. Maddux gets out again and steps around to the hood. He opens it and looks inside, then underneath, taking another sixty seconds.

Keeper:
"It's clean,

Keeper:
"It's clean," he says.

Rogers:
"Good can't be too paranoid, lets go."

Lundquist:
"Maybe one of us should stay here to keep his attention occupied while the others go snatch him?"

Keeper:
Kelley says, "I'll stay. Maddux needs to show you where the target was."

Rogers:
"Ok lets go."

Lundquist:
"Okay, look interesting, Kelley."

Lundquist:
"Maddux, you drive."

Lundquist:
Toss him the keys.

Keeper:
The three of you get in and drive. Kelley straightens his coat and takes out a small pair of binoculars (opera glasses?) and starts very conspicuously inspecting the windows of the wrong building.

Keeper:
Maddux pulls the car around the corner. As he drives he takes a wiry earphone from his pocket and puts it in place. "You there? Affirmative. We're pulling up now."

Keeper:
He pulls the car up to the far side of the brown building.

Lundquist:
We pile out.

Keeper:
You go inside. The building is unlocked. You don't see any security cameras. The elevator has an "out of order" sign. Grimy stairs lead up and down.

Keeper:
Maddux carries his "camera case" in one hand.

Lundquist:
I follow Maddux.

Rogers:
I'm checking if the lift is really out of order then heading up behind them

Keeper:
He takes the stairs two at a time, quickly outdistancing you. Rogers has a better time keeping up.

Keeper:
The elevator does not respond when you hit the buttons.

Lundquist:
Huff. Puff.

Keeper:
Rogers, you and Maddux emerge on the fifth floor. There are seven apartment doors and a utility closet door, all closed.

Keeper:
One of the doors rattles in place for an instant, possibly due to a wind-gust from an open window.

Lundquist:
(Yeah, right--wind gusts...) ;-)

Rogers:
Just Mr. L's breath he's so unfit

Keeper:
(snicker)

Lundquist:
"Sure," pant "sure," huff "Pick on the" huff "sick guy."

Keeper:
Rogers, are you doing anything?

Keeper:
Maddux gestures silently to the rattling door.

Rogers:
I'm waiting for Maddux to tell me which room were going into

Rogers:
Ok I'll try and pick the lock really quietly

Keeper:
Maddux gestures again to the rattling door, more insistently. He steps toward it, opening his metal case as he does so.

Rogers:
keeping my body to one side of the door frame in case anyone wants to shoot through the door

Keeper:
Lundquist, you come up the stairs as Rogers works on the door.

Keeper:
A minute later, Rogers has the lock open--rather quietly, too.

Lundquist:
I ready my .45

Lundquist:
In we go!

Rogers:
I'm readying mine

Keeper:
Maddux has his MP5SD at the ready, laser sight on.

Rogers:
"Are we good to go?"

Keeper:
Maddux aims into the door, waiting.

Lundquist:
nods.

Lundquist:
Standing to one side, I grab the door and swing it, keeping out of Maddux's way.

Rogers:
I'm on the other side in a combat crouch pistol locked ahead into the room

Keeper:
You fling the door open. Maddux and Rogers aim inside. What you can see of the room looks empty but for ratty furniture and trash.

Keeper:
A breeze blows inside from around the corner.

Keeper:
(From inside the room, that is.)

Rogers:
Check the window carefully

Lundquist:
Go in quickly. Covering every direction at once.

Lundquist:
Looking for tripwires...

Keeper:
No tripwires. The three of you step inside quickly. Around the corner you see the open window and a stained flapping curtain. Rogers, you see nothing outside the window except Kelley across the street. Lundquist, nearer the door, you hear soft hurried footsteps echoing in the hallway.

Lundquist:
I go outside as fast as possible.

Rogers:
I'll signal to Kelley that he's coming down or get Maddux to tell him on the radio

Rogers:
And to stop him

Lundquist:
"Maddux! In the hallway!"

Rogers:
I'm going after him

Keeper:
Maddux turns and sprints out to the hall.

Lundquist:
Am I out there yet? Do I see anyone?

Keeper:
Lundquist, you dart back to the hall in time to see a dark-suited black man stepping quickly to the stairs.

Lundquist:
I shoot him if I can...

Keeper:
He's carrying a camera in one hand and what looks like a big flashlight in the other. He darts into the stairwell as you fire. . .

Lundquist:
"Freeze! Police! Drop your weapon now! Put it down!" As I sprint after him...

Keeper:
BOOM! BOOM! Your .45 is literally deafening in the cement-block confinement of the hallway.

Keeper:
You don't hear it, but you see him howl as one of your slugs slams into his upper thigh. Blood spatters onto the concrete. He tumbles into the stairwell and down.

Lundquist:
I chase after him, gun still ready.

Rogers:
I'm heading to the car is there another way out?

Keeper:
You come around the corner and see him writhing on the landing below. A trail of blood marks his tumbled passage down the stairs. He brings his flashlight up in your direction.

Keeper:
His camera is in pieces around him.

Lundquist:
I try to sidestep and dive down onto him.

Lundquist:
(not dive down the whole flight of stairs...)

Keeper:
You duck and rush down the stairs toward him.

Lundquist:
"Drop it now! Police!"

Keeper:
Suddenly things go WRONG.

Keeper:
Everything scrambles. Directions turn upside-down and backwards. You hear a sudden rush of voices, voices always just beyond the edge of your hearing, voices crying your name, accusing voices. You stumble.

Keeper:
Above, you see Maddux aiming down at you. His laser sight is a gleaming ruby pinpoint. Worse, he is different: his flesh has changed, gone a dead BLUE color, an all too familiar dead blue color, and his eyes are cold and hateful.

Lundquist:
Oh good.

Keeper:
Somehow his dead lips move, but you can't hear his voice, only the accusing voices of millions beyond your sight.

Lundquist:
Do I have any control over my faculties? I try to keep going, down the stairs, away from all of this...

Keeper:
The dead man's lips move again, slowly, and the red beam of his weapon wavers slightly. Turning, you feel your senses reel in dizziness. Below you see the bloody heap of your latest victim, his face filled with horror.

Lundquist:
Poor guy.

Keeper:
You stumble down the stairs toward him. Then you hear a dull roar and sparks fly in brilliant yellow from the cinderblocks around the man below you.

Keeper:
He shouts and turns his flashlight away from you and up the stairs.

Lundquist:
Does the effect go away?

Keeper:
You smell something burning. Everything seems to throb. The effect has not yet gone away, but it seems different, less intense.

Lundquist:
I hug the wall, out of Maddux's line of fire, and try to keep heading downstairs.

Keeper:
Again you hear the staccato roar of automatic gunfire, more deafeningly distinct this time, and again sparks fly from the stone around the bloody man below you. You blink as you feel a sudden breath of heat snap past your head. Your senses become more manageable as you lurch down the stairs. You think you can hear Maddux shouting.

Keeper:
The bleeding man keeps the flashlight trained up the stairs toward Maddux. Then his eyes go very wide for some reason.

Keeper:
Then you come closer to the bleeding man and the landing, close enough to jump him if you wanted.

Lundquist:
Probably not real healthy... I assume Maddux is still blazing away?

Keeper:
Probably--are you doing anything?

Lundquist:
I guess I'll wait for Maddux to switch magazines... Listen for a lull in the firing...

Keeper:
The bleeding man below you drops the flashlight and scrambles painfully at his hip, bringing up a small automatic pistol. Then comes another blast from above, and sparks fly from the cinderblocks closer to the man and then his hip and arm spurt blood.

Keeper:
He snarls and loses the remnants of his balance and falls fully prone.

Lundquist:
I tackle him, try to immobilze him.

Keeper:
The man's eyes blink vacantly and his jaw works. He moves and tries to lift his hand, but he's too weak.

Keeper:
You tackle him easily. Blood smears on your suit and pours from his leg across the floor.

Lundquist:
Great. I just want to get his weapon(s) away...

Keeper:
He looks at you with what seems to be confusion. You knock his pistol out of reach, and the "flashlight."

Lundquist:
Okay, sorry. How bad does this guy look? Is he going to be dead in a minute or two?

Keeper:
Yeah, almost certainly. You've seen it before. The bullets smashed his femoral artery open too high for a tourniquet.

Lundquist:
Oh well. I try to make him comfortable and rifle his pockets at the same time.

Lundquist:
"Just hang on,buddy, help is on the way."

Keeper:
He dies while you are rifling his pockets. You find nothing in the way of personal effects, not even a wallet or keys.

Lundquist:
Okay then. Grab the "flashlight", and get the hell out of there.

Keeper:
Maddux comes down the stairs, holding the submachine gun in one hand. His left arm hangs limp at his side. You see what look like long scorch marks and bloodstains on his coat-sleeve. He looks pale.

Keeper:
"Right," says Maddux when you rise to get out of there.

Lundquist:
I want to grab the biggest pieces of the camera too...

Keeper:
Lose 3 SAN, btw.

Lundquist:
Like the one with the film in it, even if it's ruined...

Lundquist:
3 SAN marked off.

Keeper:
You do so.

Keeper:
To Be Continued . . . ;-)