Report #3270, Transcript Section #53
(Operation SANDMAN)
©2001 Shane Ivey

Keeper:
Okay... first up, you asked McCannon about Kluwer's background, the Carl Williams shooting, and the status of IAD Daniels.

Lundquist:
The thing is, McCannon's on the inside. He's NYPD. He's in a great position to quietly pick away at Kluwer's story.

Lundquist:
If some element of it doesn't jive, I want him to find it. I want to know what his gut is telling him.

Keeper:
You get McCannon on the phone while waiting for your visit to Southside, and he says he'll have to get back to you on Daniels. As for the shooting, he says Kluwer has a more or less clean record; he's had a few complaints and incidents, but nothing that stuck. Kluwer's the sort of detective who does his job and doesn't make a lot of noise.

Keeper:
That's McCannon's first impression, anyway. He says the precinct is tightening up around Kluwer over the shooting, calling Williams' allegations ridiculous, that kind of thing. The Mayor's office is staying out of it, for now.

Keeper:
Now, as for Kluwer's REAL situation, that's another question. Just because he's never been busted doesn't mean he's never done wrong.

Keeper:
Kluwer's kept a low profile since the shooting, doing desk work until it's all sorted out.

Keeper:
That's all McCannon has on him at the moment.

Keeper:
As for what his gut tells him, his gut tells him something was fishy about that shooting, but there's no telling why Kluwer would have pulled those stunts, if he did.

Keeper:
McCannon can keep watching the situation, but he's not officially in charge of it, so there's not a lot he can do while keeping things aboveboard.

Keeper:
You also wanted to check on the Breckenridge investigator who got sent into Witness Protection after the big shoot-out.

Keeper:
He's inaccessible. The paperwork that went through was all on the up-and-up, but security around him is tight as they can make it. Nobody without authorization gets access to the prisoner, and you don't have access. You don't even know anybody with access.

Keeper:
As for your superiors being angry about you trying to block his movements, you're not looking at any official reprimand over it... yet. It's only been a couple of weeks; there's still plenty of time for somebody to decide it needs official action, if that's the way they want it to happen.

Lundquist:
So he could be dead already and they just haven't told anybody.

Keeper:
Could be dead, could be in a hospital in Duluth, could be sipping Mai-Tais by the beach... nobody knows.

Keeper:
You also asked about Breckenridge personnel records - those are currently under FBI lock and key as evidence. You'd need to either get official access to them, or get somebody on the inside to do research for you, or try to sneak in.

Keeper:
So... As you two are about to head to the car to drive out to the church to meet Maddy, you get a call from Kelley: "We have Peppy."

Lundquist:
"How'd it go?"

Keeper:
"Slick as shit. He's sleeping soundly next to me. We should be there in thirty."

Rogers:
"Keep him waiting - no explanations let him worry."

Lundquist:
"Right." Displaying superhuman self control, I will refrain from telling him to look out for tails.

Keeper:
"Will do. Oh, and I thought I might check for tails this time, too."

Keeper:
Are you heading out to the church?

Lundquist:
Before we leave, I will also send a brief email to Meredith, telling her we need access to the Breckenridge personnel records. She should be able to arrange that. :)

Keeper:
OK... Michael, doing anything before you head to Southside?

Rogers:
Nope.

Rogers:
Mr. L is coming along I presme

Lundquist:
Yeah, I'll drive, and I'll sit in the car monitoring the wire as backup. We don't want her to see me if we can avoid it.

Rogers:
OK

Keeper:
It's a farther drive than the last time you went out there, but it's still light out, early summer evening, when you arrive.

Keeper:
The church doesn't look any different. A couple of cars in the tiny parking lot, some run-down tenements nearby, trash in the gutter. There's no sign of Carl's bloodstain on the asphalt where he was shot.

Rogers:
Anyone obviously watching the church?

Keeper:
No.

Rogers:
Anyone subtley watching the church?

Keeper:
If they are, they're too subtle for you to notice them.

Lundquist:
Let's wave hello to the nice spy satellite.

Rogers:
I'm gonna head over to meet Maddy, keepin a sharp eye out for anything unusual

Lundquist:
I'll wait in the car a short distance away, somewhere inconspicuous, and listen in on the wire he's wearing.

Rogers:
"Check Check Check"

Keeper:
Rogers, you find the church door unlocked.

Rogers:
I enter

Keeper:
You hear music coming from the offices, sounds like a gospel choir on tape. Nobody is in sight.

Rogers:
Can I hear anything apoart from music?

Keeper:
No.

Rogers:
OK I head to the office.

Rogers:
and knock on the door.

Rogers:
while standing off to one side

Keeper:
You hear a woman's voice, muffled by the door. "Come in."

Rogers:
Do I recognise the voice?

Keeper:
Sounds like Maddy, but you're not absolutely certain.

Rogers:
OK I'll go in but ready for it not to be her.

Keeper:
You see Maddy sitting at the reception desk. An elderly woman - you recognize her from your last visit - is sitting on a couch, humming along with the music playing from a portable stereo on the desk.

Rogers:
"Hello Maddy."

Keeper:
She looks up. "Doctor Membry." She looks at the older woman. "Gram, I'm stepping outside for a minute." The older woman nods, still humming. Maddy stands, smoothes her trouser legs, and steps toward the door.

Rogers:
"Nice to meet you." I follow her out.

Keeper:
In the hall, Maddy passes the front door and walks to the sanctuary. "What was it you wanted to talk about, Doctor?"

Rogers:
"I wanted to talk about the church, problems in the neighborhood with drugs and Reverand Ezekial." "And if you know anything that can help me."

Rogers:
"And I wanted to know how you are bearing up on a personal note."

Keeper:
She looks at you a little skeptically. "Honestly, doctor, I don't have a lot of time. What do you need help with, exactly?"

Rogers:
"I'm treating someone on this DM drug and its not going well - I was wondering if you or the reverand had had any experiences helping someone under its diabolical influence. Frankly I'm suspicious of its appearance here and think that the reverands death is suspicious in the light of it."

Rogers:
"I'm thinking that maybe someone does not want anything done about this drug and the reverand payed the price."

Keeper:
"Oh." She seems slightly surprised for a moment, and her dark skin darkens slightly for a moment. "Of course... Well, we... We've tried to help a few people who started taking it, but it's never been easy. As for the Reverend Ezekiel, you heard what he said."

Keeper:
Her eyes tighten. "He knew there was more to it than, than, the Crips and the Bloods bringing in some new high." She shakes her head. "The price he paid... I don't know what it means. On TV it looked like a brother pulled the trigger. It just doesn't make any sense."

Rogers:
"I think you owe it to the Reverand to unburdone yourself; If you know anything Maddy, I heard what he said but he didn't have time to say much - I need you to speak for him to help me undertand the problem Maddy." "Don't let his death silence him and stop his good work."

Keeper:
She frowns. "Don't tell me what I owe the Reverend, or what I owe you, Doctor. There's enough evil around here already for me to waste my time listening to talk like that."

Rogers:
"I'm sorry Maddy but I want to do something about this Drug as well. But I need help."

Keeper:
She nods fractionally. "Like I said, there wasn't any trick we saw to treating it. Keep somebody off of it long enough, and it seems like they stop wanting it so much. But they're liable to slide right back in, the next time it's around. It's worse than heroin, like that."

Rogers:
"You called us when office LeMonde went to that drug house and we tried to help him, but got there too late I don't want to be behind everything cleaning up the mess. Hell they even had some Voodoo set up in there."

Keeper:
She shakes her head again. "Officer Lemonde... I don't know anything about that voodoo church. Nothing but pagans, and they killed a good man for no reason, just high as they could be on that, that DRUG."

Rogers:
"I went into that place Maddy, and it was more than the drug it was hell, I want it stopped and stopped now. Does Carl know anything?"

Keeper:
"Carl? I don't think so... He's been clean a long time, working for the church and living right." Her eyes begin to tear up, and she wipes at them angrily. "I don't know what that detective wanted, but I hope he got it. Carl didn't have any drugs, and Carl didn't try to hurt that man."

Rogers:
"I have my suspicions about that cop."

Rogers:
"Maddy I saw a video recording of the Reverand recently why did he blame the government and the CIA for the drug?"

Keeper:
"He..." She sighs again. "He helped a boy who was addicted to it. Who saw the deal go down."

Rogers:
"Go on Maddy - what was the deal?"

Keeper:
"He said he was with a gang that made a buy from a couple of government men. Met them down in the tunnels, bought their drugs, paid their money, and brought it on up to the street."

Rogers:
"What gang was this - the Third Court Warriors? And did he say which tunnels?"

Keeper:
She nods again and makes a contemptuous sign with her left hand, the thumb and index finger held down and the last three fingers splayed crookedly up to form three curves. "Three Cs," she says, disgusted. "Why? What do you know about them?"

Rogers:
"I know they are on my list to check out, they are moving a lot of drugs for a gang. "Who is this person, Did he say why he was sure it was the government?"

Rogers:
"Could have been anyone in a suit."

Keeper:
She looks at you thoughtfully for a quiet moment. "He... Doctor Membry, why are you checking out a street gang?"

Rogers:
"One of my lines of investigation into the drug resulted in obtaining some DM from them, they are selling it, and its too advanced medically and chemically for some punk in a crack lab to come up with - its had to be engineered" Which is why I'm interested in them."

Rogers:
"And why I'm interested in speaking to anyone who can help me solve this problem and save lives"

Keeper:
She nods. "I see. Which hospital do you work for?"

Rogers:
"I don't work for a hospital"

Keeper:
"Are you in private practice?"

Rogers:
"Hospitals see the end result of new drugs and can't act to solvce the proble they just treat the results, I work as a consulatant to the CDC in Atlanta as part of their role identifying new public health threats and trends."

Rogers:
"Hence my interest in DM if its as big a problem as I think they will have to ready."

Rogers:
"I do need to speak to the man in question Maddy - it can be here at the church and you can be there or I can do it over the phone if he wants annonymity - I just want to get to the bottom not to cause problems for folks with enough already."

Keeper:
She nods. "I see... Well, I really ought to get back to work... I..."

Keeper:
Rogers, you sense a strange sensation... a feeling of something being wrong, oily and uncomfortable.

Keeper:
Maddy shudders suddenly and shakes her head. "I just don't feel very well."

Rogers:
"Maddy are you helping anyone on DM at the moment?"

Keeper:
She shakes her head, a little distracted.

Rogers:
"Maddy are you ok? I'm worried about you ."

Keeper:
The feeling intensifies, Rogers, like a foul aftertaste.

Keeper:
"I... I'll be fine. I need to get back to work, Doctor. Come back tomorrow."

Rogers:
"Maddy we have to go outside now come with me" (under his breath to Lundquiest somethings happening something strange)

Lundquist:
"Dammit." I call Kelley, and pull the car around front.

Keeper:
"No, I.." She pulls away, stares as you mutter something under your breath. "Who are you talking to?"

Rogers:
"Maddy do you feel something strange?"

Rogers:
"Thats what I said to you do you feel something strange happening"

Keeper:
She looks at you incredulously, looks you up and down. "Yes, I feel something strange. I feel like I'm being PLAYED. I feel like I've been talking to a cop the last fifteen minutes, and I feel stupid for thinking you gave a damn"--the word rings loud in the sanctuary, echoing off the white walls--"about anybody in here!"

Rogers:
"Your wrong I do give a Damn and I'm no cop I'm about the last hope you have against this Drug."

Keeper:
She steps back, recoiling. "You need to leave, now."

Rogers:
"And your to PARANOID to accept help when its offered. Well I hope you can live with your self when more people diie from this as it will be on your sould for not helping me."

Keeper:
Rogers, you hear a strange, long sighing noise, nearly inaudible, rising from the direction of the basement door.

Rogers:
"I'm not leaving till I get some help I'm tired of caring about people and not being able to do anything"

Keeper:
Her eyes tear up again. "How dare you talk to me like that, in this place? Get out of here!"

Rogers looks around carefully to find the fastest way out

Keeper:
The fastest way out is the front door, behind you and a few paces down the hall.

Rogers:
"Very well Maddy I'm going I hope you can live with yourself".

Rogers walks off ready to run and unbuttoning jacket to be able to get to guns

Rogers:
Am I out of there Keeper?

Keeper:
"GET OUT!" Her voice echoes sharply off the walls and ceiling... then keeps echoing in a strange, nearly subaudible whisper, rising as if in answer from the floor. "out... out... out..."

Lundquist:
Does the wire pick up that echo?

Rogers Pauses and shouts

Rogers:
"Maddy what the fuck is that?"

Keeper:
You walk toward the hall, then stop and shout. You hear nothing strange about your shout

Keeper:
(Lundquist: the wire picks up nothing unusual - you hear Maddy yell, "GET OUT!", then Rogers, "Maddy, what the fuck is that?")

Rogers:
"Mr.L its getting very operatic here" "Get the car round the front we may need to run soon"

Keeper:
"Get out! I don't know what you're talking about. Just go!" She bites the words out, mascara running black on her brown cheeks, all but sobbing.

Lundquist:
Am I out front yet? Oh, boy, operatic...

Keeper:
Lundquist, you pull in front of the church with the car.

Rogers:
"Maddy come with me get out of here please I'm begging you for you own sake."

Keeper:
Rogers, you feel nauseous and a little cold, almost like the onset of shock.

Lundquist:
I'm looking around outside. Do I see anything out of the ordinary? Like in the apartment across the street where we had the shootout?

Keeper:
"I'm not going ANYWHERE with you!" She takes another step back. "Get OUT." Whispery noises drift again, "out... out..."

Keeper:
Nothing strange outside, Lundquist.

Rogers:
"Mr L. something here is affecting me physically."

Rogers:
"And if I don't go Maddy - What then?"

Rogers is soo ready to run

Keeper:
Maddy stares at you in stunned amazement for a moment, then moves to step around you toward the hall.

Rogers:
She does not get between me and the exit even for a second

Keeper:
What are you doing to her? She's trying to get around you and walk into the hall.

Rogers:
I'll walk backwards to the door I just don't ewant her able to block my exit

Rogers:
"Maddy whats in the basement?"

Keeper:
She stops as you backpeddle to stay in front of her. Then she steps back. "You stay away from me..."

Rogers:
"Whats in the basement Maddy Is it the cause of all the problems here?"!

Keeper:
She takes another step back, into the sanctuary, close to the nearest row of pews. "You just get away from me and get out of here!"

Rogers:
"What are you hiding in the basement Maddy?" "Thats the last time I'll ask politely."

Keeper:
Her voice lowers to an outraged whisper. "What is that supposed to mean?" Not waiting for an answer, she shouts, "GRAMMA! GRAMMA! CALL FRANKLIN!"

Keeper:
You taste bile, Rogers, thin and bitter.

Rogers:
"It just means I may have to get some help in finding out whats going on here - call in some CDC colleagues and cite this church as a BioHazard"

Keeper:
You hear the office door open from the hall, then the old woman's voice: "What is going on out here?"

Rogers:
"Mr. L someething well weird I'm coming out now get geared up"

Rogers runs outside

Rogers:
"Mr. L We have a containment problem here - need to cut comms to the church fast"

Keeper:
You pass the old woman as you run through the front door. Then you're outside, blinking in the too-bright evening sun.

Keeper:
Lundquist is standing nearby with the car.

Lundquist:
I get out of the car, and move towards the church. I'm keeping my piece in the carry holster but I'm ready to draw.

Rogers:
Rogers is Standing by the door off to one side Hand on pistol but not pulling it yet

Keeper:
All looks perfectly normal outside.

Lundquist:
"What's up?"

Rogers:
"Hell either she's on DM or I am and I'm farly sure I'm not - and there's some weid shit in the basement there."

Rogers:
"Didn't you haer it on the wire?"

Lundquist:
"I just heard her freak out on you."

Lundquist:
"Where is she now?"

Rogers:
"Oh hell, sounds similar to that cafe meeting." "Last time I saw her she was moving into the office area" "So do we go in now or later"

Keeper:
Rogers, you hear somebody lock the front door from the inside.

Lundquist:
"Shit, man, I don't know. But we've blown this one for sure. What do you want to do?"

Rogers:
"Move away from the doors NOW."

Lundquist:
"They're just locking you out. Fuck it, let's split."

Rogers:
"Right" Rogers head back to the car - once out of earshot "We've got to come back soon ready to take action before they can move anything"

Rogers:
"I want the info she has."

Lundquist:
"You think there's anything in there? Or was it all just DM-induced halucinations?"

Rogers:
"If it was a DM hallucination why could I hear it and she couldn't - wouldn't experience tell us its a shared phenomena?"

Rogers:
"Thinking about it I'd say she's being influenced by something powerful"

Lundquist:
"I don't know. She might not have realized it was happening." We're getting into the car to have this conversation, BTW.

Rogers:
"Either way we have to do something and fast." "There was an older woman in there as well"

Keeper:
You're in the car by now.

Rogers:
Keeper who is here?

Keeper:
Just Rogers and Lundquist. Lundquist called Kelley a couple of minutes ago, but it will take him a while to get there.

Rogers:
ah got confused by that ok

Keeper:
Rogers, lose 1 SAN, btw.

Rogers:
OK

Rogers:
"What equipment do we have? Do we still have the bugs in the church?"

Lundquist:
"No, that fuckin plumber took them out."

Rogers:
"Fuck" "Oh yeah he's in there as well I think."

Lundquist:
"The plumber? In there now?" What was the plubmer's name, Keeper?

Rogers:
"Right, two option - go in or run. Whats it to be Mr. L"

Keeper:
Plumber? Theodore Miller.

Lundquist:
"We're going to drive around the block and see who she calls to show up."

Rogers:
"The guy in there was Franklin - shall I get some backup on route for us?"

Lundquist:
"Kelley's on his way."

Rogers:
"Good"

Lundquist:
"It sounded to me like she wanted granny to call this Franlin on the phone. I want to know who that is."

Lundquist:
Keeper, we don't know of a Franklin from our investigations of the church thus far, do we? All I can think of is Frank Hoder.

Keeper:
There was a Franklin on staff at the church.

Rogers:
"Lets wait till Kelly gets here then go in - is he bringing his bag of tricks?"

Lundquist:
"No doubt. But I think we ought to lie low for a while, see what happens. If we need to go in, we should do it at night. Heck, we can even plant some more bugs."

Rogers:
"They may move stuff out."

Lundquist:
"I don't think there's anything there."

Rogers:
"I'm thinking about the basement"

Lundquist:
"And we can always have Keen watch the place, keep an eye on things."

Rogers:
"Are there any tunnels around here?"

Lundquist:
"Shit, the whole city's sittin on one big warren. Subway, sewers, basements, subbasements..."

Lundquist:
"I think we screwed the pooch here. Maddy's not gonna cooperate with us now. I say we see what this Peppy has for us."

Rogers:
"Right."

Rogers:
"I want to grab Maddy now and interrogate her."

Lundquist:
"Not now."

Rogers:
"But soon"