Report #3270, Transcript Section #8
(Operation SANDMAN)
©1998 Shane Ivey

ROGERS:   Do we have any more info on the third court warriors?

ROGERS:   and what race is the shooter?

KEEPER:   You haven't done much research on the Third Court Warriors yet. From the initial scuttlebutt after the shooter was brought in it sounds like they are the Haitian gang responsible for most of the Dreaming Man drug in Harfleur.

KEEPER:   Joseph Pace is black, born in the U.S. to a Haitian mother.

ROGERS:   Didn't we contact Nadija Fulanji about haitian gangs etc at the start vis A cell?

KEEPER:   You got some general information about Haitian voudoun. She wouldn't have known much, or anything, about this particular street gang.

DANFORTH:   ok.......keith and i have talked on the phone and have come up with the following plan:

DANFORTH:   we need to STILL go into the church and flash badges to see what kinds of leads we can generate

DANFORTH:   ....we ALSO need to go down to crack alley and shake things up a bit.......perhaps even just precipitate the random "dissappearence" of members of the third court gang......

DANFORTH:   ....our hope is that whoever is supplying dreaming man to these guys would have a vested interest in fiding out why they are disappearing and would come after us

DANFORTH:   .....and when they come after, apocalyptic violence will ensue......we have bigger guns, cultists are pussies, we win.......

DANFORTH:   ...does that sound about right to you, rogers?

DANFORTH:   hehehe......we've been sitting on our ruckin hands too long....we've been overly cautious and have missed opportunities because of it

DANFORTH:   i'm not saying we need to arbitrarily kill people or anything.......

ROGERS:   Nah people just don't listen to what we tell them its the ol reverands fault he got killed (anyone got resurection ;-)

DANFORTH:   i'm just saying that we have an opportunity to make real forward progress, we end up arguing about the correct way to do it and miss our chance

ROGERS:   What is your suggestion?

ROGERS:   remember I'm down at the polis station.

DANFORTH:   i don't know......we need to just ACT.....fuck all this commitee decision making

DANFORTH:   just do what you need to do.....don't consult anyone, just DO it

ROGERS:   OK how about we shake down some dealers?

DANFORTH:   i'm all for that

ROGERS:   would be nice to have a plan which dosen't involve becoming network news stars we may as well pait targets on our noses!

ROGERS:   pait should be paint

DANFORTH:   what do you mean when you say "shake down"?

ROGERS:   Interrogate in a threatening manner

DANFORTH:   lund and i wanted to just take a couple out

DANFORTH:   we can't interrogate!!!

DANFORTH:   whatever we do, they musn't know we're government spooks

ROGERS:   I don't mean go up to them flash badges and say can you help with our enquires

ROGERS:   Shake down as in physically shake threaten intimidate scare terrorise!

DANFORTH:   we were either gonna work a couple of them with ballbats and let they're buddies find them crippled in the morning, or just make a couple "disappear" alltogether

DANFORTH:   the object is to bring the ultimate suppliers of dreaming man out in the open

DANFORTH:   the only people who would have any interest in making us pay for whatever we do to these dealers is the suppliers

ROGERS:   well here's a suggestion, why don't we just rob them of the DM drugs and their cash

ROGERS:   While our PI is chasing up the main supplier

DANFORTH:   nope....doesn't work

DANFORTH:   they won't care about the lost money and they don't care WHO gets the dreaming man

ROGERS:   anyway from the new intel the third court posse are the main importers of the DM so we need to get one of them out to the safehouse and sweat him a bit

DANFORTH:   they just wanna get it out onto the streeet

ROGERS:   Yeah but we'd be taking it away from the street

DANFORTH:   if we interrogate one and don't kill him, the gang nows the feds are on to them

DANFORTH:   then we'll never get answers

ROGERS:   we can interrogate then eliminate.

DANFORTH:   better idea ;)

ROGERS:   which feds kill?

DANFORTH:   we want them to think some rival gang is moving in or something

ROGERS:   Yeah but we can trick them into the street fighting we'd need

DANFORTH:   it we wreck a couple third courters, they'll go after the other gangs first anyway

ROGERS:   take out one of the third court posse and frame another gang.

DANFORTH:   but if there's TOO MUCH fighting, then we got cops and shit all over the place

ROGERS:   colours left etc

DANFORTH:   it's better if it just us and them

KEEPER:   All right, so let's review and start some RP.

ROGERS:   well if you want to stir up the hornets nest why not get plod to trample in the situation with their size twelves

DANFORTH:   we DON'T want the cops down here

KEEPER:   The two of you hooked up inside the police station and have been talking in low tones or in a corner or something.

KEEPER:   Unless you want to hook up outside the station?

ROGERS:   it had better have been low ;-)

DANFORTH:   i'm going back to the safehouse until night

ROGERS:   How did I get out? what did I tell the police?

KEEPER:   Danforth, last session I showed you helping Lundquist capture Joseph Pace after the Ezekiel shooting. You could have gone inside with the rest of them, or kept a low profile and stayed outside.

DANFORTH:   stoppign at wal-mart to pick up half a dozen ballbats and some bandannas

DANFORTH:   i'll stay outside and study the crowd

KEEPER:   Rogers, you can tell me what you told the police. They wanted you to describe the events at the church at the Williams shooting.

ROGERS:   "Well officer, I was in the car with my friend Lt. Joseph McCannon, when he got a call about the man who was shot,"

ROGERS:   "As we were close he said he was going to check it out, and we pulled over."

KEEPER:   "Mmm-hmm. And then what happened?"

ROGERS:   "We were getting out of the car when we heard raised voices, I heard one man shouting a challenge 'put it down' I think, and then three shots"

KEEPER:   "Three shots?"

ROGERS:   "Joseph went round the Church one way, I went the other and that's when I saw my patient on the floor with a man with a gun a couple of feet away."

ROGERS:   "Yes officer three shots"

KEEPER:   "All right. Was the victim holding a weapon?"

ROGERS:   "I then started first aid, saw that it was a serious situation and called the reverand to come and compress the wounds while I got my medical kit from the car, which I drove back to the scene."

ROGERS:   "From what I saw the victim had a screwdriver it was on the floor next to his hand."

KEEPER:   The officer takes notes.

ROGERS:   "When I got back to the victim, I treated the wounds as best I could and got a woman on the scene to call an ambulance."

KEEPER:   "What happened next?"

ROGERS:   "After that the police and everyone showed up and I handed the care of the patient over to the paramedics and came to the police station after talking to Joseph."

KEEPER:   "Joseph--that's Lt. McCannon?"

ROGERS:   "That's correct officer."

KEEPER:   "Okay. Is that it?"

ROGERS:   "Yes officer, one more thing having thought about it the challenge was 'Put it down Carl, I'm assuming the shot man was Carl?"

ROGERS:   "Any news on his condition?"

KEEPER:   The officer shuffles his notes together. "The victim has been identified as Carl Williams, that's right. I understand he's in stable condition. You did a good job, Doctor Membry."

ROGERS:   "Call me Gene."

KEEPER:   "Sure thing. Is this contact information correct? We may need to follow up on this later."

ROGERS:   "Yeah that's correct."

KEEPER:   "Very good. You're free to go, then."

ROGERS:   "Any touble getting me just get hold of Joseph."

ROGERS:   "Thanks Officer?"

Rogers whispers to Keeper:
What his name?

KEEPER:   "We'll do that, thank you." Shortly afterward... BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM, Ezekiel is shot and Joseph Pace is dragged inside.

Keeper whispers to Rogers:
Officer West.

ROGERS:   has danforth got here yet?

KEEPER:   Rogers, you meet Danforth outside, right after the shooting.

ROGERS:   "Hey Con what's going on?"

KEEPER:   You can proceed to discuss things as before.

ROGERS:   "Right, well at least the shooter wasn't white that would have made a bad situation worse."

KEEPER:   Meanwhile, outside is pandemonium. There is a huge crowd, tons of people are around wanting answers: Who shot Ezekiel? Why? Is Ezekiel dead or alive?

KEEPER:   There are reporters all over, capturing the moment for public consumption. So far none have taken note of the two of you.

ROGERS:   any newscrews outside the station?

ROGERS:   "Con lets leave quickly." "but not obviously"

DANFORTH:   let's get out of here......before we show up on the news

ROGERS:   "Back to the house?"

KEEPER:   Lundquist's car is right across the street from the station. Rogers, you came with McCannon.

KEEPER:   Lundquist's car is right in the middle of the crowd.

ROGERS:   I'm assuming Mr. L is about and can chaffeur us home

KEEPER:   He's inside the police station.

ROGERS:   Lets head for a metro station

DANFORTH:   let's go get some ballbats!!!

ROGERS:   "Lets get them tomorow and somewher eout of town huh."

DANFORTH:   tomorrow?!?!?

ROGERS:   ooc Yeah 20 baseball bats please were off to cause a gang war here my ID arrest me please!

ROGERS:   Lets at least buy the evidence outside the crime area

DANFORTH:   we're the delta green softball team......;)

ROGERS:   Anyway we can just request some government issue baseball bats

ROGERS:   or cattleprods could be good...

ROGERS:   make sure we carry baseballs

KEEPER:   Govt. issue bats? Sure, but they'd cost a couple thousand dollars each. You sure you want to tax the CIA's black ops budget like that? ;-)

DANFORTH:   we're going back to the safe house

ROGERS:   Aww me wants a $500 hammer to hammer out some ideas...;-)

ROGERS:   "Con lets get out of the public eye and back to the house"

DANFORTH:   good idea

ROGERS:   and they all went home

ROGERS:   for tea

KEEPER:   OK. You take a train part of the way, then you can catch a cab for the last mile or so to the house.

ROGERS:   Right get the cab to take us a couple of blocks past the actual address

ROGERS:   then stroll on back

KEEPER:   No problem. Next thing you know, you're back at "home".

DANFORTH:   we're gonna wait until night and then go fuck up some unfortunate drug dealer......

KEEPER:   It's late in this very long day.

ROGERS:   right any news from McCannon or Lundquiest

KEEPER:   Probably close to sundown now, in fact. If I recall, it was around 10:30 when Rogers and McCannon went to the church; around 11:30 when Williams was shot. A few hours later Ezekiel came out and was shot.

DANFORTH:   ok.....i'm gonna drive across town to a wal-mart and get us some bats

KEEPER:   Not yet. I'll assume they are still giving statements, observing Joseph Pace's interrogation, etc.

ROGERS:   ok

KEEPER:   Easy enough, Danforth. You now have a few baseball bats.

ROGERS:   "I'm calling Osbourne"

DANFORTH:   load em in the trunk and while away the hours

DANFORTH:   tell em i said hi.....give im a little kiss for me

DANFORTH:   who's going to break knees with me tonite?

KEEPER:   OK, Rogers, you're calling Osborne... he picks up his secure line. "Yes?"

ROGERS:   "Hello, I need some urgent information, can we get checks on the gunman who shot ezekiel?"

ROGERS:   "and, the autopsy result for the rev as well."

KEEPER:   "What kind of checks on the gunman?"

ROGERS:   "We may need some muscle as well, just a couple of no brain thugs will do."

ROGERS:   "If he had a cold a day before the shooting I want to know, everything from birth up."

ROGERS:   "Associates, societies friends the works"

KEEPER:   "I'll see what we can get on the shooter. When do you need the 'muscle'?"

DANFORTH:   we don't need muscle

ROGERS:   "One moment please."

DANFORTH:   it's gonna be like 3 on 1....what are you?!?!...some kinda sissy?!?!

ROGERS:   "Con, I'm getting some muscle to help us out tomorrow ok? Two enough?"

ROGERS:   "God is on the side of the big battalions"

Rogers whispers to Keeper:
back to osbourne now

DANFORTH:   if we go down ther with too amny guys we're running the risk of drawing more attention

DANFORTH:   we're going in with bats, and we have guns

ROGERS:   "Four in a car isn't going to draw attention and I don't want them getting help so we get the crap kicked out of us."

DANFORTH:   puuuuhhhhhhhhlease....we're armed government agents.......

DANFORTH:   do u really see us getting worked by some two-bit, un armed crakheads?

ROGERS:   "Boss, two good strong guys who know how to keep their mouths shut and can handle themselves"

KEEPER:   Osborne: "When, Michael?"

DANFORTH:   pussy

ROGERS:   "Excuse me Con but I'm in charge of this investigation along with agent Lundquiest your here to provide comms security not brains"

ROGERS:   "Tomorrow bright and early Boss, we may need them for a few days."

KEEPER:   "You'll get them. They will be considered Friendly."

ROGERS:   "Boss one more thing, can we get this Third Court Posse checked out in detail as well?"

Rogers whispers to Keeper:
How much firepower in the safehouse?

Rogers whispers to Keeper:
shotguns?

KEEPER:   "If you're referring to the Third Court Warriors, we have fairly extensive files on them already. What do you want to know?"

Keeper whispers to Rogers:
No shotguns. Several handguns and maybe a submachine gun.

Keeper whispers to Rogers:
Of course, you could request any number of items.

ROGERS:   "Do we have any intel on how they get the DM drug into NY, members, Known locations etc"

ROGERS:   "Can you send over a copy of the files with the goons?"

Rogers whispers to Keeper:
any non lethal toys stunners etc

KEEPER:   "I'll send a copy of our files, yes. Anything else?"

Keeper whispers to Rogers:
Probably not unless you request it specifically.

Rogers whispers to Keeper:
if I'm going to bet up some dealers I want them down fast

ROGERS:   "No not at this time boss, we'l check in tomorrow. Bye."

KEEPER:   "Be seeing you." (click)

KEEPER:   It's now about 7:00 in the evening, Tuesday night, June 2.

ROGERS:   "Right Con, here's the plan"

ROGERS:   "We get the requested info and backup tomorrow, do some reading then go and cracck someone's head in the peace and quiete of the safehouse"

ROGERS:   "We just grab some one in the gang off the street and dissapear him."

DANFORTH:   i don't know if i like it

DANFORTH:   my idea was to just beat the hell out of someone for the other gang members to find the next morning

ROGERS:   "We can try truth drugs first if that don't work beat the crap out of em and dump em some where another gang controls"

DANFORTH:   we do this a few times over several nights and wait for them to come after us......then we interrogate one of THEM

DANFORTH:   someone who can actually fuckin tell us something

ROGERS:   if we must I suppose

ROGERS:   I'm going to get an update on Carl

DANFORTH:   you're over planning again, JT

ROGERS:   ok

KEEPER:   Carl Williams is in stable condition at the hospital.

DANFORTH:   sound good?

KEEPER:   They give updates on the local 24-hour news channel every hour or two.

ROGERS:   Is his brother a member of any gangs?

ROGERS:   just a hunch

DANFORTH:   we beat him down IRA-style....break his knees and elbows

ROGERS:   "yes yes go and take a valium"

DANFORTH:   just trying to get something DONE

KEEPER:   There are no known links between Angelo Williams and any gangs.

Rogers whispers to Keeper:
can we get mace chemical disablers eaisly?

ROGERS:   Well there goes my idea for who we grab.

KEEPER:   Not in NYC proper, but you can drive for an hour and get one in a store in Connecticut.

DANFORTH:   is it late yet?

KEEPER:   You guys have been talking since you hung up with Osborne. It's now 5:20 or so, unless you're going to kick back and wait.

DANFORTH:   yeah...wait until like 1am or so

ROGERS:   Nah I'm going to get some chloroform to knock the druggies out with

KEEPER:   There's some in your gear in the safe house already.

DANFORTH:   chloroform!?!?....this is supposed to look like a gang attack

KEEPER:   For some reason it's popular with other CIA physicians, too.

ROGERS:   Right, "Con who do you want to get and shake down? one of the Third Court Posse or a different gang's member?"

DANFORTH:   third court

DANFORTH:   we know their colours right?

ROGERS:   "Right, lets get the info in the morning and hopefully grab someone who knows something"

DANFORTH:   ok...we'll roll at 1am

KEEPER:   Meanwhile... Tuesday night, there

KEEPER:   there's a Mad About You rerun on... ;-)

ROGERS:   NO not in the morning at 1 we'l get some backup then grab some one in the day

KEEPER:   You told Osborne to have the "muscle" show up first thing in the morning.

DANFORTH:   in broad daylight?!?!...are you nuts

DANFORTH:   shit......why the fuck do we need muscle anyway/?....haven't you ever been in a street fight?

ROGERS:   "Well we want to shock them."

Lundquist has joined the conversation.

KEEPER:   Lundquist, do you want transcripts so far, or just a quick run-down?

LUNDQUIST:   Run down should do okay...

KEEPER:   All right. You're at the police station. Danforth managed to get out of the crowd as you were bringing Joseph Pace inside after the shooting.

KEEPER:   Rogers had left just before then, so he and Danforth took off.

KEEPER:   The police took Pace into an interrogation room after searching him and securing him.

KEEPER:   They took suicide prevention measures, as well, removing shoes and belt and other potentially dangerous things. Then they cuffed him to a chair.

KEEPER:   Outside, Ezekiel was taken in an ambulance to the hospital, followed by his friends and followers.

KEEPER:   Ezekiel was pronounced dead on arrival at 4:00 pm.

KEEPER:   What do you do? ;-)

LUNDQUIST:   Guys? Any ideas?

DANFORTH:   i'm waiting to break heads

ROGERS:   let em sort it out

KEEPER:   You three can hook up via Lundquist's secure cellular phone. You're talking right after Rogers spoke with Osborne.

LUNDQUIST:   Do we want to talk to the shooter?

DANFORTH:   we were gonna go beat down crack head tonite, but rogers wanted to call in some "muscle" (which we don't need) so we're gonna wait until tomorrow to proceed with the plan

LUNDQUIST:   Nevermind, I guess that answers it.

DANFORTH:   so we can use tomorrow daytime to shake down the church

LUNDQUIST:   Danforth and I had come up with the plan of taking down some DM dealers.

LUNDQUIST:   The idea is to try and force the people behind them into making some more overt moves.

LUNDQUIST:   If nothing else, it's a sort of DG-traditionalist, "cowboy" apprach to the DM problem, which is not all bad, in that it chokes off the supply of DM reaching the streets in a very quick fashion.

ROGERS:   Fine with me just wanted some backup after all anyone a good fighter without guns?

LUNDQUIST:   I can do that.

LUNDQUIST:   I'd rather not bring in backup if we can avoid it... Fewer people that know about this, the better.

KEEPER:   Lundquist, several detectives file past you on the way to the interrogation room.

ROGERS:   Just muscle from the boss

DANFORTH:   that's what i was saying!!!!!!!!....thank you, lund

LUNDQUIST:   (Naturally, I'm talking so as not to be overheard by people at the precinct.)

KEEPER:   Right. They take no notice of you, except a curious "What's the DOJ guy doing?" glance or two.

LUNDQUIST:   Just standin the corner, talkin on the phone...

KEEPER:   Two of them go into the interrogation room with Pace, the other three enter the adjoining observation room.

KEEPER:   This is all after you came in and gave your initial statement on what happened.

LUNDQUIST:   Okay.

KEEPER:   You're still on the phone with "Michael," though, so carry on.

LUNDQUIST:   Keeper, what time is it now? 1700 or so?

KEEPER:   Around then, yeah.

KEEPER:   Around 17:00, that is.

LUNDQUIST:   Do we want to talk to this Pace guy, or visit the church now, or wait till dark and start looking for dealers?

LUNDQUIST:   And have our bugs in the church turned up anything unusual?

KEEPER:   The bugs in the church have been tame. Just police officers searching the place, then not much of anything so far. All the staff are at the hospital.

LUNDQUIST:   Can I drift into the room overlooking the interrogation room, with the one-way mirror, and watch Pace's questioning?

KEEPER:   That's the observation room where the other three detectives went.

KEEPER:   They just went inside and closed the door behind them.

LUNDQUIST:   Okay, are they questioning Pace right now?

LUNDQUIST:   (in the other room, I mean).

KEEPER:   Lundquist, how have you identified yourself to the police, btw?

LUNDQUIST:   As myself, Federal Attorney.

KEEPER:   They just went in to his room, presumably to start questioning him.

KEEPER:   Your real ID, then?

LUNDQUIST:   Yeah, real ID.

KEEPER:   OK.

LUNDQUIST:   I'll knock on the observation room door.

LUNDQUIST:   (quietly).

KEEPER:   It opens a crack. A detective looks out. "Yeah?"

LUNDQUIST:   I flash my ID. "Mind if I watch too?" I'll try to be very Persuasive...

KEEPER:   "You're the guy that grabbed him, right? Just a minute." He turns and mutters something to the captain, inside. After a second he steps back. "Yeah, come on in. Just keep it down."

LUNDQUIST:   Go in quietly.

KEEPER:   OK, Rogers and Danforth, what are you doing?

KEEPER:   Besides going out to get baseball bats?

KEEPER:   Rogers, did you ask about requisitioning non-lethal equipment? You can probably get just about anything, either from your "regular" CIA black-ops contacts or from Osborne.

DANFORTH:   i say we shake down the church

ROGERS:   Yeah just wanted something to stuff into dealers at close range to stun them

KEEPER:   The detectives close the door again after Lundquist enters. The precinct captain is inside, along with a legal affairs attorney from Police Headquarters and a vice detective.

ROGERS:   then lets go do some damage

KEEPER:   Stun them? Like a chemical spray, or a taser, or what?

DANFORTH:   ok...we're rolling to the church

KEEPER:   Lundquist, the two detectives on the other side of the glass have just started talking to Joseph Pace. The detective who let you in leans over. "So what are you doing here, anyway?" He asks, whispering. The others in the dark room with you don't seem to pay attention.

KEEPER:   R & D (Rogers, Danforth), are you waiting for some nonlethal gear, or going to the church right away? It's around sundown now.

LUNDQUIST:   (whisper back) "I'm not here on official business... But I saw what was happening, and I had to do something and I guess I'm caught up in it now..."

LUNDQUIST:   (Point to Pace) "What have we got on this guy?"

KEEPER:   Lundquist: The detective nods. "Sure as shit. Looked like those were quick moves. Too bad this guy got it out that fast. What have we got on him? Hell, he's cooked. You saw him shooting, right? So did half a dozen others. They're trying to get ahold of the news tapes now to see if he's on any of them."

DANFORTH:   let's just go to the church

KEEPER:   Lundquist: The detective extends a hand in the crowded closet. "I'm Daniels. Lieutenant, Internal Affairs Bureau."

LUNDQUIST:   Shake my head. "No, I mean who is he? Why did he cap the good reverend? Any sort of a motive?

LUNDQUIST:   "I'm Brian Lundquist, DOJ. Just passing through."

LUNDQUIST:   What can I tell about the cops in this room? How do they feel? Are they keyed up? I want to get a feel for how they're acting.

KEEPER:   Lundquist: Daniels shakes his head. "Why? That's what they're trying to find out. Joseph Pace, citizen of Queens and all-around drug infestor. We figure it might have had something to do with that Leguerre kid the Reverend mentioned."

LUNDQUIST:   "I see." I'll try to watch the questioning. Don't want to appear _too_ interested...

KEEPER:   Lundquist: The cops are pretty inscrutable. They seem to be concentrating on the interrogation, not on you, but they're not exactly relaxed and casual.

KEEPER:   OK, R & D, you drive out to the church?

DANFORTH:   yeah

ROGERS:   why exactly are we going here?

DANFORTH:   to flash badges

ROGERS:   great hi I'm CIA hes NSA neither of us have legal standing inside the US can wee ask some questions?

KEEPER:   Lundquist: The detectives are getting to the heart of Pace's interrogation. "So, Joseph. We've got you on tape and in the testimony of about a hundred eye-witnesses shooting the Reverend to death. That's not even counting the gun forensics, which are going to tell us that the gun you were holding was the one that shot Reverend Ezekiel."

KEEPER:   "So I don't much care whether or not you say you did it. What I want to know now is WHY you did it."

DANFORTH:   we're gonna make vague accusations and listen to the bugs

KEEPER:   Lundquist: Pace is looking very nervous. He has been all along. "I don't... I didn't do it. I don't remember doing it. I was just..."

ROGERS:   I've got a bad feeling about this.

KEEPER:   L: The detective rolls his eyes theatrically. "For crying out LOUD, Joseph, don't bother! You were there, your gun was there, BANG! He's dead. In a crowd of a hundred loyal citizens, you come up and pop this guy a half a dozen times." He laughs ruefully. "I mean, you want the Brass Balls Award for the year? You got it, man. No question..."

KEEPER:   "....So why not tell the world exactly why you wanted to cap this guy in front of God and everybody on national TV?"

KEEPER:   L: Pace looks from cop to cop and says nothing.

KEEPER:   L: The detective leans closer to Pace. "It was Bato, right? Bertrand Leguerre went to Ezekiel and turned rat, as the LCN mooks like to say. That's what happened, right?"

KEEPER:   R & D: So are you driving to the church or what? And are you taking any fake law enforcement ID or something?

DANFORTH:   yes to both

KEEPER:   L: Pace scowls angrily. "Bato was nobody! We ain't seen Bato in weeks. We ain't seen him now. If he went in to Ezekiel, so what? Ezekiel ain't the cops. Ezekiel hated you cops."

KEEPER:   R & D: You drive out. It's night now, a little past sundown.

ROGERS:   One thing I'm known here I saved Carl.

ROGERS:   Dan better go it alone

DANFORTH:   i'll be going into the church alone then

KEEPER:   L: The cop still leans close to Pace. "Yeah, but Ezekiel's dead now. And you're the one who put the bullets in his head. Now, how'd that happen?"

ROGERS:   I'll go park up and monitor the bugs

DANFORTH:   ok...sounds good

KEEPER:   R & D: Danforth drives up to the church. You notice a bunch of people are present inside and outside. It looks like a candlelight vigil.

DANFORTH:   i'm gonna walk directly into the church

DANFORTH:   and find ezekial's asistant

ROGERS:   "You sure?"

DANFORTH:   yes

DANFORTH:   nothing's gonna happen in front of this crowd

KEEPER:   L: Pace remains stony-faced. The cop keeps staring at him from up-close. "Why were you there, Joseph? I mean, you say you don't remember shooting him. Okay, I can buy that. Sometimes, shit happens, you can't remember it all. But why were you there? What do you care about some church guy that got shot?"

ROGERS:   apart from then killing you ;-)

DANFORTH:   not likely......i'm tougher then leather ;)

ROGERS:   :-)

KEEPER:   R & D: A bunch of eyes turn to follow your approach to the church. Nobody stops you from strolling inside. There are quite a few people inside, too. There's a lot of mourning going on.

DANFORTH:   where 's zeke's assistant?

ROGERS:   I'm not going in remember

KEEPER:   L: Pace shakes his head. "I just come out cuz I was curious. Some cop shoots a brother, I want to see what's up, know what I mean?"

KEEPER:   R & D: Danforth, entering the front doors you can only see into the hall and the sanctuary. You don't see Maddy in either.

DANFORTH:   i'll ask around for her

KEEPER:   L: The detective nods encouragingly. "Sure. It's bad business. So you came out. You were in the crowd."

KEEPER:   R & D: A man, about 50 years old, approaches you, Danforth. He looks you up and down warily, but not really suspiciously. "Can I help you, young man?"

DANFORTH:   i'll flash a fake badge and ask who he is

LUNDQUIST:   All is clear to me now.

KEEPER:   R & D: The man looks at the badge and frowns. "My name is Tom Masdsen."

DANFORTH:   .....and you're realtionship to the church is?

KEEPER:   L: Pace nods slowly. "Yeah, I was in the crowd, you know, and then... this dude came up."

KEEPER:   D: Masdsen says, "I am a member of this church. Everyone here is a member of this church. We are in mourning. I think you should come again later."

KEEPER:   L: The detective raises his eyebrows. "This dude? What kind of dude?"

DANFORTH:   i think you should tell me where maddy is.......

LUNDQUIST:   I try not to look too interested.

DANFORTH:   or i'll take you down for obstruction of justice

KEEPER:   L: Pace shrugs. "This little white dude. He had a mustache, like. He had a coat on, a, a, you know, a windbreaker."

KEEPER:   D: Masdsen's face goes blank. "Do you have a warrant, officer?"

KEEPER:   L: The detective looks intrigued. "A windbreaker, okay. Who was this little white dude?"

DANFORTH:   i have resoanble suspicion......and i'm not searching anything, just asking questions...(for the time being)

KEEPER:   L: Pace shrugs again. "I don't know, he just came up. I never saw him before."

KEEPER:   D: Masdsen remains stony-faced. "I see. Well, young man, I have lived in this neighborhood long enough to know a little about how the police operate. If you don't have a warrant, you need to leave and come back later."

KEEPER:   L: The detective nods. "Sure, okay, Joseph. So what did this little white dude say?"

DANFORTH:   not the case, sir.....now am i going to talk maddy or do you go downtown?

KEEPER:   L: Pace looks up angrily. "You laughin at me, motherfucker? I ain't telling you shit."

KEEPER:   D: "Officer, if you wish to arrest me, I am here." He holds his hands out for cuffs. "But Miss Smith is indisposed. She will be happy to speak to you when she has recovered a little from this ordeal."

KEEPER:   D: About a dozen others have come to watch your exchange with Masdsen.

DANFORTH:   Sir...turn around and place your hands behind your back

KEEPER:   L: The detective stands up and folds his arms. "Laughing at you, Joseph? I just saw you put bullets into an innocent man's head. I don't think there's a damn thing funny about all this. Now, you told me about this little white dude. What did he want?"

KEEPER:   D: The others start yelling. "No!" "Haven't you people done enough?"

DANFORTH:   I'm gonna put the cuffs on him, tell him to stay put and look for maddy

KEEPER:   L: Pace looks down sullenly. "I don't know what he wanted. He came up, then he started talking to me, like. Then, next thing I know, I see Ezekiel's down and these other dudes are jumping on me."

DANFORTH:   Rogers will have heard all this over the bugs and should know to nab him if he tries to run

LUNDQUIST:   Do I remember seeing this guy in the crowd?

KEEPER:   D: Masdsen turns around slowly and lets you cuff him. Another two men step into the hallway in front of you. "Where's the warrant? Show us the warrant, mister police man, if you want to bust in here!"

KEEPER:   L: There were tons of people in the crowd. Nobody stood out as a white man with a mustache in a windbreaker.

KEEPER:   L: The detective says, "This white dude started talking to you. What did he say?"

KEEPER:   L: Pace mumbles, "I don't remember."

DANFORTH:   ....if you don't get out of my face, something BAD is gonna happen!!!!!!!!!........WE HAVE REASONABLE SUSPICION, I DON'T NEED A WARRANT.......NOW GET OUT OF MY FACE AND LET ME DO MY JOB...........NOBODY MOVES UNTIL I TALK TO MADDY!!!!!!!!!!

KEEPER:   L: The detective leans closer. "He said what?"

KEEPER:   D: The men both fold their arms and stand in your way stubbornly.

DANFORTH:   i know about dreaming man, we know everything!!!.......my suggestion is, anyone who doesn't want to get booked for obstruction of justice GETS THE HELL OUT OF MY FACE!!!!!

Keeper whispers to Rogers:
Rogers, you see a police car drive up to the church with its sirens flashing--no audio siren, though, just the lights.

DANFORTH:   i'm going to push them out of the way and walk to the back

DANFORTH:   excuse me, please

Rogers whispers to Keeper:
well thats Danforth fucked then

Rogers whispers to Keeper:
start the car and be ready to leave quickly

DANFORTH:   i'll cuff evryone in this motherfucker if i have to!!!

KEEPER:   D: You shove past the men.

DANFORTH:   i'm looking for maddy

KEEPER:   They both follow a few steps behind you as you head down the hall.

Rogers whispers to Keeper:
what are the police doing?

KEEPER:   You pass other people in the doorways, glaring.

Keeper whispers to Rogers:
The car pulls up and two officers step out and secure their batons in their belts, as usual. They come up the front steps and talk to the people there.

DANFORTH:   i'm gonna just start opening doors until i find maddy

Rogers whispers to Keeper:
so looks like he's going to be arrested if they see him then?

KEEPER:   D: Finally you come to the main office. Maddy is inside with several other people, friends and family members, it looks like.

KEEPER:   Danforth, what kind of ID do you have, specifically?

DANFORTH:   i'm going to tell everyone they have to leave so i can talk to maddy

DANFORTH:   some high priority local badge

KEEPER:   They look at each other. One elderly woman says, "We will not, young man. And you should have some respect. This is a house of God!"

DANFORTH:   like narcotics investigator or something....maybe even internal affairs

KEEPER:   Which will it be? Your choice.

DANFORTH:   i'm not gonna argue with you, lady get out or get cuffed

DANFORTH:   internal affairs

KEEPER:   The woman sits where she is and waits. "If you want to handcuff me, boy, you go right ahead. I won't fight you."

DANFORTH:   who told these people they have rights?!?!??!

DANFORTH:   ;)

KEEPER:   Danforth, you hear heavy footsteps come jingling down the hall behind you.

DANFORTH:   we have reason to believ that this church has been, and is still, involved in the drug trade in hafleur........

KEEPER:   The people in the room stand and object loudly, all at once.

DANFORTH:   i'm not here to arrest anyone........we just want to anyone who knows anything to step forward and talk before the shit hits the proverbial fan..........

KEEPER:   Danforth, two big police officers step up. They look in at the angry group and at you. One of them, a muscular black man in his 30s, asks, "What's going on here?"

DANFORTH:   we have suspicion that one or more members of this congregation is involved and we are investigating

DANFORTH:   nothing.......yet

DANFORTH:   this is an internal affairs investigation

Danforth flashes the badge

KEEPER:   The cop looks at you, then at the group. Then he puts a hand on your shoulder to direct you out into the hall . "Can we talk for a minute?"

DANFORTH:   i'll go with him

Rogers whispers to Keeper:
I've switched the car engine off

KEEPER:   He steps out to the hall and talks in a low voice. "I'm Corporal Lemonde. Community policing." He looks at your badge. "Lieutenant Smith, I'll assume you know the search and seizure regulations. If there's an emergency, nobody called it in."

KEEPER:   L: The detective interviewing Pace had asked what the "white dude" said before Pace apparently blanked out.

DANFORTH:   no emergency....this is an investigation that, quite frankly, you don't need to know about......i'm just asking questions

KEEPER:   D: Lemonde nods. "I see. Then you know that any arrests you make in this place will be illegal and will be thrown out promptly."

DANFORTH:   yes i do......did i read him his rights?!?!?.......don't presume to educate me on police procedure

KEEPER:   :L: Pace shakes his head and speaks louder. "I don't KNOW what the dude said. It's like... he was talkin, but I couldn't hear it. I don't know what he said."

DANFORTH:   now, if you'll me, CORPORAL.........

Danforth leaves

KEEPER:   D: Lemonde regards you evenly for a minute. "All right, Lieutenant." He steps aside and follows to watch.

KEEPER:   D: Meanwhile, you hear him talking in a low voice on his radio.

DANFORTH:   i'm gonna walk directly to the car and get the hell out of here

DANFORTH:   ......and listen to the bugs

KEEPER:   L: The detective shakes his head impatiently. "Now, Joseph. You're starting to irritate me again. You go on and on about this little white dude, and now you say you don't remember what he said?"

KEEPER:   D: The people yell after you, jeering and shouting angrily, Danforth, as you walk out of the church.

DANFORTH:   let em....fuckin ghetto roaches

KEEPER:   D: On the bugs: Lemonde apologizes to the people in the office for the inconvenience, then he and his partner leave barely two minutes behind you.

Rogers whispers to Keeper:
I'm leaving the car putting keys in exhaust pipe will walk past Danforth and tell himwhere they are and to ignore me. pass

DANFORTH:   did rogers catch what he was saying into his radio?

KEEPER:   D: After that, you hear Maddy and her friends talking in bewilderment about your visit. Nobody says anything about drugs or gangs except to wonder what you were talking about..

Rogers walks towards the church

Rogers tell danforth as he passes , "keys in exhaust pipe, go home."

KEEPER:   L: Pace shrugs again irritably. "Look, I don't know what the dude said, I TOLD you. I didn't see him again. Maybe HE shot the preacher, for all I know!"

KEEPER:   L: Daniels, standing next to you in the dark closet, chuckles. "Little magic white dudes. Man, I love hearing these guys talk." He looks down as the cell phone buzzes on his belt.

KEEPER:   L: The detective with Pace smirks. "Sure, Joseph. After you put four shots into the Reverend's head, your little white dude came and finished him off without anybody seeing it."

KEEPER:   L: Pace looks up again angrily. "Hey, FUCK you, cop! I ain't saying shit! Get me my lawyer!"

KEEPER:   L: The detective chuckles. "Sure thing, Joseph. Shit, I won't even try to talk you out of it."

KEEPER:   L: Daniels talks quietly on his phone for a minute: "...who? No, I never heard about it. Yeah, I'll come talk to him. Tell them to stay on the church."

KEEPER:   L: Daniels hangs up. "Duty calls," he says to the captain and you. "I'll catch up later."

LUNDQUIST:   "More trouble?"

KEEPER:   L: Daniels shrugs. "Maybe, maybe not. We had some men on stakeout outside the church, just in case. They saw somebody go in and stir things up. The local community policing cop went to check it out and called in that it was somebody from IAB. I just need to find out if we have some confused paperwork or something."

LUNDQUIST:   "Ah. I'll follow you out, I gotta hit the john and this guy's done talking anyway."

KEEPER:   He nods and steps out.

LUNDQUIST:   I follow and go to the men's room.

ROGERS:   I'm walking into the church

Danforth goes to the safehouse and waits for everyone

KEEPER:   The crowd is as surly as it was a few minutes ago. People look at you with angry, "What is it this time?" expressions.

KEEPER:   L: Everything comes out okay in the men's room. ;-)

ROGERS:   Head on into the church

KEEPER:   Same thing, Rogers. A lot of people watch you, waiting.

ROGERS:   Kneel down pray a while.

LUNDQUIST:   Actually in the men's room I want to make sure I'm alone and then place a quiet call to the others to let them know Daniels is coming down.

KEEPER:   You hear people muttering, wondering who you are. Then your phone buzzes.

ROGERS:   Answer phone

ROGERS:   "Hello"

KEEPER:   It's Lundquist. Lundquist, talk.

ROGERS:   "I'll call you back."

LUNDQUIST:   "Hello, Lunsquist here. I think someone is coming down there from IAB."

ROGERS:   "Ok bye"

LUNDQUIST:   "Later.

Rogers gets up and walks towards the office

ROGERS:   "Does anyone know where the Girl who workes on the desk is please?"

KEEPER:   You reach the office without incident, other than people looking at you like a suspicious stranger.

KEEPER:   In the office you see what Danforth sees, except everyone is considerably more agitated. One young man stands up. "Didn't we just tell you to come back later? That means tomorrow or the NEXT day, not five minutes!"

KEEPER:   What Danforth saw, that is.

ROGERS:   "Erm I think you have me mistaken for someone else."

KEEPER:   "Oh? Then who are you?"

ROGERS:   "I'm Dr. Membry, I worked on Carl this afternoon, I came by to see hoe the girl who was there is" "She seemed very shocked this afternoon"

ROGERS:   "and to pray a little"

KEEPER:   Maddy looks at you closely for a moment. "Yeah... I remember you. You helped Carl."

ROGERS:   "How are you Maddy? How are you feeling?"

KEEPER:   "I'm okay... I guess... it's just..." She shakes her head and starts crying again incoherently.

ROGERS:   "Take it easy Maddy, your friends are here, tell us how you feel it will help you get over the traumatic event of Carls shooting."

KEEPER:   The others look at each other with frowns. The elderly woman says, "Doctor, it's good of you to come, but can't you come back later? We are already here for my granddaughter."

KEEPER:   L: You doing anything after you call in the IAB news?

LUNDQUIST:   Check in on Pace one last time... Is he still clammed up, calling for his lawyer?

KEEPER:   He's alone in the interrogation room, waiting for his lawyer.

ROGERS:   "Ok, I just wanted to make sure she was being looked afetr properl, not by some police shrink, family is the best at times like this." "I'm going to head home now if you want me call me on this number....."

LUNDQUIST:   Anyone in the observation room?

KEEPER:   No, it's empty now. Just the cameras rolling.

Rogers whispers to Keeper:
gives a number which is a safe line

LUNDQUIST:   Can I turn them off from here?

KEEPER:   The grandmother takes the number. "Thank you, doctor."

KEEPER:   L: You can, but it might look fishy later if people notice the gap in the time stamp.

ROGERS:   "That's OK I know what a shock that kind of thing is." "bye"

Rogers leaves the church and gets a taxi

KEEPER:   R: You exit and get a cab, no problem.

KEEPER:   D: Things are quiet at the safe house.

ROGERS:   head back to the safehouse

KEEPER:   D: Rogers comes hoofing up the driveway.

DANFORTH:   i'll call l's cell phone and tell him to meet us here

LUNDQUIST:   Okay. Did Pace's blood test results get back yet? Did he take DM?

DANFORTH:   i guess we just wait until night now

KEEPER:   L: Pace's blood tests showed traces of alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and DM, all taken over the past week or so.

ROGERS:   Do you want to grab a dealer or wait till morning? sorry that should have been grab a gang banger

KEEPER:   L: Your secure phone buzzes.

LUNDQUIST:   "Lundquist."

KEEPER:   L: It's Danforth. Danforth, go.

DANFORTH:   what do u wanna do tonite?

DANFORTH:   do u wanna wait for rogers' "muscle" or shake it up tonite?

DANFORTH:   .....and what are you wearing?

DANFORTH:   ;)

LUNDQUIST:   "Start taping the evening news. I want to see if any of the cameras caught our shooter, and who was standing near him."

Danforth sets the vcr

LUNDQUIST:   Keeper, do I remember seeing a guy like Pace describes when I saw his eyes go wide right before the shooting?

ROGERS:   "We could hit a dealer then get a gang member tomorrow"

KEEPER:   L: No. Actually, the "wide eyes" thing was from a bystander who saw Pace's gun right before you saw it.

DANFORTH:   fair enough

LUNDQUIST:   Ah.

LUNDQUIST:   So no white guy in a windbreaker that I can remember?

KEEPER:   Not that you can remember. But it was a big crowd.

LUNDQUIST:   Okay. I go to the safehouse.

LUNDQUIST:   On the way I want to call Osborne.

KEEPER:   Osborne's voice: "Yes?"

LUNDQUIST:   "Lundquist here. I have a favor to ask. I'd like to get copies of the tapes from all the news crews that were at the shooting, in order to look over the crowd. Can someone pick those up?"

KEEPER:   "Yes. When do you want them?"

LUNDQUIST:   "As soon as is feasible, without looking too fishy."

KEEPER:   "Do you want the televised copy, or copies of the originals?"

LUNDQUIST:   "Originals would be better, I'm making my own televised copies."

KEEPER:   "It may take a few days to insert operatives to obtain all the copies. I'll have them sent by courier as we obtain them."

KEEPER:   Later, you record the various televised reports of the Ezekiel shooting.

LUNDQUIST:   "Thanks. Send me whatever you can get as soon as possible."

DANFORTH:   can we beat up a dealer yet?

KEEPER:   "Will do."

LUNDQUIST:   So we're all back at the safehouse then?

KEEPER:   There seem to have been two cameras recording the crowd when the shooting actually took place. One of those panned in to get a shot of the shooter as it happened, before total chaos ensued.

KEEPER:   You're all at the house.

ROGERS:   "What's the plan gentlemen?"

DANFORTH:   wait until 1 or so and get us a dealer

KEEPER:   On both those tapes, you can rewind and play it slow to see Pace in the crowd before the shooting.

ROGERS:   "OK, can I suggest some distance from the Church though."

LUNDQUIST:   Who's standing next to him?

KEEPER:   He seems to be watching with a neutral expression, idly bad, looking tough.

KEEPER:   There's a lot of movement and jostling in the crowd as Ezekiel speaks, waving his arms in slow circles in the replay.

KEEPER:   But you see a figure move up close to Pace, a short man wearing a plain dark nylon coat and a baseball cap and sunglasses. Caucasian, short dark hair, dark mustache.

LUNDQUIST:   Does height/build match anyone we've met? Anyone from NYPD?

KEEPER:   Pace notices the approach and turns to give the man a vaguely threatening look. The camera view is looking at Pace's face, the back of the white man's head.

KEEPER:   His height and build don't match anyone you've met so far.

KEEPER:   Pace glares at the man for a second. Then the man brings a hand up before his face. Pace follows the gesture instinctively, but the camera view is blocked by the man's head. Pace seems to be staring at the man's face.

KEEPER:   Pace's expression goes slack. He looks up into the man's eyes. From the movement of his head, it looks like the man is speaking.

KEEPER:   He speaks to the slack-jawed gangster for a few seconds. Then the man steps past Pace and pushes through the crowd.

KEEPER:   Pace stares for a moment into the space where the man stood. Then he turns, still blank, reaching a hand under his shirt.

KEEPER:   All this is in the periphery of the camera, so far.

KEEPER:   Pace brings his hand up again holding a pistol. He fires repeatedly. Thin smoke and dim flashes erupt from the gun. His face is still blank. One bullet hits Ezekiel in the forehead, the other in his face, two others miss and hit the wall of the police station behind him.

LUNDQUIST:   Jeez.

DANFORTH:   yowsers

KEEPER:   Ezekiel lurches and falls in slow motion. The shooter holds his position for a moment. The crowd around him begins to erupt in confusion.

KEEPER:   Then Lundquist comes charging around the podium and jumps at the still empty-faced shooter, shoving him to the ground.

DANFORTH:   hhhhmmmmmm.....well THAT'S interesting

KEEPER:   The camera pans back and forth wildly, trying to zero in on the shooter. Finally it catches Lundquist and several cops dragging the shooter across the street; then it follows as they drag him back across, through the crowd, and into the station.

KEEPER:   After Lundquist and the police drag the shooter inside the station, the camera turns to try to get a view of Ezekiel, lying in blood on the ground with people around him, supporters and police officers.

KEEPER:   As for the white man, he just walked out of the crowd and out of the sight of the camera and was gone.