Evans shot him a disapproving look, but didn’t interrupt, something which Alex appreciated. He had a rather unethical way of getting things done at times, and most of his partners had a hard time going with it.
“Look, I don’t know who this man is,” the boy in front of him stammered. “I was just making some graffiti –.”
Alex slammed his hand down on the table, shutting the boy up. Gary, the boy from one of the gangs, paled. He was a pale, lean, skinny guy, and Alex knew he had probably joined the gang because he thought it was cool. Gary probably thought it was all fun and games – bullying a few people and getting money for it. Someday, he will end up getting his ear or his thumb cut off, and he will realize that he was in a serious mess. Alex predicted that is the point he will run away like a puppy.
“This tattoo,” Alex said, pointing to the picture. “Do you know what gang it belongs to?”
“No –,” Gary stammered. “I never have –.”
“Next,” Alex said. He always knew when he had his criminal, and he doubted this boy knew anything.
“So, wait, am I free?” Gary asked.
“Throw him in the holding cell for the night,” Alex said. “Ruining government property. Now, get the next guy in.”
As the officer lead Gary out, Alex turned to his partner.
“Are all of them low-life criminals?” he asked. “Couldn’t you get someone more important? Maybe the gang leader’s right-hand man? Or someone who would know something?”
“People higher up in the gangs are usually intelligent enough not to get arrested,” Evans said. “I bet you there is already talk going around of how the FBI is interrogating some everyday trouble-makers and graffiti artists.”
“So, this is all we have, eh?” Alex said. “I need a smoke.”
__
Two hours. That’s how long it has been since Alex started this meaningless interrogation. Two horrible hours of interrogating the errand boys of the gangs and finding nothing. Hell, he doubted they even knew the name of the president. These boys knew nothing at all, and this had been nothing but a waste of time. An organization so big that it is threatening the country’s security and has Crow’s pants in a twist – and there was no sign of it. No hint. Not even a murmur or whisper among the criminals. To be honest, he was disappointed. If someone was operating such a huge organization underground, some information about it would have leaked out.
It wouldn’t be well-known. It would be talked about in hushed tones, barely mentioned, and hardly discussed. All anyone would ever say is that they have heard from a friend of a friend about something shady going on. That was all he needed. Just a string that he could pull and follow on his own. Alex knew this was just a complicated web. All he had to do was find the end of the string, and then he could start unraveling and untangling the web.
“This was useless,” Alex said, stubbing out his cigarette. “If there was such an organization, someone must have heard about it.”
“I can see if the more prominent gang members can be talked to,” Evans said, but Alex cut him off.
“No,” he said softly. “The people of importance, who would know these things, are too clever even to whisper it. They won’t tell us anything. Our only hope is these petty criminals who might have overheard some discussion between their bosses. I had little hope this would work out anyway. Let’s get the last person in, and then let’s go and get some coffee.”
Evans gestured for the last person to be brought in, and in walked an old man. His long, white beard and wrinkled skin were a testament to his age. He wore a simple sleeveless vest and ragged jeans, with a handkerchief tied around his head.
“Kyle Till,” Alex said. “Have a seat. You were caught shoplifting at the local Walmart –.”
“Since when has the FBI been interested in simple theft?” the man said. “I was hungry. I needed some damn food. I stole a bit. The most that warrants is a night in the cell and a court hearing later. So why the hell am I here?”
Alex smiled, leaning across the table, his fingers drumming on the surface.
“I need to know about this tattoo,” Alex said, pushing the picture toward him. “Look at it carefully, and tell me what you think?”
“It’s some kinda gang sign,” Kyle said after staring at it for a minute. “I was a tattoo artist myself, and even without all this distortion, I can pick out the artist.”
“Who is it?” Alex asked, filled with anticipation.
“Carrow Fin,” Kyle said. “He has been missing for the last two years, so best of luck finding him.”
“Are you sure he did this?” Alex asked.
“I know his work,” Kyle said. “He had a very particular style of drawing that I have never seen before or after him.”
“You said it’s a gang sign,” Alex said. “What gang?”
Kyle stared at him, his jaw clenched and silence reigning between them.
“I have heard that something is going on in the underworld –,” Alex said. “Something not many people know about. Some organization –.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about,” Kyle said. “Now, as for the tattoo, you are looking at it as one image. But I know of work like this, and it seems to me that it’s two different symbols merged into one. That’s all I can tell you. I have nothing more to say. And I want my lawyer.”
Alex looked at the man for one hard minute and then stood up.
“Right,” he said. “You can have your lawyer and your night in prison. I think we are done here.”
He heard the scraping of the chair against the floor as Kyle got up and the sound of the door opening. The footsteps echoed on the floor, and then suddenly, they stopped.
“Tread carefully, agent,” he said softly. “Those people are dangerous. And there is nothing you can threaten – nothing you can offer – that would make anyone say anything. Call off your investigation and stay away. This is out of your league.”
With that, Kyle walked out, and the door shut behind him. Alex stood there, watching the door as Evans waited for his instruction.
“Come on,” Alex said after a while. “Let’s get back to work.”
Eleven
The Elusive Tattoo
Alex sighed, rubbing his eyes as Crow peered at him from the other side of the table.
“The Russians have been contacted by whoever had Hans framed,” Crow said. “I am certain that a deal has been made, and the smuggling operation has started. I have heard the Mexican cartel has taken part in it and is allowing the Russians to use their borders to smuggle in the drugs. Not only that, they are probably now financing Russian terrorist activities that could lead to a severe compromise of our national security. Now, on top of all that, I am getting increasing reports of this underground organization and its ever-expanding network. I am being pressured from above to crack down on this and get these two situations under control. And while I realize that full control may not be necessary, at least having information about it would help us keep tabs. So, tell me, Agent Payne, exactly what news do you have for me that I can report back to my superiors?”
Alex tried to light a cigarette, but Crow lunged up and took it from him.
“Answer me, Payne. You always get results, which is why you get away with so many of the things you do. But let me be clear, your brilliance is your only redeeming factor. Without it, not a single person would want you here,” he said. “That is how many enemies you have.”
“Why is everyone so worried about some underground organization?” Alex asked. “I mean, I understand it’s a matter of concern, but why is it so important to infiltrate it, locate it, and keep tabs on it. What do you know that I don’t know?”
Crow let out a small chuckle and got up, starting to pace around his office.
“At the moment, you have all the information you need,” he said. “Anything else is just icing. You don’t need to know more than you already do. So, get me some damn results.”
“If you won’t tell me
everything,” Alex said. “I am going to take myself off the case. Now, I have plenty of other things on my plate, so I will bid you Adieu. I hope that whatever poor slob gets assigned this case after me does a better job.”
He got up, marching to the door and reaching for the handle.
“Stop,” Crow said, his voice dangerously low.
“Why?” Alex asked. “Is it because you will give me answers?”
“No,” Crow said softly.
“Then I must say Ciao and –,” Alex said.
“Sit,” Crow ordered. “And listen.”
He walked to the window, looking outside at the view, his back turned toward Alex.
“You are on dangerous territory right now, Alex,” Crow said. “If you ask questions like this, you will get killed. And not by our enemies. Now, you will continue working on this case. In fact, I am withdrawing you from all other cases. This is your only case and your top priority. I need answers, Payne, or it will be your body that will wash up next, understood?”
“You think your threats will work?” Alex whispered. “You think I care about dying?”
“No,” Crow said, frowning. “I have no doubt that you have already accepted your death. Sadly, if you fail to comply with your orders, you won’t be tried alone. I am afraid Evans will suffer with you.”
“You mean you will manipulate the situation so that he suffers too,” Alex said.
“Take it how you will,” Crow said, turning around. “Find out what organization this is and find out how to infiltrate it. And be quick about it.”
Alex was trembling with anger and fury, but he hadn’t gotten this far by letting his emotions get the better of him. He knew he had to pick his battles, and right now, it wasn’t the time.
He got up and made a turn to leave when Crow called out.
“And hurry,” he said. “We don’t have much time.”
Alex banged the door shut and made his way out, angrily lighting a cigarette. He stared at it for a minute and then threw it on the floor, stamping on it loudly.
“Damn it!” he muttered under his breath. “Damn him! Damn them all to hell!”
“Busy day?” a chirpy voice said, and Alex sighed.
“Hi, Julie,” he said, turning to face Crow’s secretary.
Julie, young, beautiful, and highly efficient, leaned forward, batting her eyelashes.
“Maybe we should get some drinks after work,” she said. “It always takes my mind off things.”
Alex gave a small smile and nodded. He had no plans of ever grabbing drinks with Julie. She was known as the vulture among all the agents. She seemed sweet, but she had nerves of steel and a heart as cold as Antarctica. No man has ever managed to warm it, and those who have attempted had frozen up in the process. Not only that, she seemed to have slept with every agent in the building. She had one-night stands, and then she forgot about them. Just another man added to her collection – another notch in her belt. And recently, she had taken an interest in Alex.
“Too much work at the moment, Julie,” Alex said. “I will see you later.”
Julie watched him walk away, her eyes trailing behind him as he turned the corner.
“My man,” a loud voice greeted him. “You look a bit grey, yea?”
Alex saw one of his oldest friends, Danny, standing there with a grin on his face.
“I just escaped a vulture, Danny,” Alex said, walking over to him. “Ain’t this a pleasant surprise?”
“Is it really?” Danny asked, patting him on the back. “You called me here, didn’t you?”
“That I did,” Alex said with a wide smile. “I got a case for you, Danny.”
“Oh? An interesting one, I hope?” he asked.
“It’s got Crow dancing around like he has a stick up his ass,” Alex said.
“Very interesting then,” Danny said with a laugh.
“Come on,” Alex said. “I will show you what we got.”
Twelve
Danny, the Wizard
“Well, how have you been doing these days?” Danny asked as they made their way to Alex’s office.
“I am the same as ever,” Alex said. “What about you? How are the wife and the new baby?”
“The baby is adorable; you have to meet her someday, Alex,” Danny said. “But God, children are exhausting. And I think my wife is about to go crazy from running after the kids all the time. This is worrying, though, because if she goes crazy, I am the one she will come after! My life could be in danger.”
Alex gave a short laugh and said, “Give Hillary my love, and give the kids a kiss from me, ya?”
“What about you?” he asked. “Have you found anyone?”
“Now, why would I go around doing something like that?” Alex said softly.
“You need to get over it,” Danny said. “I know how much it broke you, but you can’t keep –.”
“So, Danny,” Alex said, cutting him off. “I have a tattoo that I believe to be a gang sign. But I can’t seem to figure out which gang the sign belongs to. Recently, a tattoo artist told me that it is two symbols merged into one. I thought maybe you could help me with that.”
“You can’t keep avoiding the conversation about what happened,” Danny said.
“Oh yeah? Why?” he asked.
“Because you are never going to get over the past this way,” Danny said.
“You are wrong,” Alex said. “I am over it. I have moved on, and I am far, far away from all that happened. Now, are you going to show me your magic and figure this out for me? Or do I need to go and find some other semioticians who will answer this for me?”
Danny stared at his old friend for a minute, then he sighed and sat down. “Show me what you got.”
Alex pushed the picture of the tattoo toward him, and Danny took out his glasses, meticulously cleaning them before perching them on the bridge of his nose.
Danny was a specialist in the study of symbols and signs. He had worked as a consultant for the FBI, which is how Alex had first met him. Their friendship had blossomed from the day they first met, and they had soon become close friends. Even though Danny quit the FBI when Hillary got pregnant with their first baby, he had stayed close friends with Alex. Known as the Wizard, Danny was popular throughout the agency as the most talented semiotician they had ever consulted. He seemed magical, the way he figured out which symbols represented what and how it might be linked to the modern world. He had helped catch an infamous serial killer, figuring out the meaning behind the symbol he left at the crime scene.
“It’s the eye of Ra,” Danny said softly. “But merged with a cobra wrapped around a sun-disk. Usually, this symbol is hovering over the head of Ra, but that is not the case here. This is related to the ancient Egyptian gods, and they have twisted it a bit to change the meaning of their motive.
“And what might that be?” Alex asked.
Danny sighed and looked at him, “This is going to be a long explanation, so pay attention. Ra is the ancient Egyptian deity of the sun. By the Fifth Dynasty in the 25th and 24th centuries BC, he had become one of the most important gods in ancient Egyptian religion, identified primarily with the noon sun. Ra was believed to rule in all parts of the created world: the sky, the Earth, and the underworld. He was the God of the sun, order, kings, and the sky. You with me so far?”
Alex gave a short nod, and Danny continued.
“Now, the Eye of Ra is a being in ancient Egyptian mythology that functions as a feminine counterpart to the sun god Ra and a violent force that subdues his enemies. The Eye goddess acts as mother, sibling, consort, and daughter of the sun god. She is his partner in the creative cycle in which he begets the renewed form of himself that is born at dawn. The Eye’s violent aspect defends Ra against the agents of disorder that threaten his rule. This dangerous aspect of the Eye goddess is often represented by a lioness or by the uraeus, or cobra, a symbol of protection and royal authority.”
“So, the cobra represents the eye goddess’s anger and viol
ence?” Alex asked.
“Not exactly,” Danny said. “I told you it was complicated.”
“Now, the Eye of Ra represents multiple things. One of them is procreation – fertility, rebirth, renewal of life. Another aspect is protection. The Eye of Ra is often the aggressor and is said to represent the destructive side of Ra. This is often looked upon as the sun’s massive heat. The sun disk, also known as the uraeus, is a symbol used to describe this power and is represented in many ancient Egyptian paintings. The Eye of Ra’s aggressiveness extends not only to humans but to deities. She embodies enormous violence throughout many of her appearances. But it is this violence that protects Ra against anything that may threaten his rule.”
“Now, if we look at the sun disk with the cobra wrapped around it, it gets even more confusing,” Danny said. “In images with the double cobra or uraei coiled around the sun symbolizes offering great protection. The Eye of Ra is looked at as a dangerous force that encircles the sun god and will stop at nothing to protect it. Now, this is where it gets twisted – the concept of the Eye of Ra is often represented by another symbol entirely, a cobra wrapped around a sun-disk, often hovering over a deity’s head: most often Ra. The cobra is a symbol of the goddess Wadjet, who has her own connections to the Eye symbol.”
Alex leaned forward, his sharp mind absorbing most of the information. He still wasn’t entirely clear about what Danny was saying, but he wasn’t too worried. Danny took his own time explaining things. Most of the history he told was unnecessary since he always inferred the meaning of the symbol afterward.
“Wadjet is a cobra goddess and the patron of lower Eygpt. Depictions of Ra commonly sport a sun disk over his head and a cobra wrapped around the disk. That cobra is Wadjet, a protective deity. An Eye shown in association with a cobra is usually Wadjet, although sometimes it is an Eye of Ra,” Danny said.
Payne: a suspenseful FBI crime thriller (Alex Payne Series Book 1) Page 4
