The Usual Suspects

[History]

Date: January 11th 2008
Time: 2:00 A.M.
Location: 455 Pennington Way/Home of Detective Elliot Miller
Chicago, Illinois 60637

Alright, so let’s go over what we have so far then.

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He steps forward towards the bulletin board type set up in front of him. Scattered across the board are pictures, dates, outlined time frames and what seemed to be outlines of unknown or missing persons. The latter highlighted by black hollow silhouettes. Now in a place where they believed to be “secure” from any information leaks or anything, the three detectives spoke freely, now using names of at least some of the people they were here to investigate. Marx stood directly in front of the board, arms folded across his chest for a few seconds before finally raising one hand, index finger extended straight up towards the ceiling as if calling for his partner’s attention.

What do we know...So far...?

He slowly begins pacing back and forth, still staring at the set up on the bulletin board as his partner cuts in starting things off.

Well we know that there have been multiple incidents of shootouts...Assassination attempts by use of explosives...As well as at LEAST one known of death and several disappearances within the span of...

Her last word lingers, looking down beside her on the table she sat idly atop of before looking back to the board and finishing off...

Around 3 months.

Without hesitation Detective Miller responds following the words of Detective Gordon.

And we also know that your ring leader there, Mr. Genovese was one of only three people in that little crew there NOT to have an attempt made on his life during that time period.

Marx stops in his tracks taking the picture of Cross Genovese from atop of the picture pyramid on the bulletin board. He looks at it for a few seconds before speaking up.

I know what you’re getting at bro’. But no. He’s not behind this. What would he stand to gain from doing this himself? Unless...

Unless someone was maybe on the verge of talking...Talking about something from his past or present that could possibly put him in a position or place he didn’t want to be.

Yea...Yea could be. Never know with some of these guys Marx. I mean they have so much dirt on them from the past it’s hard to fuckin’ keep up sometimes. Maybe the “Family” wasn’t as close as they thought they were? Maybe someone was tired of playing team ball and decided to go the Kobe route. If so my money would be either Genovese or this Juarez character. Seem like the two biggest egos anyway so..Maybe?

Marx could only shake his head, not believing such a thing could ever occur. At least not with this one man in particular.

Nah. I just don’t see it. Cross is a lot of things. A lot of things. But disloyal? Not him...Not unless it’s warranted anyway. What else...?

Well...

Miller then slowly makes his way towards the bulletin board from his previous standing position. He walks with one arm extending, pointing towards one picture in particular while the other holds firmly onto the cup of coffee in his hand.

We KNOW that this man here. Thomas Gunther. Was the only known of casualty in all of this madness so far. Explosion ripped through a limousine supposedly meant to be carrying Mr. Genovese from the hospital where this man...

Finally arriving at the bulletin board, he reaches for a separate picture, taking it into his hand and glancing down at it before flashing it to his temporary partners.

...Adrian Taylor...Was in critical condition, in a comatose state, after suffering six bullets ripping through his body.

He shrugs, turning to face Gordon just as she cuts in with more information.

Who, seemingly disappeared FROM that very hospital approximately one month after. No traces of foul play, nor any indication of how a man who was in a coma for the entire month before could just up and vanish out of nowhere.

Could have been anybody though. Guys got a nice sized sheet on him. Gang violence. Drugs. Assault & Battery, Aggravated Mayhem, hell you name it. Supposedly a devout gang member. Piru. Maybe the opposition found their way to Toronto and figured, why not take out one of the big guns of the rival gang. Some fuckin’ gang truce huh?

Miller stared at the picture for a few more seconds before placing it back on the bulletin board and stepping back. He stared at it some more, thinking of just how a man in a coma could have just disappeared from his hospital room...With no trace of what happened to him. He shook his head, running his free hand through his dark brown hair as the opposite hand raised the cup of coffee to his lips. Marx stepped over in his direction gazing at the same picture for a few seconds before his eyes started to dart around the board again. Moments later he spoke up once again, pointing to another picture as he stepped to the side so Detective Gordon could see from where she sat.

Let’s go back to him here. Damian Juarez. What do we know about him...?

Honestly? Not a damn thing man. Almost like the guy doesn’t even freakin’ exist. You have no fuckin idea how hard my guys had to dig just to confirm he DOES exist. Guy doesn’t leave much of a paper trail I tell ya. Him or Genovese for that matter.

Yea I know. We didn’t find much either. What about his lady friend. Um..What’s her name? Working for GCW.

Miss Silvia Banks. Born September 5th 1984. The alleged significant other of one Mr. Damian Juarez. Spent a decent amount of time managing these guys back in New York a few years ago. And just like Juarez? After that it gets really, really dead as far as information. I get the feeling we’ll be seeing a lot of that. The rest? Well...The last name is Banks so...That should tell you that she’s got...Connections. Freakin’ loaded. It’s in her blood.

Marx lets out another long sigh, dropping his arms to his sides for a second. Before another second passed, his hands were slipping in his pocket as he replied.

Another one huh. Damn. That’s gonna be a dead end then for sure. Alright any of these people talking or talked to authorities within the time span where all of this happened?

Detective Gordon quickly reaches down beside herself again, taking up a folder and flipping it open. After flipping past a few pages she chimes in.

Ahh...Only TWO people so far. That was...A one Ms. Laura De’Icco & a Ms. Jordan Kelly. Got in contact with both over the past few days. Miss Kelly’s here in GCW. Supposedly gearing up to work for the new promotion and Ms. De’Icco is back in Boston, apparently trying to escape the madness of it all. Neither had much to say really. Now Ms. Kelly WAS present on the night where our good friend Mr. Reymaun was apparently assaulted in Salt Lake City. Not during but immediately after I’m afraid.

What’d she see? If anything.

Not much Marx, not much at all. Says she noticed a person, whom she thought to be a female, making her way from the scene to a nearby van across the street from where the assault took place. Said there was one man already in the van, and another seemingly waiting for the woman in question to join them in the vehicle. When I asked her why they were there, she said she and Mr. Reymaun were there on vacation together. Scheduled to have dinner and when she arrived, she found him.

Damn...

Yea. Guy’s a real trooper though. Took some nasty lashes from something mighty sharp across his forearms and abdomen areas. Took a dagger through the hand too. Real, real nasty. Said he was mumbling the word...”Freedom” when she arrived on the scene. Said he didn’t say too much else afterwards.

Marx turned, raising his arms above his head and placing his hands behind his head while walking back to the table where Gordon sat with the folder in hand. Once there he leaned against it staring back at the board.

And Ms. De’Icco?

Um...

She looks back down to the folder again, tilting her head to the side slightly before speaking again.

Not much to say...At all really. Which I found strange seeing as how close she is to the rest of these guys on the board here. Supposedly romantically linked to Mr. Genovese at one time too. Was there when Mr. Gunther was allegedly killed in that explosion too.

Allegedly?

Yea. NO body was found. No blood, no trace of anything. Just...Gone.

A brief moment of silence consumes the basement where they had set up this little headquarters of sorts. Then...

Just...Like...

Jon Pryor.

Exactly. Coincidence? I highly fuckin’ doubt it. Gotta be connected.

Maybe so but...Mr. Pryor allegedly committed suicide in the surrounding Detroit area Marx. Toronto’s a LONG way from there in terms of knocking people off. Assassins usually don’t travel to one place for ONE target. If they could get em’ all in one fail swoop? They would.

True. There’s a good chance his case isn’t even remotely connected...A chance at least.

Miller stepped towards the bulletin board again, pointing to another picture of a young woman they had yet to speak about this morning. His finger firmly pressed against the picture he looks back to Marx & Gordon with a wide eyed look asking...

Wasn’t there some sort of...Not statement or something this woman made? Think I saw it in the folder Gordon. Was around...October...22nd? I think?

Once again Gordon flips through the folder, Marx leaning over just enough to see when she stops on the page in question. She looks back up to the picture where Miller’s index finger was still pressed against.

Stacie Wilson-Helms. Wife of Kevin Helms. The second victim of an explosion in all of this. Only difference, this one survived. Got out of the...

Glancing back down into the folder quickly, she looks back up to the board again and finishes up.

Black Kat lounge just a few seconds before an explosion ripped through the place. Place had just had its opening night that night too. Now after the authorities and paramedics who arrived on the scene found Mr. Helms, Mrs. Helms apparently rode shotgun with him to the hospital. One of the EMT’s on site recalled her speaking to her husband about a woman calling her before she got to the club, probably just a few seconds before the explosion. But that was all really from that. She wasn't talking and you already know the pattern with these guys. None of em’ talk too much. Especially to police personnel.

And where are they now Gordon?

Um, Fort Worth Texas. Ms. Wilson’s home state. Apparently they’re expecting too.

Were there any more witnesses or...Just anyone who saw anything else in all of these instances?

Miller turned, holding his finger up calling for their attention as he stepped across to the opposite far end of the bulletin board. Reaching up his finger landed on the picture of...

Thomas Gunther. Yea, the day he was blown up in that limo? A few of the people coming and going from the Tower there in Toronto, reported seeing a SECOND limo, almost identical to the one Mr. Gunther & Mr. Genovese were scheduled to leave the hospital in. One young lady said that she noticed a strange looking man near the hospital during the hour BEFORE the explosion took place, as well as the man coming and going from across the street where the hospital was located, and back and forth, several times.

Hmm.

ALSO, she reported him speaking to a woman who passed through that area during that time. Said it looked strange the way they were talking. Not making eye contact even though they stood directly beside each other. Just real strange behavior you know. Like they knew each other but...You know.

They were trying to avoid being seen talking to each other.

Exactly. Well at least that’s what I’m thinking on this one. Apparently they must be amateurs. Or at least one of em’ is. Cause the young lady in question caught it.

Any idea on who the woman or the man was that day?

Dropping his finger from the picture he sighed, as he looked around the board once again, shaking his head as he replied.

Not a freakin’ clue man. All I know is the witness stated that the man seemed to be a foreigner or something. She wasn’t sure but said, maybe Russian? German? Real funny accent like you know? And the woman he was seen talking to? Blond hair...Slim build...Didn’t look like a wrestler from what she says so...That’s all we got out of her.

Shit.

Probably was scared out of her mind after the explosion and couldn’t remember anything. Heard it was pretty nasty.

Well...*sigh* I guess that’s something to start with then Gordon. Those two mysterious people gotta be connected some way. I’ll go through the files of all the past hitmen of the Gambino & Genovese clans first off. If it is a long shot that he had something to do with this himself, he’d keep it in the “family” I bet. His other family I mean.

Most likely Alvarez or Simon if he did. The explosives thing is a Alvarez trademark.

Yea I know. Rule out Simon though. He’s currently serving 25 to Life in Rikers. Won’t say a word about his case either. What about the rest? Dillinger, Styles, the Libertine Twins, Arielle and Mrs. Genovese? Anything on them?

Gordon stands from the table finally, placing her cup of coffee on the table before walking slowly from the table to the board while staring at the folder in her hand.

Dillinger vanished from Toronto a few days after the explosion Mr. Helms was caught in and survived. Some reports say he’s back in Las Vegas, which hasn’t been confirmed yet, and some say he’s in Japan with a...

Looking up from the folder for a second, her eyes scanned the board, seconds later landing on the picture of...

Ms. Yuki Kenzo. Reportedly they’re romantically linked. Mr. Styles returned home to Toronto, Ontario, Canada on...October 31st 2007. No attempts was made on his life or well being, and he made no contact with anyone on this board here...He...Reportedly left soon thereafter, headed back to Ohio to gear up for the coming wrestling season. No statement from him about it all either. That one got really rude about us even asking...

Umm...The Libertine twins were involved in a THIRD explosion at the APW Towers in Toronto. Resulting in minor injuries for both Ms. Banks and Christopher Libertine. Joseph Libertine caught the brunt of the explosion, leaving him a comatose state similar to the case with Mr. Taylor...As of now the comatose state remains.

Mr. Arielle? Also working for GCW now as an announcer it seems...Ummm...Apparently left Toronto on October the 10th with a Misses...Lilith Creighton...No attempt made on either of their lives as far as we know. Not able to get in contact with Ms. Creighton at all. Mr. Arielle also declined to speak on the matter...Annnnnnnd...

Finally arriving at the board, she closes the folder as her eyes focused on the last name mentioned by her partner. She didn’t need the folder for this one. She found this little bit of information interesting enough when she read it. This one wouldn’t slip her mind anytime soon.

And your favorite one Miller. Dayna...Mariano...Genovese. This one is just...Weird...At least I thought it was.

Shaking his head, as his hand arose towards his face, Marx began rubbing his eyes with his index and thumb fingers respectively. His voice chimed in with...

What now? Not like anything those people are involved in is gonna surprise me.

Well apparently...Mrs. Genovese disappeared from Toronto around August 9th 2007. Reportedly romantically linked to Mr. Genovese during that time period.

Sheeesh. Can you say man whore?

Yea, it’s nothing new for him. Trust me. Go on Gordon.

Well, there were RUMORS that then Ms. Mariano was a victim of a failed suicide attempt, allegedly overdosing on...Well who knows but, of course that can’t be true since...We know for a fact she IS in fact alive and kicking.

Now what I found interesting about all of this? She apparently made her “return” On the 2nd of November. ONE day before Mr. Genovese disappeared from the Toronto, Ontario, Canada area himself. Well at least...Allegedly. A few of the clean up crew at the Tower there reported seeing the two of them in the corridor, right outside of her suite there. Two days later? Mr. Genovese was being checked into a hospital, to be treated for THREE gunshot wounds. Here in Chicago. One to his shoulder, one to his abdomen and the final in his upper right thigh area.

So what’s so interesting about that?

What’s so interesting? The woman is gone for nearly three months, everyone thinks she’s dead and then suddenly when she pops up, she so CONVIENTLY is there when Mr. Genovese suffers three gunshot wounds from an unknown person? Also REPORTEDLY after breaking off a relationship with ANOTHER woman whom had been involved with Mr. Genovese during the time he was also involved with Mrs. Mariano.

And now...All of a sudden, they’re man and wife? You don’t find that at least a TAD bit strange? Who’s to say SHE’S not the one behind this? Or at least a close accomplice of Mr. Genovese himself in orchestrating it all. The three gunshots could just be a good cover for his own ass. We KNOW for a fact that both of their families are in the same “business”. This could be something not even involved with wrestling, the Familia, Mr. Genovese or anything else we got on this board. Could be something way bigger. A silent war or something. And she DID...JUST get back from California too you know? Maybe reporting back to Poppa Mariano?

Silence again. Neither detective speaking as they all look back to the board. Then...

I don't know Gordon, I don't know. Guess that COULD happen but...Well I guess she could be leading him on since...As far as I know, both clans operate heavily on the west coast so...Could have something to do with a power struggle or something to that effect...My money’s on either this Adrian Taylor character...Ms. De’Icco, because seriously, NO ONE’S THAT innocent...Or...Hell maybe even Mr. Styles or...Whoever this other woman Genovese was involved in was. I’m thinking one of those two myself.

I highly doubt it. Miss Knight? No...Just...No...

Well look...This is what we got right now. There’s something there that we just don’t see yet. Don’t know where exactly to look for it. I say we keep at least a slight surveillance detail on the ones with the highest level of suspicion and wait it out. Something’s gonna happen sooner or later man. It always does with people. Most get scared and end up getting themselves caught, talk to much or talk to the wrong people.

Yea. Just wish...We had more to go on before...

I think we also may wanna do the same with Mr. Aries & Ms. Cameron. They haven’t been in contact with any of the people here but...You never know. Disgruntled “family” maybe? Vengeance IS best served cold you know.

That’s possible. That’s possible. Especially with Aries.

Instantly Detective Marx sighed a deep sigh, standing from his leaning position as he glared at the board. All the pictures...All the missing pieces to this puzzle, and all of the possible avenues they’d have to explore to even solve a small piece of this confusion. Shaking his head he speaks up again, clearly disappointed In the lack of progress during all of this...

*Sigh*...Wow...Now I’m more confused...Than I was before we started. Maybe...Maybe we're not thinking outside the box enough. Maybe...It DOES involve people NOT on this board in front of us. Maybe...Okay...Okay, listen to this scenario...


TO BE CONCLUDED[/center]

THE IMMACULATE DECEPTION: Chapter 2...