James Locker- The Duality of Fate

by Martin Lundqvist

  Adam Smith:

  - This is James, and he has a special request for you tonight.

  Marko:

  - Fuck off; you are getting nothing from us, now scram!

  For the second time, this evening James Locker shocked his friends with his behaviour as he instead of saying something pulled his gun and hit Marko in the head with it thus breaking his nose. He quickly turned around and aimed the gun at the head of the other guard.

  James Locker:

  - Okay, that's step one of creating understanding. Adam and Thomas: Disarm them.

  Adam Smith and Thomas Anderson decided to do as directed. As it turned out both the thugs had firearms. These firearms were most likely unlicensed ones as Australia was not like the USA when it came to gun laws.

  James Locker spoke again:

  - What do we have here? Illegal guns?! More than enough to have you imprisoned for a while and then kick you head first out of the country. Provided of course that we can't link any of your guns to any serious crimes in which case I can assure you that your stay in Australia will be extended and unpleasant!

  - However I only care about this kind of behaviour when I am grumpy, so provide me with some free cocaine and some awesome Latina pussy, and I'll let it pass for now.

  Marko lying on the ground with a broken nose realised that James Locker was a man not to be trifled with but he was unsure of how to keep this psychopath cop happy. For sure he had the approval of his bosses to give minor handouts to people that were causing minor trouble as long as the donations were far less than the cost and effort of just silencing the person. So if some bum junky came by and thought he would get something for free by blackmailing them all he would get was a portion of lead. With police officers, it was different however as a dead policeman was terrible for everyone's business and his organisation was not robust enough to wage a full-scale war against the police. He swallowed some blood from his broken nose and started talking.

  Marko:

  - You sure got some nerve fucker. Oh well, have some cocaine. I guess it's the only way for you to feel that you some balls, you fucking maricon. As for girls, there is a brothel around the corner, I know because I fucked your mum there last week.

  Marko handed a bag containing five grams of cocaine to James. James smiled at him and started to talk.

  James Locker:

  - Oh, how happy I am to get half of what I asked for finally. You were not very courteous or service-minded though so I give you an F for presentation. And this I give you for your comment about my mum.

  James kicked Marko with full force in the face smashing some teeth out and knocking the Colombian unconscious. He turned to the other thugs who was sitting down with a gun to his head and started speaking

  James Locker:

  - You see, that what’s happening if you don’t give me excellent customer service with a smile.

  - Now as for your friend, if one is pathetic enough to imply that his only way of getting laid is to pay a 58 years old woman for sex, he is better off without balls.

  - I’ll let your buddy keep his balls for now, but you better be more customer service orientated.

  Fabio Swallowed and said nothing while James Locker continued speaking.

  James Locker:

  - I know you don't keep women here. But I also knew your boss has access to some smoking hot women. So if you provide us with these women as well as cigars, fine liquors and a spa I will surely praise your excellent customer service.

  - Now call your boss and let me talk to him.

  Fabio was not very eager to call his boss about problems in the middle of the night. Miguel Vasquez was a severe cokehead who was always close to anger when his henchmen bothered him with unpleasant news. He has been particularly prone to violence when he was orchestrating large coke filled orgies at his mansion in Watsons Bay, a short trip away. For situations like this, however, with his buddy lying unconscious pretty roughed up, he preferred disturbing the foul-tempered cokehead over the phone than the drunken psycho standing next to him with a gun pointed at his head. Fabio grabbed his phone and called the number that Miguel Vasquez had told him to only call in case of an emergency. After a few signals, Miguel Vasquez picked up the phone.

  Miguel Vasquez:

  - Who the fuck is this, why are you calling, and how did you get this number?

  Fabio:

  - It's Fabio sir. It's an emergency at the Potts Point warehouse. Some drunken psychos who claim to be cops are here, they knocked Marko unconscious, and they require talking to you about women and fine liquors.

  Miguel Vasquez:

  - Are you fucking kidding me? What clowns, are these people? We are not even dealing with the ladies or fine liquors.

  Fabio:

  - I told them, but they wanted access to your private stash, Marko argued, and they beat him to pieces...

  Miguel Vasquez

  - You should tell them to shoot you; you fucking coward! Would save me the hassle!

  - Ah, fuck it put them through.

  James Locker:

  - So I finally get to talk to the big boss huh?

  Miguel Vasquez:

  - Who the fuck is this, and what the hell do you want?

  James Locker

  - Yet again the same bad language and lack of customer service approach. You guys need to improve on those parts.

  - Well, to answer your questions I am James Pierce from the CSMI. We are investigating the murder of Miranda DiMaestro which to some can appear as mob related.

  Miguel Vasquez:

  - Yeah, I have heard about it. But that shit has nothing to with us, we are at peace with DiMaestro cartel, and Miranda was a worthless bimbo that meant nothing to their organisation anyways.

  James Locker:

  - That's true. Although I am sure, Antonio would not agree...

  Miguel Vasquez:

  - That fucking wimp just got her to show up to the public. To create an image of being legit. He fucks everything that moves from what I have heard, even though from the latest I have found out he's been away for a long time presumed dead. Anyway, what the fuck do you want?

  James Locker:

  - Straight to the point I see. Well, what I want is simple. I want in on the high life of organised crime. I don't give a shit about money, but I want some great booze and some awesome Latina pussy on my dick tonight. I have heard you are arranging massive freaking orgies in your mansion on Saturday nights.

  Miguel Vasquez:

  - I see. What if I just choose to kill you and have the problem solved?

  James Locker:

  - Well, you are welcome to try, but if you succeed it would only cause you more problems. Or contemplate this: three police officers from the CSMI go to the mansion of an alleged drug lord and go missing while investigating a mob-related murder. Not very good for business.

  - So yeah enough of this bullshit. We’ll swing by your place in 30 minutes. Have the girls and the good stuff ready.

  Miguel Vasquez:

  - You indeed have cojones; I like that. Prepare yourself for the freakiest night of your lives!

  Using his persuasion skills, James managed to get Fabio to drive them to the Vasquez mansion. About the same time, Marko woke up from his beating with the worst headache of his life, having learned the lesson that one should never mess with James Locker!

  3.14 A tired reflection by James Locker

  AFTER THE CRAZIEST night of his life, James was finally home at his place at 3 pm the day after. His headache was horrible, and he knew that he would most likely not be very productive in the following days. James felt ashamed over his behaviour, and he feared what had happened to him. For sure he had some crazy nights in his youth, but at 32 and with a great career a man should advance other values than promiscuity and bizarre sex games.

  For sure it had been an adventure and an experience beyond everything he had ever experienced before. But it was the darkest and most twisted paths of human nature he had encount
ered. It was the proof that everything in humanity could be perverted in the most twisted way. The extended sex orgies of last night were so far away from the love between two humans as it could be. He thought about the famous expression by German philosopher Nietzsche “When you stare into the abyss the abyss also stares into you.”

  How had this happened to him? A year ago he had been living with his love, planned a wedding and very bright normal life far away from the perversion of darkness. Less attractive in many ways but also a lot happier as ignorance of the dark is bliss. After Emily Luong had disappeared with some of his money never to be seen again his whole world had fallen apart. What had happened that fateful night? What clues to the mystery had he been unable to see even in retrospect? He did not know the answers to this. Since he would probably never find the solution, he should move on with his life.

  James felt exhausted and was shaking from the hangover from last night. He was thinking about how his friends must have perceived him. It cannot be pretty. His memory was very vague from the evening, but he glimpses at some points of getting shot and beating someone up. He could however not have been shot as an untreated gunshot wound would have killed him, and he was alive with no visible injuries except a sore foot and a bruise on the right shoulder.

  James realised that he would get no answers today and all he wanted was to sleep a lot to wake up feeling a lot better the day after hopefully. He went to the bathroom and had some of the pills his psychologist had prescribed him. After a while, he felt very sleepy and fell into a deep dreamless sleep.

  3.15 An unwelcome visitor in the night.

  IT WAS A CHILLY EVENING, and the killer was having a conflict of interest. He knew that his enemy; the man who stood between him and his dream of freedom, James Locker was sleeping very deep in his bedroom. He could see him from his position outside the bedroom window. But what would he do? The Killer knew he could easily just break in there put some bullets in the head of his sleeping enemy and it would be over. But did he want it to end that way? Did he want to kill a man who was oblivious of why he had to die and what he had done? It hardly seemed ideal.

  He thought about Rebecca. She was the most beautiful human being he had ever met. The light in her eyes when their eyes met. Her sparkling teeth when she smiled at him. How their hearts were beating at the same pace when they made love. She was the definition of heaven for him, and he would do anything to live in that world knowing that it would last. Realistically he was aware that this could never happen, he could never tell her what he had done and expect her to understand or forgive. But if he could forgive himself and complete what he had to do; he could be candid and forthcoming to her about things in the future.

  This dream of a different future was worth more than anything else to him but to make it happen he would have to make James Locker disappear; permanently. He picked the lock to the door and made it to James Locker's room. He was looking at his enemy, who was sleeping heavily and almost seemed unconscious. Hah, that fool is so afraid of what he is and his dreams that he uses heavy drugs to get a dreamless sleep. The way the Killer saw James Locker, killing him would be an act of mercy. A man that is so afraid of his inner self that he sedates himself heavily just to get away from his dreams is more dead than alive anyway. By killing off his spiritual world and his thoughts, he was a walking dead. For sure very efficient at his job but a dead man who would never find happiness.

  The killer aimed his gun at James Locker. But he could not take the shot. Not now, not under these circumstances. He must know before he dies. He must face what he had done before going down into the abyss! He would leave a message, however! He went to the bathroom and painted the following message on the mirror using blood. “I am watching you! / JP!” Then he left the building and vanished into the night.

  3.16 A discomforting Monday morning.

  WHEN JAMES LOCKER WOKE up in the morning, he saw the bloodstained writing on his bathroom window and freaked out. Not really knowing how to react he walked around confused in his house for a while losing all grip of time and room. James was awoken from this state by Barry Itch who called him to find out where he was since he missed out the Monday morning detective's briefing. He told Barry Itch what had happened and soon the entire team was there to document the crime scene and find any trace in regards to the perpetrator. James Locker suddenly felt a lot of discomfort over the fact that the team was there. In case this was related to his still very blurry memories of the weekend, he could be deep in trouble if they discovered the truth about his mafia connections. Why had he even taken those steps last weekend it was an awful idea, and it could cost him everything.

  As his manager, Barry Itch took James Locker apart for a quick chat.

  Barry Itch:

  - Such a wretched way to wake up in the morning. Do you think this is a real threat just a very sick joke?

  James Locker was considering his options and decided that honesty was probably not the best way of action. After all, coming out clean about drug use and beating up mobsters during the weekend was not the best way to improve one's career opportunities.

  James Locker:

  - I have no idea, sir. I have not received any threats on my life or wellbeing being in danger before this event. I have not had any conflicts for a long time.

  Barry Itch:

  - Okay. Do you think it could have a connection to your current case?

  James Locker:

  - Would not make any sense, would it? Why would the DiMaestro murderer, be it Antonio DiMaestro or someone else, be going after me? I know nothing in this case that is not common knowledge.

  Barry Itch:

  - Well whoever the perpetrator is, he or she does not necessarily know about your lack of knowledge. How would you like to proceed?

  James Locker:

  - Let’s do nothing for now; hopefully, the techs will help us by finding some valuable clues.

  Barry Itch:

  - If that's your wish, although I would prefer taking threats to our officers more seriously.

  James Locker:

  - I see your point, but let’s put it this way: Whoever did this shall not succeed in taking our focus away from what’s important; which is getting justice for the victims and putting the bad guys behind bars!

  Barry Itch:

  - I guess you are right. Will you hold the meeting this afternoon instead?

  James Locker:

  - Yeah no worries, it takes more than a sick joke to get my focus broken!

  When Barry Itch left James Locker’s house, James Locker took Thomas Anderson to a separate room for a private chat on how to proceed.

  James Locker:

  - Hey, Thomas, can I ask you for a favour? A favour that we will keep between ourselves.

  Thomas Anderson:

  - I don’t see why; but sure why not? What do you need?

  James Locker:

  - Can I ask you to install two hidden security cameras in my house and don’t tell anyone but me of their existence and location?

  Thomas Anderson:

  - Sure I guess, but why keep it a secret?

  James Locker:

  - Well because I have a feeling that whoever did this will do something similar in the future, and I want to have documented who did it.

  Thomas Anderson:

  - So you think it’s someone on the team?

  James Locker:

  - Not really but I don’t want to rule anyone out

  Thomas Anderson:

  - Fair enough. I will install them later this afternoon when the last tech has gone home. Do you want the remote access as well?

  James Locker:

  - Yes, that is my plan.

  Thomas Anderson:

  - Sure you’ll have full access to the systems tonight. Do we meet at the team meeting this afternoon?

  James Locker:

  - Yes. Let's go to the station right away, so we don't disturb the techs.

  They were walking towards the exit when one of t
he technicians on the team, Police assistant Vinnie Chung, approached James.

  Vinnie Chung:

  - Sir do you want us to check the basement as well? It's apparently locked, and the lock has no signs of being picked.

  James Locker:

  - Don't worry about that, I lost the key over eight months ago, and I have not been there since. Nothing of interest down there anyway and no reason to force the door open.

  Vinnie Chung:

  - Understood sir. You'll get the report by the 3 PM staff meeting.

  After this conversation, James Locker and Thomas Anderson went to the office to commence with their respective tasks in the DiMaestro case.

  3.17 Michael Fuller follows a lead

  MICHAEL FULLER HAD not been passive since his meeting with John Dean a few days earlier. From his many years of service in the police force, he had acquired many contacts, which he knew could fill him in on the latest news from the underground of Sydney. Most of the connections were pretty hostile and needed particular persuasion. Sadly as a civil person without authority, he did not have much bargaining power over these individuals. A few of his contacts, however, had had their lives saved by the quick and efficient work of Michael Fuller and those people were forever grateful even though they had been on different sides of the law for most of their lives. From one of these contacts, Michael learned that Antonio DiMaestro had met an escort named Jessica Hall a few years ago and that Antonio was so emotionally attached to her that he had made her his protégé/hired her as his private escort. The contact did not think this was due to love but more an example of the possessive nature of Antonio DiMaestro; the man disliked sharing. When it came to taste in women however the contact praised Antonio as Jessica Hall apparently was an extraordinarily beautiful woman.