“Get in,” said Kaufman.
Kaufman was taking two cars out into the city to maximise his personal presence. In the first car with him were Rivers and Morrison. The second car had the remainder of Barski’s team, Weber and Lopez. Kaufman sat at the wheel of his car, thinking about the day ahead of them.
“Where are we heading?” asked Rivers.
“Nowhere in particular, we’ll take to the streets, await any news and be ready to respond at a moment’s notice.”
Rivers lifted his slim briefcase onto his lap and popped it open, revealing that it was actually a high power computer networked into all of the city’s security feeds and comms systems. Kaufman put the power down and rolled on out of the docking bay towards the city limits.
Europa was far softer on the eyes than the colonies they had visited recently. Its surface was of thick hard ice, of which the city had used as its foundation. The tone was more of a sandstone than anything else, something which the architects of the city had drawn upon, following the sandy and earth colour schemes of old Spanish towns from centuries before.
Like all of the moon colonies they had visited, the environmental conditions meant for a carefully selected and organised habitat. For Europa, radiation was a primary concern for the inhabitants. Being such a wealthy colony, huge sections of the city were contained within the most advanced of colony domes. The wealth of the city allowed oxygen to be processed and fed into the whole of the city limits, which along with the immense gravity generators, allowed people to walk freely.
The Ford cruised casually through the city as Kaufman admired the surroundings. By all accounts it was beautiful, free of the massive congestion and urban decay of Los Brezos. The buildings and streets were remarkably clean. The few police officers he saw walking the beat had white duty belts and caps, something he could never have dreamt of. The pollution and dust of his home city would never have allowed such a decadent display of authority.
“Have you piped in these feeds to my crew aboard Intrepid?” asked Kaufman.
“Yes, Sir, they can see everything we can. We have over twelve thousand cameras currently in operation, if they try anything, we’ll know.”
“Who has access to these cameras, Lieutenant?”
“They are erected and maintaining by the ECS, the Europa Council for Safety.”
“What are they? Police?”
“No, Sir, they are a colony council organisation founded by the ruling party. They source their employees from former police members, as well as computer support staff and technicians.”
“How many people work for this ESC?”
“Just under six hundred in this city, though I am not sure of their total number if you include all of the districts of the colony.”
Kaufman shook his head in disbelief. He knew it was not worth pointing out the flaws in the system to Rivers, as they would fall on deaf ears. Their perfect world survived when everyone played by their rules, they had never witnessed the brutality of a gang like Maric’s.
“So what exactly are we looking for, Sir?” asked Rivers.
“A robbery is going to happen shortly, we need to look for any sign of that going down.”
“How do you know it will be now?”
“Because the longer Maric delays the more time we have to close in on him. There are only so many ships that come into this colony within a particular time frame, another day and we will have thoroughly checked them all.”
“He knows we’re watching his every move and yet he’s still going to act?”
“Lieutenant, these are not any normal criminals. Crimes of this nature have become an epidemic in recent times, and the Gadson Gang, they’re one of the worst. Not a single police force in the Solar System has managed to have any effect on them.”
“Wait, I’ve got something, Sir.”
“What, what is it?”
“Central Bank 5, its under attack right now!”
“All units, this is Kaufman, we have a robbery in progress at Central Bank 5, all units respond!”
He took a quick glance at the map display on the dashboard before spinning the vehicle violently around and putting his foot down. The black Ford swung out across the highway before storming back in the direction it had come from. Kaufman’s earpiece cut in, the encrypted link that Denver had set up with his personal communicator.
“Sir, I am looking at the live feed right now, it doesn’t fit Gadson’s MO, we are continuing in a surveillance role only as ordered.”
Kaufman did nothing, he knew that Denver would only expect a response if he didn’t like what he had heard. The robbery was only a few blocks from his current position, anyone monitoring the cameras would know of his presence.
“What? Sir, I just got a priority alarm from two other banks.”
“How? Find out what the hell is going on?” shouted Kaufman.
Rivers nervously flicked through video feeds, his hands shaking and sweat pouring from his face and onto what was previously a spotless shirt collar. Kaufman shot a quick glance at the screen, several red lights flashed on it.
“What the hell is happening, Rivers?”
“Sir, I can see suspects entering multiple banks, we now have alarms going in all of the five top banks, as well as four others.”
“Jesus Christ!”
“What the hell is going on?” shouted Rivers.
“They are playing us! Get everyone you can to those locations immediately!”
“All of them?”
“Yes! Do it, now!”
Kaufman pulled out his communicator and tapped a speed dial for the encrypted private line to his team of officers.
“Denver, we’ve got multiple robberies in progress.”
“I see them, Sir.”
“Organise the field teams. You’ll have to do your best to identify which are the Gadson Gang.”
“Wouldn’t that be all of them?”
“No! They are after a major target. The rest will just be wannabes and hustlers that they have strung along for the ride. Identify the most likely targets for Maric and dispatch our teams to them now!”
“What about Central Bank 5?” asked Rivers.
“We’ll handle it, stay in the car and keep on with what you’re doing, get officers to all of the scenes. And if you have any officers off duty, call them in immediately. While you’re at it, shut down all traffic leaving the colony!”
“I don’t have the authority to do that. Sir.”
“I don’t give a shit, just do it!”
The two IBI cars slid to an abrupt halt outside Bank 5. Before they had even stopped three bullets had bounced off the wing armour of their vehicle. Kaufman lifted his A1M7 rifle the second his door was opened and laid down fire on the vehicle concealing their attackers. The high power rifle bullets slammed through it, striking one of the shooters.
It was already clear to Kaufman that this was not the scene of a Gadson Gang robbery, but he had no choice but to deal with it. His officers enveloped the criminals’ position, laying down a hail of automatic rifle fire, until the return fire stopped completely. The few civilians in the area had run screaming, the street was now peaceful, in stark contrast to the bullet ridden getaway car.
Kaufman ran towards the vehicle with his rifle still raised to his shoulder. He knew he was dealing with amateurs, but he would still not take any chances. He leapt around the side of the vehicle finding a robber in his sights, the man’s arms firmly up in sign of surrender. He was unhurt, having thrown his handgun to the ground. The man’s comrade lay on the floor writhing in pain, a bullet wound in his shoulder.
“He’ll live, how many more of you?”
“Just two, they’re in the bank!”
“Lopez, secure the prisoners, the rest of you with me!”
They rushed up the steps of the bank, running through the tall sandstone effect columns of the bank’s vast entrance. Peering through the glass they could already make out the shapes of many people huddled on the floor a
nd several others stood shielding two armed men. Kaufman passed his hand in front of the door entrance sensor and moved through slowly, his rifle still at the ready.
“Stop right there!”
Kaufman stopped at the shout of one of the robbers. He could see that the man had a short shotgun held against a woman’s body, his associate was holding a gun to another man’s head. The other IBI agents stepped carefully in beside Kaufman, readying the suspects in their sights. Kaufman lowered his rifle slightly.
“My name is Kaufman, we have the building surrounded, listen to me!”
“Come any closer and we’ll shoot!”
“You shoot them and you are dead men anyway, just listen to me!”
The man was shaking, sweat pouring from his shaved baldhead, he looked to be an amateur in the robbery game. They came with just one vehicle and only one had anything above a handgun. Back in Los Brezos they would be nothing more than common punks, the sort that Kaufman had long since earned the privilege to no longer have to deal with.
“I am agent Kaufman of the Interplanetary Bureau of Investigation.”
“What? Never heard of it!”
“I am working on Presidential authority to stop this wave of robberies and heists.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“I just want you to understand something. I have permission to shoot you on sight, no questions asked. In fact, they’d probably give me a medal!”
“Bullshit! You’re a cop!”
“Sort of! You have robbed a bank and held civilians hostage, I have every excuse I need to shoot you right now.”
“Shut up! Shut up! I want transport out of here now or the girl dies!”
“I don’t think you’re hearing me. I have the authority to take you down at any price. So here’s how this is gonna go. You shoot the girl, I shoot you and your friend, and then I’ll go and finish off your other two outside. Or, you let the hostages ago, lay down your guns, and you’ll do maybe what, ten years behind bars?”
“What? This is bullshit!”
“Take it or leave it, lay down your guns in five seconds or we start shooting!”
“Your not gonna shoot!”
“Five, four, three!”
The suspect at the rear dropped his gun and put his hands in the air.
“What the hell are you doing!” shouted the other one.
As the suspect’s head was turned, Kaufman raised his weapon and fired a single shot into the man’s shoulder, striking the bone and forcing the gun to drop from his hands. The man screamed out in pain as blood spurted across the woman’s white blouse and he dropped to the floor in shock. Kaufman’s team ran towards the wounded suspected, shouting at the other as they did. Eric turned from the scene, anxious of the fact that they had achieved nothing of their mission.
“Denver come in, we have Central Bank 5 under control, give me an update.”
“Our teams, as well as the locals, are engaged in running battles at a number of banks. Lin’s team has secured V Bank, Nowak is arriving at the Bank of Europa as we speak. Sir, hang on.”
Kaufman heard the comms go quiet as Denver spoke to Nowak on another channel.
“Sir, Nowak is pinned down outside the Europa Bank, he says both the police and private comms channels have been compromised, he is calling for backup immediately!”
“Tell him we’ll be there asap!”
Kaufman looked around the bank, many of the customers were cringing on the floor, and the wounded robber was still writhing in pain. He looked to Lieutenant Rivers whose hand was shaking with his handgun held high.
“Rivers, detain the suspects, hold out for backup, we have to move out.”
“You’re just going to leave me here?”
“This scene is done, get some uniforms in, we’re out of here!”
Kaufman and his team quickly ran out of the building. Eric turned to look at Rivers one last time, he was in shock and had the look of a scared schoolboy, but he didn’t have the time to give him any assistance. He turned back and rushed through the doors towards their cars.
* * *
Sergeant Nowak crouched down behind a taxicab as bullets smashed through its bodywork, Laine huddled next to him. He looked along the line of vehicles, Morel had already been hit in the arm and was cradling the wound, holding his pistol in his good arm and desperately trying to stay in the fight. Perspex and metal shards peppered their positions.
Gunfire rang out from six different shooters just the other side of the street. Nowak already knew that it was the Gadson Gang, as no other group would be so well armed and organised. Despite the fact that he had called it in, he knew no help would arrive in time.
“Spread out, put some fire down on those bastards!” shouted Nowak.
He leapt up from behind the battered taxi and opened fire with bursts into the vehicle they had been hiding behind. He quickly saw the bipod mounted machine gun that rested on the roof of one vehicle. As it opened fire he ducked back down behind the vehicle, bullets hitting it and ricocheting all around him.
He popped his head up beside the broken rear window of the taxicab, its darkened windows hiding his position well. The thick and hardened Perspex had shattered and broken through in several places due to the continuous fire that had been hitting it. Peering through a small gap in one window and out through the other side of the car, he could see the machine gunner looking for targets. This was his opportunity.
“Be ready to move on my mark,” he said.
Nowak lifted his rifle and pushed it through the opening in the punctured window, lining it up with the breach in the far side window. He took aim down the sights, having only a few millimetres of vision, but just enough to target the gunner. He looked around to his team, all ready and waiting to move. Looking quickly down the sights he squeezed the trigger. A single bullet pierced the gang member’s skull and killed him instantly.
“Go, go, go!” he shouted.
Nowak’s team of five charged out from behind the smashed vehicles and across the street. He could see several of the gang members loading up into their vehicles. One had already got moving and was speeding down the street. Gunfire rang out from behind parked vehicles, forcing the officers to jump for the cover of any cars they could.
A second vehicle raced away from the scene, Nowak knew it was their last opportunity to catch any of the gang and he was the only one close to the remaining suspects’ position. He lifted his rifle and charged around the corner of one of the cars, his rifle held high and ready to fire. As soon as he got around the corner he realised a man was crouched on the floor behind the vehicle with a rifle held ready to fire.
Nowak tried to lower his weapon to take a shot but it was too late. A single round rang out from the rifle below him, piercing his throat and going clean through. Blood spurted from the wound as he collapsed to the ground. Still holding his throat and trying to stop the flow of blood, he watched as the man stood before him and looked straight into his eyes. It was Maric himself. The villain turned and quickly fled into the last car and raced away from the scene, leaving a blood battle in his wake.
Chapter 10
Kaufman’s car rolled up to the scene of the Bank of Europa heist just six minutes after Maric and his gang had made their getaway. He could already see from the pale and shock ridden faces of Thompson and Laine as he arrived that he was walking into bad news. The intercom of his car flashed.
“Sir, I have lost the video feeds to the city cameras, as well contact with the ESC,” said Denver.
“Damn it! Find out what’s going on!”
“Doing what I can, Sir.”
Kaufman stepped out of his car and walked over to the scene of the battle. The machine gun that had been used in the fight was still lying on the roof of one of the cars, blood sprayed across its stock and the vehicle’s bodywork. The first ambulance was just arriving on the scene. He could see Morel cradling his wounded arm, but he could tell from their distraught faces that his wound was not the
cause of their distress.
Crossing the street, Eric stepped around the vehicle where the gang had been firing from and was immediately hit by the brutal sight of Nowak lying lifelessly on the ground in a pool of his own blood. Davis sat back against a car beside him, distraught.
“Davis, what happened?”
The man didn’t answer. He only stared at his fallen comrade.
“Davis!”
“They hit us hard, Morel was hit the second we arrived, they just opened up on us with everything they had. Nowak said it was Maric who shot him, the last words out of his mouth.”
“It was the Gadson Gang? Definitely?”
The man nodded in return, confirming exactly what Kaufman already suspected. He lifted his communicator from his pocket and called in to Denver.
“Sergeant, any sign of Maric?”
“Sir, I am getting unconfirmed reports of some kind of blackout at the ESC building, they are completely out of action, we have no surveillance, and only our own radio frequency is still active.”
“Is the port still shut down?”
“No, Sir, the order was given to resume service soon after you left.”
“What? I ordered all traffic to be grounded!”
“Yes, Sir, the order came directly from the government as far as I can see, nothing we can do about it.”
“Get Barski and Lin there now, I want every ship leaving that port checked thoroughly!”
“Yes, Sir.”
Kaufman stood looking at the body of the man he had so recently come to know as a friend. He’d not even got to have a few final words with the old sergeant. He had personally selected and recruited the man, and that fact now ate at him inside. The guilt he felt was only overpowered by the desire to make Maric pay for what he had done.
***
Several hours had passed since the fateful fight with Maric. Kaufman lay uneasily on his bed. He was not tired, he only had no desire to stand any longer. His mind was bombarded with the thoughts of Maric and his gang, the epic struggle to catch them and what he would like to do to make Maric suffer. He knew he was long past a mentally healthy state to be conducting any kind of police work, but he didn’t care. Whether he wanted to crack the case or make Nowak’s killer pay more didn’t matter any longer, as they went hand-in-hand. The buzzer for his room rang.
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