When Evil Prevails

Section 31

Writer - Gabriel Shaytan

FX is a Rysher production in conjunction with Fireworks Entertainment Inc. and Winterset Productions Inc as well as Hallmark Entertainment.

Don’t own ‘em, aren’t bein’ paid.
   

        Rollie sat in the small room with Clem, listening as the man explained about the different guards, what he knew of the security devices and what his part in the whole scheme had been.  According to him, he'd been bought in when the blackmail and threats had been unsuccessful, to perform the initial kidnapping and then to hand Spielberg over to a second group for transport out of the city.
        ' Ok… I've think I've got him pegged' Rollie said turning to where Mira stood.
        ' What?' Clem asked.
        ' What?' Rollie answered, mimicking Clem's voice exactly.
        ' What do you mean pegged?' Clem replied.
        ' What do you mean pegged?' Rollie mimicked again.

        Clem stared at the man before him ' That's incredible… you'll have no trouble getting inside.  I thought you'd try the old " I've got a cold" routine'
        ' A little obvious, especially when you're not meant to be appearing there' Rollie replied seriously.
        ' Right… what about the face?' Clem asked ' How good is it going to look?'
        ' Angie's finishing that up right now… then it just has to be applied.  Don't worry, we've done this before'
        ' What about the gun?  It's a trademark' Clem answered.
        ' More than a trademark from that shot in the alley' Rollie answered ' and I'd say you're a more than average draw'
        ' It's just practise… I'll brush you up on a few tricks if it'll help' Clem replied, looking at Mira ' No bullets obviously'

        Rollie looked over ' Mira… if I'm not convincing, I'm a dead man'
        ' I'll talk with the captain' Mira answered, turning to move from the room, a moment later Tony entered the room, there was always to be one officer in the room if Rollie was present.
 

        Angie looked over the mask, the GARP unit had done it's usual impressive job but it wasn't for the first time that she wished they'd been able to do something about the mask that Loubar had used.  She stopped, stunned by the realisation.  She'd actually managed to put that out of her mind, ever since Rollie's inadvertent kidnapping.

        The mask was ready and she lifted the P.D.A from where it sat on the bench, calling Rollie to get ready.
        ' Hey Rol, we're all ready out here' she said, speaking into the P.D.A.
        ' How about that… and I was just getting ready to come here and see you' Rollie said from behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders, leaning over to place a kiss on her neck.
        ' Hey… cut that out' she answered ' We've got to get this mask in place so you can play burglar before we get my pizza'
        ' Not quite sweetie' Rollie answered, heading back outside quickly and returning with a large pizza box ' I was getting hungry so I thought this way would be easiest'
        ' Now that is thinking ahead… no working on an empty stomach'

        Devouring the pizza on the spot, the two effects artists looked across the cramped quarters of the van and sighed simultaneously.
        ' Out with it boss… what's up?' Angie asked.
        ' You know what would be good?'
        ' What?'
        ' Anything besides having to help the police… getting the movie finished… lots of things I can think of that have to do with me and you and no one else'
        ' Oh really?  Such as?'
        ' Ah ah ah… that's a secret… you'll just have to wait and find out'
        ' I guess we'd better hurry up then so we can get around to it before work on Monday'
        ' Yes please' Rollie finished, throwing the pizza box, now disassembled, into a bin and taking a seat opposite Angie, ready for the mask.  Pausing he pulled her forwards into a tender kiss before leaning back and closing his eyes ' Ok love lay it on me'
 

        ' You'll need to drop the van back and pick up the car, I think it'd be a better getaway vehicle just in case' Rollie commented, moving his lips as little as possible.
        ' I'll take care of it Rol… don't I always?  And stop moving, this is tough enough already' she fired back, spoiling the effect with a grin at her boss.
        ' You sure do Ange… always there when I'm in trouble' Rollie replied, just barely fighting off a grin.
        ' And since you're always in trouble…' she answered mischievously, leaving the sentence open.
        ' You're always with me… and I wouldn’t have it any other way' he commented softly, aware of the mask now covering most of his face.
        ' Oh you're good… just what I wanted to hear' she answered, smiling as she continued to place the sections of latex in place.
 

        Clem Stein walked back into the police station a while later, escorted by a shorter, black haired female detective.  He seemed to be talking to himself, whispering nonsense phrases, as he went.

        The detective ignored the run of conversation and kept her distance, escorting the man through and into an interrogation room.
 

        Clem looked up, eyes widening alarmingly as he took in the man before him, as he took in the vision of his exact double.
        ' Damn me that's amazing' he whispered, standing and stepping across.  Finger's reached up, lightly touching the mask, it felt odd, though the colouring was perfect.
        ' It won't feel right to the touch, but then I don't suspect you'd let many people touch you… would you?' Rollie asked, again his voice taking on the characteristics of Clem's.
        ' No… they're not touchy people… in that sense of the word anyway' Clem replied ' Let's see that draw'

        Rollie slid the holster into a better position and drew the weapon as fast as he could.  It was a steel barrelled snub nosed .357 with wooden grips and an unusual seven shots in the cylinder instead of six.
        ' Not bad… but when you draw, pull back the hammer as it comes free from the holster and leave it down by your side, shoot from the hip' Clem commented, gesturing for Rollie to try again.

        Taking it a little slower Rollie drew the weapon and from his seat Clem nodded slightly.

        Practise continued until Clem was nodding more vigorously ' That's the way… ok, still not as fast as me, that takes years, but unless someone challenges you that won't matter, try not to get into that situation.  Hopefully we can get this all done and finished in short order and you can get back to your normal life… I uh… regret putting this on you'
        ' That's ok, they would probably have asked me anyway' Rollie announced throwing the two detectives a grin.

        The two detectives smiled back at the effects artist and nodded their agreement simultaneously.
        ' See what I mean?' Rollie commented with his usual grin ' Okay, I think we're just about ready here'
        ' Ok, we've gone over my life, my relationship with these guys, how I talk and act.  You know about the different people who'll be at the house' Clem answered ' you're set… good luck Tyler'
        ' Thanks… hopefully I won't need it' Rollie replied, voice perfectly mirroring the gunman's.
 

        Tony looked entirely different, decked out as a New York cabbie.  He was Clem's ride to the house, backup in case it was needed.  Rollie, now an exact copy of Mr Stein, walked down the steps of the Midtown South precinct, looked both ways and then hailed a passing cab.

        As his eyes swept the street he noticed several faces known to him, or at least known to the man he was impersonating.  He wondered how they'd react to his presence, his freedom, when by all rights, he should have been locked up with no chance for parole.

        Waving down a passing cab he settled into the back seat and gave the driver the address, he looked relaxed… and for the moment, that was as good a cover as any… when the real job came… he knew from past experience that he'd be wound tight as a spring.
 

        Angela watched as the blip on her P.D.A moved steadily through the city streets, that was Rollie, the small tracker placed within a sliding part in the heel of his shoe.  Other than that, Rollie was walking in blind, no wire, no hidden microphone or earpiece… no way for him to call for help.

        Sitting in the leather bucket seat of the red sports car, she stared out through the slightly dusty windshield.  The weather wasn't bad and she hoped that this job wouldn't turn into something nasty… for the first time in ages she was looking forward to the coming weekend, without distractions of work or more police involvement.  Why did Rollie always have to help?  For once she wished that he'd put himself before others… wished he'd put them before everyone else, but then, that wouldn't be the person she'd fallen for.

        Angie shook her head in amusement.  How long had she been unwilling to admit that to herself?  Unwilling to admit that Rollie Tyler was the one person she wanted to go out with, to have hold her when things went badly, to kiss…

        ' Mind on the job Ange, mind on the job' she muttered to herself, looking down at the moving location tracker on the screen.  She started the engine and put the car into motion, heading slowly through the packed streets towards the house of Gustav Mazarin.