[IC] Sudden Payback (Session 2)

Max contacts the nearest FBI field office, which is located in Detroit. The agent on duty seems surprised to have such an enormous bust announced at such a late hour, but she urges you to stay put and keep the culprits captive while she sends a team your way. You pass a fitful night waiting for the FBI task force to arrive. Mahoney stirs briefly and tries to start talking his way out of his predicament, but you find a way to keep him quiet.

The FBI team arrives around sunrise. Their data analyst takes a look at the digital documents you've found and, in cooperation with an interrogator who works over Mahoney, confirms that they're legitimate. Petrovich and his Russian friend turn out to both have long rap sheets in Eastern Europe, an INTERPOL report reveals.

Finally, one of the agents addresses you: "Thanks to you, we can probably take this trafficking and drug ring down here in Drummond, but also across the Midwest. We're already coordinating with Russian and Canadian authorities to take the other branches down, too. There's no keeping this story quiet, at least locally, though... You made too much noise tonight, and the cop and prison guard will be missed at work in a few hours. We'd like you folks to go public. Any ideas what might make a big splash? Let all the folks involved here know their days are numbered?"

"Do you FBI boys have any funds for renting some billboards?" Guy jokes.

"We know a lady... Also when's the next recruiting cycle for agents?" Max states holding up the number for Ms. Laser, "But we should probably go with someone who always makes a big splash, she's been helpful so far."

"If we had time to set it up, we could hold a press conference like when all this started. Invite Ms. Laser and the mayor and whatever press wants to come. But if we can't do that, maybe we record a statement and send it to the press along with enough evidence to show we're serious."

Looking from face to face among his beat-up companions, Hank adds, "Once we get a chance for a shower that is."

Tunes

Two hours later...

The One-Two isn't quite as packed as it was a few days ago—Loretta Levine demanded an exclusive if the local station was going to preempt Jeopardy for this. She looks solemnly into the camera, held by a young guy with a half-eaten egg McMuffin in his hand. "We're here live at the One-Two Gym, where only days ago, the mayor announced the newly renamed Wakamatsu Street. Only now, the FBI has taken over the gym as its staging area for a major operation in Drummond City. Let's hear what they have to say..."

The agent in charge gives a rundown of what's transpired: The busted trafficking ring, the attempted restart of a Drummond factory, and the arrests of two prominent figures in the correctional department: One police detective and one prison guard. Mahoney and Petrovich are both brought forth for their perp walks, in cuffs.

"I want my lawyer!" the cop shouts.

"Not worried," Petrovich says. "I know the prison guards."

Then the FBI agents announce the local heroes who made this all possible, calling Lance, Hank, Max, and Guy onto the boxing ring. (An FBI medic sent Marv and Red home for exhaustion).

Loretta approaches the four local heroes: "Tell me, how does it feel to be responsible for stopping a major criminal enterprise and source of police corruption right here in our city?"

"I'm glad I could do my part in helping keep the streets safe. Who watches the watchmen? The people do. The citizens of Rumble City will make sure the police uphold their duty to protect them. I hope this serves as a lesson to others and they rethink bringing any trouble to Rumble City."

"That's right. We did what we did because this crooked bunch were hurting people we cared about. And that's really what it comes down to. I love the city and the streets, the park in Lake Square and Eli's Deli on 3rd. But it's the people that keep us here. Without the people, Drummond could be any other city.

So yeah, I hope future corrupt cops and criminals take this as a warning, but I hope the good folks do too. There's people out there hurting others to get ahead. And when you see it you gotta do something about it. If you don't, it'll keep happening, and you never know when it'll hit, uh... your family. Like it hit ours." Hank's voice breaks and he makes a strained smile, then claps Max and Lance on the shoulders and steps back from the microphone.

As the voices continue he thinks back on his empty house, on his parents before they took to drink and his sister before she got fed up and left town. Maybe if somebody had said that to me when I was a kid they'd still be around. Then he looks up again at his friends on the stage, at the One Two that'll be filled with regulars tomorrow, and smiles again. But they're not. What I got is what I got. And it's still alright.

Max thumbs his nose and states into the mic candid, "Honestly I'm just another homeless kid from Pillville that tried to do something with their life. Someone said one man can't make a difference and I'd like to remind him he's right. It may start with one person thinking it's enough but it takes a community to sweep change and to point out what's wrong. For the people who have assisted us along the way thank you. If we've annoyed you remember justice and due process may not be quick or absolute but I think this time it counts as a win. As for the others involved hiding in the shadows laying low or those with ill will doing wrong by this city... You'll see me soon... or someone like me." Max states, "Also I know boss when I get back to work I'll be assigned to desk duty... there's probably a lot... I mean a lot of paperwork now." he adds scratching his cheek his nostrils flare slightly since Max thinks he's actually pretty good and doing paperwork. He smirks slightly.

This still counts as taking it easy on my time off right? he thinks to himself.

As the responses continue, Mahoney starts chuckling. He then breaks out into a full belly laugh. The camera zooms in on him, standing next to the FBI handlers. He looks directly into the lens. "Will ya listen to these three? 'Watch the watchmen,' seriously? They haven't even scratched the surface. Petrovich's little operation here? That was small potatoes. Eli's Deli has bigger sandwiches. This thing goes deep. I don't even know how deep it goes. And no amount of paperwork's gonna untangle the threads. Good luck stopping the next batch of dopefiends from starting it up all over again." He spits on the mat. "Good goddamned luck."

Levine seems temporarily stunned, but she soon regains her composure. She thrusts the mic back into your faces. "Any response to that threat?"

"I guess we'll just have to bring a long rope. And suddenly I'm craving a deli sandwich."

"Yeah, thanks for the warning. I'm glad he said that for the whole town to hear. Because he's right. We can clean up the city, but the rats and roaches will keep messing it up again. But I been the janitor at the One Two for a long time now, and we got a closet full of cleaning supplies.

So you've been warned, folks. If you want to be part of the solution, come on down to the One Two. Rat-trapping classes twice a week." Hank smiles at the camera, then steps back and mouths to Lance, Free advertising!

"You've just admitted to not have anything for a plea deal now... Also I think that sounds like a call to arms." Max states looking into the camera, "If there's an injustice say something. I'm sure there's a reporter right here that would like to know about it. If I hear about it I'll make sure things get handled to the letter of the law... but in the streets... For every dopefiend that pops up there's a bartender, a hair dresser, a clerk, pizza delivery person someplace watching they might report you... worse case I'd watch your back. You never know who will take out some street justice before the copes show up. They could be anywhere."

Lance steps up to the camera like a wrestler trash-talking an opponent. "Remember that, punks! You mess with one of us, you mess with the whole damned town. The bottom line is: this is Rumble City!"