Excerpt: New Haven

Mayra Sanchez and Bob Bailey were across the street from the bank. Sanchez had them stationed behind a piece of masonry that blew out from the bank and smashed into an office building across the street. Bailey turned the camera so that it was trained on the criminals. An airspeed truck had been brought on the scene, and the trunks were being loaded into the hold. Meanwhile, a ways down the street, Ramulus was speaking with his lackey that was driver of the truck.

“Now pay attention, David,” growled Ramulus, “You have the coordinates of where the put the shipment. The Task Force is being kept busy right now, but they’ll soon have some free hands, and the first thing they are going to do is come after us and the contents of what used to be the bank. If anyone follows you, lose them. By any means necessary.”

“Hey boss,” spoke a minion as he came up to Ramulus. “I see a camera over there.”

“You mean the helicopter? Yes, yes, they’ve been there for a while, nothing to worry about.”

“Nah, I mean the other over by the Packard Office…”

“What?” Ramulus cast his eyes over to the building and saw two people crouching behind rubbish. “Damned reporters. Are you done loading the trunks? Is my car ready?”

“Yes sir, to both questions.”

“Tell my driver to start the engine. You and the other men are to get in the truck and David here is going to do the rest. I’ll handle these reporters,” said Ramulus. He turned away from the truck and strode down the street toward the Packard building. Bob Bailey noticed him approaching first.

“Our location is compromised, Sanchez! We should go,” said the camera man.

“Actually, let’s see if we can get him to speak on film,” said Sanchez as she stood from behind the debris and walked out into the street. Bailey reluctantly followed.

“You, reporters!” growled Ramulus when he was within range. “You should be glad I have use of you, other wise I’ll have to do away with you. A new age of criminals is here.”

“Is the camera running?” said Sanchez in a low voice to her camera man. Bailey nodded in response.

“It better be!” said the villain. He then laughed at the look of surprise on Sanchez’s face. “You should check out Duke’s Body Shop. He can get you a new pair of ears for a price!”

“Is there anything you’d like to say to the public?” said the NHNC7 reporter, ignoring the criminal’s former comment.

“Why yes!” Ramulus stepped forward and stared straight into the camera Bailey had hovering over Sanchez’s shoulder. “The name’s Ramulus, all of you New Haven fools out there! I’m here to announce the return of the underground criminals! I’m just a taste of what will yet come. No more will we cower in the Back Alley while the Task Force’s men are snooping around for us! I’m leading the way for an offensive on the city. It’s time to show the government who should really be in charge!” Ramulus jabbed a bright red finger at the camera as he glared. “And that’s all I have to say about that! In the weeks to come, you will know fear!” He grinned nastily and turned to return to his car.

“Any comment on your actions here, Mr Ramulus?” pressed Sanchez. “Why rob a bank? Isn’t that cliché?” The villain paused and turned his head.

“I have to get large funds for this new age some kind of way, little missy,” replied Ramulus. “And you shouldn’t be so worried about what was taken from the bank. You should focus on what may still be inside.”

“The people!” gasped Bob Bailey as he turned the camera toward Jones Bank. Ramulus laughed and strode back to his car. By the time Mayra Sanchez and Bob Bailey clambered over to the other side of the street and approached the remains of the bank, Ramulus was long gone.