Gang-Related - (Chapter One Excerpt)

Chapter 1

Excel 

Today-2008

He had broken the eleventh commandment, ‘Thou shall not get caught’. But considering the circumstances, there wasn’t much he could do to prevent it. About eight police officers had found him bloodied, cradling a dead body at the centre of his hood. Fifteen more corpses surrounded him along with three weapons that had his finger prints. There was no way to escape the law enforcement and even if there was, he was too tired to attempt it. 

Excel sat up on the rectangular pavement of the cell that was supposed to be the bed. He had been here for hours. His left shoulder throbbed painfully as the stitched bullet wound re-opened again, soaking his shirt with blood. Lousy paramedics. The cell was quite dark but he could make out a few things. The lavatory, which was a dirty brown toilet and a dirty sink, stood to the far right of the cell. The iron bars stood firm opposite him. Beyond the bars was a ceiling fluorescent, the only source of light he had. A well-lit corridor where uniformed officers roamed. His hearing was slowly coming back. He had lost it after hearing so many gunshots the day before. The sound of flies buzzing over the toilet came to him first. Of course. The police had put him, in probably the worst cell they had, alone in order to emphasize his loneliness to him. A smile came to him. Even at seventeen, he was used to mind games of the world. 

“Excel Dethrew?!” a built man shouted, blocking his light. He was dressed in the official Southtown city police uniform. Excel stared at the man for a while, contemplating whether or not to answer. 

“Excel Dethrew?!” the policeman shouted louder, apparently getting angry. 

“Who’s asking?” he asked back. 

The policeman inserted a key into the cell door lock and was inside within seconds. He walked rapidly towards Excel and let his fist fly. The punch was quite heavy and caused Excel’s vision to spin. A hand grabbed his shirt and pulled him up. He felt another pair of hands grab his other side and then he was half-shoved and half-carried out of the cell. 

“Don’t tell ‘em nothing, Ex! Don’t tell ‘em nothing!” someone shouted. His vision had not settled but his hearing was better. The outburst incited others. Loud rattles of cell bars and shouts came from his left. 

“You’re a Templar, man!” 

“You the nigga, man!” 

“Ex, you got this, yo!” 

“Ex, you a Templar!”

 Many voices competed in trying to encourage and praise him. So much for the police’s mind-games. He was taken to a room, handcuffed and shoved into the only chair in the room. The police officers exited the room slamming the door behind them. A few minutes went by and his head settled again, no such luck with his shoulder. He sat on the chair opposite an office table and waited, thinking of his predicament. No matter what, he was not going to give the police any information, he could not. ‘Thou shall not snitch’, he wasn’t going to break another commandment

Despite the ceiling fan rolling lazily, the room was still quite hot. There was no source for natural ventilation so he had to endure the heat in addition to other things. Fifteen minutes later, the door swung open. The officer that had hit him earlier stepped in followed by a dark skinned man. Excel knew the man. Phil Campbell, Superintendent of the Southtown police force and father to Jessica Campbell, his girlfriend. He stepped in and threw a brown Southtown police folder on the table. 

“You Templars have done it this time” he began in sad a tone “How are you feeling, Excel?” He thought of his throbbing shoulder and smiled “Never felt better, Inspector Campbell. How’s Jessica?” 

“She’s fine, thank you”. The inspector still had no idea just who his daughter had gotten involved with. “Look, Excel” Inspector Campbell said, sitting in the chair on the other side of the table. “Your gang war caused a lot of damage. Millions of dollars in assets. Dozens and dozens of lives lost. The Mayor doesn’t like this” he paused to let his message sink in.

 “Your interrogation room has nothing. No windows, no one-way mirror like in the movies”. 

Inspector Campbell laughed a dry laugh. “This is not a movie, Excel. You’re still a minor, but these…” he indicated at the file on the table. “These charges could still be made against you” Excel made no effort to reply, he was beginning to sweat seriously in the high temperature room. 

“Charges we could make go away easily. You aren’t the cause of the war, why suffer when the perpetrator goes scot free? It makes no sense to me”. The slow ceiling fan made creaking noises as it rolled on. “We can make them go away easily. Just tell me where the cause is, tell me where your brother is”. A full minute passed with only the fan making the only sound in the room. Inspector Campbell slammed the table angrily “For godsake damn it! You have a scholarship to Southtown University next year, don’t jeopardize it all for him!”

Excel merely stared at the brown file on the table between him and the Superintendent. “I’m sure you’ve met Officer Solagne here” Inspector Campbell pointed to the officer who stood at the door. “His little brother was killed by your gang. He has eagerly offered to assist in making you talk” he paused to lick his lips then continued “Now I haven’t allowed him yet because of the respect I had for your father but make no mistake, I will let him do his job” he paused “Tell me where your brother is or I’d leave you and Officer Solagne”. Excel looked up at the Superintendent. 

“Do what you have to do, sir and I’d do what I have to do”. Excel said, gritting his teeth.

  Inspector Campbell sighed and looked defeated. Without a word he gathered the folder from the table and began walking to the door. Excel watched as he made for the door, 

“My regards to Jessica, sir.” he said to the inspector just before the door slammed shut. 

Officer Solagne moved slowly towards him, smiling and flexing his knuckles. It wasn’t the least bit scary but it was annoying. Vexing as the act was, it was nothing compared to the smile plastered on Officer Solagne’s face. Excel would give anything to smash all his teeth in. How unfortunate that the tables were turned. Officer Solagne let another haymaker loose knocking his consciousness into the past.