X-MAN SCREENPLAY by BRIAN R. LUNDIN (ereader for comics txt) 📕

rim-rod straight. His apparel was also typical FBI; wing tip shoes, white shirt, dark blue suit and dark tie. Roth was seated at the head.

ROTH
We received a teletype from our Iowa office that stated that we believe that Esau Sneed, aka, the X-Man raped and killed three young women, one in Peru, Illinois names Peggy Allison, she worked at the Steak and Shake in Peru, she was fifteen and white, one in Des Moines, Iowa, seventeen and black and the latest in Omaha Nebraska, seventeen, black. All of the victims were brutally beaten, raped and stabbed and all had the trademark X carved into their chest. We don’t know where he’s headed, but it appears that he’s traveling West on Interstate 80. Hopefully, a state trooper will spot the vehicle and arrest him, but until that happens I’ve notified all of our offices to be on the look-out, we‘ll use this office as our command operations station.

Ringo felt the beating in his chest, bile surged and rumbled in his stomach like a big bowling ball heading for the gutter, his skin felt cold and he shivered. Ringo and other members of the task force sat around the office all day, monitoring the FBI VICAP SYSTEM, talking to police departments throughout southwest Illinois until five pm, but nothing happened no word from the state police or police departments and for the time being no more murders. At six pm Roth came into the room


ROTH
I have set up a management group; one group, the intelligence group will collect, process, analyze leads we receive. John Ringo, Evetta Luden and the Special Case members will lead the investigative group and respond to any crime scenes involving the X-Man but enough for today, go home and get some rest see you in the morning.

Everyone gathered up their papers and belonging and headed for the door. Ringo arrived at home about ten and flopped into bed but could not fall asleep the images of the victims danced in his head.

EXT. INTERSTATE 80 WEST- 21 AUGUST 2008-MORNING

It had been a two days since the last rape and murder in Omaha and Esau was getting restless, plus his money was running out, he needed gas and more important he needed his drugs. Most of the small towns he passed through the drug of choice were methamphetamine, not crack and definitely not the prescription drugs. He didn’t care for the side effects of methamphetamine; dizziness, blurred vision and always made him feel tired, he liked the rush he got from crack and the pills, he turned around on I-80 and headed east towards Chicago.

INT. TASK FORCE HEADQUARTERS-23 AUGUST 2008-Morning.

The task force was assembled and Evetta handed me cup of espresso. The bitter, strong coffee chased away the groggy feeling and I felt better as I joined the group. SAC Roth came into the room and read from a teletype.

ROTH
Just got a teletype from Iowa City police department, mom and pop gas station held up by a little man with a knife, couple tied up and the older woman fondled, but no one hurt, offender filled up his car with gas, took three hundred dollars from register and was driving a black Cadillac Escapade, we only got three numbers of the plates but it matched our guy.

RINGO

I think he’s on his way back to Chicago!

It was after ten when Esau pulled into what was left of the Robert Taylor Housing Projects. Most of the high rises had been demolished and the few remaining was controlled by the 43rd Street Hustlers Gang, he looked around at the hooded figures standing in the shadows but he didn‘t know any of them and he knew we wouldn‘t sell him anything.

EXT. 43RD STREET ALLEY 25 AUGUST 2008- NIGHT.

Esau drove to 43rd street, parked and entered the dark alley under the CTA elevator and saw Moe a dealer he had done business with before. Moe came out the shadows.

MOE
My man, where you been, long time?

ESAU
Traveling, you holding?

MOE
What you need?
ESAU
Three rocks got any “scrips?
MOE
Just some Ativan.

ESAU
Okay, give me a dozen.

Moe disappeared and in a moment returned with the drugs.
MOE
A bill, my man.

Esau gave Moe five twenty dollars bills and left the alley. The following morning Evetta got a call from William “Bull” Jones.

BULL
Mama, I think your little guy is back, just made a buy with one of my guys on 43rd Street.

EVETTA
What did he cop?

BULL
Three rocks and some Ativan.

EVETTA
How long you take that would last?

MOE
Two, three days at the most.

EVETTA
Thanks, I owe you.
MOE
Like I told you before, you owe me zip.
Evetta told Ringo about the call from Bull and they went outside the building.

EVETTA
Just got a call from Bull, you was right he is back, just copped some drugs from Bull‘s guy on 43rd Street.


RINGO
Let’s keep this to ourselves, Okay?

Evetta looked at Ringo and knew that I wanted him and knew what I planned to do.

EVETTA
You got it John.

EXT. 43rd South Prairie Avenue- 25 August 2008 NIGHT.

Evetta and Ringo observed the alley at 43rd South Prairie Avenue, nothing, but on the third night a Black Cadillac Escalade slowly cruised down the deserted Street, it parked at 43rd South Calumet and a little man got out, looked around and slowly walked to the alley. I told Evetta to go into the alley from 44th Street she looked at me.

EVETTA
You know what you’re doing John?

RINGO
I’m sure, and I don’t want you involved.

Evetta didn’t argue as she got out and beginning walking down Prairie Avenue, she turned looked at me and mouthed, “Be careful.” Ringo nodded as Esau entered the alley, he waited a minute and followed; Esau was talking to a hooded figure in the alley when Ringo approached.

RINGO
Remember me?

Esau turned around and squinted his eyes, “Who you?

RINGO
Your worst fuckin’ nightmare.

Ringo saw Evetta as she entered the alley, weapon in her hand.

RINGO
Split!
The hooded figure hurried out the alley.

ESAU
Who the fuck is you?

RINGO
You don’t remember me, huh. Do you remember the old lockup keeper you killed, do you remember all the young women you violated and killed, do you remember Reverend Wilson?

Esau eyes adjusted to the darkness and he said, “You!”


Yep and this is the end of the line for your little ass.

Esau lunged at Ringo and he side-stepped him and delivered a hard right into Esau stomach. Esau howled in pain and doubled over, when he came up he popped open a switch-blade and smiled.

ESAU
I‘m going to carve your black ass up like I did those bitches.

He lunged again swinging the knife, he was quick as a cat and cut Ringo on the sleeve, but as a former Navy Seal Ringo was well trained in hand-to hand combat. He sidestepped Esau again and stood facing him. Esau had a sardonic smile on his face as we circled each other Evetta was now in the alley.

EVETTA
Shoot the motherfucker!

RINGO
I don‘t want to shoot him, that would be too quick, too easy, I want him to suffer, to feel pain.

Ringo saw the red light from Evetta Gluck centered on Esau chest.

RINGO
No!

Esau made another lunge with the knife Ringo grabbed his arm twisted it and heard it snap as Esau dropped the knife and yell as the pain penetrated his drug induced brain. I flip him around and in a choke hold slowly squeezed, he twisted and tried to get free. Ringo continued squeezing and whispered in his ear, “This is how they felt as you slowly choked the life out of them,” Esau continued struggling for a while and then became still. Ringo applied more pressure and heard his neck snap and he let him go. Esau fell lifeless on the dirty ground.

EVETTA
You hurt?

RINGO
Naw, just a scratch.

EVETTA
What we’re going to do with him?
Ringo looked at the monster, his beautiful face had an angelic glow and his eyes were open. Ringo grabbed his legs and pulled him behind some overflowing garbage cans.

RINGO
Let the rats have him.

Two days later, garbage men found the body, partly eaten by the street animals. Later that day Ringo purchased a Sun-Times Newspaper and in the bold black headlines on the front page read:
“MAN FOUND IN ALLEY ON SOUTH 43RD STREET, PRELIMINARY REPORTS INDICATE MAN MAYBE ESAU SNEED KNOW AS THE X-MAN.”

The following morning Evetta and I met in Deputy Gult office with Captain Woods.

CAPTAIN
What do you think happened in that alley?
Ringo shook his head.

RINGO
Probably a drug deal that went bad.

The captain looked at Ringo and then at Evetta.

CAPTAIN
Yeah, probably By the way Deputy Gult is expected to be named Chief of Police later today and the deputy told me to tell you, you are the acting CO of the Bureau, congratulations.

Evetta and Ringo left the building.

RINGO
This calls for a celebration where you want to go?

Evetta put her arm undermines.

EVETTA
You’re coming to my house to see your godsons and my husband, I will fix you a home cook meal, and you pop for the wine.

RINGO
Deal.


END

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Publication Date: 09-27-2011

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