Turncoat (Moscow Police Department)

[Legione Sumus]

Aaliyah Zevros

Aaliyah wrapped her hands around the cup of coffee to still her shaking hands. Finally she was in Moscow. She had tried not to delay, but the closer she got, the more nervous she got. If she was right, Giovanni was in this city, and so was Omar. If she was found by either of them, she’d be dead. Even so, she found it hard to gather the courage for her last step. 

The door to the cafe opened and a woman stepped in, her coat bearing the shield of a police officer. Aaliyah watched the woman go to the counter and order, a smile on her face as she spoke amiably with the barista. That alone seemed nice - just to be able to talk to someone. Coffee acquired, the cop walked out of the cafe. 

Aaliyah stood up and followed, leaving her own coffee untouched on the table. The cop was entering an unmarked vehicle, Aaliyah wasn’t worried about that. She quickly moved. 

”Excuse me, officer,” Aaliyah said. Her fear must have shown on her face because the woman’s smile quickly turned into a frown. Aaliyah continued before she lost her courage, speaking quietly as to not draw the attention of passers-by. ”My name is Aaliyah Zevros, a ranking member of Al-Janyar. I’m turning myself in and intend to cooperate fully with the authorities.” Aaliyah held out her hands as she said it, showing she held no weapons. She had nothing on her except the Isis knot. She did actually intend to cooperate. At best she could enter witness protection. If not, she’d probably spend the rest of her life in jail.

[Marisol]

Marisol put her coffee on the room of her vehicle as she got out the keys to unlock it. It was a pretty typical morning; wake up, shower, cafe for coffee, then work. She had almost found her keys when a woman approached. Marisol had seen her sitting in the cafe. She called out to Marisol, and Marisol could see the fear etched in her face. The woman was afraid for her life.

Marisol had no time to ask what was wrong. The woman spoke as if she were afraid the words would get stuck. What she said astounded Marisol to the core. The woman in front of her admitted to belonging to a terrorist organization and she was turning herself in offering full cooperation.

Marisol’s hand went to her sidearm, but she didn’t draw it. ”You have identification?” the woman nodded. ”Get it out please - real slow.”

The woman did and Marisol took the ID, noting the name and country of origin - Greece. ”Do you have any weapons?” the woman shook her head no. ”Im going to check alright? Hands on the vehicle, please.”

The woman seemed to understand what she was doing. This requires an arrest. Marisol began to frisk as she read Aaliyah her rights. She found nothing except for a stange necklace made of a metal Marisol couldn’t immediately identify. She put it back in the woman’s pocket. She then instructed her to put her hands behind her back and she was cuffed. Marisol noted that tears were falling from the woman’s eyes. The fear was still in her face.

”Listen - I can’t guarantee anything but a comment from me on how cooperative you’ve been. You’re doing the right thing by turning yourself in.” the woman was cooperative. Good cop seemed a better method than bad cop.

Marisol opened the back door and guided the woman in, reminding her to watch her head before she got in the front seat and radioed the precinct that she was incoming. This certainly wasn’t how she expected to start her day.

[Legione Sumus]

Aaliyah Zevros

Aaliyah sat at the table in a room. The room was bare with the exception of a mirror on one side, which she knew was one way. There would be police in there as she was questioned, it they weren’t in there already. She didn’t know how long she had waited. Time seemed to change in here, but Aaliyah knew that was just because of her nerves. Still she was getting impatient, but she had promised cooperation. She refrained from asking when someone would be there to talk to her. She assumed she had caused quite the buzz with her confession. They had at least left her with a cup of water, which she drank with handcuffed hands. 

Finally the door opened and the police woman who had brought her in entered. There was a man with her who leaned against the wall next to the door as the woman approached her. 

”Im Detective Guerro. I’ll be conducting an initial interview before you’re handed over to State authorities.” Aaliyah nodded her understanding. ”According to your file, you were born in Athens, but moved to Cairo at a young age. Is this correct?”

”It is. My parents converted to Islam there and got involved with Al-Janyar,” Aaliyah responded, hoping that by giving more information, she could show her sincerity. 

”You said you were a ranking member. What rank?”

”My title was ‘Prophetess.’ I was mostly in charge of recruiting allies to the cause. I took orders directly from the head of the organization.” Guerro raised an eyebrow at this, but motioned for Aaliyah to continue. ”I wasn’t always there. I had been Ibrahim’s, that is the previous leader, consort until he was overthrown.”

Marisol took a seat across from Aaliyah. ”Why did you decide to run and come here. Why not send out a message or some other notification.”

Aaliyah took a deep breath, once more feeling afraid. ”Al-Janyar doesn’t deal well with traitors and this new guy…well he’s insane. He…there’s no telling what he’ll do. I wanted to escape. I had a reason…a potential ally. He bought it. I came here because I want protection. And I’m willing to talk to get it.”

”I can’t guarantee you anything. That will come from higher ups than even my captain or chief. This is an issue of state security. You understand this?” Aaliyah nodded. ”Still, you are cooperative. That will be included in any report I make.” Marisol leaned forward expectantly. ”The leader…his name?” 

aaliyah’s breath hitched and she followed it with a deep breath before responding. ”Giovanni Cavelli”

[Marisol]

Marisol didn't have to write the name down. She didn't have to write anything down. She didn't have to. There were officers on the other side of the mirror listening. Everything was being recorded. The woman had been told she could have a lawyer and had refused. Everything was being done by the book. She took a breath before she asked her next question.

"What can you tell us about Mr. Cavelli," Marisol asked, leaning back in her chair.

Aaliyah met her gaze, her eyes unmoving. "He's tall and thin, blond hair, piercing blue eyes. Personality wise he's insane as I spoke. Sometimes, he's calm and collected. At others, he's crazy. Sometimes anger, sometimes compulsive behavior."

"Did he beat you?" Marisol asked, keeping the concern out of her voice.

"He never physically hit me. I was yelled at several times, but he never hit me," Aaliyah said. "There's more you should know. He thinks he's a god. He's one of those channelers. He was also obsessed with an amulet. The Eye of Horus. It's an Egyptian eye - you can do an image search for it. It's a well known symbol in Egyptian mythology. The necklace I had - an Isis Knot - was of the same metal. He thought that it did something special. Last I knew, he had no idea what it did."

The woman hesitated, even if she didn't look away. The nervous look was there again. "What is it? There's something else."

Aaliah nodded. "Yes - the reason I left. I think he's in Moscow - right now. He was planning something. An attack on Moscow soil."

"That's insane...why? then it came to her - he WAS insane.

"I don't know - maybe he wants to reveal himself. Maybe he just felt like it. The man can change his mind on a whim."

Marisol stood up. "When? Where?" She noticed her partner at the door tense up.

"I don't know when. It wouldn't surprise me if it was Christmas Day or Years. The theatrics would appeal to him, but I don't know for sure. He also could have cancelled it. Again, he changes his mind on a whim. As for where - Shale International."

Marisol looked at her partner then. He nodded and left the room. She was certain her captain was getting on the phone too. Regardless of the truth of the matter, this would have to be dealt with to protect the people there. "That's an odd target - no strategic or military value. Why Shale?"

Aaliyah shrugged. "I don't know...seriously I don't."

"How? Channeling?"

"No - he's involving another member named Omar Tarek. If Omar's involved, it probably uses conventional explosives. Omar is a...traditionalist. He's been itching for a good old fashioned bombing."

Marisol had learned how to read people. It wasn't perfect, but the way the woman spoke was calm and precise. She did nothing to hide and her gaze didn't waver. Marisol thought she was telling the truth. Either way she had come to the end of this interview. It was time for the feds or military to take over. A potential terrorist attack in Moscow. Marisol got a description for Omar Tarek. That was all she could do for now. She had a report to fill out.