Chapter 27: Visiting the Mayor

 The president asked for a press conference outside the general hospital where the mayor was admitted. All eyes were on Sin City, for the great capital was under attack and the one person at the top of the food chain had nearly been assassinated on live television. No one could believe that one would be crazy enough to carry out such an attack. And this was the main reason why the president personally wanted to visit the capital and address the issue. He ordered for the conference to be held outside the hospital's premises so that he could be able to address the people outside. So apart from treating it like a priority one security threat, he was on a mission to secure his votes in the eyes of the people. This was his time to come out as Superman to the people, the hero when the people were in need. Much more of a tactical approach to spread his popularity in the city. He arrived using his own military helicopter and landed on the hospital's helipad. This was after nearly five other helicopters had landed and taken off leaving behind military personnel and his own secret service. From SWAT to the military and the secret service, they had all the nearby buildings combed for any relevant threat. Taking measures such as detaining criminals who were on house arrest to those who has been convicted and had done their sentence in the recent past. Nothing was left to chance. All police radios were under strict supervision with every call to the police treated as a threat and dealt with, with immediate effect. Ray had suffered a great public dishonour for allowing the mayor to be shot while under his watch. He wasn't taking that risk again, especially not with the president. He was already waiting for the president at the top of the hospital roof. They shook hands and after a few pleasentaries they went inside and stopped by the floor where the mayor was in. Gallows was lying on the hospital bed with his hand wrapped in a bandage but they could clearly see that the bullet had blasted half of his palm away with his pinky and ring finger with it.

"How are you holding up?" The president asked

"Seriously?! You're going to ask me that question? 'How are you doing?' " Gallows responded clearly pissed at the way the question was put." Half of my hand is gone. Pop went my hand like a balloon!!" He shouted

The president, seeing this escalating quickly asked all nurses and officials to leave the room so that he could be alone with Ray and Gallows. After everyone had left the president looked at Ray.

"I thought you had it under control" he said

"I did. How was I to expect that our mystery shooter would dare take a shot at the mayor?" Ray asked

"Uhm, hello. I'm the one on the bed and with a hand that looks like I evolved from frog's kingdom so I guess now you know that that son of a bitch is not scared to come after me!" Gallows intruded

"Can you calm down. It's not like he killed you or something. You're lucky this time he was generous to let you live. Well, we're all glad that he let you live. We couldn't afford to have such a scenario in our hands."Ray said

"Ooh! So you're trying to be funny isn't it? You're just soo glad that your psychotic shooter didn't kill me. It almost sounded like you are willing to let that scumbag play Russian roulette with my life is that it?" A now pissed off Gallows asked

"Are the two of you done arguing like two little bitch princesses with tantrums? Because I'm tired of that shit." The president said addressing both of them."Ray, you messed up with your protection, so deal with it. And Gallows, you got shot, but you're not yet six feet under so stop your yapping and get your act together. So instead of telling us where we went wrong, why don't you pick up your goddamn phone and go all Dora the explorer on all of your social media handles and get those sympathy votes. And Ray, how much of a threat does this guy pose?" He asked

"According to the report that I was given, our mystery shooter..." Ray was answering when the president stopped him in mid sentence.

"This whole alias that you've given him takes about ten seconds to say it out loud. Just call him Doe. For John Doe." The president said

"Ok. According to the report that I was given, Doe at the moment knows that we're currently on the lookout for him. He also knows about the payment to the mayor and has the proof of your involvement after he decrypted our secret message. So he knows quite enough to tarnish our names in the public eye. He possess quite a significant threat to us."Ray said

"But so far he hasn't gone public with our little secret, and it's my best guess is that he's not going to do that yet. He's waiting for something, I need you to find that out."the president said

"We'll do sir" Ray said as they started walking towards the door, then the president turned to Gallows

"Mr Gallows, it is my wish that you make a hasty recovery. And we're glad that you're still alive" the president said he looked at Ray." Aren't we Ray?"

"Yes we are" Ray said as he forced a smile on his face

"Now I'll take my leave and go to address the nation of you don't mind"the president told him

"I don't mind at all, and Ray...." Gallows responded and called out to Ray. When they turned around they could see him trying to uncover the loose bandage on his hand. He pulled it off and the only thing left covering his hand was a bandage that went round the part that was left exposed by the bullet meaning his middle, index and thumb fingers were free to move around. He lifted his right hand and according to what the president and Ray understood, Gallows pointed to the ceiling with his index. Confused at what he meant, Ray decided to ask,

"What's that supposed to mean?"he asked

"Well since I don't have the rest of my fingers, my index finger will just have to serve as my middle finger. So fuck you Ray for letting this happen to me. Don't let it happen to the president."Gallows said with a small smile on his face

"Thanks for those kind words"Ray said as they left with the president laughing and entered the lift." Well someone seems to be high on morphine and happens to be a grumpy pants" Ray told the president as the lift doors were closing

"I heard that" Gallows shouted from the distance

They got off on the second floor where tons of reporters were crowded in a large meetings room accompanied by the secret service. From the look on the president's face, he clearly wasn't happy. When he turned around to face Ray, Ray already had a 'i can explain' face on

"Mind telling me why I'm holding this conference on the second floor in an enclosed room and not outside as I requested?" Loki asked

"Sir, after whatever happened we're not willing to take that risk with your life."Ray answered

"Who authorized this?" Loki asked

"The minister for defence" Ray replied

"And you just happen to tell me this right now" A now pissed off Loki said

"I knew if I told you before you would make it somewhat of a big deal."Ray told him

"Somewhat of a big deal?!! Of course it's a big deal, I'm the president of this country and I expect when I say something it is done according to my will. And should there be any changes, I'm the first one who should be informed" Loki told him. Ray seeing that there were to many prying eyes, tugged the president to a corner where no one could hear what they were saying and whispered to him,

"I don't think you know what we're dealing with Mr President. Doe made it pretty crystal clear to us that he wasn't scared of us. So if you want to move this whole thing outside and have him shoot you in the head, be my guest. I guess then you wouldn't be much of a HEAD of the state. But if you still want to ride home to your Mrs Winters and hug your daughter goodnight, stop seeing yourself as some sort of god and listen to what's best for you"