By: Daiyu Tang
It seems that sometimes the star of certain people rises quickly. They become a celebrity cause for a little and their star burns bright. Thus it was the case with Hektor Montoya and it became one of those days where the news, rather than arrive screaming with an explosion came from seeing two officers get in a car at which point following them seemed a good idea… Sometimes rather than specific leads, you just follow the people who investigate (or cause trouble). So with nothing better to do than obey the ancient journalistic instinct of ‘follow the cop car and see who gets ruined,’ I, and trainee Clivia trailed it at a sensible distance where it came to a stop near the Butcher Shop.
There, HPD’s Detective Inspector Krystal O’Neil and Detective Lieutenant Vanora Blackheart appeared to be approaching Hektor Montoya. Yes. Daddy Montoya.
For readers blessedly unaware of the city’s latest personal-ad and criminal-gossip crossover episode, Montoya’s name has been circulating in recent weeks for reasons ranging from gang drama to deeply questionable romantic branding. Clivia recognised him immediately as “the man that managed to get two gangs that hate each other to hate him,” while this reporter, with all her due professionalism (say nothing dear reader…), may have referred to him as “Dom Me Daddy Montoya.”
Journalism is a craft. Some days it is also a curse because I have a potty mouth and monikers stick. Still, there’s more to that title than the personal ad, and we’ll come to that.
Respectful Police Interactions
Montoya was standing outside the Butcher Shop with a phone in hand when the officers arrived. O’Neil approached and I could see by the way she was moving that no, she wasn’t trying to shake those (small hips) she had one hand near the grip of her sidearm… Expecting trouble as is the Hathian way.
Montoya did not run. He did not draw a weapon. He raised his hands, and appeared unusually cooperative for a Hathian street stop involving the HPD (maybe no Carter was a reason!). While our ‘excitement meter’ may have fallen my respect for both the conduct of the officers and Montoya himself increased. From our position across the street, some of the exchange was not possible to hear, although my camera did some of the listening to facial expressions and body postures.
There was tension. How could it be otherwise… We think that the HPD wanted Montoya to come with them and as he approached, to whisper as it turned out the Inspector warned him clearly enough: “Hands where I can see them, Mr Montoya. That’s close enough.” He stopped. Respectful right dear reader?
Whatever Montoya said privately, it shifted the encounter away from immediate detention in casa de HPD. One comment was overhead with the always pleasant (but sharp tongued) Blackheart raised the matter of the Rejects and asked why they would waste time on him, before suggesting that Wilbur Fitzgerald was “Bryce’s newest girlfriend.” Wow. I am not quite sure I can believe that!
No Arrests
Much to my amazement (both good and bad) the encounter ended without an apparent arrest. Whatever Montoya said to the officers seemed to lead to O’Neil telling him that he was free to go.
The Observer’s photographs show Montoya outside the Butcher Shop, O’Neil and Blackheart conducting the stop. It’s actually pretty-damn peaceful, although what remains unanswered is why HPD was looking for Montoya in the first place, what allegation or report prompted the approach, and how his name became tangled with Rejects, (surely not the personal ad) and how Fitzgerald and Bryce and are linked in.
Let me know if you know dear readers oh and also, that personal ad has run its’ course. It will be deleted ASAP…
