Of course, Marcus’s new peaceful life changed when dead bodies started appearing on the streets. Marcus was assigned the case, and he couldn’t wait to dive in fully. He was quite skilled at getting information from witnesses, and he figured this wouldn’t be different from the other hundreds of cases he had solved.
However, he realized crime in LinHill revealed just how much of their own business civilians minded.
Marcus spread the information he had managed to gather all around his office: short notes taken from conversations with the few witnesses who had been willing to talk. From the fifteen he had encountered, only five had offered a bit of a tirade about the crime in LinHill and the cops’ lack of action, and many were elated to know someone was protecting them. The Midnight Vigilante had turned into a sudden hero, and Marcus didn’t like that a criminal was worshipped more than law enforcement.
The witnesses who had spoken up consistently told Marcus the same thing: this Midnight Vigilante attacked at night, always after nine, dressed in black, and was usually armed with a baton and a gun. Marcus knew the criminal in question could be anybody who was tired of Julius Martinson’s men owning the streets to the point of never letting anyone leave their houses once the sun had set.
And Marcus knew it all had begun the day Adrian Castelló had nearly been beaten to death.
“What’s this?” Adrian asked him as he closed the door to his now-shared office. He looked at the papers on the floor and the Post-its on his partner’s computer screen with a frown.
“The case I’m trying to solve. The Midnight Vigilante,” Marcus replied.
Adrian nodded. “Are you getting somewhere with this?”
“Just that this guy is skilled, wears a mask, and carries a baton. Other than that, only that he’s a hero of some sort. Did you know everything started the day you were attacked?”
Adrian frowned. “I don’t really remember much of that. I woke up in the hospital with a killer headache and the captain waiting for me. I was sore, pissed and tired. What does it have to do with anything?”
“Maybe this started because of you.” Marcus eyed Adrian, trying to read him.
“Probably trying to send a warning, right? I’ve seen those sorts of messages before. Someone is trying to keep you quiet, but about what exactly?”
Adrian narrowed his eyes. “What are you getting at?”
“I’m just trying to get the truth. Aren’t you?”
Adrian remained silent for a minute, then nodded and excused himself, backing out of the office before Marcus could say another word.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Adrian wasn’t the type of man who was easily shaken. His job was too complicated to let his emotions take control of him, but sometimes humanity won over professionalism.
This was one of those days. Everything was going smoothly, conforming to the plan; he was saying and acting according to it, but damn life had its turns. Now, he was sitting in a secluded office far away from his own, waiting for his boss to arrive so they could start a secret meeting.
Captain Vera walked into the office and immediately got down to business. “So, what’s the urgent matter, Adrian?”
“Marcus.”
The captain rolled his eyes. “Listen, I know you like to work on your own, but Marcus has been one the greatest additions we’ve had in years. He’s your new partner. Get used to it.”
“I know. What I’m trying to tell you is he’s asking questions regarding my attack and the lack of investigation. Not to mention there’s a possibility he’ll find out about our private investigation and you know if that happens we’re screwed.”
The captain sunk into a chair in front of Adrian as he spoke. “I thought his attention was on the Midnight Vigilante.”
“It is. But the first attack happened just after my own, and he’s starting to believe this guy did it because of me.”
“That’s a coincidence.”
“Yes, of course. But the men who died were the ones who attacked me,” Adrian said. “And I think Marcus believes I’ve got something to do with this murder now.”
The captain crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes. “Do you?”
Now it was Adrian’s turn to roll his eyes.
“Of course! I walked like a zombie out of the hospital, got into a fist fight with those guys and I used my casted arm as a shield.” Adrian stopped himself. “Sorry, sir. That was uncalled for. But seriously, I don’t have the ability to fight like he does. I’m a good shooter and nothing else.”
“Well, just ignore Marcus then. Don’t answer his questions if he asks them; you’re not required to at least.”
“I know I’m not. The only thing that scares me is that he might find a connection between me and Julius. I mean, those guys out there are killers, they shoot first and ask questions later. If Marcus finds out the real reason why they didn’t kill me, everything will go to hell.”
“There’s no reason why he would know. Yes, those guys are killers, but you can be the exception to the rule like many others. They spared your life because you’re a cop, or that’s what you’ll say if he asks,” Captain Vera said. “And don’t mention Lydia, or Riley. The last thing we need is him interrogating the sister of our deceased
