Chapter 66 – A New Game
Victor walked out of the café with his coffee cup in his hand, his mind racing like the steam coming from it. He could still picture Madeline’s face, her guarded curiosity, her keen eyes that seemed to perceive more than she revealed. Even though he hadn’t anticipated seeing her, let alone talking to her, he felt uneasy now that he had, but for now, he and Raphael needed to regroup.
Victor got into his car and swerved through the late afternoon traffic as he traveled across the city. In a quiet area of town, surrounded by fenced–off lots and shuttered warehouses, was the alley where he and Raphael frequently met. No curious eyes would venture there, thus it was their secure haven.
Raphael’s black car was parked when he got there, its tinted windows gleaming in the last of the sunlight. After parking and getting his coffee, Victor went up to Raphael’s car. The window’s lock clicked open when he tapped on it, Victor closed the door securely behind him and climbed into the passenger seat.
Behind the wheel, Raphael sat with a little crumpled suit and a stressed–out look, there was the weight of dread in place of his usual air of confidence. Instead of turning to face Victor right away, he took a deep, trembling breath,
“She’s mentioned my name, hasn’t she?” Raphael finally asked, his voice low but laden with tension. Victor took a slow sip of his coffee, stalling. He nodded eventually, and Raphael’s shoulders slumped,
“Damn it” Raphael muttered, slamming a fist against the steering wheel,
“I told you we should’ve silenced Emily when we had the chance. I told you”
Victor raised a hand, his tone measured,
“Relax, Raphael. Trust me, that would’ve been worse, it’s too late to be talking about what we should’ve done. We need to focus on what we’re going to do”
Raphael exhaled sharply, his frustration barely contained,
“Then what’s your brilliant plan? Because as far as I’m concerned, we’re on borrowed time
Victor leaned back, setting his coffee on the cupholder, he clasped his hands together, his mind working quickly,
“We redirect their attention”
Raphael frowned, skepticism flickering across his face,
“Redirect? How?”
Victor turned his gaze to Raphael, his eyes sharp,
“Sebastian”
Raphael blinked, taken aback,
“Sebastian? You’re saying we put him in the spotlight again?”
Victor nodded,
“Exactly. He’s already a person of interest, the police won’t hesitate to turn their focus back on him if we give them a reason. Especially Davies, that guy’s practically salivating for a high- profile case to crack”
Raphael considered this, his expression slowly shifting. The idea was audacious, but it had
merit.
“Alright” he said finally,
“Let’s say we do this, how do we pull it off without drawing suspicion back to us?”
“That’s your department” Victor replied smoothly,
“You have the resources, find a way to link him to something, anything, that will keep the police busy and keep Emily’s lips sealed in the meantime”
Raphael stared at him, the wheels in his mind turning. Finally, he nodded,
“Very well. I’ll take care of it”
Victor smirked faintly, his confidence returning
“Good. Just make sure it’s clean this time, no loose ends” Raphael watched Victor get his coffee, unlock the car door, and get out. His form vanished into the waning light as the lawyer left. Before starting the engine and leaving the alley, Raphael stayed for a while, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel.
The city was completely black by the time Raphael got back to his workplace. The warm glow of her desk lamp lit the face of his ever–efficient assistant, Marrison, who was waiting for him. She raised her head as he walked in,
“Call that imbecile” Raphael said
Marrison didn’t need an explanation, she reached for her phone and smiled slightly, knowing who he meant by imbecile.
The hitman moved with ease and purpose as he entered Raphael’s office in a matter of minutes, Raphael didn’t make an effort to be nice, his finger tapped the photos as he slid it over the tabletop,
“Same job” he said coldly,
“Different person, no fuck–ups this time”
Chapyone – A New Camer
The hitman’s countenance was unreadable as he looked at the picture for a while. Then he nodded once and walked out of the room as quietly as he had come.
The situation was bearing down on him, Raphael reclined on his chair. The golden swirled in the glass as he poured himself a drink from the crystal decanter on his desk, his thoughts were racing as he sipped. He was about to start a scheme that would change everything, a chess match where every move mattered and lives were on the line.
liquid
This was a new game, one no one saw coming, not Emily, not Sebastian,
Not even Victor Lanning.
