CONTENT WARNING! This chapter mentions non-consensual druguse. This is necessary for the plot. Remember that taking any drugs without your doctor's prescription may be dangerous for your health!
Our city met (or came face to face?) with a new enemy - Nocturnal Phoenix. But the Moon Chasm Police and our patrons, Luis and Margaret Capiano, join forces to end this. Our nemesis will be defeated and put behind the bars! Our city will be able to sleep safely!
“No, that’s too pompous. People need reassurance, not boastfulness about Capianos might”, mayor Myles Darrell thought.
He’s been writing this speech for an hour already. Margaret will kill him if anything is not to her liking. During all these years as a mayor he figured one should never play with this woman. When they first met, he was sure he would easily wrap her around his finger. But he walked into his own trap. Margaret skillfully manipulated his vanity and put wool over his eyes. Now he found himself in the position he wanted but in reality he was just a puppet. He hated this feeling. All his power, money, fame is nothing if you can get stripped of it in the blink of an eye.
Escaping Capianos’ clutches has been his dream for the last 2 years. He started gathering information to find their weak spots. So far he had failed. Luis had many shady businesses but nothing could be done about it. The police were also under his thumb.
“I wonder what he holds over Evans? Probably his family, that’s one of the most common mafia ways. And the most efficient one”.
He couldn’t get to the FBI either because then his own dubious activities will come to light. Myles was honest with himself. He never stayed on the rails. In truth, Darrell wanted neither getting rid of Capianos, nor destroying their reputation. His goal was to be in command, to turn the tables and have Capianos at their mercy. Not vice versa like it was now.
Reputation was everything to Luis, Myles understood it soon enough, and that was his weak point. But how could he use this without harming himself? Blackmail. He needs blackmail. He needs something they’d rather die for than let it go public. And then he, Myles Darrell, will be able to finally push them around.
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****
The piercing sound of her alarm clock merged with the call on her phone. Amanda winced.
“When will I change that horrible tune?”
Without opening her eyes, she fumbled for her phone.
“Hello?”
“Amanda, it’s Brian”.
His voice helped her to finally wake up. She shook her head to red rid of the remainders of her dream.
“Yes, what is it? Have you found anything?”
She hardly managed to suppress a yawn. Thank God it’s not a video call.
“Judging by your voice, you’ve just woken up”.
Ugh, I hate how he is so astute.
“You’re wrong, I was about to have breakfast now”.
Brian sighed.
“Sure. At least you get to have breakfast. Anyway, I called to tell you that there’s something I discovered about the case yesterday and I need to talk to you. When will you be able to come to the precinct?”.
That’s my chance!
“I have a better idea. You know, since you can’t have breakfast, I suggest we meet at Coffee Valley, the diner I work on, it’s close to the precinct, so you won’t have to waste any time going there”.
After some silence, Brian said:
“Fine. If it makes things run quicker…”
“It will. I’ll send you the address. See you there”.
Amanda hung up. Now the most important thing was not to mess up. He shouldn’t suspect any foul play. He already sounded stressed, like a taut spring. Amanda looked again at the small bottle her mother gave her yesterday. Sleep didn’t ease her conscience. Amanda angrily threw off her blanket. Why should she even care about him? He’s just a tough grumpy scoundrel! And also good-looking, with that smoldering gaze and rippling muscles…
“Ugh, no! I won’t think about it now, I have more important things to do”.
She resolutely went inside her dressing room.
“Hmm, what should I wear? If I dress up, he will for sure put up his walls, so I need to go for something casual, everything should be the same as always”.
“What always?”, she rolled her eyes at herself, “I’ve known him for two days only! Alright, I’ll opt for these blue jeans and a grey T-shirt with a kitten. Oh, and definitely no heels”.
After getting dressed, she took her bag and went to her car.
“I’ll eat there”, she thought, “I wonder if Brian will already be there when I arrive”.
****
Coffee Valley diner was indeed very close to the police department. Literally 10 minutes on foot. Brian decided not to take his car and walk there. After all, it was a healthy habit. Helped him stay in shape, though he was more than fit already. Brian has never lacked women’s attention. A handsome young policeman always attracted their attention. Even now, when he wasn’t wearing a uniform, he was catching curious gazes from young girls. However, his longest relationship lasted only half a year. In real life, all these women can’t handle the fact that they will have to share his heart with his job.
When he came up to the building, he noticed that Amanda hadn’t arrived yet.
“Well, that’s for the better. I’ll have some time to look around”.
The diner’s exterior wasn’t anything out of the ordinary - bright flower beds, a couple of tables, a small white fence… The glass door leading inside was closed. Brian pulled the handle.
“The diner opens at 9”, he looked at his watch, “it’s 8:40 now. The workers should already be there.”
At this moment Amanda’s small silver sedan parked at the curb. She exited the car and greeted him with a smile.
“Have you been waiting for a long time?”
“Nah, just got here. Your diner is still closed for visitors”.
“Well, duh. We can’t work 24/7”, she laughed, “we’re not the police officers who can be needed at any time on any day. Although, coffee can be needed as often as you. Depends on the person. Sorry for the rumbling, I’ve got the key, don’t worry. I’m the owner, after all”.
They went inside. The place reminded him of a modern speakeasy. Leather red booths, semidarkness, bar table for the customers.
“Doesn’t look like a typical diner”.
“Because it isn’t. I tried to play with different styles and came up with something between a diner and a speakeasy. I’m thinking of giving small concerts here in the future. Well, not exactly here, but in the banquet hall. Invite beginner musicians or singers, for example”.
“I still can’t believe you work”.
“I’m not a waitress, you know. Not that I have anything against them, but… I wouldn’t choose this occupation for myself”.
“You have a luxury to choose, unlike many civilians”, Brian couldn’t but point it out.
“True, but we’re not here to discuss our backgrounds, right? I don’t know anything about you, by the way”.
“I’m satisfied with my job. That’s all you need to know”.
They sat at their booth.
“Hello, dear guests, what would you like to order?”
A young waitress, hardly of age, appeared in front of them out of nowhere.
“Hello, Cathay, I think sparkling water and a croissant for me and a double espresso for the gentleman”.
Brian opened his mouth to object, but the waitress already left.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”Amanda asked, “you don’t like double espresso?”
“I do, but I don’t like it when someone decides for me”.
“Really? What about Henry?”
“He’s the head of my division”, Brian rolled his eyes, “I’m obliged to follow his orders. You, on the other hand, are just an annoying acquaintance”.
Back to square one. I can’t believe I thought I would be able to extract something from him just by making a nice, polite, friendly conversation!
“Anyway”, she said, “what was that you wanted to share?”
“I spent some time in the archives and found an old case from 1,5 months ago. The guy died from head trauma but there were no other injuries on him. His blood was clean and overall, he was as fit as a bull. What attracted my attention was the black dragon tattoo on his arm”.
“Coincidence?”
“Maybe so, but my experience taught me that there is no such thing in life. The body was cremated, so there is no chance to check if he was given a death injection. In any case, I dug some more and learnt that the guy had only an uncle. I was going to visit him today”.
“Is this all you wanted to say? You could have told me on the phone about it”.
“No, I couldn’t. Such details are discussed only in person”.
“Oh, so you trust me?”she smiled and put her elbows on the table, resting her chin on them.
“I have no other choice, but if it was up to me, I wouldn’t spend a single minute with you”, he snapped at her.
Amanda was taken aback. She miscalculated again. Why is he so difficult to read? She was sure they would finally talk like normal people. Why is he pushing her away? First, he wants to spend time together, now he pretends he wants nothing to do with her?
While she was thinking about it, Cathy brought their orders. Brian didn’t even notice her shy gaze because his eyes were trained on Amanda. She stubbornly avoided looking at him. He screwed up again. He just wanted to be cold and indifferent but ended up offending her.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it”, he tried to take her hand.
Amanda’s green eyes flashed. She quickly pulled her hand away.
“I think you meant exactly what you said. And if you think you somehow offended me, you’re wrong. Try again. My skin is hard enough to endure all your jabs”.
She angrily took her glass and brought it to her lips.
“So, will you come with me?”, he asked quietly.
Amanda turned her head. This was a perfect moment to slip that pill into his cup. They sat opposite each other. She will pretend to be overly excited and knock off her glass on herself. He is a boor, of course, but he will try to help her. While he will fuss around her, she will put this pill in his coffee. It sounded like a solid plan, especially given her nimbleness. But what if he expects something like this? Amanda quickly looked into his eyes.
“No, he doesn’t. He won’t expect such a low blow from me. He doesn’t think highly of me, but not so much. I won’t do it. I can’t. Especially now, when he feels true remorse”.
All these thoughts ran through her mind like a train. She raised her eyes and confidently said:
“Yes, I will”.
****
His morning guest was as unexpected as he was unusual. When his secretary told him about this person, Myles’s eyebrows went up. What can he want from him? Isn’t he Capiano’s lapdog?
“Let him in, Diane”.
The girl nodded and in a couple of seconds his visitor appeared in his office. He looked awful: disheveled hair, dark circles under his eyes, haunted look and slightly shaking hands. Always neat and collected, now he seemed on the border of fainting. Darrell had never seen him like that.
“What happened, Professor Clark?”, he asked, almost genuinely worrying about Nathan.
“Mr. Darrell, it’s serious, very serious!”, he was hyperventilating, “I have no one else to go to!”
That is bound to be interesting.
“Sit down, Professor”.
Myles took a bottle of water from the table and gave it to Nathan. He gratefully nodded and with shaking fingers opened it. Then he made several big gulps, spilling half of it on himself. The mayor wrinkled his nose. That guy should have his nerves checked. He is a total wreck.
“They went to the lab, they searched the documents!”
“Who?”9Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCoH6bzogQ3
“Luis and Margaret! They came to me last night!”
“Why did it scare you so much? Do they want to take your position away?”
He could never understand people who were driven by something other than greed, avarice or vanity. All Darrell cared about was his post and how to secure it. Of course, he expected others to do the same. He has known Nathan Clark as the head of Capiano Pharmaceuticals and a capable scientist. But he always seemed to be subdued by them, and that’s why Darrell despised him.
“No, sir, it’s so much worse! They suspect something is up! Because it… It’s… It’s me…”
“What"you "?"
“I am the Nocturnal Phoenix”
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