Midnight Vigilante, Leonor Bass [top business books of all time .TXT] 📗

“Anyways, I’m about to hit the road and try to figure some stuff out. Waste of time, if you ask me, but that’s the job.”

Standing slowly, Adrian brought himself to eye-level with Marcus. “I’m not scared of these guys. If they want to hurt me again, so be it. But I’m not gonna let them stop me from doing my job.”

Marcus sighed and started to shake his head before raising his hands again, this time in a gesture of surrender. “Fine. Let’s do this, then.”

Marcus drove his car around Riley’s neighborhood, the place where it all began, for half an hour. In the passenger seat, Adrian recalled how Riley had offered to testify if he asked, which he had rejected and now regretted. They could have saved all the trouble of looking for someone to help them, a witness or anyone who might have seen something. The half hour they had driven had been a total waste, since every time they showed up at someone’s doorstep the people paid no attention to their questioning. He figured maybe if he came back and talked to Riley, he would receive the same amount of attention.

“This is the last apartment. We might find something here. I mean, it has a better view of the street than the others, so . . .”

“Fingers crossed,” Adrian replied.

Marcus knocked on the apartment door and waited not-so-patiently for someone to open the door. It happened three minutes later. A woman, around fifty, stared at them, her eyes stuck on the badge Marcus presented before her demeanor changed completely. She was angry, with a deep frown on her face, but still didn’t close the door on them; instead, she moved aside to let them in.

It was a minor step, but it was something.

“You want to know about what happened the other day?” the woman spoke. Adrian and Marcus exchanged looks and nodded at her question. “Figured you would come.”

“Ma’am, we would greatly appreciate it if you could be of assistance,” Adrian said, speaking as softly as possible to make her not change her mind.

“You want my help?” the woman asked, laughing as she waited for an answer. “This is hilarious. Do you know how many times I’ve called you in the last month? No? I’ll tell you: five. I’ve called you five times. You know how many of those times you’ve come here? None. Not a single time.”

“Ma’am, we apologize–”

“Apologize for not keeping us safe, like hell you should! I’ve been mugged seven times. SEVEN! In the safety of my own home. And you cops have done nothing to help me, to even catch the guys who took everything from me. Now you want my help solving a crime that was meant to happen? Well, let me tell you this quite clearly: no.”

Adrian said nothing. He did nothing; she was right. When it came to crimes committed by Julius’s men, nothing could be done about it. It wasn’t for lack of trying, but when it came to Julius and everything he did, even the mayor was afraid something might be done to him, and with no witnesses talking the police involvement was slim to none. Julius had more control over LinHill than Adrian liked to admit.

“Ma’am, I know you’re upset right now, but believe me when I tell you that we’re doing our best to keep everyone safe,” Adrian explained.

“As you tried to keep yourself safe?” the woman pointed at Adrian’s bruised face. “Don’t give me that bullshit. The truth is you don’t give a fuck about us, about anyone. If you did, those guys would have been arrested a long time ago and this town would exist in peace.”

“So, to get this straight, you won’t give us your statement? You won’t cooperate with us?” Marcus asked, a little bit harshly, his voice rising.

The woman seemed unaffected by his attitude toward her. “No. I saw nothing and I heard nothing.”

Marcus produced his handcuffs and stepped toward the woman. “All right, then, I’m gonna have to arrest you for obstruct . . .” Adrian put a hand on his partner’s shoulder, stopping him mid-sentence, Marcus stood speechless as his partner turned toward the woman. ”What are you doing?”

“I’m really sorry for what happened to you, ma’am,” Adrian said. “I’m gonna do whatever I have in my power to fight back and stop this. You have my word.”

“Thank you, and I’m sorry too,” the woman replied sincerely.

Adrian waved a hand at her and pushed an irate Marcus out of the building. His partner pulled his hand away once they reached the car.

“Marcus,” Adrian tried to speak, but his companion was too upset and there was no way he could convince Marcus he was only trying to help.

“Whose side are you on? I don’t think you even care about the crimes committed here. Maybe you should get another job, with Julius perhaps. I’m sure you’ll fit right in,” Marcus said.

Adrian didn’t reply because Marcus had a valid point. Julius had more influence on his job that he’d ever want to admit. Despite all the help he got from his brother overcoming alcoholism and getting into therapy, with Julius spending all his money on Adrian for years just to see him better, Adrian hadn’t begun to fathom the kind of job his brother had until it was too late, until he had half of the town under his belt and started using what Adrian had done against him.

Chapter Twenty

Mr. Eaton’s bar was packed, just like any other Saturday evening. Adrian ventured carefully inside, avoiding some of the customers’ curious stares. The counter held some of the only vacant seats, the ones taken occupied by men staring at Riley like hungry dogs.

“Hey!” Adrian shouted to get Riley’s attention.

“Yes, how can I help you?” Riley asked.

“Do you mind if we talk for a moment, privately?”

Frustrated, she sighed and pointed to a door behind the counter. She motioned for Paige to take over as Adrian followed her into the