Rain fell like needles against the city.
Detective Vanessa Rivera hated rain.
Not because of the cold or the inconvenience. Rain washed away footprints, diluted blood, blurred tire tracks, and erased the tiny pieces of evidence criminals accidentally left behind.
Rain helped monsters escape.
The alley outside the nightclub glistened with puddles reflecting neon lights. Music from inside thumped faintly through the walls, muffled by the storm.
Vanessa crouched near the body.
Male, probably in his early thirties, his expensive suit soaked in crimson blood. His face looked pale and bloodless, and dead.
Three gunshots. Three bullets penetrated his body.
Quite professional work. Venessa thought while she slipped on latex gloves, while the patrol officers kept the crowd back.
"Anything?" Officer Malik asked from behind the tape.
Vanessa didn't answer immediately. Her fingers brushed the victim's wrist and felt no warmth. It was eerily cold.
Dead for at least thirty minutes, Venessa thought.
She studied the wound placement in the man's body.
Chest.
Chest.
Head.
The killer had done an efficient job. She had to give him an A+ for this execution style.
It was not a robbery nor a work done by a random psychopath.
This was a message but a message she couldn't decrypt.
She stood slowly and turned her head.
"Call forensics," she said.
"They're on the way."
Vanessa looked toward the nightclub entrance.
Eclipse Lounge.
The most exclusive club in the city. Also rumored to be owned by the most untouchable man in the underworld.
Her jaw tightened.
Three years.
Three years chasing rumors, ghosts, money trails, and witnesses that suddenly forgot everything they saw. Every trail eventually led to one name.
Gale De Luca.
The crime lord, the King of the city's underground.
He was untouchable, and he was unproven of any guilty charges despite everyone having heard of him.
And Vanessa intended to destroy that man. A criminal, regardless of being rich or poor, should rot in jail. They are the despicable virus in a peaceful society.
"Detective." Vanessa heard a voice behind.
She turned her head and looked at her partner, Daniel Cruz, who walked towards her over holding a phone.
"You might want to see this."
Vanessa took it.
It was security footage from the alley camera from the nightclub.
The video showed the victim stumbling out the back door.
Two seconds later, a black car pulled into the alley.
The rear door opened, and someone stepped out of the car.
Someone tall with broad shoulders, adorned in a black, expensive coat. His face wasn't clearly visible, but Vanessa recognized the posture instantly.
The calm, controlled, and the kind of stillness that only dangerous men carried.
Her pulse slowed.
"Zoom," she said.
Daniel pinched the screen.
The camera caught the man's face for one second.
Sharp jaw and dark hair slicked back, eyes cold and steady.
Vanessa stared at the image.
There was no doubt.
It WAS Gale De Luca.
"Well," Daniel muttered.
"You finally got the ghost you wanted, Detective," Daniel said with a smile.
Vanessa handed the phone back to Daniel.
"No," she said quietly. "I just found his shadow."
Because men like Gale De Luca didn't pull triggers. They just made other people do it.
Vanessa stood up.
"Get a warrant."
"For what?"
"For the club."
Daniel blinked.
"You think the judge will approve that?"
Vanessa glanced at the body again.
"He will if he wants reelection."
—
Two hours later.
The warrant was approved.
Forty officers surrounded Eclipse Lounge.
Vanessa stepped out of the police vehicle and stared at the building.
Black marble shone with the golden lights in the entrance. It looked more like a business suit rather than a fun club.
Expensive cars lined the street. Everything about the place screamed power.
Daniel walked beside her.
"You really think he's inside?"
Vanessa adjusted her jacket. "He's always inside."
He was the ghosted that he wanted to haunt, and she believed that the ghost was studied perfectly.
They approached the entrance.
Two massive security guards blocked the door.
One of them spoke calmly.
"Private event tonight."
Vanessa held up her badge.
"Police."
The guard didn't move.
"Then you should come back tomorrow."
Daniel sighed as he muttered under his breath, "Oh, this is going to be fun."
Vanessa stepped forward and order the guard, "Move."
The guard crossed his arms, "Sorry, I can't do that."
Vanessa's patience ended. She turned her head and nodded once.
Behind her, thirty officers raised their weapons.
"Police raid," she said calmly. "You can move now, or I can move you to a place behind iron bars."
The guard studied the scene.
Then slowly stepped aside.
"Welcome to Eclipse." He said while bowing his head.
Vanessa pushed the door open.
Music exploded into the hallway and the disco lights flashed.
People danced, drank, laughed.
None of them noticed the police storming in.
"Police!" Daniel shouted. "Everyone stay where you are!"
Screams erupted in the room and the music came to halt as panic spread across the club.
Vanessa ignored the chaos.
Her eyes scanned the room.
She knew exactly where he would be.
The top floor, having fun in the private lounge.
She headed for the staircase.
Daniel followed.
"You sure about this?"
Vanessa climbed the steps.
"Completely."
The second floor was quieter.
Private rooms rolled in the hallways while VIP guests booked at them with a disgusted expression.
The guards here looked far more dangerous than the guard at the entrance.
One of the guards stepped forward and declared, "You can't go up there."
Vanessa didn't slow down.
"Yes I can."
The guard reached for his radio.
Big mistake.
Because before he could make an announcement, Daniel grabbed him and shoved him against the wall.
"Police business." He said with a cheeky smile.
Vanessa on the other hand reached the final door on the hallway.
It was painted completely black and looked heavy.
She pushed it open and was amazed by the interior. The room inside was enormous.
Dim lights.
Glass walls overlooking the city.
And a long table surrounded by men in expensive suits.
They all turned towards her.
But Vanessa only looked at one.
The man sitting at the center.
Gale De Luca.
Ironically, he didn't look surprised nor did he looked angry.
He rather looked… amused, like he had been expecting her.
The room fell silent.
Vanessa walked forward slowly.
Her footsteps echoed across the marble floor.
The other men watched her nervously.
But Gale remained completely still.
One hand resting on the table while the other holding a glass of whiskey.
Vanessa stopped in front of him.
For a moment they simply stared at each other.
Up close, he looked even more dangerous.
Not because of his size or strength.
Because of his calmness.
Men like him didn't panic.
They calculated and for that very reason, Vanessa hated people like him.
Finally, Gale spoke. His voice was low and smooth.
"Detective Rivera." Gale read through the name slip attached to her chest.
Vanessa didn't blink. "Gale De Luca."
He smiled faintly. "I was wondering when you'd visit."
Gale probably knew she was after him. Man at his position knows everything.
Vanessa pulled out a pair of handcuffs.The metal clicked softly.
"You're under arrest."
The room froze with her words.
One of the men at the table started laughing nervously.
"That's a good joke."
Vanessa ignored him.
Her eyes stayed locked on Gale. "You're being charged with conspiracy to commit murder."
The smile on Gale's lips didn't fade.
Instead, it deepened slightly.
"And what evidence do you have?"
Vanessa placed a photograph on the table.
The victim from the alley.
Blood pooling around his head.
"You were seen leaving the scene." She commented monotonously.
Gale glanced at the photo.
Then back at her. "That proves I own a car."
Vanessa leaned closer. "It proves you made a mistake."
Their faces were inches apart now.
The tension in the room thickened.
Gale studied her quietly.
His gaze moved slowly over her face.
Like he was memorizing something.
Then he said softly, "You've been chasing me for three years."
"Yes."
"And tonight you finally walked into my office."
Vanessa didn't move.
"Yes."
Gale set his whiskey glass down.
The sound echoed.
Then he stood.
He was taller than she expected.
Close enough now that she could smell faint traces of expensive cologne and smoke.
But she didn't step back.
She never stepped back.
Gale looked down at the handcuffs.
Then back at her.
"You really think you can arrest me?"
Vanessa snapped one cuff around his wrist.
The click echoed loudly.
"I know I can."
The men around the table jumped to their feet.
Guns appeared instantly.
Pointed at her.
Daniel burst into the room with officers behind him.
"Police!"
Now dozens of guns filled the room.
A standoff.
Vanessa didn't look away from Gale.
Neither did he.
Seconds passed.
Then Gale slowly raised his free hand.
The men around him lowered their weapons immediately.
Vanessa noticed that.
Interesting.
He had complete control.
Gale looked back at her and commented, "You're very bold."
She locked the second cuff onto his other wrist. and replied savagely, "And you're finally caught."
For the first time, Gale laughed quietly.
Not nervous.
Not angry.
Almost entertained.
Then he leaned slightly closer.
Close enough that only she could hear him.
His voice dropped to a whisper. "You shouldn't look so proud yet, Detective."
Vanessa frowned slightly. "Why?"
Gale's dark eyes gleamed.
"Because tomorrow morning…"
He paused.
"…you're going to realize this was the worst mistake of your life."