"Let's see where you're going Andrew Grayson." Connor mused as he quietly tailed Andrew, his motions natural as Andrew kept on going with his pace till arriving at a place Connor was familiar with thanks to his colleagues. 'Is this where they're going to meet up?' Connor pondered as he came to a stop far enough to avoid startling Andrew but not too far to lose him.
What confused Connor wasn't that Andrew entered Freddie's Diner but waited outside on the pavement. Minutes passed before another car pulled up and Andrew entered without thought. The car a sleek red super car that seemed out of place given the back ground.
'Looks like Andrew isn't the only one who was given money.' Hailing a cab, he ordered the driver to follow the red monstrosity. 'Where could they be going?' He couldn't help but wonder as he went deeper and deeper into the city before coming to a stop in a parking lot.
Paying the cab driver, Connor waited for Andrew and the supposed driver to make their emergence. The city busy with people going on with their lives kept pushing and shoving him from time to time however he didn't seem to care. Sky scrapers erected all over and cars honking and hauling across the road.
Emerging from the lot, Connor was greeted with the image of Andrew but next to him was a stunning lady in white. Her presence completely out of place as she reeked of affluence, her white hair reaching her shoulder blades and walked next to Andrew who seemed apathetic of her presence.
Of course the two attracted gazes from passer by before they disappeared into a regular looking restaurant. Following them in, he took a seat three tables away from them, his curiosity piqued as he grabbed the menu and mindlessly looked through the dishes presented to him.
It was long before another figure who seemed unfitting of the scene entered as well. Unlike the girl who had a mature and collected air despite being not that older from Andrew, the man seemed to carry chaos with him.
Aviator glasses perched on his temples, a white shirt and some dark pants but what caught Connor's attention was his eyes. The way they gleamed crimson in the dark lighting of the restaurant seemed unreal, his beads way too perfect for a human being.
The moment he sat much to the surprise of Connor, everyone else in the restaurant stood and left in unison making shivers crawl all over his body. 'Looks like they were expecting me.' Connor cursed as he saw the man in red and gold take his seat next to Andrew and the white haired lady in the Chinese themed hotel.
"Connor, since you're here, you might as well come over here." Charles spoke, his grin dripping with malicious intent as Charles gently chided the white haired girl off her seat and have her seat on his lap. Mustering any form of courage he had left, Connor made his way over to their table, his hairs on ends.
"I was wondering when we would meet." Charles commented as the girl in his embrace took off his glasses and wore them. "I got Andrew for you." The girl chuckled as she rested her head on Charles's chest. "Not bad but could you give us some privacy dear."
The lady left leaving the massive restaurant to the three of them, an unspoken tension taut in the air. The waiter made his way to their table, orders already in hand and spilled them onto the table with careful professionalism before scurrying off. "I guess you have questions detective." Charles mused as he began to take small bites of his food.
Andrew on the other hand remained silent as if it was his domain, untouched by the words of the two gentlemen. "I know that you're both scouts for the kidnapping schemes all over the city. I know about the money you two funnel to each other and-" Connor was cut off by Charles who raised his hand, a smile forming on his lips.
"Kidnapping schemes?! I do agree about the money but we have nothing to do with the kidnappings." The words coming off as a joke to Connor who hadn't touched his food. "Do you take me for a fool? I've been doing my job for far longer than you think and it's only a matter of time before you and your friend here are brought to light."
Andrew dug away, his gaze focused on his meal. "I might as well explain about the money since you're here." Charles stated as he took a measured sip of his wine. He was about the same age as Andrew of twenty years old with no further similarities. Unlike Andrew who was silent and reclusive, Charles seemed to be the kind of person to steal the show.
His perfect flawless skin seemed to belong to models on television, his smile inviting danger and his unkempt golden hair gave him a suave Connor couldn't quite name. Despite being older than the two, his guard was up, seeing them as far worse than the criminals he had been catching for years. There was something in his body telling him, screaming that he should leave the restaurant and yet steeling his nerves, he remained.
Fear was part of the job but this time, what he felt was akin to being preyed upon by apex predators, one wearing the disguise of apathy and the other playfulness. "I'm sure you know about the warehouse and the games and all that. Well the thing about winning the game was money, a life changing amount at that."
Charles paused, as if waiting for Connor to cut him off. "But the thing about Andrew is that he's a very considerate person, he let me store his money from the game but I couldn't bring myself to do so thus I started to send him money overtime. The guilt was eating me alive."
Guilt, the way Charles had said it felt foreign in his mouth that unnerved Connor. "Is that it?" Connor's tone filled the air. "Do you expect me to believe such lies?" His tone dripping with rage however the two didn't show a shift in their expression.
"Of course I don't expect a person like you to believe something like that but it's the truth. But since you seem convinced that it was us who are behind these attacks then I'll leave. After all I came all the way here to make sure that Andrew arrived safely and I'm done."
Charles rose to his feet, his smile still present. "This will be the last time we interact detective." Connor reciprocated with a smile of this own. "Do you think that you can leave just like that? After I bring this case forward, I doubt you'll be leaving your cell let alone this country." Charles had already lost interest with Connor, adjusting the buttons on his shirt.
"I don't have the time to entertain your antics Connor Hale, I have a flight to catch." Charles' s turned to face Andrew, his tone turning soft not out of care but playfulness. "Looks like you were right as always Andrew. I'll leave this to you then." His steps light as he started to take his leave. "Charles and Andrew, the two of you are suspected of the recent of kidnapping incidents."
Connor's tone turning grim as he flashed two hand cuffs and reaching for his walkie talkie. "It would be best that the two of you come with me to the station." The white haired girl emerged seemingly out of nowhere and gave Charles his poppy red golden laced trench coat. "Connor, are you familiar with the painting of Pieter Bruegel the Elder and his masterpiece called The Triumph of Death?"
The question momentarily stunning Connor before approaching Charles careful and measured steps. "Do you think that because of your money that you can walk as you please? It would seem you're still to young to understand how money works." Charles merely let out a chuckle before lazily gesturing the girl to stop Connor.
A faint laugh escaped Connor's lips as he saw the girl ball her fists hindering him from getting to Charles. "There's no need to complicate this Charles. All you have to do is come-" The white haired lady made her move, her punch connecting with Connor's stomach making him drop to his knees. "Hah! Since you want to do it like this then fine."
"Drissel, don't kill him yet, it's way too early for that." Drissel's gaze never left Connor's body as he collected himself back on his feet.
*Whoosh*
Connor's first swing was easily dodged only to be met with a square hit to his jaw sending him momentarily flying before crashing onto the tables set to the side. 'Looks like she's trained with how hard she punches. How can she even fight in such a dress?' His vision was already growing blurry, pain blooming all over his senses.
Charles watched to the side, his smile present while Andrew stood next to him with his gaze focused on Connor who was barely standing with each punch. The two watched with no commentary while Connor would antagonize Charles, calling him a coward before Drissel would knock him off his feet.
'I can't keep going like this.' Connor concluded, by now his feet had already given way. His hard breathing evident to those around him, blood coating his lips and his eyes blinded by the blood that trickled from his temple.
On the verge of losing consciousness, Charles made his way to the kneeling Connor grasping him by his chin. "Connor, it would seem that you are the one ignorant. My power doesn't come from money but my lips. Whatever I say is law and you…" Turning Connor and checking his injuries, his chuckle turning devilish went on. "…Are nothing more than something I get to play and forget about because I am god."
Connor taking Charles as deranged with his words as a chuckle escaped Connor's lips, the blood staining Charles's hand. "You're nothing more than a fool with money thinking that the world is yours." Charles let Connor fall,chin first to the concrete floor. "Then let the game unfold and see who is the fool Connor." His tone dangerously low as he turned around and left, revealing a piece of cloth to wipe the blood off his hand.
"By the end of the year I'll start, no debate.I'll make one last deposit though." Andrew watched the entire scene unfold before he too took his leave.
. . .
"Are you okay sir?" Connor was met with worried voices echoing through his ears. "Argh!" An incredulous amount of pain assaulted him as he tried to shift his body to sit upright. Clutching his jaw, an electric sensation wrapped through his entire skull making him instinctively let go. "What…what time is it?" His voice faint as he looked around before realizing that he was still in the restaurant.
"It's 4 pm." Using the table as support he forced himself to stand only to crash to the floor once more. "Mmmhhh!!!" His groans of agony filling the venue. "There's no need to stress yourself so much sir. I've already called the ambulance and they should be here at any time now." Gritting his teeth, Connor forced himself up once more as he preserved through the pain.
It wasn't his first time experiencing such agonizing pain given his job but it had been a while since he last felt like this. '4 pm? He should have the country left by now.' Connor cursed as he staggered towards the exit before he was greeted by the ambulance who he let nurse him. "Looks like you don't have to go to the hospital but it would be best for you to rest for while."
One of the paramedics chimed as they applied a bandage to Connor's temple after disinfecting it.
"Thank you but I have what I'm doing can't have me simply dilly dally." Without another word, he steeled himself off the ambulance and hailed a cab heading precinct.