“I’ll Think About It”

You have precious little to lose in this deal, you’re going to be out on your ass next year but you still have a responsibility to this city,

He gives a small nod, his smile broadening, seemingly taking your answer as confirmation.

“Outstanding…! I knew you could be relied upon, didn’t I Marco..?” He says turning to the young man on his left who bares a passing resemblance to the man.

“Yes sir, Mr Infierno” he says, stone faced as he stares ahead, he almost appears to be at attention like a soldier addressing his superior.

Seeing you’ve noticed Don Infierno chuckles slightly. “Ah, don’t mind him, my nephew tends to take his duties a bit seriously”

“A family business huh…?” You ask raising an eyebrow, eliciting a knowing chuckle from him.

“Yes… indeed.. family business…” he says shortly before finishing his meal and standing.

Rounding the table he raises a hand for you to shake, you do so reluctantly and your taken aback by how warm it is, uncomfortably so.

“Well, we’ll be out of your hair now, you’ve got a big day ahead of you after all. Good day, Ms Chen”

And with that your unexpected guests file outside, climbing into the several blacked out vehicles that are parked on the side of the road near your home.

And with that, you’re alone again, glancing at the clock you notice your behind schedule, your little chat had taken up more time then you had realized.

You hurriedly grab your coat and boots and head out to your car, a rundown old thing that has been carting you around for the last 12 years.

You hop in and after a few tries at the key she starts up like a dream, you pull out and head to the station.

The radio hasn’t worked in this heap in ages so you’re left with your thoughts on the drive to the precinct.

Your thoughts linger on your agreement with Mr Infierno, what kind of favors is he going to ask of you? How many people will be hurt if you look the other way?

How many people will be hurt if you DONT look the other way? For all you know you’re only one of many capes in the precinct that will be under his thumb.

As good as your telepathy is, it’s not exactly subtle, if you peer into them, they’ll know and in your experience, they’ll be none too pleased with the accusation.

You arrive at the precinct at 7:03 you’re already late, you don’t see the use in hustling in any faster.

You pass by several faces on your way to your office, nearly all of them belonging to people you’ve worked alongside for almost two decades.

They all mill about the precinct, running the same routines they’ve been stuck with for years.

Kricket is passing out coffees to the rank and file officers around station just as he’s done sense he registered here four years ago.

He’s a sweet kid, stopped being a sidekick after the first year but still acts like one, always first to sign on for clean up assist or crowd control.

You don’t see Falchion or Kicks at their desks which means they’re on the roof, they like to think it gives them privacy but everyone knows what they do up there.

They started dating years ago but try to keep it on the down low, despite that everyone knows they’re an item, but if they don’t say anything you wont either, you don’t exactly have a leg to stand on in that department.

Little Ms Fortune won’t be in until at least 9:00, not that it’s her fault, besides she does good work so you can overlook it.

It’s a hard life she must lead, perpetually stricken with almost lethally bad luck, until she steps onto the battlefield, and she turns those misfortunes loose on the poor bastard ahead of her.

And finally Rook, who sits in the mess hall, eating alone, to this day you still wonder how he can stomach the slop in the mess hall.

Rook is… special.. good natured, no doubt and he’s saved the day more then a few times but… he’s a man who’s only good at a couple of things.

Finally you reach your office, stationed outside is the greatest weapon in your arsenal, a woman that turns the mighty heroes of the precinct into nervous children.

Your secretary, Hannah Saurbeck, in all your years of running the precinct she’s been there, and for all the power she wields, to the best of your knowledge she doesn’t actually have ANY powers.

“Morning Ms Chen, Mr Keyes called again”

Doesn’t surprise you, he’s not let up sense the truth came out, probably wants to tell “his side” of the story… though considering your visit this morning it might not be long before your in his shoes.

“Yeah well we’ll have plenty of time to talk over the course of the investigation” you say as you step into the office, shutting the door behind you before hanging up your coat.

Between the simpsons park debacle and the resolute controversy, the situation in Northside is shaky, laid out on your desk is the return of contributions forms for each cape that died on that call.

You sit down to sign them when you hear a commotion out in the hall.

“Ms Chen is not to be disturbed, she has a lot on her plate already” protests your secretary but based on her tone you can tell she’s not getting through to the intruder.

You brace yourself, setting the forms aside to rest your elbows on your desk, the door swings open and in strides your former colleague, Samual Keyes.

“Resolute… hello” you say, bluntly, maybe by keeping it to business you can snuff out the maelstrom of emotions and thoughts swirling in your mind.

“Jesus Feebs, at least pretend that you know me!” He says resting his hands on his hips, slowly pacing the room.

“Yeah but I don’t, do I? Do you have any idea, any idea at all, just how much trouble you’ve caused for this department?”

“The media is in a frenzy, the mayors breathing down my neck and your old business partner welcomed himself into my home” you say, your cold facade crumbling to reveal the caustic emotion roiling within.

It’s at this point he stops in his tracks, eyes wide as he looks at you, at first you think his concern is targeted at you but that’s not the case.

“He… he already talked to you…?”

“He did.. and in no uncertain terms said I would be filling your absence in the department”

He rushes over, plopping in a chair and pulling it closer to your desk.

“Listen.. I know I’ve made things hard for you but.. but you gotta feel some kind of obligation to me for all we’ve been through together…”

“The hell I do, if you think coming here and groveling is gonna get you out of this investigation you’re delusional”

His eyes narrow, lips slightly parted as he affixes you with a bewildered look.

“You honestly think I’m here for some pansy ass investigation? I’m not going to live long enough to see a trial!”

“He’s had his people on my ass for days now, pressuring me to get someone to take my place, I can’t just give back the money he’s given me, that’s not how it fucking works!”

“If.. if he’s spoken to you, you HAVE to do as he says, I’m begging you, it’s not just my life on the line, he’s gonna kill everyone I know!”

You raise a hand to stop him in his tracks, it’s pitiful, the way he looks at you, like a puppy that was left out in the rain.

“Listen Sam, you could have come to me years ago with this, you could have testified, but you took his money… I can’t tell you wether or not I’m gonna take the deal but it’s probably best you got your affairs in order…”

He’s crestfallen now, shoulders slumped with this defeated look on his face, like you personally signed his **** warrant before finally, he rises and leaves your office, leaving you with your only companion being silence.

You have a big day ahead of you, it’s the beginning of the end for your hero career and by the end you’ll either be living it up on some tropical island, filling the hole inside you with booze or you’ll be working the register at a corner store, your conscience serving as your only consolation prize for doing the right thing.