Chain Reaction 3.8: Deal with the Devil

Ethan

     Alex is helping me get started with my own PI firm. One case that I have closed: the missing Jules Parikh. Apparently, Malcolm and his associates had no qualms with performing horrific tests on his blood kin, his bastard half-brother. Jules is now a ward of the state in a different way than his senile mother. He was somehow turned into a tiger-sim, and medical higher-ups are going to try and repair the damage. There doesn't appear to be much hope for him, though.

     It does prove that I was right: Jules was at MorcuCorp. He must've been the one tapping, unable to communicate otherwise. However, I don't give a plum about being right anymore because it doesn't bring my Claire back.

     My more recent work has been more about catching cheating spouses/partners. I was even featured on a court-type television show about one half of a couple wanting to know if the other one is cheating. I think if I do discover that they've cheated, I get really mad inside because they have an otherwise-good relationship and they're ruining it. I probably get a little harsh, but it starts to feel personal. I guess that's why I always went rogue as a police officer. I have difficulty separating myself from the case. But often, it's my emotions that help me solve it. My gut.

     Alex buys a property in the historic section of town, a cafe, and we have an office space built on the second floor.

     He furnishes the place, too, gives me all kinds of stuff, even a refrigerator for when I don't want to go down to the cafe to eat.

     The stairway up to my office level is on the back side of the cafe. To give myself a little more visibility, I have a sign put at the bottom of it.

      I like the smells of the cafe drifting upwards to me, and I become a real coffee addict. There are worse things.

     I don't get much foot traffic, people preferring to contact me through my email address or website.

      It's rare for someone to come waltzing into my office. That's fine. I don't really like the front doors Alex selected. I'd prefer something you can't see through.

     Imagine my surprise when Drake Goth walks into my office. He wears a pensive expression on his face.

      He has a seat in the chair closest to the door and smiles in a nervous way. I definitely get the criminal vibe from him. Maybe I'm projecting my dislike. It's no secret he's in love with my sister. Yet, she's his step-mother. Does that make me his uncle?

     I clear my throat. "What can I do for you, Drake?" No sense in making small talk. I'm not going to assist you in any scheme that involves trying to win my sister back. I much prefer Alex over you, even if he's my father's enemy. 

      "I've recently come to discover that you and I have a mutual foe."

      "Oh yeah?" The only foe I have is Malcolm. I lost all faith in the justice system when those bastards let him out of jail on a technicality. I have to be careful or I will find myself with my hands around his throat, choking the life out of him like that Tony person wanted me to do. Perhaps Drake does have a reason to want to go after Malcolm. I would love to catch that sonofab*tch on something. Malcolm must know I'm watching his every step, at least digitally, waiting for him to screw up.

      "Yes. By the name of Malcolm Landgraab."

     I hear myself chuckle. It's too good to be true. "You have something on Malcolm?"

     "If I hire you, I need to know that you will remain quiet about my own operations."

     I lean my elbow against the arm of the chair and run my hand over my bristly chin. I'll need to shave tonight or tomorrow morning or I'll wind up with visible stubble. But a beard actually suits Drake. Maybe I should grow one too. It might make it so that my face doesn't shine so much in the dark while on a tailing mission.

     "You mean like a doctor-patient confidentiality?"

     He smiles. There's something evil in it, but I have to admit he has raised my curiosity. "More like priest to a confessional."

     I wave my hand. "Fine, fine. I have no love for the police." I scowl. I miss my friendship with Finn, but I can't bring myself to reconnect with him after everything that's happened.

     "Malcolm is stealing my customers by offering them what they think is a better deal."

     "Isn't that how business works?"

     "Yes, but the profit loss is not something I can ignore. He's selling what looks like a quality product but is in fact substandard, cheaper to make, which will in turn lower their trust for all in this area who deal in this type of business."

     I smile, not believing his more-noble sounding ethical reason. "Ah, so this is you helping the local economy."

     He smiles back, knowing I'm not buying that reasoning. "Sure."

     "What type of business are you talking about here, Drake?"

     He crosses his ankle over his knee, an unconsciously defensive stance. "In addition to maintaining the supply lines that Kenneth established, grocery stores, mostly, I've expanded the business into arms dealing."

    I smirk as I pretend to scold him, "Drake, you're arming the enemy?"

    "What 'enemy'? Eden has no enemies. We have a surplus of goods. And if their government and the warlords want to kill each other, why shouldn't I profit from it?" He implies they'd do it anyway with or without his help. "But there's a level of trust that has to be maintained. Malcolm is an imbecile."

    "Not to mention he's stealing your profits."

    "Exactly."

    I sit here and think. Malcolm is dealing goods illegally. I'm sure weapons isn't the only thing. He has to be making his money somehow since officially, Landgraab Industries went under during the murder trial. "But if I expose him, they will launch a full-scale investigation, it being a matter of national security--or they'll make it one--and they'll discover your own involvement."

     "If I've learned one thing from my father, it's that paper trails can be traced, of which I have none. They'll not find me. However, if it can be avoided, I'd prefer that. This is where you come in. As you might've guessed, arms can't be the only thing Malcolm is involved in. Perhaps you could find something else."

     "I have been watching that as*hole since I opened for business. I would love nothing more than to catch that bottom-feeder. I have my suspicions, and they're huge. But I can't find the missing link."

     Drake pauses, thinking. "I guess this is where I come in. We both have the same contacts. For a price, they could tip me off about something before performing a disappearing act for a while."

     "That would be some hefty price."

     "I can afford it, especially if it means I can return to my more profitable business ventures eventually. In the meantime, I could schmooze my way back into the clients' good graces, making them realize that my operation is much more secure."

     "And you would need me to be the whistle-blower, giving me a way to show that I 'uncovered' everything because of my ongoing vendetta with Malcolm."

     He looks at me with a kind of surprised squint. "When did you get smart, Ethan?"

     "Bite me."

     He laughs. "So, it's a win-win. We both get what we want as far as this is concerned. Do we have a deal?"

     I have to admit: this is incredibly tempting. Getting Malcolm has always been my driving force. Plus, if I have the official notoriety of being the one to catch him, that will be better for my own business. I still don't trust Drake, but I have to concur this is a win-win.

     "Deal."

     "You won't regret this, Ethan."

     "I'd better not," I reply. I will never completely trust Drake. It's just something about him. But catching Malcolm is more than I can resist. I just hope I don't get burned in this deal with the devil.

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Court-type television show: Tune in to the CW (in the US) on Sept 18th as Couples Court with the Cutlers debuts. In several episodes, I'm a member of the gallery. So, I got to hear a lot about all the stuff they can uncover on a phone, even if you think you 'deleted' it. :O
Helped me get a small idea for what Ethan does with his career move.