Chapter 14: A New Lead

Eltan Storm

"I feel so bad, Faith. I kind of feel like it's my fault. Especially since it happened the day after I turned him down. Maybe I was too harsh on him?"

"No, Candy. It wasn't your fault. It was just an accident, not a suicide."

I listened to the conversation between Candy and Faith while leisurely sipping my drink at the bar counter. Today was Faith's first day back at work after her week off, and Candy was expressing her sorrows to Faith.

"I think someone may have cursed him," Faith added, giving me a narrowed look.

I simply continued enjoying my drink, not a shred of guilt tugging at my heart.

Candy nodded and said, "I should go now. Or else, Boss might think I am slacking off."

"It's alright. You're allowed to mourn as much as you want, but just don't hog Faith when I'm here, okay?" My expression was normal, but my tone was only an edge below threatening.

Both Faith and Candy seemed like a shiver ran down their spines. Faith too because she now knew I carried a gun for whatever reasons. I didn't explain it to her, and she didn't ask me to elaborate either.

"Yes, Boss," Candy said in a robotic voice and was about to scurry away before she remembered something. "Oh, I forgot to ask you what I came to you for. Why haven't you been around the club this last week?"

"I told you I was on leave."

"But you always come for clubbing."

Faith's nose flared in anger. "What's with you and clubbing references I don't get? Stop confusing me with that other woman. That isn't me."

"Chill, girl. No need to get all hyper."

"Sorry about that. I just..."

"It's fine. I'll get going now." With that, Candy left us alone.

I opened my mouth to say something on the scene when Faith spoke up, "Please no comments on this. I just hate it when people confuse me with this other lady."

"Yeah, you told me about her." If Faith didn't question me too much, I shouldn't do that to her either.

She sighed and leaned on the counter. "Off-topic. But what you said to Candy earlier was very rude, you know?" she mumbled.

I shrugged. "Well, you know me. I like things to be my way. Plus, it's not like Mark was her boyfriend. She didn't even like him. So she's not actually sad. Just feeling bad for him."

Faith sighed. "You are so cold. How can you not feel empathy for other people?"

"Because I'm very selective about that."

She sighed once more, then managed to smile. "I guess I should just be glad that I'm on that list."

See, this was why I liked Faith. She didn't sweat over such small stuff. She was cool, and even after I showed that side of mine to her a few days ago, she wasn't scared of me. At least not about herself. Even just now, she was scared for Candy.

"That's right. By the way, can I have another glass?" I asked.

"Of course," she chirped and served me another one of her specials. "So tell me about your day," she asked with genuine curiosity.

I smiled and was about to tell her when I knocked over my drink while playing with the glass, making its content spill a little on my pants.

"Oh, shit, let me clean that up." Faith hurried to wipe the counter so that more drink didn't spill.

On the other hand, I stood up and searched for my handkerchief, only to realize Faith hadn't returned it when I gave it to her in our first meeting.

"Can I have some tissues?" I asked, and she rushed to hand me some. "Thanks."

Her eyes widened as if she also realized something. "Oh, no, I forgot that I still have your handkerchief with me. You came to my house twice, and yet, I forgot to return it to you."

"No worries. It's fine," I assured her and cleaned the small mess on her pants. Thankfully, it only spilled over my thighs. So it wouldn't be embarrassing or anything. "And—" My phone pinged in my pocket, interrupting me.

I pulled it out and checked out the text from Denver, asking me to meet up urgently. I told Denver to come here and turned my attention back to Faith.

"Who is it?" she asked casually.

"Just my manager," I half-lied. "Anyway, I was saying, my day was good. What about you?" I didn't usually elaborate on my days, and she was fine letting me get away with it. But I had decided that the day she asked me to put all secrets aside, I would be honest with her without a second thought.

Faith and I chatted leisurely for some more time. It was good that everyone was clear about when I was here, Faith's first priority would be me. Unless everyone else wanted to lose their jobs.

"Capo," Denver called out from beside me.

Faith looked at him curiously and let out in recognition, "Denver?"

"Oh, Faith, hello. How have you been?" he asked.

How did they know each—of course, she knew him from when he was Lance's left-hand man.

"I have been good. What about you? I never see you around ever since Lance left, so I thought you went along with him."

"Well, I have to guide his predecessor, after all."

"That makes sense," she chirped. "Anyway, can I get you any drink?"

"I would love to have some, but before that, I need to talk to Eltan about something important." He glanced at me, and I nodded.

"Let's go to my cabin here. We can have some privacy there."

Denver nodded.

"I'll get back to you in a bit," I informed Faith.

"Okay, see you in a bit then," she said with a big smile and a wave.

I smiled back and headed upstairs with Denver.

"I see why you have become a regular at the Berserkers," Denver commented once we were inside my cabin.

I rolled my eyes. "Let's talk about me later. Update me on the situation. Did you find anything?"

Denver became serious as he responded, "No and yes. We don't have anything on Charles and Andrew's location yet. But we managed to pin out a member of their gang. So we have a small lead, you can say."

"You think we can get anything out of him?"

"It's worth a shot."

I nodded. "Where can we find him?"

"Since their entire gang has gone undercover ever since Tansen and Brisa's murder, this guy named Turqo isn't seen as often. He can only be found at this bikers' meet every month."

I arched an eyebrow in question. "Bikers' meet? What's that?"

"It's kind of a monthly street bike race. People bet a lot of money on them. Turqo is one of the money dealers there, but he only meets with the winner and hands them the cash."

"I see. So we just need to bet on every biker there's gonna be and meet with Turqo and capture him."

"That's right."

"So when is this event again?"

###

After discussing the plans with Denver, I headed back to Faith at the counter. She flashed me a smile and asked, "So how did the conversation go?"

"Feeling hopeful," I replied.

"About?" she urged.

"I'll tell you later about it. But what do you think of bike racing?"

"Random question, but okay." She frowned a little but answered nonetheless, "I think bikes are a death vehicle and racing on it means riding straight to hell."

I laughed at her blunt response. "C'mon, not everyone dies riding on bikes."

"But the percentage is very high," she argued.

"True."

"Why the sudden question though?" she inquired.

"Just heard some people talking about it on my way back." I shouldn't tell Faith about it, or else, she would worry for nothing.

"I see. You better not participate in any bike races, just in case you were wondering."

"Why not? You don't think I can pull off the biker look?" I pretended to sound offended.

"No, I think—no, you definitely will rock the look, but I just don't think you could win a race when you're used to riding cars."

"You make a valid point. But I'm just curious."

"Curiosity killed the cat," she said in a sing-song voice.

I laughed lightly and said, "Don't worry, I'm not trying out bike racing anytime soon."

"Glad to hear it."

Sorry, Faith, but the plans I made with Denver just a few minutes ago require me to participate in that bike racing tomorrow night and I will prove you wrong by winning it as well.