Cain opened his eyes and looked ahead at the captain. Next to him sat Jeremiah, keeping watch in case anything happened. The captain took his phone out and called James, placing it on the table when he answered. "Do you prefer Mr Manning, Cain or Sergeant Manning?"
"Cain." The captain nodded.
"Now." Getting up, he walked over to the camera and shut it off. "We all know that you were arrested on some bullshit charge, and you will walk out of here." The captain said, taking a packet of cigarettes out. Holding one out to Cain, he narrowed his eyes. The Captain shrugged and pulled back, lighting and smoking it. "James, if you would."
"Hello, Cain," James spoke. Cain had expected pride in James' voice at having outplayed him, but there was no emotion. "Tell me what I want to know about Zoktis." Jeremiah and the captain noticed Cain's eyes widening a little. There was a small silence before James spoke again, "Are you wondering how I knew that?"
"No comment." There was an amused exhale over the phone, followed by the cocking of a gun. Cain could hear it and narrowed his eyes, wondering what James was doing.
"You see, Cain," James' emotionless voice spoke, "Right now I am sitting outside one of those music clubs, one where a certain woman works. You know who I'm talking about." Jeremiah moved instinctively. The air around him and the Captain began to vibrate, almost reacting to Cain's deep, murderous intent. "You see, I was planning on visiting Magnus, but I had a feeling you would have put someone on him after Alannah saw me, but I remembered a certain logo I saw in a picture."
Cain tried to fight against the restraints holding him in place. Every time he tried to activate his ability, he felt the cuffs sending a suppressant through his skin to stop it. James spoke again, "Tell me what I want, or I'll kill the singer."
"James?" The captain nearly dropped his cigarette. "What are you doing?"
"Sorry, sir, but this is the only way these people talk," James said, tapping the pistol against the steering wheel, making sure Cain could hear it. "You have one minute."
"I will butcher you if you dare," Cain said, trying to pull his cuffs apart, struggling to do so. Jeremiah stood up and walked around. Holding his finger to Cain's head, he smiled.
"Stop moving." Cain felt the side of his skull vibrating. "Or I will take it as a threat to our lives."
Cain ground his teeth. 'Where the fuck are you, Lucas?' Cursing in his mind, he knew all he had to do was hold out. Taking a deep breath, he tried to think. Thinking of James' past action, he chuckled.
"You're bluffing. You won't kill her." Cain said with certainty. All of James's actions so far have been to avoid dirtying his own hands. Sending Chicken Head to kill Charles, watching Mangus and Alannah, but doing nothing and luring him out. Nothing he had done so far showed he was as cold as he was trying to be. "So, detective, I won't say a word."
James was silent. Cain heard him get out of the car and walk, the sound of music getting louder. James politely spoke to security before stepping into a new building. The sound of a woman singing overshadowed the hushed conversation happening around him. "Am I bluffing, Cain? Her show isn't on yet, which is a shame. I was hoping I could see her sing first."
"James, if you do this..." The captain spoke, not understanding what James was doing. This wasn't something he could protect. He didn't know who James was targeting, Cain's girlfriend or an associate. If they were a criminal, maybe he could do something to protect James, but she wasn't; he was complicit in a murder.
"Captain, I understand. But right now we need desperate measures." James cooly said. Cain stayed silent. Deep in his heart, he still thought it was a bluff, but on the slim chance he was wrong. He tensed up and closed his eyes.
"No deal. Kill her." Cain chose after half a minute of silence. He couldn't be sure, but everything he had seen showed that James wasn't a hardened killer. He had taken a life, but that was always when he could justify it under the law or outsource. When he heard James not move, Cain laughed. "What's wrong? I'm saying you can do it."
Jeremiah sighed and finally moved away from Cain, seeing that James' gamble had failed. Although he wasn't sure what he wanted, the fact that he was making such a bluff proved it was something he felt was worthwhile.
"Fine." James got up and walked over to one of the workers. Taking out the singer's picture, he held it to the man. "Do you know where I can find her?" Cain's confidence was shattered once more. Hearing the man say her name, he froze up.
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"Maddam Beauvau is currently preparing for her show and isn't taking visitors." James smiled and pulled out his badge.
"This is an NPSD emergency. Unfortunately, one of the Madam's relatives has been caught in an accident." The worker's face paled as he covered his mouth in horror.
"Oh dear. Right this way, then." James smiled and followed behind, putting the phone back to his ear. "You see, Cain, even if I don't do anything, you guys, whoever you are, have shown me one thing. You're overconfident. And unlike the man you had Magnus kill, I am willing to meet you face to face."
James couldn't believe the entire time his voice hadn't shaken. One show of emotion and the entire plan would have failed. "So Zoktis. Tell me." The worker arrived at the Maddam's door and knocked. An annoyed voice called out, and he stepped in first. Quickly stepping out, he let James in.
James smiled, stepped in and closed the door behind him. Looking around and not seeing a camera, he drew his gun and aimed it at her head. "Have you got anything to say to Maddam Beauvau, Cain?" James pulled his phone away from his ear and put it on speaker.
Maria showed fear for a few seconds before sweetly smiling and returning to doing her makeup. Despite that, James could see she was still slightly nervous from how slow she applied it. "Cain, what is going on?" Maria asked. James heard Cain, deep breathing once more as he tried to break free from his restraints. James activated his eyes and looked at Maria.
It was a pink colour that swirled around her body in a calm, elegant manner. Silence lingered as Cain racked his brains. He tried to hide it, but when he spoke, there was worry in his voice. "Maria. Don't do anyth-"
"Excuse me." James heard a new voice over the phone as the interrogation room's door flew open. "All of you out, I must speak with my client alone." James sighed. He had run out of time. Hearing the captain take the phone and leave, he sighed and smiled at Maria.
"Sorry for interrupting you." Holstering the gun, he stepped out and frowned. It wasn't what he wanted, but it was not a complete loss either. He had at least gotten the singer's name and aura, but more importantly, knew that it wasn't an organisation built on mutual benefit but people with real relationships with one another. Maybe it was built on how useful they were, but they could be exploited against one another.
"James, what the fuck are you doing?" The captain's voice raged, "This wasn't what you asked me to do. You said get him in the system. Not hold a woman at gunpoint and threaten him."
"I was bluffing, Captain." James said with an apologetic tone, "I will tell you what you want, but you have to understand, these people we are facing can't be reasoned with or held in our systems. We have to be dirty."
"Do you think I care why you are doing it? I have a precinct to run, which must follow the law. You may be right, but I can't work with that. I need officers of the law, not thugs who extort information out of people." The captain hung up, making James sigh. Picking up the pace, he ran back to his car once outside and sped off, not knowing when someone would come to help Maria.
It hadn't been hard to find her; the logo in the picture she was in linked to only one place in the city. Although it was a spur-of-the-moment plan, there wasn't much choice. He couldn't be on the back foot. The warehouse had proved it. If he were the only one reacting, then he would always lose, but keeping his enemies on edge allowed mistakes such as Cain being known to the NPSD.
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"Are you alright?" The white-gloved lawyer said with a friendly tone, sitting before Cain.
"Tell Lucas to send someone to Maria ASAP." The man nodded.
"You will be out in a few hours. It is mainly paperwork holding us back. The guys here have put a few roadblocks in place to delay us." Cain nodded, "As for you, The Gentleman will see you after you are out. Please do not delay him." Getting up, the lawyer spoke a final time, "Do you need anything whilst you wait?"
"My music."
"I'll try my best." The lawyer left the room. Alone, Cain slammed his hands into the table. It was an attempt to break his cuffs, but also a way to let out his anger.