18th Bullet: Know-It-Alls

In the hotel room, Uvo paced around the room. Every step was a thought being generated. He was mind was accelerating with thoughts but he couldn't cling onto a stable one. First, Vadars was nowhere to be found. He maybe stuck in the Badlands. Perhaps he ran into a Barmybear or a Sandbeast or Helljackals. He'd probably be fine though. Vadars was a lot of a wild animal himself. But Janda had also gone AWOL. The last time he saw him was the crime scene. He had also noticed him talking to that lady from the restaurant. 

Akio and Zelpha. Those two upped and left without much say. Akio was probably investigating and Zelpha also tagged along just to keep her safe. The Morgue didn't leave her the same. She was probably traumatized from what happened. After all, Khasta was a sick being and what he was about to do to her was unforgiving. 

Deacon sat on the bed, smoking exiting his nostrils. Uvo coughed.

"Would you mind not smoking in here?" Uvo spluttered. "You're gonna give me lung diseases."

The Captain ignored him and took a long drag. "Quit complaining, you'll live."

"About Andreius," Uvo said, switching the subject on something that would get them somewhere, "what's so special about the kid?"

"He's a sharpshooter for one." Deacon let out the smoke. "By far the best I've ever seen. Sure he gets cocky and rude but when he's got his Death Arm in his hands, nothing can escape his eyes."

"So why did you pick him and not Janda?"

"Well, because Janda's too many problems."

"They're kinda the same in the problems category."

Deacon rubbed his buzzcut hair. "Well, he's more manageable when Zelpha's around, like a dog to a bone. But he's reliable. I trust he's okay and alive. That's all that matters. And you? Why did Rosner and you pick him?"

Uvo thought about it. Janda was incredible. He had never seen fighting prowess such as his in a long time. His Death Arm, his ever-evolving Modus and his spells were top-notch. However, his boredom was a massive liability for the divisions. Even though Salsamenta considered it, he didn't offer a hand to Janda.

"We like problems," Uvo finally said. 

Deacon grunted. "So where could our problem be?"

"In one of the abandoned warehouses by the harbour. The Chain Dogs don't take prisoners lightly."

"So we gotta punch in, get Andreius back, and get the hell outta Dodge."

"I wish it were that simple. There's Black Hand Monroe to deal with and his army."

"We blow 'em up. No need to wish for something we have."

Uvo smirked. "You're really just as stubborn as you were a rookie."

"I call it conviction."

Uvo checked the sun outside. It was setting, orange painting the landscapes, towers and streets. "Tonight?"

Deacon nodded. "Tonight."

                                                                                      ♱♱♱

The streets of San Francisco was tight and pack but soon to be tighter and more packed as the lights were coming on. Horses trotted on the roads and buggies slowly road on the streets. People flooded the side-walks, not wanting to go to the town square, where the murder took place. Zelpha admired San Francisco. The way it was built and the way it was filled with characters she had never expected to meet. She was that herself, quite the character. She had the looks, the words and most of all, the skill. The skill to read the cues, the skill to read people and the skill to get out of burning houses.

"Wait up, Akio!" Zelpha called out and caught up to the storming short woman. "Crap, you're fast for a midget."

Akio didn't reply, only walking.

"You gonna say something?"

Akio didn't reply.

They walked into the arrived in a secluded park-like area. There wasn't many people but the lights were swallowing their figures, almost blinding. A fountain trinkled elegantly and horses neighed softly. Zelpha stepped in close and stopped Akio.

"Staying silent isn't gonna stop anything." 

Akio pushed her off and glared. "Any why do you care, Miss Laylock? Why do you care about anything?"

"Because I want to, dummy." Zelpha put her hands on her hips. "Listen, I don't know much about you and you don't know much about me—"

"Actually, I do know much about you. I've read your files. You're a troublemaker. You disobeyed orders, went off partying in Vegas and Dallas while your squad was out fighting tooth and nail to beat a Desperado threat and came back drunk with booze all over your shirt, offering to sleep with some of the rookies afterwards. You only became lieutenant because you're a vet and the previous one died."

Zelpha gave an uncomfortable look but it sharply turned into a mean one. "Just because you read some papers doesn't mean you know me."

"Quite the opposite, Miss Laylock. Your deviance and attitude tarnishes the Tertius Division's legacy."

"Who gives a crap about legacy? Legacy doesn't mean much when you're dead and gone."

Akio stepped in with a leer."That isn't that point."

Zelpha leaned down to emphasize herself. "Then what is the point?"

Akio looked away before storming off but Zelpha grabbed her wrist. "Akio. There's something clearly wrong with you. Are you hiding something?"

She pulled her arm away. "I'm hiding nothing."

"Doesn't seem like it. I smell someone upset."

"Shut up."

Zelpha kept quiet and Akio turned her back on her. "Someone like you wouldn't get it."

"Get what?"

"Your efforts ending up to nothing." She walked away, deep into the bright lights. Her body slowly got more and more illuminated until nothing could be seen except horses, people and walk paths and the setting sun. A woman she couldn't back away from walked away from her and for the first time in her life, she wanted to burn in that house with her. She wanted to know what was in her house. She had never been curious much in her life but these wannabe perfect people started to tick her off. How could someone act so righteous like everything is black and white?

She wanted to know.

She was going to know.

After all, that's who Zelpha Laylock was. Know all so no one knows you better.