Cops and Robbers

The train staff took the body to the front of the train to keep it away from the passengers. The Henchmen were gathered around the Heiress, who was hyperventilating. The Illusionist could hardly fathom everything that was going through the girl's mind at this moment. Several deaths around her, and she had been a target.

The Criminal headed to the casino car and grabbed a bottle of whiskey, taking a swig straight from the bottle. The Vampire and the Noble were sitting together, and she seemed to be consoling him, while the Cowboy went to the front of the train. As expected, he found the metallic helmet with the special armor and vials of a green poison, all in possession of the Old Mobster.

Despite the chaos, everyone seemed calmer now, as if the danger had subsided, and they could breathe again.

Except for the Illusionist. He held the Tower card, knowing that a missing piece still eluded him. He hoped to be able to question the Old Mobster and align the entire story, filling in the missing gaps.

While everyone tried to relax, the Illusionist grew more tense. Two main points were missing. The first was why they had lured the Cowboy onto the train along with the Vampire? It seemed extremely counterproductive... unless it was connected to the second point. The Old Mobster couldn't have been the disguised killer at any point. He had alibis for all the crimes, and so did all his direct men.

He started looking at everyone with the feeling that the killer had been behind him all along. From what the Vampire had said, the only footsteps that could have belonged to the killer came from the second class car, either the Cowboy or the Criminal. The Cowboy had the weakest alibi for the first case. However, both were in the Cowboy's room when they saw the killer for the first time. He had a new idea – if the two were in this together, it would make sense.

Then he thought of the Vampire; she could have lied at various points. Still, they faced the killer together; it couldn't have been her.

It seemed like someone was missing from the whole equation; the pieces didn't make sense, but what could the explanation be?

The Illusionist didn't know, but he was certain there was still an infiltrated killer. He didn't know if the Heiress was still in danger, now that the Old Mobster was dead, but the one responsible for the Cartomancer's death was still at large, and that was unacceptable.

The Cowboy strode purposefully through the restaurant, and the Illusionist tried to discreetly follow. The Cowboy looked around in confusion, searching for the Criminal, but he wasn't there. The Illusionist didn't see when the Criminal returned; the waiter had passed by a few times, but he hadn't noticed the Criminal, and he didn't see him in the restaurant either. So, he must have returned to the rooms, and that's where the Cowboy was going. The Illusionist continued to follow, positioning himself by the door of the first class car, watching as the Criminal stood in the middle of the car. The Cowboy confronted him.

"You can spill it now," the Cowboy demanded.

"What?" the Criminal asked.

"I want to know what's missing from this story. It doesn't make any sense for the Old Mobster to create this whole vampire story just to lure me here."

"My dear little Cowboy, you really don't understand, do you? A story needs heroes and villains, conflict! And you were cast as the hero of this tale."

The Criminal spoke differently now, more confidently, taunting the Cowboy even though he knew it would irritate him.

"What are you talking about?"

"So clueless. There's still a vampire on this train, well, actually a Vampiress, and she's the villain. But what good does it do you to know that? You couldn't even protect that village of fools. You wouldn't be able to kill me, let alone catch a vampire."

The Illusionist realized this was the last straw, and the Cowboy drew his revolver. The Criminal laughed, turned his back, and fled, all to further unnerve the Cowboy. He fired, but missed until the Criminal reached the door to the next car.

The Cowboy pursued, ready to kill, and the Illusionist followed suit. He couldn't let the Cowboy kill the Criminal; the man knew too much. Even though what he said about the Vampiress was strange, there was still a lot missing from the story. In the second class car, the Cowboy spotted the Ticket Collector, carrying towels, but the door to the Criminal's room was open.

"Wait, Cowboy! Don't do it!"

But the man was beyond reason, shoving the Collector aside and seeing the Criminal inside the room. The Illusionist only heard the rapid succession of shots.

When it was over, the Cowboy remained stoic. He turned toward the back of the train, bumping shoulders with the Illusionist as he passed.

The Illusionist had a lot to discuss with the Cowboy, but now was not the time. He hurried to the room and found the Criminal still alive, sprawled in his seat, bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds.

Immediately, the Illusionist tried to save him, but it was too late; there was nothing he could do.

"Why...?" the Criminal asked.

"You provoked him. Why did you do that? You knew what he was capable of!"

But the Criminal's gaze held confusion; he seemed to have a lot to say, but lacked the strength to explain everything racing through his mind.

"I didn't... I didn't talk to him... there's someone else..."

But that sentence sapped his last ounce of vitality, and now his eyes showed only emptiness.

It didn't take long for more people to arrive, drawn by the gunshots, and the Illusionist recounted everything that had happened. Yet a new spark ignited in his heart. The Criminal's words were strange, but if they connected with all the loose ends in the story, perhaps he could finally uncover the truth.