Roger was relieved to see all the paperwork had already been taken care of when he went into the office the next day. He had spent hours yesterday filling out forms for all the animals they had found in the warehouse, leaving with them not fully completed since he still needed to pick up Sun at a reasonable time. At least with the paperwork done he could focus on the name Red had left him.

He searched through the file cabinet that held all the names of recent offenders, but couldn’t find the name Mitch Gretton anywhere. After asking around to be sure no other officers had the file, he headed down to the archives. After a quick search, he found the file he was looking for. A quick glance revealed that Mitch was a drug addict, but had dropped off the grid years ago.

“What are you doing here?”

Roger nearly jumped out of his skin although he could tell right away John was the one behind him.

“Just following up on a hunch. I think this guy might be somehow related to the warehouses.” He handed John the folder, hoping his face didn’t give anything away.

“Who’s your source?”

“Just overheard the warehouse manager mumble this guy’s name and thought it would be good to check him out.”

Roger hated the feeling of lying to straight to John’s face. John had joined the force a year after Roger’s family had been killed, and Roger had not been kind to him at all. Already having been through two other partners who refused to work with his attitude, John surprised him by biting the bullet and helping Roger get his life together again.

“Well, if there’s one thing I’ve learned from being around you is to always go with your instinct. I’ll come with.”

John smiled and handed Roger back the file, already heading up to grab the patrol car keys. Grateful, Roger followed closely behind, glad to have his partner working alongside him again. He hoped that one day soon he would break it to John that he was still searching for his family’s killer, but he wanted some substantial leads first rather than the assortment of names Red was giving him. Plus, he would have to tell John that he was working with someone outside the law to solve the case, and he didn’t feel comfortable enough admitting to it yet.

They both got into the patrol car, Roger driving this time, and headed to the last known address on file for Mitch, arriving at a rather hostile part of town. Passing by a few abandoned storefronts, they stopped when they reached the run-down apartment complex that matched the address on file. He and John had to step over a man sleeping on the stairs before reaching Mitch’s place.

“Police, open up!” Roger yelled when he pounded on the door.

When he received no response he did it again, this time hearing some footsteps stumbling from on the other side of the door. It opened a crack before stopping on a chain latch and a set of tired looking eyes met his.

“What you want?” Their voice was scratchy as if they had a cold.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“Is there is Mitch Gretton living here?”

“What’s it to you?”

“There was an incident at the pier yesterday and we think Mitch can provide some answers.”

The other person grunted and then called out to into his apartment.

“Bitch! Police have questions! You better not have pulled any shit this time ‘cuz then you’re playing all the rent!”

“Shut the fuck up man, I’m sleepin’!” Roger assumed that was Mitch.

The door shut in his face and he heard more yelling and shuffling of feet from inside the home. Thirty seconds later the door swung open to reveal a man in his late thirties. It was clear to Roger that Mitch had seen some better days considering his current state of being; ragged clothes, untidy hair, blood-shot eyes, the list ensued.

“I’m Inspector Smith and this is Inspector Sato. We need to ask you a few questions about a warehouse at the pier.” Before Roger continued, Mitch interrupted him.

“Listen, man, I just get a packet of money every month with the instructions to mail it to the warehouse owner. I get a nice cut, but that’s all I do. I don’t ask questions.”

Mitch tried shutting the door on the inspectors, but Roger stuck his foot in the jam.

“Not so fast, slick. We still have more questions. Where were you yesterday afternoon?”

“Work. We done now?”

“I’m going to need you to come to the station for further questioning.”

“Nah, man. Am I being arrested or what? I’m not going to no station.”

“You’re not under arrest, but will be charged with obstructing justice if you’re not truthful with us.”

“I have been truthful man! Just because you’re cops doesn’t mean your walkin’ lie detectors. Ask your damn questions so I can get back to sleepin’.”

“When did you start mailing the money?”

“More like when did I get sucked into doin’ it. It was over ten years ago. A package literally showed up at my door full of money. I spent it all, but then a man showed up at my door and threatened to kill me if I didn’t send in a new pack of money every month. Didn’t see the guy again and I get paid for it, so I didn’t ask any questions. Now leave.”

“What did the man look like?”

“Fuckin’ hell man, it was, like, eleven years ago. How the fuck am I supposed to remember what the man looked like?”

“Any description at all would be incredibly helpful and we’ll be out of your hair.”

“Fine.” Mitch scrunched up his face, attempting to recall what the man looked like. “Uh, I think he was wearing a coat. Like a nice coat, expensive, that went down to his knees. And nice shoes. Oh, and he had on this sweet gold watch that really showed he was big money. Hat I think too. Had a real Zerilla family vibe to him.”

Roger looked at John and saw his expression mirrored on his partner’s. If the Zerilla family were involved in this it...what had Red gotten him into? Seeing an opportunity, Mitch shoved Roger’s foot away and slammed his door shut. Roger had gotten enough from him to move on, and he knew where Mitch lived in case he needed to ask more questions.

“Shit,” John muttered. “Maybe he was just trying to be colorful in describing the guy and the Zerilli’s aren’t even involved.”

But Roger knew better. Red had given him Mitch’s name for a reason, which meant that the man that threatened Mitch had something to do with his family’s murder. Unless Mitch was lying, but Mitch didn’t look like he cared much for anything besides himself and had no reason to lie to him. Roger was going to get to the bottom of it all, it was just a matter of time.

All thoughts of bringing the people who killed his wife and child to justice flew out the window. The Mafia was involved now, and they didn’t play nice with the justice system. No, Roger was out to deal his own retribution, and there was going to be blood.