During Jonathan’s confrontation with Rebecca, Chris was so close to his target that he could smell him. He was standing on the other side of the street, with his eyes on the club, The Black Rose. A place he entered ten years ago, and was sentenced there to death by imprisonment.

He has been keeping an eye on the location for a few hours, anticipating the boss's arrival. As time passed, he grew restless and decided to jot down some additional entries in his diary, recounting his personal experiences. In addition, he had already purchased a firearm from a dubious individual in a nearby alleyway.

He was fully prepared. He had already penned his story, held the weapon for revenge, and was close to catching his target. At this point, nothing could impede him.

A few moments later, a large black car pulled up. He waited to see who would emerge from it. Although he had only seen Ricky's boss once, his face had been etched into his memory forever. The driver stepped out of the car and opened the rear door. A man got out of the car, and it was indeed Ricky's boss.

He stood and took a proud look at his club. He then proceeded to walk towards the main entrance. Chris held the gun strong in his right hand. He ran out of the bush he was hiding in.

“REVEN…”

Just as he was about to let out a battle cry, someone tackled him, causing him to fall to the ground. Chris attempted to aim his gun at the attacker, but the person swiftly pinned his hand to the ground.

“It’s me, Chris. I’m Ricky.”

Chris stopped resisting “Ricky? How did you find me?” He took a look at the boss, who was a couple of steps away from the door now “Let me go. I have to do this.”

“Don’t be an idiot. You can’t reach him. The guards will get to you first and you will accomplish nothing.”

“I don’t care. It’s either me or him. One of us will die today. Let go of me!”

“No. I won’t let you. He’s already inside. It’s over, Chris. You lost your chance.”

Chris started sobbing “Why did you stop me? This was supposed to be my moment of revenge. If I can’t get to him, then I wasted ten years of my life for nothing. I got nothing.”

Ricky started to loosen his grab of Chris, and began helping him get up “That isn’t true, dawg. You still have your whole life ahead of you. He took ten years from you. Don’t let him take even more. Come with me. I’ll help you get out of here.”

Chris was experiencing a nervous breakdown, but he may have been saved from committing a violent act by his inherent goodness or by the words of Ricky. Regardless of the reason, Chris gave up his weapon to Ricky and allowed him to lead him to his nearby car, where Ricky took control of the driving.

As Ricky drove, Chris watched the hustle and bustle of the busy streets outside the car window. He couldn't believe how much was happening out there, and realized how much he had missed. He wondered if he could catch up on everything now.

“Where are we going, Ricky?”

“I can’t take you to my place. The police have been around. They’re looking for you, and my place was your last known address. We’ll go to one of the boss’s warehouses. I know it’s empty today, so it shouldn’t have any guards.”

“You’re hiding me in a place that belongs to my tormentor? I’d rather rot in the streets. That man framed me for murder and took away ten years of my life.”

“We don't need to stay there for long. I’ll get you out of this whole mess soon and for good. Don’t worry.”

Chris felt sorry for his friend. Ten years ago, Ricky was trying to help him. He tried to get him a job. He wanted him to succeed in life. Indeed, it was via a criminal path, but Ricky didn’t know any other way. He truly tried to help him. Now, he has to deal with his mess again.

“I’m sorry, Ricky. I know I put you through so much trouble. I hate that you have to clean up after me again, but I have nobody else. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s alright, Chris. That’s what homies are for.”

Ricky continued driving for a while longer, until he reached the warehouse “Let’s go, brother. We’re there.”

Chris exited the car before Ricky and both of them went inside the warehouse. Ricky shut the door behind them. The warehouse was spacious with towering ceilings, but all the boxes, scattered in every corner, were empty.

He then looked at Chris who had turned his back on him. Ricky reached out to the gun in his pocket, which he had taken from Chris earlier.

He stared at Chris.

*******

Through the darkness of a moonless night, Jonathan drove as fast as he could, attempting to arrive in Harlem on time. As a result, he arrived at The Black Rose in half the time it would normally take. He didn’t know if that was soon enough though. Not until he gets in there.

He rushed to the front door and showed his badge “Detective Jonathan Milton. I need to see your boss now.”

“Is there a warrant or something, detective?”

“Oh yeah, here it is.”

Jonathan pretended to reach for something in his pocket, but instead punched the guard in his jaw. The guard lost his balance from the surprise attack, while Jonathan ran inside. He managed to invade the sea of dancers, climb the staircase, and break into the boss’s office.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“Who the hell are you? Brock, teach that drunk idiot a lesson.”

“Not so fast, Brock. Not unless you want to go to jail for assaulting a police officer.” Jonathan showed his badge quickly and turned to the angry club owner “Are you Richard Lucas?”

“Who are you? How dare you break into my office? What’s your precinct and badge number? Your days in the force are numbered, officer.”

“A detective, actually. I’m here to save your life. Well, it’s a side effect of what I’m actually trying to do. An unintended one, but I will allow it.”

“Oh and what are you trying to save, great savior?”

“The life of a man that you have already ruined. Christopher Jacobs. Do you remember him?”

“Argh why does everyone think that this nobody has any significance to me? I don’t want to hear about him. I’ve got a business to run.”

“But you should hear about him, Mr. Lucas. You framed him for murder ten years ago. Now, he’s escaped and he wants revenge. He wants to kill you.”

“What is this nonsense? I didn’t frame anyone for anything! Do you have any evidence to support your claims, detective?”

“Denying what you did won’t help you. You might escape prison, but he’ll keep coming for you. You should confess and then, he’ll have less reasons to surrender to his anger. I know you think you’re protected in this high castle of yours. But there is nothing more dangerous than a man with a vengeance. He’ll find a way and he’ll get to you sooner or later. I can’t let that happen. I can’t stand by and let an innocent man’s life go to waste. Confess now! It’s over.”

“That’s very noble of you, detective. However, I don’t have anything to confess. I don’t have anything to hide either. So, I’ll talk to you.”

Lucas sat down at his desk and lit up a cigar “I did meet that kid once. He wanted a job at my club and came with a friend of his that works for me. He refused the job and I taught his friend a lesson for wasting my time. He still works for me to this day. There is nothing for anyone to avenge.”

“I met Rebecca. She told me what you asked her to do.”

“Rebecca? Do you mean Becky? Oh I haven’t seen this girl in ages. Where did she end up? She was working for me as a means to repay a debt. One day, she came and paid me back in cash. That was all. I always wondered how she collected the money so fast. It was a shame. She was a great waitress and we really lost her.”

“Enough with the games. This isn’t the truth. We both know she wasn’t a waitress here. We both know your real business. You also paid her that money to frame Chris for murder and she used it with what she saved up to set herself free.”

“What nonsense is this? But let’s suppose you’re right, detective. If I wanted her to do something illegal for me in exchange for relieving her from her debt, why would I give her some money, just so she could pay it back to me again? I would have just given the order and deducted a part of what she owes me. You’re not making any sense.”

Jonathan thought for a moment. That actually checks out. Why would Lucas give his slave some money, only so she could pay him back the next day? Rebecca said Ricky, her pimp, gave her the money. He told her the job came from the boss. Did it though? Or did it come from Ricky himself?

“You said I wasn’t the first one to mention Chris to you. Who was the other?”

“His friend that works for me. Ricky. He was the one who tried to get your fugitive working for me back then. They were school buddies or something. I don’t really care. He came to tell me the news of his escape and he was worried he would attempt something.”

“Ricky was the one who gave the money to Rebecca all those years back. You sent him to her.”

“Oh my god. You don’t listen at all, do you? I didn’t send anything to anyone. I don’t have time to waste on these nobodies. I have a huge business to run here. That rat you’re trying to find didn’t agree to the job and I found a replacement in an hour. I mean, everyone wants to be a bartender at the hottest club in the city.”

Jonathan didn’t catch the sarcasm. “Well, if you didn’t give him the money for Rebecca, then who..” Then it finally hit Jonathan. Ricky did it. On his own. He planned everything and used his boss’s name as cover.

“Did the cat eat your tongue, detective?”

Jonathan stayed silent, but his mind was working fast. Ricky gave the money to Rebecca and assigned her the job. She never heard a word from his boss. Ricky knew everything needed about Chris for Rebecca to do her assignment. His mental state and vulnerability. His place. Ricky also had a motive. He was betrayed by Chris who backed down at the last minute and embarrassed him in front of his boss. He even got punished for Chris’s actions. It was all him.

“You should leave now, detective. Like I said, I’ve got a business to run.”

Jonathan turned his attention to Lucas once more “You didn’t frame Chris for murder for revenge. You don’t care that much if someone refuses to work for you. A man like you has many people lined up to work for him anyway.”

“Finally! I’ve been explaining long enough.”

“Although you didn’t orchestrate this, you were the perfect fall guy. You’re a crime boss. You control the lives of many innocent girls and manipulate so many. That’s why Ricky used your name.”

“You’ve got big allegations, but I don’t see any evidence. I don’t see any warrants or arrest attempts either. I would like you to leave my property now, detective.”

“I will leave when I’m ready. Ricky decided to frame his friend for murder. He paid Rebecca to help him and relied on Chris’s inexperience and the cops' bias in this area against black young men to get him charged. But he also was a coward. He didn’t know for sure if his hastily put together plan was going to work. That’s why he used your name and pretended he’s acting upon your orders.”

Lucas became angrier than he ever was since Jonathan arrived “This insect. He was nothing, until I made him a man. Now, he is trying to blame me for his stupid actions.”

“I need you to tell me where he is. I need to stop him before he kills Chris, or worse, Chris kills him.”

“I can’t help you, detective.”

“I know what you’re thinking. You shouldn’t send your men after him. The situation is critical. Both men have their backs against the wall and can do anything if pressured.”

“I don’t know where that traitor is. I’m an honest man. I don’t send hitmen after my employees. My only course of action here is to fire him, which is my right according to law. I’m always following the law.”

“Alright. I’ll get there myself. You should know one thing though. One day, our paths will cross again. When that happens, I’ll take you down.” Lucas watched in rage as Jonathan left his office.

“Brock. Go find that insect. I want him and his friend dead. No loose ends. Do you understand?”

Brock nodded and headed outside as well.

When Jonathan reached his car, he was still thinking where Ricky might be. He wants to make it look like his boss is behind everything. If that’s the case, he’ll want to get rid of Chris in a place that is somehow linked to his boss. It’s not the club. That’s too lively. It has to be another place. Somewhere quiet and remote.

He made a call to the station to get a list of all properties owned by Richard Lucas in New York. Some apartments, warehouses, and an empty piece of land.

The apartments wouldn’t work, since there are neighbors and too many people overall. The empty land is also risky with cars passing by, and their drivers being able to see everything. It has to be one of the three warehouses. He has to check them all.

He got behind the wheel again and pushed the gas pedal as hard as he could. Chris can be killed any minute now.

There isn’t too much time left.