Niko pushed himself to his feet and ran as fast as he could. Johnny brought the gun up, almost in slow motion. Niko jumped and dove, like a professional swimmer, and grabbed the sawed-off shotgun.
Niko rolled over and swung the gun round, pointing it at Johnny.
Johnny looked down at the man lying two feet from him, pointing his own damned gun at him. He ground his teeth but knew, if he pulled the trigger, Niko would too. Johnny only had his gun loosely pointed at Niko's torso – the man had moved too quick for a more solid aim. Niko, however had his target well within range of the spread. If Johnny adjusted his aim, he would die.
Niko, out of breath, spoke.
"I did not kill your brother," He said.
Johnny moved backwards half a step. What?
Niko lowered the weapon slightly. Not enough for Johnny's liking, but it was a sign of intent.
"Greenhorn tried to kill me," Niko said. "Then…. It gets complicated."
Johnny, still breathing fast, his heart racing, tried to process this.
The biker shook his head but kept his gun aimed at Niko.
"You almost killed me," Johnny growled. "You shot at me in the liquor store, and shot me up in Bohan. You tell me you're not my enemy and expect me to believe it, lower my guard, then take me out?!"
Niko sighed. Then he dropped the gun. He held his arms out, his palms open.
"I do not wish to kill you. I never did."
Johnny lowered his gun.
Niko kicked the shotgun towards Johnny. "This is yours." Johnny picked up the weapon and lowered his. He went through the motions of putting the pistol in the back of his pants but in reality, he was emptying the clip. "So what now?" Niko asked.
"I don't know. How do I know I can believe you?"
Niko shrugged.
"You know when we did that diamond shit, I didn't think you'd ever turn on me."
"I did not turn on you, Johnny. Were you the guy upstairs in the liquor store? You shot first. I was coming after that ogre-ish mercenary, not you. Same thing in Bohan. You shot first."
Johnny's breath left him then. Niko was right. Neither man could exactly stand up during those encounters, waving a white flag and shouting 'I'm your friend!'
Johnny handed Niko the gun back. Niko took it, immediately realizing the gun was empty. He'd almost missed that, but the clip by Johnny's foot had given the game up, as did the weight - or lackthereof. Niko slid the gun back into his pocket, subtly coupling another clip as he did so. The biker didn't even notice.
"I've worked for all sorts of people," Niko said. "Russians, crooks, junkies, even the Mafia. When someone hires you and tells you to shoot, you do.
"But I left that behind. I tried to live a normal life. Someone rudely interrupted that. I thought all my enemies were gone. Dmitri, Ray…"
"Wait a minute… You killed Ray? Diamonds Ray?"
"Boccino." Niko nodded.
"He killed Jim," Johnny said.
Jim… Why did that ring a bell, Niko wondered. "Ray killed a lot of people. But this isn't about him."
Johnny nodded. If Niko had killed Ray, then maybe he weren't so bad after all.
"Prove to me you didn't kill my brother."
Niko held his hands out. "I didn't even know you had a brother. But I think we'd better leave." Niko nodded at the apartment above them. "Go our separate ways?"
Johnny shook his head. "I need answers."
"Then how about we get out of here before we end up in jail together? I have a car round the corner."
"My bike's over there." Johnny pointed. "We go there, then to your car. I follow you to…. The burger shot round the corner. We talk there."
"Okay." Niko nodded, ushering the biker toward the street.
Niko sat in Burger Shot, a bleeder burger meal in front of him – out of appearances rather then nutritional requirement. Johnny sat opposite, nursing some fries.
Niko began laying it out for the biker: "I woke up to two guys trying to kill me." Niko prodded his half-eaten burger with a fry. "I managed to evade them, but it was obvious there was a contract out on me. They knew where I live. I haven't been back since. Luckily I inherited a property from someone – and it's registered under their name still, so I've been staying there.
"Also, some mysterious voice calls me, tells me to pick up this package – it's a phone that this guy's been using to manipulate me into doing whatever he wants. He knew I was about to be killed. He's got me to do some things, none of which make sense. It was this guy who sent me to Willis; the man you killed – I assume it was you – was one of the two that tried to kill me. I don't know who the other was."
"And Bohan?"
"Coincidence. I was working for a friend. You appeared and fired the first shot. Both times I acted out of self-preservation, not malice. Today, I was doing my sheep impression; doing whatever I was told." Niko shook his head.
Johnny stared at the person in front of him, and suddenly saw a weary broken man.
"I was told to follow someone, and report his location. Then I was told to wait and follow him to some meeting."
"A man named Cartwright," Johnny said. Niko looked up. "Two men killed my brother. I don't know why, but I've got to find them. I got one, but I need to find out why."
"So the people who tried to kill me, killed your brother."
Johnny bit his lip at the revelation.
"Believe me now?"
Johnny slowly nodded.
Niko took a sip of his drink. "I'm guessing you managed to beat it out of one of the guys back there."
Johnny nodded. "The meeting's probably over, but he said the man lives on Ivy Drive."
Niko suddenly seemed to spring to life. "Then we've got somewhere to start."
Johnny blinked. "'We'?"
Niko nodded. "We're both after the same guy – unless you've killed him."
"I haven't. Yet"
Niko nodded. "I need to get to a internet café."
"Why?"
"You'll see…"
After their 'meal' the two men headed down to Alderney's Tw t internet café.
Niko led Johnny to the back of the room, sitting at two computers around the farthest pillar. From his seat, Niko could see everyone in the room, and had a very good view of the front door. If anyone came in, Niko would see them first and, by the time they spotted him, he'd be out that back door.
Niko tapped on the keyboard and the screen flickered, displaying the LCPD website.
"Watch this," Niko whispered to Johnny.
Niko dramatically hit Enter. The screen changed, bringing up the Police Database.
Niko began typing commands and, within seconds, they were staring at a list of 'Cartwrights'.
Seven names on the list resided near Ivy Drive. Four of them lived on Ivy itself.
Niko clicked on the first one.
A picture of an old woman appeared. No criminal record.
Niko shared a smile. Due to certain events two years ago – some of them Niko had a hand in – that were labeled as terrorist incidents, and the Jingoism Act, the police had received a present from the city – their databases were expanded and now encompassed every legal resident of Liberty City and nationally known criminals.
"I somehow doubt that's her," Johnny said. Then: "Who's to say we'll find him – or her? Could be using a fake name."
"Oh, undoubtedly is," Niko said. "But if the guy told you the right name, fake or not…."
Johnny frowned. What?
Niko waved a hand up and carried on his search. After almost half an hour, Johnny stood.
"I'm getting a coffee. You want one?"
Niko shook his head.
At the machine Johnny pondered this new alliance. Could he completely trust this guy? With a sip of his drink he realized he had to.
"Just keep your wits about you, Johnny," He said to himself in a husky whisper. "Don't let your guard down for a second." With his free hand he fumbled the shotgun under his jacket.
"Couldn't we do this somewhere more secluded?" Johnny asked, sitting back down, his eyes scanning the many customers.
"No," Niko replied, without looking away from the screen. "If they trace this, they'll trace it to an internet café, not my home. Dead end."
"What if they trace it now?"
"If any police turn up, we leave. By the time they've isolated the terminal it's from, we'd be six blocks away, and the computer's history deleted."
Johnny nodded.
Then Niko froze.
"Johnny, the apartment we were at is owned by a Marcus D'Amico." Johnny's head shot up. "D'Amico was arrested last year for gun violence, but it never got to court. He was arrested with…. a Jackie Cartwright."
"You found him?"
"Her, Niko said. Cartwright's a woman." Niko tapped a command and a picture came up on the screen. "That's the guy that tried to kill me," Niko whispered.
"Greenhorn's partner."
Niko nodded. "Cartwright lives at 529…."
"Ivy drive," Johnny said. Niko nodded.
Then the familiar feel of his iFruit phone. He sighed. "This is the guy I was telling you about." Niko answered the call.
"Get out of there. Now." The voice hung up.
All color drained from Niko's face. "Go to the car. Now." He said to Johnny, simultaneously clearing the browsers history. He closed the browser then he set the computer to reboot – something you can't normally do with public computers, but there were ways. Niko stood and strolled to the exit. He smiled at the attendant and walked out the door.
Niko was just pulling the car onto Kemeny Street when the convoy of black Buffalos appeared in his rear view mirror.
"What was that about?" Johnny asked.
"That asshole told me to leave. Right now the FIB are probably walking in through the door." Niko turned for the Skyway.
