"I think my eyes just got assaulted.", Steve croaked as they sat back down in the tan Galaxy, watching the first set of raindrops appear on the windshield.
Mike glanced across the bay at the dark gray clouds signaling the arrival of yet another storm front, the weather mirroring his current mood perfectly.
"It's been a while since I've been that close to a sweaty, half naked, hairy Italian…", he sighed, as Steve started up the car and turned the large sedan around on Devisadero, heading back south.
"It horrifies me to think that you have been in such a predicament before…", Steve countered with a broad smile, before running a hand across the black and blue fingerprints along his throat.
"Long story.", deciding to save that morsel of interesting past from his overseas adventures for another day, Mike watched the oncoming traffic to try and calm his senses, "I still believe him, Steve."
"Who? Mario?...Mike, everything points at him."
"Yeah, I know. That's what worries me."
Next to him, Steve swallowed hard, then coughed, before glancing over at his partner.
"My Vice senses say we should bust him for prostitution. And harboring underage girls to use for prostitution. Taking him off the street might stop our killer. And it might stop him from raping these women."
Shaking his head decisively, Mike pursed his lips, unhappy with the way the interview had unfolded. Feeling as though they were back at square one yet again, he grunted in frustration.
"After we just barged in on his house without a warrant for the second time in one week? You do realize he has every square inch of that house on camera. He's going to walk out of court looking like an angel. Let's…let's keep those Vice senses under wraps for a little while. They seemed to have caused more harm than good in this case as it is."
Steve surrendered without a further argument when Mike pointed his eyes at the colorful reminders of their visit along his throat.
"Listen Buddy Boy, I am as disgusted with him as you are. Mario's…ego and the way he's been flouncing in front of law enforcement for the better part of thirty years is enough to drive any good cop insane. But don't let your personal feelings get in the way of solving this case. That's the exact reason he's gotten off so many times…he knows how to play people. He played you and now look how much that brought us. Just remember that before us, there were many good cops trying to do the right thing and get him indicted and he got off each time because there wasn't enough physical evidence. Let's focus on finding our killer first. And whoever hired him. Then let's see what's left of our case to indict Mario when everything is said and done."