Disclaimer : I don't own GTA3. Some of the characters in this fanfic are based on or taken from the game. Others are of my creation. I called the main character Jake because I found the name suited.

Chapter 3 is up. Please read and tell me what you think. I would really appreciate heaps of praises, but constructive critisism is also welcomed. I wouldn't get better otherwise.

CHAPTER 03

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Jake drove the short distance between Belleville Park and his flat in total silence. He was too deep in thought to be disturbed. He even forgot to get angry when some young punk in a flashy pink Cheetah cut him off. Ray would get him the information from some bent cop the other side of the water. Bent cops covered each others backs, they never knew when they would need each others help. There was almost a code of conduct between them, some form of honour.

Jake turned and descended the slope into the countyard, reversing the car into the garage. It wasn't even 10 o'clock yet, and he was free till 6 o' clock. He didn't want to stay inactive, but couldn't make a rationnal decision without more information. Who could have information concerning the Cartel ?

The answer hit him : Asuka. Being one of the local Yakusa heads, they would have to keep close tabs on Cartel activities. They would squabble like kids over insignificant pieces of land, saying that the more territory they had, the more power it represented to those looking on from the outside. He could go to Kenji, but that pig had called him a good-for-nothing useless something-or-another. He didn't do any jobs for him except if the pay was worth it. Considering his greedyness, he hadn't done anything for Kenji recently.

He opened the garage again, getting in the Sentinel and heading off to Asuka's place …

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Asuka owned several floors in a high-rise appartment block, which bordered the water. Strategically placed, the pier was nearby with several possible gettaway boats, and the docks meant goods of all sorts could be discreetly shipped in. The only possible down part was the lack of roads going to the place. A gettaway by car could be made difficult.

Jake wasn't bothered, however. He didn't live there, and Asuka payed well. She would always refer to Jake as a "toy", which was quite aggravating, but she was okay otherwise. She was also a long-time friend of Marias, though Jake had no idea how they met or how the friendship grew. But that really wasn't his business. He entered the back entrance, which gave onto a pool behind the building. As luck would have it, asuka was relaxing in a lounge chair, a cocktail on the small metal table next to her. She was dressed in a T-shirt and had a quite revealing summer skirt on. Although it was summer, Jake still wore trousers, but chose wisely which to wear. Practicality came before havng a fashion sense.

Jake walked over and stopped 2 metres away from Asuka, keeping his hands clasped behind his back. She lazily opened her right eye and looked at Jake.

"Oh goody, my toy has decided to visit me."

"This isn't a social call."

"Mores the pity. Drink ?"

"No thanks."

"So, what does my toy want for me. If you want money, you'll have to earn it."

"I don't need money." Asuka raised an eyebrow. "Not at the moment anyway."

She finally opened both her eyes and sat up straighter. "What is it you need then ?"

"I need information."

"Aha. We're nearing the end of our quest." Now it was Jakes turn to raise an eyebrow. "And what do you need information on ?"

"I need to know the recent Cartel mouvement in the last 24 hours, especially as of 7 o'clock last night."

"What do you need that kind of information for ?"

"What would you do if you knew ?"

"Just curious, that's all. It's funny that you should mention Cartel mouvement, really."

"What do you mean ?"

"Take a seat and I'll tell you."

Jake sat down on the lounge chair next to Asuka's, but didn't take her eyes off her. She could be deadly if left unattended.

"Last night, my spies reported an increased activity at about 7 o'clock last night. There was a build up starting at 6 o'clock. At 9, a small army was gathered at the construction sight."

"How big a small army ?"

"What ?"

"How many were they ?"

"Oh. From what I gather, about 10 cars. One car left straight away, wheras the others were left on sight. They left at 5 o'clock. I had prepared in case they tried to attack one of our installations, but they just passed through, and went to the other side of the water." She lifted her hand and pointed to the other side, were the buildings could be seen on the island part of Liberty City. "I didn't pay any attention to what happened after, they were no longer a threat."

She reached for her drink and took a small sip before replacing it on the table.

Jake looked over ha water. If he strained his eyes enough, he had the impression he could see where his hideout was. He even thought he saw a fire engine there. But he wasn't Inspector Gadget, and didn't have binoculars popping out of his hat. He didn't even wear hats, for that matter.

"Are you sure you don't want to tell me why you want the information ? I might be able to find more out if I have a better picture of what I'm looking for."

Jake sighed. "The Cartel stalked out the hiding place where I was last night. I wan't to find out how they found me and get those who did."

Asuka nodded her head and took another sip of her drink. "And you are trying to find out haw the Cartel found you …"

"Yes."

"It wasn't a question."

"It wasn't an answer."

Jake head a car coming to park near the back entrance. "You brother's here."

Asuka looked at Jake. "You've got good hearing."

"I wouldn't have survived thus far without it."

The sound of a car door opening and closing could faintly be heard. 10 seconds later, the door opened, and Kenji entered. He looked the same as always : dark grey suit, dary shirt, dark tie, and dark shoes. Jake wondered how many suits like that he had as Kenji approched.

"Hello Athuka," Kenji said, his lisp clearly coming through.

"Hello Kenji."

"I have come to talk buthneth with you." He looked at Jake and said, "Alone."

Jake didn't want to stay as Kenki had arrived, so he stood and said to Asuka, "If you hear of anything that could be important or useful, call me, or leave me a message."

"Will do."

He turned towards the exit and passed Kenji without saying a word. He had nearly reached the door when Kenji called out "Goodbye, toy."

Jake turned to see Kenji looking at him, and Asuka with a small smile on her face. He called back, "Thee you around thometime, Kendthi." before opening the door and leaving …

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Driving back to his flat, he took a safe way back, making sure he wasn't being followed, and thought about his other employers, anyone who could hold a grudge against him.

The Leone family was the first to come to mind. Jake had worked for them since his escape during what was supposed to be a routine prisonner transfer.The convoy had been attacked, but Jake wasn't sure who by. It seemed to be the Cartel, but Jake wasn't sure. Whoever it was, they had done a good job, going so far as to have the police departments computer records attacked by some computer whizz, deleting the records of those who were transfered. As it was, there were only 3 people in the police car : an elderly prisonner the who the people had come for, 8-ball, and Jake himself. They had taken the other person, leaving 8-ball and Jake to themselves. They had done a good job to geta away. He had started his first jobs for the Mafia, doing simple no-trust jobs as transporting non-important people or non-important packets, beating small-time drug dealers on Mafia turf, and stuff like that. Now, he was entrusted with bigger and bigger jobs, although he wasn't sure if babysitting Maria was considered as a important job or not. He had never told them that he worked for other gangs. As far as they knew, Jake worked solely for them.

The Chinese Triads could certainly hold a grudge against him. Which was an understanderable thing. Jake hadn't really done anything for them, quite the contrary. Jake wasn't racist, but had never felt the urge to work for them. And they never proposed him anything. Jake thus avoided going to Chinatown, as Triad thugs patrolled the streets, armed.

Stopping briefly at a red light, Jakes thoughts went to the Yakusa, his next biggest employer. He had been recommended by Maria to Asuka, who had also started by giving him small jobs. But every penny gained was put to good use, or saved for a rainy day. Besides, it was always good to have an easy job now and again. After some time, his was recommended by Asuka to Kenji. Jake didn't like Kenji, and couldn't even if he tried. Kenji was as demanding and uptight as could be. Elitist, that's the word, Jake thought, starting off as the light turned greed. He thought himself better than anyone and everyone. Jake had successfully done several jobs for him, but Kenji always demanded more. Jake eventually stopped accepting jobs from him, and Kenji stopped offering. Asuka, on the other hand, offered interesting jobs and good wages.

The Cartel and Jake hated each others guts. That was even common knowledge on the streets. Jake had made quite a name for himself, but few knew his real face. And Jake did his best to ensure no one knew where he lived. Jake didn't know who was at the head of the Cartel, and didn't really know how powerful they were. They had a large construction site on this part of town, and Ray had just told him they were also influent in the posher part of town, but that's all Jake knew. He also suspected the construction site, held by some cover-up company called "Pan Lantic", to be some sort of base for future operations or incursions. But there was still quite a lot of work before it would be completed, so Jake wasn't worried. He might even not be here when it was completed. He didn't intend on remaining in Liberty City his whole life, but Jake didn't generally think so far ahead.

There were some more small groups spotted here and there, but Jake hadn't paid much attention to then and vice-versa. They hadn't proposed anything thus far. But Jake hadn't actively taken any action against them. They were groups who had been important, bat hadn't evolved for some time, losing out by not advancing. Others were groups that had just started out, and hadn't been able to make their mark as such.

Most of the groups seemed to have their own speciallity aswell. The Mafia were into prostitution and protection money, the Diablos into cars, the Cartel drugs, just to mention a few. Of course, some groups interest could overlap with anothers, which would lead to a street war for a while, before things calmed down and the smoke settled. The Yakusa also did protection money, but both the Mafia abd the Yakusa stayed on their side of the water, for now …

Arriving at his hideout, he circled the block twice, double-checking the area for a tail or for someone who was staking out his flat. Seeing no one, he went down the slope, put his car in the garage, and entered his flat.

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It was 1 o'clock in the afternoon. Jake had just finished having lunch, and felt content with himself. After cleaning up, he took a map of the area. Ray spoke about Cartel influence up in the posher area, probably refering to Cedar Grove. That was one chic area : big houses, several expensive cars, extensive gardens, and the like. Probably cost as much to keep as it did to buy in the first place. If the Cartel was there, they must be making a lot of money, although some funds could be coming from outside Liberty City.

Jake had already put limits for each group on the map. Territory sometimes overlapped : they were the areas to avoid during tensions between gangs. Parts of towns weren't controlled. Liberty Campus, for example, was kept free from gang influence, as the police were more active in the area. Probably to try and bring in intellectual potential to the city, or something like that. And Jake had a hard time imagining a gang reclaiming the airport as a part of its territory. Taking the purple felt pen, Jake put a cross where Cedar Grove was on the map. He tried to keep it up to date, and had been quite successful in doing so. However, he rarely ventured to Shoreside Vale, and wasn't very aware of the gang situation over there.

Jake then thought about the means that the Cartel had put to capture – or kill – him. They had, in a matter of hours, brought 10 or so cars, and therefore at least 20 people, together. They were all armed to a certain derge, automatic machine guns seeming to be the minimum. They wouldn't have done so if they weren't sure he had been there. Who had known he was going to see Salvatore ?

He sat bolt upright. He hadn't thought of that. The Mafia itself knew he was going to see Salvatore. Maybe not every Tom, Dick and Harry, but at least a few influential members, as well as some henchmen. Salvatore knew, he was the one who proposed the job. He would probably have told Joey, Tony and Luigi. Their 'assistants' would also know, therefore. Plus the odd Mafia thug he crossed on the way to Salvatores. Not to mention the 2 he had seen at the entrance to Salvatores. That meant that, all in all, some 20 or so people could know.

This meant several things. Supposing the Mafia and the Cartel had worked together on this one, they would have some sort of relationship going on. This meant some sort of alliance. But supposing it was the Mafia, why would they do this ? What would they have to gain ? Or what had he done so that the Mafia decides to sell him ? Jake would have to give this more thought. He couldn't exactly go see salvatore at his place and say, "Oh, by the way, why did you sell me to the Cartel ?" That was a sure way of getting on salvatores bad side, and that was one thing Jake did not want to do. Although if Salvatore had sold him, things couldn't get much worse. It could come slightly lower, from Joey, Luigi, or Tony. One of them could have made an alliance with the Cartel in the hopes of overthrowing salvatore and becoming the leader of the Mafia.

Jake would have to think this over. But he needed more information before taking any course of action. He would see Ray later to get more Traid information, and then give things a LOT of thought …