Chapter Ten

"Where's Justin?"

"I don't know. He was here before I fell asleep."

Joey paced in a small square. "How long have you been asleep?"

Vincent shook his head. "I don't know. Several hours, I guess."

"Great. He didn't even leave a note."

"He could have gone out for food or something."

"I doubt it." Vincent slowly stood up. He picked up the phone and dialed Justin's cell phone.

"Hello?" It was not Justin.

"Who's this? And where's Justin?"

"I'm Robert Raide. Justin is resting. May I ask who you are?"

Vincent sat down on the arm of the chair. "I'm a friend of his. Where is he?"

"He's in Carson General Hospital."

"What is he doing there?"

"He followed me here." This time it was Chateau's voice. "If you watched the news, you would know why. He was shot by the Yakuza, close to the heart. He will be here for several days. Do not bother calling Vercetti or my father. I am wanted, and I don't need anyone else tailing me."

"Let me talk to Justin."

"He is resting. I told you, he was shot. Now, leave us be. I will have him call you when he wakes up." She hung up.

"He's in Liberty City. He's with Chateau. And Robert Raide, whoever he is."

"The Silvae daughter? Why?"

"She said that he followed her there. If I saw the news recently." He turned on the TV, switching to the news. They showed repeats of the Silvae father and daughter. "He followed a criminal? Why?"

Maverick sighed. "That night, something was up. His pain could not have made him scream. The most he could do was wince. He was acting suspicious when I asked him what happened."

"Don't tell me he had sex with her." Joey complained. "In our apartment?"

"It could be." Maverick sat down. "What should we do?"

"I think we should kill that bitch."

"No! How would that make Justin feel? It is obvious that they are in love."

Joey sighed. "Be on his side then."

"I will. I will go to Liberty City and find them. If you choose not to come, fine." He went into his room, and came out with a suitcase. "I'll see you guys later."
*** It was dark in Liberty city. The sounds of police sirens were heard off in the distance. It seemed normal for Liberty.

Maverick walked out of Francis International, his suitcase in one hand, and his Colt .45 in his other hand. He did not trust anyone in Liberty. He called a taxi, telling him to drive him to Carson General.

He got out of the taxi, paying the driver. He put away his handgun, going inside. He walked up to the receptionist. "What room is Justin Corlwaye in?"

She looked up at him. "He was released earlier today."

"Do you know where he went?"

"No, I don't. He left with a man and woman. The man looked like he was.part of them."

"Who is them?"

"You do not know? They live in St. Marks. They rule almost the whole city."

"Yeah, thanks." He walked out, but then stopped. He saw a cigarette butt on the floor. He shook his head, and walked out. He waited by the sidewalk, waiting for a taxi.

It was late. Barely any cars were on the street. Mav got tired of waiting. He dialed Justin's number. There was no answer. "Where are they?"

He stood up, and hijacked a blue truck at the stoplight. He threw the driver out, throwing his suitcase in the passenger's seat. He closed the door and drove off. When he got away far away from the driver, he pulled over and fumbled through the glove compartment. He pulled out a map, trying to find where the St. Marks district was.

He drove to St. Marks, stopping at Marco's Bistro. He got out, seeing men in black walk by with shotguns in their hands. The Mafia. The Mafia took them. Wasn't this just great.

He found himself surrounded by them. They held their shotguns to him. One of them walked forward. "You do not dress like the Cartel, yet you drive their vehicle. Who are you?"

Mav raised his hands. "Maverick Cruise. I'm not part of the Cartel. I came here looking for a friend."

"What gang are you in?"

"I am in no gang. I street race."

"A street racer. From where?"

"Vice City."

"You? A street racer from Vice? You must know Joseph Anda."

"Joey? We're friends."

He told the others to go about their business. "Why are you here?"

"I came here looking for Justin Corlwaye. He should be with Chateau Silvae and Robert Raide?"

"Bobby? He left earlier. Sal hasn't been giving us any jobs lately."

"Do you know where he is?"

"Nay. I saw him leave St. Marks. That's all." He shifted his position. "Take that Cartel Cruiser to 8-Ball's shop, then return here. I'll give you a better vehicle, since you know Joey. And if you talk to him, tell him Rick said hi."

"Fine." He felt relief that he wasn't going to get killed. He got in the cruiser, driving it down the street, turning the corner. He drove into a dirt road, and dropped the car off there, taking his suitcase.

He walked back up the hill, reentering the parking lot. He found a sentinel there. The door was unlocked, and the keys were inside. He closed the door, putting his suitcase in the back, and taking out his cell phone. He called the apartment.

"Hello?"

"Hey Vince, did you hear anything from Justin?"

"No, not yet. Have you?"

"I've only found out that they left the hospital. The Mafia has taken them. And tell Joey that Rick said hi."

"Rick? Tell that bastard to say it to my face." Joey laughed. "I thought he would go somewhere else besides the Mafia. I guess not."

"You two friends?"

"Yeah. He should help you out if you need anything."

"He already did. If you hear anything, call me." He hung up, and started up the car. He drove around, trying to find a place to stay for the night.

He stopped at a red light. The passenger door opened, and Rick got inside. "I've decided to help you. Did you call Joey?"

"Yeah, he said to say it to his face."

"Just like him. You can go to Hepburn Heights, where my apartment is, and stay there for the night."

"Thanks."

In the morning, Maverick got up. He looked out the living room window. Where are you?

Rick came out of the kitchen, holding a cup of coffee in his hands. "You want some?"

"No thanks." He sighed. "Do you know where Robert lives? Maybe they're there with him."

"He lives over in Staunton Island, near Belleville Park. There's a parking lot off of the main road. I'll show you. Let me get dressed." He placed the coffee mug on the coffee table, going into his bedroom.

Mav turned away from his window, leaving the apartment. He didn't need Rick's help. Vercetti owned Sunshine Autos. He knew how to deal with gang members. If he ever got into trouble with the cops, he knew how to get out of it.

He started up the car, pulling out of the parking lot. He drove, and soon he found Rick chasing after the car. He stopped, letting him get in.

"Thanks for waiting. Bobby's been acting strange recently. I wouldn't go alone."

Mav sighed, and continued to drive. He knew where he was going. He had problems with traitors before.

He drove into the parking lot and pulled over. It wasn't much of a lot. There were puddles of both gasoline and water, and it was dark. They got out, walking over to a metal elevator. Rick went inside, pushing the second floor button. Mav took one last look around, and joined Rick.

The elevator door closed. Mav slumped against the wall. "What if they're not here?"

"They'll be here, I'm sure of it." Rick grinned. He took out two handguns, throwing Mav one. "Ever use a gun before?"

"Just because I'm a street racer doesn't mean I don't know how to use a gun."

The elevator door opened, and they walked out. There were faint screams of torture off in the distance. The screams sounded familiar.

Rick kicked open Bobby's door, his gun raised. Yet he found the barrel of a gun in his face.

"Well, well, well." Bobby moved away from Chateau, who was pinned to the wall. She moved away, seeing Mav in the back. "Get back here bitch. I'm not done with you." He grabbed her arm, pulling her to him. "What brings you here?"

"Where's Justin?" Rick asked, stepping inside the apartment.

A loud screeching scream came from the bathroom. "Mis hombres are taking care of him."

Mav came inside. He wasn't afraid of being shot. He moved toward the bathroom, but did not go inside.

"How did I know that you would go to the Cartel?"

"I was always a Columbian. You have not noticed all of the 'accidents' that have happened on my missions? Such a stupid bastard, that is what you are."

"Why didn't you kill Sal while you had the chance?"

"I was in it for the money. And plus, it supplied information to mis hombres."

He still held his gun up to him. Chateau tried to pull away, but Bobby still held her.

Mav saw what they were doing. Chateau was distracting Bobby from looking at Mav. He did not wish to do this, but he had no other choice. He raised his Colt, and pulled the trigger.

Bobby didn't know what had hit him. He fell limp on the floor, his blood trailing. Chateau pulled away, wiping the blood off her face.

Two Columbians came out from the bathroom. Before they could take out their guns, they were shot in the head. Their blood mixed with Bobby's.

Mav ran inside the bathroom, seeing Justin lying in the bathtub. Blood trailed down the drain. "Justin!" He pulled him up, seeing he was still breathing. His back was full of cuts.

"Help me." Rick joined Mav, carrying Justin out of the apartment.

Chateau grabbed the guns off of the dead bodies and ran after them.