4- An Inspectors Prerogative

Miguel awoke a couple of hours later. He'd blacked out in the van, the shock of the crash getting to him. He was on a cold floor, unbound but isolated. The room was small, only a door to break the dull grey walls. It was like a cell.

The room was dimly lit by a solitary light which flickered every so often. Miguel could hear the buzz of electricity in the room. He picked himself up and examined his body. Nothing was broken but his face was cut badly. He'd hit the wall hard.

Voices could be heard outside the door now and the lock was soon opened. Two guys came in carrying a table and two chairs. Conway strode in soon after.

"Sit" he commanded. The two men left the room. Miguel did as he was told.

"Isn't it funny that the same night a police officer is killed, Miguel de Fidio, who doesn't have the best reputation in Liberty, leaves the city?"

"Fancied a holiday. Surely you can appreciate wanting to get away from Liberty, with all the killings and everything?" Miguel shot back. He knew Conway's history.

The inspector snorted, got up and paced around.

"Why are you in Layman?" he said. "And don't give me any of your bullshit; you won't get out of here alive if you do. Your deal with the Yakuza went bad. What happened? Drugs?"

"Nah man, you know we don't touch that shit"

"Then what asshole?" Conway slammed his hands on the table. Miguel turned his head. He wasn't in the mood for this.

"Your wife looks pretty tonight" said Conway, trying a new tactic.

Miguel looked up and stared into Conway's eyes. "Really? Yours looks a bit, rotten?" Miguel's fury barely contained. Conway sighed heavily, pausing just long enough to gain control. His wife and daughters had been killed three years previous as a revenge attack for the arrest and fateful death of a gang boss whilst in police custody. Conway had long suspected it was Miguel who had ordered the attack.

"Listen you dickhead, you ain't going anywhere anytime soon. Not unless you cooperate. Understand?"

"Why did you try and set me up?"

"I didn't set you fool.

You aren't half as powerful as you think you are. I hold the cards. Fold bitch. Fold quickly. Your deal with the Yakuza, what was it about?"

"Weapons and territory. Yakuza were going to supply us with guns if helped them re-establish themselves in Liberty. We met three nights ago to finish the deal…

Liberty City – 3 nights before…

"You sure this is safe Miguel?" Roxy quizzed. "You will come back alive?"

"Course baby. I've got it sussed. Rico's provided the necessary details. Its cool" he said, putting the 9mm into his jacket pocket. Miguel rose off the bed and put on his jacket, kissed Roxy softly and headed outside. The cars were waiting just as he'd ordered. Miguel revelled in his own power. Arrogance was a favourable trait in his eyes. Walking up to the silver Esperanto, he turned around and looked to the window. Roxy stood in a silken dressing gown. Miguel smiled at her and got in the car. Roxy watched on as the motorcade set off out of the gates, her stomach churning.

"Where to first boss?" said Franco, his deep voice growling over the noisy engine of the car.

"Let's go see Luca first and collect the capital…"

x

Luca waited nervously as the Esperanto pulled up in the car lot, flanked by 4X4s. His brother had always travelled in style. He stood next to two heavy set guards, fondling the handle of the case. He was clearly agitated by the extent of the deal; it would either make or break the gang's chokehold on the city.

Miguel strode up to his sibling and smiled.

"Tonight's the night brother; time to make father proud."

"Grumpy bastard" replied Luca. Both brothers laughed.

"You sure this is the right thing to do. I mean, letting the Yakuza into Liberty? Risky isn't it?"

"Is the three million in the case?" asked Miguel, clearly not wanting to discuss the subject.

"Bruv?"

"Yes Luca. It is the right thing to do. Liberty needs us. And we need guns. We don't have the manpower to bring them in ourselves. Deal with Che is all we got. I'll see you when I get back."

"Are you sure they won't screw us over?" asked Luca, still not convinced.

"Sure. Rico's source says he's had his ear to the ground. When it concerns the Yakuza, they believe they need us too."

"Good luck then" said Luca handing over the case

"See ya later" shouted Miguel, getting back into the car.

Luca sighed as he watched the car leave the lot. A sudden chill came over him as he turned to get into his own car. He caught the van out of the corner of his eye. Double-taking he looked again. The blacked out van had been in the lot since Luca had been there, his paranoia clocking it. Something was different about it though. Almost as if he remembered it from somewhere…

x

Miguel's car sped through Liberty towards the meeting. The Yakuza had chosen a nondescript alleyway to make the meet. Miguel had been sent coordinates which Franco was following. Looking out the window he recognised this as Torrington. Hardly non-descript he thought. His mobile phone buzzed, snapping him away from this momentary lack of focus.

"Hello?"

"Miguel, it's Luca."

"Summit up man?" asked Miguel, annoyed at this distraction.

"You remember back to the Fiero Gunfight last winter?"

"Yeah, over in San Andreas you mean?" How could Miguel forget; it was another deal gone sour.

"You remember the blacked out vans? The one's that sprung the gunners on us. Well, I'm sat in the car lot still and there's one across from me."

"What the fuck are you talking about man? You gone crazy? Pressure's got to you huh?"

"Man, I'm serious. Shits fucked up. I think you should pullout man."

"And I think you should get of the grass. Go home and get some sleep or summit. I'll talk to you in the morning."

"But…"

Miguel never let him finish. Snapping his phone shut he looked out of the window. A shop caught his eye. Parked on a side street was a blacked-out van, its engine running…

x

The Esperanto pulled up to the mouth of the alleyway, blocking the entrance. The two Landstalkers, formed up on either-side. Across the alley a car was waiting, its headlights off. The alleyway was narrow and had several side passages off in various places. A lone dumpster could be seen down one of these side passages as well as a catwalk into a flat above. Miguel preferred it when he knew his surroundings.

Miguel got out of the car clutching the case, adrenaline pounding around his body. A gaggle of guards had soon formed up around him, each armed with semi-automatic machine pistols. Never hurts to be prepared.

He could see activity coming from the other side. Che Minamoto soon strode forward, flanked by Japanese men. They weren't as heavily built as Miguel's but they were no less deadly. Oddly, he'd seemed to of brought female company with him too.

"Nice to see you again Miguel" said Che grinning.

Miguel towered above him, the guy was exceptionally short.

"And you Che. Shall we proceed?"

Che turned to the oriental girl on his arm and whispered in her ear. The girl giggled. Miguel stroked the little bit of hair under his chin. The woman was taller than Che and a lot thinner. She wore her hair up to show off the diamond earrings. Miguel chuckled to himself. Che was obviously trying to make an impression.

"Not yet. We are still waiting for someone" said Che eventually.

"I'm sorry? Who are we waiting for?" asked Miguel. This wasn't in the script.

"A third-party; to oversee the deal. My contacts demanded it."

Miguel turned to his men "Take up vantage points, get a good view. And where is this third-party?" Miguel said to Che. He didn't like these new turn of events. Rico hadn't mentioned this.

"He is en-route…"

Che never finished. A bullet passed through his skull, a fountain of blood splurting onto Miguel. The roar of engines screamed in the night, screeching around the corners into the passage. Miguel looked up to the building opposite the alley-way. He could see the sniper in the window. Light machinegun fire erupted as the Yakuza troops fired against the vans; there were three on each side of the alleyway. Diving into one of the side passages, he put the case of money into the dumpster. With a sudden rush, Miguel drew his pistol. He could see the gunmen explode from the vans, rifles blaring. Miguel knew he was boxed in. They would have to fight there way out.

Focusing on the mouth of the alleyway he fired, knocking two of the gunmen to the floor, blood trailing across the road. The gunmen shot back, ducked down by the sides of their vans. Miguel watched on in horror as one of his men was gunned down, shot through the head. The alleyway was alive as bullets exploded down the passageway, biting into flesh anyway they could. Miguel had no time to see how the Yakuza soldiers were doing, three more of his guards had hit the floor, riddled with spent ammunition. Miguel dived from behind the dumpster into a roll, his lightning quick reactions targeting the nearest the gunmen. Miguel squeezed the trigger. In a blink of an eye, one more hooded gunman hit the floor. There was soon return fire as bursts from their rifles clocked Miguel. Two of his guards, fired first, taking a gunman each. Miguel threw himself against the wall and changed his clip.

"Fire in the hole!" shouted one of the gunmen.

Miguel threw his arms around his head.

"Grenade!" shouted one of the guards to Miguel. He stared into Miguel's eyes as the explosion ripped through his body, blowing apart his flesh. Franco dived across from his cover, rushing around to the dumpster. He was breathing heavily, his forehead was cut and his arm was drenched in blood.

"There's no-one left. Yakuza have there's pinned down but are dwindling quickly."

"We need to get out of here. How many?" demanded Miguel.

"Three or four on our side" shouted Franco.

Miguel's ears were still ringing from the grenade explosion. Confusion had begun to settle in. He twitched, something had changed.

"What's happened?" he said to Franco quickly.

"Shooting's stopped" he replied.

"Then that means…"

"That means you have lost," came a voice from the sudden silence. "Come out and bring me the case."

Miguel looked at Franco. He could see the man was near death.

"Shit…" Miguel cursed to himself. "Can you walk?"

"I can try. What you got in mind?"

"You see that catwalk? Try and reach the flat above. Escape as best you can. Find Luca. Go, now" whispered Miguel.

"Boss…"

"Now!" spoke Miguel, his temper flaring. He watched as Franco picked himself up and ran up the metal steps to the door above. Watching as he shoulder barged it open, Miguel retrieved the case from amongst the rubbish. He checked his gun and walked back into the alley, pistol in hand.

"Drop it" ordered the man in the middle. He was bald and oriental; pale and muscular. Miguel froze on the spot, his senses tightening again. He could hear footsteps behind him.

"I said drop it!" screamed the oriental.

Miguel stood still, waiting patiently. He could hear an engine approaching, A sudden blow hit him, forcing him to the ground. One of the gunmen had hit him across the back with the butt of his rifle sending him sprawling across the floor. The oriental strode up to him and put his boot across Miguel's face.

"Learn this lesson well."

He crouched down beside Miguel and picked up the case. Turning around, he was met by headlights. The landstalker revved its engine and surged forward, the gunmen dispersing to avoid being hit.

"Move!" shouted the oriental as he ran away from the 4X4, diving into one of the vans. Miguel pushed himself to a stand, as the gunmen raced past him, throwing themselves in the van. With a squeal, it raced off into the night. The Landstalker screeched its tyres as Franco hit the breaks hard. He wound down the window and grinned at Miguel.

"Made it then?" Miguel said, looking down the passageway. It was littered with bodies and spent bullet casings. He picked out the body of Che and his escort, devestation washing over him. He had just lost millions of dollars. Someone was going to have to pay…

x

"That's a touching story Miguel" Conway said. "I bet you'd like to get even with the bastard who stole your money. Jeez, a couple of million? Gone just like that."

"Shut the fuck up man"

"I'll tell you what Motherfucker, I'm going to let you go" he said smugly.

"What?"

"For a percentage of the money, I will let you go. Call it a retirement present."

"No way man. None. And I don't know where Yen is."

"Suit yourself but you're not leaving this room alive."

Miguel scowled. This was not his week.

"It's a deal."

"Good, I'm glad. Yen is actually leaving tomorrow"

"What?!"

"He's leaving by a container ship down by the docks. Don't fail. I'll meet you tomorrow evening. I'll call you"

Conway rose and opened the door. Miguel stood and walked through. The door led straight outside, the cool air hitting Miguel in the face. Conway walked up to him close.

"Don't mess me around"

The inspector turned and got into his car.

"Hey man! I ain't got a car!" shouted Miguel.

"I'm sure the Roses will look after you. I'll be seeing you Miguel."