Chapter 8 – Hidden agendas

Miguel and Conway dragged Yen through the hospital, ignoring the screaming nurses as they went through. The Roses shunted the irate women around until they eventually backed off. They reached outside and heaved the oriental down the steps, the Roses in tow.

"Get that trunk open!" yelled Conway. One of the Roses ran to the red Savannah, opening the trunk of the car. Miguel and Conway lifted the body and threw him in, Miguel giving the body another punch in the face for good luck. He turned to Conway.

"Where are we taking him then?"

"To Knockout's shop. I know some people that are very interested in Mr Yen here." Conway said turning to the Roses. "Follow us to the shop, stay close."

Conway ran to his car and swung the door open. He looked back at Miguel.

"Get in!" he shouted, frustrated.

x

The Infernus sped off followed by the struggling Savannah. There was an uneasy silence inside the sports car. Miguel stared out the window, contemplating what Yen had said about Franco. "No wonder your friends betray you" he remembered, his mind flying to all sorts of wild accusations. A voice appeared in his head, trying his patience and whispering into his subconscious. Miguel's eyes widened as the paranoia grew, his hands shaking.

"You okay?" asked Conway, glancing at the troubled man sat in the passenger seat. Miguel nodded, shifting uneasily in his seat.

"There's some things you need to know Miguel" started Conway, "There are some things that you don't know about this situation."

Miguel eyed Conway carefully and assessed the situation. He was in a car with an inspector that had a stranglehold over him. He was in the middle of some sort of power struggle in a city that meant nothing to him. He'd lost what he considered his most loyal subordinate. He hadn't seen his wife in days…

"Shit! Roxy!" he screamed at Conway.

"She'll be fine. You need to hear me out first and then we'll plan what we will do next" said Conway calmly. "Let's start at the beginning. Yen is Yakuza, one of Kaido's "managers". Kaido was having problems with Minamoto in Liberty so had Yen, his silent captain, assassinate him. Yen was contracted to re-establish the Yakuza presence in Liberty. Kaido's deal with Madden was one of revenge. There's something you've done to upset them. I don't what."

"I'd never met the Maddens before" said Miguel calmly.

"Well, the Yakuza captured Franco and turned him. They orchestrated the meeting in Liberty with his assistance. I think you were supposed to have been killed. They weren't expecting you to get this far. Madden's part of the deal was the money. The Yakuza were only interested in the benefits after. As far as we know, Madden still doesn't have the money."

"We? Who are you working with?" quizzed Miguel.

"Bit ditzy ain't you? I've been in discussion with the Downtown Roses; I met Quentin Trenlock back a few years ago. He's ex-police. He put me in contact with the Roses and their leader, Leroy."

Miguel's mind flashed back to the night at the Theatre Grande. He remembered the lanky skinhead and the man in the silk suit.

"Trenlock's a good guy; he gave me all of this information in exchange for me helping you. He's got some connection to you apparently. His interest lies in the Madden's downfall and believes you can bring that about."

Conway threw the car up a gear as they sped along the main boulevard, weaving around the traffic. The struggling Savannah could be heard behind.

"So, according to you, everyone is my enemy? What's new?"

"That's roughly about it, yeah. Except us of course us; we're your friends Miguel. Remember it" Conway growled, suddenly pulling up in a garage. He pulled himself out and watched as the Savannah pulled up behind. The Roses got out of their car and opened the trunk, trying to pull the body of the unconscious Yen out. Miguel got out of the car and watched as a man came into the garage. He was tall and lanky, his wiry muscles hugging his lean frame. He walked over to the struggling Roses and shunted them aside. Heaving once, he threw the body of the oriental over his shoulder and smiled at the Roses, a golden tooth shining in the light as he gloated.

"Miguel, meet Leroy" said Conway begrudgingly. He hated the man, preferring to keep the company of Trenlock when he could.

Leroy grunted as he nodded at Miguel, forcing himself back through the door. Conway and Miguel followed, entering the backroom of the shop. Trenlock, otherwise known as Knockout, sold guns and the backroom was littered with rifles and pistols.

"Anyone thought we were going to war" said Miguel.

"We are at war" said a deep voice, cold and defiant. The man strode into the room with a presence of power. He was wearing a ragged suit that blended with his dark, aged skin. He spoke with a true New York accent, stereotypical of the gangsters in the American films. He looked as if he'd just appeared from a Hollywood film-set, his lean stature and slick hair reminiscent of the Hollywood greats. He had short, cropped hair and a whispy beard with a hint of grey.

"We are at war with the power hungry souls of this Earth" he said triumphantly, "And you! Our greatest soldier. Yes, yes you will."
"Whoa buddy, I'm not here to fight your battles" said Miguel turning for the door. Trenlock held out his arm, putting his hand on Miguel's shoulder to hold him back. Miguel span with lightening fury, his hand lodging under Knockout's throat. He rammed the man as far back as he could, pressing him to the wall. Trenlock stared calmly into Miguel's wild eyes, the days of trauma hiding behind them.

"You launch your fury in the wrong place. I am not the enemy."

Miguel thought for a second and relaxed his grip, releasing the man from his hold. Leroy dropped Yen to the ground to break the moment.

"What we doing wit da chinaman?"

"He's Japanese" said Conway.

"That's what I said, innit?" said Leroy, bewildered by the talkback.

"Yen must be interrogated before anything else" commanded Trenlock. He turned to Conway and nodded. Conway looked at Leroy and guided him to the makeshift interrogation room. Little did Miguel know, but it was the same room he'd been in a few days ago.

"Madden is leaving for Liberty this afternoon," said Knockout to Miguel, "We cannot allow him to escape. Take what you need and finish them. He'll be at the tower until midday."

Conway reappeared and threw something at Miguel. Miguel caught the metal object and opened his palm, a silver car-key shining back at him.

"Take her. She's faster than anything you've ever ridden before, part from maybe your bitch."

Miguel nodded and searched around the room, grabbing some body armour, a pistol and a submachine gun. He strode up to the Infernus and throwing the weapons in, he started the engine and revved it, the noise shaking the foundations of the garage. Trenlock approached the window on the driver's side and lent over, smiling at Miguel.

"Don't harm the girl. Lucie's caught up in something she doesn't understand. Save her if you can."

Miguel nodded and pulled off, catching a sight of the tower in the skyline. Hatred boiling up inside of him, the wild eyes returning to his face. He didn't know what he was supposed to have done to the Maddens, but he was going to find out…

x

Roxy paced around her hotel room, trying to think what to do. She'd spoken to Luca and all was not well in Liberty. The Yakuza had broken the terms of their agreement and several attacks had been launched against the gang. She was sick with worry, not knowing where Miguel was. It had been days since she's last heard from him, not since Miguel and Franco had left for the docks with some of the heavies. She's received a text from Franco's phone saying that all went well and they were on there way back, but something didn't sit right with her. There was something eerie about being asked to wait in for them that she didn't like. The pistol tucked into her tight jeans showed this off more than anything.

Hours past and still there was no sign from Miguel. Roxy began pouring herself a drink before she heard the noise behind the door. She replaced the glass on the table and ran into the bedroom, drawing the gun. She pulled the door too, just enough to see what or who came into the room. She ducked down, hearing the door knob turn. Her blood began to pump as an oriental man walked in, scanning the room with cold eyes. A few men followed him in carrying baseball bats. She knew they were Yakuza.

"Search the place" said the Yakuza coldly, spying the half-poured drink. He picked it up and downed the contents; his Yakuza guards began smashing the place apart.

Roxy thought for a second. How was she going to escape? She crawled gently to the window and took a look outside. The room was on the fifth floor and there was nothing to grab hold of. She sighed, gripping the pistol intensely.

"Hello there, sweet girl" came a voice from behind. Roxy span instinctively and fired her pistol, flooring the guard with a single shot. The oriental and the Yakuza looked up stunned as Roxy rushed the door, firing shots into the room. The Yakuza scattered, ducking for cover, hiding under anything they could to escape the hailstorm of bullets. Roxy continued to fire until she emptied the clip. Throwing the pistol down, she sprinted for the door as the Yakuza dragged themselves up from the floor.

"After her!" screamed the oriental, pulling himself up. His Yakuza guards ran for the door, chasing the scent of the brunette like bloodhounds.

Roxy sprinted down the corridor, grabbing hold of the wall as she reached the top of the stairs. She risked a quick look back, before descending the stairs. Three Yakuza were hot of her tail, the heavy set Japanese men gaining on her. She began taking the stairs two, three at a time before hitting the bottom floor. She crashed into a few visitors as she ran down the corridor into the lobby. More Yakuza were waiting, stunned by what they saw. Roxy heard screaming behind her as she sprinted for the door. The oriental shouting orders at his men, frustrated at this turn in events. They were the Yakuza and they were being outrun by a ditzy brunette.

Roxy hit outside with speed, the cool evening air blowing on her face. She turned left and pushed her body further, the fine muscles in her legs aching under the unfamiliar pressure. She concentrated on her footsteps, ignoring the heavy footsteps behind her. Where was she going to go? Her mind raced, panic creeping in.

She spied an alleyway and dived into it, continuing to run down the narrow passageway. Out of breathe but focused intently on escaping, she pushed harder, the blood and adrenaline pumping through her veins. Got to get to Miguel! She screamed in her mind. She launched herself around a corner, smashing straight into a fist. She fell back, crashing to the floor from the sudden blow, the oriental man standing over her. He smiled as she choked from the drive to her throat.

"Hello girly…" the man said, reaching down…

x

Miguel launched the car down the streets of Layman, intent on his goal. He had no idea why he was agreeing with Trenlock and Conway; he just felt it was right. He threw the Infernus around the same courtyard he'd been in during his first day in Layman. He grabbed the SMG and strode past the parking valet confidently. He walked into the reception, the machine gun held in the crook of his arm. He fired a burst into the air and walked up to the blonde receptionist.

"Mr Madden's office please" he said calmly.

Surprisingly, the blonde nodded and handed him a key card. Everyone was stunned in the room except her.

"He's expecting you."

x

Miguel walked into the elevator and watched as the doors closed. He drew a cloth from his pocket and wiped his forehead. The elevator beeped as he pocketed it. He strode into the glass room, gun held level. In front of him was Jack Madden, alone at his desk.

"Miguel old friend, how nice for you to join us"

"Us?"

"Yes, just me and you, us…"

"You made a big mistake thinking you could take me on" Miguel said forcefully, watching Madden rise from his desk.

"I'm afraid it was you who made the mistake. You have no idea who I am, do you!" thundered Madden.

"Tell me then you bastard. You can't want to help the Yakuza that badly? For money?"

"You still have no idea, do you? Let me take you back then shall I…"