THE BILLIONAIRE'S BARGAIN

CHAPTER 37

Martinez adjusted his seat to ease his uncomfortability. His eyes became fixed at the chief's eyes.

“Chief,” he replies, his tone measured,

“it’s best if Leo doesn’t find out. His reaction might not help the case.”

Chief Peterson became a little shocked considering Martinez’s words carefully. Leo was a good officer, but he was also passionate—sometimes too passionate for his own good. The chief had seen Leo’s anger flare when it came to criminals related crimes; it could easily cloud his judgment.

“And you think he would go off the rails if he found out?” Peterson asked, curiosity piqued.

“Not off the rails, exactly,” Martinez said, his voice dropping slightly as if sharing a secret.

“But Leo has a history with Vinnie’s gang. It was his first case and up till ow, he is not able to catch them. More importantly, they hurt people he cares about. If he finds out we have one of them in custody, he might try to confront him directly. That could jeopardize the investigation.”

Peterson sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. He had seen it too many times—a case that seemed straightforward unraveling because of emotions.

“You’re not wrong,” he conceded.

“But we can’t keep this from him for long. I don't want him to feel like I am sitting him out of this one, it is still his case and he has everything right to be here. Once Ling get better and we get want we want from the criminal, we will let him know.We need to find a way to handle this delicately.”

Martinez nods, the deep lines on his forehead showing his concern.

“I agree, Chief. But right now, we need to focus on getting information from the suspect. If Leo gets involved prematurely, it could muddy the waters.”

With a worried face, Peterson leans forward, resting his elbows on the desk.

“Where is the suspect being held for questioning?” Martinez straightens, the urgency of the situation sharpening his focus.

“I believe they brought him to the interrogation room on the second floor,” he replied.

“Is it time to question him?” “Let’s head there together,” Peterson said, standing up from his chair, his authoritative demeanor returning.

“We’ll need to strategize on how to approach this. I don’t want Leo causing any unnecessary complications, but I also don’t want to exclude him from the process.”

The two moved through the precinct, their footsteps echoing in the empty hallways. Martinez could feel the weight of the conversation lingering in the air, an unspoken agreement that they needed to tread carefully. A clash of perspectives as they ascended the stairs to the second floor, the atmosphere shifted.

Their movement brought in different thought from officers who saw them heading towards the interrogation room.

“ What are you guys gossiping about instead of focusing on your work?”, Leo questions the two officers who return back to their own office after stepping out a bit.

“ We saw officer Martinez and the chief heading towards the interrogation room”, one of the officers explains.

Leo feeling eager to know, questions them,

“ Why were they heading there”,

“ We don't know. I asked the same thing to Collins earlier, but I was shunned by him and was told to return back to my post instead”, the officer explains, placing the files he had brought on his desk.

Leo was confused by the whole situation but decided it to give it much thought.

“Martinez,” Chief Peterson broke the silence, “I know you want to protect Leo, but he’s a part of this team. We can’t treat him like a child who can’t handle a situation like this” Martinez nodded, acknowledging the chief’s point.

“I understand, but sometimes situations like this, can be a double-edged sword. Leo is passionate, but that passion isn’t always a benefit in situations like this. It can lead him to make decisions that aren’t in the best interest of the case.” Chief Peterson paused, his gaze locked on Martinez.

“So, what do you suggest? We just keep him in the dark while we do his job?” Martinez felt a surge of frustration.

“No, but maybe we can approach him once we have some solid leads. Let’s gather the information first, then present it to him in a way that doesn’t provoke an emotional response.” Peterson sighs, running a hand through his hair.

“You know, sometimes I think you care too much about how people feel rather than the facts of the case. This is a dangerous game we’re playing. If Leo finds out we’re keeping things from him, it could create a rift in the team.” Martinez met the chief's gaze, unyielding.

“And if we allow Leo to react impulsively, it could ruin our chances of getting the information we need. It’s a delicate balance, Chief, and we have to navigate it carefully.”

Reaching the interrogation room, Martinez was ready to abstract the truth from the criminal.The room was dimly lit, a single bulb hanging overhead casting shadows on the cold, metal table in the center. The suspect, a scruffy-looking man with tattoos snaking up his arms, sat slumped in a chair, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape.

THE INTERROGATION ROOM

****

“Let’s do this then”, Chief Peterson said, stepping into the room with authority. Martinez follows, adopting a stance that projected confidence while keeping his emotions in check. The suspect looked up, a flicker of recognition crossing his face.

“Chief”, one of the officers immediately stood up and saluted.

“ Well done officer”, Peterson saluted back.

“ Anything yet from him”, Peterson demanded.

“ No. He refuses to speak up, requesting for a lawyer”, the officer narrated.

“ Hey! I'd love if you cooperated with us, to reduce your sentence. Don't you think?”, Martinez questions, moving closer to the culprit.

“Hey, I know you,” the man said, a smirk curling his lips.

“You’re that cop. What’s your name again? Martinez?”

Martinez ignores the taunt, focusing instead on the task at hand.

“We have some questions for you,” he said, his voice steady.

“You’re going to answer them.” The suspect leans back, his hand handcuffed.

“I’m not saying anything without my lawyer.”

Peterson steps forward, his presence commanding.

“You’re not in a position to negotiate. We now know that you’re involved with Vinnie’s gang, and we have evidence linking you to several crimes. The longer you stay quiet, the worse it will be for you.”

The suspect’s expression shifted, a flicker of uncertainty clouding his bravado.

“What kind of evidence?”

Martinez seized the moment, leaning in slightly.

“ Marco right?”.

Marco eyes widens in surprise, his eyes locked with Martinez own.

Martinez chuckles, grabbing the files containing his personal details from the desk.

“ I'm sure they didn't tell you about this one, did they?” He bigins to narrate, dropping each file after reading their details on the desk.

“Your Mom is sick and in the hospital, but you have a sister who is schooling…. should I go on”.

“We have witnesses, surveillance footage, and we know about the deals you’ve made. You’re facing serious charges. The best thing you can do right now is cooperate.”

The suspect hesitated, glancing between the three officers in the room.

“And what’s in it for me?” he asked, his tone shifting from defiance to curiosity.

“If you provide us with information about Vinnie and his operations, we can look into potential plea deals,” Peterson replied, his voice smooth but firm.

“You could walk away from this with a lighter sentence. But you have to be honest with us.”

Silence envelopes the room as the suspect weighed his options. Martinez could feel the tension crackling in the air, a game of psychological chess unfolding. He knew that getting the suspect to talk would require finesse, but the stakes were high, and time was not on their side.

Martinez took a step back, allowing Peterson to take the lead. He watched intently as the chief navigated the conversation, his experience shining through as he skillfully pushed the suspect’s buttons, probing for weaknesses.

“You think Vinnie cares about you?” Peterson pressed, his voice laced with disdain.

“You’re just a pawn in his game. Once you’re no longer useful, he’ll toss you aside like yesterday’s trash.” The suspect’s bravado faltered, and for a brief moment, Martinez saw a flicker of fear in his eyes.

“I’ve been with Vinnie for years,” he shot back, trying to reclaim control.

“He wouldn’t do that to me.”

“Really?” Peterson challenges, leaning in closer. “You think he values loyalty? You’re nothing more than a tool to him. Help us, and maybe you can save yourself.” The suspect shifted in his seat, his defenses crumbling under the weight of Peterson’s words. Martinez could sense the shift in the room, the air thickening with anticipation. This was the moment they had been waiting for, a crack in the suspect’s armor that could lead to valuable information. “Fine,” the suspect finally muttered, looking down at the table, ready to unveil truth but to his own favor.

“What do you want to know?”

Martinez exchanges a glance with Peterson, both men recognizing the significance of the moment. They had crossed a threshold, and the information that followed could change everything. As they began to ask questions, the suspect’s demeanor shifted from defiance to reluctant cooperation. He started to divulge details about Vinnie’s operations, his voice low and conspiratorial. “I can’t tell you everything,” he warned, glancing nervously at the door. “If Vinnie finds out I talked… I won’t live to regret it.”

Peterson nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. “We’ll keep you safe. But you need to give us something substantial—names, locations, anything. We need to take Vinnie down.”

As the suspect began to spill secrets, Martinez couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that crept over him. He was well aware that they were playing a dangerous game, one that could have serious repercussions for everyone involved. Leo would undoubtedly be furious if he found out they had kept this from him, but they were treading carefully, trying to keep the investigation on track.

“ Why was detective ling shot at the raid”, Peterson presses further.

Marco sighs exhausted from their questions.

“ She was in the way. That lady was wayy ahead of herself, she was getting to my nerves too”.

“ What did you say”, Martinez questions, grabbing him by the collar about to throw a punch.