Layers of Louis
1299 Words
At the age of 9, Erin Walsh’s father died. He owed a lot of debts which were passed on to her and her mother. Her mother, deciding she didn’t want such a life, ran away and abandoned Erin. she was taken in by the loan sharks and sold into prostitution. She was found by Motoki Frances and forced to act in child porn. A typical sad story, common in the streets of the underworld.
They finally pieced the story together.
“Isn’t this enough evidence to close the case as a suicide?”
“You’re still going on about that?”
“Of course. I’m still willing to pay and I’ll increase the price. My employees cannot go into police custody”
“I’ll think about your offer”
Louis was reminded of why she didn’t like him. He was too stubborn.
“You aren’t familiar with Frances Motoki?”
“I know the person however only on a surface level. She’s the kind of person I would prefer not to be acquainted with”
“Is that why you refused to come with me?”
“I had better things to do than follow you around on a wild goose chase. I’m impressed you brought back useful information, no matter how small”
“You’re really underestimating me”
“You haven’t given me any reason to rate you fairly”
Louis could see Mikhail was annoyed. It didn’t concern her.
“You’re an infuriating woman”
“I’m a busy woman. If you’re going to waste my time, I don’t have use for you. You can opt-out of the contract anytime. That’s a condition I set for you”
Mikhail looked like he had fallen into a trap. Louis would never deliberately do anything disadvantageous for herself. While he reeled in that realization, Louis called Roberta. She requested information on Motoki Frances. It came in soon.
“Motoki Frances. 31. Former film director for Seraph Entertainment, now Administrator under Executive Wallace”
“I thought giving information on the Executives is outlawed”
“Who do you think I am, Detective Grisha?”
She wasn’t called the King of Information for nothing. Almost everything about Motoki was on her database. It made Mikhail’s search look like a waste of time. But in doing so, he learned about the executives. It wasn’t completely fruitless.
“According to my information, Motoki met with Erin just a few days before her death. It would seem she was taking drugs and he was supplying them to her. However, she didn’t die from an overdose. Motoki as a clue seems useless”
“We didn’t know…..she was taking drugs”
“Hmm, now you know. Nobody else seemed to know she was taking drugs. Besides, these drugs are not even on my database. It seems like a new variant. For information to be hidden from me, there seems to be a plot going on here”
“So you don’t know everything”
“Are you dumb? Of course, I don’t. I’m human after all. But what I’m sure of is I know more than you ever will”
Any semblance of smugness he had was snuffed out by her response. He fumed, looking away at a wall. It was at the point she realized…...she was being mean. Louis didn’t appreciate help from anyone because she had a lot of enemies and it wasn’t like the police would readily help her. Having help from such a rogue was something she couldn’t reconcile with. She tried her best to prove she was better than him in every way instead of just letting him help.
The realization was like a stinging slap on her face.
“I apologize for my lack of decorum. I’ll try to be civil to you from now on”
He was surprised and eventually suspicious. However, this didn’t bother him. She had already apologized and was moving on.
“I’ll trace the origin of these drugs and investigate Motoki Frances. You can continue looking for clues. However, I’ll have to warn you. No matter how tempting it might be, stay away from the Executives and ‘S’”
“I have received a similar warning. It’s not like I can just quit, can I?”
“Rather than quit, you’ll be destroyed before you can complain. No matter how civil and unreactive they are on the surface, once roused, they would attack with fangs and claws. They are not kind to their own kind either”
“Got it” he saluted, rising from the chair. He walked out of the office, leaving Louis to her thoughts.
In truth, the advice she was giving to him went both ways. While she was younger and foolish, her mother warned her repeatedly of how dangerous the Underworld was. She underestimated it and well……
She raised the sleeve of the shirt she had on. Multiple lacerations and scars littered it. They were all old scars, a warning, and a reminder. They were also a motivation. Those who did this to her…….they would pay for it.
Of course, as she grew in influence and became the King of Information, her old foes were on high alert. They had made many plots to destroy her but using Person B, they were hell-bent on erasing her.
She turned her chair, looking out the window. Her sharp eyes made out a silhouette in the opposite building. She was always being watched so she could easily spot stalkers and spies. She stared straight at them and flipped them off.
“Welcome home, Mistress” a maid greeted as she entered. She took her jacket and bag from her.
“Thank you, Kit. How's Matt?”
“The young master is in the living room. He fell asleep waiting for you”
“Again?”
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t stop him”
“It’s fine” Louis replied, sighing.
“Even I can’t stop him. After dropping that, you can rest. I’ll take it from here”
“Yes ma’am. Good night”
“Good night”
A brief glance at the wall clock showed it was past 9 already. Matt’s bedtime was at seven. She walked as quietly as she could into the living room, seeing the boy curled up on the couch, bundled in a warm blanket. She smiled and bent to kiss his forehead. Those small eyelashes blinked open.
“Mom…..you’re back” he rubbed his eyes.
“Mmmh. Did you wait long?”
“Yes. You said you’ll come back soon”
“I’m sorry, I had to work some more today. I’ll try to be earlier next time”
“Okay”
Louis always kept to the promise she made with Matthew. However, with the situation at hand, she feared she wouldn’t be able to do so anymore.
“Do you want to sleep with mom tonight?”
“Can I?” His eyes seemed to shine.
“Of course. After a shower, I’ll join you”
“What about dinner?”
“I’m not hungry. I’ll just have a sandwich”
“I want one too”
“Of course. Let me go take a shower first and I’ll make you a sandwich, okay?”
“Okay!” he agreed happily.
She kissed his forehead again, grateful for happy moments like this. They were the only things keeping her sane.
“Mom, you got a mail today. It’s on your dresser”
“Who’s it from?”
“I don’t know”
Louis checked it before getting into the bathroom. Just as she feared, it was from them. It was another clue and this time, it was outside the city.
- Writer
