IDKjust
patreon
Chapter 274 c
🕑 Added 2025-06-08 15:00:11 +0000 UTCChapter 274 c
Leo and River got into the pickup truck one after the other. River started the engine, and the vehicle pulled away from the restaurant.
âA few days before Mayor Rhyneâs death, during that attack on City Hall, I know you were there. You told the guards you wanted to speak with their head of security. What were you trying to say?â
âA few of the guys from the district saw Horvath in the Glen, shooting into a trash can and ranting about having a meeting with the mayor, so they brought him in.â
âHorvath? The cyberpsycho who killed the mayorâs guards at City Hall?â
âYeah. But after they brought him in, not even a statement got taken. Guy just... disappeared.â
âDisappeared? Interesting.â Leo looked at the raindrops sliding down the windshield, wiped away again and again by the wipers. âI already knew, but Iâll say it anywayâNCPDâs corruption really is something else.â
River shrugged, offering no denial.
âSo, what you wanted to tell the mayorâs security chief was this? A heads-up?â
âWhatâs wrong with that?â
âNothing, just not something you hear every day. By the way, do you know who let Horvath out?â
River shook his head. âNo clue. The surveillance was all shut down at the time. Couldnât trace anything.â
Leo looked thoughtful. âThen whoever did it must carry real weight in your department.â
âThatâs about right. Anyway, Iâve answered your questions. Now itâs my turnâwhyâs Jefferson Peralez digging into this? Whyâs he hiring a cyber-merc to snoop around in secret?â
Since River was being so straightforward, Leo saw no reason not to do the same.
âThe whole thing reeks from start to finish. Only a fool wouldnât notice. I might not dabble in politics, but Iâd say Jefferson has a much better shot at becoming mayor of Night City than Holt. If you were in Jeffersonâs place, wouldnât you want to know what really happened to your predecessor?â
River thought about it, then nodded. âFair point.â
Leo responded naturally. âOf course it is. If thereâs a sword dangling over your head, who the hell can sit comfortably?â
He turned to look out the window, noticing that they were driving through the Vista del Rey area in Heywood.
âWhere are we headed?â
He had assumed River was just keeping the car moving, driving around aimlessly. But now it seemed they were going somewhere specific.
âEver heard of the Red Queenâs Race?â
Leo shook his head. âSome kind of racing event?â
âNeither. Itâs a high-end club. I donât know exactly where it is, but my informant might. So weâre going to see him.â
âYou think the clubâs connected to Mayor Rhyneâs death?â
âYeah. I happened to overhear someone talking about heading there the day Rhyne died.â River paused, then continued. âAfter we talk to my guy, weâll go find Horvathâs bossâsheâs a woman. Maybe he told her something.â
Leo actually had a simpler methodâhe couldâve just gone to Rogue for the info. Even if it cost a bit, he had the eddies. But this was his first time working with a detective, and he was curious how they operated. Since there wasnât anything urgent on his plate, he figured why not go along and see for himself.
When River pulled up, they arrived in front of a building covered in graffiti. Its display windows were filled with unclothed mannequins. One look, and it was clear this wasnât a respectable shop.
Theyâd arrived, but River made no move to get out.
âMy contact works here. You talk to him. Iâll wait outside. Just tell him Igor sends his regardsâheâll know what that means.â
Leo raised an eyebrow. âHeâs your contact. Why donât you go in?â
River scratched his buzzed head, looking awkward. âLast time we met⊠didnât go well.â
Leo frowned. âWhat do you mean?â
River hesitated, then confessed honestly. âThe guy he snitched on got tipped off.â
âHowâd the info get out? You didnât protect him?â
Linari had told Leo before that some people at NCPD were completely unreliable. Theyâd make promises to informants, but as soon as the informant became useless, theyâd cut them loose without any protection. These snitches risked their lives feeding intel to the cops. With NCPD backing, they were safe. However, the moment that was taken away their fate was pretty much sealed.
That was why NCPD found it harder and harder to get reliable sources these days.
Some might wonder how the cops could be so dumbâdidnât they know this would bite them in the long run? But the truth was, it wasnât about stupidity. It was about not caring. When someoneâs willing to break the rules for personal gain, do you think they care what happens to anyone else?
âItâs not like that. The whole thingâs complicated. But... why am I telling you this? Bottom line, if Iâm not there, youâve got a better shot at getting him to talk. At least heâll open up.â
âIâll try, but no guarantees.â
Leo was willing to trust River. It wasnât blind trustâhis instincts told him that River might actually be telling the truth. Leoâs instincts were rarely wrong. Even so, from the informantâs perspective, the only conclusion would be betrayal. So it made sense that River didnât want to show his face.
Still, if the guy figured out Leo was working with River, who knew if heâd talk.
âYouâll need to tell me a bit more about this guy. I canât walk in not even knowing his name.â
âHe runs the shop. Got all kinds of clientsâweirdos, creeps, you name it. And heâs nosy as hell. Knows everything about everyone. Also, heâs a coward. Perfect combo.â
âAlright, you wait here.â
Leo opened the car door and stepped out. The light drizzle was starting to turn into real rain. A rumbling noise passed overheadânot thunder, but a three-car maglev train racing along the overhead track. It wasnât far, but Leo didnât bother with an umbrella. He walked briskly through the rain and stepped into the store.
The automatic door sensed movement and slid open, vanishing into the wall. Inside, the shop was filled with mannequins posing explicitly. The other counters were stocked with every kind of adult toy and gadget imaginable.
Leo instantly understood the kind of shop this was.
There were still customers insideâone straight couple and a gay couple browsing the racks. Then a voice drifted over.
âLooking for something vanilla? Or something with a little extra flavor? I can do both.â
Riverâs informant, also the owner of this place, greeted Leo with a sly smile like he would any other customer.
Leo didnât waste time. âRed Queenâs Race. Heard of it?â
The shop owner gave Leo a long look, clearly wondering how heâd heard that name. But he quickly acted casual.
âIf I were you, Iâd go somewhere more relaxing. Lizzieâs in Kabuki isnât bad. Or Cloud Nine in Japantown.â
He was naming some of Night Cityâs most notorious hotspots. For first-time visitors, theyâd sound tempting. But Leo wasnât a tourist.
âIâve been to all of them. Lizzieâs braindances are alright. Cloud Nineâs dolls are decent too. But Iâm bored of those. I want something new.â
Seeing that Leo wouldnât back down, the shopkeeper looked around. Once he was sure the other customers were far enough away, he leaned in slightly and lowered his voice.
âListen, that place runs on an invite-only basis. Got it? If youâre trying to ask around instead of being invited directly, that means they donât want you. Itâs that simple.â
The shopkeeper figured that would scare off this overconfident punk. But Leo leaned in, bracing both hands on the counter, a faint smile on his lips.
âFunny. Sounds like you know more than youâre letting on.â
The shopkeeperâs expression darkened. Now he realized the young man wasnât here to buy toysâhe was trouble.
And trouble was something the shopkeeper did not want.
âGet out! Youâre not welcome here!â
He shouted loud enough that both couples turned around.
Leo didnât move.
âHey now, Iâm a customer. Customerâs always right, isnât that the rule? What kind of store kicks people out?â
The shopkeeper pulled open a drawer, took out a phone, and waved it in front of Leo. âIf you donât leave right now, Iâm calling the cops.â
Leo didnât even flinch. âGo ahead. This is Vista del Rey in Heywood. How long do you think NCPD will take to get here? Ten minutes? Half an hour?â
The shopkeeper stubbornly pressed 9 on the screen, then looked at Leo again. Seeing the man still standing there unfazed, he slowly pressed 1. Leo didnât move. He even motioned for the man to finish dialing.
The shopkeeperâs heart sank.
He ran this shopâof course he knew better than anyone how long it would take NCPD to respond. If this guy really meant trouble, the police would never get here in time to stop him.
âWhat... what do you want? Donât try anything! Iâm warning you!â he stammered, dropping the phone and stepping back. Then he grabbed a double-barreled tech shotgunâlabeled âSataraââoff the wall and pointed it at Leo.
The other customers panicked. They wanted to run, but were too afraid that sudden movement might provoke the shopkeeper into firing.
Leo made the decision for them.
âIf you donât want to die, get out.â
That was all they needed to hear. Both couples bolted from the store. One of the men even stole a masturbator cup on the way out. The shopkeeper noticed but said nothing. Any other day, heâd have screamed bloody murder over it.
But not today.
Not with the barrel of his shotgun pointed at a guy who wasnât even blinking.
Nobody could remain calm staring down a weapon like thatâunless they had the power to be confident in the face of death....Or were very very high on something.
The shopkeeper was terrified. He wasnât a merc. That shotgun was for self-defense, not killing. In fact, this mightâve been the first time heâd ever even held it.
