Chapter 75 - Hooded Man

"Sir. We haven't found Jake."

Dane frustratingly banged his fist onto the table. Bloody hell. Chasing after Jake was like chasing after an irritating fly that left no trace at its wake. He ran his hands through his hair and kept looking out the window.

He took a deep, calming breath.

"He's a detective and surely it would take another detective to catch the man. So you're telling me, not even the best detective in town can catch him?"

"Yes sir, that's exactly what I'm saying."

Two days in sunny Los Angeles proved to be useless. The best men he hired couldn't even scratch at the surface for his whereabouts. Day in and day out, he grew restless as he only had two days left before he had to return to New Jersey.

Dane was a busy man and that meant he couldn't linger long even if this was his life's purpose. Also, he missed his lynx more than he wished to admit.

"We do have one lead..."

He eagerly turned to face the man, "What is it?"

"There is actually a daughter. Her name is Clarissa Devonshire. She works as a flight attendant on the weekends and on weekdays, she works as a bartender. It seems however, she hasn't contacted Jake for years. Suspiciously, men that had been persistently 'close' to her were all taught a lesson by some stranger."

That ignorant flight attendant was someone that was dear to Jake after all. He tapped his foot against the ground and pondered over the information.

"...An ex-lover perhaps?"

"It's possible but we have no evidence to prove so. It could be one of her many admirers. Ah, where are you going sir?"

There was this hunch and gut feeling that his thoughts would be right.

He briskly draped on his coat jacket and went for the door, "I'll find that evidence tonight. Send me the location now."

***

There were a flurry of emotions running inside him—Uncertainty, Anticipation, and Fear. Fear that all of his efforts as Elias Blackwell would be gone to waste. Nevertheless, he made the next move for all would be gambled on this decision. Dane looked to the sign that read 'Atomic Liquors'. The bell chimed as he walked into the bar.

"Welcome to—" her voice paused as she looked up to Dane, her smile faltering as recognition flashed across her features.

He took an empty stool, watching as she tried to blink him away from existence. "Oh. Ms. Devonshire, what a coincidence."

Dane looked around and his heart nearly stopped. There was a hooded man sitting on one of the tables at the corner. It could be his imagination but he paid far more attention that one should. Dane kept trying to gaze at the woman as if she were his beloved Prisana. It was difficult. No one could replace his lynx.

The now ignorant bartender leaned in and kept that smile plastered onto her face, "...Coincidence, my ass...Why...How did you find me?"

"You're right. I couldn't stop thinking about you. Let me take you home with me. Come on, one night would do."

"What the...Are you some kind of rich CEO that investigated me?"

She wasn't too far off the mark there.

"I-I thought you said you had a wife and that you weren't interested."

"My wife would never know," Dane reached into his pockets and threw money down onto the counter like some tyrant.

He grabbed her by the wrist, watching from the corner of his eye that the hooded man made a move to stand.

"Come with me," he turned to what looked like the owner that just gawked at the bills onto the counter. "I'll be borrowing your bartender."

Dane waited until they were both outside and somewhat alone before he let go of her arm. God, it was even revolting touching another woman. He needed to replenish his energy but his lynx was countries away. It was as if he was drained without coming into contact with her.

The night air was chilly and when the ignorant bartender glared at him and spoke, her breathy huffs escaped as smoke in the air.

"You're creeping me out! I don't want..." her lips were put to a stop as Dane put a finger to silence her.

"Shh," he urged her, motioning behind them as he kept tugging her forward. "Don't make a fuss. We're being followed. I'll explain. First, I still don't want you."

Her mouth opened agape but she tried looking back. As she did so, Dane used his hand to tilt her head face forward.

"Jerk."

"I'm stating the facts, Ms. Devonshire. And don't look back. The moment you do, our little follower will bolt away."

"Are you any better than that man following us?!"

"Jake Devonshire," he whispered low so only the two of them could hear.

"...That name. It's my father's."

"Scream."

"What do you...Ahhhh!"

"You have every right to hit me. Forgive me for this, Ms. Devonshire."

Dane lightly yanked her against the wall, around a closed area between some abandoned alleyway. He grinned in satisfaction as the hooded stranger ran toward them as fast as he could. This man had to be who Dane thought he was.

The hooded stranger confirmed his suspicions and pulled out a gun.

"Let go of her. Now," the stranger demanded.

Both Dane and the ignorant bartender turned to their follower. Streetlight shadows illuminated a man that matched his target. Jake Devonshire. Dane immediately separated himself from her and watched as he began to cover his face with the hood.

"...Dad?"

She ran over to him in seconds, "...What are you doing? Dad! I know it's you!"

The gun dropped to the ground, "Sweetie, listen. I can explain..."

"Explain what? Have you been stalking me this entire time?" she then scowled at both Jake and then, Dane. "You were never there my whole life and now you want to suddenly play dad? And you! Fuck you for using me. Fuck you both!"

The ignorant bartender threw her hands in the air and stalked back to Atomic Liquors. Perhaps, Dane deserved that. He shouldn't have treated a woman so roughly but it was a race against time and he was desperate by any means. The next time, he would fully express his apology as she didn't deserve to be treated the way Dane handled things.

Jake tried to go after her but Dane stepped in front of him.

"Wait!" Jake turned to glare at Dane in front. "...What the hell do you want from me?"

He wasted no time at all because he finally found the man he had been looking for to shed the truths.

"Jake Devonshire, ex-detective of New Jersey's police force. You worked alongside Elliot Lennox as his partner. The both of you were unstoppable. Justice got into your heads...Something terrible happened and you ran back home to Los Angeles. But Elliot, his sense of justice was too strong. He kept poking his nose in where it didn't belong. So, they eliminated him and his family...You're a coward. You buried justice and your best friend!"

Jake shook his head and plugged his ears with his hands. "No! It wasn't my fault. I told him to back down and to leave the country with me but he stupidly chose to stay himself. Who the hell do you think you are to be telling me these things?! Another detective...huh, is that it?!"

Dane grabbed Jake by the collar of his hoodie and stared at him with the most chilling expression that could render even the mightiest animal helpless.

"I'm that son of that stupid detective who couldn't burn down to ashes. Dane Lennox."