1 Chapter 1

He sat at his office, his legs on the table and cigarette on his hand.  He puffed  out the smoke, and watched it flew randomly on the air.

     His eyes grew wistful as he recalled the death of his parents 35 years ago, he was celebrating his 10th birthday. Suddenly, they heard strange voices and gunshots. His father called the cops, and locked him at the underground escape vault. He remembered vividly, the last words of his father.

      "Stay down here as quite as possible! "  He wasn't given a chance to speak, as his father locked the door. 

The first bullet went first to his father who was trying to fight the  killers. The  bullet, ran through his forehead, the hole still visible. His mother tried running, and was shot twice. They ransancked the house in search of him, he was lucky the FBI came on time the killers vanished into thin air. Mr and Mrs Raymond cutter died that night

He adhered  to the instructions of his father, he escaped through the vault, out  into the lonely streets of Los Vegas, got hit by an incoming speeding vehicle, clasped his head on the ground and collapsed.

     He woke up the following morning, it was a lady that ran him over. She was present at the hospital with some FBI agents. She had reported herself to the police, she never knew he'd survive.

The FBI placed police barricades, at his home, his parents body was covered with transparent  nylon, the autopsy results proved it was a planned murder. The media was present too. The news of the death spread round Los Vegas like a wild fire. They kept his safety a secret, cause they knew the killers was after his life too. He was reported, being killed  by a vehicle by the media, on the process of running for his life.

  The  woman that ran him over was barren, she adopted him into the family Mr and Mrs  Kenneth Powell. He joined the police force, at 18 then, he was just a constable. He was taken for investigations by Mr  Huskey, whom was then, the leading DCi of Los Vegas, united states. He was his mentor, he supported him through the police academy. He had noticed his  criminal intelligence, and smart potency, he joined the police academy then the police force, just to find out why his parents where murdered brutally.

He got a quick promotion after 12 years to the current leading DCI of Los Vegas. Thanks to Mr Huskey, whom was now the  General commander of Los Vegas. His Foster parents where extremely elacted.

   "Detective Luis! ", He was called by one of the constable, which quickly brought him back from his taught.

"How may I help you John? "He  smiled keenly. He is very fond of john, he was under him in training, just as he was to General Huskey, as a constable.

"General Huskey wishes to speak with you "John said.

"Right behind you john" . He put the cigarettes on the ash pan, and stood.  He was in shirt, and red tie, about six feet tall, with broad shoulders, a bit muscular, and handsome.Weighing about 264 pounds. And a blue eye ball.  General Huskey filled two glass cup, with wine. He waved his hand, showing he wasn't interested for a drink.  General Huskey emptied his glass, and sips his slowly. He covered the bottle, and place it on the shelf.

   "Don't tell me you called me here for a drink"  Luis said, feigning seriousness.

"That'd be absurd... We got a murder case, as usual." He threw the photographs towards him.

"I know him" He frowned.

" Indeed. He was hanged in his own factory. "

"Seems the killer needs suspense "

"Guess who's responsible.? "

"Who? "

"Your biggest rival, Elliott Ross."

"That bastard! " He stood up, raging in anger.

"Calm down Luis"

"For what General, this guy is trying to make this country a living hell for all of us. This is the second murder we've encountered from this guy!  What pisses me off is he isn't afraid of the cops. What is he after, money? "

"Relax son, Elliott is a clever killer, all our effort  to  capture him is a flop, we need a plan to put him into custody."

"General, our effort isn't good enough. " He got up, and headed for the door.

"And where the hell are you going? "General Huskey shouted.

"To the murder scene. " He closed the door behind him. "John! "He shouted

"Sir! "

"Inform the team, we are going to the crime scene "

                         *****

    The media and press where already present at the factory. As normal, police barricades where placed.

   "Again, another sumptuous  man was murdered at his own factory, no trace of the killers where spotted by the employee's, and CCTV footage . " One of the reporters reported. He paused as he saw Luis, and his team. The media crew ran towards them.

"Detective, who is the killer?, how did they get in?,  what is the cause of his death?, and what is the FBI doing about this murder?. " They asked questions after the other. 

"Back off! "John shouted, pushing them off. Luis walked quietly into the factory, as the crowd of reporters, eager for answers chase after him. He entered the factory, and the door was locked , as he instructed.

He moved towards the broken glass, behind Mr  Ray Sweeney's desk

   "How did this happen? He asked Agent Scullard, whom happened to reach the scene on time.

   "All I could tell is the  killer used a lifter, in  disguise as a contractor,  to the first floor, behind Mr Sweeney's back, broke the glass, and entered his office. His guards got killed on the process. Then, Mr Sweeney was hanged.

    "How is Elliott responsible for the murder?" He asked this time, with a strict look.

"He left the gun he used for the operation at Mr Sweeney's desk, we scanned his finger print.  Seems to me he wanted us to know he was behind the act. " Agent Scullard replied.

   "How many are they? "

   "I'm guessing he was with two more people. They vanished with  a red BMW"

   "Did you spot the plate number? "

   "No Luis, they got it all planned. We informed General Huskey when we found out Elliot was responsible, we took some pictures of the dead body too."

  "Good work  sergeant Scullard, wrap every investigation up, and get this factory restrained, till this case is solved, and the killers finalized. "

  "Sure thing Luis"

      His eyes caught something, and he quickly turned towards the corpse. He saw a white sheet, inside Mr Sweeney's suit. He took it out,

     "Death list!? " He was at the verge of nervous breakdown. He saw pictures of sumptuous men. The  first victim and the present we're crossed with a red marker. Scullard ran towards him, and held the sheet at his hands.

  "Luis, You know what this means? "

  "These are people this bastard is plotting to kill!" He said, Scullard  nodded

      "Sir, look what I found " John hand Luis another white sheet.

          "You FBI are bunch of amateurs, soon, all my targets would be eliminated under your own nose. Try stop me if you can, i own this country, and there is nothing you can do to stop me! " Luis read out loud.

     "This is from Elliott. This  man is  threatening the police force, we better stop him before another life is ruined!" Scullard said. Luis kept looking at the paper, with extreme anger and hatred.

      "General, you are right, Elliot Ross is behind the murder of Mr Sweeney. Thou, he wasn't alone in the operation." Luis spoke on the phone.

      "Any idea who his cohorts where? "

    "No General, the waited on a red BMW vehicle, as he did the murder himself." He ran his hand on his hair, and hooked his thumb on his trousers. He took a deep breath, before saying the final word, which he knew would give General Huskey a shock.

   " They droped a death list, Mr Sweeney's name was crossed with a red marker as well as the Merchant that was killed weeks ago."

  "My God! " General Huskey exclaimed

  "I'd be at the department in a couple of minutes, then we handle every formalities"

  He cut the call, took a deep breath as he slide the phone down his pocket.

        "Custom Alexander is their next target, we need to protect him" He turned back to his team, this time his hands were folded. "We have to head straight to the sea port and figure out why Elliott wants him dead. Agent walker, take this death list and the note to the department, sergeant Scullard, John follow me!"

         "Yes sir!" Agent walker said, as he left with the list, and other officers. The death list was placed at a transparent nylon envelope.

Luis and his team entered the car, after trying to answer the media's endless questions. John took the wheels.

  "This is a smart criminal we are dealing with, he must have a mastermind " Scullard said from the back seat.

" Master mind? "

"Yeah, he must be working for someone" He repeated

"You are right. He is quite  young to have famous enemies." John conceded. "We should put him into custody first, that's the only way we can capture the mastermind.

"I don't think that's necessary. "John replied, Luis gave him a stare.

"How do you mean" He asked.

"We all know Ross is a smart criminal, it'd be very difficult to catch him, but not one of his gang members" He smirked. "If we lay our hands on any member of his gang, we could force them to release every information about Elliott, and the master mind. "

"Not bad kid! " Luis commended

"Thank you sir" John smiled.

    There was silence, as they drove.

    "Sir, they are coming towards the port " One of Elliott's gang said on the phone as he secretly follows them.

"Good job, don't loose trail, I'd handle everything here. " Elliott replied with a menacing voice.