010

Damn it all! He thought for sure this was the big break he needed. Perhaps he hoped for closure so much that it, along with his rage, had made him act irrationally.

"I'm sorry," Cole said. "Thank you for helping me. I just want to put this all behind me, you know?"

"I'm aware," Zafira said. "But this ended up being a waste of time for the both of us. His soul isn't even corrupt."

"Wait. Not corrupt? At all?"

"Well, his soul isn't pure like yours, but he hasn't done anything bad either. Everything he was charged with has been his brother Antonio's doing. Apparently his brother blames him for the death of their mother who died giving birth to Markus. Now that Antonio is a big shot lawyer, Markus doesn't want to ruin his image. So instead, he takes the fall for everything Antonio does, including the armed robbery that Antonio did just for fun. All because 'family always sticks together' or some nonsense. You humans do the dumbest things sometimes."

Cole felt like an ass. Moments ago he was ready to hang an innocent man. Now he felt sorry for him. The CPD would be raiding his house tomorrow hoping to find the revolver that matched the bullet casing. If they find it, he would likely go to prison, and whoever killed Maria would walk away scot-free.

"Did he know anything about a 9mm Belgian revolver?" Cole asked.

"It was a gift to Antonio from their father. Markus doesn't have it, so it is likely with Antonio."

"Good," Cole said. "At least the CPD won't be able to pin Maria's murder on him."

"There's more," Zafira said. "Markus knows Antonio is one of many buyers in the sex trade organization you've been tracking. Travis Dunham was also an old acquaintance of his."

Cole started the car and put it in gear.

"Now where are we going?" Zafira asked.

"We're going to pay Antonio a visit. I hope you're still hungry."

*********