Chapter 113

Rubbing his eyes, Kazimir looks up at his temporary car's roof, lifting the seat up.

He opens the door and steps out, walking deeper into the woods from where he'd parked.

Making his way over to a tree, the young man squats down in front of his older colleague who he'd tied to it.

"How'd you sleep?"

"If you're going to kill me, then do it already." Caio says, spitting on Kazimir's shoes. "Or are you too scared?"

*WHAM!*

With the end of his .19, Kazimir slaps it across Caio's cheek.

"Nah."

Laughing, Caio shakes his head.

"I just don't understand why you suddenly want Nia. You know, after sitting here for about 5 hours, I just realized that I killed your family over a fucking slut."

"Because she fucked your brother?"

"Willingly fucked my brother. Would you want to start a family with a bitch that's willingly fucking other men? She even told me she did it to get back at me for supposedly not listening to her. The girl is a piece of trash, Cizetto. I see why her husband didn't take her seriously."

"So you killed my family over a piece of trash?" Kazimir asks.

"I just said I didn't realize the bitch was a piece of trash until about 5 hours ago, dumbass."

Taking a few moments to think, Kazimir finally gives Caio a shrug.

"Or maybe she feels like her body is the only way to garner attention. Think about it, her previous husband used her for her body. She used her body which indirectly got your attention."

"You can't be defending her right now."

"I don't know, I could be wrong. Maybe you're right."

Proceeding to untie Caio from the tree, the younger detective watches as his victim immediately gets up from the ground.

"But she's not a slut, Caio; she's MY slut and you're going to respect that."

Picking up a sniper rifle that was hidden behind a tree, Kazimir holds it up and aims it at Caio.

"Your slut? Who the hell wants to marry a slut in general?"

"You wanted to marry my slut. I'm giving you a 30-second head start to run. Three…two…one…go."

—————

Pulling back into his apartment complex, Kazimir steps out of the Camaro and looks up at the building.

He begins to walk up the stairs before being stopped by someone.

"I've been trying to reach you all day, bruh. Why didn't you answer your phone?"

"Probably because it's dead, Liyusk."

Liyusk points to Kazimir's stitched hand, a worried expression forming onto his face.

"Fuck that, what the hell happened to your hand?"

"Oh this? I accidentally sliced my hand on a knife I left facing towards me."

"Damn, how sharp was the knife?"

"Really sharp."

"I'm sorry about your injury, bro. Wanna come back to my place? My parents are on a three-week vacation to the Bahamas, so it'll be just like old times."

"Nah, not today." Kazimir replies. "I have to pick up Miracle and Khristina from school then I'm planning to do some more house hunting. But first, I gotta visit a guy who has Black Beauty."

"That's cap!"

"No, Liyusk. I'm being serious. Wanna tag along?"

"Hell yeah!"

"Okay, just let me get my phone charger."

Liyusk silently watches as his friend walks into the apartment, shortly coming back out.

"Bro, are you for real getting her back?!"

"I mean, if she's not too expensive."

"Remember when the math teacher, Mrs. Tahn, yelled at you 'cause your exhaust was too loud?"

"Yep. Don't know why she thought I gave a fuck."

The two young men walk over to the Camaro and get in, speeding out of the parking lot.

"I invited Naydine and Zaira over, too, but it looks like neither one of them can make it." Liyusk says, scrolling through his texts. "Zaira has work and Naydine is hanging out with a new friend."

"What's the friend's name?"

"Uh, damn, I think it was something like Mia or Mya; I can't remember. But the girl was with a guy that she worked with. We met them at the grocery store yesterday. The guy is a lot older than Naydine and the other girl, but she wants to date him."

"Who wants to date him? And what's the guy's name?"

"Naydine wants to date him. And I know the guy's name is Kenneth 'cause we-

"Was the other girl named Milette?" Kazimir interrupts.

"Yeah! She was really chatty."

Shrugging, Kazimir makes a turn to get on to the interstate.

"I work with both of them. I was even partnered with Kenneth once."

"Small world, huh?"

"The man lost his wife around a month ago. I'm telling you, neither of them have a chance with him; he told me once that he'll do whatever it takes to find his wife's killer."

Liyusk concerningly raises a brow.

"The hell? How'd she die?"

"There was a police banquet and someone laced the fruit punch with fentanyl." Kazimir replies, turning up the car's heat. "I think around 58 people were killed and she was one of them."

"Fentanyl? At a police banquet?"

The detective nods.

"Crazy, huh?"

"Well, no one can really blame him. That was his wife; he's supposed to love and care for her even in death. I'd have the same reaction if someone like that murdered my future girl. I really do hope he catches him, though. 58 people is insane. What do you think, bro?"

"I agree. I just hope that once he finds the guy, he doesn't get himself killed."

"Real shit. I can't get over how 58 people died and the department still hasn't found the psycho."

"I told you they were useless." Kazimir says, as he gets onto an exit. "How the hell do you have 58 people of your department die and you still haven't found a clue?"

"Or maybe they're trying, Kazimir. Obviously the guy's a genius to get away with killing that many people. How do you know that the department hasn't organized some type of secret group who's narrowing down on the suspect as we speak?"

"Because I work there, Liyusk. If it isn't anything bringing in a lump sum of cash or a family member, the department doesn't care. They're ruthless, bro; if I were to die, they'd just throw my body in an unmarked grave. That's why I joined; I want to change the way the department has an attitude to the citizens of Claiza City-

"Yeah, yeah; and even if you're the only one, you still want to show them that you're capable of making a change." Liyusk interrupts. "You think the department is scared of the guy?"

"Of course they are. Otherwise, they wouldn't have felt the need to merge both the police and Special Forces department together."

"Fair point."

Pulling into a car lot, Kazimir parks and the two get out of the car.

"Aye, that truck over there goes hard." Liyusk says, looking at an all black Chevrolet Silverado. "What do you think?"

"I still think you should consider a coupe."

"Of course you do."

"Hey there! My name is Mr. Tashiro; owner of Tashiro's Cars! What I can do for you gentlemen?"

Kazimir and Liyusk both turn around to face a shorter man who wore a large grin on his face.

"Yeah, I'm looking for a murdered out-

"Oh! You must be the boy my sister-in-law called me about! Follow me; I have your car parked hidden away."

"I'm honestly surprised no one has rebought her."

"Oh, she's very popular amongst some of the younger boys who come here." Mr. Tashiro says. "Kinda shocks me too."

Walking further to the back, the two eventually stop in front of the car and Kazimir gives the older man a smile. He walks over, touching the roof and hood.

"Hey there, girl; I missed you. Took me a while, but I'm back. How much for her?"

Mr. Tashiro shakes his head as he hands the younger man the car keys and a file folder filled with documentation.

"Nothing; you can just take her off the lot since you're the original owner."

"For real?"

"Yeah. I know what it feels like to finally get back with your first car and I just want to pass that experience on to the younger generations. Good luck on your continued journey with her."

Smiling back down at the car, Kazimir quickly gets in and starts the engine.

"Awwww, you sound exactly like how you did before. And surprisingly, your interior mods are still intact."

He turns to the fuel gauge and chuckles.

"But it looks like you're kinda dehydrated. Do you want regular or premium?"

Pressing his ear against the steering wheel, the detective nods as if the car gave an answer.

"Okay, premium it is. We're going to have lots of fun together just like before, babe. And I even have another friend I want to introduce you to. He's currently in the shop right now so you'll have the parking lot all to yourself. Wait, did I mention that you'll be in a garage soon?"

Pressing the accelerator, Kazimir raises his brows as the car "replies."

"I didn't? Well, I'm looking at a couple of houses and I have a few in mind. Once I choose the best one, I'm going to put a down payment on it and then you'll finally have your new room. Of course, you'll have to-

*TAP! TAP! TAP!*

Rolling down the window, Kazimir comes face to face with Liyusk.

"Knock on her hood next time, Liyusk. Her windows are fragile and you're leaving fingerprints."

"I need whatever you're smoking to be talking to a car like this."

Sighing, Kazimir shakes his head.

"You're an athlete, not a car guy, so you wouldn't understand. I'm happy that my baby's back and she's happy that I'm back. Aren't you happy daddy's back?"

Revving the engine, Kazimir lets out a small chuckle as he pretends the car says "yes."

"Are you ready to go now, dad?" Liyusk asks, yawning.

"Yeah, but you'll have to drive the Camaro and we also need to make a stop at the gas station; I gotta refill her tank."

"Good, I wanna race you to the gas station."

"You hear that? He wants to race to the gas station. Oh? You do too?"

Turning to his friend, Kazimir gives him a nod.

"Try and beat us."

————-

Hearing the sound of three loud engines, a few people turn to the noise.

Stepping out of their cars, Kazimir, Liyusk, and another young man who also unexpectedly raced along, gather around.

"Good game for real, y'all." the young man says, dapping up both Liyusk and Kazimir. "I'm Camiron by the way. Congratulations on your win, big dawg."

"Appreciate it, man. Nice to meet you; I'm Kazimir."

"And I'm Liyusk. Nice to meet you."

Camiron gives them both a warm smile.

"It's a pleasure to meet y'all both. I wish I could stay longer, but I promised my girl I'd take her to the amusement park today."

"Before you go, can I ask you where you got your louvers from?" Kazimir asks as he unscrews his car's gas cap.

"It's been so long since I ordered that. I'll have to send the link to you once I find it 'cause I put these on about a year and a half ago."

"Yeah, here's my number."

Liyusk makes a "tsk" sound.

"I still believe y'all should think about getting a truck."

"What kind of truck you got, gang?"

"I'm about to purchase a Silverado."

"Oh yeah? Send me some pics when you do." Camiron says as he exchanges numbers with Liyusk.

All of a sudden, a multitude of police sirens fill the air as the cars speed by on the main road.

"AHHHHHHHHH!"

Hearing a woman's piercing scream, the three young men turn around.

"Uh, miss-

"MY BABY'S SCHOOL IS GETTING SHOT UP!"

Feeling a sinking in his stomach, Kazimir squats down in front of the woman.

"I'm a detective, ma'am. May I have the name?"

"Two Falls Prep!"