Chapter 62: Braver Than Most

 Monday morning

Alpha was with Jason in his office trying to get some things clear

"I hope you had a good weekend" Alpha said

"It was splendid actually, a lot happened" Jason told him

"Well that's good to hear,and how are you liking your stay in Sin City so far?" He asked

"Its not that bad,I'm actually fitting in quite well. I'm thinking of settling here maybe after retirement" Jason answered him as he looked out the window at the breathtaking view of the still rising sun that was towering the buildings

"For a man of your stature,when's your ideal retirement age?" Alpha asked

"I am supposed to be in retirement even now, you see, I had done all that I could and I saw no need of working anymore. It was my time to rest and eat the fruits of my hard work. But I guess the universe had other plans for me" Jason said

"You know you can still accomplish more than you already have,you can turn the Ghost of Europe from being just a name that people look up to. You can become a legend" Alpha told him

"I was satisfied with all that I had accomplished,I didn't want more. The mere mentioning of my name even shook judge's faith in the judicial system. They all saw me as an icon and even going up against me was an honor,that was enough for me. I didn't want to be seen as a god or something more,I had set the bar high and was pleased with the number of people who aspired to be like me,or even better than me" Jason said as his thoughts wandered off before looking at Alpha as he said the last words, " the only thing that people never knew was that all that I did was with the help of some people from my inner circle. The moment that they realize that to be that good, you need some help, that's when they will start walking in my foot steps. Now, they're just walking in my shadow"

"Well said,I'm sure that you considered Yuri as a father figure. He was a great man too,he's actually one of the few people who advised me on what steps I should take and look at where I am now" Alpha said. As he was waiting for Jason to say something he noticed that Jason wasn't really concentrating on what he was saying. It was then that he realized that mentioning Yuri was a mistake. "I'm so sorry,I didn't know mentioning his name would bring some bad memories" Alpha said with a low and subtle tone

"Not a single moment with him was bad,he was like my godfather." Jason said while looking at the ground,he was not a man to hold grudges but when someone crosses some boundaries everything gets thrown to the wind. No rules and no exceptions. "But don't forget that I'm not the only person who wants to avenge his death" Jason said

"I know that both Djokovic and Mikhail want that as much as you do. But we both know that between them and you, you stand a better chance of getting the killer" Alpha told him. "And I'm not sure what scares me more,the thought of what lengths you are willing to go to find the killer or what you are actually planning to do after you find him"

"Let's take it a step at a time,first I find him. When that is done,I'll go to step two,make sure he regrets laying a finger on Yuri" Jason said with a cold stare

"There is something that's still bothering me till now" Alpha said as he looked deep in thought

"And what's that?" Jason asked

"Why did he call you that night? From your story,you did everything he wanted so I don't see the need to go back and killing Yuri. And what was he getting out of it since the murder suspect in your case didn't seem like someone with the capability off pulling off something like that" Alpha answered

"Well your right,the suspect could not have been able to pull that off on his own. But right now I have one agenda on my table. Whoever killed Yuri wanted to make it personal and he did exactly that. He'll drink his own concoction of poison when I lay my hands on him. Secondly,the Serbian Slayer roams free and could be anywhere in the world,he has managed to keep a low profile by not venturing into his past habits. I'm guessing the moment he sensed that we were closing in on him and had almost put him away for his atrocities,he came to his senses. But since he was a problem to society and it was upon me to help in making the world a safer place for our women and children, something which I failed to do. I'll take it under consideration on whether I dig him up from whatever hole he had crawled into and put him away for good." Jason said

"That's good to hear,but don't you think that's a huge responsibility to carry on your shoulders?" Alpha asked

"Legit,I had the opportunity to put him away before and I had to drop that case because someone had found a weakness and exploited it. Because of this, justice wasn't served and some families still grieve thinking that they were just victims of an unmerciful world. Right now so many families would have gotten the closure that the local authorities could not give them" Jason answered

"I get what you are trying to say,but don't you think if the world knew why you dropped out of the case they would understand the circumstances?" Alpha asked. Jason was quiet for a while as he was thinking. When he finally opened his mouth to speak,his voice was low but steady. His facial expression was that of a man who had given thought to his words before

"The Ghost of Europe is dead to them,and I don't intend on bringing him back to life to justify his reasons as to why he did what he did. All that I can do is make things right,just as they were supposed to be in the first place" Jason responded

"That brings me to a question I've been meaning to ask despite the fact that I had asked if before. Do you have anything to do with the Sin City's most wanted man?" Alpha asked

" From the start I thought it was clear that it can't possibly be me" Jason answered

"So you have no links to whoever is behind the trigger?" Alpha asked

"Take my word for it,what I do know is that so far the Russian roulette is not under the control of the state. From the beginning,he has been the Robin Hood of Panem." Jason answered

"Well he does seem not to care about the position that anyone holds,I mean going at the mayor was beyond ballsy even for a lunatic" Alpha said

"He is what this city needs, someone who goes head on with anyone who has a shady file" Jason said

"Well no matter who he is,he must have a goal and since he hasn't been vocal about his intentions it gives me a reason to be concerned. Especially because he seems to be interested in our case too. I don't like it. After the stunt on the mayor he should be careful on what he will do next. As we speak it already scares me that we could be his next targets." Alpha said

"If he is on our side I see no need to look over our shoulders every now and then" Jason told him

"At least we have some fear when it comes to him, Ray doesn't seem shaken or afraid of him since he tarnished his name and work" Alpha said

"Well that is good news,that means that whoever Ray sends the way of the Russian roulette will die braver than most" Jason said with a smile