He grins again. "I hope you're paying them well. Though I am surprised I haven't received any late night visits from Mr. Truncheon or fist. That always seemed your style. At least it would break the monotony."
"Can't say the thought never crossed my mind. But I'm not you. Your need for revenge put you and your girlfriend in your current states. You're just not worth that."
His smile drops. "How is Grace?"
"Not great. She's tried to kill herself. Twice."
His mouth sets straight, and he looks away. I give him a few seconds for that fact to sink in. Oddly, I get no joy from his pain. I'm just numb. His gaze returns to the camera. "Is there anything that can be done?"
"No. And eventually she will succeed. That'd be another death on your conscience. If you had one."
"Don't be cruel, Joanna."
"Why not? I've been taught by masters."
He glares at me for a few moments, but I remain impassive. "Ask your questions. I assume this is about my replacement on Galilee Falls Most Wanted List. I'll tell you what I told the police: I know nothing."
"And that's total and utter bullshit, and we both know it. One of your old cronies is understandable. Three? Not so much."
"And why the hell should I tell you a damn thing?" he snaps.
"Besides the fact I can make your life an unimaginable hell, to say nothing of Grace's, I think you want to. Said it yourself, he's replaced you. Collected your old playmates, probably using your old hideouts," I scoff, "and let's face it, he's already proved himself a better villain. Got a body count higher than yours in one shot. At this rate Galilee will forever be synonymous with him, and you'll just be like…what's his name. Whoever was top dog before you." I lean back in my chair. "And I'm asking. Went to all this trouble too. Gotta be worth something, right?"
Once again he's silent as he stares at me. "Why are you doing this, Joanna? Why join in this fight?" he asks, sounding genuinely concerned. "Didn't you learn anything from last year? Nothing good can come from this, not for you. No mortal has fared well in a battle between gods. You'll be nothing but cannon fodder. Justin wouldn't want this for you."
My back goes ramrod straight. "Don't you dare utter his name. You have no right. And you don't have a fucking clue what he'd want for me."
"I was there, Joanna," he says with a scoff. "I saw his face when he let go. I think I understand him better than even you."
"We are not discussing this. Stop trying to distract me."
"I can't imagine the guilt you feel," he continues. "If only you hadn't stopped him from murdering me. If only you had been the strong one and let go. If--"
"Shut up!" I snap. "Shut the fuck up! Answer my damn question."
He pursues his lips, I think in disappointment. "Temper, temper," he chides before pausing. "I'll make you a deal. You do that with your other informants, I believe."
"What?"
"Judging from the décor I view behind you, and your zeal to gather information, I assume you've more or less taken over Justice duty. You're probably even in league with his replacements. I'm a useful asset with priceless information regarding the city's underworld. I'll provide you this information as needed if you arrange weekly video chats with Grace."
"Monthly. I don't pay off her guards, and she's under constant observation. That's the best I can do."
"Then I'll settle for weekly calls from you, plus the monthly with Grace. Any port in a storm, right?"
Fuck, fuck, shit. "Fine. Tell me about Cain."
"I recognized one of his aliases, Jackson Adler, code name 'The Mockingbird,' which it seems your police friends knew nothing about. I hired him six years ago for a hit that required a finesse I knew myself and my enforcers incapable of. I'm not going to tell you who the person was, but I will say that Adler's specialties are accidents and natural causes along with the bombing talent you've already seen. He was worth every penny."
"How did you hire him?"
"Danny Watkins knew him. Before he moved here, Danny did some work in Columbia for the cartel. Adler was building his reputation with them at the time. They stayed in touch. I also think they were lovers judging from Danny's leanings and the way he spoke about Adler."
"Cain's gay?" I ask with a raised eyebrow.
"Just a theory. Anyway, I met the man once only. Adler didn't want to, but I insisted. I wasn't about to pay half a million dollars without meeting the man I was hiring."
"What did he look like? What were your impressions of him?"
"Medium height, thin almost to the point of lanky, brown eyes, black hair and beard, square glasses, and I believe a fake nose. He seemed incredibly smart, more so even than me. The job was impeccable."