Colt leaned back in his chair, looking anything but like a prisoner.


    Officer Derick stared at Colt, saying, "I''ve been asked to question you. Trust me, I''d rather not be pulling an all-nighter, but when a bigwig makes a request, what can you do?"


    Colt quickly figured it had to be Sophie trying to get Officer Derick to pry information out of him.


    "Having Officer Derick interrogate me personally? Talk about overkill."This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    Colt said, "I''ve already told Sophie earlier today that I can''t spill the beans. No matter how sweet or tough you talk, Officer Derick, you won''t get a single word out of me that you want to hear." Officer Derick took a deep breath and said, "We''ve known each other for a while, Colt. If you don''t start talking, I really can''t finish my job, and I might have to... use some less-than-official means." "No matter what you say, Officer Derick, my response is the same: I have nothing to disclose."


    Hearing this, Officer Derick''s face darkened. Immediately, a cop next to Colt raised his fist and punched him. With his hands cuffed, Colt couldn''t fight back, and before long, he was on the floor. "Still nning on staying quiet?"


    Officer Derick leaned back in his chair, looking annoyingly rxed as he watched Colt. "If you don''t talk, you''re in for a world of pain. Think it over."


    Colt clearly wasn''t budging. Seeing Colt''s stubbornness, Officer Derick gave a nod, and Colt took another beating, this time leaving him bleeding. The interrogation room was filled with Colt''s muffled cries. Suddenly, a guy in a ck cloak and a white mask strolled into the empty station.


    Officer Derick was watching the room''s events unfold when suddenly gunshots echoed from outside.


    "What the heck''s going on out there?" Officer Derick was on his feet in an instant.


    Outside, silence reigned. Officer Derick''s expression soured even more.


    Inside the interrogation room, the cop paused, and Colt, lying on the ground, turned his head towards themotion.


    The door to the interrogation room flew open. The masked man, armed, stood at the entrance. Officer Derick, caught off guard, instinctively reached for his gun, but the masked man was quicker. One shot, and Officer Derick was down. He then opened the interrogation room where the cop who''d been beating Colt was now quaking in his boots.


    But the masked man wasn''t about to let the officer off the hook. He aimed and shot the cop square in the chest.


    Witnessing this, Colt managed to prop himself up, "Did the boss send you to pull me out?"


    A hint of relief crossed Colt''s face, but the masked man simply grabbed Colt by the neck and dragged him out.


    Colt followed along. "You just shot a cop, what if this blows up?"


    "A mere cop isn''t worth the boss''s concern," came the masked man''s distorted voice.


    Colt nodded vigorously, "Yeah, no way the boss would be scared of the cops."


    Seeing the masked man stay silent, Colt continued, "Sophie and her crew came to see me today, and I didn''t spill a thing! Mr. Burke''s in a bind and we need the boss''s help to rally James and save Burke International!


    herwise, Mr. Burke''s sacrifice is for nothing!"


    As they stepped outside into a misty fog, a group in ck cloaks and masks stood waiting.


    "The boss is here for that very reason."


    The masked man looked at Colt with a cold stare from behind the mask, "Sophie and Colby came to you. What did they ask?"


    "They wanted to know if Mr. Burke had someone backing him. Of course, I told them I didn''t know! I haven''t leaked a thing about the boss!" Colt looked devout, as if his life depended on it.


    "How do I know you''re telling the truth?"


    "You know Mr. Burke and I are the boss''s most loyal followers! We both made blood sacrifices at the church! We''d never betray the church!"


    "Oh?"


    The masked man said coolly, "Then you know the ts of our church."


    "Of course The Silent Shadows are all about sacrificing for humanity''s progress, whether it''s our wealth or health. We''re here to cleanse the world, and the boss will grant us the afterlife!"


    As he finished, the masked man chuckled, "Grant you the afterlife?"


    The voice made Colt freeze. The masked man removed his mask, revealing Colby.


    "It''s you?!"


    Colt stared at Colby, disbelief written all over his face.


    Why Colby?!


    The group behind him started to disperse, and Sophie stepped out from the shadows, "The boss can''t promise you the afterlife, but can definitely send you to the lineat purgatory."


    ""You! All of you!"