The trip was short and unfulfilling. The feeling only became stronger and it was becoming hard to ignore as I scaled up the outside of the building. Tapping on the window of the fourteenth floor, I waited for the man to respond. After a minute of waiting and still no response, I decided to let myself in.
The room was dark and hardly furnished. To the left was a small desk with a work terminal. To the right was a bed that looked as if someone had slept in it till recently. There were no other doors in the room except the one leading to the main corridor. From Kevin's report, Ignacio was somewhere in this room.
Approaching the empty bed, my hitman senses tingled. The sheets felt warm to touch as if someone had been sleeping in it till recently. There wasn't time to think when I caught some movement from the corner of my eye.
Ducking down out of reflex, I twisted around just in time to see my attacker hold a rather harmless looking pillow above his head posed for another strike. Despite knowing how harmless a pillow was, my fight instincts kicked in and took over.
With our positions switched, I wrestled the fluffy pillow out of very slender hands. A grunt of protest was heard and the assailant struggled pitifully beneath me. Pinning both hands above his head with one hand and another over his mouth, I used both legs to keep him still with practised ease. That made Ignacio more frantic and I winced as he bit the hand covering his mouth. I could hardly hold it against him with how wide his eyes were and how his whole body trembled.
"Stop it!" I hissed. "I'm not here to harm you…" It didn't stop the trembling but it made him pause.
"Please hear me out. I know what is going on with you and Raoul and I want to help."
At the mention of Raoul's name, Ignacio's body went taut. There was fear in his eyes as well as something else. Our breathing seemed to sync and slowly, I let my hand slide away from his mouth.
His hazel brown eyes spoke volumes and I could hardly identify everything yet I understood it completely. Without the need for words, I felt the nagging feeling from before fade away. Yes, this man was probably the one I've been searching for.
"Um… I'm sorry but could you please get off me? It's slightly difficult to talk like that…"
The timid voice brought me back to reality and I blinked. Suddenly, I became painfully aware of our compromising position.
Two very good looking men in a compromising position were on a bed with blushes on their cheeks. Ignacio's awkwardness was rolling off in waves but I was doing no better. If the media saw how the Night Walker was stumbling and face planting in an attempt to get off a man like an overgrown child, Spencer would have a field day.
After several more compromising situations, we finally managed to put our hearts and brains back in place. It was a little late but I started introducing myself.
"I apologise for the unannounced visit so late into the night. I don't know if introductions are necessary at this point but you might have heard of me – the Night Walker."
Ignacio nodded and gave a feeble smile but immediately winced in pain. The left side of his face was starting to swell and I was reminded of the purpose of my visit.
"Please don't be alarmed about what I have to say next. I have a few questions that I need you to answer as truthfully as you can."
He nodded hesitantly and I took it as a good sign to continue.
"I know who you are and your circumstances. I don't have to explain about the Pantiumite shortage in the Slums so I'll get straight to the point. I want to help the Slums and I need your help."
There was a pause and I could hear my heart hammering in my ribcage. Ignacio frowned.
"What do you want?"
It would be terribly sad if I had to silence him because we didn't see eye to eye about this. Then again, he probably doesn't have a very good reason to agree with me after my reputation. I guess being honest about this wouldn't hurt. After all, if he was going to stand in for me, he was going to have to know everything I was planning. Might as well start now.
"The Pantiumite you made for Raoul the first time was really good. It could provide for at least three times the number of people after dilution and the effects lasted about two days longer. I want the formula for this concoction."
This time Ignacio narrowed his eyes. "Why would I give it to you?"
Of course, he would question my motives.
"Why wouldn't you? Giving it to me will help you achieve your goals, won't it? Raoul wouldn't use it to help the Slums. You know this better than anyone else. I can help you gain your freedom back in return for your partnership."
Hazel eyes narrowed. "You speak of becoming an ally of the weak while hiding behind a visor. Why should I trust you?"
Oh, so that was the problem. The man wanted proof? He'll have exactly what he asked for.
"There," I told him. "Are there any more reasons to doubt me?"
Ignacio stared at me with slacked jaws. I smiled when the brunet shook his head dumbly. Now that we've established trust, it was time to get acquainted.
"Why did you give up citizenship in the Inner City?"
"My family lived in the Slums. There was no way to bring them in with me so I moved out."
Momentarily touched by his words, I could hardly believe how humanity is not lost yet with how deep the poison was running in the city.
Nodding in approval, I moved onto business."Why did you lie to Raoul? You could easily make the new batch of Pantiumite within a few hours."
This time, Ignacio looked slightly uncomfortable. "I didn't lie. I needed three more days to make the new batch. It's just not the same as the batch you stole, that was a prototype. The aim was to increase efficiency by 30%. The one you stole had an efficiency rate of 15% higher than the usual Grade A Pantiumite which is 30% efficient. The new batch I'm working on should be at least 50% efficient. Unfortunately, the molecules become more unstable as the efficiency rate increases and it will be hard to achieve an efficiency rate of 60% even if it was theoretically possible."
If molecules became more unstable with the increased efficiency rate, didn't that mean achieving a 100% efficient Pantiumite was impossible from the start? That doesn't sound promising at all. However, there was one more nagging issue that I had to clarify.
"Why Raoul?"
Ignacio had a sad smile. "It was the only way I could contribute to Luna. The people in the Slums can afford third class Pantiumite that the Inner City rejects after getting a Pantiumite better than Grade A."
Even if it was the truth, it was still hard to accept. Once the Inner City deemed something was newer and better, they would reject the out-dated products and technology to the Slums. Even if I stole Pantiumite to give the people living in the Slums, there was a limit as to how many people I could help. Ignacio was right, the only way to help them was to follow this cruel system.
"Last question. What is your relationship with the Red Rumble?"
As if someone had dowsed a bucket of ice water on him, Ignacio froze at the gang's name. "It's not something we should talk about."
"Why not?" Now I was curious.
"I don't want to put you in any more danger."
Really? How could he believe a meagre gang would be putting me in danger?
"Please, you haven't seen me do anything yet. The Red Rumble would be nothing when compared to the homing lasers used by the Patrol Guards."
Still, Ignacio hesitated and I sighed. Well, it's not as if I won't have the chance to ask him again.
"Fine. I'll have you tell me another day. Last question, would you like to be my partner in crime? I'm going to try save the people in the Slums but I can't do it alone for very long."
Ignacio blinked twice before chuckling. Despite the pain, there was a wide grin on his face. "I thought you said that the previous question was the last?"
I glared at him. "Is there a problem with two last questions?"
"No, no! None at all, pleased to make your acquaintance, Night Walker. Please take care of me."
He stuck out a hand with a cheeky smile still plastered on his face. I rolled my eyes. "It's Titus Crowley to you. I'll be counting on you too."
He had a firm handshake and I felt as if another huge part of the puzzle had been resolved for me. I had the proxy I wanted and sooner than I thought was possible.
"Pleased to meet you, Titus. Who knew that the Night Walker would be such a young man? Don't worry, your secret is safe with me!"
Fixing the visor back in place, I half glared at Ignacio and told him to pack up.
"I have some business to take care off but will return in about an hour. Leave the windows open."
Ignacio nodded and without another word, I was off.