Charter Hill, Westbrook. I stood outside, leaning against the cool metal of my car, the crisp September air signaling the slow, bittersweet end of summer as the leaves began to show hints of orange. My breath formed small clouds in front of me as I waited for Luca and Henry to arrive.
A few minutes ticked by, marked by the distant honking of city traffic, until a sleek black sedan rolled up the driveway. As the engine shut off, Henry and Luca stepped out, their expressions serious but eager. We exchanged nods before making our way to Jefferson and Elizabeth’s penthouse, a high-end apartment that towered over Night City.
Stepping inside, we were welcomed warmly by Elizabeth, her polished demeanor softened by a genuine smile as she asked if we wanted anything to drink. We politely refused, keen to dive straight into the urgency of the matter at hand.
Once in the living room, we found Jefferson seated on an elegant leather sofa, clad in a tailored suit that seemed almost too formal for the setting. He cradled a steaming cup of coffee, the dark liquid swirling as he took a sip. Dark circles were beginning to form under his eyes, a testament to the sleepless nights that were no doubt fueled by the mounting pressure of the approaching election and the shadow of the blackmail looming over him.
With a weary gesture, he invited us to sit down, his demeanor reflecting both relief and anxiety. “I’m glad to see that you have agreed to help us,” he said, his voice rough and low, betraying the tension he felt.
Luca, leaned forward slightly, his eyes locking onto Jefferson's. “Well, we’re more than happy to assist the mayor of Night City. Besides, the offer that your lovely wife extended to us was too good to turn down. So, let’s get straight to the point: who's looking to ruin your reputation?”
Jefferson finished the last sip of his coffee, placing the cup down with a soft clink. “I have no idea. Everyone within my team, both colleagues and my supporters, has shown nothing but loyalty and support toward me and my vision for this city.”
I felt an urge to dig deeper, so I interjected, “Who are the only people aware of what’s going on? Just you and Elizabeth?”
He nodded, his expression growing even more grave. “Yes. We’ve never encountered the person behind this. All we received was a datashard with their demands. I wish I could provide more details to help you uncover their identity.”
One final question lingered in my mind. “So, why us? Why not involve the badges?”
Elizabeth stepped in to clarify. “The NCPD has been nothing but supportive of us. However, in times like this, it’s sometimes necessary to seek assistance from those outside the standard channels.”
Luca straightened up, determination radiating from him as he extended his hand to Jefferson. “We’ll find the person and make sure they see reason.”
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Before we exited, Jefferson hesitated, his brow furrowed in concern. “And what will you do to the blackmailer when you find them?”
Luca, a mischievous glint in his eyes, replied with a signature smirk, “We’ll make them an offer they can’t refuse.”
With that, we left the penthouse, regrouping outside, the weight of the mission clear on our shoulders.
“So how the fuck are we going to track down this bastard? It's not like we know any talented netrunners.” Luca grumbled, his frustration evident as he leaned back against my car.
I hesitated for a moment.
“I think I might know someone who could help us find the blackmailer,” I said cautiously, unsure of how Luca would react.
“Who?” Henry asked, his curiosity piqued.
I fished my phone out of my pocket, with a few taps, I dialed a number of an old friend of ours.
“Suzi?” I said when the call connected.
“Max... It’s been a minute. Last I heard, you got whisked away by one of your shady friends.” Her voice was cool and teasing, a stark contrast to the tension we were facing.
“Hang on, is that the netrunner from three years ago? Are you seriously still in touch with her?!” Luca interjected, disbelief lacing his tone.
“I take it you need my help with something?” Suzi replied, cutting through the static of our conversation with a sharpness that suggested she had already assessed the situation.
“Yeah. We need you to track someone down,” I stated, the gravity of our request weighing on me.
“Figures. Swing by Lizzie’s; I’ll see what I can do,” Suzi said before abruptly hanging up.
“We’re going to Lizzie’s?” Henry queried, glancing at me with a mix of surprise and apprehension.
“Seems that way. I’ll meet you both there,” I replied, feeling a strange mix of nostalgia and anxiety about returning to that part of my past.
Just as I was about to get into my car, Luca stopped me, his expression serious. “Hold on a second. I’m riding shotgun. You’ve got a lot of explaining.”
With a resigned sigh, Luca tossed the car keys of the sedan to Henry, who caught them effortlessly.
The drive to Lizzie’s was tense; the atmosphere was thick with unspoken questions. As we navigated the rain-slicked streets, Luca pressed me on why I had maintained contact with Suzi.
“She never did anything wrong,” I explained, my voice steady but defensive. “I mean, yeah, she did threaten to expose us, but she never followed through. Besides, she was just a kid living in the badlands desperate for eddies. Still can't believe that you were willing to shoot her.”
“Of course I was! That bitch was going to blow our cover and ruin my father's name. So forgive me for wanting to protect my father's legacy,” Luca shot back, anger simmering just below the surface.
A loaded silence followed, heavy with the weight of our past actions. Finally, he softened a bit and added, “But as you said, she was just a kid.”
