“Tyler Owens? It’s Marcus Grey.”

“Marcus, I thought we made a deal? You stop all contact if I-”

“I’m dying.” Marcus coughed into the phone.

He held his breath replaying Marcus’s words, “You’re what? H-how... what happened?”

“I need to speak with you Tyler, I have something to say. Something that can’t be spoken over the phone… please….”

“Fine,” he said grudgingly.

An hour later Tyler found himself wandering the halls in search of Marcus’s room. A nurse pointed him towards the right wing. Room 321.

Ok, just breathe, he thought to himself.

The door knob was cold to his touch. It sent a shock through him. The dimly lit room smelled of death. Looking upon the figure in bed Marcus, a once built man with a reputation, was now nothing more than a barely living skeleton.

“Tyler?”

“Yes, it’s me.” He said softly pitying the man.

“Come closer,” Marcus said.

Tyler came up to the side of his bed taking a seat in the chair.

“Now what is the great importance of this talk that it must take place at almost..” he looked down at his watch, “Midnight?”

“Because,” he tried to breathe. “I fear I will not make it to mornings light.”

“What happened to you Marcus?”

“Bloody cancer. That’s what.”

Tyler nodded leaning forward, “If you wanted to talk, let us talk.”

“How are you?” he asked looking slowly to Tyler.

“I pulled my life together.”

“I know. I had someone check up on you every now and then. You married that blonde. What was her name?”

“Martha.”

“Ah, yes. Martha. She was your partner when you were on the force, correct?”

Tyler nodded. “I still am.”

“And you have three beautiful children too.” Marcus said staring off distantly.

He cleared his throat feeling uncomfortable, “You’re avoiding the reason you called me, Marcus.”

“Oh yes, you see Tyler, I wanted to confess.” He looked to him with almost dead eyes. “You’re still a Policeman and I’m ready to come clean.”

Tyler leaned back in his chair, “You want to confess now? Why not take it to your grave?”

“Because, I want to be right with God before I enter those gates. This is how, my confession.”

He shook his head chuckling lightly, “You can confess all you want Marcus, but if what I tried you with five years ago is the truth, not even the Devil himself would forgive you.”

“If that’s how you feel I’ll call a real Sheriff in and add you to my confession list as well,” he said in a hard tone.

“You wouldn’t….”

“Oh I would, Tyler.” Marcus pushed himself up onto the pillows. “You’d lose your children, your wife… you’d get at least fifteen or more years in prison, and I heard prisons aren’t so kind to ex cops. No, I’m sorry, dirty ex cops.” His smirk was one of a man trying to take down everyone he could along with him.

Tyler narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms. “So how many then?”

Silence filled the room while Marcus counted off on his fingers. “Twenty-five. Perhaps more.”

His eyes widened, “Twenty-five?”

Marcus nodded.

“How is it the police only recovered four of those victims, hmm?”

“Victims?” he laughed. “Do you hear yourself Tyler? Those vermin were not victims of anything. They were polluting our city with drugs. They killed my only son.” His voice cracked. “So I killed all of them.”

“You had a son?”

“Yes, his name was Daniel. He would have been around your age if he hadn’t died. I always wanted a son… I always thought of you like a son.”

“I’m nothing like you.” Tyler said.

“No you’re a better man than I. One I had hoped my boy could've become.” his voice grew weaker.

A soft knock sounded on the door, “Sir? Mr. Grey needs to rest.” said the brunette nurse.

“Just five more minutes.” Tyler looked to her and she smiled closing the door again.

“Forgive me Tyler of my mistakes. For what I forced you to do. For the blackmail… everything.” Marcus’s body shook as he coughed again.

“Marcus I-”

“Please keep my confession between us Tyler, please.”

“But I thought you wanted to make a legal confession?”

“No, I just had to tell someone I could trust. I trust you. Take this.” Marcus slipped a folded piece of paper out from under his blankets passing it to Tyler.

“What’s this?” He took it in his hands.

“My will. I had planned to leave it to my only child, but since he’s no longer on this Earth I’m giving it to you.”

“You’re giving me your fortune?” Tyler asked surprised.

“Yes.” he whispered, “Now I’d like you to go….” his voice trailed off and his eyes slowly closed. “I think it’s time to let go.”

Tyler stood walking slowly to the door holding the paper in his hands. Pausing he looked to Marcus lying in the hospital bed eyes closed  and a silent tear slipped down his cheek. A rich man dies a poor mans way. No amount of money in the world could save him now. Slowly he took his leave stepping out of the room walking down the halls.

He unfolded the will fully seeing within another piece of paper.

“What the?” opening the second paper it was a map lay out of the city. On the map over twenty X’s were scattered among abandoned buildings and subway tunnels.

The confession….