I just returned from my assignment, and returned to the station where the Chief of police; Graham Smith had debriefed me and told me Kyle was dead. Dead. Shocked, I had asked – demanded a clarification on the subject, Kyle was one of the best cops in the whole force. Graham looked at me sadly, said that since I was too involved, he wasn't at liberty to say anymore on the subject than he had already done. As if that wasn't enough, he told me they had already buried him and his will was read. I was named as Kyle's heir and next of kin. Meaning anything he might own was mine now, including any debts he had. As expected, I was confused. Why was I his heir? Weren't there any family members that had a say in this? Apparently there weren't any family members interested in his legacy. They asked me if I understood what was said and when I nodded a man in his mid-forties entered the room dressed in a badly fitted pinstriped suit.

A lawyer. What is he doing here? 

That question must have been all over my face since Graham explained "Monroe, meet Mr Brechtenstein, Kyle's lawyer. He's here because Kyle named you his next of kin and heir." I frowned; I found it a little odd that I was heir and next of kin. “What about his family? I know his parents are still alive and well, and what about his ex-wife?” The lawyer nodded his head, “We have contacted them, but they made it clear that they want nothing more to do with Mister Daniels or whatever legacy he would leave behind.”

I tensed when he said that last piece; he sounded unsure and was a little nervous. “And too right they are.” I look up at the Chief when he spoke up; he came over and squeezes my shoulder. “The only legacy Kyle left behind is a five million dollar debt.” The Chiefs eyes turned a little softer as my mouth dropped. “An f-five mil debt?” I couldn’t help that my voice went up a few notches.

How come I didn’t know about this?

“Don’t worry about it; apparently Kyle had a bigger debt originally somewhere in the thirty millions. We don’t know how he had managed that or how he managed to pay of more than half on his cop salary. We think he was doing stuff on the side.” This was a blow to me, Kyle and I have been partners since our academy days and he never told me. “With who is the debt?” I asked when my brain was done being stunned and turned back online, whirling with numbers in my head. “That would be with the King of Sin.” Mr. Brechtenstein noted as he handed me a sealed envelope with a crest on it. McQueen Ltd.

Where had he seen that crest before? 

“I was instructed to give you this envelope should anything happen to Mr. Daniels before he could pay off the debt. From what I gathered, it’s an instruction manual for the debt and a personal letter addressed to you written by Mr. Daniels. Here is my card should you need my assistance.” And with that the man left the Chief’s office. “Are you okay Monroe?” The Chief put a mug with damping contents net to me on the table, worry etched all over his weathered face. “What I wonder is what in the name of God did he do to gain such a huge debt, with the King of Sin no less. Whenever there was talk about the Pleasure District or anything related to it, he would rant and rave about how much he hated the place. Said they needed to be shut down. Maybe this is the reason for his hate.” I wave the envelope around, still puzzling where I had seen that particular crest before.

I was about to leave the office when the Chief stopped me with a hand on my shoulder “I have more to tell you.” So I sat back down in the seat I just got out of. The Chief sat down behind his desk and opened my file folder, scanning the content. My whole body twitched with nervous energy as the Chief took his time reading. The chief was known for taking his time and making rational decisions. When he leaned back in his chair, folding his hands together, I knew he was ready to pass his verdict. For the Chief was known as the Supreme Judge in the force, whatever he said, you better do it and make it quick. Taking a deep breath, I force my tense muscles to relax. “What’s the verdict Chief?” He smiled slightly sadly at that, “I wish there was any other way to say this.” He sighed as he rubbed his temples.

Sitting up straighter, praying to God that he’s not going to say the words I think he’s going to say. “You’re one of the better cops I had the pleasure of having in my district. You’re always on time, got along with most everybody. You could be serious, or joking depending on the situation. I feel very sad about this; you’re like a son to me Monroe.” My eyes were as wide as saucers when he said that, the Chief never got emotionally. “It’s with a heavy heart I say the next words,” Even his usual hard blue eyes were a watery blue. “you are fired Monroe.”

You are fired.

Those three words were like a sledgehammer blow, ever since he was young; all he wanted to be was a cop. And now he was fired of the one job he ever wanted to have. The one job he gave everything up for. A job he gave his family up for, a job he would have sacrificed his life for if needed be. He wanted to scream, shout and holler that it was unfair, but that would get him nowhere. The only consolation he had was that the Chief personally would write his recommendation to whatever job he will apply to. Another very rare occurrence, the Chief never wrote a recommendation for anyone.

What in the world am I going to do now?

Lincoln was standing in front of his small desk with a cardboard box, for the scarce personal things littering on his desk. “You okay Link?” Brent’s a narcotic cop questioned as he patted my shoulder, bringing me out of my zombie like state. “Yeah… I think so.” I was still standing there like a statue, staring at the only picture frame gracing my desk. It was the day Kyle and I graduated from the academy, one of the few occasions I saw Kyle smile a genuine smile. The picture was taken by our teacher since neither of us had any family members present. Kyle had the same picture on his desk, the one opposite of mine. That desk was now empty, patiently waiting on its next owner. Just like mine would when I packed everything and left the building. With a heavy sigh I set to work on empting my desk and drawers of their content. By the time I am finished the box isn’t even half full, most things in there are work related documents.

Seeing I am done packing and the Chief’s door is open, I knock on the doorframe. The chief holds up one hand, telling me to wait until he finished the phone call. “Are you done?” I bite my lip nervously before nodding. “Yeah, everything is packed and ready to go.” The Chief gets up from behind his desk and pulls me in a bear hug. “You take care of yourself and don’t be a stranger Monroe.” I pick up my cardboard box and slowly make my way out of the building, as I step outside on the top of the steps into the grey dreary weather; I feel rain firmly soak into my being. 

Of course it’s raining.

I lift my face up, letting the rain wipe away all the sorrow I feel. Not caring that I am getting thoroughly soaked and risk getting hypothermia as I decided to walk the ten blocks to my apartment, not that I have a car of my own. Once there I am met a scene I never thought possible; people were hauling stuff from my apartment under the watchful gaze of a stern looking woman. “OI! What the H*ll are you doing?!” I startle a young guy into dropping the moving box he was carrying with my shouting, strewing some of my clothes all over the place. “I-I-I am sorry.” The young man stutters before picking up the fallen clothes, making feel like an ass. 

“Mr. Monroe I presume.” The stern looking woman strutted over, holding out her dainty hand “Lauren McGee, from the Pleasure District. We had strict instruction to empty your apartment so the next tenant can move in. Your apartment has been sold to the next tenant, who was keen to move in today.” She told me as I shook her hand.

My apartment has already another tenant? Where am I going to life?

The question must have been plain on my face because she continued to speak “Your next residence has already been taken care of. You have been given a two bedroom apartment in the Pleasure District.” I frown “Why am I given an apartment in the Pleasure District? I was under the impression that I could stay here.” Lauren snorted, “You are owned now by the Pleasure District.” She spied the box at my feet; I dropped it when I shouted. “Is that all you brought with you from the station?” She inquired as one of the movers stood beside her as he murmured something in her ear. She huffed and placed her hands on her hips “Alright I was just told that the last of your things were removed from the apartment, do you want to go inside and check if everything is packed?” I step back as the same mover fluently bends forward and grabbed the box at my feet on his way out.

With a sense of dread I enter my now barren apartment, I check all the cupboards and closets, only to find them all devoid of their usual contents. My fridge is empty; my cabinet that held my TV and DVD player and movies is empty. As I made my way into my bedroom and check my wardrobe for the little safe I had hidden there, only to find it gone. I check under my matrass, my nightstand and the bathroom. Everything is empty, hollow, devoid of any thing I ever put there. “And?” Lauren asked as I returned back outside of the apartment “Is everything gone?” I close the door with a firm click as I nod my head “Good. Now follow me and I will take you to your new apartment.” Seeing no other option, I look back one more time to the apartment where I had lived for the last ten years, I turn on my heel and follow the bossy woman down the hall.

After I handed my old apartment keys over to the landlord, I got in the sleek silver coloured Mercedes. There are only a few people out and about as we slowly enter the Pleasure District after a twenty minute drive. It looks so different in the daylight that I find myself wondering what the other people are all doing now. “Here we are.” Lauren states as she turns off the car, I see the same moving truck standing there that was parked near my apartment building. I look up to the rich brown coloured several story building.

This is where I will stay until the debt is paid.

I tell myself as I get out of the car and into the building. Trying to ignore the ominous feeling that once I enter this building, I won’t be getting out any time soon.