The Midnight Caller

11. The Adversary

Under the faint moonlight, practised hands worked swiftly on the padlock, noiselessly removing it and tossing it aside into the bushes. An unannounced cold wind blew by, and the fabric of the large coat fluttered around the figure in the dark.

Throwing the metallic doors open, the mysterious figure slithered in. Even though it was pitch-dark, being intimately familiar with every nook and corner of the place made navigation simpler. As the figure crept forward with remarkable speed, damp air assaulted their nostrils. A silver of moonlight from the skylight flickered on their face, revealing a set of determined eyes.

Slowly but surely, the figure made their way to one of the locked rooms. Producing a bunch of keys, they selected one and jammed it in the padlock. Only, their hands stilled as the warehouse was flooded with bright light and an unfortunately familiar voice.

"I have always been painfully aware of your unhinged tendencies," said Gabriel, stepping out of the shadows. "But it seems you have bit more than you can swallow this time." He strolled towards the intruder leisurely, relishing in the moment as the figure became visibly tense. "When was the raid to be conducted, Ms Thompson?"

"At eight in the morning tomorrow," answered an apprehensive voice from behind him as his assistant stepped forward.

"Were there any orders to conduct a search at this hour?" His tone was domineering, taunting.

"No," she replied.

"Then who," his sharp eyes cut to the figure that stood by the little door with a bunch of keys in hand, "might this gentleman be?"

"I believe it is our murderer," came a new voice from the right, and the intruder's eyes snapped to Superintendent Jones, who stood by the entrance in all his blonde, six-foot glory. Gabriel ignored the flashy Superintendent and turned back to the suspect. At the same time, two men in uniform emerged from behind the figure. Taken off guard, the intruder struggled in their hold.

"Devin," Gabriel addressed. Charlotte gasped as Superintendent Jones roughly gripped the intruder's face and forced it up, revealing the defiant eyes of Gabriel's childhood friend. Unsurprised, the detective continued. "I have known you for over two decades now- I, of all people, have always known you were up to no good. I refrained from interfering since I saw you do no real harm to anything but your own mind. Clearly, that was a mistake on my part."

Devin, on the other hand, gradually stopped struggling. "What are you trying to say?" He said calmly. "This is all a misunderstanding, as you shall find out as soon as you release me."

"I must admit, if it is as you say, it seems to be quite a misunderstanding then," Gabriel commented. He gestured for his assistant to obtain the keys, who responded with a nod. Slowly, she unlocked the little door and pushed it open. Her eyes darted around the small office that lay beyond it as the powerful smell of ink and paper assaulted her senses.

"Here, gentlemen," Gabriel declared with a flourish, "is where you shall find evidence against Devin Scar as well as other members involved in smuggling operations." He looked back at his friend, whose eyes now burnt in silent fury. "Why do you look at me like that? Is it because your attempts to rid of the evidence have been thwarted?"

"I have made no such attempts," Devin spoke calmly. "Superintendent Jones," he addressed. "If you don't believe me, you may go ahead and look through what you believe is evidence that incriminates me." His eyes cut to the detective, holding so much hatred in them that it terrified his assistant. But Gabriel was unfazed.

"No, it does not incriminate you," he said, much to everyone's surprise. "Rather, it incriminates several of your subordinates, who might, in turn, implicate you. The shipment was to be moved to a different location by Wednesday, and the paperwork would be destroyed after the business was completed. Everything was perfect, until a certain sub-inspector's report unexpectedly ruined your plans. Isn't that why you rushed over in the dead of the night against your superior's orders, Sergeant?