The Midnight Train

Backstory (2) - Lydia

The rain outside was unrelenting, turning the city streets into a blurred, reflective canvas of neon lights and dark shadows. Inside her office, Lydia West was wide awake, her mind racing as she sifted through the files Marcy had just handed over. This case had all the hallmarks of a major breakthrough—a high-profile target, a challenging puzzle, and now, a wildcard: Nolan Cole.

Nolan Cole’s file lay open on her desk, the pages slightly worn from the number of times she had referenced it over the years. Cole was a former LAPD detective, a rising star once known for his uncanny ability to infiltrate criminal circles and gain intelligence. He was tough, smart, and had a reputation for being relentless in his pursuit of justice. But all that had changed two years ago.

"Marcy," Lydia called out again, her voice carrying a note of urgency. "Tell me more about Cole. What's his connection to Hart?"

Marcy looked up from her desk, her eyes meeting Lydia's with a hint of concern. "Cole went dark after he left the force. Rumour has it. He got mixed up with Hart’s crew shortly after his suspension, but there’s no clear reason why. No one’s been able to figure out what made him flip."

Lydia nodded, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the sparse details in Cole’s file. "And nobody knows why he left the force? A man like Cole doesn’t just go rogue for no reason."

Marcy shook her head. "Officially, he left due to personal reasons. Unofficially, there’s been a lot of speculation—everything from a fallout with his captain to a personal vendetta. But nothing concrete. He vanished off the radar, and the next thing we know, he’s working with Hart."

Lydia’s brow furrowed. She hated mysteries, especially ones that seemed to have no logical explanation. "What’s his status now? Active?"

"Very," Marcy replied. "From what our sources tell us, he's become Hart's right-hand man. And he's good at what he does, which is why he’s been so hard to track."

Lydia leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping a thoughtful rhythm on the armrest. This was unexpected. Damon Hart was already a difficult enough target without throwing a former cop into the mix—especially one as skilled and unpredictable as Nolan Cole.

“I need to know everything about Cole’s exit from the LAPD,” Lydia said, her voice low but determined. “Who he was close to, who he burned, and why the hell he’d join someone like Hart. There’s always a reason, Marcy. Find it.”

Marcy nodded, scribbling down the instructions before heading out to gather more information. Lydia turned her attention back to the files spread out before her, her mind racing through the possibilities.

Nolan Cole had been a decorated officer, known for his deep undercover work. For him to suddenly switch sides and join Damon Hart was more than just a career change; it was a complete betrayal of everything he’d stood for. And yet, it didn’t quite add up.

Lydia’s eyes scanned the room, landing on the corkboard where she kept her most perplexing cases. She had half a mind to pin Cole’s picture up there, right next to Hart’s, but something held her back. Maybe it was the lingering respect she still had for him or perhaps a gut feeling that there was more to his story than met the eye.

“What are you hiding, Cole?” she muttered to herself, her gaze piercing as if trying to see through the man’s photograph. “What’s your endgame?”

She pushed back from her desk and walked over to the board, pinning Hart’s mugshot at the centre. She then took out Cole's photo—a more recent one that showed a rugged, weathered face, the hard lines of someone who’d seen too much. She pinned it beside Hart's and drew a line between them with red string.

Just then, her phone buzzed, breaking her concentration. It was Marcy.

“Lydia, I found something,” Marcy said, her voice breathless with excitement. “Cole’s sister. She was killed two years ago in a drive-by shooting. The shooter was never caught, but guess who was rumoured to be behind it?”

Lydia’s eyes widened slightly, her instincts flaring to life. “Damon Hart.”

“Exactly,” Marcy confirmed. “But there’s no proof, only whispers in the underground. Cole went off the grid right after her death. It could be the reason he switched sides.”

Lydia's mind started connecting dots. "So, you're telling me Nolan Cole might have joined Hart to get revenge from the inside? Maybe he's not as rogue as everyone thinks. Maybe he's just playing a long game."

Marcy hesitated. "It's possible. But he's been with Hart for two years now, doing his dirty work. It doesn't seem like he's been gathering intel or trying to take him down. If he is playing a long game, he's playing it damn well."

Lydia felt a surge of excitement. If Nolan Cole was indeed undercover, it added a whole new dimension to the case. If not, it made him one of the most dangerous men in Los Angeles—a former cop with nothing left to lose. Either way, he was the key to unlocking this case.

“Marcy,”  Lydia said, her voice suddenly calm and clear, “Get in touch with our contacts at the precinct. I want everything they have on Cole's sister’s case—the details, the leads that went nowhere, and any connection to Hart’s crew. And keep digging into Cole’s activities. I want to know where he’s been, who he’s seen, and what he’s planning next.”

Marcy nodded, already moving toward the door. “On it. And Lydia…be careful. If Cole is on a vendetta, there’s no telling what he’s capable of.”

Lydia gave a tight nod, her gaze fixed on the photographs on her board. “I know. And that’s what makes him dangerous. But he’s also our best shot at taking down Hart. And I’m not going to let that slip through my fingers.”

As Marcy left the room, Lydia took a deep breath, her mind whirling with possibilities. She knew this case was about to get a lot more complicated. But she thrived on complications. They were what made her the best.

She walked back to her desk and sat down, her eyes never leaving Cole’s photograph. “Alright, Cole,” she murmured, a steely determination settling over her features. “Let’s see what game you’re really playing.”

The rain continued to hammer against the window as Lydia started piecing together a plan. Whatever Nolan Cole’s true intentions were, she was going to find out. And if he was on their side, maybe—just maybe—this case could end with Damon Hart behind bars.

But if he wasn’t… Lydia knew she’d have to be ready for anything.

She leaned back in her chair, a determined smile forming on her lips. This was going to be the start of something big, and she was ready for the hunt.