Chapter 2

Evans sat quietly on the chairs, his eyes fixated on the cross which a wooden carved Jesus hanged on before him, beside him, blinded from view by the net between them was the Priest.

"So, you fornicated with a man?" The old priest asked again, just to be sure he had heard right.

"Yes father, who else would I do it with?" He asked rhetorically, his gaze still focused on Jesus on the wooden cross, he averted his gaze from the cross to the hard floor, even with no life in it, he could feel scrutinizing gaze on him from the carved image.

"What about the other man?" The priest asked.

"What other man father?"

"The one you killed, have you forgotten about him so quickly?" The priest voice was getting distorted and changing to one Evans knew so well. "Have you forgotten about me Evans?!"

Evans turned his head to his right sharply, no longer was the priest beside him, but Louis Fellingway. His eyes were dull and screamed death, his mouth was dry and cracked and most of the hairs on his head were gone. Evans tried to move his legs to run away but they failed him.

"You did this to me Evans," Dead Louis said quietly in a voice that send a chilling feeling down Evans spine.

"I- I didn't," Evans mumbled under his breathe and shut his eyes tight, he couldn't bare looking at what was beside him, but still he still saw the image in his head.

"Admit it!" Louis yelled, his face had suddenly become wrinkled like that of an old man, an odd stench filled the air and Evans choked on it. Worms were coming out from his face now, from the nose to the mouth to his ear. Although Evans eyes were closed, he still saw this clearly like they were open.

"No!"

"Admit it you Faggot!"

"I didn't, leave me alone! Leave me alone!!" He could feel hands grabbing him, shaking him. "I said leave me alone!!!" He opened his eyes, but he was met by the concerned face of his grandma. He hugged her quickly, tears running down his face. 

It's been a week since Louis death and every time Evans slept he was being haunted with dreams like this. Sometimes he choose to stay awake at night in fear of this same nightmare, but then he always felt like Louis ghost was watching him, and one time he could have sworn he heard his name being called in the howls of the wind.

"Evans, are you okay?" His grandma asked as she hugged him close. "The same nightmare huh?"

Evans nodded into her shoulders, and his grandma held him close, till he calmed down.

"It's going to be alright dear, it will be."

~~~~~

Derek sat in front of Gin, in an office downstairs in the art shop. Gin was making a call while Derek sat still waiting. His gaze went over the room taking in everything, the office was quite small and tidy. There were awards on one shelf and trophies of different sizes on the same shelf, probably won during the annual art statesmanship award. Every year, an artist from Gin's art shop was chosen to represent the town presenting the art works of his/her fellow artist, giving them the credit they deserve of course. Derek had never attended the statesmanship award but he heard it was pretty big.

"Sorry about that Detective,"  Gin said as he dropped his phone on the desk before him. "I am all yours for now."

"OK, thanks. I would be really fast with this." After a nod from Gin, Derek continued. "So, tell me all you know about Louis Fellingway."

"Well, not much really, he got here few months ago from Paris, after an interview, I hired him to come work here. He was going to be representing us in the statesmanship award coming up next month. But since he is gone now, that would be given to someone else. He was an amazing artist you know? All my artists are but only few was as talented as him." He paused for some time. "When he had approached me and begged to be the one to represent Gin's artist, I gave it to him. Not everyone was happy with that."

"So, he was the one that had approached you for the position right?"

"Exactly." Derek nodded his head at that.

"'Not everyone' what do you mean by that?"

"Well, he was new, the rest had been here for years. The statesmanship award is rumoured not to hold again after this year due to some illegal activities people suspected were going on. Everyone wanted a chance, but when I announced that Louis was going to be the one, people got angry."

"This guy whose brush was used to kill Louis, was he among the 'angry' ones."

"Evans? No, I don't think he was, Evans hated Louis, but he wasn't really bothered about the fact of Louis representing the shop."

"Is this Evans around? I would like to speak to him."

"He isn't, I gave him the week off, he seem to have been greatly affected by the incident. Though he would be checking in the evening to go through some stuff, he would be resuming tomorrow."

"OK, I would be here by tomorrow to question him, meanwhile, I would like to discuss something with you before spesking to other employees."

"Sure."

~~~~~~

Evans started the journey to the art shop as soon as his grandma had dozed off. He parked his bike and chained it to the railway. Putting his keys in his chest pocket, he walked up to the entrance, taking a huge breathe before walking in. He was well aware of the eyes on him as he walked to his station, he needed the files which contained some important stuff on the theme chosen for the award. 

As he went through his lockers, he heard footsteps approaching and looked up to see Simon, Simon was the only person Evans could call a friend, the rest were just mere coworkers who he only exchanged greetings with.

"How are you feeling today?" Simon asked as he stopped before Evans desk.

"Better I guess," Evans answered with a shrug.

"The detective just left here," Simon informed him.

"Detective?"

"The one in charge of the case."

"Oh"

"You should have seen him Evans, Lord! Even I have to admit that he is one yummy man," He said with lust filled eyes.

"Don't you have a husband?"

"What's your point?" He said with an innocent look on his face. "Damon wouldn't mind, he knows I love no one but him." 

Evans shook his head and gave a small laugh. "Anyways, Gin wants you to stop by his office before you leave, he wants to discuss something with you."

"Do you have any Idea what it's about?" He asked while standing up, his bag across his shoulders.

"Not really, but I suspect it should be about representing us in the statesmanship award."

"Oh no," 

"Oh yes, come on Evans, it might not hold next year, you have heard the rumors right? Don't you want this chance before it goes away."

"Not really," he sighed. "OK, I will see you later, greet Damon and little Alex for me," He said walking away.

"Sure, take care!" Simon turned around and went back to his station.

Evans went downstairs, his eyes going to Louis empty station, which now had candles and flowers around it. Suddenly, the thought occurred to him, he wondered if someone here, one of the artist here, was the one who murdered Louis. He quickened his pace having an odd feeling. Going downstairs, he walked towards Gin's office. He arrived and gave a small knock, before walking in, closing the door behind him.

"Evening Gin," He greeted standing by the door.

"Yes Evans, have a sit." He nodded his head at one of the visitors chair. Evans walked to it slowly and took a sit, he looked round the office nervous, Gin still hadn't said anything else and was going through some papers. Evans got himself busy while waiting, admiring his toe nails, but he got distracted with a familiar cologne he knew his nostrils had breathed in before, that scent.

His mind went back to last week Wednesday, the night he had spent with that stranger from the club and also the morning after. He hadn't had the time to find out anything else about the beautiful man, he said his name was Derek, before he remembered that he had to go see his grandma, he had rushed out quickly and hadn't seen him ever since, who was here with Gin? He wondered.

"So, I will just not beat around the bush, I want you to represent us in the statesmanship award next month. Now, before you say no, I should tell you, no, you don't have a say in this." 

"What?"

"You heard me Evans."

"No, you're doing that thing again. Where you use that bossy authoritative tone to try and bend me to your will, not happening Gin. I have a say in this, I know my rights."

"Do you really know them?" Gin asked amused.

"I know most of them." He put his arms around his chest. "I don't want to do this Gin."

"There is a reason I chose you Evans," Gin said standing up.

"Can I know the reason I am the chosen one?" He asked rolling his eyes.

"Well... Do you want to find out who killed Louis?" That got to Evans and rendered him speechless, it took a while before he could find his voice.

"What do you mean Gin? I don't understand, I am confused." 

"Just days before Louis death, he was seen with El Torento, I suppose you know who that is, the detective suspects that Louis was going to use the opportunity of being the representative to deliver drugs to someone during the event."

"Wait what? Drugs? Like hard drugs?"

"Yes Evans, what else would I mean." He shot him a look which Evans just responded to by shrugging. "Seems like the rumors are true Evans and one was about to happen right under our noses. The detective would be here tomorrow again to talk to you, if you would represent us, you will be able to know more on the happenings during the event."

"So, let me get this, you want me to be..." His voice dropped low and he looked round the room before saying. "A spy?"

"You don't need to whisper, we are the only ones here. And yes, something like a spy, with you on the inside, we can be able to gather more information and tag the murderer down."

"I don't know about this Gin, what about my Grandma? I don't want to put her in any situation that would ever bring pain to her." He was the only one that she's got, also the only family he had apart from distant relations.

"I promise you that nothing will happen to her Evans," he gave him a reassuring look and Evans nodded. "So, what do you think?"

"Well, I have always thought representing the art shop would be cool and now I have to be a spy, and that's awesome!!!..." Gin rested his head on his palms, this was going to take time.

~~~~~~~

Derek sat on his bed, going through old photos, one in particular made him stop. It was a photo of he and Walter, his best friend, who had been murdered years ago, by who Derek suspected to be the boss of a drug cartel. 

Walter had just been back Rehab and gone back to his normal self, for two months after his return Derek had his old friend once again. They had gone clubbing, played football and he even helped Derek on a case he had been working on, everything was back to the way it was. One day, Derek hadn't heard from Walter, he called him to find his cell switched off, after work he had driven off to Walter's apartment, only to find him dead on the floor.

Days later, the autopsy result came in, Walter had overdosed in drugs and that's what killed him, so the doctor had said. Derek didn't believe that, Walter had looked so happy after he had gotten over his addiction, he had thanked Derek for saving him and told him he was ready to be responsible.

Someone did that to him, Derek didn't know who it was yet, but he wasn't going to stop till he found out. After doing some research in this new case, and had seen the footage of Louis and El Torento, who had been in and out of prison under cases related to hard drugs, he needed to find out more, with Louis case at hand he may be able to find out who had been supplying Walter with the drugs.