Chapter 18: TELLING MATEO ABOUT ANDREAS

Marcus POV

Gina and I went to bed and fell asleep together. Just like how we did so many times in the past. I just held her and waited for her to fall asleep. I looked at her while playing with her hair and I kept thinking how lucky I was to have her back in my life. Sure I just found out a few hours ago that she could see ghosts and I was shocked about it at first but I don’t care about that anymore. I knew that she was special.

What a night it’s been. From almost being killed to finding out that ghosts really exist and now I’m positive that we’ll catch these guys soon. Gina starts stirring in my arms and soon her beautiful eyes flutter open. “Hey handsome.” She says as she looks at me. “Good morning Gorgeous.” I say as I kiss her. “What time is it?” She asks me. “7:30 am. Do you want some breakfast?” I ask her. She nods at me. “The usual?” I ask her.

“You know it. Scrambled eggs and bacon sandwich.” She says. “So that’s still your favorite breakfast?” I ask. “Yes but you make the best one.” She says as she gives me her famous puppy dog look. “Okay. I’ll go make some for you. You can come down when you’re ready.” I say to her as I get up off the bed. I make my way down to the kitchen and I take out everything that I need for our breakfast. Gina comes down after five minutes and I see that she is wearing one of my football jerseys from high school. “You still look hot in that.” I tell her and she smiles at me.

“I couldn’t help it. I hope you don’t mind?” She asks me. “No it’s fine.” I say as I turn back to finish cooking the eggs and bacon. Gina reaches over to the bread bin. How many slices do you want?” She asks me. “Three.” I reply. She then takes out five slices of bread before putting them in the toaster, she then takes out two cups from the cupboard before putting on the kettle. She makes us some coffee before she goes and sits down at the table. I dish up the scrambled eggs and bacon into two plates before I take it to the table.

Gina gets up and fetches the toast before returning to the table. We eat in a comfortable silence and I keep looking at her. She’s so beautiful. “You’re still so beautiful.” I say to her. “Thanks.” She says as she blushes. We finish eating our breakfast and I take the empty plates back to the sink. I join her back at the table. “Is it alright if I can use your shower?” She asks me. “Yeah. No problem.” I reply. There is a knock at the front door.

“There’s only one person who would be here so early.” I say as I get up to answer the door. “Mateo?” Gina asks. “Jip.” I reply as I walk over to the front door. I open the door and low and behold, Mateo is standing there. “Hey man. I have to show you something.” Mateo says as he walks into my house. “Okay.” I say as I close the door.
Mateo walks down to the living room and he picks up the remote for the tv. He switches it on the news channel. Lawrence Smith is there yelling at the cameras while he’s being taken into the police station.
“My guess is this was taped yesterday?” I ask Mateo. “Yes but that wasn’t what I wanted you to see. It’s what Lawrence was screaming at the cameras that I wanted you to see. I look back at the screen just as Lawrence climbs out of the cop car. “Mr. Smith is it true that you’re being arrested for murder?” One if the reporters ask him. “It’s not me. I was set up by Marcus Castellano and Mateo Karakizos.”

“Lying son of a bitch.” I yell. “Don’t worry that asshole has nothing on us. He’s crazy from all the drugs that he’s been taking.” Mateo says. “This is Nicole Johnson, reporting live from the LAPD precinct. Lawyer Lawrence Smith was arrested for murder earlier this afternoon. He’s being accused of murdering the following women: Amanda Hanson, April Connors, Sylvia Jackson, Jessie Hall and Britney Moore. The bodies of these girls were found in Lawrence’s basement of his West L.A. residence. You all know him as the lawyer of The Fallen Billionaire, Marcus Castellano.

Sources say that Lawrence has a lot of cases that were unsolved. A lot of his clients were made to take the plea deals the courts have given them. From what I know is that a plea deal was also given to Marcus Castellano but it’s unclear at this time if he’s going to take the plea deal or not. But the real question is, now that Lawrence is in jail, who will be defending Marcus Castellano in his case as no other lawyer would take his case on? And the second question is, was Lawrence Smith honest in his career as a lawyer?” The reporter says.

“Hey Mateo.” Gina says as she walks into the living room. “Hey Gina.” Mateo says. “Wait you’re still here?” He asks her. “Yes I slept over last night.” Gina replies. “Did you two ….” Mateo says as he points between Gina and I. “No! We didn’t have sex.” I reply. “Look I stayed because I wanted to be here just in case those assholes came back here.” Gina says. “Oh.” Mateo says. “There’s another thing that we need to tell you. It’s about Marcus’s dad.” Gina says as she looks at Mateo.

“Okay. What is it?” Mateo asks as he looks between the two of us. “Andreas wasn’t stabbed.” Gina says. “What?” Mateo asks. “He wasn’t stabbed to death. Someone drowned him.” Gina says. Mateo looks between the two of us a few times before he says something. “Are you sure?” He asks Gina. “Yes. Very sure.” Gina replies. “I need to get my phone so that I can call the City Council.” Gina says before she turns around and walks down the hall. “I don’t understand. I thought the autopsy report said that he was stabbed?” Mateo replies. “Dude. We had a long night and I’ll let Gina tell you how she found out.” I say just as Gina walks back into the room with her phone in her hand.

“You don’t have to call the City Council to ask if you can exhume a body. We can call Judge Jerry Harris to help us again. He can sign off on it. Can I use your phone? I haven’t gotten a new one yet.” Mateo says. Gina nods at him as she hands him her phone. Mateo presses a few buttons on it before he puts the phone on loud speaker.

The person answers the phone on the third ring. “Hello?” The person says. “Judge Jerry Harris, this Mateo Karakizos speaking. I’m so sorry to bother you so early on a Sunday morning but I need to ask you a favour?” Mateo says. “What can I help you with today Mr. Karakizos?” Judge Jerry replies. “We need you to help us in exhuming a human body.” Mateo says. “Who’s body?” Judge Jerry asks. “Andreas Castellano. We have reason to believe that his autopsy report is false. We believe that he was drowned and not stabbed so we’ll need to exhume his body in order to do a new autopsy.” Mateo replies.

Judge Jerry is quiet for a few seconds. “Okay I’ll sign the papers and send them to you shortly.” Judge Jerry says. “Thank you so much Judge.” Mateo says. “There’s no need to thank me. Andreas was a good friend of mine and if you two suspect that there was foul play then I’ll be happy to help where I can. I’ll get straight to work. You should have it in your email soon. I just want to ask one question? Whose going to pay for the services?” Judge Jerry says.

“I will.” Gina says. “Who are you?” Judge Jerry asks. “My name is Gina Rossi.” Gina replies. “Gina Rossi? As in Giovanni Rossi’s daughter?” Judge Jerry asks. “Yes. That’s me.” Gina replies. “Wow. I thought that you left L.A?” Judge Jerry asks. “I did but now I’m back to help Marcus with his case.” Gina replies. “Are you back for good?” Judge Jerry says. “I don’t know yet. I’ve got another company that I’m running in New York but I’m looking to expand to LA.” Gina says as she looks at me. I just look back down at the floor.

“Did you take over from your mom?” Judge Jerry asks. “yes I took over Rossi P.I. three years ago.” Gina says. “Well let me get to work on those papers. You should have them within the next thirty minutes.” Judge Jerry says. “Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you.” Mateo says before he hangs up the phone.

“You guys better tell me the truth. Why do you two think that Andreas was drowned?” Mateo says as he points between Gina and I. “Mateo I’m about to tell you something but you have to promise me two things first. You have to promise that you won’t laugh and the second thing is, the thing that I’m about to tell you doesn’t leave this room. You have to keep it a secret.” Gina says as she looks at him and then at me.

“Okay.” Mateo says as he crosses his arms over his chest. “I know that Mr. Castellano was drowned because he showed me himself.” Gina says. Mateo looks at us with a confused look on his face. “How? He’s dead.” Mateo replies. “I can see ghosts Mateo.” Gina says and Mateo looks at her like she’s crazy.

“Its true. I saw some weird shit happen last night.” I say to him. Mateo looks between the two of us. “You’ve got to be joking?” Mateo says. He looks like he’s about to start laughing but he manages to compose himself. “For real?” Mateo asks. “Does it look like we’re lying to you?” I ask him. Mateo looks at us. Gina and I look back at him with serious looks on our faces.

“Oh you’re not kidding.” Mateo says just as a photo of my dad, Gina and I fall down on the ground. “Is my dad here?” I ask Gina. She nods at me as she looks to where the photo is lying in the ground. “He’s standing right over there.” She says as she points to that area. “Did you see that Mateo?” I ask him as I walk over towards the photo. “It’s my father. He’s the one who always knocks the photos over.” I say as I pick up the photo. “Damn this one’s glass shattered again.” I say as I look at the photo.

“This is some next level shit.” Mateo says as he turns to Gina. “I thought you were crazy there for a second. I’m so sorry.” Mateo says. “Everybody thinks that when I tell them that I can see their deceased loved ones.” Gina says.
“Now I really understand why you want to exhume Andreas’s body.” Mateo says. “Yes. Promise that you won’t say anything to anybody?” Gina says as she points at him with her finger. “I promise.” Mateo says.
“Good because if you say anything to anybody then I’ll skin you alive. You can use my phone to check your emails while I go and get ready for the day.” Gina says as she walks over to me. She kisses me on the cheek before she walks out of the living room.
“She’s kidding about the skinning alive thing isn’t she?” Mateo whispers as he watches Gina walk down the hall towards the stairs.
“No she’s not.” I reply and he looks at me shocked.
“You’re girl is scary.” Mateo says.
“I know. That’s why I love her.” I reply.
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Unknown POV
Luke and Garrett just arrived at the precinct. “Can you believe the shit that Lawrence said on the news yesterday?” Garrett asks Luke. “That asshole is crazy. You know the type of drugs that he was taking. That shit can make you go crazy.” Luke says as he puts his jacket on his table.

“Yeah his brain is probably fried.” Garrett says as he sits down on his chair while he sips on his Starbucks coffee. “What time is Miss Rossi coming over here?” Garrett asks him. “How did you know about her coming over here?” Luke asks. “I heard you telling her last night that she should come here and meet you at the precinct.” Garrett says. “Yeah. I’m taking her to go and see the families of Lawrence’s other four victims. We’re going to inform them about their daughters.” Luke says.

“Shouldn’t I be the one to do that with you?” Garrett asks. “No not this time. Only Gina can help me this one time.” Luke says as he drinks his coffee. Garrett stairs at him.”Why is that?” Garrett asks. “I can’t tell you and besides I need you to interrogate that asshole Lawrence Smith while I’m gone.” Luke says. He hates lying to his partner but somehow Luke knows to keep his mouth shut about Gina’s gift. She’ll tell him when the time is right.
Garrett keeps quiet as he switches his computer on. “Saunders, Hanson. My office now!” Captain Baldwin calls them from the door of his office. “Let’s go see what Captain America wants now.” Luke says as he looks at Garrett. They get up and they walk over to the Captain’s office. “Close the door and sit down.” Captain Baldwin says.
Luke closes the door before he takes a seat right next to Garrett. “Do you guys mind telling me what the hell happened at Marcus Castellano’s house?” Captain Baldwin asks them. “All I know is we got a call saying that there was an attack going on over there. The attackers wanted to kill Marcus and Mateo Karakizos.” Garrett replies.

“Constantine’s kid was there?” Captain Baldwin asks. Luke and Garrett nod at him. “Damn.” Captain Baldwin says. “Cap when we got to his house there were no cop cars there. As far as I know they should have been there. Do you know who the cops were that was supposed to be watching the house?” Luke asks him. “Yeah Sanchez and Gomez were supposed to be watching the house but I didn’t order them to leave. That order must have come from up on high.” Captain Baldwin replies.

“Are you saying that the Chief of Police could have told them to leave?” Luke asks. “I have been suspicious that the Chief may be corrupt but I don’t have any proof. I also believe that he’s not the only one doing illegal things.” Captain Baldwin says as he looks at the other officers working outside his office.

“Here’s the real reason why I called you two in here.” Captain Baldwin says. He leans over his table. “I suspect that some of the officers in this precinct are corrupt and I need my two best detectives here to figure out who they are and report back to me. I want to flush out the traitors.” Captain Baldwin says. “You want us to investigate each and every officer in this precinct?” Luke asks.
“Yeah but be discreet. I don’t want them to figure out what’s going on. Got it?” Captain Baldwin says. “Got it Cap.” Garrett answers. An officer knocks on his door before he opens it. “Captain Baldwin there is someone here to see you?” The officer asks him. “Bring them in.” Captain Baldwin replies. The officer nods and then turns around to leave. “Is there anything else?” Luke asks. “No. Now get out of here.” Captain Baldwin tells them. “Alright.” Luke replies as both he and Garrett get up to leave.

Luke walks out first and Garrett was about to walk out of the door when he sees a woman in her fifties walking towards Captain Baldwin’s office with a basket in her hands. “Cap that lady is here to see you again. I think she likes you.” Garrett says as he teases Captain Baldwin. “Don’t be a smart ass Saunders. You know that I’ll never leave Christine. Now get the hell back to work!” Captain Baldwin yells at him making Garrett laugh at him before he turns around and leaves.

“What the hell does this bitch want?” Captain Baldwin says as he looks at the woman who is opening his door.
“What the hell do you want Veronica?” He asks her.
“Is that the way you greet your first fiancé?” Veronica asks.