Chapter 69 (The Mortal Multiverse : Liam Raven Harper)

Chapter 69 - The Turk

Liam Pov

The clock on Captain Holt’s wall ticked louder than usual, or maybe it was just the silence that made it sound that way. 

I sat on the chair across from Holt’s desk, one leg crossed over the other, calm and unreadable. 

Terry stood beside the window with his arms folded, occasionally glancing toward the door.

Jake and Boyle had been gone nearly an hour, digging through the police database, and even for them, that was unusually long.

Eve’s voice chimed softly in my head, light and teasing.

[They’ve been at it for almost an hour. Want me to check the NYPD servers and save them some trouble?]

I smiled faintly, leaning back in the chair. ‘Very Funny, Eve. You know you can't access encrypted websites without the proper log-in”

[The room is too quiet and I’m bored] 

I almost chuckled out loud but kept my composure. 

Holt didn’t look like a man who appreciated humor during an active case. 

Captain Holt glanced up from the folder he was reviewing. “You’re surprisingly composed, Mr. Harper. Most people would be… unsettled after being threatened by an alleged drug dealer.”

“I’ve been in courtrooms full of ruthless people who do anything for money in the Hale’s case, Captain,” I replied smoothly. “A man in cuffs doesn’t scare me.”

That earned him a quiet, approving nod from Holt and even Terry cracked a small grin.

Just then, the door opened, and Jake and Boyle walked in — Jake looking frustrated, Boyle looking like he’d just lost his favorite food truck.

Jake sighed, holding up a tablet. “Okay, so… bad news. We checked the databases and there’s no record of anyone called ‘The Turk.’ Nada. Zilch. Not even a parking ticket.”

Boyle added quickly, “We even called a couple of guys from Organized Crime. One of them thought Jake was pranking him.”

Jake pointed at him. “Which I wasn’t! This guy literally threatened to kill Liam. Liam Harper! Do people forget who took down Hale's—who was like a secret villain?!”

 “Appreciate the enthusiasm, Guys.” I replied with a smirk.

Boyle looked a little starstruck. “Enthusiasm? That’s respect and we are friends. What you did in that courtroom? Legendary.”

Eve’s voice whispered in his head, amused. [You’ve got fans everywhere, huh?]

I kept a calm expression but mentally replied, ‘Seems like it.’

Holt closed the folder. “If there’s no digital footprint, we’re either dealing with a name used only within certain circles or it is false information.”

“Maybe mob circles?” Terry added gravely and I just nodded but my mind was working on a different thought. ‘This Turk name… think I heard it somewhere.’

[You’re right,] Eve said, her tone shifting from playful to analytical. [I’ve been running it through every file and reference we’ve come across in the DA office. Nothing solid… but it does ring a bell and my guess is it must be in your memory.]

‘Could it be from something fictional from my previous life?’ I wondered.

[Must be. I know you have watched too many old movies. You could quote so many dialogues and keep any type of crowd entertained for hours.]

I just ignored her jab, staring down at the table. ‘Movie… Italian… The Turk…’

Then it clicked. I raised my head slowly, realization forming in my thoughts. ‘The Godfather movie’

Eve also realised [Wait, like the movie? You mean the Godfather movie with Vito Corleone and others?]

‘Yes! Virgil ‘The Turk’ Sollozzo. The guy who approached the Corleone family about distributing cocaine and he sought capital and Corleone family backing. He was denied by Don Vito Corleone himself.’

[Indeed, it does match. Maybe, he decide to replace Carlos Vega] 

‘Seems like it, But we have to first confirm if this universe actually had the Godfather Movie in it’

[On it, the results are coming up on your HUD] 

My HUD lit up and Eve’s online Dutch results came one by one

The newspaper clipping and videos show that there are Italian Mob families in NY and there is also a family named Corleone who are in the Olive Oil business. 

More information also arrived but the finally piece was a picture of a man in tuxedo shaking hands with a NY court judge which confirmed it 

‘That’s Vito Corleone. His looks exactly the same as the movie but a bit younger’

[Liam, Holt is talking to you] Eve said which immediately brought my attention to Captain Holt.

“Liam, Are you alright?” Holt asked in his usual steady tone 

“I’m fine Captain, just thinking about something. Sorry, didn’t you say something?” 

“I just wanted your opinion on this situation. Would you mind if I put Boyle to watch you for your own safety” 

I just shook my head “Not necessary Captain, Right now we don’t even know if this guy gave us genuine info or is trying to mislead us but I have a hunch” 

Boyle jumped in before Jake could and asked  “What is it Liam?” Excited to hear what I had to say.

Liam just smiled at Boyle enthusiasm and continued 

“Jake and Boyle arrested Marco and Marco slipped Hale’s name when Jake interrogated him but when I spoke with him, he didn’t say Hale’s name at all and mentioned a new name ‘the Turk’ and claims him as his boss” 

“Maybe he is actually trying to mislead us” Jake said with new doubts creeping into his mind mind but I continued 

“No, I don’t think Marco is trying to mislead us but there is indeed a connection between the two” 

Captain Holt and everyone was on the edge of their seats and their full focus was on me and I knew they were waiting for me to continue and I didn’t make them wait and said “Hale’s was indeed supplying the drugs to celebrities and was the center face of the whole operation but there were few other who held more power and different parts of that operation like Carlos Vega. 

Vega was the actual one who dealt with narcotics and he was the one who got the cocaine from somewhere and had his own network in NY and became a drug lord but was caught because of Hale’s mistake. 

We were never able to find his source of origin for his drugs and as it was international, it moved beyond my hands. 

Now Marco is pointing at Hale’s but I think he meant Vega!”

They all took a second to understand my theory but Holt raised a question asking “What made you conclude it was Vega and not Hale’s” 

“Because Vega was the boss of Narcotics in Hale’s operation and Hale’s was only a figure face and didn’t have a spine to handle such a network or in fact anything important, his only contribution was coming up with his rigging sports and betting idea along with using the lactose powder and connected different people to save his life. 

And what if this ‘Turk’ guy has taken Vega’s spot in NY?” I calmly explained 

“Vega’s Spot?” Jake asked in doubt

“Yes,” said. “When I took Vega down, his entire network collapsed. But the power vacuums don’t stay empty for long.”

Terry leaned forward on the desk. “You think this Turk filled that spot?”

I just nodded and continued. “It’s a possibility. But if he’s smart, he wouldn’t use his real name — just a title or his alias. Something top people in the underground would recognize, but the law wouldn’t.”

Jake started pacing. “So we’re basically dealing with a Ghost Drug dealer.”

“Not for long Jake, nothing can hide from the Law.” I confidently replied. 

Eve’s voice came again, quieter now. [If it’s really someone from that movie, we should be careful. In every version of that story, people die when they underestimate a man who stays in the shadows.]

I just agreed because it’s true. ‘You’re right, Eve. That’s why we’ll confirm who he is first and whether he is from the Godfather Movie or not.’

Just then, Terry’s phone buzzed, and he excused himself to take the call. 

Holt remained seated, deep in thought. Jake and Boyle exchanged glances — the “should we do something” kind — before Jake finally broke the silence.

“So… I hate waiting. What’s our next move?”

“We can’t trace him through U.S. systems,” Boyle said, “so maybe he’s international?”

“That’s a thought,” I said calmly. “Try looking through Interpol records.”

Jake frowned. “We can’t access those without clearance.”

Holt looked up at me. “What are you suggesting, Mr. Harper?”

I shrugged slightly. “That maybe… we’ve been searching in the wrong place. All these guys — Vega and Marco — they’re Italian. What if we check with Italian law enforcement? The Polizia di Stato.”

Jake raised a finger. “Nice. International mystery vibe. I like your approach.”

Boyle added, “And if we’re calling Italy, I can practice my Italian. ‘Buongiorno, signore detective!’”

Eve snorted in Liam’s head. [He’d get arrested for pronunciation alone.]

I suppressed my grin. “It’s worth checking. But, as Captain Holt knows, it has to go through proper channels.”

Holt nodded approvingly. “Indeed. I’ll reach out through official diplomatic communication. It’ll take time, but it’s the right way and I'll make sure it’s  fast.”

Jake sighed, dropping into the chair. “So basically, we wait.”

I just nodded. “We wait.”

Terry came back into the room, putting his phone away. “Update from the lab. Marco is going to be processed.”

Holt nodded and said.“Jake, follow through on the processing and make sure everything is logged properly” 

“Understood Captain” Jake said but leaned forward again. “But while we wait, what if we do some digging of our own? Like old-school detective work?”

I interjected with a calm smile. “Actually, that might not be a bad idea. But keep it low-profile. If this Turk really exists, we don’t want him knowing we’re looking.”

Jake looked delighted. “Liam, I like your style.”

“Thanks,” Liam said, standing up and straightening his suit. “It’s just a suggestion but If you guys are moving forward with it, make sure you don’t get caught in the middle of something you can’t handle and also put me in a bad spot.”

Boyle saluted. “Sir, yes sir!”

I turned to Holt. “Captain, I appreciate the fact that you allowed me to work with the NY99. Once you get confirmation from the Italians, let me know. I’ll brief my boss on the situation.”

“Understood, Mr. Harper,” Holt said. “And… be careful.”

“I always am.” I replied and left the captain’s office, followed by Jake and Boyle. 

As soon as they stepped into the hallway, Boyle whispered, “He’s so cool.”

Jake nodded. “I know. He’s like if James Bond and Atticus Finch had a baby.”

I heard it — and smiled to myself as I walked toward the elevator.

Once I was alone inside, the soft ding of the doors closing filled the quiet, and Eve spoke again.

[So, The Turk, huh? I gotta admit, that’s a nice callback. You think it’s really him?]

“I don’t know,” I said in my thoughts. “But if it is, this just got a lot more dangerous yet fun.”

[Dangerous for them, fun for you, right?.]

With a faint smirk I replied. “We’ll see.”

The elevator doors opened, and I stepped out into the sunlight.

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