Chapter 9: The Informant
The first light of dawn filtered through the grimy windows of the safe house, casting a pale glow over the room. Alicia woke with a start, her body stiff and her mind still foggy from the restless night. She sat up, glancing around the room. Caden was already awake, sitting at the small table with a map spread out in front of him. His expression was focused, his fingers tracing lines on the paper as if plotting their next move.
“Morning,” he said without looking up. “Sleep okay?”
“Not really,” Alicia admitted, rubbing her eyes. “I kept dreaming about… everything.”
Caden nodded, his gaze still fixed on the map. “Yeah, that happens. You’ll get used to it.”
Alicia frowned. She wasn’t sure she wanted to get used to it. “What’s the plan for today?”
Caden finally looked up, his expression serious. “We’re going to meet someone. Someone who might be able to help us.”
“Who?” Alicia asked, her curiosity piqued.
“An informant,” Caden replied. “Someone who’s been in the game a long time. If anyone knows who’s behind all of this, it’s him.”
Alicia’s chest tightened. “And you trust him?”
Caden hesitated, his jaw tightening. “I trust him to look out for himself. But if we play our cards right, he might give us the information we need.”
Alicia didn’t like the sound of that, but she didn’t have much of a choice. “Where are we meeting him?”
“An old diner on the south side of the city,” Caden said, folding up the map. “It’s neutral territory. Safe enough, as long as we’re careful.”
Alicia nodded, though her nerves were on edge. She didn’t know what to expect, but she knew one thing for sure: she couldn’t back out now.
After a quick breakfast of stale bread and coffee, they left the safe house and made their way to the diner. The streets were quiet, the city still waking up. Alicia kept her head down, her eyes darting around as they walked. She couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched.
When they reached the diner, Caden held the door open for her, his eyes scanning the area as they stepped inside. The place was small and worn, with cracked vinyl booths and a counter lined with stools. A few patrons sat scattered around, but no one paid them any attention.
Caden led her to a booth in the back, away from prying eyes. “Stay here,” he said, his voice low. “I’ll be right back.”
Alicia nodded, her heart pounding as she watched him walk over to the counter. He exchanged a few words with the waitress, who nodded and disappeared into the kitchen. A few minutes later, a man emerged from the back, his eyes narrowing as he spotted Caden.
The man was tall and wiry, with a scruffy beard and a worn leather jacket. He looked like he’d seen better days, but there was a sharpness in his eyes that made Alicia uneasy. He followed Caden to the booth, sliding in across from Alicia.
“This her?” the man asked, his voice rough.
Caden nodded, sitting down beside Alicia. “Alicia, this is Marcus. He’s the one I told you about.”
Marcus leaned back in the booth, his eyes appraising Alicia. “So, you’re the reason Caden’s sticking his neck out, huh? You must be something special.”
Alicia’s cheeks flushed, but she held his gaze. “I just want to know who’s behind all of this. And why they’re after me.”
Marcus chuckled, a dry, humorless sound. “You’re in deep, sweetheart. Deeper than you realize.”
Caden’s expression darkened. “Cut the crap, Marcus. We need information. Who’s pulling the strings?”
Marcus hesitated, his eyes flicking between Caden and Alicia. “You know how this works, Caden. Information ain’t free.”
Caden reached into his jacket and pulled out a thick envelope, sliding it across the table. Marcus picked it up, flipping through the contents before nodding.
“Alright,” he said, leaning forward. “Here’s what I know. There’s a group—call them the Syndicate, for lack of a better name. They’ve got their fingers in everything: politics, business, crime. They’ve been using Joshua Yates to move money and cover their tracks. But lately, he’s been slipping. And they don’t like loose ends.”
Alicia’s chest tightened. “So they’re after me because of Joshua?”
Marcus nodded. “You’re a liability, sweetheart. They think you know more than you do. And even if you don’t, they can’t take the risk.”
Caden’s jaw tightened. “Who’s in charge? Who’s calling the shots?”
Marcus hesitated, his expression wary. “That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? The Syndicate’s got layers. You peel one back, there’s another underneath. But if you’re looking for a name, start with Victor Kane. He’s the one pulling the strings these days.”
Alicia’s breath caught. She’d heard that name before—Joshua had mentioned it in passing, though he’d never gone into detail. “Who is he?”
Marcus leaned back, his expression grim. “Victor Kane’s a businessman, on paper. But in reality, he’s the head of the snake. He’s the one who decides who lives and who dies. And right now, he’s decided you’re a problem.”
Alicia’s stomach churned. She didn’t know what to say. The reality of the situation was sinking in, and it was more terrifying than she could have imagined.
Caden’s voice broke the silence. “Where can we find him?”
Marcus shook his head. “You don’t find Victor Kane. He finds you. And trust me, you don’t want that.”
Caden’s expression hardened. “We don’t have a choice. If we’re going to stop this, we need to take him down.”
Marcus studied him for a moment, then sighed. “You always were a stubborn bastard, Caden. Fine. If you’re really set on this, there’s a gala tonight at the Grand Horizon Hotel. Kane’s supposed to be there. But if you go after him, you’d better be ready. Because he won’t go down without a fight.”
Caden nodded, his expression grim. “Thanks, Marcus. We’ll take it from here.”
Marcus slid out of the booth, his eyes lingering on Alicia. “Good luck, sweetheart. You’re gonna need it.”
As he walked away, Alicia turned to Caden, her heart pounding. “What now?”
Caden’s gaze was steady, his voice firm. “Now, we get ready. Tonight, we take the fight to them.”
Alicia nodded, though her hands were trembling. She didn’t know if she was ready for this, but she knew one thing for sure: she couldn’t back down. Not now. Not ever.
The game was about to change. And this time, they were the ones making the rules.