Chapter 7 : The Man Behind The Money
927 Words
The Thief and The Detective
Chapter 6: The Man Behind The Money
The situation had gone from bad to worse.
Alora Vance hated admitting it.
But Frederick's plan had failed.
Their disguise had worked perfectly.
Almost too perfectly.
Until one small detail exposed them.
Now they were sitting in a dark room inside the factory, their hands restrained, surrounded by armed guards.
Frederick looked around.
"Well..."
Alora glanced at him.
"What?"
"I have to admit."
She waited.
"This is not the worst situation I've been in."
Alora stared at him.
"We are tied to chairs inside an illegal factory."
"Yes."
"Surrounded by criminals."
"Also yes."
"And you think this isn't bad?"
Frederick shrugged.
"I once got locked inside a restaurant freezer."
Alora blinked.
"Why?"
"Long story."
"I don't want to hear it."
"Good. Because it's embarrassing."
Despite the situation, Alora almost smiled.
Almost.
Then the door opened.
The room became silent.
A man entered.
Adrian Locke.
The former financial adviser of Cross International.
The man they had been searching for.
He looked calm.
Confident.
Not like someone who had been exposed.
He walked toward them and sat down.
"So..."
He looked at Alora.
"A police officer."
Then at Frederick.
"And a thief."
Frederick smiled.
"I prefer freelance problem solver."
Adrian ignored him.
"You broke into my factory."
Alora looked directly at him.
"We came because of Damian Cross."
A slight change appeared in Adrian's expression.
Not fear.
Something else.
Recognition.
"I wondered when someone would finally ask questions."
Alora studied him.
"You knew Damian Cross."
"Of course."
"What was your relationship with him?"
Adrian leaned back.
"I worked for him for seven years."
"As his financial adviser?"
"Yes."
"Until you were fired."
Adrian smiled slightly.
"So you know about that."
"We know about the money transfers."
A long silence followed.
Then Adrian laughed.
Not nervously.
Almost proudly.
"You investigated well."
Alora frowned.
"You admit it?"
"I admit I moved money."
Frederick looked interested.
"That's surprisingly honest."
Adrian looked at him.
"I have no reason to lie."
Alora leaned forward.
"Then tell me why."
Adrian looked at the ceiling.
"Damian Cross was not as innocent as people believed."
"He was involved in illegal activities?"
"Not exactly."
Adrian's expression became serious.
"Damian discovered something."
"What?"
"Something involving powerful people."
Alora's eyes narrowed.
"The Eclipse Syndicate?"
For the first time, Adrian looked surprised.
"So you've heard the name."
Frederick became quiet.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Alora continued.
"Are they responsible for Damian's murder?"
Adrian looked at her.
"No."
The answer surprised them.
"No?"
"Damian was killed because he tried to expose them."
Adrian leaned forward.
"But I wasn't the one who ordered his death."
"Then who was?"
Adrian looked away.
"Someone much higher."
"Who?"
"I don't know his name."
Alora frowned.
"You expect us to believe that?"
"It's the truth."
Frederick watched Adrian carefully.
The man wasn't acting like someone trying to escape blame.
He was acting like someone who knew he was already trapped.
Alora continued questioning him.
"What about the assassin?"
Adrian's face changed.
"You know about that?"
"We know Damian wasn't killed by an ordinary criminal."
Adrian remained silent.
Then he sighed.
"The person responsible hired an assassin."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
Alora leaned closer.
"You're hiding something."
Adrian smiled.
"Everyone hides something."
The room became quiet.
Then Adrian suddenly stood.
"Unfortunately, this conversation is over."
Alora immediately became alert.
"What do you mean?"
Adrian looked toward the guards.
"Remove them."
Frederick's expression changed.
"That doesn't sound good."
The guards stepped forward.
Alora realized what was happening.
Adrian was done talking.
He had given them information.
Now he wanted them gone.
"You're going to kill us?"
Adrian looked at her.
"You know too much."
The guards prepared to move.
Alora remained calm.
Because she had one last move.
A risky one.
"Before you do that..."
Everyone stopped.
Adrian looked at her.
"What?"
Alora smiled.
"You should know something."
Frederick looked at her.
He immediately understood.
She was bluffing.
"We recorded everything."
Adrian froze slightly.
"What?"
Alora continued.
"The entire conversation."
She looked around.
"And it has already been transmitted."
Adrian's expression darkened.
"To who?"
"Someone who will release everything if anything happens to us."
The room became silent.
Frederick almost smiled.
He knew there was no recording.
But he had to admit...
She was convincing.
Adrian studied her.
"You are lying."
Alora didn't move.
"Are you willing to risk it?"
The guards looked uncertain.
Adrian remained silent.
For several moments, nobody moved.
Finally, Adrian lowered his hand.
"Stop."
The guards stepped back.
Alora secretly relaxed.
Adrian stared at her.
"You are more dangerous than you appear."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"It wasn't."
"Still taking it."
Frederick smiled slightly.
She was learning.
Adrian walked back toward them.
"You want the person behind this?"
Alora looked at him.
"Yes."
Adrian thought for a moment.
"Then find Marcus Vane."
Frederick frowned.
"Who is that?"
"The right-hand man of the person who controls everything."
Adrian continued.
"He handles communication, payments, and arrangements."
"Including assassins?"
Adrian nodded.
"He is the person who connects the powerful people in Eclipse with the people who do their dirty work."
Alora memorized the name.
"Where can we find him?"
Adrian smiled faintly.
"That is the problem."
He looked at them.
"Marcus Vane finds people."
A pause.
"But nobody finds him."
The room became silent.
Alora and Frederick exchanged a look.
Their investigation had just changed.
They were no longer hunting a murderer.
They were hunting the person who helped create one.
And somewhere in the shadows...
Marcus Vane already knew they were looking for him.
- Writer
