Chapter 26. Mhone call
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She grabbed her phone and scrolled through the contact till she had found a number. As the call connected, she took a steadying breath, steeling herself for what she was about to ask
“Hello?” a familiar voice answered on the other end, a voice that brought with it memories of a life she’d once left behind.
“n’s me,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I need a favor, Can we neet?
The voice paused, then replied, “Of course. Name the time and place.”
She hung up, her heart pounding as she stared into the empty night. Whoever Matten really was, whatever secrets he harbored, she was done waiting for answers.
trabelle sat at a cocter table in the sulla
tee shop her finger pig lightly on her laptop as she stoped her espresso. The soft him of conversation around her blended with the hiss of the espresso machine, and the rich aroma of roasted coffee beans mingled with the faint of pastries and fresh bread.
Het toe, however, was en het screen, where her repeat on the Commons Festhal was barely progressing she stared at the few paragraphs she’d written and deka pang of fresh. Her boss’s rmal frem parler loams! in her mind
“Isabelle, tweed you stepect on the festival by tonight. Mahe strong Nainere delays
Shehahi’t made much progress but she knew she had to change that quickly if the wasted to remain a journalist. She started fling like she was getting a bit too distracted by the things happening around her
But there she was, waiting for antonnant
other mind kept chifting. The ages from the past few days–ters, flashes of events, half–formed suspicions–kept selling in her mind, blocking her ability for
She took another sip of coffee, feeling the catene begin to sharpen her focus, and typed a few more times. Just as she was setting back in, the shop door opened, and a gust of cool auturın ali swept in
A young man with sharp blue eyes and striking white hair stepped in, scaming therion. gaze landed on her, and a subtle smile curved his lips as he made his way over. Isabelle watched him approach, trying to place han
There was something oddly familiar about him. Then it hit her; she’d seen him at the Couscous Festival, in the crowd, just as she was leaving. She hadn’t paid him much mind then, but his unusual hair color and piercing eyes had stayed in the back of her memerg
As he reached her table, he nodded, sowing certain he’d found the right person “Isabelle, right?””
She blinked, taken shack. “Yes. Have we mat
The man gave a slight chuckle. “You don’t remember? I was at the festival, covering it, just you.”
“Oh right.“Isabelle said, plecing it together. “I didn’t know you were a journalist.”
“Well,” he said with a smirk, taking the seat across from her without incon, “you need to wear the right skin for every occasion. Some days, I’m a journalist. Other drps.” He trailed off, giving her a mischievous look.
The name Johnny–JoJohnny Bricks,” he said, extending a hand for a handshake
took the handshake that he had offered, and he had a neat to her.
There was something both charming and unsetting about him. His relaxed posture didn’t match the surprins in his eyes, and labelle wondered if he was someone she could trust. Still, she felt her curiosity pulling her in, wondering if he might have the insight she’d benchasing.
“So, what are you doing here?” she asked carefully.
He shrugged, glancing around the caté. “Could you ask me the same thing? But how feeling Lalready know what you’re looking for
Tabelle fell her heart skip a beat. She tried to mask herreaction, adapting a casual tone. “And what do you think I’m looking for?”
The man leaned in slightly, lowering his voke. “Mattes. I’ve seen your type before–you have that look Like you’re in acity that doesn’t really want you here, but you won’t back down.” He shook his head, his voice dropping even further. “iraly isn’t New York, Isabelle Our home, people don’t ask questions for a reason. You start poking around well people
She shook head at the thought of what he had said as though pushing it off her head. She leaned forward
“Treally need information about him…” stated: “Something is just not right and I know that you have the information I need or at least an idea of how to get it”
“And what makes you think that would want to help you commit suicide?” he asked, crossing his hands over his chest.
She gave him a steady look “There’s no way it would be traced back to you. I’ll look found it on my own.
The man raised a skeptical eyebrow. “Are you sure about that?” He paused, tapping his fingers against the table thoughtfully.
“Look, Isabelle, I’m not trying to make enemies, and I’m definitely looking to get tingled up in something that could godt but I can tell you this much: Matteo
owns the streets here. And he’s got enough people in his pocket that even the law thinks twice about crossing him.”
tabelle sighed, sensing the was hitting a wall. “Fine If you’re not going to help me, can you at least pole mein the right direction? Someone else who might know more about
The man exhaled, looking over her shoulder debating his next move. Finally, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small dash drive, sliding across the table toward her. “Take this. There’s information here that could help you—but if anyone catches you with it, you found it on your own. Understood?”
Isabelle picked up the flash drive, studying it with a faint town. “You’re sure this has what I need?”
He nodded. “More than you bargained for, probably just be careful with it.” He paused, a hint of worry flickering in his gaze. “Promise me, isabelle. If you’re over questioned, I had nothing to do with this. You get this yourself.”
She nodded, slipping the flash drive into her bag “You have my word.”
The man gave her a curt nod, glancing at the door. “Good luck, Isabelle. You’ll need It Without another word, he rose and slipped out of the café, disappearing as quickly as he’d
She sat there for a moment, letting the weight of their conversation sink. The flash drive tek bender in her bag than it should have like it held secrets she won’t sure she wanted to uncover, ut she knew she had no choice. This was her lead, perhaps the only one she’d get.
Gathering her things, sabelle left the cafe, her mind wharing with questions and half–formed theories. The streets were busting, thening crowd out in full force the wed, her hand gripping the strap of her bag tightly. She kept her pare steady, but her mind was racing, already plaining how she’d camb through the files on the flash drive
just as she turned onto a quieter street, sarmour culided with her from the side, paling her. She staged, her bag slipping other shoulder. Before she could react, a hand snatched away, and her havet luchd
“Hey!” she shouted, but the figure was already darting away, her bag clutched tightly in their arms. She hesitated for only a second before bolting after them, her adrenaline
The chief tumed down a narrow alley, and Diabelle quickened her pace, her eyes fed on the fading schonette. The streetlights cut berje shadows along the walls, and her breath
came in quick bursts as she chased after her bag and the flash drive.
She had no idea who had stolen it or why, but one thing was clear she couldn’t let them get away.
