There's something secretive from the way Sophia acted.
" Is something wrong?" I asked her.
" Nothing's wrong I just want to really get back to work." Sophia said softly without making eye contact with me.
" Am still waiting for the drink." I said smiling, I paused for a second and with an assuring smile I added.__" it's no big deal Sophia, am a close friend of Alexander hearing about his situation I just thought about looking into it a little. Please don't feel uncomfortable."
Sophia's gaze flickered to mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flash of relief. She looked around the bar, ensuring no one was listening, before leaning in closer.
"Look, it's just...Alex must has been involved in some things, okay? Things that could get him in trouble. I don't know what you're looking into, but be careful, okay? He's not just a victim; there's more to him than meets the eye."
Sophia's voice was barely above a whisper, and her eyes darted around the bar nervously. I sensed she was genuinely concerned for Alexander's well-being, but also afraid of saying too much.
Sophia gave me a glass of whiskey.
I raised an eyebrow, surprised by the gesture. "Thanks for the drink, Sophia. You're trying to loosen me up, aren't you?"
Sophia smiled faintly, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Maybe a little. Look, I know I'm not telling you much, but I'm doing the best I can to help. If you're going to dig into this, you need to understand that In the city we are, there are people who will stop at nothing to keep certain things hidden."
I took a sip of the whiskey, feeling the smooth burn slide down my throat. "I'm listening, Sophia. And I'm not easily intimidated."
Sophia's gaze lingered on mine, as if sizing me up. Then, she seemed to make a decision. "Meet me outside," she said, her voice low. "I'll tell you more."
She brushed off the counter with the towel gave out a smile and walked toward the door. I tossed a few bills on the counter, and we walked out of the bar together, the cool evening air enveloping us.
Once we were a block away from the bar, Sophia stopped and turned to me. "Look, I don't know how much more I can say, but...
_" But..?" I asked curious about her brief pause.
" The night we met Alex was asking about a man called Vladimir mykhailo and an associate of his who's a friend to my boss Justin Bale." She said softly.
" Who are these men?"
" Dangerous people, who will go at any length to keep their secret safe." She replied me.
" Indeed maybe they are dangerous as you say, what does this have to do with Alexander getting bashed in the head?" I said with a question still trying to get her angle.
Sophia's eyes dropped to the ground, and she took a deep breath before speaking. "I think Alex was investigating Vladimir and Justin's dealings. He was asking me questions about their business, and I...I didn't think much of it at the time, but now I'm not so sure."
She looked up at me, her gaze intense. "Alex is a good guy, but he's in way over his head. If Vladimir and Justin are involved, it's not just about money or power – it's about something bigger."
I studied her expression, sensing she was holding back. "What aren't you telling me, Sophia?"
Sophia's voice dropped to a whisper. "I think Alex found something he wasn't supposed to. Something that could bring down Vladimir and Justin's entire operation. And now, he's paying the price."
I could tell how scared she was, telling me an information like this. By the way her eyes darted around the corner and the way she breaths when speaking, I knew she was trying to make something out the situation but even so, scared to be heard, especially by someone she hasn't given enough trust.
" I'll like you to trust me Sophia, I know you are scared speaking to me. All you may think is that I might be working for the people who took out Alex, but am here to help."
Her eyes glowed in the bright moonlight as she blinked multiple times indicating a relieved idea towards me.
" Now, I want you to tell me all about Vlad and Justin." I said with my voice more grooved and steadier.
Sophia's gaze lingered on mine, searching for something. Then, she seemed to find it, and her shoulders relaxed slightly.
"Okay," she whispered. "I'll trust you. But you have to understand, what I'm about to tell you...it's not just dangerous, it's deadly."
She took a deep breath, her words tumbling out in a rush. "Vladimir Mykhailo is a Ukrainian businessman with ties to organized crime. He's got a reputation for being ruthless, taking what he wants, no matter the cost. Justin Bale is his partner, a British expat with connections to the New York underworld."
Sophia's eyes locked onto mine, her voice dripping with fear. "They're into everything: arms dealing, human trafficking, money laundering...You name it, they're in it. And Alex...Alex was digging into their operation, trying to expose them."
Her words hung in the air, the city sounds fading into the background. I could see the fear etched on her face, the weight of her secrets finally lifting.
"What did Alex find?" I asked, my voice low.
Sophia swallowed, her eyes darting around us once more. "I don't know for sure, but I think it has something to do with a shipment. A big one, coming into the city soon. If Alex was investigating, and they found out..."
Her voice trailed off, but I knew what she was thinking.
The implications hung in the air, thick and heavy. I could see the fear etched on Sophia's face, the weight of her secrets finally lifting.
"What kind of shipment?" I asked, my voice low, trying to keep her focused.
Sophia shook her head, her eyes welling up with tears. "I don't know, I swear. My boss didn't tell me specifics, just that it was big, and it was coming soon. He was really agitated, kept saying he needed to get out, that he couldn't trust anyone."
Her voice cracked, and I could see the tears spill down her cheeks. I pulled her into a gentle hug, letting her cry it out.
"It's okay, Sophia," I whispered. "I'll help you. We'll figure this out, together."
As she composed herself, I pulled back, looking her in the eye. "We need to get you safe. You can't stay here, not now that they've seen us together."
Sophia nodded, snifling, and I could see the determination in her eyes. "I have a place, a safe house. Lesley set it up for me, just in case."
I nodded, my mind racing. "Let's go. We'll get you there, and then we'll start digging, see what we can find out about this shipment and Vladimir's plans."
" But one thing, who's Lesley?" I added.
" His my boss, and a close friend to Justin." She answered me with an eerie silence in her voice.
The mention of Lesley sent a shiver down Sophia's spine, and her eyes widened in alarm. "What does Lesley have to do with this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
I studied her reaction, sensing there was more to Lesley than met the eye. "I don't know, but I intend to find out," I said, my voice firm. "Tell me more about Lesley and his connection to Justin."
Sophia hesitated, her eyes looking around nervously. "Lesley...Lesley is a complex guy. He's been working with Justin for years, and I think he's in deep. And I don't know...I don't know what to believe."
The way she said it, I knew there was something she wasn't telling me. "Sophia, what aren't you saying?" I asked, my voice gentle but firm.
Sophia took a deep breath, her eyes locked on mine. "Lesley...he's been acting strange lately. Distant, paranoid. And I think he's hiding something. But if he's involved with Justin and Vladimir..."
Her voice trailed off, but I knew what she was thinking. If Lesley was involved with these people, Alex might not be the only one in danger.
I don't know why the more I think about the situation Alex was trying to tackle the more I see similar ties to the eclipse and the multiple dead bodies spread across the city.
" Has by any means Lesley mentioned the word eclipse?" I asked Sophia without thinking.
Sophia's eyes widened slightly, and she leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Actually, Lesley did mention the eclipse, now that you bring it up. He was talking to Justin on the phone a few days ago, and I overheard him say something like, 'The eclipse is coming, and i'll be left in the dark.' Lesley looked really shaken after that conversation, and he told me to be careful, that things were getting too big."
Sophia's gaze drifted off, and she seemed lost in thought for a moment. "I didn't think much of it at the time, but now...I think Lesley was trying to tell me something or maybe even threaten me to stay away from his discussions."
I studied Sophia's expression, trying to read between the lines. "Do you think Lesley is involved with the Eclipse Project, or is he just caught in the middle?" I asked, my voice low.
Sophia's eyes snapped back to mine, and she shook her head. "I don't know, but I think we need to be careful around him. If he's working with Vladimir and Justin, we're in trouble. But if he's trying to get out...maybe we can use that to our advantage."
Something tells me Lesley is more than just a boss to Sophia but I don't want to get involved in her personal life, not just her anyone's personal life isn't my jurisdiction
" Go home Sophia I'll be in touch." I said walking away,
" Wait"____she said, as I stopped abruptly.
" Do you think you can stop all this?" She asked.
Those words brought in a flash of all I've been through being a cop and now a detective, I let out a sigh turned facing her and then answered.
" I don't know Sophia, but once again thank you for the information, I'll keep in mind you were one of the good guys." I said and then walked off.
Thinking into the abyss.