8. Chapter 8
Chapter 8
ARGENT
* PRESENT *
A s I pull up to the warehouse gates, the disgust on Adrian’s face is impossible to miss. Despite my desire to handle this alone, he insisted on joining me. Nodding at the guards, I watch them swing open the heavy gates, allowing me to drive through. The sight before us is far from glamorous, prompting Adrian to sarcastically comment, “What a palace you have here.”
Suppressing my irritation, I give him a scrutinizing glance, meeting his eye, “Yeah well, I can’t exactly make it stand out. Might as well put a sign up that says ‘Drugs and weapons sold here’.”
“Yeah, yeah, okay, smartass.” He retorts with a roll of his eyes, causing a chuckle to escape me. Bringing the car to a stop, we both step out and approach the imposing doors of the warehouse. Just before entering, I place my hand firmly on Adrian’s chest, halting him in his tracks.
“Don’t go around pissing anyone off and getting yourself killed, alright?” I warn. He responds with a teasing joke, his chuckle filling the air.
“Oh, are you afraid my sister will castrate you and wear your testicles as earrings?” Meeting his jest with a serious expression, I reply, “Exactly.” With that, I give him one last stern look before knocking on the cold metal doors.
As I walked into the warehouse, a few employees paused from their work to offer friendly greetings. Nodding at them, I walk past, feeling Adrian’s presence close behind me as we make our way to the office Joe and I share. You'll find a cluster of offices at the back of the warehouse, tucked away in the corner .
Two are situated on the left side, while another one is located further down on the right. The two on the left are where we handle all the paperwork for the stock and orders of the outgoing drugs and weapons. It’s a busy and organized area, with shelves lined with labeled containers and the sound of printers constantly humming. With the fluorescent light barely providing any illumination, we walked down to the last door and knocked on it with a stern expression.
“This isn’t creepy at all,” Adrian whines from behind, his voice echoing off the dimly lit walls. I shoot him a side-eye, irritated by his lack of composure. Just then, the door abruptly swings open, creaking on its rusty hinges.
“Hey, kid. It’s been a while,” Joe exclaims, his voice deep and gravelly. He steps aside, revealing the dimly lit office space beyond. A faint smell of must and old cigars wafts through the air.
“Afternoon, Joe. How’s things been here? No fuck ups... yet?” I reply, attempting to keep my tone light. Joe chuckles, his laughter filling the room. “Who’s this?” he asks, raising an eyebrow and pointing towards Adrian. Adrian’s face turns pale, his eyes wide with fear. Suppressing a laugh, I dismiss Joe’s curiosity.
“A good friend of mine,” I say, my voice steady. In this world, names hold power, and it’s safer to stay anonymous.
Taking a seat in one of the worn chairs in front of Joe’s rusty old desk, I speak sternly. “Listen, Joe, I came to find out if any of the guys might have known who the snake was who stole from us.” I pause, allowing the weight of my words to sink in. Joe leans back in his chair, resting his elbows on the desk, and replies, “I told you, no one knew the guy. He was nameless, like all the men we employ.” His words hang in the air, filled with resignation.
“He’s involved,” I state firmly, crossing my arms over my chest and leaning back in my chair. The room grows still, the only sound being the faint hum of an old ceiling fan. Joe sighs, his weariness evident.
“Oh, well, I’ll see what I can find out among the guys, but I can’t promise that anything will come of it,” he finally says. With that, he rises from his chair and heads towards the door. “I have a meeting with a potential client, kid, and it was a pleasure meeting you,” he says, extending a hand to Adrian for a firm shake. Adrian’s hand trembles slightly as he returns the gesture. Joe exits the office, leaving us alone in the dimly lit room.
With a heavy sigh, I rise from my worn-out leather seat, feeling the weight of exhaustion in my bones. But before I can make it to the door, a short, thin man abruptly comes to a halt in front of the doorway, his footsteps scuffing against the worn-out carpet. I eye him with a raised brow, the creases on my forehead deepening as I try to decipher his intentions.
“Can I help you?” I ask, my voice tinged with a mix of annoyance and curiosity. I can see the poor guy stare up at me, his eyes widening with nervousness. He stammers, his words escaping his mouth in a rush as if he’s afraid of being interrupted.
“Uh, well, maybe I can help you ,” he informs, his voice trembling. I shift my gaze to Adrian, silently communicating our shared confusion. With a subtle nod, I gesture for the man to continue.
“I couldn’t help but overhear,” he stammers, his voice barely above a whisper. “The guy you’re talking about, well, I overheard a phone call he had when he was still here. I might have heard him referring to what his name was to whoever he spoke to on the phone.”
My heart quickens its pace, anticipation coursing through my veins as the possibility of a breakthrough looms before me. Adrian’s frustration seeps into his tone as he interjects, “Well, what is it?”
I shoot him a stern look, urging him to remain calm before redirecting my attention back to the small man in front of us. His eyes dart nervously between us, his palms damp with sweat. I wait, my breath caught in my throat, for him to spit out the crucial information.
“Um, I’m pretty sure he said ‘Tell him Dane is waiting for his call’,” he finally manages to say, his voice barely audible.
D. S
A hushed silence envelops the room, my mind racing with thoughts, connecting the dots. “Thank you for your help,” I say, offering him a sincere smile, appreciating the weight of his contribution. He nods in response and quickly exits the room, leaving behind a lingering sense of unease.
“D. S—Dane... Ssssomething,” Adrian’s voice breaks the silence, his words laced with a hint of amusement. I’m dumbfounded by how effortlessly he can lighten the intensity of the moment.
“Yeah, sssssomething like that,” I mock, a sly smirk playing on my lips, relieved to feel a flicker of hope ignite within me. His hearty chuckle fills the room, momentarily easing the tension that had settled upon us.
The only thing we need is the last name of this guy, and we’d be able to track him down quicker than he can take his next piss. Lucky for me, I know a really good hacker.