Charlie stayed calm and collected, “She’s not in any trouble…” He pointed to me, “I didn’t know those guys were cops and besides they tried to kill us. I really don’t have any regrets…”

“You’re going to have regrets when the police come and arrest you!” Amber shouted back.

“I need to eat… ya’ll want something to eat?” I asked Amber and Charlie. I sprung up off the stool and opened my bottom cabinets to a skillet pan. It wasn’t that hard fishing through pots and pans with one hand.

“Go sit down Ally, I’ll cook the breakfast. Before I do, can we talk in private?” Amber glanced at Charlie. He was still watching the news and occasionally checked his phone.

“Sure…” I followed Amber to the living room. She walked past the pool table and sat down on the couch. I walked over and sat slowly down next to her.

“You promised me that you would back out of this case if it was too much. Look, you got shot for crying aloud.” She turned and looked over the couch towards the kitchen to make sure Charlie couldn’t hear. “Besides, how do you know you can trust him? There has been a lot of coincidences lately. Don’t forget he’s Syndicate… For all you know he could be using you.” She whispered.

I was using him too but I understood where Amber was coming from. “Last night was a wrong place at the wrong time situation. All of stuff has nothing to do with me…”

“Does it? A news report called the office asking if you were looking into the Edwards’ death. He wanted to know if you wanted to make a statement. Ally, everyone knows now you’re investigating this man’s death. You can thank your childhood friend for that.”

I started feeling horrible. Amber wasn’t mad, she was scared and worried. I glanced over my shoulder to see where Charlie was and he was on the phone this time. Talking low while pacing around my kitchen. A few seconds later, he quickly walked into the living and grabbed his jacket off the couch. He turned and looked at us, “I have to go… I have to clean this shit up with my boss. As far as we all know, you weren’t with me last night ok. I’ll catch up with you later.” Charlie nodded at Amber and dashed towards the elevator. He stretched out his arm to stop the elevator doors from closing. “Oh, and don’t use that arm! You’ll tare the stitches.”

Amber and I both watched him leave but he kept his eyes on me until the doors closed. Before I went back to our conversation Amber huffed as she stood to her feet. She saw the look we gave one another, “I think someone is falling for the bad boy… I’ve never seen you so in tuned to someone. Don’t get me wrong, he’s fine as hell but I’m telling you something isn’t right about him. That’s all I’m saying…”

I jumped up after her as Amber walked into the kitchen. I was close behind trying not to get defensive from her comment. She was right, I was ‘falling’ for him but I had to stay to focused… I had to get this off my chest and now was the perfect time, “Look Amber, there’s something I need to tell you. I have to follow this case through; I have to go down the rabbit hole this time. My father somehow is involved in this and I don’t think he was investigating them. I don’t know what the truth is exactly but I know someone that can help follow the trail. You know who I’m talking about Jason… After meeting Charlie that one day, he mentioned something about a bunch of old notebook ledgers that went missing a few years back. Well, my dad had those ledgers and a lot of other documents and letters. I spent the whole night reading and looking through them to see what I could find. I damn near tore up the whole storage unit looking for more stuff linking him to Douglas or the Syndicate.”

“And what did you find out? You think your dad was Syndicate?”

“I don’t know… that’s what I’m going to find out. I’m tired of these half ass answers. It could be this or it could be that, I’m sick of it! It’s time to dig deeper… There’s some war going on among the members of the Syndicate right now. A war that Douglas caused... Finding out how he died is the key to finding where he stashed the money.”

Amber gave me a confused look as she opened the refrigerator and pulled out the eggs and deli ham, “How so? This shit is getting too deep for me. I just wanna know if we getting arrested or not?”

“We’re not getting arrested! But think about it… It’s a power thing. If they killed Douglas before they knew about the stolen money then they fucked up. If he killed himself then he successfully hid the stash somewhere they wouldn’t find it. Douglas knew if he ever got caught it would come down to this. To him, it was a win-win either way… Then I get dragged into this, literally.” I softly caressed my new scar while replaying what happened last night. “I have a piece that they don’t have…” I whispered to myself.

“Whatever you plan on doing just don’t get yourself killed…” She set a hot plate of eggs, fried ham and toast in front of me. “Obviously asking you to keep your promise of staying out of it is out the window.” She sipped her coffee and slowly put her mug back down on the table. “If you have any hope of success on this case, you’re going to have to get your childhood friend in check first. Don’t forget you have a follow up appointment with her today.” The news put a small twinkle in my eye. She was definitely one I was hoping to catch up with. We had a lot to talk about…

After wrapping up breakfast, I made my way towards Jason’s place. Amber gave me a ride to the office so I could pick up my bike. She insisted I take her car and I took her up on her offer. My shoulder was hurting me too bad to ride. Fortunately for me, where Jason worked wasn’t too far. I stopped in front of a large two-story house a few blocks away. The house was split into two separate apartments. The lower half was an insurance company that turned the whole floor into an open office area and the upper half was Jason’s apartment.

Jason Lee or J Link is what he goes by, is a well known computer hacker in the underground world. He ranks in the top ten for making history breaking into hardcore super expensive security systems. When I met him, he was on the verge of going to prison for a very long time. Luckily for him I managed to get him out of it and now he works for a software security firm. I walked inside and up the stairwell to the second apartment. I knocked three times then two more times after a quick pause in between. I could hear footsteps walking across the floor then the door was cracked open. Jason peeked outside and when he saw it was me, he flung the door opened and had a smile on his face. “Well! Look who it is! If it isn’t my friendly neighborhood private investigator paying little ol’ me a visit.”

“Wow… what an introduction. That was a bit dramatic even for you, don’t you think?” I laughed as I stepped inside.

Jason closed the door behind me and replied, “I mean you’re the local celebrity… Going toe to toe with the police, again.” He lowered his voice to sound like a movie trailer, “The one who goes against the police. An epic battle between the lies and finding the truth!” He laughed aloud to himself amused by comical thoughts.

I gave him a blank stare as he walked back to his desk which had three large desktops on it. Each angled to face the computer chair. I looked around shocked that he actually got what he wanted. “I still can’t believe you talked your employers into giving you this whole apartment.” It was messy and sort of smelled like trash. All four of the blinds were closed which made it really dark and hard to see all the crap that was on the floor. There was hardly any furniture anywhere just computer equipment and different size monitors. “All that money you have and you can’t afford a maid every once in a while.” I kicked a pop can out of my way as I sat in the chair that was randomly placed in the middle of the room.

Jason looked around with me while scratching his head embarrassed. “I know, I’m sorry usually it isn’t this bad. I’ll get it cleaned soon. I’m still on tether you know, so not just anyone can come in here without ‘them’ thinking I’m trying to escape or something. I told them if they wanted me to sit still then let me work in a place I didn’t require me to go anywhere. So I get everything delivered and it’s freakin’ awesome.”

I huffed at him shaking my head, “Lucky you… How are you’re parents?”

“They’re good actually. The US government finally let them go home back to Cambodia to see to my grandparents. They’ll be back next week.”

“Wow! After that stunt you pulled I thought they would never be allowed to leave the country again.”

Jason laughed at his achievement, “Look I did it for the people! That jerk off politician didn’t deserve any of that money so I played Robin Hood with it.”

“The fact you able to find that secret off shore account is the reason why I’m here. I need your help with something.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out a folder piece of paper. I had written all the account numbers instead of bringing the whole ledger. I walked over and stood in front of the computer monitors then handed him the paper.

Jason opened it slowly and stared down at the numbers. He reached behind him and turned on the living room light above him. He didn’t say anything for a few seconds until he looked up at me. “Where did you find these account numbers? I haven’t seen an account like this in a really long time.” He pointed at down to the account number, “Do you see the letters next to the numbers? That means it’s an offshore account for sure but with really high security. You brought me a juicy one! Who do you think it belongs to? Douglas Edwards? You think this is the account with the missing money?”

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I didn’t say anything as I stood up, “The less you know the better… Just find out who it belongs to ok. Call me when you find something.”

I was almost to the door when Jason said, “I’m serious Ally, word spreads fast underground. The Syndicate has eyes everywhere and they are watching you. There’s a lot of shit happening right now with the Red Treaty up in the air. Just saying…”

I stopped dead in my tracks and stared at the door knob. Here was my chance to find out what I needed to know about this Syndicate. My follow up meeting with Shanti wasn’t until this afternoon, I had time. I slowly turned around and faced Jason again. The look on my face this time was serious and fierce. “The Red Treaty? Tell me everything…” Two can play this fucking game.

Jason smirked and whipped a blank sheet of white printer paper out then slammed it on his desk. He grabbed a black permanent marker and drew five big circles and one large S in the middle. As he wrote the initials of the crime families he switched to his movie trailer voice again, “The one who also took on the notorious crime underground leaders, the Syndicate.”

“Start from the top Jason…” I said rolling my eyes.

“Some years ago, Freeside was a horrible place to live. You were probably really little then because I know I wasn’t born yet. Freeside had one of the highest homicides rates in all the country. Gang violence was non stop and the battles they had with the police didn’t make things any better. The gangs fought over everything like territory, customers and product. It got to the point where it felt like they didn’t care who got in their way. It got so bad, the police had new homicide cases everyday! It was hard to keep up with all the dead bodies… Well one day, I don’t know which side but someone came up with this treaty… It was designed to be a giant white flag as a truce to end the violence.” He turned the paper around so I could read it, “The top crime families came together and split up their territories. They came up with a way that each gang family would get a piece of the pie. Each would also specialize and provide something different, meaning no two members could supply the same product.”

I looked down at his drawing and noticed the last circle on the bottom was empty, “That sounds too good to be true… How did they get away with all of that?”

Jason smiled and drew in the last initial on to his drawing, a large capital P. “The biggest rumor is the police had to be on board in order for all of it to work. They also expected a large piece of their own as well. Somehow, something got worked out and the underground districts were made. The gang families were allowed to operate only in the…”

“Red District… you’re saying something like Amsterdam’s Red Light District.” I finished his sentence.

“Now you’re catching on… all their money had to be laundered only through certain businesses in that district.” Jason turned the paper around again and drew a capital D under the S then circled it.

“Douglas’ businesses…” It hit me like a light bulb.

“Yep. He was their accountant. You know that much but the extinct of how much he was managing is mind blowing. He was responsible for making sure all the members of the Syndicate got their money laundered according to what the treaty said. The police expected their cut in the form of ‘taxes’, ten percent of all their profits to be exact. They were supposed to give their money back to the people because they had suffered so much. Did all the money go back to the people is the question? Well the crime rate dropped and the City of Freeside wasn’t that shitty anymore so I guess it worked…”

“But now it’s not… Who are the members you drew on the circle?” I only knew a few but Jason knew them all. I know he would never give up his cliental, I knew he also worked for members of the Syndicate on the low.

Jason took his black marker and started from the top of the page. “You have Consuelo’s family and his brother who was the former gang leader of the Folk Kings. The BK 5 or the Black Kings 5. Their name came from the first five families that make up the Black Kings gang. Their gang is the largest and they hold the most territory and store fronts. Next you have the Irish Maria they ran all the guns, of course. Their territory is mostly covering the docks and shipments that come through the Freeside ports. The fourth is the Ping family… They run most of China Town near downtown. Their family is known for the opioids, again the stereotypes… For the record, all the families play into their stereotypes but it works. Everyone brings something different to the table and everyone benefits from it instead of playing king on the hill.”

“Until they all found out their accountant was embezzling from them… The families think Consuelo ordered Douglas to steal from them? The families want a better leader… And getting the money is the way to do it.”

“They’ve been trying to dethrone Consuelo, he’s a piece of shit! The stolen money thing became a window of opportunity for a shift in power. All of the families know and understand that having just one family with all that money would be enough to run it all. Without the need of the treaty. I believe the leader of the BK 5 would be the ideal candidate next in line for the spot and he would try to keep the peace in tact. Joseph James has been the head honcho of the BK 5 for almost thirty years now… He was smart enough to buy up a lot of local stores and businesses which ended up belonging to the Syndicate as well. They used the businesses to push the money and product through. The main reason Joseph James needs the treaty in tact is because the police kept the FBI at bay. As long as they paid the ten percent cut to them. It all works in a circle… This is how it is for the other families too. None of them are as big and power as the BK 5 though.”

I let the information settle in for a moment. There was a lot to process but everything was beginning to make sense. Douglas knew he would create this ‘window of opportunity’. I was wrong what I said about him earlier to Amber, it wasn’t Douglas versus the Syndicate. This was planned but who helped him? My father? I needed to know who those accounts belonged to. That would bring me one step closer to knowing the truth and piecing the shit storm together. I looked down at my watch and saw it was a quarter till four. My appointment with Shanti was in fifteen minutes…

I stood up and grabbed the drawing from Jason’s desk. I tore into small pieces then threw into a trash bag that was on the floor. Jason looked down over his desk to see what I was doing. “I have a shredder you know…”

“Well just in case you forgot… I have to go, I have a meeting with a client in a few minutes. Thanks for help Jason and let me know when you have the info on those accounts.”

“Anytime… I meant what I said Ally watch your back. Shit is fucked up everywhere right now and you don’t want to be in the middle of it.”

“I already am… You do the same Jason.”

He watched me leave out the door. By the time I got to the bottom of the stairs I heard Jason turning the bolt lock. I dashed outside to the street and reached into the jacket pocket with wrong hand. I was supposed to have them on the right side. Immediately a sharp pain jolted through my left arm. When I finally managed to get in the car, I had to wait for a minute for my shoulder to stop throbbing so bad. I had to keep my left arm very still in order drive back to my office. I kept forgetting to take the pills Charlie gave me twice a day. They sat right in front on the counter in my kitchen and I still manage to forget to take them.

By the time I got to my office the pain halfway went away. I noticed Shanti was already here… I took my time going up the stairs. Amber was on phone taking an intake call. She nudged her head to the side and I nodded back acknowledging I knew what she was saying. When I reached my office, I stopped in the doorway staring at the back of Shanti’s head. I was trying to gather my thoughts of what I was about to say. I needed her as much as she needed me…

She turned around when she heard me walk through the door. I was silent as I slowly took my jacket off and placed it around my chair. “Alice… listen I know there’s a lot going on. I was meaning to you…”

I sat back and just looked at her. She looked like a little girl in trouble or something. “You mean how you’ve all over the news exposing my private investigation! Shanti I have ever right to drop this case right now! You put me and my secretary in danger! And Charlie was not your father's assistant! What the hell Shanti?"

“I know I fucked up ok… I’m sorry I got carried away. I thought that was the only way you would speak to him if you thought Charlie worked for my dad. I need him to help you figure this shit out ok... I’m just so angry all of this is happening, Ally. I’m scared they were going to come after me too so I went to the media to draw attention. I wasn’t thinking about how it would affect your business.” Shanti together and waved them in her face, “Let me make it up to you? I’m having a wake for my father next week. It’s going to be more like a party than a funeral so don’t dress up like you’re attending one. I know he would want people to have fun instead being sad. Please come… There’s going to be a lot of people there. Local celebrities and B-list actors and singers. Bring Amber too! Please Ally, I’m sorry I screwed up.”

She was lucky I was already too far into this to quit now. I needed her to know that what she was doing was dumb and could cost us everything. “Just promise to sit still for now. I’ll tell Amber about the party, I’m sure she’ll would like to go.” That would give me the chance to put some faces to the names I just learned earlier.

“I will, I promise. Any word to what could have happened to my father yet?” Shanti asked what this twisted and concerned look on her face. She was frigidity and restless. She also kept looking down at her watch.

“Not yet… There’s still a lot pieces I need to comb through before I can say anything. It’s hard to tell right now what could have happened. Do you really want to know what happened?”

“Of course I do!” Shanti walked over around my desk and wrapped her arms around my neck. Her grip was tight and it made my head tilt to the side. “I didn’t mean to make a mess of things. I promise I’ll stay out of your way. I’m so glad I’m talking to you again. My father should have never told me to stay away from you when your father died. Sometimes my father acted like your dad wasn’t his best friend. I think it hurt him too much to think about. We can both move on now, together.”

Shanti slowly lifted her grip from around me and she looked me in the eyes. She leaned down and kissed me on the cheek. What was up with that? Did she kiss everyone she worked with? I followed her as she walked back around my desk towards the front door. I know she’s still not telling me everything but either was I. She didn’t need to know the parts about my father. That was for me to know only…

Honestly I really wanted to go off on her but Shanti knowing I was upset was enough. She needed to stay out of my way and out of the news. She was jeopardizing the integrity of my case and business. I understood her frustration but if she wanted the truth that was not the way to do it. The Syndicate is playing a deadly game by bringing us ‘outsiders’ into this. Since she blabbed her mouth on national TV, the less she knowns the better as well. This party she invited Amber and I should be interesting. I look forward to meeting the members of Freeside’s underground leaders known as the Syndicate…