Chapter 10

Sylvia stepped out of her car, barely managing to avoid a van speeding by. The tires screeched against the pavement as the van narrowly missed her, forcing her to jump back, heart racing. She stood frozen for a moment, watching the vehicle disappear down the street before shaking off the close call. After locking her car, her eyes drifted to a sleek, black motorcycle parked outside the diner. Something about it tugged at her memory, but the adrenaline still buzzing through her made it hard to focus. Pushing the thought aside, she stepped into Lalo’s, where the familiar scent of coffee and sizzling food greeted her. Her eyes immediately locked onto Andreas, sitting at a booth by the window. He wore a sharp grey three-piece suit, his jacket hung on the peg beside the booth, and his sleeves were rolled up in the crisp, methodical style of the U.S. Marines. As she approached, he stood, looking slightly nervous, and offered to take her coat—a gesture that caught her off guard, given the circumstances.

Sylvia hesitated for a moment, surprised by Andreas’ formality, but shrugged off her coat and handed it to him. “Thanks,” she said softly, trying to push through the awkwardness. As he hung her coat on the peg next to his jacket, she slid into the booth, her eyes flicking toward the bouquet of red roses sitting on the table. “I didn’t mean to give the wrong impression,” she added, a hint of embarrassment creeping into her voice. “I actually need a lawyer... not a date.” She gave him a sheepish smile, hoping to smooth over the misunderstanding.

Andreas let out a small, relieved chuckle as he sat back down across from her. “Well, that clears things up,” he said, pushing the bouquet aside with a slight smile. Despite the misunderstanding, his interest in her was still clear, but he shifted back to business mode. “Alright, so… what exactly do you need a lawyer for?” His tone was casual, though a touch of curiosity lingered in his voice, as if he wasn’t entirely disappointed by how things were unfolding.

Before Sylvia could answer, the door to the diner swung open, and in walked Grayson. He tipped his hat to the waitress as he scanned the room, quickly spotting them. With an easy stride, he made his way to their booth, grabbed a nearby chair, and flipped it around, sitting down backward with his arms resting casually on the backrest. His presence brought an immediate shift in the atmosphere—relaxed but with an undercurrent of seriousness. “De la Vega, right?” Grayson said, nodding toward Andreas. “I’m sorry about what happened to your brother. I know it was an accident, but it shouldn’t have gone down like that.” His voice softened slightly. “I had that officer reassigned.” Grayson’s usual grin was replaced with a look of genuine regret as he held Andreas’ gaze.

Andreas blinked, clearly taken aback by Grayson’s words. For a moment, he didn’t know how to respond. “I appreciate that,” he finally said, his voice softer than before. It was rare for someone in Grayson’s position to show this kind of concern, especially for Hispanic kids like his brother. FBI agents didn’t usually have that kind of reputation, and the fact that Grayson had taken action left Andreas genuinely grateful. “Most wouldn’t care. So... thanks,” Andreas added, his tone filled with a mix of gratitude and surprise.

Grayson gave a nod, but didn’t linger on the subject. He leaned forward slightly, his tone shifting back to business. “Look, I’m not here as FBI. We’ve got a situation, and people won’t talk to me or Sylvia. The FBI has a certain... reputation, and reporters don’t fare much better. But you? You grew up here. People know your family, they remember you. They might not trust the system, but they’ll talk to you.” He looked directly at Andreas, making it clear that this wasn’t just a favor—they needed him.

Sylvia pulled a thick manila folder from her bag and placed it on the table between them, the weight of it making a small thud against the surface. Grayson’s eyes flicked to Andreas as he reached for the folder, noticing the way his sleeves were rolled up, exposing the Marine tattoo on his forearm. “You serve?” Grayson asked, his tone shifting to one of quiet respect. Andreas looked up, his hand pausing on the folder for a moment. “Yeah,” he replied, meeting Grayson’s gaze. “Marine Corps.”

Grayson gave a small nod, then rolled up his own sleeve, revealing a bold Green Beret tattoo on his forearm. “Special Forces,” he said, his tone carrying the weight of shared experience. There was a moment of mutual recognition between them, a silent acknowledgment of the lives they’d lived before this. “Different branches, but same kind of fight,” Grayson added quietly, the hint of a smile touching his lips before he leaned back in his chair.

Sylvia shifted slightly in her seat, feeling a bit out of place as the two men shared their military connection. After a moment, she cleared her throat, bringing their attention back to the task at hand. “We should get back to this,” she said, her voice steady but softer than before. She gestured to the folder in front of Andreas. “That has everything we’ve got—disappearances, connections to the Quechua turf... but nothing solid.” Her eyes locked onto Andreas. “We need someone who can find out more, someone people will actually talk to.”

Andreas opened the folder and began flipping through the papers. His brow furrowed as he skimmed the details, the weight of the situation settling in. “So, I’m supposed to go digging around in Quechua territory and hope someone talks to me?” he asked, his tone skeptical but with a hint of understanding. He knew the area, and he knew the people—but that didn’t mean it would be easy. “What makes you think they’ll open up to me after all this time?” He glanced up at Sylvia and Grayson, waiting for an answer.

Grayson leaned forward, his arms resting on the back of the chair. “They won’t talk to me because I’m ICE, and Sylvia’s a reporter. They see us coming from a mile away. But you? You grew up here. People know your family, they might talk to you when they won’t talk to us.” Sylvia nodded, backing Grayson up. “You’re not seen as an outsider. That’s what makes you different from us. They won’t risk it with anyone else.”

Andreas sighed, flipping the folder closed. “So I’m digging around in Quechua territory with nothing solid linking them to these disappearances. It’s just their turf, and that’s enough to start shaking things up?” He leaned back in the booth, tension in his jaw. “You know how dangerous this could get if the wrong people find out I’m sniffing around without any hard proof.” His eyes shifted between Grayson and Sylvia, knowing they were asking him to take a big risk based on a hunch.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Grayson smirked, leaning back in his chair. “Come on, Force Recon boy, I’m pretty sure you can handle yourself,” he said, a teasing edge in his voice. The grin was brief, but it carried a note of confidence. “You’ve been through worse than this, and you know it. We’re not sending you in without a plan—we just need someone who can move around without drawing attention.”

Andreas raised an eyebrow, half-amused by Grayson’s confidence. “Yeah, well, handling myself is one thing. Handling the Quechua while poking around their turf is another,” he said, his voice steady but not without caution. He wasn’t rattled, but he wasn’t about to underestimate the gang either. “I’ll need to tread lightly. You know they don’t take kindly to outsiders sniffing around, even if I’m not 5-0.”

Sylvia leaned forward, her voice calm but carrying an urgency that hadn’t been there before. “We’re not asking you to take unnecessary risks, Andreas. We just need someone who can navigate the area without setting off alarm bells. People will talk to you—at least more than they will to us. And every piece of information you get could save lives. We need you for this.” Her eyes searched his, silently conveying the weight of the responsibility they were placing on him.

Andreas sat back, the weight of the situation clear, but a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “Alright,” he said, after a moment of consideration. “I’ll do it. But on one condition.” He glanced at Sylvia, his tone shifting to something lighter. “You have to meet me for a real date. If only so I don’t have to lie to my mom about it.” His smile grew as he said it, softening the tension in the air just a little.

Sylvia blinked, clearly not expecting the shift in conversation. “A real date?” she repeated, her surprise evident, but there was no sign of opposition in her voice. After a brief pause, she gave a small smile of her own. “Well, I wasn’t expecting that.” She hesitated for a second, then leaned forward, tilting her head slightly. “Do you have plans for Halloween?” she asked, her tone now light and curious, as if warming to the idea.

Andreas chuckled softly, clearly pleased with her response. “Nothing set in stone,” he replied, his tone casual but with a spark of interest. “But I’d be more than happy to clear my schedule.” He leaned forward slightly, his eyes meeting hers. “So, Halloween it is then? Dinner, maybe somewhere quiet… unless you’ve got something else in mind?”

Grayson let out a hearty laugh, shaking his head as he leaned back in his chair. “Alright, Casanova,” he said, still chuckling. “Save the sweet talk for later. We’ve got more pressing matters right now.” His grin softened as he glanced between Andreas and Sylvia, the teasing fading as he brought the conversation back to the seriousness of the situation. “So, you’re in, but let’s make sure we’re all clear on what needs to be done.”

Andreas leaned back, his smile fading as the weight of the situation returned. “Yeah, I’m in,” he confirmed, his tone more serious now. “But we need to be careful. I can’t just start asking questions out of nowhere. It’ll raise flags.” He tapped the folder in front of him, his mind already turning to how he’d approach the people in Quechua territory. “We need to keep this low-key, subtle. I’ll move slow and see what I can pick up without drawing too much attention.”

As Andreas flipped through the stack of papers in front of him, his hand suddenly stopped on a file that made his stomach drop. His eyes narrowed as he looked closer—a photo of a young boy stared back at him, someone he recognized. “I know this kid,” he muttered, his voice tight. “His family… my mom used to help them. I thought they moved away.” He looked up at Sylvia and Grayson, the shock evident on his face. “What the hell happened to him?”

Sylvia’s expression softened as she met Andreas’ eyes. “They didn’t move,” she said quietly, her voice steady but carrying the weight of the truth. “His family vanished. No one knows where they went, and no one’s asking questions.” She hesitated before adding, “We think the Quechua might be involved, but there’s no direct evidence. That’s part of why we need someone like you—someone who people might actually talk to.”

Andreas stared at the file for a long moment, his jaw tightening. The personal connection hit him harder than he expected. “I thought they were safe,” he muttered under his breath, shaking his head as if trying to piece it all together. “I should’ve checked in with them.” He exhaled slowly, the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders. “If this is what’s happening to people I know… then we can’t wait. I’ll find out what I can.”

Grayson nodded, his expression more serious now as he saw the shift in Andreas’ demeanor. “That’s all we need,” he said, his tone firm. “You start asking around, subtle at first, and see what you can pick up. We’ll stay in the background, but if things start to go south, we’ve got your back.” He paused, his eyes meeting Andreas’. “Just be careful. The Quechua don’t play around, especially when it comes to their turf.”

Grayson shifted his attention to Sylvia, gesturing toward the stack of papers. “Mind if I take these with me? I’d like to compare them with the intel I’ve got on my end. There might be something we’ve missed.” His tone was casual, but the request was serious. He knew every piece of information could make a difference. “We’re working against the clock here, and I’d rather have all the cards on the table.”

Sylvia gave a quick nod, sliding the stack of files toward Grayson. “Go ahead. The more eyes on this, the better,” she said, her tone reflecting the urgency they all felt. “I’ve already made copies, so take what you need.” She leaned back slightly, her fingers tapping the table as if her mind was still racing through the details. “If you find anything I’ve missed, let me know.”

Grayson took the files, nodding in appreciation as he tucked them under his arm. “I’ll dig into these as soon as I’m back at the office,” he said, standing up from his chair. He glanced down at Andreas and Sylvia. “Let’s keep this quiet for now. The last thing we need is to spook anyone before we get more information.” His tone was firm, the weight of the situation clear in his eyes. “We’ll regroup once I’ve gone through these.”

Andreas nodded, the gravity of the situation still hanging heavy between them. “Yeah, we don’t want to tip anyone off,” he agreed, standing up as well. “I’ll start reaching out quietly, see what I can pick up without raising suspicions.” He paused for a moment, glancing back at the file of the boy. “I’ll be careful.” His words were calm, but there was a clear determination behind them—this had become personal.

Sylvia stood up alongside them, glancing between Grayson and Andreas. “I’ll keep digging on my end too,” she said, gathering her things. “There are still some leads I haven’t had time to follow up on. If anything looks promising, I’ll let you both know.” She offered a small, tight smile, her mind already racing ahead to what needed to be done. “We’ll get to the bottom of this.”

As they all prepared to leave, Sylvia hesitated for a moment, her eyes flicking to the bouquet of roses still sitting on the table. With a teasing smile, she reached over and picked them up. “Don’t forget, we still have our real date,” she said, glancing at Andreas. “Halloween, right?” She twirled one of the roses between her fingers before adding, “Just so you don’t have to lie to your mom.” Her smile widened slightly as she gave him a playful look, the tension of the meeting easing for just a moment.