There's something secretive from the way Sophia acted.
Something's wrong. But even at that I have no proof.
Justin Bale, every good and bad cop in the city knows of him if they haven't worked for him directly or indirectly.
I can't just leave now. I walked back into the bar with a large grin on my face.
" Sorry for the inconvenience but I think I'll like another drink, and if you don't mind I'll like to ask another question, not about Alex a lot different."
Sophia stared at me skeptically before letting a weak smile.
We sat close to the window that gave a great view of the inner bar and the street.
We sat for about five minutes without anyone saying a word.
" If there's nothing thing's wrong I just want to really get back to work." Sophia said softly breaking the silence between us without making eye contact with me.
I don't know when I started smiling, I paused for a second and with an assured look I replied.__" 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? 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.
" So do you care for him I know u both just met." I spoke calmly.
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 not easily brushed off, 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."
I raised an eyebrow looking at her and all I did was nod.
It's funny how I've delved a bit out of the original case I was assigned to, but somehow I have a feeling this is connected to the other case.
I dropped the Bill on the table before walking out without looking back at her.
I waited patiently till she hit the clock and came out smiling. With the cold breeze making the night a bit peaceful even if it wasn't.
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 i met Alex, he was asking about a man called Vladimir mykhailo and an associate of his who's my actual boss Justin Bale." She said softly.
" I know of Justin Bale a retired crime lord who uses your bar as his threshold for laying low but the other mykhailo, never heard of him. Have you met him before?"
" Not personally but to the times I've seen him come in, he looks dangerous." 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. " Maybe 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 you think 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 known for his crimes 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 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.
" Do you know anything about their business specifically, especially recently?" I asked knowing fully well how deep this was getting.
Sophia shook her head.
"I don't know, I swear. My boss_Mr Justin Bale don't tell me specifics, only once mentioned that things are changing especially with a new business partner called ' ECLIPSE '."
I was shocked, surprised even. Not because of the eclipse she mentioned but because my ideas towards these being connected to the other case.
Tears started trickling down her cheeks as she nervously uses he wrist to clear it off.
" Don't worry, I'll see this through."
I said as I embraced her into a hug.
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. "Alright you need to go. Get yourself there, and then I'll start digging, see what we can find about Vladimir's plans, but one thing, who's Lesley?" I added.
" He is my colleague, and a close friend to Justin." She answered me with an eerie silence in her voice.
" Lesley?" I muttered.
Remembering the guy found dead in the alleyway has that same name.
" Where this Lesley?" I asked.
" I haven't seen him in a while, I tried calling him the other day but he wasn't returning my calls." She answered.
" Can you tell me more about this Lesley guy?"
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..."
" 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 just the way Justin mentioned it, 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 colleague to Sophia but I don't want to get involved in her personal life, not just hers, 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.
" One last thing detective, there's multiple mention about a lighthouse located by the docks, I never really paid attention to it."
I never turned back around, all I did was bid her goodnight.
As I walked away I could remember when we were rookies doing an investigation on secret agencies trying to destroy the government, Alex was part of it and now things are a lot different than before.