The Atta-Rose || Season 1

CHAPTER 16 : Sapa gik tok...

A few days after, Liza called another group meeting to share some new intel. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as everyone gathered in the main room of the safehouse.

Liza set up her laptop and projected a series of documents and photos onto the screen. "Alright, team, I've dug up something new about The Marina and its connections."

Nin, Che, Sye, Irr, and Naz leaned in, their interest grew. Liza clicked through a few slides, bringing up images of Vincent Moretti and another man who looked distinguished but slightly shifty. The new figure was John Kiester, a name that was unfamiliar to most of the group.

"Here's the latest," Liza began. "Vincent Moretti has been meeting with John Kiester, a wealthy and high-profile businessman who's been operating under the radar. Kiester has been demanding money from local businesses, essentially shaking them down for protection money."

"Sounds like a typical mob tactic," Sye commented, her eyes gleaming with interest. "But what's the connection to Moretti?"

"That's what we need to figure out," Liza said. "From what I've gathered, Kiester's operations are protected by Moretti, but it's more than that. Kiester's demands are causing a lot of friction in the local business community, and Moretti is likely benefiting from this arrangement."

Che frowned thoughtfully. "So, if Moretti is involved in these shakedowns, it could mean he's getting a cut of the extortion money. And if Kiester is connected to Moretti, he's probably a part of this whole network."

"Exactly," Liza confirmed. "I've also discovered that Moretti and Kiester have a scheduled meeting coming up. They'll be discussing new terms, which could mean an increase in demands or a shift in their operations."

Naz, always the voice of reason, interjected. "We need to be careful. If Moretti and Kiester are working together, this could be a bigger operation than we thought. It might be worth looking into how this meeting could affect their plans."

Irr, who had been quietly listening, added, "We could use this meeting to gather more information. If we can intercept or monitor it, we might learn more about their operations and any potential weaknesses."

Nin nodded, her mind already working through the possibilities. "I agree. We need to find a way to get eyes on this meeting. If we can gather intel, it could give us leverage or reveal opportunities to disrupt their operations."

Sye's eyes sparkled with mischief. "I could use a little excitement. Maybe we can arrange a little 'surveillance' of our own. What do you say?"

"OP, here's the catch," Liza said, her tone shifting to a more strategic edge. "Kiester is a lone operator. He doesn't have henchmen or a security team working for him. He runs his operations by himself, which makes him a bit of an outlier in this network."

Sye's eyes lit up with interest. "So, what does that mean for us?"

"It means," Liza continued, "that it might be easier to approach him directly. If we can make contact with him before the meeting or even during it, we might be able to negotiate or gather information directly from him. He's less likely to be surrounded by people who could recognize or identify us."

Che nodded. "If we're careful, we could use this to our advantage. Get close to Kiester, find out what he's planning, and maybe even influence the terms of the meeting to our benefit."

Nin raised an eyebrow, considering the implications. "So, you're suggesting we work with him or at least make 'contact' with him before the meeting?"

"Exactly," Liza affirmed. "If we approach him cautiously and convincingly, we might be able to build a rapport. It could give us a better understanding of his operations and potentially even a way to disrupt them from the inside."

"I disagree with the 'cautiously and convincingly' part," Nin added.

Naz frowned slightly. "But isn't that risky? If he finds out who we really are, it could backfire."

"True," Liza said. "We need to be careful and make sure we don't reveal our true intentions. But with the right approach, we could use this opportunity to get critical information or even sow discord between Kiester and Moretti."

Irr, always pragmatic, added, "We should develop a solid cover story and a plan for how to handle any interaction with Kiester. If we can convince him we're interested in his services or looking for a partnership, it could be a way to get close without raising suspicion."

Nin considered the plan, her mind running through the possibilities. "Or, we could just beat him up and send him to Moretti?? So that bitch knows what hes up against."

"Nin, sabarr.." Naz blurted.

Liza tapped a few keys on her laptop, pulling up more information on Kiester's known locations and activities. "I've been tracking his movements and found out that he frequents a few high-end venues around town. I suggest we start by casing one of these places. Once we have a feel for his routine, we can find a way to introduce ourselves."

Sye's excitement was palpable. "I'm in. Sounds like a good plan. I'm ready to see how we can turn this to our advantage."

With the plan taking shape, the group began discussing specific roles and strategies for their approach. They knew the importance of being cautious and smart about their next moves, but the prospect of working directly with Kiester offered a tantalizing opportunity to advance their goals.

"Guys, just a disclaimer, if things goes my way, just go with it, okay?" Nin asked with a mischievous smile on her face.

Translation of the day:
sapa gik tok = who is it this time..
sabar = patience