Lena

Chapter 7: Fragile Alliances

The sun was beginning to set behind the towering buildings of the city, casting a golden light that cruelly contrasted with the heavy tension weighing on Lena's shoulders. She stepped out of the private club, her footsteps echoing on the deserted sidewalk, her heart still racing. She had played a dangerous game with that man, a man who embodied everything she despised about the world of corrupt power.

But beyond the fear, a cold anger was rising within her. Every word exchanged with him had only strengthened her determination to see this investigation through. She couldn't back down, not after what she had uncovered. That man may have had control, but she had something he didn't: an unshakable drive to reveal the truth, no matter the cost.

Julien was waiting for her at the end of the street, his face hidden in the shadow of his hood. As soon as he saw her approaching, he straightened up and joined her with quick steps.

"Well?" he asked in a low voice, casting furtive glances around them.

Lena took a deep breath before answering. "He knows. He knows I have evidence and that I won't back down. But what worries me is that he seemed... amused by it all. Like I'm just a pawn in his game."

Julien frowned, his gaze hardening. "He underestimated you, then. That could work in your favor. But don't be mistaken, Lena. These people have no limits. If you become a threat, they'll crush you without hesitation."

"I know," she replied sharply, the weight of her decisions becoming heavier with each passing minute. "But I can't back down now. If I do nothing, they'll keep operating with impunity. And I can't live with that."

They began walking side by side, heading toward the newspaper office. The streets were quiet, but Lena couldn't shake the feeling of an invisible presence around them. Every person they passed, every parked car, felt suspicious. Paranoia had become her constant shadow since she had embarked on this path.

"I have an idea," Julien murmured after a long silence. "If we really want to destabilize them, we need to hit where it hurts."

Lena turned to him, intrigued. "What are you suggesting?"

Julien looked around before lowering his voice even more. "There's someone else. An insider. A source who could give us the evidence we need to expose them publicly. But it's risky. Very risky."

Lena frowned. "Riskier than what we're already doing?"

"Yes," Julien admitted. "This person has everything to lose if they're discovered. But they hold crucial information. I worked with them before things went south. If we can convince them to talk, we'll have a real chance to bring down the entire network."

Lena stopped in her tracks, her thoughts swirling. Bringing in another source was a dangerous gamble. Not only would it mean involving someone new in this complex affair, but it would also increase the risk of being exposed. Yet, if this source could provide what they were looking for, it could change everything.

"And who is this person?" she asked, weighing the risks.

Julien hesitated for a moment, his eyes avoiding hers. "It's... a former associate of Marc. Her name is Claire. She's seen things, been part of the network, but tried to distance herself when she realized the full extent of what was happening."

Lena clenched her jaw. "And you think she'll help us?"

"She doesn't have a choice," Julien replied. "If she stays silent, they'll eventually eliminate her too. But she's scared. Convincing Claire to talk won't be easy."

Lena quickly weighed the pros and cons. The further she went with this investigation, the more she realized that enemies were everywhere. But she also knew that to succeed, she would need allies. Allies from inside the system.

"We have to meet her," she finally said. "If she can help us, we have to try."

Julien nodded, relieved she agreed. "Alright. But we have to be careful. Claire doesn't trust anyone, and she's under constant surveillance."

They continued walking in silence, Lena mentally planning the next step. She didn't know Claire, but if she had worked with Marc, that meant she knew exactly how dangerous this network was. Convincing her would be a tough task, but a necessary one.

A few hours later, Lena and Julien found themselves in a discreet café on the outskirts of the city. It was one of those places where no one asked questions, where the patrons spent their time staring into their coffee cups rather than paying attention to others.

Julien had arranged the meeting with Claire, insisting they choose a public place. Too many eyes were watching their every move, and they needed a location where a violent confrontation would be less likely.

Lena nervously sipped her coffee, her eyes glued to the door with each chime of the entrance bell. She didn't know what to expect. Was Claire ready to risk her life to help them, or was she simply too scared to take action?

Suddenly, the door opened, and a woman with chestnut hair walked in. She was tall, thin, with features marked by fatigue and worry. She glanced around the room before her eyes landed on Julien. Slowly, cautiously, she approached and sat down at the table without a word.

"Claire, thank you for coming," Julien said in a soothing voice.

Claire didn't respond immediately. She glanced at Lena, her piercing eyes sizing up this stranger. Lena met her gaze, aware that Claire was likely even more distrustful than she was.

"So you're the journalist," Claire finally said, breaking the silence. Her voice was hoarse, as if she hadn't slept much in recent days. "Julien told me about you."

"And you're Claire," Lena replied calmly. "I've been told you might be able to help us."

A bitter smirk crossed Claire's lips. "Help me? That's not exactly the word. I'm trapped. And I suppose if I'm here, it means I don't have much left to lose."

Lena could sense that Claire's fear was genuine. This woman lived under constant pressure, hunted, trapped in a network that had crushed her. Yet, despite that, there was a flicker of defiance in her eyes.

"What we want," Lena explained gently, "is to bring down this network. But to do that, we need someone on the inside, someone who knows how they operate and can give us solid evidence."

Claire shrugged, her gaze hardening. "You don't understand. This network is much bigger than you imagine. It's not just a handful of corrupt men. It's a machine. A machine that's been running for decades, crushing everything in its path."

Lena took a deep breath, knowing she had to earn this woman's trust. "And what if we could stop that machine? If we had the right evidence, the right people on our side..."

Claire shook her head. "You're dreaming. But if you're as determined as you seem, I can give you a chance. Just one. I'll give you the names, the accounts, the contacts. But after that, I disappear."

Lena nodded. She knew Claire was risking everything by agreeing to help them. "That's all I ask."