Shadows Of Deceipt

Chapter 18

Richard Greenfield sat at his desk, papers and files scattered across the surface, each one pointing toward Tom Delano and his criminal empire. For months, he had been relentless in his pursuit, using every lead Tonny had provided to get closer to his target. But as he sifted through the evidence, a growing unease gnawed at him. Something about Tonny’s intel wasn’t adding up. Richard leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples as he thought over the past few weeks. He had assumed Tonny was a valuable informant, a man willing to take down Tom for his own personal reasons. But now, the information Tonny had given him seemed too calculated, too convenient. The phone on his desk rang, pulling Richard from his thoughts.

“Commissioner Greenfield,” he answered.

“Sir, it’s Detective Lewis. We’ve been monitoring Tonny’s movements like you asked. He’s meeting with some of Tom’s old enemies—the ones we thought were out of the picture,” Lewis said, his tone grim.

Richard’s grip tightened on the phone. “What the hell is he doing?”

“Looks like Tonny’s been making deals on the side. He’s playing both sides, Commissioner.”

Richard slammed the phone down and stood, pacing the room. The revelation hit him like a punch to the gut. Tonny wasn’t just an informant—he was using Richard to weaken Tom, all while building his own empire behind the scenes. And now, Richard was caught in the middle of a game far more dangerous than he had anticipated.

Tonny sat in his luxury penthouse, swirling a glass of wine as he watched the city lights flicker below. His plan was moving perfectly. Tom was distracted, and Richard was being led right into a trap. With both of them out of the way, he would take control of Tom’s empire and run the city as he saw fit. A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. It was one of his men, a nervous-looking underling who had been following Richard’s investigation closely.

“Boss, it’s happening,” the man said. “Richard’s starting to piece it together. He’s not buying the intel anymore.”

Tonny smirked. “Good. Let him figure it out. It’s too late for him to do anything now.”

The man shifted nervously. “What if he comes after us?”

Tonny’s smile widened, cold and calculating. “He won’t get the chance. Once the heat gets too much for him, he’ll be looking over his shoulder at every turn. By then, Tom and Richard will be so busy tearing each other apart that neither one will see what’s coming.”

Back at the police station, Richard called for an emergency meeting with his top detectives. His mind was racing as he laid out the new plan. Tonny had crossed a line, and now Richard knew he was in far more danger than he had originally thought.

“We need to shift focus,” Richard began, addressing the room. “Tonny’s been playing us from the start. He’s working with Tom’s old enemies and building his own criminal network right under our noses.”
The room fell silent as the detectives processed the revelation.

Detective Lewis spoke up. “What about Tom? He’s still a threat. Do we focus on Tonny, or do we continue to pursue Delano?”

Richard paused, the weight of the decision bearing down on him. Tom was still a criminal, but if Tonny took over, the city would be plunged into chaos. And worse, Richard’s own career and safety were at risk.

“We have no choice,” Richard said finally. “We need to take down Tonny before he consolidates his power. If that means delaying our move on Tom, so be it.”

But as Richard spoke the words, he realized something. Taking down Tonny alone wouldn’t be enough. He needed help, and there was only one person who had the resources and motivation to go after Tonny with everything he had: Tom Delano.