The Art Of Death

Chapter 7: Shadows of the Past

Scene 1: The Informant's Trail

Setting: Ethan's apartment, early morning. The sun streams through the window, illuminating the chaos of papers and evidence scattered across the table.

Ethan rubbed the sleep from his eyes, his mind still racing from the revelations of the previous night. He had barely slept, consumed by the need to track down the informant. He glanced at Marcus, who was already awake, typing furiously on his laptop.

"Any luck?" Ethan asked, pouring himself a cup of coffee.

"Not yet," Marcus replied, eyes glued to the screen. "But I'm running a background check on Garrett. If he's scared, there might be something in his past that could help us find the informant."

Ethan nodded, taking a sip of his coffee. "We need to act fast. If Cross has an inside man, he could be one step ahead of us."

Marcus leaned back in his chair, looking thoughtful. "What if we set up a meeting with Garrett? He might know where to find this informant."

Ethan agreed, and they quickly devised a plan. They would use Garrett as a conduit to reach the informant, carefully navigating the dangerous underbelly of the city.

Scene 2: The Meeting

Setting: An abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. The atmosphere is thick with tension, shadows looming in every corner.

Ethan and Marcus arrived at the warehouse, their nerves heightened. They parked a few blocks away, scanning the area for any signs of danger.

"Garrett said to meet him here," Ethan whispered, eyeing the entrance warily. "If he's not here, we need to be ready."

Marcus nodded, his gaze scanning the surrounding buildings. "Let's keep our guard up."

They cautiously entered the warehouse, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the empty space. Dust motes floated in the sunlight filtering through broken windows, casting an eerie glow over the room.

"Garrett?" Ethan called out, his voice reverberating in the silence.

A moment later, Garrett appeared, his face pale and anxious. "You guys shouldn't be here. It's not safe."

"We need your help," Ethan urged, stepping closer. "We need to know how to find the informant. If they're working with Cross, we're running out of time."

Garrett glanced around nervously. "I overheard something last week. Cross was meeting someone at a bar downtown—The Silver Spoon. If you want answers, that's where you need to go."

Ethan felt a surge of hope. "Do you know who he's meeting?"

"Just some guy. I couldn't hear much, but they were talking about a big deal going down soon. You have to be careful, though. Cross has eyes everywhere."

"Thanks, Garrett," Marcus said, placing a reassuring hand on the man's shoulder. "Stay low and keep your head down. We'll handle this."

As Garrett hurried away, Ethan and Marcus exchanged a determined glance. "Let's go," Ethan said, adrenaline coursing through him. "It's time to confront Cross."

Scene 3: The Silver Spoon

Setting: The Silver Spoon bar, dimly lit and filled with a mix of shady characters and desperate souls. The atmosphere is thick with smoke and low conversations.

Ethan and Marcus entered the bar, their senses immediately on high alert. The place was a den of secrets, and they needed to tread carefully.

"Let's split up," Ethan suggested, scanning the room for any familiar faces. "I'll take the left side, you take the right."