Deadly Affairs

Chapter 3

The next evening, Vivian found herself standing outside an old, nondescript warehouse near the docks, her breath visible in the chilly night air. Liam had sent her an address and a time, and though she knew she should probably be cautious, she'd shown up anyway, drawn by both curiosity and the thrill of a new mystery.

She checked her watch: 8:00 PM. Right on time.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed behind her. She turned to find Liam approaching, his expression serious. Tonight, he looked even more mysterious, his dark coat making him blend into the shadows.

"Glad you made it," he said, stopping just a few feet away.

"Curiosity won," she replied, crossing her arms. "So, what's this place?"

Liam gestured toward the warehouse. "Brentley has a storage unit inside. It's where he keeps... certain documents and items that he wouldn't want anyone to find."

Vivian's curiosity sharpened. "And why are we here?"

Liam looked at her, his eyes unreadable. "I need you to find something. A file labeled Black Lotus. It's important, and if anyone finds it, it could ruin Brentley—and some other powerful people."

Vivian frowned. "So, you're asking me to help cover up more of his dirty secrets?"

Liam shrugged. "Something like that. But let's just say the fewer people know about Black Lotus, the better—for both of us."

Vivian narrowed her eyes. "What's in it for me?"

"Besides the payment we discussed?" Liam's mouth twisted into a slight smirk. "I can assure you, this case will keep things... interesting. Isn't that what you wanted?"

Vivian sighed. He wasn't wrong, and she knew it. She'd been looking for something to shake up her routine, and this definitely fit the bill. Still, she wasn't about to let him pull her strings without some answers.

"Alright," she said finally. "But if I find anything more dangerous than a few documents in there, you're paying me double."

Liam chuckled softly. "Deal. Now, let's get started."

Inside the Warehouse

The warehouse was dark and quiet, the only light coming from a few bare bulbs flickering overhead. The place was lined with rows of storage lockers, each one marked with numbers and heavy locks.

Vivian followed Liam as he led her to a locker in the far corner of the building. He pulled a small key from his pocket, glancing at her. "This is where things get interesting."

He unlocked the door and slid it open, revealing stacks of cardboard boxes, each labeled with a date or a code. Vivian's eyes scanned the labels, finally spotting one marked Black Lotus.

She grabbed the box, brushing off a layer of dust, and opened it carefully. Inside was a thick file, filled with papers and photos. Her fingers flipped through it, and she felt her pulse quicken as she realized what she was looking at.

"Are these... police records?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Liam nodded, his face serious. "Yes. Brentley's been paying off certain people to keep things quiet—people with connections to the underworld."

Vivian glanced back at the papers. They were filled with names, dates, and records of large payments. She even recognized a few names—people who were rumored to have ties to organized crime.

"So, Brentley's been involved in more than just a simple affair," she murmured, her mind racing. "This is... big."

"Exactly," Liam said, his voice low. "And that's why it can't get out."

Vivian looked at him, her eyes searching. "If people found out about this, Brentley could go down for a long time. And so could you, by association."

Liam shrugged. "Perhaps. But I'm more interested in protecting the people I work with. And now, Vivian, you're part of that."

The weight of his words settled on her. She knew she was in too deep now to back out easily. But she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this, something Liam wasn't telling her.

"Alright," she said, placing the papers back in the box. "I'll keep quiet. But I need to know... what happens next?"

Liam smiled, a glint of something unreadable in his eyes. "Next? We make sure Brentley stays under control. And we keep our eyes open for anyone else who might get too close to the truth."

They stood in silence for a moment, the warehouse shadows stretching around them. Vivian felt a chill, but she wasn't sure if it was from the cold air or from the realization of what she'd just agreed to.

Whatever it was, she knew there was no going back.

Later That Night

Back in her apartment, Vivian poured herself a glass of wine, the events of the evening replaying in her mind. She opened her laptop and began searching for anything she could find on Black Lotus, but it seemed like the phrase was just another code, something known only to a few powerful people.

She shook her head, realizing she was in over her head. And yet, a part of her was excited. She'd always wanted to take on bigger cases, something thrilling and intense, but she hadn't expected this.

Her phone buzzed. It was a text from an unknown number.

"Good work tonight. You're closer than you think to finding out the truth. Stay sharp."

Vivian's heart raced. She knew it was from Liam, and for a brief second, she felt a flicker of something she hadn't expected—trust.

But as quickly as it came, she pushed it away. Liam was still hiding things, and she couldn't afford to let her guard down.

As she closed her laptop and drained her glass, she made a silent promise to herself: she would play along with Liam's game, but she'd be the one calling the shots. And if he ever tried to double-cross her, she'd make sure he regretted it.