Heaven

Chapter 5 - Meet My Ironside

Logan Kaidon Wong stepped out of his dingy apartment, glancing warily over his shoulder. The city buzzed with life, but to him, every shadow felt like a threat. His hands twitched, a nervous habit he had developed over the years. He knew too well what could happen to men like him if they weren’t careful. Getting into his beat-up car, Kaidon drove toward the crowded market, parking a few blocks away. He stepped out, blending into the bustling crowd, zigzagging through alleyways, weaving between stalls. His heart raced as he looked back again, making sure no one was tailing him.

Finally, in a shady corner of the market, he spotted the old payphone. It was a relic, weathered and forgotten by most, but in his line of work, relics were often the safest bet. He checked his watch—10:29 a.m. As the minute hand clicked to 10:30, the phone rang. Kaidon wiped the sweat from his brow and picked up the receiver.

"Code 26061," he said quietly, his voice steady despite the anxiety twisting inside him.

"Confirmed. Talk to me, Kaidon," came the calm but authoritative voice on the other end.

Kaidon took a breath, glancing around again before speaking. "Chief, I’m almost done collecting the evidence on Ironside. But... I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up."

There was a pause. "What are you saying, Kaidon?"

"I’ve been undercover for six years now," Kaidon began, his voice rough with exhaustion. "I’ve seen things, Chief. Horrors. Ironside doesn’t just run drugs. He’s into human trafficking, money laundering, arms deals—he’s paranoid, violent. The things I’ve had to witness, the things I’ve had to do just to stay in his circle... I’m starting to feel like one of them. Like a criminal."

The Chief’s voice softened, but there was no room for weakness. "Kaidon, I know this is hard. But you knew what you were getting into when we chose you. You were the best fresh cadet we had—sharp, adaptable, unflinching. I picked you for this job because I knew you could handle it."

Kaidon’s grip tightened on the receiver, his knuckles white. "But Ironside’s onto me. He suspects a rat. He killed his driver yesterday because of something I was responsible for. The man didn’t even know why he was being executed. Ironside’s becoming more paranoid by the day. I don’t know how much longer I can stay under without him figuring me out."

A heavy sigh came through the phone. "Your six years can’t go to waste, Kaidon. We’ve let Ironside walk too many times. If we pull you now, we lose everything. This is our best shot. In three months, we’re planning the bust. Human trafficking, drug trade, arms dealing—we’ll nail him for all of it. We just need more from you to make the charges stick. If Ironside tries to slip through, we’ll tighten the noose until he has no way out."

Kaidon leaned against the grimy wall, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. "Chief, I’m not sure I can last three more months. It’s like... every day, a piece of me gets lost. I don’t know who I am anymore."

"I know it’s hell, Kaidon," the Chief said, his voice low, almost empathetic. "But you’re too close to stop now. I chose you because you have the strength to do what needs to be done. Finish this, and you’ll not only bring Ironside down, but you’ll also get your life back. Don’t let six years of your life be for nothing."

Kaidon closed his eyes, fighting back the growing dread in his chest. "Three months," he muttered. "I’ll do what I can."

"You’re almost there, Kaidon. Stay sharp. You’re not one of them, no matter how deep you’ve had to go. Remember that."

The phone clicked as the Chief hung up, leaving Kaidon alone in the alley. He let the receiver fall, the sound of it hitting the metal base echoing faintly in his ears. The market buzzed around him, but all Kaidon felt was the oppressive weight of his double life, pulling him deeper into a world he was no longer sure he could escape.