Spies

Chapter 6

Wow. You don't even know his actual name...

This is the only thought that was going through my mind as the mystery woman led us through the restaurant, up some stairs to a large VIP section of the closed bar. Looking around for anything out of place, I picked up nothing that was mattered to the case but a few suspicions of who owned and ran the bar.

The part of town the place was located formerly belonged to the now deceased Mayor of the area. His private land is currently owned by his older son and only daughter while his second son went off the radar, in terms of the news, after the funeral a year ago. No one, not even his siblings knows where he is.

"Wow, Eli. Never thought I'd see you again," said the woman leading us to the office.

"Same here, Stella. Hope there are no hard feelings," Alex replied with a wink.

She opened the office door and took a seat at the desk. "Nope," she said simply. She gestured to the two office chairs in front of her, "Have a seat."

We each took a chair as two muscular men entered the office. They both said nothing and stood at either sides of the door, with shades and suits on. Classical intimidation tactic.

"Agostino. Giovanni. What's up, guys?" Alex asked the guys, who both stayed silent with stoic faces.

"Elias, tell me why you are here right now," Stella asked putting her hands on the desk and staring at him.

"Straight to the point, I see," Alex comments. "Well. The editors for the magazine company we work for would like some pictures depicting the growing cultural diversity within the area."

"And you could not find another-"

"Strictly traditional Italian bar and restaurant in the whole of Manchester. Clearly not," he said interrupting her.

She rolled her eyes and turned to me. "I did not catch your name."

"C-Callie," I stuttered, slightly stunned that my partner could come up with a background for us so quickly. "His assistant." From the corner of my eye, I could see the signs of Alex's signature smirk.

She sighed, turning back towards him and standing up, "Fine. Come back tonight when the place is in full swing."

We stood up with her as Alex said, "Okay, thank you Stella. You won't regret it."

"I already do."

As we were exiting the office, I took a quick look at the surroundings. The desk was neatly organized as well as the general atmosphere of the office. It looked like no one really uses it. The thing that captured my attention though was a picture, one that showcases Stella holding a little boy that looked vaguely familiar. I sneakily took a picture of the picture frame while everyone was not looking and Alex kept everyone talking.

*****

We exit the building after the meeting and silently went back to his car.

"Did you get anything, babe?" Alex asked as soon as we buckled our seat belts.

I ignored the term of endearment and continued, "Is your name Elias or Alex? Or was that all a cover?"

"It was a cover. I never tell women my actual name," he replied. "My actual name is Alessandro Elias Diakos. I got nicknamed Alex a long time ago. Outside of the office, I use Elias as an alias."

"Oh okay," I say in response. Remembering his previous question, I reply, "Hopefully with the picture I took there are some hidden details. I saw a couple things and have a couple theories but I won't know for sure until we get back to the office."

"What exactly was stolen anyway?"

"Let me check." I pulled out the case file from the glove compartment of the car where I put it when we got there. "It doesn't really say,"

"This case just seems to get weirder and weirder. I mean, first there is an alleged robbery where something is stolen but we don't know what it is. Then, my ex is actually tolerating me, which is unbelievable in itself-"

"What do you mean?"

He sighed, starting to drive as we spoke, "Stella and I were together for about eight months." He let out a little chuckle and a sigh, "This is getting really personal now."

"Don't tell me then," I said. "I don't want to make you feel-"

"I gonna tell you anyway, babe."

"Stop calling me that," I stressed. The atmosphere in the car really started to change as we drove back to the office.

"Yeah. Yeah," he smiled. "Anyways, we dated for eight months. She was great, especially in the bedroom."

"Okay. I don't care anymore," I say, after he smirked with the comment.

"What," he smiled. "I am trying to tell you the story."

"You are trying to catch a case with me. All these comments and stuff is annoying, not to mention perverse."

"Are you always this uptight? Come on, relax."

"Let me guess why you guys separated," I started, trying to shift the conversation.

Seeing what I was trying to do, he lets it slide with a sigh, "Shoot, babe."

"Ugh," I sighed in regards to the nickname. "Well," I turned with my seat belt on and looked at him, studying what I already knew about him and what I saw in the office with Stella. "I have two guesses."

He chuckles, "Only two. I deserve more than that." He makes the turn with one arm into our underground parking lot. Why does a man have to be so sexy when he drives?......I did not just think that.

"Yup, just two." He finds his designated parking spot, conveniently close to the building elevator. "One, the typical one is that you cheated on her," he scoffs and then I continue. "Two, when those guys came into the room, I sensed a lot of things that are yet to be confirmed but here goes. Some gang-related activities are going on there, and either they suspect that you are not who you say you are or they had someone in line to marry her off to."

"Wow."

"Wow what?" I turn to see him looking at me in shock and amazement. I had not realized that he had already parked and turned off the car.

"I never guessed you were the smart, judgmental type."

"I am not....am I right though?"

He sighed and put his hand on the steering wheel, "Yup. It's uh... a little bit of both."

"Wow," I said aloud to myself. "I should be an agent. I am really good at this."

He laughed as we both exited the car and headed for the elevator. "Stop gloating."

"Look at what the teacup is telling the kettle," I said, surprisingly with an ample amount of sass.

"What," he laughed, uncontrollably as the elevator took us upstairs.

"Something my grandmother used to say. Means-"

"I know what it means," he tried saying while laughing and struggling to breathe. "I just never expected that from you,"

"I guess I am not as uptight as you think I am," I said, referring to his comment in the car. Why would I bring that up?

"I guess not," I had not noticed how close we were until the elevator dinged on our office floor.

We both quickly took a few steps back as the doors opened.

"We should see what the tech guys could find," I said breaking the sudden tense atmosphere and slowly walking out.

He let out a light scoff-laugh and smile. "I guess we should."