Chapter 45: Whispers of Chinatown "Alright, we gotta get you out of here right now, they’re getting closer. Don’t trust Demitra, or anyone else in your life.” That was what Ms. Hanover had said to me, right before she ran towards me. Her face was serious, without a glint of hesitation. I didn't know whether she was right, she might be right, for all I know. This entire situation was too fucked for my taste. And honestly, if she wasn't going to give me a straight answer, what was I going to do? Sit around and wait for someone to give me the all-clear? I scoffed internally. Not a chance. Not when my family's lives could be on the line. As Ms. Hanover dragged me away, I did something incredibly stupid, reckless even, but I had to do it. My fingers fumbled for my phone. I couldn't risk speaking out loud, not with those shadowy figures potentially closing in. I quickly typed out a message to Demitra, my thumbs flying across the screen: *Meet me later tonight. The old clock tower near the docks. Midnight. Need answers.* I sent it, praying she'd get it, and more importantly, that she'd actually show up. Trust was a shattered concept right now, but I needed to hear her side of this insane story. A story that I still had no clue about, except that it involved some crazy people, some shady organisation, and Ms. Hanover? The phone vibrated in my hand, indicating the message was sent. I shoved it back in my pocket, hoping Ms. Hanover hadn't noticed my little act of defiance. I was already risking my neck trusting her, I couldn't afford to lose her as an ally right now. The alleyway was a labyrinth of shadows and damp brick, the air thick with the stench of stale garbage and something else, something acrid and metallic that made my stomach churn. Every rustle of wind, every distant siren, ratcheted up the tension, making me jump at shadows. As we weaved through the maze, I thought about my family. My mom, dad, Greg, Keithie, even little Becky – they were all potentially in danger because of some secret my dad had stumbled upon? It sounded like some bad movie plot, but the fear gnawing at my insides was all too real. And Valeria… I pushed the thought away. I had more pressing matters than my ex-girlfriend’s betrayal. Though I couldn’t help but wonder: did she know about any of this? Was she somehow involved? No, I shook my head. I couldn't afford to go down that rabbit hole right now. Not with everything else going on. We finally emerged from the alley onto a bustling street, the neon lights of the city a stark contrast to the darkness we had just left behind. Ms. Hanover flagged down a taxi, her face grim. “Chinatown,” she barked at the driver, sliding into the backseat. I followed, my mind still racing. The taxi ride was a blur. The city lights flashed by, mirroring the chaos in my head. I tried to make sense of everything Ms. Hanover had told me, tried to piece together the fragments of information she had reluctantly shared. *My father inadvertently stumbled upon something they wanted to keep hidden. Something that could expose them.* What could it be? Was it something from his old Hollywood days? Something he had uncovered as a talent agent? It didn't make any sense. My dad was just a regular guy, a loving father, a Bucks fanatic. He wasn’t some international spy or corporate whistleblower. “You okay?” Ms. Hanover’s voice cut through my thoughts. I looked at her, trying to decipher her expression. Was she being genuine? Or was this all an act? Was I being played? “Just…processing,” I said, my voice flat. “This is a lot to take in.” She sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I know. And I’m sorry I can’t tell you everything. Not yet.” “Why not?” I demanded. “What are you waiting for? What aren’t you telling me?” “It’s complicated,” she said, her voice strained. “There are things you’re not ready to hear. Things that would put you in even more danger.” “I’m already in danger!” I exploded. “These people are after me, after my family! How much more dangerous can it get?” She didn’t respond, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery. I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to lash out, to demand answers. But I knew it was pointless. She wasn't going to budge. We arrived in Chinatown, the streets a cacophony of sounds and smells. The air was thick with the aroma of exotic spices, roasted meats, and something vaguely fishy. The sidewalks were crowded with people, their voices a mix of English and Mandarin. The taxi pulled up to a nondescript building, its facade crumbling and weathered. Ms. Hanover paid the driver and we got out, the cool night air a welcome relief after the stuffy taxi. “Where are we?” I asked, looking around. “A safe house,” she said, her voice curt. “It’s not much, but it’s secure.” We entered the building, the lobby dimly lit and smelling faintly of mildew. Ms. Hanover led me up a narrow flight of stairs, the wooden steps creaking beneath our weight. The apartment was small and sparsely furnished, with peeling paint and a musty odor. There was a small kitchenette, a cramped living room, and a tiny bedroom. It was a far cry from Ms. Hanover’s cozy apartment, but it was clean and functional. “Make yourself at home,” she said, gesturing around the room. “I’m going to check the perimeter, make sure we weren’t followed.” She disappeared, leaving me alone in the cramped apartment. I paced back and forth, my nerves on edge. I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, of being hunted. I pulled out my phone, hesitating for a moment before unlocking it. I scrolled through my contacts, stopping at Demitra’s name. I stared at it for a long time, torn between my anger and my need for answers. *Meet me later tonight. The old clock tower near the docks. Midnight. Need answers.* I had sent it. There was no going back now. But what if she didn't show? What if this was all a trap? I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. I couldn't afford to dwell on the what-ifs. I had to focus on what I knew, on the facts. *My father inadvertently stumbled upon something they wanted to keep hidden.* That was the key. That was what this all came down to. But what was it? Ms. Hanover returned, her face grim. “We’re clear,” she said. “For now.” “What happens now?” I asked, turning to face her. “Where do we go from here?” She sighed, running a hand through her hair. “We need to figure out what your father knows. What he stumbled upon.” “But how?” I asked, frustrated. “He doesn’t even know he’s being targeted! He thinks this is all some random coincidence.” “Then we need to tell him,” she said, her voice firm. “We need to warn him, to get him to safety.” “And then what?” I asked. “What do we do after that? Do we just run? Do we hide? Do we spend the rest of our lives looking over our shoulders?” “No,” she said, her eyes hardening. “We fight back. We expose them. We bring them down.” “How?” I asked, my voice laced with skepticism. “How do we fight an organization like that? They’re powerful, they’re connected, they’re everywhere!” “I have a plan,” she said, her voice low. “But it’s going to be dangerous. And it’s going to require you to trust me completely.” I stared at her, weighing my options. Trust Ms. Hanover, a woman who had just revealed herself to be a former member of a shadowy organization? It seemed insane. But what choice did I have? My family’s lives were at stake. And she was the only one offering me any answers. Then I considered Demitra. I couldn’t just leave her in the dark. I needed to know the truth about her involvement in all this. And no matter what the cost I was going to find out. "Okay," I said, with a sigh. "I'll trust you." "Good," she said. "Now tell me, what do you know? You've been dancing around the subject this whole time, and frankly, I'm getting tired of it. What's going on?"