SHADOWS OF INFLUENCE

CHAPTER 3

                    The following day, Alex went to visit his uncle. When he arrived, his uncle was in a meeting, so Alex had to wait. He sat in a pew at the back of a large church. He glanced at the statue of Jesus in front of the church. Alex wasn't accustomed to going to church because his father believed that churches often did more harm than good.

As he sat quietly, many thoughts crossed his mind. He had known his Uncle Fernandez since he was a baby, even though his father and the uncle didn't get along, they stayed in touch.

Finally, Uncle Fernandez emerged from his office. He was wearing a white robe that shone in the light, and Alex's guest, a large man dressed in all black, looked intimidating. If Alex were someone else, he might have felt intimidated by the man's unsettling presence, but he was here to see Fernandez, not worry about the people Fernandez associated with.

As they approached, Uncle Fernandez's face lit up with a smile. He seemed genuinely happy to see Alex. "Alexander K!" he exclaimed, and the other man appeared puzzled. Alex stood up to greet him, saying, "Good evening, Father."

Uncle Fernandez introduced them, and Alex shook the man's hand. "Nice to meet you."

"The pleasure is mine. Father, if you don't mind, I'll leave you with your nephew."

Uncle Fernandez agreed, and they headed to his office. Alex observed his uncle's body language, but he didn't seem disturbed.

They entered the office, and Alex took a seat as Fernandez sat behind his desk. "I'm sorry about your loss, son. Your father, even though he made mistakes, was a good man at heart."

"Thank you, Uncle Fernandez. I haven't been able to sleep since I heard the news, especially knowing he was poisoned."

Uncle Fernandez's expression changed for a brief moment. Did Alex see fear in his uncle's eyes? "I know, son. He was my brother too."

"Do you know anyone who might have done this?" Alex watched closely for a reaction. Fernandez shifted uncomfortably in his chair.

"Alexander, your father had many enemies. It's hard to point the finger at one person."

"I understand, but Paulo tells me you two became closer before he died. Maybe he confided in you."

"You know, Sebastian was a stubborn man. He never let me in on his personal matters."

Alex sighed deeply. "Well, son, I suggest you put the past behind and look to the future. Vengeance belongs to the Lord."

Alex nodded absentmindedly. "Thank you, Uncle Fernandez. I think you're right." He stood up to leave.

Are you leaving already?" Uncle Fernandez inquired.

Alex nodded. "Yes, I just wanted to let you know I'm in town, but I have somewhere else to be."

Uncle Fernandez smiled warmly. "Once again, welcome back. Don't hesitate to reach out to me if you need anything."

"Thank you, Uncle," Alex replied gratefully.

He exited the church and made his way to his waiting car. There was something important he needed to do; he had to call Hakeem. Hakeem was one of the few people he could rely on to provide accurate information. Hakeem was like a computer wizard who could access any system.

"Specter, call Hakeem," Alex instructed.

Specter dialed Hakeem's number and handed the phone to Alex.

Hakeem's voice came through on the other end. "Hello, sir."

"Hakeem, I'll be needing your help," Alex stated.

"Okay, sir," Hakeem responded.

"I need you to do some computer stuff, like bugging some places and hacking into a few systems. I need the information by the end of the week."

Hakeem acknowledged, "Noted, sir."

"Specter will send you all the details you need. If you require anything, just contact him," Alex informed.

"Sure, sir," Hakeem replied.

Alex ended the call and contemplated his next move. His next destination was his father's office, which was now his office. He needed to understand what had been happening and keep an eye on current developments.

He settled into his car, knowing that his journey was just beginning, and more challenges lay ahead.