THE LAST SPY

Chapter two

Kelvin’s heart was pounding as he stepped out of his car, his breath misting in the cool night air. The street was eerily quiet, the faint hum of the city muted by the stillness around him. He glanced toward the spot where the woman had been moments ago. There was no sign of her now, only the faint imprint of her presence lingered in his mind.

He moved cautiously to the area where she’d stood, his eyes scanning the empty streets and dark alleys. The faint scent of gasoline and asphalt filled his nostrils, but there was no other indication anyone else was there.

What was she running from?

As he straightened to leave, something caught his eye. A single flyer fluttered on the pavement, pinned down by the breeze. Its bright colors were in stark contrast to the grim scene around him. He bent to pick it up, turning it over in his hands.

At first, it looked like nothing, just an advertisement for some event. But then his eyes landed on the name printed in bold, elegant letters: Victor Alonso.

Kelvin’s jaw tightened. The flyer was promoting a masquerade party hosted by none other than Alonso himself, scheduled for that very night in one of his exclusive penthouses.

Kelvin’s pulse quickened. He folded the flyer and slid it into his pocket before striding back to his car. Once inside, he reached for his phone and dialed.

“April,” he said as soon as she picked up.

“Kelvin. What now?”

“Victor Alonso’s hosting a party tonight. Classified, members only. I need an entry.”

“Kelvin, that’s not exactly easy to pull off,” she said, her tone laced with hesitation.

“You’re the best for a reason. Hack their server. Get my name on the guest list,” he said firmly.

April sighed audibly. “You know how risky this is? If this guy’s half as dangerous as you say he is, crashing his party could get you killed.”

Kelvin’s voice hardened. “If Victor Alonso is worth what Adrian claims, then he needs to be brought down. He’s hiding something, and this party might give me the edge I need.”

April hesitated before responding. “Fine. But you owe me for this one. I’ve been digging into his businesses like you asked. Came up empty. The only location that stood out is his casino. It’s high-profile, way too public for illegal activity, but…”

Kelvin interrupted. “That’s exactly why he’d use it. Nobody would suspect. I’ll check it out.”

“Alright,” she said reluctantly. “I’ll send you the address. Be careful.”

Moments later, Kelvin was driving through the city, the casino’s location marked on his GPS. The streets blurred past him, neon lights casting fragmented reflections on his windshield. His grip on the wheel was tight, his mind racing.

When he arrived, the casino loomed ahead, its bold façade and bright lights exuding luxury. He parked a block away, keeping his profile low.

“April, I’m here,” he said, tapping his earpiece as he stepped out of the car.

“Gotcha. Cameras are live. Main entrance is crawling with security. Standard guards, nothing unusual. But there’s a back entrance that’s less monitored. Want me to disable the cameras there?”

“Do it,” Kelvin replied, slipping into the shadows.

The narrow alley behind the casino was dimly lit, a faint hum from the nearby generator blending with the distant murmur of the city.

“The back fence is electrified,” April warned.

“Can you handle it?” Kelvin asked.

“Already on it. Just give me… there. It’s clear.”

Kelvin scaled the fence with practiced ease, landing silently on the other side. The back door was ajar.

“April, this door’s open,” Kelvin murmured.

“That’s odd. Be careful,” she replied, her tone sharp.

Inside, the air was cooler, tinged with the metallic scent of machinery. Kelvin’s footsteps were muffled on the worn carpet as he moved cautiously.

“Where am I going?” he whispered.

“Down the stairs to your right. There’s a room at the end of the lower hallway. Could be storage or something more interesting,” April directed.

Kelvin descended, his hand brushing the wall for balance. The hallway stretched before him, quiet and sterile.

“April, disable any cameras here.”

“Done. You’re good.”

He reached the heavy metal door at the end of the hallway and paused. Muffled voices filtered through, their tone urgent.

“There are people inside,” he said.

“Can you hear what they’re saying?”

“Not clearly. Two, maybe three people.”

A gunshot shattered the quiet. Kelvin froze.

“Kelvin, what was that?” April’s voice was sharp with concern.

"I’m fine," Kelvin muttered under his breath, his voice steady despite the rapid pounding of his heart.

The door creaked open slightly, stopping just short of exposing him. Kelvin pressed himself tightly against the wall, holding his breath as two men stepped out into the hallway.

The first man was lean, with a tattoo of a dragon snaking up the side of his neck and disappearing beneath his shirt. The second man was stockier, his bald head gleaming under the faint hallway light, a thick beard framing his scowling face.

“What now?” Dragon Tattoo muttered in a gravelly voice.

“Victor said it’s done. We’re moving,” Bearded Man replied, his tone clipped.

Kelvin’s pulse quickened at the mention of Victor’s name, but he forced himself to remain still.

“About time,” Dragon Tattoo grumbled. “This place gives me the creeps.”

The two men walked down the hall without looking back. Kelvin waited until the sound of their footsteps faded, then exhaled quietly. He stepped into the room they had just left, closing the door softly behind him.

Inside, the room was stark and utilitarian. A single fluorescent bulb buzzed overhead, casting a cold, white light over the grisly scene.

A body lay on the floor, wrapped tightly in a transparent plastic bag. Blood had pooled beneath it, the crimson smear seeping out from a gunshot wound in the man’s head. Kelvin’s stomach turned, but he forced himself to stay focused.

He pulled out his phone, snapping a few quick pictures of the body and the room. Every detail mattered, the bloodstains, the faint scuff marks on the floor, the man’s lifeless eyes staring blankly through the plastic.

Slipping the phone back into his pocket, Kelvin turned to leave, but a door on the far side of the room caught his attention. It was slightly ajar, revealing a sliver of darkness beyond.

Cautiously, he approached, his hand reaching for the knob.

“What are you doing here?”

The voice was sharp, cutting through the silence like a blade. Kelvin spun around, his heart leaping into his throat.

It was a Dragon Tattoo.

The man stood in the doorway, his eyes narrowing as he stepped into the room. “You shouldn’t be here,” he growled, pulling a short knife from his pocket.

Kelvin raised his hands slightly, keeping his movements calm. “Look, I don’t want any trouble. I’ll leave, and you’ll never see me again.”

Dragon Tattoos lips curled into a sneer. “Not how this works.”

He lunged, the knife flashing as it sliced through the air. Kelvin sidestepped, his training kicking in as he grabbed the man’s wrist and twisted, forcing him to drop the blade. But Dragon Tattoo was quick, he spun around, driving an elbow into Kelvin’s ribs.

Kelvin staggered back, the breath knocked out of him. Dragon Tattoo grabbed him by the collar, slamming him against the wall.

“You’re making this harder than it needs to be,” the man snarled, his hands tightening around Kelvin’s throat.

Kelvin clawed at the man’s grip, his vision starting to blur. With a desperate surge of strength, he drove his knee into Dragon Tattoos stomach, forcing him to let go.

Kelvin scrambled for the knife, but Dragon Tattoo was on him again, tackling him to the ground. The two men grappled, their movements frantic and brutal.

Dragon Tattoo managed to pin Kelvin down, his hands reaching for the blade. Kelvin twisted his body, using his momentum to throw the man off balance. They rolled across the floor, each struggling for control of the weapon.

Finally, Kelvin managed to grab the knife. Without hesitation, he drove it into the man’s side, the blade sinking deep.

Dragon Tattoo gasped, his eyes widening in shock. He collapsed to the floor, clutching the wound as blood pooled beneath him.

Kelvin stood, his chest heaving, the knife still clutched in his trembling hand.

The reality of what he’d done hit him like a freight train, but there was no time to dwell on it. He had to get out.

Bolting through the back door, Kelvin retraced his steps through the alley. His lungs burned as he climbed the fence and sprinted to his car, his hands slick with blood.

Inside the vehicle, he sat for a moment, trying to catch his breath. His reflection in the rearview mirror showed a man barely holding it together, his face pale, his eyes wild.

“Kelvin? Are you okay?” April’s voice crackled through his earpiece, her concern evident.

“I’m fine,” he said, though his rapid breathing betrayed him.

“Fine doesn’t sound like this.”

“It was a narrow escape,” Kelvin replied, starting the engine.

The car roared to life, and he pulled out of the alley, his hands gripping the wheel tightly.

“Did you get what you needed?” April asked.

Kelvin didn’t answer immediately. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, the body, the mention of Victor, the fight.

“I’ll tell you later,” he said finally, his voice low.

As he drove into the night, the weight of the evening settled over him. The blood on his hands felt like a brand, a reminder of how far he’d gone and how much further he might have to go.