The Anchor

7

"I was able to slightly decipher what that club 'The Hook'' is about, and I got something," Zoey informed Kara as she noticed Kara walking in, her eyes fixated on her laptop screen.

Kara stopped beside her and nodded slowly in slight disbelief knowing how much she tried to. "Okay."

"It's owned by a very weird name, but I'm sure it's a guy who calls himself Leopard."

Kara frowned. "Weird name. How?"

She raised her ticket up. "The serial number written on it. I traced it, and discovered it was faked, and not from a company."

"You didn't confront the guy who faked it, right?" Kara asked her.

Zoey shook her head. "Of course not. That would be stupid. Anna did that for me."

"Anna Gray?" Kara asked loudly with a sudden frown and a distaste in her voice.

Zoey nodded. "You know how she'd do anything for money. I paid her to help me get close to the guy since I discovered one of his weaknesses was women, and she was able to get this one information from him."

Kara sat down. "A weird name, not a face. She did a good job, didn't she?"

Zoey looked at Kara. "I know your issues with her, Kara. But I needed her help since that's another thing she's always been good at."

Kara nodded. "Yea, so this Leopard guy...you haven't gotten anything else?"

Zoey shook her head. "Unfortunately, no. The club is strictly under the radar."

"What about the guy that faked the tickets? Who's he?"

"Someone who looks harmless, and a drunkard with potbelly.."

"I can already imagine him. Let me guess, he's fat."

Zoey let out a small laugh. "Typical. His name is Julius Ortiz, and a worker at MyersCorp. The bricklaying company."

"He's a bricklayer then?"

Zoey nodded. "Yeah. Though it says, he last worked at PriceTech. He was an engineer. A software engineer. Which means he knows his way around a computer."

"And he was fired, right?"

Zoey nodded again. "He was. For going against the rules of his department. He was caught red-handed for using their equipment for personal purposes."

"And now he probably works for bad people while still bricklaying." Kara voiced out the obvious.

"As they say, there are rogues in every profession. Someone ready to work against their oaths. Even police and doctors have them. Journalists too." Zoey told her.

"We have to meet him." Kara dropped.

Zoey looked at her. "Are you sure? It's dangerous."

Kara shook her head. "No, it's called investigative reporting, and that's what we are."

"I'm thinking we should just watch him, Kara. This Julius guy is probably just a henchman or an important part of whatever the club is. We could die if we get too close."

Kara blinked understanding her fear. "Okay. We'll watch him. He's definitely an important part of the group, and will be a huge lead for us."

Zoey nodded. "We just have to be careful, so we can catch the guy tomorrow when we go there. We need something to know if they're illegal or not. We need to be sure."

Kara nodded in agreement. Apparently they haven't found anything to hook them. No evidence to prove The Hook might be illegal.

And sad thing is, whoever that soon-to-be dead guy is, she's got no lead on who he is, why he died, or when she'll meet him.

.

.

.

"So how's Kara coping in Cap. U?"

Sofia smiled. "You know how she is, Kate. She's strong. And besides, she's got Zoey with her, and new friends too."

Kate nodded. "That's good. It seems you guys won't be coming back here to Midlane. It's been a year."

Sofia sighed. "Probably."

"I just still don't get why, Sofia..." Jason came to sit beside them. "Why did your family follow Kara to the city like she can't take care of herself?"

"My mom is just worried about her. You know how she is."

"I know Kara as a person who's capable of taking care of herself, so I'm sure you guys going there is irrelevant," Kate told her.

Sofia nodded. "Well, among all my mom's personality quirks, paranoia is among the first five."

Kate chuckled. "Yeah, right. Made me remember when Jonah got sick."

Sofia nodded. "Exactly. That's why we had to stop Midlane high due to the journey of coming, and going. My mom doesn't want to risk anything. She wants all of us very close."

Jason equally nodded. "So, how are your new friends?"

Sofia looked at him. "They're fine, but I don't really know much about them. Hard to trust, but sometimes it's preferred that way."

"Because people you trust, and know are the ones who stab at the back, right?" Kate asked due to a known circumstance.

Sofia nodded. "Yep. Just still can't believe what Anna did to Kara."

"Even with the apologies, Kara hasn't forgiven her?" Jason asked.

"She has, Jason. But it doesn't mean she'll forget. She can't be stabbed twice in the back, or it'll kill her."

"And what about Ace?" Kate asked.

"Well, I know she still loves him, but I don't think I'll want her to go back to him. It's unhealthy." Sofia told her looking around. "Oh." She breathed aloud. "How I miss the Zoar, and the taste of the coffee. Please can I get more?" She asked looking at Jason who works there.

Jason nodded. "Of course." And he stood up with her mug.

"Why? Don't coffee taste nice there, or were you just trying to get rid of.."

"Shh." Sofia shushed her. "And yes. Don't understand him at times."

Kate sighed. "You like him, he likes you. Who will come clean?"

"Well, not me obviously. He has to man up."

Kate shook her head with a laugh. "God knows when."