Hannah threw her hands up in the air, her voice picking up as it echoed through the quiet room. “I cracked the code!” she yelled, spinning around in triumph like a child who’d just won a game. “Did you see that, Joe? I crackedit!”Joe sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yes, Hannah, I saw it. Now, can you calm down? Please?” He stepped forward, gently taking the box from her hands. “Let me take a look at what’s inside before you accidentally break something.”Hannah didn’t seem to hear him. She continued running around the room, waving her arms and laughing. “I can’t believe it! Me! I did it! Joe, admit it—you’re impressed.”Joe set the box on the desk and turned to look at her. “Alright, fine. You cracked the code. Congratulations. Now, can we focus?”Just as he was about to sift through the contents of the box, the sound of the front door opening reached them. A moment later, John appeared in the doorway, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene: Hannah practically bouncing
Joe didn’t head home after dropping off Hannah. His mind churned with frustration and questions as he drove. Without hesitation, he directed his car toward Victor’s location. It was late, but Joe didn’t care. He needed to speak to him. When Joe arrived, he noticed some figures were standing outside. He first thought it was victor’s men. To his surprise, he realized one of the figure happened to Victor. When Joe leaned forward he realized those other men looked nothing like victor’s men. Joe strained to hear what they were saying but couldn’t make out their conversation. He waited, patience wearing thin, until Victor’s visitors finally left, their black sedan disappearing into the night. Joe stepped out of his car and walked toward Victor. As Victor turned, he froze upon seeing Joe. A wry smile crept onto his face seconds later. “What are you doing here, Whitmore? I wasn’t expecting your visit.” “I know you’re not lying,” Joe said bluntly, stepping closer. “I saw the documen
The morning sunlight seeped through the curtains of Joe’s room, promising a peaceful start to the day, but Joe had no intention of getting up. The stress of the previous day still fresh in his mind. He rolled over, burying his face in the pillow, hoping for just a few more hours of sleep. During that moment, his phone buzzed on the nightstand. Groaning, Joe stretched out his hand, grabbed the phone, and squinted at the screen. It was a missed call from Mr. Adam. The sight of the name made him scowl. “Not today,” Joe muttered, tossing the phone aside. He pulled the covers over his head, determined to ignore whatever crisis awaited him. The phone buzzed again, vibrating insistently. Joe ignored it, turning onto his side with a grunt of frustration. A few seconds later, a loud banging noise filled his ears. Someone was pounding on the door. “Who is it?” Joe shouted, his voice muffled by the blankets. “It’s me, Mr. Adam,” came the reply. “Joe, you need to get up now.” Joe groa
"Get in, Joe!" Hannah said as she stared at him. He had a reluctant look on his face. Joe hesitated, glancing back at his office building. After a moment of a moment of thinking, Joe sighed and opened the door. Hannah smiled triumphantly as Joe buckled himself in. She drove off, the hum of the engine filling the silence. They didn’t go far before Hannah pulled into the parking lot of a small café. She parked and stepped out, gesturing for Joe to follow. Once inside, a waitress greeted them with a cheerful smile and led them to a cozy booth by the window. After taking their orders, Hannah leaned back and gave Joe a pointed look. “You are going to love the scones.” she said. Joe shrugged, looking out the window. “I guess so.” His mind was elsewhere and the last thing he wanted to talk about was the pastry he ordered. Hannah leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands. “You are not thinking about the break in are you?” Joe sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I can
Joe had led Mr Leon to his office. Mr Leon sat across from Joe. Mr Leon’s expression was solemn as he leaned back in the leather chair. The silence between them stretched for a moment before he broke it. "I heard about what happened," he began. "I’m truly sorry you had to go through all of this." Joe sat in the plush armchair, his hands steepled in front of his face. "The media does spread news fast, doesn’t it?" Joe replied. Mr. Leon let out a soft laugh, shaking his head. "That's how things work around here, Joe. News gets out quicker than you can blink." He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. "But hey, listen... why don’t you come with me? My boys and I are playing poker tonight. It’ll help you clear your mind." Joe was about to decline when the thought struck him: this could be the perfect opportunity. He could keep help Victor get his top clients perhaps, just perhaps, find a way to use this to his advantage. He needed Victor's help, and if he played his cards rig
Joe stepped out of the cab, the bright neon lights of the club glaring against the night sky. As he stumbled forward, Timothy appeared, leaning casually against the wall near the door. “Joe!” Timothy called, grinning as he walked over. “You actually made it. And, uh, are you high?” Joe smirked, as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, maybe a little.” Timothy let out a laugh, patting Joe on the shoulder. “Man, I like this version of you. Relaxed, unfiltered. Come on, let’s head inside. Tonight’s about letting loose.” The two stepped into the club. The music was deafening. Multicolored lights danced across the room, illuminating the crowd of dancers. Timothy grabbed Joe by the arm, pulling him toward the dance floor. “Come on, man!” Timothy shouted over the music. “Let’s dance!” Joe hesitated for a moment, but the haze of the night loosened his inhibitions. Before long, he found himself in the middle of the floor, moving to the beat with Timothy by his side. “This i
Joe stirred awake and as he tried to pull himself his head throbbed slightly. He blinked a few times, taking in his surroundings. The room was unfamiliar. Definitely not his apartment. He groaned, running a hand through his messy hair as the events of the previous night played in his mind. He remembered Mr Leon, Timothy, the club, and the buzz of the night, but he couldn’t remember his he got here.The sound of running water stopped, and before Joe could sit up, the bathroom door swung open. Out stepped Hannah, wrapped in a white towel, her skin glistening from the steam of the shower. Her damp hair was tied back into a loose bun."Well, look who’s awake," she said, leaning casually against the doorframe. "Morning, sunshine. How’s your head?"Joe rubbed his temples and winced. "Feels like a construction site up there," he muttered, then glanced around the room. "What happened last night, how did u get here?"“You don’t remember!” Hannah said shocked. “Not a thing.”Hannah smirked.
Joe parked his car in front of the station, the morning sun glaring off the sleek surface. He rubbed his temples, as he stepped into the station, the familiar buzz of police chatter filled the air. Chief Ken was waiting for him near his office, a serious expression etched on his face. "Joe," Chief Ken greeted, gesturing for him to follow him into the office. "Thanks for coming in." Joe folded his arms as soon as the door shut behind them. "This better be relevant and accurate information, Ken. I don’t have time for wild goose chases." Ken raised an eyebrow trying to maintain a calm demeanor. "I understand your frustration, but this is significant. It relates to the first break-in." Joe leaned against the desk, his interest piqued. "The first break-in? Go on." Ken sat down and slid a file across the desk toward Joe. "After digging into the company’s records and cross-referencing with our investigations, we discovered something interesting. The van used in the first break-in
Joe woke up the next morning to the faint aroma of coffee wafting through the house. Stretching, he headed to the kitchen and found John sitting at the table, sipping his coffee. “Morning,” Joe greeted, heading to the coffee machine to pour himself a cup. “Morning,” John replied, his tone measured. “You sleep alright?” “Yep” Joe admitted, grabbing a slice of toast and sitting across from John. John nodded silently, staring into his coffee cup. As Joe began eating, his phone buzzed on the table. Glancing at the screen, his brow furrowed in surprise. It was Lady Penelope. It wasn’t unusual for her to call, but this early in the morning was out of character. “Lady Penelope?” Joe said aloud, picking up the phone. “Hello?” Her voice came through, shaky and filled with worry. “Joe, I need you to come over. It’s about Mr. Adam.” Joe’s stomach tightened. “What about him? What’s going on?” “I got a call from him just a few minutes ago,” she began, her voice trembling. “He so
Weekend had come by so fast, and instead of spending it home. Joe was heading out that evening to Lady Penelope’s mansion for Timothy’s birthday. “Nice!” He muttered to himself as he stared at the mirror. He adjusted his jacket on more time before heading downstairs. Together, Joe, John and Mr. Adam set out. When they arrived, Joe was greeted by Timothy in the hallway. “Happy birthday champ!” He said handing him his gift. Timothy’s eyes radiated like a seven year old as he took in the gift. “The latest Steve Meyers collection.” He exclaimed, “how did you get this?” “Let’s just say, I know a guy who knows a guy.” Joe said with a smile. “Thanks Joe. This would be hanging in the front roll of my wine collection.” Joe smiled at his words and afterwards Timothy directed him towards the garden where the party was being held. Guests milled around the garden, lit by golden string lights draped across the trees. Joe took a seat close to some of Timothy’s close friends, enjoying the
“You must be kidding me?” Joe said as he regained himself from his shocked state. Mr. Adam’s gaze landed on Joe as he spoke. . “I’m saying the truth Joe. He was planning on double—crossing you guys.” Joe frowned. “Why do I have this feeling you are making this up just so you can prove a point?” Mr. Adam shook his head. “I’m not a boy Joe. I don’t have time to play those kind of games. Everything I say is based on facts and evidence not just some made up nonsense.” Joe still looked unconvinced despite Mr. Adam’s words. After a moment of silence he spoke up. “So what fact or evidence did you discover?”Joe asked in a firm tone. Adam stepped forward, his boots echoing against the concrete floor. “I had one of my men follow him. Last night, he went to a pub. While he was there, he got drunk and started running his mouth to another man.” Adam’s jaw tightened. “He told him, word for word, that Whitmore has no idea he’s digging his own grave.” Joe’s eyes widened, disbelief washing ov
“I could’ve died in that fire. Do you understand that? The only reason I’m still standing here is because of the steps I took. Because of the informant.” Joe said staring directly into Mr.Adam’s eyes. Adam’s jaw tightened, and during that moment he took a deep breath letting go of his tightened Jaw. He was trying his best to reduce the anger that had taken over. But his attempts weren’t working. “You are speaking like I haven’t been protecting you.” Mr. Adam said. “I’m not saying that. I’m only trying to let you see that my actions have great importance.” Joe said standing his ground. He wanted to make his point clear so badly but Mr.Adam wasn’t buying it and he didn’t hesitate to show that he wasn’t. “Your actions don’t have any great importance Joe.” Mr. Adam said in an edgy voice. “All they have is consequences—consequences that would cost you.” Joe shook his head. “Don’t you get it?” He asked staring into his eyes. “Can’t you see the benefit of all this?” “All I see is mad
The fire attack on the finance dinner dominated the news for days. Smoke still lingered in the memories of those who witnessed it, and the tragic loss of life left the city in mourning. Families grieved, businesses expressed their condolences, and public figures made statements about the need for justice. Joe watched as the city struggled to recover. He was also caught up in the feeling of grief. One of his most loyal investors, Mr. Gregson, had been caught in the attack. Joe was invited to the funeral by his only surviving heir—his son Aiden. By midday, Joe set out with Mr.Adam and John to the funeral. “This shouldn’t have happened,” Joe muttered to John as they stood at the back of the crowd. “You know I can’t stop thinking of the fact that I would have been dead.” John nodded, his face equally grim. “But you aren’t, and that’s something you should be grateful for. Right now, we should be focusing on how to hit the gang where it hurts.” Joe didn’t respond, his gaze fixed on
“You’re going to be our eyes and ears,” John said flatly, as he flickered his gun about. “You’ll let us know every move the Sanchez gang makes before they make it. Got it?” The man’s eyes widened in panic. “I can’t do that! If they find out—if they even suspect—I’m dead! My family’s dead!” John didn’t flinch. He lowered the gun slightly, only to press it firmly against the man’s chest. “If you don’t do what I’m telling you, you’ll be dead a lot sooner.” The man froze, trembling under the cold weight of John’s words. “It’s better you just kill me now,” he said hoarsely, his voice cracking. John sighed, the frustration was very clear in his voice. “You’re not thinking straight. This isn’t just about you anymore. It’s about your family and your life.”The man didn’t say a thing, and John leaned forward. “Don’t you get it! We are offering you an opportunity here.”“That doesn’t sound like an opportunity.” The man said in a flat tone. “Just kill me like I said before.”“For the lo
The car rolled to a quiet stop, its headlights cutting through the darkness of the neighborhood. Rusty buildings lined the empty streets. The silence was unnerving, broken only by the occasional shuffle of rats scurrying through the debris. Joe sat in the passenger seat, his brows furrowed as he stared out at the scene in front of him. “This doesn’t look safe,” Joe muttered under his breath. “Are you sure we’re in the right place?” John, sitting behind the wheel, didn’t look half as worried. He leaned back in his seat, a small smirk playing on his lips. “What, are you scared?” he teased. Joe shot him an annoyed look. “I feel like I’ve walked into the lion’s den. Don’t you think we’re being a little reckless?” John waved off the concern with a hand. “Relax, Joe. Nothing’s going to happen. Besides, if you’re scared, you can stay in the car. Hide out here while I do all the work.” Joe narrowed his eyes. “I’m not staying in the car. That’s not happening.” John chuckled
Joe stared at the screen, as his hands moved swiftly across his screen. Once the message was sent he turned to John. “Done!” John smiled. “Good!” “What do we do now?” Joe asked. “We wait for his reply.” John said, in a low tone. John sighed, staring at the open sky. Him and John didn’t say anything, for what felt like minutes until John decided to break the silence. “Any messages?” Joe pulled out his phone which he had kept in his pocket. The dim light from his phone screen illuminated his face as he stared at the message he had sent to Victor minutes ago. Victor hadn’t replied the text and Joe informed John about it. “We would just have to wait a little.” John said. Minutes passed. Then half an hour. Still no reply. Joe sighed and tossed his phone into his pocket , rubbing his temples. “Any word yet?” John’s voice rose. Joe shook his head, glancing up at him. “No. Nothing.” John folded his arms, leaning forward , before speaking. “Well, you texted him. That’s a fir
“So, where exactly are we going?” Joe asked, in a firm tone John kept his eyes on the road, gripping the wheel confidently. “You’ll see.” Joe frowned slightly, shifting in his seat. “You’ve been driving for almost an hour, John. You took the wheel like you had somewhere specific in mind.” John smirked faintly but didn’t look at him. “I do.” “And where is that?” Joe pressed, turning his head toward him. John’s jaw twitched as though he was mulling over his response. “Just wait and see how.” Joe let out a small, tired laugh. “I don’t think I have that patient.” “Well, too bad,” John said firmly. “It looks like you’re going to have to acquire a bit of patience today.” Joe shook his head, staring back out the window. “This is worse than standing in line for ice-cream.” “What a nice way to describe this moment,” John said in a corky tone and Joe wasn’t buying his corkiness in fact he didn’t like it, but he didn’t say anything. The car kept rolling, and it felt like they were dri