Chapter 100 Spy
David left his home like lightning and ran out into the street, where only a few people were walking quickly in pairs or trios, impatient to get home. It was now the hottest time of the year in Los Angeles. The sky was dense with clouds, the air was heavy. There was not even a single gust of wind to cool the atmosphere. It was like the whole city was covered in a gray curtain, suffocating people, rendering them unable to breathe.
David's heartbeat was unusually fast, he could not tell if this was due to the weather or the high level of tension he was feeling. Likewise, he did not know what he should do next. He tried to control his overwhelming emotions by taking two deep breaths and managed to ease his nervousness for a little while. Then, he thought about the best way to handle the whole situation.
Previously, David had taken a bribe from a company when he was talking business with them. That matter was known to the Garcia family. Edward was a man of discipline and integrity, and taking bribes was a grave offense in his eyes. If ever Edward got wind of his side business, his job would be on the line. That bastard Fernando Garcia had blackmailed David to help them spy on Edward. When Edward was initially collecting evidence to denounce the Garcia family and was attacked in turn, it was David who had indirectly caused the incident.
But what an unexpected turn of events. According to what Lanny had said, Edward surprisingly did not lose his power in that attack. On the contrary, it would seem that he had been playing them all along by pretending to be disabled. His purpose was to make everyone let down their guard to catch the spy planted by the Garcia family in Skytel; David.
As those thoughts were floating around his mind, David gasped for air; he felt like he was choking. Panic had overtaken him as he was in a state of uncertainty. Had Edward been investigating him? Was he aware of his dishonesty? Once his identity as a spy was revealed, then his fate would be very miserable for he knew Edward too well. Edward was vengeful by nature. He closed his eyes for a few seconds and recalled his movements and transactions over the past few months. David felt a little relieved that they hadn't been in touch since the last time he had leaked Edward's whereabouts to Fernando Garcia, the next Alpha of the Garcia family.
David looked around carefully and relief swept over him when he saw that no suspicious people were around watching him. There was a pay phone booth about a hundred meters away from him, and he had been using it to keep in touch with Fernando Garcia in order to avoid being traced. He walked toward the phone booth at an unusually heavy pace, as if the soles of his feet were filled with lead.
In his defense, he was not born with a hard heart. When the news came that Edward's injuries had rendered him a cripple, he had been unable to sleep at night because of the guilt tearing at his conscience. Edward had always treated him well, and he had been promoted to the position of director of the company because of Edward's own promotion. They could have been good colleagues and good relatives if not for Fernando Garcia. That prick!
When David arrived at the phone booth, it was raining. He stepped inside, picked up the phone with a heavy hand and pressed the numbers on the dial pad with his left hand, his fingers trembling. He couldn't bring himself to make the call; the call that would put Edward in more danger. Thus, he hesitated in the phone booth for a long time, picking up the phone and putting it down, again and again, unable to make a final decision.
At that moment, a curly-haired brown woman wearing a tight denim halter top with a short pink skirt and flashy makeup approached the phone booth.
"Hey! Sir! You've been in this phone booth for at least fifteen minutes, and you haven't even made a call. What the hell are you doing in there? Get your ass out of there, this is my place!" The woman tapped on the glass door of the phone booth vigorously, shouting curses at him.
David turned his head to look at her and deduced that the woman was a street girl, the kind that was very difficult and a headache to deal with. Not wanting to antagonize her, he took out his wallet and shoved $50 in her hand, in an attempt to send her away. "Will that do?" he asked, trying to hide his impatience.
"Hah! You bastard, what do you take me for? I'm not the kind of person who would easily give up my territory for a few bucks, mind you!" the woman jerked the bill away from David's hand while pressing her body against the door to keep David from closing it.
As David and the prostitute pushed and shoved, he inadvertently glanced around the corner and saw a man in a black coat watching him. When David met his eyes, the mysterious man hastily averted his gaze and walked slowly forward, trying to act normal and natural.
David was startled. His gut instinct was telling him that the man was watching his every move. He didn't know whether the man was Edward's man or sent by the crazy Fernando. The only thing he knew was that if he didn't make the call, his colleague who would then take initiative to call him, would end up offending Fernando, but if he did, he might be able to beg for Fernando's help and protection.
"H-how-how much do you want?" David asked the prostitute impatiently.
"Well, how about five hundred?" the woman said, smiling smugly as she held out her hand.
"All right. Take the money and get the hell out of here," David sighed and took five hundred dollars out of his wallet and shoved it in the woman's dirty hand. While the woman was counting the money, he quickly closed the door, picked up the phone and hastily dialed the number Fernando had provided. As soon as it rang, he said briefly as if pressed for time, "Edward is not injured. I repeat, Edward is not injured. The new president of Skytel is him." With that, he hung up the phone brusquely.
After the call, he noticed that the prostitute hadn't left yet. "What's the matter with you? What are you still doing here? Didn't I give you your money already? How much more do you want?" David was so pissed that he couldn't help but scold her.
"Honey, don't be angry. Judging by the look on your face, I'd say you need some special services. Why don't I accompany you to relieve some of that stress and put you in a good mood?" the woman wore a seductive smile on her face and deliberately lowered her neckline to reveal her deep cleavage. In her mind, she was thinking, 'Well, looks like the man in front of you is a big spender. Persuade him to accept your services for one night and you can earn a lot of money, at least a thousand. How does that sound?'
"Get out of here!" David yelled, as he violently pushed her away and walked straight in the direction of his home. He peeked around. It looked like the mysterious man had gone nowhere. David was naturally concerned and did not dare to stay outside for one more second. A lot can happen in one second. He wasn't going to loiter around to wait and see that for himself. Better head home to safety.
The prostitute wasn't giving up so easily either. She adjusted her clothes and ran after David, grabbing his hand and insisting on going with him. In between David and her pushing and shoving, a loud ringing bang was heard. She suddenly let out an ear-piercing scream as she stared wide-eyed at her bleeding thigh. A bullet had come out of nowhere and pierced through her flesh. She wavered for a few seconds before falling heavily to the ground. David looked at her, his eyes bulging out of their sockets and immediately took to his heels. Time to run for his life! The bullet was aimed at him!