Volume 1: Fallen from Grace
Summary: Jack reconnects with his former colleague, Kevin. Though also affected by the scandal, Kevin is still willing to help Jack uncover the truth.
Chapter 9: The Appearance of Kevin
Jack held his breath, straining to catch Oscar's whispered conversation. Oscar spoke quickly and kept his voice low, deliberately avoiding key details. Jack could only make out scattered words—"cargo," "price," "channel," and "safe."
"…Alright, understood. Proceed as planned… be careful. Leave no traces…"
Oscar hung up and turned back, a faint tension flickering across his face.
"Business call," he explained vaguely. "Lately I've been getting too many of these. Busy times."
Jack didn't press further—he knew this wasn't the time to dig. He simply nodded.
"Mr. Oscar, you must be exhausted. Would you like me to drive you home?"
Oscar patted Jack on the shoulder.
"No need. I'm staying for another round. You go ahead. Meet me at the scrapyard tomorrow morning."
Jack said goodbye and left the event. He found a quiet corner, pulled out his phone, and quickly typed a message.
"Isabella, check Oscar's recent call logs—especially between 8 PM and 9 PM tonight."
After sending it, he took a deep breath. He knew retrieving Oscar's call records wouldn't be easy. Oscar was careful—too careful to leave behind any evidence.
The next morning, Jack arrived at Oscar's scrapyard right on time. Oscar looked tired, dark circles under his eyes.
"You're here?" Oscar yawned. "Sleep well last night?"
"Pretty well," Jack replied. "You had quite a few drinks last night. Be careful with your health."
Oscar waved him off.
"Don't worry about me—I can handle my liquor. Today, I'll show you our 'secret weapon.'"
Oscar led Jack deep into the scrapyard. There, piles of unusual waste lay stacked—discarded electronics, wrecked car parts, and even some unidentifiable metal materials.
"These are the real treasures of our business," Oscar boasted. "They may look worthless, but they hide massive value."
Jack examined the items carefully, hoping to find something suspicious—but came up empty.
"Who do you sell these to, Mr. Oscar?" Jack asked casually.
Oscar gave a knowing smile.
"That's not your concern. Just trust me—they always fetch a good price."
Just then, a man in worn-out work clothes approached. He carried a folder, his expression tense.
"Mr. Oscar, bad news! The shipment of electronics we received yesterday was seized by customs!"
Oscar's face turned pale with rage.
"What happened?!" he bellowed. "Who told you to send those things out?! Didn't I tell you to be careful?!"
The man trembled.
"We—we don't know what went wrong… Customs said there were contraband items hidden inside the equipment…"
Oscar shook with fury. He snatched the folder and flipped through it furiously.
Jack stood silently, watching closely. Something about this situation felt off—there was more beneath the surface.
"Mr. Oscar, calm down," Jack suggested. "Maybe I can help resolve this."
Oscar looked up, surprised.
"How can you help? This is a customs matter. What connections do you have?"
"I handled similar situations on Wall Street," Jack said calmly. "I can reach out to some people. Maybe we can find a way to get that shipment released."
Hope flickered in Oscar's eyes.
"Really? If you can fix this, I'll reward you handsomely!"
"Mr. Oscar, think nothing of it," Jack replied smoothly. "I'll do what I can."
At that moment, Jack's phone rang. He glanced at the screen—it was an unknown number.
"Excuse me, I need to take this call," Jack said, stepping aside.
"Hello, is this Mr. Jack Carter?" a deep male voice came through.
"Yes," Jack answered.
"This is Kevin," the man introduced himself. "I have some information about Mr. Richard Greene that might be useful to you."
Jack's heart pounded. Richard Greene—the very name he'd been chasing!
"Who are you? How do you know about me?" Jack asked, his voice rising slightly.
"That doesn't matter," Kevin replied. "What matters is that I know some of Mr. Greene's secrets—and I know you're investigating him."
"What proof do you have?" Jack pressed.
"I'll give you the evidence," Kevin said. "But first, we need to meet in person."
"Where?" Jack asked.
"Tonight, in front of the New York Public Library," Kevin instructed. "Eight o'clock. Don't be late."
The line went dead.
Jack stared at his phone, filled with both confusion and anticipation. Who was Kevin? Why would he help him? And did he really have information on Richard Greene?
These questions swirled in Jack's mind, refusing to settle. One thing was certain—Kevin's appearance might change everything.
He took a deep breath and returned to Oscar's side.
"Well? Who was that?" Oscar asked.
"A friend," Jack said. "He says he knows someone at customs who might help us retrieve the shipment."
Relief washed over Oscar's face.
"Really? That's fantastic! Jack, you really are my lucky charm!"
Jack smiled faintly but said nothing. His thoughts were already racing toward the meeting tonight. He couldn't wait to learn what secrets Kevin truly held.
Yet, unbeknownst to Jack, what awaited him was far more than just a secret—it was a vast conspiracy. One that would drag him once again into a dangerous storm.