Chapter 44: The Plan Takes Shape
Several beers in, Lucas leaned back on his couch and asked, "Alva, what do you think of how I'm doing these days?"
"You're doing great, man! Nice place, nice car, living the dream. I was so jealous when you drove back home last time. Seriously, what do you even do?" Alva asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
Lucas didn't answer immediately. Instead, he fixed Alva with a serious look. "Listen, Alva. Getting ahead in this world isn't just about hard work. Especially for guys like us, coming from the bottom. I've been around long enough to know—you need someone to pull you up. Otherwise, you're just spinning your wheels."
Alva looked confused, so Lucas continued. "When I first got to London, I was clueless. Took me years to figure things out, and I had it worse than you. But then I met the right people, and things started falling into place. That's what I'm trying to tell you—if you want to make it, you need someone to show you the ropes."
Alva frowned, thinking it over. "So… you're saying you'll help me?"
Lucas finally smiled. "That's exactly what I'm saying."
"Then why didn't you offer earlier? We're like brothers, man. You could've helped me out sooner," Alva said, a hint of frustration in his voice.
Lucas sighed. "My work's… complicated. It's not for everyone. I wasn't planning on bringing you in, but seeing how things have gone for you—two trips to the station, no job—I figured it's time."
"What exactly do you do?"
"I used to be an informant. Now I'm a private investigator."
Alva shook his head. "Still don't get it."
"You don't need to. Here's the deal: if you're in, I'll start you at £5,000 a month. You'll live here with me, so no rent or food expenses. All you have to do is follow my lead. No illegal stuff—I handle that myself. You're just my backup. Sound good?"
Alva hesitated. "Feels like I'd be freeloading."
"You're not. With your help, I can take on more jobs. Trust me, it's a win-win."
"Really?"
"Really. And yeah, there's a chance you might end up in the station again, but it'll be like the last two times—quick in, quick out."
Alva nodded slowly. "I'll think about it."
"Take your time. For now, crash here tonight. Tomorrow, we'll get you a temporary residence permit."
---
**The Next Morning | Wutong Street Community**
The two stepped off the bus and headed toward the community center.
"Why'd we take the bus? You've got a car," Alva asked, confused.
"Part of the job, Alva. We need to stay under the radar. Too many cameras around here. Driving in would make us too noticeable."
"Wait, are we doing something illegal?"
Lucas sighed. "Not illegal, just… not exactly above board. Think of it like this: you weren't doing anything wrong delivering food or standing guard, right? But you still got dragged into trouble because of other people's mess. Same idea here. We're careful so we don't get caught up in something bigger."
Alva nodded, finally understanding. "Got it."
---
**Inside the Community Center**
The building was modest, with only a handful of staff. Lucas approached the front desk with a friendly smile. "Hi, we're here to apply for a temporary residence permit."
The clerk barely looked up. "Documents ready?"
"Right here."
As the clerk began processing the paperwork, Lucas turned to Alva. "You handle this. I need to use the restroom."
Lucas slipped upstairs, entering the office area. He quickly located the event schedule among a stack of files and snapped photos with his phone. By the time he returned, the clerk was still plodding through the paperwork.
---
**That Evening | Dreamville Apartments**
Victor Black sat on his couch, a map and the event schedule spread out on the coffee table. His eyes traced potential routes and locations, his mind calculating every detail.
"If I just wanted Scott Ryder dead, there are multiple opportunities. But to make this big enough to shake the city… it has to be here," he murmured, circling a location on the map.
A faint smile crossed his face. "Consider this a gift, Sebastian. You're welcome."
---
**Meanwhile | Scotland Yard**
Thomas Wilson leaned over the conference table, addressing the team. "The motive angle is our best shot at uncovering the Phantom. We need to focus on it. Mark and Neil are still digging into the Black Town connection, but they're hitting walls. They're going door-to-door now, so we should have answers soon."
Commander James Morrison nodded. "Keep the pressure on them. We need results."
Sebastian frowned. "Did they check the local station's archives?"
"They did," Thomas replied. "But here's the kicker—records from that time are missing. All of them."
Sebastian's eyes narrowed. "That's not a coincidence. Someone's covering their tracks."