Digging Deeper

Far away, Maria's flower shop glowed weakly with dim light as Ethan paced outside, clutching the paper she had handed him. The name "The Meridian" was scrawled on it, a place that promised danger and potential answers. But, however tempting it may have been to head directly into the club, Maria's warning echoed to him: *"These people will take the necessary steps to protect themselves."*

Ethan couldn't afford another blind move. He desperately needed more information before he walked into the den of ultimate danger. Maria mentioning a politician, someone with connections to the case, was playing in his head on repeat. If this shadowy figure was connected to the city's power structures, there was only one small time who fit the description: Alan Calloway.

Ethan spent the next several hours researching the name. The man's public image was flawless: dedicated to working on the city's infrastructure, fighting corruption, and supporting community programs. But Ethan had learned long ago not to believe everything that glittered. Calloway had climbed the ranks too quickly, his spotless reputation too convenient.

It had proved challenging to delve deep into the history: a significant bulk of his records were set in, or highly redacted to even public accounts. It seemed like every direction that Ethan headed in his investigation resulted in a dead end. And then he noticed a trend: His real-estate dealings.

One of the properties he claimed was an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town, proximal to where the first crime Ethan had investigated long ago had taken place. It was a tenuous connection, but Ethan couldn't let it go. If Calloway was involved, this warehouse could be the key.

Ethan made the decision to confront the problem: doing nothing wouldn't get answers, and with each passing day he became weaker. That evening he found himself one traffic light away from city hall the beautiful building that contained its office.

Breaking in wasn't an option that Ethan trifled with, but when all else fails, to compromise is unavoidable. He had come prepared: gloves, an electric lamp, and a Unit that can open locks he hadn't touched in years. The skills he'd learned during his time on the force, however rusty, still came to him with ease.

The city lobby was somberly still at dusk, its fine hallways bathed in the faint glow of emergency lighting. Ethan stayed in the shadows, his steps silent on the cleaned floors as he moved toward the city mayor's office on the third floor, his heart beating very fast with each creak of the building's old structure.

The way to Calloway's office was locked, but not for long. Ethan worked fast, his hands steady despite the coursing of adrenaline in his veins. The lock clicked open, and he slipped inside, shutting the door behind him.

The office was immaculate, every surface meticulously aligned. It did not appear to be the working space of a man possessing inside information, but Ethan knew better. He wasted no time, searching the drawers, file cabinets and the computer right in front of Calloway.

For a while, it seemed like a wasted effort. Everything he discovered was either irrelevant or carefully prepared to maintain its public image. Then, hidden in a drawer buried under a pile of innocuous documents, Ethan discovered an envelope marked with a single word: *Confidential*.

He did so, and his eyes scanned the documents within. Most of it was just a list of donors, a few meeting schedules until he found an index: a detailed schematic of the abandoned warehouse Ethan had previously seen, along with notes and dates that fit within the timeline of the original case.

Underneath the guide was another record one which made Ethan's blood run cold. It was a request from Calloway endorsed for "safety efforts" at the distribution center, dated only days before the case that demolished Ethan's profession.

Ethan's hands shook as he snapped photos of the archives with his telephone. This was all there was to it resistant that Calloway was associated with the situation. Yet, before he could get done, the sound of strides reverberated in the lobby outside.

Ethan froze, his breath getting in his throat. The strides developed stronger, more conscious, and afterward halted right external the workplace entryway.

He moved quickly, tucking the organizer back into the cabinet and closing it unobtrusively. His eyes scoured the space for a road of departure, but the main choice was the window.

The handle rattled, and he knew he had no time. He flung the window open and pushed. A cool inrush of night air swept in. Below him, there was a narrow ledge - little more than a bracket - still it was his best hope.

As the gate creaked open, Ethan stepped out onto the sill, pressing himself flat against the wall. He stopped his breathing, his heart thudding as a security guard entered the office.

The Security Man's flashlight swept the room and stopped on the open window. Ethan's heart scurried as the light wavered, but the guard only muttered something about broken catches and turned back to the desk.

Ethan waited until the gatekeeper had left the room and the entrance clicked shut before making any movement. Carefully, he reversed his way through the window and exited the building, his movements quick and silent.

Back in his car, Ethan finally let his guard down. He sat there for a moment, clenching the phone with the images he had captured. This wasn't just a lead… it was a sure evidence.

Yet, as the adrenaline wore off, one more fear crept in. Whoever was behind this had already taken extreme precautions to keep their secrets hidden. If they discovered Ethan had this evidence, they wouldn't stop at threatening notes or a break-in.

Ethan started the car, his mind racing. He needed to move fast. Maria had mentioned The Meridian as a hub for the city's elite and its underworld. If Calloway had connections there, it was time to follow the trail.

Shaking off the feeling became very hard for him, even until now that he's being followed. The dark streets seemed very unsafe and scary around him as he drove home…

The truth was, Ethan really understood the stakes of what he was uncovering. This wasn't just about proving his innocence anymore; it

was about surviving long enough to expose the truth.