Chapter 9: Falling Off the Wagon

Somewhere in a secure government facility

Agent Daniels prepared for his daily briefing. He carried a set of files with him as he strode toward his supervisor’s office. As per standard protocol, he knocked twice and waited to be called in.

“Come in,” a gruff voice called from the inside.

Agent Daniels pushed open the door and took a seat in front of his supervisor, Director Bishop.

“Daniels, what do you have for me?”

He presented his daily report and then presented an added file on the director’s desk. “Sir, there is something else that needs attention.”

“While tracking suspicious accounts, there is one name that’s flashing repeatedly. The company in question, Global Logistics Inc., is hitting all the red flags for money laundering and shady international deals.”

Director Bishop picked up the file and started reviewing it. “Go on.”

“Well, sir, the records match all our recently observed patterns,” he explained. “But there is something odd. The amounts in question are too small.”

The director sighed and placed the file back on the desk. “Daniels, I appreciate your zeal, but I don’t have enough assets to chase behind every small fish out there. Get your priorities straight. We need to focus on big players.”

Agent Daniels was not satisfied. “I understand, sir, but this is serious. It’s like they are testing waters before they attempt something big.”

Director Bishop shook his head. This was not the first time he had seen a false alarm. “Alright Daniels. Keep watching them, but don’t get too invested in it. Let me know when they hit the threshold or something else appears.”

“Yes, sir.” Agent Daniels picked up the folder and turned to leave. He had a gut feeling. This would be a big break.

Almost a year had passed since James had spoken heart-to-heart with Sarah. She had been unpredictable since their last conversation, and it seemed she had embraced a life of crime. While he was initially concerned about her going astray, his worry had evolved. Now, he feared her growing influence over his business operations. He needed her to either step down or take a break, but he was unsure how to approach the situation.

Despite feeling guilty for pushing her onto this path, he knew that dwelling on the past would be unproductive. He had created a formidable force, and now that force was turning against him.

It was winter again, and Sarah was attending yet another lavish party for James’s clients. The drinks flowed freely as the men and women of various ethnicities and status mingled together. The men were dressed in expensive suits while some women wore designer dresses, and some showed off their beauty in more revealing attire. Sarah moved through the crowd like a ghost, keeping a sharp eye on every interaction. She was not the pawn anymore; she was the player, and she had her goals for the party.

There was a feeling of Déjà vu that gripped her heart when she noticed someone who did not belong there. There was a woman, young and naïve, just like she was once. Her eyes looked glazed as she stumbled between the conversations. Sarah felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. She knew this story too well. She had lived through it.

Sarah kept an eye on her and followed her discreetly when she disappeared upstairs. She barged into the back room, reserved for clients when she found the girl pinned against the wall. Her blood ran cold as a fury rose in her heart as she watched the man trying to run his hands over the girl’s body.

“Hey, get away from her!” she shouted as she pushed the man away and freed the girl from his clutches.

The client looked stunned for a while but then barked, “What the hell? We have a deal, Sarah. Why are you spoiling the mood?”

Sarah was not in the mood to engage with that bastard. She helped the girl get dressed and walked her out of the room. “It’s all right now,” she assured as she walked the girl towards the back exit of the building. “You are safe now.”

She saw James’s goons on the way, but they did not dare to stop her. Sarah knew what she was doing and the consequences, but she did not care. The silent plight of this pitiful girl had awakened her from the nightmare she had been living. After a long, long time, she felt like herself. She had a purpose.

They made out into the chilly night, and she felt the freezing cold air prickling her skin. Sarah welcomed the sensation as it helped her gain the clarity she needed. Walking out of the alley, she called for a taxi.

“Thank you,” the girl whispered. “I thought ... I thought I was trapped...” The girl was still in a daze and not being herself. She stuffed all the cash she had on her in the girl’s purse and helped her get into the taxi. On second thought, she boarded the taxi herself and dropped the girl at the nearby women’s shelter.

The caretaker at the shelter was an old lady in her late sixties. She told the caretaker that the girl had consumed some drugs and was about to get into trouble. The old woman had seen many cases under questionable circumstances and only checked if the girl was harmed in some way. Confirming the girl was fine except for her drugged state, she accepted her in. It won’t be too late to involve the police tomorrow, but only if the girl agrees to it.

“You’ll be safe here for now,” Sarah assured the girl. “Take care of yourself, okay?” With those parting words, she left the girl in the hands of the caretaker.

As she walked back towards the club, Sarah felt alive again. She was back, and she wanted her freedom. The long walk in the snowy night had ignited her fighting spirit, and she felt no fear of consequences. Deep down, she knew that she had won over her demons, and she claimed a part of her dignity back. She had found her purpose again, and she was ready to face James.

James waited in the empty hall, his expression unreadable. The party had long since ended, and he had already dealt with the fallout from Sarah’s reckless behavior. Her reaction today had taken him by surprise. The old Sarah, the one with a kind heart, had resurfaced, and this time she seemed willing to defy him without regard for the consequences.

As Sarah entered the room, her confident stride confirmed his growing concern. He knew he had to distance her from his business, at least for a while. Right now, she was more of a liability than an asset. This situation had provided him with the perfect opportunity to do so. He just had to navigate this conversation carefully and find a way to reason with her.