Chapter 3
Arthur followed Elena’s sharp gaze toward the idling black sedan. The car’s engine emitted a low, predatory purr that seemed to cut right through the ambient noise of the busy shopping center. As soon as the driver realized they had been spotted, the tinted window zipped upward with a mechanical hum, and the vehicle accelerated out of the lot, tires spitting loose gravel against the asphalt.
"Do you know that car?" Elena asked, her voice clipped and professional.
"No," Arthur breathed, shaking his head rapidly. "I mean, I've never seen it before. But... but someone did talk to me before your shift started. A guy in a suit. He gave me a hundred dollars to keep an eye on you. He said you were trying to steal baby formula for a ring."
Elena’s jaw tightened. The mention of baby formula confirmed her worst fears. Her current internal affairs investigation into corruption within the precinct's logistics division was hitting much closer to home than she had anticipated. Someone inside the department knew she was getting too close to the missing seizure logs, and they were willing to use local retail employees as unwitting mules to plant fabricated contraband and ruin her career.
"They used you, Mr. Stromtron," Elena said, her tone softening slightly from accusation to a stern, grim reality. "If I hadn't carried that badge, I’d be sitting in an interrogation room right now facing felony possession charges, and your store would have backed your story one hundred percent."
Arthur felt a wave of nausea wash over him. He looked down at his nametag, the blue vest suddenly feeling like a scarlet letter. He was a simple man who took pride in keeping his aisles clean and his registers balanced. The thought that he had been manipulated into acting as a corrupt cop's errand boy made him feel physically ill.
"I'm sorry," Arthur said, his voice barely audible over the hum of a passing delivery truck. "I just wanted to do a good job. The manager has been threatening layoffs, and I thought... I thought if I looked sharp, I’d be safe."
Elena sighed, the anger leaving her posture as she adjusted her shoulder bag. She looked at the middle-aged man standing before her and saw a mirror image of working-class desperation being exploited by powerful, unseen hands.
"Keep the packet," Elena instructed quietly, gesturing to the foil item in his trembling hand. "Put it back in your apron pocket. Act like nothing happened. If anyone asks, you lost me in the crowd."
May you like
"What are you going to do?" Arthur asked, panic flickering in his eyes.
"I'm going to find out who bought your loyalty," Elena replied coldly.
