The Royal Contract

Everybody went with their business while they tried not to meddle with anyone’s affairs as they kept quiet inside their car, at least toned down their voices.

“You know I can do this alone.” His friend said as they sat in the car, parked not far from their target. But not close enough for anyone to spot him.

“I know you can.” He answered, sounding slightly condescending. He did not doubt that his friend could handle the simple surveillance task. But that was not his reason for coming with him.

“You are taking too many risks by being here.” His friend reminded him, looking concerned for his safety and probably his too.

Mike had continued to disagree with his plan, which was rare in the long time they had been working together. Most of the time, they were in sync on what they should do. Occasionally, Mike would add a few ideas to make it better.

But today, he did not like what he had come up with. “It is suicide.” Those were his words when he first heard of his intentions. “You might as well serve your head on a platter.” He exaggeratedly shouted, looking more agitated.

But he disagreed with his friend and partner. He had a terrific strategy if his friend would only pull his head out of his ass and listen. However, it might take a while before Mike would listen to reason.

“I know what you are thinking, and I agree. There must be another way. But at this moment, this is the easiest. It is risky, but if we do it right. It might pay off.” He explained to his friend as he took out his binoculars and scanned the area for their target. But he still could not spot him.

.....

He already had sufficient evidence to bring down the organization he used to rule for years based on the files he took from the warehouse. But was it good enough? No, he assumed it was not.

He did not have enough proof to implicate the new leader of their group and some of his new associates in any of the criminal acts done by the syndicate. Somehow, they had managed to stay away from the authority’s radar and had been cautious in their recent activities.

His enemies had always been one step before him, leaving him guessing their next move and trying to catch up. But he managed to turn the table. This time, he had the upper hand. But he had to play this right, not wanting to waste this precious opportunity to bring down his enemies and finally free himself from the prison his father locked him in.

“Maybe they are still testing if you are trustworthy,” Gerald concluded when he shared his finding with his friend, Mike. “Don doesn’t easily trust anyone.” He knew the man since the older man had been his mentor.

So far, from what they gathered, he could not find a file to link the man that had betrayed him and the people who helped him along the way to his downfall.

He did not care if they wanted him out of the organization. He did not mind if they tried to kill him. He knew what he signed up for when he took over leading the group. He knew the risk. He was ready to die but not without a fight.

Nevertheless, he believed it was not the issue here. It was not his life that he wished to protect but the innocent people who ended up in the crossfire, like Haley and his child.

“I thought I was convincing enough, but you are probably right. Killing you seem inadequate to persuade Don and his partners that I am on their side.” Mike finally understood one of his points. “They knew I was loyal to you, so if I can betray you, then I can also betray them.”

That would sum up what he thought of his friend’s situation. That was why until now, they would not include him in the inner circle. They needed a new plan and fast.

Now, they had to get to their heads, find more details about them and learn how to expose their plans. They needed compelling evidence that would stick in the justice system, so they would never escape, using the law as their shield.

If not, he would have no choice but to eliminate them if that was his only choice to keep Haley and his child safe. He had killed before. He would not have second thoughts about doing it again, even if he went to jail and burned in hell.

“Therefore, we have to find something else.” He said, feeling the pressure of the authorities, who were breathing behind his back. “And I can’t keep risking you going into the lion’s den, knowing they would never learn to trust you.”

The authorities wanted the results, but he was not ready to give those files to them until he had everything he needed. That was the only way to guarantee his freedom and the safety of the people he loved.

And he could not sacrifice his friend for his happiness. They were in this together, and they would either die together or escape their dark past together. He would never turn his back on his best friend.

“I think I saw Haley’s father.” His friend pointed to the door of the building that they had been watching since they had arrived earlier.

He quickly took his binoculars and assured himself that it was the man he wanted to see. It was him. He watched the older man ride a limousine parked alongside the road. Then, the car moved in the other direction.

“Quickly, we need to follow him. I think he will lead us to their new hideout.” Gerald told his friend who was behind the wheel.

Soon, they were a few cars behind the black car that was about to turn to the left. He only hoped the traffic light would not change to red, or they might lose him.

Thankfully, they managed to turn in the same direction before the traffic stopped the other cars behind them. Cautiously, they followed the car that was cruising in the light traffic.

“Do you think he would lead us to Don and Michael?” Mike asked as he maneuvered the car behind the other vehicles, careful not to put attention on themselves.

The last thing they needed was to alert the other car that they were following them. Fortunately, Mike was an experienced driver. He knew how to handle the other cars smoothly without causing too much raucous.

Then, the limousine stopped at what looked like a factory or a warehouse. He was not sure since he had never been to this place before. This place must be a new acquisition by the group. But he doubted that this belonged to Mr. Rosley since he had him investigated before.

“What now?” His friend asked as they parked the car from a safe distance where nobody would notice them.

He took his binoculars and scouted the place, watching the men’s movement around the perimeter, at least those he could see from his vantage point. So far, he confirmed that this was a stash house, judging from the high-powered weapons some of them carry.

He believed they were using this as a drop point for their deliveries before they shifted them to their other locations or buyers. But this could only be one of them.

He needed the entire list and the schedule, just like the one they had intercepted. Then, he could finally set up a plan for their entrapment.

“We observe.” He guessed that was the best they could do at the moment.

He was lucky that he had found this spot in the first place. It would be easy to pinpoint the rest of the warehouse. But he still needed that list. He believed he might have an idea of how to get one.

But first, he had to give something to the authorities so they would stop hounding him. He took pictures of the place, hoping that would be enough for the law enforcers to provide him more time to build his case against his former group.

“Wait, do you see that other car entering the premises?” Mike asked him, making him shift his eyes from the building to the front area by the guarded gate.

It looked familiar, but he was not surprised anymore since he had dealt with him before. That was when he was still in the business. “He will be the key to the Kingdom.” He said, already concocting a plan to get the information he needed about the group.

He looked at his friend, and Mike nodded, agreeing with him this time. Finally, he had a plan in place.