Semua Bab FASHION AND CRIME: Bab 51 - Bab 60

Lusso’s mouth almost dropped; it wasn’t what he was expecting. “Occupation,” he read aloud. “Runs an online fashion boutique. Specializes in vintage accessories and styling. Not a designer, but still in the fashion world.”Macholo let out a short breath and crossed his arms. “If she’s in fashion, then maybe she’s nothing. Just curious. Maybe she heard the name somewhere and thought it was cool.”Tellan shook his head slowly. “No, boss. I don’t buy it. She was too careful, and I believe she didn’t come just to party. She came to find something.”Macholo looked at Tellan, and then turned to Lusso. “We still need to keep an eye on her. Just in case. Let the don decide what happens next. If he says move, we move.”Lusso nodded. “I’ll flag her name and activity. If she books another night club or tries digging again, we’ll know.”“Good,” Macholo said. “Let’s wrap up for tonight.”Tellan grabbed his jacket and gave Lusso a pat on the back. “Thanks, man. You saved my skin.”“No problem,” Lu

After a few minutes of driving, Russell drove through the gates of his house and parked his car. The yard was quiet, and he stepped out slowly, his mind was still full of questions.He walked to the front door and unlocked it. The soft smell of food drifted from inside the house.“Wendy?” he called gently as he stepped in.“I’m coming! Just a minute,” Wendy replied.Russell walked in and saw her at the dining table. She was setting plates and placing bowls of food down, her apron still tied around her waist.“Hey,” Russell said. “Has Sylvania come back yet?”Wendy paused, holding a spoon in her hand. She looked up at him.“No, she hasn’t. Aunt Sylvania’s not home yet,” she said.Russell blinked in surprise. “She’s not home?”Wendy shook her head. “I thought maybe she was with you.”“No,” Russell muttered, now more confused.He rubbed the back of his neck and slowly walked to the bar counter. He opened the small fridge, pulled out a cold bottle of beer, and popped the cap off. Then he

Wendy closed the gate slowly and turned around. Her steps felt heavier than usual as she walked back into the house. The morning sun was shining through the windows, lighting up the rooms, but to Wendy, everything felt a little dimmer.She tied her apron around her waist and went into the kitchen. The smell of breakfast was still in the air. She picked up the plates from the table and started clearing them, her hands were moving without thinking, and her mind was far away.She kept picturing Sylvania’s face; she looked calm, but with something sad behind her eyes. Wendy could still hear her voice, it was soft, but there was something that felt like she was in pain: “Maybe I won’t come back.”She stopped for a moment and leaned on the counter. Her eyebrows pulled together, and she let out a slow breath. “Where could she be going?” she whispered to herself.Wendy picked up a dish and started washing it, and she dipped her hands in warm soapy water. A little frown was still on her face,

Zagaff frowned. “Who is that?”“Her name is Kamala Reynolds,” Macholo said. “Tellan spotted her at Club Mirage. We did a little digging, but it looks like she’s hiding something.”Zagaff stared at the photo, then looked at Macholo. He leaned back in his seat, his eyes still on the picture of Kamala wearing his name across her chest.“So,” he said, lifting his eyes to Macholo, “what did we find out about this Kamala Reynolds?”Macholo stood straight, with his hands behind his back. “She told Tellan she works in fashion,” he said. “That’s all we’ve got for now, but me and the team we’re still digging.”Zagaff gave a slow smirk and nodded. “Interesting, here’s someone walking into my world, brave enough to wear my name… even without knowing who I really am.”He paused, tapping his fingers on the armrest. “That’s the kind of power I like; a name that speaks for you in the shadows. Even though I sit here quietly, my name is making noise in the streets.”Macholo gave a small nod, but said n

Sylvania pulled the laptop back onto her lap and leaned in. Her eyes narrowed as she returned to what she had been searching before; the Business Gala guest list. She scrolled past a few names, most of them familiar to anyone who had ever followed New Haven’s business world.But then one name made her pause.Anna Holland.Her eyes widened just a little, it wasn’t just a name; it was the city’s most respected female mogul when it came to business.She clicked on it, and a long profile opened. There was a photo that showed a tall woman in a cream jacket. Her arms were crossed, and she stood in front of a glass tower. She looked proud, and her lips were curved in a small smile, the kind that said “I built this.”Sylvania scrolled further and the profile stretched.CEO of Holland Enterprises. Founder of WomenBuild; a program that supports women in tech and fashion start-ups.Named one of the Top Ten Most Influential Women in Business in the country. Known for turning small ideas into suc