Chapter 159 Avoiding Problems
Alexander got interested in this "missing person case" because he heard Zephyr had recently gotten close to William. They were likely to form a deep partnership, and Alexander saw a chance to hit William hard. He knew the hatred between them was beyond repair after Terry and Tyler died and Benjamin was executed. Instead of waiting for the other side to strike first, he thought it was better to act now.
But as he got more involved with the victim's family, his mindset started to shift.
The old man's family had five members: two elders, two young adults, and a little boy not even three years old. The young couple's wages from the Barbie Club barely covered daily expenses. The old man, who adored his grandson, often took odd jobs to improve the family's meals. Life was tough, but they had their own small happiness.
Then the young couple's incident shattered the family.
The little boy still needed care, the old lady fell ill and was bedridden, and the old man was left to support the family alone. He was sleepless, grieving his son, and fighting a legal battle for justice.
But how long could this last?
In another six months, or even just three, how would these elderly people without a stable income support themselves and the child?
Alexander and his team stood in the living room, looking at the helpless old man, the bedridden old lady, and the child. They were deeply moved. At that moment, their selfishness turned into anger.
They were not cops. But if they were, there would always be a time and place where they felt the responsibility the job brought.
Alexander glanced at the child and the old lady in the bedroom, then turned to John and the others. "Who has money now? Let's pool some together for the kid."
They were all poor and couldn't be said to have noble self-sacrificing personalities, but they at least shared the same feelings. They pooled together over a hundred dollars and put it on the table.
"Sir, you didn't catch me when I had money," Alexander said with a smile to the old man. "If it were half a month ago, I might have had some money, but now I really don't have much. This isn't much, but buy something for the kid."
The old man stared at Alexander, stunned.
"Take it," Alexander pushed the money towards him and said softly, "I'll look into the case. If I find anything, I'll let you know."
"Thank you all," the old man said, his eyes full of gratitude.
Ten minutes later.
In the car.
As they headed to the police station, Alexander and his team discussed the case.
"This case, if we investigate it openly, will be hard to handle," Alexander said, puffing on an e-cigarette. "Zephyr has some background. If word gets out, we might face strong resistance."
"Yeah." John nodded.
"Quietly look into the people at the Barbie Club," Alexander instructed after some thought. "The old man said many people there know the situation."
"Alright, I'll try to make contact tonight and call you if I get any information."
"Okay." Alexander nodded.
Around 8 PM.
John arranged a meeting with a manager from the Barbie Club through a friend and informed Alexander.
In the car.
The manager politely extended his hand to John and Alexander. "Nice to meet you both."
"Hello."
"Hello."
They each shook his hand, and the manager asked with a grin, "Is there anything you need from me?"
"Yeah," John responded first. "We're investigating a case and need some information from you."
The manager was taken aback but smiled. "Of course! Anything for the police. Ask away, and I'll help as much as I can."
"I didn't bring a notebook. Can I record this?" John asked.
"Sure," the manager agreed readily.
John took out a recorder and turned to Alexander, nodding. "Shall we start?"
"Yes, go ahead."
"Is there a server named Dominic Warren at the Barbie Club? His wife, Lily Nelson, also works there," Alexander asked softly.
The manager was stunned.
"Do you know them?" Alexander waited a moment and repeated the question.
The manager glanced nervously at John and replied with a forced smile, "What case are you investigating?"
"These two people are missing," Alexander responded vaguely. "Someone reported it to us, causing a fuss, so we were assigned to look into it."
"Sir, I really don't know much about this case and can't help," the manager said slyly, "Maybe you should ask someone else?"
"You're the front desk manager at the Barbie Club. Are you sure you don't know anything about this?"
"Yeah."
"Do you know Dominic and his wife?"
"Yes, I know them," the manager hesitated before nodding. "But I really don't know how they went missing."
Alexander scrutinized the manager's expression, then turned off the recorder and said gently, "It's just the three of us here. No one will know if you tell us something."
The manager hesitated but still shook his head. "I really don't know."
"Give me some information, and I'll owe you a favor," Alexander said, frowning. "I told you, it's just us here. I'm not recording. Just tell us what you know, and we'll be friends."
The manager blinked rapidly, hesitated for a long time, then pointed at the recorder and asked, "Is it really off?"
Alexander, taken aback, tossed the recorder to him. "Here, you hold it."
The manager sighed and said helplessly, "You both seem sincere, so let me give you some advice: don't investigate this case."
Alexander's eyes lit up. "So you do know something."
"Don't ask. I won't say another word about this case," the manager said, looking at Alexander. "I'm just a small manager, struggling to survive. I can't afford to get into trouble."
"Can money change your mind?" Alexander probed.
"Even if you gave me a hundred thousand dollars, I wouldn't get involved," the manager said firmly.
The car fell silent.
After a moment, the manager opened the car door and said, "I have to go. If you ever come to the Barbie Club, look for me. I'll take care of you."
John called out, "Buddy, do you know why Zephyr can act so recklessly? It's because too many people like you turn a blind eye, letting him get away with it. I'm not asking you to testify, but can't you give us some information privately?"
The manager paused.
"Dominic's son is not even three years old, his mother is seriously ill, and his father can't make a living," John said, his voice trembling. "If this case isn't solved, they won't get any compensation. It won't just be two people dead; the whole family of five will be ruined."
The manager clenched his fists, hesitated for a long time, and then said, "No matter what you say, I won't get involved. But if you must investigate, look for Cade Foster at the club. He's a friend of Dominic's and knows a lot."
With that, the manager left.
Around 1 AM.
Cade, after his shift, sat in a small food stall, nervously looking at Alexander. "Dominic's father, Uriel, has asked me a few times, but I really don't dare to say anything."
"If no one comes forward with detailed information, we can't investigate," Alexander sighed. "Dominic and his wife will die in vain."
Cade, sweating, drank a few sips of water and asked, "Can you really guarantee my safety?"
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