Chapter 8: Into the Abyss
Heart thumping in her chest, Isabel gazed at the message on her phone. "The real threat isn't Marcus—it's closer than you realize." On the screen, the words appeared to pulse, each one appearing heavier than the previous. By whom had it been sent? And by "closer," what did they mean exactly?
Her initial thought was to give Alexander a call, but she was momentarily stopped. What if Alexander hadn't yet revealed to her that this message was related to something more profound? The suspicion that had been brewing since their encounter with Victor reappeared, more powerful than before.
Isabel's mind was racing as she held the phone tightly. She should have taken time to collect her thoughts before making such a snap decision. Even though Marcus Drake had before demonstrated his ability to connect with them in unexpected ways, this message felt distinct and more targeted. She was unaware of something that the person in charge knew.Isabel took a deep breath and turned on her laptop at her desk. She opened her email, her fingers dangling over the keyboard. Maybe there was a signal in the most recent email from the foundation that she had missed. As she searched for anything that might be related to Marcus or his friends, nothing noteworthy came to mind. Contributions, requests for interviews, offers of cooperation—all of this seemed ordinary.
Isabel scratched her temples in frustration. She felt completely overwhelmed by the scenario and out of her element for the first time. She had dedicated her life to laying the groundwork and championing things she was passionate about, but it now felt as though she was losing control of everything.
She looked for Marcus Drake on a new tab that she opened. The television was loaded with the same stories, gossip, and scandals from previous years. Not that anything new had come to light about him. She was aware, though, that Marcus wasn't working by himself. He knew people, and he could get them to do his dirty business. Maybe she could outsmart him if she could figure out who they were.
Isabel took a little break. What would happen if she answered the message? What if the sender—whom we don't know—was a possible ally? Or even worse, a different adversary luring her into a trap? She needed to exercise caution. She quickly typed a bland response in response.
"Who is this? "Closer than you realize"—what does that mean?
She clicked send after hesitating. Although her gut told her that this was risky, she decided that it was better than waiting in the dark. She remained silent for a moment as the message was conveyed.
Isabel woke up the following morning feeling anxious and knotted in her stomach. She had been rolling over and over all night, reading the message over and over in her mind. The sender who has not been named has not responded. They might have been waiting for her to move, or it might have been a one-time threat. Isabel realized she could not afford to ignore it, whatever the situation. Her phone rang again when she was almost halfway through her morning coffee. A second message from the unknown number had her pulse skip a beat.
"Meet me tonight. 9 PM. Pier 32. Come alone."
Isabel's hand shook as she read the note. The dock? It was a lonely section of the city's waterfront, free of the shiny structures and busy streets. If you didn't want to be identified, you didn't go there.She knew she should have told Alexander, but something prevented her. This was no longer solely Marcus's concern. The person who had delivered this message was obviously playing a different game, and she wasn't sure if Alexander's intervention would help or not. Isabel's mind was racing with questions. Was it a trap, perhaps? If she went somewhere she couldn't get out of, what would happen? But what if this person knew the key to unlocking Marcus's plot? She was running out of time, and she was running out of options.
About 8:30 p.m., Isabel drove near the dock, her nerves frazzled. The city lights went off as she entered the town's industrial district, and the streets grew more and more deserted as she got closer to the lake. The air was heavy with the stench of salt and rot. She parked her car and drove the last few blocks, her footfall echoing in the empty street. Pier 32 loomed ahead, a jagged outline of crumbling concrete and rusting metal. Beyond it, in the faint glow of distant city lights, the black ocean stirred. With a shudder running down her spine, Isabel wrapped her cloak closer about her. In the message, it stated to come by yourself. She observed around, scanning the shadows, but the pier seems abandoned.
She noticed him almost at the end of the pier; he was a figure standing close to the edge, facing away from her. His features were hidden by the darkness, but he was tall and had broad shoulders. Isabel's pulse pounded. Was this the individual who'd sent the texts? If so, why would they meet in a location this lonely?
Isabel stopped a few feet away, her voice steady but firm. "I'm here. Who are you?"
The figure turned slowly, and Isabel's breath caught in her throat.
It wasn't a stranger. It was Victor.
"You?" Isabel's voice was filled with disbelief. "You sent the messages?"
Victor gave her a slow, unsettling smile. "Surprised? I thought you would be. But trust me, Isabel, you needed to know the truth."
Isabel's mind raced, trying to make sense of it. "What truth? You said Marcus was the threat."
Victor drew nearer, his eyes gleaming with something darker than she had ever seen. Marcus is dangerous, but so is everyone else. You see, Isabel, this is a bigger game than you realize. Alexander omitted certain information from you. There are secrets in his possession that could destroy you both. Isabel experienced a twist in her stomach. "What are you discussing?" Victor's expression hardened. "Are you really saying that Alexander is the hero in all of this? that he's just an unfortunate businessman caught in Marcus's crossfire? No, Isabel, he and Marcus are both responsible for this. Possibly even more. Isabel felt the ground tilt beneath her feet. "You're not telling the truth."
Victor grinned more broadly. "Who am I? Consider it. You're not aware of Alexander's connections. He has engaged in dishonest business dealings and works with dishonest individuals. Do you think Marcus is the only one who can play dirty? Alexander shows no compassion. He just conceals it better; that's the only difference. Isabel dismissed it with a shake of her head. You're only attempting to control me. Why can I trust anything you say? Victor's smile vanished as his face became serious. "I don't need your belief. But reality is unavoidable. You should have been warned, I believe. You don't know how close the actual threat is. You may not know Alexander as well as you believe. Furthermore, if you don't start asking the right questions, you're going to find yourself in even deeper trouble than you already are."
Isabel balled her hands into fists. "Why are you revealing this to me? How does it benefit you?
Something cold and calculating flickered in Victor's eyes. Let's just say that I have explanations. It's not just Marcus that I wish to see fall. When the time comes, Alexander's own skeletons will be revealed.
Isabel stepped back, her thoughts racing. Is that possible to be true? Is Alexander truly keeping something from her, something even more sinister than Marcus's actions? She pondered over the secrets he had previously revealed to her and his attempts to keep her away from the less pleasant aspects of his existence. But was that a loving gesture, or was there another, darker motive?
She was thinking until Victor's voice interrupted her. "Be extremely considerate, Isabel. Now you have to make a choice. One path leads to Marcus, whereas a different one goes straight to Alexander. You also need to ascertain which hazard is more dangerous. With her heart pounding in her chest, Isabel turned her back on Victor and gazed out at the dark lake. Her choices were immensely convoluted, and every action she took further entangled her in a web of betrayal and deceit.
Even though she had come here looking for answers, all she had found instead was more doubt and the disturbing possibility that the guy she had come to trust might be hiding far more than she had ever dreamed. Moving through the cool night air back into the city, Isabel realized that her altercation with Marcus was only a fraction of the greater struggle. Maybe that person standing next to her is the real enemy.