I stayed awake all through the dark hours.
Couln't sleep. Each time I shut my eyes, those digits popped up. A gap of five grand. Tiny if it was just an error. Huge if someone meant to do it.
One person close to me took things that were mine.
By six in the morning, I'd already reached my desk at the main salon. The place sat silent Sunday hit hard that early, so nobody else around except the low rumble of air vents kicking in. Peaceful. That's how I preferred it. Nothing pulling attention elsewhere.
Harold dropped off the complete audit file. I'd sat there sixty minutes, following the cash trail in reverse through the network.
The theft was clever. Complex stuff. The person behind it understood the counting process perfectly. Because they knew what transactions stood out, plus which flew under the radar. Small sums went missing five hundred here, maybe a grand there dumped into separate accounts at odd times.
Hard to spot if you weren't searching.
Yet I started searching just now.
The main link? The money counting area. Each error pointed straight to it. Rico worked there daily he ran the team. Then there was Shareef, helping out, always around. Plus Maya she came by often too.
My chest tightened.
Not her. Had to be someone else. We'd been close forever since childhood days. Put everything into it side by side. To me, she wasn't just a friend, more like kin.
Yet kin let you down just the same often, they're the sole ones able to do it.
I checked the security video from the counting room. Every salon was packed with cameras supposedly for safety, but really to catch anyone trying to sneak stuff out.
Last month kicked things off. I sat through tons of clips on fastforward. There was Rico stacking bills. Meanwhile, Shareef kept track of figures. Nothing seemed out of place.
That's when I spotted it.
Just a tiny detail. Could slip by unnoticed unless you were paying attention.
Rico let go of a pile of cash slipped right through his fingers, easy mistake after handling money nonstop. He leaned down to grab it, quick motion. His gaze jumped toward the security cam though. Only briefly. Not really shame or anything. Just a look. Like confirming someone saw him. A test maybe.
Or checking that he really wasn't.
I saved the video. Then checked it same moment again. That stare. Way too planned. Way too precise.
Kept going through the clips. Separate days. Not the same hour. Every couple of days though, Rico'd make a move leave cash behind, bump a pen off the desk, shift in his seat and right after, he'd glance up at that camera.
He kept looking where he couldn't see.
I opened the layout showing where the cams were set. The counting room was watched by three of them one near the entrance, another aimed at the table, while a third pointed at the vault. Everything in view.
Except.
A little opening existed roughly two feet wide in the corner by the safe, where the views from each angle missed slightly. To spot it, you'd need to be standing just right. Knowing every camera's place down to the inch would help.
One person figured it already.
My phone vibrated. Message from Bishop: Are you awake?
Stirring early. Headed into the shop. Made my way through to the back room.
On my way.
I went back to the video. Moved frame by frame through days of clips then suddenly, spot on, it showed up.
Rico stood right in the dark patch. Back facing the lenses, his frame hiding what was behind. Arms shifting quick. A second later, he walked off as if it never went down.
Did it around five times in three months. Not once on the same day. Never clear what was happening. Just short seconds when he'd slip into that blank spot, make a move I couldn't catch, then return to his task.
Cool headed. Precise. Clearly, he'd learned from someone.
Bishop showed up half an hour late. I'd brewed a cup gross stuff from the office kitchen, still steaming though, packed with caffeine.
"Hey," he said, plopping down in the seat opposite mine.
I spun my laptop to face him then let him see the clip.
"Someone's skimming."
He looked on. Stayed quiet for a while. After that … "Rico."
"Yeah."
"How much?"
"Small amounts. Maybe five grand total over three months. But it's not about the money."
"It's about the principle." Bishop nodded. "Someone's stealing. Someone close."
"Someone who knows the system well enough to do it without getting caught." I paused. "Until now."
"What you want to do about it?"
That's what we were wondering, right?
In my past back when things were different I'd have sacked him. Maybe even phoned the cops. Left it to the authorities instead.
Yet I'd left that life behind for good.
"I need to know why," I said. "Need to know if he's stealing for himself or if someone put him up to it."
"You think someone's using him?"
"I think five thousand dollars isn't enough to risk your life over. Not when you know who you're stealing from." I pulled up Rico's file on my computer. "He's been with me three years. Never had a problem before. Never asked for advances or complained about money. Why start now?"
Bishop shifted closer, eyes on the display. "Kin?"
"Single. No kids. Parents back in DR but he sends money regular that's all documented and clean." I scrolled through his information. "No debts that I know of. No gambling problems. No obvious vices."
"So either he's desperate for something we don't know about…."
"Or someone got to him." I finished the thought. "Offered him money or threatened him or both."
"The Boricua Kings?"
Made sense. Though tiny, they were getting bigger. Based in Spanish Harlem, aiming to push their reach further. Lately, because of that, they'd been shouting about grabbing part of the game.
"Could be." I closed the laptop. "I need you to follow him. Don't let him know. I want to see where he goes, who he talks to, what he does when he's not here."
"How long?"
"However long it takes." I stood up. "But Bishop? Keep it quiet. If he is working for someone, I don't want them knowing we're onto him yet."
"You got it."
He walked out. Then I just stayed put, sitting in my chair, eyes fixed on empty space.
This was what no one warned you about when chasing power the fear that eats at you, the never ending doubts. Because once you rise, everyone around starts feeling like a risk. Not because they are, but because your mind turns friends into shadows. Each laugh? Maybe fake. Each hug? Could hide betrayal. Success doesn't bring peace it brings silence between words.
I trusted Rico, let him handle my cash, my work, my private stuff. Yet here he is, taking things behind my back. Still, I saw it coming.
Maybe having no choice but to do it.
Either way, he'd turn into a problem.
I had to figure out how to handle that.
My phone started ringing, Stone was calling.
"Hey," I answered.
"You still coming tonight?" His voice was rough. Tired. "Because I've been thinking maybe this is a bad idea."
"Cold feet, Detective?"
"Common sense." He paused. "If anyone finds out my captain, your people, anyone we're both fucked."
"Then don't let anyone find out."
"Selina…"
"I need to see you." The words came out more desperate than I intended. "I need…..I just need to not think about any of this for a few hours. Can you give me that?"
Quiet at first. After a pause: "Sure. Sure, I'll handle it."
"Nine o'clock?"
"I'll be here."
We hung up. Right away, I felt bad. Leaning on Stone this way, relying on him to feel better, to look away from everything, or maybe just chasing what's growing between us.
Still, I couldn't stay afloat. Yet he stood out no demands, no hidden wants. Not looking for a ruler, nor someone in charge, not even a founder of grand schemes.
He only had eyes for me.
Even when craving me turned out bad for him.
My PC made a sound. Message from Harold popped up.
Followed the signal. A login hit the tally tool from a remote IP. Rico's details were used, though it wasn't him, he was getting his hair done then. Another person got hold of his codes.
My stomach dropped.
One person broke into our system.
Fwd the email to my techie, a young dude, Danny, dabbles in cyber security stuff. Asked him to track the IP, figure out who got into the system, but keep things lowkey.
This felt larger than expected. Not simply Rico acting foolish or out of options. A stranger had slipped into my setup. Took login details. Quietly siphoning cash and data.
A person had set up a scheme targeting me.
I didn't know who it was.
My phone vibrated. A random caller. That "buddy" once more.
You're closer now yet your view's still incomplete.
Then show me.
What's the point if there's no challenge? You've got brains, Selina work it out yourself.
Is it the Boricua Kings?
They're part of it though not calling the shots. Aim higher.
Dante?
Getting warmer. But not quite. Let's just say someone wanted you distracted. Wanted you looking at small problems while big ones grew in the dark.
I looked at my screen. Figuring out their words took time.
This wasn't about five grand. It was meant to stir up trouble. To get me jumpy. So I'd start doubting those around me.
This was mind games.
So why even say it?
I'm rooting for you. Yet you've got to figure out what's actually going on here. Everyone around you plays deep strategy while you're stuck with basic moves.
Then teach me.
I exist. Focus up.
The talk was over. I stayed put, alone in that bare room, everything suddenly feeling heavier.
One person tricked me. Shifting things on my side. Setting up issues just to see how I'd handle them.
Testing me.
Maybe attempting to crush my spirit.
Rico didn't call the shots, he was used by others. The skim job? Just noise to look away.
The actual danger hadn't shown up yet. Concealed somewhere. Keeping an eye out.
I checked the security video once more. This time, I saw Rico let the cash slip from his hand, his gaze flicked toward the lens, then he stepped right where we couldn't see.
He didn't take anything. Instead, someone else was using him.
Who asked it.
And why.
My phone vibrated again. It was Bishop.
Focused on Rico. Just saw him exit his place. Moving into Spanish Harlem now. Seems jumpy. Should I step in?
No, just watch. Then move. Where does he head?
Copy that.
I shut my laptop. Then took my jacket.
Off to check what Rico's actually doing.
Now I'm figuring out who turned my crew into tools. Let's see what went down behind my back.
It's on show 'em what happens when you cross someone who runs this shit.
Even someone just picking up the basics.