Sure, his guards switched the license plate to a fake one, but that wasn't her main concern. What she really wanted was to track where he was headed next. Every little detail counted, and this was just the start of piecing everything together.
With purpose, she tapped into five traffic cameras to follow that SUV.
Where was he headed?
La'Ombre Rouge.
La'Ombre Rouge Club was the go-to underground spot in Manhattan, famous for its exclusivity and the secrets it kept hidden. Michael rolled up through the VIP entrance, flanked by two burly bodyguards, while the rest stayed outside, keeping an eye out. Lunel can see in the road CCTV footage that was pointing inside the club. The moment he stepped in, he was hit by a mix of flashy lights and a hint of danger that gave the place its edge.
Meanwhile, Lunel was hard at work, trying to break into the club's internal security system. It was no walk in the park; the place had top-notch encryption and AI defenses designed to kick out intruders. But Lunel wasn't one to back down easily. After a lot of persistence and using her smarts, she finally cracked the code and gained access to all the juicy hidden info.
At 4:57 PM, Michael made his way down the fancy red-velvet hallway, eyes set on Room X. He knew that inside, something important awaited him, and the atmosphere crackled with anticipation.
At exactly 5:03 PM, a sleek black sedan rolled up outside the club, flanked by two SUVs—one in front and one in the back. The moment the car stopped, it caught a lot of eyes.
A woman stepped out, probably in her mid-thirties, and she looked both polished and a bit dangerous. Tall and striking, she had sharp features and bold red lips that really stood out. Her stiletto heels clicked on the pavement, giving her an even more commanding presence. Right beside her were four armed guys, exuding a serious protective vibe as they scanned the area.
As she made her way to the VIP entrance, an electric tension hung in the air, making everyone around feel on edge. Lunel, positioned not too far away, aimed his camera and zoomed in on her face. The facial recognition software fired up, quickly identifying her as Selina Vargas, a name pulled from deep-web chatter that suggested she was a suspected leader in a trafficking ring, beautiful, but definitely someone to be wary of.
The Lunel screen displayed all the CCTV footage, and within Room X, she spotted her with Michael Arthur. She entered the room and walked straight over to Michael, giving him a quick peck on the lips. Smiling, she sat down beside him on the sofa, and they leaned in close. Michael handed her a glass and poured whiskey into it. The two exchanged smirks while holding their whiskey glasses. Lunel was taken aback by their kiss and thought to herself, "So he is with her, too, which means he might also be involved in or even assisting her with trafficking. She is the suspected leader of a trafficking ring."
Their voices were quiet, but she cranked up the audio to catch what they were saying.
Selina said, "Three more shipments just came in. Each one has ten girls. One's from Prague... super young."
Michael Arthur replied, "Send the Prague girl to Russia. They pay a lot for innocence."
Selina laughed, "You can be ruthless when you want to be."
Michael Arthur shot back, "Only with you."
At first, Lunel thought Selina was just passing along the info, but then she was hit by the reality of Michael's response. She thought, "So Michael's the one pulling the strings here, and Selina is his partner. He never really left his shady work. I thought he ditched all of this for his wife and daughter, but here he is, flirting and messing around with another woman." She chuckled softly, but then the worst thing hit her.
Six girls were brought into the club through the back entrance. They were blindfolded, with their hands and mouths taped shut, all wearing the same shiny silver dresses and barefoot. They had no choice in the matter.
The girls were led into the same room, Room X, their faces displaying pure fear and no signs of resistance.
A little while later, Michael Arthur leaned in and whispered something to Selina. He pulled her close and kissed her deeply, as if they had done so many times before. However, it was becoming increasingly clear that this situation was about more than just cheating; he was seriously involved in trafficking.
He was selling young girls and engaging in secret dealings with a broker, all while maintaining the facade of a perfect family man. It was like living a double life, and the contrast was chilling.
Money changed hands in stacks of crisp bills, whispering of shady deals. Selina was no stranger to the black market; she had a knack for tracking serial numbers through hidden routes of crime.
They laughed as if it were all just a game, while guards mercilessly dragged the girls away, their frightened faces haunting her.
Lunel sat still, her fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Anger bubbled inside her, ready to explode, as she watched the CCTV footage of the guards dragging the girls away and Selina and Michael laughing as if they were doing something virtuous.
With determination, she opened her soft-board database and typed out two names in bold red font, urgent and serious:
MICHAEL ARTHUR
SELINA VARGAS
Underneath, she listed everything she knew about them:
- Smuggling
- Trafficking
- Club La'Ombre Rouge, their shady hangout
- Financial black channels, making it all possible
- Relationship confirmed, deeper than anyone knew
- Fake loop surveillance to hide their tracks
- Ghost clean-up crew, erasing any evidence of their actions
She couldn't take her eyes off the screen, her heart pounding with a mix of anger and satisfaction. There he was, lit up by the harsh glow of her monitor, a smug smile on his face, completely unaware of what was brewing. She had him right where she wanted him, and that rush of power was everything.