The drive to the address took exactly 10 minutes. Sofia and Kane had left the office at 6:45p.m., arriving five minutes early. Sofia never kept anyone waiting — especially not a client like the Governor. First impressions mattered. Her line of work demanded trust and precision.
Kane, revolver secure in his left jacket pocket, was alert as always. He made sure they weren't being followed.
The address from the Governor's office wasn't a government building. It was a private estate, tucked behind a row of tall cypress trees on the outskirts of Beverly Hills — quiet, secluded, and invisible to the press.
"Miss Russo," Kane said, glancing at the GPS. "According to the map, we've arrived at our destination. But… I don't see a gate. Are you sure we are at the right place?"
Sofia picked up her phone to confirm, just then it pinged. A message from the Governor's office.
Send your car's license number.
Sofia sent it and the cameras on the wall that they were facing captured the car's license.
Surprisingly, the wall they thought they were seeing was actually a gate that rumbled gently and slid open. The "wall" was a disguised gate. Sofia had once heard of camouflage gates but she had never seen one.
They drove through. The mansion beyond was simple —understated would be a better word— but screamed money. Discreet cameras dotted the perimeter. Two guards in black suits directed them to park. Sofia and Kane stepped out of the car and walked toward the house. As they approached the entrance, they were met by another man in black. The man searched them both for weapons. On finding Kane's revolver, he produced a small silver tray and extended it towards Kane. Kane placed the revolver on the tray without a word and the man kept it away.
"Miss Russo, Mr..." He looked at Kane and nodded. "This way, please."
He led them into another section of the house. The hallway was dimly lit, lined with dark oak and minimalist decor. A grand piano set sat quietly in the corner– it looked like it hadn't been played in years.
Finally, they reached the study.
The Governor was waiting, tall and silver-haired. He stood looking across the windows. He turned as they entered.
"Welcome to my humble abode, Miss Russo. And you are?" He looked at Kane in inquiry.
"Mr. Kane. Elias Kane."
"Thank you for coming," the Governor gestured towards two seats, motioning for them to sit.
"Denis," he called, referring to the man in the black suit. "Please bring my visitors something to drink."
He turned to Sofia, "Coffee, I assume?"
"Milk and 2 sugars."
The Governor smiled faintly, then looked at Kane.
"Tea would be fine." Kane said.
"You heard them, Please bring me tea as well." the Governor said, referring to his butler. When the man left, silence filled the room.
They waited for Denis to come back, so the meeting could go uninterrupted.
With the cups of tea and coffee on the table in front of each, the Governor began.
"Two senators died in less than a week. Both from key districts. Both… close to me."
He hesitated, glancing briefly toward Kane.
"You can speak freely," Sofia said coolly. "He can be trusted, he won't be a bother."
The Governor nodded. "Then I'll be blunt. I'm being watched. My calls, my home, even the staff in my office. Someone inside the legislature is trying to cripple my administration before the elections. The killings are a warning."
Sofia leaned back. "And you think they'll come for you next."
"I know they will."
For a moment, the only sound was the soft ticking of a clock on the mantel.
Sofia's gaze flicked toward a photo on his desk — the Governor with his wife and two children, all smiling. The kind of picture that would look tragic on a news banner.
She looked back at him. "If you're right, Governor, this isn't a PR problem. It's a containment problem."
He gave a humorless smile. "That's why I called you. I'll need you to do two major things, suppress the media and get me the names of the killers.
She tilted her head. "That I can do,
Sir. I won't be meeting with you again until I know the kind of people involved, due to obvious reasons.
The Governor sighed in understanding.
Sofia glanced at Kane — still silent, unreadable — then back at the Governor.
Finally, she said, "I'll send you a secure line and a burner phone through which we can send information. I'll mail you details on how the payment would be made."
He nodded slowly, as if he'd expected that. Then he reached into his pocket and slid a small flash drive across the table.
"This," he said quietly, "never leaves your sight. What's on it… ties all of them together."
Sofia looked at it for a moment before taking it. "Understood."
The Governor rose, extending his hand again. "I trust your discretion."
She shook it once more. "Discretion is my business."
When she turned to leave, Kane opened the door without a word. They walked back the way they came and Kane retrieved his revolver from the butler, who they now knew as Denis.
"Miss Russo, this is very dangerous. Mr Giovanni, your father would not approve." Kane said in the car on their way back to the office.
"I don't remember asking for your opinion. Just drive." Sofia commanded.
He did.
But as the city lights blurred past, Sofia felt the unease stirring again — a quiet tug in her gut. Something was not right. She couldn't figure out what it was, but she'd always trusted her instincts.
The Governor must have said something that prickled the back of her neck. But what was that?