Steemit Challenge s28wk5: "Shadows Behind Stardom"
 |
|---|
Rain was falling that night when Khaled push open the door of the small roadside diner hall at New Jersey. The bell ring kling-kling, and everybody look up. But it was Singh he came for.
The old actor sit a lone on that particular table,eyes red like a person that haven't sleep for days. When he saw Khaled, he hiss.
“You again?” Singh mutter. “Man, please leave me alone. This problem is not an easy one”
Khaled sit down opposite him. “Hmm,Singh, tell me the truth. Why did you retire like a person that was running from ghost?”
Singh look around, his voice low. “Because ghost was chasing me. Real-life ghost—mafia ghost.”
Khaled raise eyebrow. “I don't understand.”
Singh lean forward, hands shaking. “I discover that some producers use flop movies to waste money. Dirty money enter the film budget, and came out clean. I see the accounts. Before I can report it, they send me a message: ‘Retire or we will bury you alive.’”
Khaled blink. “ Are You serious?”
“You think that I am joking?” Singh snap. “They kidnap my daughter for two days. Two days, Khaled! I sign anything they gave me. I run out from Hollywood before they finish me.”
Khaled chest tighten. “So it's fear that makes you to disappear.”
“Fear that can kill a man,” Singh whisper.
From that night, Khaled became a full-time investigator.He move like a shadow—checking bank statements, calling anonymous sources, sneaking into film sets pretending to be extra. One day, he met one junior producer behind a studio warehouse.
“Bro, say the truth,” Khaled said, blocking the guy’s path.
The guy tremble. “I don't know anything!”
“You are lieing,” Khaled reply. “Your name is inside three offshore accounts.”
The guy was break hearing this. “Okay okay! It's Chief Darlington that is running everything. Him and some politicians. But if I talk too much, they will surely kill me.”
Khaled record everything, without the junior producer's knowledge.
Two nights later, as Khaled was driving home, a black SUV appears behind him. The car overtake,and block the road. Two men jump out with big chest, tattoo everywhere.
One knock his window. “Journalist boy, you are finding what haven't lost, come down here”
Khaled swallow but still form bold. “If you guys want to scare me, that means you two are wasting your time.”
The second man augh. “Next time, we won't warn you again. We will act.”
They entered the car and drove off. Khaled was still sitting inside his car afraid but his mind strong. “If they are threatening me, that means I'm close.”
The next day, Khaled storm Chief Darlington mansion. The man greet him with fake smile.
“Khaled my boy,” Chief said, “I heard that you are digging my name. Why?”
“Because your hands are dirty,” Khaled reply, dropping flash drive on table. “All your offshore accounts is here.”
The Chief face changed. “You think that you are wise right? You don't even know the real truth.”
“Which truth?”
Chief lean back. “Singh is not a victim. Its him that start the laundering business. When mafia wanted to cut him out, it was that time he ran.”
Khaled chest freeze. “You are lieing.”
“Check your evidence very well,” Chief said. “You will see his signature everywhere.”
That night, Khaled sit, laptop open, documents everywhere. Truly ,Singh signature is here. But something is off. The handwriting is not steady and clear. Like a person that sign under fear.
He rush go meet Singh the next morning.
“Why is your signature be inside those accounts?” Khaled ask.
Singh eyes fill with tears. “They hold my daughter. They beat me. They force me to sign. I swear I didn't collect one dollar.”
Khaled nod slowly. “I believe you.”
After a week Khaled finally break the story online with evidence, the film production scatter. Politicians deny it. Producers run. FBI storm studios. Mafia members were arrested for different countries. Singh name was clear. People hail him as hero that stand against corruption even when fear wanted to kill him.
 |
|---|
After a while Inspector Boma call Khaled. “We arrest Chief Darlington. But before we reach the station, he confess something.”
“What did he confess?” Khaled ask.
“The mafia is not targeting you again. Somebody inside their group leak documents to you. One of their own.”
Khaled stand by his window, watching cars pass. “Who is this person?”
“We don't know,” Boma say. “But the person do protect you.”
Khaled smile. Somewhere out there, a ghost inside the mafia is fighting from the shadows.
And for the first time, the bright lights of Hollywood can't hide the darkness behind it again.
Cc:
@dove11
Hello @emishael60, thank you so much for taking part in Steemit Challenge Season 28 Week-2. I truly appreciate the time and creativity you put into your entry. Your assessment, including feedback and scores based on my evaluation criteria provided below.