Chapter 14

He looked pretty flustered and just shrugged, "You got me. It's my first time here too. I have no idea about the foot traffic in this area, but let's give it a shot. Making money ain't easy."

The food at these little stalls was usually the same; it all came down to location and timing.

They were usually in busy spots, and different times of the day had different prime locations. Typically, it was during rush hours and after 9 PM, going until 2-3 AM. That was when the most customers showed up, and even without regulars, business was decent.

Judging by how smoothly he drove over, it didn't seem like his first time here. I noticed the dark oil stains on the roadside, which clearly showed this was his usual spot.

As he talked, the owner brought over the burger. I didn't call him out, just pulled out a cigarette my dad had left in my bag and handed it to him.

Seeing the fancy cigarette, he took it with both hands, thanking me over and over, "You're too kind!"

I said, "Seeing you work so hard reminds me of my dad. He was just like you, driving around in all kinds of weather to make a living. It's tough."

He pulled out a lighter, lit the cigarette, took a deep drag, and looked satisfied. The mood lightened a bit. He asked, "So, miss, what brings you here?"

"Looking for a job." I glanced at the small building and made up a reason. "A friend recommended me for an interview here."

He nodded, looking relieved. He took another puff and slowly exhaled, lost in thought. Then he said, "Having a daughter is better; they care about their dads. Sons are useless, just fooling around all day!"

Sensing he had more to say, I quickly added, "Sir, you can't say that. It's normal for men to start their careers late. Many only begin in their thirties or forties. In a few years, he might earn you a building like this."

I pointed to the True Love Entertainment Club building.

He shook his head, "I'd rather my son stay a quiet failure. If he actually builds a place like this, it would be a disaster for our family!"

Hearing this, I knew something was up. I handed him another cigarette, pretending to be surprised, saying, "Is there something wrong with this place? Could my friend have tricked me? Please tell me more."

He took the cigarette, sighed, and said, "You seem kind-hearted. Do you really not know what this place is? Think about the girls coming out of here at this hour every day."

As I suspected, his words confirmed my thoughts.

A standalone entertainment club in a bustling downtown area, with people coming out around 1 PM, living a night-turned-day lifestyle-what else could it be besides a place with hostesses?

It seemed this place had significant issues.

"I'm here for an accounting interview." I pretended to be surprised and slapped my forehead, saying, "Sir, I almost forgot. I saw on the news a few days ago that something happened here. Now, it was shut down."

He sneered, "The shutdown is for show. Lock the front door, but open the back door. It's business as usual. Just wait. People will start coming soon. Miss, I can't comment on your friend, but I advise you to stay away from here."

I replied, "Thank you so much! Otherwise, I wouldn't know what to do next!"

I pulled out the pack of cigarettes and offered it to him. He waved it off, insisting the meal was on the house. I thanked him a bunch of times, packed the burger, and got back in the car.

I didn't drive far, just turned a corner and parked. I got out and hid at the corner, where I had a clear view of the back door of the Entertainment Club.

It didn't take long before a few young girls came out, yawning and with messy hair, looking like they had just woken up. They headed straight for the food stall.

The guy was right. Officially, the place was under renovation, but it was still operating on the down-low. The Entertainment Club's business didn't seem entirely above board.

I remembered the court testimony where a witness said Laura often brought friends to the VIP room on the fourth floor. I thought it was just guests bringing friends in, with the club protecting members' privacy. Now it seemed the club was also involved in organizing prostitution.

Soon, I spotted a familiar face, the first witness in court, the cleaner Tammy.

She looked like she had just finished her night shift, keeping a deliberate distance from the girls who had just come out. Considering her disdainful remarks about Laura bringing friends, she probably looked down on these girls.

She seemed cautious, looking around for a while before pushing her bike from the corner and heading towards the food stall.

I quickly got back in the car and followed her slowly. Passing the food stall, I saw the owner busily preparing food. He greeted me cheerfully when he saw my car, and I nodded, closing the window.

Suddenly, a thought struck me: he seemed utterly unfazed by my return.

Was I overthinking this?

At the fork ahead, afraid of losing Tammy, I cleared my mind and followed her slowly, keeping a distance.

Tammy's home was far from the Entertainment Club. After about half an hour, she finally stopped and chatted with a fruit stall owner.

This place was Sand Village, a village within the city near Technology Road in Silverlight City's development zone. With the city's development, such villages were becoming rare. It was one of the few remaining, well-known in the area.

I had previously covered a case about Sand Village's unresolved demolition issues, which led to conflicts and a large-scale violent incident.

As long as someone knew Tammy, it would be easy to investigate further.

Parking was tough in the village, and it was notorious for its gang presence. Driving a strange car in could cause trouble. So I turned the car around, found a parking lot, and walked to the fruit stall where Tammy had stopped, asking, "Sir, how much for the fruit?"

The owner replied, "Pomelos are in season and selling fast, and the pears are very sweet!"

"Hold on. Let me ask my aunt what she wants." I pretended to call someone by dialing my own number, muttering to myself, "Why isn't she answering? She said she'd wait here. I don't know what she wants. Maybe I'll come back later."

I made a few more calls, carefully selecting fruit.

The owner, seeing a potential sale slipping away, said, "Are you looking for someone here? Ask me. I know everyone!"

I couldn't help but smile. Years of interviewing and tracking people had taught me the ways of these small vendors. I replied, "I'm looking for Tammy. Do you know her? I'm her niece, visiting from out of town."

The owner replied, "I know her very well! We just chatted. Go straight ahead, and turn left at the third alley. It's the fourth door!"