"Forgive me for intruding," Reilly said."But I understand that the Editor-in-Chief at the Blog Street Journal has tasked you with finding out what really goes on in the City. So I took the liberty of an early flight from New York to meet you. I suspect you are in need of some help, if you are to get far."

"I see." Helga looked at him through narrowed eyelids. "And why should you care to help me?"

"It is in my interests to know things. As it is for you. And if there is more than one individual working towards the same goal, but independently, it will make it more difficult for either to be discovered. The two, acting without collusion, create confused and interwoven trails that are harder then to piece together."

Helga looked up at him skeptically, noting he still had not taken a seat.

"Tonight you will receive a note via courier from a member of the Cartel, offering you a job as a singer in their lounge. Take the job. And keep your eyes and ears open. And if you have any troubles," Reilly said, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a calling card, "Reach me at that address."

She took the card. "Why should I trust you?"

"Because I knew your father."

Inside, she started at this, but with every strength within her, she concealed this. And then she jumped. "What was that?"

Reilly smiled coldly. "The doorbell."

Helga stood up and went over to the door. Opening it a crack, she found a small boy bearing a note. On Cartel stationery. As predicted by Reilly. She began to open it as she turned back towards the main room, and looked up to find Reilly.... had gone. She searched the whole apartment but found no trace of him, or him even having been there, except that the small pink rosebud that had been in his lapel sat on the coffee table, to remind her it had not been a dream... or a nightmare.

Link | 5:25 PM

  An unexpected visitor

"Mr. Reilly, it is good to meet you, please come in."

She looked quizzically at him,

"I had not known anyone knew my address yet." Noticing his appearance she nodded towards a chair.
"Would you care to sit?"


The day had been hectic but not overly so. From the airport, she had taken a taxi to her new job.
The press room had been eerily quiet, only time would tell if it would prove to be a good place to gather information.
The Editor in Chief had his secretary send the note with Helga's new apartment address. She should have known that the information was going to other places.

Link | 9:33 PM

 

The tall, handsome man, in a slightly dishevelled dinner jacket, stepped into the room.

"Ms. Helga Hiedelburg, I presume?"

Helga looked over at him, and let him take her hand gently. He then, almost imperceptably, bowed.

"My name is Sydney Reilly."

To be continued....

Link | 5:50 PM

 

Helga takes a look at the new apartment and smiles. It may need a bit of work but it will do.

Link | 5:47 PM