A Dangerous Game

Jack and Alex sat in the back of a dark, dingy bar, surrounded by a crowd of seedy characters. Alex had told Jack that this was where he could get the information they needed, but Jack couldn't help feeling uneasy about the whole thing.

He had never been a fan of undercover work, and he was even less of a fan of Alex's risky methods. But he knew that they needed to find out who had access to Thallium, and Alex's connections were the best way to do it.

They had been at the bar for an hour, and Jack was starting to get antsy. He wasn't used to this kind of environment, and he didn't like the way the patrons were eyeing him and Alex.

Just as he was about to suggest they leave, a grizzled old man stumbled over to their table, his breath reeking of alcohol.

"You boys lookin' for something?" he slurred, leaning heavily on the table.

Alex leaned in, his voice low and dangerous. "We know you have connections. And we're willing to pay for the information."

The man hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "I might know a guy. But it'll cost you."

Jack watched as Alex and the man exchanged a few words, then Alex pulled out a wad of cash and handed it over. The man disappeared into the crowd, and waited for him to return.

After what felt like an eternity, a waiter came with a tray of drinks with a scrap of paper. "Here. But be careful. He's not someone you want to mess with."

Jack took the paper. He didn't like where this was headed, but he knew they had no other options.

Alex seemed unfazed by the man's warning, and he stood up, gesturing for Jack to follow him. "Let's go. We have a lead to follow."

They made their way through the bar, their eyes scanning the crowd for any signs of trouble. Jack couldn't help but think that this was a dangerous game they were playing.

They left the bar and made their way to a rundown warehouse on the outskirts of town. Alex knocked on the door, and after a few moments, it creaked open.

Inside, they were greeted by a tall, muscular man with a shaved head and a menacing look. He eyed them both suspiciously, then nodded in acknowledgement.

"What do you want?" he growled, his arms crossed over his chest.

Alex stepped forward, his tone confident. "We're looking for some Thallium. We heard you might be able to help us out."

The man's eyes narrowed, and he took a step closer. "Who told you that?"

Alex pulled out the scrap of paper and handed it over. "We have our sources. Can you help us or not?"

The man studied the paper for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. I can help you. But it'll cost you."

Alex pulled out another wad of cash, and the man led them to a back room.

As they entered the back room, the pungent smell of chemicals and the sound of bubbling liquids hit them. The lab was dimly lit, with flickering fluorescent lights casting a sickly yellow glow over everything.

The man in the lab coat stood up from his microscope and turned to face them. He was middle-aged with thinning hair and a scruffy beard, and his eyes darted back and forth between Alex and Jack.

"What do you want?" he asked, his voice sharp.

"We need to know who you sold the Thallium to." Alex said, his tone forceful.

The man considered this for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. I can help you. But it won't be cheap.. Thallium is also expensive to obtain.."

Jack watched as Alex pulled out yet another wad of cash and handed it over. He couldn't believe how much money they were spending on this investigation, but he knew it was necessary to catch the killer.

The man disappeared into a back room, and Jack and Alex were left alone with the table of chemicals. Jack couldn't help but feel nervous as he looked at the strange instruments and jars of powders.

"What do you think?" he asked Alex quietly. "Do you trust this guy?"

Alex shrugged. "I don't trust anyone. But he knows his stuff. He just so owes me a favor and we need his help, he changes lab regularly though so its hard to pinpoint where he will be next. It's shady but its the perfect place for a transaction like this."

Just then, the man returned, holding a small vial of liquid in his hand. "This is Thallium," he said, holding it up for them to see. "It's deadly if ingested in even small amounts, colourless and odorless."

The man continued, "I have a list of transfers made. No names, you will have to figure the rest out on your own."

Alex nodded, his mind racing. "Thank you for your help.''

The man nodded, and Jack and Alex quickly made their way out of the warehouse.

As they drove back to the station, Jack couldn't help but feel relieved that they had a lead.