Chapter 19: The Search

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Before 6 o'clock, Link arrived at the restaurant, and soon the trio was back together, enjoying dinner with laughter and conversation. Afterward, they spent about an hour at Tracy's house before returning to Link's apartment, where he and Jessica officially began living together.

That night, Jessica donned the new nightwear she had purchased earlier, and Link, overcome with desire, acted like a beast.

...

The next morning, Jessica, leaning against Link's chest, remarked, "Should we maybe stock the fridge with some food?"

"You decide, but are you any good at cooking?" Link asked, a bit skeptical.

"It's not bad, I think," Jessica hesitated, which made Link's heart sink. He began to wonder whether he'd need to take on cooking duties himself for the sake of his stomach.

"Alright, no matter what, we should get up and fill our stomachs first," Link said, rising from bed and lifting Jessica to carry her into the bathroom.

Though they showered together, Link refrained from any further antics, as he wasn't ready to be a father yet, having always taken precautions.

After getting dressed, they left the house and headed to the underground parking garage. Once they got into the car, Link asked, "Can you drive?"

"I can't," Jessica replied, tension evident in her voice. "I had a car accident when I was little."

Link nodded, understanding. "I see. I'm sorry to hear that."

"It's fine, I just can't drive," Jessica responded.

After grabbing breakfast, Link dropped Jessica off for her makeup lesson, while he drove straight to Langley Osley's house. Using his X-ray vision, he located the security alarm's wiring, disabled it, and made sure there were no surveillance cameras before sneaking inside.

There was no need to rummage through anything—his X-ray vision helped him find a safe. It was an older model, requiring both a key and a combination lock, but these were no challenge for Link.

With a bit of finesse, he picked the key lock and decoded the combination lock. Inside the safe, he found routine documents and some cash, but no incriminating evidence.

Disappointed, Link restored the safe to its original state, removed the signal jammer from the security system, and quietly left. However, he wasn't discouraged—he knew someone who had laundered money for the mob for so many years wouldn't leave incriminating evidence at home. What he really needed to find was a bank deposit box key.

Such safety measures were typically more secure. Many banks only required a key or a password, not personal identification. But finding this key was tricky, as such information wouldn't be available online. Link had already checked Langley's house and hadn't found anything, and Langley wasn't carrying it on him either. His last option was Langley's office.

Link walked in, posing as a client.

...

"Mr. Link, how can I assist you today?" the receptionist greeted as he entered the accounting firm.

"I have some funds, all in cash, and I'd like to consult about tax and investment options," Link explained.

"That won't be a problem. I can introduce one of our accountants to you," the receptionist said, not prying into the details of Link's finances. His attire alone suggested he wasn't an ordinary client.

Link hesitated, then said, "Could I perhaps meet with your boss?"

"Sir, our accountants are all very skilled..." the receptionist began politely.

Link cut her off, "I have 30 million dollars in cash, and I'd prefer to deal with your boss directly."

The receptionist's smile broadened instantly. "Of course, please wait just a moment."

Satisfied, Link stepped aside as the receptionist called Langley's office. Shortly afterward, he was invited inside.

"Hello, Mr. Link, welcome to Langley Osley's Accounting Firm. I'm Langley Osley," the man greeted warmly.

"I've heard great things about you, Mr. Osley. That's why I've come here," Link replied with a smile as they shook hands and sat down.

Langley looked curious. "You've heard of me?"

"Yes, to be honest, I'm a professional gambler now, mostly participating in high-stakes games with New York's elite. I'm relatively new to this profession—I used to be a cop and never really dealt with accounting before."

"Oh..." Langley seemed momentarily confused.

Sensing this, Link clarified, "I won a large sum in Las Vegas—about 25 million dollars. I have the casino's financial statements to prove it."

Langley finally understood—this was someone who had recently come into a lot of money.

"Since then, I've joined some poker games and haven't lost, so my funds keep growing," Link continued. "But now it's January 2007, and tax season is approaching."

Langley nodded in understanding—this was a tax evasion inquiry. "Time is tight. Besides some general expenses, the best option is to invest in stable stocks for now. After tax season, we can make more detailed plans for your future investments."

Link appeared to be listening intently, though in truth, his X-ray vision was scanning the office for any signs of a key or clues to a safety deposit box. So far, he hadn't found any suspicious safes here either. He was beginning to suspect Langley had either stashed his dirty secrets in an overseas account or a safety house—neither of which would have a paper trail easily detectable by standard methods.

"I like that idea," Link responded, seemingly engaged in the conversation. "Someone did mention that the government encourages stock market investments, as it helps avoid heavy taxes—though, as I understand, this is only temporary, right?"

"Exactly. Once the funds leave the market, they are still subject to taxes," Langley confirmed. "But why would we ever pull out?"

"The key lies in investment gains," Link replied. "Of course, I could go to Wall Street for a more tailored financial plan, but with the tax deadline so close, it might be risky to rush."

Langley nodded. "Indeed. If you're looking for stability in the short term, I recommend Stark Industries' stock."

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(Chapter ends.)