The Golf Course – Chapter 9

The following morning, Jack parked his car in front of Julia’s house, taking a deep breath before he stepped out. He’d received her message late the night before, asking him to come by first thing. Something in her tone had been different, almost urgent, and he was anxious to hear what she’d learned from her father. His mind was spinning with questions, and he hoped this conversation might finally bring some clarity.

Julia opened the door, looking more drained than he’d ever seen her. Her usually composed face was tense, her eyes dark and shadowed. She waved him inside, leading him to the quiet of the living room.

“Thank you for coming, Jack,” she said, her voice barely a whisper as she sank into the couch. She seemed like she was carrying a weight too heavy for one person to bear.

Jack sat down across from her, leaning forward. “Julia, what did you find out?”

She stared down at her hands, twisting them together, her brow furrowing as she struggled to gather her words. “I talked to my father last night. I… I wanted to ask him if he knew anything about Ryan’s disappearance, and I thought he’d just brush it off, but… he actually told me something.”

Jack nodded, his heartbeat quickening. “What did he say?”

Julia looked up at him, and in her eyes was a glint of anger, sorrow, and something like fear. “Ryan… he was more involved with my family’s business than I ever knew. My father said that Ryan was warned multiple times to stop asking questions. Apparently, he’d gotten access to files and information about my father’s associates—people who are not to be messed with, Jack. People who see someone like Ryan digging into their affairs as a threat.”

Jack’s stomach tightened. “So, he thinks they might have… done something to him?”

Julia nodded slowly, her voice trembling. “My father said Ryan wouldn’t listen. He was asking questions about things that go far beyond real estate deals, Jack. Things tied to overseas accounts, offshore partnerships, things that could ruin lives if exposed.”

Jack processed this, the implications settling heavily on his shoulders. “Did your dad say who these people are?”

Julia hesitated, glancing over her shoulder as if someone might be eavesdropping. “Not directly. But he made it clear that they’re powerful people, Jack. They don’t play by the rules. If they thought Ryan was a threat… they wouldn’t hesitate.”

A chill ran down Jack’s spine. He leaned back, taking in what she’d said. “Did he say anything about why Ryan was looking into those things? I mean, what was he hoping to find?”

Julia shook her head. “I don’t know. But it seems like he stumbled into something dangerous, and my father tried to warn him. He said Ryan was putting himself in harm’s way, that he didn’t know what he was dealing with. But Ryan wouldn’t back down.”

Jack was silent, the words sinking in. It all seemed too strange, too surreal. Ryan had always been cautious, deliberate. He wouldn’t have risked something like this without a reason. But then again, what reason could possibly justify taking on people as dangerous as these?

Julia watched him closely. “Jack, I need you to be careful. My father made it clear that anyone who digs into this is in danger. I don’t want you getting hurt. I already lost Ryan… I don’t want to lose you too.”

Jack reached out, placing a reassuring hand over hers. “I’ll be careful, Julia. I promise. Thank you for telling me.”

Julia squeezed his hand back, holding on for a moment longer than necessary. “I’m sorry it’s come to this. I never wanted any of you to be dragged into my family’s problems.”

Jack gave her a reassuring nod before standing. “I’m glad you trusted me with this. I’ll tell Fred and Jimmy. They deserve to know what we’re dealing with.”

Julia’s gaze lingered on him as he walked to the door, her expression a mixture of worry and something else he couldn’t quite place. As he left, a thousand thoughts whirled through his mind, questions piling up faster than he could sort them.

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Jack met Fred and Jimmy later that afternoon at their usual spot, a quiet pub just outside of town where they could talk without anyone overhearing. The air between them was thick with tension, each of them weighed down by the last few weeks of suspicion and fear.

Fred sat across from him, arms crossed, while Jimmy nursed a drink, looking jittery and tired. Jack could feel the strain between them, an undercurrent of unease that hadn’t been there before. He knew Fred had his doubts, but Jack hoped this conversation would help them all get back on the same page.

Once they’d settled, Jack leaned forward, his voice low. “I spoke with Julia this morning. Her father told her a bit more about what Ryan was involved in.”

Fred and Jimmy looked up, the tension in their faces intensifying.

“Her father admitted that Ryan was… digging around in his business, trying to get information on his associates,” Jack explained. “Apparently, these are very dangerous people, and Ryan got too close to something he shouldn’t have. Julia said her dad warned him, but he didn’t listen.”

Fred raised an eyebrow, skeptical. “So, you’re saying her dad just casually warned him off?”

Jack shook his head. “Not casually. He was serious, Fred. He wanted Ryan to stop, but you know how he was. Ryan didn’t back down, no matter the risk. Julia thinks he might have gotten in over his head.”

Jimmy leaned forward, his hands gripping his glass tightly. “So… it’s true? Ryan was in something deep. And if they thought he was a threat, they wouldn’t have hesitated to… do whatever they had to.”

Jack nodded, a chill settling in. “That’s the impression Julia got. And her father basically confirmed it.”

Fred’s expression hardened. “And what about us? We’re all tied to Ryan. If they took him out because he got too close, what’s stopping them from coming after us too?”

Jack swallowed, glancing at Jimmy, whose hand was trembling slightly. “That’s why I think we need to be careful. We need to decide how much further we want to take this.”

Fred’s gaze stayed locked on Jack, suspicion lurking in his eyes. “It’s funny, Jack. You’re the only one who hasn’t been followed, hasn’t gotten those creepy phone calls. They’ve come after me, Jimmy, and even Julia. But not you. Why?”

Jack felt a pang of frustration, but he forced himself to stay calm. “I don’t know, Fred. Maybe they see me as less of a threat.”

Fred’s eyes narrowed. “Or maybe there’s something you’re not telling us.”

Jack held Fred’s gaze, his tone steady. “I haven’t kept anything from you, Fred. We’re all in this together.”

Jimmy broke the tension, setting his glass down. “This is getting us nowhere. Look, I don’t care if Jack hasn’t been harassed. It could be luck, or it could be deliberate. But we’re all at risk, and we need to keep our heads clear.”

Fred sighed, his suspicion simmering but subdued for now. “Fine. But I got another call last night. Same voice as before. They said, ‘I warned you.’”

Jack and Jimmy exchanged glances, their faces grim. This was more than just intimidation. The calls were a reminder that whoever was watching them wasn’t done yet.

“Maybe they’re trying to scare us off,” Jack suggested, though he didn’t believe it himself. He knew deep down that this wasn’t just a scare tactic—it was a warning, and one that was only going to get worse if they didn’t back down.

Fred’s fists clenched. “Well, it’s working. I don’t know how much longer I can take this.”

Jimmy’s face was pale, his expression dark. “None of us do, Fred. But we can’t stop now. Not when we’re finally starting to understand what Ryan was dealing with.”

Jack nodded, feeling a renewed resolve. “Julia said her father has powerful associates, ones who don’t like people prying into their affairs. We’re dealing with something dangerous, but if we’re smart, we might be able to figure out what happened to Ryan without getting ourselves hurt.”

Fred shook his head, looking unconvinced. “And if they keep coming after us? If these people are as dangerous as you say, there’s no way we’re going to come out of this unscathed.”

Jack met Fred’s gaze, a hint of determination in his eyes. “Maybe. But we owe it to Ryan to see this through. Whatever it takes.”

Fred hesitated, then gave a reluctant nod. Jimmy, too, looked grim but resolute.

They sat in silence, the weight of their decision pressing down on them. They knew that they were walking a dangerous line, that any misstep could put them all in even more danger. But each of them had come to the same conclusion—they couldn’t turn back now.