The city lights twinkled like a million fireflies as Zach and Ethan walked towards the bakery, their faces illuminated by the glow of their phones. The air was crisp, carrying the scent of autumn leaves and the faint tang of exhaust fumes.
"So, how are we actually going to get a look at the footage?" Zach asked, his voice barely a whisper. "I don't want to just waltz into a police station and say 'Hey, I hit a guy, can I see your cameras?'"
Ethan chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Relax, I've got a plan. Remember Kong?"
Zach's eyebrows shot up. "Kong? The guy who runs the...well, you know, the whole underground network?"
"Exactly," Ethan said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "He's got access to pretty much every camera in the city. Even the ones the cops don't know about."
Zach's jaw dropped. "You're serious? How do you even know him?"
"Let's just say I have my connections," Ethan said with a wink. "And trust me, he's the only one who can help us. He's got eyes everywhere."
He tapped a few more buttons on his phone, then handed it to Zach. "Here, call him. Tell him it's about the 'project'. He'll know what you mean."
Zach stared at the phone, his mind reeling. "But he's...he's a criminal, Ethan. We can't just go to him."
"Come on, Zach, it's not like we're asking him to rob a bank. We just need a little information. And besides, you're the one who hit the guy. You're the one who needs to find him."
Zach hesitated, then finally took the phone, his fingers trembling slightly. He dialed the number and waited, his heart pounding in his chest.
The phone rang twice before a gruff voice answered. "Kong."
"It's...it's about the project," Zach stammered, his voice barely audible.
"Project?" Kong's voice was laced with suspicion. "What about it?"
"We need...we need your help," Zach said, his voice gaining a little more confidence. "We need to find someone."
"And who might this someone be?" Kong asked, his tone still wary.
"It's...it's complicated," Zach said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "We need to see some footage. We need to find a man we hit."
There was a long pause on the other end of the line. Then, Kong's voice, laced with a hint of amusement, finally broke the silence. "Sounds like you're in a bit of a pickle, kid. But I think I can help. Meet me at the usual spot in an hour. And bring a friend."
Zach hung up, his mind spinning. The words echoed in his head, a strange mix of relief and dread. Relief that Kong was willing to help, but dread at the implications. He was asking a criminal for assistance, stepping into a world he barely understood. A wave of guilt washed over him, a reminder of the accident, of the man he had hurt. Was this the right thing to do? Was he betraying his own morals by seeking help from someone like Kong?
He looked at Ethan, his eyes wide with a mixture of fear and excitement. "He's in."
Ethan grinned. "I told you he'd help. Now, let's go grab some coffee and figure out how we're going to pull this off without raising any eyebrows."
They walked towards the bakery, their footsteps echoing in the quiet night. As they passed a street lamp, Ethan glanced back at Zach, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Don't worry, Zach," he whispered. "Kong's got our back. And so does the city."
They entered the bakery, the warm aroma of freshly baked bread filling their senses. Zach took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves. He knew what they were about to do was risky, but he also knew it was the only way to find the man he had hit.
"You sure about this, Ethan?" Zach asked, his voice laced with uncertainty. "This whole thing feels...wrong."
Ethan placed a reassuring hand on Zach's shoulder. "It's not wrong, Zach. It's necessary. We need to find this guy. And Kong's the only one who can help us. Think of it this way, we're not asking him to do anything illegal. We're just asking him to use his resources to help us find someone. It's like asking a mechanic to fix your car. We're just asking him to fix a problem."
Zach nodded slowly, his mind still racing. He knew Ethan was right, but the thought of dealing with Kong still made him uneasy. He took another deep breath, trying to steel his nerves. They had come this far, and he wasn't going to back down now. He had to find the man he had hit, and Kong was his only hope.
"Alright," Zach said, his voice firming up. "Let's go."
They left the bakery, the city lights blurring as they walked towards their destination. The air was thick with anticipation, a mix of hope and fear. Zach knew that this meeting with Kong was just the beginning of a long and difficult journey. But he was determined to see it through, to find the man he had hurt and to finally find peace.