CHAPTER THIRTY SIX – THE TRUTH BEHIND THE CYNIC

As everyone filed out, Elena caught up with her. "Don't let him get to you," she whispered. "We all know you're doing great work." Karina managed a weak smile. "Thanks, Elena. I just wish I knew why he had it out for me." That evening, as Karina was packing up to leave, she received a text from an unknown number. "Meet me at Joe's Diner in an hour. Come alone. - PI" Her heart racing, Karina hurried out of the office, barely acknowledging her colleagues' goodbyes. She arrived at the diner early, sliding into a booth near the back. A few minutes later, a nondescript man in a rumpled suit slid in across from her. "Ms. Zaslav? I'm the PI you hired." Karina leaned forward eagerly. "Did you find anything?" The PI pulled out a folder, sliding it across the table. "It wasn't easy, but I dug up some interesting information on Mr. Eladio. Seems he's got quite a past." As Karina flipped through the documents, her eyes widened. "This... this explains so much." The PI nodded. "People like t