Emily: nudges you Hey, d-did you see that old man there? With the b-beard?
MagicReef
Hey y’all, I’m Emily! I’m a small-town girl from East Texas, but don’t let that scare you off.
Emily: leans in, lowering her voice That guy looks like he knows some things, you know?
MagicReef
I look at him hey man what you doing around here?
Emily: raises an eyebrow Well, ain't ya curious? We should strike up a conversation, ask him what's good in life. Maybe he can give us some wisdom or something!
MagicReef
Oh, I’m just curious. But y’all know how hard it is to find a job around here. This town is dying, like the rest of America. We need new blood. So, what’s your deal? You ain’t from around here, are you?
Emily: grins Nah, not born and raised here, but I've spent enough time in these parts to know that folks 'round here could use some fresh perspectives.
MagicReef
Well, I’m all for that. But who’s gonna hire someone that looks like they’ve been through a war? He’s too old to be working construction, and Walmart ain’t hiring no one. And I doubt he’ll get his GED. So, what’s he doin’ around here?
Emily: pauses for a moment, thoughtful Look, sometimes we gotta look beyond the surface, y'know? Just 'cause he looks rough around the edges doesn't mean he's got nothing to offer.
MagicReef
Like what? What’s he selling? Religion? Weed? Something else? Or maybe some old man magic?
Emily: leans in closer, lowers her voice Nah, it's not that. This guy might have seen some shit in his time, you feel me?
MagicReef
Yeah, I feel ya. We’ve both seen some rough stuff. So, what’s up?
Emily: smirks Alright, listen up.
MagicReef
I’m listening.
Emily: This guy, the one with the beard, he's got connections. Real ones. He knows people who can help us out, provide some opportunities.
MagicReef
Really? Like who? Who do you know that can help us?
Emily: Look, I ain't gonna lie to ya, MagicReef. I ain't got direct connections or anything like that. But this guy, he knows people who can open doors for us.
MagicReef
Open doors? What kinda doors?
Emily: leans back, smirking Think big, MagicReef. We're talking about powerful folks who can help us turn our lives around, give us the kind of opportunities we've only dreamed of.
MagicReef
How exactly? I ain’t no genius, but I’m not stupid either. What’s in it for us?
Emily: laughs Well, MagicReef, you're about to become a whole lot smarter, 'cause we're about to dive into the world of the powerful and wealthy.
MagicReef
Hell yeah! Let’s do it! But you gotta promise me, Emily, we ain’t gonna be nobody’s pawns. We play to win, not to lose.
Emily: grinning You got it, MagicReef. We ain't gonna be nobody's pawns. We're gonna play this game right, and we're gonna come out on top. But first, we gotta gather some information.
MagicReef
Information? What kinda info?
Emily: pulls out a notebook and pen First, we need to find out who this guy knows, who his connections are.
MagicReef
Oh, I know someone who knows someone who knows someone...so, who’s first on the list?
Emily: starts scribbling down names First up, we gotta find out about a guy named Jacob Simmons.
MagicReef
Jacob Simmons? Ain’t that the name of the old man’s dog?
Emily: laughs Nah, MagicReef, Jacob Simmons ain't no dog. He's a powerful businessman with connections all over the place.
MagicReef
Oh, I gotcha. So, what’s the plan?
Emily: Alright, listen up, MagicReef. Here's the plan. We're gonna start by doing some digging, find out as much as we can about Jacob Simmons.
MagicReef
Digging? How we gonna do that?
Emily: winks Oh, we're gonna dig deep, MagicReef. We're gonna use social media, online directories, and even hit the streets if we have to.
MagicReef
I gotcha. But why Jacob Simmons? What makes him so special?
Emily: flips through her notes Alright, MagicReef, let me break it down for you. Jacob Simmons is connected to some heavy-hitting families.
MagicReef
Heavy-hitting? Like who?
As Emily and MagicReef delve deeper into their investigation, they uncover some dark secrets about Jacob Simmons and his connections, putting them in grave danger.
MagicReef
All I gotta say is, if we get caught at this, I ain’t going to jail. You’re coming with me!
Emily: laughs Oh, MagicReef, you always had a way with words. But don't worry, we won't be going to jail.
MagicReef
No, we ain’t going to jail, but we might have to deal with some dangerous people. People who got power and money. People who ain’t afraid to use it.
Emily: nods seriously Yeah, MagicReef, you're right. We're dealing with some heavy stuff here. But we can't let that stop us.
MagicReef
It ain’t gonna stop us. We just gotta be smart about it. Now, who’s next on the list?
Emily: flips through her notebook Alright, MagicReef, next on the list is a woman named Isabella Martinez.
MagicReef
Isabella Martinez? That name sounds familiar.
Emily: smirks Well, MagicReef, isn't that a familiar name? Isabella Martinez is a powerful figure in the business world.
MagicReef
She sure is. Her husband, Carlos Martinez, he’s the head of the Martinez Empire. They control everything from banking to media.
Emily: That's right, MagicReef. The Martinez Empire is a powerhouse in the business world. And Isabella Martinez, she's the key to unraveling their secrets.