Four POV
"Well then," Tris states after a few seconds of silence following Amar's departure, "I need to call someone he's going to be my second in command on this case." She stands and turns the phone on Amar's desk around so she can use it. I try to process the bucketful's of information just dropped on me while she dials.
-FLASHBACK-
I arrived at my office at the usual time when my secretary, Christina, informs me that a man is in my office waiting.
"I didn't authorize any meetings," I say hotly. These past few days have been extremely stressful and it's finally getting to me.
"It's not my fault he kind of just waltzed in here and well..." she trails off.
"Yeah, well next time call security or something if someone just comes in here uninvited," I say pissy an irritated.
She looks at me reproachfully and gives me a cold hard look, "It's not my fault Four and you'd do better to talk to me more respectfully."
The tips of my ears go red, "Sorry Christina, the last couple of days have been really stressful."
She nods and forgives me as I walk to my office. It's one of the reasons Christiana is still my secretary, her candidness, and she's one of the only people that can put up with my shit. I also like the fact that she's never hit on me, knowing the professional situation. Despite our differences Christiana has truly become one of my very few close friends. Something I am happy about. I open the door and walk in to see a man sitting in one of the chairs in front of my desk. He stands at my entrance to my office. The man is a little shorter than me with dark brown skin and long dark hair that comes to about his shoulders. He looks to be in late thirties early forties and is built like a boulder.
He holds out his hand with a warm smile, "My name is Amar and I apologize that you were not informed prior to this meeting. The FBI has hired me and my agency to keep you safe and take over the investigation concerning you and Marcus."
"What!" I exclaim then quickly realize that was probably not the most professional way to handle that. I close the door and walk to my desk gesturing for him to sit back down, "Sorry this is just a lot for me to take in. May I ask what agency you represent and why the FBI has turned the case over to you?"
"Yes of course. I represent one of the three branches of an organization known as Dauntless Incorporated or Dauntless Inc.. There is one here in Chicago, one in Los Angeles, and one in Washington D.C. I obviously head the one in Chicago here is my card." He hands me a business card from the inside of his coat jacket. It's a black holographic card, saying Dauntless Inc. Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington D.C. Then under that are the names of the heads of those braches I guess Harrison, Amar, and Max.
"Thank you but this really doesn't tell me who you are or why the FBI turned the case over to you. Are they giving up after only five days?" The thought sickens me slightly, but it would be just my luck. FBI declares the case unsolvable right after Marcus threatened to kill me. Not that the message could be tracked or anything.
Amar shakes his head, "No, nobody is giving up. As for what Dauntless is, we are a private investigation company. I'm not surprised you haven't heard of us, not many of the public are aware. Anyway we are hired by various companies when something goes awry. Like money disappearing or catching international terrorists. That also includes the FBI. You see since we are not technically a government organization we are not restricted by the same neutrality laws they are. The FBI believes that if anyone is going to catch Marcus, especially now that he is hiding out of the country in one of the countries we don't have jurisdiction in, it's us."
-FLASHBACK ENDED-
I realize that Tris is staring at me from her perch atop Amar's desk, she is obviously finished with her phone call. I still can't get over the fact that the blond sitting in front of an is an experienced killer, for six years no less! And she can't be older than thirty. She's actually quite beautiful it's her eyes really; a gray-blue color that has a certain fire that draws me in.
She looks at me with a raised eyebrow, "You didn't hear a word I just said did you?"
I look down slightly sheepish, "No not really I'm just..." I trail off not knowing what to say.
"Overwhelmed," she supplies.
"Yes it's a lot to take in."
She nods, "I said we need to got to my apartment where we will meet Zeke and discuss our plan of action." She stands, "Follow me." Tris leaves and I get up and follow her shutting the door behind me. She walks purposefully with her head set forwards and her shoulders back, she looks like a force to be reckoned with. Tris presses the down button when we get to the elevators and waits for it to arrive.
"What's your daily schedule," she asks as the elevator arrives and she steps on, I follow her.
"Like what I do on a daily basis or my work schedule?" We're on the sixth level and she presses five, thankfully it will be a short ride, I'm slightly claustrophobic.
"For now your daily schedule I want to at least get a feel for what I'm working with."
The doors open and I gladly step waiting for her to follow since I have no idea where we're going. "Well I run most week days from about six to seven, seven thirty. Then I leave for work at about nine getting there at nine thirty. I go home at about six. I also go to the gym on Saturdays and Sunday is my relaxation day."
She nods and goes down to the last apartment on the left, "I can work with that, but we will probably have to cut down on your running time." She opens the door and sitting on her couch is a dark-skinned man with warm brown eyes and an inviting smile. I can only assume this is Zeke.
"Tris," the man says standing, "So is this our charge?"
"Yes," Tris states, "Four meet Zeke, Zeke meet Four." We shake hands his grip is firm, warm, and solid.
"So, Trissy what's going on."
She gives Zeke a glare, but there's a hint of humor behind it. "Well Zeke," she shuts the door, locks it and starts to walk further into her apartment, "Four here has a death threat over his head and is in some pretty deep shit none of which is his fault. We're working against some pretty dangerous people Zeke and I would like you to be my second in command on this outfit."
Zeke smiles, "I would be honored, so how is this going to work?"
Tris smiles, "Well I'm going to pack and your going to take Four down to the labs. Talk with Matthew and get no less than six security cameras, something to back up the power, three apartment securers, and a couple of smaller sensors and camera. Also Four do you have a cell phone?"
"Yes," I answer surprised at the way in which she is handling everything despite it being thrown into minutes ago.
"Okay good," she turns her attention back to Zeke. "Have Matthew plug some apps into his phone tracker, recorder, etc. Do you have a gun and gun permit Four?
"Yeah it's just a small 357 glock and I have ammunition for it."
"Good, maybe we'll have you practice with it and it would probably be good for you to learn some self-defense moves too. Anyway Zeke after I pack and put my stuff in my truck I'll meet you in the labs and the four of us will head to Four's apartment building. From there I'll decide who else I want. Deal?"
"Sounds good Tris I'll see you in a bit. Come on Four," Zeke says and we leave Tris's apartment for the "labs". I follow him to where else the elevator. He presses the down button and the elevator opens immediately.
"We're not dating by the way," Zeke says after stepping on the elevator.
"What!" I exclaim surprised that he said that not that I was thinking about it or anything...
Zeke smirks and presses a button on the elevator that says lab, then presses his thumb on what is probably a scanner. "Oh, please Four you look at her like every other man does.'
I'm a little ticked off at his assumption, "What and you don't?"
"No, Tris is like a sister to me and besides I'm dating someone."
"Oh,' is all I can think to say as the elevator opens to what is a dark room with creepy blue lighting. The entire place looks like it came directly out of the last spy movie. With all kinds of technology I couldn't began to describe and I'm a programmer.
"Hey, Matthew." Zeke greets.
A tall thin man with glasses I didn't notice when I came in looks up. He smiles slightly, "Hey, Zeke who's this?"
"This is Four he's got a death threat on his head and Dauntless was called upon to deal with it." I don't know how these people can talk about something as serious as a death threat like it's normal part of a conversation, then again maybe it is.
"Okay so who's the commander, wait let me guess... Tris!" He exclaims it in an overblown way like he just won the lottery.
Zeke laughs, "Yeah, she wants gear and wants you to come to the place he's staying. And you know make it all safe with your gadgets and doodads."
Matthew gives him a look, "Doodads really Zeke."
Zeke chuckles, "Yes doodads such as six or more cameras, something to back up and reroute the power, door security, and some extra sensors. Oh and put the tracker and security device on Four's phone."
Matthew nods, "Four can I see your phone?"
I pull it out and unlock it before tossing it to Matthew. He taps it and pushes a few buttons, then pauses and does something else. He looks up and tosses it back to me. "There now we can track him even if the phone is off and or uncharged. It also has a recorder to record all conversations."
"Thanks I guess."
Matthew chuckles, "No problem now let's see what we can do about gadgets." As he starts over to cabinets and pulls things out cameras, wires, what looks like a Wi-Fi router he says to Zeke, "Can you get those carrying cases for all this there over in the back cage." As Zeke walks over to do that Tris steps off the elevator and greets Matthew.
"Hey Tris," he responds.
"Do you have everything I asked for?"
"Most of it Tris I just need to start packing it." Zeke comes back over with the cases and they pack all of it. There are four brief cases and two backpacks when they're done.
"So I'm not sure if Zeke told you but we're going to Four's apartment building to set up," Tris says to Matthew.
"Yeah he told me, but who's riding with who?" Matthew asks as we get into the elevator to go to the underground parking lot.
"Four will be riding with me and this stuff will go in the back of my truck and you two will take Zeke's car. We're headed to 78946 Divergent street right Four?"
"Yes," I say as we thankfully get off the elevator. We follow Tris to the back of a covered truck, a black Ford. After everything is loaded Zeke turns to Tris, "We'll follow you."
She nods, "See you there Zeke," and gets in the driver's side, while I get in on the passenger's.