The Detective's Daughter
Chapter 3: The Hunters
News of Triela and Hillshire's escape ran quickly through the ranks of the SWA. Lorenzo had caught win about this and had predicted it would happen eventually. It did, and it left the Agency with considerable stress and chaos concerning its secrecy and confidentiality. If Padania managed to catch wind of this news, they will stop at nothing to capture the two ex-agents and would create an effective countermeasure against the SWA in future operations. Other than Padanias, the civilians became one prominent threat to the very existence of the Agency. If any member of the society or civilians learned about Triela and Hillshire's previous life, the very existence of the Agency would be threatened by charges of child manipulation and abuse of power. In the end, the Agency would be forced to run to a close and the children under their care would be sent to an orphanage or a boarding school where they will spend the rest of their lives.
If so, SWA has limited time to react. Time is of the essence, and if further attempts to delay the search for the two would lead to their disappearance and ultimately their freedom. Outside the threats that were listed, the Agency could not—would not—risk losing one of their child assassins. Knowing they're alive meant that she is retrievable. The problem with Hillshire could be cleared later.
"We have footage of the night." Report a security officer in the board meeting "As you can see, these were images of your wanted man."
"Play it again." Lorenzo demands "I want to see what time they leave this complex—and how. Where are your men when this occurred?"
"We had...our hands full, sir. Last night Claes reported a 'peeping Tom' was within the Agency's complex and had been spying on her since."
"Did you catch the suspect?" ask Ferro who is fully interested and aware of the current unfolding events
"No ma'am, we didn't. We did saw a figure, but was unsure. He or she had fled into the darkness the moment we managed to climb the wall to check on prominent escape routes."
"That is impossible!" Jean states "The wall of the compound is high enough to prevent anyone from climbing into the Agency. Either their smart or you're a fool is debatable, but right now we know who assisted their escape—Claes."
"This morning we have reports of a local theft caught in the act robbing the nearby mini-market. That figure you spot last night might be him instead of this so-called 'peeping Tom'."
"Call Claes in," Lorenzo finally declares "We need to speak to her about this matter. Further use of conditioning on her is advised; get the scientists ready."
Claes was called and interrogated. She denies every bit of statement and claims made by the Agency about her involvement in Triela's so-called 'kidnapping', yet were forced to relieve when the medication was injected to her. Her minds distorted, her vision blurs, and her breathing's heavy. She was unconscious in revealing her involvement in Triela's 'kidnapping', supporting her and Hillshire to escape their previous life in the Agency and hoped for them to live a better, normal life. Soon after, she breaks down in tears while repeatedly saying 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry'
Claes' conditioning came next. The missing operative meant that another must take its place to fill in the missing gap. Claes was soon to be filling her role as a child assassin. Although she has no handler at the moment, she will be assigned under the eyes of a different handler who will participate in the mission—works as if she was a detachment from a different company to support another.
"We will have to track down and hunt Triela and Hillshire; they could be anywhere in Europe or could possibly reside in Rome or in Italy. For this matter, I'll be assigning all operatives to look for possible clues of their whereabouts here, in Rome. Search Hillshire's apartment, and his records and documents; I want to know where the two of them left off to and find them!"
Silence engulfs the room as Lorenzo takes his breather
"This entire operation will be under the supervision of our two new agents. Falmans!"
"Sir!"
Two men stood up, bearing a distinctive face; twin brothers, Klaus and Vato 'Otto' Falman. Giuseppe immediately recognized they're not Italian natives right from their distinctive accent and their faces. 'Presumably Austrians', Giuseppe thought to himself 'German speaking, definitely. What's in Lorenzo's mind...?' his thoughts were soon interrupted when Lorenzo decided to call in their operatives into the board room.
"Anna Rutherford!"
"Yes?"
A girl about the age of 14-15 enters the room, bearing a distinctive face to Triela and her attitude—only much more obedient. Her golden hair tied down in a pony-tail for comfort, and her aqua eyes gleam as she scans the room before moving to her handler. She wears a uniform originated from an Italian school with a vest unbuttoned with a conspicuous red tie dangling by her neck tidied to perfection; as if a student from a school field trip came to visit. Her pistol, a USP .45 was seen dangling by her side in her holster with its safety off.
"Here is the new fratello that will be joining us today." Lorenzo introduces "This here is Anna Rutherford and her handler, Klaus Falman."
The other Falman soon calls in his operative. Instead of a girl, a boy about the age of 15-16 steps in. His slim figure followed with his nature as calm, collected, and silent young man fools all who sees him as a 'typical' pacifist. His hair was done right, and the glasses fixed to his face suits him well. He wears a sleek long black pants and a long-sleeved T-shirt topped with a black vest. Under his vest, Giuseppe could clearly see pockets which houses magazines from the L96A1 sniper rifle. His side-arm, a black Desert Eagle, was positioned by his left.
"Here is the other that I'd like you all to meet," Lorenzo continues "This is Gewehr Hess and his handler, the younger brother of Klaus Falman, Vato 'Otto' Falman. Both of them will be in charge of this entire mission."
With the meeting dismissed, each veteran member of the SWA and their operatives new they will be facing an old friend which could—possibly—lead to the termination of their target, Hillshire. Mixed feelings and emotions rages across the operatives; some sense the feeling of unjust and unfair in being forced to kill a familiar face—and a friend's well-known 'father' for that matter. Some sees it as a chance to return something, to get revenge for what she did to her back when she's in the SWA. Other sees it as a sport, a game where the best hunters takes it all.
With all operatives in the SWA arsenal unleashed, time is short for them to locate their missing operative
The hunt was on.
