CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT- Starting To Unravel

Human Headquarters

His situation had become tenuous at best. For whatever reasons, Aaron and his flunkies did not appear too anxious to find Agent Douglas. They made half-hearted attempts at searching the area, but no one seemed to be looking very hard.

Sir William's patience had run out. They very nearly had her in their grasp. Then those bungling fools, especially the Irishman, let her get away. He would make sure these idiots were dealt with, once the current situation was resolved. Until then, he needed them. He had to find the female before the lycans told her who had been selling them the ultraviolet ammunition.

He sat there at the desk, watching these so called agents as they discussed strategies. They were inept. The search had already been called off for the day; the sun was setting. These were supposedly some of the best agents the Council had; and yet they seemed to be afraid of the dark. They deemed it too dangerous to go out and search during the night. Malcolm had decided it wasn't a risk worth taking, and of course Aaron had backed him up. Imbeciles!

He had spent the last two nights cooped up with these men, and he hadn't been able to ascertain what they were up to, but he knew that their so called "searches" and sweeps of the city and outlying areas were stalling tactics. But why?

All of a sudden, he felt as if her were suffocating. Feeling a desperate need for air, Malcolm snorted in disgust as he grabbed his jacket and made his way to the door.

"Where are you going?" Malcolm questioned tersely.

Looking down his nose at Malcolm and is team he retorted, "I'm doing what you men don't seem to have the balls to do. I'm going out and continue looking for Agent Douglas."

"What makes you so sure you can find her, when we haven't been able to?" Aaron asked his fellow council member.

"Because I'm going back to the subway tunnels. That was where she was last seen, by our oh so industrious Agent O'Reilly", he replied sarcastically.

Daniel visibly flinched at the remark made by William. And he tensed up ready to take a swing, when Sterling reached out and touched his shoulder. Daniel didn't need to look at his silent friend to know he was being told to let it go. And he did for the moment. Right now, it was more important to buy Alex the time she needed in order to prove Sir William was the person responsible for selling out the council. So he sat there, glaring at the Sir William.

William had hoped he could provoke the Irishman, unfortunately he kept his cool, with the help of the African American. Feeling the walls closing in on him, he turned his back on them and began to exit the room, but his exit was halted when he heard the Australian call out to him.

"What if you run into the lycans or vamps down there?" Malcolm asked in a voice laced with steel.

"I can handle the lycans", he told them, "and I have plenty of ultraviolet ammunition. So don't worry about me" he said stalking out the door, slamming it behind him.

"Sterling, Jorge", Malcolm called out, "I want you to be his shadow. I want to know everything he says and does."

Sterling grinned, "We're on him like white on rice." Then he had Jorge grabbed up their weapons and followed the older council member.

Daniel began pacing, trying to wear of some of his pent up energy. Malcolm grabbed on of the revolvers and started cleaning it. Aaron sat at the table, with a thoughtful look on his face.

Malcolm would have loved to know what the man was thinking, but he knew Aaron well enough to know that Alex's mentor would talk only when he was ready.

After a few minutes, Aaron spoke up. "Isn't that odd. William never spent any time in the field, but he's confident enough that he can handle the lycans." Then he paused for moment before he began speaking again. "And yet he only brought ammunition that would affect the vampires. So he must feel pretty confident in his ability to effectively negotiate with the shapeshifters. So what, pray tell, is William's bargaining chip?" Aaron said finishing his little discourse.

Malcolm wasn't sure Aaron expected an answer from anyone. Daniel though was willingly to carry on the discussion with him.

"So, does this mean what I think it means?" Daniel asked expectantly.

Aaron chuckled lightly, "Not yet Daniel, but I do believe William is running scared. He has gotten angry enough to make foolish mistakes. It will only be a matter of time before he gives himself away", Aaron said pausing, "Or gets himself killed."