At top speed Joe walked down the hallways and through rooms looking for Adrian. He would have moved faster, but he was trying not to attract attention. He started moving into the gardens when he felt a rumble next to his thigh. He stopped and reached into his pocket. He held the vibrating cell phone for a second before flipping it open and answering. "He-" a voice interrupted him.
"Pay attention, you may have been compromised. Hold fast and don't do anything rash. I will meet you at the usual spot at midnight. We are so close, don't fail us now." Then with a click the person hung up. Joe cursed and pocketed the cell phone again. Now he didn't care he ran through the gardens and fond only servants. He cursed again and ran back into the palace.
He ran through the palace until he came to Mia office and then he heard familiar laughter. Mia, Clarisse and Adrian were inside. Joe barged the doors like a wild bear, he looked about at the surprised and shocked faces. Spotting Adrian he grabbed the boy by the scruff of the collar and dragged him out of the office. "Wha…" Adrian barely gasped as he was pulled along down the hallways.
"Joseph!" Clarisse called, but Joe ignored her He heard her steps behind his and knew she better be part of this too. He threw Adrian into a near by conference room and waited for Clarisse to catch up.
"What's going on?" Adrian asked terrified.
"SIT DOWN!" Joe snapped. The boy did with quick obedience.
Clarisse then was at the door way. "Joe, please explain why you so harshly tore Adrian out of Mia's office."
"I will, but first I must close the doors." Clarisse stared at him and then went in and took a seat beside Adrian. Joe sighed and started closing the doors before a hand stopped him.
Joe looked up at Mia who gave a stern look, "You can't shut me out of this." Mia stated rather harshly.
"Of course, you're Majesty." He let Mia in and then he closed the doors and locked them. He then went around the room closing and locking all the windows. Finally he turned to the three very confused people behind him.
He stared Adrian in the eyes and pulled out the cell phone. He then sent it gliding across the table until Adrian stopped it with his finger tips. Joe saw red fill the boy's cheeks. "What is that?" Joe demanded.
Clarisse answered before Adrian opened his mouth, "Joseph, it is just a phone! All our security have them!"
He stared at Clarisse with fiery eyes, knowing full well what the object was, "I know it's a phone, Clarisse, but Adrian never had a cell phone until after he came here. And since he hasn't left the palace since he has arrived then it is safe to assume someone gave it to him. Also, knowing that the cell phones security and palace workers use are a completely different brand, I think it is safe to assume he did not get that phone from us." Joe's speech was crisp and harsh as he tried to hold back exploding on the boy. "So, Adrian where did you get it?"
Adrian looked at the phone. "I- I found it." He lied.
"Where?" Joe asked.
"In the gardens," Adrian lied again.
"Really because your brother says you got it from an unknown stranger in the forest."
"Josh is four, his life is all about super heroes and fantasy adventure, and you can't believe him." Adrian snapped back.
"Joseph…" Clarisse tried.
"No. See I have interrogated many men in my life time, I know how to look for signs of lies. Josh did not lie, but you. Your face is red, you refuse to look me in the eyes, and your body language is a bit twitchy for someone telling the truth."
"Mother never lied." Adrian said softly and then he began to laugh softly. "You are amazing. Honestly, even after I pretended to befriend you and feed a bull shit story you still didn't trust me." Joe glared at him now.
"Clarisse, Mia please leave the room." Mia began to object but Clarisse stopped her. She knew her husband far too well. She took Mia's hand and led her out giving Joe one last glance, and then she closed the door.
Adrian did nothing as Joe relocked the door and sat on the edge of the table beside him. "Now, who gave this to you?"
"I don't know."
"Really?" Joe whispered then grabbed Adrian and pulled him out of his seat and held him against the wall. "Do you know now?"
"No, I never see his face." Adrian whispered.
"Hm…" Joe released him. "What kind of a job are you doing for him?"
"I'm not entirely sure yet."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I only talked to him face to face once; even then he had a mask and stayed in the shadows. That's when he gave me this." Adrian held up the cell phone. "All I know is that I'm looking for something."
Joe frowned, "You're looking for something?"
"Yeah, this guy, who ever he is, keeps directing me around the palace. I'm supposed to try and find a secret place where something is hidden."
"I see…" Joe looked out the window. "Why are you doing this for him?"
Adrian walked up beside him and looked out the window too, "He said it was the mission my mother trained and left for me. I'm supposed to find this object and keep it safe."
Joe looked at Adrian. "You are serious?"
"Yeah." Adrian answered looking him in the eyes.
"I don't know why anyone would hide anything here, I know every secret room and passage in this palace and I have never stumbled across anything unusual."
"No kidding, well I don't truly trust the guy in charge of my mission, I don't know who he is." Adrian then laughed, "Ironically I was going to tell you today."
"Then why were you so quiet when I confronted you?" Joe asked.
"Joe, you can be very scary sometimes." Joe had to laugh, he knew it was true.
Joe starting towards the door, but then he remembered the call. "Oh, by the way, you're meeting this mysterious person in the 'usual spot' tonight at midnight."
"What?"
"Yes, he called while you were away." Adrian laughed, "Oh and you will be bugged." Joe finished closing the doors behind him.
