I think this is the shortest chapter I've ever written in my life, but I needed to fill the story in a little bit because what I had originally written to be Chapter 4 felt very rushed to me. So hopefully this will keep a couple of you guessing for the next few days while I continue writing and edit what is now known as Chapter 5. Reviews are much loved!
Chapter Four
"Everything is ready, boss."
"You have our prisoner?"
"As you ordered."
The older man nodded quietly in response and slowly began to wander down the main tunnel, his arms folded loosely behind his back. Everything was moving swiftly according to plan. His trap had been laid, his bait taken by the idiots who thought they were simply going in on another mission and he had successfully acquired his target with ease. Perhaps he hadn't been as successful in killing the other two men who had come with his target, but he certainly wasn't going to mourn their loss too much. They would shortly be getting what was coming to them anyway.
Let them run home and report the news to the agency.
It was almost funny, he thought to himself, how it had all played so well into his hand. It seemed that a number of parties were rather interested in his business, some for different reasons than others, and that each one was anxious to get what they wanted before the clock ran out and the other party came out on top. And yet places like the agency, who claimed to know exactly what was going on when it happened because of the advanced technology that they had at their fingertips, was almost two steps behind this time. And now they were going to pay the price for it.
A grin spread across his lips as he continued down the tunnel and toward the larger room at the end, where the light shone through the small windows that were set high into the wall. It didn't really brighten up the dark room at all, but perhaps that was a good thing considering the heat outside. In the middle of the day those rooms could almost be unbearable due to the heat that came from the land outside. And without a decent body of water for miles outside of their current location there was no hope of any reprieve that might have come from the rain or even an overcast of clouds. So unless they were out doing a job, he and his men tended to remain indoors where the treacherous rays of sunshine could not burn their skin.
His footsteps slowed once he reached the center of the room, eyes leering down at the captive that had been bound to a chair with ropes despite the unconscious state they had been in when they had arrived. He could see all that he needed to see even without hearing a word, not that speech was likely to happen thanks to the gag that had been fashioned by one of his men. A hand outstretched to lift the chin a little, examining the face for any signs of mistreatment that went above and beyond what was expected. And in seeing nothing, he released the head and stepped back, slowly removing himself from the room once more.
Everything was going according to plan, he grinned to himself. And when this was all over, he'd have exactly what he had come here for. A shitload of money and revenge that would ensure his personal safety and happiness for the remainder of his life.
Perfect.