Sorry for the long wait but I had to finish my Structural Steel Design project and it wasn't as easy as I though. However, let's continue the story shall we? Oh boy, aren't you excited to know how it all turns out in the meeting… no more stalling, go read.

The Look in Her Eyes

Scene 1

"I will not fallow protocol, partly cause we all know each other and because we have never had such a request presented." Sebastian said with a composed demeanor. "I'll go straight to the point. A company by the name of Nyr was under strict federal contract to design, create and produce a drug that was capable of stabilizing the heart rate. The drug once consumed produced a neutral effect and prevented the heart from beating any faster or slower than the human average. It would be used on snipers that currently take drugs to reduce their heart rate and let them perform better as with this new drug they can time it perfectly between beats."

Sebastian passed along the research summery to everyone so they get familiarized with this information.

"However, they ended up producing an air born virus that would not only stabilize the heart rate, but would also diminish it through time. Tested in laboratories lab rats only lasted a week after infected. As a precaution an antidote was produced."

"This is disturbing." said Xuan. "How exactly did they plan on dealing with the legalities of submitting soldiers to this?"

"That is not our case Santos. The information I'm giving here is background knowledge needed to understand the severity of the issue."

Sebastian inserted a USB drive under the desk. A series of images started to appear on the main holographic screen in the middle of the desk. The images of soldiers being tested with the drug, heart rate meters reproducing the results and some testimonies of the drugs feeling. The final image was that of a micro chip where all the data for its creation had been stored as one of the many copies to be distributed across federal agencies.

"This micro chip is our case." Santos signaled to it and paused the video. "The chemical components, its composition and DNA specific attributes are all encoded in that micro chip you see. This chip was stolen from Nyr about 3 months ago, since then it has been running through various hands in the Underworld, your world Carmen." He looked at her but she ignored him, she kept looking at the chip uninterestedly.

"The chip was stolen by the Tosca Brothers during a transportation plan for the chip to one of the facilities. Intel say they were hired by Dustin who paid them a 5 zero figure for this, however since they lost it in the Underworld Dustin ended up killing them." The screen showed a gruesome bloody scene where two dismembered bodies lied under a tree. One of them had their head cut off and the other was burned. Both Zack and Ivy grimaced at the picture; everyone else just took a deep breath. Carmen and Sarah didn't mind to see it, Kevin noted.

"They deserved it." Carmen said in a low voice looking very intently at the picture. Lana and Gina both contained their breaths; the men just stared at her. She continued looking at the picture, Sarah sensed she was getting a bit mad and decided not to say anything. Zack and Ivy had blank stares on their faces, what they heard left them cold.

"The micro chip was embedded in the Holy Mask of Xulo, which was in turned stolen in the China World exhibition by Faxio. The Mask was recovered just before the exhibition ended, intel specifies that the micro chip was introduced in the mask at this time. I'm sure you know him Carmen."

"How can I forget someone that tries to finger me every time I see him." Again Carmen said this in a low voice. However, this time Sarah suppressed a laugh, everyone else was in shock.

"Um… Well, he was also hired by Dustin for the job and has gone missing since then, so anything connected to this case ends up in Dustin. He is the master mind that wanted to sell this information in the Elite Underworld, Have you heard of this Elite thing Carmen? There are rumors only 17 people are in this group."

"I'm one of them yes." Carmen smiled at the sense of pride and importance of this group. She had killed, sold, traded and done just about everything to get the necessary respect to enter this Elite group.

"Oh wow. Have you any intel from the inside of this group?" Edward asked.

"The information discussed inside the Elite circle is off limits and classified." She answered sternly. "However, from what I can tell, yes there was some information that some of the Elites were willing to pay up to 8 zero sums for it. I wasn't interested when offered the investment though, my ambitions where elsewhere at the time."

The group eased their tension. At least they could trust Carmen in not wanting to take the information for herself. More importantly, they could trust her with delivering what promised.

"The Mask of Xul was used as camouflage to pass it through airport inspection into England." The image of an ugly wood mask came into the holographic monitor. "The intention of Dustin was to get an open house auction within the Elite Group and other powerful leaders about the contents of this chip. However after the Mask passed into England the security around it tripled and Dustin wasn't able to get it."

The holographic monitor displayed the mask in a bulletproof case surrounded by heat, humidity, visual and audio sensors. The security for a single Mask impressed Carmen, which in turn started thinking that it was a bit exaggerated. She smelled something wasn't right, the simple fact that the Mask had been stolen once is enough to up the security a notch but never by this much.

"That is odd," Carmen couldn't contain her thoughts any more.

"What is odd?" asked Sebastian when he saw the intent look of Carmen.

"I understand the implications that when an object is stolen the security around it becomes tighter. Not because of fear it might be stolen, but because cops want to catch anyone that tries it again. In time the security will stale down to where it was before as it doesn't make sense to waste more resources for something that might be inevitable in the long run." She took the pictures of part of the security of the mask. "This hasn't gone down. This security is becoming tighter and tighter. This only means two things, one there have been more theft attempts to this Mask."

"Not that we know off. We only know that it might be stolen on the next transportation of the exhibit in 2 months." Nathan assured.

"Then someone on the inside knows what is on the Mask." Carmen smirked, she loved mysteries like this, one of the things that attracted her to being a detective and she was proving to still be at her best game. "The security here is for the micro chip, not the mask. Look at the back of this picture where the mask is secured to the case."

"That is a pressure sensor, nothing out of the ordinary about it" said Mass with intrigue.

"On the opening lid?" Carmen looked at him. "Xul masks are made to be worn over your entire skull. This mask opens up. Why would you put a pressure sensor on the opening of the mask and not on the mask itself?"

"Someone wants to protect what is inside." Ivy said.

The group of detectives and ACME personnel where in awe, they had missed something this important from the surveillance and intel information. Only a master thief could have easily noted something this insignificant, after all it was her job.

"Dustin hasn't been able to make a move because someone from the inside has his balls in its hands. He is tied and can't really move, not that that will stop him. I wouldn't be stopped, but it certainly puts the plan to a crawl. If he makes a move it is going to be big. Trust me on this. He will take this by force and not of the light manner." Carmen assured looking at Mass, she respected him more than anyone else in that table. "Preparing a counter strike is near the suicide line. As soon as this Mask gets in the wind the hunt will start. This is a high stakes theft, where you need to risk more than what the other party has to risk. And it is never as good in the end as it sounds." Carmen put the picture on the table and leaned back. She might be the biggest thief in the world, but sometimes she wished she was a simple car thief.

The ACME higher ups started discussing this new evidence amongst themselves. Only the detectives, Carmen and Sarah were left alone on the other side of the table. Ivy noted Carmen was a bit worried, and without doubt she was. She had so many questions but had to wait for another time to ask them.

"If zhere it someone inside, zhere must be some buyer on zhe outside." Sarah said quietly to Carmen. "Zhere can be zhree or more militants for zhis chip."

"I know. Still it can't be taken lightly, the information in this chip is very dangerous. Knowing this how can you turn your back?" Carmen sighted. "Then again there are many ways to steal this object without creating the hunt."

"Like what?" Kevin asked in a low voice.

Carmen had forgotten Sarah and herself weren't alone there. Both Zack and Ivy were listening intently to their conversation as well as Kevin. She leaned a bit forward and asked them to inch in.

"For one, you can let it be stolen by Dustin during the transportation. A moving good is easier to acquire than a stopped one. Plus it would be the opportunity to take out Dustin without keeping the hunt on. Another way is to flush it out before the transportation by either becoming a potential client or by bribing the inside. Will not eliminate the hunt, but will make it smaller in scale and more manageable. No one likes to get mocked by getting their good swooped from under their noses. Thirdly you can just open up the Pandora box, by simply distributing the information free in the Underworld. The knowledge of if will make it filthy and wanted. The hunt would be so imaginably large it will crumble and destroy the person that possesses it."

The detective leaned back and processed all this information. Carmen had just given them a lesson in Underworld criminology and it was too much to handle. Carmen was becoming more anxious as the higher ups still discussed the new intel.

"What reassurance do we have it is still there in any case?" she asked loudly.

"What do you mean?" Will looked confused. "Didn't you just point out about the pressure sensor on the lid of the mask?"

"There might be a pressure sensor but there is no telling what is inside of it. It might be a hoax, a distraction. A trained thief would immediately recognice that sensor there and imagines there is something of value inside. Anyone sent to steal it might get a nice surprise there while the real thing is hiding elsewhere, even have already been sold."

"The chip is still there, that is for certain." Mario said. "Since the security around the Mask was tightened we have proof the object is still in there."

"If the security is so tight, why not simply ask for the Mask and get the chip out of it?" Carmen asked surprised.

"Access to the Mask and all information about it has been classified as un-shareable by the Government of England and its Security Administration. Hence your idea someone from the inside knows has given us more worries." Ronaldo said.

"Interesting, so this is all strictly behind everyones backs." Carmen smiled noting the desperation on the higher ups.

"Would you help us?" At last Chief spoke only looking at her. At that moment everyone was quiet and just waited for her answer. Carmen wasn't liking this at all, in fact she really didn't wanted to do this. Too much was involved and not much can come out of it. She reached for the picture of the Mask again and looked at it. She turned to Sarah and they started to talk in whisper and probably in code.

'Even preparing for this assignment is going to be difficult. Not only we risk to be exposed we risk implications with the Elite group and that means war. What possibilities do you calculate?' Carmen asked.

'New floor plans, zecurity management routes, equipment, all the electronics,' Sarah calculated in her mind. 'Zhere might be a 30% chance of success, but zhe aftermath will hit uz no matter what we try.'

'What about a smoke bomb strike? Just go once, gather all and strike fast. Pull an all nighter, move fast and disappear leaving everything behind.'

'Zhat might work.'

'Use as little personnel as possible probably 7 and make a massive resource count per person. The hunt will be concentrated and we can survive it.'

It was a bit eerie watching both Carmen and Sarah discussion a theft master plan in that table. The detectives were trying to figure out what the women were talking about but the code was impenetrable. The higher ups were looking intently at both women and Chief was feeling more and more depressed watching how serious Carmen was about this whole deal.

'I honeztly don't want to get involved in zhis Carmen.'

'Neither do I, there is no way to escape the hunt on an item so hot down there. I'm not thrilled with the idea someone on my team must die for this item that doesn't concern us.'

'Zhere is no telling if zhis virus will be able to be produzed outside zhe controlled labs. Zhere is one zhing to test it on internal subjects, but it may act faulty when uncontrolled. Plus zhere is no telling if zhey every produze it, and if zhey did it wouldn't affect us.'

'Point taken. This virus is intended for higher populations, not us. It is neither our problem nor our fight. There are some out there that need to die. Honestly I don't care about this at all.'

'Zhere will still be more to cash in zhan zhis.'

'I don't want to sound too cold for them; I got my personal reasons not to do this and my uncaring demeanor as well. I'm pretty sure they will not like the price of the negotiation. I hope they honestly don't' expect me to do it for free, if I even do it, it will cost them what a job like this costs.'

"Ejem," Sebastian interrupted them. "Will you take this job, Carmen?"

Carmen looked at Sarah, but Sarah only limited to hunch her shoulders. Carmen and Sarah both knew they could do the job, albeit its dangers, but neither of them wanted to do it.

"I will be honest with you, I don't like this job. And my first answer is no."

The higher ups started to protest but she stopped them putting her hand in the air.

"My second answer," She looked around to calm them down. "Is yes." She grimaced. "I have the skill, the personnel and the knowledge to tackle on this job, but by the sheer nature of it is going to cost you some more."

"Cost?" Mario asked. "What costs are you talking about?"

"Ha, you thought I worked for free?" Carmen laughed a bit. "Look I may look like I steal for the fun of it, but that is not true most of the time. I'm hired to steal objects, all those statues I have been stealing they were sold to private collectors for an amazing amount of money. Where do you think I get the dough to get all those vehicles, the gadgets, the miscellaneous things? And no, while I'm a fucking billionaire, I only put my own money on the items I wish to steal for myself, the rest are funded with blood money. If you guys want to "hire" me for this "job", I will invoice you for it. I have personnel to train, I have merchandize I need to acquire, I have info I need to collect and produce, and none of that is cheap. No one is going to tackle this High Stakes Theft if there is nothing to be gained out of it, nothing big to be gained."

The higher ups talked amongst themselves for a bit. Zack and Ivy were shocked; Carmen was a full fledged criminal right now.

"Alright, how much?" Sebastian said looking at her. Carmen was taken a back, she honestly didn't expected them to accept this.

"For a job like this, with the amount of personnel I'll use… it will cost you 4 mills. I can do my part for free and that is saying a lot, since I'm the one that will risk it all for this. Being friends with you all does that, but I will not expect that Sarah, nor any of my men would do this for free. I can leave it at 3 mills, and that is extremely cheap."

"Hum, 3000 isn't that bad." Chief assured.

"What 3 thousand?" She asked.

"Isn't mills the street denomination for Thousands in Spanish 'miles'?" Lana said.

"3 mills is 3 million dollars." Carmen looked at her in surprise.

Everyone gasped even Chief. The agency couldn't afford to give a criminal 3 million dollars for this.

"Where are we going to get 3 million dollars as payment." Sebastian was exasperated. "You… you… how much do you pay your henchmen? I mean, does your crimes actually pay that much?"

"I said 3 mills as cheap. I'm an important and powerful business woman in the Underworld. If you want me for a job you pay upfront for it. I guarantee success no matter what. I mean, what did you guys expected? VILE is a business like any other. I have rent to pay, electricity, gas, tv, internet, I have to train personnel, I have to get vehicles, information and everything else to make my business grow. Look at my weapons, they aren't cheap I had to k…, I had to go through a lot to get them and I'm not letting a single job destroy everything I have built for me down there." She looked around the room. "If you want me, pay. If not, I'll be leaving and as promised I won't be chased nor arrested."

The higher ups stayed silent for a while, then started murmuring between them. Carmen just enjoyed watching them, she knew she had them right where she wanted them. It was a win-sort of win situation for her, if they didn't hire here she was free of all that mess and if they did hire her she could get away with some loot for herself, that Mask wasn't the only thing of value in that museum and it could ease the hunt on her side.

Chief was aside, he went to Zack and Ivy to talk, but couldn't. Zack noticed the Chief's indecision and offered him a smile.

"Then you shall use our resources and personnel." Chief said with a serious tone. Everyone stopped talking and looked at him.

End of Chapter 5

Ugh… must… stop…. Turtle…. I think I lost my hare somewhere.