Chapter 11:
A strikingly handsome man stood tall – six feet five inches – in a well-pressed uniform with his chestnut brown hair blown into a tangle in the wind. He was a man that demanded attention from those around him. He held a regal bearing but he always wore a friendly face. A gentle smile would always rest on his lips.
His eyes glowed with a fiery determination. They held confidence in his ability and pride in his achievements. They were those of a hawk – sharp and well-focused. His skin fair despite the harsh weather they were experiencing in the base.
A man that was greatly respected by his men for his ability, wisdom and kindness. He showed little feelings but they knew him well enough to understand his little nods and shallow waves. He was a humble man.
He gazed at the pregnant sky; green-grey eyes studied the heavy rain clouds. His eyes narrowed when the lightening flashed, illuminating the place in blinding white light.
Colonel Garrett knew something awful was bound to happen.
"Sky gazing?"
Garrett shifted his gaze and registered the presence of Captain Hall next to him. His serious face cracked into a warm smile as he pulled the man into a rough embrace. The captain smiled and hugged back, happy at the colonel's display of affection.
"I see you make it back in one piece," Garrett smiled, pulling away from the embrace.
The captain nodded. "It's the third one within these two months. How do they know when to attack all those camps?"
"I guess they did not take my advice then," Garrett muttered. He had foreseen such attacks.
Garrett was aware after he received the second report – of missing weapons from the custodian of the armouries – that there was a traitor among them. He had arrested a few men responsible for the smuggling of the weapons from the armouries.
He knew that they were not the mastermind behind it. They were incapable to make such trades for they did not have proper network with anyone outside the camp.
It turned out that other camps and a base had experienced the same thing. Weapons were missing – nuclear warheads, thermal missiles, rifles, grenades and even a bomb prototype.
But the traitor was smart.
The weapons did not disappear in massive amount over a short time. It was done in careful stages, each stage and a transaction was carried out over a certain period of time. After the apprehension of those who were involved in the trade, weapons stopped missing and the commanding officer of the camp would have believed that the case was solved.
Colonel Garrett did not believe it to be that simple.
Those men who were apprehended would later be removed from their ranks and the military. Few months later, these men were found dead. Each men died differently, but all died within that one year.
"Lucky us then," Captain Hall said. "Without reason you decided to change the camp's protocol."
Garrett smiled. "Intuition."
The captain laughed and shook his head. "Really?"
"I have something for you," Garrett said, pulling out a silver chain from his pocket.
The captain's eyes widened as he took the necklace. Hazel eyes studied the pendant. "It reminds me of those tiny vials hanging around those terrorists neck…it contains poison in them. Drink it…Die than to disclose your secrets to your enemies. Die than to become a burden to your people."
"It's made of titanium," Garrett said as he watched William fingered the silver cylinder. "And it does not contain poison. It's an ornament."
"Ornament?"
"Ornament of adoration."
Troy Bolton had ignored all calls from Gabriella. He did not want to hear her voice or listened to her pathetic excuses. He was tempted to switch off his cell, but he needed to be on the alert for any calls from the office.
He closed his eyes and felt the sofa dipped lightly.
Blue-grey eyes fluttered open, gazing at the pretty blond.
Ryan had ignored him – worked diligently with his laptop. Evans had acted as if nothing had happened early that morning. Troy knew Ryan was denying the near-kiss they had. He wished he could deny it, but he just could not.
It was no different what had happened back in East High. His eyes were captured by the alluring blue and his lips drew too near to those lush ones. He felt his heart pounded hardly against his chest when he towered the boy. But he was the one who pulled away, not Ryan. He initiated and terminated it.
He gazed at the laptop and that action somehow seemed to annoy the blond.
"Keep your eyes somewhere else. You don't see me taking a peek at all your missed calls and messages," Ryan snapped.
Troy winced.
He still had not told Ryan why he was staying here. He should not hide it from him and, he needed to talk to someone.
His gaze fell on the wallpaper of his cell. It was the photo of his baby girl Abigail – her lovely brown hair tied into long plaits with white ribbons. She was wearing her favourite pink sweater that he had bought for her during his trip in France. Her eyes were beautiful – the eyes of Joshua Alton. Sharp and clear. Just like Ryan eyes…
Her little angelic face glowed brilliantly with her smile. Her two front teeth were missing and Troy thought she looked extremely cute without them. She was clinging on tightly to his back, her little arms wrapped tightly around his neck.
Yes, she was the prettiest girl on Earth. Abigail was his daughter. His beloved daughter.
How he yearned to return to her side and read her favourite bedtime stories. He wished to carry her in his arms and watched her funny little dances. She would make her famous goldfish face when she was mad. She would run to him when the thunder roared.
Abigail…
"You are creeping me out," Ryan said as he helped himself to a bottle of vodka.
"What?" was all Troy could manage.
"National Geographic tonight is on creepers," Ryan replied.
"I never know you watched National Geographic…"
"Neither do I," Ryan mumbled.
Troy frowned and he placed his cell down. "Why didn't you ask – "
"You are a grown man. You know what you want and what you don't. Your reasons are yours. So are your troubles," Ryan interrupted.
Troy cringed. Ryan Evans was certainly a very good friend.
"I do not mind lending you my ears, but try not to bore me," Ryan added.
Troy smiled – the smile was bitter, yet thankful. Again his gaze fell on the photo of him and his little Abigail.
"Gabriella cheated on me…" he muttered softly. "Abigail isn't mine."
Ryan lifted his attention from the screen to Troy. The man was not surprise. Ryan had a vague feeling that Abigail was not his when he saw the little angel in his uncle's funeral. Her hair, complexion and eyes suggested to him that she was not a child of Troy Bolton. It was a fleeting thought.
"I'm sorry," Ryan murmured, keeping his tone even.
Troy replied with a weak smile, "She was sleeping with this guy ever since we left East High."
"I see. What do you plan to do?" Ryan asked. The blond knew it would be unwise to ask for the details. It would cause only more damage.
"I already called my lawyer to get the divorce papers done," Troy replied.
"You do realize that Gabriella will have Abigail if you divorce her?" Ryan questioned.
Troy nodded glumly. "I can't bring myself to forgive her…and I just can't bear the thought of losing Abby."
"Then, why divorce?" Ryan asked as he studied Troy's face.
"I hate her. In my eyes, she's no longer my wife. She's a whore."
"Ok…do you need a marriage counselor to patch things up?"
"No. Such things cannot be patch up, Ryan. You cannot make me love her again after what she had done. She made me change into some man I don't even recognize. She demanded me to spend more time with her when she has the guts to sleep with another man. She made me quit basketball because she thinks it is a waste of time and it is reducing our quality moments together. She asked me to meet up with the Wild Cats less because she thinks a husband should spend more time with his wife shopping in some high-end mall and sipping tea from some dainty teahouse. She insisted that I quit university early so I can immediately work for your dad in order to realize her little fantasy of having a fucking huge mansion."
"Well, right now you are successful. You do have a big mansion."
"I was not happy. I was depressed. I met with the guys only once a week for about three hours. I am stuck in a gym for hours punching out my dissatisfaction while she attended her yoga classes with Taylor. Happiness began to exist when Abigail enters my life. She is my daughter. She is my life. And now I discover she's not even my child! I love Abigail, even after I know the truth, but I can no longer live a life full of lies. I need a divorce."
"You still can ask for your visiting rights. You are still her father," Ryan said.
Troy sighed.
"Well at least you found out now, imagine the blow ten years later."
"I never suspected anything. The only reason why I knew bout it is because of this weird package filled with photos and a video of Gabriella and Joshua together."
Ryan stared at Troy. "Photos? A stalker?"
Troy shook his head and answered, "I have no idea."
"Are the photos…recent?"
"No. Some of the photos I assume were taken two or three years ago…Gabriella has short hair back then," Troy answered. Why would anyone stalk his wife?
What do they earn out of it?
"I presume your post back then is your current post."
"Yes. Where is this heading too?"
"Nowhere. I'm just curious," Ryan replied. He was curious and worried.
Troy Bolton sighed. He missed his little Abigail…Nobody seemed to care about him. He had called Chad yesterday but he was too busy with Taylor. Zeke preoccupied. Jason could not answer his call.
He gazed at the ceiling. He could hear Abigail's soft laughter.
"I have no one…"
"Bullshit. You still have me."
The man in the maroon armchair was always known as the Chairman. There was no need to address him by name. The meeting chamber was always debugged beforehand. There were no security cameras in the room. Only two guards with bullet-proof vests and armed with firearms stood outside the soundproof room.
The meeting had reached a final conclusion.
Elimination of Mr Evans would be carried out. The Chairman was aware that young Devereux was not pleased by the method selected. So far, one of the members had dealt with Mr Bolton.
Mr Bolton was a simple man. He had no idea what was going on. They had suspected that the young corporate man held the key to Skylar's safe, but they had inspected the man's life and house. There was nothing there. Maybe he did not possess the key at all. Perhaps someone else had it.
Still the young man would be an interference in the future.
They decided to handle Mr Bolton like what Devereux had suggested. That man was too tied to his family. Break them. He was a man who followed his heart more than his head. An emotional man.
Devereux would settle Mr Thornton, the detective. He believed that Devereux would do his job well. He would do what he pleased to the detective. If Devereux wanted to make the detective as one of his toys, he was fine with it.
Mr Evans however would have to meet a terrible end. A similar fate to Skylar…just less gruesome.
Skylar was a nosy lady.
The Chairman did not take the three as a serious threat but he must be careful. Mr Devereux might not understand the reason for their vigilance. His participation in the organization was very much later after the chaos the organization had faced.
The chaos evoked by one man.
The one man he acknowledged as a real threat.
The Chairman could still recall those black eyes. Eyes that glowed with a fierce determination. Those were the eyes of a predator.
The man was a fine gentleman – well educated and groomed but on the battleground he was a monster. He had seen the man in combat. He was strong and agile. He was fast on his feet, quick with his fists and excellent with firearms.
He was intelligent. Too intelligent. Nothing and no one could fool him. The Chairman was impressed by his performance. He was brilliant. The Chairman respected the man and believed in his potential.
No one thought that man as a threat. He went on his usual routine with a friendly face. The organization did not know that the man was already investigating them personally. He had all their information – their names and the trades.
They had tried various methods to eliminate him but he always walked out of them alive.
The man was invincible…
…till one soldier came, Captain William Hall.
The captain was the man's weakness. His one and only weakness. With his authority he had sent the captain and a group of men into an impossible mission. The Chairman knew his enemy would have no choice but to enter the trap to save the captain. He knew that the man would have no choice but to participate in the ambush attack.
Colonel Garrett – a great man.
Pitiful. No one survived the mission. If they did, they were paralyzed or in comatose or suffering from some grave injuries. These men would never be saved. They would die and one of his members had ensured that all their drips contained a small amount of poison. Just like Private James Thornton.
The Chairman stood up.
The organization could settle those three easily.
Little did the Chairman know that the same man, Colonel Garrett, would cause his fall. The colonel's death did not mean the end of his battle.
It was only the beginning.
Author: Nothing supernatural. Adoration can be friendly right??? I guess not...No. The ornament of adoration means something else. It does not mean what you think it means even if it looks like that. It will come in the later chapters why garrett called it ornament of adoration.