Re-posting this one, it was a ghost chapter, said it was there when it wasn't, no idea how that happened.. Sorry guys! O.o
Short one this one, eh, but I'm getting somewhere with this, don't worry! I'm going to try and get the next chapter up within a few days, saying if I don't melt first though, or get blown up, which ever. 40 something degrees tomorrow. Ouch. Don't know what happened with the whole ID thing at the beginning. It kinda just.. happened, and didn't go away. Oh well.
And here we go...
R&R! :D
CHAPTER 5
Identification Required
ID: Wendy 'Heather' Nelson, Age 27, worked at the Chemical Research Science department.
Role: Analysing research data, from flu cases to diseases and viruses to mental and physical health.
Past achievements were creating the vaccination to flu cases, Diabetes, Cancer, including animal health care.
- Married at the age of 24 to Brad Halliway, no children. Lived at 12 Grapes Avenue.
ID: Benjamin Dee, Age 33, worked at a global Network company called E'World.
Role: Sorting information to files, filtering files to categories, categories which were made up of a number of groups.
Role Promotion: Government data files, surveillance and traffic feeds, office buildings and shopping stores.
- Married to Samantha Dee, 2 Children age 8 and 12. Living at 41 Amber Street.
ID: Steve Jension, Age 40, worked at Victoria Mary Hospital.
Role: Head doctor for A Wing.
Awarded for Doctor of the Year in 2005, and in 2009. Traveled the world to help with other hospitals, including the Military, Navy, and Air Force.
Believed to previously work for WilPharmer.
- Married to Mary Juliette, 1 Child age 22. Living at 45A Centric Park.
ID: Keith Hendrics, Age 35, Manager at Quinton Airport.
Dead ends in life are never easy, they are not easily avoided, understood, or resolved. If you are given the opportunity to take the step away from that, then do so, for once you are caught in its seemingly restrained grasp, you will find that the key to your shackles is in the hands of people who have no intention of setting you free, leaving you to pick at the locks, saying, If you even know how to do that. Whether or not the restraints have you in a room with only one door and a two way mirror, confined to the space of your actions that warrant you a criminal record, or the dead end of a run that holds you to choose the options you wouldn't have chosen because the simple fact that those options are not the safest or brightest, or even the simple knowledge that you are at the end of your rope, hanging above on the 130th floor of the worlds tallest building in Dubai. You need to take in the note that there are more floors above you, more options and possibilities that will give you the key to break free of your dead end. There is always an alternative option. Whether or not you take it, is your choice.
Unfortunately, your captors will also have that choice, and being in control of the situation is something they will have, they are the people holding the key, and they make the calls. A situation like such usually warrants a reason, why are you under their eyes? Why are you bound to the chair? Who are they? Do you know them, or do they know you? What do they want? Will you give in to their demands, or will you resist? The options are their, the choice is yours, but its the consequences of those choices that take the next floor up. Will you answer their questions to the best of your knowledge, there for putting something at risk? Or will you remain silent, putting yourself at risk?
One way or another, the option of choice can be very limited, but sometimes, you are not given that option.
~{{Page Break}}~
"So all we have is some creepy ass coward on the phone?"
Leon signed, sitting in his office chair, the days events playing out in his head like a movie. They'd come back to his apartment after visiting Ms Dee, the entire time the radio had been turned off, and eyes darting to the review mirrors for any sign of being tailed. He stared down at his phone next to him, pondering the situation. Who ever this 'Marco' guy was knew they were there, no surprise to Leon who already had his fair share with people appearing everywhere he was. He'd hoped to come back with some information on their suspect, at motive for their next step, but all they got was some guy playing marco polo on the phone. Something that annoyed the agent, among other disturbances like the one that is standing in his kitchen looking in his fridge, half dressed after taking a shower in his bathroom.
"How do you eat, hero? You hardly have any food." Jake grumbled from where he was bent into the fridge, eyes looking at every corner hoping something to his liking will appear, of maybe a secret button for hidden compartments. Only to stand up, shaking his head and closing the door, before looking over at the agent, glaring. "This is bad room service, man."
Leon looked back at him, annoyed, before looking into space again. "I don't usually stay here long." He said, before deciding to pick up the pages on his desk that he had Jake read earlier, going through them himself and re-reading them, incase he missed something. "Four victims, all within a week of each other, all connected to to killer which authorities are now naming 'White Wolf'." Leon shook his head, "The only lead we have is Benjamin, who is currently missing, and with him the identities of the group who did this."
Jake watched in silence, thinking.
Leon paused, the call they received today at the Dee's house coming to mind again, disturbing him. "What do you make of Marco Polo?" He asked, not to anyone specific, but needing to get the question out there.
'There is something about that...' Jake thought, he felt like he should know what it meant, what it stood for, but his mind kept coming up blank. "Its familiar." Jake said, causing the agent to look at him in question.
"How?"
There was silence again, before Jake shook his head, leaning on the kitchen counter. "I don't know." It was familiar, yes, but as to how or why, was what bugged the ex-mercenary. They both stood and sat there, looking at each other, one glance questioning the other, and the other unreadable. There was a knock at the door, breaking the silence.
Jake moved to answer as Leon kept reading, all the while keeping half of his attention on the ex-mercenary and the door.
Jake had a feeling that once he found out why the caller's game sounded familiar, he'd have their lead on what was happening, and who the caller is, preferably that later. He wasn't all to pleased that they'd come back with nothing, he wasn't the type to wonder around aimlessly, no, he was the type to get things done, so coming back with nothing mildly pissed him off, but he kept his anger in check. He'd save his annoyance for some bastards teeth, in which will be met with his fist. He mentally laughed at the though, unlocking the door and opening it. What was on the other side, however, was something he really wasn't expecting.
"..Oh!.. Hello dear, I didn't know he had company, is Leon home?"
Jake stood there, partly frozen, not knowing what to do when there was an elderly lady standing in front of him wearing a daisy apron, holding a basket and looking at him with cheery eyes and a big smile.
Leon's eyes snapped up from the papers as he heard that all to familiar happy voice, jumping out of his chair and walking quickly over to the door, moving to stand on Jake's left and smiling at Ms Smith. "Afternoon Ms Smith." He said, leaning against the door frame.
She beamed up at him. "There's my boy! You looked tired yesterday, so I made you your favourite, choc-chip cookies." She handed him the basket, smiling at him before turning her gaze to the other man, taking note of the confusion on his face, and his state of half dress. "Who's this handsome young man?" She asked happily, reaching up to grasp his shoulder like a mother would. "Tall too," She said, un-intentually cutting off Leon's reply. She looked at the two for a second, before enquiring with a knowing look. "Boyfriend?" She asked with a smile, seeing the look on both of their faces at her words.
"What?" Jake mentally cringed, looking at the agent next to him, who frowned at him before smiling down at the elderly woman.
"No," Leon said, waving off her thoughts. "He's a friend from work, helping me with a case. Ms Smith, this is Jake." He gestured to Ms Smith and then to the ex-mercenary, introductions done.
"Oh, sure, he's a handsome one." She said, winking. "Your Government to? You boys and your guns." She signed, but her smile never wavered.
"Yeah.." Jake said, his confused look slowly melting into a small smile, after all, how could he not? "Something like that."
She laughed, "Well, you make sure you get a few cookies before Leon here eats them all." She reached up, having to stand on her toes to pinch the ex-mercenaries cheek, grinning at the slight embarrassed look on his face.
Leon smirked at the younger man, very amused by his reaction to this little situation, which was returned when Ms Smith did the same to him.
"Oh!" she suddenly exclaimed, reaching into the pocket of her apron, pulling out a small envelop. "I almost forgot, dear." Handing it to the agent. "Getting old these days." She said in a hushed tone and shaking her head, smiling, before continuing. "A lovely lady came by when you were out, wanted to give you this, said she was from the office."
Leon nodded, taking the envelop. "Thanks."
"You boys stay safe, don't let work get to you." She said, giving them both a concerned, yet happy look. "I'v got to go, make sure Ben doesn't burn down the building." Looking around inconspicuously, leaning in, "Men." She muttered, shaking her head mockingly. Causing both of them to smile.
"Take care, Ms Smith." Leon said, "And thanks, again, for the cookies." He smiled gently down at her.
She returned the smile, then looked at the younger man. "You keep an eye on my boy, will you lad? And both of you stay out of trouble." She had that concerned gaze again, looking at the ex-mercenary.
Jake was silent for a short moment, as he looked at the elderly woman, he couldn't help the familiar feeling that surfaced, one he never thought he'd feel again, not since his mother died. It was strange, and unwelcome at first, but he looked into her eyes, and felt a protectiveness creep into his limbs for the woman. He nodded, "Don't worry, I wont let him out of my sight." Jake said confidently but lightly, easing her worries. Seems the hero had more connections than he thought, connections that the agent wasn't too keen on having due to his line of work and the dangers, but connections that Jake was going to make sure stayed that way, he was sent here for a purpose, one he wasn't going to fail. No, Sherry wasn't loosing anyone else, and neither was Ms Smith.
She saw the truth behind the ex-mercenaries words, and in his eyes. She smiled in relief. "Thanks, honey, take care!" She waved at them happily before walking to short distance to her apartment.
Jake closed the door behind him when they walked back into the apartment, smirking at the agent. "Girlfriend of yours?" He asked, turning Ms Smith's theory around. Surprisingly, the older man didn't glare at his words, but instead he laughed good naturally, a content smile on his face.
"Thats my neighbour, She's been here since I moved in. I put a stop to a attempt burglary a few years back, since then, she's been making these for me every time I get back from work." Leon smiled, placing the basket on the table and taking out one cookie, "She reminds me of... home." He finished softly, looking up at the ex-mercenary.
Jake was silent, looking at the older man in the eyes, seeing a hint of lingering sadness reflect in the cool depts before the older man broke the gaze by nodding at the basket. "There good, help yourself."
The ex-mercenary knew a dead end when he saw one, he wasn't getting anything else out of the agent relating to the look that flashed in his eyes, so brushing his thoughts aside, Jake moved and sat down, doing as the other man bid, taking a few of the cookies and making himself comfortable. "So, whats in the envelop?" He asked, taking a bite, smiling at how good the cookies were.
Leon stood a few meters in front of the younger man, his back to the kitchen as he opened the seal, taking out a some folded paper that was inside. "Not sure, but by what Ms Smith said about it being someone from the office, I'm going to go on a hunch and say Hunnigan, but then, she always calls." He said, shrugging.
Jake clicked his fingers, "The woman you were talking to this morning?" He knew that name sounded familiar, and although he hasn't heard or ever met this 'Hunnigan', he knew she worked with the same branch as Leon did. When he didn't get a reply, he looked up to find the agent had paused. Jake sat up, it wasn't the fact that the older man was silent, or that he was staring at the paper intently in what he identified at surprise and shock. No, it was the feeling that changed in the room, the vibe that the agent was suddenly giving, and that familiar gut feeling he got that something wasn't right. "Whats wrong, hero?"
His question was met with silence for a few long moments, before Leon replied somewhat dully. "Its not Hunnigan."
Jake frowned. "What do you mean, who was it from then?"
Leon continued to stare at the paper with barely restrained wonder. "I..." He paused, seeming to think about his response, before deciding, "-Don't know." That was all he was going to say for the time being on the subject of 'who sent the message'. Some things are best left kept than given, and things such at this.. Leon swallowed, eyes glued to the mark at the bottom right side of the page, a mark that consisted of a red kiss that detailed the page in lipstick. "But we have our lead." Changing the subject.
This time Jake stood up, "A lead?" He asked, the sender forgotten, now they had something, the thought of moving and getting something done made him excited, its time to make things happen.
"Yeah, who ever sent this.." Leon paused, eyes again darting to the red mark. "Knows who we are looking for. They have a location, and a name, of our suspect. White Wolf."
Jake took a glance of the paper in the agents hand, noting that he wasn't going to pass it up. A thought came to him. "Why would this person give us this information, assuming it is even correct?" He asked the agent, who seemed to know more that what he was letting on, something that Jake didn't like, but again knew it was another dead end. Thinking, he shook his head. "I don't like it. Sounds like a trap to me."
Leon again looked down at the paper, folding in and tucking it into his inner jacket pocket. "I don't think it is." He said calmly, feeling the familiar presence that wrapped around his nerves when ever he thought of her.
'There's definatly something he's not telling me..' Jake thought in frustration, and he intended to find out exactly what, but not now, it was obviously a touchy subject. He didn't have any reason to not trust the agent, and considering from what Sherry told him, and the older man's background, Jake knew he could trust him with his life. The man had secrets, and so did Jake. He accepted that, and respected it, after all, what reason did the agent have to trust him? Alright.
"So." Jake began, taking another cookie from the basket. "Where to, hero?"
Leon looked at him, taken out of his thoughts, and smirked at the younger man, he too was eager to finally get somewhere with this investigation. He pulled out his phone, keying in the words that he'd already memorised on the note. "There is a old office building about 20 minutes drive from here." He said, looking at what the results were on his phone. "Block 62, Watchers Works, Fredric Street. However, there is a catch." Leon added, looking at the younger man.
Jake arched a brow. "Being?" Damnit, more fine print for this one...
"There was a time written on the note that our 'friend' gave us." Leon replied, seeing the look on the ex-mercenaries face. "Set for 11pm. Tonight."
Jake's interest perked. If there was a set time for a location, then that usually means... "A Meeting?" He asked, watching the agent.
Nodding, Leon agreed. "Yeah, but with who? The one who sent us this Intel, or a meeting between the suspect and another party?"
They both looked at each other, before smirking, having the same thing in mind.
"Lets go party crashing." Jake said. This just got good.
