A/N: Apologies for the messed-up formatting and a big thank you to the reviewers who alerted me.

Chapter 5

Gru sat on one side of the deep brown mahogany desk. Opposite him, Director Ramsbottom smoothed down his suit and tie.

"Agent Gru."

"Director." The two men briefly acknowledged each other.

"Do you have anything to say about the case?" Ramsbottom asked.

"Hasn't Ms. Bailey brought you up to date?"

"She has, but I ask agents to report personally, to hear out their opinions and hunches. Sometimes, those who are surrounded by bureaucracy need to hear from those in the field."

Gru leaned back, running a hand over his bald head. "There isn't much else to report, really. We've identified close to 80% of the homes used, and arrested various individuals involved. Among those, I've dealt with Panther and Miss Hattie and managed to get a few leads. Ms. Bailey tells me that my information regarding the mastermind has been very helpful, and we have narrowed down the suspects."

"Very good. And what about the children?"

"If I may suggest, sir, more manpower should be devoted to reuniting the children with their parents. The 'important' children are given priority, but there are children kidnapped from less well-known families. As I recall, when you asked me to accept this case, you brought up the fact that as a parent, I understood the heartbreak of losing a child. Besides the crucial issue of the mastermind, we should be doing everything in our power to identify and reunite kidnapped children with their families."

"Agent Gru, we can only do so much at one time. Did you know one-third of the AVL is currently assigned to this case?"

Gru shook his head.

"We are working with other relevant organizations to ensure the children are returned, but our focus is naturally on the criminal aspect of this case. Like you said, there are priorities. Of which the mastermind is the major focus." Ramsbottom shuffled the papers on his desk, sliding one sheet over to Gru. "Those are the latest developments reported by our analysts. Anna hasn't had the opportunity to let you know, and I told her I would address this in our meeting anyway."

"Just give me the main points I need to know now." Gru requested.

Ramsbottom heaved his ample frame out of his chair. "We identified the mastermind Panther referred to as 'Arctic Fox'." Gru raised an eyebrow in surprise. Ramsbottom pushed a button and a face flashed up on the screen.

"Nikolai Sergeyevitch. A Russian businessman who runs a major security firm, among other investments. Apparently, his name is increasingly cropping up in the criminal underworld."

"Our analysts are currently running a full-scale investigation on him, and we are planning an operation. Naturally, we want you to head up the attack force." Ramsbottom explained.

Gru held up a hand. "When will this be held?"

"That depends on the speed of developments, but it will definitely take place within these next two weeks. I need you to be available 24/7 from tomorrow onwards."

"I'm sorry, sir, but I cannot give you that guarantee."

Ramsbottom raised an eyebrow and settled back into his chair. The springs squeaked alarmingly. "That was not the response I was looking for, Agent Gru."

Gru leaned forward. "Please let me explain, sir. My daughters have two school events taking place over the next two weeks. I promised them I would make it, and I will."

"Gru, I understand your commitment to your family, but you surely understand the delicate timing of such operations."

"Sir, you recruited me not just because of my former training, but also because I am a father. Right now, I am acting like a father. A father puts his family and children first."

Ramsbottom sighed. "Surely your daughters understand the responsibilities of an international spy?"

"They do indeed. Likewise, I ask you to understand the responsibilities I have towards them."

"You leave me in quite a difficult situation, Gru. There is a certain professionalism expected of you at the level at which you work." Ramsbottom remarked. "But you make a valid point.

"I do not want to put work before my family. However, I truly value this assignment and I have a strong personal desire to see this investigation succeed." Gru replied. He paused before continuing. "If you wish for me to hand over this assignment to another agent, I understand."

Ramsbottom rubbed his chin and replied slowly, "I do not want to sacrifice your unique skillset by removing you from this case."

Gru waited for Ramsbottom to continue.

"I want the time your daughters' events begin and end, down to the exact minute. I expect you to be on alert for the rest of the time."

"Yes, sir. Thank you for understanding my daughters' schedules. If you will excuse me a moment, sir, I will confirm and give you the timing of the events now." Gru said. Ramsbottom nodded and reached for his coffee cup.

Gru swiftly took out a pad of paper and his phone. Scrolling through his calendar, he quickly scribbled down the time stated there, adding a half-hour both at the beginning and end of the events' timing. He tore off the page before handing it to Ramsbottom. The heavyset director looked it over before nodding and putting it down.

"Speaking of your daughters, I am told that you adopted them from Miss Hattie's Home."

Gru nodded. "Yes, that occurred a couple of years ago."

"Is that the personal connection to this case you were speaking of?"

Gru hesitated before nodding again.

"I trust that it will not intrude upon your conduct while on the job?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"I expect you to follow protocol in investigating the case, and not redirect AVL resources to the vested interest you have."

"Of course, sir."

Ramsbottom rose from his desk. "Anna will be in contact with you regarding the details of the operation. Good day, Agent Gru." That was the signal that the meeting was over. Gru stood and let himself out of the office.

Ramsbottom waited till Gru had left the office before pressing the intercom. "Lesley, I would like to speak with Assistant Head Bailey from Missing Persons."

The speaker crackled. "Of course, sir. I will inform her right away."

Ramsbottom reached for his coffee cup, only to find it empty. He stood up and headed to his personal pantry at the back of his office, his target the coffee machine. He filled his mug to the brim and took a gulp, before walking back to his desk. He had just settled back into his chair when the intercom sounded. "Ms. Bailey is waiting to see you, sir."

"Send her in."

Ms. Bailey walked in briskly. "Good afternoon, Director. I was told you wished to speak with me?"

"Yes, Anna. Have a seat." Ramsbottom barely paused before continuing. "I just met with Agent Gru. I informed him about the operation against Arctic Fox, but there were some complications. He made himself unavailable because his daughters have events taking place over the next two weeks."

"Yes, sir."

"The thing which surprised me the most was that he was willing to give up the assignment just to attend his daughters' events. Is he really so attached to his family?"

"Yes, sir. His wife, Lucy Wilde, was a former agent of ours, and I know her personally." Anna explained.

"Yes, I remember that girl. A touch impetuous, and a capable agent."

"Yes, well, Gru really is close to his daughters. Considering he only adopted them two years ago, he has an amazing relationship with them; they're even closer than some fathers are with their biological children." Anna said.

Ramsbottom nodded thoughtfully. "All the more reason for us to withhold such sensitive information from him."

"I beg your pardon, sir?"

Ramsbottom swung his chair around to access the files he kept on a cabinet behind him. The chair squeaked in protest as Anna looked on in mild concern. Laying his fingers on a pale green file, he flipped through its contents before stopping at a particular page. Margo's photo was attached to the top.

"The information your team turned up on his daughters. They were identified as kidnapped, according to the records seized from one of the Homes?" Ramsbottom queried.

"Yes, sir. His daughters were adopted from Miss Hattie's Home for Girls. His eldest daughter was listed under kidnapped children under the name 'Andrea Millen'. We have yet to identify the younger two girls based on the records."

"I fear Agent Gru would be distracted from the upcoming operation. Understandably, he is concerned about his daughters; this case affects him personally. If he came to know that his daughter was listed as a kidnapped child, he would likely turn his attention to track down her background. I want him fully concentrated on Arctic Fox."

Ramsbottom took a sip of coffee. "I leave the information to disclose at your discretion, as you requested, but I am advising you strongly to delay until after the operation. And speaking of delays, we're going to have to plan around these dates and times." Ramsbottom handed the torn page bearing Gru's handwritten notes on his daughters' events to Ms. Bailey.

"Yes, sir. I do not foresee the first event as clashing with our operation, but the second may be an issue. I will inform our strategists accordingly."

"And one more thing, Anna. You've done well in coordinating this case thus far. Keep up the good work and nab us the mastermind, and a hefty chunk of the AVL's income from this case will be yours."

Ms. Bailey allowed herself a small smile. "Thank you, sir. I hope justice triumphs in this case."

"Justice?" Ramsbottom mused. "A noble concept, but in the end, it's profit that drives our organization, not sentiment."

"Sir, aren't we called the Anti-Villain League for a reason?"

"That reason might as well be profit. If we can benefit by being anti-villain, then full speed ahead. There isn't enough justice in the world, and more than a fair share of evil. There's our market, right there."

"Sir, that's awfully fatalistic and self-centred. If we who are equipped to fight against evil don't believe in justice and goodness, what hope is there for mankind?"

"What hope is there? How can man fight against evil, when man himself is evil?"

"Indeed. That's where God comes in to do what is impossible for man. Only God could solve a problem as big as our world."

Ramsbottom waved her off. "I can guess where you're headed, Anna. No need to give me the big pitch. If God gives you the motivation to do your job, fine. I have my own reasons for what I do, and a big fat paycheck suits me just fine."

"It may well, sir, but the miracle during the Singh abduction case suited you too. God pointed me in the right direction on that one, and you know it."

Ramsbottom shrugged. "I guess so. If the Big Man Upstairs wants to hand out some goodies every now and then, it's fine by me."

"Oh, sir, God wants to give you more than that. He already gave His Son to die for you."

Ramsbottom stood and grabbed his coat. "Now's not a good time, Anna. Tell you what; since you're so eager to sell me on God, catch me at a better time, like after this case is wrapped up. I'm too tired and stressed to think straight at the moment." Ramsbottom downed the rest of his coffee in a gulp.

"Do I have your word, sir? After this case?"

"Sure, why not. We'll go out to celebrate a little and then we can talk. But, first things first, make sure Gru's up to speed on our operation."

"Right, sir. Have a good evening." Ms. Bailey left the office and the door clicked shut behind her.

Ramsbottom rubbed his face and sighed. Weary of fighting crime, he had long ago given up the pretense of fighting on the side of good against evil. Yet with Anna Bailey, he saw in her some of the idealism and youthful spirit he once had. Perhaps it was naivety, but she genuinely believed in justice and a God.

Heaven knows I need a genuine purpose… he thought. Flicking the light switch off, he locked the door behind him.

A/N: Please read and review, and if this story can hit 30 reviews, I will upload the next chapter early. God bless and see you soon!