Chapter 3

Damien Vesper grinned as he watched his distant cousin sit at the seat on the other side of the window. He picked up the phone to talk with her as she did also.

"Why are you here?" Isabel asked. Her amber eyes were sharp and narrow. Like a snake, he thought.

"I've come to see how you're doing." Damien said. "And to have a chat about some recent occurrences."

Isabel frowned. "What recent occurrences?"

"My father died a few days ago."

There was a long pause as she stared at him through the window.

"You've confused me with someone who actually cares." Isabel said flatly.

Damien ignored this remark. "He was Vesper One, you know. The leader of the Vespers. And he's given this leadership to me. But I guess that's not a concern to you, seeing as you betrayed us for the Cahills."

"I never did join the Cahills." She snapped. "I do not know who took me into Police Custody but I'm sure it has to be them. I hate them more than ever. I want revenge to make up for that insult."

Damien smiled. "We'll I can certainly offer you your freedom from this dump and have that desired revenge."

Isabel studied him. "How?"

"I am Vesper One now. Join the Vespers and we can fight the Cahills."

"That does sound good but how do you suppose I get out of here?" She gestured to her surroundings.

"Easy. Do some community service. You can use that to get out of jail."

Damien noticed that Isabel was deep in thought. He could see the gears grinding in her brain.

"You've got yourself a deal." She said. "But I want some status."

Damien waved his hand dismissively. "Oh sure, I'll put you somewhere in my council of six."

Isabel's face hardened. "I'm going to be the highest rank as I can be. Otherwise I'm not joining you at all."

He sighed. "Vesper Two you will be then."

She smiled for the first time. "That's better."

"You will be issued with a mobile device as soon as you sort yourself out. Await my further instructions."

Isabel nodded, but she didn't exactly like how she had to obey him. But that was understandable. Once Damien's master plan would reach its climax, he wouldn't need her. She would be disposable.

The guard that led Isabel into the booth signaled the end of visiting time. He had to go. Damien stood, gave a small nod at his cousin and turned to leave.

/One down, four two go/.

He extracted his mobile and sent a message to one of his Vesper Spys, the same one his father sent to Grace Cahill's funeral. Once he'd tapped out his message, he sent it and turned it off. Now that was over with, he would need a mole to give him Cahill information. The question was, who would be the perfect fit for the job?

••••

Isabel Kabra sat at the seat until the guard told her to get up to go back to her cell. She rose, drifting out of the room with the guard.

The meeting with Damien was worth it. She now had a new plan, a plan that would surely succeed. As his cousin suggested doing community service, Isabel nearly gagged at the prospect of serving low-life civilians. But then an idea formed in her mind, a stroke of her genius. Why not make an effort to show how well she serves the community, without taking the effort to do it in the first place?

She could make an organization, non-profit most likely, and make speeches and conferences about how she 'cares' for the community, say ones suffering from famine. Then, she could have actors take photos and videos to prove her work, when she does nothing at all! It was brilliant. Now all she needed to do was tell her visionary community service to the authorities and she'll be out in no time!

Isabel smiled gleefully for a second before turning to the guard walking alongside her.

"I want to make an appeal." She snapped. "Take me to the person who oversees my imprisonment. I have a community service to start and it can't be done here."

"Sure." The guard said sarcastically. "Would you like a limo to pick you up outside too?"

"Of course!" Isabel said. "What else did you plan on having to pick me up with? An cab?"

The guard thought it was best not to reply and he shook his head and led her back to her cell. "I'll have a word with the manager."

Isabel grumbled. "You'd better."

And with that, the cell door slammed shut and Isabel was left alone in her cell.