Reminder that underlined speech is spoken in English! :)

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Chapter Seventeen – The Kidnap

"It's time. They want it done."

"Now?"

"Are you questioning orders?"

"No," he answered. "And if she knows nothing?"

"Kill her. She's useless. Kill her anyways, even if she knows anything. She's been a pain in the ass for long enough."

"Understood."

***

"Are you sure you're going to be alright?"

"Just go, April. Amelia will be with me."

"Fine, but let me know if you need anything. You know where to reach me."

"Okay, okay."

Misaki sighed softly as April finally left her. She was pulling another late night. Though they hadn't told her about that run-in with Jacob, April seemed even more concerned by the fact that she was alone with Amelia. She had tried to tell her on numerous occasions that the girl wasn't suspicious, but April never believed her.

"She seems kind of odd, for a Contractor."

"Hm? Oh, maybe a little bit," Misaki replied as Amelia had joined her by the front entrance."

"Well, shall we get to work?"

"Sure."

The tele-conference with her supervisors had turned into a weekly activity for April and July. Thankfully, she wasn't subjected to such tedious tasks since she was high enough in rank. She reported to the others through e-mails and the occasional phone calls. But those were more for clarification of specific documents or details she received.

Because of Amelia, Misaki hadn't had any more issues with Jacob. If anything, he seemed to avoid her even more than he avoided April. She was glad. It was because April didn't know that Amelia had helped her that she was sceptical of her, except she had made a promise to Amelia that they would keep that incident a secret. After all, she would have to explain everything; that would sour the relationship between Jacob and April even more.

"What are you thinking about?" Amelia asked her.

"Oh, nothing really. Thanks for staying again."

"It's not a problem. But I can't stay that late this time."

"Something special going on?" Misaki inquired.

"Not really, but it's something I can't get out of."

***

April sighed as she sat in the boardroom, listening as her supervisor went on and on. It was the first opportunity they had in penetrating CIA headquarters and they wanted updates on their operations. It wasn't like she knew much more beyond the workings of Jacob's team. Just because she was invited, it didn't mean that she was given free access to everything.

In a way, she was jealous of Misaki and July. No one expected anything from July, even though he was part of the team. He was a doll after all. Misaki didn't have to report to anyone what they found. Foreign Affairs didn't seem interested in the workings of the CIA. As a result, she was allowed to do what she wanted, within the boundaries set by the CIA.

***

"Really? Already?"

"I did say I couldn't stay late," Amelia reminded her.

"But it's only been a couple hours," Misaki complained, glancing at her watch. "Could I at least stay longer? I think I'm onto something."

"What about what happened last time?"

"I'll be really careful. I promise. Besides, he has been avoiding me anyways. He took your reminder seriously."

"Oh fine," Amelia answered with a sigh. "I'll get Hayden to drive you home when you're done."

"Hayden? Who's that?"

"One of my coworkers. He usually stays late anyways. He's kind of like you... Always pulling late hours."

"Where will I find him?" Misaki asked.

"I'll have him stay at the front. Don't worry. I trust him."

"Thank you. I'll see you tomorrow then."

"See you. And don't stay too late," replied Amelia with a smile.

Misaki nodded and turned back to the paperwork in front of her. She wasn't really onto something, but she felt better when she was at work. She couldn't see Hei and this was a way to feel close to him, even if she was staring at victim data. It all had some connection to him; she couldn't help worrying and this helped to relieved some of it. It was somewhat of a double-edged sword since she was always both relieved and worried by all the data they had collected on him.

***

As her eyes drooped closed for the third time, Misaki finally decided it was time to head back to the hotel. She was getting nowhere and being in America wasn't like being at home where she drove herself around. It would be rude to keep Amelia's friend waiting for too long. Glancing at her watch, she sighed as it was already eleven o'clock.

Quickly packing away the files, she left them in the box that they had pulled out for her. Stepping out into the hallway, she felt a shiver of fear crawl up her spine. It was oddly quiet, even for CIA headquarters. The last time she had left this late with Amelia, there had still been a couple other people who passed by in the hallway.

"Are you ready to go?"

Misaki smiled with relief as a man greeted her when she entered the front lobby of the building. He was here, just like Amelia promised. When she nodded in reply, he closed the folder he had been glancing through and approached her. Following the guidance of his actions, she exited the building first to find that there was a black SUV waiting outside.

He walked around to the driver's side to unlock the door before pointing to the back seat. Misaki glanced into the front to see that he had placed an assortment of things on his front passenger seat – a briefcase, papers he had just taken out and a half eaten lunch. Climbing into the back, she didn't want to be a nuisance. He was doing her a favour anyways.

"Thank you," she said after closing the car door.

"You're welcome."

She didn't expect him to understand Japanese like Amelia did, so she sat staring out the window. It was weird how she had become accustomed to this odd routine. In the morning, she'd have breakfast with April and July before they were driven to the headquarters. They spent most of the day there, only leaving when it was close to suppertime. Then they would have the evening to themselves where April occasionally dragged her to the spa since she wasn't allowed to drink.

Yawning as she felt her eyes drift closed again, she rested her head against the glass to nap until she arrived back at the hotel. The man in the front glanced into the rear view mirror to see that she had fallen asleep. Grinning to himself, he finally pulled a phone from the compartment next to him. That had been easy.

"It's done," he said.

"Good. Then take her to where we planned. I'll meet you there."

"Got it."

Hanging up, he tossed the cell phone to the side. They never thought it would be that easy, but it was. They studied her work patterns for the last few weeks since they only wanted her and not the other two. His part was almost done – as soon as he dropped her off at the designated location. The gas in the air system of the car had worked beautifully as it knocked her out in a matter of minutes.

Flicking off a switch, he drove along with no worries that his passenger would wake up. After all, they had been testing and planning for this very moment. He didn't know why she was so important to them, but he followed his orders. That had only been to pick her up from CIA headquarters and drive her to where they told him.

***

April sighed as she paced in her room. July sat calmly on the sofa, staring at a picture in a magazine they had taken from the front lobby. She was getting impatient as she had tried calling Misaki twice already and the woman didn't pick up. She even knocked on her room door, thinking she would be back by now. But there was no response.

She turned to ask July, but it wasn't like he knew anymore than she did regarding Misaki's whereabouts. His powers didn't even work here. What could she possibly find so consuming as to ignore phone calls? Besides, that Amelia was supposed to be with her. Couldn't she at least inform Misaki of an incoming call?

"What now?" she finally asked.

July only glanced at her and shrugged. Slamming her fist on the table, she wandered towards the mini fridge. Groaning as she only had bottled water and carbonated drinks to choose from, she slammed the door shut and marched back to the sofa, sitting next to July. This was really important and she couldn't even find the woman to ask her about it.

***

Groaning as her head ached, Misaki tried to sit up, but found that she couldn't move and she couldn't see anything. Her arms were pinned painfully behind her back and she wondered what had happened. The last thing she could remember was leaving the CIA headquarters after staying late. Then she had climbed into the vehicle as Amelia's co-worker had been asked to drive her back to the hotel. Everything after that was hazy.

Struggling against her bonds, cold metal bit into her wrists and she realized that her hands were cuffed together. What happened and who would want to do this to her? It wasn't like anyone should be interested in her presence here in America. Feeling around with her hands, the only things she could find were cold concrete beneath her and a wall of pleated metal behind her. When she tried to stand, she found that her legs had also been tied together.

Just remain calm, she reminded herself, taking in a deep breath.

She took in one and then another and one more. She tried to hear something – anything – over the nervous hammering of her pulse in her ears. It was difficult not to panic when she had no idea where she was. It was eerily quiet and for the second time since she arrived, she found America to be a scary place. Were they going to kill her? Was it the Syndicate? Would she never see Hei again?

His ring was cold against her skin and she was saddened to think that the promise would be broken because of her. The idea that she would die first and not see him terrified her. Flopping over so she was lying on her side, she tried to draw her legs up to her arms to see if she could free herself. No matter what, she had to get herself out of here!

Fighting with her constraints, she couldn't reach down far enough to even feel the ropes around her legs. Suddenly, though she was blindfolded, she sensed that the lights were turned on as things seemed lighter on the other side of the dark fabric tightly covering her eyes. Listening carefully, she could hear two voices speaking – one male and one female. They had come to kill her...

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A/N: Things are starting to get interesting!! Stay tuned for more on what happens to Misaki~ hehe, how mean of me... Another cliffhanger :p