Chapter 3
Third Person (POV)
"What exactly, might I ask, is this… agreement you are offering me?" Mr. Chu asked casually, narrowing his eyes at Dr… What did she say her name was? Oh that's right. Dr. Marian Janssen. He wasn't so sure if he could her trust her or not.
The Director turned to assure that they could not be overheard, and then returned her gaze to Mr. Chu. She had taken the soonest flight to Hawaii that she could, and, using a fake name of course, had requested to attend visiting hours. Apparently the Hawaii Naval Base was very tight with security when it came to letting visitors in. They appeared even tighter about letting visitors see Mr. Chu. She couldn't help but admire the fact that he was taken as such an enormous threat. Stay professional! She reminded herself. She took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. A good first impression was key for the plan to succeed. "I'm not sure it's best if I discuss it with you here." She said, lowering her voice.
She couldn't help but glare at him as he chuckled quietly, and then leaned forward more seriously. "So let me get this straight, you want to help me get out of here so that in return I will help you to reach a goal that I am not allowed to be informed of before the escape?" He asked feeling humored. Was she really so stupid as to trust him so easily?
She chuckled in return and leaned forward, so that they were only separated by the glass wall attached to the desks they were sitting at. There was only a small hole towards the bottom so that they could hear each other. "Well…" she started in the same humorous tone, "You don't exactly appear to have another way out."
Mr. Chu raised an eyebrow, "Touché" He said with a nod. "But how are you to know that I don't already have another way out?"
The Director shrugged. "I don't." She stated simply, holding back a smile as she watched Mr. Chu adjust his glasses in shock to what she had just admitted. He's right where I want him. She told herself convincingly. She cleared her throat before continuing, "I don't know whether you have another way out or not, for all I know you could have a ride waiting outside this very moment, just waiting to blow this place up. But what I DO know," She paused for emphasis before raising her gaze to meet his, "is that we both want the same thing."
Mr. Chu cocked his head to the side, leaning forward once more. "And what exactly might that be?"
She smiled, glancing back as a guard walked passed. She leaned in and lowering her voice said "The Flock out of the way once and for all." She clasped her hands together, holding back the rising anxiety that loomed in her, praying that he would take the bait.
She swallowed a cheerful shriek that rose inside her as Mr. Chu's shocked expression changed to one of deep thought, and then into a smile.
The Flock gone for good. He pondered this for a moment. Yes, they had been an awful distraction before. For that matter they were the exact reason he was even in this position. He looked back at Dr. Janssen and smiled. The Flock couldn't be impossible to get rid of, a challenge more or less, but not impossible. He could feel his smile growing and fought to not give himself away. It could even be… what's the word he was looking for? Fun… He thought, a sort of excitement rising in him. Yes, it would be fun. No more Flock hanging around messing up my plans, no more worrying about when they would pop up and where they were. No more Maximum Ride. He groaned at the thought of her. Yes, it would definitely be nice to 'do away' with her.
"So what exactly is your price?" He asked meeting Dr. Janssen's gaze and watching as her smile grew bigger.
She swallowed her excitement and looked at him serious, shrugging, "No price." He looked at her questioningly and she shook her head. "No price at all. You can rely on me to get you out of here, and all you have to do in return is help my company to take down that nuisance of a flock." She said the last part with disgust evident in her voice.
"And how do you plan to go about doing this?" He asked, still slightly unsure.
The Director looked around. "Again, I don't feel this is the best place to discuss anything definite, but we can, we will, do it." She said forcefully.
"And you trust me to just…" He thought for a moment, considering all the loop holes which appeared scarce. "walk out of here and head straight to your company's headquarters willingly? "
The Director nodded once more, and Mr. Chu laughed. "Why?"
She smirked. He indeed was a very intelligent man to question her so deeply. "Because I know how badly you want the flock out of the way and how soon you would like them to be gone."
Mr. Chu nodded. "Well, if you can guarantee me that you can in fact get rid of the flock…"
"Which I can." She added encouragingly. Please don't back out now. She thought, holding back her frustration.
"…then you can trust me lend you all the help you need to rid the planet of those winged-annoyances." He said, grinning evilly.
She nodded, pleased with herself for getting him to agree so easily. "I'll expect you at my office no later than Wednesday." It was Monday, so that should be plenty of time for him to catch a flight back to the newly relocated headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland. "I'll have a flight arranged for you as soon as possible."
She reached into her pocket and pulled out the small piece of paper, sliding inconspicuously though the class hole.
Mr. Chu picked it up and slid his chair back, so that he could hide the paper under the desk while reading it. Unfolding it, he read the words carefully: 2 AM tonight. Be ready. He looked up at her graciously as he crumpled up the paper.
"That's all you need to know really." She said checking the time from the clock hanging above the door; she needed to be leaving if she wanted to be on time for her flight back. "My assistant's name is Dr. Thomas Stuart." She said sliding her chair back and rising to her feet, "You'll know him when you see him."
Mr. Chu stood also. "I hope you are aware that I will have to bring my assistant with me." He pointed out.
The Director nodded. "What did you say her name is again?"
"Dr. Brigid Dwyer." He said with a slight smile.
The Director nodded once more. "A flight will be arranged for her too." As she turned to walk away, Mr. Chu called her back quickly. She turned to him, tapping her foot impatiently.
"One last thing." He asked suspiciously. "Who exactly IS your company?"
The Director smiled, she knew he would ask. "Itex." She said quietly as she turned to leave. She had no time to wait for his reaction, but she could tell as she closed the heavy metal door to the visiting area, that he was grinning evilly.