Chapter 4: The Mocking Bird's Tale

Camelot Inn was it's usual bustling self, I noticed a look of uneasiness on Gwen's face the minute we walked in.

All eyes were focused

on her.

"I take it they don't see many ladies around here…." She pointed out.

"Well…I wouldn't say so," I said, quickly adding, "There are used to the regulars"

"…andthe big shots from Pendragon Corp don't frequent here much…" she said almost as if she had been clearly amused with her remark.

"Why don't we take a seat…order a few beers." I edge her on, I had taken an instant liking to her, she was smart and funny.

It was no wonder Lance would be drawn to her.

We picked a cozy little corner good for four, I could not have been more pleased. I ordered my beer and she her wine and together we waited patiently for the two high society men to appear.

She was not her usual self, her mood had seemed somber, I showed my concern.

"You are being watched…" she whispered, a tender warning, quickly moving to my side, inches away from my left thigh..

I had remained unsure for a while, "What do you mean?" I whispered back, enjoying what seemed to me to be a playful mind game between two people getting to know themselves.

She shook her head, I watched how her locks dance about gracefully across her face, "I am serious…since you picked me up, I noticed that we are being watched….You in particular."

I sat up, "Why would…." She quickly placed her hands on my mouth, instantly she pretended to be wiping something off the corners of my mouth.

"What in the name…." I thought this ridiculous.

Her eyes widened, I sensed an immediate ping of fear, her eyes focused on my lips, she spoke in haste, "9 o'clock Merlin, see that lady? In the dark shades."

My eyes traced the indicateddirection.

"Don't!" Gwen warns, holding my face and pulling it towards her, quickly she kissed me.

That clearly overwhelmed me…you see, .I am average loser…a hot girl like her would only be with me in one of my numerous wet dreams…that kiss….it took me to places….

I closed my eyes, but felt her hot breath on me, "3 o'clock there is another man…he too has been watching."

My eyes remained shut, I couldn't believe this, I was in the rowdiest of bars, with a hot girl on my laps, who happens to be my boss's right hand man's love interest kissing me and insinuating that my life was in danger...

"What man?" I whisper, in urgency, in desire….

She kissed me once more, "Dark hair, just like the lady, scar on his face….never smiling…his eyes are not leaving us….he is staring right at me."

"Where is his scar?" I ask….still aroused by her hot panting.

"Right cheek….it is deep…it is ugly…"

In that instant did it all click, swiftly I pushed Gwen, gently to the side and turned to see who I had strangely presumed it could be…..

But in the midst of the crowded room, did I find that his presence was long gone.

I turned to where the mysterious lady was sitting, I caught a glimpse of her, watching her maneuver out of the Inn….

"Odd." I say this more to myself.

"I dare say, I do agree with you on that."

I turned to Gwen, about to tell her that for a minute there she sounded like Arthur, but my companions eyes were fixed elsewhere and wordlessly I trailed them to find none other than the twin towers, Arthur and Lance standing before me.

I stood up instantly.

Arthur seemed amused, his arms were folded, without a word he turned to face his friend, Lance, "You want to do the honors?"

I raised my arms in self defense, "It is not what you think!"

Arthur looked at me as if my head had shrunk, "What I think?"

Gwen stood up as well, "Hello I am Gwen?" quickly she shook his hand, a genuine smile occurred between the two of them and I could not help sense that Arthur had warmed up to her instantly.

She pecked Lance on the cheek and he twirled her around, after which she hit him lightly on his shoulder.

"Ouch!"

Pulling him close to her, she whispered something into his ear, he nodded, mouthing out a silent "sorry" after which he led her to her seat.

She gave me a quick wink and now that the two heroes had joined us, I felt Gwen slipping further away from me…..

Kiki sighed out loud, "You mean after she warned you that you were being watched? You guys left it at that?"

Merlin placed his arms on the desk, " I mean you would too, right?" quickly he stopped her from saying another word, "I forgot, you are CIA….of course you would not…you probably watch you back every waking moment…."

She stretched her arms out, "You fancy Gwen, then?"

"She is hot…what is there not to like? Great personality….spunk…..I instantly liked her….but so did Lance and Arthur."

"Arthur?" Kiki raised an eyebrow, "Thought he was happy with Elena."

Merlin only nodded, "Ahh the perils of love…."

Kiki lifted her legs back on the table, with a new notepad she bit at the pencil end, "Interesting….but if I may ask, who did you suspect was watching you?"

Merlin took in a deep breath, "Pendragon Corporation is a family business…with a lot of fortune tied to it….a lot of outsiders want a piece of it…."

"So you tell me every now and then, Merlin….but who did you have in mind?"

Kiki studied him carefully…because for once…she had noticed the one thing she had hoped not to occur during his story telling – reluctance.

"No one….particular….I was just on the look out for Lance or Arthur." He fell back on his chair.

His answer had not seemed sufficient enough, she noted down how Merlin's eyes had moved upwards and to the left, it was an involuntary move…but she had noticed it.

Psychology 101 tells you that, that particular move, was the move a person made when…he was telling a lie.

The door to the Magic room opened, with Oliver appearing in front of them, "Sorry Kiki, but you gotta come see this."

She got up reluctantly, her eyes watching the suspect, "Stay put Merlin, keep thinking about Gwen…she leaves a smile on your face, I wish I could do the same."

Confidently the agent followed her colleague out of the magic room and into the back area.

Nothing had been exchanged between the two of them, only when she joined her team was she to discover in detail, what was occurring.

"He's spinning circles, Kiki." One of them chirped. They all seemed to be focused on a stack of papers.

"What do you mean?" she motioned towards them, "What's that?" her eyes fell on the papers.

Oliver sighed, "We have researched on every single person he has spoken about….Arthur, Lance, Morgana, Agravaine, Gwen and even Uther….."

"And?" she glanced at the papers, records of past events, she notices Lance's criminal record….this seemed strange, why would the so called Pendragon Angel have a criminal record for….Fraud and Theft…?

"It doesn't add up…." Oliver pointed out, clearly disturbed, "See, Lance been on the FBI's case files before…he was being traced bout 4 years ago…but then when he joined Pendragon Corp….charges were dropped, investigation ceased.

"This is fucked up." She silently cursed, her eyes fell on the suspect in the magic room, he seemed too calm for her liking, "What has he left out?"

One of the team members began to speak out, "Morgana's sect?"

"What about them?"

Oliver glanced through his paper work, "Not just your ordinary sect….more like a secret society Kiki."

"A what?"

The team squinted their eyes, some yawned, "Ever heard of the The Nizari?" one of them called out.

She shook her head, "Whoooo?"

Oliver sighed, "The Nizari, a skilled guild of individuals who sought out for the greater good of man. Defenders for a certain price, dreadful due to their relations to the occult."

She nodded her head as if understanding him, "So we are talking assassins…."

Oliver bit his lip, "No….we are talking a secret society….a controversial one….that is benefiting from the support of say….a very powerful organization….one like perhaps….Pendragon Corporation?"

"I don't like the direction this is going." She muttered out lowly.

"Your man mentioned she belonged to some sect…she belonged to the Nizari, something went wrong and her cover was almost blown…." Oliver laughed out loud, he was amused by the story, "Merlin is toying with our heads….he knows exactly what we want to know and he is beating around the bush…."

She watched the suspect carefully, he was munching on the tuna sandwich she ordered , "That sneaky little rat….are you saying something went wrong within the ranks of Pendragon Corp itself?"

"Exactly Kiki….and he is flipping through it easily…." He turned to his colleague but she had brushed by him,, "Where are you going? " he called after her.

"I'm going to settle this my way…..keep watching!" Kiki slammed the door shut, leaving her team speechless.

Oliver placed his hand in his pocket, he had been watching Merlin intensely, but his attention quickly faltered, upon noticing that his hand gun was missing.

She took it!

Under his breath he cursed out, "Boy, Kiki…you better know what you are doing….you better."