"There is no truth. There is only perception"- Gustave Flaubert
II. More Questions, No Answers
Location: 10°56'49.4"N 48°41'22.9"E…transmitting
Dirt and brush kicked up underneath a set of boots as a tall figure, obscured in black barreled through the rough and uneven gaping terrain of the Ogo Mountains. Gun shots rang out and echoed through the canyons. The obscured figure slide down an opening in between a shadowed crevice as a group of three heavily armed assailants ran by shouting orders. The figure slowed their breathing as it listened to the armed assailant's scourer the mountain side. The night was disrupted as a distorted voice over a radio feed broke the silence. "Is the target neutralized?"
"No sir, we lost her" one of the armed figures replied. The voice over the radio sounded back "We can't afford mistakes, I'm calling it in, abort your pursuit, return to the site."
The armed figures regrouped and started making their way back down the mountain towards the small town in the West.
After silently waiting until she was sure her pursuers were gone, the figure removed herself from her hiding spot. She made her way down the East side of the mountain range. Once she reached the bottom she removed a Sat-Phone from her survival pack and placed a call to a nondescript number. As the phone dialed out the figure removed her mask reveling feminine facial features of a woman with olive colored skin.
The silence of the night air was broken as an automated voice transmitted over the phone. "You have reached the contracting office of Brutus & Sons; our hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 9:00AM to 5:00PM and Saturdays from 10:00AM to 3:00PM. If you would like to schedule an appointment, press 1. If you would like to leave a message, press 2. If you would like to leave a message for a named partner within the firm, press 3 followed by the extension number."
After pressing 3 followed by a five digit sequence a male voice recording stated "Marcus" followed by a beep.
"Hey Marcus, this is your faithful employee speaking, you know if you're going to try and kill someone, you should really make sure you send the right people. But don't worry I'll be seeing you real soon, and when I get back to the States, you and I are going to have a long conversation about your employee termination policy." The female figure angrily disconnected the call and smashed the phone against the rocks and made her way to the coast line.
Harold Finch rubbed the bridge of his nose to try to relieve the stress that had been building since 5:00AM. Scattered across the workstation in the library were countless stacks of books, newspaper clipping, and documents. He honestly had no idea what was going on and why the Machine gave him the two numbers that it of the numbers was probably in some form of trouble, but the other number was of a person that he personally knew was beyond their help. After doing what he could in terms of research and given the sensitive nature of the situation, he decided that it was best to discuss the situation as soon as possible. His thoughts were interrupted by Bear signaling that his 'employees' were here.
"So Finch what's with the SOS, is something exciting about to go down" Shaw blurted out as she bent down to pet Bear. Judging by the look on Johns face he was silently wondering the same thing.
"I would categorize it more so as puzzling, then exciting Ms. Shaw. The Machine has given us two numbers," he paused. "Possibly?"
"Possibly?" ,"What the hell does that mean?" Sam skeptically replied.
As he made his way to the glass board he replied "The first number is related to a man by the name of Marcus Walters, he works at a contracting firm downtown, and other than a few parking tickets, seems to be a clean and average person."
"What about the other number?" His body stiffened as he heard Johns voice. He turned to face them.
"Yes, about that, that's where the situation, becomes complicated" he watched as John and Sam exchanged looks.
He took a deep breath and turned back to the glass board and posted the news paper article that the Machine gave them. He slowly turned back around and watched as a look of surprise crossed Sam's face and a look of anger and anguish played across Johns.
"The Machine printed out this article and I have no clue why." The library was engulfed in silence as he let what he just revealed to them sink in.
"I don't get it, she's dead, is it hinting at something else, is her kid or family in trouble or something."Shaw gauged with a confused look on her face.
Taking his eyes off John, who hadn't moved or said a word since he put the article up. "I don't think so Ms. Shaw, I have been monitoring young Mr. Carter and his father and nothing has come up to indicate that either one of them are in danger. I even looked into the well being of Officer Simmons's wife and children."
He turned back to John, he was going to mention that he even verified her medical records and death certificate but he knew just from witnessing the tragedy that Jocelyn Carter was shot in the chest, where her heart was located, there was no way she could be alive.
He sat down back at his chair looking at both John and Sam. "I believe the best course of action at this point, would be to locate Mr. Walters and see if he has any connection with our puzzling circumstances. I've sent his work address and home address and information to your phones"
He turned toward John, he was still looking at the article, he wanted to say something but even with his vast amount of knowledge and extensive vocabulary, he knew there was nothing he could say to comfort him.
"Alright let's find out what this dude knows, I'll take his house" on that note Shaw turned on her heel and made her way to the exit.
"Mr. Reese, I…" he trailed off as John slowly shook his head and quietly made his way out of the library.
Harold removed his glasses and rested his head in his hands. He had a feeling that a storm was on the horizon and he honestly didn't know how many more of them they could take before the levees broke and they were swept away in the surge.