Her weary eyes fixed on Finch, Chloe wasnt happy to involve another person. In fact, she had taken a huge risk to open up to John already.
"I now have access to the phone the kidnappers have given to you. If they call again, we might stand a chance to locate them", the man with the black framed glasses let her know.
"Probably there are a million ways to suppress this information", Chloe answered, clearly not convinced about the plan.
"Not exactly a million ways but there are possibilities of course. Well try to take our chances though."
"John said you know how to evade the security system. I dont want to come off rude but since Im running out of time, it would be more helpful to tell me how to get in and out the exhibition without setting off the alarm", the dark blonde woman ignored Harolds statement but put her focus back on the blueprints the kidnappers had e-mailed her instead.
"That shouldnt be a problem. Ill log into their system once you arrive at the venue."
"Youll log in there?", the Chloe asked with a doubtful expression. "Im not sure if you understand. This exhibition is due to its valuable objects highly secured. Getting into their system wont be as easy as cracking an average company website."
"Dont worry, Finch is very capable. He got into the road traffic office in under a minute when I needed right of way. The national library didnt last two minutes either if I remember correctly. Only the Pentagon took with nearly three minutes a bit longer, but he still made it in time", John tried to calm her.
Chloe raised her eyebrows in confusion. It took her a moment to realize that according to Johns seriousness, he wasnt joking.
"Who the heck are you guys?", she asked with an earnest mixture of curiosity and weariness.
"What Mr. Reese wanted to point out with his questionable compliment is, that even if I cant tell you about the details, I can ensure you that we only want to help."
Trying to calm herself, Chloe closed her eyes.
"This is crazy. I mean… I dont know what to think." Shifting her focus back on the two men, she added: "The only thing Im sure of is that if I dont deliver what these kidnappers require, they will kill Ariana."
"Your sister will be okay. Youll get them what they want, and I will get them", John answered in a way that wouldnt accept another option.
"How have you handed over the prey until now?", Finch took the word again.
"Ill let them know via a SMS when Im done and theyll text me, where I shall place it in return. Up to now it has been lockers at Grand Central and Fulton station and before you ask, theres no chance to see whos coming and going in this crowd."
Harold nodded.
"I try a security camera check though. Do you know why exactly they came up to you to fulfill the task?"
Chloe smiled a humorless smile.
"Because of my past", she stated before letting her gaze wander to the window. "When I was a Teenager, I was bored and in need of some thrill, so I started doing Parkours like the cool boys. Its a mixture of climbing, running and jumping up and down roofs, fences, etc. For whatever reason I had a knack for it, so over the years I did more and more dangerous climbs. A few times the police were called but they never got us because we were faster jumping over a hurdle or taking the short way at a house façade. After five years, however; I just turned 18, I lost balance at a roof that was covered in wet leaves. All I remember is that I slid down and tried to catch myself at the gutter unsuccessfully. The next thing I know is that I woke up in a hospital bed. Beside a concussion and several contusions, three rips and my left arm were broken. My parents were relieved yet angry, while Ariana couldnt stop crying beside me. I felt so bad that I promised to stop doing illegal Parkour. After a long healing process, I kept going with legal tournaments until I turned 26 but somehow the thrill was gone at that point. When the kidnappers came up to me, they knew about my past and said that you wouldnt unlearn these things. They gave me three days to train and find back my groove - three days, after all these years", Chloe shook her head. "Luckily, they werent all wrong. Im a bit out of routine but I have to get right to save Ariana's life."
For a moment a heavy silence filled the room, when John took the word.
"Its good to have someone close to your heart. Makes it even worse if its used against you."
Chloe nodded. Focusing back on the two men, she leaned against a side table.
"Ariana is almost ten years younger than I am. Nonetheless, it was always her who steadied me somehow. Lets say, finding out who I was in my teenage and young adult years havent come easy to me. I questioned so many things in life: stereotypes that came natural to others, the sense of learning things Id never need again and who I wanted to be beside all these social expectations. Guess, I made it pretty hard on myself."
Surprisingly, a smile lit her face. "But then, there was Ariana. A kid that showed me her own world view in such a lighthearted way that I started to ask myself when I lost my easiness. Around her I felt lighter and more balanced. On the other hand, she always wanted to copy me in everything I did", she now smiled a wide smile, obviously reminiscing the situation.
Taking a moment, her glance suddenly turned serious again. "I may be the older one of us but in the end, Ariana taught me more than I could ever give her in return. Even over the years and our differences the bond never broke. I dont know if you can relate but its not that I just want to save her, I owe it to her."
Her last words nearly trembling, she looked forth and back the two men.
"Mr. Reese and I will do everything possible to help you free your sister", Harold stated.
Even though the otherwise rational computer expert mostly tried to focus on logical patterns rather than emotions, he had to admit that Chloes relationship to her sister kind of reminded him of his former friendship to Nathan.
"What if everything possible isnt enough?", the dark blonde woman asked voicing her biggest fear.
It now was John who took the few steps between them, laying his hands calmly on her shoulders to make their gazes meet. Seeing a mixture of various emotions in her eyes, he once again wondered if the boss lady attitude that showed up whenever needed was nothing more than a self-protection mechanism to the outside world.
"Your sister will be alright, I promise", he let her know in a calm tone. "And if plan A wont work out, theres still plan B though."
"Plan B?"
Recognizing a confusion in her eyes, he let go of her shoulders.
"It involves some heavier weapons but since were nice guys, we try the polite way first."
Watching her shake her head once more, a nearly amused smirk lit her face.
"What can go wrong then?", she asked in her old confident manner, which made John realize that her strong attitude in fact wasnt just a show for the outside world but an equal part to her soft side.
"So, if I get it right, its time for my first jewelry theft then", he concluded, signalizing Chloe that he was ready to go.