After getting tipped off by one of my countless spies I have stationed in strategic positions in the drug cartels and brothels that are known to me, I decided to make a rendezvous for the location that has been sent to me via a cryptic text code. In other to make that happen without giving too much away, I call my partner in the east coast to make sure that my alibi has been well secured. He confirms with me that not only is my alibi secured, it's also common knowledge that I'm in the east coast and would not be back for at least 2 weeks. To everyone on the outside, I'm enjoying a well deserved vacation from my services with the police force. How laughable!
I peer down at my phone like staring long enough would suddenly change the wordings of the message that has been sent to me. Going by what I was able to decode from this message, the best time for me to strike would be in like 2 days from now. I guess I need to start making preparations.
~ 2 days later ~
The first thing I noticed when I walked into this room was the faint whiff of a very sweet smelling very feminine essence. If I wasn't
someone with the skills required to pick up the slightest of smells, I would have missed it. The records I have do not mention any woman being in the headquarters, not even the women or children that are being trafficked, so
where exactly did the scent come from? While I'm still pondering over this, I hear a sharp intake of breath in the room. Ohhhhh, I get it now, someone that's meant to be here has found their way in here and they're hiding somewhere. It's too dark to really make out any shapes or form, but I know better than to doubt
my instincts and strong sense of smell.
"I know there's an intruder in here somewhere, you don't have to make this harder than it already is" I hear myself saying into the
dark. I stay as quiet as possible, even holding my breath to get my response. One thing I have been trained for is how to get answers even when there seems to be none really forthcoming. I almost miss the soft breathing coming from the direction of the array of cabinets at the rear end of the room. I'm taking slow and deliberate steps in that direction when I hear a shrill sound fill the room.
"Holy fucking molly…" I forgot to turn off my phone. What the hell am I thinking making a rookie mistake like that? I dig into my pocket
and I'm about to turn off the phone in anger when I see the caller's ID. This must be very important. It's Amelia on the other side of the phone and she is not one to communicate by calls. That's how I know this is very important for her to have resorted to this.
"Hello…"
"YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF THERE NOW!" she's not even screaming as loudly as it seems, but I can hear the panic in her whispers.
"But I haven't even gotten what I came here for," I can hear her sharp intake of breath like she is looking for the patience to deal with me
and my logic in this moment.
"I just heard someone say they're trying to get rid of whatever it is that is being housed in the headquarters. I don't know the details, but you're only as useful to the success of the operation as long as you're alive."
I'm already slowly backing out of the room, like she said, whatever evidence or information it is that I need to gather is only as useful to this operation as long as I stay alive. If I can't rely on the files that I should have gotten from this operation, then I'd have to find some other ways to get the information that I need. Although it would have been really nice to
lay my hands on those papers, what use would it be to me if I die tonight.
"Are you in danger?," I ask belatedly. She's already risking so much for this operation and I would not have her putting herself in harm's way for my sake or for the sake of this operation. I may not have so much to lose,
but she definitely has a bright future ahead of her and I'd be damn if my actions are detrimental to her in anyway.
"Ohhhhh please, I am a big girl. I can take care of myself, but I can't really say that for you right now though," I can hear the smile in
her voice. "Yeah, by the way, there's going to be a gala happening in 2 months time. It might be rather useful to us if you attend".
A gala? Now, that's quite interesting. You know that saying "where God closes a door, somewhere he opens a window"?! This just might be the physical manifestation of it.
"Is there like a theme or a dress code? Is there anything I need to prepare to avoid me going in blind?"
"Well…not exactly. I'll get the details across to you as soon as I get new information from our informant. Also, this line is going off the grid, you might not be able to make contact with me for a while, but I will be at the gala".
There are only two reason why Amelia would be going off the grid. The first being if she's been monitored which is an option I highly doubt. The second reason is if she's gotten some new information and wants to follow
the crumb trails to get to the logical conclusion of it.
"Are those old barbarians starting to get suspicious?," I ask the foremost and most important question on my mind right now. There's really nothing I can do for her if this is the reason why she has to go off the grid and I can only hope she can handle herself as she so confidently claims.
"Caelum, I promise you I can take care of myself, you just need to trust me on this one." Given her answer, I don't know what exactly to
believe. I suspect that the Organization may be getting suspicious of our operations within their ranks. Their actions tonight may allude to that fact, but then again, when have they never not being suspicious. Given the type of
dirty business they engage themselves in, I wonder how they sleep at night without having nightmares. The thought of the evils they have done to those innocent girls that we have been able to rescue so far makes my stomach sink
with a very sick feeling. Luckily, we are not as helpless as we were 2 years ago when we started this counter operation against the Organization.
We're going to have to be more cautious with our mode of communication to avoid blowing our cover. We can't afford to make a mistake right now, when we're so close to bringing
the truth of their dark and depraved ways to public light.
"I trust you Amelia, but I also need you to promise me that no matter what, you stay safe, if not for me, then for yourself and your future
with the force," I can almost hear her shaking her head in exasperation. "I don't care if you think I'm being overbearing right now, I just need you to promise me".
"I promise Caelum, I promise." I know a promise is not enough to guarantee her safety, but I'd rather that than nothing at all. "I'm
hanging up now, I need to get back to work. Do take care of yourself Caelum." And then she hangs up.
I stare at the blank screen for a while and then let out a long sigh. I have a gala to prepare for I guess. Now I just need to find the perfect most non assuming reason to be there without drawing too much attention to myself.