48

The Language of Love

"Sometimes,  love is not about what your tongue professes, it is about how each action impresses."

   As early as 7:30 pm,  Shana arrived and made a little tour of the place.  Perhaps it is already something she learned in the field of work. While walking around, she saw the meeting place.
   "So, Meet the SPArtans is a food hub, not the literal persons I expected all the while.  Chief is a little weird sometimes. Must I enter now?  They might not be around yet. But I can already come to check out the place,"
Shana proceeded with her idea.
  
   Upon entrance,  the guard approached her.  She looked at her keenly.  Then he mentioned a word.

   "Analyze!" he spoke with little loudness.

   "What? What do you mean?" Shana was totally surprised.

   "Analyze!" the guard repeated the word.

   After about a minute of pondering,  she had the point, "All Angles?"

   "Good! The man is waiting for you at table 5. He was there for an hour now," the guard told her.

    "You're late! You will remain a rookie at that," the Chief confronted Shana. Despite being old at 65, his hair still appears dark and blank so people view him younger than his age.  However,  his temper sometimes reveals the truth,  easily getting annoyed or angry.

     "But Chief,  you told me that I should be here at 8:00. I even arrived earlier," Shana answered with respect.

    "Do you know that PIs need to be earlier than early birds? You should have known your job."

    "Sorry Sir.  I will be earlier next time. That is a promise," she spoke with conviction.

    "Promises? They are meant to be broken.  Anyway, I cannot just stay long for now. I need to be on the NERVE. Someone will inform you of the background for your assignment. Just a piece of info. A3 is not just the place where things work for us.  You will understand me when the right time comes. Ready to meet him?" the Chief asked.

    "But Sir, I thought you will personally inform me of the details?"

    A man in brown suit approached them. He seems to be at 30s based on Shana's perception.  He appears to be smart and dazzling.  She got hooked immediately. But he did not pay attention to her presence. 
   
    "Shana, this is Hugo, one of our toughest and brightest PIs. I rarely assign him to do field work to keep guys like him obscure. This assignment is really not easy to deal with.  He is one of the integral parts of the NERVE. You can call him Agent 12 Take care of him.  I need to leave now."
  
  Shana seems lovestruck and dumbfounded. She could not move.  Hardly, a word came out from her mouth. The guy sat. He handed her a bundle of papers.

    "What will I do with these?" Shana inquired.

    "What do you do with papers as private investigator?" Hugo answered. 

    "My point is, what do these papers contain?"

    "Read to learn. Call me when you need something," Hugo was about to leave when Shana stopped him.

     "Is that it? The Chief assigned me to deal with you? I was never disrespected like this huh?"

     Hugo looked at her for a while.  Then he walked away.  Shana grabbed him in his hand.

    "At least tell me something about our mission. What is your use as a so called,  NERVE whatever?" Shana spoke loudly and with annoyance.

   "Honestly,  I don't need a partner. I can work on my own. Just to respect the Chief, I took this job. If you are done, I guess I can leave now."

    He left without any other word while Shana remained. She could not say anything for seconds, then she cursed him.

    "You will have your days! You are handsome, but you are ugly!" she hissed in vexation.