A Number, Not a Name

Tears Don't Fall

5 hours earlier:

The leaves of the surrounding trees had a silvery tinge in the moonlight. Their eerie shadows crawled across the ground and snaked up the side of the old building. Dalmar sat alone in his office meticulously going over some files. A lone lamp was turned on basking the room in a dim glow. Dalmar hadn't spent much time sleeping lately. All his nights had been devoted to going over the latest files and reports. Every passing second he was getting closer to his goal yet the odds of something derailing his plans increased. Perhaps he was being paranoid, spending every waking hour checking and double-checking every detail of his "operation," but he couldn't afford to take any chances.

The sound of his phone ringing interrupted the silence. His eyes widened as they fell on the familiar number. He amusingly shook his head, answered, and held the phone to his ear. "Well, well. Isn't this a surprise? I always took you for a fool Elias but I didn't think even you would be so stupid as to call me."

"Listen up Dalmar. I'm not here to play your games and if you're smart you'll pay close attention to what I have to say." The low, dark voice fairly oozed out of the receiver. Dalmar was affronted by the choice and tone of Elias' words. It infuriated him to no end how Elias had seen himself as the alpha in their "relationship." After all, he was the one who had approached him and Norvan with the idea to form their own faction as well as supplied the majority of the resources to fund the party. Without him and his money, Elias would be reduced to a power-hungry insolvent. Elias had turned out to be nothing more than an ignorant blubbering old fool, completely useless to him and his cause. What had possessed him to work with him he didn't know. He didn't need him that was for sure.

Dalmar was in no mood to be trifled with. "What do you mean 'if I'm smart I'll pay close attention to what you have to say?' I'm the one who made you who you are in case you forgot!"

"And put a bullet in my back!" Elias shot back.

"Oh I'm sorry" Dalmar feigned remorse. "It was meant for your head."

"I'd be careful what I say next. I have certain information, recently brought to my attention, that could potentially be your undoing. Two NSA agents have infiltrated your operation. "

Dalmar haughtily laughed. "You're bluffing."

"Oh, I never bluff."

A chill went down Dalmar's spine as he heard a voice come behind. Dalmar slowly turned around in his chair. He swore under his breath as he saw Elias standing directly in front of him.

Dalmar chuckled. "Well well, this is a sight I never thought I'd never see again. You..standing in my office." Dalmar reached into his pocket and pulled out his gun. " If I were you I would've stayed away." He pulled back the safety.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Elias calmly responded. "As luck would have it. I have these two agents in my custody. I don't come back, they go free." He gave a sly smile and took a step forward. "Now I'd be willing to turn them over to you...for a small price. You show me where the weapons are stored and bring me back on as a partner."

"You actually expect me to fall for this?" Dalmar scoffed. Lines creased around the corners of his mouth.

"Why would I risk coming back here for nothing?"

"Desperation. A desperate man would do anything." Dalmar sat up from his chair.

"Maybe. Maybe not." Elias walked closer towards his former ally. "I'm sure it must be hard having to swallow your pride and make a deal with me. If you don't want to, I completely understand. It's not like I'm your only option. I could send those NSA people back to their little friends in Washington. Let the agency deal with you. Or I could let that Ohanyan girl know who's responsible for her father's death. Word on the streets is she's out for blood. Lot's of it." Elias snickered.