"They say we are asleep until we fall in love
We are children of dust and ashes
But when we fall in love we wake up
And we are a god and angels weep
But if I die here tonight
I die in my sleep"
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Benicia sat down in the fancy hotel lobby with a book on her lab. Her glasses were about to fall off the bridge of her nose as she read her book in silence. She was currently in a short sleeved pink blouse with a dark red skirt and black heels. She closed her book and turned her head as she noticed less people were around. And Felix Manning was on his own.
She finally got up from her chair and slipped her book into her bag. Benicia got up and walked over to him with a small smile, "Felix Manning?" She tilted her head to the side as she stared down at him, "You haven't returned my calls. Benicia Duterte, from the Bulletin. Before I go to print, I'm obligated to offer you a chance to comment on your involvement in laundering money for Wilson Fisk." She set her bag down on the seat across from him and took a seat. Benicia crossed her legs and clasped her hands together, "Look, if you talk to me off the record, help me connect some dots, I can promise you I will keep your name out of it." She faltered slightly as a worker came over and refilled his coffee, "But that is only if you talk to me. You're a fixer, Mr. Manning. You're a freelancer. Other clients, a lot to lose. Once this story breaks, Fisk is gonna hang you out to dry. If I were you, I would start looking out for myself."
"Benicia Kaia Duterte. Orphaned at age 14 with no prior paperwork or proof of existing prior. Taken in at Saint Agnes with two others. Rhea Belan and Zoe Mercier, also 14 at the time with no prior paperwork or proof of existing. You had a single room. My guess is because you like to be left alone. To be in private. You made three friends during your stay. Caitlin Peterson. Lily Wong. And Franklin Coatney. You should have kept to yourself like you wanted. It would've left your friends alive. Off the record, you're incorrect." Felix stopped leaning back in the seat and shifted forward to be closer to her, "About what I do for a living. I don't fix problems. I make them disappear."
"Am I becoming a problem for him?"
"I'm not sure, Benicia." Felix lifted his mug up from the table and took a sip from it, "Are you?"
Benicia swallowed uncomfortably before she got up from her seat. She stepped away from him, "Thank you for talking with me, Mr. Manning."
"Thank you for listening, Miss Duterte."
Benicia left the building with large and quick steps. Far too fast for a woman in heels. She was a lot more aware of her surroundings as she walked down the sidewalk. She glanced behind her because she swore something was following her. She saw a man swerving around through the crowd. She opened and closed her fists as she continued walking. Her eyes glanced across the street to see someone that had been idly standing suddenly start moving with the same pace as herself.
She slipped her hand into her bag. Benicia felt for her handgun and furrowed her brows together. Her nerves had spiked as she kept walking. A large black SUV pulled up beside her and a couple of men jumped out of it.
"Benicia Duterte?"
Benicia was breathing heavily as she glared over at the man, "Who are you?"
"Don't move." He slowly walked onto the sidewalk with her and raised his badge, "FBI."
