Fated Retribution

13 [Target Alpha]

15th September, Monday, 4:27 pm, 2028

I was hot, sweaty, itchy and my clothes were full of blood.

"So, who'd you give the money to for the attack?" I had lost count of the number of times Richard had asked the same question as I sighed once again.

"Dude-" I started but Leo cleared his throat from the side, where he was leaning against the wall of the cell on the way I had decided to address his boss. I rolled my eyes as I began again, "Chief, I'm not saying anything without a lawyer and for fuck's sake, get me a goddamn change of clothes."

"You're not getting anything from me till you answer my questions." Richard replied coldly and I took a deep breath as I leaned back on my chair. The cell was extremely small and dark making me very uncomfortable. My leg bounced up and down and my wrist felt like it was burning as I continuously tugged on the handcuff around it.

"Why would you even think I know anything about this? I was literally caught in the attack." I tried to reason out and Richard only looked back at Leo who nodded his head and placed a ziplock back which had a couple of bullets in them.

"Recognize these, Mrs. Petrova?" Richard's tone was a little smug as he pointed to the bag of evidence and I gave him a bored look before focusing on the evidence in front of me, they were 9 mm bullets and telling from their state they had most likely been fired a few hours ago. The letters 'AR' were engraved on the side, a small watermark of authenticity my company left on the goods it manufactured. I looked up at Richard as I answered, "They're from my company, it's the MP-28 model but we stopped manufacturing these back in 2024."

"These were the bullets used in the attacks." Richard informed me and I took a double take at the information.

"Attacks?" I asked in shock.

"Yes, Mrs. Petrova. Attacks. Now, don't act naive. The ammunition made by your company is being used for such activities and you miraculously are the only one who walks out unharmed from that attack. Too much of a coincidence isn't it?" Richard spoke as he got up from his seat and circled around the table. I gulped, deep in thought.

My mind raced with possibilities as the puzzle pieces slowly connected in my head. The robbery, the first attack on me and then on Aurelia, the Ash Field fiasco and all of it linking up to mine and my company's name being dragged through the mud. The pieces connected to form a clear joined picture in my head.

Someone was trying to frame me. But I didn't know who or why or for what. My eyes darted back to the bullets and I squinted my eyes as I noticed a faded symbol on the golden bullet making my eyes widen. I hastily gripped the packet and the symbol became clearer to my vision, which was a snake.

"The Grave Markers." I muttered under my breath and heard Leo question from behind me.

"The Afghan terrorist group? What about them?" I looked up at the two officers, and shoved the package in front of their faces, "The snake symbol, it's the Grave Markers'." I said out loud and Leo's face scrunched in thought while Richard's scowl deepened in realisation.

"That is not possible. The group has been underground for years after their leader's arrest, unless you're one of them." He spoke slowly and my jaw dropped open as I started to stutter a reply.

"What- no- I'm- how dare you assume that?" I managed to say.

"Sir, I think that's a little far-fetched." Leo whispered to the chief but I still heard him, a ray of hope rising from deep within me but being tarnished almost immediately as Richard shook his head, his green eyes still focused on me in a dangerous glare.

"Since when have you been a part of the Markers?" He interrogated and from the corner of my eye I saw Leo's eyes flash with doubt and a tinge of sympathy.

"I am not a part of a terrorist group, I haven't done anything, just, please you need to let me go." I addressed Richard but my eyes stayed on Leo who's expression was torn between supporting the truth or going with his job.

"Is this some big plan your Afghan and Russian buddies are trying to pull of on America-"

"If you're forgetting, officer, I'm an American citizen too and as I said we stopped manufacturing these bullets four years ago so you should clean your ears and brush up on your facts." I replied calmly and I heard Leo cough from behind which oddly sounded like a snort, making Richard throw him a sharp glare.

"Then isn't it a concern for your company to look into this matter that a product which is no longer in manufacturing, is being used in illegal activities." Richard shot back and I found my throat going very dry at the growing tension in the room.

"If you would let me out and stop treating me like some convicted enemy of the state, I might as well look into my record books and be of help." I replied sharply and Richard's stance faltered a bit as he narrowed his eyes on me.

"Sir, if I may?" Leo spoke after a long pause and Richard grunted in response as the two men moved away from my hearing range and talked in hushed whispers. I observed their body languages and judging from Richard's violent hand waving, it seemed like they were in a heated argument about something.

Finally, Leo dropped his head down in defeat and Richard patted his shoulder with a small smirk as they started to move back towards me.

"Can I have a lawyer now?" I asked, their attention back on me and I chewed on my lip as I noticed Leo's gaze on the ground and Richard's scowl almost on the verge of disappearing.

"How many members of the Grave Markers are still active?" He asked, instead and I pushed my head in my hands in exasperation at his adamant nature.

"Why are you convinced I'm the one behind all of this? I was literally in the attack, my childhood best friend was injured and I have no clue how she's doing-"

"Which makes a perfect cover story. You're a victim of the attack, your friends are hurt too but not in a fatal way. No one would suspect a thing. But I think you still left a few loose ends in the planning Mrs. Petrova didn't you?" Richard's words left me speechless as I thought of an answer or even a retort but my senses were as if numb.

"Look, all I know is I'm innocent and right now, my friends and my family need me. Please, please you can take me in again anytime, I promise you can even send an officer or two with me, I don't mind. Please let me go." I said, tugging on my wrist and Richard sighed as he started to exit and Leo scrambled after him. He started to order the latter and my breathing grew heavy and blood ran cold as I heard the words he said,

"Send Jessica in, I think we need to do this the hard way."