Cracked pictures were splayed across the table. Erica sat uncomfortably in a chair as another agent in front of her grudgingly explained her next mission. She did, in fact, have knowledge of the mission, but the older she got, the more protocol seemed to stick to the back of her mind. She didn't know what to think of the change.
The agent, Agent Zhang, waved his hands in the air time to time for emphasis. In all sincerity, it was amusing to see this giant, teddy bear of a man put in a lawn chair. It had reminded her of the time she had interrogated Trixie after finding her trail mix missing. On this less pleasant night, the screams of protest from the chair everytime he adjusted made her attention fray. Then again, it's not like her situation was any better, chair leaning far too back for her comfort while one of the legs was uneven compared to all the others so that when she tried to get a clearer glimpse of the picture, she would rock against the cheap table, alerting the dull agent.
"This picture," Agent Zhang held up a photo, distinguishing it with ease, "is of the victim. 13 year old Mabry Colton. Her mother is a hired killer. No info on the father." He sighed as he put it back into the pile. He had debriefed this to her coworkers and hiding his exhaustion was something he was terrible at.
"Agent Hale, we believe this girl may be in danger. It is far too common for loved ones to be exterminated by opponents. Something to get the mother off her game." Zhang's voice quivered. "I've seen it far too often with others."
He reminded Erica of Zoe.
Emotional attachment was the reason she was kicked out. Useless sympathy. It would be no surprise if he was dismissed, and, if anything, she'd be delighted. People like him only bring this corporation down.
He shivered as she cast her eyes on him. They had not time for this compassionate weakness. They needed to get that girl out. No distractions. You don't devote your heart to these things of importance. Why would you attempt what is irrational to arrive at the rational? No, what you do is you contribute your mind, your thoughts. When you think, you understand. When you feel, you are brash.
"How much time, agent?"
The dimness seemed to accentuate the shadows cast on the walls. The blurred edges cut around his face, betraying nothing but the gravity of which his heart was pinned by. A fool, for letting a task do this to him.
"Indefinite." He tapped his fingers rhythmically against the plastic. He looked down at the table, almost as f he couldn't look at her. "We need to get to her, Agent Hale. We need to guarantee her safety."
"To guarantee her safety would be to lie and say that wolves which whom she dines with have sharp teeth for no reason. Do not fret. My team will get her here. What happens after..." She shrugged and stood, chair screeching as it was pushed back. She made her way to the side of the table and leaned on it lazily, examining her finger nails. "This is at its end. I shall take action soon."
Her footsteps were light as she headed for the door.
"Do you seriously only care for the mission? What about the girl? Another one of which you cannot affect the life or death of? Everytime you harden your heart, someone could die. Where is your passion?" He blocked the light which hung over the table, portraying him as a figure of the night. How villainous would he appear to a spectator compared to her, who faced the light?
"In shackles to the mind that leads me to be successful, unlike you." She did not need to regard him further. There was a mission at hand.
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"I'm in."
"Good. Colton should be in her room. Right 20 steps, door on the left." Mike had given her directions for the house while she checked out her surroundings. Ornate house with voluminous luxuries. There was even an obnoxious little fountain with a cherubim holding a lily as it stood on one leg, the eyes cracked along with a few missing fingers. Even statues lost their innocence.
