At Your Service (Book Two)

Chapter 13: In Need of Assistance

Allison threw another dart. The projectile did hit the target board, but not as perfectly as it landed in the second ring next to the bullseye. She made a low grumble when she found her aim to lack accuracy. How the hell did I even train that kid?

The shooting practice was her most precious memory with Swift as if it was only yesterday when he was still under her care. He still is now, but not as tight as back then. Now Allison knows nothing of his whereabouts and seemingly didn't want to know. Where did time go?

When Allison threw the next dart from the box, not only did it miss the bullseye again, instead it hit the same target she nailed before, the two darts colliding which made the last one fall to the floor, much to her aggravation.

"Goddamnit." She muttered.

Then she heard her buzzer go off before her secretary sounded through the answering machine on her desk, "Miss McKinley? Carter's here to see you."

Carter? When Allison heard the name of her trusted chief analyst, she put away her palm that rested her chin and quickly swept the box under her desk with disregard. Pieces of darts are scattered below. She didn't mind, she'll clean it up later. As long as Carter doesn't see her goofing around, everything is fine.

Soon enough, the door to her office was pushed open, and peeking from behind was Carter's head. "Boss?"

"Carter," Allison nodded, inviting the analyst in. "Do come in."

Carter obeyed and carried on to conduct the business that made him enter her office, bringing his tablet with him. "We might have a... slight situation regarding," He smacked his lips before continuing, "You know who."

Allison made a puzzled face, "Who?"

"Your boy?"

"Oh." She said nonchalantly, before realizing who he meant by that. "Oh, blimey." The comprehension made her say something she never said with her own mouth before. "Doesn't he know not to call us for a while? Didn't you tell him that yourself?"

"I did!" Carter said. "Until five minutes ago, he asked me to do another favor."

"I thought you've done enough favors for him?" Allison asked.

"I thought it wouldn't hurt to do one last one. Wouldn't it?"

"In terms of security, it does." She replied.

Carter's head backed slightly, "Oh." Then he blinked awkwardly. "Umm... I mean, I thought you would agree that I can help him out again... Just a little, and after that-" He continued blabbering, which made Allison sigh.

"What the hell's the situation?" She interrupted.

"Okay, okay. So, you remembered last time how he called about Santiago Vanderbilt, right?" Carter asked, to which Allison hums in avowal.

"What about it?"

"Well, he-" Carter abruptly ceased in his words, seeing the dart target board hung on the wall beside her desk. It strangely still has darts attached to it. "How long has that been there?"

Allison, reluctant to look at the target board, did anyway, playing dumb like she's never seen the board before. "Before I even got promoted as director."

"Uh-huh?" Carter eyed at the board again. "And the previous one didn't bother to take it down?"

Allison immediately replied to that, leaving no gap of silence between his question and her reply. "No." She said without a doubt.

Carter was still bizarrely silent, his face looked as if he heard faint voices in his head. "Um-"

"Stop prolonging this and just tell me what the hell's going on."