Cat and Mouse game

Chapter Seventeen

Later that evening Elias sent Evans photos of Rhino's companions via encrypted secure email, asking him to identify them and dig up any information about them.

As Elias finally completed all the tasks for the day, he closed the laptop with a satisfied expression on his face. Now he had time to get some real rest, which he definitely deserved. After all, he had worked diligently in the office all week and tolerated Raven just as diligently.

He made himself a cup of green tea with a slice of lemon and sat down comfortably on his couch, along with the book he had brought with him. He had planned to spend his rare moments of free time reading. And now even Raven himself could not spoil his rest!

The book was a collection of short stories and novels written by the famous Spanish author Miguel Delibes. Elias had long wanted to read his novel "Las ratas", which was published in the 1960s and explored philosophical themes as well as social issues.

Although Elias usually preferred reading something more modern and closer to mystery or detective genres, sometimes he wanted to immerse himself in the experiences of the people who lived during the last century. Maybe not real people, but just characters that existed only on the pages of books. And still, authors created them inspired by someone or something important to them.

Also, Elias read books written in the past about the past because he believed that people should know and remember their history. The history that was the foundation for "today".

Sometimes, the answers to the questions of the present could only be found in then, somewhere in the past.

The reading went quickly and easily. With each line he read, Elias enjoyed the book more and more. He imagined himself in the role of the protagonist, and it was like he could see and hear everything the character was feeling. It was like he was breathing the same air as him. He didn't even notice Eric's presence anymore; his ears seemed to block out any noise his partner made.

"Hey Elli, listen, I wanted to ask you something..." suddenly a familiar voice sounded right in his ear.

"What?!" Elias asked angrily.

"Oh, I see you're busy..." Eric said, giving him hope that he would leave him alone. And destroyed it right away, "But I'll ask you anyway."

Elias gave Raven a quick but extremely displeased look and just kept reading, deliberately ignoring him. The blond walked around the couch and stood in front of him. The next moment he snatched the book from Elias' hands with a swift motion and hid it behind his back. Obviously, Eric could spoil his rest after all.

With a heavy sigh, Elias looked at Eric again and did turn attention to him.

"What did you want to ask? I hope it's something important," Morales asked. It had better be a matter of life or death, he added in his mind.

"It is! It's about out operation," Eric replied without taking his eyes off Elias. He cleared his throat and continued, "Tell me, do you have a good outfit for the gallery event?"

"Ha-a-a, gosh," Elias let out another heavy sigh, "and this couldn't wait until tomorrow?"

"The event is less than a week away. We need to take care of all the preparations in advance, even of such seemingly unimportant details as suitable clothes."

"Well, I admit you've got a point," he said in his usual cold tone as the irritation of being distracted from reading faded. "And I do have a suit. I brought two just in case."

"And is there a good one?"

"Um, I guess yes. I may not be as free with money as you, but I can afford some decent clothes."