Pandora's Box

Chapter 19

Spring, 2016
CIASF Main Office, Willis Tower
Chicago

"You're shitting me, right?" Rhys stared at his superior, who now sat opposite him in the office right at the top of Willis Tower which gave a spectacular view of Chicago city. Next to them, the wall was covered with a multitude of surveillance camera's and  the other half was plastered with information of their ongoing cases. 

"I wish I was, Rhys. God knows, Benedict wishes he was. He wanted to be the one to tell you the news, but work summoned him away." Howard responded, running a hand through his thinning hair. Rhys subconsciously noticed how extra weary Howard look, but could not bring himself to care about Howard as much as he usually did, not when his every cell and body was suddenly consumed with fear for the only girl who had ever held his heart even without physically being there.

"I thought that son of a bitch was alone?" Rhys snapped, desperately grasping at straws as he looked for a loophole.

"Sadly, no. He was married in secret, almost twenty years before you and Dora took him out. His son is currently nineteen, and he is the reincarnation of his father, to the dot." Howard replied, tossing a folder at Rhys. He scrambled for it, almost wincing when he flipped it opened when a stealth shot of a well-dressed Mexican was plastered entering a restaurant in uptown Chicago, with the name 'Carlos Garcia' clearly printed in bright red ink. 

"And he's back for revenge. Intel has it that due to his father's death, his mother took her own life and Garcia and his younger sister was left destitute, had it not been for an uncle's help. The old uncle had died just last year from lung cancer, and left his whole drug cartel for his nephew to run. Put together the funds and power from a ten year old drug cartel together with his desire for revenge... it's not a pretty picture."

"But Dora's back here! She... She could be in danger and... we can't just let her be!" Rhys argued, all but leaping across the table to beg Howard. 

"Thing is, because we are the CIASF and she is no longer associated with us, we cannot give any information regarding Garcia to her or her parents." Howard responded.

"She's a sitting duck here!" Rhys snapped, anger mounting now, as his firsts clenched by his sides. His blood surged with fear at the very idea that the drug lords son was within the same country as Dora. The Garcia's were famous for their streak for blood, and he had a bad feeling in his guts.

Howard just stared without a word. He didn't know what to tell his friend. How does one tell him that the one woman he loved is now in mortal danger?

"I'm leaving. I'm going to watch Dora until that maniac is gone. Take me off all cases. Give them to Kya, or Evan, I don't care."

"Rhys!" Howard called, just in time to get the Asian man to still his steps at the doorway. He refused to turn however, so Howard's weary voice was directed more at his back then anything. "Benedict will sign you off on emergency leave for the next week. So somehow, make sure Dora ends up some place safe. After that, you have to get back here."

There was a silence, before Rhys gave a terse nod, and strode out without a backward glance.

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Spring, 2016
The Leigh Gallery
Chicago

Pandora had been kept on her feet all morning long, with the influx of visitors due to the weekend and the wonderful weather that made it finally seem like spring had arrived and winter was well and thoroughly gone. The people in Chicago were out in full force to enjoy the rare time where the weather was nice to them. Glancing out through the front window of the brightly lit gallery, Pandora felt a pang of jealousy when she saw people dressed in shorts and tanks sprawled on the grass or benches, with books and sandwiches for lunchtime.