Undercover Cops

Chapter 25

"You don't understand, Cole! She's dying, I can feel it!" 

Nick shook violently his head feeling like the worst man on Earth. The hourglass was chasing them hurriedly, and there were only a few days left. Then, Beatrice would most likely be the past. And they would have failed as cops.

"I understand more than you think," calmly said the middle-aged man. "I've been working as a special agent for much longer than you and I know precisely how it feels. It's not easy, but I know you can succeed. I believe in you."

Nick scoffed mockingly and continued his outburst like a man out of control, which was the opposite of his reserved personality. "It's one thing to believe, but it's another one to act. You think that I can defeat Zac in the blink of an eye? Cole, you are dreaming. You may have been at my place years ago, but I bet you never had a stressing mission like this one. Everyone is counting on me. I'm the leader, so I'm supposed to guide my colleagues. But I just don't know! Zac seems to have disappeared from the states!"

"He is here," stated the mohawk guy with certainty. "The investigators are fully trustful. Jonas, as you said, you are the leader. Do you know what that implies? It means that you're the example. How would the others think if you give up? How would they feel if you, above all of them, lose faith? Think about it, Nicholas. You have to be determinate. It's the golden rule all around the police department, you should know that."

Nick grunted noisily and almost became flustered. He was right. He was the leader and as the leader, it was his responsibility to encourage the others, not degrade themselves.

"You're right," he breathed. "I should've broken down this way.  I can't. We need to stay strong."

"Don't apologize," Cole waved his hand dismissively. "Everybody is allowed to make some mistakes, but you just have to learn from them."

Nick sighed and went over his list of suspects again. He couldn't decide which one was Zachary, and they couldn't arrest without proof. It was so much more difficult than he initially thought.

"Talking about the mission, you're wrong!" Suddenly exclaimed Cole. "I had a particular one a few years ago, and I was in your place. We had to catch a murderer who had as ally the president of the United States, can you believe it? I was bold this day, and I went straight to the White House with my accusations. I remember how shocked the witnesses were; it was a huge scandal. The president denied everything, and then... The criminal butted in, armed, and shot me on the arm."

Caught by surprise, Nick almost choked and traveled his eyes to Cole's shoulders. "He shot you?!"

"The left one", muttered Cole. "That's why it's less muscular."

Nick stared at his mentor with amazement and finally cracked a genuine smile. Cole was always there for him when his bad temper comes out, and he was grateful for it. A real inspiration to him.

Meanwhile

Miley raised an eyebrow when Ariana showed her an extravagant yet elegant dress; black lace tank top, see-through until the upper waist and a sparkly stain skirt. It was nowhere near her 'badass cowgirl' style, and she'd never try on this horror.

"You refused each outfit!" complained Ariana, pouting dramatically. "Jesus Christ, where did glamour go nowadays?"

Miley rolled playfully her eyes before glaring at her friend. "From what I know, we aren't attending any wedding soon, so you can calm down your fashion style and let it lose. We're just here to try clothes, not buy them."

"Not buying them," Ariana gasped at her friend as the latter grumpily sat on the dressing room's chair. "Speak for yourself! I need new clothes, and no offence, so do you."

"My clothes are perfectly fine," pointed out the special agent, bothered by the red-haired woman's judgmental look. "I don't need a new leather jacket nor combat boots."

She then stubbornly quit the dressing room, ready to ignore her friend. The receptionist sighed and shook her head, but decided to follow Miley anyway. After all, she insisted to shop but didn't expect it to be such a difficult task for her friend. Perhaps not everyone is made for fashion.

Meanwhile

Taylor parked her car in front of a big iron gate and took a deep breath before she invited Joe to follow her. The latter, impressed and wide-eyed, stared at the enormous white mansion that almost shines like one of those ancient monuments. It looked like a more modern and less scary One-Legged restaurant. A magnificent house, for sure.

They both entered Taylor's mansion, as Joe gawked enviously at the polished floors and marble-rich wood. Masterpieces and works of art were everywhere on the bright walls, and the place seemed untouched. Incredibly neat. But he was expecting this since Taylor's father was such a serious man who considered discipline as a martial art.

"Huh... I can present you the house if you'd like", suggested the Latina woman, wanting to satisfy her new friend's curiosity.

But Joe, forgetting his amazement, declined the offer. His first goal was to make her talk, and he didn't want it to happen in such a crowded place as the restaurant.

"Well... Do you want to watch a movie?" Taylor tried again.

The young man smiled softly and nodded. When they passed through the living-room, he saw Taylor's look become darker. The blonde woman peered sadly at a picture, and that's when Joe felt the thrill running down his spine. He clearly recognized the two persons; Taylor and Zac. They seemed young, maybe 5 or 6 years apart from now.

"Is this the old friend you talked about?" the special agent asked, his eyes letting and his body rigid.

Taylor stared blankly at the photograph as a response, before turning towards him with a painful look. She wasn't used to people asking her about her past. Especially about her one only best friend, or should she say, ex-best friend, who she loved in more than one way possible.

As a friend, as a sister, and as a lover too.

So she was suffering while remembering their past. "Yes, this is Zac," she breathed, abandoning her image of the perfect hostess.

"Where is he now?" curiously inquired Joe.

He could not help it. Even if he knew it well the torture for Taylor, he has to do it. It was his job. Yet, he felt so much sympathy for her. Maybe Zac was once a normal and considerate person.

"We lost contact, so I don't know," she truthfully answered. "But the last times I was updated about him... It wasn't good things."

The tension was palpable while she whispered those words, but also the sorrow. She lost the most important person in her life, emotionally and physically. And she still spent every night hoping, crying. "But I can't blame him," she confided one of her biggest secrets.

"Why?" wondered the agent eagerly, aware of how much he was pushing her. "I mean, if you're not comfortable telling me, I can wait. You don't need to rush it."

That was a fast lie since he was, in fact, burning with impatience, greedy for her point of view. A life depended on it, and it was Bea's.

Taylor smiled a little but fought to hide her nervousness. She hasn't told a soul about what happened with Zachary that night. The painful memories always hit her right on her fragile heart. But she was also determinate to open up for the sake of Joe. The latter had been nothing but charming with her, and because he made that confession about Demi, she shall make hers.

She took a deep breath and began.

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SNS music video out tomorrow!!! That's in 4 hours and 15 minutes!! 😱💓

Nancy xox