.The Eraser.

vingt-neuf

                                                                   -29-

Atara took in deep breaths, trying to calm her nervous state. Her head still hurt, but it was returning to normal as the minutes passed. 

Richard had moved from the desk, picked up the chair that he kicked down, and sat. His back was curved forward, with his elbows resting on his knees while his hands covered his face. He was still recovering from his outburst. Louisse on the other hand, sat straighter and had gone back to her previous tough expression. 

Mayor Larken's eyes were still fixed on Richard. Delight filled his heart. He pressed a button on the interphone installed into his desk. He commanded, '' Lana, bring me more whisky!'' He glanced at the shards of glass on the desk and the floor. ''And a glass. Actually, make it two glasses. You never know what will happen to the first.'' 

''Yes sir.'' A small voice replied. 

At that moment, he felt a strong gaze on him coming from his left. He glanced up and met Atara's cold brown eyes. The Mayor gave her a toothy smile and her face twisted for a second, but she controlled it back to a mask of indifference. 

Suddenly the door opened and a tall Asian girl entered the office. Curiously, Atara turned and observed her. Her black hair was pulled into a high pony tail and she wore the black jumpsuit, similar to the one Atara still had on.  

She was holding a silver tray with a bottle of Jack Daniels and two empty glasses. She walked in a very stiff manner, with her shoulders hunched and her head held extra high. Her eyes were fixed forward, not sparing the 'guests' or anything else any attention. 

She placed the tray with its contents on the mahogany desk, while avoiding eye contact with her boss. The mayor gave her nod which she did not acknowledge; because once the tray was on the table, she was already walking towards the door in quick strides. 

Atara found that more than strange, but she dismissed the thought when she heard a cap opening and liquid contents pouring into the glass. 

''I see you are even more of a bastard now, than you ever were.'' 

She glanced at her left, hearing her mother speak after a while of not uttering a word. Richard still had his eyes closed with both hands shielding his face. 

Mayor Larken shrugged. ''Don't take it personal.'' 

Louisse crossed her left leg over her right with her calculating eyes watching his every move as he drank his whisky. ''Oh no, I don't care about your behavioral issues. I am more concerned with my life and the people around me. That was a nice story about Copper by the way and I haven't put it past you. You are capable of such evil tricks.'' 

His eyes twinkled in amusement. ''Thank you for noticing my skills, Louisse. Your opinion means a lot, considering our history.'' The corners of his lips stretched into a smirk. 

Atara's eyes widened slightly. 'What history?' She thought in panic.  

'' Whatever...But one thing has been bugging me... Why did you wait for three years to capture us, when you knew where we were all along? Patience has never been your virtue, Vladimir.'' 

His smirk turned into a full grin. He placed his now empty glass on the table. ''Life is a game.'' His right index finger pointed at Louisse then himself. ''And this animosity between the Erasers and the ZED is like a game of cards.'' 

Atara's mother nodded, signaling him to continue. Atara envied the calmness that was rolling off of Louisse. She hoped she could control herself better, just like her mum. Emotions mostly got the better of Atara in many situations.