Hollow

Three | Jaded

I hear a knock on the door and footsteps make their way inside my office. Looking up, I see Bryce Matthews, the CTO; Alex Colby, my assistant/Junior Advisor, and finally, Mila Valiente, the Logistics Head, standing in front of me. Grabbing the gun I keep in my drawer, I stand from my seat to walk to the front of my desk. I lean against my desk and place the gun on the desk, facing them.

"I was about to go to a board meeting before I got a call telling me the DC shipments were supposed to be in our client's possession hours ago." I take in a deep breath before letting it out slowly. "I don't recall us having a messy track record so which one of you should I shoot first?"

"They're gone."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"We have reasons to believe Enrique Teruiz is behind this. Word on the street is that he wants to expand his business to Mexico through Tijuana but the cartels in Mexico won't have it." Mila replies, hands Alex a file that he opens and reads through.

"Why would a cartel steal from us?" Alex asks confused. "Trying to send a message all the way from Colombia? Do you think he needs ammunition?"

"He was spotted in New York talking with a person we haven't identified yet but we're working on facial recognition; anything that might help us ID him."

My eyes dart to Bryce, he hasn't said anything yet and his frowning gaze is solely focused on his tablet. I've known him for a while and he always has something to say which means; he's in deep thought or he genuinely doesn't have a clue.

"Bryce?" He looks up, probably wondering if he should say something or not. I give him a reassuring smile. "You got any ideas?"

"I think you should see this." He finally replies, pulling up a video on his laptop and turning it towards us. Teruiz and the said man are sitting on a bench in a park, seemingly engrossed in a deep conversation.

"Alright, that's all. Thank you guys."

They all nod and walk out. I walk back to my seat, putting the gun in it's initial placement before calling Alex who replies almost immediately. "Get me a secure line with Irwin James."

"Line 2."

I switch, putting the call on speaker. "Hello, Irwin."

"I have to admit that every single time you call me, I have shivers running down my spine." Irwin says on the other line.

"I'll take that as a compliment." I chuckle.

"What can I do for you, my friend?" Irwin replies, worry clear in his voice.

"I'm just checking in on you."

"No, you're not but I feel the need to remind you what will happen if you're caught dealing with me."

"Aww darling, this is no time to be shy. You're a very resourceful man, surely you can do me a little favor. What do you want? Money? Government contracts?" I taunt.

"Remember that vintage Ferrari we saw at the auction last summer?"

"Are you mad? It was auctioned, Irwin!" I protest.

"Do you still want my help?"

"Fine, I'll see what I can do." I reply before cutting the call. Who does he think I am? I'm a business woman, not a bloody genie.

A knock on my door pulls me from my trance. Mila strolls in with Alex tagging behind. "Enrique Teruiz was murdered and his nephew, Juan, who's also responsible for his death took over the cartel. He's agreed to render the stolen shipments on the condition that you meet with him."