Octagon Project 3: Zachary McHall

~-6-~

"That's all you got?! Are you kidding me?!" McHall screamed into his desk phone for God only knows how many times the past few weeks. He'd honestly stopped counting after twelve. "You're a God damn Octagon leader! How is that all you got?!"

"They payed with cash Andrew. We can't trace those purchases. They're smart. They know exactly what we are and aren't looking for." Lium Foltson replied. "I wouldn't be surprised if they've left the country already."

"No. No that's not possible, damn it. They don't have passports and they don't have the equipment to make false ones. Search the whole freaking UK if you have to!"

"I have to say you're taking this way more seriously than you would usually."

"Or perhaps you're not taking it seriously enough Lium. That boy is carrying sensitive information. Knowing his character, he's already shared it with Ms. Halloway. If those two aren't either brought in or shot dead and buried six feet under then we are looking at the complete destruction of the Octagon as a whole."

"I'm having a hard time trusting your word Andrew. We still haven't received any Sigma yet from you."

"It is a delicate process Lium. I rely on your patience so that it can be done correctly." With that, Lium Foltson hung up and McHall growled deeply in his throat in seething frustration before slamming his phone back onto his desk. Leaning on the wooden surface with his fists, he took a deep breath and looked at the photo he's had in his office since he can remember.

"What would you say about this if you were here?" He asked the smiling woman in the picture.

"I think she'd say that you need to relax for a little bit and let her handle the issues." Alyssa replied as she shut the door behind her and sunk into the comfy black chair across from her father's desk. He looked at her with gentle eyes.

"You've always been so much like your mother." He sighed, suddenly feeling calmer with his daughter's presence. Alyssa shrugged.

"I also get a lot from you too." She stated. "You're stressing over Zachary way more than you need to."

"Can you blame me?" McHall asked, sinking into his black swivel office chair. "The kid has way too much sensitive information to just be roaming Europe."

"Just find his week spot. Then you can use that to start pulling him in. That's what I'm here for." Alyssa winked as she got up, patted her dad's hand, and began to leave. "Seriously though dad, get some rest."

_______________________________________________________

"Thank freaking God that construction is done." Roy cursed as he glanced down the new extension of the hallway on his way towards the kitchen. "I was days away from killing the workers with their own tools."

"That's dark." Austin, the newbie commented from where he spun the butter knife in front of him around in circles on the island counter he sat at.

"You have a lot to learn." Roy grumbled. Kaylee sauntered in through the front door then with frustration following after her in overwhelming waves. "And?" He asked.

"Nothing!" She exhaled as she turned to face him. "Zack was even smart enough to somehow disable both of their trackers!"

"Any last sightings?" He asked.

"Just a blood trail that belonged to both of them and a check in at an inn five hours out of London. But that was almost a week ago."

"Great..." Roy grumbled. "Either they're both smarter than we give them credit for or they're actually dead and we're all just on some wild goose chase." All their heads turned as the front door opened and Vanessa and Justin came in.