August be the end of Summer

Chapter 1: Devil's Daughter

She might be here.

I looked around the antique church full with grieving relatives and friends of the deceased. My eyes drifted carefully around the ceremony and over the faces of the attendance searching for her. I looked down at my waist-watch to check the time, it had been an hour.

She has to be here.

After all it's the funeral of the beloved mother of the country most notorious criminal Summer Adams.

I hadn't seen her in real life. In fact, no one in the Bureau had. We only had a few pictures of her, taken carefully by our spies throughout past years. I took out the latest one we had of her from my side pocket. It was taken around 2 years ago when she recently had stepped up and taken over her father's empire, right after her father and brothers sudden car crash death. In the picture, she looked taller than an average girl, had long brown hair, hazel eyes with full lips, and an elegant body, thanks to her early life as a ballerina. At first glance, she seemed to have an innocent, almost childlike look, a face easy to blend in with crowds, but it's her eyes that gave her away, too serious too intimidating too piercing. The sort of eyes that had the ability to stare at someone and put fear into their heart just with a look. Too intense for a young woman. But then I had to remind myself she was a member of one of America's most infamous mafia families, the ADAMS. I returned the picture in my pocket and focused back on my surrounding situation, keeping a watchful eye on everyone, still couldn't detect any sign of unusual activity.

We restricted the funeral attendance yesterday, by announcing the death with a notation that the funeral is a private ceremony and strictly for family and close friends. Outsiders and uninvited guests would be forbidden to enter the church, which created quite chaos since the deceased Marllory Russell was not only the wife of the mayor Mr. James Russell, but she was also a social activist, loved and cherished by all. People in town did create a fuss but they knew it wasn't the mayor's call, it was ours. Town's people knew who we are, but not why are we really here and what we really want, except the mayor.

The ceremony had started about an hour ago. There were more than 50 attendances here mourning the loss of the dead. Dim music was being played at the background and now the priest at the stage had asked the visitors to come forward to share memories of the deceased. The mayor was the first to step on the stage to give his eulogy for his dead wife.

He started off by saying, "Thank you everyone for being here today, I feel my wife would tell me I was being rude if I didn't. She was very hospitable that way and wanted to make sure I minded my manners. That was my Marllory, always keeping me in line with her no nonsense ways and her unconditional love. I want to start by saying a few things that speak to my wife's character. She was kind, smart, loving, and compassionate; pretty much all the good words I can think of apply to my wife. She was everything to me, and I miss her terribly. She knows that I loved her, but I want to express to all of you how much I loved her..."

My concentration was cut off by my partner's voice through the hidden wireless earpiece, "Agent August, do you really believe she will show up?"

"Now isn't the time to state your doubts, Agent Diego." - I responded with annoyance.

But Diego was far from being done here, "Think of it August, why would a daughter, mind you, the country's most wanted criminal, risk herself getting caught by coming to this small town church to attend a woman's funeral who apparently abandoned her when she was still a child."

"Marllory Russell was the only immediate family member left of Summer Adams until now. And the loving mother did try to reach the vicious daughter in previous year, too bad the wicked daughter refused. Now is the last chance for her to see her mother and to say her goodbye before the deceased is buried. She will never let this opportunity go to waste, Summer will come to bid her farewell." - I said self-assuredly.

"But this Russell woman left her husband and kids 15 years ago and never looked back. She didn't even bother to attend the father-son's funeral. Why contact the daughter all of the sudden? I'm telling you August, it doesn't make any sense. And if she did plan to come to pay a visit to her dead mom, she will give one precious look of her to this town and she would know it's a damn TRAP." - Diego argued back. He was never in favor of this operation. According to him there were too many loopholes.

"Diego, your job is to make sure all the people here are on that damn guestbook of yours. And to immediately inform us if any uninvited guest shows up. Leave the rest, including the overthinking part to me." - I knew I was being harsh to him but the truth was I was having doubts of my own too.

"So far there's nothing. All the invited guest members came and no outsider here. I had memorized all the invited guests' names with their pictures tagged in the file you gave me last night. The guests are clear. No sign of Miss Adams."-Diego stated matter-of-factly.

I sighed and replied. "Thanks, Diego."

The mayor was done with the speech; others came forward with their eulogy. One by one they were reading their funeral speeches for the dead in front of the audience. I glared at my other two undercover special agents, Robert was sitting at the opposite side of the hall while Jasmine went to sit with the deceased's husband, the mayor. Robert and Jasmine had worked together as one team and did great job with many previous undercover projects. It was why I specifically asked for them to join me and Diego with this case.

"Agent Robert, what's your observation?", I asked through my earpiece microphone while staring straight at him. "No sight of the girl or her clan members till now. Everything seems clear, Agent August.", Robert quickly replied but ignored my stare and kept frowning at the mourners, he continued. "This is such a sad day for them. The dead woman seemed an important part of this community. And if that girl didn't plan on showing up today then we just wasted our weekend attending stranger's funeral, how disturbing."