14 Cards

Five.

18th July
15:11 hours

She sat on the chair opposite of her bed and looked at all 17 documents scattered numerically on the bed. Who couldn't explain a thing what is written in them, as all documents were of different languages and had one similarity said as card but didn't knew what they were preferring to. as first document read in dutch language, next was Pashto, some rough English, Urdu, German, Russian, Potunghua a standard Mandarin, Hindi, Japanese, next was French, Spanish, proper modern English, next was Portuguese, Greek, Korean, Turkish and last was Zulu.

She picked up the almost empty box, which had three photos lying in it. All were Polaroid pictures. But didn't had any markings on it. As she had received last time. Whereas the pictures were of someone holding 6 different colour cards with made in respectable country printed on it which she had seen earlier in made in Japan. Following two pictures also had a person holding another 6 cards and last picture was of 5 cards. The person holding the cards in his fingers were only captured not his face or feet. Which is weird. As why would anyone send her these document which was real old and soiled in some form. And a person holding card.

        She had literally broken speed driving rules while she left her office and flew on her way to reach home. Thinking that box would have any explosives, as Oakland is not safe nowadays. including number of crimes and theft on a walking awake person. She even broke a Aloe Vera potted plant on her drive way on which her mother would lecture. And when she opened the box a surprise hit her as the earlier crumpled note she tossed in trash can was back and kept on top of documents. Thinking that she would find more information of her dad she opened the documents.

She packed all documents, photos and note in the box and walked to her study room, which was more like case solving room or could say a godown of unused things but she kept thinking it might be important. Opening a cabinet in her closet she kept the box where previous received package was also resting. She closed the cabinet after keeping it inside.
A knock was on the door.

"Yes Jamey?" she said knowing her brother only knocks this softly.
"You busy studying?" he asked outside the closed door.
"No brother. I will be out in 5 minutes." she said and pulled the cigarette for a smoke.
"Okay." her brother said and sound of footsteps followed.

"Hey." voice of Dylan spoke in her speaker of phone.
"Yeah?" she said taking a smoke.
"John is here." he said.
"Oh. I'll be there in half an hour. Can you tell him to wait, it's a rush-rush topic to be discussed with him." she said.
"Yeah. be quick." he said hanging up. she smashed the stick in ashtray.

"Hey, I wanted you to help me in maths." James said as he saw her sister rushing to main door.
"I'll help in night. Jamey, say mom bye." she closed the door and unlocked her parked car. And tossed the uprooted Aloe Vera plant in front of her car tyres.

She pulled out of her drive way and was about to drive on her way to D. U. S. T. she noticed two black cars parked exact opposite of her home. She looked back to her house and checked if the cctv cameras are blinking red. and the walk in corridor of her house entrance had proper functioning laser light. which would notify her on her phone and her house would get a danger bell alert. Which was followed on her back door too. Only few identified people could get access to her door way without alert.

She ignored them and drove to her office.
She waved to her team mates who were seated in meeting room with other department colleagues. She sped to John's cabin.

17:26 hours

"Knock, Knock?" she said entering the cabin. John was seated on his chair behind the working table and looked up to the person.
"When would you learn to knock in actual?" John said writing something in a file.
"I've never learnt in these 7 years. do you expect a change in a day, hour or a minute?" she said settling herself on the opposite client chair.
"Your manners are vanished." he said closing the file and fully concentrating on her.
"I had got some documents today which are totally confusing me." she said laying her hands on table.
"Documents?" he asked raising a brow.
"I don't know what I received today was. But what I received in morning was related to dad." she said.
"Related to James Sr.?" he asked in shocked tone.
"John you know name of my father, don't give a question mark on your face." saying she rolled her eyes heaven wards.
"Who sent it?" he asked looking uneasy in his seat.
"It was sent from UK HQ. and a letter was addressed from and by my dad to some guy named as George Mc..." she was about to say the name John interrupted her.
"George McCawley?" he completed her.
"You know him?" she asked aloud. "And that letter stated that George was troubling my dad whereas my dad was requesting my security. And I received a picture of my dad was killed, he didn't attempt a suicide from a self gunshot." she said.
"What did you receive in those mails?" he said ignoring her question and talk.
"I received two letters, 7 pictures and a white credit card sort of plastic card which had some weird shape and was made in Japan sort. Whereas now just 2 hours before I received some different languages documents. Like it was in 17 different world languages. and three pictures of someone holding cards in it which was similar to card I received in morning." she explained.
"They're coming back for it. No." John muttered under his breath.
"Huh?" she asked.
"Don't take this seriously, just ignore. It's like peasy-puny pranks played on agents you know." he said taking his working file back.
"John. They sent a picture of my dad being killed. Look at this." she opened a clicked picture on her phone and showed it to him.
"And you're saying it's not serious? Like I've hidden from truth since 10 years. John." she said. While John just looked at picture and to her.
"Does Amella and your brother know this?" he asked giving her phone back.
"No. I haven't said to them yet. Because I needed to consult you first. As you were the last person my dad had worked on a big case." she said stuffing her phone in her pant pocket. John nodded.
"Yeah. I know I was the last agent to work with him. But he was secretly working for someone else." he said looking Juilia intensely.
"You both were partners. Why would dad work with someone else when he was concentrating on one case?" she asked narrowing her brows.
"I came to know that, when he suddenly disappeared from our collection area. He sent a message that he was in some danger and was working with George the mastermind of this plan. And James was working with this piece of ass since 4 years." he said.
"He was kind of traitor?" she asked nervously.
"No, No. James was never a traitor. Initially he also didn't want to work with him, but that George and his so called team forced him to doing so by targeting Amella, you and James Jr." he said rubbing his temple.
"What were they using or making dad work for?" she asked hoping not some illegal work was done under his hand.
"Some illegal and dirty work I suppose." he said.
Juilia cursed under her breath. Taking a deep breath she collected her mind.
"So, you found what dad was working for with them?"
"They've really secured system. And when I tried to interfere by luring one of their people. That guy was supposed to send me information next day. He didn't arrive. When I went to his home. His house was burnt down the previous night with him inside tied to a chair and ripped to every core."
"Holy shit. Means these people were doing some real unhealthy thing?" she asked. To which John nodded.
"And by sending me all these documents they want me to play with their game?" she asked raising a brow while collecting the mismatched pieces.
"I suppose yes. But don't go in this shit. I'm warning you Issabella Juila Carter." he said raising his voice. As he knew what was she thinking of in her stupid big brain.
"Uh, no. I am not. Thanks for this information." she said standing up.
"While going home, I'll be coming to yours." he said leaning back to his chair.
"You're not welcomed to dinner John." she smirked.
"I'm uninvited guest to all. But I'm not coming for dinner sweetheart." he smirked deeper than her.
"Then why are coming?" she asked crossing her arms.
"To burn all those documents you received from them. So your great functioning brain will be in D. U. S. T. and not somewhere else." he said smiling to her.
She rolled her eyes and walked to door.
"By the way, you and Zedd make a good couple." he said aloud, to which Juilia spun back.
"Sorry what?" she asked bit confusing. as she and Michael never did a PDA thing or acted like couple in public.
"I saw that afternoon kiss in hallway. I have cctv check everyday remember?" he said grinning.
"Seal that mouth of yours." she said as her cheeks were reddened. And she rushed outside after hearing a devilish laugh from John's cabin.

"So how's Jamey boy doing?" Zedd asked her as she puffed her smoke and passed the stick to him.
"Uh, yeah better. Mom said she's giving some soup thing." she said looking to him.
"Good to know." he said smiling to her. She nodded unknowingly flushing in her cheeks.
"Dinner today?" he asked after few minutes of silence.
"Tomorrow? as John is coming home today to check on Jamey and want to have a talk with Mom." she said biting her lip hoping smart Zedd would take on her lie.
"Yeah, okay." he said taking a dig.
"It's okay with you right?" she asked looking at him.
"Yes." he said smiling.
"So new case tomorrow?" she asked.
"It's your duty in police department tomorrow. Three people's details are needed. And I need to go twerking in a damn old ladies club." he said rolling his eyes.
"Oh. Okay." she said laughing.

"Look I really don't want to burn it John. It has one picture as proof of my dad been murdered." she said walking towards John, who was locking his car in Juilia's drive way.
"I'll see that picture and no arguing on burning it." he said and dragged her to door.

"Hey John. What a surprise?" Juilia's mom said and welcomed John in the house.
"Hey, Amella. I am craving for some chicken pasta. " John said and ruffled James hair as the little boy hugged his uncle's leg.
"Sure. Make yourself home first." her mom shouted walking in kitchen.
"Hey, John Uncle. Nice seeing you." James said siting in John's lap.
"Nice seeing you too buddy. come on show me your recent drawings. Your sister had been telling you're improving your skills day by day." John said to kid.
"Really you wanna see?" James asked being excited, John nodded.
"I'll be back." James rushed to his room.
"Let's begin it." John said standing up and followed Juilia.

"This two letters and this one sole photograph stays. Whereas all these are going to be ashes in 5 minutes." John kept the letters and photo of her dad killed on her study table. And grabbed the remaining things.
"I really think these are important." Juilia said walking behind John. Who went to back door, leading to garden behind her house.
"Shutup and follow." John said walking quick. Juilia groaned.
"Thank God it didn't rain much today." John said piling the documents in a paper bag and kept on dry mud. While Juilia stood in front of him and bag giving him a questionable look.
"Don't give me that look. I am doing for your betterment kid. These people once will know that you're interested. They won't leave you. And it would be trouble in ass." John said pulling out his lighter.
"Fine. Do it." she sighed and waved her hands.
"Thanks for valuable permission." John grinned and lit the paper bag.

Both stood in silence looking that bag and documents burn.

"What are you both doing?" a voice called them.
Juilia and John turned their head to the voice. James stood there holding an plastic folder in his hands.
"Nothing your sister was cold. Come here show your masterpieces." John walked to a siting bench and waved the kid to join him.
"Better luck with that masterpiece of poop." Juilia said and walked to her home.

"That's such fine art." John's voice said and Juilia entered her house.

_♧_

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