The Truth Behind Every Lie

Chapter Nine: 'so take your pick'

Jolting up, I sat upwards in bed and hit my phone several times before finally my alarm turned off.
I groaned, it was Monday.
Which meant work, and I wasn't all dreading it however I really could do with an extra hour in bed.
I rolled out of bed about a minute after and walked over to my window, opening up the curtains letting the natural light seep in. Grabbing my clothes, I wandered into the bathroom and turned on the shower.

After showering, brushing my teeth and doing my skin routine, I changed into a pair of jeans and a flannel shirt before heading into the living room.
I stared over my decorating skills from yesterday, it didn't look too bad.
I whitewashed all the walls and filled the empty spaces with plants.
I chose my chairs as green in order to match the plants.
I felt proud.
Tyler would be proud.

Tyler...

It's almost been three weeks, I've done well with trying to move away from the past and get on with my life but I couldn't leave everything behind. I lifted my hand up to my neck, I twiddled the necklace with my fingers. I was always going to carry the ring with me, so I could always carry him with me.

With a sigh, I headed back into my bedroom. I opened the drawer on my bedside table and retrieved my gun placing it and in my handbag.
I went into the kitchen and pulled out a granola bar to fill me up for breakfast, I was in need for a grocery shop at some point. I double checked my phone was in my pocket, my keys in the other before leaving my apartment and heading downstairs towards the blocks indoor parking area.

I strolled past the rows of cars before my eyes landed on my own. I needed to thank my dad for arranging to bring it over here last week.
I unlocked it, opened the door and sat inside. It was chilly, since it hadn't been used for awhile, but as soon as I switched my key in and got the heating going. It felt just like it always had. I bluetooth connected my phone and typed in the address of the department of NYPD before heading off. The streets and roads of New York were bustling, busy and loud. Very loud. Luckily for me, the drive was only 10 minutes so it wasn't long before I found myself parking up outside the NYPD building.
Wow, new city, new job- this was going to be interesting.

I stepped outside into the mild air of the late morning, I hugged my jacket closer to me, clutched my handbag and headed towards the building. Once inside, I watched as multiple people were rushing around; it was buzzing with conversation. To say I felt out of place would be an understatement. I spotted the front desk up ahead, I strode over and placed my hands on the desk. "Hi um I'm looking for a Jonathon Cooper?" I enquired at the woman who stood behind the desk, she looked up at me and nodded. She spoke into her walkie talkie and told me to wait.

In the meantime, I checked through my phone, catching up on my messages and so on and so forth and until I felt a hand clasp my shoulder, I tensed and immediately spun around. I was faced by a man, couldn't be any older than me, he had messy dirty blonde hair and a friendly smile, "you must be Ms Fern?" He asked in a gentle matter.
I took a step back and offered my hand, "yes that's me, please call me Natalia, you must be Jonathon?"
He shook my hand, "yes that's me. Diego has told me great things about your work ethic. He said that you left due to personal reasons but don't feel pressured to tell me if you don't want to."
Few, thank god I didn't need to do any explaining- for now.

"Is it alright that for now I keep that information, private?"
He nodded, "yeah, don't worry. Fancy coming upstairs and meet the rest of the team?"

I agreed as Jonathon guided me through several people and towards the staircase that was on the right. He stopped before a gate, placed his hand over a pad and the gate swiftly opened. I'm assuming it was finger print recognition. He motioned for me to keep following him until we reached the top of the stairs.
At the top was a room, it was filled with a pin board, five desks all with computers, storage units and an office and corridor at the back.
There were three people meandering about the room.
I heard Jonathon, next to me, cough. I was met by the gaze of the others.
"Guys this is Natalia Fern, the new asset to our team." Jonathon announced to them.
"Hi." I gave a little wave.
I felt awkward since their responses were hesitant until I heard a girl chime up, "it's great to finally meet the almighty girl who Diego talks so highly about!"

Oh, I wasn't expecting that at all.
I smiled, "I'm far from almighty," I snorted, "but it's nice to know that my name has a reputation."

Jonathon chuckled, "Natalia, that's Lilly. Over there is Nora," he pointed towards the a girl in the corner, she waved back to me, "and that's Evan over there." He pointed at the boy sitting behind a desk.

"Nice to meet all of you."

"Likewise." Nora smiled.

Jonathon guided me towards an empty desk, "this will be your desk, over there at the back, that office is mine so if you need me I will generally be in there. And over there is your safe, I'll write the pin down here." He took out a pen and printed down four numbers for not a posted note and handed it to me.

"Thanks."

I heard someone speak, "so Natalia what type of cases do you get over back in Portland?" It was Evan.

I laughed, "trust me, we get your usual homicide cases, serial killers, rapists. You name it."

"Can't wait to see what your skills are like out in the field. So if your name holds up to the title." Lilly giggled as she strolled over to me.

"Actually," Jonathon butted in, "we can see what your skills are like tonight."

I turned to him, "what's tonight?" I asked.

"There's a rumour that there is an auction happening at a masquerade ball taking place tonight at eight. It's an undercover mission. The auction will most likely take place somewhere secretive and not easily accessible, so we will need to get close to someone attending the auction to be able to find it. The auction isn't meant to start until nine so we will have time to make 'friends'." Jonathon walked over towards the pin board.

I looked at him puzzled, "I'm assuming it's not any type of auction for the police to get involved you must mean it's a -"

"-black market auction." Nora finished.
I nodded.

"It is, I'm assuming that they are illegally selling stolen goods but if could easily as well be an auction for drug trafficking or even human trafficking, we don't know so that's why we are going," Jonathon pulled out an array of photos, "we also have word of powerful business men who may be attending."

I studied the pictures he was pinning on the board, I tried my best to recognise some.

Jonathon pointed at them one by one, "Griffin Summers, son of Richard Summers owner of Summers Express. He's is quite well known in the mafia world which explains him being there. Physical attributes, blonde hair and blue eyes. Roughly 5'8 and will be attending with girlfriend Tia Hussain," Jonathon moved onto the next photo.

"Dylan Gunn, owner of Gunn industries. Partially involved with the mafia. Also known to be a man whore so he may be our best chance to get in if he starts liking the be of you three girls. Physical attributes, brown hair and brown eyes, 6'1 and he is Russian through his mums side so he may have an accent so he will be easy to distinguish through the masks."

Finally, he moved on to the last picture.
"Asher Diaz, owner of AD Enterprise. He isn't directly involved in the mafia but definitely has ties with them. He is more of a solo business man. He isn't a relationship type of guy so no girlfriend. He may peak an interest in one of you so take advantage of that but be aware, if he finds out at all that any of you are FBI agents, he will kill you on the spot. He isn't one to double cross. Physical attributes, He is half Spanish, brown hair, tan, grey/blue eyes and 6'2."

He took a deep breath, "clearly others will be attending the auction but these three are more recognisable. So take your pick in who you want to crack."

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A/N: :)