14 Cards

Twenty

15th November 

14:25 hours

All stood in two parallel line, front line considered of Steve, Chris, Robin, Nathan, Luther Groff and Peter who was smoking two weed joints. While Stella stood with Juilia beside her. Another line in front of them considered of J. Penslon, two bodygaurds at his either sides, Adrian Romano, another tattooed person beside him and a bodygaurd beside him.

"What should I do of him?" a voice broke their staring stance. Adrian looked to another gaurd who stood holding a pale blone guy who looked dead in his arms. Romano sratched his left eyebrow and looked at Nathan, who rolled his eyes in return and went to gaurd who followed the cop out.
"He's a cop really?" Luther asked biting his cheek.
"Indeed he is, a real bad one. Don't cross the line, Porters." Adrian said while sliding in a drive in the computer placed on the study table.
"So you won't arrest me?" Luther asked no one in specific.
"No, until you work for us. And you don't have any option here." Juilia said looking at computer screen. Stella sniffed and tried to release her hands from the cuffs.
"Don't do that lady, it will give you nasty cuts." Penslon said smiling.
"You smile like a creep." Steve said pointing out.
"Ah, I have heard that many times." the man replied.
"Christopher a guy wants to meet you." Nathan said while entering the study room, wiping his hands on a kitchen towel.
Chris walks out of the room shoving Nathan's arm, 'fuck off rich kid' Nathan flicked him. Stella watched his hands in horror. Nathan smirked at her reaction.

"Alright get in your seats, lights off." Adrian Romano said walking back o group. Everyone walked to the medium sized round table and chairs decorating it.
"So, let's start it." Penslon said rubbing his palms.
Chris entered and took a seat behind Juilia and Stella.One of the guards switched the lights off and left the room.
"So, is this some meeting now?" Steve asked.
"And like from where you're popping out Mr. Penslon? We did all work since months yes from your support. Is this some group formation?" Juilia asked.
"Well, he is your new leader." Adrian said refering to Penslon.
"Fucking joke." Chris snorted.
"What?" Robin asked.
"Why am I here?" Luther asked.
"Calm down people, let him complete his point." Penslon said.
"Fine." Juilia said sinking more in her chair and crossed her legs.

"But firstly I want you to explain everything from start to right now." Penslon said.
""No." Juilia stared firmly leaning ahead. He raised his left brow letting her to explain herself.
"First I want to know about you." she said leaning back and fiddled with paper weight on the table.
Penslon glanced to Adrian, who shrugged in reply.
"Normally I hear stories from people - but this case is different. Alright I am J. Penslon. A detective from France and have been born and brought up from Germany. Well an ex agent for the French Government too but I resigned due to work politics and shifted to Venice where I met Romano and worked for him as a detective." he said and ended it with a smile.
"Interesting." Steve added after a few minutes of silence.
"Why do you want him to be our 'group leader'?" Juilia asked Romano.
"Well, you all are going too slow for your pace and no one seemed perfectly experienced so I have a small surprise first." he replied in a Italian accent and switched into the computer.
All glanced at the screen. It was an old vintage Polaroid of a woman holding two children and a man making funny faces behind her. The photo seemed old.

"Maria Elbora Groff." Luther breathed out. Everyone looked at the man who was lazily slouched in the study chair looking at the photo.
Romano clicked again, this time it was a middle aged man holding a teenage boy, who was holding some trophy. The photo was stamped with credits 02.21.1968.
"Adam Roseanne Philips and Jace Evans." Steve breathed and gasped out. All eyes went on him.
Romano clicked again, it was a fun fair scene with two old aged women enjoying a candy cane and a pretty lady posed between them in a cheerleading outfit. It was a semi coloured photo with date grainy filter in it.
"Mona Clarke." Robin said sitting up straight as her eyes widened looking at the cheerleading woman.
The click sound again, it was an empty farm and a couple stood in each other's arms smiling at the camera. Dated, 11.18.1974.
"Kate Eddie Reynolds and Leonard Reynolds the fourth." Chris said, narrowing his eyes at the photo.
Juilia squirmed at her seat and glanced at Luther who glanced at her for a second and saw the screen again.
"This is going sood." Penslon muttered.
The click sounded again, it was a man giving a speech at some organization and behind him was a half poster in Russian.
"Luke Harbor Lampman?" Stella gasped in surprise.
The click sounded again. The screen shifted to three small kids dressed as some cartoon characters and behind them was a grinning old man.
"Uncle Debbie." Nathan and Juilia said together.
The click sounded again. It wasn't some polaroid but was an old logo D.U.S.T. 'designed by Kerry. 11.14.1982.
"It's a false image. D.U.S.T. was programmed in early 2000 not in the 80's." Juilia scoffed.
Adrian got up and switched the lights on and sank back in his chair.
"Another surprise from me to you all - these all pictures, we saw right now are related to you all - and these all people are related to high tech agencies and detective offices aka. D.U.S.T."
Juilia and Nathan were about to speak but Adrian beat them to it.
"Which means you all are connected to this scam and mission." he finished.
"How come me? I am just a journalist." Stella argued.
"We have 6 more." he said unplugging the drive.
"Why is great grandfather and my dead uncle related to this?" Steve asked, waving his hands.
"And how come my grandparents were involved in this?" Chris's voice boomed.
"Chill Christopher Reynolds." Penslon chuckled standing up, he walked to mid of the centre and looked to all faces who are anticipating faces except Juilia Isabella carter who knew, where this was heading. "Speak Isabella." he slightly smirked.
"I want to know about old D.U.S.T. explain me please." she said rubbing her forehead. "Later I can be relating this stuff." she added looking up.