Shit-shit-shit, why do we have to go through this again! She thought as her heart started pounding.

As Taneesha led them into a hallway, the driver continued off down the street as the door closed. She then proceeded to further motion them into the vacant lobby with exception to the single clerk. She greeted him with a wave as they continued down the short hallway to an empty room. She quickly and quietly closed the door behind them, knowing she had a very tense set of guests. “You need to understand this was for your safety as we would most definitely have been followed. Do you understand?”

“Why didn’t you tell us sooner? You had us freaked out just now!” a highly upset Sam objected as she approached her. In doing so, she failed to catch Kerry and Andre scanning the room. “Could you tell us who might be after us?”

“Here, please, have a seat and I will explain how to get where you need to go to stay safe,” she continued to plead, seemingly always on the hand motions to communicate. She noticed Kerry and Andre silently refusing to do so, eyes wandering around the room. She elected to not further add to the tension, seeing that since Sam and Sebastian did so at the foot of one of the beds, she continued explaining: “Listen. There is a political party that very much needs you to disappear. They plan on taking the election next week, and they cannot have you stopping their demonstrations.”

Sam was a bit perplexed by hearing what was essentially preaching to the choir. “Well, we already figured that, ma’am, that’s why we are here, and why you were to guide us… so why aren’t we where we are supposed to be?”

[What is she doing?] Sebastian thought to himself, not about Taneesha but elsewhere as his focus fell on Kerry’s eyes. She saw or heard something but was making an effort not to give it away or to cause alarm just yet.

“Yes, I- what I am saying is that we cannot go there. I am one hundred percent sure they would have listened to that order. We must change our location to a safe house in Gabtoli. Once my own personal driver arrives here to pick us up, we will move there safely.”

“So, we just wait a bit?” Sam asked as she calmed down a bit. Not too bad, then, I was just getting worked up as per usual. At least that river smell is gone, and we are away from all those crowds. I have not felt this discombobulated in ages.

“Yes. Please wait with me until then. We have to keep close, and stay sharp for wanderers.”

Andre noted a peculiar spark in both Sam and Sebastian’s reactions to that phrase just now, unsure what it meant but knew that something serious was triggered that instant, nodding to Kerry.

“So, please, let’s just-”

The conversation was cut harshly short with the bang of a kicked chair that Kerry sent careening Taneesha’s way, followed by an awkward attempt to shield her exposed front side. The chair struck her in the arm and gut as she buckled over by reflex, and in that instant Andre was already behind her, pulling her arms behind her back and had her forced to her knees in the blink of an eye.

What the fuck!? Sam had barely the time to react as Sebastian held an arm up as if to keep her from going anywhere.

Before Sebastian could come up with any words in response to the drastic turn of events, Kerry had already pulled a pistol from under her windbreaker and behind her back, already in arms reach as she grabbed the back of Taneesha’s head, gripping her by the hair and forcing her head down, pistol pressed firmly against it.

“Where is the tracker!” Kerry growled in anger.

And since when was Kerry armed?! “Kerry, stop! What- what the hell- what are you doing!” Sam tried to stop her but was held back by Sebastian still.

“Come on, bitch, talk!” she continued as Andre prevented her from moving, locking her arms and legs in place.

She could only manage to utter groans in pain, further angering the two.

“Last fucking chance, bitch! Where is the tracker before I pull this motherfucking trigger!”

“Sebastian, lock the door!” Andre shouted in urgence, motioning his head to the front of the room. “Sam, close that curtain!” he continued, motioning his head to the open window.

The two could only quickly and nervously jump to their assistance, not knowing what else to do in the heat of that moment. This is fucking overkill! What the hell is wrong with these two?! Have they gone absolutely mad?! Sam thought as she pulled the blinds down.

“Wait!” Sam heard Sebastian shout as she turned to see him walking with more than just that purpose towards the three.

No, no, no, don’t do anything stupid, Sebastian!

He ran his hand into her back pocket, pulling out her mobile. He spotted a missed message from “Ms. Cable”, seeing the simple heading read: “Where do you think you are going?” He then showed the screen to Kerry.

“Alright, next question! Who the fuck is Cable!? Huh!?” Kerry continued through her teeth, pushing the barrel harder against the crown of her head.

Taneesha finally found the strength to catch one breath to say in sudden, sincere desperation: “Don’t message back! Please!”

In between panicking and reacting to the events, Sam had been trying to figure out what had even happened that triggered the entire event. She then remembered the line Taneesha spoke right before the chair went flying. “Kerry, I know that line! She knows something!” she shouted as she rushed up behind her. “Kerry, listen, that line she said was something I heard from only a few people in my life!”

“I’m listening,” she returned as she continued to press the barrel down, unwavering, eyes still locked in.

“My father, my brother, or Marian Channing.”

The name seemed to hit a sore spot for Taneesha as she screamed out again: “Don’t message her back! Please, I beg you!”

“Unlock her phone,” Sebastian suggested with a look of disgust, looking down at her. “I know that name, too.”

“Well, well!” Kerry let out an exhausted chuckle, standing up but keeping her aim pointed well downward, allowing Andre to pick her up back to her feet. “Andre, you got her?”

“Don’t… move,” he insisted in a quiet, threatening manner as he backed up and stepped aside, drawing his pistol from behind his back as well, leaving her now standing between two aimed barrels. “Now, no time for lame ass games or any other stupid shit you might be thinking, whoever the hell you are. Open your phone, and toss it back.”

Sebastian tossed it her way. The toss landed in incapable hands as she fumbled the catch, dropping it to the floor. Her hands were trembling terribly as she slowly picked it back up, placing her finger on the screen to unlock.

If she was who they think she is, she is awfully scared. Something is going on, but not sure how the hell she is in connection with Channing, Sam thought as her heartrate slowly settled down as the tensions began to fall. “Here,” she said with her hand out. The mobile was awkwardly tossed her way, and as she caught it, she looked back up to see tears had been falling down Taneesha’s face as evident by the eyeliner trails and smeared foundation and lipstick. She hadn’t seen a face this desperate, almost as if she were staring down death in the face.

“Sam, what’s her contact log tell us?” Kerry asked as she kept her eyes down barrel, both hands still firmly gripping her sidearm.

She now was flipping through call and message logs, seeing the name Cable mixed in with other code names she couldn’t make out in Bengali. “The only name I see that I can recognize is Cable. This has to be Marian Channing, judging by her reaction.” She then felt some of the betrayal that the others must have felt so much more strongly and much quickly than she had, now taking a step towards her.

“Don’t get too close, Sam!” Andre warned as he too kept his barrel up.

“Marian Channing is the bitch who left me for dead in Bogota,” Sam spoke with a sense of spite she hadn’t spoken to anyone, not even one of her many exes. “How do you know her, and why are you two connected?”

Taneesha was still trembling as she gathered her response. “I will tell you everything- just… don’t message her back. We must get out of here now. We are all in danger now that you have ruined my plans to get away from her.”

Andre pulled away, heading back for the window as he spoke back over to Sebastian: “Hey, man, check the hall. Anyone coming?” He peered out the window, seeing nothing out of the ordinary as he heard Sebastian’s “No”, signaling him to return to business. “Kerry, I think we ditch this mobile here in the room. Take off without it. What do you think?”

“We’ve been burned once before. You and I both knew to keep eyes peeled and ears open. Nothing says we can’t ditch the bitch along with it, too, am I right?”

“Wait,” Sam said as she walked over to Kerry, noting the uncontrolled stream of tears start to flow once more, weakening Taneesha to the point she was now back at her knees. “Kerry, she is our only lead. If we find Marian Channing, we find the guys behind the Cloaks.”

She leered back at Sam in annoyance. “What is this name you keep telling me? We don’t have much time to make a decision and you aren’t in charge last time I checked,” she impatiently returned.

“I’m telling you she might be telling the truth. The day that Channing bolted on my drop op, that very next hour the Cloaks took my whole squad out. They are likely in on our whole op and we need to get the hell out of here.” Kerry began to let some of her guard down as she continued: “We just might need her to get ourselves out of this mess and turn things back on them.”

“She’s got a point,” Andre added as he started to lower his sidearm.

Kerry took a moment to stew the thought. She hesitantly put her pistol back on safety and replaced it behind her back, taking a towel from her duffel bag to offer to Taneesha. “Alright, wipe up. You look like shit. Can’t have you going with us out like that.” She then started to pat her down, not coming up with any weapons of any sort.

Sam, no longer feeling like the two were insane, started to think more logically as her senses continued to come back to her. “We might need to stay not too far from here so that if they do move in, we know about it and know who all is coming.”

“No,” Sebastian argued as he continued to check down the hall. “We have a mission. We are here early, and we still have to move tomorrow evening… because then Director has our LTACs ready. If we die here, this is all for nothing. We should move very far from here and think of a new plan.”

Kerry nodded as she reshouldered her bag. “Yeah, not only are we still on radio silence with Director, I don’t like this neighborhood anyway. Too close to the river and not enough high-rise for my liking.”

Sam took the phone and walked to the window, seeing a house across the street just in throwing distance. She opened the door and heaved it onto the rooftop. “That should put them for a loop trying to find her.” She turned to see the three with disappointed faces. “What?”

“You are such a rookie,” Kerry huffed as she took Taneesha to the door, motioning everyone to follow behind. “Let’s go for a backup spot I researched. Take us to North Shewrapara.”

“But that is so far! We would need a car or a bus!” Taneesha reacted.

“And that’s exactly what you will help us get! Now, move! And no stupid shit!”

.

.

▽　▽　▽

.

Marian was seated in a shaded park bench, nose buried in a digital novel projected from her mobile. She paid no attention to the stares she got as dozens of pedestrians moved by about their business. One figure popped up from the nearest crowd wearing rough business attire complete with a stuffed briefcase that had seen better days. He took a seat next to her as he let out an exhausted breath, causing her to put it away.

“Out of shape already?” Marian scoffed. “I’ve been out all morning, having not sat down until you decided to get me off the path.”

“Yes, and you slept last night,” Isaiah dryly remarked as he pulled a notepad from his briefcase. “I am upset that our intel has fallen short once again. I assume Director Danielle Norris is no longer in Singapore.”

“No idea. But I can tell you who I saw, which means she might be somewhere nearby.”

“I already know. B-”

“-No, you don’t,” she said with a stern look and turn towards him, lowering her voice as a means to scold without attracting attention. “I don’t know what you have in mind with the changes in plans going from Sur to Hossain for this election, but it’s about time you clue me in.”

Isaiah never needed reminding why he brought her along all this way. Sometimes he needed someone to challenge his thinking, but nothing could ever restore his full trust in any human being with how things had been for him, even if he truly wanted to. “You are in no position to-”

“-Damn it, I-” she quickly refrained from uttering his name. “-Listen. Your sister is back- I saw her get off that boat and hook up with Sur. Will this change your plans once again? Because that’s what I was getting to be leery of now.”

“No,” he once again dryly returned with no change of emotion, drawing a slightly shocked reaction from Marian on the contrary. “I can’t say I am surprised she didn’t go home after all. That means the Galeano Kid stayed with her. He’s looking for me, isn’t he?” He then leaned back with a flip of his notepad, searching for a certain page. “Let them do as they please. I gave them a fair warning. What happens after that, happens. Right?”

I didn’t think he’d be that heartless. No, that can’t be. Maybe he has to say that.

“All I am worried about is this,” he said as he showed her a page from his notepad. “I needed to show you this today regardless of the little finding you had earlier. Take this and study it for a bit, compare it to our movement layout map.” He then leaned over to pull out another document from his briefcase. “I don’t have long before I have to go tie up the last loose end with Hossain’s family, but let’s take this little backstab from Sur as a gift. When she shows up dead, it should send one of three messages to Rex.” He folded the pale, green-colored paper and passed it to her, putting a hand over hers as a gesture to not read it just yet.

“Already have her plans worked out before we even know how legit Hossain is?”

“I have too much proof he’s a real asset. This country will turn, and turn much sooner than Rex had on the timetable. This is and has to be where we get our just credit and really turn the heat up on the worldwide scale.” He then pointed to the note. “Read that once you are in a secure location. Sur will be the perfect bait, since she clearly has no idea what she walked into trying to get involved with us in the first place. Let this be the lesson for future… greedy public interests.”

“I still can’t believe your stance on moving forward knowing your sister is going to get caught in the middle and most likely die,” she continued with a disappointed tone, twiddling the note between her fingers.

Isaiah returned no gesture or remark, only zipping his briefcase back up and adjusting his blazer. He then nodded to her as he stood up to leave, walking off at a brisk pace.

▽　▽　▽

He had only made it two blocks down the path before a man quickly joined him from behind, slowing pace to match his.

“I don’t think your partner likes me,” Sharif spoke with a chuckle. “Are we okay with today’s deal?”

“Consider it signed. I just need to meet with your father.”

“And I take it you will deal with my… troublesome cousin.”

“I understand how hard it is to ‘take care’ of a family member. Consider that already taken care of as well, Mr. Hossain.”

Sharif showed a pleased grin as he motioned forward: “Then, please, Mr. R, follow me and we will ink this deal.”