Tuesday 27th April 2010
02:08
There are a few things that the people under Ingrid Sanderson's command know. The first thing is that when you are on surveillance with her, you had better have money because she doesn't carry any and gets angry if there is nobody about to pay for her. People joke about this being down to false royal connections that she might have - but not to her face.
The second thing is that they should never make her angry, under any circumstances. There is a reason why she has risen through the ranks of Orson Industries so quickly. She never gives anybody the chance to make more than one mistake.
Tonight someone has made his first mistake and he is standing in front of her, quivering with fear.
Somehow she manages to put all the energy of a shout into the whispering voice, and this makes it all the more intimidating. "I can't believe you let him see you!"
The van that they are in is parked across the street from Gary's house. It is ready to make a move away from the place if he comes into sight.
"I had no way of knowing that he was going to come into the Kitchen."
He had tried to keep out of sight. He swiftly jumped out of Gary's view as soon as the light had flicked on. He had been very quick considering the fact he had not been expecting the target's sudden appearance. Ingrid would never have got out of the way without him spotting her either.
Ingrid is not the sort of person who is used to being answered back.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing!" He mutters humbly, instantly realising the mistake that he has made with his retort.
Ingrid seems to calm down a little and looks to the other group members assembled in the cramped van. "The fact of the matter is that Gary Ingalls now knows that he's being watched. If he has any sense, he'll be on the phone to Oswald as we speak. Then, he might spot the group on his tail. Suggestions?"
Someone puts his hand up. "We could go in and grab Ingalls before he makes the call?" Only Ingrid calls him Gary as the other people in the group manage to get some sleep at night by not getting close to their targets. If they were ever ordered to kill one of these people they would rather not think of them as people.
Ingrid shakes her head. "That call will have been made already if he's going to make it."
Ingrid doesn't mind people coming up with stupid answers. She isn't going to reprimand anyone for that. It is better to say what is on your mind and make a fool of yourself than to do it in the field like the stupid bastard in front of her has done. She doesn't even seem annoyed by the suggestion.
"We could warn the other two groups that they might have been compromised," comes another suggestion
Ingrid clicks her fingers at the man who came up with this idea and nods. "That's more like it."
Once more she turns her attention to the man who has failed her. She moves forward almost seductively and puts her hands on his temples, moving them down slowly to his cheeks and then his jaw line.
It looks for a moment like she is going to kiss him. A couple of people look uncomfortable at the sight, especially the ones who have seen such a scene before.
The fool who has crossed her shivers slightly and isn't sure whether it is the fear or the look in here eyes that seem almost like lust. Her hands are so soft and part of him feels like he could stay in this lock forever.
Then, in one swift motion, she snaps his neck and he falls to the floor. Everyone reels.
2.
Tuesday 27th April 2010
02:10
It is quite obvious to anyone who cares to check that Alice has a strong attraction to David Oswald. It is not for moral reasons that she doesn't make this known to him; she does have a boyfriend after all – someone she does love even though he does bore her a little. At the moment she would be quite pleased if he managed to do something that would surprise her. But their relationship has reached that mundane level where you know everything that is going to happen.
Alice is attracted to David even though she would not admit it to herself. The reason she doesn't make it plain is a fear of rejection. She has never feared this in her life, mainly because she has never been in a position where it would happen to her. David is different. Maybe that is why she is so attracted to him. Anyone can love someone who loves him or her back after all.
Meanwhile she tried to distract herself by working out just where David was taking her in the car. Alice has never been very good with directions. However, she tries to follow the route that David is driving through. She is sure that they have never gone this way before. She doesn't do a very good job of keeping track and, before she knows it, they are going through back roads out of the city and are heading into a heavily wooded area.
It has been a long time since she has seen her boss looking so sombre. In most situations, he is able to find some sort of answer to the problem that they are facing. But, somehow, Isabelle's disappearance seems to have put him into a frame of mind that she has never seen before and doesn't like very much.
The car comes to a sudden halt. Without a word, David is out of the car. Alice unbuckles her seatbelt and gets out without the ease and fluidity that he has managed. She follows him as he walks towards a house that she has not spotted from the car. It is just off the road in the forest that they have been driving through.
She has no idea why she is so nervous, a trait that she doesn't normally possess. She jumps slightly when light suddenly blazes from the house security system. She can just make out the front door opening through the dazzling light.
She is very surprised to see two men in suits almost identical to David's. She finds it hard to tell in the light but it appears the only difference is that they are lighter grey than his. They move forward and one of them raises a gun in the two visitor's direction.
Alice doesn't even see the movement as David disarms him and pushes him to the ground without a second thought. The other man looks ready to make a move but one warning look from her boss seems to stop him in his tracks.
"Where is he?"
Alice manages to get beside David, having been left slightly behind. The suited man who is still standing points at the door. She looks at where the finger is pointed to see a third man in a grey suit. She has to admit that she has no idea what is going on.
David suddenly sprints forward. He is beside the man in seconds. David pulls him out of the house and has one hand wrapped round his throat.
"Where is she Kevin? Tell me or, so help me God, I'll tear your head off."
The man struggles a little but it isn't until it is clear that he can't breathe that David finally lets him go. He falls to the ground instantly, grasping his throat and clawing for air.
Alice does not even notice that two more men in identical suits have come from inside the house until they are standing beside the fallen man. They help the man that David has called Kevin to his feet.
Kevin looks angrily at the two men who had originally greeted Alice and David. The one who had been disarmed has managed to get to his feet during the altercation between the two men.
"Why the hell did you let him get this close to me. You've got guns."
"You think we're going to shoot HIM?"
Alice is sure that she managed to detect both admiration and contempt in the man's tone of voice but can't be sure which of the two was more dominant.
Kevin returns his attention to David and can see that he is still furious but, for the moment, he is not moving.
"What's this all about?"
"I think you know already."
Kevin takes the time to fix his shirt and crumpled tie. "I wouldn't waste my breath asking if I knew."
"You came to me tonight in a threatening manner. Then suddenly someone close to one of my employees disappears."
For a moment Kevin does not seem to comprehend what it is that David is saying. Suddenly his eyes widen.
"And you think I kidnapped her?"
Alice sees this is her moment to appear useful. "How do you know it was a she?"
Kevin regards her for the first time. He gives her a gracious smile. "He grabbed me by the throat and said to me, 'where is she Kevin?'"
David takes this as a cue to grab Kevin again, not being quite as violent as he was the first time. Alice is not sure if it is because he has four henchmen now instead of two or because he has taken time to calm down.
"I need to know where she is!"
A smile flickers briefly on Kevin's lips. "What's this, David? Desperation?"
David doesn't reply to this but tightens his fist once more round Kevin's rumpled suit jacket.
"Would you do anything to know where she is?"
Kevin will never know how close David comes to nodding in response to this. He manages to stop himself before the thought of it has even fully formulated in his mind. He lets Kevin go.
"You don't have her!"
He turns away from Kevin and starts to walk away. He flickers a glance at Alice. "Come on, we're leaving."
Alice cannot help but get more confused with every passing second. She has no idea what is going on or whom these men are. She does not like the one thing that David can't see right now – the look of triumph on the man called Kevin's face. She does not like that one little bit.
She turns to follow David, not wanting to dwell on the image for any longer than she has to.
"You're reaction surprises me David. I had no idea…"
He suddenly stops, despite the lack of reaction from David's retreating figure. It is Alice who turns round to say something. Kevin manages to beat her to it, though.
"It was nice to meet you Alice. I hope we meet again real soon."
And, with that, the five men, led by Kevin, turn and walked back into the house, the door closing very loudly behind them.
3.
Tuesday 27th April 2010
02:13
Belinda and Edward are still alive and just walking into the second haunt of the night. Edward looks from left to right as they come in, just to see if he can spot something suspect. Once it becomes apparent that there are employees of David Oswald in the building anything they have to hide will be covered up immediately.
The barman regards them with an angry glower, very similar to the manager of the previous establishment. "Why don't you just do yourselves a favour and get the hell out of here while you've still got your fucking legs?" Charming, eh?
Edward looks the man up and down and, without saying a word, shakes his head. Belinda knows from his body language in the last bar that he isn't comfortable with this aspect of the job but thinks that he handles himself really well. He does learn things very quickly. Her first instinct is always to consider turning round and leaving, but she knows that it is something that she can't do.
"You know who we work for?" Edward asks. His voice doesn't even crack.
There are a variety of shady looking individuals regarding the two newcomers. Most of them are human but it is very apparent that some of them are not. Belinda and Edward try to ignore them for the moment, although it is not that easy.
"Of course I do. I can almost smell him off you. Tell him we don't know anything."
Belinda decides that she has to get in some of the action or she will be annoyed at herself. "You don't know what we're looking for… or do you?"
"We don't know anything about anything."
Belinda can feel the beginnings of a sarcastic comment bubbling up in her throat and she knows that there is nothing that she can do to stop herself from delivering it. It is the sort of answer that might inevitably lead to a fight but she is not in control of that part of her sense of humour. She is a prisoner of sarcasm.
Still, it cannot be considered a godsend when the comment is lost to the sound of the bar door bursting open, with a force that makes it sound like it is being wrenched off it's hinges. The comment is trapped in Belinda's throat and then lost before it can constrict her breathing. She and Edward both spin round in synchronisation, something that might almost be considered cute under other circumstances.
"Is that any way to treat guests?" The newcomer purrs in a seductive voice, gently closing the almost ruined door behind her.
Edward cocks his head slightly, more out of confusion than anything else.
"Isabelle?"