The Turn: Chapter Twenty

The Turn

Chapter Twenty

~Busted~

Two Years before the Turn

Zara sat in a dark interrogation room. She stared at the dark window in front of her where she knew a camera and maybe a few people were watching her. Since they sat her down, she hadn’t moved from her straight backed sitting position. She hadn’t even moved her head.

The door opened and she followed the man entering with her eyes. He had long light blond hair up to his jaw, so light that it almost looked white. He wore a casual white shirt with a light black sleeveless jacket and denim jeans. Overall he didn’t look very threatening. He slapped an empty folder on the metal table, pulled out the chair across from her and sat down. He placed his elbows on the table and looked at her. The man had nice blue eyes. He looked bored and disinterested but she could tell he was taking in her appearance too.

“I’m Detective Row Harper,” he pointed at the folder, “and you, Ms. Jolene Ross, do not exist. You’ve already wasted enough of my time, how about we just cut to the chase, hmm? Who are you?”

Zara said nothing.

Row leaned in a little, “Not even a hint?”

Again, Zara said nothing.

Row sat back in his seat, “Well, I guess we could start with what I already know. You aren’t Ms. Jolene Ross. You’re not 29 years old. You’re not a Public Health Inspector. Look, the guys that were firing at you, they are talking. Heck, they are singing like my aunts canary. Right now, it looks like you were trespassing and you drew the gun on them first. Do you want to set the record straight?”

Again, nothing.

“The girl in the hospital, is she with you by any chance?”

Nothing.

Row sighed. The girl in front of him was a hard nut to crack. In the time that he had entered the room, she had barely blinked. He had to find some way to make her react. The way a person reacted could tell a lot.

“What about this thing called the Tower?” Row asked.

Zara’s eyes inadvertently darted briefly to the right. Row smiled.

“So what? Is it some kind of secret agency or something? You aren’t allowed to talk about it or you’ll have to kill me?” he waited a moment. After a while, he picked up the empty folder and walked out of the room.

The police station was buzzed about the five teens with iron clad jaws. Row walked to his desk and collapsed in his chair. He quickly took out a pen and paper and wrote the words ‘The Tower’ on a sheet of paper. He had one more kid to interrogate but he thought he knew he wouldn’t get a word out of him. By the way the night was shaping, he wouldn’t get home until midnight…maybe.

“Hey, Harper!” his superior called, “Will you quit lounging around and get to work! That kid won’t shut up! He’s annoying everyone’s ears off!”

Row looked up, “Yes, sir.”

Before going down the hall, Row picked up an evidence box and walked toward another interrogation room. Sure enough, the boy’s voice could be heard half way down the hallway. Row opened the door and walked in.

“About time! What’s it take to get noticed around here!?” Chaud complained.

Row set the box down, “You going to cooperate?”

“Maybe,” Chaud smiled, “Can I get my phone call now?”

“What’s with this Tower?” Row asked.

Chaud laughed uncomfortably, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You want your phone call?” Row threatened.

Chaud shrugged, “Hey, I don’t know which tower you are referring too. Last I checked there were millions of towers in the world. You’d have to be awfully specific for me to answer.”

Row reached into the box and started setting things on the table. All the devices in Chaud suitcase were strewn all over the table. Chaud bit his lip.

“An information skimmer, wire cutters, forged documents, multiple ID’s, keys to a stolen cab, keys to a car stolen last night, I think there is a set of electric truck keys somewhere in there, half a dozen cell phones, a hand gun and ammo, and a packet of unopened gum,” he looked at Chaud, “Let’s start with your name.”

“Phone Call,” Chaud smiled jokingly. Row packed everything back in the box and headed for the door, “Okay, okay, okay! Ask me something else! It isn’t fair that you ask me things I can’t tell you!”

Row looked over his shoulder, “Than what can you tell me?”

Chaud shrugged, “It depends on the question.”

Row couldn’t follow this kids thinking but it seemed apparent that he knew a lot more. He walked back in and sat down.

“Is there a team here?” Row asked.

“Maybe,” Chaud answered.

Row sighed, “Are you in charge of your merry band of friends?”

Chaud shook his head, “No.”

“What do you do exactly?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Row thought a moment, “What are you hobbies?”

“Oh, you know; surfing, basketball, soccer, videogames, stuff like that. I have to make things happen, you know what I mean?”

Row pulled out the several sets of keys, “You ever play game Grand Theft Auto?”

“Couple times, I guess,” Chaud answered.

Row was getting the hang of this double talk, “You have a job.”

Chaud sat back in his chair, “As a matter of fact, I do.”

“Does it pay well?”

“It’s decent, I guess; better than minimum wage.”

“Much better, I imagine,” Row nodded, “So where did you learn to use a data skimmer?”

“Work,” Chaud answered casually.

“Right,” Row smiled, “The work you can’t tell me about. The work that has something to do with the Tower?”

Chaud smiled, “You know, there was this one time when I was younger, and my brother got this science assignment from school for the science fair. Well, he decided to explore reverse psychology. I was like seven. He set a box in front of me and said “Don’t open”, and walked away. Naturally, I opened the box. I got covered in that dye that stains your skin all over my face and arms. On top of that he had me sit in his display in front of all those people with a video of the ordeal playing over and over again on a TV behind me. Not to mention my mother was pissed that the stains wouldn’t come out. I think she’s still trying to get them clean. Moral of the story is—”

“Don’t open the box?” Row finished his sentence. He could sense the real meaning of what Chaud was saying.

Chaud tilted his head slightly, “I wouldn’t want you to get inked. It isn’t fun. Can I have my phone call now?”

Row rolled his eyes. He let Chaud up and walked him down a hallway. There was a single phone attached to the wall. Row noticed Chaud glance up at the camera. Chaud stood awkwardly in front of the phone.

“Um,” he started, “could I have just a minute?”

Row looked up at the camera before stepping several feet back. He kept looking to see what Chaud would do. Chaud stood in front of the phone. He scratched just above his eyebrow, glancing up at the hallway camera. Moments later, the phone rang. Chaud picked it up quickly and turned his back to Row.

“What is it?” the voice on the other end said. It was all business, “I’m busy.”

“Hey, Jekyll,” Chaud muttered, “great to see you too. My brother owes you another one doesn’t he?”

Jekyll sighed, “Actually, this favor for your father.”

“Name?”

“Armitage Shanks,” Jekyll hung up.

Chaud placed the phone back. He walked back over to Row and was brought back to the interrogation room. Row glanced at Chaud as he sat down in his chair.

“If you don’t mind my asking, who was that?” Row asked.

Chaud reclined, “Man, I’m tired. I don’t think I want to talk anymore.”

The Turn: Chapter Nineteen

The Turn

Chapter Nineteen

~Called Out~

Two Years before the Turn

Zara stepped out of the black vehicle and started walking briskly toward the building. She wore a black business suit with a skirt and black two inch heels. Her hair recently brushed up into a bun. There was no makeup on her face except for a slight coloring of her lips. She wore a pair of glasses and a clip on ID on her coat. Her strides were long and even as her heels clicked on the walkway. She walked confidently with a clipboard in her arm.

There were quicker uneven clicks as Vicky walked slightly behind Zara to her right. She tried desperately to keep up with Zara, often almost tripping over her own feet. She wore a similar suit to Zara’s. Thick rimmed glasses donned her face and her hair was in a single ponytail.

Chaud was on Zara’s left. He wore a simple suit and dyed his hair black. In his left hand he carried a briefcase. Unlike Vicky, he wasn’t a complete mess.

Zara walked confidently up to the guards at the door. They looked confused as to her presence but they didn’t question. Zara found that if you acted like you belonged somewhere people rarely asked questions. She walked directly up to the front desk.

Hina sat at the desk. She spun in her chair as she talked to someone on the phone. Once her eyes fell on the coming threat and her entourage, she sat up hung up the phone and organized things on her desk.

“Where’s your boss?” Zara asked.

Hina rolled her eyes and picked up the phone, “Mr. Peterson, sir? The Health Inspector is here. I know they’re a week early but they’re here. Alright,” she hung up the phone, “He’ll be right with you. If you care to sit down—hey! Where are you going!? You can’t go that way!”

Zara walked away from the desk and started walking down one of the hallways that looked like a main artery. Her people followed her. People gathered at the doors of their offices to see what the commotion was all about. The elevator door at the far end of the hallway opened. A bald man walked out in a blue suit.

“Hello,” he seemed a little surprised. He held out a hand to shake hers, “You’re the Health Inspector?”

“Names Ross,” she said only giving their last names. She also did not take Peterson’s hand, “This is my assistant Vang and my partner Banks.”

“Sup,” Banks muttered on Zara’s left.

Peterson awkwardly pulled back his hand. He smiled, “We weren’t expecting you until next week.”

“Of course you weren’t,” Zara turned around and started walking back the way she came. Peterson walked quickly after the group of three, “That’s the whole reason; catch you off your guard. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that sorry excuse. ‘We weren’t expecting you until next week’. It means they have something to hide and they haven hid it yet.”

“You look a little young to be a Health Inspector,” Peterson tried to make conversation.

Another thing Zara learned was that if you acted older than you were, people tended to believe whatever age you told them you were, within reason of course, “I’m 29 and I plan to stay single, Mr. Peterson.”

“Ouch,” Banks muttered.

“Banks! Start your search down there! I’ll take this section!” Zara commanded.

Banks nodded and walked down a hallway. Mr. Peterson tried to stop him but Zara called his attention to another matter. Vang stumbled after the two taking notes on all the things that Zara saw wrong. Chaud walked down the hallway. He could feel the eyes of the employees on him. When he reached the end of the hallway, there was a stairwell. The door was code locked. Earlier Chaud had hacked into the system and found out all the codes. He typed in the code and opened the door.

Casually he made his way down a flight of stairs to an electrical box. He set down his suitcase and opened it. It carried a lot of different things; one being a pair of latex gloves. He slipped on the gloves and pulled out a bobby pin. It wasn’t the most advanced weapon but it was all he could scrounge up in less than twenty-four hours. He picked the lock and opened the electrical box. He took a moment to look at the wiring then he nodded to himself and got to work. Chaud browsed through his suit case and pulled out a small electrical device. He put an ear piece in his ear and started moving wires around.

Outside, an electric van drove up. Deontay got out of the van and walked into the building. Hina told him that one of the outdoor cameras weren’t working and he got to work. He set a ladder against the building. As he was up there, he pulled out a small satellite and attached it to the cords coming from the camera. Deontay aimed the little satellite toward the coffee shop across the street.

Across the street, Naru walked into the small coffee shop where he ordered a latte. He sat at an outside table. He brought his laptop out of the backpack on his back. Slowly, he sipped the coffee. His computer screen was blank. A white square blinked off and on in the upper left hand corner. Naru sat back in his chair and waited.

Naru noticed a man in a black suit and a wide brimmed hat walk to a phone booth. There was something strangely familiar about him. The man briefly looked over his shoulder. He picked up the receiver and dialed 911. He waited casually as the call connected.

“Hello? What is your emergency?”

The man turned his back to Naru, “There are men with guns. There are also six kids.”

“Okay? Wait? Do the kids have guns? Where are you now, sir?”

“You’ll figure it out. Oh, and don’t forget the one at the coffee shop,” the man hung up the phone and walked away.

“There we go,” Chaud muttered as he attached the device.

“Got the satellite up,” Deontay muttered as he played with the wires.

Naru sighed, “Bout time.”

“You worried, bud?” Deontay smiled.

“No,” Naru shook his head, “it’s just that this thing—”

“Makes you feel edgy?” Chaud finished his sentence, “Yeah, I’ve heard it before.”

“How’s it looking?” Deontay asked.

“Should be about seven minutes,” Chaud reported.

Naru gripped his latte, “Seven?”

“I’m working with sub-par equipment here,” Chaud defended himself, “Just keep busy for seven minutes. We’ll be fine.”

I hope, Chaud thought to himself. He couldn’t help think of the man he saw in Zara’s hotel.

The device started blinking. It made a whirr sound as it kicked into gear. Data started showing up on Naru’s computer screen. It was all in computer language but Naru could pick up excerpts here and there. He sipped his latte and sat back and let the data from the building get sent and stored into the computer. Anything electrical that happened in that building was being duplicated. While he gave off a disinterested vibe, he was always watching for any suspicious behavior.

A man pulled up in a limo. The driver got out and walked into the building. The passenger sat in the back and waited. Naru tried to get a good look at the man but couldn’t see very well through the tinted window.

The driver walked in as Zara was discussing about the conditions of the building. Mr. Peterson looked surprised at the coming man and interrupted Zara as she was speaking. Mr. Peterson looked around the shadow of a man.

“Is Mr. Scar not with you?” he asked.

The driver smiled. He shook Mr. Peterson’s hand and whispered something in the man’s ear. Zara shifted uneasily as she saw the exchange.

“We may have just been made out,” she said quietly.

The driver and Zara briefly made eye contact before the man left. When the doors closed behind him Mr. Peterson turned around. He was obviously not happy.

“So you work for the legendary Tower?” he said, hands on hips, “What a shame. I was beginning to like you.”

The guards that were scattered around the place ran at her and Vicky. Two of them ran up to the front desk toward Hina. Hina stood up, hands in the air.

“What are you doing?! I work here, you—!”

One of the guards brought out his gun and shot at her. Hina fell against her chair and to the ground. Upon seeing that, Zara reached behind her and pulled out a gun from a harness strapped to her back. She fired at two guards, wounding one in the leg and grazing the other in the arm. The injured one got his gun and fired back. Zara and Vicky jumped apart. Zara hid behind in a small inlet in the wall and Vicky dove behind the desk. Vicky quickly checked for Hina’s pulse before taking out her gun. She fired her weapon at a few guards that were coming at her.

“We’re on our own,” Zara said into her ear piece. It was code for ‘to each his own’ meaning they were now individually responsible for escaping. She had no plan B.

Deontay started to make his way down from the ladder. He collapsed it and headed for his van. The two guards at the door walked after him, guns drawn. Deontay placed the ladder in the back of the opened truck. He climbed in and closed the door behind him. The engine revved up and the van started to speed away. A police car, its sirens blaring, crashed into the truck. The guards fired at the truck as more police cars came.

Police officers got out of their car and threatened to fire. The guards placed their weapons down. A few officers turned their attention on Deontay. He groaned and raised his hands off the steering wheel.

Naru saw the ordeal in front. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small thumb drive. Naru plugged it in and started typing feverishly. When he was done, he closed the laptop and tucked it under his arm. He dumped the laptop in the garbage and popped the flash drive in his mouth.

“Hold it right there! Let me see your hands!” a female officer shouted.

Naru sighed and put his hands in the air. The female officer handcuffed him and dragged him to a police car. Officers stormed the building demanding that the guns be put down. Zara swore under her breath as she placed down her gun and kicked it away from her. Vicky looked at Zara for guidance as an officer handcuffed her but Zara didn’t look in her direction. Chaud heard the footsteps of officers coming down the stairs. An officer threw him into the side wall as they handcuffed him and pushed him up the stairs.

A block away, a limo sat and watched the goings on. The driver scowled.

“How did those Tower nobodies get on out tail this quick?” Scar complained.

“I left a few bread crumbs,” the driver muttered, “How did the police get here so fast?”

“Bread crumbs?” Scar raised an eyebrow, “I thought you said that was a bad idea.”

“I guess I just wanted to see who I was up against,” the driver pulled out and drove off.

Scar though he heard something he didn’t like, “What? What you were up against?”

The driver looked in his mirror, “Did I say that? I meant ‘we’, what were ‘we’ up against.”

Scar shrugged it off, “I guess they aren’t going to be that much trouble for the New Order.”

“I beg to differ,” the driver smiled, “I think we’ll have to be very careful here on out.”

September Updates

Hello Readers!

I've decided that once a month I would give you updates so you know what's going on and it gives you a chance to ask questions. I wanted to have one on the 15th but...I forgot. Today's three (or four) basic topics are The Turn, possible sequels, my schooling if you all care, and some odds and ends that I might think about as I type.

The Turn

The story line I feel is going pretty good. I will continue typing on it and I do plan to finish it as soon as possible. I understand if you think its pretty slow right now but I assure you it will pick up. I have an arcive of five chapters and it gets better. It really does.

Do you have any questions? Did I spell something wrong? Are there plot holes that need plugging? Is there something that you would like to see be played out? For example: "I want to see Chaud get his but handed to him!" or "What is with Puppetmaster? Can't you give him powers?"

I think that's it. I'll try to write more frequently. I mean I have a chapter archive of five just sitting there.

Future Stories?

I have had interesting ideas for the world of Insanity. But first I would love to know your opinion. DO you want more? I know its a little early (by a little, I probably mean a lot) to be thinking about another story but just give it some though. Suggestions are available too! For example: "I want a story line where Chaud runs the Tower?" or "What is with Puppetmaster? Can't he have an entire story line?" (I'm making these up by the way...)

Once I have more of an idea formed, I'll give more details later.

College!!

I'm doing fine! I actually have enough time to type! That is what I call great!

Odds and Ends

I plan on doing more spin offs when I can. I still need some origin stories. Chaud, by the way, isn't getting an origin story...maybe. I mean, he was born an Other? What am I going to write about? His mothers birth? I doubt that Chaud would be unhappy if I told you that story. (I have to live with these people! O.o) Oh! Suggestions here too!

Umm...hmmm...what do you think? Do you like the Monthly (or so) updates? Anyway...

Insanity Storiz 2012

~Undertaker

Questions? Comments? Complaints? Suggestions? Just want to talk? Want a hug? Just comment!

The Turn: Chapter Eighteen

The Turn

Chapter Eighteen

~Plan B or No Plan B~

Two Years before the Turn

Zara walked on the sidewalk casually with one ear pressed against a cell phone. She wore white Capri pants and a light blue Polo shirt. Her sandals were appropriate for the warm summer weather. A salmon and pink bag hung from her arm as she held the cell phone. She walked past a business building. Large sunglasses covered her eyes as she scanned the building. She pretended to talk to someone on the phone as she looked over the building. There were some guards at the door that dissuaded civilians from entering. She scanned the outside for surveillance cameras. She kept a mental note of their locations, hung up her fake call and then turned around toward the street.

Hand raised, she hailed a cab. A yellow cab sat a few blocks away, off duty. Seeing that there was the prospect of business the cab driver turned on his engine and drove forward. Zara pulled open the door and sat in the back seat. She set her bag down in the seat beside her and fastened her seatbelt.

“Hilton on 45 Avenue,” Zara said as she situated herself.

“Got it,” the driver said as he pulled away from the curb.

They reached a stop light about a block away. In doing what most cab drivers do, the driver engaged in conversation.

“So, what are we up against?” said the white haired cab driver.

Zara pulled out a note bad, “It would be great to get a blue print of the place. The front of building alone has at least ten cameras. There are two guards on duty at all times.”

Chaud looked in the rear view mirror, “Sound’s easy enough. What do you need me to do?”

“I need you to get me in,” Zara stated, “Naru will need a way to hack into the system somehow—”

“But it’s a closed system. No one on the outside can get it,” Chaud complained.

“Your problem, not mine,” Zara looked up, “unless you take back what you said about being able to do anything…”

Chaud sighed, “I’ll figure out something.”

“I thought I’d be nice to station him in the coffee shop across the street,” Zara stated.

“Sure, that makes things so much easier,” Chaud said, his voice thick with sarcasm.

“I don’t want to put all my hens in one basket.”

“I think you mean eggs…don’t put your eggs in one…never mind,” Chaud trailed off as Zara glared at the back of his head. He cleared his throat, “When do I need everything planned?”

“Tomorrow morning,” Zara stated casually, “at the latest.”

Chaud sighed deeply, “That isn’t a lot of time.”

“I don’t want to stay here longer than necessary,” Zara scribbled on the note pad, “This whole New Order thing stinks. I don’t like it. The sooner we get out of here, the better.”

Chaud nodded, “Alright. Leave the details to me. I’ll have a plan put together by tonight.”

“I thought you wanted more time?” Zara teased.

“I came up with a plan in the course of this conversation. Unlike most people who say they can, I can actually multitask. I just like having more that twelve hours to put it all together,” Chaud stated, making the point clear, “We’re here. That will be $36.79.”

Zara dug in her pocket for the money. She found two twenties and tore the paper she had been writing on. After fitting the paper in between the two bills, she placed the money in Chaud’s open palm.

“Keep the change,” Zara stated before leaving.

“Thank you,” Chaud said just before the door slammed.

Zara walked actually up the steps of the Hilton. Chaud found himself another customer. Eyes watched them from across the street at a local café. A figure wore a light white shirt with black pants and white shoes. A wide brimmed had sat on his lap as he sat. His over coat hung from the back of his chair. He took one last sip of his coffee and was about to leave when he noticed a black limo drive by. It seemed out of place in this environment. Then again, it could be on its way to somewhere else. But still, there was this feeling. He left the payment on the table, donned his hat, threw his over coat over his shoulder and walked off down the street. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a phone.

IOIOIOIOI

Zara lounged on the king-sized bed. The contents of the open folder were strewn around her. The others weren’t around. She could care less where they were. That was how Tower Agents worked. They may arrive at their designated city at the same time but the moment the airplane pulled into the terminal, they were complete strangers to each other until the mission. That’s why it was good to have someone like Chaud, an Accomplisher. It was their job to know where everyone was and make everything happen. It was also preferred if the Accomplisher was not the leader.

A team consisted of many different possible jobs. Usually a team member’s job didn’t stray too far from their abilities. There was Zara, she was the leader. She led and planned. Then there was Chaud, the Accomplisher. He took the structure if the leaders plan and made it happen. Hina was back up. Her skills were useful for rescuing any team members and blasting through anything. Naru usually observed. He’d report on the goings on and make sure his team members were out of harm’s way. Vicky was the secret weapon. Yes, she looked meek and lacked confidence but when she was really needed she could pack a punch. Then there was Deontay, the tank. If everything went to hell, he’d barge in and make things better. Other teams might be set up differently but this was how Zara saw things. Chaud saw them the same way.

Zara glanced at the clock briefly. In was nearing nine-thirty. Despite herself she began worrying about Chaud. She looked back at the bed and started placing everything back into the folder.

There was a knock at the door, “Room Service.”

“I didn’t order any,” Zara answered.

There was a sigh, “Look, I just spent a long time cooking this. So, would you like to take it instead?”

Zara sighed and got up out of bed. She walked to the door and looked out of the peephole. After determining that there was no threat, she opened the door. Chaud wheeled the cart in as Zara closed the door.

“Where shall I put it?” Chaud asked still in character. He didn’t know whether it was safe to speak freely or not. It was always customary for the person who has been in a location the longest to start the conversation.

“What is it?” she glared at him.

Chaud opened one of the metal catering lids and exposed the requested blueprints, “Ta-da! Good isn’t it?”

“What do you have planned?” Zara stated, getting straight to business.

“Someone’s grumpy,” Chaud muttered.

Out of the corner of his eye, Chaud saw the hand coming but couldn’t react in time. Zara’s hand slapped him in the back of the head. The look on her face said it all, “You were supposed to be here sooner.”

“I don’t recall giving you a time,” Chaud answered. Another slap.

“You could have called,” Zara defended, “I didn’t know if something happened to you!”

“That isn’t suspicious at all; a random person calling another random person in a hotel in the middle of the night when they don’t even know each other. Yep, no red flags there,” Chaud was leaking with sarcasm.

Zara crossed her arms, “This whole thing just makes me feel edgy.”

“You’ve said,” Chaud nodded. He uncovered another lid, “Here is you’re new identity.”

Zara looked at the ID card and the stack of papers, “Inspector?”

“Congratulations,” Chaud smiled, “You are now a County Health Inspector for a day!”

Zara raised a curious eyebrow, “How did you pull that off?”

“Illegally,” Chaud shrugged it off as nothing, “Here’s a list of everyone else’s identities. Make sure to destroy that after you’ve memorized it. Vicky and I will join you on the inside. Hina is now employed in the business we’re inspecting. Deontay is an electrician and Naru, as you wanted, is a local café patron. You got that? Good. I’ll be leaving now.”

“What am I inspecting?” Zara asked as Chaud started pushing the cart toward the door, “Aren’t you going to tell me more about your plan?”

Chaud looked over his shoulder, “I told you your part. Just do what you need to do and we should be fine.”

“And a backup plan?”

“Hey, you gave me less than a day to think of something,” Chaud narrowed his eyes, “so no, there is no backup plan.

“What if something goes wrong?”

“Every man for himself?”

“Chaud,” Zara rolled her eyes.

“Let’s hope it doesn’t,” Chaud reached for the door knob, “Unless you want to give me an extra day?”

“No,” Zara sighed, “this seems simple enough. I guess it will be fine.”

“I could scrap one up real quick if you want me too,” Chaud said, seeing her concern.

“No, its fine,” Zara said with more certainty, “We should be in and out as fast as we can though.”

“Alright,” Chaud sighed, “I’ll pick you up tomorrow.”

He left the room. As the door closed behind him he noticed a figure just a down the hallway.  He stood in front of the elevator. Chaud saw the man’s eyes from under his wide brimmed hat, but only a glimpse. The elevator door opened. The man dipped his head slightly at Chaud in greeting and entered the elevator.

Chaud gripped the carts handles, “Why would…?” he started but didn’t finish his thoughts.

He pushed the cart down the hallway with the feeling that he should start thinking up a plan B.