Chapter #26A Betrayal from Within by: Nostrum   “Ms. Silva?” asked one of the agents seemingly out of nowhere. “You must accompany us.”
You’ve been covering for the real one for a couple days now, and you were already worried everything was too quiet by now. The leads you gave her are promising, as while it tells you nothing about who made them, at least it tells you where they are.
You agreed on one thing, though – having the pens spread all over will undoubtedly cause chaos. It has already done so, after all. And because of that, Silva has disappeared for the time being – meaning now you’ll have to handle the fallout from her moves.
Your exchange of information, however, should leave you on the clear. Having the pens in their cases, and an alibi with the Digital Forensics guys, should get you off Carlyle’s eyes for a while.
You’re led to his office, the agents standing guard outside as he gives you his cockiest grin. “Silva. We meet again.”
“We meet again,” you repeat, adding some sass to hold the vitriol. Just like last time.
“I received a report from agent Samuel Fitzgerald, from the Evidence Room. I presume you know what I’m talking about.”
“No,” you say, feigning ignorance.
“Well, it’s related to the conversation we had last time. I wanted to inform you that the evidence seemed to be misplaced.”
“Did you contact our friends upstairs?” you ask him, recalling how you blamed the CIA for the theft.
“As a matter of fact, I did.” Carlyle steps up, circling you – measuring you, you feel, for he’s far too satisfied with himself for your own good. “They deny any knowledge of any surveillance equipment, of course.”
“And you believe them?”
“Officially, I have to. Extraofficially...” He sighs, tilting his head. “I have no reason to doubt them.”
“Then, that settles that.”
“Essentially - except that the report also says that other evidence related to the Wright case was tampered with. Two suit bags had their seals torn off.”
“When did that happen?”
“A couple days ago.” He hands you Fitzgerald’s report, which has a copy of the report you filed in. “Smith from HR checked the place for irregularities. That’s when the pen cases were found, as well as the tampered evidence. The copy behind his report has Ms. Beauregard, Smith’s secretary, who noticed this and annotated the event.”
“I see...”
“Can I ask you where you were that day?”
“With the guys at Digital Forensics,” you reply, giving your studied excuse. “I was asking for their help with some other case – you can ask Gelding for--”
“I already did.” You’re not sure if you should be relieved or scared. “Gelding confirms you were there and told me you asked her directly for some assistance with a case you’re currently dealing with.”
“The Sanderson case.” (This is the decoy – Silva took a minor case involving one Bryan Sanderson, whose desktop computer was taken to check for clues that may lead to how the local drug gangs interact. Though it ultimately deals with the Dinghy Boys and some others, like the 34th Street Hustlers, it’s as far away from the Wright case as humanely possible.)
“Indeed. Any reason why?”
What’s up with Carlyle and Silva? you ask, as his interrogation feels like grasping straws. “I had no urgent assignments, sir. I felt dealing with this case would--”
“That’s enough,” he says as he shows his palm to you. “That’s all I needed to know.”
“Anything else?” you say as you stand up.
“Perhaps one more thing,” he says, stepping an inch from your face. “Take this as a warning – not official, but extraofficial. Don’t think I don’t know your affair with agent Gabriel Clark. I know his involvement in the case was the reason you were brought along.”
“As I said, I was called for assistance.”
“I also know it was your intervention that led to his assignment to that case.” (That wasn’t something Silva told you. Where he’s trying to go?) “Something tells me you were interested in that case from the very beginning.”
You try to hide your nerves, relying on Silva’s steel nerves. “And what would be my interest, director?”
“I’ll get to the bottom of it. That said, I must regretfully inform you that you’re under investigation, and as of now, suspended from duty.”
The news fall like a rush of cold water over you. “Come again?”
“Your involvement with agent Clark is one of many complaints filed against you, agent Silva. We believe you may have used some... connections to deal with specific cases.”
“And you’re hoping to find proof by taking me off-duty?”
“Certainly.” Carlyle hands you an envelope with a smug smirk. “The order is effective immediately and indefinitely. You will be suspended from pay and benefits until the matter clears. Am I clear, miss Silva?”
He may have gotten one on you, but this isn’t the end. “Yes, director.”
“Good. You have one hour to leave the premises. Leave your badge here and your identification with Reception.”
As you leave the premises, you wonder why Carlyle has it against her. Is it because he was interested in the Wright case? Is he one of Tessa’s patsies?
Midway between the FBI building and Silva’s primary safehouse, you trigger the emergency lights to read the missive. Indeed, it’s an order, signed by Carlyle himself, informing you that Adrienne Silva is suspended from duty pending an internal investigation.
But what mystifies you is the second paper. And moreso, the note written within it.
“To the wise, there is more than the eye can see.”
--
You have no choice but to travel to the safehouse, to ponder on Carlyle’s move and the mysterious letter. You’ve been ignoring Clark’s calls for a while, letting him off with a “we’ll talk later”.
As you think whether Carlyle has more than a professional interest in you, you notice a slight discoloration in the noted paper. As you put it before the light, you see what seems to be handwriting in a very faint yellowish tone.
You know that there are ways to make “invisible” ink, and ways to reveal it. You’re unsure how professional that may be, but you know most of them rely on either heat or a reactive to reveal them. (The heat is from your science class, the reactive comes from Silva’s own knowledge.)
You try everything – a blower, simple reactives – before you recall how Carlyle was hounding you about the pens. You wonder if that will help, and you use the only pen you have – the black one. Though it doesn’t split, the discolored areas become stickier. You attempt using ashes and dust, but they don’t seem to stick well enough. However, you try scanning the paper once more, in case you could highlight the specks.
And when scanned, you finally get the message Carlyle was warning you about. Turns out, perhaps the eye cannot see, but that doesn’t mean a mechanical sensor cannot. And from Silva’s laptop, you read the following.
Be at the corner of Sanderson and 5th.
7:00 PM. Sharp. Alone.
Trust no one. Keep your eyes open.
The worst enemy is often the closest friend.
Kindest regards,
A Friend
You know that place is where the clandestine manufacturing plant was located. But that last warning gives you pause. Who’s that “friend”? And why would they warn you about a “close friend” being an enemy?
Is Carlyle warning you about Silva? And if so, is she using you, or are they on to her?
--
It’s six, and though you took a shower and had lunch, you’re still unsure if you should go. For all you know, Carlyle (or whoever’s inside him, or working alongside him) is setting you a trap. Why would they want you there, alone, and to trust no one?
It’s the call that alerts you. It’s from an unknown number, and it rings three times before hanging up. Then, you get a text notification, in all caps.
[YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN ANSWERING. IF NOT, I WILL GIVE YOU THE CLIFF’S NOTES.]
Then, you hear the phone ringing. It’s the same unknown number. You pick it up, but say no word – though, that doesn’t matter, as you hear a heavily synthesized deep voice answering. “HELLO. I ASSUME YOU WANT TO LEARN WHO YOU WORK WITH.”
Then, with a faint click, you listen to a conversation underway. “--following.” It is the voice of a woman, high-pitched and energetic.
“Got the spots?” says a man, seemingly a youth.
“A couple. Operation’s split into three – Wright had most, Chen has one, but there’s one case unaccounted for.”
“That was dealt with,” you hear from the man. “I’ll deal from my side from my hiding spot. You got an escape route?”
“I do. Gonna miss her, though.”
“Don’t get attached to the Type 1s,” the man warns the woman. “Once they’re gone, you can get a better one.”
“Can’t help but feel nostalgia,” the girl says.
“Don’t feel nostalgia for a fake,” he says. “Once we spread them out, Command will have their hands full. Then, we go to Phase 2. Confirm you’re in.”
“I told you, I’m with you.”
“Good. She’s been decommissioned by now. We’ll deal with your double soon. See you there, Gina.”
“See you there, Nick.” You hear the conversation end, then the call hangs up.
And that puts you on edge. Whoever was speaking knows about the pens and where they are. The girl - “Gina” - seems to be Silva, and whoever is on the other side seems to be plotting something.
But that’s not what really upsets you. You’ve heard the second voice before. Wasn't your brother’s most recent girl called Gina? Does that mean Silva has played you from the start?  indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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