CHAPTER 2

Alexandra Walters had just pushed opened the door to the diner, she rans together with her aunt and younger sister, when she heard Malcolm’s litany that he will be giving her a piece of his mind. Another long and boring lecture, for sure.

She rolled her eyes at that thought as she took off her helmet and stopped when she noticed that there was another person with them.

“Oh, I’m pretty sure she’s just going to roll her eyes on you during your lecture.” She commented sarcastically.

Ashley, her younger sister looked up with a relief expression on her face while the two men turned towards her. While Malcolm was giving her a frown, the man beside him was looking at her with curiosity and if she guessed correct, somewhat interested.

“Where the hell were you?!”

They looked towards the voice and Alexandra saw her aunt, coming out from the kitchen holding a wooden spatula and pointing it threateningly at Alexandra.

“Oh, you’re making my blood pressure rise, Alexandra!” Her Aunt Vicky lashed out, swinging the spatula in the air. “Do you know what happened just hours ago?! There was an explosion just several feet from us and I couldn’t contact you!”

Alexandra ducked when her aunt waved the spatula again.

“So, is this the reason why this FBI is here?”

She was surprised that they gave her shocking look.

“Obviously, he’s wearing his jacket,” Alex pointed out sarcastically as she sauntered towards the counter and went behind it, placing her helmet on top. She opened one refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of Corona, opening it immediately and took a drink. “So, why is he here?”

“I called Malcolm because I got worried,” Ashley answered for them. “Where did you go?”

“I went to Jake’s.”

“Are you still dating that guy?” Malcolm asked intently.

Alexandra looked at him, one eyebrow raised.

“That’s none of your concern, Malc,” she answered lightly as she placed her bottle on the counter and took out her phone. She saw a message from a former officemate and decided to read it later before looking at the FBI guy. “I didn’t get your name. You are?”

“Zachary Montgomery,” he introduced himself patiently. “I worked in the counterterrorism division and was checking on the incident.”

“Oh. So, you’re like one of the top guys over there at the bureau?” She asked casually.

“I don’t get what you mean,” he responded carefully.

Alexandra only let out a slight smirk as she reached for her beer again and stood up straight. “There’s no meaning on that question,” she commented patiently. “Anyway, I’ll it a night for me, guys. Do you need help, Ash?”

“I’ll be fine,” her sister assured. “By the way, Aunt Vicky will be having her blood works tomorrow. You’ll be on opening shift.”

“Sure.”

“It was nice meeting you, Mr. Montgomery,” Alexandra then said patiently. She saluted Malcolm with her bottle as she walked towards the swing door. “See you around, Malc. Or probably tomorrow. You haven’t given me a piece of your mind yet.”

She then took off, finishing her beer along the way before finally pulling out her phone and pressed speed dial. She waited for her call to be answered.

“Hey,” she greeted firmly. “You busy? I need you to run a check for me.”

“As far as I know, you no longer work here,” the voice answered sarcastically.

Alexandra rolled her eyes as she climbed up the steps to her room and making sure that the wheelchair lift for Ashley is already at the ground floor.

“That’s why I called you, stupid,” she retorted, opening the door to her room. She sat on her desk and immediately turned on her PC and laptop to checked on the CCTV recordings. She moved her mouse to review all the footages the cameras had taken prior to the incident. “He was checking on the explosion a while ago and Malc brought him over for beer.”

“Fine,” the voice said. “What’s his name?”

“Zachary Montgomery,” she answered as her eyes scanned the monitor. “He works in FBI under the counterterrorism division. May I have the details tomorrow?”

“You’re much demanding than the director.”

“Yeah, well get to it, then,” she said. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Alexandra placed her phone down on her desk as she finally found the footage that she needs. She watched as debris were blown off towards the corner and people running away to save themselves. She rewinds the footage again and took note of the time.

“What the hell is the intention?” She muttered as she replayed the footage repeatedly. She leaned back on her chair before deciding to check the other monitors with the time she noted on the explosion. She typed on her laptop and waited for the map within twenty-kilometer radius from the point of explosion to appear on her screen. “And, who the hell are you working for?”