CHAPTER 24

           Alice couldn't bring herself to sleep even though she needed it, she was so worried about them it made her head throb, she wondered how dangerously foolish the plan was, as if walking into the lion's den wasn't enough, they had to call the devil to be a spectator.

            Fasting was dangerous on his own without having to lure the CSS, even if no one noticed them because of the mask, anything could happen, someone could easily just rip it off their faces and that would be it for them, that would be the end of it, and the more she thought about it, the more it made no sense, but again theses weren't just ordinary people, they were trained agents, prepared for anything, surely they would be able to handle it if anything went rouge, surely, she hoped, but even that didn't do much to douse the flames of her anxiety.

           Staring at the ceiling, that obviously looked as expensive as virtually almost everything in the house did, she wondered again if the operation was going as planned, when out of nowhere, a sharp pain erupted from her palm.

        " Ouch " she hissed, as the stinging pain pulled her away from her world of worry,  seconds before an audible ' tinngg ' like sound of iron hitting the floor permeated her senses, she hissed again as the sting persisted, and stared at the fresh cut that now marked her palm, watching a  thin trail of blood fill the cut line.

             Alice had been so worried that she had even forgotten about what Sunday had given to her, lifting her body from the bed and throwing her legs on the ground, she moved towards the item that sparkled like glass, picking it up, it had a sort of cold feel like every other metal did, but this was unlike any kind she had seen before. 

             As she brought it even closer, she noticed tiny markings on it, too tiny for recognition which made her squint in an effort to make meaning of them, but she had hardly seen anything when a familiar voice startled her, making her close her palms against the glass item instinctively.

          " That's an e-con, " the voice said,  compelling Alice to look up at who it was, she had been so immersed in her thoughts and in trying to figure out what the item was that she didn't hear David come in, he stood so close to the wall his back would have practically touched it if not for the leg he had pressed against it, he held a wineglass in his hand, and for some reason she couldn't help but feel uncomfortable around him.

          " System tracker, navigator, stress signals, that kind of thing, those markings are just company's inscriptions, nothing to worry about " he responded, moving even closer to Alice who still squatted on the floor, he extended an arm to help her up.

            She reached for his hand and he pulled her up, he could already notice the tension between them as she backed away from him.

         " Sorry, I didn't hear you come in, " Alice spoke up trying to kill the uncomfortable silence " Nice place you have here " she continued.

         " Thank you " he voiced out, pride laced his voice as he darted his eyes to the left and right sides of the room, and nodded his head in agreement to what Alice had just said, " what can i say, I'm a rich man, " he continued with a shrug, and then widened his smile.

        " I don't think we have been properly introduced, I'm David, " he said, extending his free hand for a handshake.

        " Alice " she replied, receiving his hand.

        " Alice ?, as in Alice Adeneji ? " he questioned, to Alice's surprise that he was familiar with her surname, but then again she had almost forgotten that there was once a time when almost half of the population of the country knew her name.

       " Yes " Alice responded, rather hesitantly, " how did you know my surname ? " she asked, eager to know how he found out about that.

       " I knew you looked familiar, i saw a few of your movies some months ago, i thought you were really good in them " he responded rather innocently, yet for the first time in a long time she didn't feel too proud or excited to meet a fan.

      " Yeah, thanks " she replied, almost in a whisper.

      " Sorry about what you've had to go it through, " he responded this time wearing a sorry look " hopefully, it will all be over once Sunday gets Fasting where he wants him, but in the  meantime make yourself at home, it isn't much, but you'll be comfortable... and safe, " David assured her.

        But then the ever looming silence made its presence known again and Alice thought she would rather speak this time to hide just how nervous she was.

      " Is there a way you can keep track of their activities ? " Alice asked, but he only arched an eyebrow, looking confused at her question, and giving her the feeling that she needed to ask a more specific one.

      " I mean...you do keep an eye on them ? right ? " Alice questioned again, hoping this time would be better than the last. It was, his face loosened, and she felt less of an idiot when he finally responded.

      " I don't just keep an eye on them " he said proudly, and pointed two fingers to his eyes and back at Alice, " I keep both eyes " he finished, completing his sentence with a smile, he seemed to like smiling so much. But even his sense of humor wasn't enough, Alice's smile still seemed forced, and plagued with worry.

      " You could come with me if you want " David suggested, completely aware that it would only make things worse if he left her alone, yet the sudden glint in her eyes cut him completely off guard, " that way you can be sure they are okay, and you have got to admit, I am pretty good company, " he finished off proudly, making Alice smile freely at last.

          Other than the fact that he had initially appeared way too young, considering the amount of wealth he had acquired, and also his relationship with top agents like Sunday, he seemed like a pretty interesting guy, but there was hardly time to probe about his achievements when all she could think about was Sunday, she just followed behind David until they finally entered the small room she had been in earlier, and even though this wasn't her first time seeing the gadgets and tech display, it still amazed her non the less.

         " So... do you work with the CSS too, or did you do all these by yourself ? " she questioned, staring at the computers as David moved towards the monitor.

         " Nope, just a simple hacker, with simple needs, he responded, even though Alice could tell it was more than that. He clicked and clacked for a few more seconds, and when he finally stopped, a map with a red dot that kept on blinking appeared on the screen, " there's your boy Sunday, it will only be a matter of time now " David finished off, resting back on his seat as Alice leaned closer to the system, and watched hopefully that things go as planned.

        

                  *                  *                  *

            " Any news on Sunday ? " Paul questioned, his voice steady and commanding, he stood behind an agent working on a computer, they were searching for Sunday, Reuben's disappearance and Sunday's escape had been too coincidental, discovering Reuben's clothes later in the trash had been the line that connected the dots, it was clear that he helped Sunday escape that night, right before they murdered those guards in cold blood.

              The CSS waved off the nosy media, blanketing the incident with convincing lies and fake evidences, the families of the murdered agents had been compensated for the loss of their loved ones, even though nothing could compensate for such a loss, but the agency had its ways, and of course had watered down the probable cause of their deaths like nothing happened.

               Their families deserved to know the truth of course, but that didn't change the fact that they wouldn't get it, information like that was top secret, classified only to the agency, the men knew what they were getting into, working for the CSS was all about sacrifice, to the outside world they were ghosts, nothing like that ever existed, which made it even easier for their grieving families to believe when they had been told it was an accident that claimed the lives of their loved ones.

             " Sacrifice " it echoed again in Paul's head, there had once been a time when Sunday would have sacrificed his life for the agency, back when they were still friends, looking at that memory now,and what happened a few days ago, he would never had believed that Sunday was capable of such betrayal, but if one thing was sure, it was that raw evidence couldn't be questioned and enough of it painted Sunday as a murderer and a traitor, who had to be caught and punished.

             " Sir, sir ! " the voice of the younger agent who sat in front of the computer finally pulled Paul away from his thoughts.

              " Yes, " Paul replied shaking away the distraction, and looked in the direction of the younger agent. 

              " We found him sir, " the young man replied, pointing at the red dot that blinked steadily on the screen in something that looked like a map "  he's at the white baker hotel"

              " You're sure ? "

              " Affirmative sir "

              " Well then... get all the agents ready "

                They planned to flood the hotel before Sunday would even be able to find a way out, he wouldn't escape this time, not if Paul could help it.

              " It could be a trap you know, " a familiar voice echoed, walking towards Paul with confident strides, coming into the light his face became clearer, not that Paul needed to see it, Shola stopped few metres from the two men.

             " What makes you say that " Paul questioned.

             " Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think Sunday would get rid of the tracker you placed on him, only to put it back again "

             " You think he's trying to play us ? " Paul questioned again.

             " Sunday's smart, he won't do this without having a plan b, I say we go prepared just in case. " Shola replied as he tucked both his hands into his pockets, and watched Paul for his next reaction.

            " Sunday might be a traitor but he's not a stranger, " Paul replied, starring back at Shola, and reduced the distance between them in an almost intimidating way, " you on the other hand ... are not very familiar, " Paul said again without shifting his gaze from Shola, who tried not to appear too intimidated " but you are right, he must have a plan up his sleeve, which means we are going to need one of our own. " Paul responded.

           " What do you have in mind ? " Shola questioned.

           " Don't you worry about that... you'll find out soon enough " he responded before walking away.

             As soon as Paul was out of earshot, a devious smirk formed on Shola's face, he brought a coin out of his pocket, and tossed it up, then he watched it drop on the back of his palm, and kept it from falling by pressing his hand against it, as he pulled his hand away, the smirk became even wider, right before he whispered the words...

           " Head's say ..." he hesitated while still looking at the coin, before lifting his head to complete the sentence, " i already know. "