Thirty-three - Password?
"Good, we are all here." Nathaniel faced the uniformed man whose smirk almost grew as he and Chloe made eye contact. "Now, can you particularly say why you are here?"
"In due time Mr. Stone." Markings nudged towards Chloe who had found her stance between Amir and Nathaniel and said, "Is she your maid?"
"What is your business if she is? Mind what you are here for and tell us your damn business," Amir retorted.
"Mr. Cook. No need to be so defensive. It is quite obvious that she is anyway. Boys," he beckoned to the eight men in SWAT like uniform with helmet on their heads. As they came closer he started. "We are an Agency that deals with special crimes and we have a search warrant to search every corner of this house."
"For the shipment?" Gabriel snickered.
"Bingo." Chloe could tell he wasn't going to limit how crazy he could be. "Now, all we want is your cooperation. In a matter of hours, we should be done." Then he chuckled loudly. "That is if we don't find anything."
Nathaniel grunted where he was, then asked, "Can we see this warrant you have?"
"Why not?" A nauseating smile on his face, he reached for his left pocket and brought out a neatly folded paper. "There, enjoy reading. If you are found guilty today, it might be the last time you get to read anything. So-"
Nathaniel glared at him. He kept shut. Going back to read the paper, Nathaniel gave a loud exhale. Chloe hoped that wasn't because they all had something incriminating in the glass room.
Watching Nathaniel who extended the paper to Markings, she began to imagine the worst and it was not a good sight.
"Well... Mr. Agency-"
"Please call me Wood."
Chloe's brows quirked as her arms folded. His full name was Wood Markings? How original.
"Sure. Listen, normally we would need to contact our lawyer but we are little too busy so go ahead and search for whatever."
"You are such a gentleman," Markings gave him a mock smile and ordered the men to start their search from the room around.
Chloe at least appreciated that he wasn't reckless enough to head for the basement first.
"Don't leave anything unsearched!" he ordered from where he was.
"I thought he came for the shipment," Amir said.
"Let's just see how this turns out," Nathaniel replied, his eyes trained particularly on the annoying man.
"How did they even find out about the shipment? I thought it was discrete," Gabriel butted in.
Chloe sighed. It was closing in. The moment she would get revealed was so close.
"Oh you know how loose some people can be with information. Have you found anything yet?" Nathaniel asked Markings who had just come back from the entrance of the conversation room.
"In due time Mr. Stone. Or are you eager to get arrested? Do you like the idea of jail?"
"Please don't waste my time."
"Certainly." Markings arms came up in surrender. "I am made to believe that you have a basement."
"Doesn't everyone have one?"
"Well, let's head down there."
"All of us?" Amir asked.
"Yes, do you have a problem with that?"
"You had better be careful Wood, don't test our patience," Gabriel warned with a tone Chloe wasn't familiar with.
Resisting the urge to nibble on her thumb, her eyes went to Agent Markings who just gave a small sarcastic smile before calling his men together.
Finally, as they all made their way to the basement, Chloe spoke, "Is there something in this shipment that could get you guys arrested?"
"Trust me Chloe..." Nathaniel found her back as he came to her side. "There is nothing to be worried about."
'I wish.' Chloe thought as they moved even closer.
"Sweet layer," Markings commented as they found the basement within minutes.
"Just search for whatever you are looking for."
"Okay Mr. Cook. Boys..." He gathered them and gave them orders quietly. As soon as they dispersed, Markings faced the standing four. "I couldn't help but notice the chemistry between you two earlier."
Chloe and Nathaniel shared a look.
Markings moved closer, towards Chloe. The men adjusted as though ready to pounce on him if he took a wrong step.
"Mr. Stone, I never took you to be such a player. Having fun with your maid is something, isn't it?"
Nathaniel gritted his teeth, his head tilting slightly. "What Chloe does in this house is none of your business."
"So, she is your maid." Chloe frowned at him. What stupid game was he playing? "I won't be surprised if all of you get to have a taste of her, she is pretty."
Suddenly, his hand gripped her hard at the chin, the men shifted and surronded him, fury in their eyes. Chloe fought his hold, but it was too strong.
"Wood, let go." Gabriel was not looking so cute.
"But I am trying to see how pretty she is. I-" His words were cut short by a quick hit around his neck that sort of paralyzed him.
"You just crossed your line Wood. At this rate, I will have to call the cops," Nathaniel said as he reached for Chloe. Rubbing her chin gently, his eyes worried, he asked, "Are you fine?"
Chloe nodded, her chest beat multiplying because of his little action.
"Sir. We have found it."
Grabing his hurt area, Markings turned and grinned, "It is show time."
Ahead was the discovery Chloe made the previous night and its contents were about to be revealed.
And as pointed out in her head severally, whatever was in those boxes could change things.
"Well gentlemen, let's check what is in those boxes, no?" Markings sure was having the time of his life. Chloe whose waist was being held by Nathaniel felt her heart pound even harder.
"We will need a password sir," one of the men notified him as the screen on the glass came alive.
"Well?" Markings asked the men who were silently watching. "What is the password?"
"Password?" Amir said.
"Yes, the password."
"Password?!" Gabriel grunted.
"For heaven sake, I need the password." Markings was started to get frustrated.
"Moron, the password is 'password?' with a question mark behind." Amir shook his head.
Clicking his tongue most probably feeling a bit stupid, Marking turned towards his men and nodded.
Soon, a click followed and as the glass fell open, Markings said again, this time his voice dragging the sentence, "It is show time."
