The constant playing of the Jackson's ringtone and his constant rejection of the same, dragged Jereff's attention from the control room screen. It was the fourth day of their search.

Despite the sadness of loosing a comrade, the Hawks decided to keep their emotions aside and give in the whole of themselves towards finding the killer. Nothing could be a better tribute to a man who died in his duty.

Jackson on the other hand, took it to a whole new level. He closed himself off. Since, Jereff and Jackson's dialogue that night, Jackson refused to do any kind of talking revolving around the situation. He even walked out of the discussions where Cody was discussed. Everyone understood, he was hurting from within.

It was during that phase, Jereff noticed him refusing to have any form of communication with Madeline. Any time the screen flashed "Maddie" his fingers would travel to the reject button.

Jackson was standing behind the people in control of the system, peering through the screen, slowly sipping off his glass of whiskey.

"Take out some time to receive the call, it won't harm." Jereff's voice made him turn towards him. Jereff gestured towards his phone, lying over the couch and Jackson understood, what he meant.

Taking in a deep breath, he warily shook his head in denial.

"You are missing out on something, Jack."

Jackson lowered his eyes and his expression softened. After carefully placing the empty glass over the counter, he sauntered across the room and couched over the egg chair, placed at the corner of the room. 

Jereff walked up to him and towered him, "Why are you doing this?"

Jackson titled his head back towards the rest and lunged, "The more the distance, the safer she is."

"No one's stupid."

"I know. This is just a small try. I can't just stay off guard, knowing that, maybe she is in stake too." shaking his head to himself, "I shouldn't have let her into my mess."

Jereff stuffed his hands inside his pocket and titled his head, "Do you still think, she is unknown to them, till now?"

Jackson kept silent.

"Cody's murder was not planted in a night. You were on the radar the whole time. So was she.

Jackson took a deep breath, "They can't trace her, if we don't stay in contact."

"How can you be so sure?"
"I know, she is the closest to me and the most vulnerable at this moment. Well, at least that's how the big heads will work."

"So you chose to stay hidden?"

"I decided to keep her hidden."

Jereff peered at him.

"I have my way." Jackson replied to his silent question.

"I hope you are not doing anything illegal.

Jackson leaned forward and looked up at him, "Exactly, from which holy hour, did you start caring about being illegal, Jeff?

Jereff, waving his hand in the air, argued, "She is not like us. She is innocent and the worse is, she is unaware of everything. Every crazy doings of yours, as well."

Jackson averted his gaze and shook his head in denial, "Trust me nothing will go wrong. I just want her safe, and I'll do anything it takes, to make it happen."

At the Intelligence department,

"Are you kidding me, Jake!" Mr. Alvarez charged at Jacob, being in his seat, "She used the Z engraved bullets. I told y'all to do that?"

In constrast to Mr. Alvarez's excited countenance, Jacob remained calm, "That's her way." he shrugged.

Mr. Alvarez leaned forward, "Do you even know what that means?"

Jacob thought for a while, "Clearly, Mr. Alvarez."

Mr. Alvarez threw his hands out in the air, stormed up from his chair and stood by the window. Jacob kept seated in his place, placing his fist against his mouth.

"That unfortunately ain't my call." Jacob continued,  "She chose to do it her way. She kept the Z bullets especially for the major hits."

Mr. Alvarez looked over his shoulder, "And you did not bother stopping her. Jake, this time the things are different. Things are insanely tricky."

Jacob leaned forward, "I don't want to stop her.......If that helps her find closure."

Mr. Alvarez turned his heel and leaned at the table, "You guys can't go crazy, in order to find closure, Jacob. I know her state. But, through every such hits, she is challenging a whole. gang. And, you know what? She stands alone on the either side."

Jacob shook his head, "I won't let her alone. Never."

"She will have the first bounty, within the whole team. And, she will be that, one pawn, to reach our team. However, hard you try to avoid. This is the truth."

"Is that what you are scared of?" Jacob argued, "That your department will be at stake. Mr. Alvarez, Maddie will rather die than let anyone pay the cost of their lives for her."

Mr. Alvarez looked down at his reflection on the glass table.

"She hates to run by the rules." Jacob continued in a calm tone, "She cares the least about her life, when it comes to her goal. It won't be very nice on my part, to restrain her."

Mr. Alvarez looked up at Jacob, "You are letting emotions deviate your work, Jake. Which you can't. You guys are being crazy, stupid. And, I can't let you guys get caught and I guess, you know the consequences of such a situation. They are evil."

Jacob slumped over the chair and took a deep breath, "I know my sister. I made her. I witnessed her transformation in five years. She is smarter than, they can ever imagine. She has been the one taking bounty of the underworld men. She is still unknown to many."

"But, that won't....."

Jacob interrupted with a louder voice,  "They have to pass through me, if they want to reach her. And, that won't go easy on them." he stood up, "I am sorry for interrupting. But, we will succeed. We may die, but will die with victory. I assure you."

Mr. Alvarez kept gaping at him, trying to register in his words. After a brief pause, "Tell her to meet me tomorrow. 10 AM SHARP, at my office."

Jacob nodded and turned to leave

I never keep you confined in orders, Jake." Mr. Alvarez started, making him turn stop in his place, "Because I trust you, more than I trust myself. But, I can't let an impulsive decision, pull the team in danger. I am sorry." A crease formed over Jacob's eyebrows. "I want you to destroy those bullets." he added.

Jacob's eyes balled out at his words, "Mr. Alv...."

"That's an order. For you and Madeline as well."

The next day,

Madeline kept a stare locked at the speeding away view from the passenger seat, as she was on her way to Mr. Alvarez's office. She kept frequently checking her phone but kept it back, more frustrated.

Jacob read through her frustration, "What's going on?"

"Rex." She replied not deviating her eyes off the window.

Jacob frowned, "What's wrong with him?"

"I don't know",restlessly clicking her tongue, "he isn't receiving my calls, neither is he replying to my messages."

Jacob chuckled, "Give this boy, time to breath, dear."

"It's been a week."

"And?"

Madeline looked at him, in disbelief, "Jake, I just killed the under boss, of one of the most feared gang and then Rex receives a call, a bad news along with. We are out of contact. This can't be a mere coincidence."

The smile in his face faded, "What's in your mind?"

Madeline shook her head and heaved out a choked sigh, "I don't know...I..I don't even know, whether it was right in my part, to get him into this mess. I don't know, how deep, he is in this sh*t. That day, he suddenly receives a call, and runs off. I don't know were he is after that day. I don't know any fucking thing."

"Does he know about you?"

Madeline's face turned her pale, "The hell do I know."

Jacob gulped in and composed himself, "We are almost there, Maddie. Collect yourself. Mr. Alvarez won't really entertain the worried face."

Madeline closed her eyes and let out a deep breath. "You can count on me. Don't worry." She assured.

The car pulled over near the crime branch after an hour drive.

"I heard you summoned me?"

Mr. Alvarez who sitting on his huge chair, shuffling through the papers, looked up at the source of the voice to find Madeline standing at the door. Jacob by her side.

"It's a pleasure, come in." Mr. Alvarez acknowlegded with a solemn smile and gestured her to take a seat.

Madeline complied.

Mr. Alvarez cleared his throat and leaned forward, "I admire the precision with which you work. I never had a doubt on your capabilities. But....."

Madeline narrowed her eyes,

"Well, " he continued, "I don't know, how you would take it, but we can't loose some one like you from our team. That's where I want to have a talk with you, face to face."

"I did not get you, Sir."

He nodded to himself, "Let me explain." Stretching his palm forward in a matter-of-fact manner, he continued,  "This was your first hit. I believe you are aware, you are not done, just yet. You have several other hits to handle. Am I right?"

"Right, sir." The uncertainty in her voice was clear.

"Madeline." Clearing his throat, "I don't want anymore Z engraved bullets in this mission."

"Pardon me, sir. What?"

"You heard me."

"I can't. Maybe this is the only way, to reach the final target. I can't stop using those bullets, sir."

"I respect your sentiments. But, it makes it easier for them to trace you. And that puts the whole team on stake."

"If I say, I want them to know, it's me? If I say, I hate to fight with a shield?" She argued pulling him in an awe.

"That is. Selfish."

"You know I won't let them reach the team. But, If that still bothers you, I'd rather work alone, Sir"

Mr. Alvarez keeps staring at her, as she sternly kept waiting for a reply.

Mr. Alvarez started in a calm voice, "That is mine to choose." There was an annoyance in his voice,  "What I say, is the ,final word around here, Ms Parc. Unfortunately, this was an order. And, under my works, you are ought to go by my rules."

She clenched her jaw in an attempt to contain her frustration as she kept glaring at Mr. Alvarez silently.

"I hope I am loud and clear, Ms Parc." He continued, "If not, I won't give a second thought in seizing your weapons...Now that's your call."

Madeline snapped at Jacob to meet with a concerned look in his face.

Madeline thought for a while and looked back at the boss, "We will destroy the engraved bullets, if that suits you. But, I still want one last. And, that will be for my final hit. If you are fine with that. I'll continue with the team."

Mr. Alvarez studied through her expressions and realised, she was not someone who can trapped in rules. At the same time, there was no one as determined and focused as she was. He was left with no other choice.

"Deal..!"

MADELINE'S POV

Learning to fight, was my need. But, holding a gun, was my choice.This is the real me. Not just a girl shattered by fate. But a sniper, driven by revenge. I kill. Not, because I love to, but to tame my rage. The screams doesn't scare me anymore. The scattered blood doesn't scare me anymore. Maybe, that tags me a merciless beast. I don't care . I want to see those people suffer, who mocked at my sufferings. And, the day, my bullet hits them that will be the last day, I hold my gun. Till then, I'll keep fighting till the last sign of such crimes vapours out of the city or the last day of my life. Well, whichever happens earlier.

I, Madeline Parc, Daughter of a Martyred Marshall. A school drop out. A forced runaway. Enslaved, and whose innocence was ripped away from her. But, the days, are long gone, when tears accompanied these words. I gave birth to a new me, a fearless shadow, holding a gun. Lizzie. that's me. An sniper, a killer, sometimes a seductress. I am trained to lie without a blink. I am trained to keep fighting as I burn down with pain. And, never to miss, what defines my existence. All the bullets that runs at the command, is not just a hit, It is a supplement to my rage, my revenge, and yeah, that's why I, exist.