"JACKSON! JACKSON!"

Jackson raised his head from the table, with swollen eyes, from a deep nap, sitting tired on the chair inside Mr. Alavarez' Cabin. He squeezed his eyes as he turned around to see the bright morning sun hitting right his face, through the glass window of the skyscraper.

Mr. Alvarez stood right by his chair, hands crossed across his chest, in his signature three piece suit, fresh enough in comparison to Jackson.

He spoke in a stern voice: This is not where you should sleep.

Jackson yawned as he spoke: I can't help, because someone decided to summon me even before the sun completed it's yawn, as it rose.

Mr. Alvarez: Funny. But, it is nine. Not really the kind of sky you are explaining.

Jackson rolled his eyes: Whatever.

Mr. Alvarez observed him, as walked up to his chair, and sat in it, leaving his full weight on the huge chair structure, he adjusted his cuff as he spoke: Rule 1, I am the king of this place. You are not. So, don't roll your eyes on me.

Jackson: Do you have any productive business to do, this early in the morning, rather than explaining me your Rule Book?

Mr. Alvarez: It is important, Jackson. Before, your actions push my buttons, and you don't get the privilege to walk out of this room, in one piece.

Jackson chuckled: Is that a threat?

Mr. Alvarez: Depends on, how you take it. Now, let's get to business, shall we?

"SIR!"

Jackson turns towards the door, to find Jacob standing at the door, slightly amused not expecting a new guest in the meeting. Jacob glared at Jackson, as Jackson held rather a calm expression.

Mr. Alvarez sensed the tension, and stood up: Thompson.

Jacob snapped: What is he doing here?

Mr. Alvarez: Easy there, Officer. Come in.

Jacob adjusted his jacket, as Jackson stood up from his chair, keeping his eyes fixed on Jacob, holding a relaxed face. Jacob entered the office, sharing constant stare with Jackson holding the rage in his eyes intact. As, he walked up and stood by the table, hands held back, Mr. Alvarez spoke up.

Mr. Alvarez: Where is Madeline?

Jacob looked up, at Mr. Alvarez, giving a questioning look: She....will be here any minute, now.

Just then, the door behind them opens.

Mr. Alvarez: Madeline, about time.

Jackson heard the name, and this time, he did not turn back. He kept standing where he was. As, Madeline walked closer, he gulped. She walked up and stood near Jacob. She looked up towards Jacob, as he turned around and gave her an assuring nod.

Mr. Alvarez: As all of you are here, it is time, we start. Before that, let me acknowledge you with the fact that, as Jackson is crucial for this mission, he will be present in our meetings, starting from today?

Jacob: But..

Mr. Alvarez interrupted: No questions asked.

Few Hours Later;

Jackson tapped the phone on the glass table with a relatively tougher sound, as he ran his hand through his hair, and supported both his palm on his head, bowing his head down. Just then, he saw a coffee cup, placed in front of him, from the corner of his eye. He looked up to see Madeline, standing in front of him, with her own coffee cup, in a black knee length skirt and a white shirt to complement her tone  head held straight, but keeping her eyes down on him.

Jackson: What are you doing here?

Madeline replied in a calm tone: Nothing. Your coffee was on the queue.

Jackson looked to the coffee, and took a deep breath. He said bluntly,"Thank you."

Madeline: Wow, that was blunt.

Jackson: What do you expect?

Madeline: Do you really want to know, what I expect?

Jackson looked up at Madeline, as she took the seat facing Jackson, at the either side of the same table. Madeline brushed her skirt and comforted herself and leaned towards the table. Jackson creased his eyebrows.

Madeline continued: Answers.

Jackson: Really? And, here I am amused, how after everything you have done, still holding that ego of yours before me?

Madeline: Care to explain.

Jackson: I hardly guess, you are dumb.

Madeline: Look, I don't have the time, to solve your riddles, but before everything I would like to say.....(sigh) keeping everything aside, Sarah..

Jackson: Save it.

Madeline: What?

Jackson: I don't even want you to take her name with that mouth of yours.

Jackson spoke that words, and raised up his seat in a haste to leave, when Madeline stood up from her seat and spoke.

Madeline: I never knew, everything we had, none of them were real.

Jackson froze in his place.

Madeline continued: I'm confused. Did you really despise me, from the start? Was all the moments we had, just a trick? I don't even know what is real, anymore. Was Rex just...

Jackson turned his heel and stormed towards her and stood with his face real close to her, with his eyes now burning with rage. Madeline stopped as he acted.

Jackson spoke biting his teeth, with his voice quivering with anger, as he spoke making sure, his words are audible only to her: Stop trying to mess up, with my brain. And, don't utter that stupid name, again. Rex, never existed. And, kindly don't come near me, ever.

Madeline: I just want the answers.

Jackson: You don't deserve any.

Madeline did not utter any further, and Jackson turned his heel and walked out of the room as Madeline kept standing where she was.

Days passed, as the newly built operation was getting framed in it's full swing. As, each individual involved with the operation got more engrossed in their own assigned duties. The schedules got tighter. Shifts became longer, Meeting turned longer and stings increased in numbers. Madeline on the other hand, tried to have a proper talk with Jackson but he kept avoiding her for days, till now.

Mr. Alvarez: Isn't this the club which was struck in a scandal lately?

Jacob: That is. But, they came out in clean hands.

Mr. Alvarez kept his finger on the picture of a club and his other hand inside his pocket, as he was in a meeting at the afternoon hours of a day with Jacob, Madeline and Jackson who stood straight, surrounding him.

Mr. Alvarez: What....made that happen?

Jacob: No clue. Apparently the club doesn't fall under our jurisdiction, and the department handling the calls.....refused to share the intel.

Mr. Alvarez nodded his head in an simplifying manner still keeping his head bowed down, scanning through the image: Because, he is clearly giving them a cover. But, if that's the case...

Mr. Alvarez looked up at Jacob:...This won't lead us anywhere. We can't crash into a place not falling within our files. We need a warrant for that, which won't be easy. Then again, even if we somehow get a warrant, if the chief wakes up to his role. This may get bad.

Jackson: You can obviously pull some strings. You are the lion in this den, afterall.

Jacob: Nobody asked you for a suggestion, Claros.

Jackson: Yeah, right. Nobody did. What am I here? A dummy!

Mr. Alvarez: If you guys done with wrath missiles. Can we get back to where we were?

Jackson and Jacob shared a glare, as Mr. Alvarez continued: We do anything, but somehow we need to get to that club.

Madeline: How....about we go undercover?

Jacob: How? You go in there and get some drinks? Ask questions? Maddie, they ain't gonna buy it.

Madeline: Why? (she shifted her gaze sarcastically towards Jackson) I'm sure some people are there, who can handle similar situations like a pro.

Jackson rolled his eyes at her, learning that it was meant for him.

Mr. Alvarez: Okay, I guess I myself should have a talk with the chief and try to convince him, emphasizing on the current scenario.

Madeline: But, if he is in favour of the cartel. Our covers can get blowed. And, who knows? lives may fall in stake.

Mr. Alvarez: I think you are right. But, we can't effort to loose such a chance. If this is the situation, Bang in.

Jacob: Bang in?

Mr. Alvarez: Perform an ambush. I'll handle the rest.

Jacob: But,...there will be civilians inside.

Jackson: I guess, I go with, Alvarez.

Jacob: You never cared for innocent lives, anyway.

Jackson: For beginners, that's not how things work for us. Secondly, there is definitely a time when the club is vacant.

Mr. Alvarez: That will be a short hour.

Jackson: And a "happy hour."