A week later;

It was another day in the department, when Jackson while crossing by Mr. Alvarez's office, stopped by the door as he heard Jacob and Mr. Alvarez squabbling over something. He decided to wait and put his ears into the talk.

Jacob: But, this is not working anyway.

Mr. Alvarez: Jake, you have said enough. Try to put some sense into yourself. You are just perplexed by everything that happened to you. We have a reputation to keep, rules to follow. If anything goes wrong around us, we are accountable.

Jacob: Sir, nothing will go wrong. I can assure you about that. But, if we maintain the same pace, we will find nothing but heaps of merciless crimes happening around us. Sir, this has gone too far. They are coming after our families. This is an indication that we should change our ways, if we have to defeat them.

Jackson pushes open the door and walks inside: I go with him.

Mr. Alvarez(in a bemused tone): Claros! Where did you appear from?

Jackson: Not out of nowhere, I guess. I was walking by, heard the talk, found it to be of my interest and placed my opinions.

Mr. Alvarez: Claros, we are having an exclusive meeting, you can't just walk in.

Jackson: I had to. I had to iron out the situation.

Mr. Alvarez: Jake, Control this smug. (He turned his back towards them)

Jackson leaned his body sideways towards Jacob, who was standing still and whispered in his ears: Damn! He is off rockers.

Jacob turned towards Jackson and glared at him.

Jackson: Mr. Alvarez, if it doesn't fancy you. I suggest you take a back seat into this matter. Your people have gained better expertise.

Mr. Alvarez turned towards him at once: THAT'S NOT YOURS TO DECIDE. I AM THE ONE LEADING HERE.

Jackson: Leading your people to destruction.

Jacob turned towards Jackson with inquiring eyes.

Jackson: The person we are talking about, lends no mercy. This time he has gone too far. I suggest we go back to the drawing board.

Mr. Alvarez: Wow! What about all the sweat we shedded till date?

Jacob: Even if I dread, I go with him.

Jacob agreement to Jackson's suggestion, blowed up Mr. Alvarez's temper as his face turned red.

Mr. Alvarez: I want to say it clearly for the last time. Stay at the limits of your authority. Don't try to cross that mark. Let us do our jobs. I dare you put your ass into our works.

Jackson: Well, I am here trying to forward a helping hand towards you.

Mr. Alvarez: You are breaching our agreement..!!

Jackson: I have more important business to serve than accompanying you, in your mission. So, shove that agreement into your ass, if that leads us nowhere.

Mr. Alvarez: Jackson Claros. Who are you? A mere street gangster, strutting around at MY mercy. If I ever change my mind. You better learn, what I can do to you, young man.

Jackson: Alvarez, I am not standing here to bare with your insults. I never bare with one anyway. I am a man of my principles to respect your age. Else, you would have had a nose bleed by now.

Jacob: WATCH YOUR MOUTH THERE, CLAROS. YOU ARE STANDING INSIDE THE CRIME DEPARTMENT. WE WON'T GIVE A SECOND THOUGHT BEFORE PUTTING YOU BEHIND THE BARS.

Jackson replied in a lower yet composed tone: Shove those puissant compliments in your ass. Don't forget to add a hint of your bogus protocols into it.

Mr. Alvarez: Claros, maybe you still need to get a taste of what I can do.

Jackson: If I am helping you, Alvarez, take this as my kindness. You did not buy me. You never did.

Mr. Alvarez: You are being delusional.

Jackson(smirks): Rather you are.

Mr. Alvarez and Jacob kept their infuriated eyes on Jackson as he stormed out of the room.

Mr. Alvarez: He's gone crazy. HE HAS LOST IT!!

----------------------------------------------------------

Later that day;

Clare: Maddie! Oh my God!

Madeline: You seem to have seen a ghost.

Clare: Shut up! You shouldn't be here at all. You went through shit.

Madeline: But, I am fine now. And, there is no better place than being with you guys, to stop my mind from playing creepy flashbacks.

Clare(Gloomy): I so sorry about everything that happened to you.

Madeline(giggles): Sometimes, life throws dark humour, we can do nothing about it.

Clare: How are you feeling?

Madeline: I am standing in front of you. No?

Clare: I never even dreamt of such an extent. I... I dread imagining about the consequences the unborn child could have faced.

Madeline: I know right. They have went to the extent of taking shots at the families.(sigh) They won't get away with this. This has to end.

Jackson's POV;

It had been a week since the incident, yet the residue was still fresh among the minds. It was four in the evening when, Madeline walked through the door, inside the department. Although, the skin was pale, yet she had a bright grin ornamented to her face. In what other ways can this woman showcase her strength. I walked over confidently towards Madeline.

Jackson: Hey, how do you feel now?

Madeline turned towards him and replied in a cold tone: Better.

Jackson: When did you come back from the hospital?

Madeline: Yesterday.

Jackson: Um. You should be home, taking rest. In that case.

Madeline(sarcastically smiling): I am better than that.

She dashed past him.

As she dashed out of the place, I looked up at Clare as her face reflected a hint of worry, her gaze plunged down. The concern was serious. It kept me thinking. Everyone, working here, has families. Innocent people looking up to them, whom they can't effort to drag into the pitfall. Unfortunately, they are finding themselves getting tangled into the trap. Not that I am close to anyone or have made friends or have started caring separately about them. But, it is about the atrocities, that need to be stopped. The people who have swords hanging above their necks, they don't deserve this. Right now, the situation has already overflown. It has already taken an ugly turn. After forecasting the impending danger, I can't be sitting quietly. My ultimate motive at this moment is to stop him. Even if they refuse to step out of their probity, I won't stop. It's time I lay off manners and step in. It's time I put the final nail in the coffin.