It was early in the morning when the window seal was covered by a layer of mist. Everyone gathered over the canteen to have a sip of hot beverages for the relatively colder morning, assembling in small groups.

Jackson exhaled and walked over and pulled himself a chair beside Madeline who chose to get herself a room at the corner of the hall, away from any kind of interaction. She kept her stare towards the floor as she slowly sipped through the coffee mug she held by both her hands.

Jackson turned towards her and took a brief moment to study her and turned his eyes back towards the small assemblies.

Jackson: It seems fall has already kicked in.

He waited for a reply but Madeline did not respond.

Jackson turned his face towards her: Are you alright?

Madeline: Mhm! I am. Even after the fact that I have yet another judgemental eye over me.

Jackson creased his eyebrows: I am not judging you.

Madeline scoffs.

Jackson(placing his palm over hers): I swear!

Madeline(looking up towards him and smiling): Take a chill pill. It never bothered me.

Jackson(Smiling): Well, good to know.

Madeline: See, Um... I am sorry for pulling you into my mess.

Jackson: It's fine. You just gave me a new perspective.

Madeline: About me?

Jackson: Yeah! Look, I have no intention of pitying you, you are stronger than this, but you have placed an even more stronger picture in front of my eyes.

Madeline(laughing): I don't have a reply to this.

Jackson: If you want me to tell the truth, I expected a different story out of your past.

Madeline(sipping her coffee and lifting her eyebrows): How?

Jackson: You are tougher?

Madeline: Well, everything has a point zero.

Jackson: True that.

A brief silence followed, as both of them silently sipped through their coffee.

After a while,
Jackson: So, you were 19 when you killed someone.

Madeline carefully placed the coffee mug on the table and smiling: Seems so!

Jackson took a look into her face and asked: I...would, um, would you mind if I ask you...

Suddenly, Madeline receives a call and that interrupts Jackson as he twitches his lower lips concealing his frustration and looked away. Madeline finishes the call and looks up towards Jackson.

Madeline: There's a meeting with Jake. Let's go.

Jackson nodded his head and both left.

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

After a while, every gathered inside Jacob's cabin maintaining a attention position.

Jacob: I hope the task which I flagged off is worked out with due sincerity

Police: It is, Sir.

Jacob: What is the progress?

Police nodded his head and slipped forward a file on Jacob's desk.

Police: Sir, 96 locations has been raided. All throughout we found artifacts.

Jacob: Artifacts?

Police: That's right, Sir. And they seem stolen. High priced artifacts, if we put all of them into valuation, maybe it can feed world's homeless population.

Jacob: That's huge. What about the hostages? Any traces?

Police: No, Sir. I'm afraid, we could find no traces of the hostages.

Jacob bowed down his head and heaved heavily.

Police: We are sorry.

Jacob: There is nothing you should be sorry about. The findings that you have presented is commendable. I'm just concerned about the girls' wellbeing.

"Jake!!"

Will comes running through the corridor, pulling everyone's questioning eyes towards him.

Jacob: Will! You are late!

Will(panting): It is never late for a good news to ring the bell.

Jacob: Why the hell are panting so heavy?

Will: I couldn't stop myself.

Jacob: What is that?

Will walked in and placed a file in front of Jacob.

Will: This is the location of a phone booth situated at a remote location. And, there's this phone call that happened 30 minutes ago. It said, " The marry go round has been repaired, now it is ready for children to play. It would be nice, if you could check them yourself."

Jacob furrowed his eyebrows while Jackson scratched his chin while scanning his eyes on the floor.

Jacob: How does that relate?

Will: Two things. There was two voices but the location of the either voice is jammed. The second point, the location of the phone booth is closer to the docks.

Jacob's jaw dropped as he plained out his eyebrows.

Jacob: Could you recognize the other voice?

Will: We are trying to figure that out. I believe that can help us reach the real kingpin. If our speculations turn out positive. That is the start to an end.

Jackson: I would like to hear that voice.

Jacob turned towards Jackson: Rings a bell?

Jackson: Loud as it ever could. The metaphor of a children park. That seems familiar. Just an observation, they are calling someone to check. That's none other than Corvett.

Jacob: Would you bet on that?

Jackson: If I recognize that voice, then yes. I can.

-------------------------------------------------
Inside the server room, Jackson carefully listened the voices through a headphone repeatedly as Will, Madeline and Jacob waited near him, all with their hands crossed across their chest. After a while, Jackson put down the headphone with a smile in his face, and everyone waited for a reply.

Jacob: What's with that smile?

Jackson: I am not smiling without a reason, you know that.

Jacob: What did you exactly decipher out of it?

Jackson: The assumptions were correct. The other voice is no one other than Corvett. And, that's not the only thing that I deciphered. Let's just say, with a prompt plan, we get the pawn and the king together.

Jacob: What?!!How?

Jackson: They are shifting hostages. Either for trading or for shifting locations and Corvett will be present at the site, as well.

Jacob: How about we attack?

Will: What? Jake, that's a short span. We need a proper plan and resources accordingly. And nevertheless to mention, the hostages will also be present. What if something goes and someone gets hurts?

Madeline: But, there is no better time, than this. If the hostages are to be taken, I believe a considerable number of his men will be present. And, Corvett. He never goes anywhere without his best men.

Will: But, we will have to chalk out a full proof plan and if there are a considerable number of people, we need to out number them as well.

Jackson: Thompsons, if situations like this, Hawks never failed anyone.

Jacob turned towards Jackson:...You are asking for inclusion of your men into this mission?

Jackson spoke in a stern voice: I wasn't really asking.

Jacob exhaled deeply: Will your men comply?

Jackson: Ain't I the boss?

Will and Madeline turned towards Jacob. After a brief silence.

Jacob: We will need to work this out together.

Will: But, Jake...

Jacob: Just this one task. After that, this alliance dissolves.

Jackson:...for good. Yeah!

Jacob nods his head in affirmation.

Jacob: You let your men reach the department at...

Jackson:... not the department

Jacob: We need a place to plan.

Jackson: I know, we do. But, that won't be here, in this department. My men's safety lies at my hands, at the end of the day.

Jacob: No one is going to harm your men.

Jackson: Let's just say, that's a rule, we follow. There is a place at the south of the city, remains empty for most of the time. We do it there.

Jacob: But,...

Jackson: Throughout the mission, Thompsons, I respected your line. I anticipate the same for mine as well.

Jacob turned his gaze towards Madeline and back towards Jackson:....... Tomorrow at 10.

Jackson nodded his head.