Cleo(trying to build up a courtesy smile which anyway failed to take over that shock in her face): You're lying. Yeah?

Madeline stood their holding the packet containing Jacob's last belonging, up above her waist, supported by two hands. She tried her best, not to burst out crying.

Cleo's eyes widened as she now spoke in a stern tone: ANSWER ME!!

Madeline(trying to sound as normal as she could): Umm.. I am afraid, I am not.(In a quivering voice) He was killed right in front of me.

Cleo held Madeline by her arms and jerked her: What were you doing?

.............................................

1 week since the ambush;

Madeline's POV;

It's been more than seven days since Jake took his last breath. Corvett was dead too and as planned I wrote his death to my bullet, but he took away my brother with him and that's not, what I was prepared for.

Cleo's cry kept ringing in my ears since then. The cry that echoed through every corner of that house, that was once filled with love. Now, announcing a new dimension of a never ending loneliness and her cries, that even the walls would remember. I didn't matter, that she had a big belly, when she collapsed on her knees, wailing and crying her eyes out.

Will and Claire thought it was a good idea to let me hand over his belongings, so that she can get a shoulder to cry on.

It is funny how rudely things change without even looking back at the mess it creates as it goes. One day we decide on celebrating and the next day I mourn upon his absence.

If you ask me. It feels weird. Not to have that name flashing on my screen anymore. Not to have someone to cry on, while you feel lost. It feels weird ,waking up to another usual day but without that only person to call a family. It feels weird to accept, he is no more. He is not coming back and that he is gone for good. And, I have yet another nightmare added to my sleeplessness. Every time, I close my eyes the night and that gunshot creeps in to haunt me. Every damn night.

Here I am lying on the bed like a corpse letting out the last streams of the drained out tears. I have not seen the road outside my house since I shut myself in, after I came from Cleo's after handing over the belongings that belong to her memory. I learnt that Mr. Alvarez has returned but neither did I have the energy to call him nor do I have the energy to visit the department. I don't remember receiving any calls since then. Except for that one call that beeps at every interval.

Madeline(sniffing and putting the phone against the ear): Hey.

Jackson: Hey. You up?

Madeline: Hmm..

Jackson: Did you take your medicines?

Madeline: Hmm..

*Door bell rings*

Jackson:... There is someone at your door.

Madeline: Let it be.

Jackson: Madeline, open the door.

Madeline exhales sharply and drags herself out of the bed and get the door, while rubbing his eyes with one hand and holding the phone in another.

Madeline: Jackson, there's food. Wait! Why?

This man has been taking care of me, even when I denied. Making sure of every bit, to help me get back to my normalcy. He set me a few counseling sessions, to help me deal with the loss. Got me medicines that could help and made sure that I don't deviate off the health chart.

Jackson: I bet you never ate anything. There's your favorite kind of sandwich and a smoothie. I don't know how you would like it, but however bad it may taste I..... bet..... it's....... healthy.

Here, I can almost imagine him shrugging to himself as I couldn't stop myself from letting out a smile. I found a friend in him, someone who made sure I never felt lonely and at the same time, respected every line of my privacy.

Madeline: Jackson, I.. I really appreciate your concern but I am not hungry.

Jackson(in a lower tone): Please! Look, you... you can't keep doing this to yourself.

Madeline: Oh no no.  You are getting it wrong. I am fine. I just don't feel like eating.

Jackson:...Do I look stupid?

Madeline:............

*Phone beeps*

Madeline looks at the screen a message from Mr. Alvarez flashes.

Jackson: Madeline?

Madeline: Mr. Alvarez called me at the department.

Jackson:...are you?

Madeline: He says it's urgent.

Jackson: Do you need me to come over?

Madeline: ........Can you?

He became my new habit. Without which, I would have probably lost my sanity a long back.

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

The car pulled over, near the department. Madeline, kept seated at the window seat and kept staring at the glass door, like a blank shell. As, Jackson placed his hand onto hers, she jolted back to reality and turned her face towards Jackson with widened eyes. Jackson sensed the discomfort.

Jackson: What's wrong?

Madeline took deep breaths and calmed herself down.

Jackson: Are you alright?

Madeline: Hmm.. It just feels weird to be here without Jake. I..I am going in.

Jackson: You can back out, if you want to.

Madeline: No, No. I need to meet Mr. Alvarez.

Jackson: Cool, I will be waiting. Call me if you need anything.

Madeline nodded.

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

Mr. Alvarez's office;

Madeline pushed open the glass door as she found him standing by the table, staring at a letter with a gloomy face.

Madeline(she acknowledges): Mr. Alvarez.

Mr. Alvarez looked up: Madeline.

His voice had a hidden concern for the first time, although he never failed to keep up the poker face.

Mr. Alvarez: Come in. How are you holding up?

Madeline walked in smiling: Like, any normal human being should.

Mr. Alvarez: *sigh* Damn! Jacob and I was a team, indeed. While, I lead the intelligence, he lead the police. He never let confusion, any difference ever come in between. He was a man, indeed. (clearing his throat) Anyways, there are certain things, that I need to tell you, since you are the closest to him.

Madeline: I am all ears.

Mr. Alvarez placed a letter in the table and slipped it towards her: Firstly, I congratulate you for the execution of Corvett. It was brave, indeed and you stayed up to your word. 

Madeline frowned: Thank you. I'm honored. But, what's this?

Mr. Alvarez: Read it.

Madeline picked up the letter and scanned through the lines as Mr. Alvarez walked up to the glass window and stood facing the skyline.

Madeline: They are asking for an answer on why didn't you seek for the special force.

Mr. Alvarez nodded his head still facing away from Madeline: Jake's death made it to the media and it spread all across like wild fire.

Madeline: And why didn't you use the special force?

Mr. Alvarez: The same reason as to why I asked Claros for help. This was a secret mission, Madeline. I couldn't let a propaganda of our strategies. Only few of our trusted men knew about it. I called upon Claros because I wanted him to take charge. Only that is how it would have looked like a gang fight. But, it backfired and took away the most precious asset, we had.

Madeline: There were hostages for heaven sake. There were kids.

Mr. Alvarez: I know. You think, I would have let it slip by? Madeline, try to understand. They are not some roadside robbers or thieves. They are gangsters we are dealing with. If you guys were directly linked with the ambush, your faces would have been all over the news and nevertheless, we cant expect them to not have an alliance. If any of them beyond our knowledge decides to avenge the defeat. *exhales sharply* we would have had no where to go.

Madeline: But, they already avenged the defeat. They killed Jake...right....in front of my eyes.

Mr. Alvarez:I know, I know. I am sorry about that. But, as for the media.

Mr. Alvarez turned towards Madeline and walked up to his table as Madeline kept her eyes on him.

Mr. Alvarez: However sensitive, it might be. We need to fabricate a story. We will say, we...we were  informed by an unknown source about a gang fight and...while we went in to intervene, we found hostages, and Jacob, well he died while rescuing them.

Just then,

Claire: Sir!

Both of them turned around to find Claire standing at the door. Claire's face changed as she found Madeline.

Claire: Sorry, I would come in later.

Mr. Alvarez: No, it's fine.

Claire walks in with head plunged low.

Mr. Alvarez: What is it?

Claire: We succesfully created contact with kins of 8 kids, for two of them, we are still trying to establish any form of contact.

Mr. Alvarez: What do you mean?

Claire: They say they have no one to contact with. Maybe, they have nowhere to go.

Mr. Alvarez: Keep trying. Maybe, they are from faraway places. Maybe, maybe they are still into trauma.

Claire: What if they are telling the truth?

Mr. Alvarez: If we fail to contact anyone,  we should try getting in touch with a children home.

Claire nodded: I got it, sir.

Mr. Alvarez: What about the search operation?

Claire: The search is still on. We believe we can get hold of some of the prisons by the end of the day.

Mr. Alvarez nodded: Thank you.

Claire nodded, shared a last look with Madeline and walked out of the room.

Mr. Alvarez puts his hands inside his pocket and takes a deep breath while plunging his face down.

Mr. Alvarez: Oh! There is something I forgot. I heard you went to Cleo's?

Madeline nodded.

Mr. Alavarez: How is she?

Madeline fixed her eyes on the reflection of the ceiling that fell on the glass top of the table and moved her head in denial.

Mr. Alvarez read her response, leaned towards the table, supporting his upper weight with his hands pressed over the table and held his head low.

Mr. Alvarez(exhaling): I can't even imagine, what she must be going through. The poor lady is pregnant for heaven sake.

Madeline closed her eyes and sniffed. 

Mr. Alvarez: Madeline, how is Claros?

Madeline looked up at Mr. Alvarez, with startled eyes, least expecting such a question.

Mr. Alvarez: I hope he is taking good care of you.

Madeline shoot up at once, and dusted of her blouse.

Madeline: Um. I should get going.

Mr. Alvarez realised that she dodged the question and twitched his lower lip. He looked up at her and nodded. She rushed out of the room and thumped across the cabins until she reached the main door.