Jacob entered the department, to find an noticeable hustle, keeping him standing awestruck at the sudden rush in the place. He scans through the place to find Mr. Alvarez, at a distance, leaning at a computer table, as one of them, scanned his eyes through the computer screen. Mr. Alvarez' face showed desperation and an aggression, to get something within his palm. Jacob took steps towards him.

Jacob entered the department gate and abruptly halted in his place. There was a noticeable hustle in that place as compared to other days. That only happened when there is an emergency. Everyone inside the four walls had their eyes glued to the screen and an impatience in their countenance. He scanned through the room till his eyes fell on Mr. Alvarez standing against the master screen. The desperation in his eyes was clear. Jacob walked towards him, and heard him say,

"We should not be loosing them this time."

Jacob stood behind Mr. Alvarez, keeping his hands at his back.

"Mr. Alvarez?"

The head turned towards him and nodded in dismay, as if answering his silent question.

Clare, who was standing, beside Mr. Alvarez, took the cue, "Apparently, two girls went missing yesterday."

"What?" Jacob frowned.

"Jake, a word in the office." Mr. Alvarez looked over his shoulder and walked towards his chamber.

Jacob obliged and followed him. As, they crossed the boundary of the glass chamber of Mr. Alvarez, he spoke while making his way towards his table, "Jake, the count of missing girls are increasing as days are passing"

Jacob approached and stood on the either side of the table, "That can't be a good thing." thinking to himself for a while, " I want to tell you something, Madeline informed me about a random man, who apparently tried to get her drugged, and the same person, tried the same on Clare, the earlier day.

Mr. Alvarez nodded registering his words, " Increased frequency of such crimes tells me, this isn't a kidnapping out of rivalry or ransome."

" You mean, that there maybe a racket behind it?"

"A racket running for long."

Jacob shifted his gaze towards the clear glass window and his eyebrows creased.

Mr. Alvarez studied through his expressions; pressed both his palm against the table and leaned over, "Rings a bell?"

Jacob looked back at him, "Louder."

Jacob took a few steps forwards and started, "For years, a big racket of human trafficking is being run by the Hawks."

"The Hawks." The head mused.

Mr Alvarez straightened up his position, and walked out of the desk, " We can't always go around searching for missing girls" reaching for the paper weight, "Why don't we cut away the main string?"

Jacob cocked his head, "I...I don't understand."

"We need to get the Hawks down."

"How are you planning to do it?" he arched an eyebrow.

" Take down the leader." stuffing his hands inside his pocket, " Pass the order to track down the leader of the Hawks."

Jacob heaved, "That won't be easy, sir."

" I won't stop, you know it."

"Mr. Alvarez", Jacob raised his hand and waived it in a matter-of-fact manner, "The Hawks, although is a new cartel, holds a stronger reputation among the powerful heads of the country. The congressmen, film stars. Everyone knows, they are criminals, but  their reputation seems to be good in today's date."

"And?"

"We know nothing, about the leader, other than his name. If that is the case, we need to take help from the higher authorities and I doubt, we will receive any kind of cooperation from them."

Mr. Alvarez let out a subtle smile, "Mr. Collins went down."

Jacob took some time, before he said, "Lizzie."

"Nothing is impossible for her."

"This will be a cartel, sir." Jacob remarked with a worried voice.

"We just need the leader."

"He will be under high protection."

"So was Collins."

Jacob pondered his words.

A brief pause sustained, while Mr. Alvarez shuffled his gaze through Jacob before he spoke,  "We won't kill the leader, if that is what you are thinking about."

Jacob looked up at him with questioning eyes.

Mr. Alvarez nodded, "I just want her to have some effect on them. Some fear, that there is someone behind them. I want her to take such steps which can break that gangster to an irreparable limit."

Jacob straightened his back, " I get it, sir."

"And if anything goes wrong. We are still here with her." Mr. Alvarez closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. Taking a brief pause, " Tell her to meet me, tomorrow. We need to implement the plan, before more lives get destroyed. She starts her work as early as possible."

Jacob nodded, "Noted, Sir."

As Jacob turned to leave.

"When it comes to protecting the city, Jake." Mr. Alvarez started making him turn towards the source, "nothing is illegal in my list. I hope you know, what I mean."

Jacob takes in a deep breath and left the place.

Later that day,

"That seems to be the brightest."

Madeline exclaimed pointing at a particular constellation of stars on the night sky, while they both place their back side by side, over a lush green carpet of grass, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, while they enjoyed the chirping sound of the cricket, which was the only sound in the silence of the night, as they kept their eyes fixed on the night sky.

Madeline exclaimed, pointing at a particular constellation of stars on the night sky, while they laid on their backs over the lush green ground on that fine evening. There was a serenity covering the place. Being away from the city, the sound of the traffic was shallow, protecting the silence of the place, occasionally broken by the light rustling of the leaves.

"Hmm.." Rex mused absent minded. 

 "What?"

"You are right."

"It seems the night sky doesn't intrigue you much."

"It does. Just a bit different from yours. While the stars intrigue you, the remaining darkness intrigues me.

Madeline turned towards him and frowned her eyebrows playfully, "That was dark."

Rex smirked at the utter of her words, "You bet."

"You need someone, to turn you from a darkness loving vampire to a human."

Rex broke out into a humorous chuckle. Composing himself he shifted his eyes towards Madeline, "I guess, I know her already."

Madeline eyebrows arched up at his response, "And?"

"I am happy I met her. If only she knew."

Madeline let out a flustered smile, deciphering through his words. 

Rex kept a loving stare locked at her hazel eyes. As much as he knew about her, all he could do was marvel. She isn't timid. She isn't shy. She said her heart out. She laughed out loud. She was not a ball of cotton; soft and tender. She was a diamond; which can cut through the toughest and shine the brightest at the same time. He was left smiling over the fact, how he got so lucky to have ever met her. She, who can be the heat, that can turn you into ashes and also be the apricity to warm up her surroundings in the cold, chilly days.

The next day,

"I heard that you, need me?"

Mr. Alvarez, who was standing facing the glass window, turned his heel, to see Lizzie standing at the either side of his table, "Ah! Good to see you, again dear. It will be a pleasure to have you to work with us, again."

She smiled, " Pleasure is mine, sir. What can I do?"

"Lizzie", clearing his throat,  "I don't doubt your ability. I know there is no one as perfect as you, for the work that I need to be done. Are you ready?

"Depends on what it would be."The assassin replied in a dead voice as always.

Mr. Alvarez smiled at her way of words, "I believe, you will like it."

"What is the gamble?"

"You are chosen for a risky mission. The rules are typical, you win, you stay. you loose, we have nothing to do with you. The odds in this mission........is death. Do you accept?"

Lizzie smirked. Death was not something that could ever scare her. Mr. Alvarez knew it well.

"Who's the target?" Lizzie straightened her back and titled up her chin.

""Who are the targets?" The Hawks. Jackson Claros, leading the gang. The first bounty hangs over his under boss."

A frown took over her smiling face.

Mr. Alvarez read through her questioning look, "I know, you won't kill unless it fulfills your motive. I assure you, it does. The missing cases have aggravated, and we know, this will stop only when, the Hawks gets out of the picture....I believe, you can bring in victory." leaning over the table, "Tell me. Are you in?"

Lizzie meditated for a while as Mr. Alvarez kept waiting for a response. After buying herself a brief moment, she looked up at the head and replied in a determined voice, "I am in."