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Chapter 5

Callista

She needed to get away fast, she thought as she sped away from Blake.

"Calla!" He called out to her, trying to catch up to her but she evaded him, dashing between groups of people in the area. "Wait!" He kept pursuing her.

She broke free of the crowds and practically flew through the automatic sliding doors to the entrance of the airport. "Taxi!" She shouted over the bustle, hailing down a cab that thankfully stopped in front of her on time.

She thanked her lucky stars as she quickly jumped in, shoving her luggage next to her before slamming the door behind her.

"The Santos Botanical Garden." She gasped in stress as she watched Blake push past people and come closer and closer to her. "And step on it."

With that, she sped through the streets leaving Blake in the dust.

***

"Thanks." She said to the driver once he had dropped her off at her destination. She had paid him extra to speed through traffic lights to get here as soon as possible. With Blake chasing her, she needed any leads she could find soon and this shop had within its confines a man you can consider to be all-knowing in these parts of Ireland.

The driver merely grunted, taking the money before driving away. She turned towards the building. It was a small space, filled with plants surrounding the main structure that was not unlike that of a greenhouse what with its dome-shaped top and glass windows encasing it as a whole.

She walked forward, opening the door that made a small tinkling sound from a bell that announced her arrival.

"Heya! What can I do for you today?" A woman in her early 30s said enthusiastically, her accent think in the words she spoke. "We have bonsais, daffodils, sunflowers, you name it. Need it for a special someone?" She asked, raising her eyebrows in suggestion.

"Hi." She smiled at the woman despite her exhaustion. She could tell she genuinely loved her job and had an interest in plants. "No, I won't be needing any flowers right now but I might take you up on it later on." For the funeral she's planning for Paris when she finally finds him-- alive-- and kills him herself.

"What's your name?" She asked the woman.

"The name's Roisin Day." She said, holding a hand out to her to shake. "And what might yours be?"

"You can call me Emilia." She said, smiling at her. She didn't go around telling everyone what her name was, Callista that would just make it easier to track her down. Her second name was Emilia, though not everyone knew that so technically it wasn't a lie.

"Fine name you have." Roisin said. "Mine's so typical. And Day as a last name, Lord bless me. I'm just glad my future children are getting my husband's, Santos is an excellent name."

"Oh." Calla said in surprise. She didn't know Santos had a wife. He keeps his life more hidden than she thought. "Is Mr. Santos here, by any chance?"

"Aye he's here out back, hopefully he isn't fluthered." She grumbled.

"Fluthered?" Calla asked, not familiar with the term.

"It means drunk off his arse." Roisin said. "My husband fancies himself a wine enthusiast. Horrible liar, that one. He clearly only uses it to keep buying all those drinks from that place out on Henry Street."

Calla only bit her lip, watching as the woman complained about her husband yet it was obvious from the way she spoke of him that she was quite fond of him. "Would it be all right if I spoke to him?"

"Sure dearie, he's right through here." Roisin said, beckoning her to follow as she walked to the back of the store and out the door.

There, she led her through a small corridor before emerging to an area still filled to the brim with plants, although the space was much more airy. It felt as if she had stepped onto a rooftop garden what with the cool breeze and assortment of patio furniture here and there.

Reclined on one of the patio chairs, was a man in his mid to late 30s, looking like he was having the time of his life as he sat back and napped under the sun.

"Manuel." Roisin called to the man, making his eyes pop open in surprise. The man sat up so fast that he bumped his head on the overhead umbrella's stand, making him groan in pain.

"Baby, I swear, I wasn't day drinking." The man said quickly, raising his hands in surrender as he eyed her.

Roisin merely rolled her eyes. "I know you aren't you drunkard, I threw out your stash, remember?"

"Oh, yes you did, of course baby." The man nodded eagerly, agreeing with his wife.

Calla let out a small chuckle as the two continued to banter. She could hardly believe that this man who is clearly so besotted and in love with his wife, is a ring leader for information highly sought after in this country.

"Anyway," Roisin continued. "There's an Emilia here to see you." She said, gesturing to her. "I have no idea who she is, but she seems like a nice girl so be nice." Roisin said staring him down before ruffling the man's hair in an affectionate gesture

"Be sure to say goodbye before you go about your day dearie." She said, turning to her as well and squeezing her arm in a motherly manner, a gesture she wholly appreciated since having to grow up quickly without one, before leaving the two of them alone.

"Emilia?" Mr. Santos said, making her attention come back to him. "I don't know about you, but you don't look like an Emilia to me, probably a Callista if I were to venture a guess." The man said with a small smirk as she stiffened.

"Your reputation precedes you, Mr. Santos." Calla only said.

He shrugged. "Call me Manuel, and please, sit." He gestured to a reclining chair not too far from him.

She walked and sat down, settling her bags next to her before turning back to him.

"You look just like him." He said out of the blue, making her snap to attention.

"Who?" She asked, anxiously holding onto her scarf that covered the bottom half of her face. "You can barely see my face."

"Paris Drakos."

She merely stared at him, not reacting. "Pray tell, how does this Paris Drakos look?"

"Hmm..." Manuel pondered for a few seconds, intentionally vexing her but she did not give him the satisfaction of knowing. "Tall, handsome, platinum hair." He finally said. "Oh, and let's not forget those gold eyes of his. I feel such a strong sense of de ja vu as I look into yours."

"You could only be his twin sister. I've heard some great things about you, Callista Drakos." He said in a stern voice, all the amusement and love that once shined in his eyes only a few moments ago when his wife was here, gone.

He leaned down underneath his recliner before coming back up with a bottle of expensive-looking whiskey. She couldn't help but find the whole situation comical; the two of them having such a serious conversation, in the middle of a backyard garden sitting on patio furniture while he drank liquor that his wife had earlier claimed to have all thrown out.

"You say my reputation precedes me when really, it is your reputation that precedes you, Ms. Drakos." He said, taking a out two glasses from behind him. "I've heard of your exploits in different areas of the world. I must commend your work, all quite fascinating."

"Thank you." She said in a flat tone. "Knowing all of that, I assume you know why I am here then?"

Manuel shrugged, pouring whiskey into both glasses. "Perhaps." He said. "Drink?"

Calla shook her head.

"You sure? You look like you could use it." He asked, holding a glass towards her. "It's not poisoned if that's what you're thinking." He added, rolling his eyes.

"Even if that is our expertise, it gets quite boring. And messy." He chortled at her unamused look.

"Thank you, I guess?" She said, finding some humor in their conversation as she took the drink.

She downed it in one go, the familiar thrum of alcohol flowing through her veins, letting her relax instantly. He was right, she was sorely in need of that drink.

"Another?" Santos asked, having finished his own drink and is now pouring himself another.

"Please."

Once the two settled, cradling their drinks, it was time to address the elephant in the room.

"What did my brother want, Manuel?" Calla asked somberly. She missed her brother.

"The same thing that everyone wants." He said, staring at the contents of his glass as he held it up in the light. "Information."

"Knowledge is a powerful thing in our world. And not one that comes to others cheap." He hinted, raising an eyebrow at her.

Calla rolled her eyes. In one of her bags, she fished out a small zip-lock bag filled with numerous hundred dollar bills rolled together in tens. There were three rolls in it.

She passed the zip-lock to him for his inspection. "That's quite a sum there. I hope I'm paying for the quality your reputation boasts."

"Quite a sum indeed." Manuel agreed, zipping it back up once he was done. "Of course you are buying the finest of what your ears crave to hear." He assured her. "I clearly dealt with the wrong sibling, you're far more generous with your funds."

She didn't deign to give his remark a reply. "Why did Paris come here?"

"He was asking information about a mechanic, someone with particular expertise in handling bombs with unorthodox equipment." He said, putting her at ease. Finally, she was getting some answers.

"He also asked about a Cassandra Diaz." He added, making her furrow her eyebrows. Why would Paris be asking about their director?

"What information did you give him?"

"I told him what I knew." He shrugged. "There's a man a few cities over who made the papers a few weeks ago for causing a small explosion in his parent's garage; he made water explode, or something along those lines."

"As for Cassandra, there's not much I can tell other than she's from Mexico and that she is an expert at keeping her life private, even for someone like me." He mused.

"Is that all?" She confirmed.

He nodded. "That's all."

Calla nodded. "Do you know where Paris went, his whereabouts, what he did while he was here in Belfast?"

Manuel shook his head in apology. "I don't keep tabs too closely. You can try another contact, he's a friend of mine and sells the best liquor you can ask for." He vouched, raising his bottle of whiskey.

"Where can I find him?" She asked.

"About an hour away from here at a bar on Henry street called Lexington." He said. "Ask for Patrick. However, the bar doesn't open till 8PM so I suggest you make yourself at home wherever you're sleeping for the duration of your stay." He added.

Calla nodded her thanks. "Thank you. I will leave you to your devices, I'm sorry for interrupting your day."

"The interruption has been paid in full." Manuel said, gesturing to the bag of money. "I wish you luck, Ms. Drakos. Don't forget to pass by the wife on the way out."

"I will." She said, beginning her trek through the garden back to the main part of the building. She was halfway there when Manuel stopped.

"And my condolences, Ms. Drakos." He said despondently, making her still. "I hope you find what you're looking for."

She just kept walking.

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