Dangerous Entanglement

episode 58

/HANNAH’S POV/

“I hope she doesn’t get herself killed too…” I heard someone whispered as I finally walked out of the conference room.

“Who cares if she does…?” was the comment the other person gave to that wish.

‘WHAT DA f**k!!!’ I muttered softly, am I that bad as an individual or I have just gown to have haters due to my circumstances I found myself in.

“Hannah…” I heard my name being called as I was almost at my own cubicle.

“Can I have a word with you…?” it was Douglas, I walked into his office expecting him to discuss about the new case especially dashing out advices with regards to me being very careful and not try to be a hero because if I should die, I will simply be replaced by another agent just like I have been chosen to replace Dorothy.

“You father called me a moment ago, just after I left conference room…” he jumped right straight into it without any delays as he walked around the mahogany table covered with foam stuffed leather in a  decorated pattern.

“He wasn’t at all happy with the fact that you are taking over Dorothy’s case…” he continued stopping right before the seat looking me directly with a stone face.

“Now if he had called me even a second before I make the declarations, I wouldn’t have handed that case to you…” he added as unhooked the belly button of his suit.

“But well he didn’t and things are now in place the way we now have them.” He concluded and too a long pause just staring at me. I was already eager for him finish his speech and dismiss me, man the anxiety of diving into this case is already killing me and he is here discussing with me what just discussed with my father just a few minutes ago.

“Now Hannah…. The question his…” he finally said after the pause, I guess he was expecting a response or reaction from me after what he had said, but I didn’t give him any. Hence the need for him to want to ask me a question.

“Considering the obvious fact that this case has turned out to record fatality already, do you still want to take on the case.” The question didn’t come has a surprise, though I wondered why he was asking me after mentioning that he had spoken with my father.

“Did my father asked you to take the case from me again…?” I didn’t really think that though before asking the question.

“No, he didn’t…” was the instant response Douglas gave me.

“Though he wanted to, but I had to explain to him that you have already being announced to take on the job….” He quickly followed up his response.

“He was not pleased with me, for not running it through him first before I came to a conclusion.” That statement really pissed me off.

‘Why will he want to control my entire career life, that’s not in any way helping me’ I thought to myself as I kept mute listening to all Douglas had to say.

“Irrespective of the fact that you father has always decided what you get and when, I acted purely professional as you superior today and that is why I passed the case unto you.” He mentioned.

“But I care about you like a daughter, and that is why I am personally asking you if you really want to do this case…” he finally concluded and this time I was ready to give him a reply to end the questioning and speech so I can leave that office real quick.

“With due respect sir, I have always been treated with preference in this division, which has become too obvious to everyone else making me a central of malice and hate amongst my colleagues. I will like to request that you stop that preferential treatment and act just accordingly except in special cases…” I began to voice out my own opinion, making sure I choose my words perfectly not to sound rude at any point.

“And with regards to the case, I will really like to work on it. First of all, due to the fact that it has already been publicly announced and declared earlier today and it will be a scandal upon my name fuelling the already existing unfair treatment I am getting from my colleagues. Then secondly I have gone through the case file and I must say I have found some facts in there that really interest me in the case and ii will really appreciate that you let me work on the case.” I concluded pointing out.

“Okay then, since you insist on taking on the case, that will be all…” he said as it seems the speech was over and he was dismissing me already.

“Thank you sir…” I said in a haste as I turn to leave.

“Hannah…” he called out stopping me right before I make the move to leave.

“Please be careful and don’t try to be a hero, put your safety first…” he finally said those words I had expected to be what this meeting will basically be about. I nodded my head in affirmation to his advice and stepped out of his office.

Eyes on me, quiet whispers here and there and people passing silent gestures to one another, I could see them all, but I didn’t fling nor did I care to what any one of them feel about me or what I had just been handed to do.  Was determined to take on the case, I didn’t really get the score card I wanted from what I achieved the week before and I see this as another opportunity for me to get what I expected.

“You really wanna do this Hannah…?” a voice startled me as I sat in Dorothy’s seat trying to get anything I could lay my hands on that looks like an item for the case.

“Do I have a choice…?” I irritatingly asked Sam who was standing as he lean over the half wall of the cubicle.

“Oh yeah, you do… we all know you’ve got a choice…” he stated still without taking his eyes off me.

“Alright Sam, this will be practically the third time I am hearing this same topic in about thirty minutes…” I had to stop him right there because I already know where he was going with the discussion.

“I really don’t want to be steadily reminded that my dad has been steering my career ever since I got this job without my consent and …” I was ranting and bursting out and Sam was getting terrified already.

“Hey…hey…hey it’s okay… it’s okay alright…” Sam had to stop me from talking as my voice was already getting too loud than it is supposed to be and already attracting attentions.

“It’s alright I get your point, and I understand you…” He quickly said calming me down.

“Thank you…” I said resting my head in my fist in frustration. He looked at me for a moment and then he said the most unexpected words I would ever her from him.

“I would have loved to co-work this with you but have got something’s on my plate for now, but still if you really need my help, you know where to find me…” he gestured towards his cubicle.

I looked at him and nodded in appreciation, as I was still trying to digest what he just said, I mean this guy is like my arch enemy since I can remember, since I stepped into this division. I sat there in her cubicle for over an hour, and I could not lay my hands on anything that looks like she used on the case. And there was no record of her getting the tip or information that led her Vegas.

‘How tha f**k did this lady operates?’ I asked myself, aside a copy of the exact file that was handed over to me about an hour ago, which I found on the desk, noting else was added to it, in fact it was as if she had not started working on the case at all. But damn yeah the she has been working on the case, I can testify to that as I saw her in the same hotel where I slept with the prime suspect in the case.

“Excuse me …” I said opening the door after two knocks on Douglas’s door, after going through all I could in Dorothy’s stuff without finding anything I can use.

“Yes Hannah, come in…” Douglas ushered me in.

“How can I be of help…” He asked me looking at me inquisitively.

“I kind of don’t understand, but it seems like there was no update on the case, she has zero records of doing anything on the case making it seem like I am stating all from the beginning, so I came to enquire if she had by any chance ever given you a verbal update on the case.” I gave him a big sweet grin that will erase my uptight attitude I had on the other time he called me in to his office.

“To be honest with you, like I pointed out earlier, that girl had mysterious ways of doing her s**t… anytime I asked about her progress she tells me she is on it and doesn’t want to give any false hope yet until she is actually sure of what she has. And even the way she was given the position also seems wired and suspicious one very reason why I didn’t run it through your father before I passed the case to you.” Douglas went on explaining to me before taking a pause.

“So my dear, it looks like you will be running this case from the very scratch” he finally concluded.

“Thank you sir…” I walked out of his office.

‘At least it won’t be said that she worked the case half way before I came to scavenge on her success…’ I thought to myself.

“Hannah…” He called out to me bringing me back from my thoughts.

“Please take care and stay safe…” he said to me one more time.

I smiled and nodded in assurance.