[[I'm new to MxO but familiar with MMOs... this is the first chapter of the early origins for my character on Syntax. I look forward to a really cool gaming experience here. Enjoy!]]

Chapter 1: Client Privilege

November, 2008

“I don’t know what to make of this. I really don’t. Was this video tampered with?”

Diane Carter was shocked by the images she saw on the video recording, although the stoic expression on her face remained detached. Just the other evening, a small group of heavily armed criminals broke into the Heidel Building, causing untold damage and killing several security guards. Frank Heidel, the owner of the building and a client of Diane’s, sat across from her desk, nervously thumbing the remote to rewind and play the images on the DVD recording.

“It wasn’t,” Frank said, “this is the first copy of the video that was made. I have a dual recording system in place like you suggested.”

“Where is the original?” Diane remained calm during her questioning, but deep down she was amazed, baffled, and confused with the images she was seeing. It is one thing to see people walking around with firearms. In all her years as an attorney Diane dealt with plenty of men who were physically dangerous or politically and ethically ruthless in their own right, but none of them seemed to  come close to the individuals captured on the video feed from the Heidel Building. Diane just couldn’t make sense of watching these criminals running along walls, dodging bullets as if they were nothing, making impossible shots at security personnel and cutting through them as if they were children rather than the highly paid, Special Forces trained, ex-military men that Frank Heidel hired. As this team of criminals, no – terrorists proceeded through the Heidel Building, it was evident from the video feed that they knew exactly where they were going and precisely what they were looking for. The lone woman in the group accessed a mainframe and either uploaded or downloaded something from it as her teammates made a lethal mockery of Heidel’s security team.

“The original is gone. The FBI showed up and confiscated all footage of the break in. We didn’t tell them about the dual recordings.”

“What was the special agent in charge’s name?”

“I… I don’t know. Shepherd, I think. There were quite a few of them I was told, but Wilson didn’t get any identification from them. In fact, they refused to hand anything over. They just took the video footage and left.” Diane knew of Wilson and met him on several occasions. Louis Wilson, a former police detective who parlayed his career success into becoming a corporate security director for the Heidel Corporation.  Wilson was a family man, good natured but highly disciplined in his work. It didn’t seem normal for a man of his caliber to not have accurate information about an event that resulted in the deaths of a dozen men under his command, especially when questioned by men who were probably working with one of the government’s many agencies.

“What did these criminals steal from your mainframe?” Diane wasn’t certain if Frank would tell her, but considering that he had a legal mess on his hands that he needed her to get him out of there was no reason not to tell him.

“I’m not sure if they stole anything yet. They may have planted a virus into our network, or maybe they stole corporate secrets. Wilson assured me that our project files were untouched, and our network administrators are working around the clock trying to find out what happened.”

Frank was very nervous, and it annoyed Diane to see him behaving this way. Ordinarily, as the CEO of a multinational software development firm Frank was always the man in charge, someone who was on the forefront of technology and innovative in the manner in which technology could be used to make the world a better place. Frank was, like few others in the world, a man who would be remembered for his contributions. He was a multi-billionaire, a philanthropist, and an advisor to the United Nations on how to best implement computer and networking technologies. Frank was the pinnacle of the American dream, growing up in obscurity, putting himself through college, and founding his software company in an age where computers and networks weren’t even considered a part of everyday life. Frank was also one of Diane’s first clients, and although the two were close personal friends it was she who had everything to do with his success. Now Frank was facing a large liability battle, as the widows and children of these murdered security personnel would certainly be seeking some form of damages from the Heidel Corporation that the insurance policies may not cover.

“At this point then I’ll review your company’s liability coverage and hopefully these security personnel were smart enough to have participated in your company’s group benefits plans. I’m also going to need to know the name of the special agent who Wilson spoke with, the one who is apparently handling any investigation of this crime. Can you arrange for Wilson to meet with me tomorrow morning at 9:00AM at my office? I need to know from him in detail exactly what security measures and protocols he had in place.”

“Yes, yes, I can. I’ll call him tonight and let him know. I just don’t know what to make of this recording. It’s unreal. How the hell are these people doing this? It’s like watching special effects in a science-fiction movie!”

“It is. I’ve never seen anything like it other than in a movie myself, and I’m no fan of science-fiction, Frank. It’s a childish genre, to say the least. Leave a copy of this video with me though.”

Frank didn’t object. “This is your copy. I made another for my own records as well. I don’t plan on making any more, but for something like this I don’t think its right for only one copy to exist, especially in the hands of the government. They just want to control everything and everyone, don’t they?”

“Yes, they do. Just make sure you don’t do anything to give them a reason to focus on you more than they need to.”

TO BE CONTINUED…

Chapter 2: 9:00AM - Part One

Diane woke as soon as the alarm clock began to blare at 5:00AM. Like an orderly machine she reached across her bed and clicked the alarm off, sitting up and stretching to begin her morning routine. Pulling a sports bra and athletic shorts and stepping into her slippers, Diane made her way to the recreational room in her home, eager to start her morning exercises of aerobics, yoga, and kickboxing techniques.  Physical fitness was important to Diane, as it helped her to not only maintain her energy during the day and achieve better overall health, it also helped her to look a hell of a lot better than many, if not most of the women she dealt with on a daily basis.

By 6:00AM Diane was in the bathroom preparing for her morning shower. With the shower warming up she relieved herself and washed her face, checking close to the mirror to see if any blemishes, puffiness, or wrinkles appeared during the night. As the steam began to gather in the shower stall behind her, Diane also checked her scalp to see if there were any gray hairs creeping in. Fortunately there weren’t, and Diane felt blessed that for a woman in her late thirties she still had yet to show any visible signs of aging. After her shower, Diane proceeded next to dry and style her hair, taking special care to ensure that every hair was in its proper place, fastening her doo into a very conservative and professional bun. Diane then opened several of her makeup kits, ensuring that she had full access to whatever she needed to properly apply her makeup to perfection. Again, Diane admired herself knowing that for a woman her age she really didn’t need to rely upon makeup to make herself attractive, a fact she learned during her teenage years in high school and later perfected in college. With her makeup in place Diane opened up her wardrobe, an enviously large walk-in closet lined with fine suits, jackets, racks of shoes, and elegant dresses for any occasion imaginable. This morning, like most mornings during the work week, Diane selected a very professional business suit, a navy blue jacket with a knee length skirt and matching peep-toe shoes.

Diane began making her breakfast by 7:00AM, a healthy and carefully measured serving of whole wheat breads and sugarless jelly, nuts and raisins, a low fat yogurt and servings of skim milk and orange juice. After finishing her breakfast with a bowl of high vitamin bran cereal, Diane gathered her attaché case, carefully prepared and organized the evening prior, and made her way out the door by 7:45AM. Ideally, it took Diane about half an hour to get to her firm in city traffic, but that is under ideal driving conditions. Today, only several minutes after driving her BMW from her penthouse complex onto the city’s major thoroughfare Diane was caught in a traffic jam. It was an inconvenience in the least, but the honking and blaring of horns by other motorists only served to aggravate the tension everybody was felling on the highway.

“Somebody better have died to cause a jam this bad,” Diane thought to herself. Rather than participate in the rage that upset many of the other drivers around her, Diane punched in the phone number for one of her adversaries in a litigation case against one of her clients. Although her adversary was not in, Diane left a message for him to call her immediately to discuss their upcoming settlement. After several more phone calls – one to her hair stylist to set an appointment, another with a colleague to discuss an important charitable function they were committee members for, and a few others to  various friends and associates to schedule upcoming social and business events Diane finally made her way free from the traffic jam. She saw the wreckage of a sedan smashed horribly against the median, where it flipped over and burned extensively. Police and fire rescue crews directed traffic around the scene, and Diane noticed that there weren’t any ambulances or paramedics nearby.

It was 8:45 when Diane walked into her office. She was later than usual, but since she was the CEO of the Carter Group there was no one else to whom she was accountable at the firm. Diane spent her entire life striving for success, a passion drilled into her at a young age by both her parents. From her father she learned that education was the key to a successful career, and he tolerated nothing less than perfection in his daughter’s studies. Diane’s father Robert Carter was stern and strict, traits that helped him to become a prosperous business executive, and although she missed out on a lot of the fun many girls around her experienced she never begrudged her father for this. Diane’s mother Margaret was an educated woman like her husband, but she was a social genius and ensured that her daughter understood that relationship building and networking were just as important, perhaps more important than academics alone. The combination of these influences turned Diane into one of the most competitive beings imaginable. It was her driving passion to be better than everyone else around her; more intelligent, more reasonable, more charitable, more beautiful, more successful - there was no end to it.

The end result was the Carter Group, a legal consulting firm founded by Diane that offered a variety of specialized services for the firm’s clients. With her parents’ connections in the worlds of high-powered business executives, politicos, and the social elite, Diane Carter and the Carter Group quickly grew to prominence in the city and quickly extended its influence throughout the city’s infrastructure. In a few years Diane found herself in a very lucrative and influential position; that of a power broker within the city. If someone wanted to run for a local office or city council, Diane Carter was the one who could make that happen. If someone was running into resistance in getting something accomplished, Diane Carter could manage to pull it off without ruffling any feathers. No one asked, but everyone wondered how Diane Carter could accomplish so much with a single phone call or conversation over cocktails at a dinner party. There was always, of course, leverage. As an attorney with connections in law-enforcement and private investigation firms, there was really no end to the otherwise private and damning information she could obtain on many of the movers and shakers in the city. So what if many of them were unfaithful spouses, involved in any number of illicit activities, or taking bribes in exchange for favors? Diane was a master at using this information to get what she wanted, usually for herself, but sometimes for others when it was her advantage to ensnare them in a debt of gratitude. It was a dangerous game, but Diane knew people from all walks of life who could, with but a gentle whisper into their ears, make certain problems go away.

It was good to be Diane Carter.

“Carla, did Mr. Wilson confirm his 9:00AM for today?”

“Yes, Ms. Carter, he did. He left a voice message early this morning and said he would be here. How was your ride in? I heard that the traffic was horrible this morning.” Carla McPherson was the perky but diligent paralegal Diane hired a year ago as her personal assistant. Although Carla had much more to learn, Diane was impressed by the recent graduate’s ability to learn quickly. In Diane’s mind, it was refreshing to see a young woman as meticulous about her appearance and who paid almost as much attention to detail in her work as she did. Carla was far from perfect, but Diane knew that this woman possessed a lot of potential and deserved every opportunity to succeed, namely because she never complained when she was spoken to sternly and she only needed to be corrected once. The next time Diane examined her work, Carla’s efforts were exactly what Diane wanted. Diane knew that she could rely upon Carla to do whatever she asked. Before she left for the evening the night prior, Diane entrusted Carla to send the DVD copy from Heidel’s security footage to a secured offsite storage facility for safekeeping. One could never tell when something like that could be of use in the future.

“Traffic was awful. If Mr. Wilson doesn’t arrive by 9:15AM call him and tell him we need to reschedule. Bring my agenda to me then and we’ll see who we can bump up.”

“Yes, Ms. Carter.”

TO BE CONTINUED

Chapter 2: 9:00AM - Part Two

Diane sat at her desk and turned on her computer, checking her phone for messages. All but one of Diane’s calls were from clients who, rightfully so, were inquiring about the status of their cases or asking to meet with her again to provide additional information she requested from them. The last call, however, was quite strange.

“My name is Ammit. You do not know me, but I know of you. I need to meet with you. I will contact you again to arrange a location and time.”

What? Diane replayed the message and listened more carefully. Ammit? Diane didn’t know anyone with that name as the cryptic woman’s voice stated. The caller ID feature on her phone showed that the number was blocked. Diane thought of having someone run a trace on the call, but before she could finish her thought Carla knocked on the door and meekly stepped into the office.

“Um… Ms. Carter?”

It was 9:01AM when Diane noticed the clock.

“Yes, what is it?”

“There are several men here to see you… an Agent Shepherd? They don’t have an appointment.”

“I see. Send them in.” Diane’s heart jumped in her chest. She absolutely did not like anyone dropping in on her unannounced, and ordinarily she would simply dismiss them and tell them that they better respect her time and schedule in order for her to even consider meeting with them. Given the severe situation that Mr. Heidel was in at the moment, and hoping that this Agent Shepherd was the one whose name was mentioned to her last evening, Diane’s annoyance turned to curiosity as three men dressed in dark suits and grim faces strode into her office.

“Miss Carter, remain seated,” the lead agent stated calmly. There was a hint of arrogance in his tone that Diane didn’t like, but she knew that men like this, or anyone working for the government would probably use their position in this manner when it suited them. It was best not to challenge them back, and Diane took a page from her mother’s book and played the ever courteous hostess.

“And you are..”

“Shepherd. Agent Shepherd. We have, my dear, much to talk about of a most serious nature. I do hope that you will clear your schedule for the morning .” Diane could feel the hairs on the back of her neck rise as Shepherd spoke at her in a smooth but authoritative manner. Shepherd was not a handsome man, yet not unattractive, and he seemed to be as plain and drab in his appearance as the colors of his suit. The men behind him did not speak, but one closed the door behind them while the other walked over to the window behind Diane’s desk, position her between himself and Shepherd.

“I can certainly do that if necessary. Please, take a seat and make yourself comfortable. Shall I have Carla get you gentlemen some coffee?”

“No, that won’t be necessary, but if you have an ashtray that would be more useful.” Shepherd maintained his monotone demeanor while pulling a cigarette from a silver case in his pocket. “You don’t mind if I smoke, do you?”

“I actually do. There are Federal regulations against smoking in this building, and I don’t have an ashtray.”

“A pity, then. A sheet of paper or a tissue will do.”  Shepherd lit the cigarette and drew back deeply, slowly exhaling a billowing stream of smoke from his face that gave him the countenance of a dragon.

“You know that will kill you.  I’m not going to tell you how to take care of yourself, but I don’t even let nervous clients smoke in my office…”  Shepherd drew back another breath from the cigarette, making the end sizzle and glow brightly. The smoke from the cigarette stung Diane’s nose, and in a few moments she would gag unless a window was opened.

“You are wrong, Miss Carter. This cigarette will not kill me.” Shepherd placed the lit cigarette on a sheet of paper on the edge of Diane’s desk, taking a seat in front of her. The two other agents remained like unblinking statues, towering over Diane as she sat helpless before Shepherd. “As for your clients, we are here to speak with you about one of them in particular. Heidel. Frank Heidel.”

“I am under no professional or personal obligation to share any information with you or anyone about who my clients may or may not be, Agent Shepherd. I need to see your identification immediately.  I will not be put in a position by anyone to violate any attorney-client privileges I have with any…”

“Miss Carter,” Shepherd sighed, “you are apparently unaware of the severity of the situation you are in. Allow me to explain.” With this, the agent who stood behind Diane quickly placed her into a hold, slamming her head to the desk while kicking the chair out from beneath her. As Shepherd picked up his cigarette and drew another puff from it, Diane found herself pinned to her desk by the weight of the agent on top of her. With one of his hands he held an iron grasp over Diane’s mouth that she could not break, and even as she screamed and struggled the sound was muffled. The agent’s strength was almost impossible, and even when Diane scraped her heels against the man’s shins he did not wince, nor move, nor release his hold upon her. Shepherd remained seated but leaned in closer, while the agent standing by the door remained a silent spectator.

“You see, Miss Carter, there are things in the world, should we call it, that are beyond your ability to control. The best someone like you can do is to submit to that control rather than fight it. Frank Heidel, for example, is such a man. He controls many things, but he is still a part of the system we have built for men like him. He is very easy to control. Louis Wilson, on the other hand… well, let me say that he was more difficult to control. His death this morning was… inevitable.”

Diane gasped for breath upon hearing Wilson’s name and immediately thought of the car crash. There only appeared to be one car involved in that accident. Could these men have been chasing Wilson? The agent clamped her mouth shut tighter. Diane flailed her arms across her desk, knocking the phone and other supplies from her desk and scattering them across the carpeted floor of her office.

“We believe that you are in possession of information that was not meant for you. You are going to tell us what Frank Heidel told you about the incident in the Heidel Building the other evening. You are going to cooperate, Miss Carter, and your attorney-client privilege is only as valid and meaningful as we decide to permit it. Do not scream, Miss Carter. I would be most disappointed to have to resort to more scarring methods of soliciting your cooperation." Shepherd glanced up at the agent holding Diane. "Release her mouth.”

“What… the hell do you want to know?” Diane was in tears, on the verge of panic and too fearful to cry out.

“Frank Heidel made copies of the video footage from his security systems the other evening. Quite an ingenious system he has set up there, if I may say so. Do you have  a copy of this footage?

“N… no! I do not!”

Shepherd sighed deeply. “Do not lie to me, Miss Carter.  Let me preface this by saying that we have been watching you for quite some time. You are a woman who understands control. You understand order, discipline, and efficiency. You know how to leverage what you want from people by exploiting their weaknesses and threatening to expose them. Admirable. This is exactly what we can do to you.” Diane could not believe what Shepherd was telling her.

“Many of us feel that… people like you are disgusting and vulgar creatures. Some even see you as parasites and leeches. I, however, see you as a very important part of a carefully integrated system of control." Shepherd turned his head slightly, acknowledging the third agent who remained by the door to Diane's office. "Search this office for the video.” The agent who stood by the door began to tear apart the office, yanking open filing cabinets and rummaging through bookshelves. Diane could do nothing to stop the violation of herself and her office, the inner sanctum of her private empire she worked so hard for so many years to build.

“If you do not tell me where your copy of the Heidel security footage is I will see to it that you are exposed for what you are, Miss Carter. Do not be foolish.” Shepherd maintained his calm but stern demeanor, but the smoke streaming from his nostrils reminded Diane of the face of the Devil.

“I told you… I do not have a copy!”

The agent ransacking Diane’s office came across a wall safe concealed behind a painting. He did not ask for the code, but instead yanked the steel door from the safe and emptied its contents on the floor. “There is nothing here, the office is clean.”

Shepherd frowned. “Are you certain? Could it be shielded?”

“Negative. There are no abnormalities in the system here. The office is clean.”

Shepherd leaned in closer to Diane, pressing his lips against her ear. “Thank you for your cooperation, Miss Carter. Do keep our conversation in mind, will you?”

Shepherd stood up to leave, but the agent holding Diane down did not loosen his grip. Shepherd looked down upon Diane’s traumatized face, and with a cold finger he wiped away a tear from her eye. “Here, just in case you forget…”

With that, he jammed the burning end of the sizzling cigarette into Diane’s exposed cheek…

TO BE CONTINUED

Chapter 3: The Delivery - Part One

                Diane jolted from her sleep, jerking herself into an upright position and piercing the evening with a frightened shrill. Silk covers were violently thrown into the air, cascading to the floor as Diane stumbled from her bed and collapsed to her knees. After a few moments of rapid breaths and bringing her rapidly pulsating heart beat under control, Diane stood up and tapped on the bedside lamp. The light from her lamp revealed Diane’s spacious bedroom to be as neat and orderly as usual, and other than the fading terror that gripped her nothing was out of the ordinary. It was 4:15AM and almost time for Diane’s morning routine.

                Diane stood before the wall-length mirror in her room and closely checked her face, rubbing her fingers gently along her cheek and examining every inch of her flesh as if she was doing so for the very first time. Nothing. No scars, no burns, not a blemish to be seen. Diane let loose a sigh of relief, but she was confused as to how real her nightmare was. Reflecting deeper about her dream and rude awakening, Diane’s cagy mind raced with questions. What happened yesterday?

                By 5:00AM Diane was on the phone reaching out to Carla. Diane never called anyone at this time of the morning as this was time she reserved for her, but in light of her confusion Carla was the only person she could rely upon to help her clear things up at the moment. As Carla’s cell phone rang Diane prepared herself mentally and emotionally as to not sound out of sorts and unprofessional over the phone; the last thing she needed was to sound like an incompetent flake to her assistant.

                “Hello?”

                “Carla, I hope you are ready to get an early start for today. I have a special project for you today. Take a moment to grab your ledger.”

                There was a slight pause as Diane heard Carla clear her throat. “Yes, Miss Carter. Just a moment.” As Carla stepped away from her phone Diane prepared a hot bath for herself, skipping her morning exercises for this one particular day. There was always time this afternoon to stop by the gym for an hour of aerobics and a spa treatment, and with the day being Friday there was little else to do for her clients today. Diane slid into her tub and was blanketed by a thick pillow of white foam as Carla spoke again.

                “Yes, I’m ready.”

                “Good. Let’s recap yesterday’s schedule.”

                Carla paused only slightly. “Ok, you had a 9:00AM with a Louis Wilson, but that appointment was cancelled when three government agents, one of whom said he was Agent Shepherd, came in to speak with you. After they left you were feeling a bit nauseous due to that awful cigarette smoke one of the agents left in your room. You asked me to clear out your schedule and to rearrange what I could, which I did for next week. I didn’t give you anything for today being that you weren’t feeling well yesterday. Are you feeling better today, Miss Carter?”

                Diane smiled, thinking that this kid was something else. “Yes, much better. “ The only thing that bothered Diane, however, was that she had absolutely no recollection of the entire day after this Agent Shepherd and his two companions barged into her office. Diane couldn’t remember anything else she did yesterday. She remembered the lingering stench of Agent Shepherd’s cigarette, which was not just a part of her dream, but the agents violating her dignity and burning her with the hot ash of the cigarette couldn’t have happened. Diane had no bruises or burns anywhere on her body. Thinking of her office, however, Diane inquired deeper. “How is the office, by the way?”

                “Well, it took maintenance about two hours to get the smell of smoke out of your office. I made them stay until it was perfect, but they really had an issue with it even with the windows open.  It is fine now. Anyway, those agents were rather rude and unprofessional and refused to show identification, so I told security to send up some camera images of these men to your office. They were able to capture several images of them in the hallways, elevators, and in the parking lot entering into their cars, but the angles must have been off slightly as their faces were obscured and there was some sort of glare on their license plates. They did the best they could.”

                “I see. Continue.” That was very strange. Diane specifically told her security personnel to install every visible and hidden camera at angles that eliminated glare and would capture anyone’s face no matter where they walked, stood, or faced in her hallways, offices, and elevators. There was no way a sophisticated system such as the one installed in the Carter Building would miss anyone.

                “Frank Heidel called and confirmed that Louis Wilson was killed yesterday morning in a car crash. Wilson was apparently on his way to meet with you when he lost control of his car and crashed into a median on the highway. It made the news last night. I arranged for flowers to be sent to his family on your behalf.”

                That much, Diane thought, was definitely real then. As Carla continued to recount the prior day’s events, Diane relaxed and bathed herself as she listened through her cell phone’s speaker. “Nice touch. What else?”

                “The new associate Michael Stein made a comment about my rear and asked me out on a date this weekend. I told him that if he ever thought of expressing those fantasies again I would destroy his career, his marriage, or both depending on how I felt on that particular day. Oh, and one last thing…”

                Diane smiled again, stepping out of the tub and drawing a large towel around her. This kid really was amazing. “Go ahead.”

                “You may have a new client. A woman named Miss Ammit called and said she wanted to speak with you regarding a possible discrimination and harassment case against a government official. She didn’t give any further details but she did leave a number for you to reach her at. You can call her anytime.  I had security trace the number and it was a pay phone.”

                “Ammit, did you say?” Diane remembered, or perhaps dreamt, that she received a voice message directly from a woman with that name. “Has she called before?”

                “Ammit, yes, and no she has not called before. This was the first call from her. I doubt it’s serious though. Why would someone ask you to call you on a pay phone anytime? ”

                Diane laughed at the thought. “Maybe she’s a vagrant with nothing else to do all day but sit by a phone hoping for someone to talk to.”

                “What would you like for me to do today, Miss Carter? You mentioned a special project for me.”

                “Ah, yes. I need you to arrange some surveillance on Frank Heidel. He may be in trouble but I don’t want to alarm him. Call Zaleski and he’ll know what to do. Also, make sure that the envelope and the contents I gave you concerning Heidel’s case are also secured offsite. Don’t use the usual locations. I don’t even want to know where you put them right now, just make sure they remain out of sight.” Since these agents were real, Wilson was dead, and the fact that these agents wanted to secure all footage of the incident at the Heidel Building, Diane wasn’t taking any chances.

                Carla didn’t hesitate to answer. Diane was always impressed by her assistant’s ability to know when not to ask questions or to inquire about her motives. “I’ll get on it now. Is there anything else, Miss Carter?”

                Diane thought about what she was going to do for the remainder of her day. Since Carla cleared out the agenda for the day, Diane could have used that opportunity to get an early start on the weekend. “No, that would not be an efficient use of my time.” Diane was still nagged by the presence of these alleged agents who came into her office, and it bothered her to no end that all she had was one of their names – at least the name he gave – and no idea of who they really were or what agency they may or may not have represented. Diane hated not having all the information she needed, and it roused her ambitions to a level of voracious ferocity.

                “No, Carla, there is nothing else for now. Call me during the day with any pertinent updates. If I don’t hear from you then do enjoy your weekend.”

                “Thank you, Miss Carter. Enjoy your weekend as well.”

[TO BE CONTINUED]

Chapter Three - Part Two

                Diane spent the rest of the morning in her home office researching everything she could regarding the Heidel Building, Wilson’s death, and any mention of government involvement in either incident. Not that Diane expected to find anything, but she had to start somewhere.  The best Diane learned about the “Heidel Massacre” as one headline stated was that Federal investigators were looking into the matter, as it was suspected that the criminals responsible may have been linked to an underground terrorist movement of computer hackers led by a man named Morpheus years ago. Wilson’s death – and possible suicide- was attributed to a possible case of survivor’s guilt that he may have suffered from after surviving the massacre at the Heidel Building and losing so many men under his command. Diane did not find anything else she didn’t already know regarding the events that transpired over the past few days, which only left her hungry for more information.

                The cell phone by her computer rang, interrupting Diane’s research as she sat back in her chair to answer. The caller ID identified the call as coming from Carla.

                “Yes, Carla?”

                “Miss Carter, my name is Ammit. I have been…

                “How did you get this number? Where is Carla?” Diane was furious, more so for the fact that her personal cell number was now in the hands of a woman she didn’t know than the possibility that Carla’s phone was being used by someone who wasn’t supposed to be using it. Carla’s safety may also have been in jeopardy. Diane quickly flipped on the microphone and recorder she had installed into her cell phone. It was always useful to have the ability to record a conversation when she needed it.

                “Carla is safe. We need to meet…”

                “What is the purpose of your call?”

                “We need to meet tonight. I have information regarding the break-in at the Heidel Building.”

                That captured Diane’s attention even more. “What type of information?”

                “I will share that with you when we meet. Your doorbell will ring in thirty seconds. You will know where to meet me.”

                Diane stood up from her chair, pulling a Magnum revolver from her desk drawer and quickly making her way to the front door of her penthouse. Gliding swiftly across the marble floors and between the pillars and lush furniture in her morning robes, Diane quietly cursed that she did not have time to connect her phone to a call-trace device where she could track the call to its source.

                “And why should I listen to you?” Diane reached the foyer and quietly peered through the peephole. She could not see anyone in the hallway from her limited field of vision, although the peephole was modified with wide-angled mirrors that enhanced her view.

                “Because I am the woman in the Heidel Building’s security footage.”

                The call disconnected as the door bell rung. Diane’s heart pounded in her chest. She stepped back from the door, dropping her phone and gripping the Magnum with both hands as she leveled the barrel at the reinforced doors that protected her private home. Diane waited for a minute before she again approached the door, and through the peephole she spied what looked like a small package at the step of her door. Noticing that no one else was in the hallway, and realizing that the concierge did not call ahead to request that someone be allowed to come up to her private hallway through the secured elevator, Diane opened the door. There was a small hinged box, a dark velvet case designed for a ring resting on the welcome mat outside Diane’s foyer. Diane picked up the box in a swift motion and, after checking the hallway to ensure that no one was outside, she slammed the door shut and secured it.

                Diane opened the box not knowing what to expect, although her instincts were telling her not to do so. There could have been anything in that small little box. As innocent as it looked, the box could have contained a poison or toxin, possibly a form of anthrax that had so many people rightfully scared years ago. What Diane saw inside was something entirely familiar, a small after-dinner mint wrapped in the light foil of one of her favorite upscale restaurants, Samsara. If this Ammit woman wanted to meet Diane here it seemed like a double-edged sword. If this woman was in fact responsible in part for the massacre at the Heidel Building, what compunctions would she have at doing the same to unarmed civilians dressed out for an evening of elegant dining?

                This was also a moment that confused Diane. Carla confirmed that Ammit never called the office before, and she would know better than anyone else. Yet Diane dreamt that a woman named Ammit called her – did she? Diane wasn’t sure now if she actually received a voice message from Ammit yesterday or if it was only a piece of a nightmare. Carla said no, but Diane was almost certain that she did, or at least she felt that she did. Yet the names were exact, whether the message was real or not. How could that be? This state of disarray was unacceptable for Diane and it irked her to no end.

Diane resolved herself that she would go, just to see for herself just who was now showing that they had the capacity to reach out and touch her despite the measures she took to secure her safety and protection. It was bad enough that she had a nightmare about being mistreated and violated by Agent Shepherd. Diane was consumed with getting to the bottom of this, but she didn’t want to take any chances. She picked up her cell phone, hit a number from her speed dial, and pressed the speaker to her ear. The call rang twice before a man answered.

                “This is Zaleski.”

[TO BE CONTINUED]

(/enjoyed  More please!)

Chapter 4: Samsara - Part One

                The rain beat heavily upon the roof and windows of the sleek limousine, creating a steady muffled rhythm that brought some measure of solace to Diane. As the driver maneuvered the limousine along the avenues of Park East, Diane ignored the traffic around her and listened intently to the man sitting next to her. Zaleski was quite an unkempt and portly mess, Diane thought, but he was a very useful asset to her and he was instrumental in finding out whatever she needed to know about anyone. With the money Diane paid him, she thought, she just couldn’t figure out why he looked like a middle-aged man who gave up on maintaining his appearance decades ago. Zaleski would never win an award for best smile, and he had more hair beneath his nose than he had on his entire scalp, and if it wasn’t for the fact that he was the best private investigator in the city who could uncover the dirtiest information on the cleanest people Diane wouldn’t otherwise dare to be seen with him. Zaleski always had a terrible cough during bad weather, mostly brought on by his excessive smoking, and tonight was no exception. Diane tolerated his raspy wet voice despite the disgust she felt at listening to Zaleski, for no matter how frequently he cleared his throat he was never quite able to do so.

                “Don’t worry about this lady tonight, councilor. We got her covered. If she tries anything stupid that’s how she’ll be remembered.” Zaleski was quite confident that his plans to conduct surveillance on Diane tonight would go exactly as he planned. The man was a master at his craft, and Diane also felt reassured that he would, as he did many times before, keep her safe while she met with people whose credibility was questionable and who could have posed a significant risk to her safety. Diane trusted few people, but Zaleski was one of them.

                “And the shooters, will they…”

                “Already in place, dear.” Zaleski coughed, hacking violently into his hands. Diane winced slightly as Zaleski continued without excusing himself. “You ain’t gonna see them ‘cause we don’t want to risk you giving them away on accident. It’s best to not know anything other than they got you covered.” Diane thought back to one clandestine meeting she attended where those shooters saved her life. To make a deal to protect one of her clients, Diane met with a drug dealer named Fischer in Richland with the intent of brokering a truce. What could have turned into a tragic evening for Diane wound up convincing her that without someone like Zaleski to back her up she would have been dead years ago. When Fischer made an unwelcome advance at Diane in his penthouse apartment, she recalled screaming in shock as his head erupted violently, spattering blood across her face and sending Fischer to the floor at her feet. Fischer’s men scrambled as the large bay window overlooking Richland began popping with holes and showering small fragments of glass to the floor.  Diane stood paralyzed with fear as the men, one by one, flailed or spun around like toys as trails of blood exploded from their chests or skulls. Diane never heard any gunfire, but as she calmed down she realized the carnage of Fischer and his men being killed by an unseen sniper. Diane fumbled for her purse as her cell phone rang, and although she was able to bring the phone to her ear she was unable to speak. “Get out of there, kid” Zaleski told her in his raspy voice. “I have someone coming in the front for you now. He’ll escort you to the car. Go!” Hopefully, Diane thought, tonight’s meeting with this woman named Ammit wouldn’t end so violently, but given that Ammit admitted her involvement in the Hediel Building’s security breach she wasn’t leaving anything to chance. If something went terribly wrong, Diane wanted Zaleski there to fix it.

                “I’m gonna stay in the car and listen in on everything. Those bugs you’re wearin’ can transmit audio and video up to one hundred meters away, and we can track you with our GPS as well. Lojack for people, baby. Works like a charm. All you gotta do to request an immediate exit is use the word ‘escort’ in a sentence.” Diane knew, of course, that even if it came to this that Zaleski wouldn’t necessarily wait for a code word. Zaleski was certain to have someone inside already, someone who could intervene immediately in the event that she was unable to control the situation long enough to even call for assistance. Zaleski was visually discomforting, but it was, ironically, comforting to have him watching her back.

                The driver pulled into the driveway of Samsara, and Diane pulled her coat around her to prepare to exit the limousine. A group of valets approached and one of the young men opened the door, while another extended his hand and helped Diane onto the covered walkway.  Zaleski slid back into the limousine where he kept his surveillance equipment, not uttering a single word as the valets closed the door and Diane made her way into the restaurant. A small group of paparazzi snapped a few photographs of Diane as she strode up the carpeted walkway into the restaurant’s foyer. Although they snapped photographs of everyone, Diane knew that they were really more concerned with capturing images of well-known celebrities. On the other hand, Diane knew every publisher of every magazine and tabloid in the city, and none of them would dare to publish one of her photos without first requesting permission from her first.

                After securing her coat with the staff, Diane was approached by the maître d’, a man she was far more comfortable being seen with compared to Zaleski. Francois smiled widely as Diane noticed him, approaching her with a grace that would rival that of the most skilled and elegant ballet dancers.

                “Ah, Miss Carter, how are you my dear?” Francois raised Diane’s hand to his lips and kissed her gently. “It is always a pleasure to see you. You look absolutely ravishing this evening… tell me, what is his name?’ Diane smiled playfully, amused at Francois’ mannerisms. His French accent was certainly attractive, and his style of dress and meticulous attention to grooming made him all the more charming. Diane allowed Francois to escort her to her private table, as he always did for his most important guests at Samsara. Diane always ensured that when she was escorted through Samsara’s dining areas that she did her best to make sure she was noticed. Her floor length gown draped around her in a cascade of silk, and for an evening like this Diane ensured that the low-cut dress would certainly draw a respectable amount of attention. It was not her intent to meet a gentleman this evening, the only difficulty of which would have been deciding which one was worth her time. Diane was more concerned with making sure that she was recognized by many of the guests and wait staff, ensuring that at least some of them would also pay some attention as to who was joining her that evening.

                “Not a man, a woman. Her name is Ammit. I imagine she will be here shortly.”

                “Ah, I see, I see,” Francois said. “I shall escort her to you when she arrives. Are you expecting her shortly?” In a true gentleman’s fashion, Francois pulled a chair from beneath the table and held it for Diane as he motioned for a waiter to come to her assistance.

                “Shortly, yes. Within a few minutes”

                “I will be ready for her. Please, if you need anything you may ask Peter here to help you. I do hope you enjoy your dinner this evening, Miss Carter.”

                Diane thanked Francois, sitting elegantly into her chair as Peter mentioned the specials for the evening. Declining a glass of champagne or wine, Diane instead asked for two glasses of water instead, and to bring the menus when her guest arrived. Peter complied, and as he attended to his duties Diane casually surveyed the room and guests around her. She paid no attention to the soft classical music, the Victorian furnishings and air of antiquity, and the murmurings of the clientele that formed the atmosphere of Samsara. Although there were several guests Diane recognized, businessmen and women, a district judge, and an attorney whom she consistently embarrassed when they were adversaries, this evening was different. Diane’s mind was no longer on her status and social standing, but her very security and, perhaps, her very life. Who was this Ammit, and why did she want to meet? What was her involvement in the Heidel Building, and what was she doing there to begin with? Does Ammit know about Agent Shepherd? Why was she having memory lapses? Diane took cares to maintain her composure with the flood of questions and concerns running wild within her mind, but there was no denying to herself that she was nervous to her core. The crackle of static drew Diane’s attention to the small ear bud that Zaleski gave to her as they prepared for the evening.

                “Can you hear me, councilor?” It was Zaleski, his unmistakable growling voice distinctively sounding in her ear as Diane took a sip of water.

                “Yes, all clear,” she whispered. Glancing around the room, Diane suspected that Zaleski also had at least one man or woman inside the restaurant already, but it was impossible to tell whom it could be.

                “Great. I think the maître d’ is about to head back your way. He met a woman at the front and he is escorting her to the dining area. I’m losing visual, so let me know if he is.”

                Diane looked across the dining room and, sure enough, Francois was escorting an elegantly dressed woman toward her table. "He's coming toward me," Diane whispered. Diane sized up the woman as she approached. The woman’s black dress was certainly fashionable and appropriate, although Diane was more pleased with her own appearance than that of this stranger. Diane was impressed, however, with the woman’s short-cropped and pale hair. The woman styled it in such a way that several other guests also paid some attention to admire her as Francois led the woman to Diane’s table. Diane never would have cut her hair that short, as she hated the thought of it, but on this woman it looked rather stunning. Diane stood graciously as Francois smiled and pulled another chair from beneath the table.

                “Miss Carter, your guest. “ Diane took this moment to introduce herself to her mysterious guest and establish a façade of sociability.

                “Good evening again, Miss Ammit. I am glad you could make it tonight, considering the weather. How have you been?” Diane extended her hands in a friendly gesture.

                Ammit smiled warmly and took Diane’s hands into hers. “I have been well, and it is certainly wonderful to see you again.”

                Francois helped Ammit into her chair and bowed slightly to his guests. “Please, to both of you, call me if you require anything. Peter will have your menus and a wine list in a moment.” Francois turned to walk away, and Peter quickly made his way back to the table as Diane and Ammit sat quietly but graciously, facing each other without speaking. Diane politely dismissed Peter, and for a minute after he left the two women held their menus before them, pretending to read them while keeping their eyes focused on each other. Diane chose to break the silence.

                “Well?”

[TO BE CONTINUED]

Chapter 4: Samsara - Part Two

                “I cannot stay for an actual dinner, Miss Carter. I am working on a deadline.”

                “I was not expecting to share a meal with you. What did you want to meet me for?”

                “I am here to offer you answers, Miss Carter. Some rather strange things have happened in your life over the past few days, me being the least of them. Life for you is about to change dramatically in ways you can’t even imagine, and I need to make sure you are prepared for this.”

                This woman is crazy, Diane though. At least Zaleski was getting every word Ammit spoke. Diane took care to position her small purse where the camera within it could capture Ammit’s face. Ammit did not appear to suspect that she as being recorded, and Diane was skilled enough to conceal her nervousness and maintain an otherwise calm demeanor.

                “Prepared for what? I don’t have a clue as to what you are talking about and you are not giving me any useful information. You need to be specific.”

                Ammit lowered her menu and spoke quietly and directly and Diane. “You are being watched, Miss Carter. You have been your entire life, but not by me. There are certain interests who see you as nothing more than a useful pawn for them and they seek to bring you into their fold, leaving you no choice in the matter.” Diane immediately thought of Shepherd, and she paused for a moment before speaking.

                “So you are aware of a man named Agent Shepherd?”

                “Yes. I need to keep you from him recruiting you, Miss Carter. What he has to offer you is not worth the price…”

                “Recruit me?” Diane couldn’t believe what she was hearing, but she managed to maintain a smile while disguising her annoyance. “Why on earth would Shepherd want to recruit me for anything? Does he need informants? I don’t even know what agency he works for…”

                “That is the point, Miss Carter. I know who he works for, but I cannot just tell you the truth; I have to show you the truth. You have no reason to believe what I tell you, but if I can show you the truth you will have no choice but to believe. The question I have for you tonight is simply this; are you ready to believe?” Diane did not know what to make of Ammit’s question. Believe what, that Agent Shepherd works for a government agency? That Ammit is an escaped patient from a local psychiatric ward?

                “You are going to have to do better than that, Ammit. You sound like a moron.” Peter approached the table, asking if the ladies would care to order a glass of wine. Diane and Ammit both declined, and asked Peter to come back in a few minutes.

                “I understand how this sounds, but listen to this and reconsider. Agent Shepherd hurt you, Miss Carter. You may have dismissed his attack upon you as the result of a bad dream, but he and his men hurt you. I was too late to get you out of your office the other morning…”

                “What?” Diane could not believe what she was hearing. How the hell did she know…

                “Shepherd made you forget what happened, and I believe he is having you tracked. We must leave here, now. I have to scan you and make sure you are clear before I can risk telling you more. ”

                Diane sat back in shock. Only Zaleski’s voice snapped her back to reality. “What the hell is this broad talkin’ about, C? You gotta find out at this point. I got ya covered, and if she takes you anywhere I’ll follow ya. Go for it. You ain’t got nothing’ to lose at this point. Everything’s on tape so don’t worry.”

                “I hate to rush you, Miss Carter, but I do need an answer now.”

                “Fine, I’ll go with you. This better not be a waste of my time.”

                “It won’t be, but please stay close. You are in danger and I need to protect you. Your friends mean well but they will only delay the inevitable.” Ammit and Diane both stood and made their way to the coat room. Peter noticed and stood still, looking confused and shaking his head at Francois. As Diane and Ammit received their coats Francois approached, concerned perhaps that something was terribly wrong that he should have been aware of.

                “Miss Carter, is everything alright?” Diane couldn’t help but feel a bit of pity for him, but she had no time to cater to his sense of propriety.

                “Yes, everything is fine. An emergency just came up and I need to leave immediately. I apologize for any inconvenience. I hope you understand.” Diane spoke quickly as she and Ammit made their way out of the restaurant. The valets parted as a black sedan pulled up to the walkway. Ammit motioned to a valet to stay back and she opened the car door for Diane herself, ushering her in quietly. Diane couldn’t help but notice that, quite amazingly, Ammit was now behaving like a well-trained and disciplined bodyguard. Is that what she was really here to do, and if so, to protect her from what? Ammit slid into the car beside Diane and told the man driving the car to go.

“We don’t have much time,” the driver said. “The agents will be homing in on us shortly.”

                Diane sat cautiously in the seat with Ammit next to her, and refrained from speaking so she wouldn’t interfere with what she hoped Zaleski was recording. Ammit reached across the front seat and pulled back a suitcase, placing it on the seat between her and Diane and flicking open its latches. From the case Ammit pulled a strange mechanical looking device, a very large and bulky metal and glass item that looked like a combination of a syringe with handles and a small television monitor. Ammit flipped a switch on the monitor and the device hummed with electricity, casting a soft eerie glow inside the car.

                “Miss Carter, I need for you to lift up your dress. Now…”

[TO BE CONTINUED]

Chapter 5: Express to Richland

                “Councilor! Miss Carter! Jesus Christ… get on her now! Where the hell are you people?”

                Diane’s mind snapped back into focus as Zaleski’s grating voice crackled through the miniature earpiece in her ear. Several moments passed since Ammit asked Diane to lift up her dress, something that she was reluctant to do. Not only did lifting her dress reveal the concealed derringer strapped to her thigh, but also the hidden microphone and button camera that Zaleski convinced her to tape across her abdomen. To Diane’s surprise Ammit was not concerned about these, brushing them off as if they were nothing. It did not seem to matter to Ammit or her driver that they were being recorded, nor that their passenger was armed with a weapon, no matter how small it was. Despite Zaleski’s pleas to understand what was happening in the back seat of the sedan, Diane reluctantly permitted Ammit to place the strange mechanical device on top of her stomach. Ammit focused on the device’s monitor and ordered Diane to hold still. Diane then saw what this strange woman was looking for; a squid-like parasite that was scrambling within her. Diane let out a short scream at the horrid sight of it. Ammit flipped another switch on the contraption, creating a tingling sensation from deep within her torso. After a few seconds there was a loud pop, followed by the sounds of the parasite clamoring around inside the device. As Ammit emptied the parasite into a smaller vial and threw the casing out of the car’s window, Diane regained her composure as her heart began to slow down in her chest.

                “What… the hell was that… thing?”

                “It was a tracking device. Agent Shepherd placed it within you. It appears he does not wish to lose sight of you.” Ammit spoke to Diane calmly as she powered down the device and placed it back into its case. Diane looked down at her abdomen and ran her fingers across where the parasite was removed from her; there wasn’t a mark to be found.

                “He ain’t the type of secret admirer you want, lady,” the driver said. Diane still did not know his name, but she did not care at this point. For the first time in her life, far more so than the missing time she experienced the other day, Diane was completely uncertain of what was happening around her.

                “How was that possible? What is going on?”

                Diane hated the way she felt; confused, powerless, vulnerable. She could see that Ammit sensed this in her, allowing her the opportunity to speak rather than making demands for answers.

                “I can explain almost everything, but before we go any further, you must tell your friends to fall back. I will not risk their getting hurt or further involved than they already are. It was not foolish of you to take measures to protect yourself, Miss Carter, but from this point on it will be foolish for them to continue. I cannot and will not guarantee their safety.” Ammit was sincere in her tone; not demanding or condescending, but genuinely sincere. Years of study in psychology granted Diane an insight into human behavior that most people weren’t capable of, and she sensed that Ammit was indeed telling the truth. Diane also did not understand what was happening to her, and the disgusting parasite that was pulled from her seemed to defy logic. How the hell did that thing get inside her, and was Agent Shepherd truly responsible for this? Ammit claimed to know who Shepherd was, she knew about the video footage from the Heidel Building and claimed she was the woman involved – how much more did she know that she wasn’t letting on? Diane knew that under these circumstances threats of force would not work to obtain the answers she needed, and she knew absolutely nothing about Ammit and Patton that she could use as leverage to obtain what she needed from them. It was best, Diane reasoned, to let this mystery play itself out so more information could be learned. “Then I can plan my next move.”

                “We’re on you, C! I’ve got two men coming up on your position, and I’m right behind them! I can’t tell exactly what I saw in there but I don’t like it…”

                Diane smiled slightly at Zaleski’s words. Before tonight she always thought of him as purely mercenary, a slovenly mess of a man who had little to no moral qualms or ethical compunctions at getting done whatever needed to be done. Listening to him through the earpiece Diane could sense that he was terrified, acting more out of a need to protect someone he cared about than to protect a steady source of income. Diane never knew until now that he had it in him.

                “Zaleski, back off. I can handle myself from here.” Ammit sat patiently next to Diane as the driver sped up, weaving dangerously through nighttime traffic in downtown Mega City.

                “What? I can’t do that, C…”

                “Tell your men to fall back. I’ll be fine.”

                “Two bogies behind us, Ammit. Street choppers.” The driver motioned to Ammit with his eyes in the rear view mirror of the car. Ammit and Diane both looked through the sedan’s rear window to see two dark figures on sleek black motorcycles darting back and forth through the cars behind them. They were gaining on the sedan quickly.

                “Take evasive maneuvers, Patton. Try and lose them.” Ammit turned to Diane and pleaded with her. “Please, have them stop or we will have to stop them.”

                Diane reached into her purse and pulled out the small GPS that Zaleski gave to her. She then pulled the microphone and concealed camera from beneath her dress, balling them up into a wad as she lowered the car window. “Pick your gear up along the curb, Zaleski. Back off, now. I will call you when I am able.”

                “Are you sure…” Diane removed her earpiece and jammed it between the mass of wiring she held in her hand. Patton jerked the sedan to the right at high speed, causing the wheels to screech along the pavement and several drivers from other cars to blare their horns at him for his recklessness. The sedan careened down the highway as Diane threw Zaleski’s equipment from the window toward the curb. Ammit maintained watch through the back window, her face calm but concerned. After another series of hard lefts and rights, Patton slowed the car down as he made his turn onto the exit that would take them to Richland.

                “They’re gone, ladies. You can sit back and relax. Yet another smooth ride courtesy of the Patton Express!”

                “Good work.” Ammit smiled, taking one last look out the window before sitting comfortably in her seat. Diane was not impressed by Patton’s poor humorous attempt at self-flattery. “Now let’s hope we can get to the extraction point without any interference.”

                Diane turned her attention to Ammit. “Extraction point? May I ask where you think you are taking me?”

                “You may, but for now all I can tell you is that when we reach the extraction point and you at least listen to what we have to tell you, you can decide where to go from there.”

                “We? So there will be others present?”

                “Yes, but the one in particular who wishes to speak with you is a woman named Niobe."

                “I see. Well then, let’s find out what this Niobe has to say.”

[TO BE CONTINUED]