The Royal Contract

Chapter 628: A snake in the grass

“Can you grab me a cup of coffee and a muffin?” Tim instructed one of his men, who dropped a few files on his tables. He had just finished another meeting with his head of security that morning.

They discussed updating their security system after last night’s break-in. He could not afford another slip up like that. Cause another incident might be worse and could mean their deaths, as their enemy clearly pointed out.

He checked his watch, calculating if he still had a few more minutes before he had to leave. He had planned to meet another informant before lunch, and he did not want to be late.

“Yes, Sir.” The well-built man nodded his head, acknowledging his simple task.

He returned back to his files. So far, the reports he had received still led them nowhere. Although the pictures might be pointing to something, they still could not grasp the entire connection.

They could not go with a story that lacked the necessary facts to back it up. A half-baked case would never stand in court or his principles.

He would not falsely accuse anyone of something that he had not enough evidence of. Everybody deserved their day in court to defend themselves. But he could also be the judge and executioner if need be. If he could prove their guilt.

.....

“Bring it to me as soon as possible.” Tim dismissed the man as he skimmed the files now littering his table.

He usually preferred to be out in the field, scouting some area, on a mission, and most importantly, guarding the prince. But today, his obligations stuck him with research, reports, and other things that did not interest him that much.

But what he had to do next was just what he needed this morning. It was one of the things that excited him and kept his adrenaline pumping. He could not wait to be in his next appointment.

“Sir, here is what you had asked for.” The soldier came back, disrupting him from his work. He carried a paper cup and bag, placing them on his desk.

Then, the young man quickly cleared the room, making him gaze at his retreating back before the door closed again, leaving him again with his thoughts.

His men usually followed him without questions, not because they had no voice in their organization. But because they trusted him explicitly. They respected his authority.

He took his obligation as if his life depended on it. Because he was not responsible only for himself but also for every member of this association.

“I am not doing this for myself, but for all my fallen comrades.” He spoke on a picture that he pulled inside his drawer.

He ran his fingers on the glass frame, tracing her face as he stared at those adorable eyes. He was the love of his life, but she died a tragic death when she was mistaken to be him.

Now, he once again was faced with a dilemma. Another decision had to be made once he stepped foot on his next appointment. He returned the frame to the drawer and stood up, carrying his gun. Swearing that it was for the betterment of everyone.

He looked at the food, now sitting on his table, and grabbed it on his way out. With a purpose, he strode toward another hallway away from his office.

He walked further to the other side of the building. It was still part of the building but a new addition to the facility. It had another secret passage that authorities would never find if they came to check the place.

Once he keyed in the password, the secret door opened and revealed another hallway with several doors. He knocked on the first door and looked at the hidden camera.

“It is me.” Automatically, the door opened as it recognized his voice and scanned his eyes.

It was a moderate size room where the controls were located. Several screens covered the walls, indicating the different cameras placed in the various location in the building.

“Sir, I think he had studied all the blind spots around the area, making him invisible to most of our security.” The man sitting on the control reported immediately to him.

But he pointed out a few instances where he was caught by the cameras, but it was just barely, making it hard for the one who was guarding last night to spot him.

“Then, you better give me a detailed report on what we should do about those blind spots. What about the key card?” He asked, not wanting another problem to slip through their fingers.

He remained standing just beside him, checking the screen and the other rooms in the building. From his position, everything seemed to be in order.

“It was already deactivated. I also reprogram the current key cards, updating everyone’s status.” One of his tech men assured him that this incident would never happen again with the new system they had put in place.

“Good. Keep up the good work.” Tim praised his men, giving credit when it was due, tapping the man on the shoulder.

After giving a final look at the other screen on the far right, he told his men to continue working on the new system. He did not want any bugs to mess up with the new system.

Then, he moved out of the room, walking to the second farthest door in the hallway. Outside he did the same with the door, and again it opened.

This time, it revealed two men who looked up to him when he entered the room. Once again, they were sitting on a monitor, watching something.

When he turned to his right, he gazed at a glass window covering half of the other wall. On both sides, cameras were pointing to the other room.

“What have you gathered so far?” Tim asked the first man nearest to him while looking beyond the glass window.

On the other side of the glass, he could see a man sitting quietly on a single chair. His eyes were burning with anger, but his body was already badly bruised.

He moved closer to the partition, staring into those eyes. He knew the other man could not see him behind the one-way glass. But he could feel those deadly glares were directed at him.

That man used to be someone he had admired. A brother that he trusted with his life. Currently, he was reduced to a traitor, a snake in the grass.