Chapter Five - Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

"Meeting in ten." I grunt to Mac as I enter the clothing store and make my way to the back.

I see him nod from the corner of my eye as he pitifully tries to work the cash register. I enter my office with an amused smirk and kick the door shut. Powering up my computer I grab the files waiting for me on my desk and open the first one up. I briefly glance through each one and realize that we're going to be having a long meeting.

One by one they all file in except for the trainees that stay out front. There's twelve of us and I'm in charge of the entire FCAA operation base in Houston. Mac is my partner and the one who I'm most close with. He has jet black hair with dark brown eyes. While he looks like he can snap anyone in half his personality is the complete opposite, warm and friendly. Mac is a mix of his parents so he has both sharp and soft features.

The next to join the team were Remi, Navy and Morgan. Navy has blonde hair while the other two have light brown hair with blonde highlights. Navy has tan skin, dark blue eyes like his name with sharp features and a built figure. Remi and Morgan are more boyish looking with pale skin and green eyes except Morgan's are much darker. Remi and Navy are the only ones who match my height.

Next are Payton, Dakota and Briar. Payton is a pale redhead with brown eyes and a lanky figure which many people end up underestimating because he can certainly hold his own. He's one of our best hackers alongside Briar. Briar has an olive complexion and long auburn hair which she's dyed bright red right now. She changes her hair color so regularly now that it's not even a surprise anymore when she does. She's almost as tall as us and quite toned with sharp features.

Dakota keeps her black hair as a pixie cut and has pale grey eyes that stand out from her tan skin. Her features are delicate and seem fairy like. She's short too but knows how to use it to her advantage. She's a curvy woman just like Cleo who is one of my trainees. Cleo has dyed her platinum blonde hair pastel blue but almost always keeps it in Dutch braids. Her eyes are catlike and hazel with soft features and caramel colored skin.

Next are Devon, Quincy, and Frankie who are also trainees like Cleo. Frankie is basically the baby of our team at age eighteen. He has an olive complexion with light blue eyes, dark brown hair and baby features. Quincy is only a year older than him with dyed blonde hair, dark grey eyes and tan skin. They're both lanky right now but are starting to build muscle. Lastly, there's Devon with deep chocolate skin and warm brown eyes but with green flecks surrounding his pupil. He has defined muscles and is older than Quincy and Frankie so thankfully he's teaching them how to gain muscle like him.

There's many FCAA operations spread out throughout the world with three in the United States. We take care of the more strategic cases which require undercover operations that stretch beyond the regular police department duties. I joined when I was twenty-one alongside Mac who studied in England with me. We have been inseparable ever since but he does tend to get on my nerves.

"Did you put sugar in it this time?" I ask as he saunters up to me with a stupid smirk on his face.

"It was one fucking time, let it go already!" He rolls his eyes as he sets down the coffee cup.

I grunt before telling Navy to turn on the projector. Sighing I stand and get to work. I brief the team on the individual cases and our strategies for each, working with them to get the plans to be as fool proof as possible. Two of the cases are human trafficking operations so the need to have our strategies one hundred percent perfect is crucial.

Hours tick by as we go through each "what if?" situation and come up with numerous back up plans to handle them. I end up yelling at Mac, Payton and Dakota numerous times to stop talking. I fully believe that they have this agenda to make my life ten times harder and miserable.

Eventually we call the trainees in after we've figured out how we're going to approach each case. We run through the plans with them and make sure they understand what they're doing throughout the next month before Navy announces another coffee break. He stands and stretches before telling Remi and Morgan to get everyone's orders. Both groan in annoyance before jotting everything down on their notepads.

I make my way back to my desk and sit down. Every time we have these strategy meetings I must type up a report for my supervisor, Justin Vale. He reviews them with the Chief of FCAA operations in America before getting back to me with either an approval or changes.

But as I'm doing so my thoughts inadvertently wander to Elena Moretti. The blonde haired, brown eyed she-devil barged into my life and managed to wreak complete havoc. She's determined I'll give her that. Ever since I met her she's been fixated on finding this serial killer...except she doesn't realize the danger she could get herself into.

I remember our conversation from last night and pray to God that she listened to my warnings. I plan to check up on her after and if I don't find her at the motel then I'm going after that lunatic. It's like she has a death wish!

But no matter how hard I try to concentrate on the paperwork before me I find myself thinking about her. Her eyes are quite dark but I did notice flecks of green in them too. Her features are delicate which contrasts greatly with her bold personality. And she looks like an angel with a halo whenever the light hits her golden blonde hair. Her expressions are hilarious as well especially when outraged. Focus, Roman! I sigh heavily before ridding my thoughts of her.

"Did we get approval yet to go to Louisiana? That D.S. guy moves fast and there's no point in arriving late when he's done the job and fucked off." Mac takes a seat opposite me before turning around and telling everyone to get out.

I watch as the team filters out of my office with their individual folders on the next few cases lined up. "Justin said he'll call today. We'll probably head out tomorrow."

"Do you think we'll catch him?" Mac asks with a deep frown.

I shrug halfheartedly and nod. "We've caught many others before."

"I bet he's a lanky little shit, fresh out of school...maybe in college." He mutters thoughtfully as he props his feet onto my desk which I immediately push off with a glare. "Can't get some so he decides to murder them instead."

We've always had this thing where we place a bet about the culprits. Mac keeps it short and simple whereas I think too much into the details. I've always been able to guess things straight away about a person, doesn't matter if I've met them or not. It's irritating sometimes but it's saved my ass on more than one account.

"I bet he got hurt by a former flame and is still in school which explains that he's only after girls who are just about to graduate. Parents are rich who couldn't give a fuck about their child, he's probably the only one too. He gets the money to travel from them and if he keeps up his grades they won't breath down his neck twenty-four seven." I reply as I insert the pictures we took of the entry strategies.

Mac blinks slowly before a low huff escapes him. "You're probably going to win again...like every other time."

That quirks my lips just as Navy walks in with coffee and sandwiches. I thank him before he takes a seat beside Mac and we talk more about the case with D.S. He's been on the run from Washington for two months now and has murdered over thirty girls after kidnapping and torturing them brutally. It's been hard to chase after him only to find another innocent life taken.

"I'll see you guys later." I say after sending the report and finishing my food.

"Off to meet blondie?" Navy grins devilishly which makes me freeze as I pick up my keys.

"What?"

"You know what Rome! Don't be coy!" Mac snickers as I glare at him. "We can find out in other ways if –"

"You will not look into her!" I frown as the two smile widely at my response.

"Does Rome finally have a girlfriend – ow!" Mac whines dramatically when I throw the Styrofoam cup straight at his forehead.

"She's not my girlfriend –"

"Yet." Navy wiggles his brows teasingly.

I shake my head before leaving my office and the store. Getting into my car I start the engine before driving off. Elena is a pain in my ass and nothing more, I think to myself with a sigh at the immature idiots that I call teammates.

Eventually I pull up to the gloomy and drab looking motel with suspicious looking people wandering around either smoking or drinking alcohol. Glancing around discreetly for any danger or mistreatment I cut the engine before opening the door. Making my way inside and up to the bored looking receptionist I ask which room Elena is staying in.

"She left this morning." The old woman replies a bit too loudly while chewing her gum rather noisily.

And my worst fear comes true. Nodding I turn and walk out of the building with barely contained anger. That woman will be the death of me! Why is she so insistent on getting herself killed?! I think to myself in frustration as I slam the door shut and start the car. Dialing her number, I wait for her to pick up as I merge back into the city traffic.

"Hello?" An older voice answers in a confused tone.

"Elena?" I frown in equal confusion.

"No sorry, I think you've got the wrong number." The woman responds before hanging up abruptly.

"Fuck!" I punch the dashboard when I realize she gave me the wrong number.

I quickly drive back to the operation base and rush inside. I need to follow her quickly and the only way I can do that is to get approval from Justin to leave for Louisiana. With one sharp look to Navy and Mac they stop grinning immediately before I slam the door to my office shut. I make a call to my supervisor and am relieved to find out that he just emailed me the approved documents and plane tickets for tonight. I alert the police department there that I'll be popping in before calling Mac, Briar, Payton and Cleo.

"We'll be travelling to Louisiana tonight where D.S. has kidnapped three more girls. Briar and Payton, I'm going to send some locations to you so see if we can find anything before we board." I state as I take a seat by my computer again. "Cleo, myself and Justin will need a report on your learnings after this trip too. We'll hopefully be back by next Monday."

They nod before making their way out to get ready. I narrow my eyes at Mac who's still standing with a stupid grin on his face. He walks up to my desk slowly and his pace only pisses me off even more. My frown deepens when he places his hands on my desk and leans in.

"Let me guess –"

"I'd rather you didn't." I roll my eyes and watch him glower at me before smiling again.

"Blondie ran off to Louisiana?" I stare at him silently which he takes as a confirmation. "Oh, I already love her!"

"You think what she's doing is a great idea?!" I retort in annoyance.

"No but it's funny to watch her keep you on your toes." He smirks before hurrying out the room. "Looks like you've finally met your match Jackson and I can't wait to meet her!"

Why do I have the feeling that they'll only cause me more trouble if they meet?

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- R.W. ♡