With a Pull of a Trigger

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“Give my regards to your mom and dad, okay? Take care, R.”

Reini turned around and smiled at her uncle. “I will.”

And Reini stepped into the elevator, looking at her uncle until the elevator doors closed.

Emmanuel sighed, looking at the closed elevator doors.

“Take care of yourself, Santhe.”

Gil stepped into the cold room, looking at the man seated behind the glass desk. Isaac Clayton, The Alliance’s Head of Office and Director looked at Gil coolly and nodded to one of the seats in front of his desk. “Sit, Gil.”

Gil nodded, sitting at the desk. “You called for me, sir?”

Isaac nodded. He stood up, walking to a small table at the far side of the room where a bottle of expensive Scotch and crystal glasses were. “Scotch, Gil?”

Gil nodded his head. “Yes, please.”

Isaac poured Scotch into two glasses, putting the cap back on the bottle right after. He took the two crystal glasses and walked back to his desk, handing one to Gil.

Gil nodded as he accepted the glass. “Thank you.”

Isaac smiled at Gil, sitting on his chair. He raised his glass. “To The Alliance, and its causes.”

Gil looked at his Scotch, and then back up at Isaac, smiling as he raised his glass. “Cheers.”

Both men drank the Scotch swiftly, feeling the smooth burn of the expensive alcohol down their throats.

Isaac put his glass on the table before him. “Gil, you know you’ve always been one of the most important agents in this organization. When The Alliance started losing money because the government had to cut back funds, you volunteered to help fund this organization, along with many others. Your money has saved the Los Angeles office of this organization, and in behalf of all Alliance agents, I thank you.”

Gil listened with a carefully-masked face. He knew that by “the government had to cut back funds”, Isaac actually meant, “We haven’t stolen and sold anything on the black market yet and we’re starting to lose money.” He nodded curtly, a mere bow of his head as a sign of respect to the man who managed to fool a lot of people into thinking they were working for the CIA. “You’re welcome.”

“You’re one of the most intelligent and quick-witted agents we’ve had for a very long time, Gil. One of the most sensible, too,” remarked Isaac.

Gil chuckled, a forced one that he had perfected over the years of pretending to be someone he was not. “Harvard has a way of doing that to you.”

Isaac smiled. He stood up, his suit immaculately pressed and without any wrinkles. “Come, Gil. I have something to show you.”

Gil stood up, following Isaac as he exited his office.

“Over the years,” Isaac said as he walked down the corridor, “The Alliance had managed to work behind the scenes without the public knowing. These wouldn’t have been possible without the latest equipment in espionage, sensible leaders, and most importantly, patriotic agents with a sense of duty to their country, as well as their acquired skills and talents.”

Gil nodded, walking beside Isaac as they stepped into an elevator. He watched as Isaac pressed the button for Sublevel five. He raised an eyebrow, but did not comment.

“The Alliance has a lot of enemies,” Isaac continued, looking forward, “and over the years, The Alliance has managed to incapacitate most of them.”