If Only..(Part 1 And Part 2 Included)(Under Edit)

Chapter 40 - Closure

Madeline: I am all ears.

Mr. Alvarez placed a letter in the table and slipped it towards her: Firstly, I congratulate you for the execution of Corvett. It was brave, indeed and you stayed up to your word. 

Madeline frowned: Thank you. I'm honored. But, what's this?

Mr. Alvarez: Read it.

Madeline picked up the letter and scanned through the lines as Mr. Alvarez walked up to the glass window and stood facing the skyline.

Madeline: They are asking for an answer on why didn't you seek for the special force.

Mr. Alvarez nodded his head still facing away from Madeline: Jake's death made it to the media and it spread all across like wild fire.

Madeline: And why didn't you use the special force?

Mr. Alvarez: The same reason as to why I asked Claros for help. This was a secret mission, Madeline. I couldn't let a propaganda of our strategies. Only few of our trusted men knew about it. I called upon Claros because I wanted him to take charge. Only that is how it would have looked like a gang fight. But, it backfired and took away the most precious asset, we had.

Madeline: There were hostages for heaven sake. There were kids.

Mr. Alvarez: I know. You think, I would have let it slip by? Madeline, try to understand. They are not some roadside robbers or thieves. They are gangsters we are dealing with. If you guys were directly linked with the ambush, your faces would have been all over the news and nevertheless, we cant expect them to not have an alliance. If any of them beyond our knowledge decides to avenge the defeat. *exhales sharply* we would have had no where to go.

Madeline: But, they already avenged the defeat. They killed Jake...right....in front of my eyes.

Mr. Alvarez:I know, I know. I am sorry about that. But, as for the media.

Mr. Alvarez turned towards Madeline and walked up to his table as Madeline kept her eyes on him.

Mr. Alvarez: However sensitive, it might be. We need to fabricate a story. We will say, we...we were  informed by an unknown source about a gang fight and...while we went in to intervene, we found hostages, and Jacob, well he died while rescuing them.

Just then,

Claire: Sir!

Both of them turned around to find Claire standing at the door. Claire's face changed as she found Madeline.

Claire: Sorry, I would come in later.

Mr. Alvarez: No, it's fine.

Claire walks in with head plunged low.

Mr. Alvarez: What is it?

Claire: We succesfully created contact with kins of 8 kids, for two of them, we are still trying to establish any form of contact.

Mr. Alvarez: What do you mean?

Claire: They say they have no one to contact with. Maybe, they have nowhere to go.

Mr. Alvarez: Keep trying. Maybe, they are from faraway places. Maybe, maybe they are still into trauma.

Claire: What if they are telling the truth?

Mr. Alvarez: If we fail to contact anyone,  we should try getting in touch with a children home.

Claire nodded: I got it, sir.

Mr. Alvarez: What about the search operation?

Claire: The search is still on. We believe we can get hold of some of the prisons by the end of the day.

Mr. Alvarez nodded: Thank you.

Claire nodded, shared a last look with Madeline and walked out of the room.

Mr. Alvarez puts his hands inside his pocket and takes a deep breath while plunging his face down.

Mr. Alvarez: Oh! There is something I forgot. I heard you went to Cleo's?

Madeline nodded.

Mr. Alavarez: How is she?

Madeline fixed her eyes on the reflection of the ceiling that fell on the glass top of the table and moved her head in denial.

Mr. Alvarez read her response, leaned towards the table, supporting his upper weight with his hands pressed over the table and held his head low.

Mr. Alvarez(exhaling): I can't even imagine, what she must be going through. The poor lady is pregnant for heaven sake.

Madeline closed her eyes and sniffed. 

Mr. Alvarez: Madeline, how is Claros?

Madeline looked up at Mr. Alvarez, with startled eyes, least expecting such a question.

Mr. Alvarez: I hope he is taking good care of you.

Madeline shoot up at once, and dusted of her blouse.

Madeline: Um. I should get going.

Mr. Alvarez realised that she dodged the question and twitched his lower lip. He looked up at her and nodded. She rushed out of the room and thumped across the cabins until she reached the main door.