Location: Harper Rock, Canada.
Operation: Black Heart.
Objective: Reconnaissance.
--- Follow Protocol ---
She couldn't count the times she had read the message sent from her boss. How was she to ascertain her mission from eleven words? Eleven simple words that held so much meaning, yet no one had read her in. She didn't know what 'Black Heart' was, yet they wanted her to go to Canada and scout out information? Running her hands through her hair, she dropped her head into her palms and groaned lightly. This wasn't the first time they had sent her in blind, and the last time had nearly cost her. She could question it, surely. She could walk into Jo Anne's office and demand more information, but she wouldn't get it. Instead, she would be met with a stare that could freeze a forest fire in place. "I guess I have no choice," she muttered as she slid her chair back.Operation: Black Heart.
Objective: Reconnaissance.
--- Follow Protocol ---
Opening her drawer, she pulled her gun and passport out, tucking them both into their prospective places as she once again read the message. Black Heart, Canada, Reconnaissance. There was mention of protocol, but as she scanned the e-mail once more, she noticed there was nothing for her to follow. There was no cover, no sources, no secret hand-shake (Okay, there was never one of those). Nothing. Nada. Zip. It was passed suspicious now, and border-lining straight psychotic. What could be wrong in Canada? Wasn't that out of their jurisdiction, anyways? With a roll of her eyes, she grabbed her keys from the desk and powered off her computer, shaking her head all the while. It made no sense.
Pulling her key card from her back pocket, she headed for the elevator, her heels clicking against the pristine black tile. The sound was comforting and annoying all in one. Comforting in the sense that the office was deadly quiet, so the noise appeased her - and annoying in the fact that the office was deadly quiet, which meant that Jo Ann heard her leaving. Before she could even slide her key into the slot, her boss was heading down the stairs, her loafers making no noise. She was silent in everything she did. It was unnerving. "Nakia. The package will be dropped off by the time you get home. The information we can allow you to know is in there. Read it all thoroughly before your plane in the morning." she said calmly, before sliding her own key.
"What all can you tell me?" she asked, causing Jo Ann to turn back to her. She had dismissed her after her order, and the look in her eyes spoke volumes on how much she hated being questioned. "It will be in the file, Graves. You'll be heading in alone. There will be no contact with us. Jacob will have everything you need waiting for you by lift off." she said in that same clipped tone, before motioning to the elevator when the doors slid open. Sliding past her, Nakia tucked her bag against her side and lifted her gaze. What she saw when she met the green of her boss's eyes made her stomach twist. The cold was gone, and for a brief moment, compassion and concern ran rampant. "And Nakia?" Jo Ann spoke, her voice quiet, "Be careful."
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Be careful.
Be careful.
The last words her boss spoke to her kept dancing around in her mind. Jo Ann never told them to be careful. It was go in, get the job done, and get out. Why would she warn her? Why would she send her in alone if it was dangerous? Where was she sending her? From the moment she had stepped into the office at 7:14 A.M., her life had been nothing but unanswered questions. The file that had been tucked between her mattresses hadn't helped her any. In fact, it had made no sense whatsoever. The papers were strewn across her bed, the black typed words seeming to blur together. It was filled with missing persons reports and violent deaths. The sources ranged from mad to insane with their theories. They wanted her to go in, ask around, find out what she could. They wanted her to walk into the Heart of Madness.
"They want me to die," she whispered as she reached for another page and read the words. Four missing women, all teenagers, in one night. They had left without a trace. The sources that had been left behind were so confused, they didn't even remember their own names. "Drunks, maybe?" she questioned out-loud as she skimmed the next page. More reports of people left dazed. "Maybe there's something in the water," she chuckled as she began to put the papers back into place. She could not take the job. She could stay home, say she didn't feel comfortable being sent into something so blind. They had no leads, no theories outside of aliens or cult serial killers. They had nothing to go on. The thought was tempting, but she knew she wouldn't be able to do it. She lived for her job. If there were people missing, she wanted to find them. Failing that, she wanted to seek justice for them.
She had no choice.
She was going to Harper Rock.
