“I’m sure as well going to miss this place…” Darius muttered to himself, as he slowly removed a picture frame on the wall and wiped it clean. A newspaper article was neatly framed on it. “COUNTRY’S MOST WANTED SUSPECT ACCQUITED OF ALL CHARGES BY AN UP AND COMING LAWYER” was brightly displayed as the headline of New York Times. This was his pride and joy. Still, it was sad for him to retire at a young age of twenty-five, still unbeaten in all the cases that he has been representing in. There was nothing that posed as a threat to it. With all the money that he amassed, he could just basically afford a house or even two.
A ringing on his front door interrupted his thoughts, a gentleman who was at his thirties, as seen by his receding hairline, a sleek black suit and a pair of sunglasses walked in. “Geez…. Don’t he know today’s my last day…” Darius thought to himself, but it really didn’t matter much. He liked company. And to be fair, maybe he could get a bit more publicity if this person was actually a reporter. “Come in, come in!” he welcomed the visitor, swerving his office chair to the proper position as he directed him to another across the table. “Here, take a seat.”
The man politely accepted his offer, placing his large black briefcase on Darius’ work table, before removing his shades. “So sorry to bother you on your packing, my name’s Samuel, Samuel Burns.” He introduced politely, offering a hand which Darius shook immediately. Darius grabbed a box from his front pocket, before picking out a stick from it, igniting the edge with his lighter. “Want one?” He offered, much to the dismay of the well-dressed man who promptly declined. “Anyway, Mr Burns. Are you here to talk business or for some light hearted discussion?” He asked, watching as the man looked around his wall of achievements.
“I’m very impressed. For someone who is that young, you have accomplished much more of my other peers in this field.” Samuel complimented. “It’s just a darn shame that you’re calling it quits.”
“Well it gets boring after a while, you know. People come in begging for help, I help to offer the solutions. Pleading cases are a sham, overturning decisions is where the big money is at.” Darius responded, taking a deep breath of the cigarette before blowing a puff away from the direction of his guest.
“Well, if you’re in the need of a mid-career change, I do have a proposition for you. We need men like you, always wanting to fight, strive for challenges and-“
“Hold on, hold on.” Interrupted Darius. He started to sit upright. “Challenges? What challenges can be as tough as my field? Besides, I’m flowing with revenue left right and centre. Sponsorships, guest starring in late talk shows… I have no need for another of your corporate jobs.” Darius could see the sudden change in the expression of Mr Burns, his gentle smile crumpling up to a slightly annoyed glare.
“Well, sweet talk time is over.” Burns replied, his voice sounding more aggressive than before. “You know what you are? You’re a big fat fraud!” The statement made Darius’ eyeballs widen up immediately. “You don’t think we would know? All those fabricated evidences that your lackeys produce? How you paid off many of the homeless to take the hit so that your petty clients can run away scott-free? We know what you done.”
Darius’ hand reached to his collar in an attempt to loosen a little, sweat running down his forehead as he started to have difficulties swallowing his saliva. “No… I would never do that… you have completely no evidence!” He shouted, standing and slamming both his fists on his table. “Who are you in to have the audacity to enter my office and make such outrageous claims?” There was no way people would know the jig is up. He had everything covered up real well, he even-
The man opened the briefcase, where the first one showed a chat log between Darius and one of the men who admitted to the series of murders, executed just barely a few days ago, where Darius offered a lifetime support of his family members should he admitted that he was the one who did it. The next one showed pictorial evidence of him passing a briefcase towards the same person. There was a huge stack of papers that followed behind. Although Darius did not see the contents, it emphasized on how much evidence that was obtained against him, leaving him at a loss of words.
“I….”
“I had enough of this flower talk. We’re talking ultimatums. If you don’t join us, everything here gets exposed to the public. You know how many deaths of the innocent you caused? Well, you’re not getting the easy way out, we’re sending you to life imprisonment where you can hang out with all your ‘innocent’ clients.” Samuel demanded, closing up the briefcase as he neatly placed it on the middle of the ivory office desk. “A manipulative man like yourself will be hated by everybody. Honestly, I think you deserve a second chance.” His tone returned to normal as he wore back his shades, standing up and heading for the exit.
“My name card’s on the back of the briefcase. You have twenty-four hours. Oh, and say hi to Belinda to me, won’t you?” Samuel smiled as he took his time, knowing of the man’s stunned state, and exited the office.
“….What in the hell….” Darius uttered, still unable to comprehend on what had just unfolded within the last minute. Just who is this man and how did he read through all his actions. Taking another puff, he immediately picked up the phone and dialled for an extension. “Belinda, just who the heck is this guy and what does he want?”
“I… have… no idea!” The voice responded, fear prevalent in her voice as well. “I just crossed-checked his name and face on the database and his job is highly classified…. This can’t be the NSA isn’t it…”
“…No… it’s definitely something else…” Darius replied, looking at the name card. Operation Exodus. This is going to be way more interesting that he thought.