It's five hours after and the team arrived at a definite conclusion. Andrew asked, "So at this point, can we say we achieved zero evidence in more than six or seven hours? I mean we need extra pull or something.
Manchester sent a text about the new location to Andrew and Pero. Clifford noticed both men texting on their phones. He stood there quietly in his stance. They noticed the odd silence— Andrew lifted his face to understand the awkwardness creeping into the room. Clifford asks, "And your phones? Both of you?"
Pero replied, "Well I just received the new update from Manchester, he's got good game. I think we should team up, you know he's important. He's got the map to the grave yards and the whole case as well."
Clifford stared at his supposed misconducted effort. "Excuse me? We need someone else other than Manchester. He can't and will not listen to higher authority and guess what? For this case right here, I need him to meet up with the law, not his ego."
Andrew removed his eye glasses, he replied, "Manchester is the apotheosis of this entire team and not just that, he's the apotheosis of this entire office and this entire building. He's the best man standing, at least we've got to give him that."
Clifford stood stubbornly folding his arms. Clearly he wasn't having it but he needed the best. "Get the information from him, get it back to me."
Manchester burst the door open. "I don't expect you to call me by your simple authority, is that hard? Why send the man?"
Clifford stared at him, "Listen. You have just one chance and after that, it's over. Give us the information we need."
"Well I guess we'll need more politeness and a friend of mine. After all, we discovered the acid story. Agreed?" Manchester asked.
Clifford stared at everyone in the room, he turned his gaze to Manchester. "Agreed. Where is he? The friend?"
"It's a lady. A woman." He corrected.
Clifford placed his hands in his pockets. "Where's she? Who is she? And what's the significance of her presence to us?"
"You'll see her for yourself."
"I want to see her now. By order."
A sudden silence hit the room again. "Fine. I'll give her a call. Be nice. She's not too open."
Manchester walked out of the room. He held out his phone, "Sarah?"
"Manchester? What a surprise? What's up?"
He felt a mild warmth in his chest, he held up his chest in his folded arms. "How've you been? It's been a while. Are you good?"
"Yeah. Sure. Why not? What's wrong? It's unusual for you to give a call."
He loved the sound of her voice so deeply, he forgot to give her a reply over the phone. "Manchester? Are you there? Hello—Manchester?" She asked.
"Yeah right—I'm right here. Clifford wanted to see you. He wanted to have a little discussion with you about the case."
"Clifford? I thought you both hated each other."
"Well hatred is a strong word. Let's just say we bump our heads logically for a reason best known to no one including us." Manchester explained.
"Alright. I'll be on my way." She said.
"Or I could just pick you up? Maybe right now."
"Pick me up? Really? Okay. I'll be waiting. Or not. I'm on my way. Just wait." She hung up after that.
He smiled at it.
He turned only to see Clifford staring at him, eyeball to eyeball. He smiled a bit. Clifford asked, "Is someone in love?"
"Love? Love is a strong word Clifford. We are just meeting for the first time."
"Oh so there's a first time? Manchester? Do you really think you have a shot with her?"
"A shot? I have more than a shot with her."
Clifford smiled again, "Because?"
"Because what?"
"You talk on the phone?"
"Manchester? I'm here." Sarah said from behind him.
He turned to stare at her, deeply unsure it was her. "That was fast."
"Yeah I was right around the corner when you called."
Clifford interrupted their dialogue, "And speaking of fast. You must be Sarah? Sarah Rivers Lanco. Right?"
"Yes I am. I am Sarah. You wanted to see me, officer?"
"Of course. Let's meet at my office with the teammates." Clifford suggested.
"Sure." She agreed and followed him right behind.
Pero caught a glance of her. "Hey! You must be her, Sarah right?"
"Yeah. And you are?"
"Pero. I'm one of the most corporate officers within this building and I must say it is a pleasure to meet you. Do you plan on joining the service anytime soon? It suits you a bit."
She smiled, "Really? Thank you. I think I'll give it a thought but before that and by that I mean, before Manchester chops my head off at the start of this service or corporate journey. I think I'll let it pass."
"I see. You've got some type of humor and I know we need it right here at the office. You are fully welcome, I've got some level here at the information and communication technology unit. I'll be taking your statement." Pero stated.
Andrew shut the door. "Hey. Sarah, right?"
For some absurd reason she found Andrew attractive, especially because of his height and his body features. She stared at him for a while and he could immediately tell that he was the one she liked at first glance.
"Hey? Who are you?" She asked.
"Andrew."
"It's a pleasure meeting you Andrew. I'm Sarah Lanco."
"I've worked for and with the Lanco industries over these few years and I must say you guys are high tech and criminals at the same time. I must state."
She stared into his eyes like a happy puppy. He smiled back at her with his height towering over hers a bit.
Clifford stretched out a piece of paper. "We need every information you have concerning the issue at hand."
"Manchester? I need him here. We went there together."
She pulled out a piece of paper. She placed the paper on the table. "So there's this thing with drugs and acid, also with a few corpses around. Also a few graves. We've not fully uncovered it yet. I'll prefer it if we drive off to the site right now. We can't be around that sight at night. It'll be dangerous."
Clifford asked, "Do you have any hand in your family's former deals or any form of transactions ever?"
"No." She said.
"Alright then, let's move out to the site. Everyone included. Manchester you too."
He walked out of the office. "All officers for top zone six affairs. Meet us outside for a field job. Now."
The officers assembled outside the building awaiting the next command from Clifford.
Sarah walked out to meet him. "I'll move if Manchester walks in with me."
"Fine. For this case, Sarah and Manchester will be in charge of the first step and maybe the second! Let's go." He sat in his car for a while. He drove off.