25: Discoveries

Mehar's eyes darted from the door to Balthazar. The polished tiles underneath them reflected the two of them as they stood cautiously.

"Open up, it's me," a familiar voice said from the other side. 

Mehar sighed a sigh of relief as she opened the door for Sarafaraz, who walked in holding Aabhans hand. When they realized what their hands were doing, they let go, Sarafaraz regaining his composure as Aabhan struggled to do so. 

"What's going on up there?" Mehar asked.

"Chaos is one way to put it. They're loosing their heads over tying to find you. And the guests-"

He was interrupted by what sounded like a herd of rhinoceroses clambering down the stairs. 

"That must be them," he beamed, in mock enthusiasm.

"Did they get something on the shootout or who was behind it?" Balthazar enquired.

"I don't think they've got anything on it, but I've got some pretty damning evidence," Sarafaraz said, pulling out a green envelope from his pocket.

Its seal already broken, the green envelope revealed a letter set in a darker green. 

'We cordially invite you to our humble establishment,' the print in the letter read.

As if an afterthought, scribbled on with a ball point pen that had been smudged was, 'I hope we manage to dazzle you enough to give up my dear dazzlers'

They didn't need to check on the address that signed the letter of to know where it had come from and who had wanted them to get it so badly. 

"How did this get to you by the way?" Mehar asked.

"It was slipped in through the crack between the balcony doors," Sarfaraz explained, "I didn't notice the it at first," he managed, squirming.

"What were you doing with your eyes off the possible means of entry?" Mehar sounded vexed.

Seeing Sarfaraz look at his feet, Balthazar intervened, "what happened after that?"

"By we got to him and picked up the letter he had already left," Aabhan answered, gratefully. 

"When we opened the door, we were just in time for the shootout," Sarfaraz completed. 

"You saw them?" Meher asked.

"They looked a lot like our teams usually do. The black and the vests with the helmets. There were only two of them," Sarafaz offered, "couldn't see their faces though."

Balthazar noticed Meher go quiet. She shook herself awake, dismissing whatever it was that bothered her.

"So what are we doing?" she asked.

Balthazar shrugged, "I haven't been in this scene for years now. I'm too lost to offer counsel."

Meher turned to Aabhan, who looked at her and Balthazar in tandem and confusion.

"Do you have anything to say on the matter," Meher prompted.

Aabhan took a minute to think before managing to say, "I'm not paid enough for this shit. I'd like out."

Considering what he said for a minute, Mehar offered, "Unfortunately I can't let you have your way fully, you understand that your life is in danger now?"

Aabhan nodded.

"You don't have to join us anywhere and we will try our best to deflect any harm that comes your way, but in the meantime you'll need to have our personnel with you at all times."

Watching Aabhans eyes widening, she added, "I didn't mean a lot of people," she chuckled, "fear now, you won't be walking around town surrounded on all sides by men in black. Just an escort, your pick."

Aabhan looked at Sarfaraz. Sarfaraz looked at Meher and nodded.

"So it's settled then, I'll be going into the field tomorrow evening as the invite suggested. I hope whatever reinforcement HQ sends will get here by then. You have the whole of tomorrow to decide if you're in or not," Mehar said, the last part for Balthazar. 

Sarfaraz held the door open for Aabhan and nodded to Meher before closing the door after them, let's hope their story continues on the other side of the door.