Missing
Steve Murphy
Javier, Steve, and I have been a team for the past year or so. Working together until Noonan moved me out to deal with the Cali Cartel. With Pablo ordering bounties on heads. Cali was smart enough to keep themselves ahead and hidden, so they were growing big. The ambassador wanted to stay one foot in the door while Javier and Steve solved the problem with Pablo Escobar. In the department I focused on security and strategy. Getting Escobar in The Cathedral was a “win” for us, so they no longer needed me to track him. “Good afternoon boys” I walk in trying to contain a smirk. “Heard you two got into some trouble.” Javier groans as he continues to grab his belongings. I walk in and lean against his desk.
“Don’t act too sad.” I laugh at his words. I moved my eyes over to Steve who looked serene? “But it's on you.” I whip my head towards Javier who only shrugged. “If our voice of reason had answered her phone, we would’ve been let off with a warning.” I scoff, shaking my head.
“Unbelievable!” I throw my hands in the air, unable to comprehend his way of thinking. “This is what I don’t miss working with you morons.” The guys were already used to my name calling so they weren’t fazed. Javier smirks, turning his whole body towards me. He opens his coat and takes out his cigarettes. “Just like you I don’t like the idea of Escobar sitting in his castle up on the hill. Having the comfort of doing his dirty work as his men, officers and military protect him. By letting the news out about the murder that happened at The Cathedral you not only poked the bear but you shoved it so far up its ass it created a wormhole. The ambassador is going to have hell with this.” I crossed my arm waiting for Javier's response but he only blew out the smoke before grabbing his things and walking out the door.
“That's why we needed to talk to you.” I looked up towards Steve who was setting his briefcase on the ground before straightening up. His eyes coldly moved from the ground until he met my gaze.
“I have a hard time believing that if I told you it was a horrible idea you would set the phone down and go to sleep.” He scoffs. No reply as we both stand there looking at each other. It was a normal feeling, having him close as our eyes spoke what our mouths swore to keep secret. “You’re happy about it aren’t you?” I cleared my throat looking around to make sure no one was peeking from the open door.
“I get to crack a beer and watch Escobar’s endgame on TV,” he said in a teasing tone. He walks over to stand a couple of feets away from me and the door. “My schedule won’t intervene with someone else’s.” I chuckle as I push myself off Javier’s desk.
“That means you will still be home when I don’t know-” I act innocently watching some coworker walk by. “When I get out of here late?” I turn my back to the door and let him see the smile playing on my lips.
“Whoever decides to stop by later tonight will have a drink prepared and a whole meal.” He walks closer towering over me. My mind wasn’t worried about anyone seeing us right now. His proximity always made my head feel like I was floating. “They always bring desert with them.” I feel my cheeks burning red.
“An apple pie?” I whisper.
“No.” He shakes his head immediately. His hand moves up to run his finger down my jaw until he is gripping my chin. “What they bring is always sweeter.” My hand grip his wrist pulling his hand down.
“Glad you two have an understanding,” I turn around and walk out the door. “Go enjoy your suspension.” I wave back not even bothering to look back but by hearing his slight chuckle I knew he was smiling. I walk down the hall and towards the security room. How the hell am I supposed to focus? “Fuck” I grunt throwing my hands up.
“You okay?” I pause, turning around to see Carla there. Her eyebrows furrowed. She will probably think I am some weirdo if I told her the truth. The truth being that I was going crazy with how horny I was right now. That being in whatever relationship situation I was in was so complicated. We both have demanding schedules so it was only a few times we could see each other since we no longer work together. That it was me and my job that kept us apart now. Got me trying to think how I can get myself suspended too.
“Yeah.” I gulped trying to resolve my dry throat. “You know-” I smile awkwardly. “Cali Cartel.”
“Right.” She laughs. “If you ever need a drink after work I know this amazing place-”
“I will take you up on that!” I say trying to walk away slowly. She smiles bigger, nodding. “Thanks Carla”
“Just let me know when!” She screams as I take a turn to walk away.
“Okay.” I give a thumb up. Walking away I shake my head to clear my mind. “The faster I get done here, the faster I go home.” I let out a sigh and picked up my pace. “How’s it going in here?”
“Nothing yet on your Cali Cartel.” Old news. I pat Wysession’s arm as I walk past him.
“Anything on Herrera?” I pulled a seat on where a couple of Wysession’s men were hearing out for anything to do with the Cali Cartel. The young guy shakes his head pulling his headset back on. I groan, throwing my head back. “I feel like this whole thing is useless.” I speak to myself.
“Don’t go thinking about going under,” I look up, finding the Colonel looking down at me with a smile.
“Not doing that shit again.” I push the chair back and go over to grab a drink. “Don’t want to risk one of his men recognizing me.” My undercover work was a success but I was among men who have changed teams and I don’t want to risk one of them knowing me and blowing my cover while trying to bring down the Cali Cartel.
“In my opinion you were a sight to see on TV.” He comes behind me and takes the drink I prepared. “You had a natural talent for it.” I shake my head. I don’t even bother making another drink.
“I prefer staying alive.” Reporters die quickly here.
“You have a long life plan with this job?” I looked over to see how amused he was.
“No, one more case and I am out. I have a long life plan then.” I am not from Colombia but since being transferred I have fallen in love with this land and some of its people. Unfortunately even after Escobar or the Cali Cartel is over, there is always going to be some asshole who thinks they can do better. The illegal trafficking or crimes won’t ever be over.
“Well don’t go making stupid decisions like you’re used to making.” He finishes his drink and walks off. I let out a deep sigh. I walk over to pick up the file set aside for me and walk to my office. Just a couple more hours to go. The clock ticked and my feet matched the second hand. It bounced up and down until I felt it no longer worked. I was in my own office so by now my shoes were discarded and my shirt too, leaving me in only my tank top.
“We got something,” My head shoots up to a young guy peeking into my office. I grab my shirt and rush out. I was giving it a couple of hours but if they truly got something on the Cali Cartel, it might be my second night in the office, fuckkkk.
“Hey!-woah-woah, it's me!” After I felt a little shove I grabbed my hidden gun and stood ready. I focused on the person standing with their hands up.
“What the hell Javier.”I placed my gun back and layed down again on my couch. “You are lucky I am a light sleeper.” I placed my arm over my eyes covering it from the office light. I felt his presence still there and with seconds going by I knew he was struggling to get something out. I let out a groan before kicking my feet over the couch and sitting up. “What happened Javier?” My eyes turned into worry when he couldn’t meet my gaze. “Spit it out Pena” I said more sternly as I walked over to him.
“Someone found Steve's car out of his garage. Keys in the ignition with the car idling.” My ears began to ring. “I don’t want to contact the embassy security,” I looked over to my office phone and there were no messages. 11 hours have passed since I last spoke to Steve. I was supposed to leave this place two hours ago at 10 but by the papers spread out on the floor I guess sleep got the best of me. “I checked all the area hospitals, police stations. I think-”
“Don’t say it,” I turn to snatch my shoes and put them on. “If he did then there are only two groups who could have done it.” Escobar or the Cali Cartel. “Did you report it to the Regional Security Office?” I look up while finishing tying my shoes as I see him shake his head.
“If I tell the ROS it becomes a five-alarm fire, and whoever has him might panic. I came here to ask if you can check your sources with Wysession, see what comes up?” I nod walking over to him.
“Stay here. I will see what I can do.” I rush over in panic. I couldn’t allow my mind to be fueled with ideas, wrong ideas. I should have been there and probably stopped this from happening. But whatever the case was, it happened and now we must find Steve.
“This is your second night straight I told you to go home-” I moved past the Colonel motioning him to follow me.
“I need you to check with the Colombian military. Steve is missing and it might be Escobar.” His lips fall into a flat line. He simply nods and rushes out. “Okay,” I whisper to myself. “Get me everything you got on the Cali Cartel for the past 11 hours.” I point to the people handling the security. For the following 2 hours or so I hear the conversation and intel from the team and nothing. Wysession finally makes it back and his contact has heard nothing.
“You should report it.” he said before I left to see Javier. I walk in to see him pacing back and forth.
“Wysession’s contact knows jack shit and Cali Cartel is radio silent.” I place my hand on my hip as I watch Javier stop.
“Okay-” He sighs. His hand moves up to rub his forehead in frustration. “Okay.”
“Javier, you need to tell Noonan-”
“I know!” I can tell he has been taking it rough. “Sorry,”
He meets my eyes and sympathetically walks closer to me. “I will. I-” I wrap my arms around him. He won’t admit it but Steve has become one if not the only person who he can call a friend. I don’t know what those two have done since I have been gone but nothing in this line of work is short of dangerous.
“Go Javi.” He pulls back and with a last glance he walks away. I take a seat back down and throw my head back. I don’t know if it was the lack of sleep or the fact that my heart was beating faster than usual but I felt like I was close to passing out. I tilt my head over and see the seconds, and minutes pass by. 2:12 in the morning soon turned into 2:45. I took a look over the room and decided to head home, I wasn’t useful to anyone right now. I made it out to the parking lot until a voice stopped me.
“Think I can get a ride home?” It felt like my breath was just taken away. A shiver rushed down my body and once I turned around I felt a warm tear slip down my cheek.
“Hey.” My voice was barely audible. His hair was a mess, sweaty and going to different locations. His usual sad eyes with that damn half frown, half grin on his face.
“Hey.” He drew in a breath before I broke from my trance and rushed over to throw my arms around him. His arms rubbed my back as I sobbed into the crook of his neck. “I should get kidnapped more often,” I pulled back hitting his shoulder. “Geeze woman,” he laughed, rubbing his shoulder.
“Don’t joke about that Steve. Javier just told me about it less than 3 hours ago and see how that's got me?” His smile falls down and his eyes soften. His free hand moves to cradle my face and I close my eyes, tilting my head to his warmth.
“I'm sorry-” He whispers but I shake my head, cutting him off. I exhaled a deep breath before opening my eyes to meet his blue ones.
“I'm just glad you are okay and that I didn’t need to go to sleep worrying about you.” Truthfully I don’t think I would’ve gotten a good night's rest.
“I'm glad I can help you out,” A coy look appears on his face as he pulls me closer. “I prefer you going to sleep thinking about me and feeling something other than worry towards me.” I hear his teasing tone. I finally smile and grip him closer. With his body pressed up against mine I feel him slowly swaying us side to side.
“Disgust? Check.” He sneakers rolling his eyes.
“I was thinking what I felt when I first got to taste your lips,” His voice fell into a husky whisper. “Or the first time I got to taste you,” shit. My legs buckled like it was a command. “That feeling.” He chuckled, making me grip his suit jacket tighter.
“Steve, you need a ride?!” I push him away looking over to see Javier jiggling his keys. “Oh,” He tilted his head a bit seeing me appear. Steve was bigger so he was covering my figure. I look back over to Steve who even with the shity yellow street light I could see his jaw clenched. I look back over to Javier whose shoulder fell, something happened between those two.
“I got it Javi! Thanks.” He simply nods and turns to his car. I look back over to Steve and decide not to question anything right now. He has had a long day. “Let's get you home and this time I will make sure you get inside.” I hit his chest playfully and turned towards my car.
“Yes ma’am.” He cleared his throat rushing over to my side. “As long as you stay with me tonight.” I smile, intertwining our hands together.
“Of course honey.” My head falls to rest on his arm as we walk calmly down to my car. It was nice to hold him in the fresh air. Times like this made me feel grateful for having him, maybe it was time to tell the world. Better to enjoy what I have before someone tries to take it away from me again.