Her Dark Side

Her Dark Side

Chapter One

Jack Myers, I read out loud to myself as my eyes briskly skim the large words printed on the front of the bulging folder that rests in my palms. Just holding it is setting my blood on fire, the thrill of doing something I shouldn't is spurring me on.

Jack is the worst criminal known for miles. And in the few small towns around here, everybody knows his name.

At one point I had him in this very office block but not as a criminal. No, he was my partner and a role model citizen. And here at work like two best friends in kindergarten, we did everything together in our fight for justice. I was his wing man. His back up. And he was mine. One of us was never seen without the other. Our partnership came as a package and we never worked alone. I treasured him more than anything in the world.

But after one very serious case that we both got too involved in, the bad guys gave him the choice of join their side, the dark side, or watch me die. And funnily enough, despite all my pleading, he gave me a quick kiss on the forehead and left promptly, promising everything would be fine.

That was three years ago and I haven't seen him since.

I sip the watery coffee I've brought in here with me, which is now beginning to turn cold and then I begin to let my mind drift into the nostalgia of those times.

I miss him.

Whenever the thought of him decides to slip in to my brain, which is a lot, I always find myself falling into a deep state of mourning like I've lost him for good. I feel like dropping to my knees and crying. As an independent woman I never carry out this urge unless I'm alone and out of the eye of the public. That'd only happened once since he left though and that had been the very day he abandoned me itself.

His face is floating about in the front of my mind and as much as I'm afraid that if I push it away I will eventually forget the small but important details about him, like that freckle above his right eyebrow or the dimple in his cheek when he genuinely smiled, I have other things I need to focus on. Like finding him.

I distract myself by looking back down to his file. I had been warned to stay away from this case. Numerous times, in fact. Strict orders from the boss to stand down. But how can I?

I only came here to get some petty crime folder, an old ladies purse had been taken a few weeks ago and the papers need refiling. That's all this office lets me do these days, since I was stupid enough to allow a case to get so bad, they don't trust me with the big stuff anymore. But just as was going to leave the room with the file I needed.. I saw his one. An A4 brown folder, bursting at the seams, with the words JACK MYERS CASE on the front in massive red letters.

Why do I always let curiosity get the better of me?

So I picked it up and now I'm sat on the edge of the desk in here. Nervously, I try to get up the courage to open the front cover and I try to think of all the reasons why I should cross this line.

Well, number one, I deserve more closure then him just up and leaving, promising to make everything better. It's been three years for goodness sake, I'm going crazy here. Number two, he put his own life on the line to save mine and now I need to return the favour.

As I feel courage slowly cloud my judgement, I begin turning the cover by its corner very delicately, as if it were to break in my shaky hands. I shut my eyes tightly as the page fully opens, then I open my eyes to the fresh page.

By the slight dog eared corners and ever so slightly faded ink, it's obvious many people have opened this file. Jack Myers, Criminal, Ex-force, Partner to Willow. I read aloud but under my breath, very briskly as if I'm running out of time but most probably because I am. This room is very open to all the agents and staff here. Any moment, someone could walk in.

One particular thing catches my eye as I skim over the words. I read it out loud to myself again.

Last seen... I begin but a voice from the doorway cuts me off.

October the eleventh 2012. The voice booms over my own.

I gasp before I can see who it is and the file falls from my sweaty palms and to the floor. I helplessly watch the many important papers fly all over the place and merge into a messy order.

I then finally look over to the person in the doorway to see who caught me in the act. It's my boss, Robert Jerrald, and he's looking rather annoyed. That's an understatement. He's absolutely fuming. At first I'm too shocked to do anything but he loudly clears his throat and my mind slowly begins to work again.

I whizz thoughts quickly around my cloudy brain trying to come up with an excuse, improvise. That's what I've been trained to do. But this is the guy that trained me so I'm done for anyway.

Don't bother, he sighs and he rolls his eyes at my mock confusion. Save the lame excuses. Look I get it, it's hard but it's for your own safety that I keep you off the case, Willow.

I know, sir, but his file was right there. I murmur, looking longingly at the table, where the what was a once neat folder, had been sat. "I just had to. I let a long sigh out, giving in and muttering apologies as he helps me to pick up the papers. I just need to know he's okay." I add in a sad mumble when we finish.

Willow? Robert says, looking straight into my eyes so he can show he's being sincere but I just end up feeling intimidated. We're doing the best we can. But you getting mixed up in this would make everything twice as hard. That gang still want you and that's why they took Jack. But they can't have you so they're using him against you until you give in. You know that, I know that and I will tell you every time temptation clouds you.

That just makes me want to help more... I admit carelessly, without thinking perhaps that's not what I should be saying to my boss until it's too late. I know all those details already but nothing will stop me. I just need to have Jack back.

Unless you want to be taken too, I suggest you stay away. Comprende? He questions and I just look down to the floor. He sighs, knowing that due to my stubbornness, he won't get a reply from me so he snatches up the file and leaves the room without another word.

Despite all that he said, I'm still going to try and help. I don't even care about consequences any more. I want and need my Jack back. The only problem is, Jack's way of dealing with this all is to do what the bad guys say. Not that he has a choice. But now he's eligible for the death sentence with all the crimes he has committed with that stupid gang since he joined them three years ago.

The worst thing though? Is that it's all my fault. I should have sacrificed myself to go with the gang instead of him. I'm not sure if I would've coped better or if I would have done exactly what he did but I know for a fact he would have coped with my disappearance so much better.

There's just one thing I don't understand. I saw something else in the file that made no sense. According to the file he's still working for my agency, External Intelligence Operations. Also known as E.I.O.

The thing is, pretty much as soon as Jack disappeared when I was still involved, the board had a meeting to confirm cutting off ties with Jack until further notice because despite the fact having him as a double agent was a possibility, they decided it was too dangerous and so they let him go. That further notice hasn't happened yet. Or had it and they'd left me out of the loop.

I'm sick of everything happening behind my back when it should be me leading this case. It's time for me to take action if I ever want to see Jack again.

Chapter Two

I can't let them continue the case without me, at this point I really don't care about what happens to me, I have people always covering my back, Jack hadn't had that back then. He'd had me of course but I was a young, naive detective fresh out of school; I didn't have a clue what I was doing. What's important now is that I bring him back home where he belongs, home. It's not fair on either of us other wise. I need to put my spy skills to good use and actually do something helpful. I'm done with petty theft and lost handbags. I want in on bringing him back.

Three years I've spent desperately searching and all it's done is have a bad effect on me. My once thick, long and glossy bright blonde hair is now kinda split-ended, straggly and I'm finding endless grey hairs, from the stress. I wonder what Jack would actually think of me if he saw me now. There are very dark circles under my eyes and my face has been drained of all it's youthful colour and glow. I'm only twenty six but I look forty.

I hadn't gotten this far just to give up or leave it to some strangers who didn't know him like I had, didn't know how vital it was to bring such a strong and heroic man back. I wasn't going to stop looking but if I continue, I know I'll just be driving myself to an early grave. So it stops now. I want them to tell me everything. No, need them to. 

I had been sulking in my office for the rest of the afternoon after that little mishap in the files room when Robert had caught me with Jack's file but I had also been pondering on everything I read in his file and there were... let's just say inconsistencies. It was then that I came up with the perfect plan. Well not really. But it was then that I knew what my next step was at least.

Robert? Where's the rest of the file? I ask, forcing his office door to open in front of me as I storm into his office. Once my gaze falls on him at his desk after I enter however, I realise Robert isn't alone in here. There's a man dressed up in a crisp new guards outfit standing very straight in front of him. When the guard sees me his mouth slacks a little but he quickly controls it, he's not quick enough though and I do catch it.

S-sorry, I manage to stutter but I'm still so convinced to get some answers on the questions flying round my brain, that I get a spurt of confidence. But it's urgent, Sir. I add firmly.

He's sat behind his desk looking into many open files but he stops and slowly looks to the guard apologetically, over at me and then back to the guard. Whitney, I expect no less than the best. Understand?

The guard nods severely once and looks back to Robert. Yes, sir.

Excellent, don't let me regret hiring you. I look forward to seeing your work. Robert adds going back to skimming through papers as if the conversation has ended there. Even the guard looks a little puzzled but he quickly realises nothing more is going to be said and turns to head out the door, passing me.

Except he stops when he reaches me. Afternoon. His deep voice entrancing as his thick dark hair distracts me but I find myself holding out a hand to him. He accepts it but shaking it for a moment, a little longer of a moment than a hand shake should go on for, I think to myself. Willow Calendular. I introduce myself.

August Whitney, He smiles back. I find myself a little entranced by his perfect teeth and Robert clears his throat behind him.

Get to work now, son. Robert commands back from his seat, obviously a little displeased at our little introduction.

Yes sir. He complies before giving me one last little uplift of the corners of his perfect mouth and he's put the door. 

Robert looks up to me. How can I help you, Willow?

I begin to nod, shaking off what had just happened and distracted me. Thoughts of Jack come flying back from place they had actually migrated to when I was in the presence of August Whitney. I wonder for a split second if there was more to it than I think but I push past that thought. I didn't have time for new romances when I'm still so hung up on Jack.

I noticed missing pages and some of the ones that were in there made no sense. I recall with an accusing tone.

He gives me a silent frown and doesn't make an attempt to move or say anything. I felt that just spur me on to continue and suddenly I become more frustrated. I knew I couldn't stop talking now and it's his fault. It was like the past three years of this started flowing out of me and I couldn't stop. That's not all. I want to know everything you know. E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G. I spelled out to him."I can't take this anymore! I deserve to know! I don't know why I haven't done this before! Start talking." I hiss at the end and that gets him to crack. Not really visibly but his right eye does twitch a bit and he abruptly stands up, making me jump.

Willow, calm down for a second. No sense will come out of this if you're angry. Robert says placing a hand on my shoulder and guiding me from my side of the desk to take a seat in the visitor chair. He then silently heads over to the fancy coffee machine he keeps in his room and begins brewing a new pot. Neither of us say anything until he's poured a cup.

I take a deep breath and try to calm down as he comes over and places the steaming cup down on the desk in front of me. I avert my eyes to anywhere except Robert to avoid his pitying glances but mange to mumble a thank you. I watch the steam dance above the mug and decide the coffee's too hot to drink yet despite how badly I want to take a sip.

Now, Willow. I've explained it already... His voice firm, he trails off at a loss for words. He then silently begins to walk towards the door but pauses and turns back around, pacing around. I get it, Willow I really do but this really is for your sake. 

My sake? I fail to withhold a scoff. Okay, you keep telling yourself that.

He grunts at that and abruptly stops pacing and storms up to me getting very close to my face. Okay, you want to know the truth? I slowly nod, curious as to what he means by that. Then I'm about to say something that will shock you so prepare yourself.

I gulp, unable to look away from his burning gaze. What will he say? He remains quiet for a beat and just bores his eye's into mine. I don't have to say anything for him to know I'm waiting for him to continue.

Granted, it's not just for your sake. It's also for someone else and  you need to be living for them.

I slowly frown. He couldn't possibly know about the other person so... Who? Jack?