The Decoder - Chapter 23

Avery

She doesn’t trust me.

It stung him and it made him wanted to hurl at something, anything. Her reluctance in sharing whatever had happened that night of the abduction and worse, he hadn’t known of her very first childhood friend. The fact that she had not shared the story with him once, made his chest constrict, as if a dozen pins and needles were stabbing into him from all directions. But who was he to blame her when he himself did not trust her enough to share his secrets from eleven years ago when she had asked.

Granted, he’d known most of the story from Ira, but he needed to know about this Sera LeMay person from Edith herself. When she hesitated sharing with him of what she knew, annoyance had brew in him, and that annoyance had slowly turned to frustration. Frustration for not trusting him enough when he was her childhood friend as well. And frustration at himself for needing to obtain information on her father’s message for his assignment. The knowledge of Sera wishing to know about the message as well had caused an alarm within him. What was so important in that message that the High Commander and Sera wanted to know?

“Captain?” The voice of his comrade broke his thoughts and brought him back to the present. Teo eyed him expectantly from where he sat, the chair Edith had occupied earlier. He had a reason for scheduling a meeting with Teo earlier before he went in search for Edith.

“Apologies. I was…thinking.” Avery cleared his throat.

“I understand, Captain. What do you wish to speak to me about?” Teo asked.

“I have an assignment for you.”

“Which is?”

“To find out information on these two individuals.” Avery bent and reached to the second drawer of his desk. He pulled open the drawer and retrieved a leather folio. He placed them on the desk and slid it toward Teo, who took the folio and flipped it. There were two biodata attached to the folio. Biodata on Sera LeMay and Nate Cashore. Though Edith did not reveal the man’s name earlier, Avery had known his identity from Ira. He had written down whatever he could gather from Ira and he would add on the information from Edith later on. He even described the physical attributes of Sera and Nate which he had gathered from Ira.

“Sera LeMay and Nate Cashore.” Teo said, his eyes reading whatever Avery had written, absorbing the information. Teo was excellent at his job and skills. He was one of the top-secret intelligence officers in Militia and had never failed a single assignment thus far. Avery was confident of his skills, the reason he had picked him for this assignment.

“Gather as much as you can. Their background, past and who are they working for and for what.” Avery leaned back and clenched his hands. Teo nodded.

“And adding to the list. Keep an eye on Edith.”

“You mean to spy on her or…” Teo asked, his eyebrows raised.

“To spy and protect her. Keep an eye on her every movements. Report to me whoever she’s interacting with and her activities.” Avery said. He inwardly cringed as his own words. He did not enjoy placing a spy on Edith nor did he enjoy controlling her freedom. However, after the incident, he couldn’t afford to lose her again. Knowing that Sera may return once more for her true purpose which was Edith’s father’s message, he wouldn’t risk it. Also, he needed to gather information on those two individuals as part of his new assignment from the High Commander.

Earlier in the morning, the High Commander had issued him a new assignment on top of his current assignment, which he had yet to accomplish. The new assignment was to capture Sera LeMay and Nate Cashore who dared to hurt his daughter, Ira. As much as he loathed to admit it, it was Edith’s connection to Sera which will make the task easier, which in turn, using Edith as bait.

“Understood, Captain.” Teo nodded, his expression stoic.

“Just a note, Edith is…acquainted to Sera, so there’s a possibility of Sera approaching Edith again.”

“Roger.”

“Thank you, Teo. You are excused.”

* * * * *

1 week later.

Avery positively decided that Edith was avoiding him, just like before when she found out about his betrothment to Ira. Frustration boiled through his veins and he itched to corner her like a bully but knew he couldn’t do that. It would only scare her further and proved himself a brute. When their eyes met from a distance, she had fled to the Health Department or places he could not follow her. He hadn’t meant to corner her in his office, but his frustration at her reluctance in disclosing information to him drove him to such measures. It had become a habit of his to corner his victim in order to coax information. Hadn’t he earned the nickname of “The Ruthless Interrogator” by some the soldiers under his command?

He had meant to visit her at Uncle Vern’s clinic as she always did on weekends, but he was caught up with duties, which resulted in his current unpleasant foul mood. He swore under his breath when Teo came to lodge his report in his office. Avery’s expression pulled into a frown as he eyed the folio in Teo’s hand.

“There was nothing unusual during her time here in Militia. She is often in the company of Miss Merille and was seen entering the Administration Building with her several times after working hours.” Teo reported, his expression impassive.

“Entering the Administration Building after working hours?” Avery’s brows creased.

“Yes.”

“What is she doing there?”

“I can’t say for certain. Merille brought her to the Encoding and Decoding Department.”

“That is interesting.” Avery pondered. He knew of Edith’s skills with codes and it made sense for her to be in Merille’s company. But why? The Encoding and Decoding Department was off-limits to all employees except for Encoders and Decoders of the Militia, who at the moment, was Merille alone. He would need to find out for himself, soon.

“Anything else?” Avery asked.

“Yes. Just yesterday, the 7th day of the week. Edith met with Sera at one of the alleyways in Bren Street. Nothing serious happened between them other than a short conversation before Sera made her hasty disappearance.” Teo said in a monotone.

“What?” Avery slapped his fist on his desk, rattling some of the stationaries. His prediction was correct afterall. Sera would try to communicate with Edith again. Worse of all, she and Nate were in Rayard City. Avery had learned from Teo that they were Hathage’s secret intelligence officers working for his brother, Lord Noel. Avery clenched his hand so tightly that the knuckles became white at the thought of his brother. No. We need a strategy to capture both Sera and Nate. We can’t act rashly, Avery told himself.

“I tried following Sera but lost her along the way at the City Square. I’m sorry.” Teo lowered his head.

“Damn it. I will need to speak to Edith. Continue watching her. You’re excused.” Avery stood and moved to the door. What are they planning? Was Edith on Hathage’s side? He could no longer sit back and allow her to continue avoiding him. He was going to see her, corner her if necessary. He can’t afford a traitor or another spy in the Militia.

Avery searched the possible places where Edith could be found. It was half-past lunch hour and employees roamed about. She was nowhere to be found, not the usual spot at the bench under the oak tree, not the cafeteria either. Could she be in the Entertainment Building? He decided to search for her there and as he neared the white-bricked building, he could hear voices from the nearby garden. Feminine voices that sounded like they were quarreling and one of the voices, was unmistakably Edith’s.

He stepped around the Entertainment Building and quickened his steps to the garden. From his position, he could see Edith, Merille and Ira. He does not have a good feeling about this. His already foul mood was not helping either. As he neared the garden, his eyes widened at the scene before him, dumbstruck.

At the hut, stood between Ira and Merille who were facing each other, was Edith with Ira’s right wrist, raised and gripped in her bandaged palm.

“Let go this instance, Edith.” Ira said, unaware of Avery’s presence standing not far from the garden.

“No. Not until you give your word that you won’t threaten Merille again.” Edith said icily.

“You dare go against me?” Ira scoffed.

Avery had never seen Ira in such a manner, and it rattled him.

“It’s not Merille’s fault that the message was late to be encoded. She was threatened and injured by the nasty group of nurses.”

“If only she had been more competent in her job, my abduction could have been prevented.” Ira said venomously.

Edith said nothing and glared at Ira.

“Edith…Miss Ira is correct. It’s my fault for not encoding the message earlier.” Merille said apologetically.

“Nonsense. You were injured and couldn’t work that day.”

“You don’t seem to see logic, Edith.” Ira narrowed her eyes.

“And you don’t seem to see rationality.” Edith said.

Avery mentally applaud Edith’s boldness to go against Ira. She never did care about position and ranking, does she?

“You!” Ira was aware of her bandaged arm, so she couldn’t lift it.

“Edith, please stop this.” Merille begged.

“I will report this to the High Commander and will have him sack Merille. I promise I will do it.” Ira said acidly. Avery felt it was time to stop this quarrel, so he stepped into the garden and ascended the handful of stone steps. The ladies gasped at his presence when he told Edith to release Ira.

“You are hurting her, Edith. Release her hand.” Avery said. Though he could see it was Ira who attempted the assault, but he couldn’t go defending Edith now. Ira would question his loyalties. He knew it was stupid of him, but he couldn’t jeopardise his position now. Not when he had a goal to achieve. A vengeance to fulfill. However, when Edith threw him an expression that questioned his rationalities, he wanted to pull her in his arms.

Edith released Ira’s wrists of their grip and took a step back. She turned back to Ira.

“You said you owe me a favour for saving you that night, if you remember.”

Ira was silent.

“Please do not report all about this and Merille’s mistake to the High Commander. Please let her keep her job.” Edith said, never taking her eyes off from Ira’s. Avery felt his heart warmed at Edith’s concern for her friend. How much was she willing to sacrifice for a friend? Avery knew she would go to great lengths as she demonstrated towards Ira on that night.

Ira was silent for a very long moment. She took in a deep breath and looked away.

“Edith, it’s best you leave.” Avery broke the silence when it became apparent that Ira was not saying a word and the tension between them was increasing. It would be a matter of time before both end up hurt.

“I want her word before I leave.” Edith said defiantly.

“Edith.” Avery intoned with a warning in his voice. Her gaze snapped to his and she frowned.

“It’s a command. You wouldn’t want to disobey a command from a high-ranking officer for it’s considered as insubordination.” Avery leveled her a severe look. He mentally berated himself for using his authority on a regular employee, worse, his childhood best friend. But this quarrel could not go on. He would have a word with Ira about this later and would convince her to forgive Merille.

“You…can’t be serious.” Edith said in a low voice.

“I’m serious. Very serious, indeed.”

“Edith, let’s go. Please, for my sake.” Merille pleaded. She grabbed Edith’s arm and urged her to leave the hut to which Edith complied after a moment without a word, not before casting one icy glare at him. A glare that held many emotions, disgust, mock, and disappointment. Avery’s clenched his fists to his sides, controlling the urge to tell her that this was all wrong, a misunderstanding. As they descended the steps, Ira spoke.

“I won’t report to the High Commander. Consider that favour paid.”

Edith stopped in her tracks and glanced over her shoulder, “thank you.” She continued her steps, left the garden, back to the Health Department. Merille expressed her gratitude to Ira before following after Edith.

“Thank you, Ira.” Avery gave a small smile. Thankful that despite her harsh words earlier, she still had a certain degree of compassion.

Now, he has some explaining to do with Edith, notwithstanding the interrogation.

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