-08-

"You know who ROSE is?" Callahan's tone was one more of silent mockery than sheer disbelief.

If Carter was feeling stupid, it was cemented all over his face.

"Well—" Carter shifted the steaming cup of café noir aside and crouched forward in his seat, "—not exactly. But—" he huffed as he looked around the crowdy coffee shop.

"So, you get some anonymous call one night from some weird ass woman who claims to know who ROSE is and all of a sudden, you're willing to jump back on that case? After everything?" Callahan asked, knitting his eyebrows together and crossing his arms.

Carter opened his mouth to speak, but Callahan spoke first, "I've known you for a long time Tom, and this isn't the smartest thing I've heard you say."

Dishevelled, Carter ruffled his hair and cleared his throat ruggedly. "It wasn't a woman.  A girl."

Callahan's expression didn't give off the vibe that he could spot the relevance of the latest revelation.

"Look Ax, I'm just telling you to trace the call for me okay?" Carter shifted closer to the table and swiped a tiny piece of paper to Callahan.

Callahan sighed.

"You lost your badge because of this same damned case Tom, are you sure you wanna go down that line again? Knowing perfectly well what could happen if anything at all goes wrong?"

Eyes darting around the shop, Carter shrugged and picked up his coffee.

Callahan's cellphone vibrated. His eyes shifted to the screen and when he saw the caller ID, ignored it and took a sip of his black tea.

"I have to run," said Callahan. Adjusting his tie and picking up his briefcase, he stood up, his chair making a screeching noise as he dragged it backwards.

"How are things holding up at the Villa?" Carter asked.

"Heaven's Gate's son is missing. No trace, no leads. Things are pretty much fucked up over there."

"Well if you ever need a break, I know a place we can go to."

"Pretty girls?" Callahan asked with a hopeful smile.

Callahan laughed and shook his head. "You never changed Axel Callahan."

Grinning from ear to ear, Callahan patted Carter on the shoulder and exited the shop.

****

His car was parked on the other side of the street and as he checked left and right for oncoming vehicles, his cell phone rang.

He received the call. "Axel Callahan."

"You have a very beautiful daughter." A male voice came through.

"Excuse me?" Callahan frowned and crossed the street.

"Trixie isn't it?" The caller asked.

"Who's this?"

"I know she's on life support."

Callahan slipped into his car.

"Who are you?"

"I could cut her off life support. You know, free you from a life of endless paying of bills, pain—"

"What?! Who's this?"

"I have just one instruction for you Axel Callahan and if you fail to do it, Trixie will not sleep to see another day."

"What do you want from me?"

"The instruction is very simple," the caller paused, "—do not trace the number Tomas Carter gave you."

"Wh--"

The line went dead.