Two Black-Suited People

First Person POV.

The plan was simple: Earn Albert's trust to give us his research paper and get out of here. The getting out was simple, but the trust earning would be a bit tricky.

Albert already had a history of fraud, so trusting people might not really be his thing. Who knows, he might be leading us to a trap. But who cares? We're already prepared for it.

According to Hawking, my job was to be a watchman. He said that there were people that might be closely watching him, so he needed to calculate his every move.

While I was doubtful of his claims, with the time I've worked with him, he might not be wrong, but who knows?

As soon he explained everything to me, I cleaned myself and slept. Five hours later, I was fully recharged to face the day. We ate our breakfast given to us by a pretty hotel staff, and then we were set.

We packed our essentials to our backpack and drove out of the hotel's premises to the designated location. This was where we were disadvantaged. You see, I was used to using Google Maps to find places I didn't know, but now that such technology wasn't mature at this timeline, we had to opt for the old fashioned method; Asking people.

Thankfully, Maryland street wasn't too far from the hotel we lodged in, so locating it was easy. We arrived there at roughly thirty minutes.

The area was well developed, as I had expected. Sometimes I think that the government were being too partial. How can the school he completed in be so shabby, but somewhere in Nigeria, there is not only quality education and advanced school equipments, stable electricity—something the country was still struggling on, is of no issue here.

Suddenly, I saw something. "Hawking, are you seeing what I'm seeing?" I asked as I saw two people with black suits alighting from a black jeep. "What? The black jeep? What is strange in that?" He asked.

"That man with grey beards was among the board members in that school yesterday", I replied. How could I forget such a face? He looked like that evil bald man from Deadpool 2. You know, the one that tortured that fat boy with fiery powers.

Hawking turned his gaze on the bald man and frowned a little. "Are you sure it's them?" He asked. "The middle-aged woman, I don't know, but the bald man, positive", I replied.

"What are they doing in Maryland?" I mumbled loudly enough for him to hear. "It's very obvious. They are going to see Hawking", He said.

However, I became alarmed. "Are they going to kill him?" I asked. "I don't think so. Just keep watching", he said quickly, so I became silent.

The bald man, along with the middle-aged woman walked towards a grocery store and disappeared behind the frosted glass. They didn't come out until three minutes later with bags with foodstuffs.

For a second, these machines looked like normal couple going out on a date. I watched as they both walked into the jeep and began driving towards the street.

It was then that Hawking began tailing them slowly. While this was going on, I began preparing myself by taking out my Desert Eagle, and checking the magazine for full ammo, I took an extra magazine, just in case.

Moments later, the black jeep pulled over to a semi-duplex house. Guess the number. Yeah, number 121. They were here to see Albert.

They walked to the gate and pushed it open. The gate wasn't locked.

"Let's go", Hawking said flatly and opened the door. "Hold on. Are we sure that we should go after them?" I asked. Hawking turned back and gave me a stink-eye.

"You want to stay back?" Hawking asked. "You said I should keep watch for any intruders—". But the dude interrupted me. "And they have arrived before us, so what's the point of staying back. Come on let's go", Hawking left the car and walked towards the gate.

I had no choice but to follow him. But I felt conflicted. I had to use a gun again. Trust me, shooting a gun is not a pleasant experience. Apart from the muscle ache from the recoil, the damage you can cause by pulling the trigger at someone was not something a feeble-hearted person can bear.

But I wasn't feeble. I've seen a lot of shit in all the sixteen years of my life, seeing blood spill would not shake my mental fortitude.

Hawking pushed the gate, but it didn't budge. "Shit! They've locked it on the inside", Hawking mumbled under his breath, loud enough for me to hear.

However, I watched as he unzipped his backpack and took out a portable blowtorch. He turned it on, and a blue flame rushed out of the muzzle. Hawking pointed it at the gate and began melting the lock on the other side.

Thirty seconds later, the locked gate shook and opened a little. Hawking put away the blowtorch and wore his backpack. "Thread silently", Hawking whispered to me, which I nodded in response.

So we stealthily entered the duplex house. Albert's house was nothing out of the ordinary. Painted yellow and white, with n elevated section above the rest of the building.

There was a Honda Pilot SUV and a Lexus ES 330 cars parked in an opened garage. The premium floor tilings were premium, reflecting the wealth of Albert. This was probably his house.

We walked silently to a metal door. It was locked again. Hawking took out his blow torch again and melted the key lock, and opened the door. There was a staircase that led to somewhere up.

"Listen", Hawking whispered to me. He didn't have to tell me, because I was hearing a conversation upstairs. It wasn't very clear, but there were words like "another chance" and "stubborn".

"Looks like he's being threatened", I thought loudly. "You might be right. These people have a connection to his death", I came to a realization.

"I am right, now keep quiet and follow me from behind. I don't usually do this gun thing", Hawking scolded and gently but quickly​, until we arrived at a wooden door.

Thankfully, the door was not locked. It was opened a little. We were able to hear the conversation even more clearly.

* * * * * * * * * *

"I can't believe this. I really can't believe this", Albert hollered angrily. "You can't keep barging into my house and threaten me. I ain't giving you anything, nor would I ever do it!"

Douglas, the bald man with suit glanced at Alicia, the middle-aged woman and shook his head. "Albert, no one is threatening you. Please, understand us", Alicia said softly.

"So what the hell are you doing in my house, again?" Albert asked. "The same reason we came yesterday. To review your papers. Albert I don't understand why you are so stubborn about this.

"Stubborn about what?" he asked. This time, Douglas spoke. "All these time you've been pleading to the bo​​​ard to review your papers, claiming it was 'valid'", Douglas made the quote gesture.

"You even withdrew yourself and came to this dump to school here, something I still found strange", Douglas said. "I mean, he is a strange man", Alicia chipped in.

"Please", Douglas turned and glared at her. "Sorry", she said silently. Then, turning back to Albert, he said, "Albert, understand that we are simply doing this because of you. Just give us the chance to make the people that think you're crazy see you in a different light", Douglas said softly.

Albert looked at the both of them with a crease on his forehead, before sighing. "I don't need your pity. I don't need anyone's pity. I'm fine in where I am, and as for your statement about this 'dump', at least these people are more hospitable than you people in England. Please leave, before I call the police", Albert hardened his face.

"I want you to think about it okay. Maybe you're not in your right mind", Douglas said, looking intently at the short man. "Leave", Albert growled. "Let's just go", Alicia said to Douglas.

They both stood up and headed to the door. However, Alicia sensed that something was amiss. She wanted to warn Douglas, but she didn't have the time, so she put her hands on her pocket and was about to take out her gun.

But she was a step too late. Hawking barged into the room, holding his Desert Eagle with an extended silencer on its muzzle. "Sit back to that chair gentlemen", Hawking said flatly.