Masquerade

"Jacob!" Thats a new record, my whole foot was past the doorway as I made it into the laboratory. I fully stepped into the office as Bruce stood before me. I mean hell it was one hour and thirty five minutes before I actually had to come in, oh well it's starting to become normal. I think yelling makes him feel better.

"Yes?" I looked at him, my face blank with expression. The better part of valor is to keep your emotions under, though sometimes I wanted to yell back. I'd probably get fired for that, probably.

"Where the hell is that report your wrote last night?"

I sighed, this e sie situation would probably look pretty comical if it weren't true. I had the black gun bag that held the teknys by my side as I looked at Bruce's face, he seemed genuinely ticked off.

"Bruce, I put it in your mailbox next to accounting. I would have put it on your desk except your office was locked."

I scratched the back of my head and left the now complacent and slightly embarrassed Bruce behind me. Today was turning out pretty good, though I could have gone without that grin that was on Vincent's face as he saw me open my locker.

"So..."

"Can it McAllen..."

"Whoa, someones about to shit some tacks"

I heard some laughter and it was Malcolm as usual, the wonderful duo. Then again they are partners on the STF squad, maybe I'm just not that jolly. I tried to place the black gun bag into my locker, but found that it was to bulky around the edges. I pulled back the zipper and took out the Teknys, I felt the unwavering stare of someone behind me as I turned my head back to see Malcolm and Vincent staring at what I had in my hand. It was the look that you give when you've seen your girlfriend naked for the first time, not a good sign when it comes to a rifle.

"Is that what I think it is?" Vincent kept his eyes upon the Teknys, his eyes slowly trailing up from the stock to the top of the barrel. That definitely isn't a good sign.

"Yeah it's an AL 391 Teknys and no you can't sleep with it."

"Can I hold it?"

What the hell? I looked back at Vincent and I shook my head, I checked that the Teknys was unloaded and handed it to him. I turned around because I didn't want to see what he was going to do to it. I folded up the black bag and placed it under the stake waist holster. I turned around to see Vincent looking behind the barrel to see if the sight was straight.

"Time to give it back Vincent."

I held out my hand, as he gave me the look of a reluctant child. It wasn't going to work on me, I've dealt with perverts and murderers. There's no way in hell that a pouting irishman will get the better of me. He handed the Teknys over and I placed it in my locker, I would have left it in the trunk of the Thunderbird, but I would feel better if it were in my locker until I brought it home. I closed my locker and spun the combination lock as I turned back to Vincent and Malcolm.

"Where did you get the papers to own that? That things almost illegal in california."

I grinned, nothing like having something that other people envied.
"Well... I got my license and certified papers for ownership of the Teknys over at the FBI sub division."

"Can I get one?"

Vincent's voice the sound of a needy child, this was getting good. I shrugged and sat down upon the wooden benches that lay a foot away from the lockers.

"Well if you can wait for awhile and fork over eight hundred thirty five dollars and eighteen cents then sure you can get one. Though you need to be certified at the FBI sub divison."

I heard Vincent mutter beneath his breath. The price for the Teknys was extremely high, though the price of the gun often ment it had improved performance. The Teknys was such a rifle.

"Yeah its an expensive rifle Vincent."

"How did you get one?"

"Well I saved up and got it, I mean I don't have to support a family and all."

"Yeah true, then again I don't think my wife would like it if I spent that much money on a gun. She'd probably go into some fit about how I don't care about my childrens education..."

I laughed and shook my head. "Well Vincent, thats a given. Just be happy you have a wife that cares about your kids education."

I stood up as Vincent replied the hint of a smile upon his face, "Yeah, thank god for little things."

I smiled, "Thank god"

I left the laboratory and went to my cubical, compared to everybody else's mine was quite clean. Manila folders piled haphazardly on one corner of my desk, multi-colored papers jutting out. Yup mine was the cleanest. Except there was an envelope with an embroidered design on top of my desk, I looked around as if I would find the person that placed it there. I shrugged and picked it up, I pulled out the flap and lifted out the letter. I read the letter silently to myself.

Come to the Masquerade at ten tonight, I shall be awaiting your arrival.

At the bottom it was signed Bianca. I sighed as placed the note back into the envelope and placed it in the front drawer of my desk. I slightly wondered how it appeared upon my desk, guess I could always ask her when I met up her infront of Masquerade tonight. I sat down at took a glance at my clock, five hours until I can meet Bianca. I just had to get some work in. Joy.