Chapter 85 Undercover

*Sixth*

After One hung up, I told Seventh I had to go to my office because One had asked me to do something for him. He nodded his head and said he would keep an eye on the tables. I quickly took the elevator up to my office on the sixth floor.

My father was a Wolf Troop who died in an ambush led by a group of rogues. My mother then took the responsibility of raising two young wolves on her own. Unfortunately, during one harsh winter, her and my brother became sick with the wolf wasting disease and I was left as a young orphan to fend for myself.

Wolf packs do not take kindly to young orphaned pups, however my father's bestfriend was the Beta of the pack and took me in even if he had two pups of his own. Just to make sure there were no complaints, I pulled my weight around the house, making sure no chore would be left undone. When I finally became of age, I applied to Wolf Troop Academy, so I could finish my education for free. When I received my acceptance letter, I thanked my father's friend for all that he had done for me and had promised I would pay him back when I started earning money. He gave me a hug and said no payment required. He only asked me to go out into the world and make my father proud.

I took whatever I could carry and lived in the barracks for four years to complete my training. Aside from the free education and living quarters, I was also given a small monthly stipend to serve as my allowance. I only kept a small amount for myself and would always send the rest to my father's friend.

I was a rookie, fresh out of Wolf Troop Academy when I was recruited to infiltrate the rogue organization from the inside. I fitted the profile for a perfect agent, an orphan with no family to speak of. Only two people know I am an undercover Wolf Troop, my mentor, Captain Hathaway and the High Lord Wolf.

The High Lord Wolf himself gave me my cover story that I was banished by the reclusive  Amber Eyes Wolf Pack for challenging the Alpha. To make my story plausible, like all rogues, I slept on the streets, fought to keep my sleeping spot and foraged for food in dumpsters. I also hung around at the rogue hotspots and when there were "events" going on in the Rogue District, I made sure I was there, hoping I could get a glimpse of the one they called One. After a month of living like a beggar, I was nowhere near infiltrating the organization. Hell, I wasn't even able to see a hair of any of the so-called 'Numbered'. I wanted to quit seeing it as a dead end mission, but Captain Hathaway told me to stay the course. Sooner or later, I will be able to provide valuable information. He pointed out, as One's businesses increased, The Numbered needed to recruit rogues to fill in the vacancies. I just needed to be patient.

Fortunately, I became friends with an old rogue named Tony who worked as a janitor at an apartment building. Even if he had a job, he couldn't afford to pay rent so he stuck it out in the alley beside the apartment building he cleaned. He had a makeshift room he made from a large shipping crate, hinged together so he could fold it when not in use. His belongings he kept inside the storage room of the apartment building he worked for and used the employee bathroom to take a bath and do his business.

He was kind enough to find me a job as a maintenance man at the apartment building he worked for. As the maintenance man, management provided me a small room to stay in, which I decided to share with Tony so he wouldn't have to sleep in the alley anymore. Finally, I was off the streets and living a simple life with a friend. Tony and I would still regularly visit the Rogue District during our days-off. He would do his usual thing of giving food to the hungry rogues, while I would listen to the chatter, hoping to find a little information on where to find One or any of the Numbered.

I was on my fifth month as a rogue and was about to call it quits thinking it was impossible for me to even get near the Numbered, when one day, Second and Fourth came to the Rogue District when Tony and I were there, looking for someone who was good with numbers and computers. They needed someone to do bookkeeping. I immediately went up to Second and presented myself.

"I'm good with numbers and computers," I told him. He looked me up and down, from head to toe, scrutinizing my appearance.

"You're a rogue? You look too clean to be a rogue. You must be one of the few who has a good-paying job. Maybe educated," Second said, doubting I was truly a rogue.

"I've seen this one before rummaging through the dumpsters. Obviously you found a job. What do you do?" asked Fourth.

"I'm a maintenance guy at an apartment building on Midtown West. I work with Tony," I answered. Everyone knew Tony because of his generosity. I knew Tony would be my ticket in clearing all doubts of me being a rogue and I was right. When I pointed at Tony, they nodded their heads and gave me a smile.

"Okay. Sit down and let me see you compute all of this from yesterday. Here are the receipts. Good luck." Second placed a laptop infront of me and a small roll of receipt paper. "By the way, I'm a busy wolf so, I need all that done in two hours."

It wasn't very hard to add it all up. Before the two hours were up, I was done and even had placed the numbers on a spreadsheet. When Second and Fourth took a look at my work, they couldn't hide that they were impressed.

"Good job. Here's my card," Second said, handing me his business card. "I'll see you tomorrow morning at eight sharp at that address. Just present my business card to security. And don't be late." He and Fourth got into their car and left. When I turned around to tell Tony the good news, the rogues parted and made a path for me. To my surprise, I had become untouchable.

When I told Tony about my new job and that I wanted him to come with me, he shook his head.

"I became a rogue because I fought for what was right," he said quietly when we returned to our small room. "However, I can not dictate what you or anyone else should do. A job is a job and if it gets you better living conditions, food and clothing...so be it. Just don't participate in their illegal activities. Adding and subtracting numbers is one thing.  Selling elixir, participating in the drug trade and she-wolf trafficking is another. Do not go down that road," he cautioned me.

I wanted to tell him I was a Wolf Troop with a mission, but I couldn't. I didn't want to endanger his life. He had been so good to me and helped the other rogues. A world without Tony would be a great loss.

The next day, early and eager, I went to the address Second had given me near Broadway. It looked like any regular office building with restaurants, a club and boutiques. Inside was a different story. I showed the rogue guard Second's business card and he bowed at me and instructed me to go to the first floor and knock on door 111.

Actually, I didn't have to knock. Fourth was already waiting for me at the door. He extended his hand for a handshake and prepped me before I entered.

"Before we go in, I just need to give you some pointers and ask some questions. I'm not going to lie to you, One manages all criminal activity here in New York City. If you snitch, One will make sure your head will be placed on his wall. So how did you become a rogue?" Fourth asked.

"I was banished for challenging the Alpha of the Amber Eyes Wolf Pack," I replied. He nodded his head appreciatively.

"Amber Eyes huh? You come from a pack who values education. You are very rare. So you hate the High Lord Wolf then?"

"Him and his brother," I answered.

"His brother is Alpha, right. I forgot about that. Now that we have gotten the pleasantries over,  make sure you agree to whatever One says. And if you agree to the job, you agree to a lifetime of service. The only way you leave the organization is by death. I don't want to see you die just yet. You look like you'll be an asset to us." He slightly opened the door and popped his head into the room. "One, the bookkeeper is here."

"Send him in," a low voice said from inside.

"Good luck, kid. I hope I'll be working with you." Fourth opened the door wide and gestured for me to enter the room.

It was a large and minimalist office. One was seated behind a black desk, his eyes on the screen of his computer.

"Ah, my new bookkeeper. Sit, sit," he said, pointing at two chairs infront of his desk. I was expecting someone who looked like the Chief. Big, ugly and menacing. One looked a bit like Josh Brolin and had a good set of teeth. "You look a bit young. How old are you?" He asked me.

"I'm turning twenty three in a couple of months, Sir," I answered.

"No need to call me 'Sir'. One is fine," he grinned at me. "Second told me you were able to add up all the numbers and place them on a spreadsheet in less than two hours. Impressive. I need someone like you to make sure no one is taking my money and that my expenditures are all documented. If you agree to take this job, you will become part of the Numbered."

"How much is my starting salary?" I asked him.

"You don't beat around the bush do you? I like that." He opened a desk drawer and took out a sheet of paper, a bundle of cash, and a set of keys. "You will be getting your own office, a small apartment, a car and a monthly stipend of around five thousand dollars. You will also be receiving food and transportation allowance every month to keep you comfortable." He pushed the cash and keys infront of me. "If you do a good job in recording and managing the day to day financial transactions of my empire, I will increase your salary as well as your rank," he explained.

"My rank?" I asked.

"Yes, rank. The higher the rank, the more influential and rich you become. Right now, you will be number Thirteen. An unlucky number for some, but a good starting number for me," he answered. "You do know who I am right and what businesses I have? If you are an idealist, I suggest you leave now." He stared at me waiting for an answer.

"Being an idealist has only brought me hunger and cold. After rummaging through dumpsters for food, I have concluded I'm better off with anything that can get me food and a warm bed," I said, hoping he would be convinced of my status and he was.

"I feel the same way. So, will you take the job?" One asked.

"Yes, I will. I was hoping though that I could start tomorrow. I need to put my affairs in order," I told him

"Affairs? What affairs?" He asked.

"I need to tender my resignation to my, uhm, former employer and pack my things. That's all," I explained. I picked up the cash and keys from his desk and placed them in my pockets.

"I forgot, you're a maintenance man. Sure. I'll give you the day to resign and move into your new apartment. It's near here so you won't have a problem getting to and from work. Tomorrow, you start early at 8AM at office 1013. So, I'll see you tomorrow then, Thirteen." He got up and extended his hand for a handshake. I placed my hand in his and he squeezed my hand, pulling my hand over the sheet of paper he took out of his drawer. It looked like a document of some sort. What happened next, I didn't expect. With one long sharp nail, he scratched my palm and made the blood drip over a square box printed on the document. He then took my thumb and made a thumbprint using my blood as ink.

"Thirteen, you are now part of the Numbered which demands a lifetime of service," he said, letting go of my hand. He picked up the document and sniffed my blood. When he raised his eyes to meet mine, they were black like the night. "Fourth will show you to your new apartment. Good day, Thirteen."

That day, I talked to management and asked them to allow Tony to continue living in the small room. However, they did not agree. I even promised them I would pay them rent, telling them I got a better paying job, yet they still didn't agree. I just couldn't leave Tony and have him move out back on the streets so, I decided to give Captain Hathaway a call so he could help Tony. Before I vacated the apartment building, Tony gave me the good news that he was hired at another apartment building with free living quarters. Today, Tony works at the High Lord Wolf's apartment building and has free board and lodging.

I quickly rose in rank being indispensable to One and the organization gaining the ire of some who also wished to be part of the famed Ten, however they couldn't touch me, especially Eleven, who hated my guts, that punk. Well, I kept the books clean and made sure all the t's were crossed and the i's dotted. Because of me, One's business became a well organized empire. He provided rogues employment and got most of them off the street. If it weren't for the nature of his businesses, I would actually admire the man.

As months turned into years, I had constantly asked Captain Hathaway if I could stop the charade. They knew where One was located and I had given them enough evidence to incarcerate One until eternity. Yet, Captain Hathaway had other plans.

"Do you know what will happen to One's wealth when we put him behind bars?" Captain Hathaway asked me, during a video call.

"The council will freeze his assets and dispose of it as they see fit," I answered.

"There's your answer, 'as they see fit'. They won't help the needy wolves. Hell, I doubt if they put up an orphanage," he said.

"Are you implying what I think you're asking me to do? Are you saying I take the money and use it to help others? Captain Hathaway, all of One's money is blood money, dirty money. And if it is charity you seek, One actually donates money to shelters, although it still doesn't make his businesses right," I argued. Captain Hathaway looked at me and sighed.

"We need you to help destroy the organization from the INSIDE. If we can take out Second all the way down to Fifth and you rise in rank to take their place, when we nab One, you take over the business. You can use all that money to help the homeless and needy. We can not afford his assets go to another rogue. It has to be you," Captain Hathaway said. "Then, you can liquidate all of his assets via power of attorney. All you need for him to do is sign a document appointing you as his legal guardian. With One gone and his businesses stopped, all assets can now be used to actually help wolves." I raised my eyebrows at him. It was such a grandiose plan.

"I don't know, Captain. I doubt if he will give me that power. I assume it will go to Elder Eric Lockwood, his protector. Then, there's the dilemma of getting rid of Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth. It will be difficult for me to assassinate them one by one without suspicion."

"I can help with that. We'll start with Fifth and work our way up. Do they suspect you in any way?" Captain Hathaway asked.

"No, Captain, " I said.

"Then it is in every wolf's best interest if you stay. You are doing the wolf nation a huge favor, Henry."

I have only heard my name used a handful of times throughout the years. My reality is that I am just but a number.

I sat at my desk and opened my laptop to put up One's bulletin on the rogue website. A ten million dollar bounty, each for the heads of Connor Greene, Lucas Lockwood and Diana Lockwood.

I pulled out my burner phone and messaged Captain Hathaway regarding the bounty on Diana's head. I'll call him later on my way to my apartment to ask him if he could ask her if I could have a chance to speak with her.

If I were to gain control of One's businesses, I knew deep in my heart I would never continue as a bonafide Wolf Troop in uniform. I would have to run away somewhere, maybe out of the country. Yes, I would not be in a cage, but I would not be entirely free and I will never get a chance to help wolf kind the way my father would have wanted.

Diana Lockwood. The black wolf told me to wait for her. So after my last request to end this mission was denied, I did not put in a request again.

I needed to wait for her. She, I know, will help me.