Page 17

17 The Agency

‘… and then Maddy tipped the custard over my head, and I knew I was in love with them.’ The president laughed roaringly.

I chuckled as well, inhaling the cigar as I did so. My feet rested on Rain’s desk, whilst personnel files lay open in front of me. I had read them this morning and was now indulging a cigar with Max. They lounged on one of the two sofas in the large office.

The president was still laughing when the door burst open and Rain Wild strode in, four of his agents behind him, one of them Serpent. All of them looked murderous. I expect they were told that I was here, waiting for them.

‘Ah, Hawk,’ bellowed the president. ‘Always took you for an early riser. We’ve been waiting for you this last hour. But never mind. Rockhall here was keeping me entertained whilst we waited.’

‘Care to take your feet of my desk, Rockhall?’ he said low and dark.

I took a deep inhale of my cigar, then stubbed it out into an ashtray. ‘Afraid it’s my desk now, Wild.’

His gaze drifted to the boxes his secretary had been packing earlier at my request. Then his gaze fell on the president.

‘I’m afraid that’s true, my boy. You’re sacked.’ The president chuckled. ‘Rockhall is now the head of First Division.’ Max turned back to me. ‘What’s your code name again? I quite liked it.’

‘The Chameleon,’ I answered my gaze on Wild.

‘Ah yes, that was it.’ The president laughed again and rose to their feet. ‘Oh look at your face, Wild. Rockhall was right, it’s worth the wait to see. Wonderfully menacing. I can feel my blood chilling. Before you go pulling out your guns and shooting my new head of First Division, I have promoted you to head of National Security. You’ll be working with me now. Rockhall tells me you’re the best man for the job.’

Wild’s head spun back to the president. ‘I beg your pardon, Sir?’

‘Kyle Snow is currently on their way to a penal colony, thanks to Rockhall here, so I need to fill their position as quickly as possible without the fuss, before the papers tear into me. So that’s you, unless you don’t want it of course, if that’s the case, we’ll be sorry to see you go.’

‘I took the liberty of getting your things moved upstairs,’ I said with a puff on my cigar.

Rage faded from Wild’s face, to be replaced by bafflement. ‘I am honoured, Sir,’ he said to the president. ‘But I fear my position will cause you more problems. As you can no doubt see, I’m a Gendrian.’

The president waved that aside. ‘Nonsense. The best way for our countries to find peace is to do exactly what Rockhall recommended. Besides, one of the GLF leaders is a Herm. Did you know that? I was quite baffled when Rockhall turned up with them and Snow on my door last night. Ah well, I’ll let you all settle in. Report to me tomorrow morning for a briefing … Oh, wait. Make it tomorrow afternoon. You still up for that game of golf tomorrow morning, Rockhall? Or is that leg still bothering you.’

I gave them a mock salute. ‘I’ll see you there, Max. Though I can’t promise to go easy on you.’

They chuckled as they strode past Wild. ‘Don’t play them at billiards. The scamp has one hell of a shot on them. Fleeced me of all my notes last night. And that’s playing with a wounded shoulder too.’

‘I’m confident you’ll have your revenge tomorrow, Max. My golf swing is not as good as my cue shot.’

With a final chuckle and a wave, Max Wilson strode out of the office, and was instantly flanked by their security guards.

Silence and five pairs of eyes trained on me as soon as they were gone.

‘Huh. You all look surprised. I guess that also wasn’t in my file,’ I said into their silence and blew out smoke.

In front of me were the files on each and every one of them. Legendary names I had known as a child dreaming of meeting them one day. Aside from Serpent, there was White Wolf, or rather Leslie Harrod, a white-haired herm with the gaze of one who knew death intimately. They were the agency’s assassin, and despite their hair colour, was still a young man. Next to them was Ash Ridges, a herm in their middle years, their explosives specialist, also known as Silver Spider. And finally, there was Grey Tick, or Elis Moulder, a very effeminate, dainty herm, who stood no taller than my shoulder, and was as slight as a child. Tick was their best infiltration specialist. Aye, I knew whom I faced. Knew their loyalty to Hawk, whom I have just ousted to take his place.

‘Well played, Rockhall,’ said Wild with cool, quiet menace.

I quirked my lips at him. ‘I guess you never did find all those shards of mine,’ I said a little bitterly. Then turned to the others, my amusement fading. ‘This is how it will be. I’m now running First Division. I looked over your files and would have you on my team. Those of you who cannot take the change in leadership and would rather ask for a transfer may do so today. If you need time to think, go home and think. If you want to stay, tomorrow morning, I want you here at the usual hour ready to work. Any questions, bring them to me tomorrow. Now dismissed.’

No one moved.

Huh , I thought. So that’s how it will be .

‘Or perhaps we could make you disappear,’ said Serpents in a silky voice.

Hell, here we go.

I moved, and in a blink of an eye, I had my revolver out, Wild’s gift to me, pointing at Serpent’s head. ‘It seems there is something else missing in my file. I don’t take any threat against me or my own lightly.’

‘You wouldn’t shoot me, Rockhall. What would the president think of his new star?’ Serpent said with a sly smile.

I pulled back the hammer the without replying. Oh how wrong she was. Something must have shown in my eyes, for the smile on her face fell away.

‘Rockhall,’ Wild’s tone was gentle, cautious.

Everything faded away, except me and her. ‘Do you know why Wild is afraid for you, now?’ I said quietly, musingly. ‘Because he, who knows me better than anyone else, doesn’t know whether I’ll shoot you or not. He doesn’t know, because in this instant in time I don’t know either.’

‘Rockhall, she meant nothing by that …’ His voice drifted away. And from the corner of my eye, I saw his shadow move slowly towards me, trying not to spook me. He was too far away to stop me. They all knew it.

‘You see, Sarah,’ I continued softly. ‘In this moment no one and nothing exists, but me and you and my bullet. In this moment, there is no past, no future. I care not who you are or where you came from. I care not for the consequences, nor whether the president themself will weep at your funeral. None of that will affect whether I pull this trigger. None of it matters to my decision as to whether I’ll kill you or not. Only one thing does. Your life, right now, hinges on only one thing, and that is whether I want to kill you or not. It is a spit second decision, and I have already made it.’

I pressed the trigger and the shot fired.

Serpent spun and stumbled and was caught by Wolf. Her hand came away bloodied where a bullet grazed her skin above the temple.

I stared at the revolver. ‘Huh. I thought you said it shot straight.’ I raised my gaze to stunned Wild. ‘I think you need to take a look at this one. Put it in one of your glass cases perhaps.’

Relief flashed in his eyes, quickly followed by amusement. ‘It does shoot straight. You missed.’

‘I never miss, especially not at this distance.’

‘You were aiming wide.’

‘I was aiming between her eyes!’ I made a show of examining the weapon, before putting it down on the table. I then looked up at the agents. ‘I said dismissed,’ I said calmly.

This time they did pile out, with the Serpent casting me a venomous glance, whilst Wolf and the others gave me grudgingly admiring ones.

Rain remained behind. His face softer now, though coolness remained in his eyes. ‘You are right. I did not see every one of your shards, Rockhall. I underestimated you. And now, as your senior officer, I have a conundrum when it comes to you. Who are you truly loyal to?’

‘To my country, Wild,’ I replied. ‘To the people on the street.’

His slips curved. There was regret in his gaze. ‘I’m just a Gendrian to you, aren’t I, Ari?’

I looked down at the table. There was nothing I could say that would not damn us both.

He spoke into my silence. ‘I’ll be your boss now.’

‘I know.’

‘Will that be a problem?’

‘No.’

‘Just tell me one thing. When did not make a play for this … when did you know you were going for my job.’

I thought back. There was no definite time, save that I knew as soon as I saw him, that neither of us were going to come out of this the same. ‘From the beginning, Rain.’

He nodded and strode out of the office.

I turned to look out of the arched window at the meandering river lined with old, sandstone buildings with their officious facades. Hollowness filled me, though I should have been happy.

I did not see either Wild or any of his team for the rest of the day. I buried myself in work. Intermittently moving into my new office, and perusing Rain’s things before the secretary came in to take them away upstairs. I spent most of my time however, going over case files, as well as staff files. I had to be prepared to get a new team, in case Hawk’s agents shunned me as their chief.

A knock came at the door. ‘Sir?’

I turned around. ‘I’m Pat Jones. I am the secretary to the head of First Division … So, I’ll be your secretary, unless you wish to relieve me and get one of your own people in.’

‘Hawk is not taking you with him?’

‘He said I was to assist you now. He is keeping Kyle Snow’s secretary.’

‘Very well then. I’d appreciate you getting me up to date on my schedule this week.’

‘Yes, Sir. I’ll just get my diary.’

At the end of the day, an official looking car was waiting for me at the front of the Office of National Security building. A Herm driver in a black suit was standing outside. They opened the door for me without a word, their bearing was military. I got in, and they closed the door. I gave them directions and shortly, they pulled up outside Pa’s house.

I sat in the car for a few moments, before going to the door. Pa opened it and embraced me. ‘Hell, Ari, I thought I lost you. I came to see you in hospital, but you were sleeping and then you were gone.’

‘I know Pa,’ I said as we went inside. When we sat down with two glasses of whisky. I took a sip before saying. ‘I’m head of First Division now, Pa.’

That took them aback. ‘Hawk …’

‘He’s got Kyle Snow’s job now.’

‘Didn’t see that coming.’

So I told them everything. When I finished I said, ‘Pa, I want you on my team. I need a profiler like you … and … I know you miss Ma. But do you wat to come back?’

I refrained from saying that it would be better than waiting to die in this mausoleum. Pa heard it anyway.

‘Ari … I can’t …’

‘You can help me catch the bastards who’d do it to another family. I have a contact inside GLF. We are working to align our partnership to be more in line with the President Wilson’s plans for our country. There are three cells of GLF, and they compete against each other …’

‘I’ll act as a consultant,’ they interrupted. ‘I’m not sure I’m ready to take orders from you, Ari. No matter how grown up you are.’ Pa’s smile was both sad and indulgent.

I rose to my feet. ‘Then I’ll see you tomorrow morning.’

‘I plan on being late. I like to sleep in nowadays.’

I nodded and left.

Early the next morning, Serpent, Wolf, Spider and Tick stood before me, hands behind their backs, looking straight ahead. A pang of relief and pride hit my chest. I was careful not to give my emotions away. I pushed forward a file towards them. ‘GLF is made up of three cells. One of them I believe is tamed and willing to work with us. Shade is their leader. They are motivated by money, with only a partial loyalty to our country. We need to get to the core of the other two cells and either destroy them or bring them into our sphere.’

‘Understood,’ said Wolf. ‘And do you have specific orders for each of us … Sir?’

‘They are in that file. Brief me when you have something. Right now, I have a meeting with the president. And before you balk at it, it’s not just a game of golf. We need Wilson in our corner, and after Kyle Snow’s betrayal, we need them to see that the office of national security is unfalteringly loyal to them.’

Understand and respect appeared in their faces. ‘You are the only one standing between us and the purge of the entire office,’ said the Serpent.

I nodded. ‘That was Wilson’s first reaction after I dumped Snow at their feet. I talked the president out of it, but they’re watching us closely.’ I rose to my feet. ‘Unless there is anything else, dismissed.’

Wolf took the file on my desk and they all left my office.

With a strange tightening in my chest I steeled myself to go upstairs before my game with Max.

Rain had a new secretary, who picked up the phone and pressed a button. ‘Ari Rockhall is here to see you, Sir.’

A muffled reply. Then the secretary replaced the phone. ‘You may go in. They are waiting for you.’ The secretary took out the watch on a silver chain from their pocket. ‘You are two minutes late by the way. Mr Wild likes strict punctuality. I would recommend you arrive two minutes early in the future.’

‘Noted,’ I said dryly.

Rain sat at a large mahogany desk, in front of a large, curtained window. His eyes were cool, official, indifferent even, as if we had not had the most wild sex a few nights ago, as if I had not slept in his bed, as he had not held my naked body.

‘You are two minutes late, Rockhall,’ he said in a voice that was all calm authority. ‘Be certain it doesn’t happen again.’

‘Sorry, long night,’ I said dryly. I just couldn’t help but provoke him, for I knew what conclusion he’d jump to. He lifted his gaze, his jaw tight. A flash of anger, hurt, betrayal quickly stifled and buried.

Rain stared at me levelly. ‘Take a seat.’

Despite my pretence, it was a shock to the senses to see Rain so serious, so official, authority and command seeping from him, and all aimed at me. Hell, Had I had this man on his knees before me.

I sat down, taking out a cigar, just so I could have something to turn in my fingers whilst Rain gave me a dressing down.

‘Although the president gave you my job, and I dare say the chummy relationship you are fostering with them will give you some measure of protection …’

‘You are my superior, and you can sack me,’ I finished for him, my gaze on the cigar in my fingers. ‘I know this … Sir.’

He was looking at me in the way he had never looked at me before. In the way that a commander looks at a junior agent. There was no warmth in his face, no sense of any shared recognition.

An image of him bending me over his desk flashed in my mind, and I instantly grew aroused.

‘To that effect,’ he continued, ‘If you keep anything from me again, I will sack you. Every plan you have, every case you work on, I expect to be fully briefed beforehand and during the mission. I find you withholding anything from me, I will sack you. You go behind my back again, Rockhall, and you are out of here. Do we understand each other?’

Hell, it stung. Not the chastisement, but his cold detachment, his seeming indifference, though I could tell from his tone that he was not as remote as he wished to be. I had hurt him, I knew that. I would not fall to my knees seeking forgiveness. I would not.

‘We understand each other,’ I said.

‘Dismissed.’ He picked up his pen and began to write in his file.

I stopped at the door, my hand on the handle, and stood there for a moment, collecting my thoughts. ‘Rain …’ I glanced over my shoulder to see him writing something down.

‘You are dismissed, Rockhall,’ he said calmly without looking up or any pause in the smooth flow of his pen across the paper.

And in that one word, I heard all the layers of his dismissal. Not just from his office, but from his life, from what we had shared. It cut me hard and deep, and so sharply, I sucked in a breath. It was what I had wanted, what I had asked of him. That was our arrangement, yet somehow, it felt more brutal now that it had finally come to pass.

‘Bedding you was never part of my plan. I did not need to bed you to steal the tape.’ With those words I walked out.