CAM

Rule number one of being an undercover assassin: don't get involved with government officials.

Wait, sorry, that's rule number two. Or was it three? I don't know, I'd never bothered to study the damn book anyways. Diane– my mentor– always placed emphasis on practical knowledge, rather than theoretical.

Plans would change, shit hits the fan and no amount of memorising is going to prepare you for this.

Where was I?

Right. Government officials.

Nasty little pests, aren't they? Too much power given to mere mortals– the right to kill, the right to wade through red tape, and the right to park wherever they wanted. No one should be above the law, even those who wished to enforce it.

Of course, I don't hate all government officials. How could I? My best friend is one. Lovely woman, she is– has a very clear moral compass even from a young age which I'd always envied. I couldn't even imagine her stealing a pencil, let alone murder someone. She carried herself through life with her head held high, unlike me and my other best friend, whose hands were stained with innocent blood.

Although, having a screwed up sense of morality was going to help me ditch this Agent.

What was his name again? Agent Leo. I could tell, almost instantly, this man could not be bribed. He had the same set in his jaw and the dulled spark in his eyes of an overworked corporate servant who could only be bought with good sleep and a promotion— none of which I could provide at that moment.

But what to do? He'd already rejected my plea to leave the Agency an hour ago, had plonked me in his little office and began typing away something possibly as drab and boring as him on his computer. Agent Leo would sometimes look up at me and a crease would form between his brows, as if he was wondering he of all people was being asked to guard me. You and me both, buddy.

I glanced around the room and was unsurprised at what I saw: four walls that boxed a small floor space, a creaky desk with folded paper stuffed under the legs to assuage the wobbling, a few framed photos with blurry faces and inspirational quotes that made me gag, and a short shelf lined with books that had cracked spines and worn covers. The perfect workaholic's arena, where he could slave away for a promotion he would never get.

See, this is why I freelance.

Well, saying freelance might be dabbling with the definition a little.

"Who's this?" I pointed to a photo with a young man who had his head thrown back at something the camera-man was saying; although it was in black-and-white, I could feel my lips twitch at the silent joke and pure life in his squinted eyes. I knew it wasn't Agent Leo– I highly doubted the man ever smiled in his life.

His jaw set and he typed with more force than strictly needed. "None of your business." Ooh, a sore spot. Gotta make note of that.

"Alright." I mocked, raising my palms and glancing at the digital clock mounted on the wall. Shit. I need to leave now. I cleared my throat and raised a brow. "Where's the bathroom in this place?"

"It's on the left and straight. You'll spot it eventually."

I allowed the door to swing shut behind me and kept close to the edge of the room, fiddling with the silver 'Izzy' pendant I always kept around my neck. I tucked my hair behind my ears and, once I was certain everyone had their attention pulled elsewhere, I ducked and got into the elevator.

The key to escaping is to make it seem like what you're doing is perfectly natural. Awkward shuffling, avoiding eye-contact, and even the way you stand could easily give the game away. A triumphant smirk stretched across my face as I rapidly pressed the button to close the doors with a soft whoosh. I could make it out of the building and halfway to my destination before anyone even noticed I was gone—

The doors opened only five floors down. Agent Leo stood outside, arms crossed and the ghost of a smile etched on his face. His curly brown hair swept across his forehead, and he pushed it back. "Going somewhere?"

I swallowed back a curse of surprise, furrowing my brows in what I hoped was confusion. "Oh, sorry, I must've taken the wrong turn on the way to the bathroom."

"I'm sure you did." He entered the lift and gripped my harm, but not hard enough it hurt. I caught a whiff of his minty cologne as he leaned across me to press the button to the upper floor. "Quite surprising, though, considering you went in the exact opposite direction I'd told you."

I shrugged, using my free hand to fiddle with the chain of my necklace. "I always have a hard time telling my left from my right."

He exhaled through his nose in what could almost be considered a laugh. "Nice necklace, by the way. Who's Izzy?"

"My daughter," I said coolly, clutching the pendant between my fingers instinctively, almost like I was guarding her.

"You have a daughter? Where is she? We can protect her as well–"

"That won't be necessary. She's... in a better place now." Hopefully, the Agent was at least trained to sense the tone.

Fortunately, understanding bolted through Agent Leo's expression and he shifted to distribute his weight more evenly, arms clasped behind his back. "I'm sorry to hear that."

Don't be, it wasn't your fault. The words rested on my tongue, heavy as lead, but I couldn't manage more than a noncommittal grunt. I glanced down at my palms, at the dirt underneath my jagged nails, the calluses on my palms. I could disarm the Agent before he had time to blink, but then what? All it would take is one discerning person to notice something on the security camera, and my entire life would fall apart like a building made of tissue paper.

If only I hadn't walked by that stupid alleyway. If only I hadn't been seized by curiosity and glanced around at the noise. What was my rule? Stay out of it. Instead, I'd stuck my oversized nose where it didn't belong and would have to go on trial to testify against a major crime lord. Did anyone ask me my opinion on the matter? No, they all– especially that ignoramus Chief Haddel– had assumed I possessed morals, and signed me up for this witness protection program. I just need to leave this place and– wait.

An idea took root in my mind.

I snuck a glance at Agent Leo. Slightly crumpled shirt tucked into a well-pressed dark suit, black shoes polished until they shone, the hunch of an overworked man in a dead-end job... I couldn't bribe him, but I could manipulate him.

I'm sorry, my darling girl, for what your mother is about to do. I closed my eyes, then opened them again, slouching with a sigh. The panel above the elevator told me we were five floors from the top. Plenty of time.

"Look." I bit my bottom lip, letting out a shaky exhale. "Perhaps we got off on the wrong foot. I've not– I've not had the best luck in life, as you can probably tell."

Nothing. Not even a twitch of his stubbled jaw.

Four floors left.

I cleared my throat, twisting a loop of red hair through my fingers with a desperate smile. "I wasn't trying to escape, I promise. I just... Izzy. Her grave is buried not too far from here." Three. "I didn't– I didn't want... I just wanted the chance to see her, as I usually do every week, since I don't know if I'll get the opportunity again." I thought of the photo in his office, the smiling man and Agent Leo's reaction. Two. "Please, Agent Marino, please let me have the chance to say one last goodbye to my daughter."

Agent Leo swallowed, his brows furrowing and lips twisted into a faint grimace as if I'd struck him. He didn't look at me, but his gaze was unfocussed. My words had found their mark, but I couldn't predict his reaction.

One.

The doors glided open with a quiet ding!

A moment passed. Neither of us moved.

Then, slowly, Agent Leo reached over to press the '0' button. He finally looked at me, a faint grin spread across his face. "So, where did you say we had to go?"

Got him. I didn't have to fake my relief and smiled. "Oh, it's really not too far from here..."

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Those of you who have read 'Betrayed' might remember what's coming next 👀 

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Stay safe and thanks for reading :)