Headquarters was usually silent. When the elevator pinged, announcing her arrival, Anna was taken aback to see that no one rushed pass with papers in their hands, or that no one barked orders from across the room. She saw no agents chilling by the water cooler; everyone sat peacefully at their desks. Her boots echoed loudly in their silence, but, despite her surprise, she didn't linger very much on them.

Anna never cared enough about the others in the agency to strike up conversation. They knew her as the passing assassin, the fable girl who, only at seventeen years old, was the longest lasting agent in the agency. She never stopped by to say a word to anyone else but the boss. She was always going in and out, sometimes dressed in her mission garb, sometimes dressed in normal clothes, like now.

Eyes watched her pass over their desktops. Anna knew they were staring. They normally did. But there was something about this one that had her on edge. Their eyes beheld a secret, as if they knew something she didn't. Nearing Thomas' office, she slowed, watching them. Each time her eyes landed on someone, they looked away, but they were always quick to peruse her once again when those brown eyes of hers shifted away from them.

Finally, Anna stopped walking. She looked around at them, spotting Jackie standing close by. The girl was still in her mission garb, a tight leather suit that clung to her tiny frame. She was looking over some files when Anna approached. Her eyes lit with surprise when she saw who stood before her.

"What's going on?" Anna asked.

Jackie blinked again, two, three, four times. She closed the file and gave it back to the desk jockey, who rushed off with it. "Are you speaking to me?"

"You're the only one around, aren't you?"

"Oh? I think this is the first time you didn't look straight over my head." Jackie folded her arms and leaned against the wall. As a fellow assassin, she knew stealth was a part of her job, so the simple movement made no sound. Her slanted hazel eyes regarded Anna from head to toe. "What do you want, Annabelle?"

"I want to know what's going on here." Jackie's hostility merely bounced right off her. The dark skinned woman never liked her. Anna believed it was partly because she was her superior even thought Jackie was four years older, and partly because Anna never acknowledged her unless it was required.

"You're going to have to be more specific than that."

"Why is everyone so silent? And why are they staring at me?"

"Why don't you ask them that yourself?" Her lip quirked upwards and she fluffed her bouncy kinky curls. "If you want to go through all that trouble.

"Not worth it," Anna replied instantly. Despite the other woman's hostility, Anna never bothered to form a reaction to her. "Thomas is inside, right?"

At the call of Thomas' name, Jackie bristled. She envied the relationship they had, envied the fact that Anna was the only allowed to call him by his given name. Curtly, she nodded, then stood there staring into Anna's retreating back.

Anna ignored the rest of the eyes as she made the rest of the trip to Thomas' door. "Come in," came his rough voice from the other end at her knock. Anna slid in and closed the eyes out behind her.

Thomas was just coming off the phone. As he replaced the receiver, he looked up at Anna and his face lit up with happiness. "Oh, Annabelle! To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I'm here requesting a formal mission."

Thomas blinked in bemusement. "A formal mission request? Care to elaborate?" He gestured to the chair before his desk.

"Yes, sir." Anna sank into the chair, back straight. "Angela Staton, daughter of the politician, Stephan Staton has been kidnapped. I have cause to think the men after my target are responsible."

Thomas leaned back in his own chair, fingers rubbing thoughtfully over his upper lip. "What gave you that idea?"

"These men have been going after Jessime Beaumont for over a month now and I have managed to thwart their moves, per your instructions. I believe, seeing no other way, they've found out that Angela is a close friend of Jessi and that using her to taunt us might give them what they want."

"Jessi?"

Anna blinked at her slip up. "My apologies. Jessime."

Thomas was silent for a while. "Let's say I gave you permission for this mission. How would you carry it out?"

"I won't be able to do it alone. Since all that has to be done is take out those who hold Angela captive, I would need at least another assassin with me. Preferably Jackie."

"Is that it? Go in and take everyone out?"

"That's all that is required."

"No."

Anna blinked. "No?"

"No, you may not carry out this mission. I won't allow it."

"Forgive me, sir, but I don't think we have the luxury of choosing whether or not we should at a time like this. Stephan Staton is a very wealthy and influential man. Not only would it be beneficial to have him in our debt, but we are to protect America, right? This is his daughter we're talking about."

Still, Thomas waved his hand dismissively. "I said no, Anna. I don't want to hear any more on it."

"Sir!" Thomas' head snapped up at her shout. Anna was out of the seat before she even realized it. "This is Jessi's best friend we're talking about. Imagine his mental state if he finds out something were to happen to her under their watch."

"That's where you come in, Annabelle." Thomas' voice was a low rumble, concealing hidden anger. "You will make sure he doesn't do anything stupid until after the will is read."

"So we're just going to leave her like that? With those men?"

"Stephen should be able to take care of it without our help."

"Thomas!"

"What is wrong with you?" Thomas banged his hand against the table, eyes blazing. "Have you been compromised, Annabelle? Why do you care so much about this mission?"

"I care about all my missions, Thomas," Anna muttered, anger clenching and unclenching her hands.

"Not to the extent that would resort to shouting at your chief!" His eyes narrowed, scrutinizing. "Are you angry, Annabelle?"

"No, sir." But her twitching jaw revealed her lies. Thomas' eyes narrowed looked her up and down this time.

"You have been compromised," he gasped, in awe.

"No, I have not, sir." Stiffly, she walked to the door. "If you'll excuse me, sir, I have a target to protect."

His narrowed eyes never left the door after it closed behind her. His mind was reeling, but it landed on that one thought that made him sigh in defeat. He didn't want to have to do this. He loved Annabelle like he did his own daughter. But if what he thought was happening to her was really the case, then she was no longer of any use to him. He couldn't afford to have her around any more.

Slowly, he reached over and pressed the intercom button. "Jackie."

After a few seconds, the door opened to reveal Jackie. She closed the door and made her way over to him. "Yes, sir?"

"I have a mission for you."

"Yes, sir."

"Tomorrow night. Take Annabelle out."

Surprise lit her eyes. "H-huh?"

"You heard me. She's been compromised. Take her out tomorrow night."

Blinking profusely, Jackie nodded. "Yes, sir." She turned to leave.

"Jackie."

"Yes, sir?"

"After you're done, collect the item she has in her possession."

"Do you know what it is, sir?"

"You'll know when you see it."

"Okay, sir. Consider it done." Again she turned to leave.

And again, he called her back. "One last thing. After you've taken her out and secured the item, I want you to take care of Angela Staton too. We won't need her anymore."

"By take care of her you mean ...?"

"Yes," he answered. "Kill her."