At Jasmine's Home:

"You have your salary due right?" asks Jenna as she places the breakfast on the table.

"There's still time, why? Your pills finished?" Jasmine queries.

Over? It's been a month now. But how do I tell you this, my pills, brother's fees, our food, you are overburdened already. You don't say to me but I'm your mother. I feel it. Thinks Jenna, feeling pity for her daughter.

"Mom?" Jasmine shakes Jenna out from her thoughts.

"The Landlord came yesterday asking for the last 2 months' rent," Jenna informs.

"I'll get it." She gets up with her plate.

"But."

"I said I'll get it, you don't need to worry." She takes her bag and steps out.

"Hey, Jasmine," calls Rick near a cab just outside their building.

"Oh, Hi Rick, You this early?" she says putting a smile on her face.

"Yeah, got some extra workload, you heading out to work?"

"Yes."

"Okay, come I'll drop you."

"Only if you let me pay my share." She smirks.

"Lead the way, Ma'am." He opens the car door for her.

They both get seated. Driver starts the cab.

"Your eyes are reddish. Are you stoned?" he asks in a playful tone.

She chuckles. "I played video games with my brother until late last night."

He laughs. "The Frost Bar.. right?" He puts her workplace's address as a drop location.

"Yeah, you remember?" she asks, surprised.

"I remember everything about you, the first day we met, I remember it like yesterday. I was new in the town, looking for a home, you got me the house in your building, you were very helpful. I started liking you instantly."

"Unhunn," she mumbles grinning.

"And as I got to know you more, I only got impressed. You're a strong woman looking out for your mother and brother."

"You're overpraising me."

"I only say the truth."

If it would've been really true. She turns her head towards the cab window and thinks. That house I got you was only for a waiver of some of my rent. I waste half of my salary on my drug addiction. I fail out on rent, brother's school fees. I'm not the person you think, Rick.

Her drop comes. She steps out. "How much is it?" she asks about the ride's fare.

"One pizza," Rick replies.

"Oh, consider that due."

"Just you and me this time," Rick demands.

"You're overstretching it now."

"Okay, I'll settle for just pizza."

She closes the door of the cab and heads to The Frost Bar. Rick leaves for his latest extracurricular activity. To The Winston Church where Laura had called him.

--------------------------

Near Winston Church:

"This guy is getting on my nerves," Laura exhales and dials. "Hello Reid, your guy is late, again"

"Have a little patience! Laura, He's new."

"Blaming me? Tell me why I have to work with an amateur or anyone. Many agents work solo."

"I have my own reasons," Reid says in a stern tone.

"3 years in special ops. 5 years in Army. I'm the most qualified person in your organization. Still you don't trust me?"

"Also expelled from the army," he says in a critical tone.

"So it's about that?"

"It has nothing to do with that. But I have my own reasons. And you don't question my authority."

Hanging up she grits her teeth. Tires screech in right to her car. Rick steps out of the cab. "Hey..hey sorry for the delay, had to take a detour for dropping a friend."

"Whatever," she says in an apathetic tone.

Laura gets into the church. Rick follows her. Prayers had already started. She spots Jonathan Rodriguez in white suit and pants. His men are dressed in black suits, standing close to him.

I've to isolate him. She thinks. Considering they wouldn't have carried guns inside the church, now would be the best time. But how? there are too many of them.

She turns her head towards Rick. Hah, let's put the bait for the hunter.

"You want a second chance at your forgiveness?"

"Yes, I'll do anything."

"Kill the priest when prayer ends." She hands him a gun. "Don't let me down."

"I won't," he says hesitantly.

Prayer ends. Rick goes straight to the priest. He points the gun to his face, standing just next to him.

Click! Click!!

He clicks the gun but no bullet comes out of the gun. He turns back. The air is filled with the sound of panicked screams and thudding feet and everyone barrels towards the door to escape. Jonathan's men grab Rick by his neck.

Taking advantage of the rush, Laura gets close to Jonathan. She puts a gun behind his back. "Out with me now." She takes him out of exit, without getting noticed by his men.

"The videos of Blake Pryce you're blackmailing him with. All deletes now."

"My men are everywhere, you're not gonna-"

She puts two shots in his two legs, interrupting him. "Next two goes through your eyes."

He takes his phone out. "Delete all the videos of Blake Pryce."

"But-" man on phone protests.

"Do as I SAY," he spits out.

"Backups too." Laura puts the gun on his heart.

"Originals and backups. All of 'em."

"It's done," Jonathan informs on getting confirmation a bit later.

"Thanks, It's been a pleasure doing business with you." She heads to her car.

Jonathan's men come out of the gate. They throw Rick in the way and run towards Jonathan.

Laura comes with her car and stops near Rick. He gets inside. Jonathan spots her car. "There!! catch them."

Laura speeds up her car. Jonathan's men hop onto their vehicles and chase them.

--------------------------

On The Kingston Road:

Laura takes a quick turn to the right. She steps out and adjusts her shoelaces.

"Really, you're concerned about that now?" Rick gets out.

One of Jonathan's men on a bike comes screeching his tires. But unaware of Laura's car parked in the middle of the road. He puts the brake too abruptly. He goes flying in the air, crossing her car, to finally hit the ground.

Laura & Rick get seated in the car and she kicks in the engine. In the rearview mirror she sees another biker chasing them. But the biker takes a turn instead of following them. "Um! shortcut," she says looking at the map in the car's navigation.

She stops the car after going a little further. Rick sees two cars behind them. "So we're gonna wait for them to catch us?"

She doesn't reply and keeps her eyes focused on the road ahead. The biker comes out on the road from an opening to the right. She shifts the gear and goes blazing. The car hits the biker throwing him into a shop nearby, thrashing it's glass gates.

"They're almost here," Rick informs about two cars closing in on them. In a quick turn, she gets the car on The Kingston Bridge. The closest car unable to get clear space goes into the opposite lane.

"Great, let's just leave them like that...the police will catch'em for driving in the wrong lane," he says in a playful tone. But Laura looks at him with uttermost seriousness on her face. He gulps his smile.

"Shit, they've got a MACHINE GUN," Rick shouts in panic seeing it coming out of the car in the opposite lane.

"Down!" Laura ducks down him & herself in the car. Bullets come and go flying through Laura's car. "I'll pick up if I stay alive," Rick says as his phone rings. "I swear."

She turns the steering wheel towards Jonathan's men's car. And sends it off the bridge into the river!!

They get up from the ducking position. "Ah! they've fried the car navigation," Laura lashes out.

"Give me the wheels, I know this area like the back of my hands," Rick suggests.

Laura looks at the last car chasing them, getting closer. "Do it now," Rick exasperates.

Rick takes the car through a factory gate and stops after going a bit in. He starts honking. "What are you doing?" Laura asks, surprised.

"This is not a public road. It's the factory's internal road, look at the signs, Morons!" A factory guard comes shouting towards the gate. "Close the gates," he shouts to the gateman.

Rick starts his car and gets out of the factory from the other end just before the exit gate closes. Jonathan loses their trail when the factory's entrance gate closes.

Hmm. Witty Guy. Laura thinks. "We'll go to the CIA's office tomorrow," she says to compensate, contemplating how she used him as bait earlier.

"Wow! That's great news for me." Rick beams up in excitement.

--------------------------

At Rick's Old Office:

"Where's Rick?" Amy asks the Receptionist. "I don't know Ma'am...I haven't seen him come today."

"Okay, you carry on." She calls him but he doesn't pick up. Hah that's new. She thinks.

She goes to Matt. "Where is Rick?"

"He hasn't come today," Matt says looking at his laptop, avoiding eye contact with her.

"Yes I know, why? Is he sick?"

"No."

"Then why?"

"I don't know. Why don't you ask him?"

"Stop bullshiting me Matt," she says furiously. "Look you know how I feel about him, so don't hold out his secrets on me," she tones down.

"He's not coming back, he's resigned," he informs.

"What? Wait!! Is that you guys were talking about, to discuss with the reports, last night? She doubts.

"Yes."

"I knew it. I knew something was wrong with him."

"It's only gonna get worse, why don't you just tell him that you love him."

"I can't. He's always seen me as a boss only." Her eyes well up with tears.

"Then, now would be the best time to tell, as you're no longer his boss."

"Yes, it would be the best time." She wipes her tears. "I'll go to his house tomorrow."

_______________________________

Hi, Aeron here!!

Do you think Jasmine will be able to pay  her rent that easily?

Did you like the action part?

Let me know in the comments.

Also don't forget to vote this episode if you liked it!! See you in the next one!!