A/N: I really don't have anything to say since this is the first chapter but feel free to review and tell me your thoughts.

* Disclaimer * All rights go to Ally Carter except the plot and any additional characters outside the Gallagher girls series. This goes for all chapters.

* This is a bit Au there wasn't an exchange and Bex didn't go to Gallagher so the girls don't know her.

Macey McHenry is a lot of things but stupid defiantly isn't one of them. Which is why Macey could tell she has a tail. Someone has been following her for the past 12 blocks and it was lousy work. It's as if they wanted to be found. She could tell just from the quick peek using a glass window that the tail was a male and he wasn't that old either since he had broad shoulders, great endurance (hence his ability to keep up), and his attire wasn't one of the elderly. She used all counter survalience she had ever learned in Gallagher yet she couldn't shake him off her tail. The thing is he was able to maneuver around the tricks she'd use meaning he probably knew them. It's clear that he isn't an amateur but his tailing said otherwise. As she was approaching an alleyway she quickly ducked in before concealing herself between 2 dumpsters. Chances are he thought she was making a run for it but it was actually the complete opposite. As he walked by the dumpster Macey didn't even give him a chance to react to her sudden disappearance before she jumped out landing a kick to his chest in the process, she took his right arm before twisting it behind his back, pushed him against the wall , and wedged her knee between his legs.

" You're a bit eager aren't you" He said chuckling as if he expected this.

" To beat the shit out of you? Indeed" She sneered while ignoring the suggestive tone in voice. Macey knew this wasn't the best way to approach a tail but he made it pretty clear he knew who she is and what she does. There possibly wasn't anyway for her to keep her cover at this point.

" Is there a reason you've been following me like a stalker?" She questioned digging an elbow in his back just to make him squirm but he seemed unfazed. She was right, the tail is a male and judging by his accent he was British but he could always be faking it. Even in this dim lighting she could tell he had light brown hair. She couldn't rely on that being his actual hair color since there's something called hair dye. The same goes for his bluish greenish eyes. It was too dark to determine whether they were contacts or not.

" Are you done checking me out?" He cooed.

" Don't test my patience I think we both know why my knee is positioned the way it is. " She threatened. If she cared to notice she would've notice the way his heart skipped a beat in excitement. This was the first time in awhile that his mission partner didn't try to seduce him in a matter of minutes within meeting. Even if she wasn't aware of the fact that she is his mission partner or she couldn't really see him well he was going to make sure he had fun.

" I would say you're deaf but seeming as you heard me before I'm going to rely that your lack of response is because of your stupidity."

" No, now if you release me I'd be able to show you we're on the same team"he said. Sure he usually met his mission partner in a meeting with the director but he begged to meet her his own way. Her file was too interesting to just meet in a boring stuffy office. There would be no room for playing around the way he was now if the director was present. It would just be a serious professional meeting. He really couldn't care about the fact that he was indeed being unprofessional but he wanted to test her. He did tail her in an obvious way to see how fast she picked up. She did impress him, she picked up on the fourth block. It could be coincidental the first two and the third, the fourth was a dead giveaway.

" you're only adding more confirmation to the fact that you're plain stupid. Why would I release you?" He sighed so she was going to be stubborn.

" Isn't it obvious that I'm not against you, if I was I would have gotten out of this hold awhile ago" He said smugly. She simply brought her knee up and landed it right in the crotch area. He yelped in pain before she abruptly released him. He slide to the floor clutching his wounded area but he was grinning nonetheless.

" quit stalling and tell me who the f** you are and what do you want" she said glaring down at him. He took a second to admire her looks. She's a beauty no doubt. She dressed herself in black lace dress with black leather boots. The black Michael Khors clutch didn't go unnoticed.

" who's checking who out now?" She taunted. He grinned getting up and dusting himself off.

" don't flatter yourself princess" he replied smoothly. He reached into his back pocket not missing the way she tensed bracing herself for any surprises.

" relax princess I'm not going to shoot you or anything" she raised her eyebrows, sure she was expecting something but she knew he was too smart to just randomly pull out a gun and fire. They were still in the city and anything can be heard from the alleyway. She had know that he wasn't bluffing or lying when he said he wasn't against her. She had checked his pulse and his eyes didn't dart or dilate. His breathing was normal so the question was who was he? As if he read her mind he pulled out what looked like a wallet before holding it out open. The CIA badge was clear as glass. She didn't know why she was surprised. He didn't seem like a CIA agent, he was too carefree.

" Nick Conex, pleasure to be your new mission partner" He said grinning and sticking his hand out for a shake. She looked from the badge to his face and back to the badge before grinning herself.

"Macey McHenry, hope you can handle me" She replied before shaking hands with him. She couldn't help but feel giddy, sure it sounded like a joke and maybe just a little flirting but it held some type of warning to it. She was going to ace this mission and make his time with her hell.