Jack Starbright, the housekeeper started working at a bakery until about three in the afternoon. Alex had not had a new mission from the MI6 for about two weeks. He was expecting for something to happen, an agent's work was never done.
It was about six 'o clock on a Friday afternoon. Jack was watching Casa Blanca on the couch in the living room. Alex looked at her and sighed averting his eyes back to the essay he was working on. He only had two sentences written. It was proving to be a very difficult assignment indeed. His thoughts kept going back to Sabina. She had called him for the first time in four weeks the night before. She called to tell him that she had found someone else.
"I'm sorry Alex. I don't want to hold you back."
"No. I understand." He said trying not to show signs of sadness. Great, now the MI6 is really getting to me. He thought trying to think of something else. Sabina took a deep breath.
"America.. is so far away." She said, "Especially California, we can't ever get together. It's been nagging at me for weeks." Alex tried to think of something suitable to say. The only thing that came to him was;
"I hope you found everything you're looking for."
"I hope you do to." As soon as she had said this. Part of the enormous burden he had been carrying for the last two years lifted and disappeared.
"Friends?" He asked.
"Of course silly!" He heard her giggle, "Always, I'll always be here for you." He thought this would have been so much more painful. Some how he liked thinking of Sabina as a friend more than ever.
"I will too." Alex said with a smile.
"Good luck." she said.
"You too. If he's mean to you I'll knock him out." He said in a protective flourish that was almost corny. Sabina laughed.
"Thanks Alex." She said with a smile in her voice, "I hope to talk to you soon."
"Yeah, talk to you later." Alex said. There was a pause and Sabina hung up. He followed soon after. Thinking of the conversation he had to smile. He snapped back to his essay.
"Hey Jack." Alex said hesitantly.
"Hmm?" She said in a far off voice.
"I was wondering, do you mind if I step outside, we're out of ice cream."
"Oh.. Yeah! You're right! I wouldn't mind having some ice cream ether, do you need a ride?"
"No, it's okay Jack, enjoy your movie." Alex said deserting his paper on the bar table. "I'll be back in ten."
"Okay.. Have fun..." She didn't take her eyes from the screen, "call me if anything comes up, you know." Jack said.
"Yeah, I will." Alex smiled. He walked to the front door and took his coat from the hanger. He opened the door and shut it behind him.
He had decided to take his bike. The sun was setting, Alex checked his watch, it was nearly 6:30, he didn't have much time before it was dark. Alex peddled his bike down the street past the cricket field. The winter air blew into his face. It brought back memories of all he had done.. The cool days at Point Blanc. Everything was beginning to remind him of the missions than of things that should have happened.
But than again, whoever said life was supposed to be fair like that?
Alex sighed as he turned at the stoplight on the crosswalk. He cellphone rang, nearly knocking him off his bike. He took it out of his pocket and came to a stop in front of the drugstore on the corner.
"Hello?" Alex said composing himself.
"Alex." Said an unchanging voice he noticed at once.
"Mrs. Jones?"
"Yes, I know you just got back from..."
"Outer space." Alex said bluntly.
"Yes, I'm sorry to have to ask you.." Alex sighed. He he known it wouldn't be long before he got this call. "If you would go to Switzerland for us it's very important.." Alex's heart fell.
"What do you want me to do?" Alex asked before he could stop himself. He knew she wouldn't tell him until they were a safe distance away from the rest of the world. "Bad question." He said out loud. Mrs. Jones sighed.
"I'm so sorry Alex. I know you're tired of these missions. You were a last resort. Alan insisted that you take this one." Of course Mr. Blunt, the evil genius of this whole venture.
"Oh." Alex said. He looked around, he had a feeling he was being watched. In fact, he always felt he was being watched.
"I'll tell you but you have to act casual!" She said urgently.
"Sure." Alex said. He put the kickstand on his bike and walked into the store. The store wasn't packed with people, it worked to his advantage anyway. The freezers were always at the back of the store.
"Now, where are you?" Mrs. Jones asked.
"Kimberly's Drugstore."
"Yes, well, how many people are there?"
"Wait a minute." Alex said then looking over the shelves to see a whopping five. "About five." He said.
"Good, this is very important." Mrs. Jones said quickly and quietly, "You have to play bodyguard to an American prodigy named Ara Faye. She's fourteen and incredibly hard to pin down. She was last seen leaving the Louvre two years ago on Christmas Eve. Coincidentally, she was photoed by accident while she was viewing the Mona Lisa ."
Alex reached the back of the store and opened the freezer.
"Well, what makes you think she will trust me anyway? The girl is obviously trying to hide something from the interpol." Alex said taking out a barrel of chocolate mint ice cream from the shelf and shutting the door.
"Perhaps, we think it's bigger than that."
"How so?" Alex asked striding to the front of the store.
"She is being much to careful about hiding. We think she's possibly doing something illegal. Possibly concerning the Mafia"
"Most likely." Alex said setting the ice cream on the counter. A girl stepped up behind him holding a pack of spearmint gum. She was a pretty girl, her skin had an olive sheen, there were large black circles under her eyes. She looked as if she hadn't slept for months. She was gazing out of the window.
"So, what do you think?"
"Possibly." Alex said looking over his shoulder. The girl looked about the same age as his new to be principle.
"I'm glad, thanks Alex. I tried everything to talk Mr. Blunt out of this."
"I understand." He sighed, "Don't worry." The man at the register to the ice cream and ran it over the scanner.
"I'll let you get back to your ice cream." Mrs. Jones said, "talk to you later Alex." She hung up. He shook his head. The MI6 never ceased to amaze him.
"Two pounds." The man said. Alex shoved his hand into his pocket and brought out the money. He put it on the counter and stole a look at the brunette behind him. "Come again soon." the man said.
"Thanks." Alex said taking the ice cream.
The girl looked up from her magazine.
"Tha'd be sixpence miss." The grocer said. She took it out of her purse and handed him the money. "Have a nice day." He said void of emotion.
This is ridiculous! She thought. Why must all of these boys be so elusive? She sighed as she took her gum. It had been a very bad strategy for trying to get some dirt on the suspicious boy in front of her.
"You too, lighten up a bit while your at it." She said lifting an eye brow. She stepped out of the shop. Her eyes followed the boy as he waited at the cross walk.