Author's note- I was planning on this here being a one-shot, but as I've got into the flow of writing I think it may become longer. I wanted to attempt writing something deeper than the fluff that had come to mind with the original idea that I had. Therein, the inspiration for a mission in Russia came to me which will be written in full in chapter two. Although, rest assured the fluff will still be there!
Hope you all enjoy the first chapter – all reviews and comments welcomed.
Coffee and Kitten Heels
Chapter one
It was nine am on a damp October morning in the DPD office and August Anderson sat in his office, puzzled. Not that it was anything regarding his work that was bothering him, there was just something missing.
Nine am was coffee time every day, all year round and yet today there was none to be found.
Auggie felt for his watch just to double check the one on his computer wasn't running fast and sure enough the hands were set right on the position for nine o' clock. He frowned, took off his headphones and replaced them with his phone headset whilst speed dialling one of his favourite numbers. Although if anyone asked him about said number, he would probably never admit to it being one of his favourite.
Annie Walker was not having the best day. She had ventured out of the guesthouse to her car earlier this morning to find that it wouldn't start, as the battery had gone flat on her. This meant that she had to bother her sister for a jump start during the build up to the morning school run which was never an easy task. Any other time of day would have been no problem, but during the week 'morning Danielle' was highly strung - she did have two young over excitable children to feed and get ready each morning after all.
She had managed to get the car started by 8.15am and breathing a sigh of relief set off to Starbucks in search of coffee – of course she would pick two cups up as part of her daily routine, one for her and one for Auggie. As she was pulling up to the curb outside the store, she couldn't believe her eyes. Looking through the store window the queue seemed so long that it might as well have been the length of the whole block!
Annie let out an exasperated sigh, unbuckled her belt and got out of the car. It was definitely going to be one of those days.
It had taken nearly fifteen minutes for her to reach the counter to get served, at which time she felt it was definitely necessary to order two extra large coffees with a double shot of espresso in each, of which she placed in a carrier as soon as she received them and made her way back to her car.
Annie had just managed to get settled into the driver's seat when her phone began to buzz. "I wonder who this could be," she said to herself rolling her eyes. There was no need for her to check the caller I.D; it was five past nine or five past coffee 'o clock for Auggie.
"Annie Walker, where you at?" was the sound from the other end of the line.
"Well hello to you too, Augs," Annie answered. "You would not believe the morning I've had, fifteen minutes in a queue for coffee, unbelievable! Plus I had some car trouble this morning, flat battery."
"Didn't you hear? The Starbuck's Coffee Rush is like a modern day Gold Rush these days. Tut, and here I thought you were knowledgeable and worldly Miss Walker,"
"Well aren't we lively this morning? I suppose that means that this coffee could go to a better home after all. Hmm, I wonder who..." Annie trailed off, stifling a giggle at the same time. She knew that comment wouldn't go down too well. Or so she thought.
"I hear the head of Tech Ops enjoys a morning coffee every now and again. Getting on his good side could do wonders for a girl like you," he replied, unfazed.
Annie wondered why she ever tried; he always had a response no matter what. The laugh she had tried to suppress finally escaped and even though he was laughing along with her, she could have sworn his laugh was laced with a sense of victory.
"I'll be there in two minutes Auggie. Let the boss know that his coffee is on the way, ok? "She teased.
His response was the faint click of the line being closed.
Typical Auggie was all Annie could think. She had just pulled up in to a parking space and grabbing the coffee she quickly made her way towards the building.
He could hear the familiar cadence of her kitten heels on the tiled floor and as she got closer the smell of double espresso coffee assaulted his senses. But for the second time today something was missing.
Annie had just entered Auggie's room coffee in hand only to be startled by his next words.
"Stop right there. Coffee down on the table please," he started to get up, advancing towards her with a thoughtful look.
She looked at him gone out but at the same time found his sporadic outburst amusing.
"Annie, I can feel that look you're giving me and no I have not gone crazy," he said with his signature grin lighting up his face.
"Now really, Auggie? Then what's with the dramatics all of a sudden?" She tried to sound as serious as she could but there was no use in it, the growing smile on her face was a dead giveaway.
"There's something different about you today, but I can't put my finger what it is exactly." He replied again the thoughtful look still awash over his features.
After half a minute of pacing around her in circles, it hit him.
Grapefruit.
Or in this case, the lack of Annie's usual grapefruit scent.
"Annie, you don't smell like your usual self!" He exclaimed, the brashness of his comment only an afterthought.
She considered this for a moment and then it dawned on her. "Well noticed Auggie, I must've forgotten to put my perfume on this morning with all the rushing around I was doing,"
"It's a good job you wear those kitten heels Walker, or I would have had trouble picking you out in a crowd today,"
"What about the coffee, surely you could have picked up on that?" she questioned playfully.
"Many women like to bring me coffee Miss Walker, what can I say?" he retorted, matching her playful tone word for word.
From the look on his face he was waiting for a rebuttal, one of which Annie didn't have. He still had an expectant look on his face so she obliged.
"In case you didn't hear, that was me rolling my eyes at you," Annie said, sighing.
"It wouldn't be first time a woman has done that in my presence either,"
He never quits was all Annie could think.
Then there was a knock on the door.
Joan entered, wearing a purple pencil dress and black pumps, her hair pulled back tightly with a hair band. Annie wondered how in such a simple outfit her boss managed to look so powerful. She was pulled back from her thoughts with the clearing of a throat, as Joan sternly announced the day work.
"Annie, Auggie. Sorry to interrupt your morning coffee club but we have just received a report that an asset has gained some Intel regarding the Mikiele drug cartel and human trafficking ring operating out of Russia. Annie you're booked on the next flight there, Auggie will fill you in with the mission details once everything is in hand,"
As quickly and abruptly as Joan had entered she had left leaving Annie to mull over her next mission.
"At least you won't have to pick me out in a crowd while I'm in Russia," Annie said in Auggie's direction.
He just smiled at her comment, his knowing reply being "There's no rest for the wicked, Walker,"
Half an hour later Annie boarded the flight to St Petersburg, Russia. Throughout the check in process she found herself wondering what was in store for her once she arrived. It was her first mission involving the implications of Human Trafficking and she could only imagine what consequences there could be for the young women involved if this Intel was a dead end.
She promised herself that she would not worry about that until it came to it. She knew that because Joan had given the orders so quickly that it was likely to bring good results. If there was one thing that you could count on with Joan, it was that her instincts regarding leads for mission Intel were always strong and nearly always spot-on.
She also was comforted that she had someone completely dependable, who was only a few quickly dialled digits away. Annie couldn't fathom what she would do without her best friend and handler, Auggie. He often kept her grounded in tough situations and on mission she would take his advice over anyone else's opinion in a heartbeat. She knew was lucky to have someone like him who was so in tune with the world – in tune with her. Plus there was no-one who could brighten up her day quite like Auggie, even if she did have a never ending urge to elbow him in the ribs because of his predictable cheeky nature.
As Annie boarded the plane, her Langley provided essentials hold-all under her arm, she strolled down the aisle to find her seat, that being I5. She sighed upon noticing her neighbour in the next seat, hoisted her hold-all up into the luggage cabin and resentfully. There was a middle age gentlemen, making an almighty racket whilst he was sleeping. If there was one thing Annie couldn't stand about travelling coach class, it was the inevitability that she would never have a peaceful flight. Whether it is because of crying infants, whining teenagers or individuals with nasal congestion.
Suddenly the snoring stopped.
Annie silently thanked the Heavens. Maybe this flight won't be as bad after all, she thought to herself.
As soon as the thought had passed through her mind, the rumble of the return of the snoring had reached her ears again.
"Oh, eleven hours of this? You have got to be kidding me!"
Those who had ever thought CIA agents travelled in style on missions were entirely wrong. They were so completely and deadly wrong.
Annie put on the safety belt around her lap, slumped down in the chair and folded her arms in defeated.
She could not wait for today and the flight to be over.
Thanks for reading!
