It was 8:30PM on a summer day. Dusk was beginning to settle in the park. It was nearly empty.

A guy of about 20 sat at one of the benches and read a book. The bench looked towards a fountain that was in the middle of the park. It was a round fountain with jets shooting out water in the middle of it.

A raven-haired girl came by. She wore a short blue dress. She slipped her sandals off and got into the fountain. She waded around the side of it, looking closely in the water.

He watched her with interest. "How's the water?," he said with bemusement.

She looked at him and smiled. "Cold! Actually, I'm looking for a ring."

"A ring?"

"Yes. My engagement ring. I threw it in here earlier today, in a fit of anger, and now I'd like to get it back."

"I see. Need help?"

"Oh, no thanks."

"OK."

He continued reading his book, glancing at her occasionally.

A couple minutes later, she bent down, picked up something, and put it in her pocketbook.

"Found it?"

"Yes, thanks."

Suddenly, a shot rang out! It missed her by a few inches.

He got up and ran over to her. The two of them went into the middle of the fountain.

"Are you all right, miss?"

"Yes, thanks."

There was another shot. Fortunately, it also missed. The two of them dropped down into the water, getting soaked.

"Why is someone shooting at you?," he asked.

"Listen, I might as well tell you, I'm a secret agent."

"A secret agent? You mean like James Bond?"

"Well. . . Yes."

"Wow! Then that wasn't your ring you were looking for, was it?"

"No. I can't tell you any more than that."

There was a third shot. The guy covered himself over her.

"I've got an idea," he said. "I'll create a diversion."

"No! You might get killed!"

"I'll try not to!"

He got up. Seeing someone in the distance, he dropped down again.

"I see him!"

"Me, too. Good work!"

She stood up. Fishing in her pocketbook, she pulled out a gun. The man appeared again. She shot twice, and he fell.

"You got him!"

"Yes. But are there others?"

They lied down in the water again. All was quiet. So she put her gun away, and the two of then got out of the fountain.

"I'll bet you don't often go swimming with your clothes on!," he joked.

She laughed. "No, I don't!" Then she grew serious. "Listen, I have a very big favor to ask you."

"Sure."

"Forget this ever happened."

"Mum's the word."

"And forget about me, too."

"Forget about you?"

"Yes. Don't ever try to contact me. And if you ever see me on the street, don't say hi to me. Spying is a VERY dangerous game, as you can see."

He nodded. "If you insist."

"I insist!"

"Can I know your name, at least?"

"Just call me 99."

"Mine is Rodney Willis."

"Thanks for being there when I needed you, Rodney."

She kissed him on the cheek. Then she put her sandals back on and left.

He sadly watched her go. Then he walked over to his bench, picked up his book, and also left.