Double Agent

"Counter Intelligence"

It was noon, I walked down the four pier. The view was beautiful, the sun was shining, not a cloud in sight, and the waves reflected the light in a mesmerizing way. On the downside, it was flipping hot. The third boat was practically a yacht and the extremely bad news was Derek was walking towards it from the other end of the pier with that rich chick, Roxy Dunbarton. Shit, shitty shit SHIT!

"Casey? What are you doing here?" Derek asked, seemingly annoyed and slightly worried.

"So, you're Casey McDonald." Roxy said with an invisible question mark at the end.

"Yes, if you'll excuse me." I said, trying to sound busy when I power walked past them.

"That was a little rude." A heard her say. It obviously wasn't meant to meet my ears but then, all those years training did more than enhance my muscles. Every god damned summer.

Take it slow, deep breaths, concentrate. A mantra my dad repeated practically everyday. It was nearing the end of summer, I didn't realize it would be this hard. I was lying beneath a fallen tree and made sure it couldn't collapse on me because I never wanted to lay under a tree that heavy again. Dad chalked it up to heat strain from the sun because I didn't heal in time and he had to play it off as minor chest pains and explain away my exhaustiveness. It really hurt like a bitch. Next summer, I took even more precaution before.

This summer would be different, I wouldn't be the prey anymore. The bulletproof vest I wore would be worthless. Dad didn't treat me as a daughter during the summer, so I wasn't going to act like he was my dad, he was now a mere rabbit masquerading in the mask of a wolf.I'd find him this time. The nights weren't cold anymore, as long as I caught enough to eat and went before I slept, I'd be warm enough. Surviving was my one goal the first two summers but this time, my goal is to win. I could hear so much more since that weekend.

The very long weekend I got for February, my dad took me to a warehouse and basically turned it into a lab experiment with rats. He tied a blind fold around my eyes, and my hands behind my back, my instructions were to find where my dad's voice was coming from. It sounded simple at first but it was before I knew the maze was made out of long metal cylinders that echoed with every word he uttered and he put actual rats inside the maze. My first try, it took me six hours to find the little speaker box, the second, I cut more than half off with two hours and thirty six minutes, my third, I found the box in forty minutes.

A crack of a twig brought me out of my surprisingly unsuppressed memories. It was roughly one click east, he always did like the sun at his back. The time was approximately two hours before complete darkness. My hiding spot had been perfect. I heard a slight scuffle of rubber boots against bark, what is he a freaking monkey? It was very risky but I needed to check what he was looking at, muddy faced and dirty hair I peeked out from under the tree. He had his legs tangled in the branches and I knew he wouldn't fall out or get tired near as soon as I would in the same position. Luckily he wasn't looking my way, he was looking south. I always went south but not this time. I slid out the other side of the trunk soundlessly and hid tree behind tree until his back was in my 'good, could be better' range of distance for my aim. I held up my Glock 26, it was a tiny handgun and usually it was nestled by my hip and under my arm for quick access. Take it slow, deep breaths, concentrate.

"Gotcha." I said just before pulling the trigger.

After Derek and his girlfriend, the envious rich girl without any problems, left the pier I made my move. I wasted enough time waiting for him to leave but I filed away his odd awareness of his surroundings for further examination at a later date. God, I'm turing into a robot. I untied the boat. I jumped off the end of the pier, clothes and all, swam under the docks, and climbed up the ladder at the stern of the boat. I took off my wet clothes at the ladder and then pushed them into the water, I dried off my feet with a towel, didn't want to be making a mess now. I was prepared for getting wet and was already wearing a bathing suit beneath my clothes. I sat in front of the wheel, started the engine, and blasted away. After a good minute into the middle of nowhere, I finally heard someone making their way up onto the deck. I never knew the people, honestly I didn't want to because it would make everything too real. They were just targets. I could tell from the bustle and the fact they slept so heavily, it was a man. Or at least a tomboy. Either way, they'll think they have the upper hand. I stopped the boat, lowered the anchor, and killed the engine.

"What the hell? Who are you?" A man lumbered out, wearing nothing but swim trunks.

"Guess." He was all ready for my plan.

"What–? Are you from the–the oh shit. You're Love aren't you? But you're just–"

"You need to talk with more conviction, seriously bumbling idiot doesn't suit you," I stood up and approached him, he obviously heard about me. "and yes, I am just a girl."

"Counter Intelligence"

That was dumb, nobody even showed up. I wandered around that block for an hour and no one was there. Literally nobody except me, Casey, and Rocky. No, it wasn't Rocky but whatever it was she was way too clingy for my tastes, I didn't need to remember her name. I got the call yesterday, saying someone might be planning to kidnap Jacob. We all had alias' but for some reason his was an actual name. I came home disappointed and frankly, pissed off. I wasted my entire afternoon in the blazing hot sun. I hated the heat.

It was always hot where ever the hell we were. The first day, I didn't mind. My eyes and body were still groggy from whatever that dude did to me.

"Where am I?" I asked the voice.

"You don't ask the questions son, I do." I faintly saw that guy, I could tell by his silhouette, I would always remember everyone of his features. It was the murderer. I nodded to him even though that rebel inside me was telling me to resist. "Where do you live?"

"London." My voice was raspy and strained.

"Ontario?" I nodded again. "How old are you?" At that, I looked him straight in the eye, his piercing blue eyes watching me like a hawk.

"Sixteen." His eyes widened, a fraction of a millimetre.

"What's your name?"

"Derek, Derek Venturi. Why haven't you killed me yet?" He smirked.

"Guess." He crossed his arms amused.

"Well you could've just killed me on the spot or dumped my body somewhere."

"But I didn't." Who is this guy?

"So, the only use you have of me is my body because I doubt you'd use me for ransom because my family is dirt poor."

"Don't be so hard on yourself, I see you as more than a piece of meat, kid. I could use that brain of yours. I could tell just by looking at you, you're smart."

"And this would help you how?"

"Alright, enough games. Derek, I'm an old man and you know what they say, you can't teach an old dog new tricks. I need somebody to take the reigns, so to speak."

"What games? What reigns? Just who are you?"

"Now, that son, is a loaded question." He pointed at me. "They call me the Sinned. To put it in layman's terms, I'm a gangster." He crossed his arms again and I noticed the muscles his sweater hid. My eyes and throat were beginning to return to normal.

"So, you want me to be a gangster?" This was crazy.

"Yes and no. I need someone to fill the void in the Riptides when I leave and I need to assure them it is someone I have trained myself. They know I want out and I know if I can't find a protege, they'll do things that will break every part of me to keep me around."

"What makes you think I'll just go along with this?"

"You didn't let me finish you're very rude Derek but I like that, so I'm going to be honest with you. I hate them, I'm going to take them down, one by one if I have to but I need some time. Two years, if I'm not mistaken." He was pacing. "They threatened me with something I know I can't lose, not to this job. I'm going to retire soon, so lucky me, I found you. A young impressionable boy, that will learn every trick I have, quickly, quietly, and without reluctance." I could only raise my eyebrows at this, what is this a freaking movie? "Or, as much as I'd hate to, I'll eliminate you." I knew there was no way out of this, my life was on the line, I bowed my head in defeat. "Alright, let's begin." He seemed so chipper for an "old" man.

It was at six o'clock when my gut hit the floor and my heart stopped. My arm froze remote in hand. I recognized his boat from the footage.

"Breaking News: A man was found drowned in the Thames River, his boat was found near a popular deep swimming area, the police have issued a statement..." I sat in my chair. He's dead, they said he might be kidnapped not killed but still I failed. It's all my fault.