I was tucking Amy and Jennifer into bed when I heard the car pull up outside. I didn't look outside, but I knew it was the SS for Rudolph. Downstairs I could just hear my parents wishing him a good night. I felt neither relief nor sadness at the knowledge I'd been the one to seal his fate. Years of similar situations had trained me well. This was hardly the most morally ambiguous.

I read to the girls until I heard my parents retire to their room. I joined Joe in the living room. I walked over to the shelf and retrieved the cabinet key from its hiding place. "Now, what are we looking for?"

"Your dad brought home some files, I think they're related to the case I was working," he explained. "They say Grasshopper." I was suddenly on high alert. The Grasshopper Lies Heavy was the title given to the series of Resistance films. I'd gotten my hands on films through the SS, but never on any official basis. I'd never read any files on them. My job was to root out traitors, not track down films. Maybe an SS file on the films was the missing piece I needed to finally solve that mystery.

I unlocked the cabinet for Joe. He dug through the files until he found the one he was looking for. But when he opened it, it was empty. I knew immediately we'd walked into a trap. The lights flicked on. Joe and I whirled around to see my father standing in the doorway. "Dad, I can explain."

"No need, Charlotte." He shook his head. "I really wanted to be wrong about you, Joe. But here we are, in my office, in the middle of the night. You even dragged my daughter into it. I know you've been lying to me. Now it's truth time."

"What do you want to know?" Joe asked quietly.

"Tell me about the girl."

Joe sighed, but didn't hesitate. "Her name was Juliana Crane, she had a film. She thought the SD agent was her contact. When they met, he tried to kill her, but she put up a fight. He fell over the bridge. I helped her hide the body to keep my cover intact. That's all."

"The body burned to a crisp in the car, that was her?"

"No," Joe choked out. "We wanted it to look like it was her."

"You wanted to protect her, why?"

"She reminded me of Lottie." My father glanced at me, then back to Joe. "But she didn't know what she was getting herself into."

"Get your things, both of you."

"Dad, please-"

"Charlotte, get your things," he snapped. He turned and headed into the hallway. I reached for Joe's hand and intertwined my fingers with his. My father opened the front door and an SS officer stepped in. I recognized him from the office. He'd always looked so condescending. If only he knew who I really was. Now he looked at me and smirked.

I tightened my grip on Joe's hand. "He always wanted it to end like this," I whispered. "But I won't let him take you."

"Don't do anything stupid, Lottie," Joe whispered. "I did this to myself. You're his daughter, he won't hurt you unless he has no choice."

"Joe-"

He cut me off. "No matter what happens, just remember I love you."

OoOoO

I spent three hours waiting outside my father's office. To say I was a mess would be putting it lightly. I only held out hope because as long as Joe was in that office, I knew he was alive. Unless there was a secret back exit I didn't know about. I wouldn't put that past my father.

Finally the doors opened, the condescending officer appeared. He smirked again. I wanted to sock him in the mouth and wipe it off his face. "Obergruppenführer wants to see you."

I stood up slowly and walked into the room. The officer followed behind me. "You can wait outside," my father told him. I wanted to turn around and smirk at him, but I fought the urge. "Come, sit." I took a seat next to Joe. I held my breath waiting to hear his next words. "I've decided to give Joe a second chance."

"Thank you, I'm-" He held up a hand, cutting me off.

"On one condition. Joe will be reporting to the Pacific States to retrieve a film from Juliana Crane. If he succeeds, I will forget this incident." I swallowed hard. "Also, Athena will be accompanying him. This is not your usual MO, but I trust you can handle it."

I nodded. "Of course."

"Good. As you are now on this case, you will have full access to the records of Joe's mission in Canon City. But I'm sure Joe will catch you up as needed." He waved us away. "You're both free to go. I expect frequent updates."

OoOoO

That night Joe was expecting a call from Juliana to discuss the film. So I took the opportunity to signal my Resistance contact. We met under the usual arch in Prospect Park. It was a Saturday, which meant there was a few stragglers even this late.

"How's the weather back home?" The man asked from the shadows.

"I don't have time for formalities," I said quietly. I glanced toward the entrance. No one was nearby but still I spoke quickly. "I'm going to be out of touch for a bit," I told him. "This one isn't like the other times, I might not come back." I reached into the pocket of my cigarette pants, and pulled out a folded piece of paper. "Here are the new routes. I trust your men will be able to carry out our plan, with or without me?"

He nodded. "We'll do out best."

"Good, that's all I needed."

I turned to leave, but he stopped me. "Is there anything the Resistance can do to help you?"

I contemplated for a moment. "Send word to the West Coast Resistance, Artemis is coming."

OoOoO

Early the next morning we packed our things and headed to the Pacific States. By the time we landed I had almost forgotten the events of yesterday. I was back at work and I was with Joe. Everything was going to be okay. In four years, I'd never failed to complete a mission. This would be no different.

We walked out of the airport. It wasn't as sunny as I expected it to be. I always imagined California to look like the postcards. But today was a little rainy. Joe walked to the street to hail a cab, but he was quickly shoved back by a Japanese officer. "Japanese first!" The man snapped and pushed Joe toward a line I hadn't even noticed.

We joined the other white travelers in line. "Well, we're certainly not in Kansas anymore."

"Think of it as a cultural experience."

"Florida was enough cultural experience for me." I shook my head. "Florida is a strange place." Joe shook his head. "You can laugh but I've never seen that many elderly people in my life."

OoOoO

Joe left me at the hotel while he went to track down Juliana. It was my idea to stay behind. I didn't want to spook her. Plus I wasn't used to working with others, I preferred to scope things out myself. I did my usual tour of the area, mapping escape routes and taking note of interesting people. It was routine, which was refreshing as most of this was so off book.

Joe returned that afternoon with takeout. "You found her?" I asked. He nodded. I dug through the bags and picked a dumpling out of its box. "Think she'll set us up with her contact?" I sat down on the couch.

"She said she'd try," he said. "If not, you have ideas, I'm sure."

"Plenty, I'll find them this week on my own if I need to," I assured him. I popped the dumpling in my mouth. "Oh, this is worlds better than the Japanese takeout in Brooklyn."

He laughed as I talked with my mouth full. "More authentic."

A knock on the door interrupted my second bite. I turned to look. Joe opened it, and a woman stepped in. "They asked me to bring them to you," she said. A man and a woman followed behind her.

Joe recognized the man. "Wasn't expecting to see you here."

"That makes two of us," the man replied. I decided it must be Lem, Joe's contact from Canon City. Joe had given me all the information on the plane. The girl was Juliana. The woman had to be West Coast Resistance. "Who's she?" Lem asked, nodding toward me.

"Joe's girlfriend, couldn't pass up a trip out west," I said cheerfully. The woman narrowed her eyes.

"I told them you had resources," Juliana told Joe, bringing attention back to the matter at hand. I took the opportunity to finish my dumpling.

Joe nodded "What do you need?"

"One hundred thousand yen," the woman replied.

"Damn," I whispered. "What do you need that kind of money for?"

The woman regarded me suspiciously, but decided I could be trusted. "To pay the Yakuza." Juliana made a shocked noise. "They took the film from the man who was supposed to give it to us."

"Can you get that much?" Lem asked.

I nodded. "We can get it."

The woman went to arrange the meeting with the Yakuza. The rest of us waited in the hotel room. I offered to share my takeout with everyone, but apparently I was the only one who could eat at a time like this. Amateurs.

Finally the woman returned, everyone but me stood when she came in. "Okay, we have a deal. Tonight at 10, place called the Bamboo Palace. Can you get the money by then?" Joe nodded.

"Wait a second, the Yakuza would sooner kill you than hand over that film," Juliana said.

"We'll take our chances," Lem said. My heart beat a little faster at the thought of a fight. Dad would be proud. Lem and the woman left. Juliana stood to leave. She nodded at me as she headed toward the door. Joe followed her to say his goodbyes.

"You want to call your dad, or should I?" Joe asked when he returned.

I sighed. "I'll do it." I moved over to the bed, and dialed the home number on the phone. My mother answered on the third ring. "Hey, mom. Can you put dad on? Thanks."

"You've made contact?"

"No, just thought I'd ring you up for a chat," I said deadpan. "Of course, we made contact. Joe's girl pulled through. But, we've got a bit of an issue."

"Go on."

"Turns out the Resistance lost the film. The Yakuza's got it," I explained. "They're willing to sell, for a price. The Resistance doesn't have the money to buy it back, but Athena does."

"How much?"

"Hundred thousand yen."

"If I do this, you guarantee they uphold their end. You understand?"

"Oh, I'm itching for a fight," I told him. "Trust me, they'll follow through."

I could almost see his thinking face. Furrowed brows, slightly pursed lips. "Alright, I'll transfer the funds to the embassy. Get there without being seen."

"Got it," I told him.

"Be careful."

I hung up without saying anything else. "He's sending the money. I'll go get it and we can meet downstairs."

"You're not going to the club," Joe said.

"Excuse me?"

Joe walked over to me. "It's my fault that we're here. It's up to me to clean this up."

"No offense, Joe, but this is my job. I've been doing this for years. I'm better prepared for this." I shook my head. "I'm going."

"Lottie, please. Just this once, don't be stubborn. Let me do this." I wanted to protest, but he cut me off by kissing me. I put one of my hands on his neck and pulled him closer. "Your dad is testing me. Let me show him that I deserve you."

"You don't owe him anything," I said. "I'm starting to realize that neither do I. He's orchestrated my life for as long as I can remember. It's time I grow up and chose my own destiny."

"Chose your destiny tomorrow. But tonight, let me do this for us."

I kissed him again. I fell back against the bed. I'd been Athena for far too long, maybe it was time I let her go. "Come back to me, Joe."

"Always."

OoOoO

I was sitting on the couch watching TV when a sudden banging on the door almost gave me a heart attack. I jumped up and walked over to the door. Through the peephole I saw Juliana in the hall. I opened the door and she barged in. "It's Lottie, right?" I nodded. "Listen, you've got to come with me. I don't know how much you know about all this, but Joe's in danger."

"What? What's going on?"

"The Kempeitai know the Yakuza is selling the film tonight," she said hurriedly. " It's a trap."

I turned around and ran back over to the desk. "What are you-" I turned around holding a knife. "Good idea."

"Let's go."

Juliana led the way to the club. We practically ran the whole way, only slowing when a patrol car passed us once. We arrived at the club and hurried inside. I grabbed Juliana's arm and made her slow down. If we looked too suspicious we'd never make it out.

Once inside she looked around frantically. I quickly scanned the coat rack. Joe's coat was missing. Maybe we'd missed him. Perhaps he already escaped. I was just about to tell Juliana as much when I spotted him. He saw me at the same time and we both quickly covered the distance between each other. "What happened to letting me handle this?" He asked quietly.

"It's a trap, we've got to get out of here," I told him. The mood in the club changed very quickly. My head snapped toward the stairs and I saw a group of officers running down them. Juliana grabbed my arm, yanking me toward a hallway. Joe was right behind me.

We ran through the kitchens, and out into an alley. I took the lead once we were outside, checking for Kempeitai. We were almost to the street, almost free, when a black car pulled up. A handful of men in suits stepped out, each holding a gun. I slowly put my hands up. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Juliana and Joe do the same. Maybe I was gonna get that fight after all.