Six—Striking

Madison turned the key in the ignition and let the motor idle for a few minutes while she adjusted the heat and selected a CD to listen to.  She glanced at the seat beside her, noticing the large bag containing six new books, including two in hard cover.  She smiled ruefully.  Even if she did have a new identity, some things apparently never changed.

She shifted the car into reverse and looked behind her, making sure that there were no children running about in the parking lot.  She slowly eased the car out of its spot and inched towards the street.  She had only passed by one car when she realized that she was being watched.

Burke was sitting in his car, watching her leave the store.  At best he was being a gentleman, making sure that her car started and worked properly before leaving himself.  At worst he was suspicious of her and planned on tailing her.

Madison doubted, however, that if he was going to tail her he would wave enthusiastically when he noticed her eyes on him.  Smiling in return, she quickly refocused on her driving and turned left onto the street, beginning the twenty-five minute trek to her apartment.

*****

A crumpled paper bag was tossed onto the table.  "Bookworm dead dropped this at location four about twenty minutes ago."

Devlin picked it up gingerly.  "The gas station?"

"Correct."

He opened it and nodded to the junior agent, who quickly scurried out the door.  A few minutes later he smiled in satisfaction.

Phase two was finally underway.

*****

Bethany padded to the front door, a steaming cup of coffee.  She blearily peered through the peep hole, her eyes widening in surprise.  "What are you doing here at this hour?" she asked as she opened the door.

"My flight leaves in ninety minutes," he said as he handed the wrapped box to his sister.  "I wanted to drop this off for Lea's birthday before I left."

Yawning, she accepted the colorful box.  "I thought you were coming by last night, Chris."

Christopher smiled apologetically.  "I was going to, but I got delayed at work, and then it took me forever to pick out a present.  But I think Madison and I finally found something that she'll like."

"Well, that's good that you and—wait a minute.  Who's Madison?"

Bethany watched in amusement as her younger brother's ears turned pink.  "Just this woman at the bookstore.  That's all."

"Sure," she teased, noticing how he fidgeted and refused to look her in the eye.  "So Madison works there?"

"Actually, she was a customer too," he finally admitted.

"So you talk to all the fellow customers now?"

"Bethany," he warned.

She held up her hands in mock surrender.  "Fine, fine.  But if you'd ever like to introduce me to this Madison lady . . ."

Christopher leaned down and hugged her quickly.  "I've gotta go."

She sighed and ruffled his hair.  "Have a safe flight.  I'll have Lea call your cell tonight after she opens her present."

He nodded and turned to leave.  "Oh, and Bethany?"

"Yeah?"

"About Madison . . . keep your fingers crossed."  His impromptu grin stayed with her long after the door had closed behind him.

*****

"As many of you know, we have been watching Pyper-Ferguson Industries, one of the nation's leading pharmaceutical companies, for the past three years," Devlin told the group of agents seated in the conference room.  "Four months ago Pyper-Ferguson acquired Kelley Laboratories, which has had ties to K-Directorate in the past.

"Thanks to Agent Bentley," Devlin gestured to the young man, "we have acquired intel from the Middle East that indicates Kelley Laboratories is producing biological weapons in secret that are for sale to the highest bidder on the black market."

"What kind of weapons?" an agent inquired.

"We don't know.  After investigating for a month, we extracted a field agent and placed her solely on this operation.  Phase two began last week."  Kendall looked around the room, making sure he had everyone's attention.  "An agent has been ordered to seduce this man," a picture flashed across a screen, "for intel.  The man you see before you is Christopher Burke, a senior researcher at Pyper-Ferguson.  He has been with the company since his graduation from MIT.  His current assignment is to head up the transition for Kelley Laboratories."

"How was he chosen?  Why him and not someone else who already worked for the lab?"

"Bentley's sources have indicated that Burke has met with known terrorists recently," Devlin began before being interrupted.

"Burke is an intelligent man who has little or no experience with women.  He's close in age to Agent Thompson, and they will make a striking couple for photographs.  Obviously, he's the perfect choice," Jack said in a dry, measured tone.

"Jack," Devlin warned.  He was met with a stony glare.  Backing down, he turned to face the group of agents.  "Thompson's mission is to uncover the biological weapons.  Once they have been located, we will dismantle them and take the masterminds into custody."

The meeting ended a few minutes later, and Jack found himself walking behind two younger agents as they exited the room.

"I can't believe Grace took this job, especially with her dad and all," one said, sticking a pencil behind her blonde hair.

"I know.  I never would have expected it from her," the second agent agreed.  "I did hear she had help though," she continued conspiratorially.  "Do you know from who?"

The first agent shrugged.  "I haven't heard anything," she admitted.

"The prisoner that they've got locked up down here—you know, Derevko?  She's going to be helping Grace."

She whistled.  "Is that supposed to be a good thing or a bad thing?"

Jack smiled inwardly.  Finally, someone who agreed with him.  Perhaps some of these new kids would make good agents.

*****

The guard at the end of the hallway slouched, tired and a bit hung over after a late night of drinking with his buddies.  "All I ever do is push a button so someone can see the damn prisoner," he muttered to himself.  He tried to console himself with the fact that at least he had a job, and between this and his second job he could afford some of the nicer things in life.

It wasn't making the ringing in his ears go away, though.

He groaned as he heard footsteps down the hall, then stood up straight as he noted the attractive woman approaching him.  "It's about time a hot chick came this way," he said in a low voice.  "Oh.  It's her."  His shoulders immediately sank as he watched the dark-haired agent scan her badge and walk the final steps towards him.

She nodded at him.  "I'm here to see the prisoner."

He willed himself not to glare at her, even as he noted the short black dress she was wearing, complete with fuc—stiletto heels.

She tapped a foot impatiently.  "Well?" she prompted.

He came out of his reverie, focusing on the smirk he saw on her face.  Turning, he punched in a code and watched as the gates began to open.  She quickly marched past him, swinging her hips as she journeyed down the corridor.

He groaned, knowing it would be a long night.  "You're welcome," he muttered sarcastically to himself.

******

"Hot date tonight?"

Madison stilled at the words.  Had Irina Derevko actually said that to her?  She quickly looked at her, noting what might be called a genuine smile on her face.

"Um—well—" Madison said, flustered.

"I take it your first contact with this man went well, Grace."  Her face returned to what Madison was learning to be her typical expression, mysterious—devoid yet full of emotion.

She nodded.  "It went pretty well," she said, running her hands down her dress, smoothing invisible wrinkles.  "I'm meeting him later tonight for dinner."

Irina nodded approvingly.  "Not too fast, not too slow.  You're making it look like the beginning of a genuine relationship."

Was that what she was doing?  "Exactly," she said with a confidence she didn't feel.  "We've talked a few times on the phone, and Burke e-mailed me while he was out of town."  Madison paused, wondering how to continue, when suddenly she found herself saying the next thing that came to mind.  "You called me by my real name.  Isn't that a bad idea?"

Irina shook her head.  "Quite the opposite.  You don't want to run the risk of growing accustomed to your fictional life.  Things such as hearing your true given name when possible will help keep you grounded in reality."

"It is nice to hear 'Grace' instead of 'Madison,'" she admitted.  "Thanks."

The two stared at each other, willing the other to speak.  Irina, of course, was the victor in this competition, as Madison began her interrogation.

"I bet you've counseled others before," she said casually, remembering the information she had dug up on "The Man" in the last week.  "Other agents who had to infiltrate the enemy."

"Of course," Irina acceded.  "But none ever completed this kind of mission.  I wouldn't allow it."

Madison stared at her curiously.  "Why not?"

"It never ends well," Irina replied finally.  "Too many unnecessary people get hurt in the process.  It's not worth the little intel the agent acquires."

At Madison's surprised expression, Irina allowed herself a small smile.  "Even I have limits."