Keeper of His Heart

Chapter 4

Clover had a love-hate relationship with stakeouts. On the one hand, the blonde superspy loved the thrill of it all: stakeouts had an aura of mystery and secrecy that would get her heart pumping. Yet, Clover was currently reminded of the one reason why she loathed them as well.

The wait could be dry and tedious. And very boring. Adding the fatigue from the mission she had with Alex earlier, Clover was certain she was going to fall asleep soon if there was no action. Pity she drew the short end of the stick. The blonde spy wished she were home having a good sleep like what her best friend was currently doing. Alex would be back at about 3 am to relief her from her stakeout duties.

Impatiently, Clover glanced at her watch. Only 12.30 am. She stifled another yawn. The last time we saw the Red Woman was about in the morning… She groaned inwardly. Looks like it would be a long night.

She and Tim were huddled near the window of an abandoned apartment. From their vantage point, they had a clear view of the hardware store located across the street. They had a pair of binoculars and were taking turns to look through them.

Tim finally turned to look at his companion when she shifted restlessly once again. "Take a nap Clover. I'll wake you if I see anything." He said.

Clover shook her head stubbornly. "I'm good."

The man rolled his eyes. "It won't help us in any way if you are dead on your feet should something really happen." He argued. "I told you you didn't have to join me at the stakeout, didn't I?"

"I'm not tired…" She yawned.

"Says the one that went on a mission with Alex just now. Take a nap Clover. You certainly need it." He glanced pointedly at the chair behind them, suppressing the urge to further chastise the female spy.

Baby blues locked eyes with his. "Promise me you'll wake me up if you see anything."

Tim was about to roll his eyes at the statement when Clover added on. "I mean it Tim." She gave him a stern look. "We're all in this together, as cliché as it sounds."

The man nodded stiffly. He was still not fully used to the idea of having such a close support system, but he was not complaining. Clover and Alex's friendship meant a lot to him.

Clover finally left her pose next to him and ambled over to the rattan chair. "Sorry that I'm not better company." She yawned again.

"You can blame Jerry for sending you on the mission knowing fully well you're scheduled to keep watch here with me." Tim resorted back. "And you can also blame your own stubbornness. I told you I could handle things on my own."

Clover laughed. "Takes one to know one. Thanks Tim." A comfortable silence settled. Despite her claims that she wasn't tired, Clover was in fact, completely drained. She fell into a light slumber within minutes.

Tim patiently peered into the binoculars and waited. The streets were empty. An occasional person who would stroll by, and Tim would stare particularly intently through his binoculars. However, not a single soul lingered anywhere near the hardware store. Presumably, those people were headed for home.

Unlike his current companion, Tim did not mind stakeouts. He had always been a night owl, loving to relish in the stillness of things once dark hit. Stakeouts were a good time to just pause and reflect about life as well.

Regardless, even he was itching for action. It had been three days since they caught sight of Wayne Franklin on the CCTV footage. Three nights of stakeouts were taking its toil on him. Tim didn't dare to bring a book or to do anything else other than watching the street, fearing that he might miss anything.

At least for the past two nights, he had Clover and Alex for company. They would all take turns to watch the street, allowing one another to have brief respites. But Jerry had sent the two spies on a tiring mission earlier, that they had drew lots on who would accompany him that night. And seeing how exhausted Clover was, Tim wasn't about to ask his companion to pull her full weight that night.

Tim allowed his thoughts to drift while his sea-foamed eyes remained watchful and alert.

Almost two hours later, Tim had finished the last of the coffee he brought and was getting restless. Looks like another wasted night…He glanced at his watch. It was 2.10am.

He was stretching the kinks out of his neck when a movement suddenly caught his eye. He had not seen a single soul in the past forty minutes and was immediately on the alert.

No. He wasn't imagining things. There was movement in the alleyway that ran perpendicular to the shop next to the hardware store. His binoculars were trained on the alleyway, and he didn't dare to even blink.

Bingo. Tim's lips curled up in a smirk when he caught a shadow slinking on the street. Whomever it was, the person was experienced; they kept to the walls and avoided the streetlamps. He watched with a bated breath as the figure stopped outside the hardware shop. He couldn't see the exact details of who the person was, but his instincts told him that this was the intruder they were waiting for.

Quickly, Tim shook Clover awake. The blonde shot up, her baby blues on the alert. She was as light of a sleeper as he was.

"Target spotted." He shoved the binoculars in her hands. "If I don't signal in forty-five minutes, call for backup."

"But-" Clover spluttered, clearly about to protest.

"Give me some time Clover. I'll see if I can get anything out of her." He was already halfway out of the door. "We both have some commonalities, perhaps I could persuade her somehow…"

"Be careful." Clover called after him.

Tim nodded firmly and disappeared into the night. Clover rushed to the window and took vigil. With attentive eyes never leaving the street, the super spy placed a call to Alex. Looks like more excitement was on the way.

Watch over him Sammy…Wherever you are. We need all the luck we can get… The young woman prayed.

This hardware store did not have a back entrance. At first, Clover, Alex and Jerry were adamant that this store would not be a target because of its lack of a back exit. However, Tim had been equally unyielding on keeping this store on the list. It was the biggest one in downtown L.A. This store carried some…exotic things that could not be gotten in other stores. And based on his understanding of Terence, the evil mastermind would very likely be looking into creating…interesting devices that would require obscure parts.

Looking back, Tim was glad he had pushed for what his instincts told him.

And now, they were screaming at him to be careful, because he was dealing with someone well trained.

In the time he had used to descend the steps of the apartment building, the figure had managed to break the lock and enter the store.

Tim calculated that he would have mere minutes before the burglar would be done with the deed. The Red Woman was always efficient.

As sneakily as he could, Tim crossed the street. His sea-foamed eyes were trained on the store front.

Meanwhile…

The store's alarm was blaring, and Sam resisted the urge to cover her ears. She knew that the alarm would go under the radar if it was turned off fast enough.

Using the gadget that Terence had nicked from god-knows-where, Sam made rapid work of disabling the alarm. The gadget was pinkish-purple and possessed some very high technology, doing the job in a matter of seconds.

Once that was settled, the young woman scanned the store. Wayne had visited this shop earlier in the week, making note of the location of security cameras, and where the items they wanted were shelved. Sam's job was to nick those items and be out before anyone noticed. So far, this teamwork was working out well; four thefts later and she had yet to be arrested.

Tonight, her mission was to obtain some welding supplies, glue guns, small bundles of electrical wires, as well as a medium sized bottle of rat poison. They had wanted to get the money from the cash register as well, but finally decided against it. Seeing as one of the items was a dangerous chemical, it was better to delay evidence of theft for as long as possible. Buying the rat poison up front was also possible, but IDs were required, which, as wanted criminals, the group could not show.

Not like I have an I.D…Sam was once again reminded of the mystery surrounded her past, but she pushed her misery aside and focused on the task at hand.

Prior to this expedition, Wayne had her memorise a layout of the store, so she knew where everything was. With only a small flashlight, Sam worked quickly, placing the items in her black bag.

She was at the back of the store hunting for the glue guns when she suddenly stilled. A sound. It was faint, but her sharp ears picked it up none the less. The small gust of wind and the click of the door.

The main door…

The hairs at the back of her head rose, and Sam suddenly knew that she was no longer alone. She could sense it.

Those pesky spies again? Sam wondered. As quietly as she could muster, she slipped the glue guns in her bag and zipped it up. Keeping her breath soft and steady, Sam crouched down. She readied herself. The series of tall shelves prevented her from seeing who it was, but this also conversely meant that it also blocked her from view, which could be an advantage.

Sam cursed at the fact that this store did not have a back door. Whoever it was, she would have to find a way to get past them to escape the hardware store. Her heart rate speeding up, she scanned the shelves for something she could use as a diversion.

The silence was deafening, but she picked up something else: slow, controlled footsteps. If it were not for her training, Sam wouldn't have noticed the soft scuffles of shoes on the concrete floor. But she did.

"I know you're here." Her suspicions were confirmed when a voice spoke, loud and clear. Not those spies then. The voice was an obvious male baritone one. Despite herself, Sam found her heart skipping a beat at the sound. Something akin to familiarity pulsed through her soul.

Do I know him?

As the footsteps got closer and closer however, Sam knew she didn't have long before he found her.

The Red Woman made her move. She picked up a small squeeze bottle of paint, and flung it across the room, away from where she was.

The bottle landed on the ground with a thud. Sam used the momentary distraction to inch closer to the wall. She now had a clear straight path to the front of the store, but she would have to make a curve to reach the door.

The footsteps stopped.

Sam paused as well, hardly daring to breathe.

Then, unexpectedly, the voice chuckled. "Oldest trick in the book my dear, you think I would fall for that?" Her charcoal-coloured eyes (courtesy of the contacts) widened.

Oh damn.

Tim was not fazed by the ruse. On the contrary, he had been waiting for a diversion to happen.

Now, he knew exactly where The Red Woman was hiding. The bottle had come from the back of the store, from the aisle on his right. His lips curled into a half-smirk, the blood humming through his veins.

Arming himself with a plank of wood, he gripped it like a baseball bat as he stalked forward.

"Come out Red Woman. I know you're here. The gig is up." He let his voice carry around the store while stealthily creeping towards the back.

A few steps more…

"My colleagues have this place surrounded. Give it up. You and Terence will never win." The man had hoped that the mention of Terence would trigger a fight or flight response in the Red Woman. And he was right.

Seconds later, he caught sight of a blur darting down the side aisle. His feet moved immediately.

"HEY!"

He cornered her right before she reached the door. "Stop right there."

Her back was facing him, but she was right next to the door such that the streetlight illuminated her silhouette. Tim took a mental picture of the criminal before him. True to what Clover and Alex described, the Red Woman was slightly taller than the two female superspies. Yet, he was still about a head taller than her. She had a head of shoulder length brown hair and was carrying a black backpack (that was very bulky, no doubt filled to the brim with loot). A black catsuit covered her from head to toe, and she wore black trainers to complete the look.

"The gig is up. Red Woman. Turn around, slowly." He instructed. Tim kept his body in a fighting stance, not trusting the woman one bit. One hand reached into his pocket to grab hold of the handcuffs he always carried.

The young woman in front of him stiffened but said nothing. She moved her head sideways and glanced at him with half-lidded eyes.

Suddenly in one swift move, she spun around, sending a nozzle of pepper spray in Tim's direction. Her aim was good, but Tim had fast reflexes as well. Immediately, he raised a trench coat covered arm to shield his face and eyes from the stinging chemical.

The Red Woman took that two second distraction to escape the scene of the crime. She flung the door open and bolted.

"STOP!" Once Tim regained his bearings and blinked, he quickly sprinted out of the shop. Pepper spray…Oldest trick in the book, and I fell for it indeed. He wasn't unaware of the irony.

Tim glanced around, fuming at himself for letting his guard down. He should have known that the Red Woman would try a tactic like pepper spray. She had a few seconds head start, but he caught sight of her figure darting down the street.

Tim gave chase.

From across the street in an abandoned apartment, Clover Ewing watched the whole scene with apprehension. She scanned the time on her watch. Barely fifteen minutes had passed. And she had promised to give Tim forty-five minutes alone with the Red Woman.

Fumbling in her pocket for her O.R.A.I.C compowder, the superspy turned on the tracking function. Her device soon showed Tim's (phone) GPS location. She'll give him his forty-five minutes.

If I don't receive a call by then, orders by Jerry be damned. The Red Woman isn't a force to be reckoned with either.

Sam pushed herself to run as fast as she could, adrenaline pumping through her veins. She was still running on the main road. The wind whooshed past her ears, but she could still hear heavy, determined footsteps catching up to her. He was gaining on her.

Instinctively, she quickened her pace, although it was becoming harder and harder to do so. To her horror, Sam found herself growing tired. While she might have the stamina, the backpack carrying the heavy bottle of rat poison (among other things) was starting to weigh her down.

Never to be daunted however, Sam hurried along. Her heart pounded rapidly, and her brain struggled to think of an escape route. If she wasn't careful, she was going to get caught.

He's gaining on me. Sam darted into an alleyway the moment she spotted one, overturning trash cans in her wake to try and slow down the man sprinting after her. The man was determined however, and the chase continued. Sam could barely keep one step ahead.

Her lungs burned, and her thighs were screaming from the intensive workout.

She soon found herself at the edge of a trekking trail. Panic rising within her, Sam risked taking a glance backwards. But that proved to be her undoing.

She tripped over one of the loose stones at the base of the trekking trail and fell on the gravel-paved ground.

Groaning, Sam pushed herself up. However, those few seconds were enough for the man to close the small distance between them. A hand landed onto her shoulder, firm enough to make a point, yet not tight enough to hurt.

"I could keep this up all night you know?" The man barely sounded breathless at all. Stumbling onto her feet, Sam spun around to truly appraise the O.R.A.I.C agent.

He was tall and broad shouldered, with a head of brown hair (now tousled after the exercise Sam had made him go through). Most of his sun-tanned skin was hidden beneath his black turtleneck shirt and matching slacks. A light brown trench coat completed his look. He was gorgeous to look at, Sam had to admit. But what really captivated her attention was the chiselled jawline and those intense eyes boring into hers.

Goosebumps crept up her spine as her heart lurched. A shiver ran through her, and Sam suddenly felt a sense of déjà vu connection with him. Much like what had happened before with the two female O.R.A.I.C agents, but it was even more intensive that it nearly took her breath away. Her traitorous mind flashed to her nightly dreams, and the mysterious man in them.

Is this him?

"What are you waiting for? You got me. Cuff me and throw me in prison, whatever it is you do." She remarked, breaking the silence. Outwardly, her expression was schooled to be a neutral, blank one, a complete opposite to the curiosity, panic, and uncertainty she felt inside.

Her voice was rough and a few tones lower than what Tim expected. He knew immediately that she was attempting to disguise them.

Why the high level of secrecy? He wondered. With a physical disguise on, most people wouldn't even bother to hide their voice. So why was she trying to do so? Who is this woman?

Tim was completely surprised that the Red Woman hadn't automatically attacked him again like what she did earlier. A quick visual evaluation of the woman gave Tim his answer. She is drained of energy... Whatever Terence asked her to steal must been rather heavy. We practically did a cross-country marathon. Heck, we're at the outskirts of downtown L.A…

"That was certainly the plan." He spoke casually.

Why are we having a conversation? Isn't he going to arrest me? She elected to remain mum, while her insides were screaming at her that she was missing something. Something important.

"What did Terence have you steal this time?" The question sent her orbs widening in fear. How does he know about Terence?

"I don't know what you're talking about." She bit back with a scowl, avoiding his gaze.

"Don't try to lie. We know you're working for Terence." Tim stated seriously. There was something about this woman that was mysterious and enchanting.

She said nothing. Tim sighed and decided to try a different tactic. "Terence used to head a small a team called the LAMOS you know... I was once it; he was once my boss." He began.

Inky-coloured eyes snapped to attention. "Then you must know how we normally don't crack under duress. We have a loyalty to our leader."

"Drop the act." Tim said. "Terence is NOT a good leader. I'm sure someone as smart as you are can realise that. I bet he's still so paranoid and as secretive as ever. That man has never learnt that to gain the trust of others he has to show that he trusts them in return." He was attempting to gain a sort of common understanding between them, but his dislike for his former leader was real.

"At least he's better than that so-called leader that you're working for now!" Sam snapped. Who did he think he is to berate me like that? So what if he was part of Terence's team in the past? Isn't he still working for that mass-murdering boss of his right now?

"You mean Jerry?" Tim could not hold back his surprise at the dark tone that crept into the Red Woman's voice at the mention of his current boss.

She scoffed, attempting to shrug off the hand on her shoulder. "Of course! Who else could I be referring to? That leader of yours blew up LAMOS and killed my family and friends! Let me go!" When the man's grip only tightened on her shoulder, Sam threw her hands in the air, before placing one hand on his in a bid to forcefully remove his hand.

The moment their hands met; electricity sparked between them. The unexpected shockwaves made her gasp, as a images flashed through her mind.

The smell of…cranberry scones. And then the texture of a book.

She was pushing a book through the bars of a cell. The title was visible to her, and it was a book she knew well. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.

Suddenly a hand covered hers, causing sparks to dance in the air. She looked up in time to see the shock…and awe in the eyes of the man before her.

Her knees went soft, and her heart palpitated. She wrenched the hand away from his, all too aware of the colour rising through her cheeks.

"Is that what he told you?" Sam was brought back to reality by the man's incredulous voice. Too dazzled by the flash of memory that she had been hit with, it took a few seconds for her to process his words (and to reply him).

"It's the truth!" She insisted, successfully slipping out of his grip. She stormed a few paces away, needing to get away from him suddenly. Him and his musky perfume, the scent of which she found familiar and intoxicating. The combination of smell and proximity to him was sending her thoughts in places that she didn't want it to go.

What was that?!

Her head was pounding, and so was her heart. But when she tried to grasp onto the threads of the memory to learn more, all she found was…nothingness.

"Terence's been feeding you lies." Tim stared at the back of the young woman. "Jerry didn't destroy the LAMOS. In fact, it's the complete opposite. Terence was the one that came to W.O.O.H.P- the World Organization of Human Protection's Headquarters- and blew it up. Hundreds of W.O.O.H.P agents perished that night…"

That can't be true…Sam's mind screamed. But Tim's words only served to reinforce the seed of doubt that had already been planted long ago. Terence said that Jerry was his evil brother that was out for revenge…

"You're lying." Sam whirled around and pointed an accusatory finger at him. "Jerry blew up the LAMOS and the people in it. Terence told me so."

"I'm telling you the truth." Tim said patiently. He was beginning to realize where all her hatred was coming from. "I don't know who your family and colleagues are…But Jerry Lewis has not, and will never be, using explosives to kill. That's akin to suicide bombing!"

"STOP IT!" Sam covered her ears with her hands to block out the lies that the O.R.A.I.C agent was telling her. Adding on the memory that surfaced barely minutes ago, Sam's headache was growing. She needed to think! But Tim wasn't finished yet. Stalking towards the Red Woman, he placed both hands on her shaking shoulders and stared fiercely into her eyes.

"I bet Terence has you and his other sidekicks working on another explosive or something equally as destructive huh? What does he plan to do now, blow up O.R.A.I.C? Or the FBI? Or the CIA? You don't fight fire with fire! Can you imagine the number of innocents that could and would die under his hands? Jerry's not the bad guy here, Terence is!" He insisted.

—

"Not bad. That should cover the cost of shipping the explosives…"

—

"Terence has me…" Shane lowered his voice, "looking into creating a volatile, odourless liquid…"

"Why?" She couldn't help but ask.

"I don't ask. I just follow orders." Shane shrugged. But his eyes betrayed him. He knew more than he was telling.

—

"Here is the list of things I need you to get for me." Terence shoved a piece of paper into her hand.

She scanned the list carefully, committing them to memory. Her brows furrowed when she got to the last item on the list.

"Rat poison?" She raised her head in time to see a full-fledge smirk and an evil twinkle in her leader's eye. That was gone in a flash as Terence concealed his emotions.

"Don't ask. You'll find out soon enough Samantha…Jerry and his bothersome associates will never know what hit them."

As each memory flashed through her thoughts, Sam found a wave of anger sweeping over her. She was mentally drained and very confused, but most of all, she was seething.

What she was angry about, Sam wasn't too sure. But she was just so frustrated at her lack of memories, the possibility of her leader having lied to her, and the confusion that was the flashbacks she kept getting.

Everyone needs an outlet for anger. For Sam, that came in the form of the man standing before her.

"STOP IT!" She pushed Tim's arms away from her shoulders abruptly. Angry tears and resentment were clear in her gaze as she took on a fighting stance.

Without warning, she charged at Tim, sending blow after blow of attacks at him.

Review? ^^ I'll love to hear from you guys!

Stay safe everyone!

-TrixieNancy124