Disclaimer: I don't own Covert Affairs.
Prompt #34: Digits - Time to see if this really does work, Annie thought, flipping open the stolen satellite phone and punching in the number she knew by heart.
Words: 697
Annie couldn't help swearing in multiple languages as she ducked inside a storefront to regain her breath. While the ache in her shoulder hurt like hell and her head felt like a swarm of hummingbirds were dive-bombing her brain, at least she wasn't shot or otherwise bleeding. That would've really complicated matters.
Not like they weren't already complicated enough. Bad intel and a dead contact meant that a rival agency was gunning for her asset. Thankfully the asset in question was already on her way out of the country, smuggled out through a cargo ship bound for the drop-off point.
Unfortunately, Annie had not been able to hop that ship as well. Their pursuers had caught up with her and forced the blonde agent to lead them on a merry chase through the city. A stolen bicycle had helped put distance between them, but Annie knew her window of escape was starting to close alarmingly fast.
I need a phone, she thought. A phone and a safe place to make a call. But to who?
The beginnings of a plan started to form in her mind as she struck out again. She had just enough money to buy a burner phone, and once she was safely hidden again, she dialed the operator and asked to place a collect call to a number she'd hoped to never use, but thanked her lucky stars that she knew.
I'm going to owe him a pretty damn good sandwich for this save.
When one cell phone in his desk drawer started ringing, Auggie immediately knew which one it was. Joan, who was waiting with him for an update on Annie's condition, was startled enough to yelp, "The hell is that?"
"Annie playing her get-out-of-jail card." He flipped the phone open and answered, "Hello?"
A cool operator's voice replied, "You have a collect call from Charlene Mingus. Do you accept the charges? Press one to - " He quickly pressed the button. "Hold please."
After thirty agonizing seconds, he heard Annie's forced chipper voice saying, "Hey hun, how's your day going?"
"Pretty dull day at the office, babe," he replied, putting her on speaker. "How's your vacation?"
"Ugh, I'm all vacationed out. I think it's time I cut it short. Mind booking me a flight home?"
"Sure, hang on a second." His hands tapped over his keyboard as he called up satallite images. "What's your preference? First-class or business?"
"First-class all the way."
"I got a flight in two hours out of the airport. That fast enough?"
"Perfect. Thanks hun. See you when I get home."
"Bye." Auggie disconnected the call just seconds after his computer pinged. "And I've got her."
"Hun?" Joan repeated. He could picture her eyebrow rising in silent demand of an explaination. "What was that about?"
"Annie and I worked out a protocol in case she ever had to call me through an unsecured line. Cutting a trip short means she has to get out. First-class means ASAP. Flight means cargo plane." He was already pulling strings to have a cargo plane ready for Annie when she did arrive at the airport.
"I'm aware of the protocol, Auggie," said Joan. "But that's not what I asked. I asked, Hun? What was that about?"
Auggie managed to keep from blushing. "It - sells better if we act like a couple," he said.
"Uh-huh."
"In case someone listens in on the call."
"I see."
"It throws people off - "
Joan's hand patted his shoulder, making him stop mid-explaination. "Whatever you say. Bring Annie home." Her heels started to click out his door, but paused. "I'll expect Close and Continuing paperwork when this is over."
Ears red, Auggie pulled his headphones back on and fell to typing again. He couldn't think about how Joan found out about them, or how to break it to Annie. First, he had to bring his girl home.
If he had listened longer, he would've heard Joan's soft, triumphant "Yes!" that accompanied a small fist pump of victory.
I'm back! By the way, Joan's victory fist pump is her winning the office pool.
Review please!