Camryn grabbed her suitcase, and the two left the airport. They took a cab back to Mrs. Jones and Camryn's apartment. Camryn left her suitcase in the living room and went to the kitchen for a soda. She sat on the low countertop, quiet and thoughtful. Alex knew that something was bothering her – and it wasn't the incident at Heathrow Airport.

Alex rested his hands on Camryn's knees, leaned forward, and kissed her. Camryn wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. Her embrace was stiff and insecure.

"Cam, what's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"You're tense."

"Well, what happened at the airport really-"

"I know you better. I've been around you for a year and a half. Tell me what's really on your mind."

Camryn sighed. "Well, yesterday, I was hanging out with some of my old friends. It was kind of like one last hangout before I left again. I asked why I hadn't seen Dan around for the past few days I was there."

"Do you mean Dan, your ex-boyfriend?"

"Yeah. So my friends finally told me that he died in a car accident about a month ago."

"Cam, I'm so sorry…"

"No one bothered to tell me. I was the last to know."

Alex could tell that Camryn was trying really hard to keep back her tears. He put his arms around her and held her tight.

"It's okay; you can cry."

Camryn shook her head. "He wouldn't want me to."

Alex gazed into her gray eyes glistening with silver tears. She was on the brink of a breakdown, yet she was perfectly composed. He admired her for her amazing strength and her unwavering selflessness. Everyone else in the world came before her own well-being. Alex could never get over how amazing she was.

"Why does this always happen to us?" Camryn asked. "Nothing ever goes the way we want."

"We're just unlucky," Alex answered, "but we're not alone."

Camryn nodded her agreement. She laid her forehead on Alex's shoulder. Suddenly, Alex's phone rang but he ignored it. He knew it was MI6.

"Aren't you going to get that?" Camryn asked.

"No. Alan Blunt can screw himself for all I care."

Camryn reached into Alex's pocket, pulled out the phone, and answered it. "Hello, this is Camryn…yeah, but he doesn't feel like talking…I don't know…" She handed the phone to Alex.

"What?" I demanded.

"Be at headquarters in five minutes," Mr. Blunt ordered.

"What if I don't show up?"

"You know what happens. Don't make me tell you to get over here again."

I snapped the phone shut.

"What did he say?" Camryn asked, playing with the hair hanging in Alex's eyes. Alex smiled a little because he loved when she did that.

"We have to go to headquarters."

"Yay," Camryn muttered sarcastically. "Sounds like another assignment."

"Hey, you said something about Mr. Blunt giving us an assignment once you got back. What was that about?"

Camryn hopped off the counter and headed toward the door. "It's a long story. To make it short, there's this Japanese gang dealing opium and morphine worldwide. A few clients of this gang have died from what seemed like an overdose of morphine. The problem is, the bodies always disappeared before anyone could get their hands on them for an autopsy."

"That's strange. How can you be sure that's what Mr. Blunt wants to talk to us about?"

"I did a scout mission for the CIA in Los Angeles. I was monitoring morphine deals. I got involved with the gang, so I know a little bit about them. Also, there has been activity from the gang detected here in London."

Alex was a little surprised. "You never told me about this mission before."

Camryn grabbed her car keys, and Alex followed her out of the apartment.

"I try to keep work and home separate," Camryn said as the two got into an elevator. They went down to the garage and climbed into Camryn's car. Camryn had been given an international drivers license because of the job with MI6 (the driving age in the U.K. is eighteen). Alex didn't get his license because he failed the driving test. Camryn drove out of the garage and toward Royal & General Bank on Liverpool Street. Once we arrived, Mrs. Jones immediately led us into Mr. Blunt's office. We sat down and Mr. Blunt began to speak.

"There is a Japanese gang called Kawasaki that is dealing opium and morphine in London," Mr. Blunt said.

"Kawasaki like the motorbike?" Alex asked.

"The same," Mr. Blunt replied dryly. "I believe this gang is dealing more than just morphine. Some of their clients have died, and their bodies disappeared. We want the two of you to investigate."

Alex had an uneasy feeling in his stomach. He didn't like the sound of this mission.

Mr. Blunt caught Alex's expression. "I'm not telling you to bring them down. Just investigate and MI6 will take care of the rest."

"That's what you always say," Alex retorted harshly.

Mr. Blunt ignored Alex's remark. "Any questions?"

"Why are they called Kawasaki?" Alex asked.

"The gang members all ride Kawasaki motorcycles," Camryn answered.

"Have you been in contact with Kawasaki?" Mrs. Jones asked Camryn.

"Yeah, they think I'm coming back. I'm meeting them tonight at a dance club – Vertigo, I think it's called."

"Are you sticking to your old profile?"

Camryn nodded. "I have to. They already know me."

"Old profile?" Mr. Blunt and Alex asked simultaneously.

"I had to fake my profile for this mission. Halie McCullough, currently eighteen years old, high school dropout, known for vandalism – a low life pretty much."

"Alex," Mrs. Hones began, "you are Brian Acker, nineteen years old, a dropout, marijuana dealer – a do-nothing low life. You and Halie have been dating for two years and living together for one year. Both of you are in the drug trade – not addicts, just dealers. Any questions?"

"Do we get gadgets?" Alex asked. Right that second, Smithers walked into the room.

"Did I hear someone say gadgets?"