Come home
Chapters in this fic will tend to be very short, but hopefully posted quite frequently.
8/5/98
Adam glanced over his shoulder one final time before turning down the street on which Josif, the asset he needed to meet, rented a bedsit, just for rendezvous. He'd employed every trick he'd had a chance to, and was now fairly sure he hadn't been followed.
A woman walked quickly past him, a boy, not more than three, on her hip. Adam looked after her for a second, wondering. Was Fiona pregnant, in spite of what she'd thought about herself, with his child? Did she know yet? His child. The thought ignited a warmth in his chest, a sense of pride, not just because of... It was quite unusual for spooks to have children, more so if both parents were. That said, it was unusual for a spook to maintain any relationship for over a year. He and Fiona had defied the odds so far; their third anniversary had been in April. He had complete faith in her, and she in him. They'd find ways. She'd be a great mother, he was sure. He just hoped he'd be able to match her as a father.
Adam shook himself mentally. His focus was usually much better than this. Eighteen more hours, then he could go home to her. He could find out what the future held for them, celebrate with her if she was pregnant, and if she wasn't, trying to do something about it usually cheered them both up. For now, he had to pick the intel up from Josif without anyone knowing he had.
He broke in to a run to cover the last thirty metres or so to the house where Josif's bedsit was. The front door wasn't locked. Adam pushed it open and stepped back, wary. His hand hovered over his pistol. No response. He crossed the threshold.
"Sofia?" He called, Josif's coded signal, listening for an answering voice. Nothing. Josif's bedsit was upstairs. Maybe he was out of earshot. Adam was reluctant to call any louder. He put one foot on the stairs. It creaked. The hair on the back of his neck stood up. He looked around again. No sign of any movement. He drew his pistol, not quite able to shake the feeling of being watched by someone he couldn't see.
Once Adam had reached the second landing, he called out again, back to a wall, looking around nervously.
"Sofia?" Still nothing. Adam looked around one final time, then left the corner he was backed in to. The upstairs landing extended left and right. Josif's room was third on the right, he knew. Adam stepped away from the wall and padded down the corridor. The silence was deafening.
The lock on Josif's door had been shot through. Adam swore softly. Had Josif been snatched or killed, or had he got away? He touched the door with his foot. It creaked horribly loudly.
Two soft footfalls behind. Adam began to turn, pistol levelled, saw out of the corner of his eye metal glinting, moving fast. He ordered his body to duck, but too late. Pain erupted across the back of his head. Blackness eclipsed his vision. Too shocked event to cry out, Adam Carter crumpled to the floor.
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