Chapter One

The hum of the FBI headquarters in New York echoed through the hallway as Maggie Bell and OA Zidan entered Isobel Castille's office. Both agents had already been briefed on their assignment—witness protection.

Isobel stood by her desk, but her usually calm demeanor was edged with urgency. "Maggie, OA, thanks for coming in on such short notice," she said, her voice steady but carrying the weight of the situation. "This case is vital. We're dealing with a highly sensitive witness, someone whose testimony could bring down a very dangerous criminal organization. A lot of lives are on the line."

Maggie's brow furrowed, her instincts kicking in. "Who are we protecting?"

Isobel shook her head slightly. "That's not something I can get into. But what I can tell you is that we're not just dealing with a case of keeping someone hidden—this is a high-risk operation. If word gets out, it could end in disaster."

OA stepped forward, his gaze never leaving Isobel. "So, what's our role here? What exactly are we doing?"

"You'll be taking Jane to a safe house, deep undercover, until she can testify. She can't be seen by anyone outside this operation." Isobel's voice was firm. "And I mean anyone. This means limited contact with the outside world and, for you both, complete discretion. I want one of you with her at all times, she is never left alone or out of sight."

Before either Maggie or OA could ask another question, the door swung open, and Jubal Valentine walked in, his ever-present calm demeanor masking the urgency of the moment. Behind him was a woman, appearing in her mid-20s, with dark brown curly hair, dressed in a way that screamed wealth but hid a tension in her posture. She stood with her arms crossed, her eyes wary, as if the whole world might be about to fall apart around her.

"Okay," Isobel said, standing straight. "Everyone is here."

Jubal nodded and gave a half-smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "This is Jane," he said, his voice casual. He stepped aside, and Jane gave a brief, barely-there nod, eyes flickering toward Maggie and OA, sizing them up.

"Jane," Isobel said, her voice softer now, "Maggie Bell and OA Zidan will be protecting you for the foreseeable future. They're experts in keeping people safe, and they'll make sure you get to the safe house safely."

Jane glanced at them briefly, then looked away, a hint of fear in her eyes. The bravado was thin, but it was there. "I'm not thrilled about this," she muttered, her voice laced with sarcasm, "but I guess I don't have much of a choice, do I?"

Maggie, ever the professional, smiled at her with an ease that came from years of navigating tense situations. "Don't worry. We're used to it."

OA, though, wasn't as quick to hide his wariness. He studied Jane carefully, sensing there was more to this case than the simple description Isobel had given. He could see she wasn't just a witness—there was something in her eyes, something she wasn't telling them. But for now, he kept his thoughts to himself.

"Don't take it personally," Maggie added, her voice light. "Being thrown into witness protection isn't exactly a vacation."

Jane didn't respond right away, her gaze now fixed on Maggie. It was a little unsettling how quick and sharp her eyes were, like she was always assessing her surroundings, always calculating the next move. Maggie was used to seeing that kind of calculation in hardened criminals, not witnesses.

"Right," Jane finally said, almost to herself. "Not a vacation. More like a prison sentence with no bars."

Isobel glanced at Jane. "I know this is difficult, but I need to stress how important it is for you to follow Maggie and OA's instructions exactly. They know what they're doing, and their safety depends on you as much as yours depends on them. Understand?"

Jane nodded curtly but didn't say anything else.

Maggie exchanged a brief glance with OA, her gut telling her there was more to this story than they were being told. Why weren't they given any personal details about Jane? Usually, even in cases where the identity needed protection, the agents had at least some background on the witness. The silence was deafening.

"We'll take her from here," OA said, breaking the tension in the room. His tone was calm, but his sharp instincts told him they needed to move fast.

Isobel turned her gaze to them, a flicker of concern passing over her features. "Make sure you stay ahead of any potential threats. I don't have to tell you what's at stake here."

Maggie nodded, her voice low but steady. "We'll take care of her, Isobel."

Jubal, still standing near the door, gave a quiet, pointed look to Maggie and OA. "I'll check in later, but for now, you two are the ones who need to make sure she gets to the safe house in one piece."

As Jane turned to follow Maggie and OA out, she shot one last look at Isobel. The flicker of emotion was fleeting, but it was there. Maybe it was fear, maybe guilt. But whatever it was, it didn't sit well with Maggie.

"Let's go," Maggie said, her voice clear. She turned to Jane. "You don't have to worry. We've got you."

Jane didn't respond, but she followed, her steps measured. The air in the hallway was thick with unspoken tension, and for Maggie, the question lingered: what was Jane really running from?

And why were they being kept in the dark about it?

The first night in the safe house had been miserable. Jane had complained nonstop, irritated by every little thing—from the bland meals Maggie and OA had cooked to the lack of Wi-Fi and, most notably, the absence of any real social interaction. "I don't think this should be digested," she'd huffed that first evening, staring at her takeout container of pasta like it was a prison meal. "By anything or anyone."

Maggie had remained calm, but her patience had been tested. She's just scared, she had reminded herself again and again.

A week in, though, things were starting to level out. Maggie and OA had become expert babysitters—though not the type you'd usually expect. They'd managed to scrounge up a small collection of board games, books, and even some puzzles. Jane had reluctantly tried them, and surprisingly, had warmed to a few of them.

"I still hate Scrabble," she'd grumbled after a particularly fierce match where Maggie had beaten her by a single point.

But at least Jane had stopped making sarcastic comments about every single thing they did.

Tonight, Jane was sitting across the table from OA, her focus intense. They had started a chess match an hour ago, and it was neck-and-neck—OA's stoic determination versus Jane's surprising skill. Maggie was on watch, her eyes occasionally flicking toward the window, scanning for any signs of danger.

Maggie's hand froze in its position, the faintest spark of worry igniting in her chest. She didn't say anything immediately.

But the same grey mini van circled back for a the second time, Maggie's suspicions grew. Her pulse quickened as she watched the vehicle disappear down the road again. It wasn't a coincidence.

She turned to OA, her voice low but urgent. "We've got company. They've been circling the house. Two times now."

OA's head snapped up from the game, the sudden seriousness in his eyes matching hers. "You sure?"

Maggie nodded, already moving to her bag, pulling out a small set of communication devices. "I'm positive. I'll alert Isobel. You take cover and keep an eye on Jane."

Before OA could respond, the sound of gunfire shattered the silence.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

The windows rattled as the bullets slammed into the side of the house, and for a split second, everything seemed to freeze. Maggie's heart pounded in her chest as she ducked for cover behind the couch.

"Get down!" she shouted to Jane, her voice sharp and authoritative.

OA had already moved to shield Jane, his body blocking her from the barrage. "Go, now!" he barked.

Maggie reached and grabbed the emergency go-bag, tossing it toward Jane. The bag hit the floor with a thud, and Maggie quickly gestured to the back door. "Out back, now! The woods! Go!"

For a moment, Jane hesitated, her face a mask of confusion and annoyance. But then, the realization hit, and with a quick glance at Maggie, she bolted toward the back door. Maggie and OA moved into action, laying down cover fire and quickly neutralizing the threat from outside.

Gunshots rang out, but soon, the attackers were either subdued or retreating. Maggie's breath came in ragged bursts as she checked her surroundings, scanning for any signs of danger. "You good?" she asked OA, her voice tight with worry.

"Yes," OA responded, his eyes scanning the horizon. "let's get out of here."

Maggie and OA worked swiftly, making their way to the woods behind the safe house. They had practiced for this—emergency escape plans, safety protocols.

They reached the designated hiding spot in the woods—an old shed that had been set up as an emergency fallback point. But when they arrived, it was empty.

Maggie's heart dropped. "Where the hell is she?"

;)