Chapter 4: A Lengthy Conversation
Time to take matters into her own hands since it had been a solid week with no news about Leon. After Ada was done consuming the last of the leftovers and washing up the dishes, the ex-operative decided it was time to do a little "field" work.
She opened a corner of her wardrobe where her old tactical outfits were stored. They were kept for mostly sentimental reasons… and for emergencies. Ada donned an all black outfit to blend in with the night. Weapons were minimal, just a small trusty Beretta and a knife. Not that she would use them but it didn't hurt to be prepared.
The gadgets on the other hand, packed a little more punch, considering that Hunnigan's house might have some extra security features.
Once the necessary items were all loaded into her side packs, she bade her cats farewell with affectionate scratches on their heads, and left for Hunnigan's.
Ada parked her vehicle a short distance away and using the cover of the night, she stuck to the shadows as she made her way over to the darkened house. The brunette wasn't home yet.
Stopping at the fence, she crouched down, and pulled out a detector to read the frequencies on the screen. Just some standard alarms on the doors and windows.
It was nothing her jammer could not handle. The ex-spy activated it and within a few seconds, the alarms were out. But she wasn't in the clear. Her hazel eyes peeked through the slits in the fence and she spotted the tell tale red lights of the security cameras located on the balcony.
Hacking took time and Ada opted for the old fashioned route of staying out of the camera's line of sight. There was a blind spot between the fence and the kitchen window.
Seizing the opportunity, Ada leapt over the fence stealthily and rolled on the grass, towards the window. It was latched shut but she stuck a magnet on the glass and moved it, unlatching the window from the outside.
Ada was in the house within a few seconds and after locking the window, she heard a sharp bark and her heart stopped for a second. She held her breath as the sound of trotting footsteps grew louder followed by panting. A husky entered the kitchen and Ada bent down, cautiously sticking her hand out as the curious canine sniffed it.
"Remember me?"
The dog's tail wagged eagerly from side to side and it licked her fingers. Before Leon and Ada adopted Ebony, they used to drop off Cobalt at Hunnigan's for petsitting. Thank goodness the ginger feline was unperturbed by a dog and both got along well. The husky warmed up to strangers and was happy to see a long-lost "friend" again.
Ada pulled out a treat from her pocket and the husky ate it with relish. "Good dog," she said soothingly as she went to make herself comfortable at the dining table while the dog followed her, setting itself down at her feet.
She deactivated the jammer and restarted the alarms in the house. Might as well keep the dwelling secure in the meantime, lest actual thieves broke in.
Now to wait for Ingrid Hunnigan.
On Monday night Hunnigan left work late. She had messaged her contacts in the biowarfare industry to enquire if there was something occurring that might have taken Leon away but everyone assured her that they knew nothing of such a situation. Budding or otherwise.
Too tired to head home to cook, she ended up going out for dinner. A little Italian place she frequented where all the servers knew her by name along with her favourite dishes. It was owned by an elderly couple who treated everyone like their own family members.
Her worry for Leon failed to whet her appetite though and the owners of the restaurant asked if she was alright. Ingrid gave a white lie that she was feeling a little drained. The owner, in her own grandmotherly way, told Ingrid that she needed to take care of herself and gave some lasagna leftovers on the house.
Touched by the gesture, Hunnigan left a generous tip and carefully clutched the takeaway bag in her hand as she unlocked her car.
Driving home she found herself sitting in her driveway long after the car engine turned off. There was a muffled stillness as the air ceased to circulate. She grabbed the leftovers, her computer bag, jacket, and cellphone before exiting the car.
Her front door swung open, the darkness of the house yawning like a hungry maw. She didn't bother to turn the lights on right away. Her heels came off as she stepped into the foyer, placing them off to the side.
Skadi must have been sleeping somewhere at the back of the house, she thought to herself, because she is usually here waiting for me.
To the left of the door was a small vanity. She deposited her keys and the leftovers there, then closed the door. Behind the door, shoved into a corner was a coat rack. She hung her jacket then dug through the pockets. Her identification badge, her work cell, keys to her office were all dropped into an elegant, glass bowl on the vanity.
She reached over to the far wall and flicked a switch, the yellow bulbs overhead immediately painting the foyer and living room in light. She stepped through and heard some light scratches coming from the kitchen.
"Skadi, you better not be trying to get into the pantry again." Ingrid spoke in a mock-scolding manner.
She moved through the living room and stepped into the kitchen. She flicked another switch, and the fluorescent lights blinded her a moment when she felt her dog collide against her knee. Reflexively, Hunnigan ran a hand down Skadi's head when her eyes detected the obsidian silhouette of a person. The island was between them, she held out her phone like a weapon and blinked a few times.
"What the hell?!"
Ada must have counted the amount of stitches on the tablecloth at least ten times before she heard the key turning in the lock. She chose to remain still, allowing Hunnigan to settle down before she made her presence known.
Skadi's ears pricked up when Hunnigan called out to her. The husky ran happily in a little circle as its nails lightly scratched against the wooden floor before it bounded up to her owner just as the lights were switched on. Ada was bemused when the bespectacled brunette swore out loud in a behaviour that was atypical of her.
"Good evening," Ada said calmly with her hands folded together, ignoring the harmless cellphone that was thrust in her general direction. "Pardon me for the intrusion but please have a seat, we have important matters to discuss."
Her hazel eyes watched the other woman's movements carefully. She doubted Hunnigan was armed but it did not hurt to be cautious.
Ingrid's heart was beating furiously in her chest, trying to reconcile the lost beats the fright caused. Her free hand was clasped to her chest, pushing air out in loud exhales, hedged with vocalization. Her phone was still held out in an accusatory manner before her eyes finally focused on the intruder's face. Ada.
"What are you doing here–" her eyes darted to the windows, the doors. "How did you get in here?!"
She turned the phone towards herself, finger tapping the screen a few times. New alerts awaited her, a few emails and a reminder for a meeting she had in the morning but certainly nothing denoting that there had been a break in.
Her home had been completely outfitted with a state of the art security system. The sensors on the doors and windows were encrypted, safeguarding them from remote scrambling. Around the house were several, strategically placed cameras filming in infrared, ultraviolet and the visible spectrum. There was another set of motion activated sensors near the front and balcony doors.
Ingrid turned her attention to the dog, sitting quietly at her feet. "You had one job, Skadi." The husky's ears drooped slightly and it let out a soft whine.
If Leon wasn't missing, Hunnigan's rapid fire glances at Ada, the house, and her dog would have fit perfectly in some sort of comedy.
The question on how she got in almost made her laugh. Did Ingrid forget that she used to be a spy and getting into establishments stealthily was one of the necessary skills of the trade?
"Canines do possess the ability to recognize the scents of people they've met before," Ada replied dryly as Skasi padded back to her and she reached under the table to give the husky a few pats on the head, conveniently ignoring Ingrid's first question altogether.
"You'd think a guard dog would find it suspicious that a previous visitor was sneaking into my house while I wasn't home and why are you sneaking into my house while I am not home, Ada– I mean, not that you sneaking into my house while I am home would be more acceptable or anything." Ingrid expelled air quickly from her lungs, clearly frazzled.
Ada folded her arms once more, giving the other a grave look, "I'm sure you know why I'm here."
There was another brief staredown between both women before Ada spoke again.
"I don't require the details of his assignment. Is he well and on this continent at all?"
Chances are, he wasn't. The DSO had a tendency to deploy him all over the globe but there were still a handful of cases here and there on local soil that needed his expertise.
All Ada needed was just a clue on where her beloved blonde was. Maybe then she could rest easy. Or find him by herself.
Feeling a headache coming on, Ingrid laid her phone down on the table and took a few deep breaths. Inhale through her nose, breathe in until her lungs could hold no more. Hold. Hold just until her chest began to burn then release the air slowly from parted lips. An exercise she had begun working on since picking up yoga to deal with her stress.
"I told you before. Leon isn't on a mission." Her eyes rose to meet Ada's. "But if you are here and still asking about it then it is safe to conclude that you have not been able to reach him either."
She turned away from Leon's wife, moving to a cabinet just above the sink. "Look, I know we have not seen eye to eye in the past and we still have our differences like how you broke into my house but that is besides the point."
Ada's temper nearly flared when the brunette once again insisted that Leon was not on a mission. The ex-spy was sorely tempted to toss his ring on the table to prove Hunnigan wrong but she reined in her emotions. It would be a shame to damage a perfectly good piece of jewellery.
But, there was something in Ingrid's eyes that made her stop and listen. Sincerity, frustration, and desperation all rolled into one gaze. She kept silent and allowed the other woman to putter around the kitchen.
Ingrid retrieved two stemmed glasses within the cabinet before pulling out a bottle from the wine rack below the island. She quickly removed the foil seal and fished out a corkscrew from a nearby drawer. A few turns later, the cork lifted quickly from the bottle.
She poured the first glass just above a quarter full, then a second. Fingers hooked under each glass, Ingrid carried them over to the table, holding out one to Ada as she took a seat opposite her.
"We both care for Leon. If he had been sent on an assignment and I knew about it, I would let you know. Even if a gag order had been placed, I would have gotten word to you somehow and Leon would be the first person in line pushing me to do so. He wouldn't want you worrying over him."
Ada took the preoffered glass but she wasn't in the mood to drink. Instead, she cradled it between both hands and stared at the effervescence on the surface of the liquid, processing what Ingrid said.
Her words did make sense though. She was a smart woman and had the capability to send an encrypted word to Ada no matter what even if her orders said otherwise.
Ada inhaled a deep breath and reached into her pocket to pull out Leon's ring. She placed it on the table and began her explanation.
"Leon always leaves this behind whenever he's sent away. Scared to lose it on the battlefield, I suppose." She left out how they had a small ritual of having her slide the ring back on his finger whenever he came home.
Ingrid was nodding her head occasionally, absorbing everything Ada was saying. Her words painted an intimate picture, a side of Leon that Ingrid had never thought of before in such detail. Sipping at her wine, she found her mind working feverishly to piece together the fractured, isolated aspects of the greater mystery.
When Ada placed the ring on the table, Ingrid delicately picked it up, turning it over. Pinched between her index and thumb. It caught the fluorescent lights overhead, burnished and polished. She watched her reflection bend and stretch as if made of water.
"I hadn't known about that. I knew he didn't wear his ring and assumed it was something like that." She had honestly always believed Leon liked to uphold his bachelor guise while in the field.
Ada then placed a watch beside the wedding ring.
"I ordered a set of watches after our wedding. In addition to other features, they come with a tracker that allows us to see where the other is anywhere in the world. A way for me to know if he's safe without bothering anyone. We always wear them."
The raven-haired woman sighed and finally took a sip of alcohol, allowing the sweet liquid coat her tongue. It was good.
"I never knew about the watch," Hunnigan whispered as she polished off half of her glass. A heavy feeling swirled around her gut. It was fear mixed with liquor. She set the glass down on the table, the ring placed gently beside it. Her fingers found their way to the watch.
She examined it with intrigue and interest. The details were right up her alley so to speak. Her attention was brought first to the face. Digital numbers, military time. Current coordinates. Top of the line. What a pricey newlywed gift Ada had picked out. Her espionage days had clearly set her tastes– and form was just as important as fashion. Turning it over in her hands, Ingrid ran her thumb along the back.
It was beautiful, hand stamped initials of their names etched in the back. Probably a custom order or at most a very limited run of this specific make and model.
"Given that his ring is with me, it means he has been deployed." Ada rasped coldly. "And it seems someone up in his chain of command knew about the tracker. They must have been desperate to keep his assignment off the grid from me and you."
This was serious. If something happened to Leon, whoever was in charge will pay for it. Preferably via asphyxiation.
Ingrid could only shake her head as her brows knitted with frustration. "Officially, the DSO states that he's attending a conference. You and I both know that's not true. I don't understand why anyone would give him an assignment– or how," she took a sip of her drink. "Every mission, proposed or rejected goes through me first. Not just with Leon but every DSO agent. I can list off the whereabouts of every agent that has been deployed-"
She stopped herself before she divulged classified data to a civilian. "Leon has officially been grounded indefinitely too, at his request. I've not been his support agent since he became a trainer. I even made sure his successor passed with flying colours before we retired Leon from the field. All missions have been rerouted to Da-"
The brunette paused once more and cursed inwardly. She almost revealed more private information.
Ada merely continued to drink more of her wine, pretending that Ingrid did not attempt to commit a crime exposing state secrets. It was interesting that Sherry Birkin and Helena Harper weren't spoken of at all. She was under the assumption that all three agents continued to work closely after China. The conference was an obvious lie that even a child could have seen through it.
However, the mention of Leon having his request honoured brought some comfort to her. Her wish of him leading a less exciting life was granted.
Ingrid stood and moved over to the island, grabbing her phone and opening up to the text messages. She turned the screen towards Ada. It contained message after message, including reminders of their upcoming meetings. All without response.
"I've sent him a dozen emails and even went by his office. He couldn't be on a mission without me knowing about it," her usual authoritative resonance in her voice slipped as she continued.
Was it Derek Simmons all over again? Corruption running through their department, a fissure right before her eyes that she missed. Hunnigan sank into her chair again.
"What do you propose we do?"
The idea that someone higher than her– than Leon, pulling strings with her agent sent a wave of righteous indignation through her.
Ada continued to gaze at the cellphone in front of her, glancing through the numerous unanswered messages. Leon might be a busy person but he always replied with a short text. Something was definitely wrong.
After a few quiet seconds, Ada broke out of her stupor. "You would have to keep digging on your end. There has to be another official document that states his whereabouts."
Her own hands were tied. Hacking the DSO from the BSAA would be frowned upon and cause a lot of unnecessary drama. Ada drained the rest of her alcohol, "I will just have to hold on to a shred of optimism."
She wasn't one for waiting but sometimes that was all that could be done.
There was something quiet and sad in Ada's words– or maybe it was just the way she delivered the final line. Defeated perhaps but even beyond that, a hint of desperation. It did nothing to calm Ingrid's frayed nerves. Bustling just behind her eyes, below her skin.
She considered her next course of action for a moment. Trying to decide where the next place to look would be. Helena might work. "I'm going to ask Helena. She is stateside right now and could weed out more info."
Hunnigan was in the midst of drafting a text when her phone chimed loudly. She read over the incoming message. No sooner had she finished reading it that her phone began to ring. An unknown number.
The brunette stood and stepped away from the table, heading over to the balcony doors. "Hunnigan here."
Ada's hazel eyes watched Ingrid as she read the text with a pensive look before it was interrupted by a phone call. When Leon's handler headed outside, Ada had a sinking feeling in her stomach.
Ingrid had no more than just turned the corner before she darted back into the house and spoke hurriedly.
"Someone just arrived at Havenwood hospital as a John Doe. They performed fingerprints and the results just flagged the DSO database. He's got Leon's prints."
Within a span of a few seconds, Ada went through a roller coaster of emotions. First was dread, followed by relief before it was eventually replaced by confusion. Havenwood was just outside the capital.
"Why is he not in a DSO medical facility?"
It was bizarre how their finest agent was now labelled as a John Doe and at a hospital nowhere near his workplace. If the medical care rendered to her husband was inadequate, there would be hell to pay.
Ada got to her feet and gathered Leon's belongings off the table. She was almost out the door when her phone rang from an unidentified number. Her finger slid across the screen to accept the call as she held the phone to her ear.
"Is this Mrs. Ada Kennedy, spouse of Mr. Leon Scott Kennedy?" A male voice spoke on the other end and sounded middle-aged.
"I am, who is this?" Ada furrowed her brows as she looked at Hunnigan.
"A representative from the DSO. As his next of kin, it is our responsibility to inform you that he has been injured and is now receiving treatment at the Neurosurgical ICU in Havenwood Hospital. We request that you keep this information to yourself and enter via the back entrance. Our staff will escort you when you get there."
The call ended before Ada could fire off any snappy comebacks.
"I have been contacted by the DSO with Leon's location… It seems I have to enter the hospital by the rear entrance. I need to leave."
Without extending the invitation to Hunnigan even though she knew she should have, Ada practically bolted down the driveway and ran to her car.
Author's Note: The plot thickens! Hope you enjoyed the interaction between both ladies.