Gladiator In Black

Found it

There are moments in this life when you feel useless.

Whether its when someone is dying and you can't do anything about it or there's a tough case going on that you can't figure out ,both make you feel totally and utterly useless.

The bastard used a third-generation concussion grenade. Layman's terms, you won't be able to get hold of your senses once you breathe it in.

Every gladiator has been trained to hold their breaths. I could hold mine for 3 minutes,the countdown started.

I had already breathed in the fume of the 3gCg,the effects were already taking place.
I tried to look for the exit and when I spotted one to my right,I began to work on dragging myself over there. .
2 minutes : I kept crawling towards the exit hoping I could make it
1 minute 30 seconds: I was almost at the door
1 minute: I couldn't stand up to go outside
5 seconds: I mustered the strength to roll outside before I stopped being able to cease my breath.


I don't know how long it was,but I finally stood up when the effects of the 3gCg wore out.
I was on my own now,the agency has no idea I was still on this mission.

I went back to my car,luckily it hadn't been affected by the blast. Groaning, I picked up my tab and powered it on. In the field, Gladiators are trained to fight through pain. You look for something to distract you from the pain of falling down chest first.

As I drove down the street,I tried to think of where I would hide the key to a Safe Deposit Box if I were Mia.
Its a good thing I thought of wearing sneakers. Based on the list of locations Arthur sent me,there were only three places she went to two days ago : the safe deposit office,a park downtown and her apartment.

I took a full u-turn knowing if I were Mia,the key was safe at the park.

"Fi, are you there?" Arthur's voice filled my ears

"Yeah, I'm heading over to the park,since she still had the AIW as at her last flight,the key has to be there. By the way,I haven't seen Louis anywhere near here"
I stated.

Louis was known for her quick jobs,if the work was redirected to her as they said, she'd have started working on it.

"Johanna never gave your work to Louis. We just wanted to get you all fired up. Louis is handling a job in Russia currently. Johanna would never dream of giving your mission to Louis."

What the ...

"You're dead once I get back". I said easing my car into a space at the parking lot

"Yeah,focus on the job right now will you"

I got out of the car slowly. My sides hurt badly.

"You don't think there's a sign here that says 'Behold the key?' Do you" I asked drawing up the map of the park on my tab.

If I were Mia,I wouldn't keep the key in a public place. I let my feet guide me to the secluded part of the park .
The metal detector kept humming but as I passed a particular spot the metal detector buzzed.
I went back to the car to get something I could use to dig, I found a shovel. Who knew I had a shovel in my car.
Then it clicks

"Arthur"
"Still here"
"You and Johanna knew ,right"
After a few moments of silence,he responded as I continue to dig.

"Yeah"
"Why didnt you tell me anything?"
"The GIB are not the only ones on this case. State police,Airport security,Homeland security,hell even the CIA is in on this"

"Wow, this is huge"
"The case is involving Vladimir Petkoff thats why. They believe Petkoff was one of the last people to have contacted Anderson. The agency is making them believe they have no hand in this,I am only allowed to talk to you because I'm your handler"

"Uh,thanks?" I soon hit something,its a small brown envelope. I set down the shovel and checked.

"Found it" I said.

"What?" .

The silver key shone brightly at me.

"The key" .