A Spy's Home--Book 1: Beyond the Borders.

Chapter 22

Clip, clop, clip, clop...

I opened my eyes and was greeted by darkness, with the only sound being Rory's and my own breathing. Did I just hear footsteps outside? Or is it my mind playing tricks on me. I blinked a couple times, held my breath, and continued listening.

Clip, clop, clip, clop....

My mind isn't playing tricks on me. I slowly pushed myself up from the bed, and squinted towards the motel room door through the darkness. Something was slid under the door before I heard the footsteps fade away into silence. I quietly got up from the bed and tiptoed to the door. I saw the silhouette of a folded piece of paper, and picked it up gently.

I traveled back to the bed and held my breath once more as I turned on the lamp lights. I slowly exhaled when the light came and Rory stayed asleep. I gingerly opened up the paper, and with tired eyes I read

1570 Riverview Apartments, Findlay, Ohio.

Spies Leave Wednesday, 11pm

My eyes went wide as I realized what I was reading; it was the address of where the twins were being kept! "Little Z, what are you reading?" I looked over at the sound of Rory's voice; he was looking at me with tired eyes, waiting for me to answer. "I heard footsteps outside the door and whoever was, slid this under the door." I whispered back. "What is it?" Rory asked, pushing himself into a sitting up position. "Rory, I think this is the address of where Martin and Mya are being kept." I answered.

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The next morning...

"I looked up the Riverview Apartments and it turns out they shut down about a year ago when the owner decided to move it to another location." I said, looking at the information on my phone. "You sure this isn't a trap?" Rory questioned, re-reading the paper. Sighing, I admitted, "I don't know, maybe it is, but besides the information on the twins, we got nothing."

"Yeah , you're right. Let's go check it out and if we see anything that proves your suspicion, we'll come back here and think of a plan." Rory suggested. I nodded my head in agreement, and we both got up from the table and headed out the door.

It was nice out today; not too hot, and not too cold. The sun blinded me a few times as it shined off the Mustang's shiny black metal. I decided to enjoy the small moments, as I walked to the car. I knew we were heading into dangerous territory and I wanted to enjoy every second of the calm before the storm.

"You alright? I think you spaced out on me." Rory asked, as we both went to open the car doors. "Yeah, I'm fine, just a little nervous." I admitted, getting into the passenger seat. "I know how you feel. I'm as nervous as our first mission together." Rory responded, closing the driver side door and smiling. The day of our first mission came back to me without warning.

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I was 6 years old and Rory was 12; our mission was to locate a government official and steal a data chip on the streets of Plymouth, Massachusetts . We were never told what was on the data chip before or after the mission, but now I realize it was probably used to hurt innocent people. The mission was simple; I had acted like a lost little girl looking for her parents, and I had intentionally bumped into him and "accidently" knocked his briefcase out of hands.

I apologized and "helped" the man pick up his things. While I was at it, I spotted the data chip, then quickly grabbed it without the man noticing and replaced it with a fake one the boss had given me. The man had grabbed the fake data chip when he finally "found" it, apologized to me, and asked if I needed help finding my parents.

It was Rory's part to get me away from the man, so he came up while the man offered his help, and when I confirmed that I knew Rory the man let us go. It had been simple; Now I look back on that "simple" first mission, and realized I stole from an innocent man who probably lost his job because he "lost" the data chip, and I most likely put lives in danger. That man was innocent; I was guilty. 

TBC...