Flaneur ✅💋

17. Tromperie

April 20, 1942

The gunshot rang out, deafening them temporarily. Emmanuel kept driving. She felt Nicolas grab her arm, but she threw all of her weight into her elbow and caught him in the jaw. The sound of his teeth knocking together filled in her ears, but she didn't stop. Swiveling onto his lap she brought her fists down, knocking him out with three hits. Blood trickled down his nose, the corner of his mouth, and coated her knuckles.

The car stopped and all four doors opened with guns drawn. They promptly lowered upon seeing both targets incapacitated. One man reached out a hand towards the doctor, checking for a pulse. "He's dead," he proclaimed and she heard a grumble rise up.

"He was going to shoot Emmanuel," she breathed, still straddling the colonel.

"Get him out. The order will want to see his body and hold it. Did you kill the colonel as well?" the man snapped at her, looking from her hands to the unconsious officer.

"He's just been knocked out." She climbed off his lap and into the cool night air.

"Good work, Agent Mahlon," Director Evans applauded her with a large cigar clutched in one hand. "One out of two ain't bad." He wouldn't reprimand her. He would leave that to his brother back over the lines.

She tried to smile, but couldn't. "Thank you, sir." Her voice came out with a severe lack of emotion that didn't go unnoticed.

"Cuff him," Director Evans ordered the two men at his side. "Put him in the front seat." She could see three military vehicles in the distance rumbling towards them. "Harriet pulled through. We shouldn't have many obstacles from here to the American lines. You did good, you should be proud." He pulled her in for an awkward side hug.

"I terminated the targets," she said in the same frigid tone as before.

He grinned at her, hugging her tighter. "I knew you would, kid," he praised, but she didn't feel anything. "I'll have Emmanuel drive you both."

"Non," she said a bit too quickly. "With all due respect, sir, I'd like to finish my mission myself." She spoke slowly, unsure herself if she really wanted to be tasked with driving the colonel over the lines and handing him to the Americans.

Director Evans seemed to mull over her offer, considering her for a moment. Genevieve had never given him reason not to trust her. In all her years as a Ghost she had never once failed a mission. Not once. "If that's what you want," he relented and motioned for Emmanuel to toss the keys to him. "Here. You'll follow in the rear, we can't afford an ambush taking him back. Harriet will lead with the trucks, stay close." With that, he walked back to address the others while she got situated behind the wheel. The colonel was cuffed to the door, mouth open, and breathing deeply. She averted her gaze, not wanting to dwell on him too much.

The agents began to spread out, loading into the trucks. The rumble of the engines indicated for her to start the car. They started off, following the trucks as Director Evans had instructed her to do. The gate had been opened wide, ready for their escape.

The car rolled over the bodies of the soldiers, bumping up and down as it went. Nicolas's head knocked against the window and he snapped up. She kept quiet, still driving, as he came to his senses and rattled his cuffs. He looked over at her, a look of panic mingled with betrayal.

"What are you playing at?" he growled, pulling harder at his cuffs.

"Don't." She warned him, but he kept tugging. She pulled out her gun, aiming it at his head. "Please don't," she repeated through clenched teeth.