Skirted Spies: Season 1

Episode 6: Dear Ol' Dad

The smell of freshly brewed coffee envelopes the RV's unvented kitchen. Archer promised to drive smoothly back to Connecticut and take the less bumpy roads this time. I sit at the table with Clyde and Lula, sipping my mug and staring at the DNA test Archer had printed out. For the sake of professional decency, I have her borrow some of my clothes to wear over her "showgirl" uniform.

"You said you were 27?" I ask.

"Yup, and you're 25? Guess that makes me the big sister then."

"Oh great, now I'm the copy cat."

She looks at me with her head slightly tilted, "So kiddo, what's with the crossdressing?"

"It's funny how something that was once a hobby now plays a big part in tactical insertion."

"Oh I've always wanted a little sister! All that time wasted when we could've been painting each other's nails and trying on new clothes!"

Clyde snickers lightly as my cheeks burn hot with embarrassment, "Yeah," he says, "and talk about boys and complain about getting fat."

Her eyes light up as she takes a heavy gasp. "You like to talk about boys!?"

I shake my head violently, "No, no! I'm not gay!"

She switches to a puzzled expression, "So, you're bisexual?"

"No!"

"C'mon Troy, there's no way in hell you like women, I bet you'd battle them to see who's prettier."

My mouth opens, but for what? Nothing comes out. Clyde continues to cover his mouth that is obviously twisted into a smile. He answers before I could, "Let me save you the trouble by saying that not even he knows what he likes. He's been confused for as long as I've known him."

"You've only known me for three years!"

"Yes, and in those three years I could tell you were a mess on the inside."

I stuff my nose into my mug. "No argument there."

Lula gets up from her seat and stretches with an exhausted yawn. Her tail does some amusing aerobics, and I notice the pink ribbon she had tied to the end of it.

"Pretty ribbon," I say.

She looks at it, then at me, "You like? It's something I wear for my mother."

"A ribbon to remember her by," Clyde says.

She confirms him and disappears behind the purple curtain that houses our personal beds and closets. She's probably still feeling a bit of the chemicals, and coffee is not strong enough to shake the Barbiturates off. I look out of the window next to me, just watching the road pass us by. I have a lot to think about, but my spiraling mind doesn't know where to land. Clyde finishes his mug before going to the driver's area to sit in the passenger seat where Archer and him talk in private, and I was left sitting alone accompanied by my scattered thoughts. I need to know what my dad's timeline consist of, but it wasn't something to discuss over the phone. This needs to be in person.

*** *** ***

Connecticut, Hartford: Hearth Manor

Clyde follows us down the winding walkway to the front door, but his look of concern ruins the otherwise beautiful scenery. The security guarding the main gate recognizes me, however still frosty at the sight of my clone, one of them mouthing, "That's not right," to the other.

"Are you sure?" Clyde asks again.

"I'm sure, Clyde. I don't need your help for this one, I promise."