I can't say your name

Cap. 5

N° 72: you always have to carry the company badge

a. The badge will be implanted 1 inch under the skin of your right thigh

b. Removing the badge will be considered a crime of treason and you will be persecuted

c. Demagnetizing the badge will be considered a crime of treason and you will be persecuted

d. If the badge gets infected you are not allowed to remove it: you shall report it to the company, they will be implanting you a new one

e. Your master is not authorized to remove your badge to change it or do other operations

These were the rules Eddy hated the most, not that the badge was particularly annoying, it was like not having it, the thing was that the badge contained a locator so the company could always know where he was, and, connecting the dots, also with whom.

Eddy entered the studio to find his master hiding behind a newspaper. He sat down and overlapped his legs waiting for Mr. Smith to talk.

Mr. Smith: "So...it seems like you are spending a lot of time at Brett's house, and I'm ready to bet that the time you spend in the bubble tea shop is also with Brett, and the time you spend in the mall stuck in a single place that is not a shop, and many other afternoons at your house. Am I wrong?"

Eddy sighed and looked out of the window like searching for something

Eddy: "He is my best friend James, what did you expect?"

Mr. Smith: "I know he's your best friend, I can't remember one day he was not with you at school"

Eddy: "Well now we are also colleagues so I don't get why you are so surprized"

Mr. Smith: "Just investigating, I know your father was not for relationships in this job, it's for this reason that he married a colleague and adopted two children"

Eddy: "If you could avoid reminding me that I'm only a cover for the man I thought was my father my whole life I would really appreciate it"

He said landing his hands on his chest and leaning forward

Mr. Smith: "I was just asking"

Eddy: "Well speak out loud because I'm afraid I didn't understand"

Said Eddy with a silly voice implying he wouldn't have made Mr. Smith escape this without asking him the direct question

Mr. Smith: "Oh come on you are brighter than this!"

Eddy: "I also have bad days!"

Mr. Smith remained quiet for a second, clasping his teeth

Mr. Smith: "Ok then! Is Brett your boyfriend?"

Eddy: "No. Not yet at least"

Mr. Smith: "Are you going to ask him out soon?"

Eddy: "The fact is this James: the code of this agency expects me to kill him if he is in the position of compromising the good ending of a mission, and so to prioritize my job than my love"

Mr. Smith: "Yeah, you know the rules"

Eddy: "Yeah, so I will be honest with you. I will never kill him. If he menaces to kill me, I'll let him do it and if you menace to kill him, I'll kill you"

Mr. Smith: "I get it, you don't want to involve him"

Eddy: "If my enemies know my real identity the first person that they will attack will be my husband, don't you think?"

Mr. Smith: "It's for this reason that the code exists. In 150 years of this company none of our members' partners have been harmed"

Eddy: "That's what you are trying to sell, you mean"

Mr. Smith: "It's better if you choose your words wisely, remember that you are just a simple agent"

Eddy: "The best one you have, if I remember correctly"

Mr. Smith: "Sure, but this doesn't allow you to..."

Eddy: "Tell the truth?"

Mr. Smith: "Disrespect the authority. Take the rest of the day free and think about it. I want an official answer as soon as possible, to know if I have to compile the marriage forms"

Eddy stood up and walked outside the building. He sat on his usual bench near the street lamp and sighed heavily. Caught up in his thoughts, he didn't notice the young lady sitting next to him.

Lady: "Long day?"

Eddy: "Huh?"

He jumped hearing her voice, he didn't expect it, like, at all. The lady smiled sweetly at him and repeated the question

Lady: "You look wrecked, had a tough day?"

Eddy: "Yeah...really tough"

Lady: "Yeah me too, problems at work?"

Eddy: "Kind of"

Lady: "I'm sorry Eddy"

He turned to face her and his hand reached for his gun slightly curling on the handle

Eddy: "How do you know my name?"

Lady: "I know everything about you Eddy: I know your job is a cover, I know your IQ is above average and I know that you will do everything to protect the person you love. We are equal Eddy, I've worked for the agency for 7 years only to see my partner being killed"

Eddy: "But my master said..."

Lady: "Bullshit Eddy, a load of bullshit! I know that right now you still believe in this agency, but one day you will wake up and Brett won't be by your side, believe me Eddy: this whole company is a hoax! And Brett will be in danger as long as you're working for the agency!"

Eddy: "How do I know you are not lying to me?"

Lady: "You can see for yourself, enter the principal server and search for the file: target 101. When you're done look for me"

She said, handing Eddy a piece of paper. She stood up and made her way back to where she had come from.

Eddy: "Don't you think I at least deserve to know your name, since you know everything about me?"

The lady stopped on her way and turned around laughing

Lady: "Oh sure, I had almost forgotten, you can call me Nat"

He looked down at the piece of paper and shoved it into his pocket, then he got up and headed home.

Eddy refused to believe that there was something wrong with his company, but that number continued echoing in his brain for the entire week. He also noticed that the questions about Brett had increased, and had become more insistent. Then one day it happened.

Mr. Smith was at his desk searching for something at his computer when Eddy entered his office.

Mr. Smith: "Eddy"

Eddy: "James"

Mr. Smith: "You know what I'm going to ask"

Eddy: "Hey, give me time man! He is the love of my life, how can you pretend that I ask him out so soon!"

Mr. Smith: "I'm only saying that you are perfect for each other, and Brett is a splendid person"

Eddy: "Sure he is"

Mr. Smith: "Think about it, meanwhile let me fetch your new folder for the mission"

He said leaving the room. Quickly Eddy entered Mr. Smith password, so predictable for him, he wouldn't have found anything if the red-haired girl had lied to him, right? But Brett's photo appeared in front of his face as the screen unlocked: a document with all the information regarding his best friend. He rapidly blocked the computer and fell back on the chair waiting for Mr. Smith. The older man entered the room and handed the folder to Eddy, who left immediately, heading home. He had to do something, and quick. Brett being in danger was not an option!