Conundrum

Part 1

theSingingDragon

It didn't take long to find the last ace. To Spencer the hardest part of this particular game of solitaire wasn't the game at all, but keeping all the cards straight on the slick countertop. Not much irritated her, but if another card fell off she was confident she could add it to the list. Maybe it would be better to move to the other dorm table.

"How's it going?" Jamie asked as he stopped to watch the game.

"About average." Spencer replied, not looking up.

"What did you expect?" Lydia passed both of them, carrying a laundry basket with an impressive amount of clothes piled up in it. "I swear, if she wins one more time I'm calling magic."

A card underneath Spencer's hand slid to the ground as she placed another down. When she stood to pick it up Jamie had already grabbed it and offered it to her.

"Thanks." She took the card and was careful not to let any more fall.

"No problem." Jamie smiled, then looked over to the living room where Lydia sat cross legged and working against the odds to conquer the clothes pile. "I doubt Spencer's magical, sis."

Spencer watched Jamie join Lydia on the floor from her peripheral vision, slowing down her progress so she didn't have another card kerfuffle.

"Why do you say that?" Lydia asked, folding a shirt. "You speak from experience?"

"What? No." Jamie grabbed another shirt and started reading the print on the front. "Just been researching - they all have enhanced strength, agility, speed, etc."

Lydia scoffed. "I see what you mean. There's no way she's magic."

Taking a deep breath, Spencer returned to her game at a 20% faster rate, catching up quickly with her heartbeat.

"No, I," started Jamie. "I didn't mean it like that, it's just-"

"Chill, dude, you're the only one freaking out about this." Lydia told him. Spencer started shuffling after she had finished another successful game.

"How'd you do?" asked Jamie. Pausing, Spencer stared at the cards in thought.

"I lost."

"Really?" Lydia and Jamie's voices chimed in disbelief. Spencer took another breath.

"Yeah. Got really close, though."

"Oh. Okay." Jamie said slowly, almost as if he was disappointed.

"'Bout time," was Lydia's response, followed by a quick, "Ow, what was that for?"

"You might want to move to the table so the cards have better traction." Jamie ignored his sister.

"Yeah." Spencer grabbed a seat at the table.

"How do you have so many shirts?" At first Spencer thought Jamie was asking her, but she looked over and saw him gesturing to a sizable stack, apparently made of shirts. His sister just shrugged.

"Concerts, I guess."

Jamie scoffed. "Did you rob a bank, my poor college student?"

"What? No!" A sock was thrown in Jamie's direction by a red-faced chipmunk.

The doorbell rang and everyone froze. Slowly, Lydia got up and answered it. On the other side stood a man in a grey suit.

"Spencer Ronan?"

"No." Lydia answered. "May I ask why?"

The grey suit man pulled out identification. "MDA, agent level 8."