A Spy's Home---Book 3: A Friend I've Never Met

Chapter 8

10 minutes later...

"So, you nearly fell off a counter-top?" Luke questioned. Rory and Lilian were getting ready for bed, and I was helping Luke sort the contents we had found. I let out a quiet, soft giggle chuckle, and answered, "Yeah, foot slipped, but Rory was there to catch me so it's all good."

I then grabbed the "Classified" file that was in the center and looked at it. "Why can't I see what's inside?" I asked, keeping my eyes focused on the word "classified." Luke looked at me, and then looked down at the file; he then reached out to take it from my grasp, but I pulled it away from him.

"Z, I'll explain later, but right now I don't want you looking through that file." he told me, keeping his hand out, and waiting for me to give it to him. I hesitated, and kept thinking, "If I want to look at this file, can't I? I was part of the Academy too." Opening it up right here in front of Luke would be so easy, but do I really want to break the trust he has? I'll eventually find out what's inside; Luke will tell me soon enough.

Sighing, I reluctantly gave him the file, and he slid it over to the side. "You can go on, and go to bed. It's almost midnight and you've had a busy day." he told me, flipping through another file. Not arguing with him, I stood from the wooden chair and walked to my room.

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Even though I was extremely tired, I couldn't fall asleep. I must have rolled about 20 times before giving up. When I finally did, I looked over at the clock and saw it was already 2am. Groaning, I kept thinking of reasons why I couldn't fall asleep. Is it because I really want to do something, like save a kid, or is it because I want to know what's in that file?

I sat up, swung my legs off the bed, and threw on some sweats and a sweatshirt. After putting my shoes back on my feet, I quietly snuck past the rooms, and exited the hotel building. Since we were in the city of Boston, I decided to head to the nearest dock. I got there in 20 minutes, and I stared out onto the open sea letting wind that smelled of salt blow through my hair.

However, my mind was troubled, and not at ease. "Why is the contents of that file bugging the heck out of me?" I kept asking myself, as I took my shoes off, sat on the edge, and dipped my toes in the cool water. Sighing, I tried to shake the thoughts from my mind, and enjoy this moment of peace.

After a few moments, I realized that I have never done something like this before. I never grew up dipping my toes into cool water, I've never played on a playground like a child should; I never got the chance to have real fun.

As I was thinking about this, I heard my phone buzz in my sweatshirt pocket, which I had placed in there before leaving the building. I fished out the device, and read the caller ID; Crap! It's Rory.

I quickly hit the accept button, and pressed the device on my ear. "Hey Rory, don't worry. I'm fine." I quickly said. "Where are you then? Luke passed your room to go to bed, and he saw the door open and you were gone!" he exclaimed.

"Couldn't sleep, so I decided to take some "me time" and went to the dock." I answered him. I heard him give a deep sigh of what I assumed was relief, before he said, "Can you come back? It's late." Now he's starting to sound like a big brother.

"Fine, fine. I'll be back in about 20 minutes." I told him, before hanging up. I placed my socks and shoes on my damp feet, stood up, looked out on the ocean one more time, before turning on my heels and rushed back to the hotel building. "I can catch up on my missed childhood later. Duty calls." I mumbled to myself, letting the lampposts lead the way

TBC....