THE ELITE AGENT

40. PULLING STRINGS.

Eighteen's POV:

Fear is an illusion created by your own brain.

I didn't realize the wise words of my mother until now. Looking back in time when I inhaled that gas, the gory images that flashed through my brain, illusions which seemed so real, left me so out of place. So out of power.

I shut my eyes and shake my head. Those were just imaginations. Fragments of delusion. That was it. Don't think too much.

I grab my phone and dial my father's number. I pause before I hit the call button. If I tell him about the fisherman and how he used the gas against us, there is a possibility that dad might want to keep information to himself and not tell me. He has done that before, and he won't hesitate to do it again. I know he wants us to not pressurize ourselves but when Meghan is the one pulling strings, I don't plan on pulling my punches.

And I have to discuss to dad about Gwen. But I don't feel it's the right time. Maybe whatever thread connects Gwen and dragons is kept as a hidden secret. Gwen would be a perfect candidate to answer my questions.

I clear the number and search for a proper person who would be secretive enough to not tell anyone but not too secretive to not tell me. Only one person, who I have meet twice in my life, came to my mind. I hit the call as I place the phone against my ear.

"Agent Eighteen," Her calm voice seeps through the phone.

"Agent One. I need help. And it must be kept confidential."

She didn't say anything for a while. I pull the phone back to check if we are still connected. We were.

"Confidential as in?"

"Confidential as in not to slip a word to chief. Not your parents or any other agent. Are you in?"

After a long pause, she speaks. "Yes."

"Adequate. I need you to check the surveillance of a place and a particular red car. I'll give you the address. Use the jet without my dad's knowledge to get to the location I send. You have to make sure-"

"Wait, hang on. Did you say I have to steal the jet?"

"Yes. Focus on the point. I want you to-"

"What if I get caught? You know your father has hawk eyes."

I let out a huff. "I'll take the blame if it comes to that. But don't get caught. There's a reason why I called you."

"Alright. Proceed."

"I want you to wear a mask. I think there are some tubes filled with green colored gas in the car which must be sent to lab for testing. Be careful with that. And yes, that must also be done without my father's knowledge," I complete. My eyes narrow when I hear someone walking towards me.

"Interesting. I'll get back to you after the reports," She said. Her usual monotonous voice seemed to be thrilled.

"Okay," I mutter and cut the call. I swirl back to see Alex standing behind me. I raise my eyebrow, a silent question about his presence.

"How's your shoulder?"

"Fine."

He nods as he shifts his weight in his other heels. After a nervous glance, he spoke. "I-uh, kinda overheard what you spoke."

My eyes narrow in accusation. He wasn't supposed to hear anything. And right now, I am contemplating breaking something on his head.

"How much did you hear?" I hiss.

"Just doing something without your father's knowledge."

"What else?"

He shrugs. "That's all."