[1] Midnight Lips | Ghost

𝐂𝐇. 01

VALENTINA HERRERA
༻❁༺

Los Angeles, California.

     Music was everything to me. I just found that out after being in a helicopter for an entire hour with nothing to do. I was watching the high view from my window and didn't even notice myself singing in my head until the pilot spoke through the headphones.

Taking my attention away from him, I went back to singing in my head, and I realized I'd kill to listen to Arctic Monkeys. I suddenly got anxious, realized I was biting my nails, and knew I had to get a snack, or else I was going to jump out of the helo.

Thank God we arrived shortly after that, but going from a helicopter to a jet didn't make it any better.

I was already in my seat when my leg started pumping up and down. Queen or Los Prisioneros? I was very fond of Los Prisioneros because they were from my country, but I also loved Queen because I grew up with that.

I groaned.
I'd stick to Los Prisioneros.

"I apologize for asking you to fly over so suddenly," Kate spoke in her seat across from me. I hadn't even noticed her arrival, too lost in my thoughts. That always happened to me when they called.

"I missed you, too."

Kate chuckled. "What's on your mind this time?"

"Music."

"Stick to Queen."

I scowled and rolled my eyes at her, leaning back against my seat. "You always know everything, don't you? But let me tell you, I'm sticking to Los Prisioneros this time."

"Queen is superior."

"Agree to disagree." I wasn't going to change her mind anyway.

Kate dropped the issue. "How've you been, Val?"

The use of my nickname let me know this was just some catching up between old friends and not between boss and sergeant. I leaned back in my seat, getting comfortable. "I've been great, actually. I just closed a case, so things are calm for now."

"So I heard."

I chuckled. Of course. Besides the fact that Kate knew everything all the damn time, she was also my superior. However, sometimes–especially with cases as small as my last one–she didn't really need to know who I was fighting in court.

But this time, she did her research, and it kind of made sense. "So you knew. Is that why you called me here?"

Kate pressed her lips together, looking down at her lap before she met my eyes again. "I apologize for bringing you here all of a sudden."

"It's fine. I'm used to it," I waved her off. I was used to it. Now with my current job, I was not only a CIA's lawyer but also Kate's eyes; aka, her spy. So calls at three in the morning with a flight to the other side of the world were expected.

"I brought you here because recent events have shown that we are currently under a terrorist attack."

I stilled. "What?" Straight to the point, that's how she was.

"Hassan Zyani, a Major in Iran's Quds Force." Kate reached to her side for a beige folder and then placed it on my side of the table. When I opened it, inside was a picture of a bald man with brown eyes.

She continued, "Hassan launched a campaign in retaliation against the United States, with the assistance of the terrorist group, Al-Qatala. He is seeking revenge for the death of the commander of his group."