Cyber Cryptic

Lance

I lay on the massage table, my muscles relaxing under the skilled hands of the therapist. Ah, bliss. Ive just finished a long and grueling operation, and this is exactly what I need. A well-deserved break, a chance to unwind and recharge.

My phone buzzes on the floor, but I ignore it. Im on vacation, after all. No work allowed.

But the buzzing persists, and I groan inwardly. Who could be bothering me now?

The massage therapist pauses, looking at me with a questioning expression. "Do you need to take that, sir?"

I hesitate, then nod. "Yeah, sorry about this."

I slide off the table and pad over to my phone, hoping its a quick call. But my heart sinks when I see the caller ID. Work.

"Hey, Lance," my boss says, his voice serious. "Have you seen the news?"

I frown, feeling a twinge of unease. "No, what's going on?"

Theres a pause, and I can sense my bosss hesitation. "Its about Mark Fields. Hes...dead."

My mind goes blank. Mark Fields? The billionaire philanthropist? What does this have to do with me?

"What happened?" I ask, my voice sharp.

"Its still under investigation, but it looks like a suspicious death. And we need you to come in."

I feel a jolt of adrenaline. Me? What does Mark Fields' death have to do with me?

"When do you need me?" I ask, already knowing the answer.

"As soon as possible, Lance. This is a high-priority case."

I sigh, feeling my vacation slipping away. "Im on my way."

The massage therapist looks at me with concern. "Sir, is everything okay?"

I force a smile. "Yeah, just a work emergency. Thanks for understanding."

As I quickly dress and make my way out, my mind races with questions. What does Mark Fields' death have to do with me? And what kind of operation am I about to get pulled into?

I walk into the briefing room, still feeling the lingering relaxation of my massage. My boss, Director Jenkins, is already seated, his expression stern.

"Lance, sorry to cut your vacation short, but we have a situation," he says, getting straight to the point.

I groan inwardly. "Whats going on, sir?"

"Mark Fields, the billionaire philanthropist, has been murdered. And we need you to investigate his wife, Grace."

I raise an eyebrow. "His wife? What makes her a suspect?"

Jenkins leans forward. "Shes not just a suspect, Lance. Shes our only lead. And we need you to get close to her, gain her trust, and find out what she knows."

I sigh, feeling my vacation slipping further away. "Sir, Im an operative, not a detective."

"Youre the best we have, Lance. And this is a high-priority case. Youll do what you do best: charm her, gain her confidence, and uncover the truth."

I shake my head. "This is a bad idea, sir. Im not exactly built for undercover work."

Jenkins hands me a file. "This is Graces profile. Study it, learn everything you can about her. And remember, your identity is top secret. She cant know what youre really after."

I take the file, feeling a sense of trepidation. Grace Fields is a stunning young woman, with piercing hazel eyes and long, curly brown hair. I can see why Jenkins thinks Id be the perfect operative for the job.

"And, Lance?" Jenkins adds, his voice firm. "Dont catch feelings. This is a mission, not a romance."

I nod, trying to push aside my doubts. Im a professional, after all. I can do this.

But as I leave the briefing room, Graces profile burning a hole in my pocket, I cant shake the feeling that this mission is going to be a lot more complicated than I thought.

I walk into my apartment, and Lucy, my furry little ball of energy, greets me like Im the best thing since bacon. She jumps up on me, tail wagging wildly, and I laugh, scooping her up in a big hug. "Hey, girl! Miss me, huh? Im home, and Ive got treats!"

After a quick shower and a fresh change of clothes, I get Lucys dinner ready and order some food for myself. As we chow down, I pull out my phone and dial Jaces number.

"Hey, man, whats up?" Jace answers, his voice laced with a hint of sarcasm.

"Not much, just getting ready to take on a new mission. Need your expertise, buddy. I need everything you can get on Grace Fields."

Jace whistles. "The billionaires wife, huh? Thats a tough one, Lance. But Ill see what I can dig up. You know, for a charmer like you, Im surprised you need help with the ladies."

I chuckle. "Hey, this is business, Jace. I need to know everything about her, from her favorite coffee to her biggest fears."

Jace laughs. "Well, Ill see what I can do. But dont expect me to dig up any dirt on her, shes got a reputation for being squeaky clean."

An hour later, Jace arrives at my doorstep, a folder full of goodies in hand. "Alright, heres the lowdown. Grace Fields, 22, socialite, philanthropist... and a total knockout."

I raise an eyebrow. "Focus, Jace."

He grins. "Right, right. So, shes got a reputation for being kind and generous, loves traveling and spending, but also fiercely independent. Shes been involved in some high-profile charity work, and her husbands company has been under scrutiny for some shady dealings recently."

As we dig through the folder, Jace and I chat about everything from our favorite sports teams to our latest dating disasters. "Dude, I swear, Im starting to think Im allergic to commitment," Jace says, shaking his head.

I laugh. "Youre just allergic to being bored, my friend. And besides, youre not exactly the settling-down type."

Jace snorts. "Hey, I resent that. Im a total catch. Ive got a six-pack, a Porsche, and a smile that can charm the pants off any girl."

I chuckle. "Sure you do, buddy. Thats why youve got a different girl on your arm every week."

Jace grins. "Hey, variety is the spice of life, right? But seriously, Lance, Grace Fields is a smart cookie. Dont underestimate her."

I nod, tucking the folder under my arm. "Ill keep that in mind. Thanks, man. Youre a lifesaver. Now, lets get to work and plan out my approach."

As we work, Lucy curls up beside me, occasionally nudging my hand with her nose. I absently scratch her ears, my mind racing with strategies and tactics.

After a few hours, Jace stands up to leave. "Well, thats all Ive got for now, Lance. Good luck with the mission... and try not to charm your way into too much trouble."

I grin. "Me? Never. Im a professional, Jace. I can handle myself."

Jace raises an eyebrow. "Sure you can, buddy. Just remember, Grace Fields is not your average girl. Shes got brains, beauty, and a whole lot of sass. Youre going to need your A-game for this one."

I nod, feeling a thrill of excitement. "Dont worry, Jace. Ive got this. And if all else fails, Ill just use my famous puppy-dog eyes to charm my way out of trouble."

Jace laughs. "Good luck with that, buddy. Youre going to need it."