Mission: Derrick Wells ✔️

Some Calming Weather

I ran into the house, grabbing the keys and my purse (which held a loaded 45) and then back outside, gun in hand and off safety.

I raised the pistol in the air and shot three times, grabbing the attention of the 7 masked men and Derrick.

"I want you masked freaks on the ground right now! An don't think I won't shoot every one of you in your head, because I wot even hesitate to do so!" I yelled and watched as they all got on their knees slowly and lowered themselves to the ground.

Derrick backed away slowly and came to stand beside me watching them closely. I kept the gun on them as I handed him the keys and told him to go start the car.

He gave me a pointed look but listened.

"I don't care who tells me, but I want to know who you people are and why you attacked us." I said to them more calmly than before.

"We weren't trying to attack you." One of them on the left said, so I stepped closer.

"Eli..." Derrick warned from the door of the car.

"What were you doing if not attacking us?" I asked, ignoring Derrick.

"We were trying to get to you." The man said.

"Why?"

"To give you this..." He said pulling a folder from beneath his jacket.

I took it and went to open it but the man covered my hands with his. "Not here." He said lowly. "It is a new mission from S.A.A." He explained. "I hope you remember the rules for your missions?"

"Of course." I said and put the gun back to safety watching them all stand and retreat.

The same man stayed behind a moment, telling me one last thing that sent chills down my spine. "I wouldn't get too attached to anyone in your line of work." He whispered, nodding to Derrick.

"That's the thing," I began handing him the folder back. "I don't work for S.A.A. anymore. I won't be taking this mission." I handed him the folder and went to turn around but he stopped me.

"You're the only one who can do this. Everyone else has failed." Then, he handed me a slip of paper that was folded in half. "S.A.A. requested you contact this person for any questions you will have."

I raised an eyebrow. "I will have?"

"Goodbye, Agent." Then he was gone with the rest of his team.

I stared after him, then felt Derrick behind me. "Eli...?"

I turned as I gripped the folder tighter. "I'm fine, let's just go." I said, nervous they would see us and come after us again.

He gave me a skeptical look but when he saw how shaken I was, he nodded and guided me to the car.
We drove away and I never once opened the folder.

******************

I gripped the folder as I exited the car, but didn't get far since Derrick stepped in my path.

"What's in the folder, Eli?" He asked, worry lacing his tone.

"I don't know. And can't find out until I'm alone, so I was going to go to my room." I told him honestly, knowing he wanted the truth.

I moved to go around him, determined to find out what was written inside this folder, but Derrick wasn't ready to just let me leave.

He gripped my arm and turned me back to face him. "You know you can trust me, right?" He asked.

I sighed, "Yes, but this is beyond the two of us. This involves rules from when I was still a secret agent for the S.A.A. I have to read this and decide if I will accept this mission on my own." I said, once again moving to go around him.