Skirted Spies: Season 1

Episode 16-1: Downpour

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: City Public

(11:48 Hours)

"Glad I packed an umbrella," I mumble to Clyde, who was sitting next to me in the back seat of a cab. I stare outside from the window, watching the heavy rain pound the pavement of this cloudy city. It was strange, seeing everyone walking about through the weather like it was nothing. I've never really stayed in places that had rain so often.

"Yeah, don't wanna get wet when we're pounding Archer into the ground," he says sarcastically.

After spending five months with Marston, we finally brought down his case files to a more manageable level. There was time now; time to revisit Adams' case with Archer. It took a couple of days working with our quadrant back in Hartford to locate Archer's location, but it paid off with a lead. After Clyde broke the legs of our Super Ninja friend, we found out that he's been holing up away from us in the Commonwealth, attacking through remote orders of units he'd collected over the years. We encountered one first-hand during my training course as a field medic, and since then more units have been out for us, hunting us like some prized boars.

"Yeah! It's time for us to get on the offensive with this! All this stress of waiting for hitmen to attack us is ruining my good looks."

"Is that what happened to you?" he asks with a smile.

I punch him in the arm. "Shaddup! I'm still the prettiest girl you've ever seen, and the sexiest guy you'll ever meet."

He rubs the spot where I punched him. "Don't forget the most modest I'll ever know, too."

I giggle, "Oh, I forgot about that one. What residence did you book for us anyway? 5 star hotel or a beautiful house near fantastic scenery?"

"Oh I got us a motel near a liquor store. Can't be living in luxury while on business, that'll be too easy for Archer to find us."

"Luxury? You mean you'd rather be closer to hooch than to think about my needs, right?"

"Me? Of course not. I was just thinking about both of our safety. Discreet motel versus a renown building? Yeah, I think I've made my point here."

The cab halts finally, and I realize the bad neighborhood that it's brought us to. Broken streets and sidewalks, every building around us just has a natural looking grossness to it, and I'm more than sure that each corner has some sort of vice store resting on top of it.

"I can tell I'm gonna like it here already," I sarcastically say.

"That's the spirit, squirt. Now go on and unpack your things, we need to set up shop soon. Dealing with Archer usually means we have a time limit on our hands."

I get down with my luggage and watch Clyde pay the cab fare. Strolling down the walkway to the main entrance made me notice the tall grass in the front lawn. Does nobody keep this place tamed? I place my hand on the stained doorknob and head inside to greet the desk clerk holding my room key.

"Morning," I say happily, trying to hold my fake smile. "I have a room reserved under Peterson. It's been a long flight and drive, and I'd be so happy to take a rest on a clean bed."

"Clean?" she asks. She boots up her computer and types a couple of characters in while moving the mouse around. She adjusts her dusty glasses sitting on the bridge of her dried out nose. "Peterson. Two occupants? Where's the other?"

"Oh he's outside right now unloading his luggage. He'll be in shortly. There are two keys, right?"

She huffs and gives me two keys. "Room 213. Head upstairs and down the hall to the last door on the right."