The Fall

Chapter Four

Lance was a strong looking man, standing almost a head above Peter. His tanned face held no expression other than a deadpan stare as he looked down at the man he'd been assigned to. "Mr. Tuff. Nice to meet you."

Peter shook his hand. "Nice to meet you, too. Uh... I guess we should get going?"

Lance gave a curt nod. He was not one to be chatty. "Yep. The car is this way."

Peter nodded and turned to look at Travis and Rita. "So... what will you two be up to while I'm gone?"

"Finding more information about this girl," Travis replied. "The PSA has a link to some Triad databases, some parts are encrypted. Rita may be able to hack into it."

Rita smiled sassily. "MAY BE? Of course I will!"

Travis smiled and patted Peter on the back. "You'll be fine. Lance has your back. He's one of the PSA's best agents."

Peter nodded. He was a little nervous, admittedly, but he didn't know why. "I know. Well, if this works out, I'll see you in San Francisco?"

"San Francisco, for a boat ride," Travis affirmed. "Good luck, Pete."

"I don't like that name," Peter grumbled, turning to follow Lance out the door.

~

"Why must these cities be so big!?"

Peter was moaning his grievances to the silent Lance, who drove the car they were in through the streets of Seattle. It was raining, of course, and rush hour had just hit. Peter was currently trying to get the two men un-lost.

The address that matched with the phone number was located along the coast, a few miles north of Seattle. It was very isolated... the perfect place for a Triad defector to hide. However, travelling through busy Seattle was part of the plan.

"I don't undertand this map! It's written in an ancient script!"

"What?" Lance finally spoke and grabbed the map from Peter after stopping for a red light at an intersection, letting the other cars take advantage of their green light.

"Mr. Tuff!" Lance groaned. "You were holding it upside down!"

Peter went red. " uh.. oh, well, thanks for telling me-"

Lance held the map out of Peter's reach. "I'll handle the navigation."

Peter glanced out the window as he vaguely registered thag another car had pulled up beside them. "Alright, if you want."

Lance didn't answer, just started reading the map. Peter sighed and rolled his window down, letting raindrops fall into his hand. Once again, he looked over at the car next to theirs, idling at the light.

Even though it was a grey day, she was wearing a pair of sunglasses, concealing her eyes. She was pale, standing out from the darkness of her car. One hand was on the wheel, one leaning casually through the open window of the car.

Peter, shocked at the sheer coincidence and luck of this encounter, did nothing. Slowly, Janet turned her head. Her eyes were concealed, and her face showed no shock, no emotion as she saw Peter.

"...Lance," Peter whispered, poking the driver's elbow.

Janet smiled. It was the kind of smile that teased you, as if mocking you for even thinking it was sincere.

Suddenly, her head whipped to face forward again, and her black sedan shot off down the road, way above the speed limit.

"Follow her, Lance!"