A Man In Black

An Impossible Mission

"Professor James Moriarty." 

"Who?" 

"The World's only Consulting Criminal," said Agent Harris Brown. "He has been a thorn in our side for too long, he is a danger to our whole society." 

"Why are you telling me this?" questioned Agent Andrea McCailhbin, a suspicion already forming in her sharp mind. The Scottish woman was about 5.8ft, with curly auburn hair and grey-blue eyes. She was not what you would a petite girl, but she was still slight of build, with an oval face, which was covered in freckles. 

It had been six years since she had joined the ISIA, (International Society of Intelligence Agents), after being recruited by Agent Brown. Previous to her employment, she had been a freelance hacker and bounty hunter, with a price on her head. The British Government had cause to doubt her loyalty to Britain, especially after retrieving files on a nuclear device, and trading it to the Russian's for six billion pounds. 

If Brown had not come to her assistance, bailing her out of jail, and offering her employment, Andrea would have certainly ended up in some unpleasant place, forgotten by the rest of the world. Agent Harris Brown had seen her skill, and knew that it was priceless, if only she was given the right opportunity. Now, Miss McCailhbin had pledged her service, for the next fourteen years -it originally being twenty- , after her promise was carried out, her record would be wiped clean, and she would be safe. However, until that time, Andrea was committed to whatever task the ISIA assigned her to. Most of her tasks were hacking jobs, with the occasional undercover mission and assassination. 

Now looking at Agent Harris Brown, she saw the slight frown on his forehead, and knew that this task was going to be a little different. "We need you to kill James Moriarty." 

I was silent, hoping that there would be a "but" in his sentence, but it never came. "You need me to kill the man who no one can get to!?" 

"Yes." came the blunt reply. 

"I can't! Send someone else, I am not the agent for the job. There are agents who have been in this for far longer than I, send them, please sir." Andrea protested, it would be ridiculous for her to go, this was a man who the ISIA were afraid of, who could bring their whole worlds crashing down with a flick of his finger. 

"Contain yourself, Miss McCailhbin." Brown snapped. "You are committed to another fourteen years in our service." 

Andrea bit her lip, feeling her Scottish temper whirling inside her chest, but she didn't let it escape. "Why me, sir?" she asked, as calmly as she possibly could. 

Brown looked her directly in the eye. "You're our best." 

Andrea felt her heart swell with pride, although she'd never admit it, Brown's praise gave her the best feeling in the world, but she was still confused. "I don't think I am, sir." 

"By our best, I mean our most capable assassin." 

Andrea let out a breath. "I still don't think I'm the one for the job." she said stiffly. 

He gave her a rare smile. "Yes, you are, Miss McCailhbin, you definitely are." 

She felt her cheeks turn pink. "Why, sir?" 

Brown took a swing of his coffee, saying. "Moriarty likes a pretty face, and you're certainly that." 

"Excuse me, sir?" 

"You're going to work for him."