Fool Me Once, Fool Me Twice

The Nanny

Tyler paces up and down in front of us, all the while looking like he's about to talk but never actually saying anything.

"What are you doing?" Wade frowns at Tyler, pulling him out of his thoughts.

"Won't you all take a seat?" Tyler offers, though there are three seats and five people in the room. We make do; I perch on the arm of Wade's seat and Maggie sits in the other seat, leaving our computer tech, Lewis,  to stand behind her. 

"So, what's going on?" I ask, leaning slightly forward. "Who's the target?"

"His name is Oliver Kardell. He just got into the country an hour ago and he's on his way to the city as we speak." Tyler informs us, as if we're supposed to be proud of him or something.

"So, who is this guy?" Wade asks.

"He is a respectable lawyer from England." Which we all know means he does something shady on the side. "He uses his law firm as a front for international drug transportation. Cocaine and heroine mostly, but he also deals in meth from time to time."

"So you want us to take him out?" I ask the question that I have asked a million times before now.

"No." Okay, so I wasn't expecting that. "Jennifer, you are to get close to him. We're putting you in as a nanny for a week or so." I definitely wasn't expecting that either.

"A nanny?" I am kind of offended, to be honest. "I am one of the best agents you have and you're putting me in as a nanny?" I should not have said that, but it's out before I can stop it.

"Do you have some kind of problem with that, Agent 7392?" Tyler raises one eyebrow and inclines his head, inviting me to challenge him again. I just shake my head and look down at the floor.

"Good." Tyler sits back in his seat, pleased with himself. "You'll go in undercover, obviously. You can go and get started on your profile while I brief the rest of the team." That's my cue to leave without another word.

During our Fledgling training, we are taught that you have no chance of pulling off an undercover assignment unless you know your profile inside out. For this reason, they have us make the profiles ourselves. Well, that and it saves time. Once I leave the building today, I have to assume the identity that I chose for myself, so I have to make it a good one.

I am now Jenny Pierce, twenty three years old. I graduated from Philadelphia University last year with a major in art history. I grew up in the city with my parents and younger sister. We had a golden retriever called Lloyd and I used to walk him in the park every day. I didn't grow up wanting to be a nanny, but I couldn't find another job after I finished college and I like kids. I am currently single, but I just broke up with a guy that I had dated for two years. My favourite movie is Moulin Rouge and I like Florence And The Machine and Scars on 45. I'm not really a big drinker, just a couple of beers or glasses of wine on a Friday night. 

When I finish making and memorising the profile, I head back to Tyler's office. Wade and Lewis are already gone and Maggie is waiting outside for me.

"Oh good, you're finished." She chirps, seeming way too happy.

"What's going on?" I narrow my eyes suspiciously.

"I just got promoted to take your place!"

"As an agent?" I know Tyler hates me, but come on.

"No, with the Fledglings!" I'm not sure why she's so excited, but I give Maggie her moment.

"Congratulations, Mags!" I link my arm through hers and pull her towards the elevator, "Now you have to help me pack." Moment's over.

Back at my apartment, Maggie helps me choose Jenny's look. I don't know whether to go for 'classy young woman' or 'just graduated'. We decide on the 'just graduated' look, which consists of denim shorts, skinny jeans, tank tops, t shirts and hoodies. I pack enough for two weeks, as I don't know how long this one will take. In addition to the clothes, I pack a collection of various tools and weapons for my trip, knowing that I can never be too prepared.

When we get outside with my bag, my Range Rover is gone and Wade is sitting on the hood of the silver Hyundai Elentra that's parked in it's place.

"What is that?" I ask, trying to suppress the disappointment in my voice.

"It's your car! You just graduated. Twenty three year olds that just payed for college do not drive Range Rovers." The delight at my annoyance is evident on his smug face. 

"Fine." I sigh and he throws me the keys.

"The address is in the GPS already. Good luck." Wade climbs into my Range Rover that had been moved across the street, gives me a self- satisfied wave and drives away. If he scratches my car I will kill him.

Maggie only lives a few blocks away from me, so she insists on walking home. But before we both leave, Maggie helps me to put my bags in the trunk.

"Good luck, Jen. I'll see you soon." Maggie always gets a little emotional when I go on undercover assignments.

"See you on the other side." I smile, give her a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek before sliding into what is now my car. To be fair, it's not a bad little car. the seats are comfortable and it has a good sound system. I just miss my big 4x4. 

I follow the directions on the GPS and they lead me to a huge cream coloured house with a large front yard and white picket fence. of course, to go with the fence there are three men in suits strolling around. I pull up outside and a huge bald security guy jogs up to the car. He leans down and knocks on the window.

"I'm sorry, miss, you can't park here." He informs me with a gruff voice and British accent.

"I'm supposed to start work here today." I look up at him with wide eyes. "I'm the new nanny."

"My apologies, miss. Would you like help with your bags?" he offers.

"No, I'm fine thanks." I head around to the trunk, pop it open and pull my bags out. I leave the car unlocked, something you can only do in the suburbs, and head up the path to the front door. Before I can ring the bell a tall, skinny brunette woman pulls the door open.

"You must be Miss Pierce." She sounds very flustered, but doesn't have an accent like the guy outside. "Come in, come in!" She ushers me inside and reaches for one of my bags. I hand her the one with only clothes inside, guns are pretty heavy and that could make her suspicious. 

"Thanks." The inside of the house is even more appealing than the outside. White walls with pale hardwood floors. Up the stairs and the landing is well lit from the huge windows overlooking the spacious back yard. There seems to be endless doors and the woman stops at the third door on the left. She pushes the door open and leads me into a large room with cream coloured walls and a king sized bed. There is a big wooden closet and a sturdy looking wooden desk on either side of the huge window. 

"This is your room." She turns to leave, "Oh, I'm Avery, by the way. Head downstairs when you're all unpacked."

I take this time to put all my clothes in the closet and push the gun case under the bed. I pull my laptop from my bag and set it on the desk. I open it up to see Wade's smiling face on the screen.

"Gah!" I jump in surprise, "Wade, get lost!" I hiss.

"Just making sure you got in safely." He assures me.

"You can't video call me, Wade. In fact, you can't call me at all. I'll call you if I need you." I shut the laptop and head back for the door. 

Downstairs I peer into every room that I pass trying to find someone before walking straight into a tall man that looks around fifty. 

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" I say, taking a step back. 

"Don't worry. No harm, no foul, no bruise!" He laughs. "And who might you be?"

"Jenny Pierce." I hold my hand out and he shakes it.

"Ah, Jenny Pierce. Well, you look too young to be cooking staff. Too pretty to be security." He goes through a list of what I am not before he works out what I am. He gives a small smile. "You must be the nanny."