ILLEGAL

Chapter 3

I drove home. Halfway there, there was a buzz in my pocket. At a stoplight, I took my phone out and checked it. I had got a text from G.O.E.S. It was King:

Come to the agency. Meet my office.

I sighed as I slipped it back into my pocket. I made a u-turn, heading in the other direction. Sunlight shined brightly in my eyes; there was a smell of gas in the air. I cranked my handlebars, accelerating with a loud roar as the engine thrummed beneath me.

Before long I had pulled up. I took the short way, the front doors. Thank God, I thought. I took the elevator, blinking as it dinged. As I swung the door open to King's office, I saw he was sitting at his desk. He was stirring sugar into his tea. "I assume you want coffee?" He asked.

"Two creams." I said. Without even looking up, he tossed some towards me. I caught them, then sat down as he pushed a mug towards me. I ripped open the little packages and poured them in. I took a sip.

"Any progress in the mission?" He asked.

I smiled."We've been over this,"I said."Don't call it a mission, it's too...dramatic. Just call it a job, all in a day's work."

"Speaking of dramatic, where were you this morning?" He said before taking a sip, making sure to move the string to the tea out of the way.

I wrapped my hands around the mug."I was...shopping. Yes, I was shopping. Sure, that's a reasonable answer, right?" I said, half laughing.

He sighed."You've got to stop showing off like that." King said.

I looked down into my coffee."What's the point of being very skilled at something, if you can't show off a bit?" I said.

"You could have killed him."

"He threatened me! I could've been shot!"

"He was just robbing a jewelry shop."

I rolled my eyes."But that's, like, worse than stealing the old lady's purse. And I'm sure she wasn't happy with nearly being murdered. I wonder if she would have gotten fired, if you know, she let the store get robbed..." I trailed off, but was interrupted.

"Cole!"King scolded me."Can we get a little more on topic please?"

I crossed my arms."And what is that topic?"

He gave a short breath before pulling open his desk drawer, then flopping a file in front of me. "Jack Chance."

I flipped open the cover. Inside was a picture of a young man, not much older than me. He was actually really hot. He had a sharp jaw line, and his blonde hair was naturally messy, sticking out in all directions. His eyebrows were thin, and so were his lips though they had a slight pout to them. He had big eyes, and there was a pang in my heart as I realized his eyes were blue. I stared at them; they were beautiful, a deep blue like looking at the oceans from space.

I could tell he was a model. The pictures were taken professionally, the world was blurred around him and his features were sharp. He was laughing, wearing a black V-neck and dog tag necklaces. His collarbones stuck out and I could see his biceps as big as grapefruits.

"Agent Cole,"King said. I looked up, snapping out of my trance.

I cleared my throat."So why is he important?"I said, flipping the page. There was another modeled picture of him, this time shirtless. I looked away and tried to avoid the heat filling into my cheeks.

King began."He's new to the agency. At his college, there was a fight including him. By the end, there were eight unconscious bodies laying around him, one had even been wielding a knife."

On the page next to the shirtless photo, was his description, which included most everything about him. The next page had criminal pictures of him, most likely after he had been in the fight because there was a long scab over his right eyebrow.

"So, what?"I asked, my eyes skimming over the profile."What are you thinking? Witness, culprit, future victim, what?"

King exhaled, tapping his fingers on the desk nervously. "I was thinking...partner."

My jaw dropped open."What? I've never worked with another person on a mission before, and I don't plan on doing it. Put his ass on some other file, this is my damn mission!"

King shook his head."I'm sorry, I can't. I've already sent him the file. Let's just see how this works out, okay?"

"Okay? I'll show you what's damn well okay,"I spread my fingers out and prepared to smack him across the face. He stood his ground, though, looking at me dead in the eye. I put my hand down, realizing if I were to do that, I would sure as hell be fired. I love this job too much to lose it that easily.

I sank down into my chair, my hands on the armrests. I sighed. "Fine." I said.

"Thank you. For being so cooperative." King said, sarcasm thickly dripping off of his voice. I thought about possibly slapping him again. He gestured towards the door.

I clutched my bag and stepped out of his office, not sure where to put my newfound anger.

................................................................

Ron Ida tapped his fingers on the wheel. A cold drop of sweat made it's way down his neck, yet it was the middle of summer. He cranked the handle and the doors opened with a woosh. There was the sound of footsteps and chatter as the children got off. He just hoped they were all off the bus when it happened.

For about a month now, the bus driver had been getting phone calls. Mysterious phone calls, with no caller-ID. At first it had all been static, no one had talked, so he hung up. Then as the days went on, they began to count.

The calls came one everyday, the person in the other end saying just one thing, one word that counted down. A week ago had been seven. Yesterday was one. Today was different.

When he answered and asked,"Hello?" The person said nothing, the line just went dead immediately. It was time.

The edges of his vision were blurry with terror, his hands slipping down the steering wheel with sweat. He didn't know what would happen, the person never said, nor hinted at anything. That was probably the worst part. Fear of the unknown.

He nearly missed the next bus stop, driving a bit farther than usual. The bus hissed as he pushed the brakes. The kids passed him with goodbyes and see you tomorrow's. He was too nervous to respond, he just sat there staring straight ahead.

His breaths were shallow as he closed the doors, overcome with a wave of relief for the knowledge the kids were safe from this unknown caller. Yet he felt like he might die from fear. As each minute ticked on, sooner whatever would happen would come.

He began to drive the bus back to the school, his heart feeling like it was going to pound out of his chest. He wiped his forehead with the back if his hand to avoid sweat dripping down his entire face.

He looked in the rear view mirror, then adjusted it so it angled down slightly. When he saw what was in the reflection of the mirror, his hand stopped, shock coming over him. He pulled over and rubbed his hands together.

He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to wake up from this nightmare. He pinched his palm, yet he didn't wake up. He swallowed a lump in his throat before looking up again. There was someone in the last seat of the bus.