The Diary of Sophie Dayton - A Humorous, Coming-of-age Detective Story

13. Life, death and disablement

Tuesday 6th Feb 2018

I'm already sick of Study Nook Cafe. On the bright side, today when I arrived Adam was already sitting there with a cappuccino so I didn't have to pay their extortionate prices. The coffee here isn't as good as at home (maybe there's something to be said for having an optimal heat-immersion ratio).

Adam was flicking through the contents of a couple of folders and didn't look up until I sat down opposite him. Could I have caught the master of surveillance unawares? Nevertheless he recovered quickly, his features relaxing into that smile that I'd come to know so well. "Miss Dayton. How are you?" His greeting was formal but his manner made it quite the opposite.

"Adam." I was itching to ask what he was doing with the folders, but forced myself to stick to business. This time I'd come prepared with the necessary photos already pre-downloaded on my phone. Never say that Sophie Dayton doesn't learn from her mistakes!

I pulled up the best shot of Blazer and gave Adam the phone. "Your agent was there to watch this man. His name is Blazer and he works for The Future." Adam glanced at the picture as I continued. "This is pure conjecture on my part, but I think that Blazer was there to watch me. And if that's the case, it means that you lied about the second challenge." Adam raised an eyebrow but I didn't let it deter me. "You didn't know that your agent was going to be at the gala dinner until you gave me the ticket for it. Because his only reason for being there was to watch Blazer, who was watching me."

Adam grinned at me lazily through half-closed eyes. "And what would be my purpose in misleading you like that?"

"I... To see whether I would figure it out, I suppose."

His smile disappeared. He put the phone on the table and leaned forward. "That was one reason, Miss Dayton, yes. And you're absolutely correct by the way. There was, however another more important reason. And that's to make you realise the nature of the world you're hoping to enter." He reached across the table and grabbed my wrist, staring intensely into my eyes. Tingles of electricity ran along my skin and my heart rate spiked. He continued in urgent tones. "How would you react if I told you that you were being watched? You'd probably believe me, especially after what you've found out about The Future. But without this proof," he gestured to my phone lying on the table, "you wouldn't have realised the scope and reach of their power, Sophie. You have to understand what you're working towards. You're about to enter a world where nothing is safe. No written notes, no electronic account, no public or private conversation. Once you join our organisation, the concept of privacy will no longer exist for you. All you will have to rely on is yourself." He released my wrist and a ghost of a smile returned to his face. "And a team of highly trained colleagues, of course. But sometimes not even that. It can be lonely, it can be scary, and sometimes, it's deadly. Your parents were some of our best people and they didn't make it. You have to live with the knowledge that, any day, it could be your turn."

I was able to concentrate a bit better once he'd let go of me. The background noises of the café started filtering through my consciousness again. I took a deep breath and shook my head slightly to clear it. "About my parents..."

"That's not a conversation we can have right now."

"Ok." I knew he was right. This meeting wasn't going the way I'd imagined. "What about..." I swallowed. "If I complete the last challenge, do I get a choice? About joining I mean?"

"Of course, Sophie. We're not a press-gang unit." He paused, eyes flicking towards the folders on the table, then he continued in a softer voice. "But, if you're going to back out, I would strongly advise you to do it before beginning the training. Some of the things you learn there... It's a lot harder to go back to normal life afterwards."