Agent 9

Chapter 3: The Ranch

Okay, now I'm getting excited while I write this. Tell me what you think in the comments. 

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I pull the level on my seat until I'm as leaned back as possible. There are still about ten minutes until I arrive at my destination so I take in the scenery. I'm leaving the city limits of San Fransico and entering a remote countryside. 
"Oh yeah, Agent 9, I forgot to tell you that Archer Burns is a country boy. So try not to fall in love." Ephriam teases. 
I scoff and reply sarcastically, "I'll try not to. No promises though." I've always had a thing for country boys. It's mostly the accent. 

"So... I've done some digging on Burns and apparently he's like, super tall. So try not to get up close with him." 

"'kay," I reply evenly.

 Ephriam and I are far from tall. Being under five feet is both a blessing and a curse in this field. On one hand, I'm very good at stealth missions because I can sneak around unnoticed. On the other, I have to avoid confronting large targets. The pure size difference could tip the scale in their favor. 

Ephriam's taller than me. He says he's 5'3 but I think he's stretching the truth a little.

 It's not like I can't handle hand to hand combat with a large assailant. It's just dangerous and Solomon always chews me out for getting myself into the situation. In and out. That's it. 

I arrive at a large ranch with yellowing grass stretching for acres, I can see two dogs chasing each other in the distance, there are plenty of animals, and in the far distance are towering crops. 

Multiple barns are scattered around the plain and a shabby old house sits about a quarter-mile away. 

"Where am I going?" I ask Ephriam.

 "To the house." He answers and takes control of the car, camouflaging it into a picket fence matching the rest of them around the ranch. 

I crouch to the ground and lift my sleeve. Dozens of tiny robots scramble down my arms and into the grass. "Heat sensors activated," I say. I step off the road and into the grass. The dogs in the distance perk up and start dashing towards me, barking and snarling. 

"Crap," I mutter and throw off my jacket and slip off my trousers. I'm in my invisibility suit now. Clicking the button to trigger it, I take off running towards the house. 

The dogs stop, confused for a moment. But they pick up on my scent and are on my trail again. I'm sprinting now, the house seems so far with the dogs behind me. I jump onto the wooden porch skipping the two steps and slam my shoulder into the door, forcing it open. 

"So much for stealth. If he's on the property he's gonna know somethings up when he comes back to his house." Ephriam affirmed. "Hurry." He adds. 

I shut the door behind me and hold my back to it, digging my heels into the floorboards. The dogs leap at the door and try to push it down. I reach for the handle and lock it. They're yelping like crazy and Archer is bound to come running if he can hear them.

 I run around the house looking for the kitchen. Finally, I find it. It's a small place for one. There's one chair set up next to a small wooden table. On the table are all of the ingredients for a quick ham sandwich. The sandwich is missing so Archer has to be nearby.