The night Mr. Cheap Poker finally sat down at my table, I needed a way to get his sympathy. Over the next few rounds, I purposely lost all my money.
“Need some cash there little lady?” Mr. Cheap Poker asked, shoving a stack of bills in my direction.
“In exchange for?” I asked with a foxy smile and a raised eyebrow.
“A private game of strip poker,” he said.
All the players looked at me, awaiting my response.
“I accept.”
“Good. Very good.” He gave me a wide grin and his black buck teeth rested on his lower lip.
Like a lamb to the slaughter, this malignant creature had no idea what was in store for him. The way he puffed on his smelly cigar like a greedy child reminded me of my stepfather. I’m going to enjoy this.
I played my weak hands and folded my strong hands. It didn’t take too many rounds to lose all the cash he’d given me.
He snuffed out his cigar, grabbed my arm, and pulled me back to his cheap motel room around the corner. He slammed the door behind us and locked it.
The room stank of smoke, and he reeked of alcohol and sweat. I called on my agent training—controlling my mind and body—to keep from gagging in disgust. I could’ve just done what I came to do without playing the game, but I was going to relish this. Some men deserved to be tormented, and I took great pleasure in seeing them squirm like weasels.
He opened a bottle of scotch and had two shots before pouring me a drink. “Cheers,” he said as he threw back his third shot and handed me a glass.
He dealt the cards and used all the cheap, dirty tricks in the book. He bluffed, cheated, and lied to convince me that my winning hands were losing hands—as if I didn’t know the rules and believed that a straight was stronger than a flush.
I couldn’t be bothered arguing with a pig that would stoop so low, and I had no desire to see Mr. Cheap Poker strip. He was disgustingly obese and I feared for my sight if I had to see him naked. There were rolls of fat hanging around his neck, middle, and off every limb. I could’ve pulled the flabby skin from his arms around his face and suffocated him with his own fetid flesh. I let him win every time, folding strong hands if I had them.
I was ready for this game. I’d made sure to wear a ton of accessories—earrings, necklaces, bangles, watches, and rings. After every round, I peeled off one piece of jewelry. He was gagging to see me naked, and I was having fun making him wait.
“You’re taking too damn long!” he chided me after the seventh hand, pouring himself another drink. “If you pull every piece of shiny silver off that gorgeous little body of yours one by one, we’ll be here until next week! You lost a lot of my money and you better start taking off your clothes!”
“You’re right.” I slipped off my shirt before the next hand.
He was having a hard time controlling himself as he stared at my tits squeezed into my bra. I folded my four of a kind.
“I love playing with girls.” He sneered. “You bitches can’t win at poker even if your lives depend on it.”
“Shut up and play,” I said, stripping off my pants. He was really starting to annoy me now.
I lost again and removed my bra. I was down to my schoolgirl panties. He dealt me a really bad hand, so I played it. I genuinely lost the last round to his four of a kind.
“You’re bad at this, little girl.”
“Not as bad as you are.” I bit my lip and felt for the switchblade in my panties. I detested this man who had no respect for women.
“I am a bad man.” He smiled, exposing his black teeth. He took a deep pull on his cigar and blew the thick smoke in my face. “I am a bad, bad man.”
“Down to dirty business now, huh?” I said softly.
“Hell yeah. Hurry it up you slut. I’m ready for the show.”
He drank the last of the scotch straight from the bottle and flopped his blubbery body on the bed like a beached whale. His face was growing redder and the bluish veins on his forehead were bulging as he stared at me. He looked like a ticking time bomb ready to explode any second.
I turned my back to him and bent over very slowly, showcasing my assets as I slid my fingers into the waist of my panties and grabbed my blood-red switchblade. I turned around and leaned over. He was distracted by the two melons hanging right in front of his eyes, and my long locks blocked his view of my hands.
I flicked open my blade and slashed it across the purple veins on his right wrist, then I slashed his left wrist. He screamed and tried to clutch his wrists as blood spewed out like two red fountains.
“You goddamn whore!” he yelled hoarsely as he lunged at me, spraying blood around the room.
He managed to get his fat fingers around my neck, but he was severely weakened from the alcohol and shock. He tried to crush my windpipe, but all he did was drench my pale flesh in blood. He soon let go and dropped back onto the bed like a heap of boiled of bacon.
His face turned blue and I knew it wouldn’t be long. The life left his eyes and the rest of his blood drained away, spreading in bright red patches over the white sheets. The room was shrouded in scarlet.
The murder scene was deeply disturbing, but only because he reminded me of my stepfather—his alcoholism, his cigar, his violence, and the total disregard for women. Bloody sunflower fields filled my vision and I understood why the White Queen wanted him dead. This piece of filth didn’t deserve to exist.
I dialed Vanus. “Send the clean-up crew.”
The Mission
I took a cab to Penn Station in Midtown and got the next train. It was an hour-long journey from Manhattan to Cold Spring Harbor.
I walked out of the station and saw a familiar white Mercedes-Benz. The white-gloved chauffeur put my suitcases in the trunk and opened the back door. The blank expression on his face seemed to be frozen in place. I got in and stroked the soft leather seat with the tips of my fingers.
“How are things?” I asked the chauffeur as he sat into the driver’s seat.
He didn’t respond. I wondered if I was in trouble, but then I remembered that none of the chauffeurs had ever spoken to me.
I pressed the button to open the window and took a deep breath. The fresh country air smelled amazing. It was a relief from the smog and grime of the city. I leaned my head back and the cool breeze swept over me. I’d been living in the city for so long that I’d forgotten how easy it was just to be in the country. There were no police, no sirens, no screams. I was safe. The fields of green grass turned into a blur as I drifted to off to sleep.
I awoke half an hour later, just as the car pulled up to the white metal gates with the gigantic white and gold coat of arms. Two security guards came out of the gatehouse. They scanned the car for explosives and verified my fingerprints and iris scan—the usual procedure. After I was cleared, the guards let me get back in the car and they opened the gates.
As we made our way toward the mansion on top of the hill, I thought about the years I’d spent living and studying at the Academy. Those were the sweetest memories I had.
The chauffeur parked at the red carpet and opened the back door. “I’ll have your suitcases delivered to your room. The White Queen’s waiting for you,” he said.
I walked along the red carpet lined with the ominous marble statues of birds of prey. They were no less intimidating than the first time I walked between them as I approached the mansion’s huge double doors.
I rang the brass doorbell and the butler opened the bottom part of the right door. He motioned for me to go upstairs.
I walked up the oval-shaped double staircase and went into the antechamber outside the White Queen’s office.
I heard the familiar buzz in the wall behind the secretary and I pushed on the hidden door with one hand. I remembered the first time I was here and could barely shove it open with all my strength.
“Janet, darling.” The White Queen stood up behind her desk and opened her arms. She was wearing her usual floor-length white mink coat and the giant mo
onstone ring on her right index finger.
“Hello Mama. I got rid of that nasty man last night.” I walked around her large white desk with the leather top and gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. She still reminded me of a snowy owl.
“I know sweetheart, thank you. Vanus told me you did an excellent job … although you left quite a mess for the clean-up crew.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be silly my dear. The girls thought you must’ve had some fun with the target, that’s all. Sit, sit. Did you have a nice journey from the city?”
“Yes. It’s good to be home,” I said as I sat in one of the large chairs in front of her desk. A fluffy white Persian cat was sitting on the floor licking its paws. He jumped onto my lap and looked at me with his golden eyes, demanding attention. I stroked his silky fur. He gave a soft meow and began to purr.
“Oh dear, look at those dark circles around your eyes.” The White Queen came around her desk and sat down in the chair next to mine. “You haven’t been sleeping well, have you? What’s troubling you?”
“The police … the sirens. I’ve killed a lot of men. Sometimes I can still hear their screams. I’m afraid of getting caught by the police. … And what if the rest of the mobsters come after us?”
“Lovey, the mobsters were bad, bad men.” The White Queen took both my hands in hers. “You and Mimi did a good job getting rid of them. The police are greatly indebted to us now … more so than usual. The mobsters are our enemies, but the police are our friends. Life is about trades, darling.” She looked down and began rubbing the insides of my palms with her thumbs. “I have an arrangement with the police. I offer them things that are much, much more valuable than the small favors I occasionally ask of them. And I settle everything else with the police commissioner over tea. You needn’t worry about these things, but if the police ever arrest you, you’ll be released as soon as I speak to them. Mama takes care of her girls. You know that, yes?”
“Yes Mama … but … we were almost killed when the mobsters found out that we’re your agents.” I pulled my hands away. She was squeezing them a bit too hard. Mimi and I had taken out seven mobsters without any help. If Vanus hadn’t found us immediately afterward, I would’ve died.
“I’m sorry that happened, but it couldn’t be helped.” The White Queen stood up. She pick up her cat and held him up to her face. “My lovely little puss puss.” She tried to kiss him with her thick, wet lips but he struggled wildly until he escaped her grip and ran under a table.
“My dear Janet,” said the White Queen in a soothing voice as she sat down behind her desk. “You’re a highly skilled agent. You’ve been trained to protect yourself, and that’s exactly what you did with the mobsters. And Vanus was looking out for you … she got there in time. Darling, life, by its very nature, is full of many perils. Now, can we put those evil men behind us and look to the future?”
“Yes Mama.”
“Excellent. I’m sure you’ll be happy to know that you’ll be staying here for the next six months. You’ll be far away from any danger as you train for the next assignment.”
“What will I be training for?”
“Secretarial work.”
“Secretarial work? I know nothing about that. Are you sure I’m the right agent for the job?”
“My dear one, of course you’re the right agent for the job. We’ve employed an administrative specialist to teach you everything you need to know about secretarial work and then some. But I’d also like you to join martial arts and knife combat classes … to keep in practice. The specialist has set up an office downstairs for training. You’ll both live here in the mansion for the duration of the course.”
“What’s the mission?”
“You’ll be going undercover at Wilmar Enterprises,” said the White Queen. “I need you to get inside information.”
“Why?” Most of my previous missions had been pretty straightforward—a single target, find out his daily habits, and then get rid of him. I had no clue about going undercover long-term, never mind working full-time in a big company.
“Their rapid growth is decimating established inner city communities. Mom and pop businesses and longtime renters are losing their leases as Wilmar buys up entire city blocks and throws them out into the streets. How are those people supposed to make their livings? Where will the people who lose their homes live? Large-scale, corporate gentrification is bad for the people we’ve vowed to protect. We need to identify Wilmar’s investors, and then we must figure out how to stop the inhumane expansion of their empire at the expense of ordinary people’s lives.”
“I understand,” I said. “But I don’t think I can do it alone. Will any of my sisters be at Wilmar with me?” I clasped my hands and squeezed my fingers tightly. I didn’t like the idea of being in a heartless corporation all on my own.
“Yes sweetheart. We have other agents there now. Mimi’s working with her own instructor, and you’ll both be applying for jobs at Wilmar in about six months. Of course, you must not reveal your previous relationships with your sisters. That would compromise the mission. But it will be fine if you act as though you’ve met on the job and are friendly work colleagues. Everything else will be taken care of. “
Mimi was pretty careless on the mobster mission, but I was still glad to know that she’d be with me in Wilmar.
“Do you have any questions?” asked the White Queen.
“Just one. Do you remember the special graduation gift that you promised me?”
“Ah, that. Yes.” She took an envelope out of her desk drawer and slid it across to me. “One of our spies found that in your stepfather’s abandoned house.”
“What is it?” An image of my stepfather’s rotting corpse flashed through my mind. I wanted to ask if the body was still in the house, but I was sure I was being ridiculous.
“Open it and find out.” The White Queen smiled as she polished her moonstone ring on the edge of her mink coat.
I tore open the envelope. It contained my biological mother’s birth certificate. Her full name was Matilda Ann Summers. I’d been thinking about her a lot since the mobster mission. For the first time in years, I was starting to feel like I’d do anything to find her again.
“Have you found out anything else about her?” I asked.
“Since we now know her full name, it’s only a matter of time. Our spies are searching for her last known residence as we speak. My dear, I promise you that we’ll know where she is by the time you complete the next mission.”
“Thank you Mama.”
“The best way to thank me will be to make sure that we stop Wilmar’s expansion.” She held out her hand and looked at the glittering moonstone ring from different angles. “Pretty thing, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Who gave it to you?” I didn’t mean to ask, but I was curious and couldn’t help myself.
“Ah, well, that’s my little secret. But you’re correct to think it was a gift … a prized gift.” She circled a finger around the surface of the ring and kissed it. “A very prized gift.”
Application
I left the Academy and went to my new studio apartment in Lower Manhattan. It was barely furnished, and the fire escape blocked my view of the zigzagging steel fire escapes on the backs of other buildings.
The White Queen instructed me to call Vanus as soon as I reached the city, but I freshened up and polished my nails first. It was about four o’clock before I made the call.
“It’s me,” I said.
“Janet, there you are. I’ve been waiting for your call.” Vanus sounded bubbly and happy, like a fairy. “Let’s meet at the usual spot.”
I ran downstairs. The midsummer heat and glare were unbearable. I pulled a pair of shades out of my tote bag. The sun immediately began searing my exposed skin and I crossed the street to escape the burning rays.
I peered through the window of The House, my favorite bohemian café. A barista was behind the counter making an espresso at an antique copper and
brass cappuccino machine. I was looking for signs of a spy, but there were only a few students huddled around a corner table. The place was oddly quiet. In fact, it was downright somber.
Vanus was sitting in the corner opposite the students, reading a magazine. She was wearing her usual green shirt and jeans. Her dress sense was so unlike her mother’s penchant for all things white. There was half a glass of iced latte on the table, along with a laptop and a few newspapers.
“Hey, Vanus,” I said softly.
“Janet! Do you want an iced latte?”
“Can I just drink some of yours?” I asked, picking up her glass. I was nervous about my first big undercover mission and I wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible.
“Help yourself.” She smiled.
The milky iced latte was cool and refreshing. I’d missed the delicious coffee at The House.
“What’s up?” I put down the glass.
“Here are your documents, instructions, and new phone.” Vanus handed me a bulky envelope. “I also have your secure laptop and homework. You’ll need to read the highlighted articles in these papers.” She pointed to the newspaper on the table. “It won’t be easy to replace the documents quickly, so don’t lose them. And don’t forget to destroy the instructions once you’ve read them.”
“I won’t.” I slipped everything into my bag as police sirens sounded in the distance. “I better get going.”
“Wait a sec. Tell me, honestly, are you fully recovered from that mobster mission?” She sounded concerned.
“I’m fine,” I lied. I would’ve died that day if Vanus hadn’t rescued us. If I’d died maybe I’d be with my mother now.
“Be careful … play it safe. Okay?”
“I’ll try.”
“You’re not alone on this job. Don’t forget that. Call me if you have to.” Vanus reached across the table and touched my arm.
“Thanks Vanus.”
I walked on the shady side of the street back to my apartment. As soon as I got inside, I looked through the envelope. It contained instructions, a New York state ID, a passport, a university transcript, and a résumé. My new name was Scarlet Walters and my new birthday was October thirty-first. I was born on Halloween, that’s easy enough to remember.
Red Hourglass Page 6
