by Mike Ryan
“He’s my ex. I broke up with him a few weeks ago. He’s got a bad temper.”
“So I noticed.”
“Yeah. Well. It’s not the first time. That’s why I broke up with him.”
“I guess he didn’t get the message.”
“He hears what he wants to.”
“I’d suggest getting a restraining order on him,” Parker said.
“I will.”
The woman started getting in her car as Parker walked back toward Turner. The woman stopped and turned back to Parker.
“Hey, are you like a UFC fighter or something?” she wondered.
Parker laughed. “No. Not quite.”
“Cause that was like incredible. Are you in the army or something?”
“Let’s just say I do security work.”
As Parker reached Turner, he put his arm around her as they walked toward their car.
“Does this mean I can pretty much do or say anything I want to people, knowing that I got you behind me to clean up the mess?” he joked.
“I don’t know about that.”
“I mean think of it. I can just run up to a bunch of thugs and insult their mothers and I know you can kick their ass in like thirty seconds.”
“What if they break your scrawny neck before I get there?” she sarcastically added.
“Ouch. Now that hurts.”
Parker laughed as the two of them reached the car.
“I’ll have you know that my neck is not scrawny,” Turner told her, turning the key in the ignition.
“Aww. I’m sorry. I was just joking,” she said, rubbing the back of his neck. “You have a nice neck.”
“That’s better.”
As they started driving, Parker’s phone beeped. She looked at her phone and her heart sunk a little seeing what it was. It was a special alert that she received whenever Burnett wanted to have a video conference with her. She could only assume that they’d made some type of decision on her. There’d be no other reason to contact her at this point. Parker stared at her phone for a minute, not moving at all. Turner looked over at her and noticed that she seemed mesmerized. It looked like she’d just gotten terrible news, he thought.
“What is it?” Turner asked, concerned.
“Uhh…it’s nothing,” she said, trying to blow it off.
“No, it’s something. You look like your dog just died or something. Something’s up.”
“Umm…”
“Hey. Remember the whole relationship thing? We’re boyfriend and girlfriend now. That means we can tell each other anything. No secrets.”
“You’re right,” she admitted.
“So?”
Parker sighed. “It’s my boss.”
“Oh. So, so…so what’s up?”
“I have to video conference when we get back,” she told him.
“Oh.”
“Can I borrow your laptop? You have a video, right?”
“Uhh, yeah, sure, of course. Of course I do.”
“Great. Thanks.”
“So what does this mean exactly, do you think?” Turner wondered.
“I’m already suspended, Ryan. She’s probably not calling to tell me to keep enjoying my suspension.”
“So you’re probably going back on a mission?”
“Umm, I would imagine so.”
It was a quiet car ride on the way back to Vicky’s place. Although Parker knew this was going to happen, she was still a little sad. She was starting to settle in. She was starting to feel normal. Turner also knew this day would happen, but he was hoping it wouldn’t be for a few more weeks. He wanted more time for them to be together and cement their relationship a little more. He worried that maybe she’d go on some mission and forget all about him and not come back. They reached Vicky’s in half an hour, neither of them saying as much as five words the entire way. They went inside and Turner immediately grabbed his laptop and handed it over to her. Parker took it and went into the guest room and closed the door behind her.
Vicky noticed the two of them come in and wondered what was going on. She hurried over to her brother, concerned that maybe they had a fight or something. Turner assured her that they were fine, that it was just her work that she was checking on.
Parker logged into the secure CIA site and activated her credentials since she was not on her own computer. A lump got caught in her throat as she hit the submit button. She wasn’t quite sure what she was going to say. Within seconds, Burnett’s face graced the screen.
“Alex. Nice to see you again,” Burnett greeted.
“What can I do for you?”
“Your suspension’s over. It’s time for you to get back out into the field.”
Parker stood there silently and sighed, wondering if she should say what she was thinking. It’d be a bold thing to do for someone in her position. But she was beyond the point of really caring.
“We’d like you to meet up with Cole again…”
“I’m not ready to go back,” Parker blurted out.
“What?”
“I’m not ready to go back on a mission right now,” she repeated.
“You’re ready when we say you’re ready.”
“If you recall, several months ago, I asked for a break.”
“And you just got one,” Burnett tersely stated.
“And I can see what it’d be like when this is all over. And I kind of like it.”
“You are not in a position to dictate terms, young lady.”
“I would just like a few more weeks.”
“You don’t have a few more weeks. You have one more day,” Burnett said.
“No.”
“What do you mean, no?”
“I’m not going back right now,” Parker stated.
“Alex, what is going on with you? In all the years I’ve known you, this is so unlike anything you’ve ever done. You’ve always been so reliable, dependable, all business…”
“I don’t want to be all business anymore.”
“There’s something else going on with you, isn’t there? This isn’t just about a break. What else?” Burnett wondered.
“I…am…moving forward…with personal…things,” she replied, barely able to get the words out.
“What kind of personal things?”
Parker shrugged. “I dunno. Like dating.”
“Dating?!”
“Ryan and I are now dating,” Parker finally admitted, though she was a little scared to say it.
“Ryan? As in Turner?”
“Yes.”
Burnett closed her eyes and sighed. She tilted her head down at the desk and simply shook her head in displeasure. Once she thought about the situation and gained some clarity, she tried to take charge of it once again.
“Alex, you are a CIA operative. You’re one of the best this agency has ever produced. You’re a professional. It’s time to start acting like one. If you want to have a relationship on the side, that’s your business. But now it’s time to return to work,” she told her.
“No,” Parker simply replied.
Instead of waiting for a reply, Parker ended the conversation and closed the session. She turned the laptop off and sat on the bed as she thought about what she just did. The way she stood up to her boss and defended her position was scary, almost as terrifying as thinking about Thanksgiving dinner. She sat there for a few more minutes, collecting her thoughts and composure. She knew she’d have to talk to Turner about it and wanted to be calm. She took a deep breath before leaving the room. She walked out to the living room, where all eyes suddenly were thrust upon her. Parker politely smiled at Turner and Vicky, still unsure what to say.
“Uhh, Vicky…can I steal your brother for a second?”
“Yeah. Absolutely. I’m sure you two have a lot to talk about,” Vicky replied, walking into the kitchen.
Parker walked over to the couch and grabbed Turner’s hand as she led him to the door. They stepped outside and sat down on a swing on the concrete po
rch. She still wasn’t sure what she was going to say to him as the two sat there silently for a minute. After unsuccessfully thinking of a better way to put it, she figured it was best to just say it straight and honest.
“So it looks like I’ve been reinstated,” she told him.
“So I guess you’ll be leaving soon for another mission then?”
“I don’t know. I turned them down.”
“You turned them down?” Turner asked, surprised. “Can you do that? Are you allowed to do that?”
“I don’t know,” Parker laughed. “I don’t think so.”
Turner was happy that she did but was also worried that she did something she shouldn’t have.
“So what’re you gonna do? You’re just gonna walk away? Just like that?” Turner asked.
“I don’t think that’s how this works,” she replied with a laugh.
“Then what?”
“I think it might be best if we stayed away from each other for a few days.”
“Why?”
“Because you don’t just walk away from the CIA when you’re in my position,” Parker said.
“What are you saying?”
“That they won’t just accept my answer. They’ll send someone to look for me.”
“And when they find you?” Turner wondered, nervous about the answer.
“They’ll either bring me in or kill me,” she replied, nonchalantly. “I’m not sure which.”
“How can you act so cool with that?”
“This has been my life for the last ten years. It’s all I’ve known.”
Turner sat there, absorbing all of Parker’s words, wondering what to do next. All he knew was that he didn’t want to lose her. He wasn’t sure he’d ever see her again after she left the first time. He wasn’t about to let her go, no matter the circumstances.
“OK,” Turner gasped. “So, we can run. Canada, or Mexico, or maybe even Europe if you want. I really don’t care.”
Parker tilted her head down and smiled, appreciating the gesture he was making. “No. I can’t let you do that. Besides, it’s not that easy.”
“We can try.”
“Ryan, if we were to run right now, they’d find us in days, maybe weeks. In order to truly disappear, it takes time. Months to get new aliases that haven’t been used before, passports, living arrangements. It doesn’t just happen overnight. It’s not like the movies,” she warned him.
“So are you just giving up?”
“No. I’ll just deal with whatever the consequences are when it gets here.”
“How will you know?” Turner wondered.
“If they decide I’m no longer useful, or too much of a wildcard, they’ll send someone to take care of me.”
“Like who?”
“Like…someone like Cole.”
Chapter 5
Cole was in his hotel room with Dickson, simulating different scenarios in order to get the rookie more comfortable. His laptop began beeping, signaling a conference was requested, and he logged in.
“What can we do for you, ma’am?” Cole asked.
“As you requested, though I still had my doubts, I spoke to Agent Parker last night,” she replied.
“Oh?”
“We had a very spirited conversation.”
“When will she be returning?”
“She’s not.”
“Oh,” Cole stated, visibly upset. “So…so what now?”
“I want you to go to Los Angeles…for her,” Burnett said.
Cole was almost afraid to ask for clarification, as he usually knew what the answer was. “You want me to kill her?”
“Though it has crossed my mind, and I’d be completely justified in doing so…no. I want you to go there and bring her back,” she informed him.
“I don’t understand. Why can’t she just come back herself?”
“Because she is refusing to do so.”
“What?” Cole asked, confused.
“It seems her time off has given her a taste of the good life. She doesn’t want to come back.”
“And if I can’t convince her?”
“Just get it done, Cole. I don’t want excuses.”
“Understood.”
“In the unlikely event that you fail in your endeavors, then plan B is to eliminate the target. Along with her boyfriend,” Burnett rigidly told him. “So I suggest that you don’t fail.”
Cole’s jaw locked up and he nodded. “Understood,” he barely audibled.
“What would you like me to do?” Dickson asked.
“You are to stay where you’re at. If we get any more leads on Davis, then you will pursue it.”
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” Cole objected. “He’s not ready for a solo assignment like this. Davis is…”
“I’m well aware of his lack of experience, Cole. If you complete your assignment in quick fashion, you should return in just a couple of days. I think he can manage in that amount of time,” she sternly told him.
“Understood.”
“You have a flight leaving in two hours. I suggest you get yourself to the airport,” Burnett said, ending the call.
Cole was ready to go in just a few minutes. It never took him long to pack up. Always ready at a moments notice, most times he didn’t even fully unpack his suitcase. Cole was nearly at the door when he stopped and turned around to give a few last minute tips to his partner.
“You be careful while I’m gone,” Cole told him.
“I’ll be fine.”
“Anything comes up that you’re not sure about…you call me. Got it?”
“Got it.”
“I’ll be back in a couple days.”
Cole wasn’t a man who usually got nervous or anxious, about missions, or anything else. But the entire plane ride to Los Angeles, his stomach was doing flips. He hoped he would be able to convince Parker to rejoin him. For the first time he could ever remember, he didn’t enjoy the prospect of possibly having to use his gun. Not only was Parker a good partner, but he also considered her a friend. He could count the amount of friends he had on one hand. Having to eliminate one, at his own doing, would tear him up. Not only her, but he’d grown somewhat of an attachment to Turner as well. When Cole was in the hospital and doing his rehab, Turner would check in on him every couple days to see how he was doing. He always appreciated that. But orders were orders, and he’d have to comply with them if there was no other option.
It was a twelve hour flight to get back to LA. Cole knew he should get some sleep on the way, but he only nodded off for a few minutes here and there. He was too anxious to sleep for longer. It was close to midnight by the time Cole got out of the airport. As much as he wanted to head straight for Parker and Turner and knock their heads together as soon as he landed, he knew the smarter strategy was to stay in his hotel room until the morning.
As soon as he woke up, Cole headed straight for Vicky’s condo, parking as far from the house as possible to keep it under surveillance. Once he saw Parker, he’d make his move. It didn’t take long. After sitting for about an hour, Parker and Turner came out of the house, holding hands and smiling.
Cole grunted. “Ehh. I think I’m gonna be sick,” he said out loud, after seeing their affection. He immediately got out of the car and started walking towards them, keeping one hand near his gun just in case.
“Thank you for breakfast,” Parker said, planting a kiss on her boyfriend.
“You’ve done it for me often enough this past week.”
Turner caught someone moving out of the corner of his eyes and noticed Cole coming closer to them.
“Hey, Cole’s here,” Turner happily stated.
“What?” Parker asked with a worried tone.
“Cole, right over there,” he nodded towards Cole.
“Get inside,” she hurriedly said.
“What? Why?”
“Just get inside. Now.”
“Uhh…when you said…someone like Cole, you didn’t actually m
ean….Cole, did you?”
“Well I didn’t think they’d actually send him. Just someone…like him.”
“That’s uhh…yeah, not reassuring.”
“Get inside,” Parker told him.
“No. I’m not leaving you.”
“That’s a nice gesture, Ryan, but you’re no match for him. If things go down, you can’t protect me.”
“Ye of little faith.”
“Remember…I do the protecting in this relationship,” she replied.
“Regardless, I’m not leaving. We’ll do this together,” Turner steadfastly said. “Besides, there’s strength in numbers. He wouldn’t do something with both of us here.”
Parker laughed in amusement. “I love your courage sweetie, so don’t take this the wrong way, but having you with me doesn’t really give me strength in numbers.”
“Wow. OK. I’ll just have to prove my worth to you I guess.”
“You have a lot of great qualities. Physical violence is not one of them. Cole could kill you before you even got your hands up to defend yourself,” she directly told him.
Cole was almost there. It was too late for Turner to leave now anyway.
“Just hide behind me then,” Parker said.
“I’m not hiding behind you,” Turner objected. “I’ve got a little pride, you know.”
“Pride’s no good if you’re dead.”
“Agreed,” he nodded.
Parker kept looking at Cole, waiting for him to arrive. She kept her right arm behind her back, her fingers on the handle of the gun she had hidden in back of her pants. Turner saw the gun sticking out of her belt.
“You’re wearing a gun?” he whispered.
“I always have a gun,” she whispered back.
“Really?”
“Like American Express. Don’t leave home without it.”
Turner chuckled a little, quickly letting the smile fade from his face as Cole finally arrived. Cole and Parker stood an arms length apart from each other, their front shoulders pointing toward the other, both with an arm tucked behind their back. They just stared at each other for a few seconds. The silence was eerily quiet. It reminded Turner of some old west movies he watched, right before the final gunfight between the good and bad guy.
“You know why I’m here, right?” Cole finally asked.
