Agent Red

I stared at the paperwork, glancing at my phone, scowling at a text. I shoved it aside and stared back at the paperwork, my phone buzzing loudly. I tried to ignore it, gritting my teeth as it got more and more annoying. The numbers and money becoming a blur in my rage. I rose to my feet, moving to the window and throwing my phone. I heard a yelp of surprise and stormed back to my chair and crashed down, my head in my hands. The wind blew in and I took a deep breath. I need to get these numbers sorted.

One would think being me would be easy, men under my control, and countless people at my command. I can have anyone I want killed.

But I rule this crime organisation by a thread, everyone has some issues, and the other organisations are always starting fights and beef, it’s honestly becoming a real thorn in my side that nothing is going my way.

Not only did I lose a trade deal just yesterday, last week, a girlfriend I had, completely cut all ties with me, multiple of my men keep telling me about a failed shipment and now the crime lord that has rule over the other side has been contacting me about a deal which could jeopardize my biggest asset! She thinks she’s fooling me, but I can see through her, using her underhanded flirting, even offering to bed me for it.

I am no one's fool.

I paused at a knock on the door. Pushing back my chair and heading to the door, a nervous-looking human stood at the door, holding something in her hand.

“Um hello sir, I uh hope your day is ok...” She stammered, brown eyes peaking through dark red hair.

“Don’t waste my time. I’m not in the mood to deal with people, especially not some human girl,” I growled. She seemed startled, I watched with crossed arms as confusion and then annoyance showed on her face, she shook her head and took a deep breath.

“I won’t respond to your attitude, because you’re obviously in a bad mood and I caught you at a bad time. But this came from your house, so take it back,” she huffed, thrusting something into my hand and turning away, storming off. I examined the object. It was my phone, slightly cracked but not broken like I had thought it would have been. I warily turned it on, it showed some missed calls and an answered one, I scowled and furrowed my brow.

“Hey! Girl! Come back here!” I yelled, she stopped and looked back, briefly looking innocent, a soft curiosity and confusion on her face.

“I didn’t try to log in or anything,” she said, moving closer.

“Come in for a drink. I owe you thanks,” I said. She scrutinised me, understandably suspicious. Honestly, I want to see how much she knows.

I don’t much want to bloody my hands with someone’s blood, especially not some random human girls, but sometimes I need to mess up my pristine ceramics to keep people quiet.

She hesitated and let out a sigh.

“Before you ask. Yes, I did answer the phone. Just to see who’s it was,” she said. I scowled, how disappointing, she seems to know how to answer me already. She kept her head up high as she walked past, though I noticed how she glanced around, and back at me and the door, a calculating look to her, she’s smarter than I gave her credit for.

She made her own way to the kitchen, quickly choosing a seat closest to the hallway. If it’s planned, it’s her way of staying in a spot she can escape easiest. So I simply started the kettle.

“What did you say?” I asked.

“That I answered...”

“No. What did you say on the phone,” I interrupted. She took a deep breath.

“Look, I know who and what you are. They told me when I asked. But I’m familiar with crime stuff and I know better than to give them information when they ask. So I just told them you probably changed your number... It probably wasn’t the most believable thing at the time, but I tried to backpedal and say that it was a new number on a restarted used phone, which was also dumb...” She began, rambling, her face red with embarrassment, her eyes watching as the kettle finished, I kept a careful gaze on her, I can’t recall If I locked the door or not.

“You’re rambling miss... What is your name?” I asked, she swallowed, rightfully wondering if giving even her first name would put her in any more danger.

“Just call me Red. I actually lied for you, I gave them some misinformation. It was a woman, she was talking about wanting to know where to find the ‘original phone owner,’” she began, I turned more attention to her, showing her three things. “Just the chocolate please,” she stammered.

“You have my interest. What did you tell her?” I asked. She took a deep breath, carefully watching me make her drink, she then watched me make myself tea.

I pushed the hot chocolate to her, and she stared at it, not trusting it.

“Little Red. I assure you I haven’t poisoned anything. You watched the whole process,” I added. Demeaning her by calling her ‘Little’ will achieve one of two things. Insult her, or be seen as more of endearment, that is for her to decide.

“I told her the address for a male strip club... I um didn’t know what else to say honestly. Look before you kill me... Could you allow me to at least go home to be there one more time? I would like that,” she stammered, drinking a bit of the drink. I sipped my tea and took a deep breath.

I really don’t like people making things harder than they have to be. I’m not too sure if I should believe her word and if I let her leave, she might run off to go into hiding, but with a chuckle, I took a gamble.

“Sure Red. Go to your home. Come back if you think that is the best decision. I’m going to be making a few calls, so make your choice,” I chuckled. She quickly chugged down her drink and fled, the door slamming, suppose I had forgotten to lock it. With a deep breath, I left her mug, washing my own. I grabbed my phone and called a number.

“Sir, what are you calling for?” Came a feminine voice, I sighed and rubbed my forehead, it would be against my word to have her assassinated wouldn’t it, usually I don’t much care for my word to a commoner. Especially some human, but I might as well do so for little Red, if she chooses not to come back, she’ll be dead.

“There is a red-headed human heading away from my residence. Spy on her, call me to tell me where she ends up,” I said.

“Uh... Yes sir.” she stammered. I hung up and called a new number.

“Is this that dumb girl again? Is this another prank?! How dare you send me to Christopher’s strip house! When I find you, you are dead! You know who I work with?! I even have Zeek on my side! I will crush you!” She screamed, I held the phone away from my ear. If I speak she’ll know it’s all been a big lie. Seems Red told me everything as truth, I’m surprised. It’s funny that this foolish woman thinks she’s aligned with me.

I would never agree to help her crush some unknown prankster. What a foolish endeavour.

I hung up and stormed my way to my office. I have some new plans in order. She must have been caught entering Christopher’s territory. I might as well see the result of that chaos. I turned on my TV, watching the news as I stored my paperwork. I turned my attention to my phone as it began to buzz.

“Hello?” I answered, staring at the TV.

“Hey boss, I followed that girl as requested, she’s entered an apartment on the human side of town,” mumbled a feminine voice, I sighed.

“Wonderful. Notify me when she leaves,” I ordered, hanging up. The TV showing an emergency news report of a gang war that happened a short while ago, she must have been very disappointed by the result.

I smiled and laughed, she was fooled by a simple human girl.

I fell back on my chair. Rubbing my chin and turning to my paperwork once more. I have a different price that I pay my lithen and flitter workers, I always found working with humans a major drag, they can’t fly, they can’t stab people with their own bare hands, but they can shoot guns perfectly fine and I really don’t doubt that skill, which is why I’ll hire human hitmen before having humans directly under me on a pay schedule.

I think I’m rather fair that way, it keeps the people from fighting about getting paid. Though the higher rankings get paid much more by default, yet I’m not against paying extra to someone who’s done exceptional.

I think of it like car sales, they get paid more by sales, than by just coming to work.

I got up, abandoning my phone, suppose I will need a new SIM. I turned the TV off and made my way into the kitchen, amused by the idea of that foolish woman ending up in a mini fight with a man who has no patience for someone trying to trick him into allying with him, his allyship is why she wanted me so much, if I am on her side, Coralline will try to weasel into our allyship, I know he’ll hate me for allowing that.

I began cooking some food, letting it roast while I set up a plate, making a few containers for extras, enjoying myself really, but keeping an ear out for trouble, I can never get too relaxed after all. I do have a proper home, but rarely stay there, unless I want to risk that place being found, this is more of a work home.

I checked on the meat, it should nearly be done, it has been an hour. I suppose it needs 10 more minutes... I stroked back my hair, closing the oven and jumping at the sound of a knock on the door.

I looked at the mug and to the study, I left my phone... That’s right. Carefully I approached the door, peeking through the peephole, to my surprise, the girl stood there, she seemed rather nervous, looking around warily.

I opened the door, she had her hands clasped and was wearing new clothes, a pendant on her neck.

“This is a surprise, you weren’t going to run?” I queried, glancing to the road, inside a car sat the woman who was still diligently spying, I waved her off and she took off.

“I made a promise and you kept yours...” The girl stammered, apprehension of death deep in her eyes, I landed a hand on her shoulder, watching her jump, she seemed to tremble, but was doing her best to hide it.

I don’t expect anyone to be fearless when approaching death, but the thought was gone, I don’t much feel like killing, but maybe I will after we eat. I guided her inside, shutting and locking the door. She was twiddling her fingers and taking deep breaths, keeping her head high still, moving her twiddling fingers to her pendent, it must be of some importance if she chose to wear it when expecting to die.

“Come on in. Dinner is almost ready, I wasn’t expecting you back honestly, but I have plenty to share” I said. She seemed confused, following me, I began setting up plates and putting the leftovers aside to cool. She stared at the plate I set up for her, standing beside a chair, I sat across from it and began eating, the silence awkward, making her more jumpy and wary.

“Will you be eating? I didn’t make that plate for nothing did I?” I enquired, she swallowed and sat down, frowning at her lap as she slowly shoved food into her mouth.

“I saw on the news I accidentally caused a war or fight or something,” she stammered, breaking the awkward silence.

“Yes, you did. It was brilliant to see,” I laughed. She swallowed and swirled the pork into some apple sauce.

“It was rather amusing that a simple strip club caused such chaos... She’s probably really pissed,” she said.

“You know, I never did get your name Red,” I said, she rubbed the pendant and took a deep breath.

“I am Delilah...” She said, her brown eyes glancing over me, she had freckles, and her dark red hair brushed back out of her face compared to how messy it was when I first met her.

Darling is probably the best descriptor of her appearance. She is darling in appearance, but a lot more curious in behaviour, something tells me, that when she was preteen she got mixed up in a lot of the wrong crowds, but she’s smart in how she treats me.

“I think you already know my name,” I said, and she nodded slowly, taking a bite of her vegetables. “Why did you decide to wear that pendant? I would think someone expecting to die wouldn’t want to carry something so important,” I added, she squeezed it in her hand and sucked in a breath.

“Yeah... Can you not get any blood on it? I kind of wanted to keep them close...” She said, she squeezed it and fell silent, I drank my water, my eyes jumping up to the mug I had left. I was intending on keeping her DNA to hunt her down if she did run, but she didn’t, much to my own surprise.

“I’m a man of promises, as you’ve seen so far,” I told her, she seemed relieved to hear that, a small smile on her lips, it’s a pleasant expression.

“Thank you,” she softly mumbled. I am a man of my word sometimes, it seems I am sticking to my word with this one, she deserves my respect that much.

“You know, that woman, Coralline, she had been working so hard to try and weasel her slimy hands onto an allyship with me. With your help, she now has a new mission she’s hellbent on,” I snickered.

“Why was she wanting to ally?” She asked.

“Simply to get closer to Christopher. The one you had her fight with. Now he’s even less likely to accept any trickery from her. She tried flirting and getting me drunk to bed her. She ended up with quite a few more bullet holes,” I laughed, and she examined me, taking a deep breath.

“Is that why you were in such a bad mood?” She asked, obviously just trying to converse right now. I’ve seen many a person approach death, some prefer to chat instead of think about it.

“That and many other reasons, lots of issues with shipments, relationships ending and so forth. It’s been a stressful couple of months. What about you, why did you decide to have a last look at your apartment, just to change clothes?” I asked.

“That sounds like trouble, I hope everything works out... Though is that right to say about criminal activity? Uh... I mean, yeah... I know it’s a bit weird to come back, but I don’t want to be hunted down you know... I um just decided that it’s probably karma for being such a screw-up... I didn’t want to get blood on my best clothes,” she stammered, tears seemed to show in her eyes before she quickly wiped them away, she smiled a shaky smile and took a deep breath.

“A little bit of a troublemaker in your preteen years?” I asked. She nodded her head. I smiled a little and stood, taking our empty plates. “Let’s continue this conversation in the lounge,” I ushered her. She went to awkwardly sitting on the couch, looking out the window. I returned to the kitchen, putting the dishes in the dishwasher. I glanced out at the sunset, usually I would have done it by now, I have no issues with taking a life, but darling Delilah, Red, probably is the first person I’ve had doubts about, I know I’m not going soft... Am I?

I stepped into the lounge room, watching her quickly rub at her eyes. Hiding any trace of water, but the redness and puffiness of her eyes told me she had been grieving her own death prematurely.

I sat on a couch across from her.

“It’s getting late,” I commented.

“Not a safe time to be out huh,” she chuckled, her eyes looking out the window, it was darkening outside, as well as darkening the room, I considered turning a light on, but it felt right to just let the darkness settle in.

“What did you have planned for tomorrow?” I asked, she twiddled her fingers.

“Um... Dance class, there’s a good dance school closer to the human residential zone,” she said, the darkening world shadowed her. I am not one to let things play out so perfectly, it seems her and the world are preparing for the dark act of her death.

“You’ve been dancing long?” I asked, and she nodded.

“I used it to stop being such a troublemaker, as soon as I turned 13,” she said I nodded.

“How old are you now?” I asked.

“Basically 17,” she responded.

“I’ve heard of people that become cooks to make up for their wild youths, to teach themselves self-discipline, dance is that for you,” I said, she nodded, I leant back on the couch, trying to find it in me, but I keep forgetting about her death, honestly I’m not even sure she should die.

“I’ll cut you a deal. Give me your number and if I ever need you to do something, I will call you,” I said. She took a long look at me and back out the window.

I doubt I will call her, she’s useless, but keeping that threat above her should keep her on edge, waiting for a call that will never come.

I’ve decided, this is just to keep her in line.

“Oh... I don’t have to die? Um... Thank you Zeek um sir... My number? Sure,” she stammered. I headed into the office and grabbed my phone, a few missed calls.

I clicked on 'Create A Contact', handing the phone to her, she filled it in and I took it. She registered her name as Delilah, I changed it to Red.

Both our gazes moved to the window, the howling wind and screeches of the night monsters.

“It is dangerous. Feel free to sleep on the couch. I expect you gone by morning,” I told her. She just nodded.

I chuckled to myself, let Delilah do her dance classes and live. I’m the one who gets to decide it after all. The last thing I want to do right now is kill her, and I really don’t understand why.

I headed to bed, wondering if I should lock the bedroom door, I decided to and fell asleep rather quickly.

I woke up groggy, shaky off the sleep, beginning to feel disappointed at how quickly I fell asleep.

I quietly left the room and looked around, morning sunlight beaming in, Delilah was no longer on the couch, nothing missing, not even a single scrap, she truly just got up and left.

Well, that’s done with her, shouldn’t need to think about her again now.