The Former Spy
Four days ago.
The young woman handed her supervisor the letter, he read it and then read it again. “Are you sure about this? I mean I know you are worried about your family, but I need you here....”
“I have thought about this for a month Abraham, and believe me, if there were any other way, I wouldn't be asking for this.” She hefted her gun from the holster and placed it on the table in front of her.
The supervisor looked at it and thought for a moment. “Alright then thirty seven, but I won't accept your resignation. I'll give you an extended leave and I'll expect to see you back here sometime soon, how does that settle with you?” He took the gun and placed it in his drawer, took a folder and pushed it across the table.
Thirty seven opened the manila folder. “Airline tickets, passport?”
“I've known you long enough haven't I? Good luck and take care,” He stood and shook her hand warmly. “And don't forget Hayden, you still represent this agency and the Air Force, but at this time we have no idea of your movements, are we clear?”
“Yes sir and thank you sir” She turned and walked out briskly, her long red/auburn hair swaying as she went down the long corridor.
Two days ago
The PA announcement seemed loud in her ears as she stood before the customs official. “Passengers from QA nineteen please proceed directly to customs.” It was the third time she had heard that since she entered the vast Los Angeles airport. Her flight was delayed by a storm crossing the Pacific from Hawaii, but at least she was here now. The officer went through her bags thoroughly, asked the usual questions and then directed her to the domestic terminal for the ongoing flight to Colorado.
A tall athletic blonde walked into Poor Richard's restaurant, she saw the man she had arranged to meet sitting in a booth alone, typical black suited spook. She waived the waitress away and proceeds straight to his table and sat opposite him. “Agent Barrett?”
He stared at her hard, took note of the blonde hair hanging across her shoulders. He laughed a small chuckle. “Damn straight I am Hayden, or is it thirty seven, or.....”
“Don't even go there...Malcolm.” She held her hand up and said his name with emphasis. “Now is everything arranged?”
He leaned across the table, close to her face, he took a deep intake of the scent. “You’re wearing it”
“You’re kidding me,” she said bluntly.
“The
Chanel. I can always tell. It gets me every time.”
“You came here just to smell me Barrett?” Her face began to form a frown.
His manner turned serious. “You are going to get me into a lot of shit for this if you screw up.” He said softly and handed her a key.
“I don't come empty handed, here.” She slid a photograph across, he looked at it and sat back, stuffing the picture in his jacket pocket. “It's him alright, you say this was in Hong Kong last week?”
“Yes, and I have two agents in his circle now. He won't do a thing without us knowing. Say how many frigging clones did he make anyway, and how do you know this is not the real deal?” She placed the key in her jeans,
In a hushed voice he answered. “We don't know the answer to either. Whether the one SG1 witnessed being de-snaked was the real one, or a clone no one can be sure now. The host certainly doesn't know. We talked to him for months, yet it was always the same. His answers only conferred what we knew about the original, nothing more.” He shrugged his shoulders and stood. “Well I better be going....” He mouthed her name silently. “...take care and if you see your cousin, say hello for me.”
“I will and thank you again.” She sat for a moment pondering something before standing, then pushed her six foot frame up, she topped the NID agent by inches, close to him she said. “Maybe I'll take up that dinner date sometime.” She smiled at him.
He laughed softly. “Heh, that was what three years ago when we first met.” He looked at the wedding ring on her hand. “You still miss him don't you?”
“Yes...but you know I do eat now and then.” They left together, Malcolm paid his tab and headed for his car once they were outside, he turned before opening the door. “I'll hold you to that.” He got in and she watched the black sedan slowly drive away, then headed for her rental and within minutes she was on her way to the safe house in Colorado Springs.
