The Eagle

by Jillian Dodd

  "I'm going to run and find a restroom. I'll meet you back here," I reply, happily. Earlier I saw someone I'd like to talk to.

  I'm halfway to the bathroom when Gallagher finds me.

  "Huntley Von Allister, how lovely to see you again," he says formally.

  "What are you doing here?"

  "Paying my respects, of course," he says, but then lowers his voice. "I was hoping to see you."

  "Aww, did you miss me?"

  "I most certainly did." He hands me a business card with the name and address of a designer shoe store. "And in case you'd like to go shopping for another handbag, I'd highly recommend this place."

  "Are you buying again?"

  He smiles, kisses my cheeks, and moves away, effortlessly disappearing into the crowd.

  I slide the card into my clutch and then reunite with Lorenzo.

  Once we're in the limo, and Lorenzo is busy on the phone, I slip the card out and flip it over. On the back, written in neat print is a time. One that is a few hours away.

  At the house, I tell Lorenzo that I'm going shopping and will be back in time for the dinner tonight. When I go to the garage to pick a car to drive, I find Terrance and Ari deep in discussion.

  "What's going on?"

  "We should receive details of our mission sometime in the next forty-eight hours, so we need to be ready," Ari says.

  "Ready for what?" I ask.

  "The assassin was contracted for not just one hit, but a series of them," Terrance expands. "Our hacker learned how the assassin was contacted. We can't retrieve past communication, so we're waiting to receive the next hit location. Your mission will be to track the assassin and find out who hired him."

  "So you don't want us to interfere with the second hit?"

  "If you can stop the assassination without alerting him to your presence, that is fine. But following him is your primary concern. You can't risk losing him."

  "If we're going to follow him, we'll need disguises. He didn't get to be the best without being really good at his job. If he even thinks he's being followed, he'll be gone."

  "Tell me what you need," Terrance says.

  I give him a list, explain how I want it all arranged, and the exact look of the backpack I want.

  "What about weapons?" Ari asks.

  "That's where things get tricky," Terrance says. "We expect that the second hit will take place here in the United States, since we have no indication that he has left the country. But depending on where he has to go next, travel--possibly international travel--could be involved. We have to be prepared for that. This will be a particularly dangerous mission that will be conducted on the fly, so our job will be monitoring and supporting you."

  "Our job?" I ask Terrance.

  "Remember the hacker friend I told you about in Montrovia?"

  "What's his name?"

  "Her name is Olivia but in her world, she's known as Plague. She can wipe out anything."

  "But you've been referring to her as a him."

  "The Plague is believed to be male. It's part of her online persona."

  "Very creative," Ari says, not impressed.

  Terrance's eyes light up. "I know, right? She is amazing. Seriously. I've never seen anyone do what she can. Her parents were MIT professors, and I'm pretty sure she learned computer code before she could speak."

  "Sounds like you have a crush," Ari states, raising an eyebrow.

  Terrance blushes. "Oh, no. We have a strictly working relationship."

  "Okay," he says, not really believing him.

  "Anything else I need to know?" I ask.

  "Yes, besides the things you requested, I'll be prepping our communication and surveillance system. We will be live with you during this mission. We will be able to see what you see and communicate with you."

  "So we're the drones, and you're going to fly us from your safe little cave?"

  "No," Terrance says, slightly offended. "Our job is to help and support you. Try to relax and mentally prepare yourself."

  "Which I will be doing by going shopping. I just came to get a car."

  "Which one are you taking?" Ari asks.

  I point at my favorite. "She's mine now, in case you were wondering."

  "Oh, a little sibling rivalry," Terrance teases as I get in the car and take off.

  I stop at the estate's gate, taking a moment to enter the address for the shopping center, rather than the specific store, into the navigation map on my phone. I see that it's not far away and realize I still have some time to kill.

  And I know exactly where I want to go.

  Blackwood Academy.

  I take a circuitous route to the school, making sure I'm not being followed. As an extra precaution, I take the SIM card out of my phone and shut it off, then proceed to the place I called home for last six years.

  I feel a little giddy when the stately mansion comes into view. I'm excited to see everyone. To find out what they will do after graduation. Who they will be working for, what missions they will be going on. If we will get to work together.

  Mostly, I'm excited to see M.

  The first thing I notice as I approach the school is that there are no cars anywhere to be seen.

  Prickles run down my spine.

  Something feels off.

  I quickly change plans, based on my gut feeling, and drive by the school without stopping. I continue up the little used road for a mile or so, then flip around in a driveway, pretending to be lost.

  As I pass the school again, I don't even glance in its direction. Instead, I go down the road a quarter mile and turn left onto a gravel road, silently praying to the Ferrari gods to forgive me. I drive for another quarter mile, park the car so it's hidden in a thicket of trees off school grounds, then get out and make my way down a path I know well.

  This is how M and I used to sneak out to go dancing.

  When I get to the fence that surrounds the grounds, I stay hidden in the trees, searching for any sign of activity. I notice the cameras that used to be fixed on the fence are gone. In fact, all the cameras that used to be on the buildings are gone, as well.

  I slow my breathing and then make my move, running from the tree I was hiding behind, to the break in the fence, and then across the property to the out building that houses both the gym and the gun range.

  The sound of a twig snapping causes me to flatten myself against the wall.

  I don't dare move.

  I hear the noise again and chastise myself for not bringing a weapon.

  The noise gets closer, and I know I have to make my move. I leap out from behind the building, ready to take on whoever is there.

  Instead, there are two deer, a mother and her fawn, happily grazing on the lush grass.

  I let out a sigh of relief.

  But the deer cause me the same concern as the lack of vehicles. If people were around, the deer wouldn't be.

  I run to the back door of the range and find it unlocked.

  When I get inside, my mouth falls opens in shock.

  The building is empty.

  Totally and completely empty. There's not even a speck of dust on the floor.

  It's then that I realize I'm not wearing gloves. That my fingerprints are on the handle of the door.

  I pull the sleeve of my cardigan over my hands and carefully wipe down the door handle while my mind is going a million miles an hour trying to figure out what's going on.

  Terrance told me they were closing the school, but I didn't expect it to be so soon. I decide to go into the main building. Maybe they just cleaned the out buildings in prep for the closure. Maybe everyone is inside, hanging in their dorm rooms waiting for graduation to start.

  Or maybe they changed the time and it's tonight instead of this afternoon. Or maybe they moved the ceremony to a different location. Although if they had, wouldn't the Dean have mentioned it?

  Or did he not want me to come?

  No, that's silly. Why would he care? Everyone at graduation know
s who I am and probably now knows my cover. M was obsessed with tabloids. She'd for sure have seen me with Lorenzo in them.

  I wonder what she thought.

  She would have loved everything about it except for the fact that I'll probably end up behind some desk in a basement because of it. She always joked and said we were too pretty for that.

  She could always make me laugh--usually at totally inappropriate times that ended up getting us both reprimanded.

  I consider going in the front door, but my goosebumps and the weird feeling in my gut lead me to sneak around the back of the house and go through the kitchen entrance. We used to joke that when something bad was about to go down our Spidey-senses would kick into gear.

  That's how I feel right now. My Spidey-senses are on full alert.

  I can't shake the feeling that something is wrong here.

  And what I see when I step inside doesn't help me feel better.

  The kitchen is empty.

  And all of a sudden, I don't feel alone, even though the place seems to be deserted.

  I move quickly and silently through the kitchen then to the front entry, past the Dean's empty office, and up the grand staircase. I slide my sleeve down the thick, polished chair rail like I always used to and make my way to my dorm room.

  Everything is gone.

  I don't understand how this is possible. Where did everyone go? Where is all my stuff?

  I stand in front of my window that looks out over the treed property feeling sad. It's like going back home to find your parents moved out and left you.

  Most everything of importance I had was in the backpack I always carried with me. It was something my mom taught me--If you have to leave on a moment's notice, always have a bag packed and ready to go.

  But I kept a journal under my mattress. I had some books and a few trinkets. What I don't have is the key to my parents' safety deposit box.

  I guess it's time to find out just how thorough they were.

  I step into my closet, stretch up high, and run my fingers across the top of the door jamb until they connect with a metal object--my key.

  Feeling relieved, I slip the key into my pocket and decide there's really no reason for me to stay here any longer. I take one last look out the window and am turning around when I hear a creak from the hallway.

  I quickly assess my options. I'm on the second story with a bank of three windows offering an exit onto the porch roof. It wouldn't be the first time I'd gone out that way. I could risk going into the hall, but that would be bad from a tactical standpoint. Anyone out there could pick me off the second I peeked through the door. The closet would offer cover, but I would be trapped--which is never good.

  I consider opening the window, but know that can't be done quietly. When I hear another creak, this time closer, I move into the closet and flatten myself against the wall. At least if someone steps inside, I will have a brief moment of surprise. There's a good chance whoever is out there doesn't know which room I am in.

  A few more creaks tell me a person has entered the room. The shadow of a hooded figure carrying a gun moves across the wall.

  When the figure steps into the closet, I attack, grabbing their gun arm and rotating it in a circle, stopping just short of breaking it when the gun falls from their hand. I quickly follow that with a palm to the chin. The assailant lunges forward, wrapping his arms around my waist and pushing me into the closet wall with a thud.

  I head butt him, smashing into his nose. His hands react naturally, flying toward his face as I dive for the gun.

  I grab it then tuck and roll, spinning so that I'm in a shooting position in one fluid movement.

  Then I take aim.

  "Jeez, X, you about broke my nose," the hooded man says in a voice I recognize.

  "Josh?! What are you doing? Why did you just attack me?"

  "Because I don't know whose side you're on."

  "What are you talking about?"

  He pulls his hoodie sleeve down and uses it to stop the bleeding.

  "Tell me why you left school when you did!"

  "Why does that matter?"

  "It does, okay?! Answer the freaking question!"

  "I was sent on a mission."

  "Why are you here now?"

  "Because today is graduation day. Where is everyone?"

  "They changed graduation to yesterday," he says, looking visibly shaken.

  "Josh, what's wrong?"

  He takes a deep breath and lowers his hands away from his face. "This year's graduation included a reunion of all former students and faculty."

  "I bet that was fun, seeing everyone."

  "It wasn't fun, X. They're all dead. Everyone. Gunmen came in. They had assault rifles."

  "What about M?"

  "She was giving a speech and was one of the first killed."

  "Oh my god. And the Dean?"

  "He wasn't in attendance. Professor Gunner was doing the ceremony. What you aren't understanding is that I got away. I'm the only one who got away. Thirty-three dead and there's nothing about it on the news. Don't you find that a bit odd? Where are their families?"

  "Where is your family?"

  "Dead," he says. "Probably true of all the students, now that I think about it. It's obvious that we were all disposable, but why would someone take the time and effort to train us, only to kill everyone?"

  "They wouldn't do that, Josh. It doesn't make sense. You're not making sense."

  "That's why I fell for you. Even though you are serious, smart, and have a tough veneer, there's an underlying vulnerability to you."

  "No, there's not."

  He reaches his hand out to help me up. I accept his hand but still keep my revolver trained on him.

  "Yeah, there is," he says. "When you get tired, it shows in your eyes. And when you sleep, you have bad dreams. X, I need to know. Was what we had real, or did you sleep with me because you thought I was your best shot of getting the flag?"

  "We didn't even know there was going to be a mission enactment."

  "We knew one was coming."

  "What does any of that have to do with what happened?"

  "I hid in the woods until nightfall hoping the authorities would come. But then I was afraid if they did and found me, they might think I did it. So I left and spent most of the night in a truck stop. It was there that I saw a photo of you on the cover of a tabloid. I was shocked. All your covert training and you're on the cover of a magazine? It didn't make sense, so I did a little more digging. I learned that apparently you're the long lost daughter of a reclusive billionaire. That you were recently in Montrovia and caught the attention of their Prince. Then I read about your kidnapping and how you were saved by a British Intelligence agent. I suspect that's all propaganda. You left school and were sent on a mission to protect the Prince, right?" He doesn't give me a chance to reply; he keeps speaking. "We were all trained to move in the circles of the rich and powerful, but not out in the open. Not like you are. Why train you to be covert only to blow your cover immediately? But then I saw that you were in Washington for the State Funeral, and that's when it clicked."

  "What clicked?"

  "Were you sent to Montrovia to protect the Prince?"

  "You know we're not supposed to talk about our missions."

  "Are you still on a mission?"

  "Yes, kind of."

  "And you will continue to pretend to be this Huntley Von whatever?"

  "Yes."

  "That's why everyone is dead."

  "How could that have anything to do with it?"

  "Do you remember E? He was a former graduate who came back to train us on team tactics."

  "Of course, I remember him. He was my--first."

  "Like sexually?"

  "Even though you and I were in the same class, I'd been at Blackwood since I was twelve."

  "How could that be? The minimum age is eighteen."

  "Josh, how did you end up at Blackwood?" I think about what Terrance suggested. Tha
t the school had been created for me. I thought it ludicrous at the time, but now I'm starting to wonder.

  "I got in trouble."

  "Doing what?"

  "What didn't I do would be the better question, but mostly I did extreme stunts that weren't always exactly legal. Did you not research me when I told you my real name? That's the reason I told you. I thought my stunt videos would impress you. Anyway, I was doing all these videos, and the response was overwhelming, so I started doing bigger and crazier stunts. What started out as skateboarding jumps off roofs turned into base-jumping off a skyscraper. The last one, I free climbed a construction crane that was forty-four stories tall and hung off of it."

  "That sounds equally amazing and stupid."

  "I'm doing all this stuff without getting caught, loving the thrill and adrenaline rush. So, of course, I suggested that our senior class do an epic prank."

  "What did you do?"

  "Honestly, it was stupid, but it was funny. We broke into the school and stole the principal's desk, which we then managed to hoist on top of school's roof. Then we put mannequins dressed like the school principal and secretary doing it over the desk. It was hilarious. Unfortunately, not everyone thought so. I got kicked out of school right before graduation. The school pressed charges, and I was found guilty--not too tough when the video of it had gone viral. A guy came to our house before I was supposed to go to prison. He offered to have my record erased if I'd go to Blackwood. I said no. He left his card. A few days later, my family--Mom, Dad, and my little sister--were killed in an auto accident. It's said my father was driving while drunk and drove straight off a cliff. Which was odd considering my father never drank. But maybe when your only son is going to prison, you make an exception."

  "You told me you were recruited because of your test scores--that they were nearly perfect."

  "They were. I just omitted the other part."

  "Why?"

  "I had a crush on you since we first met, but you weren't interested in me until this year."

  "I thought you were immature."

  "I probably was. Tell me about E."

  "There isn't much to tell. It was my fifteenth birthday. I was in the school's kitchen, a cupcake in hand, ready to make my wish, when he walked in looking for a snack. What happened next was sort of a blur. I blew out the candle. Then we kissed."

  "And he took your virginity? That night?"