by D B Steward
The door opened and a woman walked in with the authority of a general or a president and Kelly almost jumped to her feet to salute her. Right behind her was a goth latina with a disinterested look and a laptop under her arm. Both women sat down across from them. The latina leaned back and opened her laptop, and the woman sat ramrod straight in her chair and placed her hands together on the cold metal surface.
“My name is Agent Nancy Timmerman of Homeland Security. This is Tracy Martinez, our electronics consultant.”
“Trace. Not Tracy.” The latina spoke in an irritated tone without lifting her eyes from her screen but Agent Timmerman ignored her.
“We have been looking for you for quite a long time, Ms. Moretti. You’re a hard woman to find.” There was a slight smile of admiration from the Homeland Security agent.
“I found her pretty quick.” Kelly leaned back in her chair and put her hands behind her head, lacing her fingers together. “Not that it was a competition or anything, I’m just saying.” She poked her tongue inside her cheek. “Although if it was, I would have won.” Sonny slowly shook her head and cast her eyes downward. “By like, a lot.” Sonny was surprised by the involuntary snort that she could not hold back. Kelly knew exactly how to push her buttons.
Trace shot her eyes up at Kelly with annoyance. “You only found her because she lives off the grid like some crazy hermit.”
“Yeah, but in like less than twenty-four hours. So, that’s like a record or something right?” Kelly looked around at the other women in the room as if she was looking for validation. “I mean, that’s gotta be a record.”
Agent Timmerman looked at Kelly for the first time, tilting her head slightly as if she was trying to examine what was on the opposite side of her skull. “Ah yes, Kelly King. Ex-FBI, ex-convict.”
“I also played point guard in high school. Had an okay jumper but I was tough on defense.”
“What do you want with me?” Sonny’s voice was sharp like a knife cutting through the conversation and Nancy returned her attention to Sonny.
“Sonja Moretti, you may be the most skilled technician in the world.” There was a hint of respect in Nancy’s tone but Kelly scoffed and rolled her eyes.
“Technician? You make her sound like she works at an oil change place. She’s an assassin for chrissakes.” Sonny twisted her lips in a scowl and frowned at her. “Well, you are.” Kelly turned from Sonny to agent Timmerman. “She is.”
“Sonja, your talents are known worldwide even if your name is not. My organization is a small department in the government.”
“Secret,” Trace interjected.
“There are individuals in this country and around the world who present a clear and
present danger to the citizens of the United States of America. My job is to eliminate these individuals.”
“Kill ‘em,” Trace interjected again and Kelly held up a finger.
“Excuse me, but isn’t it illegal for the United States to deal in assassinations? I’m pretty sure I read that somewhere.”
Nancy allowed her mouth to curl into a small smile. “I’m allowed a lot of latitude.” She dropped her face again to its pure business-like demeanor. “There are only a handful of people in the government who know we even exist and none of them are elected.” She paused, letting the meaning of the words sink in. “This way, we don’t have to worry about any angry constituents putting pressure on us. We have a small staff, no oversight, and an unlimited budget. You would be our only field operative and report only to me, no one else. Trace will handle all of your support and logistics.”
“Let’s hear it for the Geek Squad,” Trace said as she rolled her eyes.
“You will be compensated handsomely and your identity will remain protected.” She smiled wryly. “I know how much you value your privacy.”
Sonny remained stoic for a long while, her eyes never wavering from Nancy’s who for her part matched the gaze of the younger woman. The silence lasted for so long that Trace stopped working on her laptop and looked up at the two women. Kelly cleared her throat.
Finally, Sonny spoke in a calm, measured tone. “What if I say no?”
“You’ll be arrested and prosecuted for the bloodbath that occurred at Petrov’s estate.”
“And what about Miss King?” Sonny asked evenly.
Nancy frowned slightly. “What about Miss King?”
For the first time, Sonny showed genuine emotion as she leaned forward, her hands gripping the table hard, and she gritted her teeth. “What happens to Miss King if I say no?”
Nancy sighed and scowled in frustration.
“The same thing that happens if you say yes. Kelly King is a felon that has worked with organized crime. She has taken part in two incidents where shots were fired. She is also wanted for questioning regarding the murder of her girlfriend in her apartment. There isn’t anything I can do for her.”
“No.”
Everyone in the room raised their eyebrows in surprise except Sonny. “No?” Nancy replied in shock.
“Yeah, no? It’s a good deal, Sonny. You should take it.” Kelly leaned over and whispered. “I would take it.” Sonny turned to Kelly and looked at her with so much hurt on her face that Kelly had to swallow hard.
“You would? Even though it would mean I went to prison.”
Kelly wanted to hug Sonny just then but restrained herself because of their present company. “No.” Kelly gave her a big smile. “I wouldn’t.” Sonny returned the smile and then looked back at Nancy, and the smile disappeared in a flash.
“You have your answer then,” Sonny said with steel in her voice. “I won’t do anything without my partner.” Kelly felt like her chest was going to explode. Never in her life had someone put so much on the line for her. Sonny had known her for only a short period of time and yet here she was choosing to stand with her over her own freedom. In that moment, Kelly King silently vowed that she would devote the rest of her life to showing her appreciation to Sonny Moretti.
Nancy traded her glances back and forth between the two women, then she looked over to Trace and nodded her head. With a few clicks on her keyboard, Trace glanced at Sonny and Kelly. “It’s done.”
“Do we have a deal then?” Nancy asked and Sonny looked to Kelly for confirmation and Kelly nodded.
“We have a deal.”
“Do we get dental insurance now? Because I haven’t had a good cleaning in years,” Kelly asked Trace and Sonny rubbed her eyes with her hand in embarrassment.
“We have a pretty awesome insurance plan.” Trace grinned back at Kelly.
“What about Netflix? Can you get us Netflix?”
“I can hook you up,” Trace said, nodding.
Kelly nudged Sonny with her elbow. “Wait until you see Stranger Things! Oh and Black Mirror! Those shows are the bomb!”
“Don’t make me regret this, Miss King.” Sonny rolled her eyes while Kelly threw her arm around her shoulder and pulled her into a sideways hug.
“You know, Sonny, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”
The End (For Now)
King & Moretti:
Partners
Second Edition 2019
Originally published 2018
All rights reserved.
ASN: B07DC5M6J8