by Sara Schoen
That would just be too easy, I thought sourly as I flipped through the pages to find anything useful. I had made it through about fifty pages of random information, including trades, inventory, and a few more lists of names, when I heard it. Footsteps, soft, practically silent, but just out of step. It sounded hesitant, causing a soft scuffle on the concrete floors of the compound. Someone’s here…
A chill of excitement radiated through my body as I glanced at Spit Fire. I waited for her to look at me, but she didn’t move. She continued to flip through documents, unaware that someone was slowly making their way toward us. She must not have heard it, I determined as I shifted in my seat slightly to get a better angle on the door. I listened closely, making sure I didn’t make up the sound out of boredom.
It was silent for a while, but then I heard it again. Too heavy of a footstep and then a shuffle to get back into the right placement; they miss-stepped. This time Spit Fire glanced at me, but she seemed more curious than alert. She lifted an eyebrow at me as she took in my tightened posture as I readied myself to move. Wanting to avoid alerting whoever was coming that we could hear them, I pointed toward the door and gestured, using one hand palm up so my other hand could walk across. She nodded, putting the files down as quietly as she could before she pulled her gun out of its holster and prepared to shoot.
Once she was in position, she nodded to me again, telling me to get up. I moved swiftly and silently, blade drawn and ready to strike. My footsteps were practically non-existent and my breathing inaudible, unlike whoever was just on the other side of the wall. I could hear their breathing pick up. Did they figure out we knew they were there? I wondered as my heart raced in my chest, threatening to burst from excitement. Blood rushing through my ears, eager to face whoever was trying to sneak up on us, but when I turned the corner I came face to face with Shadow.
“Don’t be mad!” she begged, instantly her hands went up in surrender. Her face fell, terror took over her eyes and she tensed, waiting for me to blow up. And that’s just what she got.
“Are you fucking kidding me? Of course, I’m going to be mad!” I didn’t bother to hide the anger in my voice, even when she stepped back and pressed against the wall behind her. “How did you get away from Camo? Why did you leave her? Why can’t you follow orders?” I screamed. I heard Spit Fire scoff and then shift back into her chair to do more work. Clearly, she didn’t find this confrontation worthwhile. Honestly, I would have preferred a cartel member then I could take out my anger on them in a blunter way. I sheathed my knife before I gave into temptation to retaliate for Shadow’s inability to follow orders. “What are you doing here? Why aren’t you at CIRA?”
“I came back for a reason, I swear!”
“There is no reason that allows you to disobey a direct order to go back to CIRA with Camo. I don’t see Camo here so I know you ditched her somehow. Why can’t you listen to me? We’re in the middle of a mission. How can I trust you out there on a real mission if you can’t handle a simple order right now? What does that say about you as an agent, Shadow? Who’s going to want to work with someone who runs off to do her own thing and jeopardizes the mission?”
“Sounds familiar to me,” Spit Fire chimed from her seat. I gave her the deadliest glare I could muster and opened my mouth to tell her not to compare me to Shadow. I did my actions with a purpose, Shadow was acting as if she had something to prove. If she went home this wouldn’t be an issue.
“I think I found your friend!” she cried, interrupting me, seemingly eager and panicking to explain why she was still here. It wouldn’t get her out of trouble though. She still defied a direct order. That’s not how being an agent works. You can’t say ‘fuck it’ to every order. Some, yes, but not all and so far, she hadn’t followed a single order.
“I don’t care who you think you found. You’re insubordinate, refuse to follow my orders, put not only yourself but others in danger, and you continue to piss me off. There is no good reason for you to be back here. None! What the hell are you thinking by coming back?”
“Listen to me! I found him! He’s still alive! He’s here! Just listen to me! I came back for a reason! Just give me a chance.”
I forced my anger down, trying to come to terms with what she said. ‘I found your friend’ and ‘he’s still alive’, what does that mean? I tilted my head, confused by her outburst. “What friend? All my friends are back at CIRA. Where they belong. Unlike you. I’ll be talking to Demon about your placement at CIRA or if you even deserve one anymore at this point.” My voice edged with annoyance as I glared at her. Why couldn’t she follow orders? What did she get out of not following them? Why join if she just wants to do her own thing? There’s got to be something going on with her...
“He’s an older guy, maybe late forties. He’s got the salt and pepper hair going on, maybe brown and grey. He’s got a strong jawline, and he has a tattoo of a fox on his upper arm...” She pointed to the location as her sentence trailed off, her hope fading.
I didn’t bother following her description until she got to the tattoo. I only knew one person with a fox tattoo. Fire Fox! “Take me to him right now!” I turned her around and pushed her back where she had come from. “If you’re right, then I won’t tell Demon to send you home like I should.”
She stumbled as I forced her backwards, but once she got her footing kept up with me easily. “What about Spit Fire? Can we leave her here alone? You guys said you wanted to work in teams. What if someone comes while we are gone?”
“Then I pity them,” I answered swiftly. “She can handle herself and I think she’ll be happy to have me gone for a bit. I tend to drive her crazy, just lead the way!” I ordered, shoving her forward. “I’ll explain everything to her when we get back. I’m sure she’ll understand, especially if this person is who you say it is.”
“If it’s not?” Shadow questioned, her voice timid.
“Then I send you back to CIRA and I’ll be on the phone with Demon before you land to send you home.” I glared at her to let her know I was serious, and this time, she flinched. “There’s no room in CIRA for agents who disobey orders and lie to other agents. So, I hope you’re right. Now move. Take me to wherever Fire Fox is.”
Chapter 18
Shadow led me through the woods surrounding the compound and it was quickly starting to feel like a massive waste of time. Shadow couldn’t decide which way she wanted to go. She had gone in every direction possible, but only a couple feet then turned around. She’d pause, look thoughtful, and before I could say something she’d perk up and pull me in a new direction. Then stop again about five feet later. We’re were getting nowhere fast. She’s lost, I thought with an exasperated sigh. Why did I believe her? She’s just buying time so I don’t scream at her, and then send her back to CIRA.
Yet, I waited. I was hopeful she’d take me to Fire Fox, but the longer we wandered around I grew annoyed with the whole situation. Fire Fox wouldn’t still be alive. There’s no way he could be, and if he was then he would have contacted CIRA somehow. He wouldn’t let us sit around believing him to be dead. He’d find some way to tell us then tell us to come save his ass. Shadow pulled on my arm again, yanking me in a different direction yet again. Was I so desperate to keep him alive that I’d believe the impossible? What’s the point? I’ll just be disappointed later.
“Come on, I’m sure it’s this way!” The certainty and excitement in her voice could have had me convinced, but after wandering the woods for almost twenty minutes, I didn’t believe her.
“You’ve said that before!” I jerked my arm out of her hold, causing her to stop and look at me in shock. “Shadow just admit it. You don’t know where we are, where we are going, and you didn’t see Fire Fox.” My voice cracked before I could recompose myself. She flinched, but when she opened her mouth, I quickly jumped back in. It’s time to head back. I can’s listen to this anymore. “I’m sorry for yelling at you, but I need you to follow orders. I understand that you want to stay and sho
w me what you can do, but I need you to listen. How can I trust you if you can’t do these simple things for me? Now, you’re lying about Fire Fox to get out of trouble? Where does it end?”
“I was with Camo! I saw him!” she exclaimed, sounding wounded from my comment. “I only came back because Huey had to stop at a field hospital first. That’s where I saw him! He’s still out here. I overheard you at CIRA talking about how you wanted to see him again. I can do that for you if you just—”
“Shadow just stop, please. It hurts that you’re making me live through this! Agents had been all over this field and he was not found. He isn’t here. I came to a middle ground that I may never see him again, but you’re dragging me around and forcing me to see he’s probably dead. You gave me hope he was still alive. Why did I think a rookie could do this?” Shadow cringed at my harsh words. Her head and shoulders dipped, totally defeated. Shit, Camo is right, I do sound like Raider. “Shadow, I’m sorry it’s just...”
She shook her head and headed off in another direction. I opened my mouth to stop her, but thought better of it. Nothing I say could fix this right now. It’s better to wait. I’ll make it up to her somehow. I followed her wordlessly as she led the way through trees. This time she seemed sure of herself. She didn’t change direction every ten seconds and kept forward. Either that or she refused to turn around to face me again. I sighed, hoping it was the former. How am I going to fix this?
The trees slowly thinned out after about fifteen minutes of awkwardly silent walking. We had passed every warehouse scattered on the property and probably walked half way up the lake to find a white tent perched in the center of the clearing. Shadow didn’t say anything, she pointed and turned to me with a deep seeded ‘I told the truth’ gleam in her eyes. I could sense the betrayal and sadness radiating off her. Maybe nothing I say will ever help us recover.
“You’re sure he’s there?” I asked, not knowing what else to say.
She rolled her eyes and nodded. She held her silence a little while longer, but when I didn’t move, she caved. “It’s a field hospital CIRA set up for the agents who were too injured to transport. Huey said that very few people in CIRA even know who’s here. The nurses have no time to communicate with Sharp Shooter or anyone else. They are constantly with the agents. The pilots are the ones who figure out who’s there and take them back to CIRA, but until the pilots get them. The agents are MIA.”
I nodded and swallows the lump resting in my throat. I didn’t think I’d be so nervous to see if Fire Fox was here. If I didn’t go, I could keep thinking he was alive, but Shadow had been honest so far. Why would she lie about him being alive? I pushed myself forward and raced across the field. I didn’t bother to check if Shadow had followed me. She had a habit already, why wouldn’t she continue?
Once I was at the tent, I couldn’t get a nurse’s attention long enough to ask if Fire Fox was here. Each of them was working on a patient. I could hear a flat line meeting my ears, orders being given out, and light chatter of the other agents. The noises faded around me as I locked on a familiar face on the other side of the tent.
“Fire Fox!” I called, surprised to see him. He may not be walking around, but he was sitting up and seemingly coherent.
He turned to look at me as I sprinted over to him. He smiled brightly and opened his arms wide to hug me before I crashed into him. Relief rushed over me as he wrapped his arms around me. I started to tear up as when he hugged me and tried my best to fight it, but couldn’t. A few tears slipped out, especially when he started telling me how happy he was to see me.
“I can’t tell you how glad I am to see you. I knew I’d see you eventually. What took you so long?” He hugged me tightly, chuckling lightly to let me know he was kidding. “I know they aren’t telling people at CIRA this hospital is set up, but I thought you’d escape sooner than this.” He laughed at his own joke, but the playful tone dropped when he felt my ragged breathing. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
I pushed away gently and pulled back to quickly wipe my tears, but he saw them. “I thought you were dead. We haven’t heard from you. What have you been doing here without telling anyone?”
He didn’t even flinch at my accusatory tone. He shrugged as if it wasn’t a big deal. “Sharp Shooter said he wasn’t telling agents there was a field hospital out here. They didn’t want to get anyone’s hopes up...” He cleared his throat a few times as he glanced around at the beds. Some were filled, some were empty, but clearly used. “This place is for the agents who were in too bad of shape to move. We were all critical and moving us could have caused more problems, but that also means some died even with the help.”
His eyes leveled on a few specific beds, all empty. He didn’t have to say it, I knew. We had lost a lot of good agents by taking on this cartel. It should have been over, but with the mole on the loose, I’m not sure it ever would be.
“I’ve seen more agents die in this tent than in the field. I don’t like it.” He stayed silent for a few moments, as if giving time to respect those we had lost. Then he turned to me with a smile. “I’m supposedly on the next transport out of here, but they’ve been saying that for weeks. Every time I’m about be loaded up I have some problem pop up. Haven’t been able to get out of bed since I woke up here.” He laughed sharply, telling me he wasn’t pleased to tell me that. “Going from awake at six in the morning and training to sedentary was a challenge but my body is thankful for the rest.”
I heard the pain in his voice and tried to run through the agents still listed as missing in my mind. I couldn’t think of anyone I was close to, but he had clearly developed a relationship with them while he was here. He’d take the loss harder. “Does anyone know you’re here?” Valkyrie’s warning replayed in my head. Seeker had injured him, would he be upset to know Fire Fox was still alive?
“No, only Sharp Shooter and the people here I think. Why?” His tone shifted when he noticed my serious demeanor. “Do you know something I don’t?”
I shook my head. “I was just curious. Seeker didn’t know where you were…”
“But?” he prompted, gesturing for me to continue.
I bit my inner cheek. There had to have been a better way to bring this up. Too late now. “Valkyrie told me Seeker knocked you out. I thought he went rogue or something. We’re worried about a possible mole, and Seeker is making himself a suspect. I need to know what happened. Is he the mole?”
Fire Fox raised an eyebrow at me in shock before shaking his head. “You have to be kidding me. Seeker wouldn’t do that. We’ve been friends for years. He was doing me a favor!”
“A favor that knocks you out and could get you killed? Because that’s how it looks to everyone else.”
“He knocked me out because I was in too much pain and refused to stop, Night Stripe.” His voice boomed, calling our conversation to the attention of the nearby nurses and patients. “He knocked me out for my own good. I took a bullet to the side, another to the leg, and had countless injuries and gun shots that I’m not sure how I received. Everything was happening so quickly. There was no way to process it all. The adrenaline was keeping me going, but the nurses have explained if I hadn’t stopped then I really could have died.”
“How so? Sheer stupidity?” I quipped, earning a smile from him before he continued.
“I could have shifted one of the bullets. This one was very close to my heart.” He pointed just slightly to the left of his chest. Even though his shirt covered the scar, I knew it wasn’t fully healed yet when he flinched at his own touch. “If I didn’t stop right then, I wouldn’t be here today. Seeker knew I wouldn’t stop. He was with me on more than enough missions to know I went until it was complete. He hit me to help me. So, I can promise you that he’s not who you’re looking for.” He glanced around, making sure no one else was listening too closely. Though we had the attention of everyone here even though none of them were looking directly at us. “I don’t know who the mole is, but I can confidently say it’s not him. B
e very careful of who you accuse. This is dangerous territory. Don’t meddle until you’re sure.”
“Now you sound like Sandstorm...” I crossed my arms and leaned against the side of his bed. It didn’t register that Fire Fox wouldn’t know who that was until I heard “Who?” echo in my ears. “Sandstorm...” I paused for a moment as a smile took over my features. “I can finally tell you!” I yelled, getting so close to him that he leaned away from me.
“Tell me what?” He lightly pushed me away with the reminder to be gentle with him.
“Sandstorm is Grant! He’s alive!” Fire Fox’s eyes widened in surprise. “He didn’t die in that crash. He was recruited and immediately sent on a mission. He’s been in the Middle East the last few years. He came back to end the Cardozas so he could be finished over there. I got to see him again and now you will too!”
“Really?” Disbelief edged his tone, his features, and expression. I nodded fervently, a bright smile on my lips. “That’s great to hear, Night Stripe. I never imagined he was still alive. I can’t wait to see him again. It’s been too long...” His voice drifted slightly as his eyes drooped shut. “I’d love to hear more, but I’m still very tired. I need to rest.”
I nodded. “Get some sleep Fire Fox. I’ll be here when you wake up.” I placed my hand on top of his as he drifted to sleep. “I’ll make sure you make it home on the next transport.” I promised before I turned toward Shadow. “You’ll be going back too.” She nodded, for the first by back talking. At least she’s learning. “Thank you for bringing me to him. I’m sorry I didn’t believe you.”