Page 20 of The Eagle (Spy Girl 2)
"I think so."
"So let me get this straight--a man who was a friend of your father sent you to this school and trained you--"
"He didn't train me. He just sent me there. I only saw him a few times."
He keeps going. He's on a roll now. "Your call sign was X, and you now work for Black X, who just killed off all the students at your school, so as not to blow your cover and when they realized Josh, here, was still alive they framed him for the murder of the President?"
"Sounds crazy, but yes, that's correct."
"What is your current mission?"
"I was told a mission was forthcoming, but I'll be going after the man who assassinated the President."
"How will you be notified?"
"I'm not sure. Protecting Lorenzo was my very first mission, and I received that in writing at my school."
My phone buzzes, causing me to glance down. An unknown number has sent me a text containing only a link. I double check that my secure network is enabled and click on it.
A blank page with no apparent web address appears. When I scroll down the page, there is a message.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it:
Track down the assassin who killed the President of the United States, uncover who paid for the hit, and eliminate the assassin.
When I hold it up for Intrepid to read, the message disappears.
"What did it say?" he asks.
"They want me to find out who paid for the hit on the President and eliminate the assassin. Does that mean they want me to find Josh and kill him?"
"That's awkward," Josh deadpans.
"I need to get in touch with them."
I call my emergency protocol number, and after a series of clicks, someone answers. The voice is distorted, so I have no idea if it's a man or woman.
"Your authentication code?"
I recite it.
"What do you need?"
"I received a mission and need clarification."
"Please hold."
I put the phone on speaker so Josh and Intrepid can hear.
A slightly different mechanical voice fills the room. "X, your mission is clear."
"So, I'm supposed to kill Josh?"
"That was a bit of misdirection. Don't worry about Josh. We have him safely hidden away. We want to give you time to get to the assassin without interference from other agencies."
"So other agencies don't know who the real assassin is?"
"Not yet."
"It feels like there is something you aren't telling me. What aren't you saying?"
"I'm saying it's in your best interest to follow orders."
"Yes, but I can't do my job if I don't have the necessary background information."
"In this business, it's always wise to watch your back. As I taught you, the business is built on lies." No shit. He's already lied to me twice during our very short conversation.
"You taught me? Is this the Dean?"
"Yes."
"What if I want to stop being Huntley? What if I refuse this mission?"
"I'm afraid that role is now your destiny." Meaning if I don't keep being Huntley, they'll kill me too?
"Did Black X kill Ares Von Allister so we could become his heirs?"
"No."
"Can I trust you?"
"What did I teach you?"
"To never trust anyone."
"And with that I will end our call."
"Wait. The assassin who killed the President, does he have a name?"
"The Priest."
"You made me study him."
"With good reason."
"Because he killed my mother?"
"Yes," he says. The phone beeps indicating that he ended our call.
"Obviously, I'm being lied to," I state. "What if I'm working for the bad guys?"
"I don't think you are," he says. "Our agency intercepted a call. The call that sent me to Montrovia in the first place."
"What did it say?" Josh asks.
"It starts in Montrovia."
"What starts?" I ask.
"That's what I was tasked to find out. Whoever you work for could very well be trying to stop a threat that is much bigger than the Prince of a small country."
"So should I go after the assassin?"
"Of course you should. That's what you wanted, right? To exact revenge."
"Yes, but I didn't expect it to be my second mission. What if I can't do it? He's supposed to be the best."
"Will your brother receive the same mission?"
"I don't know. In Montrovia, I was told to eliminate the people responsible for the threat. He was not. I'm their assassin, not Ari."
"Do you want me to come with you?" both Josh and Intrepid ask at the same time.
I shake my head. "No. I studied The Priest. He works alone. And I probably need to face him alone." I turn to Intrepid. "Can you keep Josh safe?"
"Absolutely." He stands and says to Josh, "You look like you could use food, a shower, and some shut eye."
He escorts Josh out of the room then comes back and sits down across the table from me.
"Is Josh as well-trained as you are?"
"Josh is a daredevil, seemingly not afraid of anything. But today at school, he was very afraid--which is understandable--but I overtook him easily. At school, he was more of a challenge. He also told me his real name, something we weren't ever supposed to do. I think he could be a good agent, but I'm not sure I'd want him out in the field with me yet. What will you do with him?"
"Until the manhunt is over, we'll keep him hidden away and safe. After that, I was thinking about offering him a job. He'd start at the bottom, like we all do. I suspect he has a lot of potential."
"I can't believe they killed everyone. I feel so guilty."
"Whoever Black X is, they have gone all in on you and your brother. That's quite the gamble." He studies me. "Although after seeing what you are capable of, I understand why. What I don't understand is the high profile."
"Me either."
"And why would someone hire an assassin to kill the President? Less than five minutes after he died there was another President to take his place. Unless--"
"Unless what?"
"Your new President was in on it."
Daniel's father is a bad guy? No way.
But then I wonder.
"Daniel introduced me to Lorenzo, but he also tried to keep me away from him. He showed up at my villa at random times and showed up on the yacht without an invite."
Intrepid tilts his head, thinking. "Let me make some inquiries and get back to you."
"Okay," I say. "Do you think Lorenzo is still in danger?"
"I would say absolutely."
"Do you know any talented men who would be interested in being one of the King of Montrovia's bodyguards?"
"I might, actually."
"Get in touch with Juan. He's going to start looking for a new team." I check the clock on my phone. "Crap. I gotta go. I have an Embassy dinner tonight."
"The wheels of the political machine keep spinning even on the day of the President's funeral, huh?"
I shrug. "Apparently."
"I'll walk you out. We need to pick you out a bag on the way, otherwise your trip here may seem suspicious."
We exit from the dressing room, and Gallagher takes me through the store, chooses two evening bags from the store's extensive collection, pays for them himself, and then walks me to my car.
"Seriously, Huntley, if you need anything, let me know."
"I brought you Josh."
"Does that mean you trust me?"
"Spies aren't supposed to trust each other," I state.
"True. But you're different from most spies I know."
I roll my eyes at him and get in the car. I start it and then roll down the window. "You're right, I am."
I get home, quickly freshen up, and meet Lorenzo down in the study.
He's wearing a trim-fit suit and his hair is slicked back.
&n
bsp; "You look beautiful," he says, taking in my red A-line cocktail dress with almost regal looking gold metallic embellishments.
