“You couldn’t have seen any of this coming,” Xarissa tried to reason with her.
“Seen any of what? What exactly is going on? Even Laura knows more than me now, and it was my original case.”
“Are you sure about that?” Xarissa asked.
There was a pause.
“Sure about what?” Rebecca asked in return.
“That it was your case,” Xarissa answered. “It could have been hers all along.”
“I don’t even want to think about being some pawn,” Rebecca said, but as she looked out at the sea expanding below her, she began to realize the truth in her friend’s words.
****************
The Administrator chewed his nails as he waited for word from the agent group. It was unlike him to be waiting on the results for a mission like this, but there was something special about those girls. Something not many others at the HIA had. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he knew they were important. The world really needed people like them, so willing to help, so willing to risk their lives for one another. He just wished that others could be more like them. Even himself.
****************
“Hey, Caitlin, what’s up?” Rebecca said into the com, using the systems to radio back to the DC hospital.
“I’m doing fine. The bullet didn’t bury too deep, and they stitched it up nice. I’ll be heading back to Arizona in a few weeks. Sarah’s going to stay here until then,” Caitlin answered contentedly. “How are things over there?”
“Oh, we’re…not in Arizona yet.”
“What? Why not?”
“It’s complicated. There were…things stalled us, but we should be there in a few hours,” Rebecca answered, trying to keep the worry out of her voice.
“What stalled you? Was it a technical difficulty?”
“No, it’s…not important. Stay strong over there, alright? I’ll check up on you later.” She reached forward to turn off the com.
“Be straightforward with me on this,” Caitlin demanded. “What is going on?”
Rebecca sat back and sighed. “Laura went back.”
“What? To the ship? How did they catch her?”
“They didn’t. She just…left.”
“That’s crazy. Even I’m not that dumb. Why would she do that?”
“I don’t know. Apparently, it’s classified.”
“Psh! That’s her excuse for everything!”
“She is an agent. You say that too, sometimes,” Rebecca pointed out.
“So what? Not when I just escaped and want to return to where I escaped from,” Caitlin argued.
“I couldn’t argue with her on this one,” Rebecca said.
“Why not? Did you tell her she was crazy? That usually works.”
“I did. I just think she knows something that I don’t—something that would stop the terrorists for good.”
"I do." Laura replied. "And you need to leave it to me and the other agent with me."
Caitlin was silent as Laura was speaking, thinking that it was Rebecca, but when Rebecca jumped and started to speak gibberish because Laura was contacting them, Caitlin nearly shouted Laura's name.
"What is it this time?" Rebecca asked.
"I need to tell you something."
"What?"
"They threw Enver overboard. I saw him, floating in the water."
"He's dead?" Rebecca asked.
"What do you think? What happens to dead bodies in water?"
"They float?"
"Yes."
"So Enver is dead?" Caitlin asked, not believing the thought of it.
"I suppose so." Rebecca said in a melancholy tone. She was still deep in thought when the plane started to shake.
****************
"Do they really believe that I'm dead?" Enver asked.
"Yes, I think so."
"You are such a good liar--"
"I wasn't lying. I just told them part of the story. They threw you overboard, and I saw you floating in the water. Dead bodies float on top of the water, but I didn’t classify my meaning. They presumed that I was telling them that you were dead. This way, if they get caught, you and the intelligence that you hold will be safe. I'm taking you back home. When you get there, tell your wife to get all of your most precious objects and give them to one of your distant family, or a really good friend. Take all of your children and all of your necessities and run. If someone is after us, just take your family and run."
"Alright." Enver replied. "Just find them!"
"I will."
****************