The road was bumpy. Cold wind blew. Agent B pulled up to the curb and parked his car. He took a moment to look around the landscape of neighboring homes and some had their lights on in large white complexes with windows at each end. Agent B walked up the steps, tugging at the door with his key as he twisted the knob while he pushed the door forward. He reached for the light switch from the corner of the wall witnessing the immaculate surroundings of black leather furniture, cherry wood polished tables. A tailored red rug hung on the wall.

Soothing classical music was playing in the hallway as Agent B headed up the stairs, holding on to a rail. Agent B turned right at the corner of a white hallway door. He entered a room where Casey was tied to a chair with rope as she squirmed against her restraints. Agent B placed a crumpled up paper bag on the table.

  “I got you some food.” Agent B opened the bag, revealing a cheeseburger and a box with large fries. 

    “Why don't you kill me?”

     “You should eat.” Agent B unraveled the warm bag.

      “What do you want from me?”

       “That's a billion dollar question. Save your strength. You are gonna—”

     A car explodes outside the house as fire and smoke consumed the husk of the vehicle when Agent B pulled out his gun and peered at the window looking around. Casey turned her head as her eyes bulged. Agent X busted through the window as he kicked Agent B's gun from his hand. Agent B planted his feet, lifting his fist ready for combat. In the heat of battle, Agent B countered Agent X's punches and kicks and threw him hard across the room. Agent B trotted out of the room in pursuit of Agent X. In the instant, Agent X reached for a round metal object, chucking it at Agent B's head as he ducked and marched toward Agent X.  

     Agent B grunted throwing punches as Agent X countered and dodged. Agent B  punched a hole in the wall. Agent X jumped up pulling the red rug off the wall as Agent B bolted in his direction. Agent X tossed the rug over Agent B's head as he punched him several times in the stomach as he maneuvered away against his lethal fist. Agent B clinched his teeth as he pulled the red rug off his body. Agent B took his hand and flipped Agent X as he landed on his feet and countered with a leg sweep. Agent X locked Agent B pulling hard against Agent B's leg. Agent B clinched his teeth seething as he kicked Agent X face with his free leg. Agent X stumbled against a cabinet catching his bearings. Agent B got up from the floor breathing hard frowning while he balled his fist. Agent X spat blood on the floor and got back into his stance with one foot forward.

         “I'm gonna enjoy killing you.” Agent B cracked his knuckles with empty eyes.

         “The feeling is mutual.” Agent X narrowed his eyes as his jaw tightened. “Let's finish this.”

      Agent B took a knife from his pocket. He lunged forward at Agent X, swaying the blade in quick action against his arm and slashed Agent X chest. With quick reflexes, Agent X calculated Agent B movement with the blade exploring an opportunity to disable Agent B's wrist turning the blade at an angle as the two assassins struggled for dominance.

Gunfire was shot in the air as Agent X and B glanced at the man with a gun and Casey by his side. "You picked the wrong day to tangle. A man pointed his gun at Agent B. Drop the knife and kick it toward me.

Without hesitation, Agent B plumped the knife on the floor and kicked it over to the man. "Who are you?"

The man smiled. "Marco Templar."

Agent B eyes lit up and grew quiet  realizing one of the top council members of the Raven Agency was in his presence. A notch formed at his gut. Templar turned his gaze to Agent X. "Get Casey out of here." 

Agent X nodded.  Agent X and Casey went down stairs and left the house closing the door as they exited the home.

     "Why did you take my daughter?" Templar shot Agent B twice in the right knee cap as he went down on the floor, seething in agony clutching his blood trickled leg on the hardwood floor.

   "Answer the question." 

      Agent B looked up. She has something I need."

     "Go on."

      "Access to classified black files."

    Marco raised a brow. "What's so special about these files?"

       "Trajon Horse. I needed to know the identities of the five sleeper agents."

         Marco's eyes became distant. "Five sleeper agents?"

      Agent B smirked. "They didn't tell you. Why wouldn't they? Unless the agency had their own agenda."

“Thanks for the tip.”  Templar shot Agent B in the chest and head.

     Marco searched Agent B's pocket until he found a piece of paper that had an address with a number embedded in black marker and a silver key with a chain on it. He walked out of the room wondering what other secrets the Raven Agency he had been a part of for twenty years prior had been hiding? Someone from the inside had to be pulling the strings. But knowing who the conspirators are and understanding their motives would be key to uncover a dark truth that has been set into motion. 

  “How did you find me?” Casey looked at Agent X for confirmation. 

Agent X sighed. “I had to resort to outside influence. The man that showed up with me was a guy named Marco.“

    Casey nodded.  

     “What's wrong?”

     “I don't know. Something about him gives me bad vibes. I would be careful about him.”

     “Coming from someone who was a double agent from the Raven Agency.” Agent X smirked.

      Casey punched Agent X in the arm. 

      “What was that for?” Agent X's eyebrows raised.

    Agent X walked alongside Casey on the pavement. "I'm glad you are safe. I thought--"

Casey was safe and sound as Agent X glanced at her for a second while walking toward the car in the cold frost night. Vapors of carbon monoxide escape their lips. Their feet pounding on the payment. What rang true in Agent X's mind was why Agent B took her? A deep conspiracy spreaded like a cobweb of thoughts. There was a lot more going on. Much deeper within the Raven Agency.  Before Agent X said a word, Casey pulled Agent X closer as their lips pressed and locked that seemed like an eternity had passed. Casey pulled back, caressing Agent X's face and looking into his eyes.  

   "I thought I would never see you again." Agent X held her hand.

    Agent X yanked out his cell phone from his pocket and called Hugo. 

   "Hello," Hugo stopped pedaling his indoor bike as he reached for a bottle of water and white towel, wiping the sweat off his face as he caught his breath.

    "I got Casey."

    Hugo sighed. "That's great news. Where are you now?".

   “I'm between Fulton Ave and Sixth Avenue. I'm heading your way.”

    “Alright,”

    Agent X hung up.

     A doorbell rang in front of Hugo's door. He went over to check to see who it was when he spotted two men dressed in black suits. Hugo was reluctant to answer the door fearing they were not typical individuals. Hugo sneaked toward the back. The two men busted open the door with their guns pointing forward. One man gave the hand signal to go forward in the hallway. The other man started searching the table with loose paper. “I found something.”

The other man entered the room. “I searched the area.  What do we have here?”

One man gazed at the laptop screen. “A list of names.”

One man scrolled down from the laptop. “Looks like classified files.”

    “What do you want to do?” The other man asked.

     The man closed up the laptop, picking it up from the table.  “Take what we can get.” 

A hidden camera on the far corner on the wall, watched the men tossing books and items on the floor. Hugo waited in the dark, not making any noise. He heard footsteps above as he hoped they wouldn't find him in a hidden cubby hole. Hugo's eyes squinted when his favorite black mug hit the floor.The two men left the place with the laptop and personal belongings. They got in the car and drove off. Hugo came up underneath a well crafted floor board as he hoisted himself up the floor. “I was wondering when those two would leave.” Hugo's eye bulged and swore under his breath as he gazed at his home turned upside down.

Hugo searched his pocket and realized he lost his phone. "Crap, I need to warn X before all breaks loose."