Note from the author:
The following material is published in its original format, as was submitted to the LMIAY challenge.
The following material is published in its original format, as was submitted to the LMIAY challenge.
“Double Agent Retiree”
A Vignette by Jonathan Rossignol
A Vignette by Jonathan Rossignol
The mission was simple, but that didn’t make it any less dangerous - especially for someone in my position. I just had to go in, rundown the checklist of my objectives, and get out. Hmph, easier said than done when one survives the way I do. I had to keep my cover, or else I’d be a goner. They’d surely make an example out of me if I was caught. I’ll have to do what I can to blend in, I thought.
I looked at my watch. The time always seemed to be synchronized with rush hour traffic. I could now feel the sweat forming along my brow, as I worried about whether or not someone would see through my mask. Just keep your head down and act natural, was the mantra I deployed whenever I put myself to task. There was no one else that I could trust to get the job done.
My iron cross dangled underneath my rearview mirror, while I took one more look at my reflection to see what I was working with. I felt like my smile was on point, and that gave me a nice little boost of confidence. Of course, I had spent many hours perfecting that expression beforehand, but smiling only helps so long as everything goes according to plan. One time I stumbled upon a mess that had to get cleaned up, and my demeanor almost got me caught in a jam.
“Hey, you better watch your step, buddy! What’s a matter with you? You think this is funny? You know you could get seriously hurt, don’t you?!” I played it cool and tried not to step on anyone’s toes, and I made my getaway without having to engage them in a lengthy exchange of words. Luckily none of them tried anything funny, because things could have gotten out of hand real quick if they had blown my cover.
I pulled out my sidearm and checked it for a third time. Fully loaded with one in the chamber, and the safety was still on. Good. I tucked the gun back into the holster that hung beneath my left arm, and then I repeated the process for the piece strapped on my right boot. My nerves started to flare up again. I never infiltrated any target destination with the intention of hurting anyone, but that doesn’t mean everyone feels the same way about me. So I have to be ready for anything. I don’t know how I would react if I got caught. I’m sure they would probably try to make me talk, but let’s just say I wasn’t equipped for that situation.
Doc said the meds would help. He basically said that they would aid me in my mission to go about my business, without the threat of anyone becoming suspicious. I wanted to take his word for it, but based on my line of work… I could never be too sure of anything. However, it was worth a shot if it meant remaining undetected and out of harm’s way. I reached for the little white bottle, labelled clozapine, where I had left it lying in the cup holder of my vehicle’s center console.
My vehicle had been parked outside the target destination the whole time that I had been contemplating my approach. I wanted to pull out and abort the mission, but I knew I wouldn’t survive long if I didn’t fulfill the objectives. So I took three deep breaths and then I exited my vehicle. Upon closing my vehicle’s door, I overheard footsteps approaching me from behind. I turned around and inadvertently made eye contact with the individual.
“How’s it going?” a man with blonde hair, blue eyes, standing about six foot tall, who appeared to be about a hundred seventy pounds, around fifty years of age, dressed in a tacky Hawaiian shirt with tan khaki shorts and pair of white tennis shoes asked me as he passed by.
“Good, good,’ I replied, putting on my best smile. The stranger barely glanced back to acknowledge my answer, as he gave a half-hearted nod and went about his business without so much as giving me a second thought. I think he bought it. I stood up straight and made an effort to smooth out some of the creases in my civilian attire. Another day another disguise, and here I thought I was retired. With my list of objectives still fresh on my mind, I let out one last sigh as I readjusted my tie, and then I proceeded towards the grocery store.
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