“Mornin’ Jamie, how’re you today?” Valery asks, while securing the policewoman to the chair and attaching the shock collar.

“I’m okay. It was a bit busier on the bus though.”

“Well the festival’s worth it. They’ve got a bunch of rides you can’t normally reach without a couple hour car trip.”

“I’ll probably check it out tomorrow with Steven and Abigail.”

I hate mentioning their names here.

“How’re they going? I was thinking of dropping by soon to catch u-.”

“WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE?”

Valery chuckles at the policewoman. “Don’t worry ma’am. You’re in good hands now. Jamie here is the best specialist we’ve got; they’re even head of their department.”

“Please say more like there’s no such things as spies,” I mutter.

Valery shrugs. “Right, we’ll be on our way then.” She leaves the room with her team.

I turn my attention to the policewoman who looks utterly confounded.

“Today I’d like to ask you a few simple questions. The sooner you answer them the sooner this will be over.”

She rolls her eyes and looks away. “I’m not going to give in that easily.”

“I never expected you to.”

She doesn’t flinch at my tone, muttering instead about me being criminal scum.

Apparently her federal officer training didn’t come with insult classes.

I survey my tools and notice a particularly blunt knife. “Please contact resources and have this sharpened. Other specialists may prefer the bluntness, but I expect my space to be up to my standards.”

My assistant nods. Kirra takes the knife and moves away to talk on her earpiece.

Slipping my gloves on, I turn to the project and begin the session. I thought I was lucky when I got a café apprenticeship at fourteen. If only I had waited a week for that letter from a high-end restaurant, then I wouldn’t be slowly cutting into the collection of nerves people commonly dub the ‘funny bone’. I don’t think the policewoman finds my career choice humorous at all.

It never occurred to me back then that I’d be so naturally inclined at inflicting pain on others, but it serves my job well. I separate myself from the process. So there’s no ecstasy or bitter regret that a select few of my colleagues describe. I’m aware that it’s a crime and should somebody, like this woman, ever successfully infiltrate the network then I’d be jailed. I don’t mind. It’s better than the alternative.

“We’ll start with your undercover assignment in Finn Carlak’s gang.”

She stares at me with fierce determination as I clean my instruments. “I’m not telling you anything. I’ll last until they find me.”

Every word is a hint. A knife to her shoulder keeps her talking.

“You think I can’t handle a little pain? By the end of today you’ll all be spending the first night of many in a cold dark cell.”

“Unlikely.”

I pull the knife out, twisting it into her muscle as I do.

This time she winces.

“Why are you even here? You look normal! What’d they do to you? Bribery? Blackmail? If you help me get out of here, I’ll make sure you’re protected.”

I raise an eyebrow at that. “But then I’d be unemployed.”

And there’s only one way out of this job.

She rolls her eyes as I clean the knife, hardly the first to attempt that method.

Kirra steps forward. “We’ve got two hours left. A new project came through that will be handled next. The boss also wants to have a word regarding this one.”

“Okay.”

The policewoman’s jaw sets, clearly thinking she has a better chance with a time limit imposed. She’s wrong. It doesn’t take long for me to loosen her tongue again, but her screams give me a headache. Kirra transcribes everything. I keep dealing out more pain to the policewoman. Her screams weaken, her body shakes furiously from the adrenaline and her eyes roll back. Shit. I slam down the emergency button. Electricity jolts through her. Her body spasms and she’s brought into full consciousness.

Son of a bitch. That was a rookie move you idiot.

Blood splatters across the policewoman’s shirt as she coughs uncontrollably. “I-I’m n-not tell-ing you anythi-ng.”

It wasn’t wasted. But if I keep this up, she’ll pass out and stopping it again will kill her. I need to change it up. The file might have-. Kirra’s eyes widen as I turn away and my breath catches in my throat. Not again. I twist my body around and leap onto the policewoman, forcing her jaw open and holding my hand out for the pliers. Kirra gives them to me as the policewoman bites down regardless, blood trickling down my hand as it stays in place. For fuck’s sake. I force her mouth back open with my other hand and remove the cyanide tooth, leaving a deep gash in her mouth. The tooth clatters into the bin as I slowly get off the policewoman.

“I’m having a word with transfer,” I say lowly, sick of the errors their work has cost me twice in this week alone.

“I’ll set up a meeting with Valery.”

“No, her boss. It’s been multiple teams.”

“Alright.”

I stalk over to the table and grab the file, searching for something that I can use as blackmail while cleaning my wound with disinfectant. These types always care more for others than themselves and they always fold when the right cards are played. I turn on my heel to face the chair and smirk, as if everything is going exactly how I want it to. The façade is as easy as any other and makes the policewoman squirm under her restraints.

“That new project that came through is an interesting one. He’s an undercover cop like you found in a different gang. It’s fascinating that your partner was given the same assignment as you. I thought you lot preferred keeping one on the outside.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

My instinct is rarely wrong.

“I’ll be sure to tell him that before I kill him.”

“You’re just resorting to empty threats now.”

I look at her coldly and take a single step forward. “Are you willing to bet his life on that?”

She glares back at me, the cracks in her armour showing. “What do you want?”

“A complete list of operatives within the network. They’ll be handled appropriately, but you and your partner will live.”

“That’s a ridiculous request! You know I can’t do that.”

“Is that your final answer?”

She gives me a look of pure hatred, as if the burning desire to be freed would somehow have an effect. Her eyes dart desperately between me and the door. She keeps flexing her hands, testing the strength of the restraints. They won’t give. Many have tried. I notice her testing Kirra’s resolve. She definitely won’t give. Some have tried. My hand reaches for the file again, but before I can mark it, she gives.

“That’s all I know. I sw-. Is your phone ringing?”

I sigh, wiping my hand so I don’t stain the case. This better be important.

“Jamie, I need you home right now! Abigail was really sick and she passed out. I don’t-. I don’t know what to do. Please help!”

“Shit. Okay, I’ll be there soon. Just... Just stay by her side until I get there. Don’t worry. It’ll be okay.”

“You’re leaving?” Kirra asks.

“Finish for me.”

She nods and throws me a cloth. I scramble to clean my hands, running out the door straight into my boss.

“What are you doing?”

I push him aside and take off sprinting down the halls. I’ll never hear the end of this, but it doesn’t matter. I’ve got to get home. I have to.

The bus will take too long. I’ll have to run. I could steal a car. No. I can’t. They’ll kill me if I get a criminal record. Why can’t I run faster? Steven and Abigail need me right now. Move faster! Please just be okay, just be okay, just be okay. I need them to be okay. That’s our street. The neighbour’s dogs are silent. They always bark at me. Something’s really wrong. It must be wrong. The door’s locked. Why the hell would Steven lock the door?

“Jamie!”

“I’m here.”

He looks up at me, tears staining his face. His daughter is in his arms and she’s too still. How can she be so still? “Should I’ve called an ambulance?”

“They’d never make it.”

Steven gives me a look of pure desperation as I check Abigail’s eyes and pulse.

“What’s wrong with her?”

This colour... Her skin shouldn’t be this colour. I know this colour. No.

“I’m so sorry.”

“Is she-?”

“This is my fault.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

I meet my best friend’s eyes and shiver. “Abigail’s been poisoned. It’s a rare variety. Only a few gangs have access to it.”

“What the hell are you talking about, Jamie?”

“I could call Kirra, but I don’t know if we have the antidote.”

“You better start making some sense right now.”

One look at him and it all falls down. The sheer guilt of it all crashes down on me with the force of an atom bomb. And as if it were made of mere glass, the façade shatters.

“Someone must have infiltrated our criminal cell and targeted you two.”

Steven stares at me like I’m a complete stranger and my heart sinks.

“Jamie, who are you?”

I stand up and grab my phone, refusing to make eye contact with him. Kirra should still be there. We might have the antidote. I don’t use poison myself; it works too quickly. But my subordinates do. Kirra answers quickly and berates me for not using a secure line. Like I have time for that. We’ve got ten minutes judging from the progression. And probably five before I lose Steven.

“My assistant will be here with the antidote soon. I will save her.”

“You’re a cook at a café.”

I flinch at his tone. “I never thought something like this would actually happen. But if I ever warned you, if I ever even hinted, then you and Abigail would be put in danger.”

“We already were! You were the one who brought this on us! Why couldn’t you have just been honest from the start? Or better yet, why the hell are you a criminal? Seriously Jamie. You were the nicest person I ever knew.”

“I’m still me. I-.”

“Just shut up.”

Tears threaten to escape, but I hold them back. “I understand.”

I knew this would happen. It was inevitable really. I shouldn’t have gotten into this field, but it’s just a job. We do what we do because we’re good at it. That’s all. Yet Steven is looking at me like I’m a psychopath. I deserve it. There was always going to be a price. I knew that. But this...

He should know the true price. What’s going to happen because of this.

“After this I’ll be gone.”

“Damn right you will.”

I smile at his ignorance. “Not just gone from this house. I’ll quit and... Well I imagine my assistant will be the one to process the notice. There’s a good reason these leaks aren’t common.”

He stares at me in confusion. Steven goes to speak, but Kirra arrives.

I set to preparing the antidote. Steven thankfully lets Kirra take care of his daughter, his eyes full of concern as they dart between Abigail and me.

“Inject all of this. We don’t know how much poison was used.”

Kirra nods. “The boss believes that you’ll be handing in your resignation.”

“That’s right. I hope my reference for you still counts. You were a good assistant.”

“You were a good teacher.”

Steven grabs my arm with such desperation. He goes to say something as Abigail starts coughing. I slip out of his grip and stand up. It’s about time I left.

“She’ll need a couple of days’ rest. Even with the antidote, her body will be fighting it off for a little while. Dinner is in the freezer; just microwave it for a couple of minutes. Don’t stay up all night watching over her. You never slept last night and are already tired. Keep an eye out for suspicious people. They’re more common than you think. And try to have a good life Steven. You deserve that much.”

“Jamie, wait a moment.”

I smile sadly and turn away. “Don’t wear that tie when Kyle picks her up. It makes you look like you’re going to a funeral.”