I glance down at my watch and realise it's time to leave. Before I do, I scrape my hair back in a tight ponytail and grab my dark jacket. When I walk past Micah's room, I pause and sigh, closing my eyes. I know things between us aren't good right now but I still have a job to do.
I knock on his door, waiting for an answer. There's complete silence so I knock again, louder this time.
"Come in.”
I push the door and step inside, my eyes connecting with Micah's. He's lying on his bed, facing the ceiling with his arms behind his head. He looks a little more alive and his hair is back to its usual self.
"Where are you going?" He asks me, his eyes flickering over my jacket. I walk over to his desk and sit down on the chair, swivelling around a few times.
"Calvin Black is meeting up with someone today, in precisely one hour. I think it's his father so it's probably best if you come with me." I say flatly.
Micah shoots up, his eyes widening in excitement and interest. He reaches for his jacket and grabs a pair of shoes before heading for his bedroom door.
"Right, let’s go." He says quickly. I let out another sigh, hoping our work ethic and drive can hide the awkward tension between us. I push myself off the chair, waltzing down the stairs in the direction Micah disappeared.
*****
"He mentioned that he was meeting someone at twelve at Grovers Place. I researched the place, it's a coffee shop in the next town over. I've already programmed it inside the cars GPS. We should arrive in the next forty minutes." I say, sliding into the seat and buckling my seatbelt. Micah nods, pressing a few buttons on his dashboard.
"I'll step on the gas so we get there earlier, I want to scope the place to see who's arriving. Good job Hunter." Micah says, pulling out of the driveway and speeding off down the road. I don't respond and rest my head against the seat. Micah pauses at my hostility and from the corner of my vision, I see him look at me.
"Do you want to talk about it?" He murmurs after minutes of silence. I shake my head —
"No, I think it's best if we forget about it.”
"Hunter, I really think we should -- “
"There's nothing to talk about Micah. You got drunk and you almost sabotaged the mission! There's no explanation for it so I would rather we drop the topic." I say, rubbing the spot between my eyebrows. I can feel the start of a headache beginning to form.
"I don't like Calvin Black.”
"You don't have to like him, he's the son of a flaming criminal but he's part of the mission! You can't ruin things because you don't like the guy." I exclaim, turning around to glare at him. His jaw is fixed, eyes permanently staring straight ahead. His hand grips onto the steering wheel tighter and I know the resentment towards Calvin is still strong.
"He's going to hurt you and I don't trust him!”
"That's not your call to make! I can look after myself and I don't need you lurking around me on this mission!" I yell at him, both of us raising our voices.
"I'm just trying to protect you Hunter!" Micah hisses through clenched teeth. I raise an eyebrow at him, wondering why he's acting so possessive.
"I'm an FBI Agent, you think I need protecting? No way Micah, something else is going on. Don't lie to me." I snap at him.
"Whatever, I don't want to talk about this anymore." Micah says angrily, blowing out a breath.
"Okay, when you are ready to talk about it, come find me." I hit back, turning to face out of the window. We spend the entire journey in silence, the sound of the GPS directing us being the only noise around us.
*****
"Maybe there's been a change of plans?" I mutter, boredom beginning to settle in.
We've been sat here for an hour, staring at the entrance of the coffee shop. I've seen hundreds of customers walk in but none of them look like Calvin or Christopher Black. I'd be able to recognise the glint of Calvin's eyebrow piercing anywhere followed by his dark rugged hair.
"I don't know, something seems wrong. . . " Micah says, his eyes trained directly on the small yet busy building. I sit up a little straighter in my seat, ignoring the ache in my back for remaining in an uncomfortable position for too long.
"Lets just go in." I suggest. Micah snaps his head towards me, automatically shaking it in rejection.
"No, we can't do that. You're heavily involved with Calvin Black. If he knows you're there, it'll raise suspicion.”
"I don't know how long I can sit out here, this car seat is going to be imprinted with my bum cheeks if we don't move soon." I mutter unhappily, trying to stretch out my legs.
"Looks like we don't have to wait much longer, check it out." Micah says hurriedly, his voice raising in excitement. I glance back up at the coffee shop and hold my breath. Calvin Black is walking towards it. I've noticed he's changed his clothes and his hair appears to be damp, no doubt from showering. Despite the distance between us, I still feel the electricity tickling away at the hairs on my skin.
"He looks tense." I comment, my eyes lingering on his folded up hands and square shoulders. He glances up and down the street several times before taking a deep breath and disappearing inside the coffee shop. I can still see the frown lines engraved in his head and wonder whether he wants to be involved in his father's corrupt business.
"Now we wait for the second guy." Micah says, his voice dropping to a low tone. His hands tighten around the steering wheel and the twitch in his jaw becomes evident.
"Why are you so angry? I get that you're Mr Doom and Gloom all the time but lately, something has been irritating you. I want to know what it is." I say firmly, glancing at him cautiously from the corner of my eye.
Micah pauses and slowly turns towards me, dark brown strands of his hair falling over into his eyes. They narrow in my direction but I don't give in, he doesn't intimidate me.
"You seriously think I'm going to open up to you?”
"Beats the FBI Shrink." I shrug, biting back a victorious smirk. I turn my attention to the coffee shop and visibly feel Micah tense further beside me. His eyes begin to throw flames in my direction and I know he's livid at my threat.
Agents avoid the FBI Shrink like the plague, it's uncomfortable and cringeworthy sitting in her office, on a plush leather sofa whilst she scrutinises your entire life and attempts to see through to your mind. A visit to her office remains on your file for years and can effect whether you're able to be nominated for future missions. The FBI Shrink sucks the life out of you instead of replacing it.
"You wouldn't do that to me.”
"Do you want to try me? We're supposed to report changes in behaviour to the FBI, you know that Micah. If Veronica gets a sniff of your behaviour lately, you'll be pulled from this mission faster than you can blink. Enjoy the rest of your days sat with the shrink whilst she tries to talk you through your emotional problems." I reply in monotone.
Micah hisses in response and I slowly turn my head towards him, eyes flashing with amusement. He knows I've won this round and he breathes deeply, focusing on controlling his anger.
"So, what is it?" I ask, lowering my voice. He glares at me from under his lashes, his mouth set into a thin line.
"I'm jealous." He finally responds in defeat.
As soon as he says the words, a loud gunshot fills the air and I jump in my seat. We both snap our heads towards the coffee shop and my heart drops into the pit of my stomach. Before thinking about my actions, I force open the door and sprint towards the building. Everything around me seems to slow down completely. The traffic comes to a stand-still and people freeze in the streets in complete fear.
"Calvin." I mutter under my breath, my heart beating wildly against my chest. Another loud gunshot fills the air followed by the screaming of scared civilians. My hands begin to tremble and just as I'm about to push open the door, Micah grabs my arm, pulling me back away from it.
"You can't go in there!”
I protest against his hold, my eyes wide with panic and urgency.
"Get off me! Calvin is in there!" I yell, pulling my arm out of his grasp.
I reach for the gun inside the waistband of my jeans and Micah clenches his jaw, knowing he has to act fast. He gives me a simple nod before pressing his back against the wall and pulling out his gun.
"You ready?" He asks me.
I block out the screaming coming from inside the coffee shop and focus on my breathing instead. The gun held tightly in my hands is my only sense of protection and I turn to Micah, giving him a firm nod. Fear continues to bubble up inside of me as Calvin's face flashes through my mind.
"I'm ready, lets go.”