Double Agent Chaos

That tone, that most annoying tone is the manner in which I least enjoy waking up to. I would not have minded so much if there was a beautiful, exotic woman sleeping next to me so that we could continue the previous evening’s festivities, but in the early morning darkness, I was alone in my bed. It was already not the way that I preferred to start the day, and the annoying tone was making it all the worse.

Having enough, I reach over to the night stand and annoyingly pick up my secure cellular phone. 3:14 a.m. was too early to be burdened with messages. I quickly thumb in my code and make my way to the messages. I was surprised to find that I had slept through three messages. I open the first and start to read. In my semi-awake state, it took me a moment to comprehend what I was reading. It was a kill order, just as I had received many times before, but it was the name that jarred me into being fully awake. I went back and read the message again.
To: Simon Hunter

Subject: K.O. 7413-14

Pursue and neutralize agent Timothy Chaser. Details of target included in attached file. Payment as agreed, half already deposited, half to be deposited with confirmation of K.O. Bonus of $10,000US upon completion.

I was too shocked to think. I reread the message a half dozen times before I opened the attachment to find the description of the target to be exactly what I was afraid of. Though there was no picture, all of the other information was correct. The target was me. Well, one of my other selves to be exact.

Being fully awake now, and having the urgent need to void my bladder, I turned on lights, relieved myself and tried to imagine what to do next. Having a few ideas begin to form in my mind, I went to the other messages.

The first was a message from one of my conquests letting me know that she would be available tonight. My hopes began to brighten when I noticed that she also included a picture. At least there was something to look forward to. Opening the next message however, my hopes were crushed.
To: Timothy Chaser

Subject: Hit Notice

Per your agreements with this organization, seek out and terminate enemy agent Simon Hunter. Details of target attached. You have 12 hours to accept or assignment will be passed to another agent. Usual rate will be paid, along with an additional $10,000US based on mission success. Good luck.

This simply could not be happening. How could both identities have been compromised? This was not good. The only thing that could be worse would be if my true identity were compromised. My heart nearly stopped when my notification went off yet again. With trembling hands I checked the message. I was able to breathe again when it was just a junk email.

Standing in the bathroom was not going to do me any good, so I did the only thing that I could think of doing. I responded to both messaged with “Accepted.” After all, if I did not respond the assignment would be passed on and I would be hunted by both agencies with no real support. With that out of the way, I had to come up with a plan, and fast.

As I dressed, I knew that I would need help. The only person that I could think of talking to was Bobby the Freelancer. In my profession, friends were hard to come by. When you were a double agent, they were even more difficult to make. Bobby was the exception. Having worked together on not one but two separate occasions, he was the one person in the world to know my secret. You see, I had worked once with Bobby as Simon, and once with The Freelancer as Timothy. It was a discovery that he found hilarious. I sent him a message to meet me at a diner not far from me, quickly dressed, and set off.

One would think that as a hit man, I would be a walking arsenal, with guns, knives and a collection of other deadly objects on me. The truth is, I lived my life with the protection of anonymity. I was not tall, but not short; not heavy but not skinny; my hair was not brown, but not blonde with a hint of red or black; my voice was not deep, nor was it high pitched. In other words, I was what was known as the grey man. So, if I were stopped by a cop for any reason, being a walking weapons depot would not be wise. Not that it would matter. I could handle myself against anything short of a gun far enough away for me not to get my hands on the shooter. Even if I had a gun, I would more than likely not stand a chance against that anyway.

I pulled the collar of my jacket over my neck as I made my way in the brisk morning air to the diner. I made sure to follow protocol, backtrack, abrupt directional changes, and ducking into the shadows to try and catch any pursuers. I found none. So, five minutes after the time that I had sent Bobby, I walked into the diner.

He was sitting in the far corner of the diner, his back facing the wall, with a plate full of pancakes and an enormous mug of coffee. I made my way to him and he hardly paid me any attention as I sat with him.

“Been waiting long?” I asked him. He grunted as he stuffed pancakes into his mouth and washed it down with coffee. The waitress, a middle aged woman who actually didn’t look all that bed, placed a mug of coffee in front of me.

“What’ll you have?” She asked.

“Just coffee, thanks.” I said. There was no way that I could eat now. She nodded and sauntered off.

“So,” Bobby said as he swallowed and wiped syrup from his mouth. “What’s so damn important that you have me here at four in the morning?” He asked. I took a deep breath, and told him everything.

“Let me see if I have this straight?” He said as he sipped coffee. “Both of the agencies that you work for have a kill order on you, and you have to kill your other self?

“Well,” I said sheepishly. “Yeah.”

A roaring laugh that seemed to shake the entire diner erupted from him. I looked around and was surprised to find that no one was even looking in our direction. Bobby’s face was beet red and tears were rolling down his cheeks. He was hitting the table and coffee was spilling all over. I thought that he was going to fall out of his chair.

“Look,” I said angrily. “I came to you for help, not for your entertainment and for you to make a spectacle of us.” Saying this just sent him off into another fit of laughter. The waitress came back with a towel and wiped up the table and topped off our coffee.

“I’m sorry, it is just the funniest damn thing I have heard in a while.” He said as he wiped the tears from his eyes. “So, you want my advice?” He asked.

“It would be helpful.” I admitted.

“Alright.” He said as he leaned in conspiratorially. “Here is what we do.” He slid a pocket notebook across the table with a pen. “You write down your account numbers with access codes…” he looked around to make sure no one was looking. “Give me your contact information at both agencies.” I began to write.

“Okay, what for?” I asked.

“We have to move your money into a safe account, then we will get out of here, go to a secluded place, and I will take care of everything.” He said with a grin. “That way you won’t have to kill yourself, I will do it for you.” He erupted into another fit of laughter.

I slammed the pen down, unamused with his so-called plan. Then it hit me. He was exactly right. Not that he should kill me, but that I should kill myself. Well, obviously not myself, but my alternate identities. I just had to figure out how.

“That’s it. I have to kill myself.” I said. Slowly, Bobby stopped laughing and caught his breath.

“Are you mad? I was just kidding you sicko.” He said when his color returned to normal.

“No,” I explained. “Don’t you see? It is the only way for this to work. I have to kill myselves and find a way to confirm that I finished the job.”

From the look on his face, it was evident that he was unsure if I was trying to be funny, or if I was serious. I knew it was the answer. Now I just had to find a way to kill both Simon and Timothy and convince both agencies that they were dead, and it wouldn’t be all that bad of an idea to retire.

“You’re serious?” He asked me. I nodded to him. Another sly smile creased his lips. “Have anyone that you want to kill?” He asked. Several faced flashed in my mind, including his at the moment.

“There are always people who need killing.” I answered.

We left the diner and split up, agreeing to meet at one of his safe houses. I once again followed protocol to ensure that I was not being followed. I compiled names and dossiers of people who could fit the profile given to me, and who needed killing. I was distracted several times thinking about the waitress and my date later that night. After a day like today, I was going to need someone to get my mind, and other things, off the seriousness of the situation.

About an hour later, just as the sun had crest the horizon, I walked into the safe house. There were several more people than I expected to be there. There were four men tied to chairs and blindfolded, a man and a strikingly beautiful woman deeply engrossed in their computers, and Bobby pacing back and forth. He smiled widely when he saw me.

“About time that you got here.” He said. “We have a surprise for you.” He gestured to the four men tied to chairs. “Here are your body doubles.” I then realized that the four men indeed looked just like me. “Go talk to Tonya over there.”

I nodded and did as he said. I give her the information that she asked for; including my bank accounts and contact information at the agencies. She assured me that my money would be safe and had me make phone calls and set up security procedures for accessing the accounts. I felt better after that. My attention was then back on Bobby.

He explained the plan to me. It was quite simple. I would choose two of the tied up men, Tonya would then create some falsified papers for them, they would end up no longer living, and I would be free. It would have to be done just so or the whole thing would blow up in our faces. That however, was where I had a plan and where the fun really began, the game would be set.

Once the papers were created, I would choose one of the men. He will be given his papers, a weapon of his choice, and he would have a 30 minute head start to get away. After 30 minutes, the hunt would begin. Bobby assured me that all four men were from out of town, and none knew the local area. Additionally, I was given the men’s histories and deciding who would be hunted would be all the easier. As he said, these men were in dire need of being removed from the living.

I began to review the files and quickly settled on number 3 being the first to go. The new Timothy Chaser was a child molester who the police had not had the ability to convict. The photos in the file, photos that the police were unable to use in their cases, were clear and unmistakable. He had to go.

The new Timothy was given his papers, and his choice of weapon. He chose a Glock 19. I couldn’t help but laugh at his choice as I hated Glocks. Bobby gave him his instructions and with a pat on the back, sent him off.

As the time passed slowly, I read and reread New Timothy’s file trying to get an idea of where he would go. I quickly was able to construct a profile. I was so anxious to get out there and hunt this guy down. He needed to die.

With just a few minutes left before I began my hunt, I chose my weapons. I chose a Smith and Wesson M&P Shield .380. I also had a few knives in strategic places. As I was about to set out, and just when I thought I had faced all of the surprises that I could face in one day, Bobby dropped the biggest bomb of the day.

“Before you start, there is one more thing that you need to know.” He told me when my hand was on the doorknob. “I am not doing all of this out of the kindness of my own heart.” He explained as I had a sinking feeling. “When all of this is said and done, you work for me.”

His smile made me as uneasy as I felt when I read the messages this morning. I felt the blood drain from my face and my palms start to sweat. I had no response.

“Better get going.” He said. I put my thoughts on the alarming realization of not being able to retire as I had hoped, and set my mind in hunting mode. I gave him a nod, opened the door, and began my stalk.