Chapter 3: One on one

The hidden compartments that she wanted build around the house for her weapon was almost done when she heard her doorbell rang. Wondering who it is, she walked to the small closet just under the stairs and opened it. Inside was a desktop computer with a 17” monitor. The picture currently showing in the screen is divided into four cameras. One in her front yard that shows who’s in her gate, another is in the backyard and the other two are located in opposite end of the road. She made sure that nobody could tell whether there are cameras attached to the pole located at both end of the road. People might think that she’s paranoid if they see this part of her house but she didn’t care because right now she has a reason to be paranoid.

The doorbell rang again and when she looked at the monitor and saw that it was Justin outside her gate. She told him that she’s coming through the intercom attached on the wall near the computer. She closed the door on her way out and made sure that it was locked before she answers the door.

“Hey Justin, come on in” she motioned for him to come through before locking the gate.

“Do you want something to drink?” she asked him while getting a glass of water from the fridge.

“I’ll take a juice please” he sat by the counter and looked at the guy drilling under the middle island of her kitchen. “What is he doing?” he asked her.

“Oh uhm I asked him to build some compartment for utensils” she shrugged. “What’s up Justin?”

“Well the cook out is tomorrow and I thought you would want to go with me to the store to pick up everything that we needed”

“Okay, I’m going to get ready so feel at home” she turned to the guy working on her island before leaving. “Excuse me, how long do you still have before everything is finished?”

The guy looked up at her and stopped what he was doing before he answers. “I’ll be finish within 30 minutes”

“Okay, thank you.” She told Justin she’ll be right back before heading upstairs to get ready. She wore baggy jeans with a red shirt and a baseball cap she figured it’s good enough attire for the grocery store. She grabbed her small bag from the chair beside the body mirror and checked to see her wallet and keys inside together with her badge. She didn’t think she’d need it but just in case. Then she straps her berretta tomcat in her left ankle to conceal it. She made her way downstairs a few moments later where she found Justin in the den watching sponge bob square pants. Before she could say anything, the guy called her to the living room.

“Everything is finished. Do you want me to show you how everything works?” he told her as soon as they were face to face. He then led her to all the parts of the house where he built the compartment explaining how everything works. When they were done she paid the man for his service and let him out of the gate before going back in the den.

“Are you ready to go?” Justin asked her as soon as she entered the den.

“Yea ready if you are” she said by the door. He got up and switched the television off. He started making his way towards her when he tripped from the throw pillow that was left on the floor. Gabby laughed at him while he picked himself up.

“That was smooth” she commented with a little laugh.

They took her car to the store since Justin walked to her house from his. The store wasn’t overly crowded so they bought everything they needed from plastic cups to all the ingredients for the food. Before they could leave the store, Justin noticed a few paparazzi lurking around outside waiting to spot a celebrity that will come out of the grocery store.

“Just to give you a heads up, there are photographers outside” he told her. He’s not sure how she’s going to re act at this part of his life but he’s hoping she wouldn’t run away. She didn’t say anything to him; she just looked outside then took off her cap so that she could untie her hair to cover her face then she placed her cap back on top of her head pulling it lower to cover her face more. Justin didn’t know why but that struck him as odd since she’s not the celebrity but he shrugged it and they left the store. As soon as they stepped outside the photographers scrambled to get their picture.  

“Justin this way” one photographer shouted amongst the throngs of the people that gathered around them.

“Who is she Justin?” another one called out.

“Justin just one picture”

Gabby heard the photographers asking about her and she could see flashes of the camera in front of her so she retreated more behind Justin and lower her head to the point that she can only follow Justin’s feet to know where they’re going. They reach the car a few moments later and they put all the stuff that they bought from the store.

“I’m sorry about that” Justin said when they’re both sitting inside the car. “But I thank you for not running the other way. I know being my friend would be hard at times like this but I hope you’d still want to be mine”

She looked at him before saying anything and as she’s staring at him all she could think about is how easy it is to fall in love with him. But the other thing that followed that thought is that she has to do everything in her power not to fall for him. “Like I said Justin, it’s still too early to set your mind about wanting me in your life”

“I don’t get it. What is it you’re not telling me?” he asked with his brow furrowed at her.

“A lot” was the only thing she answered before he started the car to go back to his house.

“Wow! Is that your house?” she asked astonished at the size of his home. “Damn”

“Oh yea, this is the first time you’ve been to my house. Well welcome to my home” he entered the code to open his gate and parked her car in front of his. They unload the trunk and Justin led her to his kitchen. Along the way, Gabby couldn’t help but look around. The house is big and everything inside it is state of the art and beautiful. His kitchen kind of look like hers only bigger, prettier and it also leads through his pool area.

He started getting everything out of the grocery bag to put it in the fridge. She went to help him with the task but on her way over she bumped in to the counter knocking a bottle of beer over spilling the contents.

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry. I’m clumsy just so you know” she righted the bottle and gets something to wipe the spill. Justin didn’t say anything but laughed. His land line on the counter started ringing near Gabby and Justin is busy arranging the stuff they bought.

“Could you please get that?” he said to her from the fridge. She reached over pick up the phone on its third ring hoping that it’s not his mother.

“Hello, Justin’s phone” she said to the handset.

“Hi, can I speak to Justin please. It’s Jessica” the caller on the other end said.

“Hold on please” she gave Justin the phone telling him who’s on the other end and she saw when his face turned in to confusion as if to say ‘why is she calling me?’ but he took the phone anyway from her.

“I’ll look around” she told him before he could start speaking on the phone. She proceeded to walk around the house living him to his phone call. She saw his pictures with his family and his friends and it showed how happy he is in those pictures. In a way, she kind of envy him and right now all she could think about is how unfair it is that she doesn’t have that in her life. She picked up one particular picture with a gold frame. It shows Justin with his brother and both have a huge grin on their faces and she couldn’t help but remember her own brother.

Justin finished his phone call and also finished putting everything away. He went to find Gabby and he found her looking at one of his picture but what struck him was she was crying while tracing a finger on the photo. This girl is a mystery to him and the more he’s with her, the more he wanted to find out everything about her. So far he sees her as a girl who doesn’t seem to give her trust easily to anyone and a girl who seems to have the weight of the world on her shoulder. He approached her slowly so that he wouldn’t startle her.

“Are you okay?” he asked her when he’s near enough and he doesn’t have to raise his voice.

“Yea, sorry I just remembered something” she wiped her eyes before turning to face him. One thing she hates is people seeing her cry and the guy standing in front of her is no exception.

“So what time do you want me to come over to prepare for tomorrow?” she asked instead.

“Well the guest are gonna be arriving around half one so if we’re cooking something else besides barbecue we have to start early. If you want we could hang out tonight and then you can crash here afterwards” he suggested to her.

“My house is only a block away I don’t need to do that. Besides I don’t wanna impose on anything”

“I’m not doing anything tonight besides we could have that time to get to know each other more” he grinned at her.

“Fine, at least I don’t have to worry about waking up super early to get ready, come over here, and prepare the ingredients and cook. But I need to go home first and get some change of clothes”

“Okay I’ll let you out but I’m gonna have a shower so when you come back all you have to do is enter the code on the gate and I’ll leave the front door open. The code is 3010, just punch it in and the gate will open” he let her out of the gate then came back inside the house to take a shower.

Gabby reached her house within 20 minutes. She checked the new compartments that were built earlier then she went upstairs in her room and took the black suitcase out from underneath her bed. If a person were to see what was inside the case they would immediately classified it as arson. She took all the different guns and ammos inside and she went to the built in compartment one by one and divided the weapon accordingly. She went to take a shower and packed an over night bag with the clothes that she’ll need for tomorrow and her toiletries. On the side lining of her duffle bag, she put extra tomcat ammo just in case she needs it and put her favourite tomcat on her ankle for easy access. She checked all the doors and windows of her house and then activated the house alarm before finally leaving the property.

While walking to Justin’s house since she left her car at his place, she couldn’t help but feel like someone is following her. She casually looks around and behind her while still walking forward. When she didn’t see anyone behind her she continued walking on but still listening to her environment at the same time. She entered the code to Justin’s gate and went inside. She heard him singing upstairs and it looks like he’s in his bedroom so she went to the fridge to get a drink. While getting a drink her phone started ringing from her bag that she put on the couch.

“Hello?” she answered at the same time she saw Justin coming down the stairs. She signalled him for one moment and then got back to her phone call.

“Special agent Lawson this is Special agent Blake I’m here to detail your first assignment”

“Go ahead”

“There’s going to be a trade of high class weaponry between the Onyx group from Chicago and Lobregat group from Italy next week Wednesday, the 20th. Now we know you’ll be meeting with your partner Mr Lyle on Monday for the first time, corret?” he asked her.

“Yes”

“Okay, he’ll be bringing you in the papers with a more specific detail of the mission but what comes down to it is you have to prevent the exchange from happening at all cost. Is there any question? If you can’t speak freely, I understand French” he offered to her hoping she’ll get what he means.

“Qu'est-ce que vous voulez dire, à tout prix? Puis-vous, s'il vous plaît préciser un peu plus? (What do you mean at all cost? Can you please elaborate more?)” She asked. She noticed Justin turned in her direction when she spoke in a foreign language but she just smiled at him and continued her conversation.

“Let’s put it this way agent Lawson, killing everyone that involves in that exchange is okay. You’re working in a Black ops division of the US government now, start thinking that you could do anything to have a successful mission. Do you understand?”

“Oui, Lyle agent a été bref à propos de cette mission? (Yes, has agent Lyle been brief about this mission?) she asked instead.

“He’s on his way now and he’ll be brief when he arrives. Now if you have other questions you could call anytime”

“Thank you” they both hang up the phone when everything has been said. Gabby put her phone on the coffee table then sat down beside Justin on the sofa.

“You speak French?” he asked her as soon as she sat beside him. “That was French right?”

She laughed at his expression when he asked her that. “Yes, that was French”

“Wow you speak two languages. I don’t know whether to be impress or intimidated” he had a thoughtful look on his face when he said this.

“21 actually” she laughed even more when his uncertainty about her changed in to shock after she corrected him.

“21? Are you sure? I mean… 21!”

“It’s not a big deal, I’ve been learning since I was 13 and it builds up through the years. Now I’m learning how to speak Japanese and it’s really fun”

“Why do you need to learn this much language?” he faced her on the couch waiting for her to answer his question.

“It’s required for my work. I handle foreign clients most of the time and I found that it’s an advantage when you understand and speak their language, plus you also get their respect” she explained.

“Wow, I never thought I’d meet someone who could actually speak more than 3 foreign languages. What does your boyfriend think about you being this smart?” he suddenly asks catching her off guard.

“Justin I told you I don’t have a boyfriend”

“And again I ask, why not? You’re a beautiful girl and clearly smart. Why wouldn’t a guy date you? Don’t tell me you haven’t had a boyfriend before” he raised his eyebrow at her when he made this statement.

“I’ve had boyfriends in the past but they don’t work out. They either cheat or break up with me for no apparent reason and cheating is one thing I don’t condone or forgive. Now I just simply can’t find one guy who wouldn’t do that” she explained to him.

“You’re not exactly open you know?” he waited for her reaction to what he said hoping that she wouldn’t get mad.

“I know that but even a psychopathic killer don’t say ‘hi I’m a psycho wanna date’?” he just laughed at what she said but she has a point.

“You’re picky when it comes to the guys you want to date don’t you?”

“I guess but to be honest I’m the same as other girls. Looking for my prince but unfortunately likes other girls, I find out that prince charming doesn’t exist in reality” she looked at him straight in the eyes when she said that.

“Hey I could be a prince” he murmured innocently and was startled when Gabby burst out laughing.

“Right and the next thing you’ll tell me you have your crown hidden at the bottom of your sock drawer” she teased.

“No it’s underneath my bed” he teased back. “But seriously I know the world is full of jerks but prince charming still exist and I hate to state the obvious but I can be your prince” his blue eyes found her brown ones and held them while speaking. But after a few minutes she looked away.

“When the time comes I’ll tell you all about myself and then you can tell me everything you’re telling me now, assuming that your mind doesn’t change. But I’m going to apologise now for involving you with me to begin with”

“Okay. I know I should ask but I’m not. I’m just going to wait for the time that you could tell me everything and I don’t think you could tell me anything that could make me run the other way”

“We’ll see”