Story 06 – Part 2 – The Dead of Winter

“Now, Mr. Giovanno,” Agent Michaels said, “Our director would like us to ask you a few precautionary questions. Such as, do you think anyone will try to tail or assassinate you?”

Dev listened from the passenger seat as Jordan pulled away from the terminal. Director Bosere had told them to pick up an important contact, who had been out of the country gaining information. All they had was a last name and a picture. Bosere had given no other information as to who this contact was, aside from someone who could possibly have people after his head. Dev did wonder why Bosere had not sent more agents, but decided that it was probably a trap with them as the bait.

“That would be the day,” Giovanno said with a thick accent, and Driver realized he had missed part of the conversation. “I’ll keep my hat on as you suggested, though.”

Regg and Giovanno soon drifted into some conversation, something that Michaels was good rather good at. Dev leaned back and yawned as Jordan pulled onto the highway. The drive went pretty smoothly the entire time on the highway. When they neared their exit Dev had started playing a video game on his phone, Michaels and Giovanno were complaining about some reality show, and Jordan was humming along with the radio.

“Hmm, oh hey,” Jordan mumbled as they turned onto the main street. “Hey, Driver. If you play that game the whole time you’ll miss the lovely scenery.”

Driver yawned and stretched, looking out the windows. After a little bit of searching, he spotted the cars in the rearview and side mirrors. After enough training, a person could notice a tailer over just a normal motorist. For the most part anyway. These particular tailers were slowly working on blocking off Jordan so they could force him to turn.

“We don’t really want to be late,” Dev said. “Take any shortcut you feel like.”

“You’re paying for my next paint job,” Jordan warned.

“So long as it isn’t neon green again.”

“The official color was something-grass, but I say it’s lime.”

Jordan pulled a sudden right, cutting off several cars as he picked up speed. Giovanno slid down in his seat a little, but looked pretty calm. Regg twisted around to watch the back windows while Dev quickly sent a brief text to Bosere. All it said was ‘taking short cut,’ but that was going to be more then enough. Even though Bosere had a bad habit of not giving all of the information of an assignment, Driver knew he was pretty good at putting the pieces together.

When they had gone to the freelancers to borrow Jordan and his car, they had briefly gone over an emergency route. Route was not the correct word. There was not a specific path but more like a general area that the agency liked car chases to go through. It was actually a good thing that Jordan’s car was more identifiable. Driver just hoped that none of the roads were going to be iced over.

“So, who’s after you again?” Dev asked.

“Don’t you mean, who is not?” Giovanno asked wryly. “I come once a year to report and have many enemies. More than you will ever have I am sure.”

“I’ll let you keep that rank,” Dev remarked as he made sure his seatbelt was secure.

“Now this is the ultimate video game,” Jordan said as he whipped his car around a corner.

“Except you don’t have a continue,” Regg mumbled.

Jordan should have been a stunt driver. Even though he technically had only one hand, he still drove a standard with ease. It was almost as bad as Owens’ driving. The only difference was that Owens drove like that all the time while Jordan only was crazy when the situation called for it. Dev was really glad he did not have motion sickness like his wife. This was both better and yet worse then any roller coaster ride

“So, how long you want me to drive in circles?” Jordan asked as he pulled a one-eighty, whiplashing his passengers.

“As long as it takes to get to that one place,” Dev told him. “I’d like to be in one piece when that happens. Just to let you know.”