Handler XX: Stock Maestro-Chapter 18: Trap

Trent groaned, stretching as he turned to her side of the bed

"You’re up already?" He asked sluggishly

"Yeah"

He looked at her face closely as the tiredness faded off his eyes. She looked serious and beautiful at the same time.

"What’s got you all worked up?"

She turned to him,

"The mission— something feels off"

So she could feel it too, huh? It was definitely weird that they got teamed up with the NIA.

And knowing they are a threat to him for some unknown reason just puts him on edge.

"You feel it too, huh? It’s definitely weird" he sat upright on the bed.

"Let’s get this over with and go for some ice cream or something" he chuckled.

"That’s a death flag, dude. Makes it worse" She scoffed, "Ice cream, huh?"

The look on her face switched from worry to sadness.

"When do we move into the house?"

"Tomorrow— it should be ready by today"

"I’ve not been to the eatery for a while" she muttered

It’s been very stressful days.

They took turns in the bathroom and prepared to head for base.

_____________

As they stepped into the reception room, Scarlet rushed towards them.

What was she doing here this early?

"Do you know her?" Marie asked seeing the surprise on his face

"Y–Yeah"

"The excellent prospect I told you about..."

"Good morning, Boss" Scarlet greeted as she got to them, "Good morning, Ma’am" she bowed to Marie

"This is Yenifer Serta— my Secretary" Trent introduced her,

"This is my wife, Marie"

Yenifer and Marie exchanged greetings while Trent checked his phone for the time. 7:27 am

"Uhmm... Boss?"

"What’s the problem?" Trent raised his brow to look at her from his phone.

Marie looked at Yenifer— she seemed to want to talk private. She walked away towards the car to let them talk.

"What’s the problem, Miss Serta?"

Yenifer exhaled as she watched Marie leave.

"The mission you’re going to be assigned— it’s a trap"

"A trap?"

"Think about it... How do you think we knew about Gentely and acted back?"

Gentely’s death and the death of that Senator as a message was certainly suspicious. He’d just thought of it as a high level of intelligence on Kraven’s part.

"A spy, huh?" He held his chin up.

"Who’s the spy?"

Yenifer chuckled, "Use your brain on that one. You’re a genius, right?"

"I have two people in mind" Trent looked at her.

Anton and Newton— Anton with the Princess of Kraven was definitely suspicious, plus the woman on the call seemed to know about him

Newton was acting suspicious, and the picture with the Kraven Intelligence was definitely proof but he needed more.

Yenifer cleared her throat, "I wanted to ask..."

"Ask what? Don’t play games with me, Scarlet..." Trent said, frustrated.

"How much do I get paid?"

"As your Secretary and all"

He looked at her. He could definitely see himself punching her crooked spy face if he wasn’t a gentleman.

"Well, it’s necessary..." He thought for moment.

"20 grand a month"

"What? Such pennies..."

"Is this how you want to run your company?" She scoffed.

"It’s MY company... more details about the mission"

"I know it’s a trap— the Madam says you’ll see how it goes and I’ll be watching your back"

"Alright. You’ve wasted my time enough, bye"

He walked to the car and entered the passenger’s seat as Marie was already seated to drive.

_______________

They walked straight to the briefing room as they got to base,

"Good morning, Newton" Marie greeted as they entered.

"Good morning, Mrs. Marie..."

"Trent" Newton nodded towards him

What’s so good about the morning?

"Good morning" he murmured.

"Where’s Anton?" He searched around the room

"He’s been assigned a mission— it’s classified" Newton stood up from his seat.

Right... Were they in on this together?

"So, what’s this mission that has us waking up so early? I couldn’t sleep well"

"Apologies" Newton replied, pressing the TV remote to display a picture.

"This is Dewt Conley" he introduced the man on the screen,

"Criminal Mastermind and Leader of a terrorist group— Stars Union"

"An elimination job? Can’t the NIA do that alone?" Trent asked.

"Not elimination— Protection. Mr Conley has sought our protection after being betrayed by his deputy, Renly Tener"

He displayed another picture.

"Why are we protecting a terrorist? Isn’t it better if they destroy themselves?" Marie asked.

"Conley has valuable information and we’re sending you guys with the NIA as our eyes. You see what they did about the Yolaf mission"

Marie glanced at Trent. Their eyes met and shifted to Newton. He hadn’t even given them to process the Yolaf mission and now this?

So much for Loyalty to the State.

"You’ll meet our NIA friends outside the city— You’ll all head into Von to secure Dewt Conley"

"You get the road trip to Von earlier, huh?" Marie chuckled, turning to Trent.

Newton looked at them silently for a while.

"Get ready to leave— there’s an SUV outside for use, so you don’t ruin your car just in case"

A new car, huh? He didn’t ask Angela the specifics of what she did on the car. Well, they shouldn’t be able to trace it since she’s so good.

"Alright, Chief" Trent smiled at Newton as they stood up to leave.

____________

"Do you still feel uneasy?" Trent glanced at Marie as she stared outside the window as he drove.

"I know it’s part of the job— it just bothers me weirdly"

Good instincts. It’s nice that she can feel it but he didn’t want to get her worked up.

He took a deep breath, "We’ll survive"

"It’s so quiet in here— let’s see what they’ve got" he reached for the stereo

"No— the quiet calms my mind" she stopped him.

"Alrighty— as long as you’re alright"

They drove to the location and the Agents got in— guys he did recognize but not completely NIA.

Codename, Bison— NIA

Codename, Bleu— Kraven’s Intelligence

Fuck... Both sides?

Trent adjusted himself as they entered the car, smiling at them. Marie just watched them enter quietly.

The two hours ride to Von was quiet as they just pressed their phones and occasionally checked their guns.

Bleu had the habit of dismantling his pistol and coupling it back. While Bison mostly listened to his earphones.

Trent looked at the navigation, "Durk City, yeah?" He asked raising his head to look at the sign as they entered the city.

"There’s a cafe straight inside the town that the bastard likes" Bison spoke referring to Dewt Conley.

"A cafe? Isn’t that too open?" Marie turned sharply to them.

"Show of power or something— I don’t really care" Bleu glared at her.

Trent drove straight into the city, eyes scanning for the cafe.

His phone buzzed as he sighted the cafe— a message from an unknown number.

SEVEN SEAS CAFE. DEATH ZONE

With a wink emoji. Definitely Scarlet.

_____________

As they got down from the car, Trent walked up to Marie,

"Are you alright?" He grabbed her hand, making her stop.

Bleu and Bison walked off towards the Cafe before them.

Marie broke his grip from her hand, "I’m alright" she snapped at him.

"Don’t order when we get in. When I wink, go to the counter."

"What?"

She looked at his face— very serious, like they were in danger.

"What’s happening, Trent?" She whispered

"Listen to me once, wife. Just this time" he smiled, acting to dust her clothes and took her bag.

"Alright" she muttered and walked along with him.

They walked into the cafe— the agents were already seated at the far end of the place with Dewt Conley.

They stopped their conversation when they sighted them walk closer.

"The couple?" Dewt laughed asking Bleu. "It’s nice to meet you guys" he stood up for a handshake with Trent

"Order something"

"We’ll hold off on that, thank you" Marie replied as she took her seat.

Trent’s phone buzzed with a notification as he was about to sit.

"Sorry... I’ve got business to run" he chuckled pulling his phone out of his pocket.

2 MINS LEFT, GENIUS... TRY BATHROOM.

With a demon smiley face emoji this time.

He glanced at Dewt and the agents who were focused on their meal with Dewt talking. He winked at Marie, who was waiting for the signal.

"I’ll just get something to eat— I didn’t have enough this morning" Marie said as she stood up.

"You should eat well, Madam. Build some fat for those skinny bones" Dewt laughed

Trent glared at him. He held himself back from launching a fist at his face.

"I love her like that, Mr. Dewt"

"I can’t stop thinking of some action time... If you know what I mean" he winked at Dewt playfully

Dewt burst into laughter, "Everyone with their choice" he raised his glass of beer.

"Permit me to use to bathroom for a while" Trent smiled.

"You and the wife can use it as much as you want— I’m a friend to the owner" Dewt laughed with a grin.

Trent walked up to Marie and grabbed her waist. "Act well" he whispered as his hands landed.

She smiled, making sure they saw her reaction.

They walked into the bathroom, locked the door and Trent flung the windows open— the rails had been cut

"We’ll climb out"

"What’s happening" Marie asked, staring at him.

"It’s a trap— we’re going to be killed"

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