Chapter 75 The Undercover Agent {1}
"Agent Jacqueline, there's been a new change of plan," Maurice, the special agent in charge said as soon as I walked into his cubicle.
My eyes bulged slightly, what did he mean?
Maurice rubbed his eyes before slapping the file in his hand on the table.
"Agent Drew was on a special assignment which pertains to the investigation of the mafia king, Alexandro. But some days ago, he succumbed into an accident which nearly claimed his life. He's recuperating and had asked that I put you on." Maurice pressed his lips into a thin line.
My heart stirred in jubilation. Finally, I was being given an assignment worthy of an agent. My lips curled up in a worthy smile.
"I understand you're new to this agency but agent Drew brought to memory how tactful and remarkable you were on your last mission with him. Go through this file, you will take a different identity," Maurice paused, clasping his hands before him as I picked the file before him.
Maurice rubbed his temples, looking frazzled. "Look Jacqueline, I know this isn't ideal, but agent Drew vouched for you and we're short-staffed. You are our best bet for getting close to Alexandro."
I blinked my eyes. "I don't understand, I'm supposed to go into the territory of our person of interest dressed as a man?"
"Yes, agent Jacqueline. Your back story which is included in your file would need you to have a tattoo or two. You need to play your role effectively and withdraw every information from his system. Alexandro owns a particular laptop in his care, get close to him - win his trust or probably make him fall for you."
"Fall for me?" The words echoed in my head.
Maybe, I wasn't hearing Maurice's words right. "Why do I have to make him fall for me?"
"Alexandro is into men, young, fine and attractive men and you fit into that perfect description. You just need to sync into your role." Maurice captured a face with his hands.
"Agent Maurice, this was not the sort of assignment that I would willingly accept," I thought to counter.
"What's with the face? I thought you would be ecstatic to take it up." Maurice twitched a brow.
My stomach knotted. Why would I turn down an opportunity to get noticed by the agency?
Agent Maurice has been a seasoned veteran of the secret police agency for over twenty years. He had worked his way up the ranks, earning quite a respectable reputation.
Time and again, I was always never given an opportunity to shine, being that I was the youngest, eager and way too forward by my colleagues.
I should be willing to beat the fact that I wasn't just a loggerhead. I smiled, picking up the USB device on his table.
"I believe once you've retrieved whatever information that are needed in his system. Agent Drew would have fully recovered to pick up from there." Maurice tried a wry smile.
"Understood sir," I returned his smile even though I hated what I was about to go into.
"That will be all."
The rest of the day found me cutting my hair to the style of my new profile. I tinted my hair to a golden brown after I'd asked my artist to tattoo on my upper arm the name of Alexandro Martini, the most rugged mafia lord in all of Premise.
How do I intend to make such a powerful and nonsensical man trust me?
How do I get into his territory?
How do I make him believe me and sound like a man that he might be possibly well interested in?
Our line of work needed us to play any role which were assigned to us, whatever the situation.
I started towards the Mayor's clubhouse when I received a message from Damian, informing me of Alexandro presence in the club. Damian was a colleague assigned to support me, he was an hacker and had been assigned occasionally to Drew on several missions.
I was dressed in a sharp black shirt and sporting a convincing fake beard, I confidently strode up to Alexandro's table. The mafia lord, Alexandro sat on a plush couch, sipping a drink and laughing with his entourage.
I cleared my throat, moving over to the centre of where they sat.
"Please, may I have a word?" I asked while their eyes locked on me.
I must have probably sounded stupid because Alexandro glanced towards the door and back at me. He raised an eyebrow, intrigued, and waved a hand to some of his men who tried to throw me out.
"Speak," Alexandro said, his voice firm but curious. Between his fingers, he smoked a Cuban cigar.
My eyes darted around the room as I clenched my fists while my breath caught in my throat. "Listen, Alexandro, I have reason to believe someone close to you is trying to take you down," I started, my eyes scanning the room, as if searching for potential threats.
Alexandro's face twisted into a sneer as he snorted, "you expects me to believe you? Who are you to barge in here and make some accusations?"
He sucked his cigar and puffed out a thick cloud of smoke from his mouth as he watched me.
I hesitated, as if weighing my options.
"I'd rather not say... Let's just say I have mutual interests with someone who wants to see you safe. You've forever been my number one model way back in high school," I paused, my eyes locked on Alexandro.
Alexandro's snorted. "Save me, from what?"
"From an individual who's trying to kill you," I put in.
A bald headed man dressed in suit walked in with a clean tumbler and placed it in front of Alexandro.
"But be rest assured, I'm willing to help you uncover the traitor......," my voice trailed to a stop.
The air thickened, heavy with unspoken threats as the room's chatter died away, leaving only the soft clicking of ice in glasses.
Alexandro's gaze lingered on me, his expression unreadable. Then, he nodded, a calculated smile spreading across his face. Then he stood up and walked towards me with the alcoholic drink swaying in the depths of his tumbler.
My heart began to thump violently.
"You're lucky I'm in a good spirit. I would have zagged down your throat in an instant. Because I don't believe every foul word you say," he said.
My stomach dropped, but I wasn't giving up here. If I was discovered to be a sham, I could be killed by the mafia lord himself.
Yet, it was better to die trying to prove to him what I'd meant. My mind began to race, I hesitated slightly, my hands trembled as I grabbed the tumbler from him and placed the rim to my lips.
Maybe, this was stupid, I thought to myself as the room began to spin around me.