Tag: amwriting

FLASHBACK INSTALMENT:

Hannah Carmichael stared out the window as farms zipped by. Stephanie Winchester was sitting in the seat next to her, listening to music. They had been assigned as roommates in the first week of training and had become fast friends.

Stephanie looked over to the window and caught Hannah’s eye, smiling and shaking her head.

“There is beautiful scenery and we only get to see it for half a second.” She rolled her eyes and pulled a face. Hannah laughed,

“We aren’t here for the scenery Steph.”

Stephanie shrugged and turned back to their instructor at the front of the bus, headphones still in one ear.

“Carmichael, Winchester, are you listening?” The instructor asked. Trevor was tall and leaning against the empty chair in front of him.

“Yes Sir,” they answered in unison. Trevor continued with the brief for their training session that afternoon. They were going to a building five hours away which was supposedly abandoned with terrorists hiding inside. Hannah rolled her eyes, the training was getting monotonous.

She looked over to where Ian Longford was sitting in the chair across the way with Elizabeth Smith. Hannah and Ian had been flirting since the beginning of training four months ago, but nothing had happened.

Yet.

The bus lurched forward and Hannah and Stephanie braced themselves on the chair in front of them. Trevor shouted orders for them to move into the command tent for a briefing.

Hannah moved with the rest of the trainees into the command centre where Debbie was waiting. Debbie was her favorite trainer and she smiled as they entered and picked up their coms from the gear table to her left.

“Trainees,” Debbie waited for murmurs to die down then reached behind her, pulling a sheet off the other table in the tent. Whistles and cheers erupted as modified weapons were revealed.

“These are your weapons for today’s drill.” Debbie said above the noise. “They have been modified to shoot pellets, not bullets.”

Groans were heard from some trainees and Debbie chuckled.

“If you like, we can go back to the laser modified weapons.” People shook their heads and Debbie motioned for them to collect a weapon. Hannah selected her weapon and stepped back, awaiting further instructions.

“According to intel, there are twelve terrorist suspects and fifteen hostages inside the building.” She motioned towards the abandoned office building. “We need A Team to enter through the front, B Team at the back and,” Debbie paused as giggles from the back of the group sounded. She sighed and stared at Jonathan and Simon, the twins. They shrunk back and Debbie cleared her throat.

“And C Team will enter from the roof. You received your Team allocations on the bus, so please find your teammates and head towards your Team leaders out front of the building.”

Hannah turned and moved towards Elizabeth, smiling as they walked together towards their A Team leader. Stephanie passed them and winked at Hannah as she moved to B Team.

Trevor waited for A Team at the front of the building, tapping his foot.

“We need to breach this building now. There are hostages inside. Do you want them to get back to their families?”

The A Team sounded with ‘No Sir’ and hurried into position as Trevor went over basics. Beside her, Hannah saw Cara Stone staring at Elizabeth with a scowl. Hannah nudged Elizabeth and lowered her voice to a whisper,

“What’s her deal?” She asked. Elizabeth looked over to Cara and sighed,

“Just a silly misunderstanding,” she shrugged. “Don’t worry about it.”

Hannah turned back to Trevor and prepared to enter the building. They were counted down and Trevor opened the front door, motioning for A Team to enter.

Hannah cleared floors One, then Two, then Three.

Jonathan moved up next to Hannah and tapped her on the shoulder. She turned and he signalled that there was movement towards their left.

Hannah followed him into the hallway and positioned herself on one side of the door to an office. B Team came up behind them and Stephanie bumped into Hannah. She smiled as she moved across the hall to the opposite side of the door.

They paused as sounds of a scuffle were heard inside the office. Hannah raised her hand and counted them down from three and they entered.

Cara Stone was standing over a barely conscious Elizabeth, kicking her side again and again.

“Cara!?” Hannah yelled as agents ran to pull Cara into the hallway. Hannah felt frozen in the doorway as Stephanie moved forward and checked Elizabeth’s vitals. She glanced up,

“I’ve got a pulse! Get a paramedic in here!”

---

Want to find out what happens to Hannah after TEN? The next instalment is due to come Thursday 20th September!!

TEN

In the Last Instalment:
Hannah’s mother, Evelyn Carmichael – a traitor, breached Hannah’s agency and blew up an elevator, escaping inside the building. After a mysterious drive she thinks Hannah and her agency have, Evelyn searched the building and narrowly escaped. However, her associate did not. With the associate in custody, will Hannah get answers on what Evelyn is up to? What is on the drive? How is she going to use it?
Zeke, Hannah’s husband, has been missing for 11 days and after seeing him briefly with an agent of Cara Stone, a former trainee for Hannah’s agency, he disappeared again. Where did he go? How did he escape the flying bullets unharmed, and is he who she thinks he is? She has been warned that he is more than he seems, so is he? How does Zeke fit into Evelyn’s plans?
Find out answers in TEN – with new mysteries to explore after the break!

Hannah watched through the two way mirror into the interrogation room. They had run the prints of Evelyn’s associate and identified him as David Donohue, a man for hire. Ian had been with him for over three hours without success.
Stephanie opened the door to the viewing room and moved beside Hannah.
“Anything yet?” she asked. Hannah shook her head,
“No.” She said as Ian walked over and pulled down the blinds.
Hannah sighed and shook her head. This interrogation tactic always left a bad taste in her mouth. She turned and opened the door,
“What are you doing?” Stephanie asked, trailing behind her. Hannah moved into the hall and knocked on the interrogation room door.
“I’m going to get answers,” she turned and raised an eyebrow. “The right way.”
Ian opened the door and frowned,
“What?” he asked, his tone sharp. Hannah raised her eyebrows and he shrunk back. She was his superior after all.
“Take a break,” she said, motioning away from the room. Ian started to speak then stopped and shrugged, moving past her. Stephanie entered the room behind Hannah and closed the door as Hannah took a seat opposite David.
They sat silently for a moment, staring at each other without flinching. Hannah smiled,
“Mr Donohue. I’m fully aware that you aren’t planning on answering any questions.” Hannah paused and looked over to where Stephanie was leaning against the wall.
“But my associate over there doesn’t like silence.” Stephanie smiled and shrugged.
“So I’m going to skip ahead of the offers of deals. Let’s face it,” Hannah paused and chuckled.
“They aren’t going to happen anyway.”
David raised his eyebrows, the first movement since he had entered the room.
“Honesty? Refreshing.” David said quietly, shifting slightly in his seat.
“Yes.” Hannah leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest.
“If you’ve been working for Evelyn for a while, you would know as well as I do that she isn’t going to come for you.”
David shrugged at Hannah’s observation and she smiled.
“From what I hear, she sacrificed you to get out of the building.” Hannah smiled slightly as David let a flash of betrayal through his defence walls.
“So I’m going to come at this another way. You know who I am,” Hannah paused and waited for David to nod. “I know Evelyn, more than anyone else in this building.” Hannah motioned towards Stephanie and leaned forward.
“So trust me when I say that you have only a small window before Evelyn makes sure you aren’t a loose end.”
David swallowed hard and kept staring at Hannah. She glanced at her watch and clicked her tongue.
“Time is ticking.” Looking back up at David, she smiled softly. “The only ‘deal’ that I can actually get you, is to protect you from Evelyn in solitary.” Hannah stood and pushed her chair back.
“So unless you tell me what Evelyn wants with the drive, I would be saying my final prayers.” Hannah moved towards the door and Stephanie opened it, spreading out her palm to motion for Hannah to leave first.
“Wait,” David said calmly. Hannah smiled and turned,
“The drive has plans on it.” David sighed and Hannah sat again, interlacing her fingers.
“Plans for what?” She asked as Stephanie moved out of the room, closing the door behind her.
“She’s planning an attack. All I know, is that she needs them by next Friday.”
Hannah exhaled and nodded, standing and moving to the door. As she turned the knob, she looked over her shoulder,
“Where is Zeke?” She asked quietly. David looked up, frowning.
“You really don’t know, do you?” He asked, shaking his head.
Darkness filled the room and the emergency alarm sounded. Hannah opened the door fully to see agents running past in the hallway. She heard David pulling at his cuffs and turned. They were still attached to the table and Hannah closed the door, grabbing an agent.
“Guard that room!” She shouted above the alarm. Running towards the war room, Hannah passed Stephanie and doubled back.
“What’s going on?” Hannah asked as they ran, trying to be heard above the noise.
“Someone cut the power and got in without tripping the alarm!” Stephanie yelled back as they turned the corner. The main space of their floor was in chaos with agents yelling and running towards the weapons room. The emergency generator kicked over and the secondary lights flickered on.
The sudden sounds of windows shattering was deafening and Hannah ducked out of instinct. Gun fire and shouts filled the room as armour covered men and women breached the fourteenth floor.
Hannah felt Stephanie pushing a gun into her hand and she turned, smiling at her friend. They nodded at each other and split up, aiming and firing at the intruders.
Hannah ducked behind a desk and breathed deeply before reaching up and aiming at the closest enemy.
“Agent Anderson they’re scattering!” The sound of her husband’s last name distracted her and she swung to her left.
Through a helmet, Hannah saw Zeke pointing and shouting orders. He turned and paused when he saw her.
“Zeke?”

---

IN TWO WEEKS HANNAH WILL RETURN!

Tune in Thursday’s for more adventures with the Hannah Carmichael Chronicles – And watch out for the Flashback instalment soon!

NINE

In The Last Instalment

Evelyn and some of her agents breached Hannah’s agency headquarters. They made their way into the elevator and seemed trapped, but when Hannah got a better camera angle inside, she saw Evelyn’s associate preparing an explosive device. Hannah’s boss made his way with several agents to get inside the elevator but as Hannah sees the clock ticking down she runs to warn him. An explosion hits the building. Did Anthony make it? Did Evelyn escape? Where is the drive Evelyn is after?

---

The concrete floor was cold as Hannah braced her fall. Her ears were ringing and sounds were muted around her. The distant echo of the building alarm pounded in her ears as she looked up.
Agents were scattered in the hallway and several more came running around the corner. Lights and sounds came into focus and she pushed herself up off the floor.
The elevator door had been partially blown open and other agents were positioning themselves in front of it. Hannah took a few deep breaths then reached for her weapon, pulling it out and aiming it at the door opening.
“Evelyn Carmichael, slowly exit the elevator with your hands up!” Ian shouted towards the hanging metal box.
With no movement, Ian repeated his command and looked over to Hannah, shrugging. She rolled her eyes and took a step closer.
“Mother?” She asked, cautiously advancing. With no reply, Hannah nodded to the agents at the doors. They pried them open and Hannah stood in the middle of the entry. Nothing.
Evelyn and her agent were gone. Hannah took a step closer and felt a hand on her arm. Anthony was standing with his right hand over an open wound on his left arm.
“It’s not stable.” He said, shaking his head. Hannah sighed and looked back into the elevator. She glanced back at Anthony and smiled, shrugging.
Turning back into the elevator, Hannah stepped inside gently. She heard Anthony yelling at her to get out but she remained inside, aiming her gun towards the open roof panel above her.
The explosion had blown the primary cables but had missed the secured secondary ones. Hannah turned back to Anthony and shook her head,
“They’re inside the building.” She said, letting her weapon fall to her side. Anthony turned and yelled orders at agents to search the building as Hannah exited the elevator.
“Where is Agent Winchester?” Anthony asked. Hannah had forgotten about Stephanie.
“She’s with the search party on the Cara Stone location.” Ian replied before turning back to his team. Hannah exhaled, relieved.
“Hannah, you know Evelyn better than anyone.” Anthony said, pushing away an agent attempting to address his wound. “Where would she go?” he asked.
Hannah took a deep breath and closed her eyes, mentally running through the blueprints of the building.
“Hannah?” Stephanie’s voice pulled her out as she turned to see her friend racing towards her. She threw her arms around Hannah and they hugged briefly.
“I came back when I heard the alarm.” Stephanie said, turning to Anthony.
“Sir? Teams are still searching the location but they are mostly residential buildings.” Stephanie said before turning back to Hannah. “Where do you think Evelyn is?”
Hannah sighed and shook her head,
“I don’t know. I have to assume she knows the layout, so it’s just where she thinks we’ve stored the drive.” Hannah turned and started walking. Stephanie, Anthony and other agents following her as she turned the corner towards the main computer room. The door was open and she reached back to Stephanie, pushing her against the wall.
“Do we have agents in there?” Hannah whispered to Anthony who had also pushed himself and the other agents against the wall. He shook his head and she nodded, pulling out her weapon. Next to her Stephanie pulled out hers and flipped to the opposite side of the door.
They stood and listened for a brief moment before sounds of rummaging came through. Stephanie nodded and Hannah turned to Anthony, giving inaudible signals for their coordinated breach.
Hannah took a breath and mouthed the countdown.
Three, Two, One.
Stephanie moved first, shouting orders of surrender. Hannah moved behind her and they swept the room from opposite sides. Shots fired from her left at Stephanie’s location and Hannah glanced behind her where backup continued her sweep.
Hannah moved to where Stephanie stood over Evelyn’s associate. Agents ran out of the room after her mother. Stephanie’s gun was pushed into the man’s face and Hannah lowered her weapon.
Anthony rushed into the room as Hannah was cuffing Evelyn’s agent.
”We lost her,” he said through breaths. Hannah smiled as Stephanie pulled the man up and shoved him towards the door.
“Ok,” Hannah said. “But we’ve got him.”

---

See You in the Adventures!
Christy Grace

EIGHT

In The Last Instalment:

The lead to Zeke’s location is a single phone number printed on a business card. Hannah, Stephanie and Ian go back to their agency headquarters. When Hannah calls the number they discover it belongs to Cara Stone, a former trainee who was kicked out of the program for attacking another trainee. Before she hangs up, Cara asks how Zeke could have escaped without being injured. As the team prepares to chase Cara’s location to two city blocks, the alarm for the office sounds. There is a perimeter breach at their headquarters. Who set off the alarm? Hannah confirmed to her boss that they know the location of what Evelyn is chasing – where is it and what is it? Where did Zeke go? Is he who Hannah thinks he is?

“Pull up the cameras!” Hannah yelled, moving to the main computer. The camera views popped up and she put them onto the big board. The sight of Evelyn Carmichael and five unknown men entering the parking garage came on screen.
“Get agents in the parking garage now!” Stephanie yelled, running out of the war room with several agents behind her. Hannah watched as shots took down two agents of each side.
Hannah heard Anthony enter the room behind her and she turned. His face was red and he was breathing heavily, hand on his hip holster.
“Where are we?” He asked, watching the screen as he moved next to her.
“Evelyn and five assailants have breached the parking garage. Two of ours and two of hers are down.” Hannah turned back to the screen where Evelyn and one of her men moved past the remaining agents and entered the elevator alone.
Hannah turned to their tech guy,
“Spencer, shut down the elevator!” She yelled, turning and pulling up the elevator camera. Hannah watched as the lights clicked off and Evelyn braced herself on the wall. The emergency light flicked on and Evelyn looked up, finding their camera.
“Hannah Dear,” Hannah moved to the microphone leading into the elevator.
“Mother, you really should have called first.”
Evelyn smiled and whispered to her companion. He moved into the blind spot of the elevator and Hannah turned off the microphone, turning to Spencer.
“Have we got another angle in there?” she asked. Spencer shook his head then raised his eyebrows and put up his index finger. As he typed on his laptop Hannah turned back to the screen.
“I’m going to find it.” Evelyn said, her cold tone contradicting the smile on her face.
“Where is Zeke?” Hannah asked, glancing back at Spencer, still typing. In the elevator Evelyn frowned and tilted her head slightly.
“I heard he was in some sort of accident Dear.”
Hannah closed her eyes and started to count to ten. She cleared her throat and opened her eyes.
“Are you still there?” Evelyn’s singsong tone made Hannah pause then exhale quickly.
“Where is Zeke?” Hannah asked, keeping her tone even. Evelyn laughed as Spencer clicked his finger and Hannah turned off the microphone.
“I’ve got another angle. It was a training exercise camera still in from yesterday.” Spencer said, motioning towards the screen. The image of Evelyn’s agent preparing explosives appeared and Anthony yelled orders as he left the room.
“I keep telling you Dear, Zeke is not who you think he is.” Evelyn looked back up at the main camera and smiled. “How do you think he disappeared while being shot at?”
Hannah let the question hang in the air as Anthony and five agents took up a position outside the elevator. Evelyn shook her head and smiled,
“I’m sick of playing these games with you Hannah.” her smile dropped and she moved closer to the camera.
“Where is the drive?”
Hannah smiled and shook her head.
“What drive?” her singsong tone caused Evelyn to twitch.
“Let’s cut the games and-”
“Actually, I think this is the perfect time to play games.” Hannah interrupted Evelyn and watched agents preparing to breach the roof of the elevator.
“I assume by now you can see what my associate is up to?” Evelyn said, shrugging. “So why don’t you just tell me what I want to know. That way we can avoid any,” she paused and gave a half smile. “Mess.”
Hannah turned to Spencer and turned off the microphone.
“Can you zoom the feed on the explosives?” She asked, turning back to the screen. Spencer zoomed in revealing a timer counting down thirty seconds.
Twenty nine.
Twenty eight.
Evelyn’s associate reached up and pushed up the roof panel, throwing the explosive pack through the roof.
Hannah stood, running to where the Anthony and the agents were positioning themselves.
“Anthony!” she yelled as an explosion shook the building.

---

See You in the Adventures!
Christy Grace

In The Last Instalment

While chasing after Evelyn, Hannah saw her missing husband Zeke and a mysterious man in a suit in a coffee shop window. When shots were fired at the coffee shop, Hannah raced inside to find Zeke now missing. Hannah searched the mysterious man with him to find a wallet with a business card inside that had only a number printed on it. Stephanie recognised the number arranged to call it in an hour. Whose number is it? Stephanie told Hannah she wasn’t going to like the answer.

What will happen when Hannah dials the number? Who is on the other end? Will it lead them to Zeke? Is the number connected to Evelyn?

---

SEVEN

The light in the van flickered above Hannah. She tried to steady herself by grabbing the edge of her seat as they hit another pothole. Stephanie was next to her, popping another bubble and chewing her gum.

“What time is it?” Ian asked from across the van. Hannah checked her watch and sighed, rolling her eyes.

“Two minutes since the last time you asked. We still have another ten minutes before we call the number.” Hannah turned to Stephanie and frowned,

“Are you sure it’s her number?” She asked, hoping for a new answer. Stephanie tilted her head and smiled sympathetically.

“We all dislike Cara Stone, but yes, it’s hers.” Stephanie put a hand on Hannah’s shoulder and nodded. Hannah sighed and looked at the card again, finger smudges now covering the surface. The van lurched forward and the driver turned.

“We’re here Mrs Carmichael,” he said to her. She smiled and nodded, opening the door and stepping out into the parking garage. As they entered the elevator to the fourteenth floor, Ian moved close to Hannah and put his arm around her shoulder.

Hannah shrugged him off and reached into her pocket for her phone. They were two minutes out from the phone call.

“Do you think she’s the same?” Ian asked, shrinking back into the corner. Stephanie scoffed and folded her arms across her chest.

“The agency has been keeping tabs on her since she left the academy.” Hannah said, watching the seconds tick over.

“Kicked out of the academy you mean.” Stephanie said. They all stood silently for a moment.

“I hear that Elizabeth is doing well. She’s some sort of teacher now.” Ian said softly, cutting through their memories. They had all trained with Cara until she was kicked out for attacking another student, Elizabeth.

“Yeah well Cara is doing well too, just on the other side of the law.” Stephanie spat, not trying to hide her disdain. Hannah checked the time; thirty seconds remaining. The elevator jolted and the lights inside flashed. They braced themselves and Stephanie groaned.

“Don’t tell me we’re gonna be stuck in the elevator? What a cliché.” She said, reaching for her radio. The elevator continued moving and Ian sighed,

“Thank goodness. I’m Claustrophobic.” He winked at Hannah and she rolled her eyes. The alarm she had set on her phone sounded, reminding her it was time to make the call.

The elevator doors opened and Hannah stepped off, moving into the closest meeting room. She pulled out the business card with the gold number and dialled. The phone rang twice before Hannah heard a click on the other end.

“Hello?” Cara Stone’s voice was smooth and even and Hannah took a breath, hoping hers would come out the same.

“Cara.” Hannah heard rustling on the other end of the phone and pulled out the chair closest to her.

“Hannah darling how have you been?”

Hannah could hear the smile on Cara’s face and she exhaled sharply.

“Where is Zeke?” Hannah asked, glancing at the door to the meeting room where Stephanie entered, agents in tow. One pulled out a computer and nodded to Stephanie. Hannah’s phone was already equipped with tracking software which had activated the minute she dialled the number.

“Who Hannah?” Cara asked, playing dumb. Hannah slammed her fist on the table,

“Damn in Cara I’m not playing with you!” Hannah yelled, feeling the heat of tears behind her eyes. Stephanie put a hand on Hannah’s shoulder and she took a few deep breaths. There was silence between the two women for a moment before Cara sighed.

“I don’t have him.” She said, her voice cold.

“Are you really trying to convince me you only had one guard?” Hannah stood and looked over the shoulder of the agent with his laptop open. The call was almost traced.

“I think the better question is, how he escaped unscathed without leaving a trace.” The call disconnected and Hannah watched the red dot on the the screen disappear.

“How far did we get?” Stephanie asked, pushing through to the other side of the laptop.

“We got two blocks.” The agent said, sending the location through. Hannah and Stephanie moved out of the room and into the war room. Stephanie whistled loudly and agents stopped what they were doing. Hannah cleared her throat.

“Cara Stone has been located in connection with Zeke and Evelyn’s locations.” She said, walking over to the large screen on the back wall. She pulled up the location and pointed at the screen.

“I want A Team to cover this block and B Team to cover that one.” She pointed to the corresponding streets and agents stood, moving to collect tactical gear. Hannah turned to Stephanie,

“Can you continue the brief?” She asked and Stephanie nodded. Hannah smiled and made her way into her boss’ office. She knocked on the door and he grunted inside. Opening the door, Hannah made sure to avoid the edge of the carpet which tripped most.

“Sir?” Hannah asked, getting Anthony Hart’s attention. He looked up, his mustache twitching as he frowned.

“Bad news?” He asked, putting his pen down and leaning forward.

“We have a lead. The call with Cara Stone led us to two blocks for her location but she didn’t say..” Hannah trailed off and sighed. Anthony put his hand to his eyes and rubbed them.

“So let me recap. We lost Evelyn, we lost Zeke, and we have two blocks to search for Cara, who is apparently also involved.”

“That’s about the size of it Sir.” Hannah said, leaning on the door. Anthony looked up and shook his head slightly.

“Are you sure this intel is solid?” He asked, “because I don’t want to find out we’ve been wasting out time and resources.”

Hannah attempted a smile and shrugged,

“The information is solid. We know the location of what Evelyn wants, we just don’t know how she plans to use it.”

“Or where Zeke fits into all of this?” Anthony asked, standing and moving around his desk, leaning on the edge.

Hannah started to say something when the perimeter alarm sounded. Anthony moved to his computer and Hannah opened the door to his office, rushing towards the war room. Stephanie was hunched over a computer,

“We’ve got a breach!”

---

See You in the Adventures!
Christy Grace

In The Last Instalment:

A flashback to three years ago revealed Zeke to be Hannah Carmichael’s husband. But on the day of their wedding, Evelyn came to warn Hannah that Zeke is not who she thinks he is. In the present day, while following Evelyn, Hannah spots Zeke inside a Coffee Shop with a mysterious man. Just as they are about to enter, a car drives past and opens fire on the shop. When the shooting stops, Hannah rushes inside to find the man who was with Zeke dead, and Zeke missing. What happened to Zeke? Who was the man with him? How will they find Zeke now?

SIX 

“Search the entire area!” Stephanie yelled as she moved out of the coffee shop. Hannah closed her eyes and took three deep breaths. Opening her eyes, she reached forward and felt for a pulse on the man who had been inches from her husband.
Nothing.
Hannah sighed and looked over to where Stephanie was barking orders at other agents. The staff and customers who had been in the shop were huddled in the corner with Ian Longford keeping a close eye on them.
Ian glanced over to her and smiled, throwing up a wave. His gun dropped out of its holster and he fumbled to pick it up. Hannah shook her head and looked back to the dead man in front of her, taking a deep breath.
Reaching forward, she searched his pockets for identification. She hated some parts of her job.
She felt a wallet in his outside jacket pocket and smiled, pulling it out carefully. Ignoring protocol, she opened it to the section where the ID sat. The man’s picture was on a license listing his name as Stewart Smith.
Hannah sifted through the rest of the wallet. She pulled out two credit cards, twenty dollars in cash and a business card. Putting the credit cards and the cash back into the wallet, she handed it off to an agent next to her.
The business card was white with only a phone number in gold print displayed. Stephanie kneeled down next to Hannah, holding the wallet which was now sealed in an evidence bag.
“Stewart Smith? Please.” Stephanie scoffed and stared at the business card in Hannah’s hand.
“I’ve been over every single number linked to Evelyn and I don’t recognise this one.” Hannah said, handing the card over to Stephanie.
Stephanie frowned and looked back up at her, sighing.
“I do.” Stephanie reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone, dialling. Hannah stood and pulled a chair over, brushing off the glass and sitting down. Stephanie smiled,
“Hey girl! It’s Steph. How are you doing?” She paused and glanced at Hannah, opening and closing her hand and rolling her eyes.
“Yeah I’ve been good. Look I need a favour.”
Ian walked over to where Hannah was sitting and put a hand on her shoulder.
“We’ll find him Haz.” He turned over another chair and sat next to her as Stephanie rolled her eyes and moved towards the wall.
Hannah hated that nickname. It just reminded her that she and Ian used to date when they were training together.
“I’m going to find my husband no matter what.” Hannah said. If Ian was insistent on reminding her that they dated, she would be equally insistent to remind him that she was married. Ian frowned slightly then quickly covered with a warm smile.
Stephanie walked back over to them, shoving the phone back in her pocket and handing Hannah the business card.
“Call the number in one hour.” Stephanie paused and stared at Ian, raising her eyebrows. He cleared his throat and stood, patting Hannah on the arm. Stephanie took his seat and shook her head.
“What a schmuck.”
Hannah smiled and ran her hand over the number on the card.
“Whose number is this Stephanie?” Hannah asked, trying to make eye contact with her friend.
“You’re not going to like the answer.”

---

See You in the Adventures!
Christy Grace

 

In the Last Instalment:

Evelyn and her associates had disappeared in a room without doors or windows. Hannah and Stephanie found a tunnel leading out to the street where Evelyn was nowhere to be seen. As they started the search, Hannah raced over to the coffee shop across the street where she thought she saw Zeke.

Where did Evelyn go? Was the person Hannah saw really Zeke? Who is Zeke?

FIVE

THREE YEARS AGO:

“Are you sure you want to go through with this?” Stephanie asked, putting her hand on her hip. Her satin gown wrinkled ever so slightly as she frowned and tapped her foot. Hannah laughed at her friend through the mirror and pulled at her veil to straighten it.
“I love Zeke and I want to marry him.” She said, turning to face Stephanie. Hannah put her hand on Stephanie’s shoulder and smiled. Her friend returned the smile and they turned back to the mirror.
The doors to the bridal suite opened and Evelyn Carmichael walked in. Stephanie reached into the dresser drawer and pulled out her gun. She aimed it at Evelyn and Hannah put a hand on Stephanie’s shoulder, taking a step closer to her mother.
“Hello Dear.” Evelyn said, slowly raising her hands.
“What are you doing here?” Hannah asked as Evelyn lowered her hands and shrugged.
“It’s my daughter’s wedding day. I came to give congratulations.”
Stephanie scoffed and peered out the window to the grounds below them where the guests were gathering. Hannah took a deep breath and squared her shoulders.
“You need to leave.” She said, taking a step closer to where her spare gun sat underneath the pile of clothes she had arrived in.
“You have several agencies after you Evelyn.” Stephanie said, her gun still aimed at Hannah’s mother. Evelyn chuckled and gave her a cold stare.
“I came to warn you.” Evelyn spat out, taking a step closer to Hannah. Stephanie cocked her gun and Evelyn shook her head, exhaling. She looked over to Hannah who had taken another step closer to her own gun.
“Zeke is not who you think he is darling.” Evelyn glanced at Stephanie and nodded out the window. “Those people down there don’t care about you. I’m the only one-“
“You?” Hannah choked out, trying to keep tears from smearing her makeup. “You’re the liar. The traitor.” Hannah took another step back and felt the chair hitting her leg. Evelyn sighed and shrugged.
“Fine Dear, have it your way.” She spun and walked back towards the door, pausing as she pulled at the handle. She turned her head back to look at Hannah and smiled. “When you do find out who Zeke really is-“
“I know who he is.” Hannah interrupted, pulling out her gun and aiming it at her mother. Evelyn scoffed and turned,
“Toodaloo.” Her mother’s voice echoed in the hallway as the sound of her heels disappeared. Hannah lowered her gun and Stephanie moved to the door, stepping out into the hallway and disappearing.
Hannah tossed the gun back onto the chair and moved over to her phone on the dresser, calling in Evelyn’s location.

PRESENT DAY

The sounds of traffic behind her faded away as Hannah stared through the window at her husband. Zeke was sitting and looking out the opposite window, a large man in a suit sitting next to him.
Stephanie put a hand on Hannah’s shoulder and she turned to face her friend. Stephanie put her finger to her lips and motioned with her head to the entry. Four civilians were seated inside the café and Zeke and his babysitter were in the back corner.
Hannah checked for her weapon and smoothed her shirt over it. Before they could move, tyres screeched around the corner. They looked behind them and the barrel of a gun appeared through the rear seat of a green sedan.
“Gun!” Stephanie yelled, dropping to the ground and pulling Hannah with her.
“No!” Hannah yelled as the gun fired into the coffee shop. Glass shattered around them and screams echoed in the street. When the firing stopped, the car revved and Hannah lifted her head. Stephanie pushed herself up, drew her weapon and ran towards the vehicle.
Hannah stood, glass falling to the ground from her back. She breathed heavily and watched as Stephanie disappeared down the street, yelling into her comms. Groaning to her left pulled Hannah’s focus and she stopped breathing.
Zeke.
Hannah stepped over the door frame and cautiously walked through the coffee shop. The woman who had been closest to the window lay face down on the floor, blood pooling underneath her. Hannah closed her eyes briefly then looked over to the other end of the shop.
A staff member peeked his head over the counter then down again. Stephanie entered the shop and Hannah nodded towards the counter.
“Anyone there? We’re here to help!” Stephanie said, slowly making her way over to the counter. Hannah turned and walked to where Zeke had been sitting. She pushed a chair out of the way and dropped to her knees.
The man who had been sitting with Zeke was lying on the floor, wounds becoming more prominent in several places. She pushed through the rubble until she felt a hand on her shoulder.
“Hannah.” Stephanie said softly, squatting next to Hannah on the floor. Hannah took a shaky breath,
“he’s not here.”

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See You in the Adventures!
Christy Grace

 

In the Last Instalment:

Hannah was trapped with her mother when a red spot appeared on her forehead. As Hannah ducked for cover, agents who appear to be with her dropped in from the roof and chased Evelyn and the two men away. Hannah and her friend, Stephanie, ran after them and cornered them in the warehouse office. When they entered the room however, Evelyn and company had disappeared.

How did they escape? Can Hannah find them?

 FOUR

“Where are they?” Stephanie asked, agents trailing into the room behind her. Hannah shook her head and tucked her weapon into her waistband. The room had no windows and no doors, but Evelyn and the two men had disappeared.
Several desks sat on each side of the room with a bookcase along the middle wall. Hannah put a hand on her left hip and tried to think like her mother. The warehouse building had been registered in Evelyn’s Shell company for over five years but there was no evidence she had ever been there before.
Hannah tapped her foot. Where had they gone in a room with no windows or doors? Stephanie gave Hannah a slight shove and grinned.
“You don’t suppose it’s a rotating bookcase?” she asked, sparking snickers from the other agents. Hannah rolled her eyes then paused.
“Everyone out.” She said, walking towards the door and opening it wider. The agents trooped out and Stephanie stayed put. Hannah stared at her and narrowed her eyes.
“What? You didn’t mean me did you?” Stephanie asked, putting her gun into a hip holster. Hannah exhaled and shook her head, closing the door. She moved towards the bookcase and bent towards the floor.
“Oh you can’t be serious.” Stephanie said, squatting down next to Hannah.
“I was kidding about the bookcase.” She said, tapping Hannah on the shoulder. Hannah paused and looked up.
“I’m not looking for a revolving bookcase.” She said, turning and moving to the edge of the desk next to the bookcase.
“When I was a girl, I hid in my mother’s office on a dare.” She bent and reached out underneath the desk.
“I wanted to hide under the desk, but when I got there, I found a lever underneath it.” Hannah smiled as her fingers wrapped around the familiar lever. She pulled it and the desk shifted slightly. Stephanie stepped back and whistled.
“A secret passageway?” she asked with a half laugh.
“Evelyn always has been a little dramatic.” Hannah said as she stood and waved for Stephanie to help her. They pulled at the false desk and it lifted, revealing a panel in the floor. Hannah pulled out her weapon and Stephanie pulled at a rope handle. As the panel opened, Hannah peered into the darkness and saw the outline of stairs leading further into the ground. She reached over to take a flashlight Stephanie held out and clicked it on.
Stephanie reached up and clicked her comms on,
“We have a tunnel in the office. Requesting assistance.” Hannah balanced her gun and flashlight and moved down the stairs.
As she reached the bottom a musty smell entered her lungs and she coughed. The floors and walls were crudely dug and the dirt stuck out in obscure patterns.
Stephanie bumped into Hannah as she tripped down the last step. Hannah turned around and frowned as Stephanie smiled and shrugged. Sweeping the room with the flashlight, Hannah located the passageway.
Every step crunched under her shoes and she tried to make herself lighter. The sounds of several agents behind them made Hannah pause. She turned and flashed her light on the five people behind her, putting her hand up to signal a stop. Stephanie turned around and whispered orders to the agents to be silent and Hannah turned back to the passageway.
They moved quietly until a glimmer of light grew brighter. She turned off her flashlight and used the light of the exit. As she grew closer, she noticed the walls were now concrete until she was met with the end of the passageway. She looked up to where a hole with bars was letting in the light. A grate?
She pulled out her flashlight, locating stairs attached to the wall and leading up to the tunnel opening. Hannah turned and handed Stephanie her flashlight, tucking her gun back into her waistband. She started to climb the stairs and cars revving and honking grew louder as she got closer to the exit.
At the top, she looked down to where Stephanie had started to climb. Reaching up, Hannah pushed on the grate until it gave way and she moved it to the side. Peeking her head up, Hannah squinted in the light to see a sidewalk in the city.
She pulled herself up and looked at the buildings and shops for a sign of Evelyn.
Nothing.
Stephanie and the other agents followed and split up in teams of two. Hannah reached out her hand.
“Do you have a phone?” She asked. Stephanie reached into her pocket and pulled out a smartphone, handing it to her. Hannah dialled a number and waited.
She glanced over to the coffee shop across the street and squinted to see clearer.
Dropping the phone, Hannah took off in a sprint to the window and pushed her hand up against the glass.
“Zeke?”

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See You in the Adventures!
Christy Grace