Coffee In Ten

Julie needs coffee. Seriously, she is not a morning person. It is her day off and she promised to complete her chaotic to-do list. Well, at least to get started. She can grab coffee on the way to drop off her overdue library books-first thing on her list.

Julie's cellphone rings as she reaches the front door.

Julie answers, "Hello?"

"Hey, it's Fred. I was wondering if you had a few minutes to meet me for coffee.", says a deep male voice.

"Fred, you have the wrong number."

"Oh, sorry. Have a good day."

"You too. Bye."

It rings again.

"Same wrong number", Julie answers.

"Umm, yeah I know, but I have no way of finding my person. I'm already headed out for coffee. Would you like to join me? You sound nice enough," asks Fred.

Julie thinks this is the most random thing that might happen today.

"No thanks. I don't even know you", replies Julie.

"It's daytime coffee at Java & Juice with a bunch of people. Take a leap of faith, uh what's your name?"

"Julie"

"Hi, Julie. I'm Fred. Take a leap of faith on me."

"How do you know I'm not some crazy old cat lady, Fred?"

"Leap of faithing it today, " Fred laughs.

Julie pauses. Java & Juice is super busy around this time. She could always leave and block him if he gets weird.

"Ok. Meet you in ten. I'll be the girl with the messy bun, grey sweats, and a Backstreet Boys T-shirt."

"NSYNC is so much better!", Fred counters.

Julie quips, "Hey, I could stay home!"

"Ok ok. I'll be the guy with curly hair, dark blue suit, and a brown tie. Ten mins."

Fred takes a table closer to the pick-up counter. There are plenty of people, but he has a pretty good view of the entry. A few minutes later Julie enters.

"Julie?", Fred answers his cellphone.

"Yes, it's me. I'm here but I don't see you."

"I'm by the pick-up counter. Turn around. Fred eyes Julie. "Wow you look amazing!"

"Oh uh," Julie stutters as a painful memory comes through. "You..." Julie can't believe her eyes. "You look great as well", she smiles.

"I'm glad you joined me for coffee."

"Me too."

Julie orders a dark roast coffee and joins Fred at the table. Fred just stares at her in silence.

"What?", asks Julie.

"How quickly you've forgotten, Marissa."

Looking confused Julie says, "Excuse me. Forgotten what?"

"Every agent must undergo a ten year evaluation. The suit and code words were dead giveaways. Any worthwhile agent would have picked them out immediately", Fred insultingly replies.

Julie sits back in her chair. "Any man could be wearing a blue suit. The code words I picked up on, but I didn't want it to be true. I've been away from The Agency for five years now. Marissa was a long time ago."

"And?"

"And?! Dammit Jason! You know why I walked away.

"Tenth year, Marissa. No excuses. You really do look amazing by the way."

Shaking her head, Julie gets up to leave. "I knew this wasn't just a random mistake."

As she walked out of the coffee shop, Julie blocks Fred's number.

A block later her phone rings. She answers with silence.

"You know blocking The Agency doesn't work, Marissa."

"Stop calling me Marissa. I'm not that person anymore."

"Once with The Agency, always with the Agency. Until fifty anyway."

Julie stops walking. "What do I have to do?"

"Cold case file. Oh, and the usual. You'll find your gear, dossier, and a little surprise on your kitchen table. Three days. I'll be in touch."

A frustrated Julie storms off to the library adamant on ignoring her recent encounter. She meanders around the bookshelves wasting time. She does not want to be Marissa again, but she cannot help reliving all her assignments. The people she killed, the families she ruined, how she seemed to enjoy the hunt, it's all-encompassing grip on her life. Then the grief - it was all too much! There must be a way out.

Ring. "Stop wasting time, Marissa."

"Leave me alone Jason."

"Look, I'll do you a solid. Read the handbook. Three days." The call ends.

The handbook! How had Julie forgotten the handbook? She rushes home. Julie passes the kitchen and goes straight for the box tucked under the floorboard beneath her bed. Upon finding the handbook she goes right to the bookmarked page titled "Exit Strategies". Skipping down to the highlighted part pertaining to her situation, she reads:

In the event the agent no longer wants to be active, one must undergo a psychological evaluation and have reasonable cause for leave and/or termination. One must not be able to efficiently and stealthily perform the tasks of the assignment.

However, The Agency reserves all rights to the agent for periods of ten years up to the agent's biological fiftieth birthday.

Each agent, if able to perform adequately, will resolve a cold case, assuming availability of such, upon his/her ten year anniversary. Upon completion of the ten year anniversary assignment the agent is then given allowance to permanently terminate his/her contract or to remain in service.

One more assignment. One more kill. Three days. Freedom. Julie walks to the kitchen. Her gear is laid neatly organized in two black cases. Two? She usually has three. The dossier is laid on top of the cases underneath her new agency issued phone. The gift is neatly arranged in a crystal vase. Pink carnations. Her favorite.

Julie smiles at the flowers. Only one person would remember to include her favorite flowers with her gear. Julie dials a number on her new phone.

"It's Lana. What can I do you for?", answers a mature woman's voice on the other end.

"You always said that", says Julie.

"Marissa! I know my girl anywhere. It's been so long. I missed you!"

"I missed you too, Lana", replies an uplifted Julie. "I'm missing a third case."

"Which one, love?"

"Hold on. I didn't check."

"Tsk. I'm a busy woman. You always check before calling me", replies Lana with a twinge of seriousness. "Don't tell me my favorite agent has gotten rusty."

"I'm not rusty, Lana", says Julie as she checks the cases. One is her agency issued black stealth suit, gloves, and shoes. The second is the standard handgun and knife all agents receive.

"My weapon of choice is not here."

"It will be there in an hour. Hey, I know you got your cold case. So, are you really done?

"Yeah, I'm terminating my contract after this."

"I get it. My fiftieth birthday is next month. It's retirement for me, darling."

Julie laughs, "But you're the best agent they have in the gear department. I can't picture you retiring."

"I can!", Lana says.

Both women pause.

"Lana, thank you for everything. And all the carnations."

"Anything for my sweet girl. Later."

Over the next hour Julie thumbs through the dossier. She looks at the I.D. and passport Marissa will need. They matched the hair color in the photos to her current dark brown. She tries on her suit. Even after five years of no contact, Lana still made a perfectly tailored suit. It amazes Julie how Lana perfects every detail and how she gets her intel. There is a knock at the door. Julie eyes the clock on the stove. Right on time. Case number three is her customized sniper rifle. Carnations were etched along the silencer her first year with The Agency. She figured she could have some beauty in a dark place.

Three days later Jason is calling. "Is it done?"

"You know I always get my target."

"Bring all your gear onsite by tomorrow."

"Say less."

"Take it easy, Maris - I mean Julie."

"Thanks Jason. Take care."

The next day Julie returns her gear, completes the exit evaluation, and terminates her contract with The Agency. Finally, she can truly breathe and leave the past behind.

A month later Julie is sitting at a table at the busy Java & Juice. Her phone rings.

"Hello."

"Hi, Julie. May I join you?"

"Anytime, Lana. See you in ten."

Ten mins later Lana takes a seat at Julie’s table.

"Hi mom."

"Hi, my sweet girl."