The ninth installment of Out of the Shadows.

John Howle missed coffee. He glared at the pathetic brew in the coffee pot he'd been forced to buy. No, not just coffee, he missed coffee from Joan's Joe. Despite the fact that he had gone to the coffee shop and bought a cup twice a day for the past two days. He still hadn't gotten his caffeine fix. The reason he found himself so appallingly deprived was as infuriating as it was petty.

Felicity was mad at him.

Three days ago, the enigma known as Felicity Doran had informed him that she was attending the event hosted by Senator Winston that weekend and asked him to sign a pass for her to enter the building. He'd known what she was really asking. Everyone at these events underwent a background check, one much more through than the one he'd run on her when she'd first began working across the street. If he issued her a pass, the background check would be waived.

The idea was ludicrous. He and Felicity might have a... unique working dynamic, but he was in charge of security. He wasn't about to allow an unknown factor like Felicity free reign of an area with so much sensitive material. If she wanted in, she'd have to submit to the background check, hope that her cover was good enough, and deal with the extra security that he was definitely putting on the event now. He hadn't fully realized the repercussions of saying no until the next morning when Felicity finished preparing his coffee, smiled at him sweetly, and popped the lid on without taking a sip first.

It had taken him three hours trying to drink it before he'd given up and tossed the cardboard cup, and its contents, into the garbage. He hadn't managed a single mouthful, not when he thought of all of the things Felicity might have added to it every time he brought the drink to his lips. That night, Felicity did the same thing, smiling at him and making a show of placing the lid on the cup without taking a sip.

Howle suspected she hadn't done a thing to his drink. Logically, she wouldn't. They had a repertoire, an understanding of sorts. After all, he could make her life very difficult if he wanted to, but he didn't. And she could dose his drink anytime with something she was immune to or had the antidote for, but she didn't. None of that stopped the information he had on poisons from flooding every time he tried to drink the coffee. The next day was the same. Today he’d bought a coffee pot. He’d been tempted to throw the thing against the wall when it produced a liquid that tasted both burnt and too weak to be called coffee.
 
He didn’t have time for this. There was an Indian national that Howle was almost positive had a price on his head coming for a clandestine meeting with General Morris and Howle had to figure out how to juggle his staff so he’d always have a guard on him without anyone working out the man was actually there. In addition to that, he had meetings with security details from four different countries. This was not a good day for Felicity to be acting like a child.
 
When Sally walked in with her usual paperwork that needed his signature, the first thing Howle noticed was the paper cup in her hand. His eyes locked on the logo for Joan’s Joe. “Wow, you look awful.” She flushed as she realized how insulting her words sounded. “I mean, are you alright?”
 
“Just a little caffeine deprived.” He answered. Sally took the hint and placed the cup on his desk.
 
“I only took a few sips. You should be fine if you take off the lid.” She said, adjusting her papers to find what she was looking for. Only Sally would hand over her coffee to him instead of being intimidated. Howle pulled the top off the cup and practically inhaled the coffee.
 
Which is why he didn’t register the scent of cyanide until halfway through his third swallow.
 
He choked; dropped the cup and started coughing up the poison. “John!” Sally cried losing her grip on the files as she rushed around the desk to stand beside him, hand out stretched, ready to help. “Are you okay?” As Howle’s lungs cleared of the liquid he realized that there couldn’t have been cyanide in the drink. He wasn’t experiencing any of the symptoms and Sally said she’d had some and was fine. Howle frowned and grabbed the cup from the middle of the brown stain spreading on his carpet. He sniffed it and it definitely smelled like cyanide.
 
“Did Felicity put anything in this?” He asked, turning to Sally.
 
“Um, yeah. She offered to let me try some almond sweetener for free.” Her eyes widened. “You aren’t allergic to nuts, are you?”
 
Howle assured her he wasn’t. Any admiration he might have for Felicity’s creativity was overcome by irritation. Cyanide and almonds had similar smells, which meant that Felicity had just tricked him into wasting a perfectly good cup of coffee without even being in the building.
 
That night, when Howle went to get a coffee on the off chance Teddy would take his order, he was confronted by an almost gleeful Joan. “What did you do to tick her off?” She asked, the ever-present twang in her voice becoming more pronounced as she tried to curb her amusement.
 
“It’s complicated.” He growled as he watched Felicity neatly snag his cup from Teddy and start filling it herself.
 
“He won’t clear me for the event with Sally.” Felicity clarified shortly.
 
“What?” Teddy fumbled with the cups he was stacking, fortunately they weren’t the mugs. “Does Sally know?”
 
“Oh, Felicity can go.” Howle smirked. It was a low blow but he was going on three days without coffee, and it wasn’t like he was lying. “She just has to submit to the background check.” Joan’s eyebrows shot up. Teddy tossed his friend a confused glance, and Felicity glared at him.
 
“Oh?” Joan’s eyes sparkled. “You got something to hide, sugar?” She looked positively delighted and Howle felt a kind of smug satisfaction that Felicity was going to be grilled by her boss until she made up something that satisfied her.
 
“Everyone’s got something to hide. You know that, Joan.” She answered lightly, as if that would get her off the hook.
 
“I’ll keep it completely confidential.” He assured them, his smirk widening. Felicity must have been about ready to throttle him. She slammed the cup down in front of him.
 
“I like my privacy.” She said through gritted teeth. Howle shrugged.
 
“Then you can’t go to the event.” He turned and walked out, leaving the coffee but feeling strangely invigorated. Through the window he could see a livid Felicity, confused Teddy, and Joan in such a fit of belly laughter he could hear it through the glass.
 
 
 
He was facing a mutiny. Felicity and Teddy were refusing to sell coffee to anyone on his staff. When asked why, they were told to ask him. (Apparently Joan found the entire business to hysterical to be bothered by how it would affect her sales.) His staff was dealing with it in a range of ways, from mild resentment to his computer expert, Jessica Jane, streamlining energy drinks that were making her twitchy enough to snap at everything that move. Suffice to say, no one was in a good mood that day, and they weren’t as productive as they should have been.
 
That was when Howle decided it was time to call a ceasefire. His people needed to always be on their toes, petty grievances or not.
 
When John Howle walked into Joan’s Joe that evening, his eyes were hard and his shoulders tense. Felicity noticed immediately and fell into a subtle ready stance with the ease of instinct. She eyed him warily as he approached the counter. “Listen to me, Felicity. I can’t issue you a pass.” Anger flashed in the barista’s eyes and she opened her mouth. “You aren’t listening, Felicity.” He cut her off before she could start. “I can’t sign a pass for you.” Comprehension softened her face even as her eyes widened and lips parted in surprise. “I’m glad we understand each other.” Howle turned and walked out of the café without ordering anything.
 
The next day Howle found Felicity Doran listed as Sally Turner’s plus one with approval granted by General Ian Morris, which was reason enough to forgo the usual background check. His staff was sufficiently caffeinated and the day passed quickly. He soon found himself walking into Joan’s Joe. Felicity looked up as he entered. She watched him come up to the counter.
 
“General Morris must like you.” He commented casually She didn’t say anything, still watching him. He understood why. He had the power to order a background check despite any approval she might get. That was probably why she came directly to him in the first place. “Security’s going to be a nightmare to organize on Saturday.” Felicity relaxed, taking this for the consent that it was, and started making his coffee. She took a sip and popped the lid in place.
 
“On the house.” She said, placing it in front of him.
 
“Good, because you owe me six.” Howle picked up the cup and finally took a sip without worrying about a thing.
 
As he left, he distinctly heard Teddy laughing. “All this for something you don’t actually want to go to.”
 
“Oh, can it. It’s for Sally.” Felicity snapped good-naturedly.
 
Howle smiled to himself. Security really was going to be headache inducing to arrange, but at least now he had coffee to help him through it.

The eight installment of Out of the Shadows.

Sally practically skipped into the coffee shop three hours before her usual coffee run. She went straight for Felicity. “What are you doing this Saturday?” Sally asked her.

“I was going to fix my TV.” Felicity answered, eyeing the younger woman. “Now I’m guessing I am doing something with you instead.”

“Bingo!” Sally produced a ticket and scrap of paper with a flourish. “You’re coming to Senator Winston’s fundraiser with me.”

“I really don’t think-” Felicity began.

“It’s black tie, pick me up at four.” Sally pointed at the address on the paper. “Come early if you don’t have anything nice to wear.” Sally beamed at Felicity so brightly that the former assassin was temporarily blinded. “Don’t be late!” Sally turned and hurried from the café. Felicity was temporarily stunned. She looked at Teddy and Sasha who had watched the whole thing with amusement.

“What just happened?” Felicity had undergone interrogations that she felt more in control of than that conversation.

Teddy chuckled. “You, my friend, have just been shanghaied into the dreaded ‘plus one’ work function.”

“How?” Felicity asked, bewildered. When exactly had she lost her edge so completely that she could be ambushed by a college intern?

“She cut you off before you could say no.” Sasha grinned.

“But I didn’t say yes!” Felicity protested.

“True,” Sasha agreed. “But how will she feel if you don’t show up?” Felicity stared at her. Then, to Teddy’s surprise, Felicity swore. She had been well and truly cornered. Felicity grabbed the ticket and the address and stalked into the backroom. She had no idea where she was going to find an appropriate dress before Saturday.
Sasha watched her go. “I ship it.” She stated.

“What?!” Teddy yelped, dropping the mug he’d been drying off. “Sasha, you can’t ship real people!” He hissed with a panicked look where Felicity had disappeared.

“Too bad.” Sasha had the sort of grin on her face that he associated with her fanfiction consumption. “I ship it. Salicity forever.” Teddy suppressed a groan. He knew that she’d been disappointed with their utter failure setting Felicity up on speed dates, but this was ridiculous.

He opened his mouth to dissuade the fangirl, only to close it when Felicity walked back in the café. She was still muddled enough that she didn’t notice the new way that Sasha was looking at her. Teddy’s mind scrambled for ways to keep Sasha away from Felicity (and Sally), while he swept up the mess. How could he protect someone from a shipper? Teddy groaned. They were all doomed.

A new Out of the Shadows...


Felicity had a bad habit of underestimating civilians. It was perfectly reasonable. they didn't have her skills. They didn't know how to kill, cheat, or steal. So, she had assumed they also didn't know how to manipulate, trick, and lie as convincingly as a politician covering his butt. It had never been so humiliating to be proven wrong.

Felicity gaped at the banner hanging over the bar that read "Film-ophile Speed Dating". She spun on Teddy. "You said this was a Cinema Critic activity Sasha couldn't attend!" She snarled accusingly.

"It is... sorta." Teddy smirked. "She organized it, so she can't participate." Similar mischievous grins were on the faces of the rest of the Critics.

"You're all in on this, aren't you?" Felicity demanded, grabbing the ends of her hair and pulling it taunt. Joan letting us go early. Me missing lunch so I'll accept a free dinner. Even Sally canceling the movies with me because of work!"

"No, actually Sally made plans with you to keep us from doing this." Teddy frowned. "We had to ask General Morris to get Senator Winston to keep her late." Felicity made a mental note to buy Sally a fruit basket, or a card, or whatever you got friends who protected you from speed dating.

"I'm leaving." Felicity turned on her heel to stomp out. She found herself immediately glomped by five Cinema Critics while she valiantly suppressed her instincts to kill them all.

"Don't go!" Valerie cried, clinging to her arm.

"It's for your own good!" Taylor added, his arms awkwardly around Valerie to get a hold on her.
 
"We aren't letting you leave." Teddy's grip tightened around her neck, in a strange combination of a chokehold and a backwards hug. Felicity considered her options. She could escape. She could probably even do it without hurting anyone... But Teddy would find her at work. They all could find her at work, and it seemed that Joan was involved too, which meant that she could send her straight into a trap disguised as an errand (which was a horrible abuse of power, but she was the owner so who was going to stop her?). Her best course of action was probably to just go alone with it and hope they lost interest once they'd been appeased.

"You are all terrible people." Felicity stated in as dry a voice as possible. The Critics collectively released a half cheer, half sigh of relief. They pulled away, but remained close enough to be able to grab her if she made a break for it.

"We might be terrible people, but we're awesome friends." Teddy informed her with brotherly sadism as he dragged her to a table by the neck using one arm. Felicity was sure it looked like a friend guiding a reluctant buddy instead of the calculated kidnapping it was.

"No, you're terrible." Felicity reiterated flatly. Her words had no affect on the Critics, who beamed at her between their own conversations. Felicity was beginning to feel like the club's unofficial mascot. Sasha's eyes positively lit up when she saw Felicity.

"You got her!" She squealed. She seized both of Felicity's hands and practically bounced in place before she pulled the resistant Felicity to the center of the room.

"You're going to be right here." Sasha declared, sitting her down at a two person table. Lori and Cat sat at the tables on either side of her, presumable to box her in. How cute, they were trying to trap her. She'd never thought people she wanted to kill were adorable before. Sasha was beaming at her widely. Felicity shifted slightly.

The tables around them began to fill. Felicity order a bourbon, neat. Sasha began her role as a bubbly hostess. "Welcome everyone! You've all filled out the personality flyers!" Across the room Teddy waved a piece of paper he must have filled out for her. She glowered at him. "So while we rate those, begin! Remember, opening questions must be related to movies!"

And so the torture commenced.
 

Date 1: Awful
Felicity thought this man was a few years too old to be at college speed dating. And what kind of guy said their favorite genre was RomCom? A guy trying to get laid. Pass!
 
Date 2: Awkward
Felicity was pretty sure he was intimidated by her. They pretty much sat in silence until Sasha came by and tried to encourage conversation between them by asking questions. All she got was one word answers from either side.
 
Date 3: Pretentious
He said his favorite movie was Citizen Kane.
 
Date 4: Actually kinda fun... in a purely platonic, little brother, way
They talked about scifi and thrillers, and moved on to why they were there. He'd been dragged by his friends because they thought he needed to get over his recent break up. Felicity reminded him of his older sister. She eagerly suggested they use each other to escape the dating by pretending they were going to go out... Unfortunately Lori had a particularly boring date and was evesdropping. She signaled Shasha and the bell rang forty-five seconds early. The little brother figure was dragged away and immediately replaced with...

Date 5: Annoying.
Felicity was sulking about losing her new little brother figure, and this new guy kept trying to talk to her.
 
Date 6: Weird
Opened with "Heaven must be missing an angel." Ended with "It seems you've lost your number, don't worry, you can have mine."
 
Date 7: The Worst
He kept getting her her personal space. He grabbed her hand, she pulled it away. He nudged her foot, she tucked her feet behind the legs of her chair. She started mentally counting all of the ways she could kill him. She was at fourteen, and ready to execute number four if the hand inching towards her thigh made contact, when Sasha "accidentally" whacked him in the head with her clipboard while she was walking by.
 
Date 8: Teddy
Felicity glared at him. Teddy shifted uncomfortably. After a full minute of strained silence Teddy broke.
"Say something." He begged.
"I hate you." Felicity said flatly. Teddy laughed, there was only the slightest note of unease, so Felicity continued. "I want to kill you, but I keep reminding myself I'll regret it if I actually do." She paused. "I'm not sure why I'll regret it, but I'm sure I will."
"You'd miss my homemade chili?" Teddy suggested lightly, clearly unaware of the danger he was actually in. Felicity's glare sharpened.
"Teddy, I have had more enjoyable dates in a detainment facility." Felicity said in a rare moment of honesty. Teddy finally met her eyes and actually flinched, suddenly he was a lot less confident than he had been. "If chili is the only thing saving you. You are in serious danger." Teddy swallowed. Felicity's stare didn't waver.
"I'll track down that Korean film you've been dying to see." He offered. Felicity didn't move. It was unnerving. "I'll give you a new fedora." Teddy had no idea why he was so terrified. This was Felicity. Sure, she was secretive, tough, and vaguely intimidating, but she wouldn't actually hurt anyone. Felicity's hand twitched and Teddy flinched. "I'll get you into that movie shoot Sally was talking about!" Teddy suggested desperately.
Felicity blinked. "Really?" Teddy seized on the interest in her voice.
"Yes!" It would take some doing, and he'd end up owing a few favors, but if he put Felicity in a better mood, maybe this irrational fear would go away. That would be more than worth it.
"Sally too?" Felicity asked suspiciously.
"Yes!" Teddy nodded fervently. Felicity considered it.
"Fine." Teddy sighed as the bell rang. "And Teddy," Felicity added before he got up. "I'll still be taking that movie and hat." Teddy groaned.
The rest of the (awful) dates passed rather quickly. At least one good thing came out of this. Sally was going to be overjoyed.

Seventh installment of Out of the Shadows...

John Howle read the update on the case that had consumed most of his career. He wasn’t supposed to have it. Not since he’d been forced off the taskforce dedicated to dismantling the Pantheon. It wasn’t going to stop him from keeping tabs on their struggle against the powerful organization.

Howle’s intense reading was interrupted by an unpleasant buzz on his office phone. Right, the job he’d been given by people trying to pressure him to retire. He hit the speaker button while stowing the file in the safe on the bottom of his drawer. “Go for Howle.”

“Sir, we have a situation.” McDaniels tensely informed him.

“I’ll be right there.” Howle was out of the room in an instant, ignoring the twinge in his side as he moved. McDaniels was a capable young man, the worry in his voice was concerning.

When Howle arrived less than ten seconds later the large base of security was buzzing with controlled chaos. Hands flew over keyboard, choices spoke in hushed but urgent tones into phones, and the cause of it all was framed on the large screen mounted on the other side of the room. It displayed a large black car and the mug shot of an unpleasant looking white man.

“The car was red flagged. It’s been idling there for ten minutes.” McDaniels began to brief his boss without prompting. He fell into step with Howle who was looking at the screen. “Stolen plates, and facial recognition ID-ed the driver as Erik Koenig, former drag racer, current gun for hire. We’ve notified the police, and-”

“Have them fall back.” Howle ordered. The man on the phone with the police instantly relayed his message. Howle set his jaw. Koenig was the wheelman, not the gunman. The gunman must be behind the tinted windows of the backseat. This was sloppy and Koenig was a local hire. That suggested either limited resources or a local matter. “Inform our men that there is likely an armed gunman, probably more skilled than Koenig.” Howle said, causing someone to begin speaking into a radio. “Is there anyone local who might be considered a target arriving today? Politicians, judges, hell even pastors, is there anyone who stands out?”

“The DA is supposed to be giving an introduction for a visiting dignitary.” Jessica Jane reported, her hands moving across the keyboard faster than Howle could unlock his phone.

“Check to see if the DA has any open cases against Koenig’s previous employers.” McDaniels ordered. Howle frowned. He recognized the street this was on. They were directly across the street from Joan’s Joe, which was frankly the best coffee shop in town.

“This might be a long shot, but someone get on the phone to Joan’s.” Howle commanded. “If the DA is like every other layer I’ve met he’ll like his coffee as black as his soul.” Howle got a few strained laughs out of that. One of the newer members called the coffee shop.

“Sir, the DA is starting proceedings against some drug runners that Koenig has had previous dealings with.” Jessica Jane reported. “And his twitter is following Joan’s Joe.”

“Sir, Joan’s isn’t answering.” The man on the phone reported.

“Not surprising, it’s the morning rush.” Howle muttered, then nodded at McDaniels. “Put our people on standby, they need to be ready to move fast.” His order caused a new flurry of activity. They would stop and listen to him if he gave another order, but for now Howle was able to contemplate his next move. He narrowed his eyes at the screen. There didn’t seem to be a way to end this without shots fired. Not unless they could prevent the target from walking down the street. Howle hesitated, then he took out his cell phone. He had one wildcard in his hand.

“How did you get this number?” The voice on the other end could have been joking, but there was an edge of steel underneath it that Howle felt sure that only he and others like him could hear.

“Sally gave it to me. She’s under the impression we are friends.” Howle stated. “There’s a black car across the street from Joan’s. It’s been idling for a while. There is reason to believe that it is individuals who are targeting the DA.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Felicity, someone who Howle was certain was more than a barista, asked.
“I need you to keep him from leaving.” Howle said, half answering her question and half ignoring it. In all honesty, Howle didn’t know how much he could trust her. She wasn’t looking for information, but she was without a doubt tainted with the shadows that he had spent so much of his life weaving in and out of. Felicity was an enigma, but he thought that if she could help him, she would... or she’d at least consider it.

“I’m not at work yet.” Felicity said. “I’m driving. I shouldn’t even be on the phone right no-” There were various cries of shock around the room as a dilapidated green car sped around the corner and swerved right into the waiting hitmen’s vehicle.  “Oh, you are kidding me!” Felicity snapped through the phone. “Howle, I’ve got to go, I just got in an accident.” Howle could almost hear her tear her seatbelt off. “You are so paying for the repairs.” Felicity hung up on him before he could say another word.

On the screen, the woman stumbled out of the car, all apologies and concern. Koenig tried to brush her off, but Felicity was most insistent. She went back into the car to get her insurance information, motioning for them to wait. The black car drove off. No doubt waiting another day to make their attempt on the DA. Laughter and clapping began to spread through out the room.

“We aren’t done yet.” Howle barked. “Someone tell the police what just happened. See if they can pick them up for fleeing the scene of an accident. Gives them probable cause to search the car.” A now grinning agent began to speak into the phone. “McDaniels, send a team over to Joan’s to escort the DA safely into the building. I’m sure he can make his own security arrangements from here.” McDaniels nodded, stepped away to use his radio. “Jess,” Jessica Jane looked up. “Whatever you hacked to get information on the DA, make sure there’s no trace.” Jessica Jane reddened slightly.

“You say that like I’m not careful.” She muttered. She didn’t like how he called attention to how she got information. Though she had to admit that it was nice that he made it clear just how much she contributed. At least the other agents stopped trying to send her on the coffee run.

Howle glanced up at the screen. Felicity had pulled her car to the side of the road and was inspecting the damage with an air of resignation. He might not know what Felicity had been or what she  was doing now, but he was glad to have the wildcard in his hand. It could be explained away, but it more or less confirm his suspicions about her. She knew that it would and she’d done it anyway. As reluctant as he was to admit it. Sally might be right. He and Felicity were probably friends after all.

He had no idea that she was in a semi-retirement of her own.

16 years ago…
 
The Femme Fatale considered her student. The girl was 10 or 11 years old. Her dark hair and eyes could let her pass for three different ethnicities easily and many more with a little make up. It was something the Femme Fatale envied, as she herself was very clearly of Asian descent. (Not that that had hindered her career too much. It just meant she had to work a little harder in certain situations.) The girl was petite but strong. She had been working for the Femme Fatale for the past 8 months. Together they planted bombs, rescued hostages, and carried out assassinations. Yet, the student had never killed someone in front of her. Yes, she poisoned and bombed, but those deaths happened after the girl had left. The Femme Fatale was slightly concerned. Was this girl even capable of true murder? The Femme Fatale frowned. She wasn’t sure. Given who her student’s mother was and how the girl had been raised, she would think so. But she had yet to see the girl kill, and it was worrying.

“Fille,” The Femme Fatale said, her French clipped and professional. It didn’t matter that they were far from France; the Femme Fatale always spoke in French when she was alone with her student. It was a matter of tradition. “Êtes-vous prêt?” Are you ready?

“Oui, ma’am.” Yes, ma’am. The student answered faithfully. Her French wasn’t as good, but she was improving rapidly under the Femme Fatale’s tutelage. She removed the fancy clip from her hair while her teacher discarded the canvas tube she’d been carrying as a blind. People still thought of blueprints as bulky pages rather than a microchip that could easily be hidden in a girl’s barrette.

They had already scouted out the abandoned apartment building and knew their buyer, but it was better safe than sorry. The Femme Fatale taped a gun under the table. She noticed her student sticking a knife to the wall behind the closet door and wanted to smile. The girl was already picking up on the Femme Fatale’s habits: habits that would keep her alive.

The Femme Fatale glanced around the sparse room. The table was the only piece of furniture, it was heavy wood and as dilapidated as the rest of the apartment building. They both wore heavy gloves in case they needed to use the gutter outside to make a fast exit through the window. “Il est ici.” He’s here. The girl said. She had sharp ears. The Femme Fatale stood at the table facing the door, both of her hands resting on the table’s surface. The second the buyer walked in she went for the gun in her holster. She wasn’t fast enough. A shot rang out. The Femme Fatale hissed as the bullet grazed her shoulder.

“Don’t.” The buyer commanded. The Femme Fatale gave him an unamused look. “Raise your ands, Fatale. You’ve always been an excellent acquisitions specialist and I hope that we can continue to do business after this, but I will shoot you if I have to.”

“You’re trying to rip me off.” The Femme Fatale asked flatly. “You?”

“Step away from the table and raise your hands.” The buyer insisted. The Femme Fatale rolled her eyes, but complied with the request. “You, girl.” The buyer looked at her student. The Femme Fatale felt her hackles rise slightly as he addressed the girl. “Slide me the hairpiece.” The buyer ordered. The girl hesitated, then walked to the table. She reached for the hairclip. The crack that broke the tension of the room nearly made the Femme Fatale duck for cover. Instead, it was the buyer who fell to the ground. His face hadn’t changed except for the red circle above his left eye. The Femme Fatale looked at her student. The gun she had hidden beneath the table was raised at her waist. The Femme Fatale watched as the girl walked around the table and looked down at the man she had just killed. The girl seemed perplexed, if anything. Then she looked up at her mentor. She smiled. The Femme Fatale smiled back.

It seemed her student could handle it after all.

The sixth installment of Out of the Shadows...

Felicity wasn’t sure how she ended up with friends. She knew that even in this fluffy world of rainbows and butterflies there were loners. If asked before her new life, Felicity would have definitely assumed she would be one of them. Yet here she was, frozen in the doorway of the café, relieved that she hadn’t actually shot anyone with the two guns in her reach when they jumped out and shouted “Surprise!” Sally walked up to her and fixed a cardboard cone with crowns printed on it on Felicity’s head.

“Happy Birthday, Felicity!” Sally beamed at her, blushing slightly. Right, it was her false identity’s birthday. She’d noticed it earlier in the week, but it slipped her mind this morning. Felicity took in the entire scene. The Cinema Critics were there. Teddy, of course, and a variety of people she knew in a variety of ways. General Morris was missing, he was attending a summit of some kind, but the largest present on the table was from him. Felicity’s eyes landed on John Howle who looked like he was recovering from a heart attack. He was probably the only one who realized how dangerous startling Felicity might be. That set her in motion.

“Guys…” She said in a sappy touched voice with a smile. “You didn’t have to do all this.” Felicity waved her hand at the room.

“But it’s your birthday!” Sally looked aghast at the idea of not doing something.

“Yeah.” Teddy agreed, looking absurd in a goofy hat. “Now come in here and say hello to everyone.” Felicity allowed herself to be led around the room. Joining in conversations and marveling at who was there. How had they known to invite Old Joe from the junk thrift shop a few blocks away. Joe told her an animated story about his best friend’s birthday some sixty years ago, while Felicity listened fondly and Teddy laughed at all of the right times. She got in a heated debate with Marlene, of the Cinema Critics, about how realistic some things were in spy movies. (Felicity lost the debate because she couldn’t exactly announce to the room that it was possibly to shoot a man and defuse a bomb in thirty seconds because Felicity had once done it in half that time.)

“Whose idea was this?” Felicity asked between conversations, eyeing Teddy suspiciously.

“Well, I noticed the date.” Teddy answered, completely unashamed. “But Sally put together the party.” Sally ducked her head in embarrassment. A small grin touched the corner of Felicity’s mouth. “Joan,” The owner of the café where they worked, “Couldn’t make it, some family thing, but she paid for all of the food.” He waved his hand at the buffet.

“Well, thank you.” Felicity said. No one had ever thrown her a party before. She couldn’t even recall ever receiving a present. Even if it was the wrong day, it was probably the best birthday she’d ever had. Sally beamed and dragged her off to talk to another group of acquaintances, followed by a bemused Teddy.

After a while, Felicity managed to sidle up beside the always suspicious John Howle. “I’m surprised to see you here, Mr. Howle.” She murmured. Howle eyed her. He hadn’t been startled by her approach. She respected that.

“I’m surprised to be here.” He admitted. “It seems that Sally is under the impression that we are close.” Howle watched Felicity. “She’s hard to say no to.”

“Very,” Felicity agreed. “Though you looked positively terrified when I walked in.” She smiled innocently at him. “Why might that be?”

Howle considered his next words carefully. “I didn’t realize that it was a surprise party.” He answered. “I was unsure how you would… react.” Howle’s words were thinly veiled truth, and Felicity appreciated the dual meaning.

“You think I don’t like birthdays?” Felicity’s smile widened. The corners of Howle’s mouth twitched.

“I think you don’t like surprises.” He raised an eyebrow. “Am I wrong?” Felicity shrugged.

“Yes and no.” She replied, enigmatically. “I’m surprised you’re here.” That could mean anything from the party to Howle’s job as chief of security to him actually standing there talking to her. “But,” Felicity paused, considering her own words and decided the truth would confound him more than anything else. “It’s a pleasant surprise.” For just a moment, Felicity looked at him and offered a rare, genuine smile. It was far less comforting than the one she had adopted since settling into her new life. That killer’s smile certainly would have disturbed anyone else in the room, but Felicity knew that John Howle could handle it. “I’m glad there’s someone who understands me.” John Howle’s expression was so utterly perplexed Felicity had to laugh. “Enjoy the party, Howle.” She moved away from him. A self satisfied glow settled itself around her. She had been right. Her smile hadn’t perturbed him in the slightest.

Felicity tensed as the lights went out, but she didn’t pull a weapon or duck for cover. Sally and Teddy walked out of the kitchen singing (badly in Teddy’s case) carrying a cake bordered by candles. The candles created a warm glow in the dark room. If Felicity were poetic she’d find a metaphor for the light that her friends were throwing into her life of shadows. But Felicity wasn’t romantic enough for that… Not yet. Everyone around the room began to join in. Sally slid the cake on the table, presenting it to Felicity.

“Make a wish.” Sally smiled, her face shadowed in the dim light. Felicity looked around the room. Her friends were cloaked in the darkness of the candles. Howle stood farther back and almost unseen, while Sally hovering over the candles was the brightest. Felicity leaned over and blew out the candles.

For the first time, since she’d started her new life, Felicity didn’t make a wish. She didn’t have to return to the shadows. At that moment… She didn’t want to.

…And that surprised her.

The fifth installment of Out of the Shadows.

Felicity watched the man sitting next to the window like a hawk. Not that anyone would notice that she was. Felicity hadn’t looked directly at him since she handed him his order. This was bad, very bad. Felicity fretted, though giving no outward sign of her distress. She knew that guy, or at least, knew of him. He was Jiang Chen, known on the FBI most wanted list as John Chin, spy for hire.

Felicity knew he didn’t recognize her. They’d never met face to face, though she had defeated him in a round about way when she stymied one of his employer’s plans. Her face was probably rattling around somewhere in the back of his mind. That wasn’t the problem. He wouldn’t recognize her unless she did something to draw his attention. The problem was that he was watching the building across the street. The building where most of the café’s costumers came from. The building where Sally worked. Felicity was stuck. She couldn’t exactly call the cops. Nothing could be traced to her. Why did she even care?!

Felicity’s phone pinged with Sally’s order. The phone chime heralded a bell in her own mind. This was a stupid idea, but she was going to do it anyway. Felicity prepared an extra cup of coffee. When Sally walked in Felicity kept their usual banter to a minimum. Then she handed Sally the extra coffee and asked her to give it to John Howle. Felicity was grateful that Sally knew practically everyone so that she didn’t have to specify ‘head of security’ in front of Chen.

Ten minutes later, Howle walked in the café. Felicity met his eyes, looked at Chen and back at Howle. Howle glanced at Chen, then placed his order. Felicity almost took a sip before giving it to Howle. That would look weird. She popped the top on the cup. Howle took the cup but didn’t drink it. He walked over to a table, taking Chen’s picture subtly enough that it was obvious to Felicity he’d done this kind of thing before. (Though not nearly as much as her and Chen.)

Felicity’s shift ended and she fled the café as quickly as she could while still looking casual. The arrest of ‘John Chen’ was on the news that night. There was nothing to tie Felicity to it except the cup in Howle’s office. Scribbled under the brown coffee cup sleeve were the words “Get down here. Now!”

The fourth installment of Out of the Shadows.


Mary stared blankly at the coin sitting on top of her cousin’s headstone. Evan had been killed in action years ago, but Mary still visited his grave often. Mary’s shaking hand reached out to steady herself against the cool marble of the stone. It supported her the way that Evan did when he was alive. Mary saw a lot of coins on Evan’s headstone. A penny was left after someone visited. They left a nickel if they trained with him and a dime if they served with him. You only left a quarter if you were with someone when they died.

Evan was separated from his squadron before he was killed. Mary didn’t know all of it through the tangle of classified red tape, but she knew that Evan died alone. So why was there a bright and shiny quarter sitting on top of his grave? The light reflecting off the quarter blurred along with the rest of Mary’s vision as her eyes filled with tears. The single thought in her mind was an echoing question. Who left a quarter on Evan’s grave?
 


Felicity knew that visiting the young man’s grave had been low risk, but it was the first thing connected to her old life she’d done since she went into hiding. She couldn’t help being a little bit paranoid. Felicity changed buses again, swapping out her wig and clothing between them. It had been a foolish thing to do, to visit the grave, but when she’d noticed the cemetery on a map it had nagged at her: especially with Sally suddenly waxing poetic about the importance of keeping promises.

Felicity had never intended to keep her promise to Evan. Her promise to leave a coin at his grave. She thought it was just his way of forcing her to get his body back to the USA and she’d done that. It had been easy to arrange for his squadron to find the corpse. Now that Felicity lived an extended bus ride away from the military cemetery where he was interred it was harder to think of an excuse for why she shouldn’t go. No one would be watching for her there Going would fulfill a dead man’s last request, something that all of her rational mind said didn’t matter because the dead were dead. Except apparently now it mattered to her.

So Felicity went. She thought about the young man she’d had the brief privilege to know. Felicity stood at the head stone, uncertain of what she should be feeling. In the end, Felicity sighed and put a quarter on the marble marker, unhappy, but unable to truly regret her actions that day. It seemed a bit macabre for her to leave a quarter there. Then again, Evan would probably appreciate the irony. That was the kind of guy he was.

Felicity wasn’t expecting a trip down memory lane when she accepted Teddy’s invitation to a movie marathon with his college friends. She’d been looking forward to it. Hanging out with other people for fun was one of the perks of her new life. It had taken some time to become accustomed to, but as Felicity’s initial wariness wore off she found that she enjoyed it. Felicity had been amused when she arrived at the theatre to find it was Spy Saturday and they would be showing spy movies from the forties to the present. Teddy waved her over, excitedly.

“These can be pretty silly.” Teddy admitted. Misinterpreting Felicity’s raised eyebrow. “But it’s funny to pick them apart.”

“They aren’t that silly.” A brown haired boy rolled brown eyes. “Just because our Teddy is a film snob.”
“I am not a film snob!” Teddy quickly denied. He turned to Felicity. “I’m not.” The half concealed grins and snickers from the other four suggested otherwise.

Felicity didn’t have to pay for her ticket. This was an activity for the Cinema Critics, a college club, and if six people came the club paid. One of the Critics had dropped out last minute, so Felicity was filling in. “Is this the Sasha who came by the café a few months ago?” Felicity inquired.

“That’s the one.” Teddy nodded. He nudged the boy next to him, a slight smile on his face.

“Well, then,” Felicity shrugged off her jacket and tied it around her shoulders. She pulled the front of her shirt so her neckline went a little lower, and then flipped her hair over her head, leaning over as she ran her fingers through it. When she flipped it back into place it was in a side part. Felicity’s entire stance had changed.

“Just call me Sasha.” Felicity said brightly. There was a spit second of silence before the Cinema Critics were stumbled over themselves, demanding how she’d done that. Was she an actress? Felicity stood there in Sasha’s borrowed stance, chest slightly forward, one hand habitually resting on the curve of her waist, feeling somewhat pleased with herself. Until one of them, Taylor, started pestering her about a role in his student film. She was mildly relieved when Teddy asked her to stop imitating Sasha before she creeped everyone out.

It was cool inside the theatre. A concessions bar lined one wall; popcorn machines and few games littered the lobby. There was even a comfortable sitting area for people who wanted to take a break from the marathon. Felicity counted three easy exists and two unorthodox ones if things got dicey. Which they wouldn’t… The Cinema Critics led Felicity to the best seats, dead center, with more than enough space in front of them to be able to get up if they wanted to. They peppered her with more facts about various films that she never wanted to know before the lights dimmed and the marathon began.

The second installment of Out of the Shadows. Sequel to The New Life.

Felicity was pointedly ignoring the costumer trying to get her attention. He was a rather slimy lobbyist who had taken a shine to her. Felicity wasn’t certain how to respond to his advances. In her old life, she’d have led him on (if he was a mark) or taught him to respect her through a broken finger or two (if he was a colleague). In either case she’d have moved on in a matter of days. Now Felicity was in the same place every day and unable to take any real action against the man who came to “buy coffee”. Felicity had needed to reconsider her strategy.

Thus far, letting him down gently, telling him she wasn’t interested, and inventing an imaginary boyfriend all had zero effect on the man. Today she was trying the age old method that if you ignore a problem, maybe it will go away. Felicity was low on options. She was seriously considering falling back on some old, more permanent, methods of dealing with nuisances.

“Here’s your coffee, General.” She said pleasantly, putting the cardboard cup down between her and General Morris.

“Thank you, my dear.” The general picked up the cup but seemed reluctant to move. Felicity frowned internally. Why wasn’t he leaving? He was going to be late for his meeting. The object of Felicity’s loathing shouldered his way between Felicity and the general.

“Hey,” He leaned over the counter towards her. His breath reeked of expensive alcohol. “Can I get some sugar?” Felicity turned her back on him, mildly disgusted. “Hey! You can’t ignore me!” The man snapped indignantly, finally catching on. “I’m a paying costumer!” Something slammed behind her, Felicity whipped around.

“No! You’re not!” Felicity had thought it was her drunken stalker, instead she found Teddy standing resolutely between her and the man, his hands rigid on the counter where he had slammed them. He glared daggers at the man who’d been harassing Felicity. “You’ve been bothering her ALL WEEK. Leave her ALONE!”

“You can’t talk to me like that!” The man spluttered.

“Yes, I can!” Teddy jabbed a finger at a sign next to the cash register. “We have the right to refuse service to anyone and we are refusing service to you. Get out!”

The man set his jaw. “I’m not going anywhere.” He snarled. Felicity moved around the counter.

“I think you’d better leave, son.” General Morris said firmly. The general’s aides were on their toes, both military personnel themselves.

“Make me.” The man challenged them all. His hands curled into fists. General Morris’ mouth tightened.

“I’m warning you, son.” He raised his hands in a placating gesture. It had the reverse affect. The drunk man threw a punch. It was wild, unprofessional, and probably wouldn’t have hurt much if it had connected. It never got the chance. The fool was immobilized before he even realized he’d struck out. All around the room there were slow expressions of dawning comprehension as what they were seeing registered. Felicity holding the unwanted admirer securely in a chokehold. What none of them knew was how closely Felicity had come to snapping his neck. The man made a strangled sound as Felicity adjusted her grip to something less potentially lethal.

“I have tolerated your presence up to now as an exercise in patience.” Felicity said in a controlled voice. “But you just crossed a line.” The man tried to say something but Felicity quite literally cut him off with a tightening of her arm. “I’m not finished.” Felicity said tersely. He quieted. “Now, you are going to get out of this café, and you aren’t going to be back. Do I make myself clear?” Felicity felt the man swallow against her arm. He made a meek affirmative sound. “Good.” Felicity was about to release him when something occurred to her. She turned him towards the general. “Apologize.” She loosed her grip slightly.

“Sorry.” The man rasped, unable to do much more. Felicity turned him towards the door.

“Get out.” She shoved him away. The man stumbled as he bolted for the door. Still a bit woozy from the alcohol. There was a moment of silence as the bell rang his departure. Felicity flushed red. She’d made a spectacle of herself. Then a young woman started clapping, it wasn’t long before the entire café joined in.

“Damn, Felicity.” Teddy gaped at her, but a smile was forming as he lifted his own hands to clap. “I guess that we were being overprotective!”

“That we were.” The general laughed. Something subtle flickered in his eyes that she couldn’t catch.

She was the one who had been overprotective. She'd lashed out far too quickly and effectively to the aggression towards Teddy and General Morris for a mere barista. It might have blown up in her face, but she guess that was part of having friends.