The D-day.
Sofia and Tati stood atop a dusty rooftop, the wind tugging at their clothes as they crouched beside a small duffel bag filled with gear. The sun had begun to descend, casting a golden hue across the skyline. Sofia adjusted the bone conduction earpiece in her ear, fingers cold.
"Okay…" she said, standing. "You stay up here with your pair. I'll head to the coffee shop across the street. We need to mimic the distance between Smoke and Mirrors and Cinatra."
Tati gave a mock salute. "Roger that, Captain."
Sofia rolled her eyes but smiled. "Just make sure you can hear me. If this fails, we're screwed."
She jogged down the fire escape and crossed the street, slipping into the coffee shop and ordering a drink she didn't plan to drink. She settled into a corner booth and tapped the earpiece.
"Tati, can you hear me?"
"Loud and clear" came Tati's voice, cheerful and slightly crackly. "You sound like you're doing ASMR in my ear"
Sofia chuckled. "Good. I was worried the range would drop. The last thing we need is this gear fucking up"
"Girl, this gear is solid. We're basically spies now."
Sofia leaned back, satisfied. "Alright. Let's pack up and get moving."
By the time they finished testing and returned to the park, the sky had turned violet dusk. They ducked behind a row of trees and changed into their work overalls, stuffing their regular clothes into their backpacks.
Sofia tied her hair into a tight bun and adjusted her clothes, while Tati twirled in hers and grimaced. "Ugh. Not flattering."
***
They arrived at Smoke and Mirrors just in time. The agency head, a stern woman with a clipboard and no patience, greeted them at the entrance.
"Tati" she said, nodding. "And this is?"
"My cousin I told you about" Tati replied smoothly. "Sofia."
The woman gave Sofia a once-over, then motioned for them to follow. "You're in Group C. Toilets and back hallway."
Sofia and Tati exchanged a look. Tati whispered, "Toilets? Seriously?"
Sofia shook her head and sighed.
Tati tapped her butt. "Wanna switch? I'll be the sneaker, you'll be the lookout."
Sofia grimaced. "Hell nah."
They were led to a waiting area where other cleaners sat, chatting and sipping water. Sofia and Tati immediately struck up conversation, cracking jokes, and building rapport. It was all part of the plan.
When their group was called, they headed to the restroom area. Tati leaned close. "You sure you don't want me to sneak in instead?"
Sofia playfully flicked her nose. "Stick to the plan"
After a few minutes of scrubbing sinks and pretending to care about grime, Tati began her rounds. She approached each cleaner in their group, slipping them thirty dollars and whispering the rehearsed story.
"My dear cousin's a single mom" Tati said, voice low and sad. "Her baby's still at daycare. She couldn't pick her up cause of all these jobs. Please, just cover for her. She'll be back in thirty minutes."
Sofia in turn, played her part perfectly. Pitiful, tired and desperate.
The cleaners, moved by the story, refused the money and told her to hurry, before their supervisor noticed.
Sofia thanked them and bolted.
She slipped into a hidden cubicle at the back of the bar, changed into a sleek black outfit and a full-face mask, then crept through the open backdoor of the casino, avoiding the cameras.
The place was dim and quiet. She moved like a shadow, checking each room. Most were locked.
She remembered the officer's words from her world. The stack of invites had been found in an open room. She just had to find it fast.
Finally, she did.
The room was lavish, with golden game cards scattered across the glass table. Sofia stared, momentarily stunned. Real gold. Just lying there.
She was tempted. But she shook her head. She would stick to the plan.
She took two invitations from beneath the stack and turned to leave.
But she then saw a light glowing from a small room down the corridor to her left.
Someone was there.
Her heart dropped. According to her memory, only the victim had been present before and after the murder. That meant the person inside was about to bid this world goodbye.
Her instincts screamed at her to get the hell out of there. Interfering with this world could have consequences. But moving closer, the man looked young. Innocent and too clean for this.
She couldn't walk away.
Sofia approached slowly, knocked, and stepped inside. It was some sort of a mini Library.
The man jumped, startled by the masked figure. He looked about twenty-three, with soft features and nervous eyes.
Sofia raised her hands. "I'm not here to hurt you."
She closed the door behind her. "Listen. You need to leave right now. Don't meet anyone tonight. You'll get shot."
He stared at her. "What?"
"I'm serious. You seem young, and have your whole life ahead of you. Don't throw it away."
He narrowed his eyes. "How do you know I'm meeting someone tonight?"
Sofia thought for a second. "I'm a psychic" she said. "I've said my piece. Believe it or not."
She turned to leave.
Then she saw him reach behind his back.
A gun.
Her breath caught. Son of a bitch.
But before he could aim, a deep knock echoed from the outer door.
Sofia's heart pounded.
Damn it. Mistake. Huge fucking mistake!
Why didn't she just fucking leave when she had the chance.
She turned to the man, eyes wide, shaking her head. "Don't answer it. Please. You're in danger." She ran her hand through her hair. "Fuck. We're both in danger!"
He looked torn, glancing between her and the door.
Then he hissed at her"Get out." and walked toward his doom. Dumb lad.
Cursing under her breath, Sofia darted to the back of the room and squeezed herself into a narrow closet-like wardrobe. She tapped her earpiece. "Tati, call the police. Now."
Tati's voice crackled. "What? Why?"
"Just do it" Sofia hissed.
Sofia rested on the wardrobe wall, trembling. She could hear voices in the hall. Then footsteps. They were coming into the library.
She held her breath. She heard the steps of at least two men, or more?
One stood out. His voice was deep, smooth, and commanding. "Why haven't you returned the goods, Marshall?"
Sofia's chest tightened. Even through fear, the sound of that voice rattled her. American, but laced with an Italian-French swirl that was both seductive and lethal.
Marshall stuttered. "I…I was going to. I just… had alot going on…"
The man made a tsk tsk sound, then went silent.
Then he spoke. "Okay. I can forgive that. But what I can't forgive is you raping one of Giovanni's girls. Your dick shouldn't control you"
Sofia's blood ran cold. She had almost saved a rapist???
She was in this fucking mess because of a fucking rapist!?!?!??!?
She was ready to go tf home.
Marshall began to plead. But it was too late. A silenced shot was released.
Sofia clamped her hand over her mouth, biting her glove to stifle a scream. Tears stung her eyes.
Silence.
Mr deep voice spoke again. "Get rid of the body, and wait for me outside."
Footsteps receded, and the body was dragged out. One set of steps remained.
Sofia prayed he would follow.
But then she heard it. Slow, deliberate, predatory. Coming closer to her hiding spot.
She froze.
He was heading straight for her. But how did he know someone was here?
Her heart thundered, panic rising. She could barely breathe.
The closet door creaked as his shadow fell across it. All she could see through the slats was a tall, broad figure in a loose linen shirt. His powerful presence shook her to the core.
She could smell him now—woody, clean, intoxicating and blue.
Then she heard it. A faint click. His gun unholstered.
He raised the weapon to head level. She could feel it trained directly on her skull through the wooden door. She didn't know how she knew. She just did.
If he pulled that trigger, she'd be dead in an instant.