The Sleeper cell - A.R.Hutton (epub ebook reader .TXT) 📗

Prologue

Lissie ran behind a barrel, her gun at the ready.
‘Where are they?’ she mouthed to Simon.
He motioned towards the parking lot. “Oh crap.”
She muttered.
Simon peered over the boxes that protected him, his eyes studying everything. Lissie knew that genius brain of his was processing every bit of what he saw; figuring out their next move.
All the sudden she saw his eyes light up, he turned and pointed at her, his eyes and his back…translation… ‘Watch my back’
Lissie gripped her gun tightly and nodded.
Simon crouched and ran from cover, at the same time she ran to his spot. They both flinched as bullets pelted the ground and the boxes all around them. Resting her hands on a box, she fired four rounds in their direction as Simon ran and hid behind an old car filled with scrap metal. This move caused him to be completely shielded from the attackers, who happen to be right on the other side.
Simon crouched down and crawled under the car; he lay on his back and aimed at the front of the car that the shooters were behind.
Lissie heard three shots, a boom that vibrated the ground. And saw a large ball of orange flames burst into the sky;
“Holy-” her words were cut off by another boom.
After a few minutes, she guardedly ran to her brother sweeping her gun around; making sure the coast was clear.
“WOOhoo!” Simon shouted rising from the ground.
“That’s what I’m talking about.”
Lissie rolled her eyes, “Simon, this isn’t the time to celebrate. We gotta clean up and go... five minutes.” She holstered her weapon, made a brief phone call; and started to police her brass, and brush off as much of their fingerprints as possible. Simon joined her.
After that they went to their vehicle, where Simon threw himself behind the wheel, and drove off.

After twenty minutes of driving Lissie sighed, “Well I could use a nice vacation, after all that.” She muttered wryly.
Simon laughed; “I’m sure you could” he looked at his sister with proud amusement. She wasn’t fully made for this line of work, but she was one of a very few he trusted enough to have his back.
“I’ll ask the boss if she can give you a quiet assignment.”
Lissie gave a sharp laugh, “That’s a funny joke.”
She said, sarcasm dripping from her voice.
Simon laughed at her as he drove to the Nashville airport.

Chapter one

Two days later.
Lissie arrived at her small apartment on the outskirts of New York. She flipped on the light switch lighting up her living room and kitchen; decorated in blues, yellows, greens and tans. Giving it a modern yet old fashioned look; with her silver metal and dark brown furniture.
“Welcome home.” She muttered, tossing her bags on the love seat. Then with a sigh collapsed into her sofa and turned on the TV; after watching the news, which not surprisingly didn’t cover the excitement that had happened two days ago. She went to the kitchen, had a snack, took a shower and went to bed.
The next morning; she woke at seven, and left for work at seven thirty. She drove further away from town out in the country to large building called; ‘I.R.S MAINSTREAM’ Lissie couldn’t help but smile every time she read those words. What a suitable name for a fake business.
It was surrounded by a ten-foot high fence that had signs warning of the high voltage; and though there weren’t any guards, the place was guarded by high-Tech cameras and motion detectors. And lord only knows what else.
She stopped in front of the gate. “Identify please” a voice spoke over her radio. “Lissie Pike, code access: Olympic gold.” She waited for a few seconds. “You may enter dearie.”
Lissie smiled, “Thank you Hilda.”
She drove to the parking lot in the back, and got out. After straitening her nice plaid shirt, and dusting off her black slacks. She strode towards the door that was only the “entrance” to a very high tech security access building. Many more doors and scanners would be passed through before she actually got “into” the building and her office.
“Well it only took me 7 minutes to make security today” Lissie laughed, as she walked by Hilda. Hilda sat behind a large half-mooned shaped desk,
Hilda laughed. “Good. by the way, she’s waiting in your office.”
Nodding her thanks, Lissie ran up two flights of stairs, down a hall and turned into a large room with a glass window facing westward, that had four people sitting at their desks. One was her brother; the other three were Rachel White, Thomas Hinkler. The two tech experts, And Charles karp, the arms dealer, they goodnaturley called him.
“So how was Tennessee?” Rachel asked. She wore her hair in a loose bun that was held up by a pen, another pen was clenched between her teeth as she typed on her computer. Simon, who was lounging at his desk, glared at her. “So nice, ask her but ignore me. Wonderful.”
Still looking at her computer, Rachel grinned. “I like to keep my conversations at an adult level.” She said snidely.
“Oooh, burn.” Charles cried out. Throwing a paper ball at Simon; Simon jumped up, caught it and threw it back hard.
Lissie rolled her eyes, “And he wonders why you won’t go out with him.” She muttered to Rachel.
Rachel snorted, “It’s more than that sweetie.”
Lissie laughed and headed for her desk. Since she was their leader; she got a glass office with heavy curtains that could close when having a private conversation, which was what appeared to be the case, when she noticed them closed.
“I see you took the liberty of hiding yourself.” She said, shutting her door and turning to face her boss.
“As impolite as ever.” Miss Elliot stated, staring out Lissie’s window. “You’ve given me reason to be.” Lissie replied coolly.
Miss Elliot, Commanding officer of A.I.D.S (America’s international defense service).
Turned and glared at her, “You made the choice to join us.”
“I had no choice… its one thing to serve my country, it’s another When people like you blackmail and manipulate; me and others to work for you and send us to do almost impossible things without any chance of surviving.” Lissie snapped
Miss Elliot smirked, “You are a fool if you thought this job would be safe and easy.”
“You know that’s not true” Lissie snarled.
“Well I didn’t come here to have a moral debate; I’m here to tell you that I’m being replaced.”
Lissie raised an eyebrow in surprise. “And who is replacing you?” she asked.
Miss Elliot started for the door, “You don’t know him. He starts today.”
Lissie watched her leave. “Well I suppose that’s it then, Percy.” She said to her scarlet beta fish that was on her desk.
Lissie had just seated herself when Simon, Rachel, Thomas and Charles; ran in. “What was she doing here? We didn’t even see her come in.” Simon demanded.
“Oh, the famous Simon is losing his touch.” Rachel mocked.
Thomas and Charles grinned.
While Simon glared, “You are so annoying.” He snapped.
Rachel’s eyes twinkled, “That’s my job laddie.”
“Alright stop it.” Lissie said laughingly. She leaned back in her chair, “Miss Elliot is being replaced.”
“About bloody time” Muttered Thomas, with his Scottish accented voice. The rest of the team nodded in mutual agreement. “Though, I will say that I loved some of the missions she sent me on, so many lovely ladies.” Simon added.
Rachel snorted. “Well let’s hope that our new, sphincter of a boss tries to accommodate you.”
Lissie frowned. “We must not make any assumptions.” She chided. “He or she may be good or bad, it doesn’t matter. Just so long as we do our jobs well. Remember it’s not just about us.”
“Easy for you to say sis, you plan on quitting once you find your man.” Simon said plopping onto her desk. Lissie calmly ignored his remark and started to go through some folders on her desk. “We need to get back to work.”
They all quietly filed out.
As her team walked out, a man walked in. He was tall with blond hair and green eyes; and a serious expression. Lissie looked up from her file, “Can I help you?”
She asked. He shut her door and taking a seat, started to stare at her. Feeling very annoyed at his impertinence, she narrowed her eyes at him. “I repeat. Can I help you?”
He calmly arranged the tie he was wearing. “I’m assuming you didn’t ever tell your brother what you left behind when he called for your help.” He said nonchalantly.
Lissie stiffened, “I don’t know what you mean.” She replied closing her file sharply.
“Ah but you do.” He studied her. “Family more important then love Or career more important than either?”
Lissie rose from her seat, her eyes snapping with anger. “What I do or did is none of your business.”
He nodded, after a few minutes said. “I must say I disagree with Miss Elliot. She said I should watch you. But I see otherwise.” He rose and held out his hand, “I’m Robert Park, Miss Elliot’s replacement I apologize. I was testing you; I know it wasn’t my place.” Lissie eyed him warily.
He smiled, “Don’t worry, I don’t bite.”
“Actually I thought you were more of the barking type.” She finally replied Returning his handshake.
Robert threw back his head and laughed, “Oh I think we shall work great together.”
Lissie merely smiled.
“So tell me what the name of your fish is?” He suddenly asked.
Surprised, Lissie watched him go to the fish bowl and admire Percy. “Um, Percy.” She replied uncertainly.
“Really I like that name, I don’t suppose you named him after the scarlet pimpernel?”
Lissie smiled with pleasure, “Yes, I love that book.”
Robert laughed, “I know, my mother adored it. Said that it was the best book ever written.”
Lissie shrugged, “Well that’s a hard decision, there are so many good ones out there.”
Nodding, Robert headed for the door, “Oh, would you mind introducing me to your team?” he suddenly asked.
Lissie nodded proudly, “Of course,”
Leading him out of her study she walked over to the middle of the room. Seeing her with the stranger, they all stopped what they were doing. “Guys, this is Robert Parker our new C.E.O; Mr. Parker, This is my brother Simon Pike our field leader.” Simon nodded in greeting. “And Rachel White our linguist and special secretary.” Rachel nodded shyly.
“Thomas Hinkler our computer, science geek. And sniper.” She said fondly. Everyone along with Thomas grinned.
“And last but not least, Charles Karp our arms dealer. Second in command of the field, and driver of about anything you can think of.”
“Except his dating life,