![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmc1VpDkHgFu2JAnnDoWzyVS3UQW5KDFitdSS9RJkb4JKP/the_trouble_with_modern_espionage.jpg)



Silrk hit the pavement beside her, scooping up the motionless woman as he rose. His legs pumped ever faster as three more shots rang out.

When a bullet shattered a window only a few inches away from him, he leapt in. Throwing VHS over his shoulder, he sprinted up a set of stairs.

"I sure hope there's a fire escape," Silrk thought grimly.

The stairs ended at the top floor. "I have to find a way to get to the roof," he muttered, without stopping.

Unable to locate the elusive escape route, he ducked into an office and locked and deadbolted the thick steel door. Then he made VHS as comfortable as possible in the large leather chair behind the heavy oak desk.

"I wish they hadn't taken my phone! I could have backup here in under five minutes..." he thought irritably.

Without missing a beat, he picked up the office's land line. "Hello, this is Murphy, from Cleaner and Cleaner. I'm at 6392 Cherry. Monique's Consulting. Someone shot out one of the windows, please help!"

He hung up, and saw that VHS was stirring. She groaned, and rubbed her head.

Silrk sighed with relief. "Are you alright? At first I thought you were shot, but I don't see any blood."

She groaned again, rubbing the same spot just above her hairline. "I think so... I remember hearing a gunshot as I tripped. And here I am. Exactly where is here?"

He looked towards the door. "We're on the top floor of a consultation firm. A stray bullet knocked out the window, and I used it to our advantage. Can you walk?"

"Yeah, I think so," she said as she unsteadily got to her feet.

"We need to hide, and set up an ambush. My initial plan was to get to the roof, then find a way to lose our new friends. But it's too late. The stairs ended on the top floor here, and they'll have any possible escape routes covered by now."

VHS nodded, then winced. "Let's set up a little surprise in here, then we can hide in the air-ducts."

"Let's get to it. I just called the authorities, pretending to be a janitor. We can leave after they do, but before they've completely vacated the area."

After they used what was available, Home Alone style, they wriggled into the small space, and put as much distance as possible between them and their entrance - or any possible entrance, for that matter.

As the two sat in silence, Silrk looked at his companion. "She's cool under fire, and definitely has some fighting skills. But she's so young," he thought.

 After what seemed like hours, they heard footsteps approaching below them.

"It doesn't make any sense, Drew. The maintenance guy didn't even know the window was broken, and has never heard of a company called Cleaner and Cleaner. But obviously someone called from within the building."

"Who knows? Maybe someone stayed late, but didn't want to get involved. They're long gone by now."

"I know, I just wish we had at least one witness..."

The two spies sighed in relief as the voices faded into the distance.

"Ten more minutes and then we leave," VHS said.

When they finally emerged from the air-ducts, Silrk landed on both feet with a soft thud, then massaged the small of his back.

VHS exited head first, spinning in midair and landing silently on  both feet.

"Showoff," he muttered. But his eyes were wide, and he looked at her for several seconds.

VHS grinned. "Stealth is everything."

With a patrol car only thirty feet away, they climbed through the broken window, and stepped over the crime scene tape.

VHS giggled as they walked away. "I can't believe that we just walked out of there right under their noses, without being seen."

Silrk grinned. "Stealth isn't everything. Timing is just as important."

VHS raised an eyebrow, and grinned back. "There is something to be said about timing. I'll keep that in mind, for future reference."

After walking in silence for several blocks, VHS stopped. "Now that we're finally alone, I need the information."

He nodded. "It's not on me, my orders were to make contact, then take you to my superiors. They're going to meet us in Diamond Square, at six PM."

She sighed with relief. "Great. I for one will be glad when this day is over. I need a hot shower and a soft bed. Not necessarily in that order."

The two spies strolled through some of the busier sections of town, finally arriving at Diamond Square.

Despite the late hour, it was packed. With a tower-shaped skyscraper at each corner, it was lined with restaurants and shops of every description.

Silrk looked around, his head swiveling in all directions. "I've never seen a place quite like this. Are there always so many bands, mimes, dancers, and other performers here? Or is it some kind of festival?"

VHS shrugged. "I don't know, I'm not familiar with this part of the country."

"Ah, there it is. The Monkey See Fried Donuts cart. We're each to order our food, and our assignments will be inside."

"Should I order anything in particular?" VHS asked.

"Whatever you want - and the food will be amazing, by the way. I've tasted it on previous missions. They'll know it's us by a retina scan, and encourage each of us to take a glazed donut too. Accept it, it'll contain a thumb drive."

Her expression changed to surprise. "It's hard to believe how far technology has come, in the last fifty years."

He smiled. "It sure makes things easier, and more secure too."

"What was that?" Silrk asked as they walked.

"What happened?" asked VHS.

"Oh, something scratched my hand. Maybe it was your bracelet."

A few seconds later, he collapsed. Every bystander in the vicinity gathered around him.

VHS continued towards the cart, without a backward glance.

Once she was within range, she pulled a thin tube from the front of her blouse, and blew into it. A moment later, she released another dart.

After a few seconds, the two vendors were slumped over their cart, out cold.

VHS walked over as if to check on them, but nobody had noticed their predicament. The crowd was still focused on the unconscious Silrk.

She quickly inspected the cart. One glazed donut was set slightly apart from the others. She crushed it, and sure enough, it contained a thumb drive.

After bagging several other glazed donuts, eclairs, and apple fritters, she put some cash where the lone glazed donut had been.

The double agent strolled away. "The trouble with Modern espionage is that most people depend on their gadgets to protect them," she mused, as she melted into the crowd.

*****
*****
**Describe what you see:**
I see an alley, with a small group of people in it. I also see one single bit of graffiti, in a scene that is otherwise free of spray paint.
**Describe what you feel:**
I feel like it's an average day. People are bored, and just trying to liven up an otherwise boring lunch hour. But things aren't always as they seem...
#pic1000
[Participation link](https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@freewritehouse/a-picture-is-worth-a-thousand-words-ruyxml)
[Image source](https://ecency.com/hive-161155/@freewritehouse/a-picture-is-worth-a-thousand-words-ruyxml and by @wakeupkitty and edited in Canva Pro, using their gallery.)