Cold Anticipation [Part 4]

Even though the tiring night was finally reaching a conclusion, the roads continued their activity with busy vehicles, along with the sidewalks bustling with energetic citizens navigating through every pile of mushy dirt snow that still glowed in colorful neons—Following a gentle yet jovial tap on two small glasses of inebriating liquid for the unexpected team within warm doors. Josefine professionally hitting the shot glass and downing the alcohol in one fast motion. To then grind her teeth from the strong compound within it. Whereas Elijah clearly had a somewhat of a challenge to finish the shot; slowly drinking every drop, as his eyes were tightly shut from the same strong aroma. The moment he finished, he quickly exhaled a sigh of relief.

“We’ll take the local brew.” Josefine asked, indicating with her hand to the bartender.

“You're a bit of a slow drinker.” Josefine then asked, with her signature smirk.

“Yeah, I've been known as the lightweight at work.” Elijah mentioned with a slightly embarrassed chuckle.

“Oh, yeah, and what would that be?” Josefine asked, sipping her drink.

“Vertical farming, I’m in sample management.” Elijah answered.

“Hmm, wouldn't have guessed that from those moves.” Josefine remarked with some surprise.

“Haha yeah, I actually box in my spare time.” Elijah explained, taking a drink.

“Oh, impressive.” Josefine smiled.

“How about yourself? What do you do?” Elijah then asked, sparking more conversation.

“Me?” Josefine paused. “You can call me a Private Investigator.” She slowly answered.

“Do you travel a lot?” Elijah asked.

“Yeah, but lately, I’ve been in these crazy cold climates!” Josefine hollered.

“Haha, yeah, the cold is not for everyone.” Elijah laughed out loud. “Do you like your work, though?” He then asked.

“Hmm… I don't know...” Josefine paused, unsure of how to answer. “I feel like I only do this work because of the income, I don't ask the questions of why, and they pay me.” She explained, slowly, with a lowly tone.

“Shady clients?” Elijah grinned at the idea.

“Oh yeah.” Josefine agreed, taking a quick sip. “You have no idea how many morons are out there that will pay anything to keep their pointless secrets quiet.” She then scolded comically. “So, I suppose, but the work just feels like a hollow paycheck to me.” She said quietly.

“Like it doesn’t feel satisfying?” Elijah then asked.

“Yeah, something like that.” Josefine remarked, drinking slowly, almost pondering the idea.

A stillness was between the two. Simply enjoying the lull of the evening, as they methodically drank their beverages. Elijah recognizing the next conversation should be one that will be a pleasurable one for the understandably dreary Josefine.

“Family?” Elijah politely asked.

“Um... sure you can say that.” Josefine remarked, leaning on the bar, holding onto her drink with both hands.

“I’ve got a bit of a family of my own…” Elijah announced with a gentle tone. “I actually moved out here to support my sister and her two sons, my nephews.” He mentioned, as Josefine focused on him more endearingly. “Her husband is battling Cyberbrain Sclerosis, and the treatment isn’t cheap, so I told her that I can send her money for the kids and she can focus on her husband's treatment.” He explained with a small smile.

“I have a family, more or less. It got a little bit smaller a long time ago.” Josefine expressed vaguely, as she knows the nature of her workplace and is constantly aware of the endless possibilities of revealing personal information. “Now, it's evolved into this situation where I must provide everything they’ll ever need, no matter what. But… At the same time, I still have to figure out what I want to do with my own life, ya know?” She revealed.

“Have you figured that out?” Elijah asked.

“Well, yes and no. I’d like to just spend all my time with my small family, but I did that for a few years and got kinda bored sometimes.” Josefine mentioned, with a slight chuckle.

“Yeah, that sounds like a bit of a challenge.” Elijah mimicked her chuckle.

The two were happily quiet for another moment. Blissfully listening to the other patrons at the bar, with the bartender joyfully indulging with them and the random conversations.

“Here’s a question for you.” Josefine asked, openly. “I was wondering, how did you know to help me and not the Android? I mean, the Android looked completely normal. What made you choose to help me?” She questioned.

“Instinct, I guess… I did see that the Android was punching holes in the wall.” Elijah answered. “And, uh, a pretty face might have played a part in my decision making.” He then scratched his stubble with some embarrassment.

“Your honesty is appreciated.” Josefine smiled, drinking the last bit of her beverage. “We’ll take another round, please.” She announced to the bartender.

A wonderfully pleasant evening spent by two strangers, happily engaging in the beginning stages of courtship. Subtly making layered gestures and innuendos throughout the evening. Clearly indicating that the two are flirtatious with one another. Starting with a quick attraction to grow into a deeper bond of understanding one another’s mind. Soon the two eventually found themselves, ruddy with anticipation of an exciting evening. To then find the next location to be in Josefine’s upscale hotel.

“Wow, this is kinda nice.” Elijah mentioned, admiring Josefine’s hotel room.

“Like I said, some will pay anything to keep their secrets.” Josefine reiterated, with her smirk. “And, I take full advantage of that.” She then mentioned as her voice lowered walking to Elijah.

“Is that so?” Elijah remarked with a similar tone as Josefine got closer to him.

“Tell me, if you could be anywhere, where would it be?” Josefine asked, biting slightly on her lower lip.

“Well, I think I’m already there.” Elijah smoothly remarked.

“Oh, come now, some place other than here. Just name it, and I can make it happen. An extra fun night just for you.” Josefine hummed, getting closer and closer to one another.

“Okay, then, how about Mexico?” Elijah answered softly.

“Mexico? I think I can make that happen… Anything specific?” Josefine smiled with delight.

“A mission?” Elijah then said.

“Mission—?” Josefine repeated with confusion as she shifted her gaze from Elijah‘s lips to his eyes.

“A very special request.” Elijah’s voice began to morph and mix with the vocals of a stern feminine wit.

Josefine then backed away from Elijah with a growing confusion, to then examine him intensely. While he simply smiled with his own odd delight.

“I have a mission for you, Agent Kierkgaard.” Elijah stated vaguely, with a rising grin.

“What?” Josefine quickly asked, with her posture changing as she stepped away from Elijah.

“I said, ‘A mission’ and one that only my top Agent can competently coordinate.” Elijah smirked, raising his hands upward to show that he has no harmful intent.

“Kingsley! Is that you?!” Josefine hollered in understandable confusion, as her native Danish tongue began to spill out of her fabricated American accent.

“Sorry, Josefine. But I needed to make sure we were secure.” Elijah explained, now assuming the true role of Kingsley.

“Oh my god…” Josefine recoiled, rubbing her brow with one hand. “I can’t believe that I started to fall in love with my old Boss.” She remarked to herself as her head spun.

“I meant no ill intentions.” Kingsley mentioned in earnest.

“I just don’t understand why you went so far?!” Josefine scolded as her native accent became more prominent.

“Well, a few reasons actually.” Kingsley walked to the nearby bed, wiping it as if there was unseen dust on the sheets before sitting down to make herself comfortable. Now donning a demeanor that would only suit an individual with a plethora of responsibilities.

“Primarily for security. Damn near everything these days can be tapped into.” Kingsley mentioned, placing one leg over the other, to then provide a quick wink, directed at Josefine. “And, uh, to make sure I'm still this industry’s greatest femme fatale, no matter the body.” She then giggled lightly. “I also make it my personal mission to know my Agents inside and out—Current and former.” She followed with a genuine smile.

“So you just know everything about me?” Josefine imposed, crossing her arms in mild disgust.

“You could say that.” Kingsley paused with a grin as their voice lowered. “I know what you like to drink, your hobbies, your ideals—And your type.” She divulged with a knowledgeable smirk. “A person who isn’t afraid to show their feminine side, strong enough to fend for themselves if need be, and relatively confident; that’s why you agreed to the small date. Isn’t it?” She explained.

“God—You're Evil.” Josefine scorned under her breath, showing more of her natural manner of speech.

“Oftentimes the only way to Success is to discard Morality. To me, Evil is just a strategy for achievement.” Kingsley posits.

Josefine stared blankly at Kingsley’s short lecture; resembling a bored university student.

“Right, take a seat, Josie. You have nothing to stress about.” Kingsley kindly asked Josefine.

Josefine rolled her eyes and slowly sat on the cushioned chair beside her. Shuffling in the seat, preparing herself for the unexpected conversation with her former employer. In spite of the friction between the two from their shared past, Kingsley is one of the few people that Josefine can solemnly trust. Kingsley is quite a transparent person when it comes to individuals that she respects, and Josefine held onto that aspect of that employee, employer relationship. She knows that whatever it is that Kingsley wants, it's for her own benefit and simply wants some assurance from someone competent. But most importantly, if something were to happen. Kingsley will do everything she can to get her Agents back to safety.

“How are the kiddos?” Kingsley asked with a tone revealing a controlled care.

“Perfect, they’re with their Grandparents.” Josefine sharply answered.

“In Denmark? They must be around 14-15?” Kingsley asked.

“I’m sure you can figure all that out yourself.” Josefine sneered slightly. The trust is there, just not 100% of the time.

“Send them my regards.” Kingsley then asked, shifting her posture, recognizing that she isn’t going to get too much of a casual conversation from Josefine.

“Will do… Anyway, what would you like? Because it’s not like I’ll be able to avoid you.” Josefine criticized, since the likelihood that she’s not going to be able to easily dismiss Kingsley’s persistence.

Kingsley then stood up, walking to Josefine, also pulling out from her coat, a very thin silver laptop.

“Simply put, business is on the rise, and I just need someone I can trust during these trying times.” Kingsley mentioned with a smile as she handed over the laptop.

“What? Your AI Spies can’t do it?” Josefine dismissed with a tilt of the head.

“Hehe, still can’t let go of the past…?” Kingsley remarked slowly, placing her hands in her pockets. “No, this needs a… Classic touch… You’ll find out why soon enough. That is, if you take me up on my offer.” She then explained, delaying her vocals.

“Right… I always knew something like this would happen… Anything else?” Josefine asked with an undertone of prolonged annoyance, ready for Kingsley to leave.

“No, that’s all. Just promise me you’ll think about my proposal.” Kingsley began to walk to the door to then stop. “It’s good to see you, Agent.” She then mentioned, revealing her sincerity.

“Hey.” Josefine suddenly asked, as Kingsley opened the door. “What kind of model is that?” She then asked, looking at Kingsley’s false body.

“Not the kind you’re thinking of.” Kingsley grinned at Josefine’s likely thoughts. Josefine then pouted as Kingsley walked out of the room into the hall. “Hope to see you soon.” Kingsley lastly said.

Josefine locked the door, looking around her room; recognizing that she has to be careful with her next action. As Kingsley mentioned, a countless number of defenseless devices can easily be hacked into. She then gently placed the laptop on the nearby desk. Gazing at the unopened laptop with Josefine’s signature smirk growing with a future of anticipation.