Jack sauntered away from the barn, his lips still curved in a cruel smile as the schadenfreude of Aiko’s distress lingered in his ears like a sweet symphony. The girl’s fear had been palpable, a heady elixir that sent a delicious thrill coursing through his veins. He savored the taste of her discomfort, relishing his power over her.
She’s tough but will break soon enough—they always do!
As he made his way across the yard, the burner phone in his pocket vibrated, its insistent buzz cutting through the tranquil stillness of the afternoon. Jack fished it out, his smile widening as he glimpsed at the caller ID. He accepted the call, lifting the device to his ear with a casual air of nonchalance.
“Well, if it isn’t my favorite disembodied voice,” he purred, his tone laced with a mocking edge. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Dispense with the pleasantries, Jack,” the clipped British accent on the other end of the line replied, devoid of warmth or humor. “This is Operator 47. I require a status report on your current assignment.”
Jack’s smile faltered, his bravado deflating slightly at the no-nonsense tone of the man on the other end of the line. He cleared his throat, straightening his posture as he fell into a more businesslike demeanor.
“Right, of course,” he said, his voice taking on a sharper edge. “I’ve made significant progress in ingratiating myself with the Henderson family, per our arrangement. The girl, Aiko, is proving to be a bit of a wild card, but I’ve managed to rattle her cage, so to speak.”
“And what of her connection to the late Dr. Jane Abiko?” Operator 47 pressed, his tone brooking no room for evasion. “Have you uncovered any information regarding Aiko’s knowledge of her parent’s involvement in Project Mindjevity?”
Jack’s brow furrowed, a flicker of unease stirring in his stomach. He had yet to uncover any concrete details about Aiko’s parentage or her ties to the elusive project that had piqued the interest of his shadowy employers.
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“Not as of yet,” he admitted, his tone grudging. “The girl is proving to be a tough nut to crack. She’s harboring some deep-seated secrets, but she’s not giving up the goods.”
An airy silence stretched out for a long moment.
“Are you there?” Jack asked, sounding more confident than he felt.
“Then I’m afraid our arrangement has taken on a new urgency,” the man said, his words clipped and precise. “You are to acquire a DNA sample from the girl known as Aiko Takahashi. This is to be treated as a matter of utmost priority, and you are to secure the sample by any means necessary.”
Jack felt his breath catch in his throat, his earlier bravado evaporating like a puff of smoke. “Wait, hold on a minute,” he protested, his voice tinged with a hint of desperation. “That wasn’t part of our original deal. My sister and her meddling kids are already suspicious. And I’m not some common thug snatching DNA samples from kids.”
The derisive snort that crackled over the line sent a fresh wave of unease rippling through Jack’s gut. “Need I remind you of the circumstances that led to our... arrangement, Jack?” Operator 47 said, his tone taking on a dangerous edge. “We pulled you out of that dingy prison cell and gave you a chance at freedom. It would be a shame if you were to squander that opportunity over something as trivial as a misplaced sense of morality.”
Jack’s throat constricted, his palms growing slick with a cold sweat as the implicit threat in the man’s words sank in. He swallowed hard, his earlier bravado evaporating like a puff of smoke in the face of Operator 47’s steely resolve.
“Fine,” he snarled, his jaw clenched tight with restrained fury. “I’ll get you your precious DNA sample. Just tell me where and when.”
“A DNA collection kit will be left for you at the usual drop point later tonight,” Operator 47 replied, his tone clipped and businesslike once more. “See that you don’t disappoint us, Jack. We would hate to have to... reconsider the terms of our arrangement.”
The line went dead, the ominous click of the disconnected call ringing in Jack’s ears like a death knell. He lowered the phone, his hand trembling slightly as a potent cocktail of rage and trepidation churned in his gut.
Who was this girl, Aiko Takahashi, that she had garnered the attention of such powerful and shadowy forces? And what secrets did she harbor that were worth risking everything to uncover? Jack’s mind whirled with unanswered questions, his earlier sense of control and dominance evaporating like a wisp of smoke in the face of this new, unsettling development.
These guys don’t screw around, so I’d better play ball.
He didn’t know why the girl was important to his benefactors, but it wasn’t his place to question. He needed results before these creeps forced the issue.