Jonathan must have been in a crazy mood because the helicopter ride was not smooth, but it wasn’t a roller coaster like Howard’s first unfortunate experience. The ride was at least three hours long, and Sanders kept pulling various outfit accessories out of under the helicopter seat and holding them up to Howard. Howard was relieved when they finally landed, even if they were at another high-security prison.

The moment they landed, Agent Sanders jumped out of the helicopter and began chatting with the guards on the roof. Howard slowly stepped out. With all of that swaying, he wasn’t sure he could keep his balance on solid ground.

“They’re ready!” Sanders called to Howard and waved him over. He seemed to be in rush mode this morning.

Howard managed a few wobbly steps before his sense of balance returned. The rooftop guards proceeded to lead them to a cell used for visitations. Inside was a wild-looking woman with bright orange hair. She sat on her chair sideways, her legs crossed over one metal arm and her back against the other.

“Hello!” Sanders began cheerfully, “I hope you are ready to make the best deal of your lifetime.”

“Aren’t you that guy who made a bunch of fashion designs and just let some rookie designer claim them as his own?” Miranda demanded, “What are you doing as an agent?”

“Government agents can’t be fashion designers,” Sanders told her, “It was just a hobby I had back then.”

Miranda raised a disbelieving eyebrow. “So what’s with that guy behind you?” she asked, “He looks like a cat someone tried to dress up.”

Howard tried to hold in his snort of laughter but failed.

Agent Sanders scowled. “Do you want to hear about this deal or not?” he asked.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“I’ll give it a listen,” Miranda said, “but if I don’t like what I hear I am staying right where I am.”

“If you take this deal, you will become a free woman and your record will be cleared,” Agent Sanders told her,and repeated his main point, “You would be a free woman.”

Miranda twisted to sit in her chair properly. “Until I commit another crime, you mean,” she said, “and even with a clear record my story will make it a quick trial to convict me.”

Sanders hesitated. It seemed he didn’t have anything to say to defend that. “Yes, we are expecting you to actually turn over a new leaf,” he admitted.

“Okay, and what is the price of that new leaf,” Miranda asked.

“You are the last member of a team we have put together for a top-secret government mission,” Sanders told her, “Howard, the dressed-up cat, is the survival leader.”

“Ooh. A survival leader,” Miranda noted, “That means this is going to be pretty dangerous.”

“It is,” Sanders agreed, “We need your sharp eyes and quick skill to help complete this mission.”

“Anything else you can tell me about this mission of yours?” Miranda demanded.

Sanders shook his head. “The walls have ears. We can’t talk here.”

“So I have to sign your contract to get out of jail, but I don’t get to know what I got myself into until later,” Miranda muttered, “Sounds shady. Well, I’m always up for an adventure, shady or otherwise. Hand over the papers.”

Agent Sanders took out the final contract and gave Miranda a pen. She signed and handed them back with a smile. “So, are you getting me out of here now, or what?” she asked, “I don’t really have anything I care about in this prison, and I am sure that the government would be happy to pay for any supplies I need to carry out the mission.”

Howard watched the scene with horrified amusement. He couldn’t make himself hate Miranda, though. That was terrifying in and of itself. Just like the others, guards came to get them, and they were all led back to the mental institution helicopter where Jonathan was waiting.

“We aren’t going to the loony bin, are we?” Miranda asked suspiciously.

“No,” Sanders said, “Not unless you want to.”

Miranda rolled her eyes and got in. Howard followed. As soon as he set down, Miranda scooched closer to get a better look at the clothing he was wearing as if he were some sort of mannequin rather than an actual human being. This was going to be a long helicopter ride back.

A few hours later they landed on solid ground. Jonathan had made the ride smooth on the way back at least, but the tension between Miranda and Sanders was suffocating. As soon as it was safe to do so Howard fled the helicopter and went up to the government building. He would have to wait for Sanders to let them in.

Sanders came over and quickly scanned his ID. “Let’s meet up with the rest of the team, shall we?” he asked.

“Definitely,” Miranda said, “I am dying to meet them.”