THE MILITARY MAN AND THE SPY

The train station was crowded, filled with passengers rushing towards departing trains, vendors shouting over one another, and soldiers watching every movement. In the Republic of Veyra, stealing was punishable by death. Yet, among the wealthy travellers, a young woman was preparing to risk her life for a wallet. That morning, Elle had borrowed money to hire an elegant outfit from a woman who rented clothes to ladies attending parties. She wore a fitted black jacket, a cream blouse, a short pleated skirt, and black heels, her hair was neatly styled, and her small handbag completed the appearance of a wealthy young woman. Nobody would have guessed that she had nowhere decent to sleep the previous night. Elle adjusted her jacket and examined the crowd. “Come on, Elle,” she whispered. “One good wallet, and you can finally eat something that isn’t yesterday’s bread and leave this filthy country for good.” Her male colleague whom they usually do the work together stretched his body and yawned “Elle please make sure we don’t get caught okay, and make sure you steal good things that will sustain us, so that we would give half to master and we will keep half for our self” Elle laughed “Dont worry okay, we both have bills to pay. Especially me” James gave her weird look and then then they left. She stole many things at the train station including a foreigner’s bag which contained fifty bullets in it. The foreigners were assassin who came to kill the Governor of Republic of Veyra. Elle spotted another target near the eastern exit after robbing the foreigners. He was a tall, handsome man, dressed in a simple black coat. His dark hair fell across his forehead, and his expensive wristwatch suggested that he had more money than he cared to display. A little girl stood beside him, holding his hand. “Jeremiah, are we going to see Father now?” she asked. “Yes, Lily. But first, you have to stop pulling my arm.” “I’m not pulling it.” “You nearly removed it from my body.” She giggled. Elle smiled. The little girl was an inconvenience, but the man’s distraction made him an excellent target. She approached them, pretending to be busy searching through her handbag. Then she bumped into him. “Oh! I’m so sorry!” she exclaimed. Jeremiah steadied Lily before looking at the woman standing before him. “Are you always this careless?” Elle raised her head. “Excuse me?” “You bumped into me” “I said sorry what do you want again?.” “Perhaps you should stop standing in the middle of a walkway.” Lily laughed. Jeremiah glanced at her. “What’s funny?” “Nothing.” “Then why are you laughing?” “Because she’s pretty.” Elle smiled at the child. “Thank you, sweetheart.” “What’s your name?” “Elle. And yours?” “Lily. Are you going somewhere?” “Somewhere far away.” “I want to go somewhere far away too!” “Lily,” Jeremiah interrupted, “you’ve been somewhere far away three times this year.” “But I want to go again!” Elle laughed as she slipped her fingers into Jeremiah’s coat pocket. With one smooth movement, she removed his wallet and concealed it beneath her jacket. She stepped back. “I’m sorry again. I hope you have a lovely day.” Jeremiah examined her face. “You too, Elle.” She froze. “I didn’t tell you my name.” “You just did.” “Oh. Right.” She quickly turned away, but before disappearing into the crowd, she muttered something in a foreign language. “Mira, sen valek tor ash. (That was easier than I expected.)” Jeremiah’s head lifted. “Ash tor valek. Mira sen. (Easy things are often dangerous) Elle spun around. “You understand me?” “Shouldn’t I?” “No. I mean, you speak the northern dialect?” “Apparently.” She studied him suspiciously. “Where did you learn it?” “Where did you?” “That’s none of your business.” “Then I suppose mine isn’t yours either.” She forced a laugh. “Goodbye, handsome stranger.” “Goodbye, suspicious stranger.” She walked away, trying not to run. Jeremiah watched her disappear before reaching into his pocket. His wallet was gone. For several seconds, he remained perfectly still then he smiled. “Interesting.” Lily looked up at him. “What’s interesting?” “Someone has just made a very expensive mistake.” “Did the pretty lady do something bad?” “Possibly.” “Are you going to catch her?” “Eventually.” He took out his communication device. “Captain Cross speaking. Seal the eastern exits. Find a woman wearing a black jacket and carrying a small handbag. Don’t alarm the passengers.” “Understood, sir.” He ended the call and crouched before Lily. “Go with the guards to the car. Don’t leave their sight.” “Are you coming?” “Soon.” “Promise?” “I promise.” As Lily left, Jeremiah headed towards the luggage stalls. He wasn’t simply a wealthy traveller. He was a highly trained intelligence officer, a decorated soldier, and the stepson of Veyra’s military governor. Years earlier, he had been a thief himself. He had survived by stealing food and money until the military regime took him in and turned his street instincts into weapons. He had spent years learning how to recognize deception and the woman at the station had just given him a reason to use everything he knew. Elle slipped into a narrow passage behind the luggage stalls and opened the wallet. Her smile vanished. There was barely any cash inside. Instead, she found a military identification card, several access cards, and a photograph of Jeremiah standing beside an older man in a decorated uniform. The identification card read: “JEREMIAH VALE — CAPTAIN, SPECIAL INTELLIGENCE DIVISION.” “Oh, no,” she whispered. A folded piece of paper fell from the wallet. Three words were written across it. “THE SURVIVOR MUST DIE.” Elle stopped breathing. She had seen those words six months earlier, on a document belonging to a man who had disappeared after promising to reveal the truth about her family. She turned the photograph over. On the back was a date and a name she recognized, it was her mother’s name. “What have I gotten myself into?” she whispered. A loudspeaker crackled overhead. “Attention, passengers. All eastern exits are temporarily closed. Please remain inside the station.” Elle stared at the ceiling. “You have got to be joking.” Footsteps sounded behind her. She shoved the wallet into her handbag and turned. Jeremiah stood at the entrance to the passage, removing his gloves. “Now,” he said calmly, “shall we discuss what you stole from me?” Elle forced a smile. “I’m afraid you’ve mistaken me for someone else.” “Have I?” “Definitely.” “Then you won’t mind showing me your handbag.” “I would mind very much.” “Why?” “Because it’s personal.” “So is my wallet.” She sighed. Jeremiah walked round while staring at her suspiciously “you’re a very bad liar.” Elle’s smile disappeared. Before she could answer, he reached for her handbag. She threw it at him, slipped past his arm, and ran. “Hey Young lady” She raced towards the lower platform, leaving confused passengers in her wake. Jeremiah followed, moving with the speed of a trained soldier. He didn’t want anybody to get hurt at the station. He caught her wrist at the staircase. “Finished?” he asked. “Not even close.” She tried to kick his shin, but he stepped aside. She twisted free and backed away. “Listen, Captain. I don’t want your money.” “But you stole my wallet.” “It fell and I picked it up, but I was scared of being harassed of stealing that was I did not say anything.” “Of course that’s how theft works.” “Perhaps you should write a book about it.” Before he could respond to her his communication device rang. He answered. “Cross.” “Sir, the governor has arrived at the station.” Jeremiah frowned. “Why?” “Someone reported that a restricted military identification card was stolen. The governor has ordered the immediate execution of the thief.” Elle’s face went pale. Jeremiah looked at her, he wanted dealing with her himself because he knows that the Governor does not pity the thieves in the country. They are killed immediately they got caught. Neither of them had anything clever to say