Chapter 18
Agatha hated this mission.
The high that she was on from yesterday after she and Rio confirmed they were on the same page was long gone.
They were on the outskirts of New York in a warehouse with intel that it was being used as a makeshift holding facility for slaves, all of whom were children. Fast fashion brand Zip and Zazzle had stirred up a storm on social media, it was now all the rave and because of this, they needed help keeping up with the demand.
The owner, Paul Zazzle had held a conference stating that the brand was using ethical means to do so, but like all men, Paul Zazzle was a liar.
Hihi had assigned Agatha and Rio the task of scooping out the warehouse. They were to collect the necessary information and report it back to the FBI. They were to do nothing more. A whole team would be required to extract the children, if Rio and Agatha tried to do it on their own, they would blow the entire operation.
Agatha wanted to throw up. How could Hihi just expect them to see the children and then not do anything about it?
She watched Rio as she fiddled with the lock to break into the warehouse. She couldn’t help but stare at her, she knew Rio was a good agent, she’d seen it, but the way Rio had acted when she’d found out what the mission was…Agatha couldn’t understand it.
Missions like this were part of the job, always had been always will be, but Rio hadn’t even batted an eye. She’d read the message then continued eating her breakfast as if she’d just checked the weather. Agatha had thrown the rest of her food in the bin.
Rio finished picking the lock and motioned Agatha to join her as she entered the building. The night sky was dark, the warehouse even darker. Once she had shut the door behind her, the two women were plunged into darkness. Rio flicked on her torch and Agatha followed suit.
So far there wasn’t anything to note. There was no sign of life, children or potential guards. The space they were in was utterly deserted and it nearly forced out a sob from Agatha’s lips. Nobody cared about protecting these children. They’d been left unguarded.
The two women advanced further into the building, torches lighting the way, their guns just below them. They came across another door minutes later. Agatha shone her torch in the lock's direction as Rio dropped down to pick the next lock.
The door creaked making Agatha wince. The sound was far too loud in the silence and if anyone was near, they would hear it. They slipped into the next room and Agatha’s heart dropped.
Cages. Dozens of them that appeared to be made for dogs but were instead housing children.
The room was filled with a foul stench: urine, vomit, faeces.
Agatha couldn’t breathe.
Rio got to work immediately, noting down how many cages there were. As Agatha ventured further into the space, torch searching she started to make out the sound of shuffling. Most of the sounds retreats, fearful children probably thinking their captors had returned.
The children looked too thin, too pale, too…dead.
Their clothes were dirty or far too small for them. Agatha wasn’t doing her job. She wasn’t noting down the necessary information or assessing how big the space was. How could she possibly care about any of that when these children were living in such disgusting conditions?
Brown eyes locked onto hers and she froze in front of a cage at the end of the seventh row. Those brown eyes, eyes of a stranger’s, were so reminiscent of the brown eyes of Rio, of Nicky.
She hadn’t seen Nicky since they bumped into him in Central Park. She’d been surviving off of phone calls and FaceTimes when Rio would teach him Spanish. Now more than ever she missed him. She thought about all the parents that were missing these children in fucking cages. Agatha couldn’t help but think about what if this had been Nicky. It threatened to kill her.
The big brown eyes blinked at her, curiosity in them. Unlike every other child in the warehouse, this child appeared brave, fearless even.
“Have you come to move us again?” The girl asked, her voice hoarse probably from lack of water.
Agatha shook her head, and the little girl narrowed her eyes.
“Then what do you want? You clearly haven’t come to feed us.”
And now Agatha’s only wish was that she had some food.
She found her agent's voice as she said, “I’m FBI.” She wanted to say she’d come to save them, but she hadn’t…couldn’t. That wasn’t their mission.
The girl's head jerked back slightly, a flicker of hope in her eyes before it vanished again.
“Where’s your badge?”
“Not on me.”
The girl let out a sound Agatha was sure was supposed to be a scoff, but it came out as a wheeze.
“Nice try.”
Agatha nodded. She didn’t have any proof; she didn’t even have a team with her.
She went to move on when the girl spoke again.
“Wait,” she croaked. “Are you really? Are you here to rescue us?”
“Yes,” Agatha replied. “A team will be on their way.”
“You can’t do it?” The girl’s voice wavered for the first time.
Agatha knew she should say no, or shake her head, or something. But she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Her fingers twitched towards the lock.
“Don’t,” Rio’s voice sounded from behind her. “That’s not our job.”
Agatha turned slowly towards her fake wife, her body shaking with anger. What the fuck did Rio mean by, ‘That’s not our job?’ This was their fucking job.
“I can’t just leave them here.”
“You must,” Rio said, her voice void of emotion.
“What is wrong with you?” Agatha seethed. “How are you okay with any of this?”
Rio’s face was unreadable. “Let’s go.”
“Please don’t,” the little girl pleaded. “Please don’t leave us, I can’t stand this place anymore.”
That was enough for Agatha. Fuck her orders, she wasn’t leaving these children behind. Who knew how long the FBI would take to extract them. They could be long gone by the time a team moved in.
She reached towards the lock on the girl's cage and as soon as she did felt strong arms wrap around her torso. Rio was dragging her away. She tried to scramble out of the other woman’s grip until Rio lifted her off the ground.
Agatha thrashed around in her arms, kicking and pulling at Rio’s hair. Her fake wife’s hold only tightened. It took everything in Agatha not to scream out. She elbowed Rio in the stomach, felt Rio fold over and drop her. She started for the cage again when a foot swept underneath hers, causing her to crash to the floor. The touch she had been holding rolled away from her.
Rio caught her foot, dragged her backwards and Agatha flipped onto her back before she kicked out with her other foot. It connected with Rio’s stomach and the other woman hunched over once more. She got to her feet ready to turn when Rio caught her arm and twisted her to face her again.
Agatha didn’t think before she brought her fist up and swung. Rio blocked it with her forearm but wasn’t so lucky blocking the second punch Agatha aimed at her left side. Rio stumbled to her left with a grunt.
She held her side as she straightened. There was warning in Rio’s tone when she said:
“Agatha. Stop.”
Agatha’s gaze hardened and she was positive she’d never looked at Rio with such malice before.
“Make me.”
Rio’s eyes narrowed; her head tilted.
When she didn’t reply Agatha scoffed. “That’s what I-”
Agatha got cut off when her fake wife smacked her across the face. Her right cheek tingled with searing pain.
“Get it together,” Rio gritted out. “You are an agent, start fucking acting like it.”
A manic smile spread across Agatha’s lips. “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know being an agent meant being an emotionless bitch.”
If Agatha’s words had hurt Rio she didn’t show it. Her face remained as unreadable as ever.
“Fuck. You,” Agatha spat.
She turned towards the little girl whose face was riddled with panic.
Agatha’s voice lost its spiteful edge as she said, “Someone is coming to get you out of here. I’m sorry it couldn’t be me.”
The girl shook her head, pleading with her and Agatha had to turn away before she could contemplate knocking her fake wife out and executing the mission the way she would’ve wanted to.
She picked up her torch and shoved past Rio before making her way out of the warehouse.
***
The car ride home had been silent. When they got to the house, Agatha went straight to her room, stripped off her clothes and headed to the shower.
As the warm water from her overhead shower fell onto her skin, Agatha leaned her head back and sobbed. She thought about the little girl and her big brown eyes, she thought about all the other children she had left in the warehouse, she thought about Nicky.
Agatha folded over and threw up.
She wasn’t sure how long she spent in the shower, but when she got out her skin was pruned and her head spun. She draped her towel over herself, walked out of her bathroom and flopped onto her bed. No part of her cared she was soaking her bedsheets.
Agatha closed her eyes and somehow, fell asleep.
***
She woke with a start.
Her phone buzzed incessantly on her bedside table. She sat up, wiped the sleet from her eyes and furrowed her eyebrows at the fact she was still in her towel before she reached over to grab it.
She sucked in a breath before she tapped on the answer icon.
“Hi, baby,” Agatha said.
There was a pause…a very long pause.
“Nic-”
“Mama, what’s wrong?”
Agatha pinched the bridge of her nose. Clearly, her voice was not as void of emotion as she had thought.
She let out a breathy laugh before she replied. “Nothing’s wrong, baby.”
“Mama,” Nicky said, his voice far too concerned for a five-year-old.
“Yesss,” she tried to sound as cheery as possible. “How did you sleep?”
“Good. Mama, what’s wrong?”
Agatha ignored his question. “That’s good! I slept well too. What are you having for breakfast?”
“Coco Puffs. Mama?”
Agatha sighed. Nicky wouldn’t let this go. The boy was persistent, another trait of hers he’d unfortunately acquired.
“I’m just tired, sweetheart. I had a long day at work yesterday.”
There was another pause, it was clear Nicky was not convinced.
She heard Wanda in the background. Moments later Nicky said:
“Okay, Mama. Go back to sleep.”
“Will do, sweetie. Have a good day. I love you.”
“I love you too,” Nicky replied before the line went dead.
***
Rio stared at the living room ceiling. She was lying flat on her back trying to process whatever the fuck had just happened last night.
After she’d sent off the necessary information to Hihi, she hadn’t slept. The whole event played on a constant loop in her head.
The mission had been a cruel one, no part of her wanted to do it. She’d felt so fucking helpless, but she’d had a job to do. Nothing, not even her own emotions had stopped her from carrying out a job before no matter how difficult it had been.
She just couldn’t stand the way Agatha had looked at her, acted towards her as if she was nothing but a soulless being carrying out the actions as if she were the fucking grim reaper ferrying souls to the afterlife. Detached and unbothered as if the task couldn’t affect her.
It did. But they were special agents, that is exactly how they were supposed to be. If Rio allowed herself to feel anything she would never get out of bed.
On top of that, they had fought. Agatha hadn’t pulled her punches and Rio had smacked her, hard enough to bruise. She’d lost control, let emotions seep through and manifest into anger. Not to mention the malicious words that had been exchanged and the hateful looks her wife had shot her way.
She hadn’t meant any of it, actually, she would’ve preferred to help Agatha free every single child in that warehouse. But that wasn’t the task they’d been assigned, and Rio would always complete her tasks.
What sounded like a pan falling came from the kitchen. Her wife was alive so that was a good start. Rio hadn’t heard a peep from Agatha ever since she headed to her room last night. How did one even go about approaching this situation? ‘Hey, sorry for smacking you and telling you, you were being a shitty agent. Do you forgive me? I miss you.’
Rio blinked. I miss you. Rio didn’t miss anyone (at least that’s what she tells herself).
The doorbell sounded.
Was that Jen? Had Agatha told her best friend how much of a shitty wife she was already? Oh, for fucksake this would be good.
She heard the shuffle of Agatha’s feet, heard her unlock their front door.
The voice that rang out…Rio had not been expecting that voice.
“Mama!” Nicky squealed.
Rio couldn’t help herself. She got up and made her way to the hallway, not to be seen, she’d just poke her head out.
Agatha had stooped down to hug her little boy.
“Hi, Nicky. What are you doing here sweetheart?” Although the question was directed to her ex towering over them.
“He knew you were upset and wanted to come see you. You know how he is. He wouldn’t stop asking and I caved.”
“I never told you where we lived,” Agatha replied.
“I’m a lawyer, I have connections, remember sweetheart?” Although it was entirely condescending.
“You know it's not safe for him to know where we live,” Agatha shot back.
“Yeah, and he’ll be under the protection of two federal agents. He’s the safest little boy in Manhattan,” Wanda answered. “I’m coming back to get him in an hour.”
“Mommy, you said two,” Nicky argued.
“Well, Mommy’s a liar.”
Rio couldn’t see Agatha’s face, but she was certain she was scowling at her.
Wanda stepped back through the threshold when she paused, concern in her eyes for the first time Rio had seen. “What happened to your face?” Her voice was gentle, there was actual affection there.
“Don’t pretend like you care,” Agatha replied.
Wanda looked genuinely offended. Her head snapped up and she locked eyes with Rio. They bore into hers like she could tell the bruise was Rio’s fault.
That’s when three sets of eyes locked onto her.
The weight of the situation fell on Rio immediately and she could no longer breathe. She walked off towards the elevator, cursed it for taking so long, then slipped into it as soon as it arrived.
She walked into her room, flopped onto her bed and cried.
No wonder Agatha was having such a difficult time with this mission. It was so much more for her than devastating, it was heartbreaking. She must’ve thought of Nicky, of how she would’ve felt if it were him.
Rio hadn’t even thought about that. As always, her wife was making her rethink her entire way of life. It was important to be detached, to complete her job but it was also important to be a shoulder to cry on.
She’d left Agatha to be alone last night when she probably needed someone to be there for her, take care of her, help carry the weight of what they’d just gone through. And instead, Rio had left her with a purple bruise on her cheek.
“Fucking idiot,” Rio mumbled between sobs.
She heard the elevator doors open and clamped her hand around her mouth and nose to stifle her tears. She listened out for the sound of footsteps passing her room. The sound never came. Instead…
Rio’s door opened slightly, and two brown eyes locked onto hers. She wiped at her tears as Nicky shuffled into her room.
“Your Mama’s room is down the hall, Nicky,” Rio smiled.
Nicky nodded but continued his advance anyway.
He reached her bed and then proceeded to try and make his way up it. His struggle was clear considering how high it was, and after his second attempt Rio offered:
“Would you like some help?”
The little boy nodded and as carefully as she could, she hoisted his small form onto her bed.
When he’d gotten settled, he simply stared at her. The same way children do when they are fascinated by a new discovery.
Nicky truly was beautiful. His brown hair so thick and curly like his mother’s, his brown eyes so big and wide. Even his outfit was adorable, a red Spider-man t-shirt and light-washed jeans. Rio realised then that they were wearing different variations of the same top. Hers a little older and faded since it had been in her wardrobe since she was seventeen.
“Is Spider-man your favourite superhero?” She whispered.
Nicky nodded.
“Mine too,” she said with a smile.
Nicky took her in further, his face twisted as if he were deciding if he should do something or not.
He decided on his answer when he got up on his knees, shuffled towards Rio and flung his tiny arms around her neck.
Rio blinked startled. She would’ve been prepared for anything except that.
She gently wrapped her arms around him and let herself relax into the hug. She hadn’t realised how much she’d needed it. She wasn’t sure how long they’d stayed like that, but when Nicky finally pulled away, he brushed at the bangs framing her face.
“You and Mama looked really sad.”
Rio couldn’t find the words she needed to reply. How was this little boy more emotionally intelligent than most men double his age?
“No es...estés triste.” Don’t be sad. He had butchered the pronunciation and struggled to get the words out, but Rio was so impressed all she could do was smile.
“Muy bien,” Rio replied, Nicky’s arms still around her neck.
Nicky smiled back at her revealing his missing front tooth.
Now more than ever she understood Agatha's thought process during the mission. She too would’ve done everything in her power to free those children from their captivity, because a child should only look like this.
She needed to fix things with her wife, and she needed to fix them now.