Agents of Change

  ***

  After changing into our real personas—for me, that would be Kevin—Jimenez and I stop by Hamilton’s townhouse to pick up a few clothes for him before checking into a Holiday Inn. As we go through the process of hauling Hamilton up to my room, Jimenez is all business, never seeming to smile, blink, or even breathe.

  We plop Hamilton onto his bed—he and I are sharing a room—and handcuff his right wrist to the headboard. Jimenez and I sit and watch TV until Hamilton wakes up.

  “What—what is this?” Hamilton says trying to free his wrist.

  We turn off the TV and turn our attention over to our hung-over comrade.

  “Elena? Is that you?”

  She nods.

  “Oh my God,” he says rubbing his head. “What are you doing here?”

  “We took you from the bar,” I say.

  He turns his attention to me. “Who are you?”

  “Calvin Newsome.”

  “Calvin?” He looks thoroughly confused. “Why did you cuff me?”

  “Ah, now the shoe’s on the other foot,” I say.

  “We need you,” Jimenez says.

  “For what?”

  “We need to stop the Agency of Justice.”

  “Oh, great. How do you plan to do that?”

  “I’ve hacked their communication system,” she says. “We can prevent their disasters, at least the ones here in the U.S.”

  “Elena,” he says, “that’s a life I don’t live anymore.”

  “But we need you,” I say.

  “And you need us,” Jimenez says.

  “I need you?”

  “Yes. Look at you.”

  “I don’t need your help.”

  “Well, you need somebody’s help,” I say.

  “Who the hell are you?” he says with an incredulous expression. “You don’t know me.”

  “We’re just trying to help.”

  “Bullshit. You’re just trying to use me.”

  “Just like Richardson, right?” Jimenez says. “After all he did for you.”

  He ignores her, choosing to look through the window instead.

  “Nick?” she says.

  “What do you have in mind?”

  “I don’t know yet. We’re trying to assemble our team first.”

  “Who else do you want?”

  “Darling,” I say.

  He nods his head. “Good. Now, can you please un-cuff me?”

  “That mean you’re in?”

  “I guess, yeah,” he mumbles.

  With a flick of her finger, Jimenez unlocks Hamilton’s handcuff.

  “Your first mission,” I say, “is to take a shower.” I take Hamilton’s hand and help him to his feet.

  He rubs his eyes. “God, I feel like shit.”

  “I’ll be in my room,” Jimenez says.

  “Wait,” I say. “Do you guys know where Valerie lives?”

  “When we found her, she lived with her parents in Roxborough, I think,” Hamilton says. “But I’m sure she’s moved out by now.”

  “Yeah, but that’s a good place to start. Roxborough’s not too far.”

  “No, it’s not. I think her parents live off of Evergreen and Ridge,” he says. “Big brick house. Can’t miss it.”

  “Cool. I’m going to go find her, then.”

  “Calvin,” Jimenez says, “you shouldn’t go out by yourself. Wait until tomorrow. We’ll do it together.”

  “The A of J can’t expose me anymore, remember?”

  “What’s he talking about?” Hamilton says.

  “You don’t know that for sure,” Elena says.

  “Please. Valerie and I were good friends. It—”

  “Fine,” she says with a sigh. She opens the door to leave. “Just come right back.”

  “I will.”

  Elena looks at Hamilton. “I’ll be back to check on you.” She leaves the room and closes the door.

  “What’s her problem?” Hamilton says.

  “You kind of popped off at the bar.”

  “Really? What I say?”

  “Don’t worry about it. She hasn’t been right lately.”

  “It’s probably just PMS,” he says, waving it off. “Was this your idea or hers?”

  “Hers. She found me in Montreal.”

  “Wait, were you in the middle of that riot?”

  “Yeah,” I say with a chuckle. “Remind me to tell you about it later.”

  “I will.” He walks into the bathroom and turns on the shower. As I open the door to leave, Nick stops me. “Hey, Calvin. Thanks, man.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” I leave the room and let the door close behind me.

  Walking toward the elevator, I stop as I pass Jimenez’s room. My heart drops at what sounds like the sound of her weeping. I raise my hand to knock on the door before thinking better of it and continuing toward the elevator.