Serpent & Dove

By Abigail Falanga

You adjust your tie, unable to help first-day flutters. The nondescript Serpent & Dove offices are paradoxically soothing yet disorienting.

Trying to walk at a brisk and assured pace, you head toward the office you’re to share with your partner. Your desk is opposite the door, clean and without character. The other desk is stacked with papers, photographs, a couple of old coffee cups, and a pair of feet in worn shoes, attached to a neat but weary-looking man.

“Wallace, right?” You stick out a hand to him and receive a cursory shake in return. “I’m Casper, your new partner—”

“Don’t get comfortable.” He rises and pushes the file into your chest before you can sit down. “We’ve got a job, downtown. Acquaint yourself with that on the way.”

You glance at the contents, following him as he heads out to the parking garage. “Early job.”

“The sooner we get on this one, the better. Intel is hazy on the mark’s whereabouts, so we set up before she gets there.”

You flip through the pages. Freelance agent named Andrea Albricci—sensitive, stolen files—enemy powers ready and willing to buy—evidence of a potential handoff. And, finally, crime scene details about another operative, killed by the freelancer’s hand. An ambush resulting in four gruesome gunshot wounds.

You whistle. “So, what’s our play?”

“Opera, more like,” Wallace cracks. Sipping what smells like stale coffee, he gets into a car, motioning you to the passenger side. “The opera house’s grand opening is tonight. Dignitaries, donors, the crème-de-la-crème of the city. Albricci will be there. Perfect opportunity to meet buyers.”

“So, we monitor security feeds until she shows,” you suggest. “Or do we pose as buyers?”

Wallace gives you a withering glance. “Do you know why you’re in your position with the S&D, Casper?”

“I was top of the class at—”

“Not that.”

“Excellent retention? I’m a quick study—”

“Bingo. You have that file memorized and by now, tech support has sent you the building’s layout. Navigate. Figure out exits, Albricci’s vulnerabilities, her move.” He smirks. “Leave the strategy to someone with more experience.”

At the opera house, you connect with the head of security, then the events manager, Jules Holzmann. He’s busy coordinating with producers, arranging the reception, handling last-minute details, and not happy with international espionage intruding on his show.

Reluctantly giving you both full-access lanyards, he guides you to an upstairs gallery. “You can reach any area of the building quickly from here, and monitor the main entrance down below. Now, if you’ll excuse me…” He passes a sleeve across a line of sweat and consults his omnipresent pad. “I have work to see to.”

Wallace watches him leave. “Reminds me of El Paso.”

“What happened in El Paso?”

“Complicated. Ulrich was on that one…”

You recognize that name. “The operative killed by Albricci? You knew him?”

Wallace’s jaw tightens. “He was a good man. One of the best.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Point is, Holzmann’s hiding something.”

“You sure?” You return to the task at hand. “He seemed stressed, but—”

“Nervous,” Wallace corrects. “My guess: Albricci got to him first.”

Your stomach twists, but you accept the assessment. “What’s she using him for?”

“Probably allowing her to hide the file somewhere on the premises so she doesn’t have to smuggle it in. Likely hiding places?”

Mentally consulting the blueprints you reviewed, you identify a couple dozen possibilities. You and Wallace split up to search them.

Approaching the fourteenth location, you spot Holzmann hustling, muttering into his Bluetooth and casting glances over his shoulder. Your phone pings with a message from security. A woman matching Albricci’s description has entered a side door.

“Wallace!” you call, excitement catching your breath. “She’s here early.”

“Where’s she headed?” his voice crackles back over comms.

You check security feeds through your tablet. “Looks like both she and Holzmann are approaching the upstairs storerooms. The area is marked as under repairs.”

“Meet you there.”

You sprint toward the access stairwell, taking it at a run. You burst into a dusty hallway and speed toward a light, spinning around the corner—

Into the muzzle of a gun, inches from your face.

“Casper,” Albricci sneers.

A shot rings out, and Wallace skids into the corridor with gun in hand.

Albricci drops.

You kick away her gun before Holzmann behind her can grab it.

Wallace knees the manager in the stomach, bringing him down.

“Offered me money,” Holzmann groans.

“I don’t care!” Wallace yanks him up, holding his gun against his temple. “You were helping the woman responsible for killing my friend.”

“Back down, Wallace,” you shout. “One casualty is enough.”

To your surprise, Wallace lowers the gun, then releases his hold on Holzmann, who slumps to the ground. Wallace bends to snatch something from Albricci’s pocket before stomping out.

You call it in to S&D, cuff Holzmann, check Albricci for a nonexistent pulse, then join Wallace in the corridor.

Wallace has attached a drive to his pad and stares at the contents.

“Crazy first day.” You try to smile.

“It’s my last day.”

Your heart lurches, as though you’ll miss this man you only just met. “Why?”

“I’m tired. It’s hard to carry all this.” He turns the screen toward you.

You gasp. It’s a record of assignments, missions, and accomplishments dating back ten years—with your name and face at the top.

“This is your out,” Wallace says, quietly. “If she’d sold this, you never would have been free to live your own life. To leave if you wanted to.”

“Ten years…?”

“That’s how Serpent & Dove works. One operative with all the experience. The other with their memory wiped after every mission. It maintains your innocence—the compassion to plead for a bad guy’s life.” He looks you in the eye. “We’ve been working together for ten years, Casper. You’ve had your time as a Dove. Are you ready to be the Serpent?”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Abigail Falanga may be found in New Mexico creating magic in many ways – with fabric, food, paper, music, and especially with words! She’s loved fantasy ever since playing out epic adventures of swords, fairies, and monsters with her siblings, and loved sci-fi since her dad’s stories around the dinner table. Besides sharing mad little stories on Havok, she is busily trying to launch approximately five hundred novels into the world. Some of them are even finished!

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