Research

They met in the lobby once again at lunch, ignoring each other until then. By then, each had dug up enough information so that they could piece together a method to spy on Kruzer. They sat in a corner eating lunch. Stone had helped himself to a glass of pink lemonade. Nina had not noticed. She was busy looking at some documents that Stone had given her. Stone, on the other hand, had only briefly skimmed the information that he was given. He was quietly sipping his drink and waiting for Cross.

Cross finally looked up from the data with an indescribable expression. "Where'd you find all this?"

Stone smiled. "Research, Agent Cross. Research."

Cross frowned. Ditch all his cases… why the hell did he never solve cases?

"What? You've never had a slacking partner before?" Stone asked with a small smile.

Cross fumed silently to herself. "Agent Stone, if you're such a slacker, why'd you bother busying yourself with all this information?"

Stone shrugged. "It took only a few moments of my time, and I didn't really have much to do. I lead a rather boring life these days."

I wouldn't be surprised. What do you do? Drink and get drunk? "Boring, sure. Whatever you say. Now, the research says that Kruzer is very good at noticing spies. He's very familiar with technology."

"Well, he was an agent in the department of developing new equipment for spies and missions," Stone replied matter-of-factly.

I knew him. Cross nodded. "Right. He can recognize equipment, but can he recognize microscopic cameras? A friend of mine developed them. He's a retired member of the agency, but I visit him every month around this time. Why don't we pay him a visit? I can introduce him to you. I'm sure he hasn't met you yet."

Stone smiled. "It'd be my pleasure to meet him. I haven't gone out of the building every since I was invited to work for the agency."

Cross smiled weakly. Well, you did sack all your cases. That would explain why you never left. You were lazy.

Stone grinned wider. "Well, lead on, partner." He stood up and dramatically bowed. "Ladies first."

Cross scoffed. "Come on." She stood up and walked briskly outside to her car. Stone followed suit.

The car was black, as all cars in the agency were. Cross got in the driver's seat before Stone could say anything, "I don't trust you," she said.

Stone shrugged and sat down in the passenger's seat. "You know the way logically. I have no clue where this old friend of yours lives."

He's not that old… Cross frowned and turned on the engine. "Agent Stone, for one so ill reputedly spoken of, you have quite a big mouth."

Stone shrugged again. "I find that speaking is a means of communication."

Cross frowned as she drove out of the city. "Speaking too much is an annoyance to those around you."

Stone smiled. "So, you like music?" He switched on the radio. The channel was playing classical music. "This?" He flicked the knob, and loud heavy metal music crackled. "How about this?" He turned the knob again and ended up with country music. "Well?"

Cross's face had been getting red the whole time. Her irritation flared. "Look, Agent Stone." She turned the radio off. "You have no business touching my radio."

Stone smiled. "Fine, fine." He turned to look out the windshield. He suddenly turned the wheel without Cross's approval.

"What?" Cross yelled.

Stone steered the car off the road…. Off a cliff…toward the ocean…

"Stone! What the hell!"