Chapter One of the Story

The woman swung her legs as she perched on top of the washing machine. “I don’t know, Jerin, that sounds sketchy.”
The blonde haired man leaning against wall chuckled. “Just trust me, m’kay?”
“The stories I’ve heard-“
“Are not true. The Agency is perfectly legitimate. The only reason the FBI is making a fuss is because we are taking the cases they usually get.”
The brown-haired woman jumped as the machine buzzed. It was one of the few that actually worked in the apartment complex’s tiny laundry mat. Sighing, she hopped off of it and tugged her wet clothes out. She stuck them in the dryer as her companion did likewise.
“The Agency could really use your talents, Elliot.”
Elliot rolled her hazel eyes. “Not that again, Jer,” she groaned.
“Do really you just want to spend the rest of your life as a make-up artist?"
She sniffed. “I’m perfectly happy with what I’m doing.”
Deciding not to comment on that statement, Jerin smiled knowingly. “Well, ‘Miss Perfectly-Happy,’ are you going to dye my hair black, or do I have to do it myself?”
After Jerin had left with successfully dyed hair, Elliot curled up on her coach to watch a movie. Her mind wandered as images danced before her distant stare.
Jerin had wanted to be a secret agent since he was old enough to eaves-drop on his parents. Elliot had too, until she grew up. She had always thought that Jerin’s childhood dream would never be reached, but her friend had been an agent for two years now. Elliot, on the other hand, did make up for the Broadway stars. Sure, it was fun and all, but she felt like she wasn’t doing anything important.
A large fluffy body sprang off the floor and landed in her lap. Elliot shrieked as the creature attacked her face with its pink tongue.
“Sherlock!” she yelled.
The border collie/black Labrador/German shepherd/husky/and-who-knew-what-else mix wagged her tail. She was mostly black with white paws and one white ear. Absent mindedly, Elliot scratched her dog’s ears. After fifteen minutes of contemplation, she turned off the movie and disappeared into her bedroom, Sherlock following at her heels.

Elliot pushed open her apartment door with a long sigh. She had spent the entire day arguing with a irritating Broadway star who thought he was a gift to the entire world.
Sherlock bounced around her legs, begging for attention. Patting the dog on the head, she unpacked her groceries. While she put everything away, Elliot wondered how Jerin was getting along. Was he okay? His job was dangerous, after all.
She jumped several feet in the air when the doorbell rang. Sherlock barked and charged at the door as if she was going to attack whoever it was the second Elliot opened it. Pushing her dog back, she cracked the door and poked her head out.
Standing in front of her was a smartly dressed woman with a brief case. “May I help you?” Elliot asked, wondering who on earth she was.
“I am Alberta Small, are you Miss Ryme?”
“Uh, yes.”
“I’m from the Agency, may I come in?”
Wordlessly, Elliot opened the door. She forgot to trap Sherlock, and the dog put her paws up on Alberta Small and wagged her tail. Mortified, she was about to apologize when Miss Small reached down and rubbed the dog’s head and smiled.
“Your dog is quite alright, Miss Ryme. I am a dog person. She looks like a very intelligent creature.”
“Oh, uh, thanks. Yeah, she is really smart.” When Alberta Small looked at her expectantly, Elliot suddenly remembered her duties as a hostess. “Um, why don’t you sit down? Are you thirsty? Can I get you a drink?”
Sitting down, the woman smiled and shook her head. “I am fine, thank you.”
Elliot sank down in the old arm chair and tilted her head. “So, what may I do for you?”
“As I said, I am from the Agency. Jerin Swanson mentioned your name to us a few weeks ago.”
She lifted an eyebrow. “Did he now?”
“Yes. He said that you are a make-up artist. At the Agency, we are very short on people of your talents. We would like to extend a job offer. We have gone over your portfolio and liked what we saw. You would be a very valuable asset to the Agency, Miss Ryme.”
Elliot stared at the other woman for a few minutes. Then, she closed her mouth and thought about the proposition. Jerin’s smile flitted through her mind and she heard him say, “The Agency could really use your talents, Elliot.” After several minutes of contemplation, she made a decision.
“You don’t have to decide right now,” Alberta Small pointed out.
“I know,” she replied. “I’d like to, though. I would be happy to work for the Agency.”
Miss Small smiled. “Excellent. You will keep your old job, so it won’t be so suspicious.”
“Okay. When should I start?”
“Tomorrow, if you can.”