The Kovalenko Chronicles (pt. 5)

The Kovalenko Chronicles (pt. 4)

Dedicated Professional

Xi Xiao couldn’t help but revel in the feeling of excitement coursing through her body. Much like a child on Christmas Eve, the anticipation of a new assignment was downright exhilarating. The tingle she felt up and down her spine intensified with each step down the staircase.

She stopped when she reached the landing and took a deep breath. A chill ran up and down her body and for the briefest of moments, she was giddy as a schoolgirl. For a fraction of a second, an air of innocence rose around her. But innocence was fleeting for Xi Xiao, and almost instantly, she was again her cold, calculating self.

Still, there was the thrill of a new conquest just down the hall.

Driver was already waiting at the end of the hall when Xi arrived. She nodded to him, and he unlocked the door and let her in. He followed and shut the door behind them.

Xi surveyed the room briefly and her eyes came to rest on Eva, who was sitting on the solitary chair in the vacant, hollow space. She looked at her two visitors with noticeable disdain. She still desperately wanted to shatter Driver’s kneecap. She feigned total disinterest and turned her attention back to the grain of the wood on the floor. It reminded her of the veins in a well-developed forearm.

“Agent Kovalenko. I am Dr. Xi Xiao and I’d like to ask you some questions.”

“Good evening, Doctor. You’ll forgive me if I am not feeling particularly talkative at the moment,” Eva said in an almost sunny tone. Inside, however, her disposition was not so cavalier. She had heard the stories about Xi Xiao, and estimated that at least half were probably true. If that were the case, then this woman was at best, a cold-blooded monster. At worst, a psychotically brilliant bitch.

Xi chuckled softly. “Oh, Eva. May I call you Eva? I am quite afraid that is simply not an option.” She slowly made her way to Eva’s chair and smiled at her coldly. “It would be so much easier on us both if you would simply cooperate. There is no need for any… Unpleasantness. Now, would you please disclose the purpose of your mission? What was your directive, and from whom did these orders come?”

“Oh, Doctor, you really must forgive me,” Eva replied in her most patronizing tone. “I am quite tired and absolutely starving. Long drive here and all. My mind tends to wander when I’m feeling so. Could you please repeat the question?”

Xi’s cool smile quickly turned into a dissatisfied scowl, and in an instant, the back of her hand violently met Eva’s face. Eva’s head snapped back in a whiplash, and as she brought her chin back down, she returned the doctor’s icy glare in kind. She wanted to tear this witch to pieces, but now was not the time. She absolutely must get to Vasilev, and she needed a plan.

“The nerve of this little bitch,” Xi thought to herself. While she despised the petulance, the truth was, she was praying that Eva would be uncooperative. “There’s absolutely no need to be rude, Eva,” Xi calmly stated as the smile returned to her face. “However, I can see civility will not be the order of the day here. Very well.”

Xi glanced over her shoulder at Driver and tilted her head casually toward Eva.

“Hold her while I get my bag,” Xi said calmly.

Driver stood behind Eva and planted his hands firmly on her shoulders.

“Get your hands off me, you fucking gorilla!”, she exclaimed angrily. She tried to shrug his hands off, but they were immovable. Eva tried to see what Xi was doing, but her back was to them, blocking the view. Whatever it was, it was sure to be unpleasant.

Xi reached into her bag and took a few select items from it. She took out a vial and eyed it briefly before setting it on the table. Sodium Pentothal. “Can’t go wrong with the classics,” Xi whispered to herself. She then pulled out a case of syringes and a small black box with no markings. She set the items down next to the vial and prepared the injection.

When she finished, she held the syringe up in front of her and tapped it to ensure there were no air bubbles. It would be a shame if the prisoner were to die before the game had even begun.

Xi gave a satisfied smile as she depressed the plunger slightly. She placed the small black box in her pocket and turned to face Eva.

“All right, Eva. Shall we begin? We have so much to talk about.”