On the Fly

Let's see... How about a short fic to cleanse the pallet? I blame watching Agents of SHIELD for this. Chloe Bennett is a wonderful actress.

Four thirty. Chloe looked at her watch yet again and paced. Joe was almost an hour late and if the transaction was going to take place, it had to be soon. Her brown eyes focused on the small crate in the corner labeled "DANGER." That was an understatement. Danger was too subtle of a word. It should have read "NOT SUITABLE TO EXIST."

Chloe jumped slightly as the door opened. Joe stumbled in, holding a blood splotched rag to his head. "Go," he groaned. "Just go. Out the back."

She wanted to question him, but she knew better. She simply held onto her hat and grabbed her jacket as she scurried out the back door. The people they were dealing with didn't take kindly to things going off the page. Even as she slipped into her Prius, Chloe wondered if Joe was going to make it out of this alive.

Her hand shook as she shoved the car into gear and floored the pedal. Why had she listened to him? She glanced at the passenger seat and slammed on the brakes. There, on the clean microfiber, sat two manilla envelopes. One labeled "Chloe" and the other labeled "GX76R."

"Damnit," she hissed as she pulled out again. She didn't stop the car until she got to San Diego. She parked at the ocean and cut the engine, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath as she willed her heart to stop racing. Once she was able to get that handled, she reached over and grabbed the envelope with her name on it, opening it with tender care. Inside was close to twenty thousand dollars and a note.

Dearest Chloe,

I know I said that this would be easy. But I was full of crap. Waldo wasn't happy, as we thought, but instead of just taking the new deal, he decided to take my life. I'm going to stall that as long as I can to give you time to wipe any trace of your involvement.

I will always trust you, Chloe. I will always look out for you.

Goodbye.

Joe.

His signature smeared as a teardrop fell on it. No one would know she was involved. No one would know she had the plans. No one would know she had the microfilm. 

And Joe's death would not be in vain.