THE LAST SPY

Kelvin Hughes adjusted the cuff of his tailored suit as he glanced down at his Rolex Submariner. The second hand ticked steadily, each movement as precise as his own. He exhaled slowly, gripping the leather-wrapped steering wheel of his sleek black 2025 BMW M8 Competition Coupe. The car was parked in the far corner of a dimly lit parking lot, surrounded by rows of empty spaces.

Kelvin wasn’t the kind of man who got nervous easily. After all, his line of work didn’t allow for mistakes, much less nerves. He had spent the last decade working for the  “Watch-Dog  Directive,” an elite organization specializing in intelligence gathering and covert operations. To the outside world, he was a financial consultant with an exceptional knack for numbers. In reality, he was their best spy, a man who thrived in the shadows, where secrets were currency, and trust was a luxury he couldn’t afford.

The faint vibration of his phone cut through the silence. Pulling it from his pocket, Kelvin glanced at the screen. Unknown Caller. A flicker of suspicion passed through him, but he answered without hesitation.

“Kelvin Hughes,” he said, his voice calm and steady.

A low, gravelly voice responded. “Look behind you.”

Kelvin’s sharp gaze snapped to the rearview mirror. A black Mercedes S-Class with tinted windows idled in the adjacent lot. He hung up without a word, slipping the phone into his pocket as he stepped out of his car. The chill in the air greeted him, carrying the faint scent of oil and asphalt.

He approached the Mercedes with measured steps. The window lowered halfway as he reached it, revealing Adrian Graves. His handler, he taught him all he now knew about being a Spy. Adrian’s sharp features and aviator sunglasses lent him an air of icy authority that matched his reputation.

“Adrian,” Kelvin said evenly, his tone void of warmth.

“Efficient as always,” Adrian replied, offering a faint smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

Kelvin pulled a slim envelope from his jacket and handed it over. Inside were photos of a man gripping a frightened young woman’s wrist in a dark alley, his face twisted with anger. Adrian flipped through the images with detached efficiency before slipping them into his coat.

“Good work,” Adrian said, retrieving a second envelope from the center console. “Your payment.”

Kelvin accepted it, weighing it briefly in his hand before slipping it into his pocket. He met Adrian’s gaze. “This is the last one, Adrian. I’m done.”

Adrian’s brow furrowed, the smile vanishing from his face. “Done?”

“You heard me,” Kelvin said. “Ten years, Adrian. I’ve given you everything. I need out.”

Adrian leaned back, his expression unreadable. “You’re one of the best we’ve ever had. Why walk away now?”

Kelvin’s voice didn’t waver. “I need to find out who I am outside of this. I can’t keep living in the shadows.”

“You have always wanted to do this all your life, why stop now,”

“I thought doing this will help me uncover what really happened to my father, how he died is unclear, I think it is better this way.” Kelvin said without keeping an eye contact.

For a long moment, Adrian said nothing. Then, with a sigh, he reached into the glove compartment and pulled out a file. “Fine. But there’s one last job.”

Kelvin hesitated before taking the file, his jaw tightening as he opened it. The name Victor Alonso was printed at the top, accompanied by photos of a man in his late forties, his sharp suits and calculated smiles oozing power.

“Victor Alonso,” Adrian said. “Billionaire investor. Tech, real estate and drugs. He’s built an empire, and we’re on the brink of taking it down. We need you to find his supply chain. Warehouses, storage, distribution hubs, everything. Make it airtight.”

Kelvin closed the file. “And if my cover’s blown?”

Adrian’s smile returned, colder than before. “Then you’re on your own. You know how this works.”

Kelvin’s fingers tightened around the file. “No choice, is there?”

“None,” Adrian replied flatly. “And trust me, you don’t want to make me regret letting you walk away.”

Without another word, Kelvin turned back to his car, the file tucked under his arm. Adrian’s gaze followed him, the faint hum of the Mercedes’s engine lingering as Kelvin crossed the lot.

Once inside his BMW, Kelvin tossed the file onto the passenger seat. His grip on the steering wheel tightened as he sat in silence, the weight of his decision pressing down on him. His phone buzzed, pulling him from his thoughts. He glanced at the screen and tapped to call April Harper.

April’s voice answered after the first ring. “Kelvin. This late? What’s going on?”

“April,” he said, his tone softening. April, his trusted hacker and software engineer, had been his go-to for years. She was brilliant, resourceful, and one of the few people he trusted. “I need you to dig into someone for me. Victor Alonso.”

“Victor Alonso?” she echoed, her voice laced with caution. “That’s a big ask. What are you into now?”

“It’s my last job,” Kelvin replied. “The Directive needs his supply chain. Drugs. Storage, distribution, everything.”

April sighed. “Alright. Give me a minute to start digging. But you’re sure you want to do this? This guy’s not exactly low profile.”

“Just find what you can,” Kelvin said. “And be quick. Call me if you find anything.”

“Got it,” she said. “Be careful, Kelvin.”

The line disconnected, leaving Kelvin alone with his thoughts. The city stretched ahead of him, the neon glow of distant lights shimmering against the night sky. He reached for the radio, hoping to drown out the tension gnawing at his chest.

That was when he saw it.

Out of nowhere, a Woman darted into the street ahead of him with long black hair, her pale face briefly illuminated by the headlights. Kelvin’s heart slammed against his ribs as he hit the brakes, the tires screeching violently against the pavement.

The BMW skidded, coming to an abrupt halt mere inches from the woman. Kelvin’s breath caught as his gaze locked on her. She turned toward him, her face a blur of shock and fear.

And then, without warning, she walked away, disappearing without a trace.

Kelvin’s heart raced as he gripped the steering wheel, his mind scrambling to make sense of what had just happened. Who was she? What was she running from?

His phone buzzed again, the glow of the screen catching his eye. A message from April had appeared.

“We need to talk. I found something.”