The Agency Test
Dressed in a black pant suit, the woman walked into the board room and took her seat. Her older brother sat across from her. They smiled at each other cordially, but there was something strained in the exchange. She was the baby of the family always trying to keep up with 4 older brothers and a father. All of whom ended up in law enforcement of some type. Her brothers were generally over protective of her, which made Martin being in this particular meeting a little difficult.
Even though he was only a year older than she was, he always treated her like she was a fragile child. It didn’t help that she was tiny compared to every other field agent. She was the smallest person in her graduating class, and it was rumored, the smallest person to have graduated in a decade. She had to fight every step of the way to prove she was tougher, smarter and faster than everyone around her. She looked at Martin as the details of the plan were laid out. That’s when he started.
“It all looks good,” he said, “but we just can’t have Sue in the field on this one.” His gaze avoided her.
She stood up. “Explain yourself, Agent Danfield.” She used her mother’s voice. It was usually effective in cowing her brothers.
Martin turned red. “Look, Sue, this is a dangerous mission, and no one wants you getting hurt. Just sit this one out. It’s no big deal.”
“No big deal? NO BIG DEAL? I worked my ass for this job. I fought tooth and nail and graduated at the head of my class for this job. I am every bit the field agent you are, and I resent the implication of words. We’re not at home, Martin. I expect you to treat me with the same respect that you give all the other agents.”
“C’mon, Sue,” Martin implored. “This is a job for the big guns. We need men who can intimidate the enemy with a show of force. You do great on other missions that require a more delicate touch, but we’re going in with guns blazing. They’ll just laugh at you.”
“And the first one that does will get his teeth busted out.” Sue glared.
Martin opened his palms clearly unconvinced and unmoved. “Sue, no one wants you to get hurt.”
She looked around the table. The other agents wouldn’t meet her eye. Even the agent in charge was studiously eyeing the plan as if he left out some sort of detail.
“Really, not one of you has anything to say?” Her mouth curled up in a grimace. “Screw you, Martin. You are not going to affect my career by having me play it safe. In fact, I’ll tell you what, if I can’t beat you at The Strip, I’ll stop being an agent.”
Everyone at the table gasped.
Turn to page 2.
Even though he was only a year older than she was, he always treated her like she was a fragile child. It didn’t help that she was tiny compared to every other field agent. She was the smallest person in her graduating class, and it was rumored, the smallest person to have graduated in a decade. She had to fight every step of the way to prove she was tougher, smarter and faster than everyone around her. She looked at Martin as the details of the plan were laid out. That’s when he started.
“It all looks good,” he said, “but we just can’t have Sue in the field on this one.” His gaze avoided her.
She stood up. “Explain yourself, Agent Danfield.” She used her mother’s voice. It was usually effective in cowing her brothers.
Martin turned red. “Look, Sue, this is a dangerous mission, and no one wants you getting hurt. Just sit this one out. It’s no big deal.”
“No big deal? NO BIG DEAL? I worked my ass for this job. I fought tooth and nail and graduated at the head of my class for this job. I am every bit the field agent you are, and I resent the implication of words. We’re not at home, Martin. I expect you to treat me with the same respect that you give all the other agents.”
“C’mon, Sue,” Martin implored. “This is a job for the big guns. We need men who can intimidate the enemy with a show of force. You do great on other missions that require a more delicate touch, but we’re going in with guns blazing. They’ll just laugh at you.”
“And the first one that does will get his teeth busted out.” Sue glared.
Martin opened his palms clearly unconvinced and unmoved. “Sue, no one wants you to get hurt.”
She looked around the table. The other agents wouldn’t meet her eye. Even the agent in charge was studiously eyeing the plan as if he left out some sort of detail.
“Really, not one of you has anything to say?” Her mouth curled up in a grimace. “Screw you, Martin. You are not going to affect my career by having me play it safe. In fact, I’ll tell you what, if I can’t beat you at The Strip, I’ll stop being an agent.”
Everyone at the table gasped.
Turn to page 2.
