#mitchell valentine

[wannabecatwriter]

“I’m sorry, William. I didn’t realize you were sitting here as well,” she apologized calmly, as the dripping wet men jumped out of their seats.

“Ok? Please explain what’s going on. This is not like you,” he was astounded.

“I just thought the boys could use something to help them cool down, seeing as they’re in heat,” she explained.

“Hey!” Mitch tried to complain.

“So in heat, in fact, that it gets in the way of their work performance and at the most inopportune moments at that. Ain’t that right, Mitchie?”

“Uh...” The way she was looking at him told Mitch she knew exactly what happened at the motel, but how?

“By the way, Rachel and Ashton are ok, Will. No thanks to these two. They were busy doing something more important, apparently. Or, should I say someone?”

[wannabecatwriter]

Since the assignment had turned into a lengthier one than the team had anticipated, William opted to rent an apartment in town for the team to stay in. It gave everyone a sense of home comfort and gave them a private place for discussing information.

Also, living in an average apartment and coming and going at random times attracted less attention than it would have at a hotel. And saved money in the long run, in addition to giving him some extra oversight of the team.

William knew that this team wasn’t the brightest one he could’ve been given... but like always, he made do with what was available.

And now he was making waffles because, no matter what was happening in life, proper breakfast was a must for everyone.

“Waffles? Yum!” Adolfo yipped as soon as he woke up that morning.

“Carbs, here we come!” Mitch agreed eagerly. “Nothing beats some sugar in the morning.”

“Well, only if the sugar is brought to you by a sweetie wearing a nice bikini, maybe,” Adolfo chuckled.

“Fuck yeah!” Mitch agreed.

“Too bad for you there aren’t any sweeties nearby, and I sure am not putting on any bikinis,” William snarked over his shoulder.

Yes, he was making do with what was available. But these two were giving him a headache.

[wannabecatwriter]

Two hours ago.

“Gone? What the hell do you mean Rachel and Ashton were gone from their room in the morning?!” Delia was flabbergasted at hearing the young agents’ story. “Where the hell would they have gone?”

“We don’t know,” Mitchell kept explaining. “Maybe they went exploring the town?”

“Exploring?!!! While a mobster is out looking for them? While they were supposed to be under your protection?!” Delia screamed at them. “Please tell me you’re not that stupid.”

“We are really sorry,” Adolfo understood their predicament a little more. “We didn’t think to check on them during the night. But they seemed pretty beat, we didn’t think they’ll just leave. Plus, we were right next door. If they needed anything, they only had to knock.”

“But they didn’t? You’re sure they didn’t?” William, their boss asked.

“Uh, yeah...”

[wannabecatwriter]

To pass the time while the food was being prepared, the two opted for a short game of cards. Neither was serious about the game, since both had something on their mind.

"Say, have you ever had that situation with a girl, where, instead of insisting on using protection, she tells you there’s no need because she’s on birth control?” Dolf asked.

“Hmm? Not me, but a buddy of mine had it happen to him. Why? Did that happen to you?” Mitch asked.

“Uh, yes! Remember Lynne from training?”

“She tried that with you? About a month ago, right?”

“How did you know?”

“You didn’t fall for it, right?” Mitch asked. “Tell me you didn’t.”

“No. I actually faked an emergency and noped out of there. It seemed kind of sketchy.”

“Good. Turned out she and her boyfriend broke up and she found out afterwards she was preggo. And was looking for a baby daddy.”

“Good thing I trusted my gut,” Adolfo cringed. “I am nowhere near prepared for something like fatherhood.”

[wannabecatwriter]

“Dude? What the hell?” Mitch glared at Adolfo. “Besides, it’s not like I was the only one with someone?”

“Don’t look at me, I didn’t say anything!” Adolfo shrugged.

“No, you didn’t, but you didn’t need to,” Jerri told them. “Did you know that, while you two were happily bumping uglies with someone, there was a belligerent drunk trying to knock down the door that the people under your protection were behind? And that, only after realizing you were useless as protectors, did they decide it was safer to leave without you?”

“Uh...” Adolfo wondered if he should just admit he wasn’t even on the same floor at the time.

“So that’s what happened...” Mitch realized, remembering the strange noise that night. 

“Unbelievable,” William shook his head. “You’re not even denying it now, are you? The agency’s standards have really fallen since the days when I started out.”

[wannabecatwriter]

Without further ado, Jerri proceeded to pick up the bucket and douse the young men in front of her with ice cold water.

Extra-iced. She made sure it was as cold as it could possibly be.

Mitchell didn’t have the luxury of knowing what was coming ahead of time, but Adolfo saw her and tried to move out of the way before the water hit him.

He wasn’t fast enough.

“What the fuck, Jerri!!! Are you out of your mind?!!!”

“Are you crazy!!! What the hell?!”

“Jerri, what is the meaning of this?”

In her haste, William also also ended up on the receiving end of her cold treatment.

[wannabecatwriter]

“So, what’s the big deal?” Adolfo asked. “Why did we need the witnesses around for catching that mobster anyways? We already know he did the deed. Committed the crime. The whole deal. Why can’t we just arrest him?”

“He’s right,” Mitch agreed. “What are we waiting for?”

“We know he did it, yeah. We don’t know how many are helping him and whether he is even the biggest player on the scene. We don’t want to nab someone who turns out to be a small fish and alert the sharks,” William explained. “That’s been happening a bit much lately.”

“Oh yeah... Starlight Shores, yeah,” Adolfo remembered. “Still can’t believe that guy just skipped town so fast.”

“I can. They’ve got ears where they’re not supposed to.”

“Mitchell!!!” William blanched.

“What? It’s more than plausible. We’ve all seen enough crime dramas to know whoever has the deepest pockets gets the law enforcement on their side. Plus, can you really say you will vouch for the moral compass of every individual in our unit alone?”

Well, thought Jerri. He wasn’t wrong about people having a wonky moral compass. Even some people in this room.

[wannabecatwriter]

“I’m glad you recognize that,” William smiled, coming over with the food. “Being a parent is a serious endeavor and a job without days off.”

Frankly, the idea of these two becoming parents and imparting their “wisdom” on the future generation was the sort of stuff that made him seriously concerned for the next generation. Then again, thought William, maybe his ancestors felt the same way about his generation? Maybe that was what the circle of life was all about?

“Dig in. We’ve got a big day ahead of us.”