The Secret Service ~~~

7 - Figuring Out Information Is Like Solving A Puzzle Blind

Quick announcement? (should be quick...)

In the next week or so, I aim for finish edits/ rewrites on a story that isn't posted on here. I've been working on the story for months and aim to one day for it to be published - a book I can physically hold  and sell that you all can read whenever you like -- that's the dream.

So when I finish the edits and rewrites, I may need first round betas. It's a New Adult Fantasy (if you like the Shadowhunter Chronicles, you might like my book?).

Please, DM me for more details if this sounds like something you might be interested in helping me with.

Love ❤️

Anyways. On with the show...

Chapter Seven - Figuring Out Information Is Like Solving A Puzzle Blind

Being up this late was a struggle. Allie had watched most of the recruits retire to the two cramped bedrooms over the passing hours. There was only four left out of ten. All huddle round two laptops and maps of the museum they'd visited earlier.

Allie had her back pressed near the fire. Every time it crackled she felt her body stiffen but then the tension released. The only reason she was still awake was thanks to her overly sugary milkshake earlier - the chocolate and mint had been a weird choice for a cold day but what wasn't odd here about anything?

"Is there anything useful yet?" Rory asked for about what felt like the thousandth time.

"Not yet," Hailey said, equally as unimpressed as last time. Rory groaned.

"You don't have to be here," Sadie said, not unkindly. "None of us are doing much besides Hailey."

Hailey pulled a face which the laptop screen illuminated. "Even then, I'm not dong much. I took what I could from the servers. And that? That was nearly everything. I couldn't separate what we needed and what we didn't within a minute. There's hours worth here. Maybe even a full day's worth to scroll and sift through."

"What did you take that much for?" Rory questioned. "You've made more work for yourself."

"I just said. I didn't know what'd be useful or not, so I took it all. It's easier to discard than worry about what you missed."

"It's fine," Allie promised. "Maybe we can all take turns scrolling?"

The words left her mouth and her brain groaned. Though she was hyped on sugar, she was tired. A weird combination that left her in limbo. Truly, even if she wasn't to sleep, she wanted to snuggle down and not do much. She'd done her work for the day. Wasn't that enough?

"Maybe we should all get some rest?" Sadie suggested next. "A few hours can't hurt us."

Hailey looked up from the screen. "But the diamond? It needs recovering."

"And if we have a full days worth of work to wade through, then we're going to need fresh brains. All of us will," Rory said. "Maybe a few hours of sleep wouldn't be so bad." She yawned, causing them all to yawn.

"You can go," Hailey dismissed.

Rory gave Allie a look that said no one would win against her and stood. She tip-toed across the floor and disappeared behind a door. Allie envied her. And it was made worse when Sadie followed, rubbing her eyes.