Clean

or, “A Twist of Inflationary Fate!”

It was finally here. After over a year and a half of research, the final test of Janet's creation would now take place.

Wind rustled through the grass of the meadow, which shimmered in the bright sunlight of early afternoon. June was a lovely time of year in this part of the country. Joshua took a long breath of the fresh summer air as he stood in the middle of the meadow. From where he stood, he could see all the little trails and footpaths that wound through the meadow, joining other trails, some going past the little pond of bulrushes at the far corner of the field, all eventually leading back into the forest of oaks and bays and Douglas firs that made up most of the park.

When the call came, Christy Carlisle knew what to do.

She and two other deep cover CIA agents in Paris had been compromised. Unable to leave France due to the escalating war, they each had one hour to completely terminate their mission: bank accounts closed, pertinent intelligence faxed home, papers shredded and burned, car and belongings dumped in the Seine outside of town. It was risky in broad daylight, but there was no alternative. On the river bank, Christy stripped naked and tossed her clothes in the water.

Erasing herself was all that remained.