by Penny Knight
With Broderick away, I call my second, Lucas. The front man of the humans I have working for me here. We have completed a few missions together now.
"Sir?" he answers.
"I am expecting company soon. Have the conference room setup with cameras."
"Will do. You want it on or off grid?"
"Off. I don't want it accessible at all online. This feed will be just for me. Understood?"
"Yes, sir." He hangs up.
I search the house, opening door after door. I look in every room, but I cannot find a computer anywhere. I return to the office.
“Bring up a satellite image of the house.” I rest my hand on the desk, leaning over his shoulder while he instantly does as I ask.
“Ok, got it.” He pulls up the address on the satellite maps and we both study the radial view.
“There,” I point at the screen. “That’s where the master bedroom is, but it’s nowhere near the size it shows here.” It must be there. There’s a whole missing section. I scurry back to the bedroom.
My fingers graze the wall where it looks like it should be larger. There is a floor to ceiling mirror and two wall lanterns with tassels hanging framing the mirror. The rest of the room houses a king-sized bed and a built-in wardrobe, that’s it. My eyes dart around, trying to piece the puzzle together. I keep landing back to the lanterns.
Striding to the silk tassel, I pull the light. It flicks on immediately. I march towards the second string. Here goes. As I tug the rope, I hear a faint mechanical click. The mirror clicks out of place. With a spring, it reveals a passageway to the lost space.
The room is dark. But I can tell there are computers in here from the small red dots blinking at me. I skim my hands down the side of the door frame for the light. Once it turns on, I know I have hit the jackpot.
“Topher!” I call out.
I walk towards the five monitors that are spaced over two levels on the desk. Two on the bottom and three on the top. My fingers hit a key on the keyboard and all five come alive with a bright blue background extended onto all of them.
“This is more like it!” Topher says. He moves right past me and plops down on the desk chair that looks like a racing seat. “Let the fun begin.” He plugs in his flash drive.
“What is taking so long?” I groan. I check my watch again. We’ve been here for over a half an hour.
“I’m nearly there. Quit hovering,” he shoos me away.
I lean back from peering over his shoulder. We have been here too long already.
“Done, I’m in,” he announces as the desktop opens up on all the screens.
“About time.”
He ignores me and plugs in an external hard drive instead. “I will start copying all the contents now.”
“Ok, great.” I pace to the entrance and peer out as goosebumps rise all over my arms. “Come on Topher. We should already be out by now. I don’t like this.”
“I know, we’re almost there.”
In the distance the sound of a door slamming echoes through the room.
“What was that?” Topher glances to me.
“Don’t know. Get that done and I will have a look.”
I step out of the room and back into the bedroom. Listening for any unfamiliar noises: doors, steps, anything indicating what that noise could have been. Maybe a car door outside, a neighbour perhaps?
BAM!
A noise comes from behind, making me jump and turn.
“Sorry,” Topher says sheepishly, closing the secret door.
I shake my head at him. “Let’s get the hell out of here.” I march right out of the room and my body collides with something hard and stiff. It takes a split second before my mind realises it’s a body. A tall, skinny but surprisingly strong body as he grabs hold of my arm and I wince in pain.
“Argh!” I cry out.
“Where is it?” he growls at me. His eyes seem to glow, they are narrowed, a chill runs down my spine. He looks up leering at Topher and turns me so quickly I have no time to resist. He bends my arm backwards and pain shoots up to my shoulder. With my back up against him and his strong hold keeping me in place, I try to wriggle and even stomp on his foot to loosen his grip, but he does not budge.
“You,” he sneers at Topher. “Give it to me”
“Topher, ru-” before I can finish my words, I feel a cool object touch my throat. A knife, I realise in horror. My body freezes and my eyes go wide.
“No!” Topher cries out.
“Give me the drive or say goodbye.” The man presses harder against my throat and I can feel the sharp blade nearly breaking skin. I close my eyes hard to compose my racing heart as a tear escapes. It is then I remember my gift. Maybe I can hear what this man wants. If he’s going to kill me, or who he’s working for. Anything.
I have the charm on, but Franziska says that I can concentrate and let the thoughts in. I’m not sure what I am meant to do. But I try to listen, try to hear something, anything, even Topher but nothing. Damn it. I should have listened to her and started training and learning my gift instead of burying my head in the sand. Now I may never have time to understand any of this.
“Here.” Topher’s shaky voice brings me back to the here and now. His hands bounce around as he tries to hand over the drive. The man leans forward causing the blade to break the skin, I know this because I feel a drop fall down my neck. He snatches it right out of Topher’s hand.
“Now say goodbye, little boy.” The assailant perches his arm up ready to end my life.
I close my eyes. This is it. I wait for the pain as I hear Topher’s cries in the far distance.
There’s a sharp crack and the surrounding weight suddenly lifts. His arms go limp and the pressure of the knife is gone. I see the man laying lifeless on the floor.
“Let’s go. Follow me,” a deep and confident voice orders. This man has just saved my life.
He doesn’t wait for an answer, he grabs my arm forcibly but not hard and leads us through the hallway, Topher close behind us.
The mystery man stops in the living room and lets go of my arm. I stand for a moment, not sure if I should run or wait. Topher stands beside me, pulling me into him with one arm. Both in shock. Watching as the man pull a lighter from his pocket and strides over to the curtains, setting them alight.
I hear Topher gasp, but I remain silent.
He then turns. “Quickly,” he says as he walks towards me. He takes hold of my arm and marches us out of the burning house.
We follow him towards a waiting black Chrysler in the driveway. He opens the back door and we both jump in. In my mind, I know I’m getting into a stranger’s car, but my body is in control and doing what it can to survive.
We drive away, the house ablaze in the background. The car silent.
We drive for what feels like one minute but could be hours. I’m dazed. Still waiting for my heart to stop pounding.
Topher sits staring at the stitching of the leather headrest in front of him. I look back out the window.
That is when I see it.
The familiar mirrored windows.
The car stops and I look up at the Hotel Chancellor.
Anticipation bubbles inside. Something I have not experienced in a long time. Striding right to the conference room, I see Broderick waiting outside, arms crossed and staunch.
“Are they inside?” I ask once I am standing beside him.
“Yes,” he nods. “Um...” he starts and pauses, looking for the right words.
My eyebrow raises. He is rarely lost for words.
“Just spit it out,” I say.
“There was a member of The Uprising there.”
I hear myself growl. “Do they know who she is?”
He shakes his head. “No, they don’t. I got there just in time. Just before he tried to slit her throat. So, it’s safe to say they don’t know.”
Slit her throat? My body goes rigid, and my veins enlarge as the anger seizes control.
“Maybe just
take a second before you go in. I’m sure she is already scared enough,” he nods at me.
“I don’t need time,” I say through clenched teeth.
He sighs. “Ok then.” He turns and reaches for the door. I close my eyes and take a long, deep breath. This needs to go well, I need to control myself.
The door opens and Broderick steps to the side and I walk through. She looks up at me. Her eyes are narrowed, fierce and sparkling. This is not what Broderick had prepared me for. She crosses her arms and cocks her head at me. I fight back a smile. It becomes easier once I see a small mark on her neck. I bite down on my anger like it’s a chew toy and I’m a rabid dog.
“Hello again,” I say.
She raises both eyebrows. “Hello again?” she shakes her head. “Why are we here? What do you want?” She is straight to the point. Her companion looks to her wide eyed.
My face hardens. It’s difficult hearing anyone talk to me like this. I’m struggling to remember the last time anyone has.
“I thought you would be more grateful to Broderick here for saving your life.”
Her head turns to Broderick, who stands with his arms still crossed and unmoving. She bites the inside of her lip and swallows.
“Thank you,” she says with meaning. He nods in response. “Ok then.” She stands and her friend’s mouth drops open. “We will just head off now.” She smiles at me and nods to her friend to get up.
“I didn’t say you could leave.” I move to block her path around the table. She stands taller, chin raised.
“And who are you to tell us when we can leave?” She looks brave and her eyes shine with intent, but it’s her heart rate that I feel vibrating rapidly, that shows she isn’t as confident as she portrays. She’s testing me. She is trying to figure out the extent of danger she’s in. A brave and clever tactic.
“Listen.” I soften my tone. “I’m not here to harm you. I am here to help.”
“Right,” she says, under her breath.
“The man that attacked you at the house was dangerous. More so than you can imagine.”
She rubs her temple with one hand and her shoulders slump.
“Fine, whatever.” She moves the chair and sits. “Let’s just get this over with.” Her finger brushes over the cut on her neck and her eyes lock on the table.
I dare say this side is just as endearing as the first time I met her. She was trying to portray a different version of herself then, but here she is. Stubborn, fiery and sexy as hell. My body responding in all ways, unable to tear my eyes away from her pursed lips.
Stop, I need to reel that in and concentrate on the task at hand.
“What were you doing at the house?” I ask. She doesn’t look up and does not answer. I look to the friend.
He does a double take of Elita, then looks back at me and sighs.
“Work,” he simply says.
“Work?” I try to keep my patience as I also sit. Maybe I will be less intimidating to him. Her eyes peer over to me, then to him, watching.
“We had an assignment to copy the hard drive,” he says. That is news. Investigating the disappearance is one thing, copying data is another.
“Topher!” Elita says.
“What?” He raises both hands in the air. “That dead dude took it from me, anyway. And then, this bloke.” He points towards Broderick, “set the place on fire, so it’s not like it matters now.”
“True,” she shrugs. Then faces forward again.
I look to Broderick. Fire is news to me. He nods and confirms his statement.
“I see,” I say. My eyes dart back and forth from these two. Elita is stoic, giving nothing away unlike her friend Topher. He keeps tapping his leg under the table. He’s nervous. They don’t trust me, which of course they wouldn’t, they’re both very smart.
I’ll need to find another way, and there will be plenty because this will not happen again. She needs to stay under my watch, I want her here at the hotel. But there is no way she will come willingly. I won’t be able to get more information from them, I know that.
Looking at Elita, she must feel my gaze on her and looks up.
“Stay here. I’ll be back.” I say.
She rolls her eyes. “Like we have a choice?”
A crooked smile forms on my lips. “I will be right back, and then I will take you home.” She perks up and her mouth parts.
With that, I stand and leave. Broderick follows right behind me. Once the door closes, I turn to him.
“Give Fallon and Warrick her address from the file. Tell them to go to the house and make a mess of it like they are looking for something.”
“Are you sure?” He frowns.
“I want her here and she won’t just come willingly.”
Broderick nods.
“After they’re done, tell them to send word. Get the car ready and we will take them home.” Finally, things are falling into place. Tonight is an opportunity I’m going to take full advantage of.
“Should I find some free rooms?”
“No, have the staff prepare the guest bedrooms in the penthouse.” Broderick’s eyebrows raise. “We can keep a better eye on them.”
“I bet.” His lips turn up. I just stare at him and he shakes his head. “I’ll get right to it.”
Once the door closes, I turn to Topher, eyes wide.
“What?” He throws his arms up.
“What the hell. Why don’t you tell him our whole life story while you’re at it?”
“Maybe I will, I can tell him the time you almost burnt your wooha off.”
I punch his arm.
“I didn’t burn it off.” My voice raises and Topher laughs.
“You put that cream on for ten minutes. What did you think was going to happen?”
I blow out a long breath and run my hands through my hair. “Anyway,” I say through gritted teeth, “you remember what happened tonight, funny man?”
His face falls as it hits him how close we came to a not-so-great night.
“Yeah,” he says. “This is all so crazy.”
“I agree. Whatever we walked into is way beyond anything we were prepared for. Now we won’t know what was on that computer, either.” I shake my head.
“Well,” he reaches into his pocket and pulls out the small external hard drive.
“I thought you gave it to that guy?” My eyes widen and a smile forms on my lips.
“I gave him the drive of the first computer we worked on.”
“Topher, you are a bloody genius!”
“Well, duh, we know this.” I laugh and a wave of relief floods through my tight muscles. A small victory, one I am going to grab hold of and cling to. After such an out of control few days, the bar is set low.
“We can’t let anyone know about this. Ok?” My eyes drill into his to emphasise its importance.
“I know,” he says.
“Here,” I extend my hand for the drive. “I’ll stash it down my bra.”
“Pfft, please. If I were a straight guy, that is the first place I would look.”
“If he puts his hand down my bra. I will chop it right off.”
Topher laughs. “Yeah, right. You’ll be like, ‘Please sir, can I have some more?”
I punch his arm, again.
“Ok, ok,” he says as he rubs it. He hands me the drive, and I put it in my bra, safe and sound.
I take a long, deep calming breath and close my eyes.
“Hey,” he pulls me back.
“Yeah?”
“How are you feeling?” He nods to my neck. “I was so scared.”
My fingers flutter over the small graze. I thought it was game over.
“I was scared, too,” I say. “He was so strong. It was like trying to fight against steel arms wrapped around me.”
“Fuck.” The colour in his face fades. “It was too close, Elita.” I reach over and grab his hand, holding it tight.
“It will all be ok, trust me. I won’t let anything happen to us. I promise.
” My words come out as a vow, an oath. With so much confidence that I convince myself, as well.
True to his word Leo came back and escorted us into the black Chrysler. Broderick, the man who saved us, driving again, Leo in the passenger seat, and Topher and I huddled together in the back. Once I gave Broderick our address, we took off in silence with me still gripping Topher’s hand.
We pull up to the familiar red door of our apartment and pile out of the car. With me leading the way, I pull out the keys from my purse without breaking stride. As I reach for the handle to put in the key, I notice the door is slightly ajar. My hand stills as I sense something is extremely wrong. I nudge the door open gently, flick on the light and enter my home.
My body seizes up as I evaluate what my eyes are seeing. The house is trashed. A mess. Drawers from the kitchen were pulled out and lay on the floor. All the books on my bookcase are sprawled out. I see the cushions from the sofa are slashed. Someone was looking for something. And I have a feeling I know what that is.
“My computers!” Topher cries as my heart sinks when he runs past me up the iron staircase. Please, let them be ok. I pray, but I know there is no hope.
“No!” I hear him scream. Shit, this is bad.
“It isn’t safe here.” Leo’s deep voice comes from behind. I close my eyes hard. “We can keep you both safe, at the hotel.”
I swallow. This is not what I want. I don’t want to go back and have to rely on someone to keep us safe. I want to be at home curled up on the couch with a glass of wine watching one of my travel shows while Topher cooks up a storm in the kitchen.
When my eyes open, I look up and see Topher slumped over the railing looking lost and broken. I can’t stand seeing him like this, I’ve failed him. I promised it would be ok and in an instant my words mean nothing. I don’t have a choice but to go back to the hotel. If it were just me, I would tell Leo to shove it. Him and his mysterious sidekick and all the freaky things that have happened since I was at that fucking hotel. But what is the alternative? Stay here and potentially risk something happening to Topher? It’s one thing for me to be nearly killed, but if anything happened to him, I would not survive it. Whether I like it or not, I must go back and let him help. I don’t trust him, but so far, they’ve shown that they can protect us.
