The Mason Walker Bundle 3

by Alex Howell

  The TSA then quickly handed Mason’s badge back and seeing Mason’s newly minted authorization, informed him, “You have full authority to do whatever you need to do.”

  Mason smiled and grunted, “Now that’s more like it!” He then looked toward the plane outside and said, “What time is departure?”

  The TSA informed him, “Five minutes! You’ve got to hurry Mr. Walker, the guy you are looking for is on the plane, booked and ready to leave. Stop the plane!”

  The TSA then quickly grabbed his radio, “I’m going to send you some back up, you’ll have marshals waiting for you. Now go!”

  Mason didn’t have to be told twice. To the surprise of startled passengers, he leapt right over the partition separating the line and the platform. Mason then ran like a marathon runner up the steps to the plane waiting for takeoff. The startled stewardesses attempted to stop him as they shouted, “Sir! What are you doing? We are booked! What are you doing on this plane?”

  Without saying a word, Mason shoved past her, making a mental note to apologize later on when he had the chance. Despite what others might tell you, he always hated it when he had to be rough with civilians. He never relished being a bully but sometimes the circumstances necessitated brash action.

  Just like when he had to hurl a beer bottle at a float operator during the Little Italy festival—when events managed to reach a critical mass, politeness was not always a possibility. And this was most certainly one of those times.

  Mason standing on the plane scanned the passengers and at first was dismayed that he didn’t see General Fanelli’ face in the crowd. He then heard the flushing of a toilet next to him and realized that not everyone on the flight was accounted for.

  Mason realizing that it could be none other than Fanelli in the bathroom stall, muttered, “Bathroom break is over bastard.”

  Crossing his fingers to ward off the chance that he was about to break in on a little old lady or something equally embarrassing; Mason prepared to kick the door down. Mason lifted his foot, and began to aim at the door right as a nearby stewardess screamed, “What are you doing!?”

  Mason kicked the door as hard as he could, breaking the locks in a shower of splintered, wooden debris, causing the door to swing wide open in his wake. Sure enough, he saw Fanelli at the sink, his bald head turning to face him with the water still running, with a stunned look on his face.

  Mason shouted, “You can wash your hands later scumbag—you are under arrest!”

  The General who stood a full head taller than Mason, got over his shock, reared up as if he were about to charge him, and attempt to bulldoze his way out of the bathroom and off the plane. Six federal Marshals suddenly swarmed onto the plane however, blocking off any chance of escape and making such a feat all but impossible.

  With all the agent’s guns drawn and aimed at the cornered Fanelli, he had no choice but to surrender. Mason told him, “the jig is up” and stepped to the side to motion for the Marshal directly behind him to cuff him.

  The agent promptly cuffed the stunned Fanelli. He had been defeated but he wasn’t going to go out quietly. As he was being led out, he started screaming, “This is a travesty of justice! I have done nothing wrong! What proof do you have?”

  Upon hearing this, Mason pulled the message drive of incriminating evidence out of his pocket and waved it in front of Mason’s face as he openly mocked him, “Oh—just about everything.”

  Fanelli scoffed, “Ha—what could you possibly have on that puny flash drive you jerk!”

  Mason getting in the detained Fanelli’s face, informed him, “Let’s just say that it was a parting gift from a certain Tessa Rogers.”

  Fanelli howled, “Tessa? What could she have possibly given you?”

  Mason informed him, “Oh nothing—just taped confessions from practically everyone in your organization.”

  At this General Fanelli’s face grew pale as he shrieked, “It doesn’t matter! It doesn’t matter! This is not the last the world is going to hear from me!”

  Mason having his fill of the General’s remarks snapped back, “Well—I’ve heard more than enough.”

  Mason then turned to the marshals that held him, and requested, “Gentlemen—if you don’t mind. Get him out of my face!”

  24

  Rescuing Raina

  JUST MOMENTS LATER OUTSIDE AN OLD WAREHOUSE ON THE EDGE OF DC.

  Mathew Benton is leading a SWAT team that had been hastily cobbled together by Marshal Oliver. Benton approached the side door of the facility, and seeing the place deserted, ordered the team to stay behind guarding his exit. For all intents and purposes Mathew Benton, “The Ghost” was going on another solo mission.

  He ran through the aisles and up to the second floor where Mason told him that Raina was being held. But as soon as he made it up to the second floor, he saw a sight that caused him to immediately fly into a rage. He saw a man sitting on a parapet in front of what looked like a cage with an unconscious Raina Martin on his lap. The man was cradling her in his arms, rocking back and forth while muttering in a strange voice, “That’s right girl—you’ve got to cleanse yourself of those sins.”

  The man was the deranged American acolyte of “The Blood” Jamal Roberts. Jamal had become obsessed with Raina since he first laid eyes on her, and even though Tessa had ordered him to stay away from her, shortly after Tessa left with Mason, he wandered back. Benton was alarmed to see that he was positioned right at the edge of the parapet, and afraid that any sudden moves might startle him and cause him to fall off the edge taking Raina with him.

  But what Jamal began to do next made him determined to act. He began to lift Raina’s shirt up as he declared, in a bizarre voice, “See, you’ve got all kinds of sin in there, let’s just take a look—let’s see those sins.” Benton didn’t know what was wrong this guy but he was not about to let him take advantage of an unconscious woman right in front of him—especially not a woman named Raina Martin.

  So, putting his ghostly powers to use Mason rushed forward as quietly as he could, and ascended the few steps that separated him from Jamal and was in arms reach when the slight creak of an old piece of metal railing betrayed his presence to the disturbed man above him. Jamal temporarily distracted from his pawing at Raina, muttered, “What’s that?”

  The next thing the guy knew was Mason leaping up through the opening, and onto the platform right next to him. The parapet shook dangerously under Benton’s weight as Jamal shouted, “Who the hell are—?” He didn’t get to finish his sentence as Mason kicked the guy in the face shouting, “Alright bastard!!”.

  With a groan, Jamal seemed to go down for the count. As he fell backwards, Mason grabbed Raina by the arm and in a move that spoke of a precision that had been finely honed in several similar rescue missions, Mason hoisted the unconscious woman up over his shoulder.

  He wasn’t sure if he could hear him, but he informed her, “Don’t worry Raina. Your safe now.” Benton then hustled back down to the first floor where he directed the waiting SWAT members to swarm in, and grab Jamal and whatever other suspects they might find lurking around in the building.

  ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER AT GEORGE WASHINTON HOSPITAL.

  Although it was recommended, he wait for paramedics to arrive, Benton insisted on driving Raina to the hospital himself. Carrying her right into the emergency room at DC’s George Washington hospital. It was as if he were carrying a wounded comrade off the battlefield. The SWAT team had notified the hospital ahead of time of his arrival and already had a bed prepared for her.

  Mason gently laid her down onto it as doctors took her vitals. She seemed to be in good shape. Much as Mason was told, it seemed that Raina had simply been given heavy sedatives to make her sleep. And speaking of Mason, it was mere moments after Benton handed Raina over to the attending physicians that Mason came tearing through the hospital.

  Seeing Mathew Benton practically standing guard outside of her room in the ER Mason screamed, “Matt! Raina! Where is she!�
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  Benton stepped in front of Mason and put a hand on his shoulder telling him, “Hey Mason, come on calm down. You are not helping anyone bulldozing through here like this. Remember your training?”

  Benton of course was referring to the SEALs training that had been ingrained into both of them to control their emotions at all costs. But after having his girlfriend kidnapped, getting accused of murder, getting kidnapped himself, and then watching a former SEAL sacrifice her life right in front of him—it was safe to say that Mason had been through more in the past few days than most would ever have to face in several lifetimes.

  Nevertheless, he tried to regain his composure, and taking a breath, in a considerably calmer town of voice he asked, “Is she alright?”

  Prompting Benton’s face to burst into a grin as he told Mason, “Why don’t you ask her yourself?”

  Mathew Benton then stepped aside and motioned for him to go into Raina’s hospital room as he informed him, “I think she’s just waking up Mason—why don’t you say hello?” Mason couldn’t help but smile at the old soldier’s manners. Benton was a consummate soldier and the eternal gentlemen.

  He was Raina’s knight in shining armor when he himself was preoccupied. He knew that he owed him for this one, but Benton wasn’t even keeping score. Mason never ceased to marvel at the dedication Benton had for his friends. Mason didn’t want to think what life would be like if that friendship was ever lost.

  Not wanting to think such dark thoughts, Mason simply thanked his friend, opened the door to Raina’s room, and went inside. He found Raina tucked into her hospital bed with an IV in her arm. Like sleeping beauty, she seemed to be peacefully slumbering, with her pretty auburn hair strewn over her shoulders.

  Mason sat down next to her and taking her hand, he softly spoke to her, “Raina—I’m sorry I wasn’t there to rescue you.”

  Mason felt her stir at his touch. She then opened her eyes and seeing Mason sitting there, she exclaimed in a tired, raspy voice, “Mason!” Mason confirmed, “I’m here Raina. And I’m not going anywhere.”

  25

  Taking a Break from it All

  THREE DAYS LATER AT A RESORT HOTEL IN HAWAII.

  Mason lay stretched out on a king-sized bed in a luxury suite. Staring up at the gold chandelier, and the exquisite, white tiled ceiling above him. He knew that he was a world away from the trouble that had taken root in his life just a few days prior.

  Just a few days ago he was a hunted fugitive accused of murder. Police were eager to bring him in and lock him up behind bars. Now he could feel the breeze and smell the ocean from a cracked window nearby. Not only that, just by turning his head on his pillow slightly to the right he has a view of something even more spectacular. Raina Martin sleeping soundly next to him.

  After being drugged by the terrorists she had been taken to the hospital, given fluids and put through a 24-hour detox. Even after being detoxed and given plenty of fluids and medication to counteract the drugs, she was still pretty groggy for a while, and drifting in and out of consciousness. Mason had initially proposed an elaborate scheme to check her out of the hospital and take her with him to Hawaii as she was, so that she could wake up in paradise.

  But it was only a combination of doctor’s concerns and his daughter Clara telling him that such a thing would be “creepy”. That he resisted the notion of dragging his comatose girlfriend on a plane to Hawaii! He also realized that such a thing would probably be kind of difficult to explain to TSA, stewardesses, and just about anyone else that bore witness to it.

  Instead he waited for her to properly recuperate, and when she was fully lucid proposed a trip to the islands. She was of course, more than overjoyed to do so. And even with this official head’s up, when Raina woke up the next morning, she thought she was still dreaming.

  Just as she opened her eyes, Mason leaned over and kissed her on the lips, greeting her, “Well—good morning sleepy beauty.”

  With a mixture of relief, gratitude, and excitement in her eyes, Raina smiled, “Oh Mason…. You are something else…”

  Mason put his arm around her and pulled her toward him, and passionately kissed her for several minutes before pulling away, and telling her, “And so are you.”

  Raina sighed, “Mason…. This is all just too much for me to process…. It’s like I’ve gone from hell to heaven in just a matter of days.”

  Raina then turned to Mason and asked, “And what about you Mason? I heard that someone tried to frame you for murder?”

  Mason agreed, and remarked “Yeah—well, that’s a long story… It was apparently a scheme of the terrorists all along to try to pin a murder charge on me, and they sacrificed one of their own in order to do it.”

  Raina nodded, “You were telling me about that. So, what happened?”

  Mason sighed, “Well… they had this guy break in my house and pretend he had a bomb, just so I would react and end up shooting him. This was all preplanned though… They even had someone hiding out to video tape the struggle that ensued outside my property. Anyway… to make a long story short…. In the immediate aftermath I ended up being a fugitive—a wanted man for murder.”

  This was the first time Raina was hearing any of this and she was absolutely stunned, “Wow… that’s horrible….”

  Mason replied, “Yeah…. But fortunately, Luke is a man that can work wonders, and after showing prosecutors the incriminating evidence of how I was setup, he was able to get all charges dropped no questions asked.”

  Raina offered, “Well—that’s certainly makes life a lot easier.”

  Mason remarked, “On the official level anyway, I’m good… But I’m pretty sure my neighbors are going to be looking at me pretty funny for a while.”

  Raina sarcastically hissed, “Ahh—neighbors, who needs them anyway right?”

  Mason joked, “I don’t…”

  She then remarked, “I’ve had my fill of jerky neighbors in my time too—believe me.”

  Mason turning his head toward her, raised an eyebrow, “Oh yeah?”

  Raina nodded into her pillow, “Mm-hmm.”

  She then elaborated, “I can remember a time for example, when I made a neighbor mad once by accidentally mowing too far into her yard.”

  Mason chuckled, “Oh you scoundrel! What happened? How did you get punished for this horrid offense?”

  Raina answered, “Well nothing much, but the lady stopped waving at me. And then apparently proceeded to tell everybody in the neighborhood to look away and not wave as well, whenever they saw me.”

  Mason laughed, “How did she manage that?”

  Raina laughed, “I don’t know. I guess that old bat had some pretty mean street cred in my hood I guess.”

  Raina then continued, “Anyway… ever since then it was like I was being purposefully shunned by all my neighbors.”

  Mason smirked, “Ahh—the shunning.”

  Raina laughed, “The shunning? Sounds more like Steven King’s ‘The Shining’.”

  Mason corrected, “Nope! I call it the shunning—because this is society’s way of passive aggressively shunning and ostracizing those they don’t like. Just like wolves will kick the misfit wolf out of the pack and leave it to fend for itself, people socially shun misfit neighbors as well.”

  Mason then narrated his theory, “You need to borrow a cup of sugar? Need to know if the power just went out on your block? If mail is being delivered on a holiday? Well, too bad—you can’t ask anybody, because you’ve been shunned! You gotta love it!”

  Raina laughed, “Yeah well… I certainly didn’t love it when it happened to me. Ever since that old witch decided to get mad at me. Like some collective consciousness run amuck—the whole damn neighborhood decided I was no good.”

  Stretching his arms out above his head, Mason yawned before remarking in a comic voice, “But don’t let the hive mind get you down Raina! Just find a new hive to belong to!”

  Raina reasoned, “Well… it’s not that easy to pick up and
move. And besides… why should I have to pack up and move away just because one crusty old lady decided to have it out for me?”

  After a pause, Mason knowingly inquired, “Well then, what happened? Did you move?”

  Raina sighed, as she finally admitted “Yes—yes I did.”

  She added thoughtfully, “It pains me to say it, but their antics started to wear me down so bad psychologically, I just couldn’t take it anymore.”

  Raina groaned, “Day after day… If I waved, they would look away, or even go inside the house as if they were trying to get away from me. I was just tired of it.”

  Mason chuckled, “Damn Raina! They treated you like a freaking leper! Over cutting grass too far over your property line?”

  Raina agreed, “Yep…. Yep… Pretty much…”

  She then added the afterthought, “Umm… Mason… Speaking of which… That makes me wonder…. If I got treated that bad for simply mowing into someone’s yard, how in the world are you going to live down the fact that you shot someone in your front lawn?”

  Not wanting to think too deep about the matter, Mason sought to avoid the topic altogether. Mason definitely wasn’t going to let his neighbors push him out of the neighborhood. Besides the fact that he had all of his high-tech equipment installed there for Onyx. That was the house that he raised Clara in. He wasn’t going to simply squander all that emotional attachment because a few neighbors thought that he was “weird”.

  Laying back on his pillow he patted her on the arm, letting his hand rest on her bicep as he told her, “That’s alright, just take it easy Raina. You’ve been through enough. Don’t worry about my neighbors.… I’ll figure it all out Raina…. “

  He then kissed her on the cheek and spoke soothingly, “Forget about the neighbors… Forget about the whole world…. You are back in my arms now, and that’s all that really matters. The whole world could hate me, but as long as I have you—that’s all that matters. And I promise that this time I’m never letting you go….”