The Dark Expanse - Astral Clash Series - Book 1

by Jack Hammond

  “Hey.” Paul said casually.

  The man paid Paul little attention at first as he looked around. “Where’s your car?”

  “I didn’t bring it.” Paul said. “Can I come in?”

  “Why?” he replied bluntly.

  “I don’t want to wait out here.” Paul acted surprised.

  “Why are you here?” he enquired, remaining still.

  “You haven’t been told?” Paul threw his head back in disgust. “They've not called you? Seriously?”

  The man’s expression didn’t change; he just stared at Paul Ruben.

  “Jesus!” Paul shouted. “You’re serious. God damn it!”

  “What are you going on about?” the agent finally asked.

  “You’ve been compromised!” Paul continued. “They called me here to take you to another location.”

  “No one’s called me.” His reply was lacklustre.

  “Do you have your phone on you?”

  The man briefly glanced over his shoulder towards the office. “Not on me.”

  “Go and look, I swear the shit has hit the fan. Somehow the police found out the kidnapper is here.” He continued his pressure. He turned quickly and made his way into the office. Ruben followed close behind, snatching up a thick metal bar he had spotted earlier.

  The agent flipped open his phone as he reached the desk, with a quick glance at the screen he saw no missed calls or messages. “There’s nothing here about…” his words were cut short. The agent felt the blow against the back of his skull and fell to his knees; he reached out in vain to grab the table.

  “Christ sake!” Paul shouted, his dismay apparent as the man didn’t go down on the first strike. He raised up the blunt instrument again and brought it down much harder than before. The crack made him judder as he dropped the bar. “Jesus, Paul!” he said to himself. He looked down at the agent. A pool of blood formed from the wound on his head. Ruben realised he had struck him too hard, this guy wasn’t going to be getting up from this.

  Composing himself, he knew he didn’t need to rush. No one was coming tonight; he had plenty of time to cover his tracks. Paul reached down and picked up the metal bar before wiping the blood off on the back of the dead man’s expensive suit jacket. He grabbed a loose piece of material from one of the shelves and wrapped up the bar, then walked out of the office. He looked across the unit and could see some tarpaulin thrown over what looked like the person he was here to free. Paul yanked it aside and saw the man was unconscious. Now tied to the chair with a gag around his mouth it was obvious to Paul, he was being kept for something more serious.

  Ruben slapped him across the face and tried to bring him around. “Hey, come on wake up!” he snapped. Max groaned as Paul removed the gag.

  Slowly Max drifted into consciousness, “Wha… What’s happening?” Max asked. His mouth was dry and his lips stung from the masking tape.

  “You’re getting out of here.” Paul explained as he cut his hands and feet free.

  “Where’s the big guy?” Max croaked as he rubbed his wrists, the binds had cut off a lot of his circulation.

  “Don’t worry about him, he’s out of it.”

  Max got to his feet, a rush of dizziness washed over him. “Whoa, that was a bit quick.” He remarked.

  “Can you hurry this along?” Ruben ushered him.

  “Sure.” Max replied following him around a couple of boxes.

  “Why are you doing this?” Max asked.

  “I was told to.” Paul told him honestly. “I got a call, someone somewhere wants you freed.”

  “Is that so?” Max replied suspiciously.

  Paul paused for a moment, turning to face him he looked at him shrewdly. “Your the guy I’ve been talking to aren’t you?” he said recognising his voice.

  Max pondered his reply. “Yes.”

  “So you were set up too?” he asked.

  “I was, they stitched me up real good.” Max confirmed.

  “Let’s go. We need to get a move on.”

  “This will blow your cover.” Max warned.

  “Don’t worry, it’s in hand.”

  Max wondered how it was in hand. “You killed him?”

  “What?” Paul retorted.

  “From the specks of blood on your shirt and the fact you’ve not let that rag go, I’m guessing that’s what you used to kill him.” He said pointing at the material Paul clutched tightly in his hand.

  “How do you know he’s dead?”

  “If he wasn’t he’d be able to tell them it was you that freed me.” Max told him his version of possible events.

  “He’s helped kidnap children, I won’t lose any sleep over him.” Paul callously replied as he pressed the button for the automatic shutters to begin closing.

  Ducking underneath Max continued to follow Paul out and into the car park of the industrial estate. “Where’s your car?” he enquired, still unsteady on his feet.

  “Just down the road.” Paul replied as he passed through the gates.

  Max’s head was pounding as he dropped himself into the backseat of the blue Honda. The engine roared as the car spun around, Paul controlled it perfectly as he sped out of the estate.

  “Are you okay?” Paul asked breaking the silence.

  “I think so.” Max replied. “A bit of a mess, but I've never been tasered and kidnapped before.”

  “If it makes you feel any better I’ve never killed anyone before.”

  “It sort of does,” Max admitted. “I'm not sorry for him, that’s for sure.”

  The car slowed down, Ruben had gotten enough distance between them and the estate. Now he wanted to keep to the speed limit as not to attract any attention. He had a murder weapon wrapped up in the passenger foot well, last thing he wanted was police pulling him over and asking questions he really didn’t think he could answer.

  “Where we going then?” Paul asked.

  “You don’t know?” Max grimaced as his head pounded.

  “I was just told to get you out.” Paul admitted.

  Max went quiet, he wondered if maybe it was a trap. If he led them to his hideout what would they actually find? Just some boxes, a new bed and an assortment of takeaway meal packets. “Head to Calverton, I’ll tell you where to go from there.” Max said lowering his aching cranium onto the headrest.

  The repetitive buzzing sound quickly jolted Sarah from her slumber. She reached over to her phone and snatched it off the bedside table. “What?” she barked down the line.

  Vanessa meekly replied. “It’s not good news. Max Carter is gone, Mr Schultz will not be happy.”

  “How the hell has that happened?!”

  “Nobody knows yet, we've got people on it.” She confidently confirmed.

  “Get me that bald headed buffoon!”

  “He’s expired.” Vanessa replied coldly.

  “I want a report as soon as I’m on site.” Sarah said jumping out of bed. “I’ll be there within the hour.”

  “Understood.” Vanessa answered hanging up the phone.

  “How the hell…” Sarah exclaimed as she entered the bathroom slamming the door behind her.

  The digital clock display read three in the morning as Sarah climbed into her Porsche. She was still cursing under her breath as she started it up. The engine roared, moments later it screeched out of the driveway. Sarah paid no attention to speed limits, as the car blurred through traffic lights and speed traps. How could this have happened? She asked herself. The place was guarded and clean, the only other person told about its location was Mr Schultz. The dead agent was John Blake, one of the best people she had ever worked with. How had he been killed? How'd they get the drop on someone as well trained as him? Unless, he wasn’t expecting the person to attack. “Son of a bitch!” she mumbled out loud. “Edward, you crazy bastard.” It made sense. He wanted him released, Edward never told her he was meeting Max. Edward must have killed Blake and freed Max. She slammed her hands against the steering wheel and screamed in rage. H
ow could she have allowed someone to manipulate her so easily? Edward was the perfect follower; he had convinced everyone he was loyal. But Sarah should've seen it after all the time they had spent together she should've known better.

  Sarah pulled up alongside the black van and got out. Two men were approaching her before the door of the car closed. “What have you got?” she asked wasting no time.

  “Agent Blake has been dead a few hours, two blows to the back of the head, he didn’t even put up a fight.”

  “He knew the attacker.” Sarah said.

  “It fits.” The other man said.

  Sarah didn’t take long to deliberate. “I want a crew sent to Edward Houghton’s home, I want him detained, and I want his house searched.” Sarah paused. “I want every piece of his life under a microscope.”

  The two men looked wildly at each other.

  “Now, get it done… Now!” she hollered.

  The two men scurried back inside the unit. They were both aware who Edward was, he may not be high in the organisation, but he was most certainly well-known and respected.

  Sarah made her way inside to see first-hand what Edward had done. She moved through the warehouse entering the office. Agent Blake was covered with a black blanket, a few trickles of blood had seeped beyond the throw. She pursed her lips and held back the desire to scream. Her trust in Edward had led to the death of an agent, losing a prisoner and embarrassed her for the first time in the eyes of the Associates. She took out her mobile phone and dialled a number. The phone rang a few times before Paul Ruben answered. “Mr Ruben, you’re required.”

  “Where?” Paul asked, knowing full well where he would be heading.

  “The unit you were at with me.” She informed him.

  “I’ll be there within the hour.”

  “Good.” Sarah put her phone away. She couldn't allow Edward to get away with this. An idea formed in her head. Perhaps Mr Schultz’s journey would not be wasted.

  The Honda followed Max’s directions, and it wasn’t long until he was pulling up outside his house. Paul helped him out and through the garden to the door. With his arm slung around his shoulder, Max searched for his keys with his free hand. He closed his eyes and lowered his head. “They took my keys.” He said.

  Paul instinctively reached out and tried the door handle, with a click the door opened. “You couldn’t have locked it.”

  “I’m sure I did,” Max insisted.

  “My phone!” Ruben said as he felt it vibrating in his pocket. “Hold on to that.” He said leaning the weakened Max against the door frame.

  He took one look at the screen and turned to Max. “Quiet, this is about you.” He warned as he answered the call. “Where?” he said into the phone, then a moment later he added. “I’ll be there within the hour.” Before hanging up.

  “That Sarah Mather?” Max asked.

  “You know her?”

  “We’ve met a few times, before yesterday.” Max said forcing a smile.

  “Come on, let’s get you inside.” Paul said pushing open the door and helping Max over the threshold. The house seemed just as cold as it was outside. Paul stopped as he saw someone in the hallway.

  The well-dressed stranger wore a dark blue suit and a stern look. Max nor Paul recognised him, he didn’t speak instead he just looked at them.

  “Do you know this guy?” Paul asked Max.

  “No,” he replied simply.

  “Any idea what I do now?” Paul asked genuinely.

  “No, not a clue.”

  “You leave Mr Ruben, you don’t want to make Miss Mather suspicious.” He said. “We still have much work ahead.” He added.

  Paul glanced at Max, then at the stranger. “You’re the one who called me.”

  “Yes.” He confirmed. “Now, you must be going. I will take care of Mr Carter.”

  Max wondered if there were sinister overtones in the ‘I will take care of Mr Carter’. He guessed he would find out the minute Paul Ruben left. The two men parted ways, closing the door behind him Max and the stranger were left alone. Max leaned against the wall, he was in no state to fight off the man if he attacked. Instead he just tried to accept that what happens next happens.

  The stranger kept his distance, choosing to ease Max as much as he could. “I realise you must wonder what’s in store,” the man began. “But to set your mind at ease, I'm not here to harm you.”

  “Who are you? What’s your name?”

  “I am not at liberty to say. If you require a name, pick one.” He said calmly.

  “Okay, who sent you?”

  “Our master. He has told me to help you.” He informed him.

  “What does that mean?” Max was confused and remained untrusting.

  “This place is no longer safe,” he explained. “It will not be long until they find it.”

  “I know nothing of importance anyway.”

  The man shrugged. “I have no idea what you know. All I've been told to do is remove you from this location and take you to a safe place.”

  “But why?” Max pleaded for the simplest of answers.

  “I was instructed to. If the expanse wills it, I will do it.” He said. “You are aware how it works Mr Carter.”

  Max nodded, he knew too well how it worked. Keep people in the dark. The whole thing had grown old fast, but it was part of their work, their lives. “If you’re going to kill me, just get it over with.” Max said, his body slumping to the floor.

  “I have no idea what is in store for you.”

  “I don’t feel right.” Max held his head in his hands.

  “You’ve been drugged to prepare for your interrogation.”

  “I wondered why I was so out of it.”

  “Come on Mr Carter, we need to leave.” The stranger insisted.

  The morning sky was grey and dreary, a light drizzle of rain was falling. Droplets rolled down the window of Edward’s kitchen. He sat on the stool and gazed solemnly into the garden. He wasn’t looking at anything in particular, he was wondering about what happens next. Where did he go from here?

  The sound of banging and clattering from upstairs as Edward’s house was searched room by room, made him cringe inside. He refused to show it on his face; he wouldn’t allow weakness to show through. Two men stood either side of him, both armed with taser guns and both dressed in black suits. Edward was aware Sarah had authorised the search, his explanation clearly not being enough for her. His lies had led to this situation and possibly the discovery of his secret.

  The front door opened and Sarah walked into the kitchen. Her face stern and abrasive, combined with serious body language. Edward was aware she wasn’t here to play around.

  “Morning Edward.” She said politely.

  “Sarah.” He replied.

  “Do you want to share anything with me?” she asked, still remaining polite.

  “No, can’t say I do.”

  “Nothing at all? No, little nuggets of information perhaps,” she pressed. “Perhaps the whereabouts of your friend, Max?”

  Edward straightened up on the stool. “He escaped?”

  Sarah smiled. “My God, that’s good. I would swear that this was the first you’ve heard of it.”

  “It is.”

  “No, you know he's escaped. You helped him after all.” She told him.

  “Me? I did no such thing!” he replied adamantly.

  “Brilliant,” she smiled. “I am impressed, I never realised just how good a liar you are.”

  “I’m telling the truth, I have no idea what’s happened.”

  Sarah ignored him, “Why didn’t you play it this well the other day? I would have never suspected you were lying then.”

  Edward glared at her, his eyes intense. “I am not lying. I did not help Maximus escape,” he replied with his voice low and unyielding.

  “Then who did?” she posed the question. “After all, you were the one telling me to let him go, then he escapes. You expect me to believe that it’s a coincidence?
”

  “All I can tell you is, it was not me. I did not help him.”

  “If it wasn’t you, you were involved. Who are you really working for?” Sarah asked. “Well, are you a double agent?”

  “Don’t be absurd!” Edward snarled, her accusation making him bite.

  “I swear Edward, you would've convinced me a few days ago. I would have eaten up every word.”

  “Sarah I can’t tell you what I don’t know.”

  “Miss Mather to you. My friends call me Sarah. Not you.”

  “This is ridiculous.” He proclaimed. “You’re wasting your time here. I haven’t helped Maximus escape, I’m not a double agent.”

  “Found something!” a voice from upstairs yelled.

  Sarah looked to the hallway, then back to Edward. “I wonder what they've found.”

  Edward’s head dropped and for the first time he did not reply, he did not proclaim his innocence.

  “Now, it must be something important.”

  A young man in a black suit entered the kitchen holding something in his hand. “I found this upstairs, Miss Mather.” The man dropped it into Sarah’s hands.

  “Thank you.” She replied holding up Max’s necklace. The symbol spun around and around as Sarah inspected it. “Why Edward, this would appear to be a realm we have no knowledge of,” she looked at him. “Would you care to explain this?”

  Edward looked at it, with an internal sigh of relief he realised they had not found the amulet he had hidden in the spare room. “I can.”

  “Please do.”

  “I took that off of Max when your man captured him.” Edward said. “I removed his necklace because I wanted to make sure you had plausible deniability if anything came of it.”

  Sarah clapped her hands together and laughed. “Oh, you took it for my benefit. To help me, of course! It all makes perfect sense now.” She mocked sarcastically. “If you took this, agent Blake would have seen it.”