by S. E. Rose
“Well, wow,” Vanessa says.
“What about the others?” I ask.
Bryce and Jack nod. “We have tracked down all the involved parties across six continents. When we give the green light here, Interpol will be working with officers in thirty-seven other countries to bring down the rest of the organization. It’ll be the largest human trafficking and drug cartel takedown in the history of the world,” Bryce says with a smirk. “You should all be proud of yourselves for being a part of it.”
“So, what do the rest of us do?” I ask.
Bryce nods. “We’re splitting you up. Laura, Jack, and Vanessa, you’ll be positioned here.” He points to an outbuilding near the main driveway. “You’ll be on the lookout for any movement between the house and road. Lance, Jesse, Melissa, and Nick, you will be stationed here in the house. Lance and Jesse, we can use your abilities to monitor what’s happening in the room with Walsh. Melissa and Nick, we’ll need you as backup in the off chance we need Nick to make an entrance. Ben doesn’t know what happened with your biological father yet. He just knows the house was compromised. We could use you to sweeten the deal and get him talking more. Melissa, you’ll stay in the back room with Baxter and me, helping monitor all the video feeds. Pierce and Dean will be stationed in the garage next door in case we need backup nearby. Everyone else should report to their designated teams.”
“Everyone understands their roles?” Jack asks.
Everyone nods.
“Let’s do this,” Jesse says.
Chapter 20
Nick’s Playlist: “Won’t Back Down (feat. Pink)” by Eminem
The first half of the day goes without a hiccup. Everything is timed down to the millisecond with Jack and Bryce at the command. Jack seems to be in charge of the field operations while Bryce has the house. I find it odd and think they’d be better reversed, but it is Bryce’s compound so perhaps it’s better he stays in the building. The house as it turns out is not even in Bryce’s name. This property is owned by a ghost, so to speak. Bryce basically created a person, a ghost of a person and the property is in that person’s name, which also happens to be a play on Bryce’s grandfather’s name. The property next door is held in a trust for his distant cousin, but the paperwork actually gives Bryce ownership once he files for it in court. It’s fascinating how he has it legally set up to look like he owns nothing, but in reality, he owns everything. I know very little about Bryce. I know he has brothers and he was military prior to starting his security firm, but other than that he’s an enigma.
I ponder this as I take my post in a back room with Bryce, Melissa, and Baxter. I stare at the monitors looking for movement. There are two monitors set up that look out at the road in either direction, so we can see every car that approaches. We sit and wait and then wait some more. Every car that approaches has everyone holding their breath. And then at 1:35 p.m. a car pulls into the drive. Bryce speaks into a band on his wrist warning everyone that the package has arrived.
I honestly feel like I’m living in some strange espionage film. Seriously, if you had told me this would be happening to me about five years ago, I would have laughed myself into a coma. As predicted, there are two cars. When they arrive at the giant circle driveway in the front of the house, Ben gets out of the second car. A large man in a suit gets out as well and follows him up to the front porch where they ring the doorbell.
I can see Walsh take a breath before he opens the door.
“Who the fuck are you?” Ben asks as the man with him reaches in his jacket, presumably for a gun.
Walsh holds up his hands. “I’m Kevin McKnight. I work with Hank. I’m hoping Hank sent you a text that I would be the one meeting with you today. He had something come up and is unable to join us,” Walsh says coolly.
Ben pulls his phone out of his pocket, and I can see the text sent from Hank’s phone on a screen in front of Bryce. Ben nods.
“Apologies, the text just came through,” Ben says.
“No worries. Why don’t we meet in the office?” Walsh suggests, and the two men follow him inside. Outside, two other men get out of the first car and stand by the cars, surveying their surroundings.
Walsh ushers Ben and his security guy to a table. Ben turns to the man. “Sweep the room and then wait in the hall.”
“Yes, sir,” the man says. He takes out a device and sweeps the room.
Bryce smiles up at Melissa and me. “He won’t find anything because my technology can’t be read by that device.”
Jesse and Lance grin as they sift through some video feeds at a table next to Bryce. Bryce looks over at Jesse and smiles at him. Jesse’s company must have designed some of the security stuff in that room.
Walsh opens the laptop and types in some stuff and shows it to Ben. Ben’s eyes widen, and he nods.
“So, this is the data you want. This is the original copy obtained by Hank,” he explains. “I assume we still have a deal?”
“Yes,” Ben states.
“Very good. Then I’ll need the money transferred,” Walsh says.
“Of course,” Ben answers.
Walsh presses a button and summons Josh into the room. Josh has been patiently waiting in the room next door.
“Mr. Farris, can you please open the accounts for the wire transfer?” he says.
Josh opens a second laptop and opens the dummy account, and then has Ben open his account. After a few taps on the keyboard, he nods at them. “The transaction is complete,” he says and turns it around to show them.
“Very well. Please give me a USB drive,” Walsh says. Josh hands him an unopened USB drive container. Walsh looks miffed. “Mr. Farris, I need it opened.”
“Of course, sir,” Josh says, looking flustered. I smirk; Josh is good at this acting thing.
Josh gets scissors and cuts the ridiculous plastic package away, so they can get to the USB drive. It takes him a minute; I mean seriously, have you had to open those packages that are sealed around all the edges. It’s literally impossible. How they got the USB drive into that I have no idea, but Bryce and Jack have covered every little detail.
Josh hands Walsh the drive. Walsh plugs it into the laptop. He presses some buttons and sits back.
“It’ll take a few minutes. This is a very large file,” Walsh explains. “So, Hank tells me you’re taking over your father’s business.”
Ben stiffens. “Does he now?”
Walsh shrugs. “Just making small talk while we wait.”
“How do you know Hank?” Ben asks.
Walsh smiles. “I used to work with him on contract. He pays better than our former employer, so…well, let’s just say I went where the money was.”
Ben gives a tight smile. “I see.”
“So?” Walsh pushes.
“Yes, I’m taking over,” he answers without saying anything else.
“Well, keep us in mind if you have any IT needs,” Walsh says and hands him a fake business card.
“Right,” Ben says and looks at the computer. The file is only thirty percent downloaded. He taps his fingers on the table.
“Hank speaks highly of your working relationship,” Walsh adds.
“He does, does he?” Ben says, looking at him incredulously.
“Yes. He was excited about this business deal,” Walsh says. Then he lowers his voice. “Between you and me, Hank and I could really use another business deal. You see our firm is just getting off the ground.”
“Well, depending on how this goes, I’ll keep you in mind,” Ben says.
“Nearly there,” Walsh says as the screen flashes eighty percent. “I hope you find this data useful for your business needs.”
Ben gives a curt nod.
They sit in silence for another minute until Ben removes the hard drive. He reinserts it and pulls up the file.
Ben plays around with it. The data shows the changes because it’s plugged into the right computer.
“Perfect,” Ben says slowly as he watches figures change be
fore his eyes.
“Yes, it’s really something,” Walsh says.
Walsh stands and so does Ben. Something in Ben’s posture seems off. Bryce’s head perks up because he sees it too.
He whispers in his earpiece, “Get out of there, now.”
Josh stands as Ben pulls a gun from inside his jacket and shoots Josh and then Walsh who desperately tries to move out of the way. They both fall to the ground. Ben turns and walks out. The man in the hallway goes in and grabs the computers and starts to walk out, but it’s the whoosh of a bullet that draws our attention to the video monitor in the hallway. Jesse and Lance have the video feed up. I stand staring at Melissa as she fires two rounds straight into Ben’s and the security guy’s heads.
They both fall to the ground. We all go sprinting out of the room to find Melissa standing in the hallway, the gun still drawn.
“OK, darlin’, lower your weapon,” Bryce says calmly, and he gently removes it from her hands. Her eyes are wide, trance-like and it is like she doesn’t hear us at all. She just stares at the men she has just killed.
“Melissa!” I cry out, shaking her. She slowly raises her eyes to meet mine. They are filled with both terror and pain.
“They were going to get away. I saw Ben. I knew what he was going to do,” she whispers. “I had to stop them.”
“But…how did you…” I trail off and realize the door we just came through was no longer locked and was partially opened. We were so fixated on the screens that we didn’t even see her leave.
“Shit,” Jack cries out as he stands in the open doorway of the house.
Then everyone is running into the study. Walsh is on the floor clutching his side and Josh is sitting up and removing a Kevlar vest he had under his suit.
“Walsh?!” Jesse yells, running to his friend.
“I’m fine, just got the wind knocked out of me,” he states as he unbuttons his shirt to show a vest with a bullet right over his heart.
“Jesus, you two were lucky he was crap at shooting,” Jack says.
By now, everyone is huddled in the study. Jack picks up the phone and calls his FBI contact.
“It’s a clean-up job,” he says gravely. “Yes. Five minutes ago. Roger that.” He hangs up and looks at us.
“The cleaners will be here in fifteen minutes,” he says. “They are en route.”
I make Melissa sit down. “How did you know?” I ask her.
She shrugs. “I saw his demeanor change. I went to say something, but then I saw that other guy moving. I just reacted. I pulled the gun from where Josh had set it before going in there and…I…God…I don’t know what I was thinking except I needed to act.”
“Jesus, Melissa! That was totally fucking reckless!” I yell. “You could have gotten someone killed or worse, you could have gotten yourself killed!”
“I’m sorry!” she cries. “I should have said something, but all I could think about was Molly and I just…I’m sorry.” Her eyes well with tears, and I pull her into my arms. She starts crying. I know she’s in shock, but I’m still so mad at her.
“If anyone asks, I shot them,” Bryce says. We all look around at each other and nod.
Bryce groans. “Well, I guess that’s one way to handle it, but FUCK!” He slams his fist on the table, and it shakes.
“I’m sorry,” Melissa says.
“No, it’s fine. It…well, it would have been better if we could have captured the fucker, but at least now we know he won’t be causing problems in the future,” Jack says. Jack seems very calm which is contrasted by Bryce who seems very angry. I let that contrast sink in as I look at them both.
Jack just shakes his head at Bryce and looks back at me. “Take her upstairs, now,” he says calmly.
I take Melissa by the shoulders and lead her out past the bodies and up the stairs. She stops and stares at them for a long time before she starts moving again. By the time we get to our room, I hear cars coming up the drive. I peek outside and see a line of black sedans pulling up to the house. There are also two black vans. I shut the door and look back at Melissa who is staring past me and out the window.
“When I was little, Dad taught us to shoot. It wasn’t unusual since he was military and all. I was really good at it, like so good he wanted me to try out for the Olympics. I didn’t want to, not after Molly died. He once said a gift like mine is a gift I’ll always have.” She pauses and looks at me. “I didn’t even think, Nick. I just aimed and fired. It was instinctual and stupid, but I knew I could do it. I knew if I didn’t, they might come back looking for everyone. And I know I’m the best shot among anyone here. I don’t mean to brag, really, I don’t, but I know it’s true. When Olympic coaches come knocking at your door for not one but three Olympics even after you quit, well, I know I’m that good. That’s why I didn’t say anything. That’s why I just reacted.”
I look at her in utter shock. This timid, quiet, sweet woman is a trained killer, and it startles me. “Well, I hope we never get in an argument,” I say, trying to lighten the mood but I see her eyes glaze over with tears.
“No, Mel, I’m kidding, beautiful,” I continue as I walk across the room and cup her face.
“I didn’t want you to think of me differently,” she whispers.
“I don’t. I mean, I do, but not in a bad way.”
“Promise?” she asks, her voice hopeful.
I smile at her. “Yes, promise.” She’s shaking and cold now, and I know she’s in shock. I pull her onto the bed and wrap a blanket around us as I hold her. “It’ll be OK,” I say over and over as I rock her back and forth. I think I’m partially saying it for myself.
Bryce comes up about five minutes later. “Mel, can I speak with you?”
Melissa looks up and nods at him.
“I’m sorry if I scared you. I was just so pissed I didn’t see you walk out of the room, and I’ve already fucked up on this case and then you did that…I should have been on top of it. I’m more pissed at myself than anything,” he explains.
Melissa stands and walks over to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “It’s alright. I should have said something. Bryce, do you know who Gary LaCompte is?” she asks.
His eyes are wide. “Yes, but why?”
She looks up at him. “He tried to recruit me for three Olympic teams. I didn’t want to go especially after Molly…anyhow, I sort of have had a natural talent from the time I was little, and my dad taught me,” she says to him.
“I see,” he says. “Come with me, show me.” He takes her hand. I follow them down a back staircase, ignoring the pandemonium that is ensuing downstairs as the “cleaners” do their job. He leads us to a barn behind the house and when he opens the door, I find a full shooting range set up, more office space I suppose.
He hands Mel a gun and points to a target that is already hanging at the far end of the barn. She nods, and we all put on the noise-canceling headphones and protective goggles. She walks up to a table and unclips the safety on the gun before she aims and fires five rounds. Each one perfectly hits the bull’s-eye. Then she reloads and fires five more on the next bull’s-eye. She does this four more times. Bryce whistles and presses a button and the paper comes moving down a line, stopping in front of Melissa.
“Damn, girl. You weren’t fucking kidding,” he says. He looks at us both. “If the whole biologist thing doesn’t pan out, you have a place on my team any day.”
Melissa smiles. “Good to know,” she says.
Bryce pats her shoulder. “And thank you, for saving us,” he says. “You did the right thing. I just wish you had filled me in on the whole military brat, trained assassin thing.”
She shrugs. “I guess I didn’t think about it. Sorry about that.”
Bryce laughs. “Yeah, uh huh.”
We walk back to the house, and Bryce deposits us in the kitchen. Vanessa, Mom, Jesse, and Lance all sit at the table.
Bryce debriefs everyone, including the “tidbit” that he killed the men. Everyone nods. �
�Oh, and by the way, this one here is a trained assassin. Ask her about her near miss with the Olympic sharpshooting team sometime,” he laughs as he waltzes out of the kitchen to join Jack and the other men up front.
Everyone looks at Melissa, mouths open, and she shrugs. “I may have a natural talent with firearms that I don’t like to use,” she admits. She gets several curious looks, but no one asks her any further questions.
After the bodies are removed and the place is cleaned, we are debriefed and questioned again by FBI and Interpol agents. Eventually, we are finally cleared. We send word to the other safe house to bring everyone else back. As we sit around the dining room table waiting, Jack’s phone buzzes, and he smiles.
“It’s done. The other operatives have been taken out or taken into custody. We did it.” He grins and pumps his fist in the air.
Bryce smiles. “Yep, we sure did.” They explain that there has been a simultaneous bust worldwide that has essentially wiped out a network of criminal organizations, from my father’s remaining cohorts to those left in Alexei and Mohammed’s outfits and all of their “subsidiaries.” I breathe my first sigh of relief at hearing that we did it, we ended those fuckers.
It’s only a few minutes later that the rest of the family comes strolling through the front door. Leidy is being carried by Cody. She still is weak, but she manages a big grin. The twins are bouncing around like nothing has happened. Lance beats me to Lily. After they embrace and quite frankly make out in front of us, Lily pulls back and looks at me before she runs and jumps into my arms. We hug tightly. She kisses my cheek and whispers “it’s over” in our secret twin language. I nod. A single tear runs down her cheek as she pulls away, and she brushes it aside like nothing has happened.
“You all are welcome to stay here tonight,” Bryce says. Everyone looks at each other and we burst out laughing. It seems wrong to laugh in this moment, but it also seems so right. Bryce looks a little hurt that we don’t want to stay.
