Dangerous Ground

by Smith, Stephanie Jean

  Loretta sat their quietly, listening closely to everything Xavier told her. Loretta had a sinking feeling that Kyle Spinkter was still alive, and the reason Xavier was leaving her tomorrow morning. “Kyle Spinkter is still alive.”

  “Yes he is. Colonel Schaffer is now General Schaffer. He paid me a visit today to let me know how much alive Kyle is. I owe General Schaffer a favor; therefore, I agreed to go after Kyle Spinkter.

  Loretta thought about the tiny life that she and Xavier might have created. She wouldn’t know for sure until Friday. There was no way that she would tell him about the baby in hopes of keeping him in Omaha. “I understand why you would want to bring Kyle in, but there must be more experienced people out there who could go instead.” Loretta wiped the tears from her face, she knew without a shadow of a doubt that Xavier felt that he had to go.

  Xavier pulled Loretta into his arms, he wanted to stay with her and plan their wedding. He knew that as long as Kyle Spinkter was roaming around that he would never feel safe. “This situation with Kyle Spinkter is a personal one Loretta, and that’s why I’m leaving tomorrow morning. I don’t expect you to understand why I feel I have to go.”

  Loretta put her fingertips to Xavier’s mouth, to cut off his explanation. “I do understand Xavier I just want you to promise me that you’ll come home to me. I want you to assure me that I can plan our wedding, without any doubts that you’ll show up for the ceremony.”

  Xavier looked down into Loretta sherry-colored eyes, wishing that there was a way he could take away the sadness he saw there. “I love you Loretta and nothing will keep me away from you and our wedding ceremony.”

  ***

  Loretta stood there silently as Xavier prepared to leave for his trip. She supported Xavier’s decision, even if she didn’t agree with it. “I’m going to miss you, please take care of business and hurry back home.”

  Xavier heard the honking from a car horn he knew that it was time to go. He pulled Loretta into his arms. “I love you.”

  Before Loretta could respond, Xavier left without another word. She went and stood on the porch so she could watch Xavier leave. To her amazement, Loretta saw Huey and Leland get into the car with Xavier. Xavier didn’t tell her that Huey and Leland were going on the trip.

  Loretta gave a sigh of relief, she was glad that Xavier wouldn’t have to deal with Kyle Spinkter on his own. She watched the car leave until it was no longer in her viewing range. Loretta walked back into the house and went upstairs to the bedroom she shared with Xavier. She loved Xavier’s house, but it wasn’t a home without Xavier.

  Loretta was packing her clothes when she heard the doorbell ring. Who could be visiting at this hour in the morning? Loretta went downstairs and looked out the front room window before she opened the door. She saw Vincent’s car in the driveway, why didn’t he use his key to get in. Loretta opened the door Vincent wasn’t his usual happy-go-lucky self. Given the circumstances Loretta could understand why.

  “Good morning Vincent. If your here to see Xavier, he already left.”

  “Damn, I wanted to talk to him before he left.”

  “Why didn’t you use your key to the house?”

  “Xavier took it back after you moved in. He said he didn’t want me coming over uninvited.” The conversation was rather stilted. Both Loretta and Vincent were in their own little world. Vincent was the first to break the silence. “Since were both up, how about going to breakfast?”

  “That’s really nice Vincent, but I have to finish packing.” Loretta was half way up the stairs when Vincent all but exploded.

  “Xavier hasn’t left the state yet, and you’re deserting him already. You’re just like all the other women I’ve known. I thought you said you loved my brother. The first time that so called love is put to test, you run out on him.

  Loretta felt a fury rise within her that was foreign to her nature. Loretta came back down the stairs and slapped Vincent hard. “Don’t you ever talk to me that way again I am not deserting Xavier; I am moving back into my own house until he comes back. Just for the record, I don’t owe you any explanations. I know that you had some problems with women in the past, but it’s time for you to grow up and get over it. All women aren’t the same; however, if you keep treating women the way you do, you’ll be alone for the rest of your life. Now you can stay, or you can leave, but I’m going to finish packing.”

  ***

  Vincent stood at the bottom of the stairs totally shocked. He had never heard Loretta raise her voice before, but he hoped that he never saw her as angry as she was a few minutes ago. Vincent knew he deserved the slap. If he wasn’t always expecting the worst from women, that scene with Loretta could have been avoided.

  Vincent walked into the kitchen, he would wait for Loretta to come back down before he left Xavier’s house. He was ashamed of himself for treating Loretta so shabbily. He couldn’t leave until he apologized.

  Vincent had to admit that he was old fashioned in his thinking. He wanted the type of relationship his father has with his stepmother Jo. Vincent wanted a woman who’ll put the needs of her family above her own. He thought that he found such a woman four years ago, and was in the process of marrying her when he found out that she was nothing more than a prostitute.

  Vincent had been doing a favor for a friend when he saw a woman who favored his fiancée enter into an expensive hotel in the downtown area. Vincent tracked down the woman who made appointments for the call girls that frequented that hotel. He described the woman he saw and set up a date with her. The fee was one thousand dollars a night for anything the client wanted to do. Vincent didn’t want to believe that the woman he wanted to marry was a prostitute.

  Vincent showed up thirty minutes before the woman who favored Vanessa was supposed to meet him. When he opened the door, he couldn’t believe that Vanessa was staring him in the face. Vincent saw the shock on her face. What she said afterwards would hurt him for many years to come. She told him that she was glad he found out because she was tired of living a double life. Vanessa still wanted to go through with the wedding. She claimed that her clients meant nothing to her and that she loved Vincent. Vincent still loved her in spite of everything he found out about her. All his hopes and dreams for the perfect life fell away like dust in the wind. Vincent threw the thousand dollars on the bed and left the room.

  Vincent closed himself off from his family and went on a drunken binge. Xavier found him and stayed with him until he got his act together. Xavier never criticized him for his behavior he was just there for him. They talked about the situation and canceled the wedding. They never spoke about Vanessa again and eventually she became something of the past.

  After the incident with Vanessa, Vincent hardened his heart against all women. No woman was ever going to get him in that position again. He became particular about the women he dated. Vincent didn’t date women who had children because he wasn’t about to play daddy for some other man’s child. He also didn’t date women with husbands or boyfriends in jail. A man would have to be a fool to get involved in a situation like that.

  Vincent didn’t have any use for women except for sex, so if the woman was looking for a permanent relationship, Vincent stopped dating her. If the woman didn’t know the score, he wasn’t interested. Vincent didn’t want any woman to get the wrong idea about his intentions. He had long since given up on finding a woman who was worthy of marrying him.

  He was in the process of getting some coffee when he felt the presence of someone else in the room. He turned around and saw Loretta hovering by the door. She looked as if she just lost her best friend; he felt like a dog for accusing her of deserting Xavier. “Loretta accept my apology. I was out of line, and I had no reason to say those things to you.”

  Loretta got a cup off the shelve and poured some coffee. She put in three teaspoons of sugar, and enough cream to turn the coffee into a nice shade of tan. Then she sat down at the table, seating herself so that she sat facing Vincent. “Vincent I’m the
one who owes you an apology. I’ve wanted to hit someone all morning, and you provided me with an excellent opportunity to vent out my frustrations.”

  Vincent grabbed his coffee cup and joined Loretta at the table. “It looks like neither one of us is taking Xavier’s departure too well.”

  Loretta tried everything to keep her tears at bay. “What am I going to do if something happens to him?”

  “Loretta both of us have to believe in Xavier. He wouldn’t have left if he didn’t feel this was something he had to do. Why don’t you go freshen up, while I go get your bags?”

  “Thanks Vincent. Xavier is lucky to have you for a brother.”

  Suddenly Vincent smiled thinking about all the tricks he had played on Xavier as a kid. “Somehow I don’t think Xavier would agree with you.”

  ***

  Chapter 18

  Xavier wasn’t surprised to see Leland and Huey in front of his house this morning. He knew that if either one of them were in this situation that he would have done the same thing. They didn’t see General Schaffer again, his driver provided Xavier with a folder of information and three airline tickets to Chicago.

  Xavier examined the papers within the folder. He knew that General Schaffer was setting him up in some way. Lately, Chicago seemed to be the focal point of all the activities in his life. Schaffer was playing some kind of mind game with him. Xavier thought back to the night of Loretta’s kidnapping. Schaffer didn’t seem surprised to hear from him, it’s as if Schaffer knew that Xavier had a request before he asked for it.

  “When we get to Chicago, we’re going to set up our own headquarters.”

  Xavier, Leland, and Huey didn’t speak again until they reached the Eppley airport. Xavier decided that he wasn’t going to play the game by Schaffer’s rules. As soon as they reached the airport, Xavier bought tickets for a different route and later flight. Whoever Schaffer had waiting for them at the airport in Chicago would be surprised when they didn’t arrive. There was more to this than bringing Kyle Spinkter in. For some reason, Schaffer wanted Xavier to be the person bringing Kyle to justice.

  Leland reviewed the note within the folder. “Do you think that Schaffer is up to one of his tricks?”

  “Of course he is how did he know to have three tickets on standby? He knew that we wouldn’t let Xavier leave by himself. You two should have let me finish him off in Xavier’s office.” Huey began pacing back and forth; he didn’t like playing mind games, especially when it involved military brass.

  Xavier was trying to figure out this complicated puzzle that Schaffer pulled him into. “Schaffer’s has something to hide. What if Schaffer saw this situation with Kyle Spinkter as a way of killing two birds with one stone? What do all of us know that General Schaffer wouldn’t want to get out?”

  “Well, all three of us knew about the murders on base, and the Kyle was responsible for them.”

  Xavier pursed his lips together Kyle Spinkter was the key. “Schaffer holds a precarious position in Washington. As an advisor to the President of the United States, he must have a lot of enemies. What if Kyle Spinkter wasn’t the murder? What if he was taking the wrap for someone else? Maybe someone close to Schaffer.”

  Huey stopped pacing and sat down beside Xavier. “Are you saying that Kyle was innocent?”

  “Kyle is the key. Look at this folder, Schaffer knew where Kyle was all along. He could have had him terminated at will. For some reason, he wants me to pull the trigger; I have other plans”

  ***

  Schaffer was reading the Washington Post, when he received a call. “Schaffer here.”

  “General Schaffer the men you told me to expect at O’Hare never showed up.”

  “What do you mean they never showed up? They should have arrived in Chicago at nine o’clock this morning.”

  “They weren’t on the plane.”

  “Find out what the hell happened and call me back.” Schaffer’s breakfast was ruined by the news he just received. He baited his trap so carefully, Schaffer was certain that Xavier didn’t have a clue as to what was going on. It didn’t matter he didn’t become a two star general by being stupid. He would make a few calls and get his plans back on schedule.

  ***

  Xavier was riding around Chicago with Leland and Huey trying to find Kyle. So far, everything in the folder has been incorrect. There was something familiar about the notes in the folder. Back when Xavier was in the army, his troop leader, Lieutenant Graison’s instructions meant the opposite of what was written.

  “Leland take us to 63rd and King Street.”

  “That’s not what the instructions in the folder say.”

  “Trust me Leland I think that we’ll find Kyle Spinkter at 63rd and King.”

  When they reached their destination, Xavier thought that Kyle picked an excellent place to hide. The neighborhood was rundown and trashy, homeless people and drunkards roamed the streets aimlessly. “This is it Kyle is hiding around here somewhere.”

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “Do you remember how Lieutenant Graison always gave our orders to us backwards?”

  “Yeah, the address in the folder said 36th and Queen Street. Ah, so that’s how you came up with 63rd and King Street. Do you think he’s in cahoots with Schaffer?”

  “No way, if Graison is here, he has his own agenda. Let’s try this first apartment building.” Leland pulled the car over as Huey and Xavier got out to check around the rundown apartment building. “Keep the engine running Leland I don’t know what we’re going encounter in there.”

  “Xavier, if I was hiding out in this building I wouldn’t be on the top floor.”

  “You’re right Huey, I would also rule out the basement.” Xavier took his gun out of his holster as he and Huey made their way up to the second floor. Huey would check apartments on the left side and Xavier would check the two on the right. No words passed through their lips, but it was as if they were in the army again. Huey was his partner in the army, each knew what the other one would do.

  Xavier was checking out the first apartment when he heard a shot being fired down the hall. Xavier backed out of the apartment and ran down the hall to aid Huey. Before he could reach the end of the hall, he was approached by a figure in black. The man moved with the grace and precision of a bull fighter. Xavier didn’t have time to play ninja. “I’m not in the mood, so unless you want a hole as big as the Grand Canyon in your stomach, I would move if I were you.”

  The figure leaped at Xavier, fighting him with everything he had. Xavier recognized Graison’s style immediately, the man was ten years older than Xavier; he was still light on his feet.

  Xavier blocked every kick and punch that Graison threw his way. Xavier picked Graison up, and body slammed him before he could throw any more fancy moves. He grabbed his gun off the floor and aimed it at Graison’s head. “Okay Graison, you want to tell me what this is all about.”

  The figure on the floor began laughing hysterically. “You’re quick Xavier, but not quick enough.”

  Xavier held his gun on Graison. “Okay Graison, the game is up. What is this all about?” The figure got off the floor, pulled the hood off his head and turned around to face Xavier. “This is a surprise Kyle, Graison has taught you well.”

  “Enough you two, we have a lot of business to discuss.”

  Xavier kept his gun focused on Kyle as he addressed Graison. “What’s with all the cloak and dagger games Graison?”

  “We had to make sure you weren’t followed by any of General Schaffer’s men.”

  “Where’s Huey and Leland?”

  “Huey just finished beating the hell out of two of my men and Leland is waiting for us in the basement. We have a lot to discuss, so I suggest we make haste.”

  Xavier followed Spinkter and Graison to the basement. Huey and Leland were waiting for them to arrive. “The gang’s all here Graison, so tell us what’s going on.” Xavier stood in the back of the room, he didn’t trust Kyle Spinkter as far as he
could spit, but he would give Graison the benefit of the doubt.

  “Xavier I know about General Schaffer’s plans for you to bring Spinkter in, but I’m sure he didn’t tell you the whole story. From time to time Schaffer worked with an outside contractor for small projects, then one day the contractor freaked out and killed his son. Schaffer arranged for the contractor to be released in five years instead of serving the full ten year sentence. This man’s name was Marcus Dupree.”

  Xavier couldn’t believe his ears. “Are you telling me that Schaffer was behind Loretta’s kidnapping?”

  “Yes. He knew that you would call him to ask for help. Schaffer figured he could get rid of Marcus Dupree and make you indebted to him. When I got wind of his plans for you to bring Kyle in, I figured enough was enough. So I dealt myself in the game. Schaffer’s has to pay for his treachery. In one way or another he has abused everyone in this room.”

  “Leland warned me not to trust him, but Loretta’s safety was paramount at the time. I got to get home, Loretta is still in danger, my brother is supposed to be looking after her, but he doesn’t’ know what he’s up against.”

  “Don’t worry about Loretta, I sent one of my men to look after her. Your brother won’t even know he’s there.”

  “My brother will pick him out easily and then he’ll dispose of him.”

  “If by some slim chance your brother happens to nail him. My man will identify himself; I wouldn’t worry about it. Kyle has a story to tell that all of you will be interested in.”

  Kyle looked around the room, he had no choice but to tell these men what he knew. They were probably the only men in the world who could help him. “I entered the U.S. Army at the request of my mother and father; I had no way of knowing what I was in for. I became an expert at killing, and didn’t have any hang-ups about terminating terrorists. I felt that an enemy of the United States got what they deserved.

  For once in my life, I felt as if I belong to a worthwhile endeavor. On our last mission, we were ambushed, and everyone in my troop was executed but me. I didn’t find out until later that my father had pulled some strings to make sure I made it back to base without one hair on my head being displace.”