The Way You Are

by Carly Fall

  “And how is that?”

  Frankly, he’d only had two clients, preferring on focusing his energy on finding the rest of the unit. Joe fed him the information as he received it, and driven by guilt from what had happened that night, Garret followed up on it. He felt responsible for the life-altering event, and wanted to find all the members of his unit and bring them under Joe’s wing and protection. It proved slow going, though, because the government had hidden and redacted everything on his platoon that had to do with the explosion in Guatemala and where they had placed the soldiers afterward.

  “So far, the protection gig has been a cake-walk.”

  “And you showed up at my door and brought me here for an interview?”

  Garrett sighed. “I guess so. And I want to apologize to you for what happened. I should have aborted the mission. I felt something was off, and I—”

  “Shut up, Garrett.” Zach’s shook his head. “You couldn’t have known anything.”

  They sat in silence for a moment.

  “It wasn’t an accident, Zach,” he mumbled.

  “I figured as much. When my sight was taken from me, it allowed a lot of time for introspection.”

  “Why wouldn’t you think it wasn’t an accident?”

  “Because it changed me.”

  A chill ran up Garrett’s spine, having the feeling Zach meant he had been changed more than being blinded.

  “How?”

  “You asked how I could possibly have shot that man at my apartment.”

  “Yeah. That was amazing. You were always a good shot, but damn, you’re blind now, and that was as clean a kill as I’ve ever seen.”

  Zach smiled and Savannah wandered over to him, placing her head in his lap. He gently stroked her, and her eyes closed.

  “I’m completely blind, Garrett,” he said, removing his sunglasses. “I know my eyes have no coloring, just white orbs. I also know it’s a little disturbing to look at.”

  Garrett stared at his friend, remembering the touch of laughter almost always visible in his intelligent dark irises before the explosion. He now found his friend’s gaze—or lack thereof—a little unnerving, but he wasn’t about to tell him.

  “However, a strange thing happens when I stand in front of a mirror.”

  “What’s that?” he asked, leaning his elbow on his knees.

  “I see snippets of the future, Garrett. They play for me, like someone is turning the channel. It’s just a few seconds of what will happen. That’s how I killed that fucker back at my apartment, and how I knew you were coming. I saw it. I saw that whole scene play out.”

  Garrett sat back in his chair and let out a low whistle.

  “Yes, it’s quite interesting,” Zack murmured.

  A complete understatement if he’d ever heard one.

  “And what about you, Garrett? What changed in you? What about the others?”

  He cleared his throat. “Well, Brody’s got this connection with the ocean, and can control it. Lucas sees people’s death before it happens. I … uh, well, I can turn into a bear.”

  Zach slipped on his sunglasses and folded his hands in his lap and Savannah laid down at his feet. “Fascinating,” he murmured. “It makes sense now.”

  “What does?”

  “I stood in front of the mirror after I got up, hoping to catch a snippet of some visions where I could get a layout of the house so I wasn’t stumbling around. I had a glimpse where I was in the kitchen having a glass of water while standing at the sink. A large black bear walked by outside. It almost seemed to be encased in a golden glow.”

  Garrett chuckled. “If that bear was as good-looking as I am, then yeah, that was me.”

  Chapter 5

  Ruby sat on the window seat in her childhood bedroom waiting for her father to come home from work. Her mother had called him once Hank had informed her of what had happened, and now Mom flitted around like her ass had caught fire.

  Ruby had tried to go back to her apartment, wanting to escape all the ensuing drama, but her mother wouldn’t allow it.

  Her mom came into the room with a cup of green tea. Ruby hated the stuff, and preferred a cup of hot, black coffee, but her mother insisted on the tea.

  “After you finish that, you should get in the shower, Ruby. You’re a mess.”

  She sighed, guessing her mother worried about getting dirt and dust all over the pink bedroom. As far as she was concerned, her mother had a little OCD going when it came to cleanliness and had no tolerance for anything she deemed ‘dirty.’ Horses and dust definitely fell into that category.

  “Are you sure you’re okay, honey?” she asked as she ran her hand over Ruby’s hair, as if she petted a cat.

  “I’m fine, Mom. Just a little shook up.”

  “Good. Your dad will be home soon. He’s very concerned.”

  “Well, I was almost kidnapped.”

  “Yes, honey. I can’t imagine how frightening that must have been for you.”

  Her mom sat down on the cushion across from her.

  “If it weren’t for Midnight, they might have gotten away with it,” Ruby said.

  Her mother scrunched her nose, her distain for the ‘large, smelly beasts’ palpable. “Ruby, it’s a horse. I doubt it can process the need to aid someone. It understands food, defecating, and running around.”

  She stared at her mother and shook her head. Mom had never really liked animals, finding them all dirty. “You’re wrong, Mom.”

  “Well, I don’t think—”

  “Ruby!” her father’s voice bellowed from the foyer.

  Her mother rolled her eyes and went to the door. “She’s up here, Stewart!”

  He quickly climbed the stairs and ran down the hall, his footsteps muffled by the carpet. Barging into the room, he looked her up and down as she stood. “Honey! Are you okay?”

  She nodded as he embraced her and she laid her cheek against his crisp, white dress shirt.

  A moment later, he let go of her, holding her at arms’ length so he could study her again.

  “I’m fine, Dad. Just a little freaked out.”

  “I bet,” he said, just as she noticed the dirt smudges on his shirt. Her mother would have a fit once she saw them. “I’ve decided not to involve the police in this, Ruby. I’m going to handle this myself.”

  “What do you mean?” she asked, confused. She had almost been kidnapped, so it seemed a phone call to the police should be Priority Number One.

  Her father sighed. “The police aren’t going to be able to give this the responsiveness that I’m going to require. They’re understaffed and overworked. I don’t want this to become another case number—I want someone’s full attention on this until it’s resolved.”

  If the police weren’t called, then the kidnappers could never go to jail. Therefore, how would this be ‘resolved?’

  “What does that mean, Dad?”

  Her father pulled her to him again and she heard his heart thumping in his chest.

  “It means, no one messes with my beautiful daughter. You let me worry about it, okay?”

  Ruby nodded, uncertain if she liked the sound of that.

  Chapter 6

  “Mr. McDermott, it’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Joe Smith.”

  After shaking her father’s hand, the man in the wheelchair rolled himself through the front door and into the foyer, followed by another man wearing a tracksuit. Joe Smith glanced around at the black marble floor and white marble columns that reached up to the twenty-foot high ceilings.

  “It’s nice to meet you, as well,” Ruby’s father said. “I’ve heard great things about you.”

  Joe nodded as his gaze met Ruby’s. “I assume this lovely young woman is Ms. McDermott?”

  “Yes. That’s my daughter, Ruby. The one I contacted you about.”

  Ruby stepped forward and extended her hand. Joe’s cool, smooth, and firm handshake sent a shiver through her as his warm blue gaze studied her. She’d met more than a few world lea
ders and oil barons, and Joe gave off the same air as they did—powerful and confident, with an undercurrent of something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Danger, perhaps?

  And maybe she was just imagining things. The past couple of days had been difficult as her father wouldn’t allow her to return to her apartment or go to work, making her stir crazy and probably sending her imagination into overdrive. Joe seemed harmless enough.

  She understood the danger, but it didn’t make living under this monstrous roof any easier. To her, it seemed as if everyone here had their own lives, and if they all happened to be around a six p.m., they congregated for dinner. John showed up every couple of days; her father left the house by six; her mother busied herself with all her affairs. Even living alone hadn’t felt so lonely.

  “Ms. McDermott, it’s lovely to make your acquaintance. However, I must say I wish it was under different circumstances.”

  Ruby smiled. “I do, as well.”

  “I would like to introduce my assistant, Thomas,” Joe said. “I can assure you he can be trusted, Mr. McDermott.”

  “Of course,” Ruby’s dad said, shaking Thomas’s hand. “Let’s head into the library, shall we?”

  Her father led the way. Joe Smith and Thomas followed, and Ruby brought up the rear. As they entered the double doors, she glanced around at the impressive room, and frankly, her favorite place at her parents’ house besides the barn. Two walls held floor-to-ceiling bookcases, every inch filled with books. Her father, an avid reader, had never liked the idea of reading on a device. He preferred the weight of the pages in his hands, reading fiction, books on leadership, money management, the global warming debate, the scientific makeup of the Earth itself … really, anything that piqued his interest at the moment. He’d passed down his love of books and knowledge to her, and oftentimes, they’d read the same book and have lively discussions afterward.

  “I like a well-read man, Mr. McDermott,” Joe said. “And I can see that these books aren’t for show. The small creases in the spines are a dead giveaway.”

  Her father chuckled. “Yes, I do love to read. That’s just one of the things Ruby and I have in common, right, honey?”

  Ruby nodded and sat down on the black leather couch while Thomas and her father took the other one. A small, glass coffee table littered with magazines and an empty coffee cup separated the sofas. Apparently, her father had kicked out the housekeeper from his private sanctuary again yesterday, a common occurrence.

  “Well, Ms. McDermott, again, I’m terribly sorry for your scare. However, I want to assure you that my company is dedicated to solving this problem with the utmost professionalism and confidentiality.”

  “We appreciate that, Mr. Smith,” her father said. “I’ve always worried that something like this would occur, but now that the problem has landed directly on my doorstep, I want swift, precise action taken.”

  “Of course you do, Mr. McDermott. That’s exactly why you called me.”

  Ruby sat back against the couch, the cool leather chilling her through her shirt. She still didn’t understand what ‘swift, precise action’ meant. Her father hadn’t involved the police, so no one would be jailed. What would become of her attackers if caught? And honestly, did she really want to know?

  “Now, Ms. McDermott, I was hoping you could tell us about your kidnappers, and be very specific. In my business, we thrive on details. The more, the better.”

  She nodded and ran her hand through her hair. She told Joe how she’d taken Midnight out for a ride and what happened once they arrived at the creek.

  “Did you notice anything strange? Did something not feel right to you?” he asked.

  She shook her head. “No. Everything was normal. I’ve taken that same ride dozens and dozens of times, and—”

  Just then, her mother breezed into the room. “I’m so sorry I’m late,” she said.

  Ruby rolled her eyes, knowing her mother had been ready an hour before Joe and Thomas showed up, and she’d simply wanted to make a grand entrance and really be noticed. Her father introduced her, Joe tossed a couple of compliments her way, which sent her mother fluttering, then finally, she sat down on the couch next to Ruby.

  As she stared at her mother’s shoulder-length, perfectly styled blonde locks, she wondered how she’d come out of her mother’s womb. Not only were they different physically, but personality-wise, they couldn’t have been on more opposite ends of the spectrum. Ruby considered herself a down-to-Earth, simple person who appreciated the basic things in life, like a pretty sunset, a field of wildflowers, rock n’ roll, a good book, or a great burger. Her mother, on the other hand, found all those things trivial. She’d much rather discuss fashion or gossip, or go see the opera. Ruby tried to recall the last time she’d seen her mother eat a burger, and couldn’t. The woman hardly ever touched red meat, and maybe that’s why she remained so thin and Ruby tended to hover on the chubby side.

  Ruby’s wardrobe of choice consisted of Levi’s and shirts, except when working where she wore slacks and blouses. Her mother wouldn’t be caught dead in a pair of Levi’s, opting instead for the latest trends in denim and tight, low-cut shirts that flattered her doctor-given cleavage and tiny waist.

  Despite their differences, Ruby loved her mother, and smiled as the woman grinned at her and patted her hand.

  “Let’s get back to our questioning now, Ms. McDermott, shall we?” Joe asked.

  She told the rest of her story while Thomas jotted down notes. Joe’s relentless stare pierced her, as if he studied every gesture and nuance of hers, making her a bit uncomfortable.

  “What time of day was this?” Joe asked.

  “I guess about eleven,” she answered.

  “Yes, because your father came home just as Mrs. Torn was getting ready to serve lunch,” her mother chimed in.

  Mrs. Torn was the live-in head housekeeper who oversaw the cook and the cleaning staff that came in twice a week, as well as one of the nicest people Ruby had ever met. Now in her sixties, she’d also acted as a nanny to Ruby and her brother when they’d been younger, and she baked a mean chocolate chip cookie. Ruby adored her.

  “How was the weather that day, Ms. McDermott? Sunny? Rain?” Joe asked.

  “It was sunny, about seventy. A really nice spring day.”

  “Perfect for horseback riding, correct?” Joe asked with a smile.

  “Yes. Exactly.”

  Thomas took more notes, Joe asked a few more questions, and an hour later, Ruby wondered when he would ask what color underwear she’d been wearing that day.

  “Was there anything in particular you noticed about the man and woman?” Joe asked.

  Ruby had already given a description of them, as well as told Joe the woman’s name was Rebecca.

  “I don’t think so,” she said, unsure of herself. There had been something she noticed, but she couldn’t place it.

  “Well, if that’s everything, then we need to discuss our plan options. I would suggest that—”

  “A tattoo!” Ruby exclaimed. “He had a tattoo!”

  Joe grinned and pushed his glasses up his nose. “Excellent, Ruby. Please describe it.”

  “I only caught a glimpse of it, but it looked like a leaf with some writing circling it.”

  “Could you see what it said?”

  She shook her head. “I’m not even sure if it was writing.”

  “Well done, Ruby. This should give us a good clue as to who is behind this,” Joe said. “If you all will excuse us now, Thomas and I will take our leave and we’ll be in touch soon. I would suggest that you not allow strangers in the house until we have the threat pinpointed. It was a pleasure to meet all of you.”

  Her father walked them out of the library, their voices echoing in the hall and foyer, and then the front door shut.

  He returned to the library and sat down on the couch across from her. “How’re you doing, honey?”

  She shrugged. “I’m okay. I’d like to go home, though.”

/>   “You are home,” her mother said, patting her hand again.

  “We can’t allow that, Ruby,” her father said. “We need Mr. Smith to identify the threat and figure out where to go from there. You’re safe here, baby, and that’s the most important thing.”

  Ruby sighed. “Okay, Daddy, but why doesn’t John need to stay home, as well?”

  “No one has tried to kidnap him,” her mother answered. “Stewart, we can’t cancel the dinner with the Canadian Oil CEO and the Saudi sheik.”

  Her father nodded. “I know. We’ll have to figure something out.”

  “All those strangers in our home … the bartenders, caterers, not to mention the set up crew beforehand … I don’t know, Stewart, it makes me nervous,” her mother said. “Perhaps we can make some other arrangements for Ruby.”

  “You don’t need to talk about me like I’m not in the room,” Ruby said. “And I can’t imagine a safer place with all the big-wigs rolling in here. They’ll all have their security teams and you also hire security for the big dinners, Daddy.”

  “Yes, honey, but we need to keep you safe,” her mother insisted. “Besides, I know I’ll be very distracted trying to keep an eye on you.”

  “Yes. I’ll put in a call to Joe Smith and see what he recommends,” her father agreed.

  “How about what I want?” Ruby said, her irritation growing. “I’m not a child anymore!”

  “Of course you aren’t, honey, but we’re so worried about you. Everyone is. The girls at the club just can’t believe what’s happened,” her mother said.

  Of course, her mother would share the big gossip with her country club friends. Ruby could imagine them tittering over Mimosas as her mother told the grand tale of her daughter’s attempted kidnapping.

  “Now that we’ve got everything cleared up, do you know what we’re having for dinner, Cheryl?” her father asked.

  “No.” She stood. “But I’ve got cocktails with my Bridge club tonight.”

  “And I’ve got that Skype chat with the Saudi sheik,” her father said. “I’ll ask Mrs. Torn to hold a plate for me for later. I have a feeling I’ll be on the call for quite a while.”