Krystal Clear (Shattered Book 2)

by Claire Lalique

  “Forget that!” I practically yelled. “You are taking this class and taking me to this class. I can see it now. Every week Blue gets mad at another agent. Every week, a new student, a manly male student, comes to class and sets up next to me. No, that's not even a little suspicious. You're taking me to class. Get your stuff, or I'll just walk.”

  I stomped to his car and flung open the door and got into the front seat. Ziva piled into the back.

  Jack peered into the car. “Krystal, can you leave Ziva here? I just vacuumed the car 'cause I was going to see if we could give that girl a ride home. Ziva sheds so bad.”

  “Sure Jack.” I got out of the car and whistled for Ziva to come back to the house with me. I had to pull her 100 lbs. through the front door and then slam it shut and locked it before she could slither back outside. I got back into the car and we drove toward the University.

  Jack parked on the opposite side of the building than we had at the last class. "Someone told me this entrance was closer to the classroom. We can go back to the original parking space if it isn't closer.” He seemed open and candid with me, so even though I thought Jack had screwed up by telling Blue I’d flirted when I hadn’t, I still trusted him to keep me safe.

  We walked through the hallways. Since it was early evening by now, the other people in the halls became sparser and sparser. By the time our class was over they would be completely deserted. If I was by myself tonight I would be a little scared. Having Jack with me made me feel much more protected and safe.

  We got to our classroom and came through the door. I looked at Carl appraisingly, with a different eye than I had before ‘Flirtgate’ started. He was very handsome, and I watched him walking over to me with his arms outstretched and saying to me, “Pequeno Pajaro, I am so glad to see you, I heard there was a problem with your husband. I am so sorry if my appreciation for your beauty and talent caused you problems."

  He continued towards me until he was close enough to give me a hug. I slipped away from him before he could touch me, and moved to my desk and started unpacking my supplies in such a way that I was protected by the desk and easel. Carl smoothly diverted from me as a target, instead walking to the head of the class.

  Class, as before, was fascinating. I loved learning new techniques. Tonight, Carl talked about color saturation, and as we opened our paints to put into practice what he had taught, he went over to Jack and spoke to him. I shook my head irritably. I was not going to let Blue’s jealously, or Jack’s idiocy, or even Carl’s flirtatiousness, interfere with my enjoyment of this class. It might be the only time in my life I was able to study with a famous artist. So I firmly pulled my mind back to my painting and immersed myself in the pure space of creation. When I was in the “zone” I had no worries, no stress.

  This painting was different than my past ones. Carl had encouraged us to paint a picture of our emotions during a time when they had overwhelmed us. I, of course, had immediately gone back in my mind to the horrific experience of the kidnapping. I had pulled myself forward from that space, to that of where I had first been found.

  It was a difficult subject to think about, but I loved the painting. It was of a young girl dressed in diaphanous white, held captive by thorny vines encircling her. Coming toward the girl, encircling and choking the evil vines, were flowered vines in the act of pulling the bad vines from around her wrists and face and body. Suddenly, Carl’s voice calling time interrupted me. I had been totally involved in my painting.

  I was still in a euphoric fog from painting as I packed my supplies back into my knapsack. I would have to leave my painting here, as it was too wet to move. Jack didn't make the mistake he did last class; he talked to his friend in the classroom until she left. Then, he packed his stuff, but would not let me see his painting, even turning it against the wall, to keep me from looking. Carl left his supplies in the room, but didn't offer to carry any of my stuff. I felt maybe he'd gotten the message that I wasn't available. He was a bit nervous and jittery as we walked along.

  It had taken me longer than usual to pack up, since I wanted to make sure that my canvas was stored correctly. When I finally had my other things together, I realized that the other students were already gone. Only Jack and Carl were waiting for me. We started down the dark halls and I thought about calling Blue. I felt nervous with just the two of them. Blue always told me to trust my intuition, especially when I sensed there was danger. But I didn't want to start anymore trouble with Blue.

  Suddenly I heard a deep hoarse bark far down the halls. It was Ziva's anxious bark. I suddenly felt safer. I knew she would help protect me. "Jack, That's Ziva, she must have gotten loose and come to find me! Can you believe . . .” As I turned to face Jack, I came face-to-face with Carl, who had a gun pointed at me. I looked back at Jack, and he had dropped his supplies and had a gun pointed at me also.

  “Sorry, Krystal,” Jack said, “Sometimes you just need extra money, I owed some to the Favoloras’ so this was how it got taken off the books.”

  Carl smiled, “Ahh little Krystal, you are lovely, so fecund and full of life, but I cannot have you. My brother Aaron says if you are dead you cannot testify about the motorcycle president killing your friend so he will eventually be freed from prison. Then, everything will go back to normal, and the drugs can flow through Louisville once again.

  It was lucky and such an amazing coincidence that I had taken this job just as you moved here to be safe. I recognized you in the park that day immediately. I laughed to think that of all places you had come to be safe, you had come to a town where the Favoloras family had a major presence.”

  My whole body was shaking, I wasn't sure what to do. I felt dizzy, but if I fainted I figured I'd never wake up again. They would just shoot me as I laid there. Somehow I needed to save my baby. My ears were ringing, but as if from miles away I could still hear Ziva barking.

  Chapter Ten

  Samuel

  I sat on the back steps and called Derrick. “Are we ready to plan the takedown of this drug ring? I'd like to work on something that makes sense. Flower certainly doesn't. And I have a strange feeling if I go to Maeve for advice all I would get is a quarrel from her about how I treated Flower.”

  “Sam, I was just about to call you.” Derick spoke calmly and quietly, immediately helping my anger settle. He continued. “The truck that has evidently been delivering the drugs and picking them up has pulled into the stove company. The same men that have been the crew for that truck are loading it with boxes that I assume are not stove parts.”

  I laughed. “Probably not. So what are we doing?”

  “I've got Chance and Wilson watching the stove company. You and I need to get over there. We are going to follow it, and if possible take down not only the truck, but where the drugs are being delivered, as well.”

  “I thought that Chance was with Flower,” I said sharply.

  “He said when he called, to set up the time, that she didn't answer the phone. I knew you were going to talk to her, so I didn't worry.” Derick spoke gravely.

  I was suddenly panicked. I jerked the back door open and screamed into the house, “Flower! Where are you! Derick, she's not answering.”

  At that moment, a large streak of chestnut brown went galloping out the back door and towards the University.

  “Oh shit," I said, “Ziva just ran out the door. Flower isn't here. I'm going to her class. Can you get someone else to go with you?”

  “Sure, Sam, go on. I don't have anyone to back you up right now. I hope Ziva is as good a guard dog as her trainer, thinks she is.”

  “Me too,” I replied grimly. I pulled my keys from my pocket and ran to my car. I opened the trunk and pulled my gun and the rifle from under the blanket. I quickly loaded both and pulled on my bullet proof vest. If she was just taking her class, I'd get over being embarrassed, but that was better than not being there if she needed me.

  In my heart I knew there was trouble. Ziva was and had been a perfect barometer as to
what was happening with Flower. The fact that the dog didn't stop to wait for me or even acknowledge me said that she believed Flower needed her right that minute.

  My brain was screaming to just run after Ziva as fast as I could, but I had more experience now than I did the day I ran into the abandoned school building in Louisville, to rescue my baby girl. I pulled the straps on my vest tight, put my pistol in its holster and strapped it on over the vest and around my waist. Honestly, I wish I had a few grenades, but WTF.

  I got in the car, pushed the seat backwards to make room for my expanded girth because of the vest and peeled down the street after Ziva, towards my girl’s class. If Santino wanted to try and get in my way, he would see I meant business. I smiled grimly and said under my breath, “Nobody messes with my girl.”

  I pulled up in front of the building where Flower’s class was. At that point, I called Cleveland City Police to request backup. I knew better than to not have someone coming. Then, I texted Derick, put my phone on vibrate and went into the front doors. Lights were already partially dimmed because classes were over for the day. I hoped that meant there wouldn't be any students in the building and fewer professors and other staff to be in the way of the possible danger.

  I started down the hallway towards Flower’s classroom. I hadn't seen Jack’s car in the parking spaces in front of the building. I could hear Ziva’s barking getting fainter, so I tried to listen carefully as I knew she would head right to Flower. I had my pistol in my hand and my rifle tucked into a sling where I could grab it easily. I ran carefully and quietly as I could.

  Krystal

  Carl was still talking once I stopped being so dizzy. I stood straighter. I knew it was up to me to save Bug and myself. I reminded myself, I wasn’t a victim anymore.

  “Carl?” I said, “How do I have anything to do with Jag? I was tied up during the whole shootout at the shed in Louisville.” I hoped he would talk to me, giving me more time, and allowing Ziva to catch up. I wasn't sure if she could really help, but Ariel promised she would be a good guard dog. I knew she loved me.

  I slowly, step by tiny step, repositioned myself so Ziva would be coming toward their backs, so that she had the one-up-man-ship of first sight. I figured I was crazy, putting my brain and my dog’s possible willingness to protect me as my only weapons against two men with guns. However, neither Jack nor Carl had known the vicious dog she had been before Ariel started working with her. She had broken bones in the arm of the rescuer who had first captured her. I was going to trust her.

  Carl looked at me with what I thought might be pity. “Ah pretty little woman, it makes no difference what you think. Aaron is the head of our family; his decisions are set in stone. I actually tried to get him to let me capture you and have you as my little slave. My family loves babies. We wouldn't care if someone else was the biological father, it would be mine.”

  “Carl, let me go with you, then. I don't want my baby to die.

  “Oh, sweetheart, I said I tried. Aaron refused. He is set that you and Samuel Donahue must die, along with everyone else involved in that raid. You will be sorry to know that the raid ATF is doing tonight is a trap, just so the Cartel can kill your Samuel and Derick Black. I wish I didn't have to kill you, but alas, I must obey Aaron.”

  I could hear Ziva’s bark getting closer and, while Carl wasn’t paying attention, I noticed Jack getting nervous and turning occasionally to look down the darkened hallway.

  I again spoke to Carl as I took few steps closer to Jack, since he wasn't paying close attention to me. I hoped that since Carl was an artist, a well-known one at that, he wasn't trained to use a gun or to take captives. Obviously, he was bigger than me, but if I could grab Jack’s gun and shoot Carl, maybe Ziva could distract Jack. I knew it was a crazy plan, but now, not only did I need to save my baby and myself, I had to let Blue and Derick know about the trap. I had to escape. Everything was riding on it.

  Finally, Jack did what I prayed he wouldn't do. He said nervously, "Carl, that's her dog; she's pretty big and pretty mean."

  "Nonsense, Jack. She was very nice when I met her at the park, a very lazy dog . . . and in the class last week, she just slept. That dog just wants to be with her Master"

  Suddenly Ziva’s barking was very loud and I knew she was almost where I was. Jack was paying more attention to the hallway where she was, rather than on me, so, I took another step closer to Jack, and grabbed his gun out of his hand. As quickly as I could, I swung the gun towards Carl.

  Jack started towards me, to grab the gun back from my hand. I knew it wouldn't take much for him to do just that. There was an eerie sense of time standing still as I whirled away from his grasping hands while trying to keep the gun pointed at Carl. Jack was in the way of him being able to shoot me. Carl was yelling “Move Jack, move!”

  At the very moment I needed her, the flash of a 100 lb. chestnut brown dog bounded into the hallway and grabbed one of Jack’s arms in her teeth. She was growling her signature angry growl and, just like she did with her toys, she shook her head rapidly back and forth, worrying her prey.

  Jack let out a high-pitched scream of terror and pain. That just made Ziva growl louder and shake his arm harder, blood spatters flying onto the walls and floors.

  I realized that Jack was no longer covering me, and Carl was bringing his gun to aim at me and shoot. Without thinking, I simply shot Carl in his thigh, hoping I didn't hit an artery and the pain would stop him from trying to shoot me. I didn’t want him to die; he was a fantastic artist. I thought he could still paint in jail. If he still wanted to shoot me, though, I thought I would probably get over my wish to save his gift. I could easily shoot to kill to save my baby.

  Time came back in a rush as my Blue appeared like magic into the hallway. He looked like an avenging angel with his ATF bullet proof vest strapped to his chest, his gun pointing at Carl, and his rifle slung over his shoulder. His stern voice shouted, “Ziva, release!” Just like she did with her toys, she dropped Jack’s arm and pranced over to me, absolutely sure she had done a good job.

  “Oh Ziva, good dog,” I cooed, as I bent down and rubbed her head regardless of getting Jack’s blood smeared further into her fur and on my hands. Blue came over to me and I happily gave him Jack’s pistol. He stuck it into his pants waistband as he continued to hold his gun on the moaning, crying Carl and Jack.

  We kept hearing a pounding noise in the background that kept getting louder. Suddenly we were surrounded by a police SWAT team. They immediately secured Carl and Jack, and checked us for injuries.

  At this point Blue came over to me. “You doing okay darlin’?” he asked me in a gentle voice.

  I was so glad Blue was there. I was proud of myself for saving myself, with a bunch of help from Ziva. But I was much happier giving the job back to him. He always protected me and saved me. Then, I remembered. “Blue! Why aren’t you with the takedown team? It’s a trap! Aaron Favoloras is there to kill you.”

  “Oh shit," Blue groaned, and while reloading his guns and holstering them, he pulled out his phone and handed it to me. “Call Derick.”

  I called Derick’s number and it immediately rang through to voicemail. Blue said, “he’s got it turned off."

  Blue gave me a sweet kiss and then asked the officer in charge if the officer could take care of me and Ziva. He quickly explained what was happening with the ATF team. The officer pulled four of his men to go with Blue, and they ran down the hallway that led to the front door.

  He then called for a secured ambulance to transport Carl and Jack to the hospital to get treated. He assigned four more of his men to take them to the back door, where the ambulance would be waiting. That left me with the officer in charge and two of his men. “Well little lady, I assume you have quite a story to tell me. My name is Major Jesse Craddock. I'm in charge of this SWAT team. What's the dog’s name? It looked like she had a part in taking down those criminals as well.”

  I slid down the wall I was leaning against and pulled Zi
va’s head into my lap. “She’s the best dog ever. Her name is Ziva and she saved my life.”

  “Will she let me pet her?” he asked.

  “Sure, as long as you don't try to hurt me.”

  Obviously, the officer had experience with dogs, because he squatted down and held out his hand to let her smell him before he reached over to scratch her head. She grinned her big face-splitting grin and with her big body half in my lap, she rolled over on her back to offer the officer a chance to rub her belly.

  He laughed uproariously and scratched her tummy vigorously.

  “Well, let's get you and Ziva home, and see what we can find out about this other operation.”

  “Suddenly, as I thought about Blue, my nerves were causing me to shake, and I got cold. “Oh, please can you find out? Please? The Cartel set up the trap, specifically to kill Blue and Derick.”

  “Sure, in just a minute. Let's get you out of here, first. You aren't much bigger than a minute, baby and all.”

  Then he swooped down and picked me up much like Blue would have, in a cradle carry. While I was uncomfortable around most men and I didn't know Major Craddock all, I felt safe with him. He strode down the corridor to the front door with me in his arms and his other two men and Ziva trotting behind us.

  We came outside into the dark of a cool night. I could see the stars shining in the sky and the half-moon hung low and large. “Major, please call and find out what’s happening.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Samuel

  I ran toward the front of the building with the police pounding behind me. I had to get to my car for more ammunition. How was I going to know where the raid was happening? Derick and his men were going to find the drug suppliers by following the van. They didn't know that the people they were following were part of the Cartel. They certainly didn't know it was a set up. We had to find them as quickly as possible.