Run! - Hold On! Season 3

by Peter Darley

  Jed continued. “Anyway, Wilmot was after me and I had to get out of there. I stowed away on a boat that was about to set sail. I had no idea where it was headed, but we arrived in Brazil. That’s where I’ve been all this time.”

  “Brazil?” Tyler said.

  “Yeah. I had no money, but I managed to find a menial job and earn enough to live in one of the slums. It wasn’t fun, but I had to bide my time while I figured something out.”

  “And what happened?”

  Jed took out his cell phone with a USB cable and gave them to Tyler. “Hook this up to your computer.”

  Tyler took the phone and cable while Jed stood and moved around to the other side of the desk. Once the phone was connected, Tyler opened it up.

  “All right, go to photos.” Jed pointed to the icon. “Now, the second row down, click on any one of the first three images.”

  Tyler clicked on the first of the three shots and an image of his brother appeared on the monitor screen. He immediately noticed Brandon appeared to be unwell, and he was being helped into a car by a particularly formidable-looking brute.

  “I took those in Rio, two weeks ago,” Jed said.

  “Two weeks ago?”

  “That’s right.”

  “Let me see,” Belinda said.

  Tyler turned the screen around for her, and saw her becoming tearful.

  “Oh, God,” she muttered through her hand.

  “W-what were the circumstances of these photographs?” Tyler said.

  “Brandon and that other clown came to the favela where I was staying. According to Juanita, the lady I was shacked up with, they burst in there with machine guns looking to kill me. They shook her up pretty badly. I happened to catch these shots from a distance when I was coming home from work.”

  Tyler shook his head. “But . . . why would Brandon want to kill you?”

  Jed sat down again. “I’ve been thinking long and hard on that. When I first met your brother, he told me something about his personality being the product of a mind control experiment. He said that in reality, he was some kind of psychopath called The Scorpion. In L.A. I saw a sample of it, myself. It wasn’t pretty.”

  “I know. I was there, remember?” Tyler said.

  “Well, if he survived that crash and Wilmot got hold of him, what if he did it to him again, only this time, turned him back into who he was originally?”

  Tyler and Belinda looked at one another with deep concern.

  “I think that’s what they’ve done. It would certainly explain why he’d come to take me out. Wilmot could’ve created an assassin with no memory of me, or any one of us.”

  Belinda gazed at the screen in disbelief. “Why does he look like he can’t stand up?”

  “I don’t know. Juanita said he had her at gunpoint, and then he fell down holding his head, screaming.”

  She looked at the image intently. “He’s fighting it.”

  “If so, he’s not fighting hard enough. When I arrived in Florida, I saw the news about the attack on the ranch.”

  “Wait a second,” Tyler said. “You think that was Brandon?”

  “I’m sure of it.”

  “Why would he do that?”

  “I don’t have all the answers, Tyler. I just know it was him, and I believe you are both in serious danger. You can’t go back to the ranch.”

  “But that’s crazy.”

  “It may be, but I believe it’s true.”

  “What are you gonna do now?”

  Jed’s gaze lowered with clear signs of trepidation. “I have to turn myself in with that cell phone.” He took out a slip of paper and handed it to Tyler. “In case I get taken down, those images have been uploaded to these email addresses. The passwords are on there.”

  Tyler glanced at the paper and placed it on his desk. “If we can’t go back to the ranch, what are we supposed to do?”

  “I have to expose Wilmot and tell the authorities everything I know. Your lives are in jeopardy, so until this situation, and Brandon, are diffused, there’s only one thing you can do.”

  “What?”

  “Run!”

  Twenty-Six

  Aftershocks

  Tyler sat on the bed in his Ritz-Carlton hotel room. The TV was on, but he wasn’t fully conscious of what was showing. He gazed through the screen, his mind racing. The brother he’d believed dead was alive. Surely it wasn’t possible to imagine news so fantastically joyous.

  And yet, in a unique twist, the dream appeared as the worst of all nightmares. His resurrected loved one was apparently a lethal savage, who wouldn’t necessarily remember him. The emotional confusion was impossible to process. If he were to meet Brandon again, his instinct would be to embrace him, but the reality dictated he would have to flee from him. It was utterly bizarre.

  He was barely aware of the shower running until it stopped. After a few minutes, he was startled out of his reverie by Jed Crane coming out of the bathroom with a towel around his waist.

  “Hey, Tyler,” Crane said. “You OK?”

  “Of course not. If anyone could have granted me one wish, it would’ve been to see my brother alive again. But not like this.”

  “Yeah, well, I can understand that. But I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this.”

  Tyler turned to him, confused. “Appreciate what?”

  “The chance to shower and shave. You’ve got no idea how much I needed that.”

  Tyler got off the bed and came toward him. “Jed, come on. After all you’ve done for us?”

  “There’s more to it than that. By letting me come in here and use the facilities, you’re harboring a fugitive.”

  “It’s not the first time either, and just like the first time, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  Jed smiled. “You’ve got a good heart, you know that?”

  “I’ll do what’s right, even if it means disagreeing with the law. The two don’t always go hand in hand.”

  “You got that right.”

  There was a knock at the door. “I’ll get it,” Tyler said.

  He opened the door. Emily stood before him with concern in her eyes. “Hi,” she said.

  “Hi, Em. Come on in. There’s someone I want you to meet.”

  She followed him inside and paused. Tyler looked back at her, and then realized she was apprehensive at the sight of his handsome, bare-chested guest.

  “Oh, I apologize,” Crane said, and hurriedly collected his clothes from the floor.

  “No, no, it’s fine,” Emily said. “I’m sorry to intrude.”

  “Hey, you’re not intruding, Em,” Tyler said. “I wanted you to meet Jed. He helped Brandon and me when we rescued you in Los Angeles.”

  She looked back at Jed. “I . . . I had no idea. Thank you so much.”

  She held out her hand and Jed took it with a gracious smile. “It was an honor, Emily. Just give me a minute.”

  As Jed returned to the bathroom, Emily turned back to Tyler. “Is it true? Is Brandon alive and trying to kill us?”

  “We can’t be sure of anything right now, Em, but it sure looks that way. Dad ruled out the Tongs as being responsible for what happened at the ranch. We have no explanation for who else it could have been. Jed has proof that Brandon is alive. Brandon tried to kill him in Brazil.”

  Emily looked away shaking her head. “It can’t be true. I saw Brandon. I saw his eyes. There was compassion in them. Love.”

  “If he’s been brainwashed again, he won’t be that person anymore. He’ll be whoever they turned him into.”

  “But why would anybody do that?”

  “I have no idea. It’s a sick world.”

  After a few moments, Jed came out of the bathroom wearing his worn clothing, and his damp hair neatly combed back.

  “Are you all set, Jed?” Tyler said.

  “As set as I’m gonna be.”

  “Do you have to go?” Emily said.

  “I’m afraid I do. I have to turn myself in. It’s the only way
I stand a chance of putting a stop to what’s been going on. These are evil people we’re dealing with. I’m doing this for all of us.”

  She moved closer to him and gently kissed him on the cheek. “You truly are one of the bravest men I’ve ever met. I can’t thank you enough for what you did for me.”

  “Thank you, Emily. Just hearing that from you makes me feel better.”

  “Hey.”

  They all turned to see Belinda and Charlton in the doorway.

  “The door was open,” Belinda said.

  Tyler waved them inside. “It’s OK. Come on in.”

  Charlton approached Jed and offered his hand. “Mr. Crane?”

  “Jed, please.”

  “OK, Jed. What do you suggest we do about the situation?”

  “I think you should split up. Go away. Far away.”

  Charlton shook his head. “I can’t. I have a corporation to oversee.”

  “You can’t go back to the ranch yet, Mr. Faraday. Give me some time. Please. Wilmot and Brandon have to be stopped.”

  “All right, I’ll stay at the hotel. For now.” Charlton turned to Tyler. “I think you should go to Los Angeles and work with Nikki for awhile.”

  “Good idea.”

  “Belinda, do you have any plans?” Charlton said.

  “I have somewhere in mind.”

  “Not the cabin, surely,” Tyler said.

  “No, but I need to pick up a few things from the ranch first. Would the police allow that?”

  “How about it, Jed?” Charlton said. “I can get Belinda and Emily a police escort to the front door of the guest house. It would be a fleeting visit.”

  “I can’t say I don’t have concerns about that, but make absolutely certain the grounds and the guest house are clear before you do.”

  “I’ll need a car,” Belinda said with an assertive tone.

  Tyler frowned. “You’re not flying?”

  “I have my reasons.”

  “OK, when you leave, you can take my Porsche. It’s still in the parking lot at the corporation.”

  Belinda’s eyebrows rose. “Are you serious?”

  “No question about it.”

  “Well . . . what are you going to drive?”

  “There’s the Ferrari, among a few others, but it’s irrelevant. I’ll fly.”

  “OK, that’s settled,” Charlton said. “Can’t say I’m happy about all this, but what else can we do?” He looked across at Emily. “Do you have plans, Emily?”

  Belinda interrupted before Emily could respond. “I’d like her to come with me.”

  “Really?” Emily said. “Where are we going?”

  “I’ll tell you later.”

  The room was uncomfortably quiet for a few moments.

  Finally, Tyler drew out a wad of bills and handed it to Crane. “Well, Jed. There’s two thousand dollars there to tide you over.”

  “Oh, no, Tyler, I can’t take this.”

  “I insist, and that’s all there is to it.”

  “OK. Thank you, Tyler.”

  “No, Jed. Thank you.”

  Jed picked up his backpack. “Good luck, you guys,” he said sadly, and exited the room.

  “You think we’ll ever see him again?” Belinda said.

  Tyler looked at her uncertainly. “I sure hope so.”

  ***

  “I understand your predicament, Emily,” Glen Eisley said as he looked into her sorrowful eyes. “What happened at the ranch was horrible beyond words. You have to do what’s in the best interests of your safety.”

  “Thank you for your understanding, Glen. I have no idea when I’ll be able to come back.”

  “We’ll miss you, there’s no doubt about that. And we’ll be thinking about you.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Come back whenever you’re ready.”

  “I will.” She moved toward Eisley’s office door, but paused in mid-stride. “If you see Jake at the shelter, would you say goodbye to him for me, please?”

  “Of course I will, Emily.” Eisley had long-since noticed the attraction between Emily and Jake, and felt sad for her. She was just getting her life in order, with so many possibilities. Now, tragedy had struck, and she found herself running again. He questioned when she was ever going to get the break she deserved.

  “Thank you,” she said, and left the office.

  Outside on the steps, Belinda and three police officers were waiting for Emily. Two police cars were parked ahead of the steps.

  “Are you OK?” Belinda said.

  Emily wiped away tears. “I guess so.”

  Belinda placed her arm around Emily’s shoulder. “Come on, Em. Let’s get our stuff.”

  They climbed into the back of the rear police car.

  Within thirty minutes, they arrived at the ranch. It was still surrounded by yellow tape, a section of which had been taken down at the entrance to provide temporary access.

  The two police cars followed the entrance road to the front of the house past four more police cars in the yard.

  They pulled up at the door of the guest house and parked so close Emily questioned whether Belinda would be able to open her door. However, Belinda exited the car first with relative ease. Emily moved across the seat and found herself virtually inside the guest house.

  Belinda paused for a moment and gazed at the circular, scorched wood where the lock had been.

  “What is it?” Emily said.

  “It’s nothing.”

  Emily could see she wasn’t telling the truth. She knew, from the look in her eyes, that Belinda was aware of what had made the bizarre entry damage.

  Charlton was waiting inside with the sheriff beside him. “Hi, ladies.”

  “Hi,” Belinda said. “This shouldn’t take long.”

  “You go on ahead.”

  Belinda made her way into her bedroom.

  Emily entered her room, took a suitcase from the closet and set about packing her essentials. Charlton and the sheriff were outside her door, and she couldn’t help overhearing their conversation.

  “So, have forensics found anything?” Charlton said.

  “Nothing that makes much sense?”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “We dusted every inch of the place and eliminated your fingerprints, Tyler’s, Belinda’s, Emily’s, and the staff’s. But there were a few prints we found in various parts of the house that didn’t match any of you.”

  “Oh?”

  “We sent them down the line until we came up with an ID.”

  “And?”

  “Well, it’s real weird. According to the database, they were the fingerprints of Brandon Drake. Did he ever come here before he died?”

  “No, he didn’t.”

  There was a moment of silence before the sheriff responded. “Why don’t you seem surprised by this, Charlton?”

  “Just keep me posted, Al. I don’t have any answers for you at the moment.”

  Emily realized she’d been leaning close to the door and decided to make haste.

  After filling her suitcase, she carried it into Belinda’s room. Belinda seemed busy collecting her belongings. “Would you like some help?”

  “No, Em, I’m fine. Almost done.”

  Emily turned and looked out the window with the sheriff’s words echoing in her ears.

  “Hey?” Belinda said. “You OK?”

  Awkwardly, Emily turned to her. “We’re . . . doing the right thing, you know.”

  “What makes you so sure?”

  Emily slowly came toward her. The pain she felt for her friend tore away at her, and it clearly showed in her eyes.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Jed was right,” Emily said. “It was Brandon. I’m so sorry, Belinda.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I overheard Charlton talking to the sheriff. They found Brandon’s fingerprints in the house.”

  Belinda began to tremble. Her lower lip quivered, and she quickly succumbed
to tears. “I . . . I didn’t want to believe it, Em. Oh . . . God. I knew as soon as I saw the damage to the door. He used a laser torch to get in. I saw him use one on the night I first met him.”

  Emily held her, unable to hold back her own tears.

  “This . . . can’t be real?” Belinda said, weeping.

  “We’ll get through this together. Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

  Belinda broke the embrace and wiped her eyes. “To the only place I can think to go.”

  “Where’s that?”

  “Boston. I have no choice but to go to my mother’s place. Damn, I need you, Em. I can’t face her alone.”

  “I’ll be right beside you, all right?”

  “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

  “Let’s just finish packing and go.”

  “OK.”

  ***

  Drake lay on a motel bed with a half-consumed bottle of whiskey in his hand. Having driven aimlessly for the last five days, his latest stop was Little Rock, Arkansas. The transmission receiver for the bug he’d planted in Belinda’s room had been switched on constantly. He’d kept it on the seat beside him in the Chevy, in his pocket at every filling station, and in every motel room. There had been nothing but silence. Now, finally, he had an answer.

  He picked up the receiver and stared at it as the voices of his sister and The Interceptor’s lover came through. Intoxicated, he was barely concerned that he’d left evidence of himself at the ranch.

  He smiled at the invincibility of his position. Wilmot had brought him back. How would they explain him still being alive? Could they really do anything other than conceal his actions in order to cover their own asses?

  And who’d ever guess Boston, Massachusetts would be his next destination?

  Twenty-Seven

  Capitol Hill

  Wilmot pulled up in the parking lot at CIA headquarters, his tension persistent and debilitating. Something was going down. He could feel it. The news that Drake’s fingerprints had been discovered at Faraday Ranch had reached him the night before. The matter was now more desperate than ever.

  He took his cell phone out and selected Slamer’s contact. Talking to him in the car eliminated the risk of interruptions and potential discovery, which was always a possibility in the office.