“Well, a day at least but that depends on why you came down here to begin with. Of course, around here the weather can have a lot of say in it too. I will have to take you by boat up the coast until we can reach a rendezvous point, or someplace to fly out from.”
He held a glass and poured the tea from a pitcher. He turned his head slightly and raised one eyebrow. He walked toward her and she looked at the leather shoulder holster that held an ivory handled silver revolver with a noticeably long barrel. It reminded her of something out of an old Western. “Now what would you shoot with that?” She chuckled.
“Bad guys. Werewolves maybe.” Kidd smiled, “actually it’s unlikely I’d shoot it at anything. Really it’s all about presence.”
“Presence?” She said, with an arched brow.
“In this line of work nothing can be more intimidating than a big gun.” He winked and smiled.
Did he just wink at me? I don’t think I’ve ever been winked at. What’s up with those eyes anyway?
She noticed that he was already performing before her. Strolling up to her shirtless, save the brown shoulder holster against his tanned thick chest. This is the guy I was checking out in the pictures! She finally got a good look at his eyes and figured out why they seemed unusual, one eye was green and the other was blue. “I think I get it.” She said.
“Perhaps, if you’re lucky.” He laughed with yet another wink and handed her the glass.
“Ha ha! Very funny. I’m sorry to disappoint you, but it takes more than a big barrel and a cheesy one-liner for me. Although, I’m sure you get plenty of company up in your little love nest.”
Kidd couldn’t tell for sure if she was playing along or being sarcastic. “I’m sorry, I have a habit of keeping things lighthearted and honestly you are my very first female guest. So congratulations!”
“Um okay, I’ll buy that.” Lexi smiled at him and was amused at how he seemed genuinely sorry when he thought he may have offended her. She decided to let him know that she didn’t mind his playfulness. “And—just for the record, a big pistol is a pretty good start!” She winked back at him and was rewarded with a beaming smile.
“Seriously I need to know a few things. In case the bad guys decide to come looking for you. What am I up against here and how did a nice girl like you end up with an old bum like Kurt?”
“Well I have a little confession, maybe two.” She said softly while carefully gauging his reaction. “I’m not Kate. That would be my older sister. My name is Alexandria, people call me Lexi. I’m here to meet with you about finding my sister. She sent me a letter which was odd enough that she didn’t call. Even though we haven’t seen each other in a few years, we would still each drop everything and go to the end of the earth for each other, even to Medellin Colombia.” She hesitated and watched him look around the room.
“Okay keep talking,” pausing as he recalled her name “Lexi. Some people just call me Kidd, but my first name is Ryan.”
“The letter only said that she needed me to explicitly follow her instructions.” Lexi pulled the folded and tattered letter from her backpack and handed it to Kidd. “Here take a look it’s pretty badly damaged. She has been out of the country for a few weeks now, apparently working on some sort of archaeological research.”
Her face looked saddened and Ryan picked up on it. “It was mailed from Israel. She told me what she needed, but the letter was badly damaged before I received it. She wanted me to go to her house, pick up an old coin from her safe and have you come with me to bring it to her.” She watched as Ryan looked over the letter. He held it up to try to see if he could make out the illegible parts.
Ryan interrupted, “and you didn’t think it was a good idea to just ask Kurt what was going on?”
“No. You don’t know, do you?” She waited, collecting her thoughts before breaking the news to him. “I’m sorry, but Kurt has been dead for almost two years now.”
Ryan’s hands dropped to his side and he looked at Lexi. “What? How? I haven’t heard a thing.” Ryan stared out the window, silently looking at the sea as he processed the unexpected news about the fate of an old friend. “Wow I guess I really have been off the radar a little too long. Tell me what happened. Please.”
“Sorry, I thought you knew. It wasn’t an accident though. The medical examiner listed his death as suicide but Kate never believed the findings. I have a hard time believing it. You knew Kurt, I mean, that is completely out of character. He wasn’t afraid of anything or anyone. It just didn’t make sense.”
Ryan sat on the arm of a worn leather chair. “I know it seems out of character, Lexi. I can tell you Kurt was one of those career Special Forces and CIA guys. It may sound corny, but they have this unspoken warrior code of conduct.”
“A warrior like you?” Lexi said softly.
Ryan nodded. “Yes and no. I’m not like Kurt. I lack the patriotism and devotion to government. Well anyway, these are the most intelligent focused and stable people you will meet. The dark side that comes with that is a lust for danger and an addiction for adrenaline.
Kurt was older than me. He was just finishing up his tour as a CIA liaison with the Naval Special Warfare Command when I was the youngest guy just starting out on my SEAL Team. He taught me a lot. One thing that he and all the rest taught me by example was their ethos.
I guess you could compare the mindset to the old samurai. It wasn’t just some pledge or oath. It was an entire way of life that they expected each other to live by. The center of it all was honor. Honor to themselves and to each other. If ever they felt they had broken the way of life,” Ryan paused as if he didn’t want to finish, “Well the Samurai would...”
“I know, ritual suicide. So you think that is what drove Kurt to it?” Lexi asked.
“I have no idea. I just wanted to let you know that the act of a suicide could actually be in line with his character and statistically they have a higher suicide rate because as their lives go on, they may find themselves unable to comply with the almost impossible code of conduct. Now, exactly what happened? Who found him and how did they say he did it?”
Tears welled up in Lexi’s eyes as she struggled to speak the words that didn’t want to leave her tongue. She hated discussing the subject more than anything. Kurt was more than a brother-in-law to her. He was the brother she had always yearned for.
Ryan gently took the back of his finger and wiped the tears from Lexi’s cheek. “Sorry, I shouldn’t be so–.”
“No, no. It’s okay. Well it’s not okay what happened but I haven’t talked to anyone about it in so long. He was a part of my life also, for many years. I think of how hard it hit Kate. She sealed it all up inside and now I’m afraid it’s eating her alive.”
Lexi stopped to wipe her eyes and took a deep breath to regain her composure. “Anyway, he used a gun. It looked like he simply drove out to a forested park and shot himself. That’s where some park ranger found him. The feds handled the entire investigation themselves. It took a long time and they picked Kurt’s life apart looking at every detail...our lives too.”
“That’s normal for people with national security clearances. If there’s a suicide they are double checking, triple checking to be sure there was no blackmail or espionage that he could have been involved in. They also need to be certain that no classified information that he was privy to could have been compromised in any way. Did anyone tell you if they found anything out of the ordinary?”
“They said that there was nothing out of the ordinary, but I did snoop on them and listened in on them when they were in his office.”
Lexi’s eyes lit up and she looked at Ryan. Her tone changed from somber to astonishment. “How could I not remember? They were looking into a trip he made to Israel quite a few years ago. I don’t know when it was, but for some reason that was one thing I heard them mentioning as it was NOT on official business. You know he traveled a lot. That was the only trip that concerned them. Now Kate has gone to Israel! That must be what she
is up to. Trying to figure out something about Kurt’s death or something he was involved in. She is looking for answers herself! I don’t know what she hopes to find or why she is heading to some archaeological site, but at least her stop in Israel seems like it has to do with Kurt.”
“It could be. I’d say with some confidence it at least has something to do with Kurt, but we can’t assume anything. Don’t forget that for both archaeologists and anti-terrorism specialists Israel is one of those places that pulls them in like a magnet. So it wouldn’t be too surprising to find out that both Kurt and Kate had gone there at different times for unrelated reasons.”
Lexi admired Ryan’s level-headed reasoning. “I suppose you’re right. Still, I’m going to keep both scenarios in mind for now.”
“And it doesn’t explain the coin. Do you know if that coin was around anyplace where the investigators would have looked at it or taken it to examine it?” Ryan quizzed her.
“Not that I know of. I just found out that the coin existed the other day. I never heard them mention it, but they may have been looking for it and just didn’t want to say anything to us. They tore through everything so I have no idea where it was hidden during all of that. I know that Kate put it in the safe later on after they completed the investigation, or they would have found it.” Lexi took the coin out of a camera case in her backpack and handed it to Ryan who examined it. He handed it back to her after looking it over for just a short while. His reaction was nothing more than a simple shrug of his shoulders.
“Pretty big for a coin. Strange looking too. I guess we can’t worry about it yet, not until we find your sister. I’ll get a hold of some people and find out where she has been traveling, and I can get a good idea of where she is now and what she is doing. Now for my next question.” Ryan looked at her and spoke with genuine concern. “Why in the hell did you disregard your instructions from my company? That was pretty risky for you. Good thing I got your call and was able to track you!”
“Honestly, I had no patience to sit in Virginia for four days waiting while my sister is missing. I took matters in my own hands and flew down here. It’s not like I planned to get grabbed by those goons!”
“Well, you’re lucky you got a hold of me. I guess I don’t blame you. The home office likes to leave a large window for travel to be sure things are in place, but they don’t do a very good job of taking the travelers concerns into the equation. Now, meeting you in a firefight well, talk about presence! I hate to see what sort of war you would start just going to pick up your dry cleaning!”
Lexi laughed and replied “Well, I have a reputation for disaster.”
“Seriously. You actually managed to get yourself nabbed and rescued in the time it takes most people to unpack their suitcases. At least nobody was hurt. Well, nobody but me.”
Kidd smiled as he glanced at a piece of gauze taped over the spot that a single bullet had barely grazed his shoulder and another similar wound on the calf of his leg.
Pointing to his phone on the coffee table he said “By the looks of my checking account it appears your sister was prepared to pay well. Now go on, tell me what else you know and tell me more about yourself. I need to know more. Have a seat, please.” He made a sweeping motion with his glass to invite her to the couch as he sat in the chair.
He certainly did need to know. He had to admit that he admired her. Suddenly he saw a glimpse of a trait that many people talk about but few people could actually pull off, bravery. She was in way over her head, but her strength overcame that by far. She wasn’t about to let anything stop her from fulfilling her sister’s wishes.
A thought came to Ryan that perhaps he was pushing too hard, especially after all she had just gone through. This could wait a little longer. She looked exhausted and Ryan knew she needed to rest. “You know what? This can wait until morning. You are perfectly safe here. We can’t get out of here today anyway. The bedroom is right there and it has its own bathroom. Just make yourself at home and crash in my bed for tonight. I promise it’s clean. No bugs and it’s really comfortable. I’ll stay out here tonight.” Ryan walked away scratching the stubble on his chin and wondering about the sudden effect Lexi seemed to be having on him.
The sunlight had faded away through the pastels of evening and into darkness. Something was outside. Lexi heard several steps on the deck. It has to be Ryan, she thought. I’m not even going to look. If it’s an owl I am going to lose my mind.
She looked in the bathroom and the thought of a relaxing shower seemed inviting, but the large four poster bed covered with mosquito netting was calling her with more urgency. She was drained. She tried to collect her thoughts on the day but she couldn’t process much more. I think Kate was right to have Ryan come with me on this. I think I trust him and he’s certainly not bad to look at either.
The blades of a large ceiling fan swirled around overhead. They were barely visible from the crack of light that crept under the door and they reminded her of the helicopter blades from earlier in the day. An image appeared in her mind. It was the way Ryan had looked at her with a warm smile when she really needed it. Her thoughts became a soft cloud that faded into the distance and then sleep.
Ryan opened the door and went out onto the deck. His faithful dog that had been patiently waiting to come inside nudged him for affection. He eased himself into a large comfortable chair, dropping one hand down to pet his friend. The moonlight left a long ribbon of pale light on the water. Ryan watched the shimmering black water and started to think about something Lexi had said.
What was it that she had called me? A secret agent for hire. Was that a compliment or an insult? I hardly think I am anything like that. I wonder what she thinks of me.
He listened to the invisible waves lightly breaking on the beach below. It had taken a long time to think of the beach as anything but peaceful. He had spent twelve years as a Navy SEAL, and for him the open beach was the danger zone. The most vulnerable time for a SEAL was making it through the shallow water and across the open sand completely exposed. He had to be unseen and unheard. He thought of Lexi and wondered now which of them was more vulnerable.
He had left the Navy to create a team of specialists. Specialists that would perform the impossible and do it according to their own rules and by their own choice.
His mind drifted back to Lexi. What the hell was it about her that kept pulling at him? He had certainly found plenty of women, but none he had met ever felt like they could be the one that he could spend his life with. After all, in Ryan’s mind the ideal woman didn’t exist. She would have to be close enough to admire, but distant enough to always maintain just an air of mystery. She would have to be independent, smart, funny, passionate, and brave. He hadn’t found any that met those standards and he wasn’t sure if he had even bothered to try.
He supposed it was safer this way after witnessing so many tragedies. People that were overcome by grief over unimaginable loss. A broken hearted toddler crying at the death of a parent. A mother’s tears for the death of her child. A woman sobbing uncontrollably at the loss of her mate. No. He would have no part of that. Ryan convinced himself that he was destined to travel the world untethered. Love would be nothing more than an anchor around his neck. Romance was a physical act of foreplay to heighten the desire and then to cut and run in the afterglow.
Ryan thought about it all and kept going back to the same conclusion that he had come to lately. He had purposefully withdrawn from society to avoid having to maintain relationships that ultimately ended up with someone getting hurt. He had started to notice the price he paid. His friend had taken his own life two years ago and he didn’t even know about it. Beyond the sad news she brought him about Kurt, Lexi’s arrival had shaken his firm resolution to remain distant from all people. He was still trying to figure out if it was her that had suddenly made him yearn for companionship and love or if he was just that lonely.
The large Newfoundland dog next to him placed his giant slobbery head to res
t on his lap. He ran his fingers through the thick soft fur and scratched by his ears. “Sorry Buddy. I didn’t want you to jump all over our first house guest, and I don’t want you getting all attached to her either. I doubt we’ll see anymore of her after this job is done.”
Buddy, like most Newfoundland dogs was an accomplished swimmer and diver. He loved the surf and could even leap into the water from a low hovering helicopter. More than once Buddy had waited patiently by a hidden boat for Ryan to return from a mission. There were a few times when he had to help rescue a person by dragging the life jacket though the water with his powerful swim. Buddy’s greatest accomplishment was the time he saved two young children from a swollen river at the nearby fishing village a year ago. Ever since that day, he had become a welcome guest in the village at any time of day or night. On those visits, he would be treated like royalty and he was always provided plenty of cleaned fish to eat and bones to gnaw on. On a mission like today Buddy spent the day lounging under a tree or laying in his own personal hard plastic wading pool.
Ryan thought about where he was. The ocean before him was the gateway to the world. It was an accident he supposed that he was what he was, not to mention where he was. All of his younger years he was a daydreamer full of the curiosity that gnawed at him relentlessly. Perhaps it was finally time to move on once again.
Joining the Navy wasn’t some patriotic act for him. He recalled a warm summer afternoon on the porch of his grandfather’s farmhouse. His great Uncle had stopped by for a visit. He was transfixed as he listened to his Uncle tell tales of journeys to the South Pacific before WWII. With his stories, he painted exotic places that the young boy could picture as if he were looking through ancient copies of National Geographic. He knew right then he would become a chivalrous explorer of places, people, and things. This is how he saw himself and how he justified staying aloof from any and all relationships.
Lexi again came to mind. He needed to know how much danger would be coming their way. There was also another possibility concerning Kurt’s death, that he hadn’t told Lexi. There was no way to know yet how any of this could play out. His main concern was to know if he could trust her first. Mistrust of people was not just some character trait of his. It was a survival trait.
Conjuring Darkness Page 5
