by Nadirah Foxx
Someone removed a helmet, and long blonde hair cascaded from it. A woman. “Not bad. Close to a grand. Give or take a few hundred.”
She high-fived her partner—a guy with long wavy brown hair. He carried his helmet under his arm and grinned like they’d just knocked off a bank.
Mr. Average said, “Not nearly enough. We’ll add it to the fund.”
“Not fair,” she whined. “We worked hard for that. We should get our cut.”
“She’s right,” said her partner.
“You know something? Both of you are right.” Mr. Average reached into his jacket and tugged out a gun. Before anyone could react, he pointed the weapon at the long-haired crook and squeezed the trigger. The slug tore a hole in his chest. His body slumped to the ground like a graceless life-sized doll.
The woman screamed and dropped to her knees.
Fear gripped me. I slapped a hand over my mouth, trying to hold back the bile threatening to shoot out of me.
“Anyone else want to complain?” Mr. Average asked. When no one spoke, he pocketed his weapon and walked toward one of the warehouses.
Get the fuck out of there, the voice of reason said.
I waited until everyone left the scene and then took off running.
23
Change in Plans
I didn’t see the flaw in my plan until I was almost out of the warehouse district. How could I go to the police with the insignificant amount of information I’d gathered? Undoubtedly, I would be asked where the criminals were. It wouldn’t be enough to say in a warehouse. The LCPD would want me to pinpoint exactly. Then, I’d be asked what evidence tied them to my family’s murders. I couldn’t help in either regard.
The only way I could was by obtaining more details, which meant I had to go back. But I lacked my phone or a weapon. I’d be a sitting duck waiting to be discovered.
Change in plans… I’d return the next night. Maybe I could ask Debbie some general questions about Project Triton without letting on what I was up to. It was my best option.
◆◆◆
Hiking across the city was cumbersome and took me far too long on foot. By the time I reached the bunker, I was worn out, ravenous, and distressed. A long, hot shower did nothing to alleviate the tension. I raided the fridge and found leftover Chinese takeout and beer. Usually the trio—bathing, food, and alcohol—soothed me. That night, nothing decreased the random thoughts plaguing my mind.
I’d found the men responsible for Ryan’s and RJ’s deaths, but I had no way to prove it was them. I thought donning the suit would help. Hell, it worked for the superheroes in the movies. Put on a cape and a mask and apprehend the bad guys. In real life, an outfit wasn’t enough. A weapon or two combined with an actionable plan was needed.
I held out hope that Ryan created more than a suit. I was also trusting that my inventive husband crafted tools to be used with it. Maybe Debbie would know where to find them.
Desperate to hear a voice—or an opinion not my own—I went to my bedroom and pulled out the tablet. After inputting my passcode, I found the video Ryan recorded. Once again, I hit play and listened to the man I missed.
“Hey, Kerrie. If you’re watching this, then my worst nightmare happened.”
I hit pause and then scanned forward.
“I’ve been working on a project. Something that could be a game changer for the military and the police.” Ryan ran a hand through his close-cropped dark-brown hair and then leaned in. “There are those who want the technology for themselves. They’ll do anything to get it, including kill.”
Wiping my tears, I wondered if that was what happened. Did someone kill my husband for a fucking suit? It wasn’t like the prototype was weaponized. The damn thing wouldn’t stop a bullet. Hell, it didn’t even have a pocket for a cell phone. Just what made it so valuable?
I restarted the footage again.
“Kerrie, baby, I should have shared this with you sooner. But I was trying to keep you safe.” He sighed. “You have to test the prototype. Debbie can access the suit for you. I’d begun a design for weaponry. Check with Debbie. She knows about all of this, including plans to use stealth technology on a car. I had big ideas, baby. Put them to use.” He leaned back in his seat. “Work with her, Kerrie. The woman is a Godsend. She’s smart and so very talented. And before you jump to any conclusions, I wasn’t sleeping with her. You were the only one I shared myself with.”
My husband knew me so well.
Maybe those were the conclusions he would have made had the tables been turned?
Regardless, Ryan put a lot of faith in his assistant. My assistant. I hoped it was warranted.
“Last thing, baby. I love you. I know losing me will be hard, but you have to move on. RJ deserves a daddy, and you deserve to be happy. I’ll be watching over you two, wishing I could be with you. Love you, baby.” Ryan smiled one more time, and the frame froze.
I tossed the tablet onto the bed and lay back on the pillows. My head hurt along with my heart. Viewing the video was the third hardest thing I’d done since losing my family.
But I had to watch it. Without doing so, I wouldn’t know how to find the culprits responsible for his death. I had to compile a list. A list of all those individuals or companies who wanted to acquire Project Triton. The person behind the killings might be part of that group.
Turning off the bedside lamp, I rolled onto my side and closed my eyes. The one thing Ryan had wrong… His major goof was thinking I’d move on. Of course, he had no idea RJ would die with him. Finding a new father for my son wasn’t necessary. My goal in life—finding justice for Ryan and RJ—was all I required.
◆◆◆
Cracking an eye open, I glanced at my cell phone. It was four in the morning, and I was still awake. I might have slept for an hour or so. My choice was simple. Lay there with my eyes closed, faking sleep. Or, I could get out of bed. Get some work done. I chose the latter.
After slipping on a pair of Ryan’s sweatpants and a hoodie, I found my sneakers and headed to the makeshift gym. Rather than run outside at that hour, I opted for a ten-minute jog on the treadmill. Then, I grabbed a pair of dumbbells and proceeded with chest presses, rows, squats, and bicep curls. I finished with a couple of triceps exercises. My mind was a little clearer, but fatigue kicked my ass.
I dragged to the bedroom and collapsed on the bed. Honestly, I couldn’t keep up the crazy pace. I was barely sleeping, hardly eating, and all I wanted to do was go after the bad guys.
They would hate me, but I picked up the phone. I sent Debbie a quick text, and then I contacted Josh.
I was about to disconnect when he answered. “Hello?”
“It’s me, Josh.”
Panic entered his voice. “Are you okay?”
“No. I’m tired and can’t sleep. I need to talk to someone.”
“I’m here.”
“In person. Can you come by the office? Just come downstairs.”
“Sure, sure. Let me get dressed, and I’ll be there as soon as I can. Is there food in the fridge?”
“Yeah. It’s stocked. I just don’t—”
He chuckled. “You never were much of a cook. I’ll fix you something.”
As soon as he disconnected, I received a text.
DEBBIE SCOTT: IS EVERYTHING OKAY?
I only wanted to say everything once, so she had to be there.
KERRIE KING: NO. I WATCHED THE REST OF RYAN’S VIDEO.
DEBBIE SCOTT: DO YOU NEED ME? I CAN COME BY.
KERRIE KING: PLEASE. JOSH IS ON HIS WAY. HE’LL MAKE US AN EARLY BREAKFAST.
DEBBIE SCOTT: SOUNDS GOOD. SEE YOU SOON.
I set my phone on the nightstand and padded across the floor to the bathroom. At that moment, I would have given anything for a hot soak in a tub—if I had one. Sadly, the shower would have to do.
Fifteen minutes later, I emerged from the bathroom and wrapped a fluffy white robe around me. It still bore a faint scent of Ryan—a trace of cologne lingering on the collar.
&nbs
p; The computer voice announced, “You have a visitor. Pardon me, you have two visitors.”
I grinned at the system’s efficiency. Seconds later, Debbie—dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt—entered the tech lab with Josh behind her.
“Kerrie?”
“In the apartment,” I cried out from the kitchen.
She rushed into the room. “Hey…” Debbie’s voice trailed off when she saw I wasn’t dressed.
I plopped my ass on a stool as Josh entered the room. My best friend, wearing sweats, looked worn out. His hair was disheveled, and he hadn’t shaved yet.
“Kerrie, what’s going on?” He yawned.
Resting my elbows on the counter, I dropped my head into my hands. “I watched Ryan’s video before going to bed.”
“Video?” Josh’s eyebrows knitted together.
“He made it a month before he was killed,” Debbie said. She glanced at me. “Do you mind my telling…”
I shook my head.
“Ryan was working on a proprietary product. He’d invented a material that made things invisible.”
Josh’s eyes widened.
Debbie sat beside me. “He hoped to share it with the military and police departments.”
“For what purpose?” Josh asked.
“Uniforms primarily. It would allow for covert missions. Troops could go into an area totally in stealth mode.” Debbie jumped up and went to the cabinets. She pulled out the container of coffee pods and loaded the maker.
Josh scratched his jaw. “Did anything ever happen with the project?”
Debbie looked over at me. It was time for a little confession. “Ryan made a prototype.” I swallowed hard. “It works.”
They both stared at me. Debbie grinned while Josh quirked an eyebrow.
“How do you know it works?” he asked.
Debbie placed a mug beneath the dispenser. As the coffee was delivered, she said, “I believe Kerrie tested it.”
Josh’s mouth gaped open.
“How did things go?” Debbie asked as she handed me a steaming cup.
“I think I found Ryan and RJ’s killers.”
My best friend shook his head before he opened the fridge. “What did you do, Kerrie?”
“Nothing.” I decided against telling them I overheard their conversation. Instead, I relayed what happened at Colossal Burger.
Josh set a carton of eggs and a package of sausage on the counter. “So you thought it was a good idea to get into a windowless van and follow two criminals?” His face reddened. “What were you thinking?”
“It was the guy from the security footage,” I blurted. “The same guy.”
Debbie walked around the counter, opened another cabinet, and pulled out a bowl. “Did you find out where they’re hiding?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know if they’re hiding in the warehouse district, but that’s where I left them. I plan to go back—”
“No, you’re not!” Josh shouted. “It’s too dangerous.”
Debbie went over to the sink and washed her hands. Drying them on a paper towel, she said, “We can protect her, Josh.”
“You went without a phone. Without a weapon. That’s asinine, Kerrie.” He was still speaking in short sentences. It would be overstating the obvious to say he was pissed.
“Rather than a phone, we give her an inner ear comm,” stated Debbie. “It’ll be under the mask—”
“There’s a fucking mask?” Josh shouted.
Debbie faced me. “You won’t lose it. As far as a weapon, what are you comfortable with?”
Josh’s face reddened more.
“I prefer a knife,” I admitted.
Although I had a Glock and could shoot it, I abhorred guns and Josh knew it. Problem was, he didn’t like the idea of me using a weapon. It was why he liked walking me to my car when we were at the precinct. It was why Josh liked me to call him to make sure I got home. He felt it was his responsibility—along with Ryan’s—to keep me safe. But that responsibility was mine.
“It takes time to become an expert with any weapon, Kerrie,” Josh stated.
Debbie placed a skillet on top of the stove. “True. How are your fighting skills?”
“I excelled at the hand-to-hand combat training taught at the precinct.”
Josh started to speak, but Debbie touched his arm. “She has to be protected. For now, we perfect her fighting skills. Make sure Kerrie can do some serious damage—enough to get away if needed.”
“And then what?” Josh took a step backward and leaned against the counter. “You want her to pretend she’s some superhero. Why? To test a dumb-ass prototype?”
My patience was wearing thin with him. I loved him to death, but Josh was being a tad short-sighted.
“This isn’t about testing a product, Josh. I have a chance to get justice for Ryan and RJ. You were my husband’s friend and my son’s godfather. Don’t you want that?”
“Kerrie—”
“You know what?” Debbie said. “I have some things upstairs I should see about. I’ll give you some time.”
My assistant didn’t wait for us to say anything to her. She simply rushed from the room.
“Don’t, Josh!” I snapped and stormed to the bedroom.
Sadly, he didn’t know how to take a hint. “You don’t get to do that!”
“Do what?” I whirled around and practically ran into him.
He exhaled. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
“No!”
Josh crossed his arms. “Could have fooled me. I’m willing to help you in any way possible, but don’t put your neck on the line like this.”
I had to calm down before I said something I couldn’t take back. “If you want to help me, I need to find out who wanted the prototype.”
“Huh?”
“On Ryan’s video, he said there were those who wanted the technology. He said they were willing to kill to get it,” I said in a slightly calmer tone.
Josh walked past me and sat on the edge of the bed. “I want to see the video.”
I pointed to the tablet near him. “Knock yourself out. I don’t need it anymore.”
He picked up the device. “Let me check out the footage before you do something stupid.”
“What do you expect me to do in the meantime?”
“I have a friend. He teaches weaponry at the Academy. Do you mind if I bring him on board?”
I did, but if it made Josh more comfortable with my mission, then I’d do it.
I was done waiting for someone else to obtain the justice my family deserved.
24
Subterfuge in Effect
Debbie eventually returned, and the three of us had an early breakfast courtesy of Josh. When he said he needed to lie down, I took the opportunity to learn more about Project Triton. My assistant and I went to the tech lab where she pulled up computer files regarding the proprietary product.
“How much do you know about physics?” she asked.
“Not much. It wasn’t my specialty. Ryan, however, was fascinated by it.”
“Yes, he was. He studied the work of a theoretical physicist named John Pendry before creating Project Triton.”
The physicist’s name didn’t strike a bell.
When I didn’t offer up anything, Debbie continued, “Anyway, Pendry came up with an idea, which he named the invisibility cloak. Essentially, it was his attempt to manipulate light by use of special materials.”
“Why?”
“Instead of trying to make a person invisible, it would be easier to direct light around an object so it couldn’t be seen.” Debbie’s fingers flew across the keyboard. She stopped and pointed at the monitor. Displayed on the screen was a picture of something that looked like a complex piece of corrugated material. “This is a metamaterial. It’s a synthetic substance engineered to have a property not usually found in natural materials.”
“That’s what the prototype is made from?”
“Yes.”
I scr
atched my head. “How did Ryan get it?”
“He knew and employed the right person,” she said without giving any details. “What’s important is that scientists have been working with these materials for a long time, trying to perfect them.”
“In order to make something invisible,” I said.
“Not just something but anything. Ryan envisioned military usage for the metamaterial. He thought it would have great cloaking abilities even for the police. Where others failed, Ryan succeeded. And, like I said before, there are those—good and bad—who want his secret.”
“Like who?”
“Companies specializing in international defense, aerospace, and security. You can imagine how the bad guys would love to get their hands on it.”
I could, and I didn’t like the implications.
“I spoke to Josh about the prototype. He wants to help. Could you work with him on a list? I want to know who the suspects are. Maybe someone affiliated with one of the companies is responsible for Ryan’s and RJ’s deaths. He or she might even be the mastermind behind the rash of crime in the tri-city area.”
“I’d be happy to work with Josh.” Debbie sat back in the chair and studied me as if I were an open book. “But I’m guessing you want more than the nuts and bolts of how the prototype was created.”
“As a matter of fact…” I started. Leaning forward, I said, “Whoever created the suit has to find a way for me to carry a weapon.” The damn thing didn’t even come with pockets. “Regarding the communication device, we need that in place as soon as possible.”
“Anything in mind for the weapon?”
I closed my eyes and thought about what I wanted. “An easily concealed knife.”
My refusal to use a gun wasn’t just my dislike for the firearm. I didn’t want to handle the very thing that robbed me of my family.
Debbie pursed her lips. “The person who created the prototype is on staff at Sentinel. I can have him create a belt to hold a blade in the buckle. Possibly a three-and-a-half-inch stainless steel knife. Would that help?”
It wasn’t perfect. If I wanted to do more than just wound, I needed something bigger, but it was better than nothing.
