“Kevin, are you in more danger than we thought?”
“Not necessarily.” He leaned across the table as he looked around the empty diner. “I’ve been looking into a few cases that have to do with a large corporation that has spies in all levels of government. That’s why I didn’t tell Agent Watson, but the two of you are trustworthy people and will use the information wisely.”
“Does this have to do with Urban Energy?” Ryan asked, eager to have something on the company.
“Sort of. You know I’ve been looking into the origins of the company, but what I found was the much earlier company, the Golden Opportunity Company. Then it split and became two separate companies. The rebranding made things a little more difficult, but the GME and the Urban Energy Corporation were born.”
“The GME, as in the bank that helps criminals of the world with their banking needs?” I started putting the pieces together. “No wonder you didn’t want to send us anything. People who go up against them disappear.”
“Exactly. The thing is that the man who owns/runs this portion of Urban Energy is one of the owners of GME. His name is on the original paperwork.”
“Holy crap!” Ryan exclaimed.
“That’s some important information, but what can we do with it?”
“Nothing right now. I have to keep digging, but there’s going to be some interesting fallout when this hits the news. I don’t think we can do anything with this until after the zodiac killer is done, but I’m going to keep collecting information until then. I just wanted to let you know what I’d found, and have someone else that wasn’t in the agency looking out for me.”
“We’ve got your back in any way that we can help,” I acknowledged.
He looked around. “I have to pick up the food I called in and get back. I’m getting more paranoid, and it’s only been a few days. I’ll reach out again when I can.”
He paused, turning back. “How much do you trust Mac?”
“With my life.”
He nodded. “All right. It might come to that for me if I need someone to help get us out.”
Then he was gone.
“What do you make of that?” I questioned Ryan.
“Nothing good. It does confirm our suspicions.”
“So, what were you going to tell me?”
Ryan’s face lit up. “When Flora told me to go home, I had a long talk with Shea. She’s expecting.”
“Oh, my.” I worked through my shock quickly because that wasn’t what I’d expected him to say. “That’s amazing. Congratulations.”
“I’m still getting used to the idea, but Shea’s already making plans. We’re going to have a quiet wedding now, and then a reception at the end of the year.”
I knew why he was delaying an actual celebration, the zodiac master. He was screwing with all our lives.
“That should be perfect. Maybe things will calm down before that and let us have a life.” Making a split-second decision, I announced, “I’m going to go on a date next week.”
“That’s a sudden shift. What made you change your mind?”
“You. The baby. Shea. I want what you have, and I won’t get it by staying in the past. I’m making a choice to move on with my life after Jerome.”
“Well, let me know how the date goes. I’ve gotta get back. We’re gonna have to watch our backs.”
“Yes, we will.” I smiled as he left.
Suddenly, the smell of the restaurant was making me nauseous and I raced outside, hoping that I didn’t puke up my guts.
“What if I was pregnant?” It had been just long enough since I’d been with Jerome, and my body might have skipped my normal monthly cycle because of the shooting.
Adam might have said my dizzy spells were the cause of spent energy, but what if there was another reason?
A trip to the drug store was in order. I hadn’t even considered the possibility of being pregnant. When I was shot, all the antibiotics and other stuff would have made my birth control ineffective.
The drive home wasn’t fast enough for me.
I didn’t want to do this alone, but there wasn’t anyone I could call. Flora would be willing, but I didn’t want to tell anyone if this was a false alarm.
Tearing into the house, I ran to the bathroom, ripping open the box. I’d never had to use one of these before. I threw it on the counter and pulled out a second one. I wanted to be completely sure.
Those were the longest three minutes of my life as I waited on those little sticks to do their thing.
One line appeared on both, and I grabbed the box to see what that meant.
Two lines would mean I was, and one meant I was in the clear. I’d heard that it took a little longer for the second line to appear, so I gave it another three minutes just in case.
No extra lines appeared, and I slid to the floor in relief. It wasn’t that I didn’t want a kid, but now just wasn’t the time. The fact that it would have been Jerome’s would’ve made the situation difficult.
It was time for a celebration of my own. I walked to the kitchen and pulled out the bottle of whiskey.
Finding the zodiac killer could wait another day because it was time I got the last stage of my frustrations out. He wasn’t going to win.
The Zodiac Master
Female lumberjacks wanted for a special competition. Must be willing to get dirty. Owning your own chainsaw is a must.
The pool of applicants was much smaller than I’d had in previous months. While I was disappointed that the twins hadn’t finished their mission, it was to be expected, though, as Leslie and Ryan got better at their jobs and knew what to search for. Keeping them from discovering my recruits until the month was over would continue to get more difficult as my project continued.
I hadn’t planned on Leslie using the universe against me. I couldn’t have that happen again. There were a few ways to prevent it, but I wasn’t sure that it was completely possible with the level of her strength.
She’d been digging into the past, but hadn’t found the truth about herself yet. She would before it was all over.
Ryan’s attention was divided now that he was going to be a father, and that would work in my favor later on. He would have to make a choice, one that any father would dread.
This next month would mark the halfway point in our little adventure. Then I would let my true colors out for the world to see.
* * *
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-Alathia Paris Morgan
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