CHAPTER THREE
Bomb
“H-he had dark hair and I didn’t see his eyes. I don’t know how he got, but-” She explained speeding through the words making them nearly incomprehensible.
“Hold on talk slower.” I said, then I remembered.
“Claire, I love you but hush up real quick okay?” I asked her as I swept the room.
“but.” She said. I signaled her to be quiet. I scanned the room thoroughly, and good thing too. I was right. I had found what I was looking for. Three minuscule listening devices and two cameras had been placed strategically around the room. I crushed them knowing that they would find out no matter what I did. I shut all the blinds and pulled the curtains closed. I would just have to hope whoever it was who was doing this didn’t have X-ray vision.
“Alright, Claire, go ahead.” I said.
“What were those?”
“They were some cameras and microphones. I have been finding them around all week.” I said.
“Renady what’s going on?” She said her voice shaking.
“I don’t know, but what happened what did the man say?”
“He gave me this. He told me I needed to give it to you.” What she held in her hand was a little wrapped present. I didn’t know if it was safe to open. It could be some weird chemical thing, or a bomb that opening it would trigger it. Or it could simply be a letter and present. I figured it was one of the first options. Why would I receive a present from someone I didn’t know, and why would they have Claire so freaked out if it were harmless?
“He said if I don’t give it to you, he would…that he would…” She placed a hand to her mouth. I pressed my hand to the box feeling for any warm spots. Then, I held it up to my ear. That’s when I started running.
“Claire, stay here!” I said. I threw open the front doors, and ran down our long driveway. There was a sewer in the middle of our street that they had started work on. It would be the perfect place to throw a bomb into. Then as I plopped down onto the ground I realized that it was too perfect, something strange was going on, and maybe just maybe I was playing into their hand by throwing it into that particular sewer. Someone might be there to ambush me. I didn’t have any other choice but underground and I knew it. The parcel was already starting to get hot. What I didn’t know was how much time I had left until this thing did whatever it was supposed to. I ran to the other side of the road it was farther away from where I was, and I didn’t know if I could make it. There was another sewer hole there so I ran to it. I tried lifting it up but it was too heavy. I needed something to pry it open with. I looked around me. I was near a house that was still being built. Near it was a piece of scrap metal I could probably use. I ran towards it. The parcel was getting warmer and starting to vibrate. I was just arm’s length away from the piece of metal, when I tripped and fell, hitting my head on the road. Warm blood trickled down my face. I ripped a piece off of the bottom of my shirt. Luckily I had changed out of my uniform. I tied it around my head knowing that if I let it bleed then I wouldn’t be able to see, and of course I didn’t know how deep the gash was. I reached my arm out and grabbed the piece of metal. I jumped up, and ran to the hole. I slid the metal under the lid and started prying. I gasped as the metal cut into my hands. I pulled the lid away, dropped the present inside, placed the lid back in place, and ran for dear life. I was only a yard away when the explosion happened. It blew the top off of the hole and ash and rocks flew everywhere. Flames leapt up around me. I dropped down and covered my face. I jumped back up and started running again I was just about to reach my house when I saw a group of men running towards me. I ran and used my momentum to swing my elbow around knocking out one guy, while I spun my foot around knocking the other one out. One more left. I ran towards him and used the SING combo. With them momentarily down, I ran back to the house. I threw open the door, locked it tight behind me, and set the alarm. I could distantly hear Claire calling my name as I staggered over to her just before passing out.
I woke up in the hospital with an IV stuck in my arm. I felt numb and I assumed I was on pain medication. I blinked open my eyes it was a little foggy at first. I noticed there were three people standing over me. I could tell by their stance they weren’t Claire, Kaylyn, or Aunt Lil. I’m pretty sure none of them wore men’s suits. I rubbed my eyes. Apparently death came in threes. It was the three men who I had knocked out however many days ago it was.
“When will you idiots leave me alone? Isn’t it enough that I had to defuse a bomb and be rushed to the hospital? I mean if you are going to kill me do it all ready I am pretty stinking vulnerable right now it would be an easy kill. I’m sure you’re itty bitty egos would get a kick out of it,” I said glaring at all of them in turn. I guess a normal person would be scared out of their wits right now, but I had had enough. I was happy to see that I had left my mark, one had a big bruise on the side of the neck and the other I could tell had a broken nose and was limping and the third was pail and had bags under his eyes. I laughed.
“Wow nice nose. I really like the bandage, it really compliments to the rest of your features.” I said to the second. “Oh and I just love that bruise it matches your eyes.” I commented to the first. “Why and aren’t you just a corpse walking? Just get plastic surgery and I would think you were that vampire on TV.” The first two were really angry but the third just laughed.
“You’re a fighter aren’t you?” he said
“You’re just now figuring that out?” I retorted. “So how are you going to attempt to kill me today gentlemen? Inject an untraceable poison into my IV line? Shoot me, stab me, torture me with your bad breath? Seriously though guys, answer a dead girl this: do you really expect to attract a girl smelling like that? Because if you do, I assure you, forever alone won’t be an exaggeration,” I said.
“Oh I assure you we have absolutely no intention of killing you, far from it. I am afraid we will have to discuss the reasons of why we have been following you a bit later.” The man said.
“Oh really, and how are you going to do that? My Aunt Lil tends to be a bet, overprotective. That, and I hear the hospital doesn’t take to well to patients disappearing.”
“Oh, Ms. Lillian? Wonderful lady actually we have already found a way around that.”
“Uh-hu, and what exactly is that?” I asked
“That you excelled in school and we want to test you skills and then have you teach lessons to under privileged children. As soon as they release you, you will be coming with us.” He explained.
“Nice cover, very flattering. What are you really?” I asked
“we work for the CIA, and we have orders to bring you in.”
“Uh, hu. I see. How long have I been here?”
“Three days.” They replied.
“What does aunt Lil think happened?” I asked.
“Okay… you tried to blow me up why?”
“Our director E. Johnson will explain that.” The man said.
“What about Claire?” I said.
“We had to give her something to make her forget all about it.” They said in unison. I didn’t know what to say to that. There was a knock on the door then Aunt Lil walked in.
“You’re awake! Did you have a nice chat?” She asked.
“Yes, I am so excited to find out why they picked me for this-” I hesitated. “Honor,” I said with a smirk. I knew that the agents would know I wasn’t talking about the lessons to the under privileged children. They knew full well I was actually talking about meeting this E. Johnson man and figuring out what he wants so badly from me that they would blow me up to get it.
“Oh, I am so glad you are excited I think it is a great opportunity, even if I don’t get to come with you.” She said.
“Don’t worry I can take care of myself fairly well when it comes to self defense. I am afraid I can’t make the same statement with accidentally hurting myself.” I said gesturing at the room. She laughed.
“You have been a bit clumsy lately
haven’t you?” She said. “Well I have good news the hospital says that they are releasing you today now that you are awake.” She said. “Good.” I replied. Not good. Really, not good.
Operation You've Got To Be Kidding Me Page 6
