Bogart caught her look as she seemed to drift off into her own world. “What is it?”
She replaced the sword and shook her head. “Zack would tease me about trading in my ‘wuss sticks’ for swords,” Jackie remarked. She cast her back against the wall and groaned. “What should I do, Bogart?”
“There’s nothing to do,” he replied. “We sit here and ride out the storm. Beck has that cell phone I liberated off Melissa Pendleton. Maybe it has some answers. This place has a satellite dish, and he got some information on those dead guys from your house.” He offered a tiny smile. “All we can do is hope for a miracle cure that gets us home in one piece.”
“And what about Zack?” she asked with a curious look. “Does he get home in one piece?”
“I don’t think there’s any home for him to return to,” Bogart replied, attempting to sound sympathetic for her sake. “He killed Kirk. It’s pretty much game over for him.” He sighed deeply and leaned against the wall alongside her. “I’m afraid that’s just the way it is, Jackie. You know that.”
She insecurely folded her arms across her chest and shivered slightly. “I know you’re right, but I don’t want to admit it.”
Bogart attempted a smile and pulled her into his arms. She placed her arms around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder as he held her. She never thought she’d find comfort in Bogart’s arms, but with the possibility of him being her brother still hanging in the balance, their relationship changed drastically and definitely for the better. Monroe appeared at the bottom of the stairs within the room and saw them in a warm embrace. They pulled apart when they saw him and noted his strange look. His attention then focused on the amazing weapon’s room.
“Stumbled into Zack heaven, huh?” Monroe remarked and nodded his approval.
Jackie and Bogart laughed at the irony of the comment.
†
Bogart fiddled with a gas powered weed whacker he’d found in the small, detached garage. The guys made their way outside and watched him manage to start the unit. Gil, Beck, and Monroe folded their arms across their chests and shared the same broad stance while watching the conman, wondering what he was up to this time. They watched with mild surprise as he cleared the entire backyard, taking it from a wild jungle to a semi-neat picnic area.
“He never willingly lifts a finger to do yard work at the lodge,” Beck remarked.
“Does he expect us to have a barbeque?” Gil muttered under his breath.
“Nah,” Monroe casually remarked. “I checked. There’s no propane for the grill.”
Gil and Beck eyed Monroe, who continued to watch Bogart. Of course, Monroe checked the grill. His obsession with outdoor grilling was beyond comprehension. Once the area was cleared, Jackie walked past the guys and joined Bogart. She looked around and nodded her approval.
“Looks good,” she announced and patted his arm before walking away.
All three men stared at the scene with puzzled looks.
Monroe was beyond astonished by what he’d been witnessing between Jackie and Bogart. “What’s with those two lately?” he demanded although it sounded more like whining.
“They have been oddly chummy,” Gil added then hid his teasing smile. “Maybe they’re having an affair.”
Beck and Gil cast secret looks at Monroe to witness his reaction to the comment.
Monroe sneered at them. “Never in a million years,” he snarled.
Beck shrugged it off. “Jackie needed a pet project,” he replied without care then headed inside.
Monroe frowned and continued to watch the couple interact by the tree line.
Gil noted Monroe’s moderately jealous expression then with all seriousness patted him on the back. “Don’t take it so hard, Monroe,” he announced. “I’m sure you’re somewhere in her top ten list if she ever trades in Holden.”
Monroe glared at Gil then smirked. “Is that all? I made Ellie’s top five.”
Gil’s eyes suddenly narrowed. Monroe scratched his brow with his middle finger and grinned, mocking him. Gil threw a punch for Monroe’s face, but he was already ducking and running. Gil chased after him even though he’d never catch the lanky, faster man.
†
It was just before nightfall. Beck returned to the backyard to find Sal sitting on one of the old picnic table benches. Sal casually sipped tea from a cup while watching Jackie and Pinto in the cleared area. Pinto was instructing Jackie on how to do basic forward flips while using her hands then quickly graduated her to flips without the use of her hands. Beck remained puzzled as he watched the women. Sal seemed entertained by the show.
“What’s happening out here?” Beck asked, indicating the women.
“Jackie needs to burn off some steam, so Pinto is teaching her some new tricks,” Sal casually replied. “It’s nice to see them bonding.”
“Pinto didn’t mention she was showing Jackie her old gymnastics moves,” Beck remarked.
Sal shrugged it off. “Just something for them to do, I suppose. Some women gossip, others like a little more physical activity.”
Bogart casually walked across the backyard carrying a large punching bag he’d found in the maintenance shed. It was covered in duct tape to plug up multiple holes. Beck watched as Bogart attached it to some hardware he’d rigged on one of the nearby trees.
Beck placed his hands on his hips then shook his head while watching. “Jackie certainly has him whipped these days,” he remarked.
“I think it’s great they’re keeping busy,” Sal replied. “I think between the exercises and finding Holden, Jackie’s in a much better place.”
“Getting Zack and Kirk laid usually made them more tolerable,” Beck remarked then shook his head. “Who knew it’d work with Jackie.”
Sal cast a disapproving look at Beck, although he didn’t seem to notice it. “And sometimes a woman just needs to be held,” Sal countered.
“Obviously, you’ve never had a bedroom next to hers,” Beck remarked. “She’s as aggressive in bed as she is in combat. Honestly, she can be a little scary at times.”
Sal fidgeted in his seat and seemed uncomfortable by the conversation. “Women are like Mutual Funds. You only get out what you’re willing to invest,” Sal informed him.
Jackie made a few attempts at backward flips, failing miserably. She became disgusted and gave up for the evening. Bogart proudly displayed the punching bag, grinned boyishly, and took a few steps back. Beck watched with great interest. Jackie kicked the bag then stepped back and instructed Pinto. As Pinto kicked the bag, Beck’s hands fell from his hips, and his expression immediately dropped.
“Oh, no,” he suddenly cried out while headed across the yard toward them.
Jackie and Pinto stopped and looked at him with surprise.
He approached Jackie and gave her a warning glare. “You’re not turning my girlfriend into a little Jackie clone,” he huffed. “I like her the way she is. Particularly the non-lethal part.”
“You’re being ridiculous,” Pinto informed him. “She’s not training me to kill. She’s just teaching me some self-defense moves. We discussed my learning to defend myself, remember?”
“And I think I should be the one to teach you,” Beck firmly insisted.
Both stared at him with surprise.
“Why’s that?” Jackie demanded while folding her arms across her chest as she glared at him. “I’m the better ass kicker of the two of us.”
“That’s exactly why,” Beck announced. “I don’t want this--” He indicated his girlfriend. “Turning into this.” He then pointed at Jackie.
“You’re being overly protective and royally annoying,” Jackie informed him. She then pointed to his lips. “And that can kiss this.” She then indicated her backside.
Beck glared at her without humor.
“I want to learn martial arts,” Pinto informed him. “Jackie’s the most qualified to train me, and we’ve got nothing but time on our hands.”
Beck was about to s
peak.
“Ultimately,” Pinto boldly continued, stopping him before he could speak, “it’s my decision.”
He immediately backed down and nodded. “Yes, it’s your decision,” Beck gently replied while attempting to relax. “It’s been a bad week. I just don’t want you following in our footsteps. I don’t want you putting yourself in harm’s way because you have a false sense of fighting skills. Just like shooting. I taught you how to shoot for defense only; not so you can fight alongside me and risk your life.”
“That’s not what’s happening, Beck,” Pinto insisted. “I know it takes years to get to Jackie’s level. I just want to be able to defend myself. I don’t want to be ‘the woman who screams’ anytime there’s danger.”
Beck kissed her warmly on the forehead. “Forget I was here,” he announced. “Just watch your injured shoulder.”
“Thanks for worrying,” Pinto replied warmly.
“Yeah, yeah,” Jackie scoffed and waved him off. “Save it for the bedroom. Back to work, princess.”
Beck stopped in his tracks and stared at Jackie with surprise. She saw the look he gave her then realized what she’d said. She managed a tiny smile.
“Sorry,” she replied gently. “Having a Zack moment.”
Beck eyed Pinto and indicated Jackie. “Don’t turn into that.”
Chapter Twenty-eight
The following morning, everyone woke early to the sound of an ATV. They were quick to grab their weapons and secure the ranger’s station. Gil, Darth, and Monroe took the back exit and made their way around the building while Jackie, Beck, and Bogart secured the front door. Sal, Pinto, and Ellie remained toward the back of the lobby area with their weapons handy. The sound of the approaching ATV got louder. Othello appeared on the path riding his four-wheeler. Given his size, they easily recognized him from afar. Everyone relaxed and lowered their weapons. Since they were already outside, Monroe and Gil approached the front of the building to greet him. Othello dismounted his ATV, saw Monroe, and grinned with enthusiasm. They shared a manly hug.
“Glad to see you in one piece, dude,” Othello announced then accepted Gil’s hand and gave him the official ‘chest bump’ greeting.
Darth greeted him with enthusiasm, and Othello was almost happier to see the dog. He gave Darth a good scratching then eyed the others as they stepped onto the porch. Othello saw Jackie and immediately beamed with joy. She met him halfway and hugged him. He gave her a big bear hug in return.
Othello then looked around. “Where’s Kirk?” When he was met with silence, he immediately groaned and shook his head. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s a long story,” Monroe informed him with disgust and uncertainly scratched his brow while avoiding making eye contact with Jackie.
Othello looked back at Jackie and managed a smile. “How’d you like the present I’d left you in the back bedroom?” he asked, attempting to change the subject to something more pleasant.
“I’m eternally grateful,” Jackie replied while returning the smile. “I should help him out of bed. He’ll be happy to see you.”
Othello entered the building with them and was immediately inundated with questions. He retold the same story Holden and Ellie had given about how he learned they were in danger. They gathered in the kitchen for coffee and fresh pastries he’d picked up and brought with him.
“I didn’t know what to do with Holden after I’d nabbed him from the hospital, so I got a friend to fly us back to Virginia thinking we’d hide out at my house,” Othello informed them. “Another friend then tells me there were guys casing my house. I was scrambling. I mean, for a big guy, I’m pretty much a shadow. How did they even know about me? Thankfully, I never leave home without my equipment.” He managed a tiny smile. “I did have to ‘borrow’ a few things. I can’t tell you how lucky I was when a friend found this place for me.”
Jackie helped Holden into the kitchen where they joined the others for coffee and pastries.
Othello then indicated Holden. “I brought Holden up here, hacked into the satellite dish, and heard what was happening. I figured the only soft target was Gil’s wife.” He then indicated Ellie. “She was also closest, so I went after her. I was thrilled to learn she was a nurse. I didn’t know what to do with Holden’s injuries, but she did. I found her a medical bag full of supplies just sitting in the back of this ambulance on our way here, so I was able to borrow that too.”
There was some soft chuckling.
“I didn’t know what to do for you guys,” Othello continued. “I was terrified to attempt a message of any kind. I was hearing all sorts of chatter from the underground. Someone is offering a million dollars on each of your heads.”
A round of groans followed as they learned of the actual dollar amount on their heads.
“Who the hell did we piss off?” Bogart demanded becoming defensive. “We’ve kissed every connected ass from here to Columbia. It can’t be a mob hit, can it?”
“No,” Sal announced with confidence while shaking his head. “This started while we were on Giovanni’s island. If it were mob related, he’d have warned us and possibly handled the situation himself.”
Beck leaned across the table while staring at Othello. “Any idea who?” he asked.
“If anyone knows, they aren’t talking,” Othello replied. “I met with a few of my underground friends, but they couldn’t give me anything.”
“That’s probably why I came up empty with the men identified at Jackie’s house,” Beck replied while sitting back in his chair. He tapped his fingers on the table. “They were independent contractors looking for a big payday. I couldn’t connect them to anyone from our past.”
“What about Melissa’s phone?” Bogart asked with enthusiasm. “She was traveling with two men who wanted me dead. Her niece thinks she knows people.”
“I’m still trying to hack her email on the cell phone,” Beck replied with disgust. “Her contacts revealed nothing interesting. Her social calendar listed some events that all checked out. I started sorting through pictures on her phone, but there are tons to go through.”
“I can hack her email account,” Othello informed him. “Cracking into electronics is my specialty.”
“Maybe you’ll have better success with her email than I did,” Beck replied. He then became uncomfortable. “I have to ask, Othello. Have you had any contact with Zack?”
Othello stared at him with a strange look. “Dude, Zack’s dead.”
“I’m starting to wish that were true,” Beck muttered under his breath.
†
Early the following morning, Jackie slipped out the back door with a blanket neatly rolled and tucked beneath her arm. She cast looks around the area, even though she was moderately certain no one else was up yet. She headed across the neatly trimmed backyard, passed the punching bag, and walked along a path in the woods. Jackie reached a clearing nearly one hundred yards from the ranger’s station and unfolded the towel to reveal two samurai swords. She drew a deep, cleansing breath then took her usual karate stance with a sword in each hand. She attempted to use the swords in the same fashion she used her tactical batons. Shortly into her routine, one of the swords flew from her hand and struck the ground not far from Othello’s feet.
Jackie stared at Othello and gasped with horror. “Oh, are you okay?”
Othello eyed the sword embedded in the ground an inch from his feet and made a face. “Missed me by a mile,” he replied then gave her a strange look. “What are you doing?”
“Entertaining myself,” she replied then frowned with defeat. “Doing a poor job too. I thought swords would be the same as batons.”
“Different animal,” he remarked then appeared curious. “So why did you sneak out here?”
“I wasn’t sneaking,” she insisted.
“I saw you,” he replied and raised a dark brow. “You were sneaking. You could have practiced in the yard behind the house, but you came out here where no one would see you. I’m just wonde
ring why.”
Jackie groaned softly, approached him, and collected her discarded sword. “Because they’re all a bunch of uptight pussies,” she scoffed. “Monroe and Beck have been riding my ass whenever I make a move without checking with them first. Because of this whole Zack thing, they don’t trust me. They seem to think I’m up to something.”
“Those bullies,” Othello scoffed dramatically then turned serious. “You’re obviously up to something, dude.”
“You too?” she snapped and returned to her original position. “I just need something to keep me busy. I wish people would understand that and just leave me the hell alone.”
She took her karate stance and once again held the swords in position.
“I totally understand,” he announced, “but I also don’t want to see you slicing off a toe with those things. They’re not tactical batons, and your grip is all wrong.” He motioned for her. “Let me show you the proper way to hold them.”
She stared at him with surprise. “You know something about swords?”
“Don’t let my size fool you,” he announced and took one of the swords from her. “I loved swords growing up. Playing with them in games wasn’t enough. I did everything from fencing to broadsword battle re-enactments at Renaissance fairs.”
She watched as Othello twirled the sword like a Ninja master. The way he handled the sword was almost graceful. He added a yell as he went in for an imaginary kill. He straightened and grinned proudly.
Jackie stared at him with amazement as her mouth hung open. Her look suddenly turned serious. “Teach me.”
He nodded with little hesitation. “Sure, I’ll teach you,” he remarked. “You know most of the moves already. You just need to change the way you strike.”
“Thank you,” she gasped with relief, although she realized it sounded a little too eager.
“I’ll teach you,” Othello reiterated. “If you tell me why you want to learn and why you really snuck away from the house to do it.”
She huffed while folding her arms across her chest then groaned with defeat. “Zack wanted me to learn to fight with swords. I guess he didn’t think my ‘wuss sticks’ were lethal enough.” Jackie allowed her arms to fall to her sides. “With everything that’s happened, I guess I’m just feeling a little sentimental. He may not actually be dead, but I have to admit that he’s gone.”
Outside the Wire Page 15
