“Do you know who Claudius was in Hamlet?”
“The bad guy.”
“Hamlet's uncle, who took the throne after murdering Hamlet's father. You could arguably say that Simon took Hector's throne in regards to you.”
“But Claudius said—”
“I'm going to be honest with you. You aren't the only one Simon set up. He gave us a job that is a clear attempt on my life. Now we need information, from you, about who's coming after us.”
Miko could feel his heart breaking. Frank didn't come to the hospital to retrieve him because they were friends, he came because he needed Miko's stories. Nasir was right. They weren't friends. Miko was being played again, just a pawn moved from one board to the next. “This is why you brought me here? To question me?”
“Simon just tried to have you killed. You weren't safe at the hospital.”
“Safe,” Miko said bitterly. “And when I know nothing, I am buried in your backyard?”
Frank flinched. “If I was going to kill you, would I have bothered to blindfold you?” Miko looked away. He felt like he'd been blindfolded for a long time. “Joe offered to help you last year. Joe did help you last year. Now he's on his way here, and so is Miranda to take care of you.”
“Lady doctor?”
“Yes.” Frank stood up. Miko watched him with doleful eyes like a soon-to-be abandoned puppy. “Casey is extremely important to me. If Simon's plan was to have me kill you for shooting him, he planned well.” Miko blinked and then opened his eyes wider, the way he would when the stories Hector told grew scary. “He is a civilian, who would unlikely be capable of protecting himself or those children, and I left him alone to come get you as soon as I could. Because you took a bullet for me. That is why you are here, Miko.”
By the way Frank's eyes narrowed, Miko could tell he was smiling a bit too much over Frank actually addressing him by name. “You are welcome. Frank.” Frank gave an appreciative nod but remained standing. “You took this job?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Frank opened his mouth to speak, then just sighed. “It's complicated.”
“If I am going to help I need more than 'complicated.'”
The dogs started barking again and Miko jumped. Frank just walked away to go meet his family, leaving Miko sitting alone in the library. There was a great deal of talking in the hallway, different voices that Miko could place but not hear clearly, footsteps on the stairs. Then Frank returned, with Blondie and Joe Russell. Blondie was clinging to Frank, teary-eyed and pale. He looked quite sincere as he said, “I'm sorry I beat you up,” which Miko took as a thank you for doing the opposite of pointing a gun at his husband.
Miko smiled and reached his hand out. “Do you want a hug?”
“You just got shot in the chest,” Blondie said uncertainly.
“Yes, you are right. That would hurt.” He lowered his hand again and smiled some more instead. “It is okay. I should not have pointed gun.”
Joe asked, “How're you feeling?” coming forward and handing Miko a bag of candies which made him feel significantly better.
“Thank you,” Miko mumbled with a full mouth. “I will not die.”
“I called Nasir. Left a message. We're going to have to have a discussion about what to do with Simon.”
“Does the name Alcott mean anything to you?” Blondie asked suddenly, pulling everyone's attention right to him.
Joe rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Thank you, Vincent.”
Scrunching up his face as he thought, Miko tried to remember what that name was from. “I have heard this. It is your job?”
“A wealthy English family, if that helps,” Frank said. He had moved his hand to the back of Blondie—Vincent's neck, and was now squeezing rather tightly.
Miko nodded, but there was far too much in his head already.
“Think on it,” Joe said as if this wasn't a life or death situation, and he patted Miko's shoulder. “You've had a long day.”
With the click-clacking of approaching high heels, Miko feared his day was about to get longer. “I did not know I did not know,” he proclaimed, raising his hands up in submission as Bella came stomping into the room. She looked teary-eyed herself, but furious, not remorseful.
Frank moved between them and Miko's terror was the only thing stopping him from bursting with excitement. “It's not his fault.”
Bella trembled with anger as she took a deep breath to calm herself, then shouted, “Fuck!” and stormed off again.
“She'll be fine,” Joe reassured him. “Get some rest. Miranda will be here in the morning to check on you.”
“Can I have my things?” Miko was certainly very tired, and even though there was no possibility of getting the vest back on, he needed to call Toby at the very least.
Frank nodded and left with Vincent at his heels. They returned with a pillow and blanket along with the diaper bag containing Miko's personal effects and some additional medical supplies. “You need anything else?” Joe asked. Miko needed a lot of things, but for once it was nothing Joe could provide. He shook his head and Joe gave a pained smile before leaving.
“Good night,” Blondie muttered, taking Frank's hand as he walked away.
“Gute Nacht,” Miko sighed, having never imagined it would be so disheartening to sleep in Frank's house. He carefully changed his bandages, doing the best he could without looking at the wound. Then he tried calling Nasir. No answer. He lay on his side for some time before he was certain no one was listening, and he finally called Toby. There hadn't been any missed calls or texts. Toby knew better after Miko had disconnected so abruptly, but he was bound to be worried.
“Hi,” Toby said breathlessly, and Miko had to steady himself to keep from crying.
“I am sorry if I worried you. Everything is okay.”
“You sure?” Toby asked, giving him a chance to tell the truth.
“It will be okay,” Miko amended. “But I am going to be gone longer for this job than I planned.
“That doesn't sound good.”
“It will be good. I will tell you everything later.”
“Is this because of the site? That post?”
“No.” Miko thought about what Frank had told him, and suddenly he wasn't entirely sure anymore. Maybe the order did come from on high. And then maybe it filtered down through Simon to Claudius. “It has nothing to do with that.”
“Liar,” Toby said.
Miko closed his eyes, wishing Toby was there with him. It would be days before he fully stopped bleeding, longer until he could travel. Until he could sleep. “Kocham Cie.”
“True.”
“I will call you later.”
“I love you.”
“You too.” He waited for Toby to disconnect, then his eyes shot open as a body plopped down in front of him on the sofa. It was the beast. “Hello, little spoon,” Miko laughed, cautiously petting him until it was clear the dog wasn't about to bite. He was only about to snore, stretched out the entire length of the sofa, boxing Miko in. Nice and warm. “Gute Nacht.”
The dog made excellent Kevlar but as of just recently Miko had lost his faith in the material. Even the best vest couldn't stop all bullets. Or stop him from waking in pain every few hours. The dog started to get up right as Miko was trying to see over its massive form, only to find the reason for its sudden departure.
“Sorry about him,” Frank said, giving the dog a reproachful look. “That's usually his bed.”
“No, I like him.” Miko reached his hand out and after a glance at its owner to make sure it was allowed, the dog returned to the sofa. “He is like stuffed bear.”
It must've still been very early, only the faintest hint of light making it to the library from the hall. Frank was already dressed, boots and all. “Can I get you anything?”
Miko slowly sat up, using the dog as a crutch to support his weight. It didn't seem to mind. He'd bled through Frank's shirt. Thankfully it was black and too dark in the room
to really see, but Miko could feel the wetness clinging to him and that made the red clear in his mind. “Lady doctor?”
“She's coming in a few hours.”
“From Los Angeles?”
“Paris. Joe didn't think we'd need her last night.” Frank seemed to consider for a moment before smirking. “And there's a patisserie near where she lives that Vincent really likes. I suspect that may be why she's coming this morning instead.” Miko nodded. The things Toby baked were certainly worth getting up early for. “I'll get you a new shirt.”
“Danke.” Miko started to preemptively unbutton that one while Frank was gone so he wouldn't see him struggle with the buttons. The dog watched in silence, without judgment. Putting a candy in his mouth so he could stomach the sight, Miko peeled back the gauze and winced. It hurt more today than it had yesterday, the bruising dark enough to be visible through the coat of red. The blood kept his attention long enough that he was startled by Frank's return, and Miko automatically lowered his hand out of sight.
Frank set the shirt on the table and sat down across from him. He'd brought more medical supplies. “Here, let me.”
Moving his left arm aside, Miko watched intently as Frank cleaned him up. He wore latex gloves just like a doctor, his touch gentle, no emotion on his face. Frank did not fear blood. Frank did not fear anything.
“I never met Hector, you know,” Frank said. He slid his finger over the tape. Miko barely felt a thing.
“Hector knew a lot from Silva. He knew Silva when he first took over.”
Frank nodded, taking off his gloves and handing Miko the shirt to put on.
“He said that you were connected to the agency. Like I was, but not.” Miko couldn't recall the rest of it. There had been so many stories in the beginning that they'd gotten mixed up, and he couldn't remember Hector ever saying anything more about it. “I do not know what that means. But you were important. Protected by Silva.” Frank's eyes grew cold, deep in thought. “You were one of his favorites. You and Bella.”
“Yes.”
“Why did you take this setup job?”
“I know the family. Personally.” The “personally” was added as an afterthought, like the confession of a great sin. Miko knew that it was frowned upon to be involved personally with a job, and he never would've expected Frank to do anything the agency disapproved of, but somehow it made Frank more relatable, more human. More worthy of Miko's admiration.
Miko cocked his head, waiting for Frank to continue.
“My father left me a good deal of money when he died. Someone else's money. Their money.”
For a moment Miko continued to stare at him blankly, waiting for more. Then it hit him like the artist's bullet: Frank was connected to the agency like Miko. A family member dead at their hands. That job that had been Simon's great embarrassment. Alcott. “Oh!” Frank raised his eyebrows expectantly. Miko was so excited that he actually had useful information after all that he started rattling it off as fast as his limited breath would let him. “Simon knew you would want revenge so he gives you this job and someone will wait to kill you when you come!”
Frank looked confused, which started to make Miko feel confused. “Revenge?”
“Yes?”
“For what?”
Miko got the distinct feeling they were talking about two different things, trying to get information out of each other without revealing anything. But whatever reason Frank did have to kill Alcott, it wasn't revenge for his father. Because Frank wouldn't have known that it was a hit. “Oh no.”
“What?”
Miko shook his head. “This is so bad I think you will bury me in the backyard.”
Frank rolled his eyes. “I'm not going to bury you in the backyard.”
“You had better sit down.”
“I am sitting.”
Miko patted the spot on the sofa beside him. Frank grumbled and moved closer. Miko tried putting his arm around him. Frank moved away. “I think you will want hug.”
“I can assure you that I will not want a hug. Just say it.”
“Simon worked for Alcott family before. Very slowly. So it looked like illness.”
Now it was Frank's turn to stare blankly until the realization hit him. And from his expression, it hit him hard. “You're certain of this?”
“He worked as their butler. The doctor from Silva's even came to do tests, tell him he was ill. It took years. Then for him to publicize his will, it was very bad for Simon. Big fuck up.”
Frank seemed to deflate a little as he forcefully exhaled. “Simon killed my father.”
“Do you want that hug now?”
He stood up and walked listlessly out of the room. The dog hopped off the sofa and followed him. Miko did too.
Even at his slowest pace Miko still felt winded, but determination won and he finally caught up with Frank deep enough in the woods that the house was no longer visible.
“Don't come any closer,” Frank said with his back turned. Miko had tried being quiet, but Frank knew he was there anyway. All three dogs were there too.
Miko froze in place. It hadn't occurred to him that following an upset assassin to their backyard after they'd threatened to bury you there was not the wisest decision. Then Frank turned and Miko realized it wasn't so much a command to stop following as a suggestion for his well-being. Frank was smoking a cigarette and Miko was having enough trouble breathing as it was.
“If you can't walk I'm not carrying you back.”
“I can walk,” Miko said. He wondered if Toby would call him a liar if he was there. “Where is Malkolm buried?”
“Farther.”
“He came after you here?”
“They did. Malkolm and Boris. Karl.”
Miko shuddered at the thought of Karl. “You kill Karl?”
“Vincent did.” Frank smiled wanly. “Ask him about it. He'd be thrilled to tell you.”
Miko nodded. Frank looked as far from thrilled as a person could get. “You are sad?”
“He wasn't the man I thought he was.”
“Your father?”
“Silva.”
“He knew about the hit on Ophelia. He did not warn me.” Miko did not want to have these things in common with Frank, but at least he wasn't alone in the betrayal. “Did you get your money?”
“No. And I don't want it.” Frank flicked his cigarette. The cotton ball dog started to run after it but Frank snapped his fingers and she stopped. Miko took that as permission to come closer himself. Frank promptly lit another one. “Do you know what Simon used? Which poison?”
“Arsenic I think. He is traditional.”
“Well at least I don't have to worry about it being hereditary.”
Miko laughed, although he wasn't sure it was a joke. Frank's humor was as dry as Nasir's, but he knew Nas better and could tell when he was being serious. Then he thought of something else that wasn't hereditary: assassinations. Simon's great embarrassment would've been smoothed over like Toby said. The clients would've been given something to make up for it. Something to keep their money. Simon wasn't just setting Frank up, this was a hit. But now Miko had the same question he'd asked himself about Claudius. Why now?
“Why did you take the job if you did not know about your father? You do not want the money.”
Frank's eyes betrayed nothing from behind the cloud of cigarette smoke, but there was a change in the air. It was a gut feeling more than anything that Miko had gone too far, that he knew too much. A gut feeling, and the fact that Frank was now pointing a gun at him.
“They wanted you killed?” Miko was not afraid, because he knew deep down that Frank must've been. At least a little bit. He was threatened, but Miko was not a threat.
Frank gave a slight nod, and Miko continued. “You knew he would kill you. That is why you asked about him on the phone. How he knew you.” That was why he was wearing a beard. To disguise his face.
“He let my last name slip. He wasn't supposed to know who I was.”
With a quirk of his eyebrow, Frank confirmed.
“But Silva was protecting you. Because you and Bella were his favorites. He would not tell Simon the hit. Why does Simon know the hit now?”
“Good question.”
Miko smiled, then stopped when he saw by Frank's expression that it wasn't quite the pat on the head he'd taken it as. “He is answering Silva's phone now. If Alcott called him for a job, this job, and Simon was mad for the job Russell gave him, he would want to kill you for his revenge. For that job killing István. He once drowned someone in a toilet.”
Frank lowered his gun, which made Miko smile again like he'd received an even bigger pat on the head. “So who would it be that comes after us?”
“I give you list of who works for him. We narrow down together?”
Now Frank completely put the gun away, nodding back towards the house.
Miko nodded too. “We help each other. We are friends.”
Frank said, “I'm still not carrying you.” But Miko knew he would.
Frank led Miko back to the library and gave him paper and a pen to get started, then his cell phone rang and he left to answer it. Miko checked his own phone to see if Nasir had tried calling him while he was out, but there was only a missed call from Simon. Probably checking to see if Miko was alive to answer. He started writing, self-conscious about his handwriting but more worried about Frank's Claudius being Miko's Claudius.
The English assassins were written down first since those weren't on Miko's list, then Konstandin, Hans, Rodrigo.
“Hans is dead,” Frank said from the doorway, once again startling him. Blondie was at his side, still looking half asleep.
“Hans is dead? How?” Miko asked.
“Simon sent him after us to get the book,” Vincent said. “Just like he sent you after Bella.”
“You kill him?”
Blondie smiled a response even though Miko's question had been directed more towards Frank. Miko was still slightly concerned that Vincent would suddenly attack him again, and didn't want to address him. “I did.”
The Mercy of the Mako Shark Page 16
