I leaned back against the couch as Anna lifted Alex. The little guy had fallen asleep, and after being changed – the process itself difficult, but hilarious as an almost comatose Alex remained asleep – Anna stood and gently lay him in his crib. No one spoke for a while as Brian’s fingers smacked keys. I stood and shuffled over to the kitchen.
‘What is Brian doing?’ I asked Chris, deliberately keeping the question away from its subject.
‘Building a blackmail file,’ Chris replied, ‘your father’s notes and the experiment videos, along with our message.’
‘What’s our message?’ I said as I stirred the instant coffee I’d made.
‘Come after us, and we release this,’ Chris stated, ‘try to pick up where Richard Bishop and his group left off, and we’ll release this.’
I nodded and blew on the scalding liquid in my hand. After I’d finished, I set myself the task of showering. Anna offered her help, but I needed a minute alone. Emotions I hadn’t expected brewed in my stomach, and the surprise caught me off guard. Once I’d stripped and stepped into the water as it cascaded, I sunk to the floor, and tears took over.
I cried and my hand cradled my chest. I was distraught. It wasn’t only Jessica’s death; it was my sister’s, my father’s. Both had been despicable human beings, more than likely more monster than anything, but they had been my family. I’d spent twenty years with my father. He may have been neglectful, disinterested even, but he’d been a huge part of my life, and he was gone. All of the events of the past few months were a confused jumble. I always knew my father’s motivations were mainly to complete his work, but the fact he was adamant it was for me, was mind-bendingly painful.
Was he lying? Was it the words of a man whose plans had been scrapped, or the honest words of a man who had everything he planned come to fruition? What did it matter, he was dead, and the answers had died with him.
But I couldn’t help question. What about my abused sister? Whose entire life had been dark, had been twisted and broken until she believed the same things her abusers did. Who had raised her that way?
Was there more behind the curtain?
I clenched my teeth as my tears continued to fall, and my questions only multiplied.
*
I slept the rest of that day and night, and only came back to reality midday. Brian had completed his blackmail file. He had also made several copies. The next step would be getting it to the right people, but we had no idea who they were. It was doubtful the entire government body of our country was actively involved, but that didn’t help us narrow down on who was.
Chris entered the War Room as I made something to eat. Anna bounced Alex up and down in her arms as she paced, and it filled the room with his chuckles.
‘Sooner rather than later we’re gonna have to sort out those two,’ Chris said as he pulled up beside me in the kitchen.
Jessica and Paul; the latter was decaying fast, and Jessica would catch up.
‘I agree, but we can’t risk going out to bury them,’ I replied. ‘Have you seen the news?’
Chris nodded and sighed, ‘Yeah, naturally we’re getting the blame. The amount of details they missed out.’
My toast popped, and I grabbed the butter. Chris rolled a mobile phone in his hand, his gaze aimed at the windows across the room.
‘Whose is that’s?’ I asked and pointed at his hands.
‘Jessica’s,’ he said.
My eyebrows knitted together in question as I bit into my food.
‘There’s only one number on here,’ Chris shrugged and waggled the phone. ‘It’s blocked, as in there aren’t any numbers attached to it, but it’s contactable.’
‘You’re hoping it’s Jessica’s group?’ I asked.
Chris nodded.
‘Why?’ I said and finished off my last piece of toast.
Anna wandered over with Alex in her arms, and I happily relieved her. She went about gathering mugs, filled the kettle and let it boil.
‘Maybe they can help,’ Chris sighed in response, but his tone conveyed his doubts.
For a while I played with Alex, making strange noises as he cackled at my expression. Anna joined in, and I was pleased that even after all we’d been through that we still had the capacity to smile. The little guy wore out, and I lay him in his crib. The sun had started to set, and I gathered everyone into the room to discuss the things that had been on mind.
The group listened as I listed my worries about my father being one gear in a mass of other bigger ones, of my thoughts that the fight still might not be over. They listened, but they didn’t agree. Brian was vocal; while I spoke he made several chuckles, several scoffs and shakes of his head.
‘This arsehole’s just begging for trouble isn’t he?’ Brian spat.
‘Stop it, Brian,’ Anna glared. ‘Your entire attitude is beginning to piss even me off, and I have the patience of a saint.’
I looked at Chris evenly.
‘Lucas,’ he sighed, and I knew he wasn’t with me. ‘Your Dad and sister were constant liars. Mass murderers, and at the end they were riled, they’d lost, we won. To me at least, all they were trying to do was unsettle us again, to keep us trapped in our own fear again.’
‘Chris is right honey,’ Anna whispered at my side. ‘We won, and once we deliver our message, we’ll be free.’
I shook my head and replied, ‘But there’re too many questions still left without answers. What if there is someone else behind New Dawn? What if we’re revelling in our victory prematurely?’
Chris sighed and his eyes were filled with pity.
‘Lucas,’ Anna said as she tugged at my sleeve, ‘c’mere.’
She stood and headed into our bedroom, and I joined her. She paced by the bed, her hand pinched her nose.
‘What’s up?’ I asked.
‘What’s up?’ Anna snapped and I recoiled in surprise. ‘We get everything we’ve worked for, everything Jessica and Paul died for, that we almost died for, and you’re keeping it going!?’
I couldn’t speak, I could only stare wide-eyed. Anna stopped and crossed her arms, her eyes darkened with anger, and my heart jolted.
‘We won,’ she fumed. ‘We won, Lucas. We fought, we fought and fought and fought, and we won! Can’t you accept that? Why do you want to keep it going? Chris is right, your Dad was a cruel bastard, and you’re going to let him keep you in this state of fear and paranoia?’
‘But-’ I started.
‘No!’ Anna shouted. ‘No buts! We did what we planned, Lucas. It’s over now. We can finally get some semblance of our lives back. We are not going back.
‘You are not taking us back.’
I was stunned, and after her final sentence she left the room. Was Anna right? Was I falling into another of my father’s traps? He always had commented on my predictability, how he could manipulate me. But all the questions I had. My instincts screamed and burned, there was something there, something to my doubts. Or was there? I shook my head and just managed stop myself from punching something. Anna and Chris were right. I wouldn’t let my father bury himself inside my mind and poison it.
It was time to have our lives back.
‘Lucas!’ Anna shouted. ‘You need to come through.’
I took a deep breath and headed for the door. I was hesitant about joining them again, I had never argued before with Anna, and it was new experience I wasn’t keen on revisiting. I shouldn’t have worried though. As I entered the room, Anna had Alex clutched in her arms and Chris stood in front of them defensively.
At the door to the corridor, a man stood steady, his hands clasped at his front.
A stranger had entered our home.
The Blackmail
‘I assure you,’ the man broke the silence, ‘I’m not here to harm any of you.’
No one moved. The stranger didn’t look worried, serene almost. He looked young, mid-twenties at a stretch, but there was a glint in his grey eyes, something that whispered danger. His brown hair was s
hort, and the silence grew longer as everyone remained immobile.
‘Who are you?’ Chris asked.
‘You contacted me,’ the man replied. ‘Where is Jessica? You said she was in trouble.’
‘She’s dead,’ I said.
The man’s eyes darted at mine. His features hadn’t moved, but his hands unclasped, and his posture changed.
‘By your hand?’ he asked the room.
‘No,’ Chris said. ‘We didn’t kill her and the person who did is dead. Jessica was one of us.’
The stranger nodded, but didn’t look convinced. A click brought his eyes up, and Brian appeared behind him, a gun aimed at his head.
‘Brian,’ Anna warned.
‘It’s quite alright Ms,’ the stranger nodded.
He turned unexpectedly and knocked the gun from Brian’s hand before he pulled the boy’s shirt and threw him into the room. Brian thudded to the ground and crawled backwards.
‘May I see Jessica?’ the assassin enquired.
Chris nodded and glared down at Brian. He shot a quick glance my way before leading the man through to the other room. While they were gone, I walked over to the fallen gun and put it by my waist. I couldn’t be too careful.
Both men were gone for nearly half an hour, and when they returned, the man stopped in the doorway again.
‘Guys this is Daniel,’ Chris said as he walked over to Brian and his array of computers. ‘I’ve explained to him what happened, and he’s willing to help.’
I sighed with relief, and Anna’s eyes lit up.
‘Jessica was a friend,’ Daniel said, and he re-clasped his hands in front of him. ‘If she fought with you for those goals, then I will make sure to honour her wishes.’
‘Can you?’ I asked. ‘I mean, do you know exactly who employed her?’
Daniel shook his head as Chris returned to him and handed a USB drive over.
‘Not exactly,’ Daniel answered, ‘but generally, yes. I would also like to take her with me.’
‘No,’ Anna said, and she chuckled nervously at her own forcefulness. ‘Sorry, I just mean we have a promise to keep for her, her dying wish to finish.’
‘We take care of our own,’ Daniel pushed.
‘So do we,’ I said, backing Anna up.
Daniel contemplated that. Eventually he nodded, but he didn’t look particularly happy.
‘If you could get that to where it belongs as fast as possible,’ Chris said, ‘it would be majorly appreciated.’
Again Daniel nodded, but he stayed rooted to the spot. He must have sensed our discomfort because he moved into the room, and everyone stiffened. He walked over to Anna, and I stepped up to her side. Daniel smiled, stopped and raised his hand in surrender. He dug into his pocket and retrieved a small card.
‘Jessica spoke very highly of you,’ he said to Anna and handed her the card. ‘These are various ways you can contact me, none of which can be traced. If you ever need to, consider me at your service.’
For someone so young, Daniel’s voice and words made him sound far older. There was a maturity and grace to him that frightened me, and after an incline of his head, he left the room and made his way out of the building. The rest of us remained still, our hopes continued to climb while we tried to keep them at bay. If Daniel came through, if the message got to its recipient, if the blackmail had the desired effect, we would be free.
We would be free.
*
‘I’m sorry,’ Anna said, ‘about before.’
We had retired for the night to our respective rooms. Alex slept soundly in his crib, and Anna and I sat cross-legged on the bed facing one another. We’d been sitting in silence, the both of us working our way through our thoughts. I reached out and clasped her hand. Our eyes met, and in hers, I could see the reflection of the stars that clung to the sky. Anna meant the world to me and both she and Alex were the two most important beings in my life.
‘No, I’m sorry,’ I sighed. ‘You’re right, you’re always right.’
She smirked and replied, ‘Of course I’m always right.’
I laughed, and Anna joined in. It was beyond refreshing, beyond any simple word to describe good feelings.
‘I don’t think I’ll ever get past it,’ I said once we’d stopped, ‘the paranoia. It’s always going to be there. But I’ll try, I promise you, I’ll try to work past it, for you, for Alex, for us.’
‘I’ll be here to tether you,’ Anna whispered. ‘I’ll always be right here.’
I smiled and pulled her forward and embraced her. My lips found hers, and when we separated, I rested my forehead on hers. It didn’t take long, both us being exhausted, but we lay down in each other’s arms, and passed into sleep.
*
I had just showered the next day when it happened. I stared at the small vial in my hands, the one I’d lifted from Digilock. My mind tangled with itself over the loss of my abilities. Would they come back? Or would I remain the way I was? What would happen if I needed them, if the fight wasn’t truly over? I couldn’t figure out if injecting myself with it would make a difference. I’d already had it, already been changed. Whatever aspects of my DNA had been altered were no doubt still altered, but maybe it could kick-start my abilities…….
‘Guys!’ Chris shouted. ‘Come here! Hurry up, come on!’
I replaced the vial in its hiding place, a loose tile I’d pulled up in the bathroom, and then dug a hole under. I then raced back to the War Room, my senses and nerves on high alert. When I made it into the room, everyone was crowded round a screen at Brian’s desk. Their faces were focussed solely on one screen, and even when I spoke, no one looked at me.
‘Rewind it,’ Chris said to Brian.
I took up a place behind them and crossed my arms. The video they were watching had been posted on a news website, and once Brian hit play, a reporter jumped to life on the screen. The man looked determined as he stared at the camera. His surroundings looked familiar, with the backdrop being an electronics store. Televisions in the window played various shows.
It was the site where an assassin by the name of Danny had tried to kill us with a truck, and the place we had been framed for his suicide.
‘Almost three months ago, this site was where a man was supposedly murdered,’ the reporter read from the cue. ‘For three months, Lucas Bishop, Anna Gordon, and Christopher Ritchie, the three main suspects of the crime, have been relentlessly pursued. After much police investigation however, our sources have reported that these three individuals have been unduly suspected.’
We held our breaths as our faces filled the screen. There wasn’t the previous shot of us covered in blood and fleeing the scene, but the pictures they’d managed to scrape up from various places flashed by. Our hope was palpable.
‘The recent connection and police interest in them for the bombing of the highland town Greystone has also been disproved. The police today arrested countless individuals from a gunfight that happened around two days ago at a company by the name of Digilock. Sources close to the investigation informed us that these men and women, many of whom were killed in the shootout, are domestic terrorists, and were operating under the name New Dawn.’
I shook my head incredulous.
‘From what’s been gathered, we’ve concluded that their group’s mission was to cause instability within the government, and cause civil distress. Authorities are keen to trace down the three falsely accused individuals and offer them their deepest apologies, but as of now, there are no leads to their whereabouts.’
Brian stopped the video, but none of us moved or averted our eyes. It had worked. Daniel had come through. Whoever had pulled the strings from their place in power had backed off. It had worked.
As if in unison, the four of us broke out into laughter. We whooped and cheered, danced and hugged. Even Brian’s new attitude was overwhelmed as he broke into a huge grin, a welcome reprieve from his face’s usual snarl. Alex began to cry from his crib, and Anna rushed over to lift him
. I joined her and laughed and tickled our startled baby. Eventually he couldn’t keep up his cries, and Alex joined us in confused euphoria.
‘We did,’ Brian gasped. ‘We actually did it.’
We all nodded.
‘So what do we do?’ he followed up.
I had that answer. I kissed Alex on the forehead and turned.
‘We bury the ones we love,’ I smiled.
The Wish
The next day we got to work. Blessed with our new freedom, we decided to celebrate, to pull on our almost forgotten sense of fun, and make it our new goal. Chris enlisted Brian to help him with Paul’s body. There was a place a few miles outside of town, a cabin of sorts, buried in the woods. It was a retreat that belonged to Chris and his wife before things went to hell, and he’d contemplated taking us there once we had escaped Greystone. He’d deemed it too risky; it in all likelihood being one of the first places people would look for us. Paul’s body would be buried in a clearing not far from the cabin, and we would hold a service once things were guaranteed to have settled.
We hadn’t forgotten Jessica’s final wish, but moving one body would be difficult enough without having to move another elsewhere. We might have regained our freedom, but that just meant we couldn’t afford to make a stupid mistake.
‘You ready?’ Anna asked as she finished strapping Alex into the harness around her torso.
I smiled as he grabbed for her hair and she squealed in mock shock that sent our son into fits of laughter.
‘I guess we should go before any more powerful organisations turn their sights on us,’ I chuckled.
‘Touch wood or Alex and I are gonna beat you up,’ Anna laughed. ‘Won’t we, Alex, huh?’
I lifted the wallet Brian had left before setting off with Chris. It contained some money from what we had left of Brian’s ‘borrowed’ fund.
Child of Recklessness (Trials of Strength Book 2) Page 21
