Black Smoke

by Robin Leigh Miller

  Without warning, the weight was lifted from him. Ricochet had arrived in time to grab Kong by the shoulders and pull him the rest of the way out. When he was out and on the ground, Ricochet reached in and pulled Boomer through.

  Each grabbing an arm, they began to drag Kong away from the house. All hell broke lose as they took their third step. The explosion shook the ground, the force threw them toward the treeline and debris rain down on them like confetti. Fire licked at the trees and singed everything within its reach.

  Boomer raised his head and looked behind him. There was nothing but flaming timbers and intense heat. No one inside would have survived. Then it hit him. They had weapons stored inside the house. Bombs, ammunition. It wouldn’t take long for the heat to affect them. Ricochet lay on the ground, knocked unconscious from the force of the explosion.

  Boomer scrambled to his feet and dragged Kong to where he left Sam. “Sam, stay here with Lowe. I have to get Ricochet. Keep your head down low. Those bombs inside the house are going to blow any minute.”

  Sam couldn’t see Kong, but she could feel him lying next to her. “Go Boomer. Bring Ricochet back,” she shouted over the roar of the fire.

  When he was gone, she reached out and felt Kong’s face. It was cold and wet. She placed a finger under his nose and felt the faint breeze of his breath. Relief swept over her, he was still alive. “Mark, listen to me. You can’t die, stay with me.”

  She jerked when she felt his hand lightly wrap around her wrist. “Sam, I…” His words were interrupted as two bright lights surrounded them. Kong struggled to sit up, but his weakened condition wouldn’t allow it. Sam could see the light as it seeped between her swollen eyes. To ensure a better view, she reached up with her free hand and pulled one eye open. The two watched as the light swirled around them then stopped and began to form.

  Two figures emerged from the light. “Mom, Dad?” Sam gasped.

  Before them stood her parents, smiling and holding hands. It’s over honey, her mother said. You’ve ended the reign of a very brutal man. Both of you. It’s time for your happiness now.

  Sam’s mouth went dry. Her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth when she opened it. “I don’t understand.”

  The last eighteen years have been working up to this Sam, her father said. It was your path to find our killers. You’ve followed that path and now you’ve come to the end.

  “What happens now?” Disbelief, confusion and loss mixed inside her chest as she spoke. Did they mean she was finished with her work? Or that it was time for her to leave this Earth? Had they come to take her with them?

  Her mother felt her turmoil and smiled. Anything you want to happen honey. You still have choices to make. What you do with the rest of your life is up to you.

  Sam glanced down at Kong. His lips were white, his skin growing colder by the second. He was what she wanted, him, for the rest of her life. But his life was fading. Frantically she looked back to her mother and father.

  Help is coming, her father said. We’re very proud of you Samantha. Your work has saved countless lives. We couldn’t be more proud of you.

  We’ll always be with you Sam. Her mother blew her a kiss then the two figures faded back into the brilliant white light. Warmth and love covered them as the light encompassed them before lifting up to the treetops.

  “I like them,” Kong whispered. Unable to hold his leaden eyes open any longer, Kong allowed them to close and welcomed the darkness that engulfed him. The hand that was wrapped around Sam’s wrist slid to his chest.

  Boomer helped a winded and injured Ricochet scramble into the trees just as another explosion ripped through the air.

  Boomer held Sam down close to the ground, while Ricochet leaned his battered body over Kong’s body, shielding him from the blast. When the final explosion had settled, the two men stood and backed away. They needed to find help for them, now.

  Sam cried then. Fat tears that plopped on Kong’s chest and ran over his side. It was all a nightmare she thought. She’d wake up and none of it would be real. Kong would still be out of her life, she’d visit Uncle Walt and begin to prepare for another mission and the last couple of days would never have happened.

  Lying her head on his chest, she cried until no more tears would come. It would be the last time, she promised herself. The last time she cried for a man she loved, because she would never allow her heart to be stolen and broken again.

  * * * * *

  Walt held Sam’s hand as she was wheeled to the awaiting ambulance. When he reached her she was withdrawn and despondent. When he pulled her from Kong’s chest, she wrapped herself around him and clung. It reminded him of when she was a child and had nightmares. He would hold her and tell her stories until she drifted back to sleep.

  He watched as Kong was loaded into another ambulance by frantic EMTs. They swarmed over him, pushing needles into his arms and pumping air into his lungs. Boomer and Ricochet stood nearby watching, their faces blank and their eyes moist. He felt for the two men, he knew what it was like to lose a friend and not be able to do anything about it.

  When Kong was finally loaded, the ambulance sped away throwing dirt and rocks into the air.

  Boomer and Ricochet walked slowly toward him, their shoulders hunched in defeat. When they reached him, they both looked down at Sam.

  “They’re both being taken to the same hospital?” Boomer asked.

  Walt nodded, then leaned down and kissed the top of Sam’s head. “I’ll follow you to the hospital honey.” When she didn’t respond, he squeezed her hand, then moved away to let her be loaded into another ambulance.

  “Lowe’s condition?” he asked.

  “He’s still alive. Barely, but still alive. They think they got to him in time,” Boomer said, his voice cracking. He cleared his throat and asked, “What about the agent? What will happen to him?”

  Walt looked over to where the federal agents were clustered. An EMT was administering first aid to the man’s mouth, while other agents were questioning him. “I’m not sure yet. But I’ll make sure they know what happened here today. He knew what he was doing. Once I told him Kong was elite forces, he panicked. I guess he figured if he blew the house while they were still inside, there wouldn’t be any evidence to back me up.”

  “Son of a bitch doesn’t deserve his badge,” Ricochet grumbled.

  “Oh, don’t worry,” Walt sneered. “I’ll do everything I can to have it taken from him.”

  Silence stretched between the three then Walt reached out his hand. “Thank you, for everything.”

  “She’s our friend,” Boomer said as he shook Walt’s hand.

  “Yeah, she’s one cool lady,” Ricochet said, smiling.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Two weeks later

  Sweat beaded on Sam’s forehead as she stretched her stiff, achy muscles. Two weeks of lying in bed was enough. The swelling in her face had gone away, leaving nothing behind but small cuts and yellowed skin. Her wrists were healing nicely. Scabs had formed where once her skin had been torn. Her knee was the only problem she had now. It wasn’t broken, just hyper-extended from a kick she’d taken during her fight. Some exercises would strengthen it and soon she would be back to work again.

  “Hey baby girl.” Ricochet came strutting into her hospital room with a huge smile on his face. Sam couldn’t help smiling back. He was wearing his traditional blue jeans, hiker boots and brightly colored t-shirt and looked good. She’d asked him once why he wore such bright shirts. His response made her laugh. “When ya gotta wear camo all the time, ya take advantage of the times ya don’t have to, besides, the ladies like it.”

  “Hey yourself. Where’s Boomer?” she asked wiping the sweat from her brow.

  “Oh, he’ll be along shortly. He had another visit to make.”

  Sam knew who he was visiting. She’d asked Boomer only once how Mark was doing. When he told her the damage wasn’t nearly as bad as everyone thought, she scolded herself for asking. Then he told h
er the damage wasn’t bad, but the amount of blood he lost was severe. It was a miracle he’d survived. Then she scolded herself for being callous.

  “I hear you’re being sprung today,” Ricochet said intruding on her thoughts.

  “That’s right. I can’t wait to get home. Uncle Walt’s flying me home. I guess he thinks I can’t make the ride,” she said rolling her eyes. Walt had sat by her bedside every day talking. Her depression was only lifted when Boomer and Ricochet started making daily visits. They played poker, told stories and snuck junk food in to her. Neither man offered information about Mark and she didn’t ask. If she was going to be able to move on, she couldn’t cling to a fantasy.

  “I think he’s just anxious to get you home.” The low, slow voice drifted in the room from the doorway. He’d been in Kong’s room, two doors down, delivering a package that Kong had asked him to pick up.

  “Hey Boomer. Come to see me off?” she asked tossing the last of her belongings into her pack.

  “Sure did. I’m glad you’re going home,” he lowered his eyes as he spoke.

  Sam wondered if Mark had a setback, but bit her tongue to stop from asking. “So, what’s next for you guys? Back to the salt mines so to speak?”

  The two men looked at each other and smiled. “Somethin’ like that,” Ricochet answered.

  “Don’t be strangers okay. Give me a call, or stop in and see me if you’re in the area.” Tears began to well in her eyes at the thought of not seeing them everyday. Her chest felt heavy from the loss of two friends.

  “I don’t think that’ll be a problem,” Boomer said smiling.

  “What’s not a problem?” Walt’s voice came from behind Boomer.

  “I just told them not to be strangers Uncle Walt,” she said turning her back to them so they wouldn’t see her tears.

  “Oh.” He smiled at the two men, then walked over and kissed Sam on the top of the head.

  “Ready to go?”

  “More than ready,” she said rubbing her eyes. Then she turned, walked over to Ricochet and hugged him tightly. “I’ll miss you guys.” Boomer held his arms open to her as she walked over to him. She couldn’t stop the tears this time, they rolled down her cheeks as she hugged him.

  “Don’t worry Sam, we’ll see each other again,” he said lifting her off her feet.

  “God, I need a hot bubble bath,” she said wiping the tears from her eyes.

  “Oh, that reminds me.” Boomer reached out into the hallway and picked up a wrapped box.

  “This is for you,” he said handing it to her.

  “You shouldn’t have guys, but thanks anyway,” she said as she started to unwrap it.

  “We didn’t.” Ricochet was still sitting with a huge grin on his face.

  “Oh. Well, who did?” When Boomer looked away, she had her answer. She tossed the box into her pack. “Ready Uncle Walt?”

  Goodbyes were said once more then she walked out of the hospital and never looked back. The feeling that she left something behind nagged at her the entire thirty-minute flight home. Finally she just told herself to get over it, whatever it was she could replace it. The sight of her house as Walt pulled into the driveway relaxed her. Home. There was truly no place like home.

  “Oh my God, I forgot all about my Mustang,” she said with a horrified look on her face.

  “Don’t worry Sam I’ve taken care of it. You’ll have it tomorrow.” Walt left the car and pulled her pack from the backseat. He followed her to the door and unlocked it.

  “Aren’t you coming in?” she asked when he stood at the door.

  “No. You need some time to yourself. Call me if you need anything,” he yelled back at her as he walked away.

  “Okay,” she muttered to herself watching him drive away.

  When she tossed her pack on the couch, the box Boomer had given her fell out. She eyed it for a few seconds, then snatched it up and opened it. Inside was a bottle of freesia bubble bath. Sam opened the top and drew the fragrance deep into her lungs. She never got tired of the fragrance. Then she spotted the note in the box and picked it up carefully, like it was snake ready to strike. Figuring it was better to get it over with, she opened it and read.

  Dear Sam,

  I hope you enjoy your bubble bath. I figure it’s the first thing you’ll do when you get home. I hope you like the kind I picked out. It’s the same thing I smelled in the desert that day. Remember? I’ve never been able to shake it. Anyway, Boomer has kept me up to date on your progress and I’m glad you’re doing so well. My greatest fear was that the world would lose such a caring person. Not to mention, I would lose you. I guess I already have, but it would have been worse if you, well, you know. I hope someday you’ll give me the chance to explain things to you. Take care of yourself and make sure you soak for a long time in the bubbles. I’ll be thinking of you sunk in the water up to your lovely neck.

  Mark

  Sam crumpled the note in her hand. She wouldn’t cry she told herself. She had promised she had cried for the last time over him. Tossing the note aside, she walked to the bathroom and began drawing water. The scent filled the bathroom as bubbles grew inside the tub. She wiped her mind clear of thoughts and sank to her neck in the water. Home.

  When morning broke, the sun was shining so brightly Sam had to walk outside and stand in it. The warmth on her skin made her smile. It felt like a new beginning, a fresh start. When she heard the neighborhood kids walking to the bus stop, she turned and watched them. Funny, she thought. Most of them were carrying umbrellas and on such a beautiful day. Sam shrugged her shoulders and walked back into the house.

  The light on her answering machine was blinking, so with hesitation, she punched the play button.

  “Hi Sam, I guess you’re not home. I just wanted to call and tell you that your agent friend, you know the one? Well, he’s been put on desk duty. They say they can’t take his badge away from him, because technically, he was doing his job, but the fact that he tried to blow you guys up and cover his tracks was enough to make them doubt his mental state. So he’s a desk jockey for a while. I just thought you’d like to know.”

  Sam seethed at the thought of that little man and what he’d done to her. Well, she’d just have to train harder and come up with new ways to defend herself if she ever came up against those circumstances again. Never ever did she want to feel that helpless and pitiful again. Renewed with a new sense of purpose, she went to the bedroom and pulled a tank top and an old pair of her black pants from her drawer and slid them on. The pants were snug, giving her yet another reason to train harder. Two weeks on her back had made her gain a few pounds.

  Realizing she had no car to drive, she called a cab and grabbed some toast as she waited.

  Her eye kept wandering over to the crumpled note she’d tossed on the couch last night. Anger flared in the pit of her stomach. She promised herself she wouldn’t do this, it was over. He didn’t care for her the way she cared for him. Holding on would only bring her misery. The honk of a car horn outside forced her to push it all aside. Today she would start strengthening her muscles again and move forward.

  Kong was walking out of Cannon’s office when he saw the cab pull up and Sam get out. His breath seized in his lungs as he watched her walk to the training field. He knew she wouldn’t stay down long, it wasn’t her nature. Slipping out of sight, he watched where she went. He had vowed he’d give her some time, but now that he saw her, he couldn’t wait any longer. So he used his training and made himself invisible among the buildings and followed her.

  Pain surged up Sam’s knee as she stretched it out. It wasn’t going to be easy, but she had to keep it working. Letting it atrophy would end her career. Clenching her jaw through the pain, she started jogging into the small patch of woods. The sun had disappeared behind heavy dark clouds, but the air was thick with humidity. She loved August.

  A snapping twig behind her caused her to stop and listen. Was someone following her? There wasn’t supposed to be anyone on th
e field today. A rustle in the decaying leaves that were scattered on the ground made her pulses quicken. Foolishness, she told herself. Probably some small animal scurrying about. She began to jog again, this time she could hear footfalls slightly off rhythm from hers.

  This wasn’t an animal, it was human and following her. Someone wanted a game, so she decided to give him one. Darting off to her left, she slid into a crawl space formed by large rocks.

  Listening, she could tell the person was only a few feet away from where she hid. She picked up a pebble and tossed it out in front of her. As she suspected, the person stepped further toward her.

  Like a large cat, she sprang from her hiding spot and kicked out with her good leg. Contact was made and a loud thud shook the small saplings that surrounded her.

  Sam looked down at the intruder and gasped. Kong was rolling from side to side clutching his stomach. Regret replaced the satisfaction she was feeling. “Oh God, are you all right?” she asked holding her hand over her mouth.

  “Nothing a few stitches won’t fix,” he gasped with a smile.

  His perfect smile and his sexy eyes only made her furious. “Serves you right. You shouldn’t be sneaking around like the rat you are.” Turning, she started to jog away. How dare he show his face here, intrude on her private time.

  Kong pulled himself to his feet and gave chase. When he was within arm’s length, he reached out and touched her shoulder. He knew she would react and planned his next move carefully.

  Sam grabbed for his hand, only to have his other one grab hers. Using his weight, he pushed her against a nearby tree.

  “I just want to talk,” he said looking down into eyes that were filled with rage. “I need to talk to you. Please.”

  His voice was soft, gentle and pleading. She shouldn’t listen to him. It would only give her more heartache. But God, he felt so right pressed up against her. “There’s nothing to say. We had our time together. It’s over.”

  “Not by a long shot Sam.” Rain began to fall. Small drops that only annoyed rather then soaked. “You need to know something about me and you’re going to hear me out.”