“Higher levels of what?”
She shrugged. “Of whatever…an organized crime unit, a company, government, a terrorist group. I’m just saying it can take time.”
“Okay. So, what are my choices?”
“Glad you asked.” She smirked and poked my leg, one of the few places on my body that didn’t emit pain. “You can stay in protective custody for now. We’ll keep you safe, but it’s a short-term thing. Maybe two, three weeks or so.”
“Or?”
“We put you in the formal protection program. New identities, new life in a new state. You start life all over again.”
I thought about it a few seconds. “Would Mackenzie get to keep her name?”
She pursed her lips. “Sorry, but no.”
I looked off, but only for a few seconds. “My daughter has lost a lot. If she loses her name, I’m not sure how she’ll respond. I want option A.”
“Okay, we can arrange that.”
“Back in Austin?”
“We need to talk about that.”
I was exhausted. I lay back and fell asleep.
43
The sun was bright, but I still tilted my head back and let the sun’s rays warm my face. It momentarily soothed my aching body.
“He should be here any minute,” Nick said.
I cupped my hands over my eyes, looking across the hospital parking lot, as I stood in between Nick and Mackenzie.
“You doing okay, Dad?” Mackenzie looked up at me. She was such the caregiver.
“I’m doing great.” I had my casted arm in a sling, the pillow was still holding my stomach together, and I walked at the pace of a snail. But I was getting stronger every day.
Brad pulled up in his SUV. It took about ten minutes to get me inside, everyone doing their best to make sure I was comfortable. If they only knew that I hated the attention. A few funny jokes while knocking back a couple of Knob Creek drinks—that kind of attention was fine. But I loathed being the wounded victim. I didn’t say a word, though, because the only thing worse than being a wounded victim was being an ornery wounded victim.
We drove through a tunnel—which Mackenzie loved—and headed north out of Boston. We cut across some marshy water. I could see the Atlantic off to the east. We saw signs for towns named Saugus, Lynn, Swampscott, and Peabody. We pulled off 107 when we reached Salem.
“Do you think we’ll see any witches?” Mackenzie asked, leaning against my good shoulder.
My daughter had already done her homework. Our new home, at least for the next few weeks, was going to be Alex’s house. After discussing it a dozen times with Alex over the last four days, including a couple times with Brad, Nick, and their boss, Jerry, we finally reached a multilateral agreement: Mackenzie and I would live with Alex’s family in her home. Jerry would also assign two sets of agents to monitor the house or follow us around, as needed. While I joked that this was preparing me to run for president—with the security detail and all—I wasn’t thrilled with living with so many people under one roof, some of whom I’d never met. But it was for the best.
Tito and Luella had packed up a few of our things and sent them to Alex’s house. I’d spoken to Tito briefly and thanked him for everything. I asked if he would call my mom and brother and let them know I was no longer a wanted fugitive and that, if anyone asked, I’d hold a memorial for Nicole when I got back to Austin. As for questions regarding where Mackenzie and I were, Tito suggested saying that we were on an extended vacation. That worked for me. He reassured us that Luella would continue to take care of the dogs. She even promised to send us pictures every day. Mackenzie had said into the phone, “They have to be cute, too!”
I also called up the school and got permission for home schooling.
We pulled up to the curb of Alex’s home. It was two-story, green, black shutters. Looked pretty swanky for a government employee.
A procession moving at the speed of the pope accompanied me to the front door. An elderly woman, her hair neatly styled and with various shades of gray in it, opened the door before I pushed the doorbell.
“No need to ring. This is your home now too, Ozzie.” She smiled and used the red apron she was wearing to wipe her face.
“You must be Ezzy. Nice to finally meet you.” I reached out a hand. She took it with both hands.
Two kids lumbered down the stairs as we all walked inside. “You must be Erin and Luke.”
They both waved. “Hey, Mom,” Luke called out. “Are we supposed to call this guy ‘Mr. Novak’ or ‘Ozzie’ or what?”
Alex came around the corner. I noticed the apron she was wearing matched the one Ezzy had on. I swiveled a finger between the two of them.
She caught my eye and smirked, did a little roll of her eyes. I took that to mean she was placating Ezzy by wearing matching aprons. She turned to Luke. “Can you show a few manners for our guests?”
“Uh, sure. But I thought you said we’re supposed to treat them like family.”
She opened her lips, but I jumped in. “Just call me ‘Ozzie. Everybody can do their own thing. Mackenzie and I will—”
“Hey,” Erin said to Mackenzie, “want me to show you around?”
“Sure,” Mackenzie said, a smile on her face. I thanked Erin, and the two girls headed upstairs.
“You know anything about basketball?” Luke said, stuffing his hand in the pockets of his green-and-white sweats.
“Not much…only that the Celtics have seventeen championships, including eleven with the great Bill Russell. I once heard him speak at a luncheon.”
“A luncheon. What’s that?”
“Luke, he can talk to you about it later,” Alex said. “He needs to rest right now.”
“Drop by my pad in a bit, Luke. No need to make an appointment.”
He shrugged. I wasn’t sure he got my sense of humor, but he’d figure it out soon enough.
The adult crowd ushered me into the living room and then lowered me onto the couch.
It was comfortable. I looked up and saw Ezzy, Nick, Brad, and Alex standing there...hovering. I raised my hands. “Does anyone want me to give communion?”
Ezzy immediately crossed herself. She patted Alex on the shoulder. “He’s got your sarcasm, Dr. Alex. I’m off to finish dinner.”
“Doctor?”
Brad and Nick laughed. Alex smiled, shaking her head. “It’s just this thing with Ezzy. Says I remind her of some soap-opera star from her native Guatemala.”
A long nod. “‘Dr. Alex.’ Sounds very academic. Perhaps you could become a professor and quit the FBI.”
She and Brad traded a glance. Maybe I’d hit on a touchy subject. I diverted their attention.
“Actually, I’m the one who needs to earn his keep. I can do dishes, housework, drive the kids anywhere they need—”
Someone yelled. Nick looked at me. “Ezzy said that’s her job and you can’t have it.”
I touched my ear. “Thanks for that, Nick. Yeah, everyone might want to spread the word. Ozzie can’t hear worth a shit. It’s great for teenagers who want to sneak out of the house.”
“Ozzie, don’t give them any ideas,” Alex said.
Brad chuckled.
Everyone eventually went about their business. Nick took off, said he had to get home to his ball-and-chain. Alex later told me it was actually two balls and a chain—he’d been living with his boyfriend for close to twenty years.
Dinner was some type of native Guatemalan food. I gave hefty praise to Ezzy, but she still wouldn’t let me wash dishes—she knew I was in no condition. Later, I was back on the couch. Brad poured me my first adult beverage since before my accident—Maker’s Mark on the rocks. Not a bad substitute for my Knob Creek. He made a fire, and then he, Alex, and I settled in to enjoy it.
“Thank you again for letting Mackenzie and me invade your lives for a few weeks.”
“It’s cool, Ozzie.”
Brad nudged up against his better half, and he eyed her. She hooked her arm inside his,
but they kept their gaze on each other.
“I can go to the bedroom now if this is your quiet time with each other.”
“What?” Alex said. “No, it’s not that.”
“You going to tell him about the deal?” Brad asked.
“I wasn’t going to say anything until tomorrow.” She arched an eyebrow, the kind that was loving but still had a hint of attitude.
I tried not to laugh—that would hurt too much. I raised my hand. “Do I get a vote?”
“Well, you seem like you’re in a good mood with the drink in your hand, so I might as well blurt it out now,” Alex said.
I turned my head. They had my curiosity piqued.
“Remember when we were talking to Jerry about how this arrangement would work?”
I nodded.
“Well, he, uh…” Alex looked at Brad and then back at me. “He was okay with spending the money on the extra agents if you lent a hand on a couple of things.”
I wasn’t really following her. “I’m healing more every day. How can I help out around here?”
Brad laughed. “Not around here. Around the office.”
Right. “Of course, the FBI is spending the money on the agents.” I paused, replayed what I’d just heard. “Wait, Jerry wants me to do work for the FBI? Like what, shred confidential papers? I’ve got mad shredding skills.”
Alex scoffed. “You’re really full of it today, aren’t you?”
“I’m getting my groove back.” I held up the glass. “If Brad fills my glass again, I might do my best impression of the Macarena.”
Brad snorted out a laugh.
“Seriously,” Alex said. “This is under-the-radar kind of stuff.”
“Under whose radar?”
“Jerry told me he needs someone off the books to do a few things.”
“Off the books?”
“Contractor, not employee,” Brad clarified.
“Off the books,” I repeated.
“I told him about your skill set.”
“That I’m a former lawyer?”
“No, your PI gig.”
I wouldn’t really call that much of a skill set. “Okay. I’ll be glad to help. It will keep my brain busy while we wait on this JustWin investigation to get wrapped up.” I sipped my drink. “So, any clues about what this will entail?”
Alex bit her lip and said, “I told Jerry it was too soon. But he started pushing, said we had no time to waste.”
“Too soon for what?”
“You don’t need drama, Ozzie. You probably just want to read a lot and take walks around the block.”
“I’m twenty-eight, not ninety-eight. I’m intrigued. And I need something to occupy my mind, to create new thoughts and memories. Tell me what this assignment is.”
“I get it.” She nodded. “It’s the marathon. They have reason to believe we might be on the radar of a possible terrorist plot.”
I opened my lips to speak, but she held up a hand, so I swallowed my words.
“I know, a possible repeat of 2013. Jerry needs someone to go online, find this group, and try to infiltrate it. He’s concerned that the assigned FBI agents have been compromised. So, the whole thing would be done from this house. No physical activity. But I told Jerry you would have the final say. If you say no, then it’s off. And I’ll back you up.”
The kids ran downstairs. Mackenzie came up and hugged my neck. Erin and Luke traded a few verbal jabs, and then it suddenly turned lighter when they started tickling each other. They raced back upstairs. Mackenzie wasn’t far behind.
“Kids,” Alex said, raising her wine glass. “Can’t have enough of this.”
I sipped my drink and thought about the idea of actually doing some good for the world while keeping my personal life drama-free. “I’ll do it.”
“You sure? I can tell Jerry to give you another day to think about it. If you’ve still got some things to work through regarding Nicole, I completely understand.”
I blinked away that final image of Nicole’s death and thought about the last time I’d touched her face. She’d looked into my eyes, her heart wide open. We didn’t say anything for a good minute. It was a special moment, one that said we’d always be there for each other. I just didn’t know it would be our last moment.
I could still argue that I hadn’t held up my end of the bargain in protecting her. But I knew that she was looking down on me, smiling. How could I not smile back? Even separated by life, if I really thought about it, she warmed my heart like no one else ever would. She, more than anyone, knew who I was, how I was wired.
For those in my inner circle, I would go to the moon and back if it helped them. And now, it seemed as though my inner circle was expanding. I knew it would take some time for my heart to mend. And being around these folks was the best medicine I could have.
“Let me help, Alex. I want to help you, your family, even Jerry. I need to help.”
I would have never predicted the path my life had taken over the last few months. I’d lost a lot, but I’d gained a lot too.
Fate. By the very definition, you can’t plan it…stuff just happens. But you also can’t sit there and wait for life to deliver kindness and love to your doorstep. You have to seek it out, and once you find it, even in small doses, it’s up to you to treasure it, make the most of it.
That’s what I was planning to do—make the most of my life as a father and a friend.
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed the journey with Ozzie. He’s one of those characters that can seemingly go on forever.
But wait…maybe he will. The next book in the Redemption Thriller Series brings back an old friend of yours and mine. Alex Troutt had the fabric of her family ripped apart, and then redefined her life with strength and fortitude. But what lies ahead will test her and those close to her like never before.
Join Alex and another familiar character in this breath-taking adventure.
Get AT Stake now!
I hope you enjoy the start to this new odyssey.
Best,
John
P.S. If you have time to leave a review for ON The Run, that would be much appreciated.
John W. Mefford Bibliography
Redemption Thriller Series
*Suggested to read the books in the following order:
The Alex Troutt Thrillers
AT Bay (RTS #1)
AT Large (RTS #2)
AT Once (RTS #3)
AT Dawn (RTS #4)
AT Dusk (RTS #5)
AT Last (RTS #6)
The Ivy Nash Thrillers
IN Defiance (RTS #7)
IN Pursuit (RTS #8)
IN Doubt (RTS #9)
Break IN (RTS #10)
IN Control (RTS #11)
IN The End (RTS #12)
The Ozzie Novak Thrillers
ON Edge (RTS #13)
Game ON (RTS #14)
ON The Rocks (RTS #15)
Shame ON You (RTS #16)
ON Fire (RTS #17)
ON The Run (RTS #18)
The Alex Troutt Thrillers
AT Stake (RTS #19)
AT Any Cost (RTS #20)
TBD (RTS #21)
TBD (RTS #22)
TBD (RTS #23)
TBD (RTS #24)
Other Thriller Series
The Booker Series
BOOKER – Streets of Mayhem (Volume 1)
BOOKER – Tap That (Volume 2)
BOILERMAKER – A Lt. Jack Daniels / Booker Mystery (Volume 2.5)
BOOKER – Hate City (Volume 3)
BOOKER – Blood Ring (Volume 4)
BOOKER – No Más (Volume 5)
BOOKER – Dead Heat (Volume 6)
The Greed Series
FATAL GREED (Greed Series #1)
LETHAL GREED (Greed Series #2)
WICKED GREED (Greed Series #3)
GREED MANIFESTO (Greed Series #4)
ON The Run
Copyright © 2018 by John W. Mefford
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This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book (not just the sample) and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Formatting by Bob Houston eBook Formatting
Table of Contents
ALSO BY JOHN W. MEFFORD
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Dear Reader
John W. Mefford Bibliography
ON The Run (An Ozzie Novak Thriller, Book 6) (Redemption Thriller Series 18) Page 20
