by S. K. Lessly
“What do you think they want?” I asked Rick, keeping up the ignorance.
He shook his head. “I don’t know but they looked pissed.”
I nodded but didn’t reply. I did, however bring up the self-destruct codes for my computers, just in case. You never could be too careful in my line of work.
Finally, after about forty-five minutes, the three men emerged from Greg's office looking just as pissed off as they’d been when they entered. The trio disappeared around the corner and my eyes gravitated to Greg. His door was open and I was able to see him clearly.
Greg had his hands resting on the sides of his head. His eyes were downcast and he didn’t move for a long time. Feeling my nerves getting the better of me, I started to stand up and head his way but he snapped out of his trance and looked at me.
His features looked worn out, haggard and wary. This didn’t look good. He stood slowly, rounded his desk, and headed in my direction. Yup, this wasn’t good at all.
I held my breath and smiled once he entered my office. He closed the door and sat down in a chair opposite me. He didn’t speak for a long time, which was unnerving. He merely stared at me for a few uncomfortable minutes before finally putting me out of my misery.
“Do you have any idea who left my office a few minutes ago?” he asked, plainly and without inflection in his voice.
I shook my head and swallowed.
“That was the CIA.”
“The CIA?” I asked, feigning surprise. “What the hell did they want? For us to do their jobs for them yet again?”
I snorted and rolled my eyes, hoping my snarky comment would make him smile. It didn’t.
“What were you working on two days ago?” he asked me without preamble.
I didn’t respond right away.
I reached into one of my side desk drawers and brought out a thick manila envelope. I slammed it on my desk for affect before I spoke.
“Roger Rabbit is what he’s calling himself. He’s raged a war against the DC Metro. He found a way to hack into the Metro card dispensers. He then rigs them so that when someone buys one card, they get another card for the same amount. Law enforcement has asked us to help track him down, and I think I got him.”
I smiled for effect, but again, he didn’t share my enthusiasm. He usually did, but not today. Whatever the CIA told him had him spooked.
“You didn’t work on anything else that day or yesterday?” he prodded.
I shook my head. “No, sir. I’ve been busy doing that. Why? What did the CIA want?”
He sighed. “They had a mission going on in Turkey a few days ago, and they said the mission was botched and some of their people lost their lives.”
I didn’t make a move and somehow, I kept my face neutral. On the inside, I was screaming, breaking. He had to be wrong.
I moved my hands from the desk and put them in my lap so he wouldn’t notice me shaking. Could this be true? Could Ethan and his team be dead? My heart started pounding, and I could feel bile rising up my throat.
I tried to remain calm as I said, “That’s horrible. I can’t believe that happened. Did they know like how they died or what led to their deaths? And, I don’t mean to be rude, but what does that have to do with us?”
Greg looked strangely at me. I knew he wasn’t shocked about what I’d just said. He was used to heartless remarks from his people. Most of the techs who worked here lacked the empathy gene that most humans possessed. They ate, slept, and breathed the world of coding; they didn’t have room for feelings or sympathy.
I tried to give off the same nonchalant air, but on the inside, I was hurting.
“Have you been in contact with Ethan Wolf or Jessica Turner?” he asked me.
I shook my head, then found my voice. “No. Remember, I was told to forget they ever existed. It was part of the government deal I received. Ummm. Why?”
He blew out a breath and ran a hand down his face. “Yes. Right. Well, I’m sorry to tell you this, but they were the group that lost their lives two nights ago.”
I brought my hands to my mouth, unable to stop the gasp from releasing. “Oh God! Are you sure?” I asked, now showing all the emotion I felt.
However, I couldn’t and didn’t believe it. Ethan couldn’t be dead; he was too good for that. I had given him everything he needed to safely get into that compound. Was I missing something? Had it been a setup from the beginning? A trap to catch anyone hacking into the CIA’s system or to find someone looking for the Celik?
“Alexis?”
I looked at my boss. “Yes?”
“Look, I’m going to be straight up with you. Did you have anything to do with hacking into the CIA’s database the other day?”
I didn’t reply. Instead, I felt my chest getting tight. I started breathing heavy. My heart started beating out of control, and I could feel myself becoming lightheaded. I was having a panic attack, and there was no way of stopping it.
I pushed my chair back and awkwardly placed my head between my knees, or as close to it as I could. My ears were ringing, but I did hear the faint scraping of Greg’s chair. I saw him kneel in front of me. He rested a hand on my shoulders and began to rub my back.
“Alexis, are you alright?” I heard him ask me but it sounded as if he was miles away instead of right next to me.
I didn’t answer him; I couldn’t. I was too busy trying to get my breathing right. I was freaking out. I couldn’t have been responsible for his death, could I? Was the CIA just fishing for evidence or was it really true?
“Oh, God!” I blurted and started to rock back and forth. I didn’t care what my boss thought of my behavior. I was too busy getting lost in my own grief and self-deprecation to care.
“Alexis, do you need to go to the hospital?”
I looked up at my boss and shook my head. I didn’t need a doctor. I needed to find out if Ethan was okay.
I took a few deep breaths and managed to get a small semblance of control. When I sat up slowly, however, I said softly to him, “I had nothing to do with this. I told you what I was working on for two days now. I’m sure you and the CIA can check out my story.” I stood, not wanting to spend another second stuck in the confines of these four walls. I needed to come up with a plan. I needed to think. I needed air.
“I need to go,” I announced, gathering up my things. “I don’t feel well after all.”
“Of course. I understand how the news could be a blow. I’m sorry for your loss.”
I absently nodded.
“Do you need a ride home? You shouldn’t be driving considering—”
“I’m fine, Greg. I don’t need a ride home.”
“Are you sure? You don’t look fine.”
I tried to send a smile his way but I knew and felt it fall flat. In any rate I said to him, “Trust me, I’m okay to drive. Really.”
“Okay, well text me or something. Let me know you made it home safely.”
I nodded, concentrating on turning off my computers and locking up my desk. I had no clue why I bothered. The moment I left this floor people would be searching through my things and computer.
When I got to my car, tears started to fall. I wanted to cry out, but I couldn’t muster the strength. I simply drove home in a daze. My chest was still tight and I knew it would stay that way until I found out the truth for myself. I had the means to do it at home. My computer system was so advanced, I’d be able to hack the CIA even faster with my own system, play around, and back out without them being the wiser. And best believe, they would be watching.
I refused to believe that I’d gotten Ethan and his team killed. This had to be a setup, a ploy to catch me doing something illegal. What they failed to realize was that I wasn’t stupid enough to get caught.
I drove on, trying to stop the bad thoughts rolling around in my head. If something bad had happened to Ethan, I liked to think I would know it or feel it. I also believed Billy would have contacted me somehow by now. He didn’t. Which meant, I had to f
igure this out on my own.
I also had to realize that, when I did get into their system, I might not find anything. Again, if this was just a way to pin me for crashing their system, they would send me on a wild goose chase, teasing me with details that would have me researching for hours. I had to believe this all was a ruse. They wanted me distraught and distracted so I would make a mistake. Yeah, that wasn’t going to happen.
Believing more and more that this was all a trap and Ethan was fine, the sadness was slowly being replaced with anger. Still, I couldn’t get rid of the doubt completely. Instead of doing a huge search that would probably result in a false positive, I’d hunt for Billy instead.
He and I had spoken a bunch of times using our computers. We’d either have a face to face or we’d use headsets as receivers. He shared an app he’d created with me that allowed him to speak to anyone through Wi-Fi. He claimed it was super secret and safe. No one had ever hacked into his system, but me of course, and he promised me no one ever would. I believed him. With a plan now set, I relaxed a bit. The moment I got home, I’d get the answers I needed.
I pulled up to my home and immediately wanted to cry. There was no way I would be able to search for Billy.
Parked in my front of my brownstone was a very familiar car belonging to Albert Lacy, a friend I had met some months back. I sighed and rolled my eyes. I didn’t want to deal with him and his shit right now.
Don’t get me wrong, Al was a good friend of mine. He was also under the employment of the CIA. We met while on a case. He said he worked for the International Bank Fraud division, but I wasn’t buying it. Al didn’t seem like he a mere analyst. He seemed calculated, ruthless. He seemed more like an operative. No matter. He had asked for our help finding and seizing bank accounts for some drug dealer or something and the case was given to me. One day he sat next to me in our cafeteria during lunch. We got to talking and the rest was history
Other than him working for the current enemy, Al was a good guy and pretty good-looking too. He was average height with a muscular body that could make a woman swoon if she was single and available. He had dark hair cut close to his head and calculating brown eyes.
We had gone out a few times, after the case was solved, just as friends. He tried to hit on me, but I turned him down, quick. I told him that my heart belonged to someone else, and he claimed he was cool about it. He even continued to come around. After that, a friendship had developed.
We started to hang out all the time. He’d come to my house or I’d go to his. We’ve been to lunch and dinner on many occasions. I didn’t mind it at first because of how lonely I had been feeling, but now, I regretted it.
He didn’t do or say anything to make me feel uncomfortable; however, I was beginning to think he was starting to feel more for me than friendship. He had become clingier, pushier, and annoying as hell in the last few months. I knew it was time for me to remind him of his place but I didn’t want to hurt him.
He’d been there for me in more ways than one. Anytime I needed him for anything, he was there. He was a good person, despite his occupation as a spook/analyst. But he was also getting on my last nerve. I couldn’t breathe without him always inhaling my air.
I told myself I needed to put my big girl pants on and talk to him. Actually, I should do it now. I mean, what better time was there to talk to him? Except, I had no desire to deal with him today. I just wanted to be alone. A thought occurred to me and the corners of my mouth curled up a bit. Maybe it was time for an impromptu vacation and I knew just the place I could go. It was outside of the city and away from the CIA and their prying eyes.
As I parked in my small driveway, Al got out of his sedan and met me at my car. He opened my door and offered me a hand. I reluctantly took it and allowed him to help me out of my truck.
“Why didn’t you call me? I could have picked you up from work,” he chastised lightly.
I brushed him off with a wave of my hand once I had two feet on the ground. “I’m more than capable of driving home. What are you doing here?” I started for the front of my house, Al right behind me. I unlocked my door, opened it and stepped inside my house. I keyed in the alarm code and stepped aside as Al walked in behind me.
The brownstones on my street were newly built with hardwood floors, granite countertops and bright white walls. The living room, dining room, and kitchen were downstairs. The two and a half bedrooms and one bath were upstairs.
The décor I chose was modern with a hint of a feminine touch—flowers, plants and colorful fluffy area rugs. Sheer curtains and thick drapes adorned the huge picture-style windows throughout the house and the bathroom upstairs was large enough to fit three people. The place was expensive, but I was proud to say it was all mine.
“I went by your office today to see if you wanted to have lunch and saw Greg coming out of your building. He told me you went home and that a childhood friend of yours died. What happened?”
I didn’t want to talk about it. All I wanted to do was be alone with my grief and try to get my head around the news about Ethan and his team.
“I’m sorry, Al. I really don’t want to talk about it.”
I slowly started climbing the steps to the second level of my house, essentially dismissing him, and began thinking about getting away from the city.
I smiled, thinking about the house I’d bought close to the beaches of Chesapeake Bay, MD, roughly about seven months ago. The beaches there were known for their tranquil waters and quiet atmosphere. The town itself was once known for its fishing, but now it was a place where you could go to get away from busy city life and slow down into peaceful serenity.
“Come on, Alexis, talk to me. What’s going on?” He pushed on, following me into my bedroom.
I frowned and placed my hands up, stopping him from fully entering my room. “Al, please,” I grumbled, exasperated.
Al placed his hands up in surrender. “Okay, okay. I’ll back off. I just want to make sure you’re okay. Greg said you looked pale and you said you didn’t feel well. I just wanted to—”
“I’m fine. Trust me.” I wasn’t fine, not in the least.
With his hands still up, he gave me a side grin. “Okay, no problem.”
I rolled my eyes and entered my closet. When I emerged with a small carryon suitcase, Al was sitting on the edge of my bed. Jesus, can’t he take a hint?
“What are you doing?” He watched me intently.
I opened my bag and stepped over to my dresser, giving him my back. “What does it look like? I’m packing,” I said over my shoulder.
I opened a dresser drawer and started pulling out some underwear. I pulled open another drawer and grabbed t-shirts, and leggings.
“Yeah, I can see that, Alexis. What I mean is, why are you packing? Where are you going?”
I sighed and dumped my things inside my open case, not bothering with folding or packing neatly. “I want to head out to the beach. I need to get away for a while, and the beach is what I need right now.”
“You going by yourself?”
I nodded.
He shook his head. “Uh, no you’re not. Don’t even think about going out there by yourself.”
“Why not!” I countered, placing my hands on my impressive hips.
“You know why. You’re pregnant!”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Yes, Al, I’m pregnant.”
“Yes, Alexis, You’re eight months at that. You can’t go to some beach by yourself. It’s not safe."
I scoffed at him. “Oh please, don’t be so melodramatic. I’ll be fine.”
“Oh yeah, what if you go into labor?”
“Uh, they have hospitals all over Maryland. Not to mention I have a phone. Again, I’ll be fine.” I stressed, my voice raising a bit. “I can go to the beach by myself. I can be by myself. I don’t need anyone to babysit me.”
I was getting worked up for nothing, and I knew it. After all, he was just looking out for me, or trying to spy on me, but whatever. The
problem was, I didn’t want him to look out for me. I wanted Ethan. I wanted to find out if he was alright without anyone hanging over me. I wanted to put the doubt, which by the way was getting stronger by the minute, to bed. I wanted to talk to Ethan myself in order to be sure he was okay.
My breathing started to pick up just thinking about him being hurt or worse because of me and I felt another panic attack coming on.
“Easy. Take it easy,” Al coached softly, thinking he was the one making me upset. He stepped into my space and soothingly rubbed my arms. “I know you would be fine by yourself. I’m not saying that. I don’t mean to get you upset. I’m just looking out for you and the baby.”
He tenderly touched my cheek with long, warm fingers. I wanted to step out of his touch, but I was too busy trying not to break down.
“Listen, sweetheart. Why don’t I drive out there with you?” When I opened my mouth to protest, he spoke over me. “Hey, wait. Hear me out. I promise I won’t get in the way. I just want to make sure you’re okay. I’ll even let you drive all the way there if it’ll make you feel independent or something.”
I chuckled in spite of myself and shook my head. “You’re an ass.”
Al smiled down at me. “Yeah, I know. So, what do you say?”
I studied the sincerity in his eyes, and I felt myself relenting to him. He would pose a problem for me searching for Billy, but it was minimal. Also, it would be perfect time for us to talk about the elephant in the room.
I sighed when I saw his face fall, as if he had just lost his childhood dog or something. “Okay, you can come with me.” He beamed at me and I quickly realized he’d baited me. “But, I swear, the second you irritate me or try to control me, you’re gone.”
Al’s smile spread along his handsome face. “Hey, no problem. Let’s get you all packed up and in your truck. We can then stop by my house so I can grab a few things and we can get on the road.
I sent nod his way and continued packing, grabbing a few dresses and flats, and dropped them into my bag. I didn’t need anything else, really. I had toiletries and things I would need already at the house.
