No Regrets

by B. B. Donnelly

  I give him a smile as I climb over the balcony banister and I blow him a kiss. I leap down to a ledge on the next level, staying close to the house. I’m climbing over the tiers and ledges when I come to the canopy above my father’s office. I stop when I hear a voice.

  “I promise you, I will have the money. Just give me a little more time.” My uncle says. I listen. I’m afraid to get my phone out. If I make any noise, my uncle will come to investigate, and all my chances to escape are gone.

  “I understand…yes…. I just got rid of my brother… I don’t think a young girl is going to be a problem.” He says sarcastically. I clench my teeth in anger. We will see about that.

  “Once she is out of the way, the money is mine. I swear. Just give me a couple of months….no… if I did it now, it would look suspicious. Have you seen the news? They love her. The tragedy of the wealthy heiress that lost both her parents in front of her……. I guess I could make it look like a suicide.” Kilson contemplates. I can’t hear the rest of the conversation because he has stepped back inside. I hear the doors close behind him.

  I silently step past the office. I move to the side of the house where the hedges grow and I’m least likely to be spotted by anyone. I shimmy down a column. I spot the wooded area that is behind the house. Beyond the woods is a tall security wall that surrounds the house. It is lined with a security wire that if tripped will set off an alarm, not to mention the

  security guards that walk the estate. I follow along a tree line that leads to Jackson’s place. Once I reach Jackson’s, I release my breath that I had been holding. If I can just make it to the woods. Creeping around Jackson’s, I make a run for the trees. Once I make it, I pause listening for any signs that I had been spotted. Finding none, I continue through the small forest.

  After a few minutes, I hear some guards walking my way. Making sure my bag is secure on my back, I shimmy up a tree. I’m breathing hard from the extra weight. I stand on a thick limb hugging the tree’s trunk.

  “Did you watch the game last night? Martino Rodriguez was amazing! We might have a chance at a win this season.” The short guard says to the tall blond one.

  “I don’t know. I thought he looked injured after that tackle.” The blond one says. I hold my breath. They are right below me. As they keep walking, still talking about some game that they watched the night before, I slowly exhale. That was close. I drop down from the tree and continue in the opposite direction of the guards. I’m no amateur when it comes to climbing trees. I can’t tell you how many times I have snuck out of my house. Finally, I find the tree I’m looking for. This tree has helped me escape many times. The tree’s branches almost brush the top of the wall. It is tricky because I jump from a branch to the wall, balance, and avoid the wires. Normally, I wouldn’t have any problems, but before I would get a wrist slap, now it is my life.

  I climb up the tree. I balance on the limb. I put one foot in front of the other like a balance beam. I toss my bag over the wall and pray that I don’t hit an alarm on the other side. When I don’t hear anything, I move along the limb. When I can go no further, I sit down on the limb and swing myself down. I hang there for a second and then I begin swaying back and forth to get momentum. I must time it just right. One, two, three…. let go. I make it on the walls edge. Now I just have to step over the wires.

  “Stop right there.” I swivel around and see both guards holding a gun pointed at me. I put my hands up in surrender.

  “Sorry boys, I have places to be.” I say. They look at each other, then back at me.

  “Miss Drazen, get down from there, we don’t want to hurt you.” The nicer looking guard says.

  “But you will if you have to, right?” I ask, knowing by the looks they exchange that they work for my uncle. There is no way I’m letting them catch me.

  “Later boys.” I say as I back flip off the wall. I land feet first, but the impact takes me down. I scramble to get my bag as I hear voices yell on the other side.

  “We have a security breach.” I hear one of them report in their radios. Time to go! I haul butt out of there. It is only a matter of time before the place is crawling with security and I’m caught. I take off running through the rest of the wooded area, coming to a back road. I reach into my pocket and grab the keys that go to my getaway car. When I reach the car, a nondescript dark blue Buick, I look back. From this vantage point, I can see some of my home through the trees. I take a moment in the waning sunlight to say goodbye to my old life… and I think to myself…I will be back.

  Chapter Twelve

  I wish I could say that my escape was full of excitement, but it wasn’t. I drove my car to one of my father’s safe houses. The safe house was in the middle of a college apartment complex. I’m sitting in the apartment and I look around. This is not decorated like a normal college apartment; at least I don’t think it is. I had always thought that college would be fun, but most agents are taught the essentials in training school. They learn about the latest technology and even some that the public doesn’t know about, different languages, sociology, psychology, political science, accounting, and many more. We don’t have to just understand them; we must master them. College seems kind of pointless after that kind of training. I would have liked the experience though. I would have loved to have parties, go to parties, get trashed, eat cheap processed foods and drink cheap beer and live in an apartment decorated in empty wine bottles, Christmas lights, and cheap furniture.

  This apartment is far from that. It is decorated in a gray and white color scheme with expensive furniture and knick knacks. The kitchen has stainless steel appliances. It is small but everything is done with taste. I have been here less than thirty minutes. Twenty of those minutes I used securing my new home and the last ten I sat here wondering what my next move was.

  I pull the briefcase out of my bag. I open it and review what I know about the place. Apparently, it is owned by Meredith Smalls. I look at the note my father has attached. It is a note explaining that Meredith was a close friend of my father’s (his mistress). I can read between the lines. She is no longer living here, but it was a place for them to meet. Eewwww! I’m staying in his love nest. Hmmm, I wonder what happened to her. It goes on to explain that my father paid the rent and utilities in cash on the apartment for ten years in advance. It is considered one of his safe houses that is off the radar from the organization. Everything was put under Meredith’s name and cannot be traced back to my father.

  As I look through all the papers, I see that all the safe houses are similar. My father paid cash and they all have someone else’s name on it. Besides the safe houses, there are safety deposit boxes and bank accounts spread all over in different cities and states. They are all in my name. I have my mother’s pin money, but now I found a zipped-up bag at the bottom of the briefcase that had approximately 200,000 dollars, all in big bills. It breaks

  my heart to think how my father took the time to put this briefcase together, knowing something may happen to him and he took care of me. I took out the typed note that he left to me.

  Carter

  I want to warn you that if anything happens to me, take your mother and run. These places will keep you safe. I put most of our money in different accounts. I’ve changed them all to be under your name. Tell no one from the organization about any of this. I love Jackson like a son, but his loyalties may be compromised. He wants to believe in the organization, much like I did once upon a time. If anything should happen, I want you to know that your uncle is behind it. He has become a traitor to our country and organization. He directed many missions that were not approved by the organization. Many were working with terrorist groups. He also has been selling intel to them. Security has been breached. He is desperate for money and unfortunately, he knows that there is more money somewhere. It will not take him long to figure out that you have it all. Be careful. He is a very dangerous man. I only could collect a few pieces of evidence, but unfortunately, I don’t have enough to put him be
hind bars. I’m so sorry to leave you with this burden, but if there is a way for you to get the evidence with the resources, I have left you, please do so. You are still an agent of the United States Government and this is a national security issue. There is one man I trust, and I hope you can get in contact with him. I meet with him every second Saturday of the month at a bar called Boomerang. Eight o’clock sharp. His name is Charlie and he wears a white ball cap. He will be sitting at the bar. You can trust him with this information, he will help you. Be careful, Jackson likes to go undercover there as well.

  The letter went on to tell me how Charlie works directly under my uncle, but his loyalties have always been with my father. My father placed him in the position to watch my uncle’s activities. This is how my father found out about all the additional missions. He ended the letter telling me how proud he was of me and how much he loved me. I choked up when I read the part where he told me to take care of my mother.

  He had no idea that my uncle would take her out as well. I still do not understand why he would do that. My uncle loved my mother once upon a time. Why would he kill her?

  I check the calendar. What a crazy coincidence. Tomorrow night is the second Saturday of January. Looks like I have plans for tomorrow night. I get up and stretch my legs. I walk over to the partially opened window that overlooks a side street. In the view of the street lights I watch college aged students walking to their party destinations. They are so carefree and normal. I turn away from the window with a sigh. Life is so unfair

  sometimes. I go back to the coffee table and put all the papers away. I’m just closing it up when there is a knock on the door. I pull the gun out of my waistband. Staying close to the wall, I move my way to the door.

  “Who is it?” I ask in a perky voice, staying to the side of the door.

  “Ian…Um, I live across the hall.” Sounds like a normal guy, but the organization trains us to blend in.

  “How can I help you?” I ask, still perky and through the door.

  “Well, I was going to ask if you wanted to come to my party tomorrow night.” I inch closer then lean over to the peep hole. I see the guy through the fish bowl lens. He has light brown hair cut short in that All-American way. His face is friendly looking, but you can never be too careful. I tuck my gun into the back of my sweatpants. I unlock the chain lock at the top. I figure that if it was the organization than they would have kicked in the door by now. I open the door. He takes in my appearance. I’m wearing black sweatpants with a pink tank top, barefoot with my hair in a messy bun and no makeup.

  “Well, hello there.” Ian says with a big smile. I cock my head at him and give him a once over. He looks vaguely familiar, but hell, I think I’m just paranoid.

  “Let’s try this again. Hello, my name is Ian and I live right there.” He says pointing over to the door directly across from mine. He is very friendly and on closer inspection very handsome in a wholesome way. He looks like your popular All-American football player in high school. He is dressed in a light blue V-neck tee that hugs his muscles to perfection.

  “And you are?” He asks, with an infectious smile. I smile back.

  “I’m Amelia Smalls.” I answer.

  “You related to Meredith?” He asks. I raise my eyebrows.

  “She’s my cousin.” I respond. Always keep your stories simple.

  “Well, I noticed she hasn’t been here for about a year now. Where did she go?” He asks, his tone indicates he is just mildly curious.

  “She had a job opportunity she couldn’t pass up. Since the apartment was open and I needed a place to stay, I took her up on the offer to watch over the place. So here I am.” I say. I have no idea where Dad’s girlfriend is.

  “Are you a friend of hers?” I ask, wondering if he knows Meredith. If he does, then I need to keep my stories vague.

  “Oh, you could say that. She was an occasional friend.” He says with a flirty smile. Well, apparently, Dad’s girlfriend was a whore. I wonder if Dad knew she was a cheater. I just give him an awkward smile back.

  “Sorry, I’m sure you didn’t need to know that about your cousin.” He says with a laugh. This guy is extremely happy and friendly. Is he for real? “Anyways, about that party?”

  “How did you know I was here?” I ask friendly, but cautious. I see a slight hesitation. Hmmm.

  “Well, it’s kind of funny. I was waiting on a friend and I just happened to look out into the hallway when I saw this pretty girl coming towards me. I quickly shut the door, afraid to talk to her. As you can see, I’m kind of shy.” I laughed at that.

  “So, there I was looking through the peep hole just wanting to catch a glimpse of her as she walked by, but to my astonishment, she stopped right in front of the door across the hall.” He says with an exaggerated sigh.

  “I’m sorry for barging over, but I just thought you could use a friendly face.” He says with his charming smile, “and I think you are hot!”

  This guy is a riot! He has me smiling by the end of his story.

  “Oookay, well, thank you and thank you for the invitation, but I have plans tomorrow night.” His face falls.

  “Well, if you change your mind, come on over. I will try to keep the noise down, but my parties are pretty epic.”

  “I can just imagine!” I say with a smile. He smiles back and then gives me a small wave.

  “Well, I guess that is that. I’m right over here if you need anything. Like sugar or milk, or a strong man to kill those nasty spiders!” He starts backing towards his door.

  “Thanks for the offer, but I can kill my own spiders.” I give him a wink and shut the door on him. I wait until I hear him close his own door and then I walk back into the front room.

  I put the briefcase back into my bag. I repack my bag. I always repack before going to bed or leaving. You never know when you are going to have to take off. Going into the bedroom, I tuck myself in and turn all the lights off. The glow from the streetlight is the only light coming in. I feel the comfort of my gun under my pillow. Even though I’m anxious for my meeting with Charlie, I feel the events of the day wearing me down. My eyes drift close and all I can think is Day One of my escape is over, what will day two bring….

  Chapter Thirteen

  The bar Boomerang is packed when I arrive. My father didn’t know that I have been here before. I snuck out once to hear Jackson play. He sings for the bar every once and awhile. It is only one of his many covers. I should have remembered that this is a shithole kind of bar. I’m way overdressed. Now, I will stand out. I mentally berate myself, I should have gone casual. After many decisions on what to wear, I had decided to go with a white strapless corset top, skinny jeans, with my red strappy stilettos. I brought the outfit together with my red dangly earrings and red clutch. My blond hair is straight down my back. I didn’t have the heart to color it yet. I now know it is a risky outfit. This outfit will bring attention my way, but the only good thing is that there has not been a missing person report on me yet. I know I’m wanted by the organization, but at least I won’t have to worry about a Good Samaritan citizen seeing me from the news and reporting me to the police.

  I walk in and look around before making my way to the bar at the back. I glance up and see the stage set up for a band. I need this meeting to go quickly. My luck Jackson will be here. At this moment, I don’t see Jackson and I don’t see anyone acting suspicious. I feel the comfort of my knives in the bones of the corset. I have a knife hidden in my red belt and two in each back pocket. My gun is in my clutch. I’m prepared as I can be.

  I notice the admiring glances I get from the men and the glares from their women. I smile to myself at that. I spot a man with a white hat on a bar stool located in the center of the long bar. The bartender is handing him a beer. I slide onto the empty bar stool next to him. He doesn’t look at me, but just stares straight ahead. I look at his profile and see a very cute guy with sandy blond hair that is long enough to flip out adorably around his ears under the ball cap. F
rom this angle, I see that his eyes are a hazel color and his chin is scruffy. He is wearing a red and black flannel shirt over a plain white tee. His jeans have holes in them. His boots are scuffed. This guy doesn’t give a crap about how he looks, but somehow that makes him appealing.

  Never glancing my way, he says, “I was expecting you.” Well, then.

  “My father sent me here.” I respond.

  “I know. He told me if anything were to happen to him, that his daughter would need my help.” Charlie glances over at me. Yes, he is good looking.

  “I’m really sorry to hear about your father.”

  “Thank you.” I’m not sure how to go about this, “So will you help me?” Charlie turns back to watching a game on the television.

  “That depends.” He says, taking a sip of his beer. The bartender comes over to me.

  “One tequila shot.” I say, when the bartender turns away, I lean over to Charlie and whisper, “I’ll pay you whatever my father did.”

  “Your father didn’t pay me.” He informs me. I lean back. This is pointless. I’m getting nowhere fast with this guy. When the bartender comes back with my tequila shot, I down it and stand up. Charlie glances over in surprise.

  “Where are you going?” He asks a little shocked.

  “Well, I need to know if you are with me or not. Simple as that. You are not being very cooperative so I’m wasting my time. I mean I do have the whole organization after my head right now, so staying here is really not the smartest idea.”