“You were right about him … Christopher,” she continued to repeat. “He—” She couldn't say any more; but I just knew what she meant. That bastard had tried something. She continued sobbing as I held her in my arms.
Joseph's lips were pressed firmly inward. He narrowed his eyes over to the office entrance. He knew what I wanted to do. The rage was pouring out of me. Claudia could feel it as she pressed me hard and held me, her lips were near my ear.
The digital hands were rapidly dancing on the face of the watch setting off a vibration on my wrist, I feared Joseph would know and realize where it was coming from.
“John, just give me the word,” Joseph said to me. “I can—” He stopped when his eyes fell on Claudia in my arms.
I knew what he meant to say. He could make him disappear and no one would ever know.
Gently pulling her away I gazed into her innocent eyes, wiping at her tears.
“It’s okay,” I whispered and pulled her with me.
Claudia didn’t want to go. She was trembling. I stopped and cupped her face in my hands.
Joseph had stepped to the entrance. He held the door open for us.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to let anything happen to you. Joseph and I, we’re both here.” I softly said.
She took a deep breath and stared up at Joseph. He nodded.
“We got this, Miss Belle,” he promised. There was a firm tone in his voice.
“Joseph,” I ordered, “keep her safe,” I motioned him over to Claudia.
Claudia reached for me. “John?”
“Its’ okay, stay here with Joseph.” Joseph came alongside her, protectively.
Entering the office, I found Christopher standing in the center of the room with his back to me. The rage that had gathered in me along with the fear Claudia had felt now took me over. I didn’t need to know what happened to be sure he needed to be put in his place. But I wasn’t a coward like him. I was going to face him head on.
“Christopher,” I called.
When he turned, I landed a fist straight into his jaw. He dropped like a limp noodle on his ass, looking up at me in shock. The blood streamed down his lip and nose. He wiped it away. He opened his mouth to speak, but I didn’t give him a chance, lifting him off his feet I slammed his body against the wall.
He looked surprised to see my youthful eyes greet him. “You little punk! How dare you?”
He had a lot of nerve.
“You listen here, if you ever put your hands on her again, I’ll break your face in two.”
He glared at me surprised. “What did that little tramp say I did?”
I grabbed his throat and squeezed it. Normally, I would have never given a second thought to snapping his neck, but Claudia’s innocent brown eyes gazed over at me from the side of the entrance. I didn’t want her to see me out of control. I eased my hold on him.
The hunter in me was aflame, I could feel it. Her power was giving me strength I hadn’t felt before. I could, and surely would, have killed him. I ground my teeth. Joseph’s hand came to rest on my shoulder, just as I was about to lay him flat.
Christopher smiled as if he thought Joseph was protecting him.
I pulled away releasing him.
“What the fuck?” Christopher said, gasping. “I’ll have you arrested for that. You saw what this little shit did?” He directed his words to Joseph.
“John, take Claudia home,” Joseph ordered.
I glanced at Joseph. What right does he have coming in here and assaulting what is mine? But as I thought of Claudia, I slowly came to realize, once again, Joseph had my back. I had to have faith Joseph would take care of things, leaving my hands clean in Claudia’s eyes.
“Hey, you’re letting him go?” Christopher asked. “Call the cops. I’m pressing charges.”
Joseph grabbed him and pushed him against the side of the wall. “John, why are you still here?” Joseph said, not taking his eyes off his victim.
I nodded, though he wasn’t looking at me, and grabbed Claudia’s hand. I pulled her away. She glanced back. I felt a little concern in her, but more than anything was her curiosity as to what Joseph was going to do.
“Is he going to kill him?” she finally whispered.
“If you ever put your hands on that young lady or my nephew again, I will break every single bone in your body starting with your fingers.”
“What the fuck are—" his words were cut off by his scream. “You broke my finger!”
I quickly pulled Claudia into the hallway with me.
“Is he going to kill him?” Claudia nervously asked once more.
Looking over at her, I shook my head. “No. Don’t worry, Joseph is very professional.”
I was beginning to wonder myself, as another scream pierced the inside of the office. I heard the door of Joseph’s office slam shut.
We walked out into the parking lot to my Jag awaiting us. Claudia was still in shock. I didn’t think the last scream we had heard from inside the main office was sitting well with her.
Opening the vehicle door for her, I allowed her to climb in. Claudia sat quietly in the passenger seat, possibly reliving what had just happened.
I started the car, the engine purred to life as well as the music from the radio, playing the familiar sounds of a pop group I had heard one evening. I turned down the radio, unsure if Claudia would like the group. If she did, well, I had their music on iPod. I wasn’t much for music, but I knew what I liked, and I found them favorable.
“Who are they?” Claudia softly asked, sitting very still in the passenger seat. Anything to get the thoughts of what had taken place out of her mind, I suspected.
“Just a German band, this is their first American album. They have another one in German. I managed to catch their sound one evening while I was in New York and they were playing their music in a local pub,” I simply said, putting the car into gear.
“You’ve been to New York?” she asked, blinking up at me.
Smiling I answered, “Yes,” I guessed it sounded like a dream to her to be anywhere else. All I knew was The Academy. I was a prisoner, but only now was I beginning to see it. If things were different, I would’ve taken her anywhere she wanted to go.
“I once wanted to go there,” she softly whispered, looking out the car window. “My father was planning on taking a trip there for work.”
Glancing over at her, I realized it was the first time I had heard her speak of her parents.
“You can still go,” I offered. “We can go together.”
“With you?” she asked, curiously gazing back at me with an expression that made my ego ache. “You would take me there?”
“Why not?” I smiled back. “I would take you anywhere you want to go.” That was my invitation, I loved her and I wanted to be with her.
“You like that kind of music?” she asked, changing the subject and sounding slightly astonished.
“Yes. Surprised?”
“A little,” she honestly responded.
“Why?”
She seemed amused. “I didn’t think you would like things like that, or whether they allowed music where you’re from,” she immediately answered.
“Well, in a way they don’t. I don’t have the time. But it’s nice being just a kid for once,” I said recalling when we had gone to the mall together. It was different and something I had never experienced unless I was there on assignment scoping the place out.
“Would you like to listen to them?” I asked.
She nodded and I reset the play list on my iPod so she could hear the music. The first song began to play and it was one of my favorites. It was called, “Can’t You See What You Stole From Me?”
“I wanted to believe it so bad. That maybe there was someone else related to me …family,” Claudia suddenly said.
I glanced over at her as I drove out of the parking lot. “I’m sorry Claudia,” I offered, watching her fall silent.
“Don’t be, John, you tried to warn me. I should have listened to you.”
“No, don’t say that. It wasn’t your fault.” I said. I knew it must have been hard to do so. Her world again was turned upside down. And I hated seeing her like that.
“What happens now?” Claudia asked. I thought maybe she didn’t mean to say it out loud. “What if he tries something?” she nervously asked.
“I doubt he will after getting acquainted with Joseph. Don't worry about Mr. Vega,” I said, not knowing his true identity quite yet. “He’s not going to bother you anymore.” I was sure Joseph was going to get on that after this little incident. I was aching to hear details about his conversations with Mr. Vega.
“I don’t want Joseph to get in trouble …even though that man deserves anything Joseph does to him.” Claudia said, biting at her lip. It made me wonder if Joseph had, at least I hoped he made the man suffer. It looked as though Claudia wanted the same. Knowing Joseph, he might have wanted to, but we had no time to dispose of someone as unimportant as Mr. Vega. What would Dr. Nicholson think when we had to add that to our report. Or, worse, when we had to have the cleanup crew pick up the pieces for us?
“He’s not gonna bother you after this. Trust me, Miss Belle. Joseph will set him right. He can be very persuasive with people. If he even tries to show his face around here, he will have to deal with me and Joseph.”
Her sadness was my sadness, our faint current was there, her pain was like tiny darts on my skin. Claudia settled in her seat, turning to look out the window again.
“What’s the name of the band?” she asked.
I thought for a moment and then said, “Meine Sonne. It’s German for My Sun.”
I turned down Montrose and then down Dunlavy.
“I think I like them,” she said.
We arrived at her house. We sat in the car for a few seconds as I grabbed the iPod from the stand on my dashboard, turning off the engine and radio off, and handed the iPod to her. “Here,” I said, grinning.
“Oh, I can’t,” she said to me. “It’s yours.”
“You can borrow it. Then, I have an excuse to return.”
She turned a lovely shade of red biting at the corner of her lip, taking it from my hand. “John, what do you mean? You’re always welcome.” She leaned to the side and kissed me. “Thank you for being there. Thank you for being so caring with me,” she softly said.
I reached over and caressed her cheek. “Claudia, you don’t have to thank me, I would do anything for you. I hate seeing you sad. I want you to know that you have me. You’ll always have me.” The light returned to her eyes, I felt it first before I saw the glow rise like the sun over the horizon. “You’re glowing again, Miss Belle.”
She blushed.
Opening the driver’s door, I hurried to the other side of the car to help her out. “Let me,” I offered.
I closed the door behind her and led her up the path towards the house. We walked up the steps and to the front door. Claudia looked nervous. My arm wrapped around her, and I held her close, squeezing her to me.
Michael opened the door before she could take out her house key.
“John, Claudia?” He said, not entirely surprised, but wondering where Christopher was.
“Michael—” I said then paused. I didn’t know how to tell him about what had happened.
“Where’s Christopher? Where’s your uncle?” he asked Claudia. My motion to stop him before he said anything was useless. She suddenly started crying, pulled away from my arms, and raced past Michael.
He was oblivious to everything that had happened. I couldn’t help being a bit angry with him for allowing this. For not taking my offer to check the man out before inviting him to his house.
The man had tried to take advantage of my girlfriend. Sucker punching him on the jaw was rewarding, but I wanted to do far more. I suspected it was the reason why Joseph had come between us. He knew I could have inflicted far more damage if he hadn’t stopped me. Picking up a dead body and dumping it wouldn’t have bothered me much, but explaining to Dr. Nicholson why I had to pull out of the mission early would have been a problem.
Michael looked confused. “What’s going on?”
“It’s a long story, sir. May I come in?”
He nodded and stepped aside, allowing me entrance into the house. I could smell something delicious baking in the kitchen, like cake or cookies. I hated to disappoint him with the news that Christopher Vega wasn’t coming to dinner tonight.
“I should go see her and see if she's alright,” Michael said, but it looked like he needed an explanation more than anything. I could feel her. Michael’s questions had stirred her emotions once again.
“I think she needs a moment alone, sir,” I told him. He looked very confused. I didn’t know where to begin.
“John, what’s going on? First, you show up here without Christopher after you said it was okay and that you had no problem bringing him. And now, Claudia runs upstairs upset? What’s going on?” he asked again. “Where is Christopher?”
“Sir, please. First off, can you calm down?” He released a breath and did so. “Christopher, Mr. Vega, is an asshole,” I came out and said it. I cleared my throat as he narrowed his eyes at me waiting for the rest. Recalling who I was talking to and where I was, I rephrased. “Pardon my language, sir, but he attacked Claudia at the school,” I continued.
“What are you talking about, John? Attacked?” I could see the fear in his eyes growing. He didn’t want to believe the man he thought was on the up-and-up had done something unspeakable to someone he cared about.
“He tried to force himself on her, sir.”
It seemed Michael didn’t want to believe it. I would have felt the same knowing that my trust in a stranger and mistake had caused Claudia so much pain. I hadn’t liked the man from the beginning. Or was he wondering how far a stretch it would be for me to concoct such a delusional idea. All those things were possibilities. And the look he was giving made me wonder if he had considered it.
“Michael, sir. He was a creep,” I said. “I’m sorry to be the one to tell you, sir.”
“What happened?” he softly asked, hopefully coming to terms that I was being honest with him. It was sadness and disappointment in his voice I heard far more than anything.
“He attacked her, like I said. When she told me what he had tried to do …” I hesitated. “I slugged him across the face,” I admitted.
There seemed to be a glittering of delight in his eyes. Michael staggered away from the doorway and collapsed onto one of the sofas in the living room.
“How could I be so wrong? I don’t understand,” he muttered, almost speechless. “I spoke with him. He sounded real. Even Mr. West confirmed his identity.”
“Perhaps he was fooled, too,” I offered. Although, I had an abundance of dislike for this attorney now.
“That bastard,” Michael growled.
It surprised me when I heard him. I doubted the man ever got upset. When I heard him say such, it shocked me that someone as gentle and calm as him had lost his cool.
“Did he hurt her?” he asked.
“Enough to scare her, sir.”
He got off the couch to pace the living room. “That son of a bitch. How could I let this happen? I should have heeded your warning.” He wasn’t making any sense. “I need to call someone. He needs to pay for this.” And then, he stopped, looking desperate and eager.
“Sir, my uncle took care of it.”
“Took care of it? I don’t understand,” he asked.
“Joseph made him leave, but not before I knocked the shit out of him pretty good. Pardon my language,” I said smiling back at him. I was proud.
Michael looked relieved, but he was still fully angry, maybe more with himself for making the mistake in the first place.
“I should go see her,” he said. He tried to go upstairs, but I put my hand on his shoulder and stood by the bottom of the staircase looking up.
“Perhaps, it's best to give her a moment. I think she probably blames herself,” I said again.
“But she shouldn't,” Michael offered.
“I know, but she trusted him,” I said again, knowing how embarrassed she looked when we were walking out of the school.
“I should have been there,” Michael said, dropping his head. “I should have known. I just wanted to believe it so badly for her, just as she did. You even warned me. I should have listened to you.”
I didn’t say anything. What could I have offered when I had insisted against it?
“But he knew things about Neil. He had letters from Neil inviting him to come. Neil knew it. If he believed it, how could it not be so? Neil wouldn’t just let anyone see Claudia. He loved her, and he would’ve never put her in danger. That was enough for me. When I found the letters in Neil’s things, I didn’t think much of it until I saw him in the office. He was Christopher, Claudia’s uncle. Neil must have known. Perhaps, he was tricked just as we had been …Oh God, what have I done?”
“How could you have been sure? He had all the right paperwork. He knew things about Dr. Edwards you didn’t, sir, just like you said. Sometimes we just want to believe,” I said, putting my hand on his shoulder.
“Still, I should have checked him out.” He shook his head. “That bastard. I’m glad you were there, John, you and your uncle. I owe you both a great deal of thanks. We both do.”
Oh God, why am I feeling guilt now? Why does he have to be so nice? I hadn’t been truthful to him completely. It was getting to me. Not only was I dating Claudia, but I was someone he trusted.
“I’m glad I was there, too. But it doesn't matter now, it's done. You shouldn't have to worry about him," I said.
"How can you be sure?" Michael asked.
"Trust me. My Uncle Joseph can be quite convincing," I said.
Michael seemed to have more questions, but I moved away before he could voice them. I wanted to see Claudia before I left. I needed to see if she was okay.
Then suddenly she appeared on the staircase as if she’d been summoned by my thoughts. She slowly descended the steps. I gave her my full attention, turning at once to see her.
"John, are you leaving?” she said.
Her words made me smile. Her emotions connected with me and filled me with warmth.
Her words struck a chord within me. I felt intoxicated, we were coming close again. The aura around us seemed to thicken, seemed to enhance, and that peculiar current became a web of passion I wanted never to lose.
“I wasn’t planning on going anywhere at least not until I saw you were okay, Miss Belle.”
Claudia stepped down and wrapped her arms around me. I held her to me. She trembled. “I love you,” she whispered.
My heart bounced when she said those words. I was speechless. No one had ever said those words to me, nor had I ever had the desire to hear them, until her. She gazed hard into my eyes and it made me tremble. She was gorgeous.
“I’ll stay if you want me to,” I whispered. “I won’t go.”
Claudia nodded.
“Don't worry, okay?” I told her. “Everything is going to be fine.” Claudia averted her gaze, seemingly unsure she believed that to be true. “Look at me,” I said.
She obediently looked up. Her eyes were bright swirls of mysterious light. It made me breathless.
“Do you trust me?” I asked.
Trust was a powerful thing to me. It meant more. I dialed the watch back. I wanted to reconnect, to hear her thoughts in my head.
“Of course, I do my love,” she said in my mind.
Her heart was beating fast. I felt as if it were my own like a musical chorus beating along with mine. She was a part of me in far more ways than one.
“Yes,” her voice gently whispered. It made me exhale slowly.
“Tomorrow will be a better day,” I assured her.
“Perhaps, not tomorrow,” Michael cut in, “I’m thinking of keeping her home.”
Claudia spoke up with a simple, “No,”
“But, Claudia, you don’t have to go. Maybe it’s best you stay after what happened—” Michael interrupted.
“No, Michael, I want to go. I refuse to hide in my room like a scared little girl. Then, he would win. Besides, I have detention in Dr. Müller’s office, remember?”
I hid back a laugh. Got to love her for being so bold. My girl.
“I am John,” her mental voice said.
I was taken aback again as she looked at me, not only was I feeling her eyes, but her entire being. As where everyone else was involved they had only been one dimension, but Claudia and I were always complete in far more ways.
She neared; her lips brushed my ear. “I want to be with you, John.”
A strange sensation raced into my body, and I nearly buckled. My legs felt like limp noodles, and I felt fragile in her arms. I was determined to make that a reality.
"I’ll be there,” she said pulling away from me and making Michael a party to her words.
“Very well, Claudia,” Michael agreed, there was still concerned in his voice.
“I can pick you up, just say the word,” I said. I held her close.
“Don’t go”, her mental voice said.
“I won’t go.”
“Stay with me tonight?”
I beamed, her eyes were bouncing, and the watch twitched slightly.
“Of course.”
A scarlet color flashed on my cheeks, just as it had on her.
“So much for dinner,” Michael disappointedly said. “But I guess it’s for the best we discovered what a—”
However, Claudia didn’t look disappointed at all, she immediately lit up. It looked like the opportunity of dinner had been reintroduced.
“You’re still staying for dinner right, John?”
The question lingered as I looked over at Michael. Of course, I wanted to stay yes, no doubt. But how would Michael feel about the whole idea after such an incident. The excitement in Claudia’s voice was evident, there was a current of energy making her body light up, as I had often described to her, she projected. There was no doubt she wanted me to stay. I liked it.
To my surprise her words had the opposite effect on Michael. He was all but delighted with the idea. It only made sense.
“Yes, there’s no reason not to have our get-together. I hate to let a great dinner go to waste. You must join us, especially after what you did for Claudia. Invite your uncle, both of you can join us. It would be an honor to have you over again. It’s the least I can do to show you my thanks,” Michael said.
There was no hesitation on my part. Claudia wrapped her arms around me, my weakness was obvious when a scarlet color flushed on my cheeks. Surprise and scare anyone could make me appear and feel so vulnerable. A weakness I feared Dr. Nicholson would see.
“How can I say no? Of course, I’ll stay.” I whispered.
She blushed. I gripped her hand and kissed it. Once again, she held me, brushing her lips against the side of my face. I was hers.
Despite my desire not to leave her side, I pulled away. “We’ll be here, sir,” I said to Michael, who was looking over at us cautiously.
“Great,” Michael exclaimed, breaking my attention away. “Why not stay John. Since your already here.” That was the part I didn’t know how to explain. I had things to do apart from being this teen boy he thought me to be, I was a dangerous hunter working for an unknown hidden corporation and a ruthless scientist. So, I don’t think I could honestly say that to him. Claudia’s eyes shot me a gaze.
“I wish I could Mr. McClellan. But my uncle wants me to get a few things for him, before dad comes home. Dad’s a busy man, so yeah … Dad can be a little …” I cleared my throat, but Michael seemed to get it. “So, I have to make sure he has what he needs at home.” I explained further. Michael understood nodding his head, after having met my supposedly loving father. He definitely got it.
There was a tiny smile on Claudia’s face.
You have work, she said.
I do. But I’ll be back.
“So, we’ll see you tonight?” Claudia repeated for Michael’s benefit.
I nodded with a great, big smirk on my face. She made the color return to my cheeks again.
“I’ll see you later tonight, Miss Belle.”
She leaned forward and did something I didn’t think she would in front of Michael. She kissed me. Michael’s eyes narrowed over, but I figure he was merely protective after what had occurred.
Will you be able to stay with me after dinner? her mind begged to me.
My heart lit up.
I nodded like an obedient fool.
After Michael’s continuous staring over at us, I finally pulled away.
I made my way to the door.
“I’ll return soon, sir,” I softly said, opening the door.
“Make sure you tell your uncle he’s invited, too,” Michael reminded. “I’d like to invite your father, if I may.”
I froze. Guess it was my fault for mentioning dad.
Oh god please don’t, her mind said.
I choked back a laugh. No surprise neither one of us like the idea, me as much as Claudia, she looked disconnected for a moment. She shook her head slightly at me when Michael wasn’t looking. But of course, I had no intentions on inviting the man over. Especially since he was such a dangerous man to be around. At least dangerous to Claudia.
“I doubt Michael honestly wants him here. He’s trying to be polite,” her thoughts said.
“Ah, Dad is not the social type. Besides, he has work,” I said.
There was some relief in Michael’s eyes when I made the excuse. Like Claudia had said, it was out of politeness that he had asked.
“Right, he’s a busy man. Oh well, no problem at all,” he said.
Walking out of the house, I stopped briefly. Claudia wanted to see me again, I thought proudly, she trusted me.
“Of course, I do,” Claudia responded, reading my thoughts.
I didn’t want to ruin that. It sure made me feel good.
“And how could you ruin that?”
I grinned when I heard her voice in my head.
First, I thought of driving back to school to check up on Joseph and find if he had anything on Mr. Vega, or whoever he was.
Walking back down the path towards my awaiting Jag, I got in, and started her up, glancing over at the house. As I drove away leaving the house behind, I was already contemplating what I would wear.
My reflection greeted me from the rearview mirror, as I stared at my face.
She loves me.
John. I sensed her even from this distance. We had a very close, sensitive connection.
She gave me an unknown strength.
John, I miss you already, she said in her mental whisper.
I miss you too, Miss Belle. I’ll be back, baby.
As I drove, I dialed Joseph’s number and set my phone in display on the dashboard of the car.
Joseph answered almost immediately.
“Hello,” he answered in a firm, masculine and fearsome voice. The person behind it seemed almost threatening when hearing it from the other end, it didn’t match his easy-going personality, or the face I pictured when I thought about him.
“Where are you?” I asked.
“Oh, hey, nephew. I’m at the school.” His voice changed almost immediately. It was like night and day.
“How is Miss Belle doing?”
I pictured his friendly, smiling face like he was a completely different person than the one who had answered the phone.
“She’s well, Joseph, thanks for asking. And thanks for taking care of business. Speaking of which …What are you doing?”
“Getting rid of the trash,” he answered.
“What?” My foot slammed on the brakes. “Please, tell me you didn’t kill him?” I gasped.
He didn’t even skip a beat. No change in his voice, good, easy guy all the way. “No, I’m taking out the trash. This thing fills up quickly.”
I exhaled and drove on. That was a relief.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
“We have a dinner at Miss Belle’s house tonight.”
“Neat.” He had to be the only guy who looked that threatening who said neat. But, then, that was Joseph.
“What’s the occasion? Not that you need one now that you’re dating her.” He laughed.
Shaking my head, I gave a long sigh. “Michael wants to thank us for protecting her from phony Vega,” I mumbled. “By the way did you find anything on Vega?”
“Yeah, Jason is supposed to contact me with that information in a few, so get here if you want to hear what he has to say. Oh, and he asked about you.” He laughed. “I think he has a man-crush on you,” Joseph joked.
Every time I talked to Jason, he bombarded me with questions and compliments like I was an ADA pop star. At the ADA it was just the same, the Academy of young cadets always gathered around me, watched me and when I made eye contact or even a small indication of their “Great job”. Their eyes beamed and whispers would begin, “He knows me! John Slater knows me”. I didn’t get that.
Some of the other hunters didn’t get the nobility I got. Jason was a young prodigy tech, probably around twenty, but he was intrigued by my lifestyle. Not that I had much of one.
You go out with the boys one time and end up in a brothel and it got out that I’m some kind of a lady’s man.
I had a hard time explaining that one to Dr. Nicholson. It was my first time with a woman. I had no regrets, but thinking of it now made me wonder what Claudia would think. Joseph had used that to exaggerate the truth to make me more popular with the guys. Now, it was all cadets thought about when they saw me.
“Alright I’m headed there,” I uttered, pulling into the driveway of our rental. I wanted to stop and change before I headed to the school to talk to Jason.
I got out, hurrying inside. Racing up the stairs, I stripped my clothes off as I made my way to the bathroom to wash up and brush my teeth. That task completed, I set out to compose my outfit. I settled on the blazer I’d been contemplating over, a maroon shirt, and black slacks.
I was out in seconds, jumping into the Jag. I stopped by the local store and picked up a bouquet of daisies for Claudia. She liked daisies.
Arriving at Milton, I pulled into the parking lot, looking down at my watch. The retrieval team was still poking around. I came from the other direction to avoid their attention, but of course, they still noticed me. Members of the retrieval team glanced over as I exited the car and headed towards the building. Once eye contact was established, they proceeded to collecting data from the hole the two aliens had made in one corner of the parking lot. I wondered if Joseph knew they were still out there. I was pretty sure he might have been aware. The guy often knew things I didn’t. It was his job to do so.
At the far-left end of the parking lot, a crane was pulling the cars out of the hole. The last one was being loaded up on top of a large truck along with the rest. The team examined the hole, but from the looks of it, they seemed to be packing it up. What kind of information can you get from a hole? Knowing The Company, they could probably get just about anything.
A good distance down the street, I saw a motorcycle cop drive up to the sidewalk and stop. He was part of the group gathering the remaining pieces of evidence for the investigation.
I recognized his profile. It was Roberts, he was the cop, most days of course he was a colleague in the Academy trying to make hunter. Today from all appearance he was pretending to be a police officer for the city of Houston. He nudged his head toward me. I squinted my curious eyes at him but nodded in recognition before I headed inside.
Walking down the long hallway I entered the main office. Joseph was sitting behind the desk, working on his laptop.
“Well, well, look at you. Looking sharp.”
I shrugged as I came to stand in front of his desk.
“Took you long enough, but now I see why. Getting all glam for Miss Belle?” He winked.
“Stop it, will ya. I just wanted to look nice for dinner.”
His grin widened.
Taking the seat in front of his desk, I checked the watch. We had time. We had to get in touch with Jason and get intel regarding the beady man calling himself Christopher Vega.
“Oh, by the way, I’m bringing Karen,” Joseph said. My eyes blinked back at him in question. “She called me after I hung up with you. Turns out Michael invited her over. Thank you, Mr. McClellan.”
“Really? Well, that was a nice gesture by Michael.” And here I thought it would just be the four of us, maybe less, if I could convince Joseph he didn’t need to be there. Still, I was a little excited, being a soldier and hunter gave no room at all for social get-togethers or meeting people unless I was working. But then it didn’t involve socializing or caring what happen after.
“Yeah, I guess Michael knows about me and her. News travels fast …”
“Right …” I said.
“What? I’ve been discreet. Somewhat.”
I laughed.
“I can’t help it. She’s stalking me, and I’m so good-looking she can’t help herself.”
“Right …” I mumbled settling into my seat, again looking down at my watch.
“You ready?” Joseph asked.
“It’s getting late,” I said. “I’m thinking you should head out for the both of us. You and Ms. Stephens, I’ll finish up here and meet you there.”
“You sure?” He wrinkled his brow.
“Yeah, I need to get this information, so we know if we need to worry about this guy.”
“I know you want to rearrange his face, John, but …”
He turned the laptop towards me and then set a pre-paid phone next to it. His eyes indicated that I knew what to do with the phone. It was for contacting Jason. We never used company computers or our phones. I had learned all this from him.
“I’ll have you know. I broke his fingers and his nose.” The crease above his brow went up as he shot me a grin, he rose from his desk, grabbing the briefcase from the side drawer. “I’ll tell you right now, we don’t have to worry about him coming after Claudia or stepping foot here with us around, unless the guy is an idiot. I sent that guy running with his tail between his legs.” Joseph said. I didn’t doubt that, but I still wanted to cover all our ends. “Jason should be on now.” He looked at his watch.
I nodded. He walked around me stopped next to the seat and patted my shoulder, before he step towards the door.
“Joseph,” I said. He turned slowly back. He looked strange with a briefcase in his hands, so brawny for a teacher. I wondered what people thought of him when they saw this guy coming down the hall, especially in a school environment. It was hard to imagine for me because I was used to guys his size crowding the halls of the academy. I wondered if The Company made people like Joseph and Jonas. It wouldn’t surprise me. “I’m concerned,” I admitted.
“Why?” he asked
“You think we’re having too much fun while on assignment? I mean all this.” I swung my arms wide to encompass everything we’d been doing. He had a girlfriend. Kind of. And I had a girl, too. We were supposed to be working. We were a mess, I just hoped Dr. Nicholson didn’t get a wind of it.
He smiled, realizing what I was talking about. “Fuck, when do we get a chance to do anything fun? Let’s enjoy it while we can.” He smirked turning towards the door.
“By the way,” I said. “I saw Roberts outside.”
Joseph turned again, resting his hand on the doorknob. “Yeah, I thought that was him. They have him working clean up, now.” Joseph laughed.
Cleanup was just as bad, if not worse than, desk work. No one who trained or was working to be a hunter was happy to get that position. The older team always treated them like shit, especially if they knew they had been training to be a hunter.
“That’s what he gets for being a shithead.” He smirked.
“I don’t think he’s gotten over that,” I said.
The guy was bitter because I got picked among ten cadets to be a hunter. He was jealous of me, because Dr. Nicholson favored me, and Roberts had always wanted to impress the man. If Jason had a man-crush on me, Roberts had an even bigger one on Dr. Nicholson. He was a fuck-up and a brown-noser.
His performance had failed to impress Dr. Nicholson. And Dr. Nicholson despised a suck-up.
“That’s because he’s a fuck up and it’s no one’s fault but his. You’re the best and Dr. Nicholson saw that.”
“But I have an advantage over the other cadets Joseph.”
“Shit, that was his only argument? Really? Come on, John. The other cadets didn’t have a problem keeping up with you. And Dr. Nicholson saw that. If that were the case, there would only be one hunter—you.”
That was true. “Yeah, I guess,” I said.
“He wants to be a hunter, he has to work for it, just like everyone else. He can’t blame you, or anyone else, for his failure. Imagine getting stuck working with that douche bag.”
I laughed.
He opened the door, but before he left, he left me with one more piece of advice: “Just watch your back, kid, while he’s around. I’ll see you at Miss Belle’s house. What should I tell them?”
“Tell them?” I asked.
“Yeah, when you’re not there, Miss Belle will be waiting and wondering.”
“I don’t know. Cover for me …You’re the guardian.”
He wrinkled his nose.
“Tell them I had to go get ready, that you had to pick up Ms. Stephens.”
“She’s meeting me there, John,” he said, hanging half out of the office. “And what does that matter? You drive.”
He was right.
“Then tell them I’m on my way there. Oh, can you take the flowers I have in my car? I got Claudia some daisies.”
“Nice move, kid. That should keep her thinking of you until you get there, right?” he said.
“Oh, should I get some wine?” Joseph asked.
“Do you have to ask?”
He nodded and gave me a silly crooked lip.
“Hurry up, so you can join us. Oh, lock up, will you?” He dug through his jacket pocket and threw the keys to me before walking out, leaving the door open.
I heard the interior door swing closed and he was gone.
Walking around the desk I turned the laptop towards me, taking a seat behind Joseph’s desk.
Getting into the laptop, I had to be careful when using The Company’s computers, especially regarding personnel searches. I checked messages on the ADA website and logged off, got on the prepaid phone, and then dialed.
The phone rang.
On the third ring, I heard a click. Before I had a chance to speak, I heard a young man’s voice say, “Jason Bates.”
“It’s John, Jason,” I said.
“John! Joseph said you’d call. I was waiting and when you didn’t call, well, I got nervous something bad had happened. I waited and waited …and then, I thought what if he said he wasn’t calling me until tomorrow?”
“Jason …” There was a brief pause.
“I checked the email and nothing,”
“Jason,” I said again, trying to pull him out of his head.
“But I knew you would call on a secure line, you’re John Slater. Why would you call from an unsecured line? I’m glad I didn’t call Joseph. He would’ve given me some lecture. “’Shit, you trying to give me a heart attack?’” That’s what Joseph would have said of course. You’ve been off the grid a while. What’s up? Joseph wouldn’t tell me anything. I guess he can’t …” He laughed.
“Jason—”
“I bet you’re on another of those awesome missions. What’s it like?”
“Jason?”
“I’ve always meant to ask, but—”
“Jason!" I finally shouted.
He went quiet for a second. I cleared my throat and composed myself. I didn’t want to ruin my relationship with him, but sometimes I couldn’t get a word in. I imagined a skinny guy in his twenty’s sitting behind the desk with a headset, whispering directions to the technical team, or people like Joseph. They rarely got a call from a hunter. I could see why he was so excited to be picked as, what he called part of the team. Joseph said it made him feel rewarded and special.
“Hey, buddy, I need you to do me a favor.” I was not one for small talk. I wanted to get to the point already.
“Ah, sure, John, what you need? Sorry about that. They don’t let us out of here and, well, you’re the only human contact I get now most days …you and Joseph …” His laughter filled the lines of the phone. He was giddy.
I didn’t find it amusing. “Jason, I just need to get some information from you. I’m sure Joseph filled you in?”
“Yeah, very little. What’s up? You know one of these days we’re gonna have to have a beer, you, me, and Joseph …I mean, if it’s cool?” he asked.
“It’s cool. How about that info, buddy? I need you to look up a name for me. Christopher Vega. C-H-R—” I began even though I didn’t hear a sound from him for a moment.
“Yeah, Joseph mentioned the name. Let me see … I think I got that info for you. Is this for whatever Dr. Nicholson has you guys working on?”
“You could say that. You mind hurrying up? I’m kinda pressed for time.”
“Oh, yeah, sure. No problem. Busy, busy life of a hunter.” He chuckled. “Exciting stuff. Hey, you know who I talked to the other day? You’re not gonna believe it.” I shrugged as if he could see me. Glancing now at the watch on my wrist, until he said the name, Jack Sanders.
“Jack?”
“Yeah, you believe that? And guess where he was calling from? Mexico, of all places. It must be where they sent him. Turns out, he’s been running schemes for a local drug cartel. But, I’m not supposed to say that. So, mum’s the word. He had me pull up several ADA informants. Said he needed them for research, whatever that means. He also had a strange request.”
“Oh yeah?” I asked, listening attentively.
“He wanted to know what you were working on, where they sent you. Maybe he plans to look you up? Not sure. You know they never tell us anything. I couldn’t help him with that.”
“Right,” I whispered.
It sounded like something Jack would do. Why drug dealers? I doubted that’s why Dr. Nicholson had sent him to Mexico. What the hell is he doing?
Claudia’s vision was helping put the pieces together, but there were still a lot of questions.
“That’s one person I didn’t think I’d ever hear from in a million years,” Jason said with a laugh in his voice.
That made two of us.
“Did he say anything else, mention anything else?” I asked. I was curious to know if he had said anything else of importance.
“Nah. Just asked for the informants, that’s it. He called me from a secure line, too. Just like you.” There was amusement in his tone. “This is so exciting. Two hunters calling me. I’m finally part of a team. No one here believes me, because I’m not allowed to say anything …at least that’s what Joseph said. Am I?”
“No, you’re not. Heed Joseph’s warning, Jason. Trust me.”
“Okay.”
I heard typing again.
There was a long pause, only broken up by the sounds of Jason’s typing.
“So, here we are,” he mumbled half to himself. “By the way, I just wanted to mention that about Jack. I heard you guys were like great pals back at The Academy and I figured you’d want to know.”
“Thanks, Jason. I appreciate it, man.” Give a dog a bone, right?
“No problem, John.”
I could tell by the tone in his voice, there was now a smile on his face. John Slater had praised him.
“Okay. I’ve almost got it. Any plans later?”
“I have a dinner,” I muttered. “I’m actually running late.”
“Oh, sorry. Here it is. According to this, your man is dead.” Jason said. The clicking continued. “Hmm, it looks like your dead man has been busy, too.”
I was getting impatient. “And?”
“He’s been collecting veteran benefits from the looks of it. Says here, he was injured in Iraq back in 2003. Strange. I have a file here that claims he was missing in action in 2004, but then, he reappears in 2006, applying for veteran benefits as an injured vet. Thanks to our great government documentation he must have slipped through the cracks. Only in America.”
I frowned. I wanted to see the paperwork The Company had.
“Does The Company have anything recent on Mr. Vega?” I mean, it was obvious he wasn’t dead.
“Yeah, The Company has an extended file on one Mr. Felix Cortez, a con artist. Vega was one of the names he used. There’s an extended file on him and his criminal records. Not sure why that’s relevant.”
“I’m not sure, either but add that to the current file you’re sending me.”
“Sure, no problem. I’m sending everything I have on this guy. It’s incredibly long. I’ve created an account you can access through any computer. I’d advise you try the public library.”
“I don’t have time for all that. Can’t you just patch it through my laptop and bypass The Company’s mainframe and make it undetectable to their connection?”
“Of course. You’re talking to the one and only Jason Bates. I hope you’re not forgetting my mad skills,” he said. “It’s just—”
“Then do it,” I interrupted.
“Okey-dokey, boss,” he simply said.
I heard a few more clicks.
“Done. You’ll have twenty-four hours before the website no longer exists.”
“More than enough time,” I uttered. I needed a copy, so I’d just save the file on my flash drive.
I open the top of Joseph’s desk drawer. Joseph always kept an available flash drive close by. Taking out the flash drive, I connected into the USB port of the laptop and brought up the web page Jason had set up.
“The material is all there,” Jason said. “There’s various dates, jobs taken under Christopher’s social, everything one puts his social on, credit cards, job applications, even rentals,” Jason said.
“This guy has been busy,”
“In fact, he’s taken several jobs at various schools and from the looks of it. He’s suspected of robbing charity money. Although he was never officially charged, he was asked to resign. Apparently, his bad reputation didn’t follow him, because he came down to Texas, where he started using the name Christopher Vega, Claudia Belle’s deceased uncle.”
The more Jason revealed, the closer I got to discovering who he really was. “Why does The Company have so much on this guy?” I asked.
“Beats me. Wait, it’s actually not him. Looks like they were looking at another guy. Someone by the name of Dr. Neil Edwards. His name appears all over the documents with Vega’s name and wherever The Company mentions him. It’s him they’ve been following.”
It frightened me. The more I dug, the more I realized they had been following him. Claudia’s uncle’s real name was Christopher. I read over the files along with Jason.
“Christopher Vega was killed in action, even though his body was never recovered to make DNA identification. He resurfaced again in 2006, but the man the Company identified baring the first name of Felix wasn’t Christopher, but a con man, reported missing after skipping on bail for a small part in a credit card fraud scam he had been involved in back in Oregon.
“Suddenly, he disappears, and Christopher reappeared looking for veteran benefits; records listed him as living in Kentucky two years later, working in a high school.” Jason continued, “The Company was aware of this, but he was irrelevant,” Jason said.
“The Company’s interest only heightened during Dr. Edwards’ investigation of the man pretending to be Christopher.”
Dr. Nicholson didn’t give me all this information; maybe, he didn’t know, or maybe it was just irrelevant.
“You know, this is not the first time The Company has been interested in Milton or Dr. Edwards,” Jason suddenly said.
I wasn’t surprised.
“There are records of him in school, and after that investigations.”
What the fuck? That seemed like information I should have been provided. What were they looking for? What had I stepped into? Could The Company have been looking for the source in Dr. Edwards? Only after his death had it been verified; he was not the source. Now, a hunter had been dispatched; the whole idea of such a possibility was not unrealistic. It never indicated him as the target, but I could see he wasn't ruled out until recently.
I began to download the file as I read along.
Before we hung up, Jason said, “Try not to save the file, not that you plan to, but try not to.”
Too late, I thought, pulling the flash drive from out of the laptop USB port. “What happens if I do?” I asked.
“I can’t say it’ll be traceable, but I’m not to blame if it is. Although I encrypted the file, I can’t be blamed if it becomes unstable. Sorry John I can’t do much.”
Of course, unstable was just another method to keep ADA information inaccessible.
“Right,” I uttered. “Thanks for your help, Jason.”
“No biggie. Sorry it took so long ….so I asked Lorie this new girl at my department out, but she wouldn’t give me the time of day. But, when she found out I worked for the hunter-Venator division and knew the great John Slater, she said she go out with me …if she could meet you. John, you think we can hang?”
I tapped my foot repeatedly and ran my hand over my hair waiting. I dazed into space. I had no idea what the hell he was talking about. Jason was in a completely different area than I. He spoke about departments and offices. I was a soldier. He worked in a large space with computers and office people that handled the technical part of the division.
“She called you the James Bond of the ADA, isn’t that awesome? I said I was your Q. Of course, she didn’t believe me at first. Then, she saw my transcripts.”
My mouth went dry. “Transcripts? Jason, you’re not keeping records of all these conversations, are you?”
“Um …um.” He mumbled something incoherent.
“No, of course not.” He sounded uncertain. Joseph and I were like rock stars to him and most everyone who worked in his department. To say you spoke to us was, well, like meeting a famous celeb. “Maybe just the last one to show her.”
“Get rid of it, now,” I ordered him.
“Okay, okay. Please, don’t tell Joseph. Last time he paid me a visit I got in deep trouble.”
Joseph had paid him a visit? I had this feeling that somewhere in his office he had a colorful poster of me on the side of his cubicle. Joseph would say this was true.
“I won’t. Are we done here? I have a date and a place to be.”
“Oh, a date? Who’s the lucky girl?”
“Miss Belle. Claudia Belle,” I corrected myself.
“Belle? Why does that name sound so familiar?”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I don’t know. I thought I knew it. I swear I heard it somewhere before.”
“I seriously doubt it.” I frowned. He was making me slightly jealous.
“Jason, I have to go.”
“Okay, have fun. Next time you’re around, you, me, and Joseph need to get a beer. I’ll buy, okay?”
I hung up before he could say another word.
From what little I read. It was obvious Dr. Neil Edwards discovered this man was using Christopher’s social security number to get benefits and other things. Only after he died did this guy show up trying to benefit from his death. Had he and Mr. West schemed a plot to change the will so that Cortez could have a piece of Claudia’s money? I would have to pay Mr. West a visit to find out.
I put the prepaid phone in my pocket and closed the laptop. I held the flash drive in my hand and kneeled near the drawer in the desk.
“Öffnen,” I said.
The spider crawled out and allowed the drawer to open. I placed the drive inside the desk. After I closed it and allowed the spider back inside the keyhole, I spoke the command, “Schließen.”
I was determined to give this to Michael. If anything happened, he had to know in case that bastard dared to show his face around here again.
John, I heard a faint whisper.
Looking at my watch, I turned the dial. I felt her as if she were next to me.
Claudia…
John, where are you?
I’m coming, baby. I just had to stop at the school to do some work, but I’m coming. I promise.
I saw her face. Then, I felt her hand on my cheek. The energy of her caress made me nearly collapse. When I rose from my seat, Roberts appeared in the doorway. I turned the dial back hoping to save her from sensing my anxiety.
He walked very slowly into the office, glaring at me the whole way. The smile on his face spread from ear-to-ear. He lowered his company-issued glasses as he narrowed his blue eyes at me. He was dressed in a Houston Police uniform, but he was built much better than most officers.
“Working late?” he asked.
“Roberts, what do you want?” My eyes narrowed as I walked around the desk.
“Just stopping by to say hi. There’s no reason to be hostile, John. Just wanted to congratulate you.”
“Roberts, the last time I saw you, you were bitching about how you would get even with me for taking a position I earned.”
“I’ve gotten past all that.” he laughed.
I didn’t believe it. His expression said something entirely different.
“I see they have you working retrieval.” I mocked.
He gripped the motorcycle helmet tightly under his arm and fired back with, “I heard Dr. Nicholson wasn’t happy with you regarding the recent events having to do with that hole in the parking lot. So, what happened? Are you fucking up?”
Of course, he would bring that up. He’d always liked it if I messed up.
“You’re not losing your nerve, are you?” Roberts asked. “Maybe Dr. Nicholson was wrong about you.”
“What do you want?” I asked again.
He came forward. I had a clear view of him and that smirk on his peaches-and-cream face. His blond hair fell over his blue eyes, hiding his pale eyebrows. He was around my age, but he was the vainest, most racist asshole I knew. He hated Joseph and the feeling was mutual.
“Saw your spic of a partner. I thought about asking him about clean-up since his kind should know a lot about that. Was he a janitor in his last position?”
I moved closer, making a fist.
“Security is about the same thing, anyway, I mean that’s why he’s in a servant’s position.”
“He’s my partner, asshole.”
“That’s what they call it, but we know better, right, John?” He grinned that stupid grin.
“I’ll ask you one more time, what do you want?”
“Like I said, just stopped by to say hi and congratulations.” He moved back over to the door. “By the way, you find the source, yet?”
I stepped forward, closing the distance between us. “You done? Because I have work to do.”
He grinned and winked before he put back on the glasses and disappeared from the entrance. I heard the door as he went into the hallway.
At last, he was gone.
Satisfied the flash drive was secure, I left and hurried out the door, locking the office as I stepped into the hallway. I proceeded into the parking lot.
The night air greeted me as I came to the Jag and opened the door. I looked up at Milton. I feared Robert's appearance. What did it all mean? I had to protect Claudia and be ready for anything.
Find what he wants, and he’ll forget this place, I reminded myself of Dr. Nicholson’s words. How could I do that, though, when I was all but sure the one thing, he craved above all, was the one thing I had to protect at all costs?
Climbing into the car, the roar of the engine came to alive. At the other end of the parking lot, the retrieval team was now gone. The hole and I were alone, staring at one another. Its depth was undetermined. It didn’t look like a deep hole at first glance, because it wasn’t wide at all.
Putting the car into gear I sped out of the parking lot. I had a lot to consider. My first thought was of Claudia and keeping her safe from Dr. Nicholson.
I tried not to think about it anymore. Instead, I tried to imagine the smile that awaited me at Michael’s house. I couldn’t wait to see it again. I sped towards Michael’s house. Upon arriving, I jumped out of the driver’s seat.
I dialed the watch back. Claudia, I thought.
John?
A strange energy filled me. It was like a flame lit up inside me. I knew she was delighted to hear me and feel me near, but there was a disturbance in her.
Claudia?
Walking down the tiny path up to the house, I noticed a few cars parked in the driveway. I thought nothing of it as I rang the doorbell.