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Chapter 29: Jamie
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2022-11-24 14:23:06Related chapters
Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 30: Tabby, Gazi
Tuesday. FBI Offices, New York City, NY.TABBY HUGGED HER ARMS around herself as she stared at the list of missing children's photographs. Some were in color, others black and white newspaper clippings. There were candid shots, school pictures. Each one tugged at Tabby's heart.She knew there were monsters out there, but this was some other level of disgusting.A shadow darkened the board and a warm presence drew closer.Baruti didn't say anything, he just held out a cup of coffee to her and together they looked at the pictures for several moments.What kind of hell would it be to have her child snatched from her like this? No answers? No clues? Just gone?"You have to figure out how to live with knowing this stuff is out there and not going crazy," he said softly."How do you do it?" She glanced at the man.Baruti shook his head and didn't answer."Why isn't anyone talking about this?" Now she did turn to face him.He kept looking at the kids. "Because all of th
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 31: Tabby
Wednesday. Kensico Dam Plaza, White Plains, NY.TABBY SAT ON THE picnic bench staring off at people jogging the trail around the historic park. When they'd set off that morning for the shop she'd expected more excitement. Maybe a little danger to rival the failed kidnapping attempt on her that she still knew nothing about. She'd dressed for that in boots, black jeans and a dark maroon top. Instead they'd made a purchase, she'd passed a coded note to the attendant and fifteen minutes after they'd left she'd gotten a call on her burner phone to arrange a meeting.She should have realized when the meeting didn't have a time attached to it that things weren't going to match what was in her head.Jamie reclined back against the table, his elbows up and like her he watched the people.The FBI and the others weren't there in body, but their unending chatter thanks to the earpiece meant Tabby couldn't even talk to Jamie and take advantage of their privacy.She glanced sideways at
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 32: Abner
Wednesday. Kensico Dam Plaza, White Plains, NY.ABNER COULD HARDLY BELIEVE his eyes.Tabby Grissler.That wasn't the name she'd given his contact at the shop. No, she'd called herself Tracey or something, trying to disguise who she was.Why was this brilliant woman coming to him? What did she need? What could he possibly have that she wanted?A bit of movement across the park caught his eye. He glanced past the picnic table and the red haired woman waiting for him to glimpse a few of his kids out for an afternoon.The others didn't like this set-up. Tabby had appeared out of nowhere asking for a meet and there was no way to tell how she'd gotten that information. Abner's business was based on referrals. Good business created more business. And no one he knew could vouch for Tabby.But a woman like her would have resources at her disposal far beyond the likes of the average person.Abner was aware of Tabby's work not just because of her drones. No, he'd first become a
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 33: Jamie
Wednesday. Kensico Dam Plaza, White Plains, NY.JAMIE DROPPED INTO THE driver's seat of the rental car he'd driven to the park."What the fuck?" Tabby threw her hands up in the air.She'd said some variation of the question a dozen times since Abner had walked away. Listening to the stand-down order had tested Jamie's ability to follow orders.The guy had been right fucking there.If they grabbed him they'd eventually find where he kept the drones, the kids, the women. They could save the day.But if they grabbed him, they could kick off whatever it was he was planning. These people who were loyal to him could effectively end things with a well-placed drone strike.Jamie put the park in their rearview mirror. The plan was to meet up at a secure location on the way back into the city for a debrief and plan before making their next move. But there was risk between here and there.Tabby twisted to face him, reached over and placed her hand on his leg. "Tell me again why
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 34: Tabby
Wednesday. Hotel, New York City, NY.TABBY EYED HER CARDS. She wasn't playing her best poker game. Her head just wasn't in it. Sure, she was grateful that the guys were including her, but all she could think about was that there were kidnapped kids there today. And they'd done nothing. Not a damn thing."What are you going to do, Tabby?" Logan asked her.If she wasn't going to take the game seriously, she shouldn't be here."I fold." She placed the cards face down and sat back in her chair.Logan pointed at Jamie to her left.Tabby tuned out their banter and stared at the back of her cards.Those poor kids. And their parents. All of this had to be a nightmare for them. What if it was her child? What then? She sure as hell wouldn't forgive someone not saving her child if they were a dozen feet from them and had chosen to do nothing.Evan leaned in and spoke softly. "Something wrong?""How do we live with ourselves?" Her answer wasn't as soft.The conversation at t
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 35: Tabby
Tabby nodded and the pressure in her head subsided a bit.His fingers stroked her face. "I'm sorry about what happened to you. What's the rest of the story?""That's it."Jamie stared down at her, his stern expression buying none of what she was selling. "You forget I read up on you. At nineteen you were setting yourself up to go to the Olympics for sharpshooting. Then you stopped."Tabby opened and closed her mouth. Her knees felt a bit weak. This day, talking about her past, it had her on shaky ground. She wasn't herself. She couldn't keep standing here staring up at Jamie pealing back her walls. It was too much.She sidestepped him and crossed to the bed. That spring break after everything happened, she and Yvonne had spent the week at a cabin in the mountains, practically living in bed. They'd always been friends, but that trip, that experience of healing, had solidified them as best friends forever.Tabby hugged a pillow to her chest.Jamie followed her, crawling up
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 36: Tabby
Thursday. Hotel, New York City, NY.TABBY KEPT HER HANDS in her coat pockets and ducked her head as the morning drizzle turned into a light rain. An odd patch of bright, blue sky in the distance belied the newscaster's earlier report to expect rain off and on until sunset.This whole day was confusing.From the moment she'd woken up with Jamie wrapped around her, it was all a jumbled mess.The walk sign flashed and she followed along with the rest of the pedestrian traffic.She hoped a quick walk down the street to get her caffeine would help clear her head.Jamie had slept with her. They hadn't had sex, not that she hadn't been interested, things just never went there. He'd remained by her side all night. He'd let her talk for what felt like hours without changing the conversation or trying to make a move. He'd been the perfect gentleman. It was unexpected. She'd dished out the darkest part of her life, laid it out for him and all he'd done was hold her tighter. Get ang
Last Updated : 2022-11-24Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 37: Jamie
Thursday. FBI Offices, New York City, NY.JAMIE KEPT HIS HANDS in his pockets as the team and Tabby walked into the FBI offices. He wanted to hold Tabby's hand, to be close to her. But they were adhering to the rule about waiting until this was over. At least to be publicly out about whatever it was they were doing.She'd told him things, private, serious things. That meant something, didn't it?He wanted it to, which made it hard to be rational about their situation.The answers would come later. For now they had a whole lot more to focus on.Once more the FBI office was buzzing with activity. People moved back and forth from desks to the wall displays with an urgency that had the hair on Jamie's arms standing up.Had they found something?Sammy stepped into view and locked eyes with Jamie. "Good, you're here."The agent led them to the open area on one side of the communal workspace. It was so different being here, where the people were part of a cohesive team. Com
Last Updated : 2022-11-24
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Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 374: Quentin, Epilogue
A week later...QUENTIN WISHED HE COULD savor this moment. He slapped the cuffs on the pint-sized asshole who'd had Candi's life in the palm of his hand that fateful night. Was it just a week ago?This should be more satisfying.It was, in a way.Eleven perfectly timed arrests effectively cut off all the heads of Metis. According to Nadine's notes, there was still one unknown head of the organization out there. But they were not alone. Metis itself wouldn't be ordering the death of anyone else. But it didn't bring Nadine back. It didn't restore the time Quentin had lost with Candi. It did make the world a little better, and in the end that's what mattered. Nadine's final acts were all about sacrifice and justice.Quentin stepped back as the FBI agents continued doing their job.He'd been granted permission to be here. As CIA, he had no jurisdiction nor the ability to make an arrest. Still, putting those cuffs on the little asshole felt good.Nadine would be pleased.
Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 373: Candi
Sunday. Clementine Baker's Home, Washington, DC.CANDI CLUTCHED Q'S HAND in both of hers. "Is this it?""Yeah," he whispered.They stared at the moderate sized home in a DC suburb. Now and wind pelted them. Her teeth chattered. And yet, it felt good. The bone chilling cold reminded her that she was alive."Are we going to knock?" she asked."No. Come on. The FBI lookouts know why we're here."Q led her through the yard and a side gate. A uniformed police officer sat at the first-floor window watching them. Q nodded. Candi lifted a hand, but let it drop to her side without actually waving."This way."Solar lights chased away the shadows, making it less ominous. In a few hours, the world would wake up to a blanket of new snow. A clean slate.Candi didn't know how to feel right now.On one hand, they'd found Nadine. They'd done what they'd set out to do.But, Nadine was dead. Her final act had been to save Q and give them the means with which to combat two threat
Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 372: Quentin
Small hands shoved Quentin sideways a second before bullets erupted into the night.Quentin yelled. It was mixed rage and fear. He staggered sideways, only for Nadine to shove at him again."Move, damn it," she barked.They dove behind the shelter of a single boulder. This side of the creek the ground was rockier.Quentin yanked his sidearm out of his holster and sucked down air.Unlike the men at their back, Quentin didn't have unlimited ammunition. Not unless he took theirs."Give me a gun," Nadine hissed.He still couldn't trust her. "No.""Damn you," she growled."Come out and it'll be quick," a voice called out.Nadine laid a finger across her lips and stared him down.He opened his mouth, but she spoke first."You can't think I'm that stupid," she said. With her other hand she pointed back down the way they'd come.She wanted him to go to the creek?"I think you know what your options are," the man called out.Quentin's head knew he couldn't trust Na
Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 371: Quentin
Saturday. Harper's Ferry, VA.QUENTIN KEPT AN ARM right around Nadine and held to the broken stub of a branch. The ground beneath them had started to crumble. He wasn't convinced that they'd keep their perch if he let go.Damn it.Every time they made a move someone was in their path. And it wasn't always the same pair.Were all six circling him and Nadine? Did that mean they'd captured Candi? Or had she gotten away?He'd heard a couple of shots off in the distance. Could it be...?No.He had to keep his mind here and now.Quentin strained to hear anything. A leaf on the wind. The crunch of a boot. Something.To Nadine's credit, even her breathing was soundless.Could he trust her to not turn on him?He didn't think so.She leaned toward him until she could whisper ever so faintly in his ear. "Now."He understood her meaning. They were both watching and waiting for an opening. Words were unnecessary risks.One thing was certain, he could trust Nadine to h
Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 370: Candi
Candi's heart raced as she watched the man kneel by the bag and yank the zipper.She lunged left, behind a tree and drew her weapon.Overhead, there was no mistaking the whining whirl of helicopter blades. It might not be anyone friendly, but DC was about a half hour away by air. They'd called Q's contacts about forty-five minutes ago.Could that be help? More enemies? Something else?She didn't know, but she had to hope. She had to believe this wasn't how it was going to end."Hey!" the man barked. "Get back out here.""Keep the cash and let me go, no one has to know." She clicked the safety off the gun.Candi had mostly blocked out the fact that she'd shot and killed someone after being kidnapped. Now, it was on repeat in her mind.Could she do it again?If she got to tell Q she loved him-again-she'd pull the trigger.Her hands shook.The leaves rustled underfoot, allowing her to track the man's movements. She shifted around the tree, keeping it between them.
Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 369: Candi
Saturday. Harper's Ferry, VA.CANDI CROUCHED BETWEEN THE rotted out remnants of a tree and a dense holly bush. This was as close as she could get to the house without being seen.Where had Q and Nadine gotten to?Candi had run out of the house, unable to hear anything beyond the blood pumping in her ears. She'd pushed ahead, convinced those men were right behind her. The only thought in her head was that she couldn't lag behind or else Q would have to leave her.Only, it had happened the other way around.She didn't know when or how Q got separated from her, but when she'd paused to turn around and look, he was gone.Her teeth chattered together. Had something been on the news about a cold front? The winter had been awfully mild so far. It would be their luck for snow to settle in today.Please, no...Where were they?She cautiously peered out through the branches.All but one of the men who'd arrived at the house had gone into the woods.Was this a bad idea?
Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 368: Nadine
Friday. Harper's Ferry, VA.THIS WAS A DISASTER of her making.The stitch in Nadine's side felt like a knife was being plunged into her. That, or her scar tissue was warning her about the turning weather. The warm spell was most certainly over."This way," Quentin whispered.Her heart twinged.This was her fault.She was going to get this boy killed. And for what?Over the years, she'd lost her focus. She'd become a leaf, being blown about with no respite. She'd done things to stay afloat, things she regretted.Like involving Quentin.He didn't know it yet, but she wasn't leaving this forest alive."Shit," Quentin muttered."What-?"She never got the question out. Her foot slipped on the underbrush then she tripped on a root. Only, the ground wasn't where she thought it should be. She pitched forward and just kept going. Her shoulder hit the steep incline first, then the rest of her. Limbs tore at her clothing. Rocks scraped her skin. Something rubbery smacke
Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 367: Quentin
Friday. Safe House, Unknown, VA.QUENTIN HELD TIGHT TO Candi's hand. He kept glancing at her to make sure she was really there and he hadn't imagined her dramatic return. He had the urge to leave Nadine here and run away with Candi, somewhere it would be just the two of them forever.Instead, he secured the front door then stood in the entry staring at her."And here I thought you'd finally grown a brain," Nadine said dryly.Candi held up her other hand, extending just her middle finger in Nadine's direction.Quentin's phone buzzed. He knew before he pulled it out that it was Wesley. Quentin turned the screen toward Candi. She shrugged and didn't offer any insight into what he should say or do.He clicked the answer button and put it on speaker."Wesley, hey.""Is she there?" Wesley's voice was flat, emotionless.Quentin glanced at Candi. "Yeah."Wesley sighed heavily. "Damn it.""You're on speaker," Candi said."Do you have any idea what I sacrificed to help
Aegis Group Task Force Chapter 366: Candi
Friday.CANDI SLUMPED DOWN A bit more. Wesley gripped the steering wheel like he was on a race course. From where she sat, she could see the speed wavering between five and ten over the speed limit.He couldn't wait to get away from Q.Her heart nearly seized up just thinking that.She wrapped her arms around her more tightly, as if she could hold herself together with strength alone.It felt like history repeating itself.She had to leave because of Nadine for her own good.While Q remained where he was.Candi understood his resolve to carry through with his job. She really did. But her heart couldn't help but feel abandoned. Again.Q had chosen Nadine once over her, and now it was happening again.Yes, Candi knew it was different. This was about doing the right thing and protecting themselves."You're awfully quiet," Wesley finally said."Know your audience," she mumbled.He glanced at her. His sunglasses hid his eyes and made it impossible to guess at wh
