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Part 6
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2025-03-13 00:31:14I picked Charlotte up and started moving to the front door. Fifteen seconds. I got her inside the truck and she was fully conscious now. Her eyelids were fluttering a little, her neck red from where his hands had been. I started the truck at the count of 35 seconds and drove off.
I looked back in the rearview mirror and I saw him in the street, looking at the back of the truck. I turned the corner and accelerated. I looked over at her as she took deep breaths, her hand at the base of her throat.
“Just breathe,” I said to her. I had to wonder why she had to call me. “Why didn’t you call Max?” I already knew the answer to that question. She didn’t want anyone to know about her history, but I asked the question anyway.
“No cops,” she said as I drove past the police station, automatically taking a different route just in case he tried to follow us. The streets were empty as I turned onto the road leading to my farm. I pulled into the garage and opened the door for her. She followed me outside and I closed the garage doors.
Charlotte walked in first after I unlocked the kitchen door. I unholstered the Jericho and put it down on the counter. I didn’t think she registered the presence of the gun and if she did, she didn’t say anything. She sat down at the kitchen table and I could see her face more clearly in the stark lighting of the kitchen. She had taken a good beating from him.
I put the kettle on and took two cups from the cupboard. “Don’t you have anything stronger?” Her voice was a little hoarse and I put one cup back and took out a whiskey glass. I took the unopened bottle of whiskey from another cupboard and put it down in front of her along with the glass. When I finished my coffee, I sat down opposite her.
“You’re not having any?” she asked as she filled her glass and took a sip from it. I heard the slight intake of breath as the whiskey stung her split lip. I never drank in the days before an assignment. I had rules and my routine was what kept me alive when I went on the hunt.
“No,” I answered her. The whiskey had been a gift from Quince the day I moved in here and it had been standing at the back of the cupboard for the past six months. She kept looking at the glass in her hand while I openly stared at her.
“Why did you call me?” I was still confused that she had.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered and I frowned at that. She had friends in town. People liked her. She could’ve called anyone, but she chose me.
“Are you going to tell me the truth or just shirk around it and hope I don’t ask too many questions and life goes on?” Charlotte finally looked up at me and something in her eyes spoke to me.
“I didn’t know who else to call. I can’t go to the police,” she said solemnly. “Something about you…made me feel like I could trust you.” Could she trust me? Yes, she could.
“Who is he?” I already knew who he was but I wanted to know if she was going to tell me. His name was Andrew Douglas, aged thirty-two, once employed as a detective in Nevada. More recently he retired, having cashed out his pension and started looking for Charlotte. He would still have friends and connections. Blue was blue.
“My husband,” she said softly. I was a little surprised by that. She had decided to tell me the truth for some reason. I looked at her and I wanted to help her. What exactly was my plan here? I wasn’t the hero type. I went in, I extracted or eliminated and I left. That was my life for as long as I could remember.
I had to be careful here because I already liked her and I never wanted to be in the position I had been in with Nataly. I had plenty of emotions but I was so used to suppressing them that I rarely felt anything and feeling something for this woman was somewhat of a problem for me.
“I guess I owe you an explanation,” she said and I just kept looking at her. I wasn’t going to push for her story, I already knew enough.
“I was twenty when I got pregnant and everyone pushed for us to get married, even him. At first it was a shove here and there but it escalated very quickly to the point where he would beat me unconscious. I lost my baby at thirty weeks. He would apologize every time. My parents died during that time in a car accident and I was alone. I had nowhere to go and no job, no friends…” The emotions in her voice were true and chilling.
There were no tears as she told me this. I could tell it had taken her years to be able not to cry about it. The emotions were still close to the surface though. I hoped she wouldn’t cry because the reality of the situation was that if that baby hadn’t died, she would still be stuck or dead herself. That baby dying was the best thing that could have happened to her.
I was a realist and if I said those words to her, she wouldn’t appreciate them. For her this was still an open wound, despite the fact that she’d mastered not crying about it. I knew I was cold and emotionless about plenty of stuff but somehow, she made me feel.
“I waited until he passed out one night. I handcuffed him to the bed, took his card and car and left. I withdrew all his money, threw the card away, left my phone at home and just ran. He found me once before, five years ago. That’s when I changed my name and moved here to Epworth.” She emptied the last contents of her glass and refilled it.
“I’m sorry you went through that,” I said to her softly. I could relate to abuse, not that I was going to share my story with anyone. I got up and went upstairs to get the first aid kit. When I got back to the kitchen she hadn’t moved, but her glass was half again.
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“Is he dead?” Charlotte asked me.“No, I just immobilized him.” Charlotte started to cry then, not great sobs or anything, just the tears rolling silently down her cheeks. I should have killed him, I realized. She would’ve preferred for me to kill him.I opened the kit and dabbed a cotton ball in the liquid antiseptic. I held it to the open wound on her lip and she winced once. I looked at her and our gazes locked. I don’t know why I did it, maybe the vulnerability in her eyes, but I kissed her softly and stopped just as abruptly. I had perfect control over my emotions, my actions, but she was flipping my world upside down.“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that,” I said and pulled away.“I should go home,” she said and pushed her chair backwards.“You can’t go home,” I said to her. “There’s a chance that he’ll be watching your house, waiting for you to go back. Besides, you can’t be seen looking the way you do. I have a guest room. You can stay here for a few days.” There was nothin
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Charlotte took the plate in front of me, dished up at the stove and placed it down in front of me again. I had just run 11 miles and I would struggle to eat but I kept quiet instead.“Thank you,” I said automatically. My plate consisted of my normal Thursday breakfast, two slices of unbuttered toast, two eggs, four rashers of bacon and three slices of fried tomatoes. It was almost perfect and then she made it perfect. She filled my glass with orange juice and sat down opposite me.Her plate had a slice of toast, one egg and one rasher of bacon, no tomato. “Is that all you’re having?”She looked down at her plate. “I’m not really that hungry.” I watched as she smeared butter on her toast and I shuddered. The idea of butter on bread was an odd one for me.We finished eating in silence and she placed a glass of warm water down in front of me and took my empty plate. “You should make a list. I’ll go to Dubuque in an hour.”“A list of what?” she asked me with a frown.She took the plates a
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“Thanks, this looks great,” Charlotte said and dished up for herself. She had no qualms about her own comfort, especially since she didn’t know me at all. For all she knew, I could be a criminal. I almost smiled to myself as I thought that.We ate in silence as I did a mental run through my check list for tomorrow’s flight. My flight left at 10 a.m. which meant that I had to leave at quarter past six at the latest. I wouldn’t have time for a jog and I could eat in California.“Blake.” Charlotte touched my arm and I looked up.“Sorry. What did you say?” I asked.“I said I’d do the dishes since you cooked,” she replied and I nodded my thanks and stood up. It was still early but I couldn’t go down to the basement with her in the house. My whole routine was messed up and I went to the living room instead and watched a documentary on the Mossad. At 9 p.m. I got up and whistled for the dogs again. Charlotte was sitting at the kitchen table with the bottle of whiskey and I wondered if she a
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I put my carry-on suitcase down on the bed and opened it. Next, I unzipped the backpack I picked up from the locker earlier. I took the two Jericho’s out and took them along with the cleaning kit to the living room. It had two couches on either side in front of large windows. After I closed the blinds, I started cleaning them.I wiped the table when I was finished and put the guns in the safe, hidden away in a cupboard in the bedroom. I left the yacht, locking the door behind me and walked down the jetty and to the parking lot of the marina. With dinner bought, I took it back to the yacht and sat on the open deck, watching the yachts around me as I ate.Paul Jameson was standing at the door as a maid and a chef stepped off the yacht and left for the night. He was alone. His bodyguard, John Browne, had left an hour earlier. He was twenty-nine years old, approximately six feet and one inches, weighing two hundred and twenty pounds. He worked out, shaved his head and had brown eyes. He c
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Down the staircase and a short hall, the door I came to was closed and I opened it quietly. Paul Jameson was alone in the big bed, seemingly passed out on his stomach. I was already here and he was almost too easy a target for me. I loosened the strap on my leg and took the Karambit out and slid my fingers around the grip. It felt like coming home as the knife became an extension of my hand.It was over quickly. He hadn’t even moved as I lifted his head and slit his throat, just the gasp of released air from his windpipe as I lowered his head back onto the pillow. There were a few splatters of blood that had landed my hand as I slid the blade along his throat but the bedding had soaked up the majority of arterial spray.I retraced my steps back to John’s room. He was still fast asleep. I wiped most of the blood from the knife’s blade on his bed sheet and slid the knife under his mattress on the opposite side he was sleeping on.I slipped back through the galley and closed the door beh
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I stood and watched as the police officers led John Browne from the yacht. His hands were cuffed behind his back and they escorted him to the car where he got into the backseat. His face was twisted in a deep scowl, as the shock registered that he was going to be charged with Paul’s murder. Did I feel bad for pointing the finger in his direction? No, I didn’t. He was Paul’s accomplice and he’d brought those two underaged girls onto the yacht.A large crowd had gathered in the parking lot and I turned back to my laptop and booked a return flight to Chicago. My flight left at 6 p.m. and I would land in Chicago at half past eight. Taking into account the two-hour time difference, I could be home by midnight.I took my time cleaning the yacht, wiping every surface, washing the bathtub, the toilet and the basin. I would wash the shower later when I showered before my flight. I vacuumed the carpets and then the bed. It might sound extreme, but you could lose up to a hundred hair follicles e
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I was an hour away from Epworth, cruising on the highway when the alert beep on my phone went off. I felt a cold chill come over me. I had alert beams on the perimeter of my property, entry points that I myself would use to gain entry. It monitored routes people like me would use to gain access when you didn’t want to use the front door.I opened the app on my phone and watched as five men in masks breached my property line. I switched to another angle, but it was clear. It was only the five of them. I was an hour away and Charlotte would probably be asleep. I phoned the landline anyway and to my relief she answered after four rings.“Hello?” She answered questioningly.“Charlotte, there are five men on the perimeter of the property. You have about six minutes before they breach the house–” She interrupted me as I tried to give her instructions.“What? Why?” Her voice was shaking with fear.“Go down to the basement. The code on the door to the left of the stairs is three one four one
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“You shot me,” I said and she let the gun fall to the floor. Her hand clasped over her mouth and she rushed forward to me. I was leaning against the wall as I tried to apply pressure to the bullet wound and to staunch the bleeding a bit.“I’m so sorry. I thought it was them,” she said worriedly.“Bathroom,” I said as she tried to help me. I slid down against the wall and she started to cry.“Don’t die, please don’t die,” she said and I laughed suddenly.“I’m not going to die. Get the first aid kit in the bathroom,” I said. She ran up the stairs and I sighed. She returned a few minutes later, stopping short when she saw Andrew Douglas lying on the floor with his eyes open, his head surrounded by a pool of his own blood and brain matter.I took the first aid kit from her and opened it. I took out the tweezers and the small bottle of antiseptic liquid. I poured the liquid over the wound and gritted my teeth as it burned. I clenched my eyes closed until the burning subsided. I placed my f
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Drengr Part 37
“Where have you been?” Robert asked me.“I just closed another deal in Greece. Work never stops and that’s why I prefer to stay at home,” I said and Robert laughed.“You should get out more often, live a little. Don’t you get bored working all the time?” he asked me.“Unlike you, Robert, I like to work. Before you know it, I’ll be worth more than you are,” I said and he shook his head.“I don’t think I’d ever hear the end of that,” he said almost bitterly and handed me a drink from the bar.“Thanks and cheers,” I said and we clinked our glasses together.“Hey, I want to show you something,” Robert said as I walked with him.We went upstairs and walked down the same hallway I had walked with Lydia earlier. Robert stopped in front of their bedroom door and smiled at me. I hadn’t planned on Lydia’s body being discovered so soon.“I acquired this in London last month. Tell me what you think,” he said and opened the door. Robert switched the lights on and we walked further into the room.
Drengr Part 36
“Hi,” I answered my phone.“You clean up nice, little bro,” Jack said and I smiled. His call was right on schedule.“You would hate it. This really isn’t your scene,” I said and he laughed. I could picture him in his dimly lit office in front of his many computer screens, typing away and listening to radio calls and checking camera feeds.“Yeah, I can only imagine the torture of free booze and uninhibited women everywhere. Horrific,” he said as I scanned the room.I saw Lydia walking towards the bar and she glanced at me. Her smile widened when we made eye contact and I smiled back at her.“Is that why you called me?” I asked him.“No. I just called to say that June’s invited you to the kids birthday party on Sunday,” he said.“I’ll let you know. You do realize that I’m already supposed to be alone with the wife,” I said.“Have fun,” Jack said and smiled.I placed our call on hold and I watched Lydia from across the room. I could wait patiently. The perfect timing was when the laughte
Drengr Part 35
I settled back against the couch in my living room and opened the package from Bo. I took out the two leather casings and I opened one. I looked at the contents and smiled.I thought back to the file Jack had sent me about William’s mother. I had a plan for her as soon as I got back to Iowa. She was never going to be the mother that William deserved and maybe with this, I could make his life a little better.I wiped everything in the leather casing and walked to my bedroom. The tuxedo was in my closet and I put the invitation in my jacket pocket and went to bed.I didn’t sleep well. I had too many conflicting emotions and thoughts that were going through my mind and eventually I fell asleep at five a.m. It was still a restless sleep because conflicting emotions were something new to me.At ten a.m. I was woken up by my ringing phone.“Yeah?” I answered the phone with my eyes still closed.“Where are you?” Jack asked me in a hushed voice.“What time is it?” I asked him.“Ten a.m. littl
Drengr Part 34
Nataly opened the gate and we all drove into the parking area of her building. We made our way over to the elevators and an old lady was looking us up and down.“Hello, Mrs. Duffard,” Nataly said.“Oh, hello dear.” She leaned in closer to Nataly and looked disapprovingly at us. “You shouldn’t hang around with all these men. What will people say?” I started chuckling and Nick jabbed me in the ribs.“These are just friends from work,” Nataly said.“If you say so, dear,” the old woman said and got off on her floor.“Yeah, Nataly. What will people say?” Charlie quipped as the doors closed again.“Oh, shut up,” Nataly said and laughed.It felt like old times, the team working together, laughing, joking and competing together. It almost felt like Nataly was my friend again. We ordered food and settled down in her living room.My phone vibrated in my pocket and I saw it was Max. “Excuse me,” I said and walked toward the back of Nataly’s apartment and answered.“Hi Max, can I call you—”“Blak
Drengr Part 33
A week later, I was busy packing my backpack as Charlotte sat on the bed with her arms crossed over her chest. “Don’t be mad.”“I’m not mad,” she said but the look in her eyes told a different story.“We talked about this. I can’t tell you everything and you accepted that before we started this relationship,” I said.“I know, but I don’t have to like the fact that you’ll be in Chicago with your ex for the whole weekend,” she said.“It’s not that big of a deal. It’s not like we’ll be alone,” I said.“She’s your ex, Blake. I saw the way she was looking at you, she’ll find a way to be alone with you,” she said.I left the backpack on the bed and sat down next to Charlotte. I took her hand in mine and looked her in the eye. “I’m not a cheater, Charlotte. If I wanted Nataly back, I’d be with her. I don’t want her back, I don’t miss her. I’m here with you and that’s where I want to be. She can try to be alone with me, I still have a choice in what happens and I choose you.”“What if you don
Drengr Part 32
I looked at my watch again as we lay in bed. Charlotte was still asleep. It was Saturday morning and almost five a.m. I rolled over and started tapping her on her shoulder with my finger.“Stop it,” she groaned.I chuckled and started tapping her shoulder again. She shifted away from me and I smiled.“What’s wrong with you?” I moved closer to her and kissed her shoulder.“It’s time to get up,” I said.“Why? It’s Saturday,” she complained and pulled the covers over her head.“Because I said so. I’m the boss of this house,” I said and started tapping her shoulder again.“Blake, I’m going to hurt you,” she said with her eyes still closed.“Promise?” I asked and laughed. I shifted on the bed and hovered over her. “Get up!” I fell down on top of her and started tickling her. She was screaming and laughing at the same time and once or twice called me words that should never pass a woman’s lips.I ducked at the door as Charlotte’s shoe flew past my head and went downstairs. She was awake and
Drengr Part 31
At two a.m. I got up and got dressed. I moved quietly so I wouldn’t wake Charlotte or William. I left the house and drove to Peosta. I knew where William lived. I had dropped him off a few times. I slowed down and switched my lights off. I parked the truck a block from his house and walked the rest of the way.The back door wasn’t locked and I walked inside the kitchen. There were dirty dishes in the sink and it smelled musty in there. Empty beer cans littered the table in the living room and I could smell the stale cigarette stench.William’s bedroom had a mattress on the floor with one blanket. The more I went through the house, the angrier I became. William had never said how bad it really was. I stood in the doorway of the main bedroom and watched his mother. She was snoring and it smelled like old vomit in the room.I walked back to the kitchen before the urge to smother her with a pillow overtook me. I took my phone out and called Jack.“Do you have any idea what time it is?” he
Drengr Part 30
William was busy setting the table for three when I saw Charlotte’s headlights flash over the driveway as she turned into it.“Be nice,” I said and William grinned at me.“I’m always nice,” he said and I smiled.I walked outside and met Charlotte at her car. I opened her door for her and she smiled as I took her hand and helped her out. She unlocked her trunk and opened it.“Did you bring the whole diner?” She laughed at my question but I was being serious.“Shouldn’t I have?” I took the box from the trunk and saw that it was filled with food. She put another box on top of the one in my hands and grabbed her overnight bag and slung her purse over her shoulder. She closed the trunk and locked her car before following me inside.The dogs went crazy when they saw her and she knelt on the porch and rubbed their ears. She took a plastic bag from her purse and I could hear the scratching of their paws as eagerness overtook them.“Is she moving in?” William asked me seriously and I laughed.
Drengr Part 29
Robert Gold was six feet on the dot. He was in good shape and although he was spoiled, he was funny and a much better person than his father.Robert’s first wife, Claudia, had been a one-time model, but she married Robert before she made it big. He traveled a lot and she started sleeping with her driver. Robert hadn’t known about the affair and his father contacted us to eliminate her.I had taken her out in their house at 2 a.m. while Robert was away on one of his many business trips. The official reports showed that she committed suicide by slitting both her wrists in the bathtub after swallowing half a bottle of sleeping pills that they found next to her on the bathroom floor.I hadn’t known Claudia personally and killing her had been easy. They had only been married for three months at that time. I had called Robert to give my condolences and had gone to the funeral to support him. Fast forward five years later and Robert’s father was ready to get rid of wife number two.Lydia Gol
