"This has been quite a morning. I had a struggle getting out of bed." Agent Ross sat at his desk drinking his coffee.
"Have you found anything, Sir?"
"This kid is like a ghost. There is no record of him except for him being raised by his dad, who was a politician, and a mother who was a stay-at-home mom?"
"You said was Sir?"
"Yes, she sadly passed away. His dad was recently killed. All files of the dad's killing are gone."
"Agent Ross, I want to see you in my office."
Josh's eyes grew wide, "the chief looks pretty pissed. Is there something you did?"
"No, not that I know of. He never spoke to me like that before, last week, we had a BBQ at his place, and everything was fine?"
"Well, whatever it is, you got him worked up, or someone pissed him off."
“Agent Ross,” the Chief shouted from his door, "You better go. That's not good. I will catch up with you later."
"Yes, Sir, I am on my way."
"Chief?
"Is he okay, doctor?""Yes, he woke up. He seems fine, we ran a few tests, and everything looks okay. He has, however, asked for Claire.""Claire never came with us, Dr.""I suggest you get her here while his memory is fresh.""Did he mention anything besides Claire?""No, nothing that I can think of. Sorry."Claire walked up the staircase to Jack's room; he was still asleep when she pushed open the door and peeked in; he was lying half-naked on his bed.He was lying with his stomach far on the bed. She walked into the room and noticed something she had seen before. It was the same tattoo as she had. She looked closer as she leaned over; he somehow appeared different, with finer detail, strips on the crown indicating your ranking and killings. She had nothing; he had stripes. Those eight stripes could mean ranking or family; she was a soldier and sat with no stripes. Down on his leg on his inner thigh, he had a date. In the center of
"Finally, some peace and quiet." Angela sits on the sofa, stretching out and facing the cabinet. The house is somewhat too quiet; she is used to a house full of people. Her parents always had people over, and on the corner of the window stood a flower pot. The white leather sofa with its backside facing the window is where her dad always sat reading the newspaper on Sunday. He had switched off his phone on a Sunday and sat all day on that couch. Her mother would only go out when he was not home; when he was there, she was there. Angela stared at the plant; it had grown quite abit for a seven-month-old plant, but her mom told everyone never to water that specific plant. It's one of those plants that never need watering. It was a snake plant also known as Sansevieria. The yellow edges blended with the green. Her mother was alot around that specific plant; she had not known why her mom was so attached. There came days when their dad argued she cared more for her plant than anyone else
With the new recruit, Silencer could carry out the work he always wanted to. "Marcus, how does it feel to be back? Can you remember what happened?" Claire had pulled up by the house, "what is she doing here?" Nicole said. "I will be staying by her for a while." "But here is a place for you. I mean, there is plenty of room, right Angela." "Yes, there will always be room for you." Claire walked in carrying an expensive handbag and shoes, "I see you spoiled yourself?" "Yes, Angela, if the men won't, we will do it ourselves." "Well, I love the color. Why don't you and Marcus stay here?" Claire looked over at Marcus. While Jack was not taking notes, he made notes in a diary. "Jack, what could be so important?" Jack looked up at Claire and smiled, “I am just abit busy with some of Angela's work.” "You doing the graphics for her website?" "Yes, I am. You should come to take a look at this."
Between the lounge and the open-plan kitchen was a passage tiled with brown ceramic tiles; she couldn't enter, as it was covered with a glass door. Angela tried sliding it open, and it wouldn't open. She took her gun and fired at the door, but the glass never even had a scratch. It was more of a ballistic door, "how are we supposed to get in there?" Claire asked. “Jack would know what to do." Angela walked back to the living room and looked down to the ground for a mat but noticed the tiles had a small patch of brown grout around one tile. Nicole, who had followed Angela, had also noticed the brown grout. "Are you thinking what I am thinking?" Nicole scratch her head, “you considering putting other tiles in here?” "No, something is off about that tile." Angela leaned down, and it was loose. Beneath the tile was something that seemed like a biometric system, Angela was hoping for a simple door handle, "why must everything always be a puzzle?" "Excuse me?" Nicole said. “Nothing,”
"Hi, it's 10 pm, and we haven't heard anything? is there any news on my brother?" "I'm afraid not, but I will keep searching." "Thanks, Mark." "You know this will be much easier if I knew how he looks and where you guys are?” Angela looked over at Nicole, who was asleep. Sharing a room with Nicole was hard; she had dreamt alot and screamed, which woke Angela up. She needed counseling, and her brother was the only person who could comfort her. Claire lay in the dark, searching for a signal. It's impressive that Angela’s mom could put all this together without a signal tower. Claire scrolled through photos of her and Jack. She then stood up and walked to the kitchen, where she saw Angela sitting at the brown table. The radio was standing straight in front of her; she was staring at it. "Angela, is everything okay." Angela shook her head, “how is it supposed to be okay if my brother is out in the freezing weather?” "I am going upstairs." "You can't, Claire. Remember you tried pu
Angela walked over to the broken vase, "this used to be my mom's favorite vase. She was always around it." "What do you mean your mom's favorite vase?" "Well, it was an import from Italy." Angela picks up the broken pieces, "But yes, this is as broken as my family." Claire walked up to Angela placing her hand on Angela's shoulder, "it may be broken, but you can still glue the remaining pieces." Angela smiled at Claire's gesture, "it's okay. Let's focus on what's here." Angela looked around for clues. It had started to rain, "who would have expected that? The sky was clear when we got here.” "Come over here and help me." "Help you with what?" "To move this table." They moved the table, lifted the carpet, and opened the door, "Marcus and Nicole." they shouted down. There was no answer, "don't tell me we have to go down there again." "Well, unless you want to stay in the safe house forever. I would say we move around and try to find Jack." There was a sudden light on them fro
"Hands up, climb out of the car."Jack couldn't believe this was happening. Nicole's health had improved; she was no longer so afraid, "Jack, don't climb out.""We have to; they will kill us if we don't.”“We are not climbing out. These guys are wearing the Taliban's clothes. I don't trust them. We are not in Iraq.” Said Angela"These guys' faces are covered; their identities are hidden from us. They can kill us and walk away.""You guys stay here. I will climb out.""No, Jack, I owe this to you and Angela. Let me go."The guy wearing the scarf over his face walked up to them, pointing his rifle at them, "move, move." He insisted as he swung his gun at them."Relax, I am climbing out." Jack had his hands in the air as the gunmen waved his gun at Marcus, “everyone out.”They were stranded on a dry gravel pathway surrounded by bushes. The narrow, gravel, straight path had to lead them to
"We have been here over twenty-four hours, and I am starting to lose my mind. I would have thought they came in after the gas."There were screams all around. It was the kind of scream that bypasses the ears to speak right to the heart."I can't handle it, Jack. How do you keep so calm?""I block out my surroundings, Angela."Nicole moved over to Jack and looked up at him, "We will be safe, right?""Without a doubt."Nicole looked up at him, "I feel safe around you."Marcus looked over at his sister; she was calm and looked happy."How are you feeling.""Under the circumstances, I’m okay, thank you.""How are you feeling, Marcus?"Marcus looked around in this shit hole, “I guess under the claustrophobic cell with the smell. I am trying to survive like you.”"Imagine how your sister felt being here alone, and the anticipation of the unknown could be scary.""Thank you for getting her out of this hell hole. Maybe our purpose is to come back here to save others.Angela stood up and looked
Angela en Rogan had a good night together, while Jessica had a terrible night.Claire returned to the safe house and asked for jack, but Jack had disappeared, and nobody knew where he had gone to. Will he come back, and why does Claire need him?What will happen in the safe house? Will there be more drama, or can they finely solve their differences?A lot is waiting to happen, but for now, it is still a mystery.-To be continued-Let us know what you think of this first book. There are more to follow.We would love to know your ideas of what might happen with them in the following books.
"You like her, don't you?""Like who, Nicole?""Do not act dumb, Jack. I saw how you looked at Jessica.”"Guys, it's one in the morning. What is going on?”Jack looked at his sister and shook his head. Nicole had been crying; Angela sat beside Nicole, squeezed her hand, then let out a gentle smile, "want to tell me what happened?"Nicole looked up at Angela, “it's Jack. He likes Jessica.”Angela was waiting for Nicole to say something."You know we love and care about you and will always be here for you, but you and my brother split up before the accident.”Jessica stood outside the door, hearing the conversation. She couldn't help but feel relieved that Angela had talked with Nicole. She looked across the passage and saw Jack's room light was on. Jessica tip-toed over to his room and looked inside. He sat with something in his hand; she couldn't make it out what it was.“He stil
“Why is everyone afraid of him?” Nicole asked."Well, sooner or later, you will know more about him. Rogan is not the type of guy you see here; he is a well-known international person, and people he deals with are in the underworld.”“The underworld?” Nicole said."Yes, where the money laundering, drugs gangs, and druglords are. He spent billions on creating that market. Have you heard of the site salt that comes from the dark web? Well, Rogan has the real thing running.”"Does that not create alot of enemies? Make people dislike you?""Of course. Why do you think I kept my identity a secret?"My brother never exposes himself, which is why I am surprised we came here. Angela looked over at Jessica, "what about you, Jessica? How do you feel about all this?""Angela, we've come a long way. You would know how I feel about it but, just like." Angela stopped her, “rather not say.”Jess
"Sorry, Angela, for bringing it up. It's better to let it out than to keep it bottled up, being uncertain."Nicole looked ahead and sunk in her seat, “it's him, "it's him, the guy who raped me."She pointed at a fifty-year-old white guy with a thirteen-year-old girl standing next to him. "Stop this car immediately,” Jessica demanded.Angela pulled over to the car, and Jessica walked up behind the older man, pulled out her gun, and shot him in the back of his head in broad daylight. Angela ducked down in the car, "what did you just do?""You saw what I did. That asshole deserved it.""He did, but come on, in broad daylight, we can't go doing shit like that in broad daylight.”Nicole sat in silence, watching the two girls talk. Jessica dared to kill the man in broad daylight for her sake. No one would do what Jessica did; she showed no emotion or remorse for what she had just done. “What if they saw the license plate An
Arriving at the hospital, Nicole and the others are waiting for the doctor."Don’t be nervous. You will be fine.""I dont feel that way. Right now, my heart is beating fast."She takes Angela's hand, placing it on her chest. "can you feel that?"Angela nods, "you will be fine try not to overthink it."Jessica is sitting on the opposite chair, is becoming impatient, then stands up and walks over to the reception. A young lady with red curly hair wearing red lipstick and a formal black skirt looks up."Can I help you, mam?""I don’t know, mam, if you are capable of doing anything else than sit there ignoring instead of lifting your ass off that chair and coming over to us to tell us what the holdup is?"The receptionist flickers her eyebrows, looking down at her file, then looks ups, "The doctor will let me know when I can let you in.""Is that not the whole reason we call in for an appointment?""Yes, b
"How do you know Rogan again?" Nicole stood with her arms folded, tapping her foot on the ground.Jack walked up to her, "Nicole, we broke up that day before you left. I am not sure if you remember that day. We went out separate ways saying no hard feelings.”Nicole eased her arms to her side and walked over to the window, staring out, "if we broke up, why am I here?""Because you have been through alot and me and my sister want to make sure you get treatment. After all, we both lost families."Nicole's eyes became teary, "so you never loved me?" She said, staring out the window and looking at the tree and the rain."I loved you, Nicole, but we both agreed we were better off as friends.""How do I know you are telling the truth and not just saying so because Jessica is here?""Jessica and I never had the connection we had. What we had was amazing. We built memories and had a great time together."Nicole folded her arms, s
"How did you find us here?""Well, you have known me since school. I've been good at sniffing out hiding places, Im like a trained dog on a leash."Thats quite a term to use, Marcus thought.Rogan had this smile when he smiled understandingly, much more than understandingly. It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance that you may come across four or five times in life.It faced –or seemed to face– the eternal world for an instant and then concentrated on you with an irresistible prejudice in your favor. He was commonplace in complexion, features, manners, and voice. He was tall and of ordinary build. His eyes, of the usual blue, were perhaps remarkably cold, and he certainly could make his glance fall on one as trenchant and heavy as an axe."So, will you tell us how you found it?" Angela crossed her arms.With his long shoulder-length curly hair, Rogan walked over to the fridge. Opening it, "your broth
"What are you doing here?" Mark looked surprised, "the question is, why are you here, and where does this lead to?" "To my garage." Mark acted surprised, "fancy car in a garage?" "Yes, this belongs to a friend." Claire looked over Mark's shoulder, "why are they here?" “We came down here for some work and ended up trying to open whatever this is?" "Would you mind if we gave a peek inside?" Angela stood with her arms crossed, blocking Mark, the guys who climbed out stepped forward, "Gentleman, please give me some space?" He said, sounding annoyed. "Okay, boss." "Quite a title you have there, boss?" "Yes, they work for me on a construction site." "Construction site at this hours. I bet they get paid well over time, do you boys." She leaned her neck forward, grinning." "Of course they do. I take care of my staff." "Good to know, Mark." "Are you able to direct where you
"Marcus, I don't think your sister is fine. She is going backward." "What do you mean?" "She is saying things that make no sense, and she kept singing, hush, little baby." "Thats a song my mom sang to us when we were afraid." Marcus grew concerned, clenching his fist, “those assholes fucked her mentally." "We must take her to a doctor for an MRI." Marcus walked over to the window, staring out. Lacy white-edged clouds rolled in over the blue sky, their centers as deep as any shoreline rock. “The weather is getting worse. It looks like we are expecting a storm.” Angela hurried over to the window glancing out, "What about Jack?" "He's like a cat with nine lives." Marcus joked, regretting his words afterward when seeing how concerned Angela was, "he will be okay." Angela looked at him with her deep soulful eyes, then walked over to the other end of the window, "Do you know Jack has always been the strong one