chapter ten
It wasn’t the first time Jack had thought about Reo, Lila and their family since he and Reo had parted ways. However, it was the first time they had been constantly on his mind since then.
“Hey. London.”
“Hm?”
“Been saying your name for fifteen seconds. Something on your mind?”
He glanced over to Olivia Gomez, who was handcuffing a kid for trying to knock off a liquor store. He turned to give the store owner a reassuring nod. He had already taken his statement.
“No,” he told her. His tone didn’t invite further questioning.
The kid in question was about 20 years of age, and had been stupid enough to try robbing a liquor store armed and alone. Gomez made it look routine as she ducked his head in the back of the patrol vehicle. Jack got into the passenger seat and called in the arrest.
Gomez got into the driver’s seat and stared at her partner impatiently.
“London, can I just ask what the hell is up with you these days?”
“What do you mean?”
As close as they had become after two years of working together, Jack didn’t want to tell his partner that he had been thinking about family life, and feeling its echoes this week. As far as she knew, he had no family. As far as he knew, he had a poker face that revealed nothing.
“You have been really quiet all freaking week. It’s annoying. Usually you’re all pumped when we pick up some loser.”
“Hey!” The cuffed kid voiced his objection.
“Shut up. You’re not allowed to have an opinion,” she told him. She frowned at Jack. “I mean, you look almost… bored.”
“You on somethin’, man? Copper’s on somethin’, and arresting me. Shit.”
“Hey. Jackass. Did I, or did I not tell you that you have the right to shut the fuck up?” Gomez told him, driving to the station.
Jack almost sighed. Everything reminded him of Reo, and it weighed heavily on his mind that Lila was in trouble.
Had Lila called him since the break-up, he would have done whatever necessary. It wouldn’t have mattered that he and Reo hadn’t been talking to each other. He would have taken her in, he would have let her stay with him, given her money, whatever she needed. She was Lila. She was the girl who helped him see Reo’s heart. She was his bratty little sister. He wondered if Lila knew that.
She was surprisingly naive, and had often gotten herself into strange situations in the past because of it. This had a similar feel to it.
When he had married Reo, Jack had not only fallen in love with her, he had loved her family as his own. They had envelopped him into that familial cocoon. Her mom had made doughnuts for him on his birthday and told him all about Reo as a child. She had even included pictures of her in band uniform. He had barbecued steaks with Reo’s stepfather and Lila’s father, Han, up at their place on Canada day. They had hosted another barbecue the following year, flying his country’s flag on the Fourth of July, for him. They were on good terms with Marcus, Reo’s father, and he was welcome, sometimes joining them for holidays. The memories of these events were locked away in the same place that held his memories of a laughing Ree, a smiling Ree, a naked Ree. A Ree that loved him.
In his opinion, they had led a rather normal married life, parallel to their work life.
At least, they had done so until Reo had cut him off. He had tried to harden himself, resenting Reo all along, but he couldn’t help wondering how they were. Whether they wondered the same about him. What Reo had told them about him and the reason for his absence.
Gomez parked the car and took the kid by the arm. She stepped out of the car. He followed suit, but stood staring at the station for a moment.
“You coming?” She gave him a strange look.
“I’m gonna have to take a few personal days, Gomez.”
He didn’t know how Lila had landed herself in Lebreton’s custody, but he did know that Lebreton and Reo’s past that meant nothing good could come of it.
There was no more reasoning it out. He was going to have to get involved.
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chapter nine
Lila knew she had been in alarming situations before. She knew that. However, being handcuffed in a relatively empty room with a large steel door was a first.
“Mrrrrphrhhhrrrrlllllt!” She screamed.
No one heard the dull sound, which was no surprise. According to her watch it had been two days, and she couldn’t help but try every so often despite the gag that choked her when she did.
Lila didn’t know precisely where she was. She had woken up bound in a tiny room lacking furniture but for a small cot and bucket. She hoped it wasn’t a particularly original location, though. A basement would be her preference. An abandoned warehouse would be slightly problematic, but still manageable. Unfortunately, villains didn’t always prescribe to predictable behaviour, so it was difficult for her to gauge whether she should be panicking or not. One thing she did know was that she was very, very thirsty.
She hadn’t seen Lebreton since he stuck her with the syringe, but had reasoned that he must be nearby. There didn’t seem to be much point in keeping her hostage as bait unless he was around, and she wasn’t dead yet, so she was relatively certain that they were in a kind of holding pattern until her sister came.
Although having her sister’s attention was more or less the desired result, Lila couldn’t help but sigh at the idea that her sister was actually going to have to rescue her. It was so childish, to have to be rescue by one’s sister. Rescued from a criminal doctor, slightly less so, but Reo had pulled Lila out of enough scrapes that it was wearing to think of her reaction this time. Still, if it all worked out according to plan despite this detail, Lila would be happy. If she’d have to suffer through cuffed hands, lack of proper facilities, hunger, thirst and boredom in the meantime, so be it.
At least they hadn’t covered her eyes.
*
Approximately ten miles from Lila’s location, Reo was pacing.
“Reo love, we’ll find her. It’s just a matter of time before he surfaces.”
“Quinn, I don’t need to be placated.”
Quinn said nothing but returned to the task at hand: phoning in favours. Reo had already tapped into most of her west coat contacts, and most of them hadn’t heard anything about one Frederic Lebreton or any of his known aliases. It was as though the man had fallen off the face of the Earth. Or gone legit under a different name. She didn’t know what would be worse.
“I thought we’d have seen a message by now. Something. Fuck Lebreton! Fucking French asshole fuck!”
“Err… pardon me, Reo, but aren’t you French?”
“Fuck you, Garreth!”
Quinn gave his friend a pitying look as he shook his head. Once he hung up the phone, he nudged his friend aside, taking him in another room to give Reo space.
This was worse than before, much worse, but this time Reo wasn’t sure whether or not to be angry with Lila. Had Lebreton tortured the number out of her? Was it possible that Lila had just been negligent, despite Reo’s warnings and precautions? Had Lila been stupid enough to disgard Reo’s warnings about Lebreton, specifically? She couldn’t convince herself to be entirely angry, mostly because she was consumed with worry for the one person that meant the world to her.
At sixteen, Lila had engaged in risky behaviour in an effort to provoke her parents. This had mostly involved Lila drinking heavily, smoking drugs and running away from home. She had consistently turned up at Reo’s place trashed. Jack in particular was very patient with Lila, understanding that she just needed to make mistakes. Reo raged at Lila and they had had countless arguments, but the one thing Reo knew was that Lila knew she was loved. She knew that Lila knew she could always come to Reo’s place, and later, Reo’s and Jack’s place, no matter what and no matter when. Lila would clean herself up, go back to school and ultimately return home to a clueless father and a depressed mother, things would settle in for a while before flaring up again.
It had made Reo crazy each time it happened, but Jack had helped her understand what it means to be forgiving.
Irony defined.
The cycle took five long years to break. When Lila set out on her own, she seemed less interested in that sort of life. Reo didn’t know whether or not she was seeing a return of Lila’s bad judgement, but she was more worried than she was letting on to her colleagues. Although Lila hadn’t done anything of a criminal or self-destructive nature in over four years, she had proved that she was capable of anything. She was still, for all intents and purposes, unpredictable.
*
Yes, upon careful review and consideration, Lila did not believe that she had ever gotten herself in quite such a scary situation. At least, not while sober and aware.
She couldn’t help but wonder what Reo had done that would make an enemy of Lebreton. She closed her eyes and laid her head against the wall, figuring she might as well try to get some rest for what would inevitably come.
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chapter eight
Five years earlier…
Reo turned her head slowly to the left, then the right, making sure that she had tucked her hair in tight under the flaming bob, and examined her face. She had used a heavy hand with black eyeliner and eyeshadow, and coloured her lips with a deep red.
Not a trace of black. Garish face paint. Excellent.
She and Jack were working with a new colleague, who would be taking care of the security cameras for them. The target was encrypted information on the host of the evening’s personal computer, and all known existing backup disks and hard copies. Their intel had revealed that he was a thorough man, but also highly organized, which would work to their advantage.
“Reo my darling, are you quite ready?” He was shrugging into a deep blue suit coat.
“I am Anastasia now, dahling,” she said, entering the room with a slow walk that emphasized the curve of her hip and the length of her legs.
Jack blinked.
Reo smiled knowingly.
“So dis works.” She winked as she said it. He shook his head as though to clear it.
“Let’s go.”
She wore a thick accent for this assignment. Her job entailed distracting the host of the party and causing a precisely-timed scene. Her olive complexion was in stark contrast to the elegant white gown she had chosen for the occasion, and one long sleeve concealed her weapon, while the rest of the dress revealed mouthwatering curves. Her left arm was bare of either sleeve or jewel, and although she wore stilettos, she moved as lightly and swiftly as if she had been wearing sneakers.
They approached the venue, meeting Garreth Patterson to get fitted with communication pieces.
Jack climbed into the van, and Reo’s legs followed. Garreth stared at her for five long seconds, his mouth imitating a guppy.
“Patterson,” said Jack.
“Hm,” replied Garreth.
“Hallo,” said Reo. She laughed as she crossed her legs. This seemed to snap Garreth back to the present.
“Abuvervm,” he mumbled.
Jack exhaled loudly.
“Ear bugs, Patterson.”
Garreth cleared his throat, turning a delicate shade of pink as he handed earpieces over to them. Reo’s were camouflaged as diamond earrings.
“London, you didn’t tell me we’d be working with Jessica Rabbit.”
“Well we’re not. This is Reo. Well, actually, this is Anastasia.”
Garreth’s interest in Jack’s wife appeared to be directly proportional to Jack’s irritation: increased considered examination of Reo yielded an increasingly agitated Jack.
“Oh don’t be predictable,” Reo told him lightly as she checked earpiece reception. Jack heard the underlying warning in her tone.
They had decided to keep their personal and professional lives separate. No one knew they were married; in their line of work, someone might end up using it against them. Their families knew, but then, their families thought they worked in the sales division of a pharmaceutical company.
“Let’s review the plan,” Jack barked.
“If we must,” she said lazily. This personality was very sexual, very aware of it, and very uninterested in details. It helped Reo to step into the role as soon as possible to help cement its effectiveness.
“Ten minutes in, you fawn over the host.”
“I prefer the term approach with interest, but I believe I can get him to approach me first,” she said. He stared at her. She didn’t blink.
“Fine. You ‘approach him with interest’ then.” He rolled his eyes. “Spend 20 minutes in his company, monopolizing conversation and distracting him.”
“You mean, being mysteriously inviting and female. ” She winked at Garreth and smiled widely. A muscle twitched in Jack’s jaw.
“Meanwhile, I work my way up to the bedrooms and office suite through the kitchens. I’ll insert this little chip,” Jack extended his hand and Garreth handed it to him, “into the computer, which Patterson will use to remotely download the necessary files. I locate the hard copies and disks if possible. We reconvene at the rendezvous point— “
“And drive off into the sunset. I think it’s clear.”
As he growled, she hopped lightly out of the van and headed toward the party, swinging her hips.
*
She had been sipping champagne for three minutes, and walking around the room with a vaguely bored air. Her entire demeanor screamed glamour, and she appeared to be looking for a person of interest. The host had noticed, as hosts are sometimes wont to do, that one of his guests was alone and not speaking with anyone. He approached Reo, and she pretended not to notice.
“Four minutes in, Jack , and distractions begin,” she whispered, taking a drink to conceal lip movement.
“Hello, my dear,” he said, smiling. He took her elbow and walked her toward the ballroom.
“Hallo, Meester Jonis,” she haltingly said, her eyes twinkling.
“I don’t believe we’ve been formally introduced,” he said, admiring her as he led her passed a series of paintings.
“I am Anastasia Koerkova.” She paused, gazing up at the canvas nearest to her on the wall. “I sold you dis art.”
“Oh I see, so you’re my lovely correspondent. Thank you, my dear Ms Koerkova, for all of the thoughtful suggestions. They add to the room.”
She frowned, still examining the painting.
“You haf to adjust light for dis one, Mister Jonis,” she said abruptly, pointing an elegant hand at the painting. “The light is not good on dis art.” She turned to frown at him, and he chuckled, charmed by the soft tones in which the rebuke was delivered.
“We’ll have to change that.” He began walking toward the dance floor. His hand fell lightly on her lower back. “And call me Anthony.”
“Are you asking me to dance?” She arched her brow.
“I am,” he said, taking her hand and twirling her into a waltz.
As they danced, Reo counting the minutes carefully, Anthony Jonis ran his hands up and down her back in an intimate manner.
“Mister Jonis,” she frowned, “you are trying to take advantage of dis dance.”
“Anthony, please call me Anthony. And of course not, my dear!” He grinned as he said it. “I have nothing but respect for you. I am hoping you will allow me to call you Anastasia.”
She arched her brow and met his eye.
His hand carried on, and he leaned in closer to hear ear. “I would like to show you some of my own personal art… upstairs.”
Jack London, having heard the entire exchange, was gritting his teeth upstairs. Against his better judgment, he flicked off the earpiece to concentrate on the computer screen in front of him.
*
“What the fuck are you doing?”
Jack was searching a briefcase. The last possible location in the room with the hard copies. He looked up to see an agitated Reo in the doorway, whispering furiously at him as she haphazardly kicked off her shoes.
“I’m doing my job. What are you doing here? We’re supposed to meet at rendezvous in ten minutes, you’re compromising me.” He glared at her. “And why are you taking your shoes off?”
“You are three minutes over schedule and we couldn’t reach you, idiot. Garreth told me to check to make sure you had left.”
“Oh.”
“We don’t have time for this. Jonis will be joining me here in two minutes. You got what you need yet? You need to vamoose.”
“Joining you? Here? What?”
“Get out, Jack. GO.”
“You can’t be thinking of… you can’t be…”
“We’ll talk about this later. GET OUT.“
In two quick steps, he stepped in, gathered her close and kissed her with all the passion he felt.
“You won’t let him… will you?” He whispered it to her as hurt skimmed over his expression, quickly followed by panic. She seemed to soften for a fraction of a second, but the next thing he knew, his ears were ringing with the force of the slap she had administered.
“I am not dis kind of woman! Who do you think you are?” She had assumed Anastasia Koerkova’s accent once more.
“Indeed,” said a silky voice from the doorway. “Who are you, dear sir?”
Jack gave a bow to his host, as well as to the lady.
“I wish you the best of luck, sir,” he said curtly. “She is a mystery, and not easy to read.”
“Indeed,” repeated Jonis, thoughtfully.
Jack London made a smooth exit, leaving Reo to her own devices.
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chapter seven
Reo walked back into the living room to find Quinn at Garreth’s keyboard, a smirk hovering over his lips as he typed, sleeves rolled up. The picture of a competent computer nerd.
“This is hardly the time.” Garreth pushed his glasses up his nose.
“Sure as you can see that a man of my stature and disposition is not by default incompetent when it comes to networking, then, Patterson?”
“And you are slowing me down.”
“Please acknowledge, Patterson. It’ll be a soothing balm to my deeply injured soul.”
Reo smiled. Quinn delivered his every insult and comment in such an affable manner that she couldn’t help it. She found him appealing, and could easily see why he was so successful with women. The broad back, solid shoulders, rogue winks and charming accent were designed to weaken the knees. She shook her head.
Focus, dammit. Lebreton could be torturing Lila.
“We’re going to need to contact your Australian lay after all, Quinn.”
He ran his hands through his mussed black hair, causing it to spike up even worse.
“Weeell, that can’t possibly be the only person we have on hand that can arrange for, shall we say, private transportation, darlin’. What happened with yer husband?”
Reo gritted her teeth.
“We can’t ask him anything. He’s a cop.”
Garreth’s eyebrows disappeared into his hairline.
“He’s what? A what?”
Both men blinked, looked at each other, then stared at Reo.
“A cop, a fucking cop.”
“Surely you knew this sort of a thing aboot the man when you decided to marry him, love?” Quinn seemed genuinely puzzled.
“It’s a new development,” she said dryly. “I had no idea.”
“So… yeh’re married… to a policeman?” Quinn’s lips twitched.
“Yeah. Wanna make something of it?” The glint in her eye did nothing to discourage him.
“I’d only ever want to rile yeh between the sheets, Reo, my darlin’.”
Garreth sighed. “If I take care of the plane, do either of you know anyone who can fly? I can call in a favour to obtain use of a small cargo aeroplane, but pilot availability will be something of a problem.”
At this, Reo smiled. “Of course,” she said, looking at Quinn.
Garreth did a double take.
“Are you suggesting that this imbecile can pilot jets?” He seemed insulted.
“Oh, no, absolutely not, Patterson. A jet is a large, furious thing,” said Quinn. He glanced thoughtfully at Garreth, then winked at Reo. “But a wee bitty plane? To be sure.”
“He lives in a remote area of Ireland, Garreth,” said Reo, almost laughing at his indignation. “He flies in to Dublin more often than he drives.”
“Of course he does. Naturally. I thought he was supposed to be a weapons expert?”
“Aye. That I am. I’ll only be charging my usual fee, no charge for the flying.” Quinn lost his genial manner and got down to business. “Now. What sort of ammunition situation will you be requiring, love?”
“The works, Quinn. I may put a hole in his head or in his whole goddamn city. Whatever it takes to get her back.”
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chapter six
Six years earlier…
“You know, I can’t help but think that this wasn’t the best idea.”
“Pointing it out does nothing.”
“Even you have to admit that it was a bad idea.”
“Reo. We’re kind of stuck here now.” It was beyond him why he wanted to be around her so much, when she drove him crazy.
“That’s the point, isn’t it? I just wanted to say, out loud, that I do not approve of this stupid plan.”
“OK. Fine. I acknowledge that it wasn’t the best idea I’ve ever had.”
“And in fact, I did not approve of this stupid plan.”
“You’ve mentioned this.”
“I’m mentioning it again. It’s worth mentioning again.”
He sighed.
“Look. I do logistics. I have always done logistics, I will always do logistics. You are part of this team because of that distracting them thing you do so well. Diversions and interference. You’re a pro at that.” He knew this from personal experience, having been distracted since the moment he met her.
“I would appreciate it if you didn’t patronize me. Particularly since you are tied to a chair at the moment.”
“Reo. Please. This is not helping.”
“I disagree. I think this is helping tremendously.”
“How? How is this helping?” He wiggled in his chair, then stopped, remembering the sensitivity of the type of explosive ticking under it.
“Well, I’ve worked myself free with my hair sticks. I was just trying to decide whether I should free you or not.”
A startled pause, then: “Oh I think yes.”
“Well you would, but I’m still thinking about it.”
He considered this for a moment. “Just the hair thing?”
“Maybe I also used the knife in my boot. Afterwards. Maybe.”
“Glad I modified your boots now, aren’t you?”
She ignored this.
“I’ve decided that I want to be more than ‘the pretty face,’ so to speak. You’re going to start treating me as an equal on this team.”
“Free me and we can talk about it.”
“We can talk like this.”
“Reo, is this really the most convenient time?” He gave a charming smile. “They may return any minute.”
“This is the perfect goddamn time.”
It was the first time he heard her swear since their acquaintance. To his great surprise, it only made her more attractive.
“What do you want?”
She took a deep breath and smiled. “Full on partners next assignment. Fifty percent of the profits.”
He laughed. “You’re kidding.”
Her smile dissolved. “No.”
“You’ve barely got your feet wet. You’re still an apprentice for crying out loud.”
“I learn fast and have helped you with every assignment over the passed six months.”
He knew that would come back to bite him in the ass, and cursed his desire to be around her. And her efficiency. And her sexy voice. He cleared his throat and his voice hardened.
“I had to work hard to get this business off the ground, I am not just handing 50 fucking percent over to you.”
“Right, but I’ve helped you grow that business, wouldn’t you agree? Think you’d finish these assignments as quickly if I weren’t around, paving the way? Every thing I’ve been a part of since I came on board would not have worked without me. And you know it.”
He shook his head. He cursed his glands.
“No. Absolutely not.”
She stood up and pursed her lips, nodding.
“But you’re right. I’m still an apprentice. Guess I’ll just wait until you say I’m ready then.” She sighed dramatically, shrugged, then walked away. “Well, good luck getting free.”
“Reo, you can’t seriously be thinking of leaving me here.”
“You’re being a jackass. Why should I free you?”
“Because you’re working for me!”
“Right. Except that I just got turned down for a promotion, which I deserve. So I’m thinking of switching to the competition.”
“OK the thing is, you can’t leave me here. The bomb in the room is going to go off, and I will be dead.”
She didn’t blink. “I think it would only add to my resume if I get rid of you.”
“What about loyalty? Loyalty counts!”
“Well, maybe to you, but not to Lebreton. Besides. I’m sure he will pay a better salary than you do. And it’s all about making money in this business, after all, isn’t it?”
She smiled. He began panicking in earnest.
“OK. OK, quit wasting time. They could come back any second, and I don’t know how much time is left on the bomb under my ass.”
“They won’t come back.”
“What? What makes you say that?”
“Well, they rigged your chair with explosives, but not mine. As long as you’re tied, why should they care whether or not an apprentice who, by the way, they think is your bimbo, got free? They didn’t even tie my legs.”
She flipped her styled hair over her shoulder and gave him a wink as she made to leave on those long, bare legs.
“Thirty percent.”
She kept walking.
“Thirty-five. Reo. Reo. Shit, forty percent.”
She didn’t even pause.
“Fine. Fine! Fifty.”
She stopped, but didn’t turn around.
“Hey! I said fifty!”
She smiled, then turned back to him.
“I’m so glad we had time for this lovely conversation,” she said.
“I still can’t believe we had time.”
“Well, they’ve also rigged the door, so that if we escape through there, the building blows.”
“What… did you get a memo of their plans or something?”
“I told you, people don’t pay attention when there’s a bimbo in the room. See how useful your partner is?” She crouched behind him to check the timer. “Six minutes left.”
“I’m kind of surprised you went straight for the ‘leave me behind’ thing, rather than trying to use your body.”
“Faster this way. Don’t get up, this thing is pressure sensitive.” She cut his restraints free. He took the opportunity to pull the remaining stick out of her hair. It cascaded in a curtain around her face.
“Hotter the other way.”
“Jack.” She pushed his hands away from her hair, and began working to disarm the explosive under the chair as he sat still.
“Ree.”
“We’ve got to get out of here. This thing is gonna blow in five minutes, which means the one at the door is set to go in ten. And I’m not sure if there’s another one directly outside, so we’d better find another way outta here.”
He sighed. She was going to drive him insane.
“Will you marry me?”
Startled, she looked up at his face. He nodded impatiently.
“Once we get out of here, of course,” he added.
She gave him a slow smile. “Maybe.”
He smiled back, recognizing the answer for what it was.
“Does this mean you’ll finally let me sleep with you?”
She laughed at this. The small bomb now diffused, she swung around to straddle him. And kissed him.
“Maybe.”
“Good enough for me. Let’s get the hell out of here.”
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chapter five
Jack London’s phone was ringing.
Well, crap.
It was an inopportune time to have one’s phone ring, as Jack was involved in a high-speed chase. Being the sort of man who never misses a call, however, he answered it anyway.
“London.”
“Hey, Jackass. I need your help.”
Jack did a double take. As unexpected as a call from her might be, he’d recognize that sexy voice anywhere.
“Ree?”
“Yep.”
“Ree. Wow.” His accelerator hit the floor as he gained ground. “You know Ree, I’m actually kinda busy at the moment,” he said, passing a transport truck and ducking oncoming traffic. “This is really not the best time.”
“Well fuck you very much, Jack. I don’t call you for years, am obviously calling for help and this is what I get from you?”
“It’s not that I don’t want to help you Ree, it’s just that I’m in the middle of something right now and—”
His tires squealed as he braked to avoid a trolley in the San Fransisco streets.
“And what? I hate it when you do this. You know, you’re exactly the same. It’s always got to be on your agenda. Well when exactly would be a more fucking convenient time for me to ask you for help?”
His partner’s car took over the pursuit, and he stepped out of his car to watch a spectacular car crash involving the perpetrator and a crane.
“You don’t call me for what, four years? And then you call to yell at me? I don’t think that’s quite right, you know.”
He squinted at the wreckage. His partner was approaching the vehicle, weapon drawn and shouting orders at the man in the car, who held his bleeding hands up in surrender.
“Fuck you.”
“Ever the lady.” He didn’t bother to say it under his breath.
His partner nodded, and he nodded back at her. She would give him grief for this later, but the situation was now under control.
“All right Reo. I’m all ears. What could you possibly have to say to me after four years of complete and total silence?”
“I said I was calling for help.”
“So you did. All right, how can I help you?”
“Lebreton has Lila.” He heard it in her voice. She was worried.
Of course, she’d have to be, to call him. He dropped his light-hearted demeanor.
“Do you know where she is?”
“Yes. L.A.”
“I have contacts there that might be able to help, but I assume you have a team ready that can do all of that faster. What do you need from me?”
“What do you mean, ‘what do I need from you?’ What do I ever need from you?”
He couldn’t resist. “Well. There was a time—”
“Oh, fuck that, Jackass. I do not fucking need that. Not from you. I did not fucking call for this.”
“Still pretty angry, huh.”
She didn’t dignify this with an answer.
“Transpo. I need transpo.”
“Reo…” He closed his eyes, bracing himself for the onslaught. “I don’t do that anymore.”
“You… what? What do you mean? Why?”
He frowned. “I’m a cop.”
“What?”
“Yeah. Listen, Ree, I know someone in L.A., I’m sure there’s still something I can…”
The line went dead in his hand.
As he shut the device and put it back in his pocket, he stared sightlessly at the pier.
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chapter four
It didn’t take Reo long to form a plan.
She would take care of logistics. Disguises, camouflage, and getting in to places you weren’t supposed to go were her specialty. People trust a beautiful woman, and she learned to use that a long time ago.
Weapons: Quinn. Hot headed but clever, the man was almost as in demand as she was. She knew he’d help her for the right price; she’d helped him often enough. More important than availability, however, was the fact that he was trustworthy.
Electronics: Garreth Patterson. British and proper, no one ever thought he was anything but a polite bank manager. He was very well suited to his job, and got out of sticky situations with remarkable ease. Happy thing, really, considering how often the need for that quality seemed to arise.
The problem with getting the best was always availability, but Reo and Garreth had just come off a job together, and she knew he was planning to visit his mother for a few days, so she’d catch him before he went back to work.
Transportation…
I’ll get to that later.
*
“Patterson.”
“Quinn.”
Here we go.
Quinn leaned over, squinting a bit at the other man in the room. His large frame seemed to fill the room, but in a pleasant way.
“Yer looking grand, Patterson. Been to the spa?”
“Yes yes, very clever. No. I’ve actually just returned from assignment. Where I was gravely injured,” he added.
“Surely not,” said Quinn, laughing at the way his friend’s jaw clenched.
“Indeed.” Garreth looked at Reo, who indicated that he could set up in the living room with a wave of her arm.
“And sure is well yeh went to the hospital, had them sew yeh shut, then, if it were a grave injury?”
“Of course. I don’t use my teeth. I’m not a barbarian.”
“Weeell now that’s really just the one time I had to do that. It was sew it shut or watch me insides spill out, but then, yeh’ve never seen that sort of an injury, working with the electronical things, have yeh, Patterson?”
“I don’t only work electronics,” Garreth said stiffly. He started to say something else, then stopped, turning back to his work.
“Ah! So yeh’ve branched out into something else then?” Quinn seemed genuinely interested.
“No,” said Garreth.
“Hm. Well if yeh want, I can teach yeh how to block a punch with a punch and have the other fellah come off worse in the fight. If yeh think yeh could add it to yer —” he itched his ear, searching for the word ” — dangerous job. I wouldn’t mind.”
“Have you two quite finished comparing the size of your cocks yet? Can we get to work now, hm?”
“Reo my darling, yeh have our undivided attention,” said Quinn, lazily.
Garreth typed a few keystrokes, stared critically at the screen, then turned to look full on at his hostess.
“Reo. I’m terribly sorry to bring it up, but I feel I must. Have you contacted London yet?”
Her jaw clenched.
“I don’t think we need him for this.”
“Lebreton has a hostage, and you want us to get this hostage back alive, am I right?”
“Yes.” Through gritted teeth.
“And according to what we know so far, he is somewhere in the United States, right?”
“I’ll assume that’s a rhetorical question, since you’re the one who knows.”
“Yes. Well. Once we know where to find Lebreton, which should be in just a few minutes, we’ll need to get there. And the fastest way is certainly not commercial.”
“I don’t understand,” said Quinn as he ate an apple, making himself at home in Reo’s kitchen. “What’s the problem?”
At this, Reo sighed.
“London does transportation, through discreet channels,” Garreth said over his shoulder.
“Aye, and we do need that. Patterson is right. We certainly can’t be using the regular channels, with what we’ve got here. What’s the fuss?”
“He’s my husband, Quinn.”
“Yer… Darlin’!” He stood up straight, a delighted smile illuminating his features. “I had not a clue! When did yeh go and get yerself married?”
“Six years ago.” It was a curt reply. “It’s a long story.”
There were a few beats of silence as he absorbed this information, then Quinn gave her an understanding look that surprised her. “They always are, m’ love.”
Reo took a deep breath.
“I was hoping you’d know someone, with your resources, Quinn.”
“Surely I do, but it’s rather short notice, yeh see, and she’s in Australia, at the moment.”
“Well we need a transportation expert to arrange things, so she probably wouldn’t have to be here. Is it a money thing?”
“Weeell, not exactly. It’s a rather awkward situation, as we have recently, how shall I put it… parted ways on slightly less than amicable—”
“He shagged her and left her,” Garreth provided.
“I’m sure she’ll come around,” Quinn said reasonably.
“Of course she will. Tell me he’s in New York, or Massachusetts, Garreth. Some place close. Someplace I can drive.”
“Sorry, but no. According to the trace — aren’t you now glad I made you keep that on your phone? So handy — it looks like we’re going to California.”
Reo could feel her blood begin to boil already.
Quinn gave her a saucy look and a sly smile.
“I’ll protect yeh from yer husband, darlin’.”
“And I will kick you in the balls if you try. You’re unbelievable, you know that?”
“Sure an’ I do, love.” He winked.
Reo paced, though she smiled slightly at that.
“You can use your phone, Reo. He’ll answer.”
“That’s what you think,” muttered Reo as she went into the next room. She stared at the phone.
Her mind raced and came up with nothing. There was really no work around, and time was short.
After years of silence, she was going to have to ask Jack London for help.
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chapter three
“Perfect. That was just perfect! Thanks.” She smiled, then began digging through her purse.
“It was nothing, Lila.”
“No really! She’ll be freaking out just about now, and come looking for me, and then I’ll be able to actually — well, anyway, here’s the money I promised.”
“Really. Don’t worry about it.” He gave her a smile.
“Um. Okay… You don’t want the money?” She looked around the doctor’s office.
“No.”
The back of her neck prickled. The things Reo had told her about this man were suddenly coming back to her. Charming. Trusting face. Makes you feel comfortable. Then lethal.
“Right. Well that was the deal, so if you don’t want it… I’ll just be off now, it’s time for me to go.” She ran toward the exit, happy that she had insisted on leaving the door wide open.
“Oh, I don’t think so.”
He was faster than her, and on her in a second.
“Play with fire, get burned, little one.”
Lila would have rolled her eyes had he not chosen that moment to inject her. He moved fast for such a seemingly calm man.
“What the hell!? HELP! HELP! THIS MAN IS HURTING ME! HE’S… he’s… craz…”
“Tsk, tsk,” he said calmly, throwing the syringe in a biological waste bin. “You really mustn’t swear. It isn’t becoming in a lady.”
He pushed the unconscious girl into a nearby wheelchair, told the nurse who had poked her head in that he was taking his patient to the psych ward, and chuckled at the little sprite’s gumption.
Four long years. Four long, fruitless, expensive years. And one sunny afternoon, providence walked through the door in the form of Reo’s little sister.
He was finally going to get his revenge.
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chapter two
The phone rang once, then stopped before Reo could pick it up.
She looked at it. Only two people had this number, at this home, and she was expecting a call from one of them. The other was not on speaking terms with her, considering that the last time they had met, there had been four semi-automatic weapons involved in the conversation. Neither would let it ring only once.
It rang again in her hand. Reo answered.
“Lila, if this is your idea of a joke—”
“It’s not Lila.”
She froze, recognizing the low voice. The Parisian accent. The phone went dead in her hand.
Impossible. No. No. Not possible.
Her heart pounded in her throat.
Jesus Fuck.
He had Lila.
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chapter one
As she crossed the threshold of her small Montréal condominium, Reo realized how long it had been since she was home. She had just gotten back from Berlin on assignment and although she would never admit it to anyone else, it had been taxing.
Maybe it’s time to take a vacation, she thought, throwing Yamaha keys in the dish she kept on the side table near the door. She slid her helmet underneath.
Reo was an independent contractor, and had been in such high demand lately that she had been accepting back-to-back assignments. Paris, Berlin, Miami. She had been on the road for weeks.
She walked over to the bedroom to drop off her carry-on, shed leather pants and black t-shirt to shower. Washing the grime of travel out of her long black hair, Reo didn’t notice the blood that swirled down the drain when she rinsed it.
Now dry, Reo selected an oatmeal linen wrap dress. Bare feet padded against bamboo wood floor, and her critical eye surveyed the contents of her kitchen. Pleased that it had recently been stocked with fruit and juice, Reo blended banana, strawberries, mango, and orange juice. She filled a tall glass, and got a straw. Time to check the bank balance.
She went to the office, noticing that her plants had been watered and were thriving in their well-lit home, and contratulated herself on having finally found a decent housekeeper. Reo swung the shelf at knee height outward to reveal a combination pad. She dialed a combination, heard two clicks from within, and the cabinet door unlocked, revealing a small console.
Reo rolled her office chair over to the console, and logged on to the computer there. Before checking her email, she rubbed her clean face and stretched, cracking her neck.
I won’t accept just anything. I will take a damn break. Ski somewhere. Or maybe surf this time. Been a while.
Seventy-eight new messages. Seventy-eight new offers. Seventy-eight.
Hm. Unless it’s a damn good offer.
She shook her head and logged on to the Zurich bank account.
“Excellent. Seven zeros.”
Reo toasted herself, sucking hard through the straw.
Her bow-shaped lips curved, but no one would have called it a smile.
Filed under: Fiction | 6 Comments
