Tracking shadows bland p.., p.8
Tracking Shadows: Bland P.I.R Book Two, page 8
Too much – she needs to back off. I don’t need her finding my ankle holster.
He coughed loudly, biting his cheek so they flushed hot.
‘I’ll get the pen, Corinne. If you could just pass my order over, that would be great.’
She stood, recognizing the sharpness in his tone for what it was – a total rebuff. Her lips pouted even more, and she shot him a glare, clearly annoyed at the sudden change in his tone. For half a second, he regretted sending her on her way in that manner. She would have been fun, he could have had her any way he wanted and then dumped her still-warm body in any number of the secluded spots around the town. She had no way of knowing how lucky she was. Jordan didn’t have many encounters – too dangerous in his line of work – but the ones he’d had would never be able to tell on him or identify him.
Yes, Corrine is a very lucky young lady.
Twisting slightly, he picked the pen up and put it on the table in front of him.
When Corrine slammed his plate down ten minutes later, she said nothing, just turned and stalked to another man at the other end of the diner. Irritation bit at him; she flashed the other man the same smile she’d given him when he’d walked in.
Goddamn women are so fickle.
Jordan took a bite of his burger, dabbing the side of his mouth when the sauce escaped and dribbled down his chin. He had to admit the burger was tasty, one of the best he’d had in a little mom-and-pop diner like this one. He took another bite, chewing slowly and savoring the crispness of the onion and lettuce.
When his cell phone buzzed from his inside pocket, he was almost loath to answer, wanting to enjoy his meal in peace. He couldn’t ignore it, though. He quickly wiped his hands on the napkin and swiped right to answer.
‘Hello.’
‘Jordan, Chris here. How’re things in sunny Oregon?’
He almost groaned at Wendell’s voice, yet another reminder that he hadn’t finished the job he’d been assigned. Almost on cue, his arm throbbed painfully.
‘Wendell,’ he acknowledged, absolutely refusing to call the man Chris. ‘Everything’s fine, just biding my time on making a move.’ No need for his boss to hear how royally he’d managed to fuck things up already today.
‘Well, make the move quicker. I need an incentive for the parents. It’s been a little painful for them being so far from their daughter.’ Wendell laughed down the line.
The hairs instantly prickled on Jordan’s neck.
That pompous prick wouldn’t know the meaning of the word painful. No way he dirtied his own hands hurting the Riverses. I wonder who he enlisted.
Mentally, he worked through the list of staff on Wendell’s payroll. And finally settled on the one that would be the most effective.
‘And how is the lovely Asim? Enjoying life outside of the little hovel he calls home?’
‘Don’t be a bitch, Jordan, you know you’re my right hand. If you were here, I’m sure you’d have managed to get the information I need. Just as I trust you to get what I need from Oregon. How long will it take? I would hate to withhold your payment. And I really wish you’d call me Chris.’
Over my dead body.
Jordan fully understood the veiled tone, and for a moment, he wished he could just get rid of Wendell-I-go-by-Chris-Wetherall. He’d just as soon put a bullet in the prick’s head, but the actual person paying his bills was worth far more. Wendell just thought he was the boss; he thought Jordan’s father didn’t have a clue what he got up to abroad under the family’s diplomatic immunity umbrella. But the old man deserved a lot more credit than that. Jordan had been working with Wendell at his dad’s request now for months. And Wendell had no idea. There was no way in hell the old man would let Wendell jeopardize everything he’d been working for. Son or not.
‘I’d hate that, too, Wendell. I’ll deal with the Rivers’ girl – tonight.’
‘Ring me when it’s done. I need that flash drive.’ Wendell hung up without a further word.
Jordan picked up his burger and took another thoughtful bite. Deciding it was time to check in with his real boss, he wiped the grease from his fingers and pulled a different burner phone from his pocket – he used a new one every fortnight and always carried several. It paid to have different numbers for different clients. Wendell Wetherall wasn’t the only one paying him. Plugging in the number from memory, he waited patiently while the line rang – three times only, like always. At the end of the third ring, it was answered, and Arthur’s deep, gruff voice spoke.
‘Jordan. What’s the latest?’
‘Wendell has been torturing the parents. I’m still working on getting the flash drive for him. Should have it at the end of the day, all being well. There is a complication, however – a man. Military trained from his fighting style. Looks like Damaris shacked up with him recently. He wasn’t evident from my previous intel.’
‘That flash drive will mean Wendell will become careless. He’s always been that way – gets his way and turns into a spoiled little brat. I’d hate to see his diplomatic immunity status compromised. It would shed far too many shadows on my future. I want it dealt with – today. Do you need me to send reinforcements?’
That the man on the phone thought to offer wasn’t unusual. He had the money and power to make his word happen. But Jordan didn’t need any help. He’d never accept the offer even if he did – his reputation was everything. And there hadn’t been a job yet he’d needed a crew to assist with. Well, not one chosen by his clients at any rate. There had been occasions through the years where he had required a wingman, but he had his own choices for that. A small set of people with very specific talents. And nothing he would need for one macho gimp and Damaris Rivers.
‘No thank you, sir. I’m good. It’ll be dealt with by sundown.’
‘Did you retrieve her laptop when you searched her apartment? The data on that laptop is extremely important to my friends.’ Arthur’s voice dropped a few octaves.
Jordan’s interest piqued further. Whatever was on that laptop, it was far more important to his boss than the hard drive was to Wendell. His smile curled upward.
Maybe I do need to call in a specialist to help me – one of the hacker variety perhaps.
‘No, sir, she must have it with her. But I’ll make sure it’s recovered.’
‘Good. I’ll leave you to your burger, Jordan.’
The call ended, and Jordan froze – the wily old bastard was watching him! If there was one thing Jordan hated, it was being watched. Surreptitiously, he swept a glance around the diner and took another bite of his burger. Swallowing was a struggle. What had started as a good burger, now tasted like cardboard.
Two old men sitting near the door. Obviously locals. Family of four in the far corner – tourists. The man Corrine is flirting with – his eyes keep darting around, and he’s not eaten a bite of the pie he’s had in front of him since before my burger arrived. That’ll be him then.
Jordan wiped his hands, threw a twenty on the table, stood, and strolled out of the front door as if he didn’t have a care in the world. Turning the corner at the end wall of the diner, he nipped to the rear. He’d scoped the place out as soon as he’d landed, and there was nothing at the back other than a large concreted area surrounded by trees, and several large dumpsters for the restaurant waste.
The only people he’d noticed going out the back had been the chef, who was in his fifties, overweight and fond of his cheap cigarettes, and occasionally the waitresses carrying black refuse sacks from inside.
Jordan crouched behind said dumpster and waited.
Within minutes, the soft footfall of the man assigned to watch him sounded.
As if I need a fucking nursemaid to do my job.
For a second, he wondered why Arthur thought he did need a babysitter. But then pushed the errant thought aside and tensed his muscles – he was ready to pounce before the man even came into view.
As soon as Jordan saw the toe of the man’s left sneaker, he moved.
One swift uppercut and a right hook rendered the man unconscious.
Smiling grimly now, Jordan hefted the man over his shoulder and flung him unceremoniously into the dumpster.
Not resting for a second, he headed back to the inn.
It was time to move base.
Small dwelling, Al Ash Shi
Staz shivered violently even in the midday heat. She dry heaved for what felt like the umpteenth time before carefully turning and sitting beside Roger with her back to the wall.
Asim, or at least she presumed his name was Asim since the Brit had yelled for him seconds before he’d crept into the room like a predator cornering his prey, had left them alone.
Her ribs ached. Her stomach ached, hell, even her backside ached, and sitting there on the sandy floor wasn’t helping. That bastard, Asim, had used her torso as a punching bag, but she still hadn’t given up the information.
What are we going to do now? There’s no way in hell that the Brit will let us go, even if I give him what he wants.
She jumped. Clammy fingers closed around her hand and squeezed softly.
‘We’ll get out of this, Staz. The team is solid. One of them will notify the embassy and they’ll get a search going soon. Are you all right? I tried to move to help you. I’m…’ Roger paused, his voice weak and barely audible. ‘Sorry, I’m so sorry, Staz. I should’ve…’
‘Stop that right now, Roger Rivers. What that… monster did is nothing I can’t handle. I’ve had worse bruises moving sarcophagi. Drink a little of this water, hun, you’re dehydrated, and your fever is nowhere near broken yet.’
She unscrewed the lid of the water bottle – there was only a quarter left – and let Roger finish it off.
‘Now rest. I’m okay, Rog, promise.’
Staz had barely said the last word when Roger’s head dropped to her lap and he was asleep again.
He’s right, we will be okay. We have to be. Whatever that asshole thinks he’s playing at will backfire. Someone will report us missing, and the embassy will sort a search team out.
She pushed back the doubt that they wouldn’t know where to look and tried to think positively.
Mitch’s Cabin
The cabin was quiet. Mitch and Gabe had gone outside to talk, the low murmur of their voices filtering in to Damaris. It was somewhat soothing, as was the comforting warmth from Shadow who had hobbled over to where she sat on the floor in front of the log burner and lay down beside her. She thought it was a little strange how comfortable she was in the presence of the wolf – he was wild. Mitch had warned her against making any sudden movements or becoming complacent. But somehow, she knew Shadow would never hurt any of them.
Damaris opened her rucksack and pulled out the puzzle box. Gabe had been insistent she try and open it so they could be sure it had nothing to do with the attack. Just thinking about Gil incited a shiver to pass down her spine. He was beyond creepy. She wondered to herself whether Theo had sent him. He was probably worried stiff she’d report him. Even though she’d said she wouldn’t to his face, she still wasn’t entirely sure she would honor those words. He’d behaved despicably when his dad had collapsed, and before that, well, that was the part of the behavior she had yet to come to terms with fully herself. It was stuff that happened to other people, and she’d never for one second thought she’d become a victim.
She frowned and thought about what had happened while her nimble fingers pushed carefully at the moving sections of the box.
It had happened about twenty minutes before she’d stormed into John’s office ready to demand that Theo be moved departments. Not only had he somehow gained access to her password-protected laptop and been snooping in God knows what before she’d caught him, but he’d also had the gall to try and use it as a come-on. Fear crawled its way across her skin, prickling and burning as the memories washed over her. The sheer force with which he’d thrown her against the wall made her back muscles twinge even now. She remembered the way his clammy hand had tightened around her throat, and the way he’d slid his slimy, wet tongue into her mouth, making her gag in horror. And when she’d gagged, he’d groped her breast, his bony fingers digging in. She’d been terrified.
She shook her head; she knew now she had panicked in that initial moment – she’d never had any inkling that Theo thought of her that way. He’d stepped back after what seemed like ages, snatching her arm and trying to navigate her toward the couch, and finally the self-defense classes she’d attended all those years before at college had kicked in. She’d kneed him in the balls and practically run from the room. Instinct had her going to John’s office – he was the uncle she’d never had, and she’d never had one second of doubt that he’d believe her over Theo.
Purposely slowing her steps, she’d knocked and entered John’s office like she’d done thousands of times. She remembered thinking how pale he was, and she’d faltered over telling him about Theo. That second had allowed Theo to follow in close pursuit, and John must have seen her expression of fear. He’d stood, ready to blaze at Theo, no doubt, and all of a sudden had clutched his chest. His skin had turned gray, and he’d fallen to the floor. It had been horrific to witness, and she’d paused for a moment in panic before commencing the CPR.
Shadow drew her from her memories by licking her hand; she’d been holding the puzzle box so tightly that her knuckles had turned white. She patted his head gently, giving the wolf reassurance that she was okay. And she was… at least she would be. She’d worried and stressed for two full nights before deciding to take the sabbatical, and though she knew John would understand, she still felt like she was letting him down by not being at the hospital when he was poorly.
He was so gray… What if he’s died and you’re all the way out here? You haven’t even checked in with Louisa for two days.
Louisa was John’s second wife and stepmother to Theo. She was nice enough, but Damaris hadn’t clicked with her the way she had with Anne, the first woman John had married.
Sighing, she turned her attention back to the box.
I’ll ring Louisa later today and find out how John is. Hopefully, he’s come around now and is improving.
She closely examined the joints of the moving parts and the detailing. It was quite a simple design. Some she’d received from her parents were intricate and took her a good while to figure out. She was fully aware of how close the little boxes made her feel to her parents, even when they were hundreds of miles away.
I’ll tell them next time I see them how much I love the boxes and what they represent.
‘Ah-ha!’ she exclaimed delightedly as she gently pressed what looked like a solid star, and a little drawer popped out of the bottom section of the box. Inside was a folded piece of paper and a USB drive.
Unfurling the paper, she smiled when she saw her mom’s slanty handwriting.
Damaris, just a little note to say well done. I never doubted for one minute that you’d work this one out in no time. Your father asked that I add the USB drive. It’s videographic evidence of the artifacts we’ve found on this dig – almost all the proof that there was indeed a Prince Rameses the eleventh! Note the gold mask especially, the sapphire eyes and ruby trim. We’re over the moon, but your dad is worried. He says he thinks someone has been watching us. I don’t want you to worry, I’m sure it’s nothing, but he thought sending the USB to you would mean there was proof of what we’d discovered should anything happen with the artifacts or our cloud storage. Lord knows the internet connection out here isn’t great. We’ll speak to you on Sunday like always. Hopefully, your dad’s paranoia will have eased by then! And it’ll be wonderful to speak to you, my daughter. Love you always. Mom xx
Damaris smiled softly. Her dad was always paranoid someone was going to swoop in and steal the artifacts. It had never happened yet.
Some things never change!
The door to the cabin opened, and Mitch and Gabe came back inside. They seemed calmer, like they’d cleared the air, which was good. In the short time she’d known Mitch, she already realized how much their friendship meant to him.
‘How are you getting on? We heard an “ah-ha” – does that mean you’ve solved it?’
‘It does indeed. Mom sent a note, and Dad put a USB plug inside. It shows the artifacts they’ve found so far at the dig apparently, though I’ve not looked at it yet. I’ll need to boot my tablet up first.’
‘How about we all watch? I’ve got my laptop in the ATV outside.’
At her nod, Gabe made his way back outside.
‘You look like you need some pain relief,’ said Damaris softly to Mitch, not wanting to offend, but she could see he was struggling.
He sighed and nodded. ‘You’re right. I’ll take one now. Need to get on form so I can get back to work. I’ll be heading back to Rhododendron soon to start my therapy again. And no smirking or I told you so’s, please, I’ve already had those off Gabe.’
‘I won’t lecture you. Do you think Gabe would let me use the Sat phone? I want to check in with my mom and dad. I know it’s not Sunday until tomorrow, but they’ll probably have their Sat phone turned on – they usually do and just ignore it if they’re too busy with the dig. Actually…’ She paused, thinking. ‘They’re nine hours ahead of us which makes it about eleven p.m. over there. Probably best if I wait ’til in the morning to give them a ring. I’d hate to wake them up if they’re sleeping.’
‘If you’re worried, ring them. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind being woken up over genuine concern.’
Nodding, Damaris acknowledged Mitch was right.
As Gabe came back inside and started setting the laptop up, she cleared the use of the Sat phone and headed outside.
She sat for a moment on the worn bench on the covered porch, taking in the forest beauty and the array of colors. Shadow joined her and lay beside her, his head flopping onto one of her feet.
