by Gary Sapp
blood or from the adrenaline rush from a near death experience.
Angel felt strong…but somehow feminine arms wrap her arms around her to keep her from falling and walked her on to the Marta.
When Angel opened her eyes again she saw Roxanne Sanchez, dressed all in black, seated across from her.
“Roxanne?” Angel said. “Roxanne Sanchez, I never thought I would hear myself say this but I’m so happy to see you. You saved me.”
Roxanne didn’t return the doctor’s smile. “I guess that I did.” She said and the Latino woman sat back in her seat. She extended her arms across the back of the seat, the small caliber pistol she’d used to give her a stay of execution rested in her lap. And although it was clear enough for Angel to see it was blocked from the view of the other dozen or so passengers by the way the rows seats in front of them were sequenced.
Angel felt a new round of unease settling in.
Why did she feel one round of ciaos was at an end only for another igniting in this subway car?
“Let me give you a small piece of advice, Doctor,” Roxanne said. “I trained with Special Agent Christopher Prince as well. He thought me what he the same lessons about giving your enemy an out, never backing yourself into a corner…yada…yada…yada. But you forgot one powerful thing that he said. And you of all people should have never forgotten it.”
Angel nodded her head. It helped clear out the last remaining cobwebs and brought Christopher’s most important words during those lessons.
“Never introduce a weapon of lethal force unless you are planning to use it in the vain.” Angel said.
Roxanne nodded silently.
“You’re right,” Angel said and tried a smile to see if Roxanne would match hers with one of her own. When she did not she said, “You both were.” Angel felt for the bump on back of her head. At least there was no blood though. She turned her attention to the wound on her lower leg. The cut was superficial, but would—at least in the short term—cause her limp to become even more pronounced.
When Angel looked up again she found Roxanne Sanchez with her pistol pointed at her.
“What in the hell is this, Roxanne?” Angel asked. “You saved me from those barbarians just…just so you kill me yourself.”
Roxanne gave the Marta her full measure before she spoke again in low, dangerous tone.
“I wasn’t going to let them deny the prize that is mine by rights. I would have gone through them all to get to you: The FBI, Pandora, and A House in Chains— I would go through the Devil himself in Hell, his own turf, just to get to this moment right here. I’ve earned this.”
Angel sat back in her own seat and took a deep breath but held her silence. She could have used some particularly strong gin right now.
“Like Chris Prince said, Doctor, you never pull a weapon on anyone unless your intention is to use it. And rest assure before this city sees another sunrise I plan this use this gun on you.”
Chris
Someone knocked on Christopher Prince’s door.
“Who is it? Who’s there?” Chris swam up out of sleep. “I said who is it?”
No answer.
Chris pulled out his gun.
“This isn’t the time for games.”
Another knock.
He stumbled across the floor, his head spinning. He didn’t trust his aim if he was forced to fire, but what choice would he have if the anonymous visitor on the other side of his front door intended him harm. After all the crank calls had continued well into the night until he’d yanked the cord out of the wall.
Maybe they thought an impromptu visit would feel far more personable.
Maybe.
So Chris flung his front door open; it barely missing a younger black woman standing outside on his top step with two firearms turned away from him but where he could see them nonetheless.
Grace? Why was Grace Edwards standing at his door at 3am in the morning?
Chris lowered the barrel of his weapon two inches.
“Are you trying to get yourself killed, Grace?”
“Maybe, we’ll see.” She said putting her guns away methodically, one at a time so her host was fully aware where she stored them. “I needed to speak with. Alone. Coming here seemed to be the best option.”
“What could you possibly want with me?”
“I’ve put my guns away. I think that’s a start. Why don’t you do the same and invite me in.”
He lowered the gun but didn’t budge.
“What do you want, Grace?”
“I need your help, Agent Prince.”
Grace had aroused his curiosity at the least. She also had aroused his suspicions as well. He couldn’t be sure which extreme won him over but he led her inside. Chris glanced over his shoulder one last time, looking for an ambush that never came. He placed his gun in the holster behind him for quick assess.
Chris hadn’t completely forgotten his manners: He showed Grace to his comforter. She sat down, smoothed out her pinstriped pants suit and crossed one single leg over the other.
He folded his arms, kept his distance and wore his best confrontational look on his face. “You’re a member of the Circle, Grace. There is absolutely no reason that I should trust you.”
“Don’t be so sure, Agent Prince.” She sat up long enough to check her watch. And why was she still referring to him as Agent Prince. Information was Grace’s business. Surely she knew that he’d been asked to turn in his badge—“Any minute now you will be receiving a phone call on your business cell. Please answer.”
Chris’ business cell did indeed ring.
And yet, the man jumps, startled in spite of himself.
“What kind of game are we playing here, Grace? How could you know…” Chris’ voice trailed off while the ringing continued. “Do you know who it is as well?”
Grace said, “Sheridan.”
Chris finally answered it on the fifth ring.
“Hello,”
“Prince?” Sheridan sounded tired. “Agent Prince? Chris are you there?”
“Sorry, sir, it’s the middle of the night and being awaken by an unexpected phone call from you.” Chris lied. “But I’m here. What’s up?”
“You’re right. I apologize for calling you at this hour. Are you alright?”
“Yea. Yea, I’m good.”
“I got new that couldn’t wait until sunrise. I thought that you should hear this directly from me: The higher ups have cleared up this mess up about you and your family. Though we are without an official deputy director, the Justice Department as a governing body has reinstated you as a federal agent with all of the honors and privileges that come with it. Someone over there will be giving a formal announcement to all of the available media outlets at 7am.”
“Really?” Chris had eyed Grace Edwards during the entire conversation.
“Really, Chris,” Sheridan said. “I need you back on the case ASAP.”
Grace said, “Say yes.”
“Where can I help the most, sir?”
“Locate a House in Chains Command Center. Pronto. Your partner knows about the reinstatement and after she ties up a few loose ends she should be arriving at your place within the next couple of hours to pick you up. Time is not our ally.” Sheridan said and sounded as if stopped long enough to take a sip of water or coffee. “I’m asking you to try and talk some sense into your brother. The extension he provided proves that he’s not beyond reasoning. Maybe you can convince him to sever whatever operation he and the Circle may be planning.”
“He is my brother, sir. No one knows him better than I do, so I’ll tell you this now so we won’t mince words or waste any more time: Xavier is probably well beyond reasoning by now.”
Sheridan snorted.
“You’ve got to find him and get some reasoning through to him, Agent Prince. I don’t care what you have to do, no matter the price we have to pay.”
“And if I can’t get through to him?”
Agent Nicholas Sheridan’s voice wen
t cold.
“Then, Agent Prince, you will have to stop him by any means necessary. You will be forced to make the ultimate decision between your family and your duty. I don’t anticipate that decision being a problem for you. I’m confident that you will make the right choice.”
“You’re right, Agent Sheridan. In fact I already have made my decision.” Chris said and found Grace Edward’s eyes once again. “And I’ll find him. I’ll find my brother somehow.”
After Chris snapped his phone close he said to Grace, “I’m sure you are responsible for this somehow…and because of that…I should thank you for clearing my name at the least.”
Grace nodded once.
“Don’t mention it.” She stood and smoothed out her pants suit once again. “As I said before, I need your help, Agent Prince. And if we are going to be successful we need to move now.”
“Successful?” He asked. “What are you talking about, Grace?”
She stepped in his line of vision.
“You’re the only one who can help me save your brother’s life.”
Chris made coffee. He took his black to finish clearing out the cobwebs. He pushed the sugar and crème towards his guest.
“The more you talk, the more confused I seem to get. Alright, you pulled some strings, called in some favors and got me reinstated to the Bureau. But you must have known that my superiors would immediately order me to bring down the very man that you want to save.”
Grace nodded and took a sip of her coffee.
“Your brother’s arrest might be the very thing that saves his life. I won’t like it but I can live with that.”
Chris took a sip of his own. He’d always hated the stuff but his new drinking hobby made having it a necessity.
He