Bane's Shadow

by KJ Dahlen

  “You got that right,” Bane agreed. “He also was a stone cold killer. And I realize in saying that, it must sound preposterous coming from me. But he would abuse his victims for days. The man is a truly sick human being. So I wanted him to be in prison. To suffer at the hands of men just like him or at least feel the pain, he had dealt out for all of his life. He deserved that shit. So, I gladly tossed a cog into the wheel of his plan.”

  Bastian smiled. “Warn his victims. Play all that he did in his past against him. I am coming to realize that you always had VIM in you.”

  Bane shrugged. “It was a onetime thing really. I usually would just kill a fucker like him. It was actually a huge mistake on my part. I never made many of those and as you see, the results here did come back to haunt me. We have to move quickly. Paulie claimed they were almost ready to move.”

  Bastian nodded. “So, how do you know where these new victims are?”

  “The research I had in my own files. Grandad’s rule pays off yet again. I know exactly where we have to go.” Bane moved to the vehicle and got behind the wheel. They drove all the way to Harrisburg. He’d been to this house once, a very long time ago.

  All those years back, he had even snuck into the house and looked down at the face of the sleeping man Evans had wanted dead so badly. But there was something in his gut that told him not to do it. He had went back out the way, where he had come in and drove all the way home. But he wasn’t going to do that this time. He wouldn’t kill the man, but he would warn him and he would see this through to the end result.

  This time however, he and Bastain would go through the front door and they would warn the man face to face. Then when all was said and done, he would go back to dispense with both men. Paulie would find out the hard way not to be friends with men like Evans.

  Chapter Twelve

  On the Road to Geneva, New York

  As Cane drove, he remained silent.

  James watched him for a long while. With this silence, James felt it was uncanny. Bane said very little most of the time as well. James was so curious to know how much alike they might be.

  “Why are you staring at me?” Cane finally asked while not taking his eyes from the road.

  “As if you don’t know,” James quipped.

  “So ask,” Cane growled.

  James snickered. “I am burning up with curiosity. Like how much are you two alike? Then again, one is a cop and the other...” He shrugged. “...is about as far as anyone can get from a cop.”

  Cane made no reply as he hit his blinker and moved into the next lane.

  “Okay,” James went on, when no comment came. “Bane is solemn most times. He keeps a lot to himself and only shares what information that he deems necessary.”

  “I have the same trait, I suppose. Though I have very few secrets.” Cane stared at the road.

  “Yeah, I bet.” James agreed.

  Cane finally asked him a question, “So can you tell me what affiliation you have with Bane, and... is it Bastian, the other man’s name?”

  “It is.” James nodded. “As to the affiliation...” He hesitated so he could word it properly and not give away too much. Damn hard to do. “Bastian... well, he found Bane.”

  “Found him?” Roslyn asked from the backseat.

  James nodded as he looked out through the window. “You do know who your brother is...or was.”

  Cane replied swiftly, “I do and that is hard to take. I almost told him to leave as soon as he told me his name.”

  James sighed. “I couldn’t blame you on that.”

  “Why?” Roslyn asked. “What is it about his name?”

  The two men in the front seat didn’t give her an answer.

  “Come on,” she whined. “I am in this now. You need to be honest with me, Cane.”

  Cane shook his head. “My twin is the most infamous assassin of the modern day, sis. Bane Jessin.”

  Roslyn went quiet for a minute, then she said, “I never heard of him.”

  James chuckled. “Anyone living a normal life probably would not have.”

  “Well, I am normal,” she retorted. “I live in a small town, work in a small diner and I suppose I live a small life?”

  Cane shook his head. “There’s nothing wrong with that, Roz. Nothing at all.”

  “But I always knew you were different, Cane,” she whispered.

  James turned to look at her, feeling very curious about this statement.

  Cane shrugged. “Just a small town sheriff.”

  “Yeah right,” Roslyn scoffed. “So damn good at tracking criminals that the Marshalls and the feds have tried to recruit you several times over.”

  James glanced over at Cane.

  Cane looked unimpressed. “Just have a knack for it, is all.”

  “Yeah, a knack.” James chuckled.

  “Why is that so funny?” Cane asked.

  “Your brother could find a lone ice cube that has been hidden in hell, if he was inclined to do so. Only he would destroy said ice cube. There is no one he cannot find, and if he can’t, Bastian can.”

  Cane looked a bit curious now. “Hmm, so is Bastian...”

  James turned his head to stare out through the window to check the rearview again. “Not exactly. But he did work in the same field. He just got his information in a different way than me.”

  “Way to give a vague answer,” Cane quipped.

  James shrugged. “I cannot give away secrets that aren’t mine to give.”

  Roslyn laughed. “So can you give away your own?”

  James turned his head to smile at her. “You are clever.”

  Shrugging, she sat back in the seat. “I grew up with him.” She flipped her thumb at Cane. “Had to be fast. On jokes, pranks, board games, hide and seek.” She laughed again. “Well, hide. No seeking as he always found me within a minute or two. Then we won’t talk about him running boyfriends off... It was really not fair.”

  James wasn’t surprised by hearing all of this. He turned back to the front. “I gather info. I do IT work and I am damned good at it.”

  Cane again, changed lanes as he asked, “So, you work as a team of sorts?”

  “Yep.” James nodded.

  “Very curious. So if Bane isn’t a hitman anymore then the pair of you had changed over a new leaf as well, correct?”

  “Not me. Well, ok. Yes, but I do the same job, just for a higher purpose now.”

  “You mean higher than money,” Cane stated.

  “Exactly.”

  “So when this Bastian,” Cane surmised. “Who I gather had been the Priest ‒ found Bane ‒ he offered him the higher purpose.”

  James sucked in a breath and swung his startled gaze over to Cane. “How the fuck did you know that?”

  “I told you,” Roslyn quipped. “He’s good.”

  James shivered a bit as he still stared at Bane’s brother. “Well shit, I can’t wait for this family reunion thing. Cuz it should be really fucking interesting for sure.”

  Harrisburg, Pennsylvania the Wylder Estate

  Bane knocked on the man’s front door and waited until someone to open it. “Mason Wylder?” he asked.

  The man nodded. “Who are you and what do you want here?”

  “I’m someone you really want to talk to.” Bane growled. “And you must do it now before it’s too late to stop what’s going on behind your back. You might want to call your brother in on this too, because it will affect him as well. Unless of course you both want to spend the rest of your lives in prison while the man who is setting you up disappears with your money.”

  Mason stared at him for a long moment, then he stepped back and allowed the two men into his home. “Maybe I should call my brother to listen to what you have to tell us.” He shook his head. “Is this about Dexter Evans again? I didn’t know he was out of prison already.”

  “Yeah, he’s out and looking to take both you and your brother down,” Bane told him.

  “Damn,” Mason swore under
his breath.

  They waited for the brother Kyle to arrive.

  Bane then immediately set them straight, “He and another man have it all set to both take your money and frame you as embezzlers. At least this was what it sounded like to me.”

  “And you are?” Kyle asked.

  Mason answered this, “I don’t know his name, but he has to be the one that supplied us and the other businesses with the information that originally put Evans away.”

  Bane gave a nod. “That is correct.”

  “So why is this happening now?” Kyle asked.

  “Evans got out of prison, Kyle,” Mason again answered. “And apparently, he’s up to the same old trick as before.”

  Kyle looked enraged. “Why would they let that killer out so soon?”

  “They didn’t let him,” Bane explained. “He had a plan set up then he escaped.”

  “Yes, I will just bet.” Mason looked disgusted. “Okay, tell us what you heard then I can get Kyle here to look into any unusual money movement or transfer. Or any activity that shouldn’t be there.”

  Two hours later, the four men found what Paulie was doing and they had to work the rest of the night to put a stop to it. As the dawn was breaking, Kyle Wylder stood up and stretched his back.

  They had brought the FBI in as well as the local police and Bane was more than ready to get out of there. He told them his name was Theo Franks rather than face the looks on their faces and admit to being Bane Jessin.

  Kyle looked over at Bane and nodded. “I want to thank you for bringing this situation to our attention. I never did like that man and this just makes me want to strangle him with my bare hands.”

  Bane also got to his feet. “I wouldn’t worry about the likes of Dexter Evans. I have a feeling karma will slap that man down hard this time around.”

  He and Bastain left he house.

  When they got back into their car, Bastian turned to look at him. “So you are karma now?”

  Bane just shrugged. “I’ve been called worse I suppose but Evans will reach the end of his road by my hand. If that makes me karma, so be it.”

  “Well, Mr. Karma, I also noticed that you gave them everything we had on Evans. Except where he is at the moment.”

  “Oh, you noted that eh?” Bane almost smiled but it was just a tilt of his lips. “I want to see those two sweat a bit. See what happens when their plan doesn’t go so well.”

  Bastian shook his head. “And you say your job gives you no pleasure.”

  Bane let out a small snort.

  Bastian refused to turn his head to stare at the man and make a huge deal out of such a seemingly small thing. However, it wasn’t so small a thing for this man. As yesterday morning had been the first time since he’d known Bane that the man had ever showed any amused emotion. Now, here was a second time. Will wonders never cease?

  Chapter Thirteen

  Geneva New York

  When they finally arrived in Geneva and drove to the Jessin house, it was morning. James had taken over driving and at the last fuel stop, he had texted Raine telling them the approximate time of their arrival. This would be a shock to everyone in that Jessin mansion for sure.

  Damn, he was tired now and he needed to call his wife. He missed her something fierce, despite all the happenings. Parking the vehicle, he looked over at Cane.

  The man was no longer sleeping as he sat upright and stared at the house.

  “This is where Bane grew up,” James finally spoke.

  Cane turned his head to look through the back windshield at the huge iron gates. Then forward again to the stone house. “A formidable place.” Was all he said.

  James slowly nodded. “It was your grandfather’s house, then Bane and Orrin lived here until they were grown.”

  “So where is this Orrin? He is my brother as well.”

  James sighed.” Unfortunately, he died some time ago.”

  Cane continued to stare at the house as he asked, “And how did he die?”

  James didn’t know how to felid this one. “In an explosion of some sort.” He danced around the question. “You will have to ask Bane the details.”

  Cane looked over at him. “But you know those details, don’t you?”

  James nodded as he figured lying to this man would do no good. “I also have to warn you.”

  “About?” Cane raised a brow at him.

  James actually shuddered. Damn if Bane didn’t do that raising his brow bit a lot as well. “Um, you have more family here.”

  “What?” came Roslyn’s voice from the backseat as she literally bolted upright. “More? Like who?” She sounded excited.

  The answer came when the double doors above the stone steps opened and out came two people.

  “Well, you are about to find out,” James quipped.

  They all got out of the car.

  The couple came down the steps.

  The three from the car moved closer.

  At almost the bottom step, stood Cricket. She stared at Cane.

  He stepped closer and held out his hand.

  Cricket kept staring then she shook terribly. “You are his exact twin!”

  Cane slowly nodded. “Yes, but there are differences.”

  Roslyn came up to stand next to her brother. “Hey! I’m Cane’s little sister, Roslyn, but you can call me Roz.”

  “I’m Cricket.” She took her hand and shook it.

  “Cricket?” Cane spoke.

  Cricket paused to look over at him. “You even have the same voice.”

  “Can I ask who you are?” He stared back at her.

  “Your niece?” she replied.

  Cane then smiled. “I never had one of those.”

  Cricket stared at the smile. “Wow. So, you aren’t really like him.”

  Cane gently took her hand in his. “Looks can be deceiving.” He glanced over at the man standing at her side. “And you are?”

  “Cricket’s husband, Raine.” He reached out to shake Cane’s hand.

  “Such cool names!” Roslyn gushed. “Raine and Cricket?” She jumped a little in excitement. “And wow, are those tattoos?”

  “Down Roz, you don’t want to scare them.”

  Roslyn laughed. “They don’t look like I could do that anyways, Cane.”

  James watched this all unfold. Then he glanced up and saw Sarah coming down the steps. She was nearly running. “Oh, fuck,” he muttered under his breath and looked over at Raine. “Did you tell her about my text?”

  Raine looked confused then turned to see Sarah. “Um, no she was asleep.”

  Sarah had gotten to the bottom of the steps and rushed over to Cane. A mere 5 inches before reaching him, she halted as if she’d hit some invisible brick wall. Staring at him, her face paled. “You—you’re not...” Her eyes rolled up in her head and she then slumped forward.

  Cane leapt across the small space and caught her.

  “Damnit!” James growled. “If she had fallen...”

  Cricket looked upset and told Cane, “Bring her into the house.” She looked over at Roslyn. “Come on, you are more than welcome here.”

  Cane unknowingly carried his brother’s fiancé into the house that he should have grown up in. Followed by the sister he never should have had, along with a niece he never knew he had.

  James brought up the rear as he observed this strange meeting as he muttered to himself, “Yeah, just throw in Bane’s dark presence and we would have a helluvapalooza family reunion on our hands.”

  When Bane and Sebastian arrived at Paulie’s, the one vehicle that had been parked there was gone.

  Bane and Bastian got out on the corner. They observed the house.

  “Fuck,” Bane muttered.

  “We still have to check it,” Bastian said as he led the way.

  When they got to the side window, where they had been before, they both already had their weapons out.

  Peering in, Bastian swore, “Well, one down.”

  Bane nodded as they both st
ared at Paulie’s body.

  Then the body moved.

  Bastian swore, “Shit, he’s still aliv—”

  Cutting his words short, Bane was already smashing the window in.

  “We could have done that quieter, you know?” Bastian looked disgusted.

  Bane ignored him, as he cleared the glass away with his jacket, and climbed in.

  Bastian took a second to look around, hoping no one would call the cops then he climbed in.

  Paulie was bleeding out fast as he groaned.

  Bane was in his face in half a second from his last groan. “Where is Evans?”

  Paulie gazed up at him with a rather bloody smirk on his lips. “So you are Bane, huh?”

  Bane nodded. “Where is he?”

  “The deal fell through and he—” Blood spluttered from Paulie’s mouth. “Took it out on me....”

  Bane shook his head. “Do you know where he went?”

  “Yeah, I do,” Paulie said on a gasp. “But before I tell you...” He spat up more blood. “Y-you have to promise me that you will make him suffer b-before you kill him.”

  Bane let out a frustrated sigh. “I don’t do—”

  “Promise!” Paulie screeched. “I’m dying here, m-man. Promise me!”

  “I promise,” Bane whispered.

  “He went after your father...” Paulie grasped his shirt lapel. “K-kill him!” His eyes rolled up in his head as his body jumped once, then he stilled.

  Bane grabbed the man’s dead hands and removed the death grip he had on his shirt. Then he stood. “Fuck!” He took out his phone and tapped in a number. “James, where is my father’s place?” He listened for a moment then hung up. He headed out the door— blood all over his white shirt and fury on his face.

  Bastian followed him.

  When they got in the car, Bastian finally spoke, “You aren’t going to keep that promise, are you?”

  Bane started the car up as he gave a short answer, “That depends...”

  Bastian understood. It depended on whether Evan’s had gotten to his dad. If he had, Evans would suffer a horrible fate.

  Chapter Fourteen

  On the way, Bastian, studied the GPS map on his phone. “We can come up in the back alley on 5th then be just a half block from your dad’s.”