The Line: The Complete Series

by Nikki Rose

  “Mikey?”

  “No. It’s Chris. We got a problem with some of the intel you extracted the other night. We need to have a little talk with our friend again.”

  “Damn it. Same spot?”

  “Not this time. I’m thinking we need to shake things up.”

  “Okay, where to?”

  “I’m sending the address to your device now.”

  “Roger that.” I checked my phone and programmed the address into my GPS.

  “It’ll take me a couple of hours at least.”

  “That’s okay. I still gotta get him moved.”

  “See you there.”

  It was just before sunup when I pulled into the large parking lot of an old abandoned factory. The windows were boarded and large padlocked chains secured the doors.

  I pulled around to the side of the rundown building as instructed and found a door with the chain cut. I parked and walked in to find a dimly lit hall. This wasn’t one of our usual spots, but I assumed it was closer to where ever they were keeping Cornell. I wasn’t sure which room to go to so I pulled out my phone and texted Chris.

  Me: Here. At the end of the hall. Which room?

  Chris: I’ll come to you.

  A moment later Chris quietly slipped out of a room near the opposite end of the hall and headed for me.

  “Hey,” He whispered as he came closer. “Thanks for meeting me way out here.”

  “No problem. So, what’s the plan?”

  “Cornell was one of us. He knew all our regular interrogation spots. I wanted somewhere to throw him off his game. We need to make him think the rules have changed. Get him tilting on his axis.”

  “Good plan.”

  “He knows your reputation. I wanted you to be here to add to the illusion.”

  “You thinking we do something like in the Camens?”

  Chris nodded and I couldn’t help but smile as we turned to walk down the hall toward our awaiting captive. We walked into the dim windowless room. Chris had done a good job at setting the stage. Two chairs sat at an old rickety table and Cornell sat with a sack over his head tied to another rough wooden chair.

  As we stepped inside, Chris let the door slam shut which exposed Cornell’s true nerves as he jumped in his bindings.

  Chris flipped on the bright overhead light and rounded the chair. He yanked Cornell’s hood off making him squint in the bright light.

  “Look who decided to join the party.” Chris stood behind him so all he could see was me. His eyes filled with terror as they adjusted to the light and settled on my face. He tried to talk but the words came out muffled around the cloth gag bunched in his mouth.

  The poor guy’s wounds hadn’t healed from the last time we’d met. His leg was wrapped in a cast and his opposite hand was still bandaged. His eyes were bloodshot.

  “Nice to see you again Cornell. I can see you’re happy to see me as well.”

  He thrashed his head from side to side and yelled into the spit-soaked rag in his mouth.

  “I see our last chat didn’t end as productively as you made me think. But I’m sure this time you’ll see things differently.” I struck his face hard with my open hand. I wanted to hurt him, not knock him out.

  “Our friend Hunter isn’t too happy that you lied to him. I wouldn’t do it again.” Chris hissed in his ear and removed the gag.

  “I’ll never tell you anything. You might as well kill me now.”

  “Oh, we plan to but not before we get the answers we want.”

  “They won’t let you kill me. What I know is too valuable.”

  “Maybe so, but you see, they aren’t here right now, are they? Look around. This isn’t one of our normal locations. Don’t you wonder why?”

  “W—where are we?”

  “It doesn’t matter but don’t worry. If you scream, it won’t bother anyone way out here. We know you have a high pain tolerance and probably won’t tell us what we want to know before your body goes into shock. It doesn’t mean we won’t have fun doing it.” Chris added.

  “What I feel the worst about is his family.”

  “My family?” Cornell looked at me with wide eyes as sweat dripped from his face.

  “Yes. I can just imagine how hard it’s going to be on your poor wife—Kira? She’s pregnant right now, isn’t she? How far along?”

  “You—you wouldn’t hurt an innocent pregnant woman,” Cornell yelled in desperation.

  “You’re right. I’m not that kind of man. But just think how upsetting it will be for her when she has to I.D. your body.” I paced in front of him as I spoke.

  “Stress isn’t good for the baby.” Chris and I made a good team. We fed off each other, alternating our words so he never knew who would speak next. It helped to keep Cornell off balance.

  “You can decide just how bad of a scene she’ll have to see. A bullet to the chest...”

  “The coroner’s sheet would cover that up.”

  “Or her poor beloved husband mutilated almost beyond recognition.”

  Cornell’s eyes were as big as saucers.

  “You’d lose your jobs for that.” He yelled. “You wouldn’t put your careers on the line for this.”

  “Who us?” I feigned shock. “Oh no, we wouldn’t touch you. You see if you just so happened to fall into the wrong hands.”

  “If the Russian’s think you cooperated with us. I’m sure they’d be more than happy to do a little business. Trade intel for a snitch.”

  “But I didn’t tell you anything,” Cornell shouted.

  “Sure, you did.” Chris came up from behind him and he nearly jumped out of his chair. “You were very helpful and forthcoming with information.”

  “The Russians won’t stop with me. They’ll kill my family. My wife.”

  “That would be a shame. Unfortunately, once we hand you over to them, there isn’t much we could do to help protect your family.” I looked from Cornell to Chris. “Why don’t you give them a call?”

  “No. No, wait. I’ll tell you anything you want to know. Just, please. Please promise you’ll protect my wife after I’m gone.”

  Now we were getting somewhere. I sat in the seat in front of Cornell and flipped on a tape recorder as he poured out every last detail of his involvement. It was a very enlightening evening.

  After we finished, I helped Chris load Cornell into the transport van and he took him back to his holding cell only slightly worse for wear than when he’d left. Though I can say he wasn’t very happy to find out we were bluffing and wasn’t going to kill him all along. He’d spend a long miserable life behind the bars of an undisclosed max prison.

  CHAPTER 9

  Addy

  Working at the diner was better than I thought it would be. Liz and I became fast friends. I hated having to lie to her about my past but I knew I didn’t have any other choice. If she knew the truth, it could even put her in danger and that was the last thing I wanted.

  Liz was off and I was working with Cara who usually alternated shifts with me which meant we’d only worked together a handful of times in the month I’d been there. I stood at the counter preparing my last customer's check when Cara rushed in from the back.

  “Emma, I’m so sorry to do this but is there any way you could close up without me? I just got a call from my sitter. My kid is sick and puking all over the place. It must be that damn stomach bug that’s been going around his school.”

  “Oh no. Of course, go. I’m getting Table five his check, then I just have to do my closing work.”

  “Thank you so much. You are a lifesaver.”

  “It’s no problem. Go. Go.”

  Cara rushed out of the diner. And I went back to getting our last customer's check.

  “Here you go. Is there anything else I can get for you?”

  “No thank you, darlin’. I’m fine.” The older man smiled up at me with a twinkle in his soft eyes lined by years of wrinkles.

  “Just let me know when you’re ready and I’ll come get
your check.”

  “I’m ready now. Here you go.” He handed me a ten-dollar bill. “You keep the change.”

  I smiled and thanked him for the three-dollar tip as he struggled to his feet and left.

  Before the door had time to close a young couple slipped in and the boy smiled at me sheepishly. “Hi, ma’am. Are y’all still open?”

  “We were just closing.”

  “Oh, man.” The boy couldn’t be more than eighteen and the girl about the same age. “We were just hoping to have a cup of coffee and a piece of pie before I take her home.”

  “We’re on our first date.” The girl beamed at me. “We just weren’t quite ready to go home after the movie.”

  “Well, the cook's already gone for the night but there’s still pie left and the coffee’s still hot. I still have my side work to do so I suppose you two could stay just while I’m doing that. Someone should be around soon to lock up.”

  “Really? Oh, that would be great. Thank you so much.” The boy grinned at me and squeezed the girl’s hand.

  I smiled and motioned toward the booths. “Have a seat wherever you like and I’ll get your pie and coffee.”

  The couple rushed to a booth in front of the front window, holding hands the whole time.

  I smiled at the sight of new love blooming. There was something so special so magical about that time. It made me long for a connection to someone. Even if it was just a friend, I missed connecting with someone honestly without having to hide who I was or what my past secrets were.

  I cut two slices of apple pie and poured two cups of coffee before loading up my tray and taking it to them. Liz was a romantic like me and I knew she would have done the same.

  “Here you are.” I unloaded my tray one piece at a time.

  “Thank you again, miss.”

  “It’s no trouble.” I smiled at them. “Just let me know if you need anything.”

  “Oh no, this will be all. We don’t want to be any trouble.”

  I gave them a nod and went back to my work cleaning the diner before closing. Either Liz or the owner, whom I had yet to meet, would be coming by to lock up at closing since they were the only two with a key to the diner.

  Mr. Ferguson was more of a silent owner. He ran the place from afar. Liz said he was too busy chasing skirts to worry too much about the business. But he came around from time to time to check in or run things if Liz couldn’t be there. I had a feeling Liz had more responsibility on her than she was paid for but she wasn’t one to complain.

  I was finishing up my side work and processing the young couple’s payment when the door chimed again.

  I turned around to see a fat balding man in a button-down shirt that strained the middle buttons against his belly.

  “Who are you?” He demanded as he rounded the counter.

  “Me? I’m Emma.” You’re Mr. Ferguson. I recognize you from your picture in your office.

  “Emma?”

  “Yes sir, I’m the new waitress.”

  “Where’s Cara? She was supposed to be working tonight. The new girl shouldn’t be working by herself until she’s earned trust.” He spoke like I wasn’t the one he was talking about.

  “Cara had an emergency with her kid so I told her I would close.”

  “That wasn’t your decision to make.” He snapped.

  “I’m sorry, sir. She said that she had to go because her kid was sick and I didn’t mind.”

  “What are those kids doing out there? All customers should have been out of here half an hour ago.”

  “They came in at the last minute and asked if they could get a cup of coffee and a slice of pie. Since the cook didn’t have to do anything and I was still going to be here doing my clean up, I figured it wouldn’t be any harm.”

  “Closing is closing.” He barked. “You just started and you’re already walking a fine line. You are not the one calling the shots. You are not in charge. I am. Are we clear?” He got up in my face as his voice rose.

  “Yes, sir. I’m sorry I didn’t realize it would be a problem.”

  “We have rules and procedures for a reason. If we make one exception then we have to make them all and what kind of business would that be?”

  “I understand, sir. It won’t happen again.” I swallowed hard trying to fight back the tears in my eyes.

  “See that it doesn’t. One more slip-up and you’ll be finding a new job. Now get those customers out of here, clean up this mess they’ve made, and make it quick I have things to do.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Under his scrutinizing glare, I managed to keep a cheery disposition in front of the young couple not wanting to put a damper on the end of their date. I hurried along to clean the four dishes they’d used and wipe down the table before heading home.

  I had only been in this new life for about a month but I was already growing tired of the loneliness and the lies that filled my life.

  I hurried home and ate a snack before showering and falling into my bed. My double shift at the diner left me exhausted both emotionally and physically.

  I shot up in bed before I was even fully awake. My face and hair were damp with sweat even though I shivered with a cold so deep it penetrated my bones.

  It was just a dream—a horrible dream of the worst night of my life. The night I watched the life drain from that stranger in the alley. The deep penetrating gaze from the murderer who had so carelessly taken his life.

  My bedroom was coated in darkness with only the slightest hint of moonlight to cast angry shadows on my floor and walls. There would be no sleeping that night. Not with those thoughts and images running through my mind.

  I’d been in witness protection just over a month and for the most part, was settling in well but at least once a week the nightmares returned. Those were the days I learned to run on coffee and sugar to get me through.

  I wrapped my blanket around my shoulders and slipped out of bed to grab my laptop which laid on the small desk in the living room. Sometimes I’d sit at my desk and mindlessly scan the internet. The chill of the night drove me back into my bed and under the warm covers as I propped up a few pillows against the headboard and settled in.

  Quietly stalking my friends and family on Facebook wouldn’t do tonight. I needed someone to talk to. I logged into my regular chat room and crossed my fingers that DarkPrince would be online.

  DarkPrince: Hey! What are you doing up so late? Or early I should say.

  SciFiQueen: Couldn’t sleep. What’s your excuse?

  DarkPrince: I had to work late and needed some time to wind down before I crashed.

  SciFiQueen: Not much going on here tonight, huh?

  DarkPrince: not really. I was just logging off when I saw you get on.

  SciFiQueen: ur leaving?

  DarkPrince: I can stay for a bit. What's keeping you up?

  SciFiQueen: it’s complicated.

  DarkPrince: I can deal with complicated. sometimes it helps to talk to someone who doesn’t know who you are. A lot of people are more honest online than they are in person.

  I took a deep breath. Could I really be considering telling a complete stranger about witness protection?

  It was crazy but since that very first night in my new home, DarkPrince had been there for me. We chatted about so many things from our favorite books and movies to childhood stories that had me laughing so hard I nearly fell out of my seat. Besides Liz, he was the closest thing I had to a friend in this new life and at that moment, a friend was what I needed more than anything.

  SciFiQueen: There are some things I wish I could say but I can’t over the computer.

  DarkPrince: So why don’t we talk on the phone?

  SciFiQueen: The phone? I mean I’d like to but I shouldn’t give out my number like that.

  DarkPrince: What about Skype? We can just use the voice chat that way if you want. If not, there's no pressure. It just seems like you need to talk and I want you to know I’m here.

  SciFiQueen:
Actually, that sounds kinda perfect. It’s pretty late, you sure you wouldn’t mind?

  DarkPrince: If I minded, I wouldn’t have suggested it :P

  SciFiQueen: LOL I guess that’s true.

  Moments later I was logged in and hitting the call icon next to DarkPrince’s account.

  “Hello, your majesty.” His voice was distorted some from the computer but was still a deep rumble that sent chills down my body.

  I couldn’t explain the reason, but I suddenly felt shy and nervous about him hearing my voice for the first time. “Hi.”

  “Kind of strange to finally put a voice to a screen name, huh?”

  “Yeah.” I blushed and was glad he couldn’t see me.

  “You have a beautiful voice.”

  “Thank you.” My cheeks heated furiously.

  We spent nearly an hour on small talk. The mood stayed light and I found myself relaxing easily into the conversation with a man I’d only known through text for a month until he finally asked the question I knew was coming.

  “So, you wanna talk about what’s keeping you up tonight?”

  “Yeah but I’m afraid you’re going to think I’m crazy.”

  “This is the internet, we are all a little crazy.” I heard the smile in his voice and some of my nervousness melted away. I took a deep breath. It’s just like ripping off a band-aid. Just get it over with.

  “The reason I haven’t been able to give you my name or where I’m from or any of those details most people share is because I’m in the witness protection program.” There. I’d said it. I held my breath, waiting for his response.

  “Wow.”

  “Please say something more than just wow?” I squeaked.

  “Sorry. That’s just a lot to take in and I’m guessing you’re not really supposed to tell anyone, including some guy you met online about this, right?”

  “It’s so lonely being away from everything and everyone I knew. I’d just moved to a new place but at least I could still call my family and friends when I felt alone. Now, I’m just...”

  “I get it.”

  “You’ve been such a great friend to me this past month and I felt as though I may go crazy if I couldn’t talk to someone about this.”