Terry awoke to the sound of his secretary’s voice coming from the intercom and almost screamed, his hands going immediately to his throat. He sat in his chair, his breath coming in large gulps as he slowly began to reclaim some composure. With an effort, he leaned forward to hit the intercom.
“H…Have him wait a moment, Miss Marshall. I’ll be with him shortly.”
“Very well, sir.”
He stood up from his chair and attempted to collect himself. Jesus Christ. There wasn’t a square inch of flesh on his body that didn’t feel like it was covered with sweat. He removed a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his face, the aftereffects of the dream still making his hands tremble. He sat back down at his desk and ran his hands over his hair. After taking several deep breaths he hit the intercom.
“Miss Marshall, send in the Lieutenant.”
“Yes, sir.”
He watched silently as the door opened and the Lieutenant strode in to stand before his desk.
“I understand that you have put the building on alert, and wished to speak with me, sir.”
“Yes, we have a situation. Until it’s resolved I’ll need you to follow the security protocols for local lockdown. Are you familiar with those protocols, Lieutenant?” Terry asked, slowly getting himself back up to speed.
“Yes, sir. When does lockdown commence?”
“5:00pm today, Lieutenant. Any other questions?”
“No, sir.”
“Dismissed.”
He waited for the Lieutenant to leave the room and viciously tore off his tie as soon as the door closed. He thought it a prudent course of action not to wear one until he could safely say this ordeal was over. He folded the tie and reached in his pocket for the keys to his desk. Inserting the key into the lock, he was startled to realize that he didn’t need it. A sickening feeling hit him in the gut and he closed his eyes as he very slowly opened the drawer he knew the file was in.
He knew it was going to be bad, he just fucking knew it; he could feel black thunderclouds forming over him. He opened his eyes, only to close them again a second later. The thunderclouds started rumbling and he suspected that at any moment they would open up and piss all over him. His hand flew out to hit the intercom button with violent force.
“Miss Marshall,” he almost screamed.
“Yes, sir?”
“I want Mr. Phillips of Internal Security in my office in five fucking minutes with the video of this floor, and specifically my office, for the last twenty-four hours.”
He disconnected before he got a response. He couldn’t believe that it was only 9:45 in the morning. The blows just kept coming. The missing file presented a problem of potentially enormous proportions. Surprisingly, he wasn’t anxious to see what information the video might yield. He didn’t know if he could take another kick to the head. His whole body was trembling and he barely contained the almost overwhelming urge to throw what his mother would have called a conniption fit. Scowling, he slouched in his chair and waited for Mr. Phillips to arrive.
VII
Then I see the edge I look I fall,
And I get deeper and deeper.
—C. Curnin, J. Oram
Bailey pondered the question he had asked her and took several moments to go over her next response. She noted that Josh was waiting quietly with an expectant look on his face. She was pretty sure she had already won him over.
“As of this morning, Josh,” she began. “I’m quite sure that my former employers wish me eliminated.”
“I don’t understand.”
“My former employers wish me eliminated. Just like they wished several people eliminated on the day we met.”
“Are you saying they intend to kill you?”
“Yes.”
He stared at her carefully. His mind scrambling to order the thoughts spiraling around in his head. If people were going to try and kill this woman he was pretty certain that he didn’t want to be anywhere in the vicinity, much less the state, or for that matter even the country.
“Would you just let me walk out of here right now if I refused?”
“Yes.”
He studied her hard. She had just offered him a chance at a new life. In fact, she had six years ago let him keep his old one. Evidently, she wasn’t shaking in her boots at the prospect of becoming a potential corpse. He looked at her sitting patiently behind her desk awaiting his response and believed her. He owed it to her and himself to at least hear her out before making a decision.
“Who are your former employers?”
“An agency of the United States government.”
“Why do they you want you dead?”
“Because I don’t want to work for them anymore.”
“I don’t get it.”
“I think the less you know on this subject, the better off you would be.”
“Okay, but you seem to have plenty of money, why don’t you just assume an identity and disappear, like the one you’ve offered me?” he asked reasonably. “Or you could go to a big newspaper like in the movies for sanctuary or amnesty, something like that?”
“That isn’t an option.”
“Why?”
“I’ve people who depend on me.”
He considered that silently for a second. “Alright. Where do I come into this mess?”
“Unless I make a mistake, it will be a month, perhaps more, before they attempt to remove me. During that time I’ll need someone to do things for me, both inside this building and out. I’d like that person to be you.”
“What sort of things would you need me to do?”
“I need you to find the bad guys.”
“Say what?”
“Let me be more specific. I own this building and the business that operates here. This building also happens to be my home. I’ve known for some time that my former employers have had people placed within the corporation as employees, planted for the express purpose of monitoring my actions and movements. Starting on Monday, the company has been informed that a private consultant is going to be in the building evaluating the company for parties interested in a buyout. A fictional buyout, for I’ve no intention of selling the company. However, I need you to pretend to be that consultant and attempt to locate those within that have a secret agenda.”
“You mean you want me to snoop around and identify these people?”
“Exactly, you’ll be given access to the entire building, with the exception of the 18th floor. I’ve prepared an outline to help you, a duty list, personnel information, and responses to any questions that the employees might ask you. False identity one has been set up for this purpose. I’ve made reservations at the Hilton for this identity, and reserved a car in his name. A generous bank account and credit cards are provided for any expenses that you might need. Do you think you can do this for me?”
“Sounds easy enough for the rewards involved.”
“Well, there’s a catch of course.”
“I figured.”
“On the rare times that I might leave the building I’ll need a shadow, again you come into play.”
“How so?”
“I’ll need you to potentially identify those who might be following me.”
“Gee, that sounds safe.”
“Of course, I’ll never be far away in the event of an emergency.”
“Is that it?”
“With the exception of one more thing, yes.”
“And that would be?”
“I’ll need another package before you assume identity one.”
“I see, and what would this package contain?”
“A PSG1, three 10 round magazines and a case of .308.”
“A serious piece of hardware, very expensive.”
“Price is no object and you have a little under a week.”
“It’s doable. But I need to know a few more things?”
“If I can answer, I will.”
“First, why me?”
“I’ve kept an eye on you
over the years, Josh. I know you can blend in and pretend to be who you’re not. I know you’re smart but you’ve made mistakes that you can’t take back. I also know that you’re not happy with the way your life has turned out. I think you want another chance, and I can give it to you.”
“Fair enough, but if I was to disappear what happens to my wife? Miserable bitch that she is, she depends on me.”
“She’ll be exceptionally well taken care of.”
“Alright, what happens to me if you don’t survive?”
“That’s unlikely, but preparations have been made for you to assume identity two without me around to give it to you.”
“You seem to be very confident that you’ll win.”
“That’s because I’ve never lost.”
Looking at her, he was willing to bet that was an entirely true statement. The woman in front of him seemed to sweat confidence and despite the fear that he still had of her in impressively large amounts, she had a dark sort of charisma that was very appealing.
“Alright, I’m in. Give me the particulars.”
“First, you’ll need to cut your hair and buy some suits. I suggest you do this in Augusta. Your hotel and car reservations are for Sunday. You need to be here starting Monday.”
She picked up the other manila envelope on her desk and tossed it to him. He opened it up and began looking through it.
“Inside you’ll find a CD with the personnel information, the outline, duty list and responses. Study them. Also, you’ll find my business card and the business card of a dentist in Augusta, I suggest you make an appointment for this week and show him my card. You might have to visit him a few times, so allow that into your schedule. Any questions?”
“There’s a key in here, what’s is it for?”
“It’s a key for a locker at the Greyhound station in Augusta. Inside you’ll find all the equipment you’re going to need. Pick it up when you visit the dentist.”
He nodded as he browsed through the contents of the envelope. “I see here my new name will be Joshua Anderson, I like the name on this one better.”
“I can imagine.”
“Any other questions before you return on Monday?”
“No, I mean yes, how do you want to take delivery on the other package?”
“Just hold on to it, my cell phone number is in the envelope as well. If there’s anything else you need in the next few days, call that number.”
“Will do.”
“Alright, I’ll have Tom come back up and escort you down.” She hit the intercom. “Piper?”
“Yes?”
“Would you buzz Tom with security and have him come up and escort my guest back down?”
“Of course.”
“Give me a ring when he arrives please.”
“Alright, Bailey.”
“Thank you, Piper.”
She disconnected, sipped her coffee and watched Josh study the items that comprised his new identity for the next few weeks. She had no doubts that he would do exceptionally well. Everything was working out according to plan, with her family being the one exception. That one was out of her hands for the moment. It was the key to everything; she couldn’t complete her plan without it.
“Bailey, Tom is here.”
“Okay, thanks.”
She looked at Josh who had already replaced everything in the envelope and had apparently been quietly studying her while she had been thinking.
“You ready, Josh?”
“I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“I wouldn’t play, if I couldn’t win.” She paused. “See you on Monday, Mr. Anderson?”
“I’ll see you then, Bailey,” he said and turned to leave the room.
She leaned back in her chair and thought about nothing until interrupted by a knock on the door and Piper poked her head in.
“It’s almost lunchtime, Bailey,” Piper said smiling.
“Uh… Yes it is,” she said glancing at the clock.
“What do ya say I buy you lunch? There’s a great Italian place around the corner?”
Bailey gaped at her. She didn’t quite know how to react to such an informal invitation.
“Uhm…”
“Gosh, its not like I’m not asking you to an embalming,” Piper said putting on one of her best smiles.
To her vast confusion, she started blushing again in reaction to the smile being directed at her and she dropped her eyes to the surface of her desk in an attempt to ignore it. The woman would no doubt want to chat over the meal, and she knew she was horribly lacking in non-business conversational skills, not to mention that her small talk skill hovered just below zero on the talent chart. She opened her mouth to decline.
“Sure,” she said shocking herself.
“Great, I’ll get my purse,” Piper said happily.
Mechanically and with a bewildered expression, she lifted herself out of her seat and put on her jacket.
———
“Apparently, Mr. Satterfield was unaware of the cameras and obviously, he didn’t realize that after 8:00pm the keycards to the executive offices don’t work without an additional pin entered on the keypad,” Mr. Phillips said unemotionally.
Phillips was a tall, lanky man that wore his dark brown hair greased down on his scalp. His shining hazel eyes were perpetually lidded and as a result, he was in constant possession of an expression that made him appear to be on the verge of falling asleep.
Terry didn’t respond. He sat in his chair with his back to Phillips, having turned away and leveled his gaze out the window as soon as Martin’s image had appeared on the video. Not only had he been betrayed, but it couldn’t have come at worse possible time.
What really ate at him was that he really did like Martin; not so much that it would have kept him from ordering the man’s retirement, but the Ivy League shit had beaten him to the punch. The feeling of self-pity and betrayal was beginning to wear off in favor of the anger that was demanding reparations. Unfortunately, Martin would have to be taken alive, the file saw to that, at least for the time being. Once the file was returned to the Organization, he was willing to go to great lengths to make sure that Martin’s end was a particularly unpleasant one. The more he thought about the current situation the angrier he became. His watch told him it was 11:45am. He had a little over an hour before the staff meeting; it was time to act. He turned in his chair to face the patiently waiting Phillips.
“Mr. Phillips, I’ll need you to tag Satterfield’s file as Eyes Only and see to any belongings he might have left behind. Also, I’ll need the standard preparations for media breech and/or manipulation made on Satterfield’s behalf. See to it immediately.”
“Of course, anything else?”
“No, that’ll be all, Mr. Phillips.”
Terry leveled an impatient look on the man until he got up and walked from the office. As soon as the door closed behind him, his hand flew out and hit the intercom.
“Miss Marshall, have Ben Richards report to me immediately.”
“Right away, sir.”
Terry knew that Ben was in the building and standing by so he didn’t expect a long wait. He got up and walked over to the small refrigerator he kept in the corner and selected a soda at random, popping the top and draining the contents in five swallows, ignoring the burning in his throat. Wincing, he crushed the can and threw it violently into the trashcan. He retrieved a second beverage and sat back down at his desk, sipping gingerly at the contents until he heard the intercom.
“Sir, Mr. Richards is here.”
“Send him in, Miss Marshall,” he said impatiently.
Ben Richards entered the room and without being asked, took a seat in front of his desk. Terry ran a gaze over the man. Ben was a tall, predatory looking man. He had dull blue eyes that could only be described as vindictive and boasted a completely shaved head. Ben was a team leader that he respected but didn’t especially like. However, the man had a reputation for being needlessly cruel and tha
t was exactly what he wanted at the moment.
“Ben, I have a situation that I need you to move on immediately.”
“I see, foreign or domestic?” Ben asked casually.
“Domestic and probably local.”
“Alright, I have two men available, will that be enough?”
“Yes, this is a rush job with conditions.”
“Give me the particulars.”
“We have an employee with a stolen file. He knows it will be missed and did not come in today, probably a runner. He needs to remain upright until the file has been recovered or destroyed. After that, it wouldn’t upset me if he hurt for a while before expiring. His residence is local; you can get the name and details from Mr. Phillips. In the event that you recover the file, you alone will be cleared to handle it and I suggest you refrain from indulging in any curiosity. Additionally, we have an ongoing situation at the moment, so it would be in the Organization’s best interest to handle this as quickly and as smoothly as possible. That’s all, Mr. Richards, any questions?”
“None, I’ll coordinate now with Mr. Phillips and will keep you updated.”
“Very good.”
Ben gave Terry a slight nod and exited the room.
As soon as he was gone, Terry slammed down the rest of his soda, gathered his things and headed for the conference room.
VIII
I never wanted trouble,
But I sure got enough.
—Jett, Laguna, Kihn
Martin grabbed an overnight bag from the depths of his closet and threw it on the bed. Reaching back into the closet, he grabbed a small box from the far corner of the top shelf, opened it and withdrew the handgun that he had purchased on a whim the year before. He stared at the weapon for a few minutes, ejecting the magazine to find it loaded and realizing that he had never taken the time to learn to fire it. He grabbed the spare magazine and a box of ammunition he had bought with the gun and stuffed them into his bag. He threw the box back into the closet and grabbed a couple of shirts. As he stuffed the shirts and other assorted articles of clothing into the leather bag, he tried to squash the rising feeling of dread that had plagued him since he had overslept this morning.
Engravings of Wraith Page 6