by Joe Pascente
As the team made the long walk down to the hidden headquarters of Sway, Rocky pulled into the parking lot and sat in his beat up truck for a minute, smoking a joint. He knew he was late, but what was a few minutes more, as these “meetings” lasted unnecessarily too long for him. He switched on the radio and listened to a news report about an attack earlier today on the doctor who created Pure. He scoffed and shut the radio off finishing the last bit of his joint. He exhaled the smoke out of his window and chuckled to himself, saying “Crazy bitches.”
Rocky took a second to use eye drops on his bloodshot eyes, knowing Bows didn’t approve of his smoking habit. He was a stockier shorter version of Boulder—but his beard didn’t come in as full and his eyes weren’t as beady. He usually spent too much time doing his hair most days and had impeccably white teeth. He complimented Bows quite well, as couples go, being a few inches taller than her and just the right rugged look. He placed a piece of gum in his mouth and headed inside Sway, ready for his next adventure as part of Duke’s team of assassins.
After seven years of missions, he realized the team didn’t have a name they called themselves. Maybe it was because he was a bit high at the moment, or maybe it was always in his nature to think about these types of things, but Rocky contemplated various names—the Inevitables, Band of Boulders, Rocky and the Bandits—but nothing stuck.
As he walked to Duke’s office, ready to go down the secret elevator, he thought maybe there was a reason Duke didn’t have a special name for the team. Rocky felt it was already a bit unnecessary to give each of them code names like Rocky, Bows and Ace. Duke never revealed the true identities of his team to the rest of the staff at Sway. The rest of the servers and bartenders only knew them by their code names and knew better than to ask questions about their personal lives.
Rocky had made it to the elevator and as it was slowly creeping down, he wished he had time to light up another joint before going down. He was excited to see Bows, but he was also a bit paranoid she’d know he was high. He wasn’t in the mood to see the rest of the crew, but they’d gone a few months without any missions so he was in need of the substantial paycheck.
The elevator doors opened and he was in the control room of Sway. It always reminded Rocky of the bat cave because of the low light and the numerous projected images on the many computer screens. Worm was explaining his systematic approach to this mission while the other crewmembers sat around the table. They all peered over in Rocky’s direction as he entered the room.
“You’re late.” Duke muttered, his cigar hanging out of the side of his mouth.
“My bad. There was this crazy news story about that scientist lady who created Pure.”
“You don’t say…”
CHAPTER 2
WHAT COULD GO WRONG?
I. Her Kevin Costner(s)
Angela sat wilted over her desk holding her drowsy head up with one hand, while the other held onto a lukewarm cup of coffee. She was unaware a few strands of her wavy brown hair were stuck to the inside of her cup. Completely exhausted from the last few days of her whirlwind life, she was continually nodding off at work.
She was supposed to be developing other compound prospects for her drug, Pure, but she wasn’t in the right state of mind. Her mint-green eyes were encircled by an enflamed reddish sclera, which matched with her disheveled hairdo that was in a loose bun on the top of her head. There were other scientists scurrying about in the lab, working on their own formulas as well as helping Dr. Haven with Pure.
Dr. William Rayne, the CEO of Geneco Inc., was also walking about the lab. He spotted Angela slumped over at her lab desk and understood her zombie-like behavior entirely. He walked over quietly and placed his hand on Angela’s upper back, gently stirring her from the semi-sleep state she was in.
Angela quickly sat up tall and wiped the tiny bit of drool forming at the side of her mouth.
“I’m sorry, I just can’t keep my eyes open today, Will.”
“It’s understandable after the last few days you’ve had. It’s obvious you haven’t been sleeping well. Why don’t you take some time off? Find a private island and get away from everything. Hell, I’ll join you. I need a vacation too.”
Angela gave William a weak smile and continued to stare across the sizeable lab she spent most of her career existing inside. The fluorescent glow of the lights, which were humming above, cast an unflattering dull light on both of them. Angela held onto a vial of Pure and examined it bringing it close to her face. The vial held the lightning-blue serum, which seemed to glow ever so slightly under these lights.
“Every time I start to drift off, I see that woman’s face. She was just so…angry, but also, so sad. I keep myself from falling asleep because I can’t go another night waking up screaming. My life has become so…”
Angela wiped her eyes before any tears could fall down her cheeks. She gave Will a half-cocked smile, wanting to make sure he knew she was all right; even though she was far from it. Will knew better, of course, working with Angela for 7 years now. She wore her emotions on her sleeve and wasn’t ashamed of it. Geneco was a large corporation and Angela’s innovative drug had propelled the company to new heights. He would do anything for her, including protecting her any way he was capable.
Will opened his arms for Angela and she begrudgingly gave him a much-needed hug. She rested her head on his shoulder, but not for long. She knew Will had a bit of a crush on her, but he would never admit it openly, as he was her boss. It wasn’t that he was a bad looking guy, but she saw him as a friend and superior. That’s as far as her feelings went. But at this moment, she really did appreciate the sentimental hug.
“So I need to tell you something,” Will began to say. “I know you were against the idea when I first brought it up, but you know me; I do what’s in the best interest of my company, especially, when it concerns you. With that being said, you don’t have to worry about your safety any longer.”
Will was still hugging Angela as close as he could without being creepy. However, Angela didn’t like the sound of what he had just said. She backed away from Will with a perplexed look on her face.
“You didn’t do what I think you did, right?”
Will nodded his head towards the glass windows that were between the laboratory and the hallway beside them, and standing there—like two solid unmovable statues—were two fit men, dressed in matching black suits with their arms behind their backs.
“These two gentlemen are your personal bodyguards, Angela. They both come highly recommended and I feel much better knowing you will be safe in their hands. No one will get close enough to hurt you.”
Angela was speechless. She looked upon these two strangers that were hired to protect her from any harm that could potentially come her way; yet, these two men were still strangers to her.
She put one foot in front of the other and walked closer to the window inspecting the two bodyguards. The two men couldn’t be more dissimilar from one another. From first glance, she could see the bodyguard standing to the left was an older gentleman in his late forties, with the beginning signs of gray streaks in his jet-black hair. He wore a cheesy grin that displayed his crooked upper teeth.
Angela then observed the other bodyguard to his right. He was a good looking black man, closer to Angela’s age, mid-thirties, with an athletic body. He wasn’t smiling, so there were no sign of his pearly whites at all. He was all business. He came off stuffy and arrogant from Angela’s point of view. Of course, this was just a first impression through the glass window of her lab. He seemed overconfident; or maybe that was just his sophisticated nature, looking directly into Angela’s eyes. His gaze trapped Angela into a standstill, and she found herself unable to look away from his gaze.
“Are you upset with me?” Will asked.
Looking back to Will’s puppy dog eyes, Angela thought for a few seconds how she felt about this. She looked back
to the bodyguard with the strong gaze, but he was now conversing with his partner discussing something that seemed rather urgent.
“I’m not upset…I appreciate the concern, but I can take care of myself. This is completely unnecessary, Will. It’s a waste of the company’s money.”
“First off, don’t worry about this company’s financial costs. It’s really no trouble at all. And secondly, a crazy Karen almost shot you in the face earlier this week. I didn’t want to tell you this, but we’ve also been receiving some death threats addressed to you. So, in all retrospect, it is necessary.”
“What? How many death threats is some?”
“Enough to warrant hiring these gentlemen for your protection. They’re the best money can buy. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Let me introduce you to them.”
Angela was apprehensive to follow Will outside the lab and into the hallway to meet her bodyguards. She felt quite embarrassed looking the way she did at this moment. She was still half-asleep, wearing her lab attire and her hair was a mess. She wanted to take the lab coat off before meeting the bodyguards, but William grabbed her hand, dragging her behind him.
Will introduced the first agent.
“Angela, I’d like you to meet Steven Hicks,” The older bodyguard shook Angela’s hand with a firm grip. “And…I’m sorry, I don’t recall your first name, Mr. Jacobi?”
“It’s just Jacobi.” The overconfident bodyguard answered, holding his hand out to shake Angela’s.
“So, what, you’re like the Beyoncé of bodyguards?” Angela asked, shaking his hand with curiosity.
As soon as she asked this question she immediately regretted it realizing it was a terrible dad joke. Angela didn’t always have the best social skills, seeing as she’d rather read books and be on her own, instead of interacting with kids her age.
Jacobi finally smiled at Angela’s bad dad joke.
“You can say that, although I don’t know if my dance moves are up to par.”
“Pleasure to meet you both.” Angela said.
“Likewise, Dr. Haven,” Mr. Hicks stated. “When you’re all through here, we’ll drive you to your home to pick up your essentials and then we’ll make our way to the hotel.” Angela was perplexed seeing she was not privy to this plan before meeting these men.
“Hotel? Wait, why are we going to a hotel?” she asked.
Will clarified what Mr. Hicks had tried to explain.
“One of the death notes we received yesterday included your home address. Your home isn’t safe to stay at right now. We’d all feel much better about this delicate situation if you stayed at a hotel for a week, or two, while the police investigate these death threats.”
Angela’s face couldn’t hide anything. She had one of those expressive faces that showed her every emotion, and right now, her lips were pursed, her eyebrows were scrunched, and her eyes were squinting at Will, appalled at the idea she had to relocate from her cozy beachside home. No, she didn’t like this idea one bit.
“I don’t care about the death threats. I’m not leaving my home.”
“Well, no offense, Dr. Haven, but we were hired to protect you and that requires getting you away from any potential danger,” Mr. Hicks paused and looked at his partner for reassurance. “Someone, or possibly a group of individuals, knows where you live and even with our protection, we don’t feel comfortable letting you stay there for the time being. Please trust us, we will be staying in the presidential suite at a very exclusive hotel.”
Angela’s face wasn’t budging. She wasn’t on board with this plan of action.
“Besides, I really don’t fancy sleeping in our car outside your house. This works best for all of us.” Jacobi said with a wink.
“Excuse me, but I honestly don’t care what works best for the both of you. I can’t run away from my life. And if you two were the best bodyguards money can buy, you wouldn’t be afraid to let me stay at my house. I mean Kevin Costner didn’t make Whitney Houston move out of her house!”
“Didn’t Kevin Costner get shot? He took a bullet for her at the end, right?”
Jacobi responded, as he marched up to Angela on the shiny floor of the hallway they were standing on.
She didn’t budge, as he was now closer to her face than she’d normally be comfortable with. They had a mini staring contest until Angela gave in. She rolled her eyes, thinking about how much she’d have to pack for a two-week hotel getaway. She ultimately agreed to the plan and told Will she was done working for the night.
She walked to her rental car (as her car was still in the shop from the shooting incident), and Mr. Hicks followed closely behind. He hovered around her keeping his eyes peeled for any sketchy individuals in the parking lot. Jacobi pulled their car around as Mr. Hicks looked under Angela’s rental car for any sort of foul play.
Once Mr. Hicks was satisfied, he started the car for Angela and got in the passenger seat. Jacobi followed them to her home, all the while wondering if Angela was going to be this difficult with every proposal they had in mind for her safety.
Jacobi had been in this business for over ten years now, mostly guarding celebrities and people who never needed any serious protection. This particular client seemed like the first person that honestly did need his assistance. He thought about actually taking a bullet for her if the situation called for it. He had been in some serious situations in the past, but had never been shot.
Probably would sting a bit. Nothing I couldn’t handle.
Jacobi then pictured Angela’s mint-green eyes and how she looked upon him through the glass in her lab. There was something about this woman, something about her gaze that he was a bit mesmerized by. He had told his partner he imagined her differently from all the interviews and articles he had read about her in the last year-and-a-half. He never thought she looked like a doctor, or a scientist, and she especially didn’t look like the creator of one of the most influential drugs of his generation. He thought she looked like a woman he’d pick up at a local pub that would have a job at a local pet store.
While Jacobi thought about Angela, she was thinking about Jacobi. Well, when she wasn’t answering annoying questions from his partner, Mr. Hicks.
I wonder what Jacobi’s first name is? Or, is that his first name?
“What’s in this magical love drug anyways? How does it work?” He’d ask.
“It’s sort of, complicated. Lot’s of scientific jargon you wouldn’t understand.”
That look in his eyes…I wonder if—
“Yea, I get that. I’m no scientist, Dr. Haven. But, I have a few friends who have taken Pure, and a few of them say it’s for the birds. Half of them are still searching. No offense, but I feel like it’s almost a ploy for all the suckers out there.”
“A ploy? No, Mr. Hicks, the drug works. It’s always mutual. They’ll know without question they are made for each another once they find their person. True…pure…love.”
This guy is an idiot. I don’t think I’ll be able to be around him for—
“Yeah, yeah okay. But I got this friend, Michael, and he’s gay, right? He took the drug and ‘supposedly’ found his true love; this guy named, Billy. And he says it’s been great for them two, but Billy brought up having an open relationship. Sure, I get it. Keeps the sex life interesting. But if they really had true love, why would Billy even bring up that idea? You know what I’m saying?”
“Relationships are complex and dissimilar for everyone, Mr. Hicks. Pure doesn’t change the fact that people want to explore many different preferences for their relationships. Some people can differentiate the variation between sex and love. I’m just happy the LGBTQ community can love whom they are meant to love in this day and age. It’s about time.”
“Good point. And you know what they say, if you’ve got the gay’s on your side, you’re doing something right.”
Just shut
up. Shut your mouth, you foolish man!
Angela smiled feebly at Mr. Hicks, as they kept driving. Finally, they pulled up into the driveway to her home. Mr. Hicks insisted on walking inside with her, in case there were any intruders waiting for her. Jacobi pulled up behind them and also walked inside after them.
“Well, make yourselves comfortable. I’ll be down in a few.”
Angela began packing her suitcases. She took her time, not in any rush to leave her home and go to a hotel with these men she had just met. Once she had everything packed, she sat on her bed and looked out the window seeing her beachside view. She shut her eyes imagining someone standing out there looking up at her window, ready to attack her. She took a deep breath and convinced herself this was probably a smart decision.
Jacobi decided to snoop around her hallways to look at the many pictures she had hanging up on her walls.
He saw pictures of Angela celebrating weddings and birthdays with friends. Some pictures were of people that had to be related to her by the color of their mint-green eyes, and familiar smiles. But there was one picture in particular that caught Jacobi’s eye. He grabbed it off the wall to examine it closer. It was of Angela and a handsome man—most likely a boyfriend, or ex-boyfriend—and they were hugging in the picture on a beach, as the sun was setting silhouetting their loving embrace.
“I’m ready to go.” Angela said, startling Jacobi, causing him to drop the picture of Angela and this nameless man in the picture.
The picture frame hit the floor with a thud and the glass cracked, leaving a shattered spider-web over the picture. Jacobi and Angela both bent down to clean up the mess and Jacobi apologized for dropping the picture. Angela picked it up with great care, disposing of the broken frame. She took a few seconds to stare at the picture in her hands. Jacobi noticed Angela’s sad eyes gazing at this sentimental picture.
“Who is this in the picture with you?” Jacobi asked.
“It’s…someone from my past.”