Hidden Secrets

by P. L. Harris

  This is it. She counted the units as they drove past. 26, 28, 30, 32. There it is, number 34. She sat frozen, her stomach churning precariously. She swallowed nervously, her gaze fixed to the roller door.

  Jason’s hand covered hers. The warmth of his touch seeped through her motionless limbs. “Are you okay?”

  She nodded.

  “There’s no one here. We’re the only ones in the yard.”

  She took a deep breath. “It’s time to get this show on the road.”

  After retrieving the key from her locket, she carefully undid the storage door lock. Once she returned it to its rightful spot, she secured the locket around her neck once more. Unconsciously holding her breath, she slowly slid up the roller door.

  She stood, motionless, stunned by the picture before her. Surely, this can’t be right?

  Amanda edged toward the tiny, lone, wooden box sitting in the middle of the hard, concrete floor. Her gaze zoned in on the envelope balancing on its lid. Her mouth went dry. Another envelope? Unconsciously, she bent and retrieved it.

  “So, are you going to open it or just stare at it?” The deep voice seeped through her thoughts.

  Her knuckles were white from holding it so tight. She nodded.

  What if it is more bad news? Surely the universe couldn’t be that cruel?

  Scanning the contents, the words blurred on the page, and her heart tore into shreds as each word sliced her heart like a knife.

  Cruel was the understatement of the century.

  “Amanda, what does the letter say?”

  Silent tears streamed down her checks. Unable to speak, she tightly wrapped her fingers around the blue topaz locket.

  Carol is not my real mother. She’s my mother’s twin sister. This blue topaz belonged to my real mother. She was killed…Oh, my God…when I was just a baby.

  Amanda swayed against the sudden downpour of news. Her knees buckled, and she would have fallen, but Jason caught her, anchoring her to his side.

  “Easy there,” he said, holding her upright against his body. “I’m here, I’ve got you.”

  She felt like screaming at the top of her lungs. Her world had been turned upside down and there was no way to un-see the words before her. Besides, that wouldn’t save her or Carol, the only mother she’d ever known. She always said they were two peas in a pod, them against the world.

  Amanda focused on the rest of the letter, but the words seemed to pale in significance.

  “What’s it say?” Jason asked.

  She swallowed. “Um…my mother isn’t really my mother. She’s my mother’s twin sister.” Cold fingers of dread gripped Amanda’s heart.

  Jason’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Are you serious?”

  “Apparently.” Shielding her heart from any further heartache, Amanda spoke coldly. “There’s more. Melissa, or my real mother, was a scientist who created a formula for a deadly virus, but she did it by accident. By the time she’d realized, her boss had sold it to some very bad people.”

  Jason ran his hand through his hair. “This sounds like something that would happen in a movie, not real life.”

  “Yeah, but it is real life. It’s my life.”

  “Don’t you think it’s time to tell—”

  Amanda pushed at Jason’s buff chest. “No, you promised.”

  “I know, but this—”

  Anger bled through her veins. “Jason, you said your promise was worth something, that I could count on you. Is it, or were you just giving me a line that you give to all the girls you meet?”

  Jason’s brows drew together at her tone and his gaze held her glued to the spot. “No, it wasn’t just a line, but this is bigger than both of us. Your mother was murdered, for God’s sake.”

  She shook her head. “No, the woman who gave birth to me was murdered. My mother is suffering at the hands of those bastards and it’s up to me to help her. If I can’t trust you, I’ll do it without your help.”

  “You can trust me,” Jason said.

  “Can I?” she asked, her throat tightening.

  “Yes,” he said without an ounce of hesitation.

  “So, you’ll still help me?”

  “Yes, of course. Now, why don’t you finish reading that letter so we both know what’s going on.”

  Amanda’s heart skipped a beat at the concern in Jason’s eyes. “Um.” She paused, returning her gaze to the page. “Turns out my mother realized what her boss was up to, but instead of reporting him, she stole the formula and put it onto an SD card and hid it in this box, destroying any evidence that it existed.”

  Why would she do such a thing? Why didn’t you go to the police?

  “After her boss went missing, she thought hiding it would keep her alive. A bargaining chip, of sorts. She made her sister promise to take care of me if anything happened to her.”

  She closed her eyes, and for a moment, imagined what it would have been like to grow up with a mother and an aunt. They would have been a real family. A lone tear slid down her cheek, and he thumbed it away.

  That’s why we always moved. Every time they got close, Carol would find some reason to move us on to another town, a new job, a better school.

  “That’s what they were looking for when they ransacked my house. I don’t know how they knew, but they must have thought the SD card was in the locket.”

  “That’s some pretty heavy stuff. What are you going to do?”

  “The only thing I can do,” Amanda said, annoyance evident in her tone. “I have to save my mother. I know she’s not my real mother, but she’s the only one I’ve ever known. She’s my whole life.”

  She picked up the wooden box and headed back to the car, leaving Jason to lock the roller door behind her. His blond hair glowed under the haze of the moonlight. Her heart skipped a beat as the lean image of his shirtless torso invaded her thoughts. He really was a handsome guy.

  Heat rose in her body, restricting her ability to breathe, her head spinning. Oh, my God, what have I done?

  Her gaze fell to the box resting on her lap. Everyone who knew about the SD card was either dead or running for their lives, and now, that included Jason.

  Me and my big mouth. I never should have told him. I should never have gone to see his friend, Michelle, this morning. If I hadn’t hidden in his stupid treehouse, he never would have found me and he wouldn’t be in the danger he is now.

  Tears burned Amanda’s eyelids. He’d already started to mean so much more to her than a friend. She couldn’t undo what had been done, but she could protect him from getting caught in the crossfire. When he woke up in the morning, she’d be gone. For good.

  Chapter 7

  COME on, pick up…pick up. Jason’s stomach plummeted every time he looked at Amanda’s empty bed. How was it she was able to slip out of the room without his knowledge—again? It was not as if he was a heavy sleeper.

  Her phone rang out. He dialed again.

  Darn it, Amanda, what are you doing?

  He wanted to scream at her. What was it about this girl that she insisted on facing these men alone? She was going to get herself killed if she was not careful. Jason tensed, and his palms grew sweaty. Scattered images of Amanda’s lifeless body suffocated his mind.

  He wanted to yell at her, shake her for leaving without him. How was he supposed to explain his feelings for her or hold her in his arms if she ended up dead?

  No answer—again.

  “No,” Jason barked. “Over my dead body.” He could help her, but it would mean breaking his promise. Better she be mad at him than a lifeless body buried six feet under the ground.

  His pulse rate kicked up, as did his breathing. With trembling fingers, he dialed his dad’s mobile number. If there’s one time to believe me, Dad, this is it.

  “Jason?” Malcolm’s voice boomed over the line.

  “Dad.” Jason paused. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and prepared for the impending confrontat
ion. “I need your help?”

  “What’s wrong? Are you all right?” His voice was edged with trepidation.

  “Yes, I’m all right for now, but I need your help, please,” he begged.

  “Is it Aaron? Has he come home?”

  “No. Dad, this has nothing to do with Aaron. Listen, I’ll explain everything, just promise me you will believe me?”

  “How about you ex—”

  “No,” Jason blurted out. “You either believe me or you don’t. I haven’t got time to waste. A friend of mine is in real danger, a special friend. Now, are you going to help me or not?”

  “All right, Jason. Calm down. I’m listening.”

  “Two nights ago, I found a frightened girl hiding in our treehouse.”

  “What the—,” Malcolm roared.

  “Dad, just listen. She’s on the run. Her house was ransacked, and now they’re holding her mother hostage and they’re going to kill her unless, Amanda, the girl I found in our treehouse, gives them an SD card they’re after, that holds the formula for a deadly virus.” Jason’s gut tightened. “Dad, she’s already left to meet them alone. They’re bad people. They’ll kill her and her mother once they get the SD card. Please, you have to help me.”

  Jason winced and held the phone inches from his ear as Malcolm’s colorful expletives filled the room.

  “Dad…Dad, calm down.”

  “Calm down? Don’t tell me to calm down,” Malcolm yelled.

  Cursing to himself, he glanced at his desk clock. “You can ground me, yell at me, do whatever you want, after we help Amanda.” Jason’s heart pounded harder. “Please, Dad, she means a lot to me. I’ll explain everything, but you’re the best detective I know, and if anyone can help her, it’s you.”

  “All right, Jason,” he yielded. “Let’s work on protecting Amanda and her mother and that SD card. Then we’ll discuss you lying to me.”

  His dad was a good detective, the best he knew. He couldn’t help Amanda alone. He just hoped she would forgive him when it was all over.

  * * * *

  Amanda stood beside the playground café, shielded by the door. Forty-five minutes ahead of schedule. Nervous energy skated up her spine. She wrapped her jacket around her chilled body, and her stomach knotted. She scanned the area, memorizing each person as they walked, drove, or cycled past. Thankfully, there was only one family on the playground, and it wasn’t packed with toddlers.

  Her stomach made the familiar growl it always did when it was hungry. Her brain knew she should’ve eaten, but she couldn’t.

  I miss you, Mum. Please come home safe. She had the SD card, but what if that wasn’t enough? What if they wanted more? What if she failed? Helpless panic rippled over her. She couldn’t fail. There was no question. If she had to, she’d give her life to save her mother.

  A renewed determination soared through her veins. She checked the playground again. Empty. Where did they go?

  Terror washed through her veins. No, no, no. It can’t be. She shook her head, praying her eyes deceived her. They weren’t. Jason’s familiar figure stalked toward her, anger firmly set in his jaw.

  The knot in Amanda’s stomach grew bigger. Why did he have to follow me?

  Her breath caught in her throat. He stopped a foot away, and their gazes connected.

  “You mind telling me what you’re doing?” He snarled.

  Her heart pounded like a jackhammer. She didn’t have time to deal with this right now. They’d be there soon with her mum.

  “Jason, what are you doing here?” she growled, running her hand through her hair. “I left so you wouldn’t be involved any longer.”

  “I don’t care why you left,” he said.

  Amanda recoiled at his anger. She held on by the thinnest of threads, and now she had to worry about Jason getting hurt as well.

  “Jason, please, you need to leave before they get here,” she pleaded, grinding her hands against his muscled chest, ready to push him away if she had to.

  He brushed a hand over her check and pushed her hair behind her ear. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  She felt his touch all the way to her heart. She couldn’t allow Jason to get hurt. She had to do this, but he didn’t.

  “Why won’t you leave me to do this alone?” she asked.

  He threaded his hands through her hair, smiled, and bent down and captured her mouth with his. For a moment, she let go. She trembled as she kissed him back. Her mind drifted as their tongues danced together as if they’d known each other a lifetime.

  She’d never felt such pleasure. Her pulse quickened at his delicate touch. Amanda pulled away, her lungs starved for air. Gasping, her mouth went dry.

  “That’s why I’m not leaving,” he whispered, his forehead resting against hers.

  “But—”

  He silenced her with a finger over her lips. “I’m not about to let you walk into an ambush. I have strong feelings for you, Amanda. I think I’ve made my point clear on that issue.” He smirked. “What would be the point if you get hurt or worse, turn up dead? How am I supposed to ask you out then, huh?”

  Amanda swallowed the golf ball-size lump in her throat.

  “Now, I know you’re going to be pissed and you can hate me all you like, but my dad is here with back-up.”

  Amanda’s eyes widened in alarm. “You promised you wouldn’t tell.” Betrayal stabbed her heart. How could he?

  “You gave me no choice,” he argued. “These are obviously very dangerous men, and I want you alive. So be mad, be angry at me, but at least you’ll be alive to do it.”

  His words bombarded her, and for the longest time, she just stared at him, dumbfounded.

  “Listen, my dad has a plan,” Jason continued.

  Amanda’s eyebrows furrowed. “A plan?”

  “Yes, we haven’t got much time, so listen carefully.” His voice was rushed. “You will have noticed that the playground is now empty.”

  She nodded.

  “I told you he and his partners are the best at what they do. They’ve made sure there will be no one here while the exchange happens.”

  “What…How?” She gasped.

  “Never mind. Now, do you still have the SD card?” he asked.

  She nodded.

  “Okay, this is what you’re going to do,” he said firmly. “When they arrive, they’ll ask for the locket, assuming the SD card is in it. Tell them you want to see your mum, see she’s alive.”

  Her voice was laced with fear. “But what if they won’t let me see her?”

  “Tell them you have hidden the locket in a secure location and posted a letter to the police, identifying its location, and when you both are safe, you will call and tell them where to find it. Otherwise, the police will get the locket first. Be sure your mum is with them. Don’t agree to anything unless you see her.”

  Amanda felt the blood drain from her face. “I’m scared.”

  “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little scared myself.” He smiled. “But I trust my dad, and if he says it can work, I believe him.”

  She squared her shoulders and looked him straight in the eyes. “Let’s do this.”

  “Okay, I promised my dad that I would wait out of sight in the café. It’s the only way he let me tag along. It’s closed to the public, but he’s arranged access, so I’ll be right here all the time.”

  She nodded.

  He lowered his mouth and sealed his lips over hers in a fleeting kiss that had her stomach doing somersaults. His comfort bled into her, giving her the strength she desperately needed.

  Then he was gone, headed for the café door.

  Chapter 8

  AMANDA spotted a black SUV pulling off the road and into the parking bays. Her heart skipped a beat. She shook her hands, trying not to freak out. This is it. Do exactly as Jason said and everything will be all right. It has to be.

  She hesitantly walked to the slide, keeping a watchful eye on
the SUV with each step. Time stood still as she waited for someone, anyone, to exit the car. Her body leapt to attention as two evil-looking men headed in her direction.

  Stay calm, for the love of God, stay calm.

  Amanda sucked in her breath, trying to stay in control of the rising panic flooding her body. It’s him, the gangster from the house. The sight of him sent cold shivers running up her spine.

  Desperation made her bold. “That’s far enough,” she yelled. “Where’s my mother?”

  He laughed at her pleading voice. “Where’s the locket, Amanda?”

  Her gut tightened as her name rolled off his tongue. “My mother for the locket, or should I say, the SD card. That’s a fair trade, don’t you think?”

  His eyes widened and his nostrils flared as she threw his words back in his face. Take that.

  “You’re playing with fire, young lady, and you’re going to get burned if you’re not careful,” he growled, holding out his hand. “Now give me the locket, or I give the order to kill your mother.”

  “Wait,” Amanda yelled. “The locket is in a very safe place, and unless you let me see my mother, the police will know about it soon enough.”

  “You stupid girl,” he yelled. “What have you done?”

  Her pulse rate kicked up and sweat beaded her forehead. “It’s hidden in a secure location, and I posted a letter to the police, identifying what it is and where to find it. So unless you bring my mother here, now, the police are going to think it’s Christmas when they find that SD card. What will you tell your boss then, eh?”

  Amanda’s chest clenched at the blatant anger in his eyes, but she stood her ground, refusing to show him the fear raging inside her.

  “Fine, have it your way.” He held up his right hand, and the back door of the SUV opened. Relief slammed into her, nearly knocking her to her knees, as her mother headed in her direction. It took all her strength not to run into her arms.