The HiT Series

by Margaret McHeyzer

  “Because, I’m not a damned animal. I told you that already. I let you give me the phone and you’re lucky I haven’t destroyed it.”

  “Anna!” he shouts at me now.

  “Don’t shout at me. Anyway, how can I help you today?” I roll my eyes, totally forgetting Ben’s a few feet off to the side listening.

  “I’m taking you out for dinner. I’ll come by to pick you up at 6:00 p.m.”

  “That would be lovely. I’ll see you then.” Since I found out who Katsu is, I started staying at one of the local hotels on the pretext I was only visiting St. Cloud. Agent was able to intercept the hotel’s booking system to make it look like I’d stayed there frequently, whenever I was in town, just in case Katsu checks. Since he was Yakuza, I was sure he’d check.

  I hang up and wait for Ben’s reaction.

  “Who was that?” His voice is arctic and sharp; His body’s totally rigid, like a block of concrete.

  I don’t answer him because I really can’t explain. I simply shake my head.

  “Do you have any idea what I’ve been through these last fifteen months? How hard I’ve searched for you, calling in favors from everyone I know to find you. I’ve been through heaven and hell to get to you, turned over every fucking rock I could. And now you waltz in here, we make love and what, Anna? You’re with someone else? I haven’t screwed anyone because I thought…” His jaw’s locks tightly, his face is red from fury and his body’s shaking.

  “Fuck, Anna, I thought you loved me,” he whispers, and with those words his face totally falls. He looks broken.

  I get up and move to stand right in front of him, giving him no option but to stand where he is and focus on me. “Babe, trust me when I say it’s not what it seems.” How I wish I could tell you.

  “Tell me you’re not sleeping with him, whoever he is.” He grabs my hips and crushes me into his body.

  Fuck, how do I answer that?

  Anna

  “No Ben, I haven’t slept with him. But you need to understand I may just have to in order to get close enough to gain his trust.” I know it sounds bad, but this man’s a threat and other than admitting to me he’s Yakuza, he hasn’t allowed me into his operations. Yet.

  “Anna, I don’t know who he is but I really don’t want you doing that.” Our bodies are so close and so tightly pressed into one another that I can feel the warmth radiating from him and the frantic beating of his heart.

  “I’ll do whatever I need to keep you safe.” And that’s the plain, simple truth.

  Ben’s phone rings and he lets it go to voicemail.

  “I don’t want you to leave my arms, baby girl.” His tone’s husky while his arms clamp me to his body.

  “I know, but let’s promise each other one thing.” My face is pressed into his neck and his stubble’s lightly scratching my face. It feels nice, familiar.

  “What?” His hands are rubbing circles on my back, and his voice is just above a whisper.

  “No matter what happens from here on in, you and I have breakfast again in a months’ time. One month from today. Back here in your kitchen at 8am, no questions asked, just a morning for us to be free from everything else life has programmed for us.”

  “I can promise that, Anna.” Ben kisses my forehead and just as he does his phone rings again.

  He’s delaying answering it because he doesn’t want to let me go. He tightens his arms around me and finally, after the third time the phone rings, he lets out a frustrated growl and picks it up.

  “What?” I can understand his curt tone. “Do I need to be there?” His words are sharp, clipped. Suddenly his face drops and his eyebrows shoot up as he brings his hand to his hair. “Shit. Where?” He listens for another few seconds. “I know where it is. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” He hangs up, but doesn’t let go of me.

  “What is it, Ben?”

  “There’s been another shooting. Exactly like the one I told you about.”

  “Another assassination?”

  He nods.

  Mmm, how intriguing.

  “I have to leave.” I’m finding it hard to let him go, so I know he must be struggling too.

  “I understand,” I say as I walk to where I disrobed when I broke in.

  “Leave my t-shirt on. It looks so sexy on you. And I like knowing you’re wearing something of mine.” A beautiful warm smile spreads across his delicious lips.

  “I can’t, Ben.” I wish I could but I can’t risk Katsu becoming suspicious.

  “Anna, the phone you’ve been calling and texting me from, is it a disposable?”

  I let out a small laugh and look into his hopeful eyes. I just nod. No words are needed. He knows I can never give him my real number; he’d be in too much danger if he could track me down.

  “Okay. I’ll accept that…for now.” He’s said those words to me once before, a very long time ago.

  I get dressed in silence and Ben goes to his room to change. I leave before he comes back out, but I send him a text just as I get in my Audi, parked a few streets away, saying the three words I know he’s so desperate to hear from me.

  I love you.

  I smile knowing as he looks at that message, he’ll be smiling too. I toss the phone out of the car and I watch as it bounces on the road before it smashes into smithereens. I can’t let Katsu catch me with it. Incriminating text messages would be a sure-fire way to end my life.

  I need to gain Katsu’s trust and find what he’s doing here before I end his life. Katsu–and by extension, the Yakuza–being here is a threat to Ben, which means Katsu must die. There’s no other way.

  I get to the hotel I’ve been staying at and before I pull into the parking garage out of sight, I get a text from Katsu’s phone.

  Dress nicely, treasure. I have a surprise for you.- K

  Great, I think to myself. Another evening I can spend daydreaming about the way I’ll finally kill Katsu, while he fawns over me and tells me fuck-all about his business here.

  I get into my room and see it’s already 2pm, I’m tired and I’m pissed off because my morning with Ben was interrupted by both Ben’s work and Katsu.

  I call Agent for any information update on Katsu.

  “Agent, any progress on the hit?”

  “15, I’ve just been able to hack into some Yakuza records. All I found, though, is Katsu’s name is on a lot of operations. But I can’t tell you what the operations are because I haven’t been able to break through yet. I’ve never seen anything as difficult and intricate as the firewalls protecting that network. I really would love to pick the brain...” I cut him off.

  “Agent, is there anything I can use?” He needs to know I’m his boss and what I say is gospel.

  “Sorry, 15 it’s just…it doesn’t matter. It seems Katsu has most of the authority, but authority to what, I don’t know yet.” Our call’s disconnected and I can tell Agent’s insulted how there’s someone out there better than he is at hacking and protecting.

  I get into the shower and close my eyes, praying my mind won’t betray me tonight by thinking about Ben when I’m working on Katsu. I shampoo and condition my hair, and scrub my body. I can’t have any traces of Ben on me, no matter how much I want to keep him there.

  I use the rest of my time to style my hair so it falls down my back, and apply light make-up. I slip into a Vera Wang dress, deep green and fitted, and my Louboutin black pumps. I look great, of course, as always.

  Just as I finish getting ready, there’s a call for me on Katsu’s phone.

  “Yes, Katsu.” Façade in place.

  I will not kill him tonight; I will not kill him tonight. I chant my new mantra over and over to myself.

  “I told you I don’t like to be kept waiting,” he says in an abrupt, rude tone.

  “And I told you I don’t like to be kept waiting either. Until you greet me at the door, you’ll be waiting, Katsu.” I know he enjoys it when I challenge him, but truth be told I only do it because I can’t kill him yet and I
want to rile him up.

  “Fine. Wait. I’ll be there in a second,” he says angrily.

  All I need to do is concentrate. Breathe in and out.

  Knock

  Knock

  When I open the door, Katsu stands there flagged by one of the Security Guys I saw at the airport, the one who drove me in the cart. His eyes shift around in every direction and he’s carrying their standard P90s. Katsu’s suit is impeccable, and if I wasn’t so eager to kill him, I’d say he looks quite appealing. He’s wearing a dark green shirt with a black tie to match his black suit. Great, we match.

  “Treasure,” Katsu starts, his eyes looking hungrily at my breasts when I open the door. “You look ravishing and those shoes…” he says as he licks his bottom lip that and he focuses on my legs. Yuck.

  “Well my sexy Anna, I have a surprise for you,” he says in a snide tone.

  He grabs my elbow to lead me outside and that cold, serpent-bite feeling travels all the way to the pit of my stomach. Something isn’t right. Why the hell did I have to leave my Glocks behind?

  “Where are we off to, Katsu? I hope it’s a good surprise. I love surprises.” No I don’t.

  “Sweet Anna, it’s a fantastic surprise.” His voice tells me the exact opposite of what his words convey. This isn’t good.

  Check, my façade is still in place.

  We get into a newly-purchased limousine and head out of St. Cloud toward Willmar. Katsu is silent throughout the trip, for which I’m thankful, because it leaves me free to assess our surroundings. I sneak a look behind us and see the familiar black SUV that holds Katsu’s entourage whenever he travels. There’s another black SUV in front of us. We’re between the two cars, forming what they think is a protective barrier around us.

  If I were working, I could get to the middle car. Easily.

  We don’t quite make Willmar. Instead, Security Guy pulls into what looks like a run-down industrial area and stops in front of a building that doesn’t have much going for it; it looks deserted. The feeling of dread has landed. The snake’s coiled around me, waiting to strike.

  Let’s work.

  “What are we doing here, Katsu?” I sound innocent and perplexed.

  Katsu steps out of the limousine and reaches his hand out to assist me.

  He has his own mask on.

  “Well, it’s occurred to me, treasure, how you’re a woman I know nothing about. Other than what I found on your background check, you’ve given me no other information about yourself. We’ve been seeing each other for over a week now and you only call me by my name, when I shower you with affectionate terms. You won’t let me have sex with you no matter how hard I try or how much I want it. The GPS on your car is dislodged–whether accidentally or on purpose–and I can’t track you, which I find suspicious. And this morning you disappeared. I need answers, so I brought you here to get them.”

  Shit, why the hell did I leave my guns at home?

  “Now my sweet, sweet girl, if you do well here, I’ll never mention anything or doubt you again and you’ll have my absolute trust. But let me be clear, if you don’t want to submit to this test, or if you do not do well, then I’ll have no choice but to take your life. Please understand, Anna, it’ll be difficult for me to do so, because you truly are such a rare treasure.” We’re standing outside a door that leads to the inside of a factory and Katsu waits for me to respond to his statement.

  He’s truly is psychotic.

  Great, now you’re talking my language. Let’s play.

  “Well, Katsu, let’s get on with it.” I grab the handle and open the door, giving Katsu a sensuous smile over my shoulder. I sway my hips that little bit extra, walking in front of him. I hear a growl and know I have dominance here, over both this man and this situation.

  I walk in and hear Katsu’s soft step behind me.

  In the center of the room is a table with three chairs, two on one side and one on the other.

  I see what Katsu thinks may potentially be my undoing and the cause my demise.

  I smile internally. Piece of cake.

  Anna

  Breathe.

  “Do you know what this is, Anna?” He takes my hand and leads me over to the table.

  “I think I’ve seen something like this in a movie.” I feign innocence and maintain my veneer of vulnerability.

  I get a flashback to my training with Lukas and the three weeks I spent familiarizing myself with and learning how to beat the lie detector, flicker in my thoughts.

  “My treasure, this is a polygraph. It will tell me what I want to know about you.”

  “But I’m nervous, Katsu and scared. I wasn’t expecting this.” I put on the show Katsu would be expecting of me, as a woman who’s hurt by her boyfriend’s mistrust. I’m shivering, cowering into myself and stepping backwards.

  “If you have nothing to hide, then you shouldn’t worry. The machine’s 100% accurate and the operator’s fully trained.”

  Actually they’re only 98% accurate – but I don’t say that out loud.

  “Are you sure you want to do this, Katsu, I mean what if…” I trail off and cling to him, giving him the opportunity to calm me.

  “Shhhh, it’s okay. Just tell the truth and all will be fine.” He walks me over toward the machine and sits me down in the chair. The operator walks around to the side I’m sitting at and starts strapping me in. My mask is firmly in place, but I need to look intimidated for Katsu.

  I look up at him from under my eye lashes and shed a few tears.

  “Please Katsu, you don’t have to do this.” God, I could be an actress.

  “Yes, I’m afraid I do. But once you pass, we’ll put it all behind us.” He kisses the top of my head and gives the operator a small nod to indicate the he should start.

  Katsu takes his place next to the operator. I steal small glances to see where all the Security Guys are situated. I don’t see any of them, but I know they’re lurking close by.

  The operator starts.

  “Please answer only yes or no to the questions I ask you. I’ll ask you two questions to establish the base lines for the rest of the exam, please answer yes to both of them.”

  I say nothing.

  I calm my body. I calm my mind. I calm my heart rate.

  “Is your name Anna Moore?” Operator begins. That’s one of the names I go by.

  “Yes.”

  “Do you own a SUV?” As well as a lot of other modes of transportation.

  “Yes.”

  Operator man looks over at Katsu and gives him an affirmative nod indicating the detector has registered the responses to those two questions and it’s ready for the rest of the interview. Idiots.

  “Are you a government agent?”

  “No.”

  “Are you a police officer?”

  “No.”

  “Are you from a rival family?”

  “No.”

  “Are you attracted to Katsu Vang?”

  “Yes.” Liar

  “Are you after information on Katsu Vang?”

  “No.” Yes

  “Are you the owner of a recruiting agency?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you have any siblings?”

  “No.”

  “Have you been sexually active in the last 10 days?”

  “No.” Mmm Ben…..

  “Are you in a relationship?”

  “No.”

  “Do you own a weapon?”

  “No.” I own more than one.

  “Do you know how to handle a gun?”

  “No.” Better than anyone you’ll ever meet.

  “Do you have military training?”

  “No.” I wouldn’t call what Lukas did to me military training.

  “Are you attracted to Katsu Vang?”

  “Yes.” Liar

  “Are you after Katsu Vang’s money?”

  “No.”

  Operator man turns his head to Katsu, “Sir, is there anything else?” he asks.

&nbs
p; Katsu’s tapping his leg with his fingers and his eyes are glued on me. He’s quiet for a few seconds.

  “No I think we’re done. Anna, please wait for me by the door and I’ll be with you in a moment.” Operator Man disassembles the machine around me. If only they knew how completely I mastered that machine, it would send them all into a tailspin. I could say my name’s Katsu Vang and the machine would register it as true.

  I have them fooled. My training has paid off.

  I do what I’ve been told because I still need Katsu to believe I’m defenseless and vulnerable.

  Katsu strides over to me and wraps me in a hug. “I knew you’d do fine.”

  “So I passed?” I ask him in a small hopeful voice, but knowing I could manipulate the results in whichever way I needed them to go.

  “My dear treasure, you passed. Now we can put all this behind us and move on with our life together.” I turn my head and roll my eyes because I don’t want a life with him.

  “You know, that has to be the scariest thing I’ve ever been asked to do.”

  “I’m sorry, but it’s necessary. I just had to make sure you’re not here to harm me.” You have no idea.

  I smile at him as he takes my hand in his and leads me back outside to the limousine. Once we’re inside the car, Katsu starts talking. “We need to discuss your safety.”

  “My safety, Katsu? I’m not safe with you?”

  “Sweetheart, I don’t mean with me. I mean in the outside world.” I don’t like where this is going. “I was thinking of assigning you a security detail.”

  “A security detail?” I shriek, a genuine response this time. “Which means more than one person?” I question him.

  “Well, of course. I need to know where you are at all times. And I’ll be moving you in with me, into my home. And you’ll sell your business. You no longer need it. I’ll take care of you now,” he says it as casually as ‘what a lovely day it is today’.

  “What!?” I pull my hand away from him and turn to face him in the car. “No!” Who the hell does he think he is!

  “Umm, yes, Anna!” He still isn’t asking me, he’s telling me.