Recourse 2 (The Arrangement)

by Amy Silva

  “Why wouldn’t they?” I rubbed my chin.

  “Exclusivity. Control. Power.” She ratted off, “Imagine being in the right circle, and knowing some very important people who, in their old, prominent age begin to realize that without health power is nothing. How much do you think they would give up to have another five years at the top?”

  My eyes widened. “Sounds like your father has a good motive.”

  Amy nodded, “Control that, and you control the world.”

  She kept her eyes focused on something off in the distance. We stood side my side resting our arms on the freshly painted fence. The horses played in front of us, gracefully trotting and bucking around before breaking into full gallop.

  I drew my eyebrows in as I hit her arm. “Hey, if your father gets his hands on it, doesn’t it mean that he’ll be first in line to take it?”

  Her green eyes turned cold as she closed them and slowly nodded.

  “But then, your arrangement…” I muttered feeling my stomach drop.

  “Laura I need to ask you a favor.” She raised her voice as she kept looking straight ahead.

  “Anything.” I said.

  “If anything happens to me, please promise me you’ll look after Chase.”

  My eyes narrowed as I studied at her face.

  “What…” I cleared my throat, “What?”

  “I have a feeling this thing will turn ugly.” She let out a deep sigh. “I think people will get hurt. There is too much at stake and too many sharks circling the waters.”

  I felt the skin on my neck raise up. I chewed on the inside of my lip as I thought it over. “Do you think it would be better if I leave?” I said.

  She tightened her lips, “That’s entirely up to you.”

  I contemplated that advice many times since. Her words forever etched in my memory.

  CHAPTER 8

  Chase and Amy were requested at their trustee’s office in Chicago on short notice. The trip would take two days. They offered to take me with but I decided to stay, figuring that being near the beach was a better choice in early April. I’d have a fun time checking up on my website and browsing through new client inquiries. Not that I was going to definitely get back in the business, but it was always good to have a backup plan.

  I ran through a bottle of very delicious early twentieth century wine Chase left to keep me company, and passed out before heading for a swim. When I opened my eyes it was already dark outside. I stretched on the soft cream sheets and let out a deep yawn. The windows of the guest house faced the mansion from the back, and I made a note of how dark a white building could look in the night when the decorative lights were switched off or just forgotten about.

  I took a stroll barefoot through the thick shaggy carpet and turned on the small sound system. The soft music filled up the room as I shook my hips to a couple of familiar beats and danced over to the TV. I pressed a button on the wall and a part of it slid sideways, revealing a glossy black screen. I didn’t care much what was on and just wanted a little company. I kept the lights off and with a deft scoop picked up the half full wine glass and the yearbook as I crawled back into the bed.

  With an excited flutter in my belly I lifted up the cover. The white page stared back with big blocked letters. “Addison High, class of 2002.” I wondered where the hell Chase dug it out from. I had absolutely no idea where my own copy could be. As I turned the page, I did know exactly where his picture would be though. Adams, Chase. The very first person in the first row. Always ahead of the pack. His confident face looking back with a broad smile and those devastating dimples. My breathing slowed as memories took over.

  We were at house watching the Gladiator a couple of weeks after we first met. He was so excited about the movie and tried to fill me in on the interesting tidbits. “Did you know they threw bread into the crowd so the people felt happy about their lives?” He’d say. “Did you see there is a guy wearing jeans in one scene?” I feigned impressed and would overreact by digging into my own Roman knowledge. “Did you know Romans were the first to build roads so they could expedite the troop movement?” He’d raise his brows and reply with “You are so smart, Laura, I bet you’ll be a doctor or something.” but then keep silent for a little longer than before. I let out a shallow sigh as I stroked the page. There was I, Bishop, Laura, too smart for my own good, three rows down and opposite of him. A soft smile came across my lips as I slowly ran my index finger down from his picture to mine. I took another sip of wine as my eyebrows drew inward. Who was I kidding? Even here and now, welcomed in his mansion and with Amy being the most amazing girl I’ve met, the peg still didn’t fit the hole. A month here, and then what? My tiny love from eleven years ago, magnified by the excited and sudden surprise and fueled by pure passion of years lost was up against a world much too far removed from mine. Their world was full of strategic partnerships and important influential families, and creating things that made people not die. The best thing I’ve created within the last three years was the large maroon stain on my bedroom wall when I threw a bottle of wine against it in desperation. As much as my artist friends liked the rawness of the expression, such contribution to the arts was just too far from the secluded reality of those who would never have to regret not drinking that wine first.

  In my dulled awareness, I felt the leg tucked underneath me turn numb. I closed the yearbook and pushed it away from me, crooking my body to the side and pulling my leg out. The thousands of needles rushed through it, immediately causing me to rub the skin in response. I got up from the bed only to feel the needles pulsate harder with each step. Deciding to walk it off, I walked up to the window and looked outside.

  The clouds covered the sky, hiding the moon somewhere deep within. The perfectly trimmed backyard was pitch black. The white modern design exterior of the main building sat solemnly against the backdrop of dark sky. The big panels of glass and metal, a modern take on lavish life. I turned around to climb back into bed when I saw something out of the corner of my eye. It looked like a tiny flash of lighting might have reflected off the windows. I turned my head and looked at the mansion. It remained covered in darkness. I looked up at the sky, but didn’t see any more flashes. Deciding that not every lighting deserved a thunderclap, I shrugged and started to turn back. Just then I saw it again. A quick flash in the second floor window. Then another. My heart beat accelerated when I realized the light came from the inside the house. I quickly sidestepped to the TV and turned it off. Mentally picturing the layout I was certain these windows belonged to Chase’s office. My thumping heartbeat rang through my ears as I searched for my phone. I swore under my breath not finding it by my purse, as I could have sworn I brought it in with me. I dropped low and crawled to the window, my eyes wide as I searched the dark backdrop of the bushes in the yard for movement. A couple of rapid flashes pierced the night. Whoever it was, they must have found what they were looking for. I bit my lip as I tried hard to remember when I used my phone last. My eyes darted around the room. I eyebrows shot up as I remembered setting the alarm for the morning just in case I slept through the night. I pulled down the covers and heard a muffled thump somewhere close to my foot. I dropped down and felt the area. I felt something under the cloth and jerked the cover towards me, revealing the yearbook. I swore for the second time as I searched nearby. Something glossy was lying against the wall. I reached out and bowed my head in relief.

  I quickly jumped back to the window and glued myself against the wall, peering just barely over the window frame. I felt my stomach churn as I imagined the intruders making their way through the house. They didn’t know I was staying here, but what if they ran across something that gave it away? How far were they ready to go? I forced a hard gulp down my throat and used my trembling hands to find the power button on the phone. The black screen didn’t respond to me forcing the switch. I shook the phone in my hands and prayed for it to respond. Clasping the finger on top of the power button again, my eyes welled up as the screen onl
y showed the red outline of a battery with a line across it. The light panic turned into full fledged terror as my raspy breath accelerated into the suddenly very claustrophobic room. MY body responded by sending tremors, jerking my spine up from the wall. I grabbed the bottle on the table and propped myself up against the door, my nostrils flaring for a good hour before I found the courage to look outside again. I stayed glued to the window jumping at every imaginary movement in the black backdrop until I’d force my mind to settle, and then finally found the courage to run over to the neighbors and phone Chase once the first dawn appeared across the sky.

  CHAPTER 9

  The house didn’t show any signs of a break in. Chase was livid, and wanted blood. The fact that we had no idea of who was behind the intrusion made it that much worse. Amy was adamant that the whole situation started to get out of control.

  Amy an I decided to fly down to Mazatlan and stay with her friends until things calmed down a bit more. It would allow Chase to concentrate on the battles in front of him. Driving to the airstrip the car was shrouded in silence for most of the way as the tension hung in the air.

  “I just can’t put my finger on it.” Chase broke the silence. “Who would be so bold?”

  He rubbed his ear. “Even Loushen wouldn’t go this far. I think.”

  Amy had her hands in her lap, and was staring somewhere off in the distance. Her face was not giving anything away. I pressed my lips tighter together and shook my head. It had started to occur to me that Chase needed to hear the full story. Lighting reflected in my eyes as I glared at her. Whatever reasons she had for keeping quiet she was going to tell me during our flight. The car passed through the private security gate and drove right onto the airfield. A small pearl white jet stood on a runway. It was a small private plane with a propeller, fit for only a few people.

  “I want you two to be very safe.” He pulled the luggage from the car into the plane’s cockpit.

  “Don’t worry, we will be.” I assured him. “We both know how to use guns now.”

  “I brought a few along, they are in the back of the plane.” Amy said as he mouth stretched into a playful smile, “Along with some other ‘equipment.’

  Chase raised his eyebrows, “Now I wish I was going with.”

  “How long do you think we should stay put?” Asked Amy.

  “The first big hearing is in two weeks. I’ll know more after.” He looked over at the plane, and then gazed straight into my eyes. “I am sorry to have you do this.”

  “Focus on Matrox.” I said. “That is much more important right now than our little vacation.”

  “You got it.” Chase gave he a quick nod and smiled. “They won’t know what hit them.”

  “Where is our pilot?” I looked over at the empty cabin.

  “Present.” Amy lifted up her hand.

  “You fly planes too? Is there anything you can’t do?” I raised my eyebrows.

  “I can’t cook very well.” She shrugged. “But I am terrific at making popcorn.”

  “I am not really scared of heights, but I am a little scared of this small plane.” I swallowed hard, pushing the rising anticipation back down.

  “This baby is pretty stable in good hands.” Chase tapped the plane’s body. “Worst case, there are parachutes in the back.” He grinned as he saw my eyes widen. “Laura, you might feel more confident if you put it on before taking off.” I playfully hit his arm.

  “I am going to do a test run.” Amy inspected the wheels.

  “Do you think it’s necessary?” Chase looked at her.

  “Yes, I haven’t taken it out in a while.” She paused. “I want to make sure everything works before a long trip.”

  “Suit yourself.” Chase shrugged. “Do you want me to come with?”

  She shook her head and smiled, “You two say your good byes.”

  Her leather covered back disappeared into the cockpit. Chase closed down the door as the engines came to life.

  The roar of the propeller cut through the air, speeding it by us. I turned and hid my face in Chase’s chest. He lifted his hand and gave a thumbs up as Amy crept the plane forward and positioned it down the stretch of the runway. Squinting through the blasting air I saw Amy return his OK signal and hit the throttle. The roaring plane’s wings fluttered in the wind as it jerked and accelerated ahead. I felt the butterflies in the my stomach rise as the plane grew smaller in the distance. I started to wish we didn’t have to hide so hard, and could fly first class instead.

  The plane turned into a small white dot as it sped ahead and lifted off the ground.

  “What a shitty vacation this turned out to be for you. I am sorry Laura” I lifted up my chin and looked up at him. A bitter smile relaxed from his lips and changed into a softer one.

  “Don’t blame yourself. I am much warmer here than in New York, and I’ve never been to Mexico. Who knew this whole thing would blow up like it had?”

  He shook his head. “Yeah. Really not what I expected.” I furrowed my eyebrows and felt my face tense up as I looked at the man I felt I had began to fall for over again. He felt my focused stare and met my eyes with his beautiful blues.

  “What’s up?”

  I averted my eyes as I tightened my lips. “Just a little freaked out over flying in that tiny thing.”

  “Come on, I know you better than that.” He lowered his head as he lifted my chin up with his finger. “Are you not comfortable going alone with Amy?”

  “No,” I shook my head. “I am fine with that.”

  “Aha.” He snickered. “So there is something else.”

  I bit my lips trying to find the right way to tell him. What was there to tell? Did I have any proof? Why would I get in between two people who seemed to trust each other just fine. Somehow I felt like I would be a bad guy whether I said anything or not. The cat scratched at my insides and didn’t want to go away no matter how hard I gulped down the air.

  “Laura?” His voice startled me back into reality.

  I glanced up at him and then slid my eyes back down as I bit the inside of my cheek.

  “Chase…” I cleared my throat. The roar of the airplane drew closer as it made it’s way towards us.

  “Here she comes.” Chase turned his head towards the sound.

  The breeze brushed his hair, his handsome face was turned towards the wind as it played with his hair. He made my heart flutter by just looking at him.

  I turned to the plane, and watched it come down.

  “She’s going a little fast for the landing. I wonder if she’ll be able to pull it off.” He raised his voice against the growl of the plane.

  “Chase, she…” My words drowned in the roar.

  The plane thundered a dozen feet above us as it flew by.

  “Guess not.” He turned and let out a smile. “I promise she has done it before.”

  I lowered my eyes down towards my feet. I figured this was my last chance to tell him the truth.

  I opened my mouth and looked up as he stood with this head turned after the plane. As I opened my mouth his eyes suddenly widened and bulged.

  “Amy!” He jerked his hands as he tightened the grip around my arms.

  I followed his eyes, and my mouth dropped as I could only utter a barely audible ‘No!’ In the distance, a trail of smoke coiled down into the the horizon. A few seconds later the airport sirens wound up slowly to ring in the alarm.

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  Uncovered Chapter 1

  Thick fog was making it hard to see anything up ahead. I measured every step, carefully making sure the footing was solid before taking the next. The forest was dense, and it was getting harder to navigate as I moved forward. My only hope was to stay on the road that kept on curving like a snake. Many times the thorned bushes caught my flesh, drawing tiny drops of blood. Eventually the trees began to thin out and I found myself on a small strip of a lake bank.