That's Not My Baby

by Erosa Knowles

  That surprised him. “The person who attacked you? You recognized him?”

  “I think… I can’t be sure. But I recall being so angry I boiled with it, know what I mean?”

  “Yeah, I do.” He met her troubled gaze. “Tell me what you remember.”

  She nodded and rubbed her forehead. Chipped pink fingernail polish caught his eye during the slow movement of her hand. “I’d been out, to the grocery store I think. How many days had it been since I returned from the safe house?”

  “Two,” he said.

  She released a breath. “I needed food, the fresh stuff had spoiled. When I got home my feet hurt, so I put up the cold stuff, grabbed something to eat, yogurt I think, and sat in front of the TV to catch a game show or something like that.” She rubbed her forehead harder creating red rows.

  Max waited.

  She continued staring at the wall and rubbing.

  “Anything else?”

  “No.” In slow increments she turned to meet his gaze. Tears filled her eyes, the color drained from her face. Her mouth opened wide as if preparing a scream. He didn’t think she saw him, rather, she relived the events that happened next.

  “Adele,” Max snapped, needing her with him. “Adele,” he called louder, and snapped his fingers in front of her eyes.

  She jolted. Blinking several times she focused on him. “It’s right there, teetering on the line, something I should remember but don’t. It’s frustrating.”

  “I know, but don’t push things. You’ve been through a lot these past few days, when your body’s ready, it’ll happen. Now there are a few things I need to talk to you about, and I need your permission to share this information.”

  She frowned and met his gaze. “What information?”

  He looked around and leaned forward. “Chip Wilson came to see me yesterday.”

  Her hand flew to her mouth and then her eyes narrowed. “Why did he come to see you? To tell you I’m a whore accusing him of having his child? Fuck him, Max. I don’t need him.”

  “You knew he was married from the beginning?”

  Her face reddened. “Don’t judge me. I’m sure he blistered your ears about the type of woman he thinks I am.”

  “That’s not what happened.” Max explained the visit, and the situation. When he was done, her mouth hung open before she snapped it shut.

  “Seriously? Now he wants the baby? But… but I’ve made plans. Plans that don’t include him. Why would he throw his marriage and career away like that?”

  “Because he’s an honorable man who intends to own what he’s done. I think he’s serious, Adele. Now two things. First, I didn’t tell him about the threats or attack. I will if you want, but I wasn’t sure if his story was true or not.” He stopped her from speaking and continued. “Second, I didn’t mention any of this to Sergei. But if you plan to stay with him, he needs to know the child’s father plans to be a part of his or her life.”

  “I don’t want him to be a part.” She straightened in her chair and pushed a few strands of hair behind her ear.

  “Adele, I can tell you from personal experience, the courts will mandate that he supports his child and give him visitation rights. Without Chip, this child would not exist, he has legal rights. His brother owns a law firm, so you can be certain they’ll fight you on this.”

  “Not if they can’t find me,” she muttered and looked away.

  “I’m not getting into that with you. Do you want to talk to Chip?’

  “No.” She shook her head.

  “Do you want me to tell him about the assault?”

  She waved down the question. “I don’t care. He probably won’t either.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Everything we had was a lie. Everything. The man claimed to care about me but that disappeared when I told him about the baby. He doesn’t care about anyone except himself.”

  Max didn’t bother arguing the point. Adele was a military wife and she knew what would happen to Chip’s career and marriage if he came forward and claimed her child while active.

  “And Sergei? Want me to tell him about Chip?”

  Adele bit her nail for a few second, and then nodded. “He wants us.” She looked at Max. “Me and the baby. He promised to take care of us and make me happy.” Her lip curved in a small smile.

  “Will you let him do that?” Max asked genuinely curious. If Adele walked into a room full of eligible men, Sergei would never be the man Max would guess she’d choose.

  “I don’t know. I trust him. We get along alright… but I’m not sure.” She looked at him as if he had an opinion.

  He didn’t.

  Instead of speaking on the matter, he asked another question. “Are you sure Chip’s the father?”

  “Yes. He’s the only person it could be. Sergei… was out of town.”

  “Do you think he could be behind the attack?”

  She jerked back with a hard frown. “No. He’s not like that.”

  Max agreed. “How did you meet?”

  She stared at him for a few seconds. “I met him in the bar of the hotel he stayed in town last year. It was late, I’d gotten off work. Charlene and I had been at it again and I wanted a quiet drink someplace where no one knew me.” She glanced at Max and smiled.

  “Chip was in town working and stopped in to have a nightcap and unwind. I sat at the bar, he offered to buy me a drink, we started talking.” She closed her eyes and smiled. “We talked for hours it seemed. And laughed. Boy did we laugh. I hadn’t had so much fun… since Jose.” She opened her eyes and looked away.

  Hearing Jose’s name in the midst of her reliving a lover’s tryst pissed Max off. He tamped down his annoyance and waited for her to continue.

  “We, um… exchanged numbers before I went home. The next day we went to dinner, and then a walk. It was warm and really nice outside. We’d just made it to the park when he pulled me into his arms and kissed me.” She shook her head and met his gaze. “That was it, fire, sparks, chemistry. We saw each other every day he was in town, another two weeks I think. I thought I’d fall apart when he left. I’d grown to really appreciate his company. But he continued to call, we’d talk all hours of the night, make plans, and then he’d fly in and it’d start all over again.”

  Max listened to the wistfulness of her voice, watched her eyes go soft in remembrance and groaned. Sergei would be a problem.

  Adele was in love with Chip.

  Chapter 23.

  Maintaining radio silence, Franks waved Southern and the other two men toward the house hidden in the woods, two miles from the main road. He glanced at the noon sun filtering through the trees and reflecting off the glass in the back window. Earlier one person arrived and another left. He hadn’t been able to get a visual of either parties but it didn’t matter.

  After thirty years of service, he retired and accepted this job. Part of his equipment packet included a small envelope of pills to be used as a last resort if he chose. At that point he knew future assignments could end in torture or his death. Franks reflected on the oath he had taken to continue serving his country against all threats, foreign and domestic. Although he didn’t know what egregious acts these men committed, his assignment would be carried out to the best of his ability, regardless the cost.

  Exhaling, he strengthened his resolve while the men moved, silent and deadly into position. When the call came in this morning, an offer to prove his commitment and loyalty to his country, he sensed this test would be the most important of his life. They were instructed to kill everyone in the house. No one would leave alive. Gas would be shot through a window and as the targets left the building, they’d be shot. Sounded simple, but Franks knew better. In preparation for, he’d sent Laverne and the children away to a safe house until he completed this job.

  After giving his report regarding the failed taking on the road, he’d been explicit about the capabilities of the men who held him hostage. They were military trained and well equipped. Ta
king them down would require more than gas and bullets. Nevertheless, these were his orders and he would follow them.

  Now that he had the measure of his target, he would be extra careful and had advised everyone on his team to tie up all loose ends. The last time had been too close and he never planned to experience the horror of his family used as a bargaining chip. He’d taken the time to transfer all of his money into an account and placed her on it along with him. When she asked questions, he explained his job could be dangerous and he wanted to be sure she knew that and she’d be taken care of. They talked long into the night, and made peace. If he never saw his only child again, it would be fine. She understood as best she could and he had his affairs in order.

  He patted his top pocket, felt the contents and released a breath in acceptance of his decision.

  Failure wasn’t an option. He’d die first.

  Southern nodded from his position behind a large tree in the woods across from Franks, the other two followed suit. They were ready to engage.

  Franks placed the gas mask on and waited for Southern to fire the canisters into the house. When nothing happened, he looked across the wooded area and saw the top of Southern’s head. He hunkered into position, assuming his partner was preparing his gear. After a few moments, dread settled into his gut. The realization of his failure to complete an assignment tasted like acid on his tongue. Somehow their plan had been discovered.

  Even though death made no sound as it crept behind him, Franks knew it approached and soon he would join his other team mates. The whys of their failure didn’t matter. Someone else would take their places to neutralize the threat.

  Rather than wait for a swift departure into the darkness, he slipped the tiny pill from his pocket into his mouth. Numbness followed on his tongue as the pill dissolved. He blinked as his vision blurred and the pain of a thousand needles pressing into his skull washed over him.

  “This is the last one.”

  The words sounded from a distance as fire raced through his blood.

  “What the fuck have you done?”

  The voice sounded familiar but Franks couldn’t be sure as he gasped for air.

  “Turn him over.” A slap across his face seemed like a caress from afar.

  “Son of a bitch, he took something.”

  If he could smile, he would have at winning this final victory. Death on his terms sounded good, but the loss of oxygen while taking gulps of air shook him. Or was that rattling sound, death.

  Chapter 24.

  Max snapped his phone shut and looked at the men seated in his office. Skinny reported Franks and two others were dead. Sergei took two of them out before he or the others knew what was going on. By the time Skinny reached Franks the man lay dying from poison. Max shook his head, it didn’t make sense. Southern barely clung to life and was on his way to a friend of Max’s who handled injured soldiers without asking questions or reporting to authorities.

  “Everything okay, Chief?” Jimmie asked scratching his beard as he watched Max.

  “Show them Franks and Southern,” Max told Brock while leaning back in his chair. Franks returned. Max didn’t expect a reaction this soon.

  “Seen this one,” Jimmie said pointing at Southern. “Army, old school. Lived by the book, more machine than man. Good record. Got out after thirty. Heard he still dabbled once in a while.”

  “That’s old man Franks, right there,” Greg said pointing at the other photo.

  Max leaned forward. “What do you know about these men?”

  Greg pulled his ear while staring at the picture. His wiry white beard and bald head added years to his appearance. The man was in his late forties but looked so much older. Military life had a way of aging a man.

  “This one,” Jimmie tapped Southern’s picture, “seen a lot of action on the front lines. Good with a gun. Likes to use it, I heard. Ain’t seen him in over ten years. A real patriot, that one.” He nodded a couple times and peered at Max. “Why? What’s he done?”

  Max shrugged and looked at Greg.

  “Franks was a good soldier. An officer’s dream. Never questioned orders, carried each one out without complaint. Heard he saved an officer’s life once. Also heard that officer set him up in a sweet deal when he got out,” Greg said.

  “Really? What kind of deal?” Max asked, hoping for a name to track down.

  Greg shook his head. “Don’t know for sure, just things I heard.”

  Disappointed, Max released a breath, opened his desk, removed the pin and showed it to them. “Have you ever seen anything like this?”

  Both men leaned forward to look at the pin. Jimmie scratched his beard again and then flicked something off his nails. Max groaned. He’d probably need to get his office fumigated for real bugs soon.

  “Looks familiar… for some reason it’s striking a chord inside here.” Greg tapped his bald plate with a dirty finger.

  Jimmie nodded. “Yeah, I can’t place it but I’ll keep thinking ‘bout. Sure it’ll come to me.”

  Pleased to have some movement on identifying the pin, Max gave them an abbreviated account of what happened to Adele.

  “Bullshit,” Gregg said leaning forward in his chair. “Son of bitch attacked one of our own.”

  Jimmie eyed his friend while scratching his bearded cheek. “Well, technically she’s not one of ours. Her husband was and they were getting a divorce.”

  Max jerked upright. No one knew Jose filed the paperwork to terminate his marriage, at least, that’s what he believed. “What are you talking about?”

  “Heard him talking about it, Jose planned to get rid of his wife, but had the accident first,” Jimmie said so matter of factly, Max couldn’t challenge him.

  “That’s right, I forgot ‘bout that. Chief, you want us to help with something?” Greg asked looking at him.

  Max’s gaze slid to Brock’s equally astonished one, and returned to Jimmie. “Yes, did you see any strangers lurking around the club five months ago while Adele worked in the restaurant?”

  “Lots of strangers, Chief. Could you break it down a little more?” Greg asked.

  “Non-vets,” Brock said. “Civilians snooping around.”

  Jimmie chuckled. “With the restaurant, that’s still a bunch. Let me get quiet, filter a few things and think on it.” He stood, flicking his nails. “I’ll be in touch in a day or two, to let you know if I recall something or not.”

  “Thanks, I appreciate it.” Max watched the two men leave his office.

  “Bet you they come back with information about these two men,” Brock said.

  Max shook his head, pushed back and steepled his fingertips beneath his chin. “Don’t matter, Skinny called. They tracked four men approaching the house on Sergei’s scanners. Franks and Southern were two of them.”

  “Dead?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Sergei?”

  “He took out two. Franks took poison, was dead when Skinny found him.”

  “Damn. What were they doing? Chip’s not behind this, yet someone wants his kid dead. Why? Who would benefit from the death of the child?”

  Max exhaled and gave the matter some thought. “First name that comes to mind is Chip. But I agree with you, he’s not involved.” He looked at his watch. “He should be here soon.”

  Brock nodded. “After you tell him what’s been going on, maybe he’ll have some ideas.”

  “I hope so. I’m running out of suspects.” His phone beeped displaying a text. “Chip and his brother are downstairs. Crystal’s sending them up.” Max snapped his phone shut, grabbed a bottle of water from the mini-fridge and took a large gulp.

  Footsteps came closer to the door and Brock opened it just as Chip arrived. He waved the two men inside.

  “Max. Brock.” Chip said as he sat in the same chair from before. “You wanted to talk to me? Have you talked to Adele? Will she talk to me?”

  Max glanced at Brock, who leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. “I talked to her earlie
r today,” Max said in a cautious tone. Inside, he battled how much to tell the man. What if he was wrong and Chip or someone he knew was responsible for what happened to Adele. Franks killed himself to keep from talking.

  “And?” Bernard said into the silence. Max glanced at the well-dressed man who made a play for Tamara and dismissed him. If he didn’t he’d say something rude that had nothing to do with why they were all here.

  “She doesn’t want to talk to you.”

  Chip face whitened as he leaned back in the chair. He raised his hand and then let it drop onto his thigh. “Why? We were friends… got along better than… she hates me?” His tortured gaze locked onto Max’s and he stifled a groan. Did Chip feel the same for Adele? It didn’t seem possible but the look of devastation on Chip’s face was sincere.

  “Let me explain a few things that might help you understand.” Max’s gaze flicked to Brock, pleased his partner watched the two men for reactions, he proceeded to tell Chip about the note. Before he could go further, Chip jumped up and leaned on his desk.

  “What the hell do you mean? Who? Who threatened her? When did this happen?” he slapped his hand on the desk, straightened, with closed eyes and looked up. “Why would someone threaten her? She’s pregnant for God’s sake.” He whipped around, wide-eyed he looked down at Max. “Why didn’t she tell me? She never mentioned this. I should’ve been told, this is my child too.”

  “But you told her it wasn’t,” Max said in a low voice.

  Chip jerked as if slapped. His eyes closed and he shook his head. “But… we were close. I would have helped her no matter what the cost. She knows that.”

  Bernard stood and placed his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “We’ll make this right. Sit down, I think there’s more.”

  Chip looked at Max with a confused expression. “More? More than telling her not to have the baby? What…” He looked at Brock and then at Max again. Feeling behind him, he touched the armrest of his chair and dropped into it. “Tell me everything, Max. I’ll try not to interrupt again.” He took a deep breath and looked at Max. Bernard’s hand remained on Chip’s shoulder.