The Mermaid & The Crocodile (The Kill List Series Book One)

by Edee M. Fallon

  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Part One

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Excerpt

  Acknowledgements

  The Kill List (A Killer Playlist)

  About The Author

  “To sit back hoping that someday, some way, someone will make things right is to go on feeding the crocodile, hoping he will eat you last—but eat you he will.”

  —Ronald Reagan

  “But a mermaid has no tears, and therefore she suffers so much more.”

  —Hans Christian Andersen, The Little Mermaid

  Copyright

  Edee Marie Fallon

  The Mermaid & The Crocodile

  The Kill List Book One

  © 2014, Edee Marie Fallon

  Self-Published

  authoredeemfallon@gmail.com

  www.facebook.com/edeemfallonauthor

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under the International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any forms or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the express written permission of the author or publisher.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Cover art designed by Edee Marie Fallon

  Copyright ©2014 Edee Marie Fallon

  Editing by Edee Marie Fallon at Mad Spark Editing

  Dedication

  To Scott and Dee Dee … shit bird and tumble turd. Thank you for helping shape the course of the rest of my life, and for everything else there isn’t room enough to say. This story would not exist without you. I love you both.

  The Mermaid & The Crocodile

  The Kill List Book One

  Edee M. Fallon

  “Seek not the demise of others, for you will surely find your own.”

  -The Mermaid &The Crocodile

  I stood in the pouring rain as an observer. A masked man approaches a woman in a car. Words I cannot hear are shared. A sudden flash as bright as lightning and as loud as thunder echoes through the night. He runs and I chase him. No matter how fast I push my legs, he is faster. I can’t breathe, but I can’t stop, either. I’m gaining on him. I can almost reach out and touch the hood of his jacket. My fingers stretch and I close my hand around it. Then, somehow, I am transported and am standing in the kitchen of my childhood home. The same man is looming above my father with a gun to his forehead. A single shot rings out, loud and clear.

  Tears ran down my face as I sat up in bed, my heart still pounding in my ears, my body aching as if I had just completed a marathon. Even though I had not witnessed the murder of my mother, I’d read the witness statements so many times searching for a clue, that it had become an unwelcome memory turned into an even more unwelcome nightmare.

  Morning had come too quickly; mourning was never far away. Last night I received a late night phone call that my father was found, shot dead in the house I grew up in. I had expected that call for most of my life, somewhat surprised it hadn’t come sooner. It was official. I was now an orphan, alone in a world that I hated.

  I ripped off the damp sheets and stripped out of my damp clothes. I sat on the floor of the tub as the hot water flowed over me, trying to ease my aching muscles and calm my racing thoughts. When the water began to run cold, I stood to wash myself.

  As I stared at the cloudy image in the fogged up mirror, I wondered if my blurred vision of myself would be as obvious to the outside world as it was to my internal one; my father’s words a constant echo in my mind—

  You can handle this. You know what you have to do. You’ve been training for this day your entire life. Failure is not an option.

  After calling my advisor, explaining that I would not be finishing my final semester, I packed my bags and loaded up the car. There was no one here to say goodbye to. I was headed to say my final goodbye to the only person that I once had in the world.

  The road trip was uneventful. I kept the radio off, which left me alone with my thoughts. I allowed myself these hours to cry my final tears, but they never came. It wasn’t that I hadn’t been devastated by my father’s death; it broke the last human part of me. If my father’s intention was to make me a hardened killer, he succeeded, but it took his death for that final puzzle piece to find its home. They say the greatest of assassins were all sociopaths. Although I would never categorize myself as one, the death of my only parent made me numb to all emotion. The only thing left to do was pick up my father’s ashes and settle all of his assets. There would be no service. I had too much to plan for any pomp and circumstance. This is what he would have wanted.

  You know what you have to do.

  I pulled up to my childhood home under the cover of night. Agent Mark Jenkins was waiting for me at the house, as well as my childhood nanny, Estefania.

  “What happened to you?” I asked as I noticed the black eye he was sporting.

  “I know what you’re planning, Little Bird,” accused Jenkins as I closed the car door, completely ignoring my question.

  “Don’t call me that,” I spat back at him as I turned towards the house and into the arms of the only mother I had ever known. Estefania held me tightly, as if she could shield me from what had transpired.

  “Fine, Roberta. I know that look in your eyes. I’ve seen it in your father’s for the past twenty-one years. Let the Bureau handle this,” Jenks said to my back, forcing me to release the only person I ever let hold me.

  My anger swelled as I turned to answer him. “Just like you handled my mother’s murder? Sorry, Jenks. No can do.”

  He looked away from me, placing his hands on his hips; a rush of air left his nose, like a bull preparing to charge a matador. Once he had taken a few deep breaths, he turned to face me again, pointing a reproachful finger my way as he began to lecture me.

  “Roberta, we both know that isn’t fair. Your father tried to do too much. He wasn’t satisfied with taking down the gunman. He wanted them all to pay. He was in over his head and look where it got him. I can’t let you make the same mistake.”

  “You are not my father! You don’t get to tell me what to do!” I screamed, knowing I sounded like a petulant child. The calm I had collected on the road had vanished, leaving a void that was quickly filled with the anger I had attempted to keep at bay. I did not want to fight with Jenks, but it had always been the crux of our relationship.

  “Damn it, Berty. I’m the closest thing to a father that you have left!” he yelled as he took a step in my direction. “You think I don’t know what you can do? I’ve seen what you’re capable of. I know agents who don’t have half your nerve or skill,” he said, still screaming. “Just please, give us some time, okay?” he asked, much more calmly, as he covered his face with his hands.

  “They killed my father! What? You expect me to just sit back and forget? Forgive,
even? Who’s to say I’m not next? I knew I shouldn’t have ever left.”

  “Your dad wanted you to have a normal life, Berty. You can’t fault him for that. He loved you more than anything,” he pleaded, to no avail. Our heated exchange caused my blood to boil and I wasn’t ready to simmer down.

  “A normal life? Seriously? How could that ever be possible? What child that grows up learning how to stalk and kill its prey can have a normal life? Jesus, Jenks. You know better than anyone what he trained me to do. I could never turn out normal. I don’t even know any normal people.”

  Estefania cleared her throat to catch my attention. She gave me her trademark look—a mixture of annoyance and adoration. Before her, I never knew that such a combination was even possible. Maybe all mothers knew how to give that look. I wouldn’t know.

  “Sorry, Estefania. You are the only normal person in my life,” I said to her in Spanish, trying to placate her. She shook her head and mumbled something, too quickly for my ears to understand, as she continued removing the yellow tape left behind by the crime scene investigators.

  “You know what I mean, Jenks,” I said as I turned around to face him. “I grew up around people that are the stuff of nightmares.”

  It was true. Drug dealers, arms dealers, lowly informants and whoever else you want to throw in there as the bottom feeders of society, were the only people I ever associated with during my formative years. My father wanted to make sure I knew the right people when the time came to make my move, if it ever came to that. Well, obviously it had come to that. The only people he hid me away from were the ones responsible for my parents’ deaths.

  I’m sure someone in the Valdez family might have recognized me when I was younger, but I purposefully changed my image while away at college. I was no longer the lanky blonde that resembled my mother. Hours spent at the gym, a good hairstylist and a fake tan went a long way in disguising my former appearance. I hardly recognized myself in the mirror anymore. Now, when I did bother to look at my reflection, a dark haired, dark skinned woman with the physique of a fighter returned my stare. I had even purchased brown contacts to hide my light blue eyes. Physically, there was nothing left of the old me. Mentally, I wished I could perform the same kind of magic to hocus pocus myself out of my incredibly fucked up existence.

  Most people my age were worried about falling in love, finding a job and starting their life—a normal life. My life was anything but normal and I could not see normal in my future anywhere. College had been a lonely experience, but such was my life thus far. My days were spent studying, working out and keeping my head down. Most guys just looked through me, as if I didn’t exist; as if I was invisible. Dad said I intimidated them; that I put out a don’t fuck with me vibe. I guess I could understand that. I probably could have kicked most of their asses and more than likely would want to after they laid a pathetic pickup line on me. Still, it would have been nice to be asked out at least once. Not that it could have gotten very far. As soon as they started to ask questions, I would have had to dump them anyway. Maybe it was for the best.

  My father refused to let me come and visit. He wanted me to distance myself from him as much as possible. I’d spent the last four years in a bubble of solitude, with no degree to show for it. It was the closest to normal my life had ever been and for that single fact, I would miss it. Maybe when all of this shit was finally behind me I would go back, or maybe I wouldn’t want to. My life had always had the sole mission of vengeance. Once it had been served, what would be left of me?

  Fuck it.

  I quickly pushed those thoughts out of my mind. Love was a trivial matter for trivial people. Hate was a much more useful emotion. It fueled my existence.

  You can handle this. You know what you have to do. You’ve been training for this day your entire life. Failure is not an option.

  I vaguely heard someone saying something in the distance as Jenks’s voice finally registered to my distracted mind.

  “Berty, where the hell did you go? You zoned out on me. Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked, now standing right in front of me.

  “I’m fine. I’m just tired. It’s been a long day. I just want to take a shower and crash,” I said as I took a step back, needing to put some space between us.

  “I don’t think it’s smart to stay here tonight,” he said as he placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.

  “I know, Jenks,” I said as I shrugged out of his grip. “I just want to grab a couple of things and I honestly don’t care about the rest. Sell it, give it away, I really don’t give a fuck. Burn the entire place to the ground if you want. There’s nothing left here but death. Even the life I once had here is now…” I trailed off, not wanting to finish my thought. “Just give me a half hour.”

  He nodded his head and headed towards the kitchen.

  Estefania followed me around the house, pointing out what she thought I might want to take with me. Jenks sat at the dining room table, drinking a much deserved beer, while he waited for us to finish. I walked into my old bedroom—alone—to see if there was anything left worth taking. Most of my belongings were gone and I was unsure as to their current location. The one item I hoped to find was nowhere to be found. With a final solemn look, I closed the door on my old room to take one last tour around my childhood home. After loading up the contents of the safe and a few pictures from the walls, I walked out of the only home I had ever known for the very last time.

  I drove to Sunny Isles, a small town in North Miami Beach, towards a hotel room I booked for the next few days. I needed a place to stay until I found a more permanent place of operation. Jenks followed me the entire way, allowing me a few minutes of respite.

  I pulled into the valet station and let the hotel staff unload the car and deliver my things upstairs. I was in desperate need of a stiff drink, food, and if that was me that I was smelling, a shower. Jenks pulled into the visitor parking area and met me at the reservation desk. He remained silent as I checked in under one of my aliases. Tonight I was Lamia Alastor. I had already taken a risk showing up to the house tonight. No good would come of me flaunting my name or presence around town.

  “You and your damn mythology,” he said as we made our way to the hotel restaurant.

  “At least I’m original,” I said with a small shrug, already tired of the subject.

  “Original? Ha! I don’t think the world could handle more than one of you,” he replied as we walked into the restaurant.

  The hostess sat us at a secluded table in the back. We ordered a round of drinks while we waited on our meals to arrive, never saying a word to each other. That was normal for our relationship. I was a silent brooder and he was the over thinker.

  By the look in his eyes, I knew Jenks was trying to come up with a plan to get me out of the mess my father created. I’m sure other agents would have fed my family to the wolves years ago, walking away, never losing a single night of sleep over our demise. I had to give Jenks some credit. As badly as I treated him, in all honesty, I really liked him. He’d done a lot for me and my father. Not many people, especially an FBI agent, would bother to help a dirty cop and his motherless daughter. We both would have been dead a long time ago if it weren’t for his quick thinking. As much as I hated owing anyone anything—a personal policy I adhered to—I owed Jenks my respect, and I didn’t hand that out to just anyone.

  “What are you thinking about?” Jenks asked, breaking the silence.

  “I want you to pick up the ashes.”

  “Yeah,” he said, nodding his head. “I was thinking the same thing.”

  “Just bring them to me here, but make sure no one follows you.”

  “I know how to do my job, Berty. Hey, don’t roll your eyes at me,” he exclaimed.

  “Sorry. You’re right. It’s just been one hell of a day. I really do appreciate all that you’ve done for us … for me.”

  “Did I just hear that right? Did you just—”

  “Don’t rub it in, Jenks. I won�
�t say it again. Ever.”

  He smiled at me for the first time since I’d arrived. “I think you should leave town as soon as possible, Little Bird.”

  “Don’t call me that. That was your last free pass. You know I’ve always hated that name.”

  “I know. I was just trying to get a rise out of you. I know you’re usually on the level, Berty, but your dad just died and I haven’t seen you shed a single tear. It isn’t … normal.”

  Fuck normal.

  “I’m fine. Really. I’ve got to settle dad’s estate before I can go anywhere. It’s not like I have anywhere to go anyway. I just need some time to figure out my next move.”

  “Berty—”

  “Enough already, Jenks. I don’t need any more lectures tonight. Just give me some time to figure this shit out. I promise I’ll let you know before I make any decisions. Can’t we just eat and try to have a normal conversation? I’m tired of talking about it. Just let it go.”

  “Okay, okay,” he said as he put his hands up in surrender, “if that’s what you want. You know I know you’re scheming already, though. I just … don’t want to lose you, too. It just isn’t right, what’s been done to you, I mean. No little girl should have gone through what you did.”

  “Right or not, it is what it is. You can’t change the past so let’s not talk about it anymore. Sure, I’ll miss him, but it’s not like we spent much time together these last few years. I just want to move forward.”

  We chatted about my now unfinished college degree while we finished dinner. There really wasn’t much to share, but it was better than talking about the reason I was there in the first place. I ordered a bottle to be sent up to my room while Jenks took care of the bill. Without asking, he walked me up. I thought he was taking his new found father figure role a little too seriously, but it was kind of nice knowing someone out there cared. Maybe he was just making sure I actually went to bed and not south on a killing spree. Who knows with him. When we reached my room, Jenks opened his arms and leaned into me.