I scoffed.
“I’m freelance and work alone. I’ve already told you I prefer it that way,” I told Mark.
“I need you with Alan for more than one reason. Until I can establish a working relationship with DeLange, Alan is still in danger of being arrested,” Posner said.
“What did you do, anyway?” I asked Alan.
Alan’s top lip curled up.
“I got screwed over by some friends,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter, Ms. Grey. All that matters is that Alan will be leaving shortly and you will be joining him. I want you wherever he’s at so we can take care of some company business.”
“No thanks,” I said.
Alan’s smile became wide, just like his father’s when he’d seen me covered in blood.
“I need someone with your skills for this project. If you do not do this, Ms. Stanton, I will be forced to inform the authorities who shot and killed their favorite boss, your father, Admiral Robert Stanton.”
“Your honesty inspires all kinds of trust, Mark,” I said with venom.
“Feisty,” Alan said from behind me.
“It’s not that bad, Alex. In fact, I think you’ll enjoy it. You won’t sit still for long, but you’ll get a chance to see a lot of the world. Believe it or not, this is a reward, not a punishment,” Mark said.
“And you get to do all of it with me,” Alan added.
I looked skyward and sighed.
“I’m hoping I’ll have you both back home in a few months. I can’t imagine DeLange will be hard to recruit. But first, I have some unpleasant business I need you to take care of for me,” Posner said.
I took in a deep breath.
“What is it?”
Posner stood from his chair.
“Shall we?”
He made his way to the door and Alan took me by the arm.
“I don’t need help,” I pulled away from him.
“Oh? One of those? You going to get mad if I open a door for you, too?”
“No. I don’t object to gentlemen, but threatening someone negates the possibility you’re a gentleman. So, don’t try to play off your manhandling as a courtesy.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Alan was obviously amused by my anger.
“I’ve closed down the lodge and sent all our guests home,” Mark said as he led the way out of his office.
We were walking through the lodge and I noticed there was none of the regular activity, just men standing guard in various places.
“I guess you could say I’ve got the place on lockdown for the moment,” Posner said. “I suspect we’ll have guests before long, searching for Alan. I need you to do this one job and it needs to be done quickly. I want the two of you on a plane in less than twenty minutes.”
“You aren’t coming with us?” I asked.
“No. There’s no need. No one has any proof I have any connection to Alan’s freedom. I don't have much to hide, and what I do have is hidden very well.”
We made our way to one of the golf carts used for driving around the premises.
“Hop on,” Alan directed me to the middle of the cart.
Nothing more was said until we reached the furthest shooting range. Two men were standing over a prisoner who was down on his knees and had his hands bound. I pushed the button on my watch again and hoped the Calvary would get to us before it was too late.
“You’re relieved. Go back to the lodge,” Posner told them.
Posner waited until their golf cart could no longer be heard. The prisoner had his back to me and didn’t move.
“Before us, we have a traitor. I’d suspected Jake of this man’s crimes and why I sent Eric to kill the both of you,” Posner said. “Turns out Joe was our traitor the whole time.”
I looked at Posner.
“You sent Eric to kill us both?”
“I’ve suspected Jake of double dealing for a while now. When I found out for sure you were Stanton’s daughter, I put Eric on you. After you left the lodge, I called off his surveillance until Jake found you. Jake was always better at tracking than Eric and I knew you wouldn’t shoot Jake, but you would shoot Eric. The night Eric was killed, he was in touch with me right up until the moment he stepped out of his vehicle to confront you. So I knew you were with Jake up on the hill. When Joe came to me with his bullshit story about you not being there, I had another mystery on my hands. It’s possible that’s what happened, but I can’t get to Jake in the hospital. He’s being guarded. But, Joe’s allowed unfettered access. That’s how I knew Joe was involved, too.”
“I had no problem visiting Jake and the only goons I noticed were yours,” I said.
“My men hadn’t made any attempt to make contact with Jake, they were there to intercept you, Ms. Stanton. The fact that the detail protecting Jake didn’t protect you gave me pause. I find I’m compelled to allow you to prove yourself again. It would be a shame to waste such talent.”
“How many times do I have to prove to you I don’t care about you, Mesa, White and Associates, or the government? I’m here for myself.”
“That’s the thing. I want you to care about Mesa. I want your loyalty. I know you’re capable of it. You were loyal to White. So devoted you killed your own father for him. That’s a rare devotion. I think we can earn that from you. We,” Posner indicated himself, me and Alan, with a circling motion of his hand, “can be a family. Eric was part of that family. I don’t know if you took the kill shot or not, but that’s a possibility. I can’t let that stand. This is your opportunity to show me where your loyalties lie.”
I put my hand on my pistol but waited to draw it.
“Just out of curiosity. If I refuse to shoot Joe?”
Alan pulled out his own weapon and trained it on me.
I looked at the weapon. It was a Glock.
“Nice Glock. I prefer the Beretta,” I said.
I slowly pulled my pistol out of the holster. I turned the safety off and held the weapon at my side.
Alan smiled and wagged his eyebrows at me.
“Get on with it,” he said and pushed his safety button off.
“So, all that—back in your office. Was that just disinformation to get me out here to be executed next to Joe? I can hear your story already. ‘She showed up and shot Joe. We had to shoot her to protect ourselves.’ No. I think I’ll pass up the opportunity to give you an easy out.”
“It was a genuine offer. It’s not often you meet someone with your background. Your father groomed you from a small child to be a very efficient killer, then handed you off to White and Associates to further your training in the real world. No, Ms. Stanton. You are a great resource and not easily replaced. I want you to join my family. Like I said, I want your loyalty, not just your skills for hire. Eric was a screw-up. Family or not, you did me a favor. I’m trading up,” Posner said. “Unless you plan on not taking the shot, Ms. Stanton.”
“It would be pretty stupid to shoot someone here and now. You just told me you expected company any time, looking for Alan. I imagine any dead body will be a good excuse to bring you in, or take you out,” I said.
“I have prepared for that.”
Posner pointed off to our left to a place marked by under construction signs.
“I have a nice hole to fill in,” he said.
“You think they won’t be suspicious of freshly moved earth?”
Posner didn’t reply immediately, then asked, “What do you suggest?”
“Alan and I take Joe with us and complete the task somewhere the body won’t be found or, at least, won’t be traced back to the lodge.”
“Makes sense,” Alan said.
“You profess to have no loyalty to Mesa or me. Why would you suggest an alternate plan to protect Mesa?” Mark asked.
“I don’t want to end up dead, or in a government prison. I’m already on the hook for some major crimes since I’ve been working for you. I’m not protecting you, Posner, I’m protecting myself. But, I have a few demands of my own before
I officially join your little family here.”
I directed my attention toward Mark. He raised an eyebrow.
“Make it fast, Ms. Stanton.”
“First of all, call me Ms. Grey or Alex. I haven’t been a Stanton for a long time now,” I said with disgust.
Posner smirked and nodded agreement to my first demand.
“Killing my father isn’t proof enough that I’ve cut ties. Fine. But, I want more than just a paycheck if I’m not able to walk away whenever I want. What do I get for this gesture?”
“Like I said, you’ll become family. Need I remind you, we are pressed for time, Ms. Grey,” Posner growled.
“Mark,” I said sweetly. “I understand you are pressed for time. The tables are slowly turning to favor me. I want more than a regular payday. I want double what I recovered from Mayhaffy.”
Posner’s face blanched and then immediately turned red.
“Ten million? For Joe?”
“No. For my loyalty. I told you before, I won’t be bullied. You aren’t the only one with dirt to sling. I’ve cut ties with all my past associates, but I can easily mend all of those relationships. I’m certain I could tell them of my involvement in several other operations and I wouldn’t be held accountable, but you would,” I said.
Posner’s look turned fierce and I moved both hands to my pistol, preparing to defend myself and Joe.
“I’m willing to offer you thirty percent of Mesa,” he said.
“Dad,” Alan said. “I was fine without a partner before. We don’t need her. We definitely don’t need to break up the company like this.”
“Don’t worry, Alan. I don’t want Mesa. I want cash.”
“Your loyalty, as you put it, isn’t worth ten million,” Posner said.
“So counter,” I said.
“Two.”
“Nah. Nine, five.”
Posner shook his head.
“We don’t have time for this, Ms. Grey.”
“You don’t have time for this. I’m good. Nine, five,” I repeated.
“I’ll give you five, but that’s as high as I go. You will complete any job I send your way for the next year, without question. If you refuse, Alan will shoot you and we’ll take our chances with the hole in the ground.”
“I’ll take five but I choose my jobs,” I countered.
“It’s a deal, Ms. Grey.”
“Good.”
I pulled out my phone and logged into Posner’s bank account. I transferred the money to my account number he already had. Then I transferred it around a couple more times to cover my tracks.
“What are you doing?” Posner asked.
“Paying myself.”
“What? How—”
“You can trust me, Posner. If you couldn’t, your bank accounts would have been drained months ago,” I said.
I looked up from my phone when the transfers were completed to see Posner smiling. I’d expected to have to fight my way out of this and was disappointed in his reaction.
“I think you can lower your weapon, Alan,” he said.
“You certainly are a breath of fresh air. Such a shame you hadn’t come to me sooner. Now, you two better get out of here.”
“Up,” I ordered Joe.
“Lead the way,” I told Alan, who was scowling.
I’d really hoped I could stall until my partners showed, but I had to go with Alan and Joe now. I couldn’t let Alan kill him and I couldn’t let Alan get away. My partners could track my watch and find us and recover Alan as long as I stayed by his side. But, I’d have to watch my back. I didn’t believe I wouldn’t be killed for the five million. I could only hope I’d hidden the money well enough to buy myself some time and that Posner wasn’t willing to part with five million just to get rid of me.
Chapter Twenty-Six
ALAN LED JOE AND ME to a waiting chopper.
“I’ll give you directions once we’re in the air,” Alan said.
“Never learned to pilot,” I lied.
Alan cursed.
“Sit in the back and watch Joe then,” Alan said as he climbed into the cockpit.
I pushed Joe up into the chopper and took a seat next to him with my pistol at the ready. Alan was watching us closely so when Joe gave me a questioning look I said, “What do you want from me? It’s you or me and I choose me. Sorry, Joe. I always did like you.”
“Jake said you’d have a decision to make one of these days. I guess you’ve made it,” Joe said.
“It was made a long time ago.” I pointed at my watch, hoping he’d get the meaning. “Now please, be quiet,” I said.
Joe complied and we landed at the airport five minutes later. I wondered if my partners had ever shown up to save me.
Alan pointed to the nearest hangar.
“Plane’s in there. Let’s move.”
“On your six,” I said as I grabbed ahold of Joe’s shoulder with one hand and stuck my pistol in his back with the other.
As we marched toward the hangar, I took out my knife and cut Joe’s bonds. Then I whispered for him to take out Alan.
He did as he was told and rushed Alan. He had him down and out before Alan knew what was coming to him.
I dialed my partners on my clean phone.
“Grey,” Green’s voice came to me. “Where the hell are you?”
“The airport. How long before you can get here?”
“We’ve got men in place already,” he said and disconnected.
Less than a minute later we were being converged upon by a force of five men. All had their weapons drawn. It was an automatic response to point my own weapon back at them. Joe told me to put it down, but I couldn’t. He shook his head and moved toward the men with his hands raised but before he could reach them, they all stopped and took defensive positions.
I’m going to get shot by my own force. I have to put the weapon down.
“Alex,” Alan’s voice came from behind me. “Back up slowly. We’re only a few feet away from the hangar. Let them have Joe. Dad will understand,” he said.
Just put the weapon down.
I felt my feet pulling me backward and still I fought with myself. Why was I doing this?
I couldn’t fight it and found myself in the hangar scrambling to get aboard the plane with Alan. He went directly to the cockpit and taxied out of the hangar. The plane took a few bullets before we were in the air.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“Not far in this plane,” Alan said.
He pulled out his phone and dialed. Whoever he was calling didn’t pick up. I could only hope he was calling his father and my partners had him in custody. But what did all of this mean in getting Will back? Would we ever find him now?
About an hour later Alan landed the plane on an airstrip in the mountains.
“What’s here?” I asked as we got out of the plane.
“Peace and quiet, Alex. You and I are going to go play like Little House on the Prairie, but in the mountains until I can find us a good way out of this. Dad’s not answering his phone. This is our meeting place, in case things went wrong. He’ll either call soon or meet us here. If that doesn’t happen, you and I will have to find a way out of the country. I’ll just need you to get into the accounts before the government freezes them,” he said.
Alan began walking into the woods surrounding the unmanned airstrip so I followed.
We hiked for five minutes without talking then he started asking me questions.
“Dad said you’d been trained since you were a kid?”
“Yeah,” I said.
“Dad did the same with me,” he said. “I’d like to see how good you are at some point. But, not being able to fly, that seems like a major flaw and one I don’t believe White and his buddies would overlook. They like their partners to be multi-talented.”
“It was next on the list, then Will died. He was supposed to train me,” I said.
“Will Malone? White’s little brother?”
I no
dded.
“He was a damn good pilot,” Alan said trying to manifest some semblance of remorse.
“Yeah, well, shit happens. Maybe you can teach me one of these days,” I said.
“Maybe. What was it like growing up with Admiral Robert S. Stanton as a father? Did he push you into service?”
“Nope. Looking back on it, he steered me away from military service. I wondered about it until recently. As it is, I’m a little dense when it comes to terminology you guys use when working a job. I’ve never been able to wrap my head around the ranks. It makes things a bit of a challenge. But, I know why he did it. He wanted to keep my anonymity. It’s the best favor he ever did me. I can be anyone I want. Did you know there are no real records of me on file? I don’t even have a real social security number. I’m still not sure how Posner figured out who I was,” I said.
“Dad remembered the Admiral had a daughter and she would’ve been about your age. It all fit; your training without military service and the way the Admiral was so protective of this mysterious Ms. Grey. Why would he try to protect you above all else? Stanton almost released me when Dad told him you were in his custody. Then you disappeared and Dad couldn’t find you. That’s when Dad made the decision to turn you to his side, get you to do his work. If the Admiral knew you were willingly working for us, he might take you out himself or have your ex-partners do it for him. Your dad didn’t like to get his hands dirty. Or, you’d be cut off and you might find a new home in Mesa. Either way, we win. Your dad, even though he was an asshole, had all the connections. Too bad you had to kill him. How was that for you? Was it hard?”
“A little.”
I shrugged. I had to keep my emotion in check and indifference seemed to be working. I’d been moving closer to true apathy every day I’d been with Mesa until my partners brought me back in. I had to embrace it fully now.
“It’s what I had to do. He deserved it.”
“When did he tell you you’d be working with the colors?”
“He never told me his plans for me. He kept me in the dark until I made the move into this life on my own. My move into White and Associates felt like my own doing for a long time. Then, one day, I found out I’d been set up, manipulated my entire life. That’s when I started to see my father for what he really was.”
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