Echoes

by Angela Verdenius

  He’d been her beloved companion ever since. There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for the furry man in her life. He was there when she cried, laid on her bed with her, flopped on the sofa when she watched TV, and allowed only Ella to stroke his belly and fondle his ear. Anyone else tried and he nearly took their hand off, as Tom and a neighbour had found out. And Gus. And the vet nurse. And the gas meter reader. And the mechanic who’d called around when her car battery had died. And pretty much anyone else.

  If Boof was Ella’s furry man, she was his, well, woman in a totally non-creepy way. She sometimes wondered who was the actual pet in their relationship, especially when he nudged her hand, licked her wrist, and sometimes even laid his paw on her hand and purred up at her. She swore if he could stroke her hair he would.

  Back home, she let Boof out of the cat basket, fed him the promised steak she’d had ready to win her way back into his good graces, and went out to check the mail. She was standing at the letter box when a chortle had her glancing up.

  Wonderful. The street dickheads were standing there, two older teenage boys with attitude and no brains.

  “Saw someone left a little message on your house,” Billy sneered.

  “Yeah, some illiterate drongo.” She checked the back of one of the envelopes, saw it was from a charity. “’Illiterate’ means unable to spell or read.”

  “I know what it means.”

  “Education is a wonderful thing.” Turning, she started back up the path.

  “Think you’re so smart, don’t you?”

  “I’m educated, so I figure I’ve got a decent head start.”

  “You might want to be careful who you dob in around here,” Justin called. “Bad things happen.”

  Time to nip this in the bud.

  Returning to the letterbox, she surveyed the two sneering teenagers.

  “Now, boys,” she said pleasantly. “I know you painted my wall. I know you’re upset that I told your parents that you two tore up Mr Harris’s garden. I know you’re probably planning something else for me.”

  “Scared?” Billy scoffed. “You should be.”

  “Annoyed, I’d say. But I’ve something to show you.”

  “You’re too old for us.”

  “Thank God for that, too. Now come on.” With that, she walked back to the house and placed her hand over the top part of the sticker placed strategically in the corner of the lounge room window.

  Curious, the teens followed, mocking her the whole time.

  Placidly, she waited for them to come to a stop. “Now, I presume you boys have a mobile?”

  “’Course we do,” Billy replied. “What kind of a dipshit question is that?”

  “Your vocabulary astounds me. Get it out.”

  With a roll of his eyes, he did so.

  “Now Justin, if you’d be so kind as to read out the phone number on this sticker for your good mate?”

  Bored, Justin monotoned it and Billy dutifully dialled then stood there waiting.

  Man, Ella did enjoy the look of first astonishment, then horror that crossed his face as his phone call was answered.

  She enjoyed it even more when he hung up abruptly.

  “What?” Justin demanded.

  “Now look up there.”

  They both looked up at the corner of the house, right at the camera.

  “Shit!” Billy swore.

  “What?” Justin groused.

  Removing her hand from the sticker, Ella gestured to Justin. He looked, Billy took a look, and the sneers were wiped off their faces.

  “Yeah,” Ella said. “Wells Security is watching the house, and they now have your faces on record.”

  “You can’t do that!” Billy protested angrily.

  “Can, did. They’re monitoring the house, they now know your faces and they also know your names and where you live, courtesy of my dobbing. So if you’d kindly leave me alone, this doesn’t have to get nasty, now, does it?”

  “You bi-” Billy caught himself.

  “Come on.” Grabbing Billy’s arm, Justin started dragging him away. “We’re done with her anyway. Old tart blabs too much.”

  “They also know I have Boof.” Ella calmly proceeded to flick through the few envelopes in her hand. “They know what he looks like and if he disappears they’ll know who to look at first.” Idly, she started tearing open one of the envelopes. “I’m sure you’re well aware of Wells Security’s reputation.”

  Billy glared at her, but followed his friend from the yard.

  Satisfied, knowing she’d have no trouble around her home and her cat was safe from Justin and Billy, Ella went back inside the house. True, the cameras were simply recording the property and re-recorded every forty eight hours, it wasn’t monitored, but the pair of dickheads didn’t need to know that. It certainly wouldn’t hurt if knowledge went around the neighbourhood that Wells Security was established at Ella’s house. The sticker would be a deterrent, but knowing her cat was safe was a huge bonus.

  Wow, the day was just getting brighter and brighter.

  Now with the rest of the day off, she could sit and decide her next step.

  The saying was that revenge was a dish best served cold, but she was all for letting it simmer for awhile and then strike. Time to decide when the next strike was going to happen, and which one was going down next.

  ~*~

  The spy base outside the city was guarded well, the fence around it set far back enough to stop gawkers from getting a close look. Not that there was much to see, for there was simply satellite dishes and closed buildings above ground. Below ground, well, that was a whole other matter.

  Wells Security guarded the spy base, experienced ex-military and ex-law enforcement men and women who rotated shifts and kept an eagle eye on everything from the air to the ground. Cameras continually swept the area, Aaron ensuring that they crossed over so no part was ever left unattended. Control Centre monitored the cameras while security guards also monitored the cameras from one of the buildings. Foot security patrolled regularly, the whole thing timed so that not one area of the compound was ever without either a guard or a security camera sweep. Several Wells Security vehicles also did rounds further out.

  It was just one of the reasons why Wells Security was so in demand. The fee for this kind of thing was high, but the result was, as Marietta had so eloquently put it, security tighter than a fish’s arsehole and that was water-tight.

  It was also why a bunch of protesters was caught a full four miles off the base and waylaid and held in one spot by Wells Security until the police came and carted the protesters away.

  Leaning against the ‘roo bar of the work vehicle, Ryan entered data on the iPad, sending the basic report directly to Aaron’s computer. When he got back he’d complete a more in-depth report, but for now his boss would have the basics in case anything came up.

  Standing beside him, Marietta asked, “Did you see what that turkey did?”

  Ryan didn’t reply.

  “Raymond sent that ridiculous photo around to everyone.”

  He continued keying in details.

  “You need to talk to him.”

  Ryan slanted her a brief look. He knew exactly who needed a talking to.

  “I mean, hells bells, where does he get those perverted ideas?”

  Like she could ask that seriously.

  “I’ve been getting these emails ever since.” Scowling, she planted a hand on one hip. “Are you listening to me?”

  He gave a barely discernable nod, because really he wasn’t. Well, he was, but pretending gave him some amusement. Listening to Marietta ranting was always a little amusing, mostly because she brought just about everything on herself. Plus he liked her. Woman had a big mouth, a teasing nature, but she was both loyal and lethal when she needed to be. And amusing. Definitely amusing.

  “I swear you men stick together like shit to a blanket.”

  Out of his peripheral vision he watched her fling her arms up in the air.
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  “You keep getting me to read the section on sexual harassment in the workplace. Well, I think this qualifies Raymond for it, too.”

  “Do you?” he murmured.

  “Yes, I do.” When he continued keying in information, she demanded, “So?”

  He quirked an eyebrow.

  “Are you going to make him read it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Huh!” With immense satisfaction, she folded her arms and propped her hips back against the ‘roo bar. “See how he likes it for a change.”

  “About as well as you will.”

  “Huh?”

  “You’ll be reading the section on professional conduct in the work environment.”

  “What?”

  Powering down the iPad, Ryan walked around to the driver’s side.

  “You can’t be serious.” Poking her head through the passenger side window, she scowled. “You’re not serious.”

  He looked at her.

  “Okay, you’re serious. But hell, Ryan, the entire chapter on professional conduct? Seriously?”

  He slid behind the steering-wheel.

  Throwing herself into the passenger seat, Marietta buckled the seat belt and rested her forearm on the door frame.

  Starting the car, Ryan drove towards the spy base.

  Marietta could never sulk for long. “You know, he asks for everything he gets.” She fiddled with the radio. “Man doesn’t just have a stick up his arse, he has the whole damned tree.”

  Woman was amazing. She just had to turn it back on hapless Raymond.

  Finding a rock channel, she turned it up, opening her mouth to get ready to sing loudly. Ryan looked at her and she turned it down, miming zipping her mouth shut and throwing away the key.

  “Sorry.” She immediately broke the gesture she’d just made. “On the job.”

  Returning his gaze to the road ahead, Ryan relaxed back in the seat. He didn’t mind background music, but Aaron made it a rule that on the job every person had to be able to hear their mobiles or communication devices on the first alert. Vigilance was never relaxed at any time, and if anyone was caught doing it their arses were fired, no second chances. On the job meant on the job. He paid top wages for experts and expected them to conduct themselves as such when working.

  Ryan would have ripped Marietta except he knew full well she was trying to get a rise out of him, plus she’d been ready to turn down the radio almost straight away, her fingers had never left the volume knob.

  Woman was a tease through and through, but she never crossed the security line.

  “So,” she said brightly, because she could never shut up for long, “got yourself a girlfriend yet?”

  He kept driving.

  “Blonde? Brunette?”

  He didn’t answer.

  “You’re not into blokes, are you?”

  He cast her a sidelong glance.

  “Not that I’m judging. Just that, you know, some women would find the brooding, dangerous type really attractive. So would some blokes.”

  Unbelievable. He returned his gaze to the road.

  “You could have any sheila you wanted, tough bloke like you.”

  There’s only one woman I want, and she’s in this very city.

  The sudden thought caught him by surprise.

  The mobile rang right at that moment, and Marietta answered. “Marietta.”

  Grateful for the chance to divert his disturbing thoughts, Ryan listened to her talk.

  “We’re checking in to the spy base. Yep. Ryan’s here, you want to speak to him? No worries, I’ll tell him. Right. ‘Bye, Aaron.” Flicking the mobile off, she returned it to the holder. “That was Aaron.”

  Undoubtedly.

  “When we’ve finished here, he wants you back at the office.”

  “Okay.”

  “I’m to continue the rounds of the security areas around town and meet up with Ben.”

  Ryan nodded. Obviously Aaron wanted him to attend to whatever needed doing.

  The rest of the trip to the spy base was spent in silence while Marietta worked on something on her mobile. At Ryan’s glance, she explained, “Getting a head start on my homework, Sir.”

  He almost smiled.

  “Jesus. Was that a quirk I spotted on your lips?”

  She was incorrigible.

  Marietta lifted the mobile, aimed it at him. “Can I take a photo and send it to everyone? They’ll never believe me otherwise.” This time Ryan cut his eyes to her. “Right. Forget I asked.” Mumbling to herself, she relaxed back in the seat and started reading.

  At the spy base they checked in with the security guards, Ryan assessed the monitors and cameras, and then they drove back to the city. Ryan swung past the office, getting out so that Marietta could take his place behind the steering-wheel. He was just starting to open the office door when she called to him. “Hey, Ryan?”

  He looked inquiringly at her.

  “Can you do me a favour?”

  He waited.

  “Can you wait to tell Raymond he has to read the sexual harassment section until I get back into the office? I really want to see his face.”

  “Go to work.”

  “Geez, you’re no fun.” Putting the car into gear, she pulled out into the traffic.

  Entering the cool interior of Wells Security, Ryan saw Raymond sitting at his computer looking smug. Fun time was over. “Marietta is dealt with. You can review the section on sexual harassment.”

  “Thought that might be the case,” Raymond replied gloomily, then brightened a little. “Just tell me she was spitting chips.”

  “She was spitting chips.”

  “Then it was worth it.”

  Having dealt with that entertainment, Ryan went through to Aaron’s office in the back of the building.

  “Shut the door,” Aaron said pleasantly as he entered.

  Ryan complied, then took the seat angled next to the one Aaron’s visitor occupied.

  Edward, the plain-clothed Australian Federal Police officer and Aaron’s friend, nodded at Ryan. “Hey, how’s it hanging. Left or right?”

  “Hi.”

  “It’s high? That’s tough. Mine hangs to the right.”

  “I’m happy for you.”

  “I’m happy for my nut sac, too. Sorry about yours, though.” Edward’s face was serious, but his eyes twinkled. “Was it fright?”

  Very droll.

  Aaron smiled slightly.

  Resuming his usual posture of palms on his thighs and back straight, Ryan waited for his boss to explain. One thing was for sure, if Edward was here and Ryan had been called in, that meant someone in the AFP wanted the help of Wells Security. Or information.

  It was no secret amongst the higher law enforcement officials that Wells Security operated honestly, did bodyguard work, static guard, retrieval of kidnapped clients, but also other secretive work. Several teams moved in the grey zones, several teams worked undercover. Several teams did things no one else wanted to touch. That was a huge bonus to the enforcement agencies that needed things done quietly, quickly, and without causing a ripple or being tracked back to them.

  It was why Aaron hired not only ex-military, but also ex-SAS, ex-Special Forces, ex-mercenaries, even ex-AFP and ex-cops. There were even a few ex-fire fighters and paramedics thrown in for good measure, all highly trained for security and the dangers that could bring with it.

  Aaron himself was a bit of a mystery to enforcement. An ex-cop, he’d progressed to bodyguard, been in fights to protect clients and done retrievals in third world countries, slipping in under cover of darkness to rescue and extract.

  Ryan knew, because he’d done it with him. They’d first met when he came face-to-face with Aaron in the dark, both facing each other, both caught by surprise. He could still remember both of them standing there looking at each other, both of them dressed in black with ski-masks, weapons pointed directly at each other’s hearts.

  No one had ever gotten the drop on Aaron, the same f
or Ryan, and to find themselves facing a fellow predator was something for the books. Ryan had been working for a shadowy retrieval system loosely linked through the military, Aaron for a law enforcement agency. Ryan was there to take out the leader of the militia group and plant a bomb, Aaron was there to retrieve the kidnapped daughter of a client. They’d looked at each other, something unspoken passing between them, recognition of a fellow-predator. Aaron had slowly raised his gloved hand and made a sign recognised only by those moving through a particular grey zone. Friend…of a sort. Certainly not an enemy, both had a job to do, and they were both centred on the militia camp nearby. Ryan had returned it, they’d nodded at each other and both faded back into the trees. It was something neither of them could ever explain to this day, an instinctive trust that was almost paranormal

  Ryan had done his thing, cut the captain’s throat, planted the bomb and got the hell out of there. At the tree line he waited, something he didn’t normally do, but somehow he was drawn to Aaron. No one knew anything, all going about their business. They didn’t see a guard vanish in the dark, another guard, nor did they notice a dark figure materialize out of the shadows, slip into the hut, and seconds later slip back out this time with a woman in tow. Aaron and the woman disappeared into the trees and Ryan pressed the detonator.

  The camp ignited, a flare of orange, the air rumbling, the screams and yelling.

  Job done, Ryan melted into the shadows.

  Those were the days. Good days, bad days. But he was who he was. Aaron was who he was.

  That night Ryan was sitting on the plane back to Australia, the seat beside him empty. Never one for liking company after a mission, he always ensured the seat had been paid for so it remained empty. Then Aaron had sat down next to him and looked at him. Though they’d only met in that dark forest, both wearing ski masks, he’d found out who Ryan was, and Ryan instinctively knew him, the glint of the pale blue eyes unmistakeable. Neither spoke of what happened. Aaron leaned his head back and closed his eyes, Ryan did the same, and both rested.