Betrayal: A Red Dog Thriller (The Altered Book 2)

by Blou Bryant

  It wasn’t a precise science, but she somehow could sense him forgetting. Synapses in his brain went dark, the memory of the meeting, perhaps the afternoon or more, were soon gone, or at least she hoped they were.

  Hannah pulled herself out of his mind before she got in too deep. “I think I got it all.”

  “You think?” said Wyatt.

  With a flash of anger, she said, “Yes, I think. Excuse me for not being perfect at this.”

  “That’s not it, what if he remembers?”

  “Then he does. What, do you want to kill him?”

  Wyatt looked shocked. “No, of course not.”

  “Then why complain if there isn’t anything we can do about it? It’s either done or it isn’t, that’s all there is to it.”

  He gave a nod in agreement, stepped back into the alley and picked up a black bag, just like the one carried by the guy she’d been tailing.

  Hannah called to the twins, and the four took off.

  “I wish I knew where he was going,” Wyatt said.

  “We know. He was going to the police station, your surveillance point number three.”

  As they walked—quickly, but not too quickly—away from the station, Wyatt waved the black bag. “You won’t believe what’s in this.”

  “You’d be surprised, I might. Drugs or drug money, right?”

  Wyatt raised an eyebrow and said, “Both. We gotta compare notes, don’t we?”

  Chapter 8

  Aware of the surrounding people, and now more cautious, they rode the bus back in silence, the twins in front of him and Hannah. Wyatt only relaxed once they were safely back in their room at the center. After getting caught on his first day out, he was irritable and twitchy, his stomach upset. Only once they were alone did they get the chance to discuss their adventures. Hannah sat next to him on one bed, the twins on the other.

  As Wyatt recounted how the guy they were following had turned the tables, Ari poked her sister, “Only losers…” and received a smack on the side.

  “What?” asked Wyatt.

  “She was going to say that only losers…”

  “… get caught,” finished Ari. “But it wasn’t me, no way, he must have seen the giant I was walking with.”

  “Sure, blame Wyatt. It’s always the same with you, the guys at fault.”

  Ari shrugged, playing along. “If it’s true, it’s true. And, Sis, you saved our asses. We walked around the corner and he already had his gun out.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Wyatt listened while the two traded stories and thought about what to do next. They’d trailed the guy to a block from the police station when he’d surprised them. When Hannah said that her guy had gone into the police station, he knew that was their next stop. “We need to get into the police station,” he decided.

  Hannah looked incredulous. “You’re crazy, I’ve always known it, but at least you’re letting it out. What’s your plan? Are we going to break in and search the place? That’ll go well.”

  “We need to identify where the guys are bringing the bags,” he said and held out the one he’d taken back in the alley. It was stuffed with over eight thousand dollars in paper and twenty Visa instant-cash cards. “And, we need to find out what this is,” he said, waving a large plastic baggie filled with pills.

  Ira grabbed the bag and took a closer look. “I don’t recognize them,” she said and handed it to her sister.

  “Nope, me neither. You know who would though.”

  “Shazam.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Do we trust him enough to ask?” said Wyatt. “We can make up a story, but no matter how close you guys are, we can’t let him know what we’re doing.”

  “He’s a guy; of course we don’t trust him…” said Ari.

  “… but that doesn’t mean we can’t use him,” said Ira.

  Wyatt gave them a long look but agreed that they’d ask Shazam after dinner. A knock on the door interrupted their conversation.

  It was Joshua. “Wyatt, I heard you were back. Can we talk?” He craned his neck to see beyond Wyatt into the room.

  “Sure,” he replied, not moving to let the other man in.

  “In my office?”

  He appeared serious, but not so serious that he was aware of what they were up to. If he did, it wouldn’t be him alone at the door. “I’ll meet you downstairs in five, that okay?”

  Joshua agreed and Wyatt firmly shut the door.

  “What’s that about?” asked Hannah.

  “No clue. Perhaps he wants more money.”

  “Well, that’s not an issue anymore,” she said and picked the bag up from between them. With a broad grin, she flipped through the cash.

  “I’ll go see him, you guys can pull a few pills out of the bag to show Shazam and hide the rest.”

  “What about the cash? We can’t carry it all.”

  “Hide it too. Under the mattress?”

  “Nobody will find it there,” said Ira sarcastically.

  Wyatt shrugged. “Find somewhere,” he said and left to talk to Joshua.

  The residential area was quiet, he noted as he walked through. He stopped halfway down the hallway and listened. There were no voices coming from the other rooms. Without TVs or computers, there wasn’t much to do during the day, he supposed, and continued on to the main house. It was bustling and several people were setting dinner out. Wyatt wanted to grab a bite, but a hand held up by a giant security guard stopped him. “Wait outside like everyone else. You’ll get your turn.”

  Wyatt glanced through the front door window. A line-up had already formed, extending down the front lane and to the right, out of sight. “Joshua asked to see me. I’ll come back for food when we’re done,” he said and continued on his way. He meandered, listening to the sounds of the building. A baby cried behind one closed door.

  Wyatt deliberately went the wrong way, walking past doors for counselling services, pastoral services and eventually, at the end of a hall, he found himself in a day clinic waiting room. At a questioning glance from the nurse he retreated and made his way back. Giving up his exploration, he knocked on Joshua’s door and entered when invited.

  Joshua waved to a couch and the two sat down next to each other. Wyatt regarded the older man with wariness when he said nothing at first. The man examined him in return and stayed silent.

  “You wanted to speak with me?” Wyatt finally asked.

  “How are you?”

  Irritated, he said, “Fine, and you?”

  “And your friends?” the man asked, again avoiding the question.

  Feeling like he was in the school counselor’s office, something that had happened far too often, Wyatt clammed up and counted out the number of floorboards. There were eighteen from the wall to the desk.

  The two men were quiet for a while. Wyatt could feel Jacob’s gaze and avoided looking up, keeping his focus on the tiles.

  Jacob gave in first. “I can see you’re lost, you and your friends. I’m here to help. It’s why I took you in, even though it’s against the law.”

  Wyatt stayed silent.

  “How about I turn you in? I’m supposed to. Any homeless without a pass need to be reported.”

  Wyatt briefly met the man’s eyes. “Are you going to do that, or do you want us to leave?”

  “I want to help you.”

  How, wondered Wyatt. What was the man’s game? Did he have one or was he another do-gooder who got busy in the lives of others? People like that always had a game. What they were and what they thought they were, were completely different things.

  “And I can help your friends, too. What do you need?”

  “A place to stay.”

  “We all have needs. That’s one, food is another, and we provide those. But, Wyatt, what about deeper needs? Is the life you lead the one you want?”

  Wyatt hesitated at that. He’d never given his real name. He wanted to leave but felt he couldn’t. Was being reported a threat, he wondere
d. “I don’t know what you mean,” he finally said.

  “Are you happy?”

  That was a good question with an easy answer. He hadn’t been happy for years. “What’s being happy?” he asked.

  Jacob nodded and Wyatt winced internally. The first rule of talking to a do-gooder, don’t engage, share nothing personal. It’s a wedge they use to get in deeper.

  “Take care of the basic needs and then you can worry about what happy is. Here we’ll give you shelter and food. We have a clinic and can look after your health. Once that’s done, we can talk and find out what happy means to you.”

  Doctors, thought Wyatt, that wasn’t going to happen. Ira and Ari would break any scanner they went through. And he sure as heck wasn’t going to let his blood be tested. It was a blood test at school years ago that had flagged him for Joe, the crazy supercomputer. Who knows how many flags were in the system now for him. “We need a place for a couple nights, then we’ll leave. Nice and simple.”

  “What sort of person would I be if I didn’t try to help?”

  “The sort of person I paid for a room?”

  Jacob leaned forward, his face suddenly angry. “Don’t be disrespectful, I’ll turn you and your friends in without hesitation.”

  “Fine, do it,” said Wyatt and stood, ready to flee.

  “Sit down, please,” said Jacob, friendly again.

  Wary still, Wyatt accepted the request. He needed a place to stay, they all did, and the girls were depending on him. “Fine, but we’re not going through tests.”

  With a nod, Jacob agreed. “You understand my position, though. This isn’t a rooming house; my job here is to help people with more than their base needs. You understand that, don’t you?”

  Wyatt agreed reluctantly. It was easier than running.

  “How about we meet in the middle?”

  “How?”

  “One short counseling session each day you stay. No medical tests. And only you. It’ll make me feel I’m doing my job.”

  Secure in the knowledge that they wouldn’t be there long, Wyatt said, “How short?”

  “Fifteen minutes, is that okay with you?”

  “I can do that.”

  “Great, it’s agreed,” said Jacob, putting out a hand. Wyatt took it, gave it two pumps and let go as quickly as he could.

  “Can I leave now?”

  Jacob leaned back again, relaxed once more. “Soon. Tell me one true thing, then let’s go eat.”

  Not understanding, Wyatt went silent and shook his head.

  “You don’t want to, you can’t or you don’t understand?”

  “The last,” he replied. This was awful. He’d rather have his teeth pulled.

  “Tell me something true. What scares you? Name one thing you want out of life. Or tell me, how have you disappointed yourself?”

  Wyatt thought about it for a while. It was uncomfortable for him, perhaps the reason Jacob stayed quiet. What scared him was that he wasn’t yet sure what he wanted out of life, didn’t know where he was going. That was too true to share. Finally, he said, “I’m disappointed I’ve let others decide things for me and control my life. I’m disappointed that I let it happen.”

  Jacob didn’t respond and watched him. When it was clear that Wyatt wasn’t going to say more, he responded, “That’s a good start. Is being here part of taking control of your own life?”

  “One question, you said. That was true, that was my one true thing.”

  “Why is it so hard for you to talk about?”

  Wyatt got up and took two steps towards the door. “I gave you what you wanted and now I’m getting dinner. In the morning, I’ll come by to pay for day two. In cash and in questions.”

  Jacob didn’t say he couldn’t leave and Wyatt didn’t wait for another question. He checked out the dining room but was told he had to wait outside, like everyone else. It didn’t take long to find Hannah, Ari, and Ira in line with Shazam, well down the road. When he joined them, everyone around objected. “No butting, to the back,” was said more than once.

  “We’re just talking,” he said. “Give me a minute.”

  “What’d he want?” asked Hannah, with a motion for the twins to stand down. Both appeared ready to physically make sure Wyatt had a spot in line.

  “To talk about my feelings,” he said.

  Hannah burst into laughter. “No way, you?”

  “Hey, I can talk about feelings, just not with him.”

  Laughing, she said, “Right, right, we can do that tonight, talk about your feelings,” and pointed to the back. “Better get in line if you want food. See you inside.”

  She was still giggling as he walked away. A half block away, he jumped as someone goosed him. “What the...” he said, turning, fists up.

  Trix smiled and put her hands in the air in mock surrender. “Don’t hit me. A girl can’t avoid an ass like that, it wasn’t my fault.”

  Wyatt blushed. “You.”

  “It’s me,” she said and gave him a bear hug. “Got any more money?” she asked with amusement, no threat in her tone.

  “I’m broke today, hit me up tomorrow,” he said and rubbed his ass, which still hurt from her hard pinch.

  “Liar,” she said, “But a guy who looks like you can get away with a white lie or two. Come on, join us.”

  “No butting,” someone said.

  Trix glared at the speaker who looked away with a muttered, “It’s the rule.”

  “You’re right,” she said. “How about you go to the back and let him your place. One for one, that’s fair.”

  “But, Trix,” the much smaller man said.

  “But? Better hurry, all the good stuff’ll be gone when you get in.” The guy sullenly walked down the line.

  “Why would I want to wait in line with you?” Wyatt said and whispered, “You robbed me if you don’t remember.” He took a long look at her six-foot-plus frame, clad in black tights under a black dress and a huge pair of bright red sneakers.

  “Do you like them?” she asked. “I hope so, you paid for them.”

  Wyatt had to grin. “They’re nice,” he said, honestly.

  “Give us space,” she said to the two people in front of them. The pair moved forward. He looked behind him and found that they suddenly had a couple feet on either side of them. “How about you join me because of my charm and good looks?” she asked.

  “Ugh,” he said. She grinned at him, and he smiled back. Wyatt had to admit that she had a certain charm and despite—or because of—her height, she was attractive. He was used to strong, physical women and wasn’t intimidated. “Still, you did rob me.”

  “A girl has to provide; you can’t judge me for surviving.” It was her turn to lean in and whisper. “And robbing you weren’t a crime. You’ve got a lot more.”

  “And why do you think that?”

  She put an arm around him. “First, you gave the money way too easy. Next time, put up a fight. Second, you cleaned up nice and those clothes ain’t from Sally Ann, are they?”

  Wyatt winced. He’d bought what he thought looked cheap, but compared to what people on the streets wore, it was upscale.

  “And you’re not a great liar. I like that, but it’s bad for whatever business you’re in.”

  He kept quiet. Another person looking for information, he thought to himself.

  Trix read it on his face, “Oh, don’t worry, I’m not digging. It’s not my style. If I wanted to find out what you’re up to, I’d haul you into an alley and beat you.”

  He looked into those deep black eyes and believed her. “Sometimes lying is the best policy,” he replied.

  She shrugged. “My work is simple, doesn’t need no finesse. The boys follow me because I provide for them, ‘cause I’m stronger than them, and meaner too.”

  “Funny, your work is theft?” he said, no judgment in his voice, or at least he hoped there wasn’t.

  Her answer was a wink and a slight nod. “That and other stuff.” The line started moving
and they walked forward a few steps, then stopped. “Takes a while, I bet this is your first time eating at a place like this.”

  Wyatt nodded. “Why are you being nice to me?”

  “Dunno. Mighta been that ‘no violence’ thing. You’re different, I like that, and you got a way to you, you’re not street, it’s obvious.” She leaned in to whisper, “Take care, pretty. If I see it, others will, and they’ll try to take ‘vantage.”

  They were approaching the entrance to the house and his friends came out, paper plates in hand, loaded with food. When he reached out to grab a carrot stick off Hannah’s plate someone said, “No shares.”

  “What?”

  “Rules,” said Trix. “Can’t load up a plate and bring it to people in line, is like butting.”

  “They’ve got a lot of rules,” he said.

  “It’s their food, their house, their rules.”

  Hannah shot him a questioning look on seeing him with Trix. He shook his head to show he didn’t have a clue. Three years together, mostly fighting, but they’d got to know each other well enough that they didn’t need to talk a lot. Perhaps fighting made it even easier; they were used to communicating without talking.

  Shazam wheeled over. “Trix and Wyatt, together again.”

  The giant said, “Keep moving, cryp.”

  The twins looked offended. “Hey,” they said in unison. “That’s not right.”

  “He’s not right,” she said.

  Shazam waved them off. “It’s okay, she’s rough around the edges, but she’s a princess at heart. She knows I love her.”

  “You don’t love anyone but yourself.”

  Shazam didn’t stop smiling. “Why are you always so harsh?”

  “Just being honest. You should try it someday.”

  Wyatt wasn’t interested in their differences. He made a small motion with his hand, enough that Hannah could see that he wanted them to move along. “I’ll come see you guys, in the park, after I get food, k?”

  “Sounds good,” said Hannah and walked away, expecting the others to follow. They did.

  Alone again, Wyatt and Trix chatted amicably as the line moved towards their dinner. Against his will, he found himself enjoying her company. She was smarter than he’d expected of a giant street thief. The two discovered that they shared a love of video games and TV, and both had played the same online shooters. When he played, he liked carrying a BFG, which made her laugh. “Compensating?” she asked.