Dark Days

by Charlie Moore

  If the Agency wanted him cancelled, it would only be a matter of time before they sent a team to secure his family as leverage. If they already had his family? He’d kill every last one of them. Either way, he had to get them out of there fast.

  He turned the car around.

  15:23:52

  Shirin sat opposite the sobbing woman.

  The young girl to her side wiped tears from her face and squeezed her mother's hand.

  Their movements were restricted by the plastic restraints that bound their wrists and ankles.

  Shirin stared at the girl; there was something about her she related to. An inner strength, a resilience…

  “Your name is Amber?”

  The girl nodded and met her glare. She didn't look away.

  Shirin smiled. “Amber, my name is Shirin. Shirin Reyes. I’m not here to hurt you. If both you and your mother do exactly as I say, you will both be okay.”

  “Then why did you tie us up?”

  Shirin smiled. She liked this girl. “To keep you safe, while your dad and I talk.”

  “What do you want with my dad?”

  Shirin stared at her. She was brave. And smart. “I want to talk with him.”

  “Why do you need the gun?”

  Shirin looked at her weapon and lowered it to rest on the seat. “To help him, talk to me.”

  “Are you going to hurt him?”

  “How old are you, Amber?”

  “Eleven. And a half”

  “Old enough to know the answer to my next question… Does your dad love you?”

  “Yes.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “Because. He does.”

  The mother, pulled her close, “Leave her alone, she’s only a child. What do you want? Just take what you want and leave.”

  Shirin glanced from one to the other; the girl kept staring at her. “What I want isn’t here yet. And I don’t think Amber is only a child. I think she is stronger than you give her credit for. And how about you, Mrs. Dark, does your husband love you?”

  “Of course he does! What kind of question is that?”

  “But the two of you are having troubles…in your marriage…and you believe he still loves you?”

  “That’s none of your business!”

  “Does he know you’re still using?” She waved her protest away, “Don’t bother. I found your stash. Does he know?” Shirin waited for her to respond. “No? I wonder… Is that the reason for the marriage trouble?”

  “He’s never here! How would he know?”

  “Ahh…”

  Shirin watched as Amber withdrew her hand from her mother’s.

  15:29:11

  Adam threw the spare key case behind him, inserted the key into the deadbolt quietly, and turned it slowly. He applied an upward pressure gently on the mechanism and held his breath as the door disengaged and swung silently open.

  In the distance he heard talking. He held the pistol close to his chest, peered through the door opening, blocked it with his boot, then walked into the rear foyer.

  He cleared each room at the rear of the house. He recognized his wife’s voice, another female voice, then his daughter’s voice. They were safe. For now.

  At the threshold leading into the kitchen, he placed each footfall carefully and avoided the spots he knew would creak.

  He rounded the island bench, saw black boots, then legs. He moved forward quickly, crouched, aimed around the bench, it was a woman, dead. In his kitchen. Blood matted her hair. He didn’t recognize her.

  He adjusted his aim and moved toward the sound of his daughter’s voice.

  15:30:08

  Shirin sat next to Amber. “My husband and I, we wanted to have children. Ten of them, he used to say.” She laughed at the memory. “He always wanted a daughter… I think…if he’d had a daughter like you…he would have been proud.”

  “What happened to your husband?”

  Shirin looked into her face; it was scared, resilient, but also showed concern.

  “My husband died.”

  “How did he die?”

  “He died on the job. Killed.”

  “Did they catch who did it?”

  “Not yet. But I’m working on it.”

  “Is that why you’re here? You think my dad can help you?”

  “Maybe. Do you trust your dad, Amber?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you sure about that? Do you think he would do anything for you?”

  “Yes. Daddy loves me.”

  Shirin raised her voice slightly. “I believe you, Amber. I think your daddy loves you too.” She glanced over the girl’s shoulder. “I think he loves you so much that if he was here right now, he would come out, unarmed, and talk with us. Do you agree, Amber? Do you think he would do that? Would he do that for you? How about we try it. Ask your daddy to come out and talk with me.”

  “My daddy would if he was here. If you try to hurt us, my daddy will stop you. He loves me.”

  “I know, Amber. He loves you.” She leaned closer to her and whispered, “ And don't worry, I won't hurt you. That's a promise.”

  15:30:21

  Adam ducked behind the corner and pressed his clenched fist hard against his head and shook with anger. He looked at the gun in his hand. He could hear his daughter’s voice. He felt like breaking down and crying. So innocent, his angel, in the arms of the devil. Shirin Reyes.

  Shirin’s voice echoed down the hall. “Adam, come and join us.”

  He stepped into the living room with his hands raised slightly. He moved slowly while searching his daughter and wife for any signs of harm.

  “Shirin. They have nothing to do with this. Let them go.”

  Amber pushed herself forward. “Daddy!”

  “Amber, baby, don’t worry, everything will be okay.” He looked at Shirin. “Please, let them go. This is between us.” He looked to his wife. She was silent, staring at the floor, crying.

  He looked back at Shirin. She had a silenced Glock cradled in her lap pointed toward his daughter.

  “Adam. By now, you know what I’m capable of. It's important you do exactly as I say.”

  “Shirin, a team is on their way here.”

  “I know.”

  “If you leave now, you can get away…”

  “They’re not coming here for me, Adam. They’re coming for you.”

  “Daddy?” Amber fought against her restraints, “Daddy, I’m scared.”

  “I know, baby, don’t worry, nothing’s going to happen to you. I promise. Shirin. Please.”

  15:31:06

  Shirin stared at Adam. “Do they know what you do? Did you tell them?” She noticed his wife look up. Watched him look at her, then back to his daughter. “No, I didn’t think so. Would you like to tell them? Or shall I?”

  “Shirin, please don’t do this. We don’t have time.”

  “Lift your shirt, and turn around, slowly.”

  “Shirin…”

  “Do it. Now.” She gestured toward the gun in her hand. She saw him notice, saw him nod.

  He lifted his shirt, his skin in clear view; he turned slowly. She saw the shadow first, then the black grip, a Beretta, tucked into the small of his back. “Stop.”

  Adam’s wife gasped beside her.

  “Slowly, thumb and forefinger, remove the weapon. Good. Toss it.” The weapon plunked heavily in the seat cushion. “Good. Turn around.”

  Shirin glanced at his wife and daughter. They looked surprised and scared.

  “Oh my God. Oh my God,” his wife muttered over and over.

  Shirin looked at her curiously. “What did you say your husband did again? A salesman? Why would a salesman carry a silenced Beretta?” She looked back toward Adam. “Tell them.”

  He shook his head.

  Shirin extended her gun, aimed at Adam, and fired.

  “Daddy!”

  Amber flew forward to
ward her father and stumbled, her feet and hands still bound. Shirin caught her before she landed on the edge of the coffee table. “It’s okay. He’s okay. Sit back.”

  She guided the girl next to her mother and walked to Adam. On the ground, he grimaced in pain. His knee was shattered. He blew short sharp breaths, in, out, in, out. She watched him compartmentalize the pain. Watched him regain composure.

  She knelt beside him, helped him to a sitting position. “I told you to come out unarmed. I told you tell your wife and child the truth. And you didn’t. I have no patience left.” She raised the gun, and aimed it toward his wife.

  “No! Stop. Wait. Wait.”

  She watched him grimace, his face pale, dripping.

  “I’ll tell them.”

  15:31:42

  Adam stared into his daughter’s eyes. He felt her fear, felt her love, felt the turmoil. It was his fault. All of it. He looked at his wife. She didn’t look at him. “I’m not a salesman. I work for the government. A special unit. It’s a secret unit.”

  He grimaced, adjusted his damaged leg.

  “It deals with national security and domestic threats. I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone.”

  “What do you do for them?” Shirin’s voice nudged him on.

  “I…lead a team, on assignments. That’s why I had to travel so much, and not be here. I didn’t have a choice.”

  “What do you do for them, Adam. I won’t ask again.”

  “I…eliminate threats… I kill people. People our government consider significant threats.”

  He watched his daughter gasp. Couldn’t imagine the thoughts running through her mind. His wife lifted her head and stared at him. Her face changed. Shock? Relief?

  “Was one of those threats Harry Reyes? My husband?”

  Adam looked back to Shirin.“No. That wasn’t me. I swear it.”

  Shirin walked back to the seat beside his daughter. “Why should I believe you?”

  “Because I wasn’t in-country at the time. I was on mission in Vienna. Shirin, it wasn’t me.”

  She stared at him, then nodded. “I believe you.”

  He watched her stand and walk to the far end of the room. She opened the glass door to the bar, and removed a bottle of scotch whiskey. “You tried to kill me, twice, today.”

  “You went rogue! It was sanctioned. I was doing my job!”

  “Yes… your job…”

  He watched her read the Scotch label carefully. She nodded, then took another bottle from the bar shelf.

  “And, now, the Agency you have given your loyalty to, the Agency you have lied to your family to protect, is coming to your home, to kill you, and your wife, and your daughter.”

  She was right.

  “Why are you doing this? What do you want?”

  Shirin walked into the kitchen. He heard her empty the two bottles of scotch whiskey, then returned.

  “Why are you doing this?”

  “I needed to know if you love your family, that you would do anything for them. That when I ask you to do something, you will.”

  “I don’t understand! What do you want from me?”

  She stared back at him. “I want you to kill me.”

  CHAPTER 5

  “Dying only matters to the living.”

  THE BOOK OF SEEKAY

  15:36:47

  Captain Mooney ended the secure call, turned, and faced his team. The small confines of the military style van underlined the indifference in his voice. “Mission is a go. Base confirms target on site.”

  “Rules of engagement?” his team leader asked with matching detachment.

  “Rules of engagement remain as briefed. Consider all individuals combatants.” He looked around at the faces of his men.

  One of the men looked up. “Have the surveillance team confirmed potential combatants in the zone?”

  “Negative. Surveillance team have not been read in. This is a deep cover, high interest, black op. We follow the mission profile.”

  15:37:22

  Shirin picked up the silenced Beretta from the sofa and weighed it in her hands. She looked at Adam on the ground, then back to his wife and daughter bound on the couch several feet away.

  The phone vibrated in her pocket. She looked at the display: Marcus. “What it is?”

  “There’s a shitload of activity. You better get the hell out of there.”

  “No calls patched through the van.”

  “No, but they did piggyback off the surveillance feed.”

  “How long ago?”

  “Piggyback off the feed? Maybe twelve minutes.”

  “Can you see anything on the live feed?”

  “Not yet, but three vans entered the gate, would be thirty seconds ago.”

  “Stop the loop and switch back to the live feed. If they’re watching, I want them to see what happens.”

  “Shirin. Three vans. That’s at least fifteen to twenty men. Just get the hell outta there.”

  “Too late for that.”

  Shirin disconnected the call. She looked at Adam. “They’re here.” She extended the loaded Beretta to Adam. He reached for it. She hesitated.

  His face grew hard. “Just keep my family safe!”

  She nodded, handed the gun over, pulled the knife from her waistband, and walked to his daughter.

  “Amber, I’m going to cut you free. Hands.” She slipped the sharp blade carefully between her wrists and cut the plastic restraints. “Feet. Good. Get to the cellar.”

  She turned to the wife. “Hands.”

  15:37:58

  Adam pushed himself toward the chair and awkwardly perched himself against its side for support.

  “Daddy!”

  His daughter rushed to his side, and helped him to stand. He hugged her tightly, “Amber, please, go to the cellar. Stay there with your mother.”

  “Daddy! What’s happening? You have to come with me!”

  “I can’t. There’s some men coming. I’m not going to let them hurt you or your mother. Go down to the cellar, wait for me there.”

  “But Daddy—”

  “I love you, baby, now go.” He pressed his lips against her forehead long and hard. “Go.”

  15:38:16

  Shirin cut the restraints from the wife’s feet and helped her to stand. They stood face to face. “Julie. Get your daughter to the cellar. No matter what you hear. Do not open the door.”

  “I don’t understand…what’s happening… I don’t…”

  “It’s better you don’t.” She pushed her toward her daughter. “Hurry.”

  Gunfire erupted. Glass shattered. Bullets sprayed through the air.

  Shirin dove to the side, readied her aim, and glanced behind her. Adam was huddled over his daughter, shielding her. Julie stood in the middle of the room, screaming.

  “Julie! Get down!”

  She didn’t respond. She shook, screamed, cried. Bullets threw shrapnel through the room, pulverizing furniture, punching holes through walls and doors.

  “Julie!”

  Shirin spun around on the ground, kept low, and crawled back toward Julie. She saw the first bullet whack into her midriff, the second in her chest, the third in her shoulder. She watched her fall back into the couch; another bullet struck her head.

  “Goddammit!”

  Shirin crawled past the couch; the whine and whoosh of bullets flew above her. Adam and his daughter were several feet away, behind a sofa. They couldn’t know yet what had happened.

  15:38:47

  Adam felt the wetness run down his back. His arm was numb. He leaned farther over the top of his daughter. She screamed, covered her ears, and squeezed her eyes tightly shut.

  He hugged her fiercely. The sound of gunfire was deafening. He checked her over. No injuries he could see. Thank God!

  The shooting stopped. There was sudden silence.

  Debris slowly, peacefully floated down. The stillness scared him.
He rolled to his side, drew his weapon, and pointed toward the destroyed front window.

  He heard movement to his left. It was Shirin. She whispered to him, “Are you hit?”

  He nodded.

  “Functional?”

  He nodded. Looked behind her. “Julie?”

  He saw something in Shirin’s face change. She shook her head.

  He felt the pressure build behind his eyes, the pressure building to breaking point.

  “Adam. Your daughter.”

  He held his breath. Squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his teeth. He snapped his eyes open, glared back at Shirin.

  “Adam. Your daughter.”

  In the silence, he heard the crunch of broken glass from the kitchen. He looked at Shirin. She nodded. “Get her down to the cellar.”

  15:39:51

  Shirin slid forward on her belly, extended her gun, peered around the edge of the destroyed sofa toward the kitchen. No movement. Then she heard it. A footstep.

  15:39:59

  Captain Mooney froze.

  He raised his hand, signaled for his men to follow. They had no radios. They were in deep cover, disguised as gangbangers.

  The kitchen was torn apart. A body lay still in the centre of the space. Dead. He knelt to ID the body. It was an unknown. Didn’t match the briefing. He turned back to the two men behind him. Shook his head.

  The man behind him nodded. His eyes darted to the side, his head jerked back, his body crumpled. Two dark holes marked his face. The second man behind him wiped the splattered blood and brain from his face. His head exploded, spraying the wall behind him in shades of grey and red.

  Mooney turned sharply, raised his machine gun, saw the flash, then saw nothing.

  His dead body fell back.

  15:40:08

  Shirin rushed forward in a tight crouch, stepped over the three dead men, saw movement toward the hallway at the far end of the kitchen, swiveled right, ducked low, extended her arm behind her, and fired a double tap. She heard a fourth gunman grunt.