Marie looked annoyed, “Well that’s sweet. We have things to do. Let’s go. We have a plane to catch.”
Chapter
3
The White House had gone into chaos with the disappearance of the first lady. Security was increased, and every inch was being combed for evidence. President Warren knew he had to keep the pretense of concern, but it was relief. He no longer had a babysitter; they couldn’t watch him anymore. It was his turn to call the shots. Warren kept Ray close. He needed to keep him by his side. He would need him in the coming months. It had been several days since the disappearance, and nothing had been found. It was time to accelerate things. Warren needed the body found, so he could get things moving. He called Ray into his office to push the investigation in the right direction.
“Ray, I think my wife is dead.”
Ray was shocked by his bluntness. “Oh sir, whomever took her would never do that. She is too valuable of an asset. They are probably looking for money. We will get her back,” Ray tried to reassure Warren.
“No, I don’t think that is what this is at all. I think she was kidnapped and murdered to send a message to me that nobody is safe. She is dead. They need to be looking for a body dump.”
Suspicion was taking over Ray. “Sir, what do you know?”
Warren flinched with the suggestion. “Nothing, just that we have had no ransom demands. They need to stop looking for a hostage situation and start looking for a body, or we will lose any possible evidence of who did it.”
His suspicions were heightened again. “You know something. What are you hiding? Sir, if you were involved, it will come out,” Ray pried.
“What are you implying? That I had my wife killed, or worse, did it myself? How dare you!” Warren bellowed as he slammed his fist on his desk.
Ray was not one to back down, even from the President. “What I am suggesting is that you are hiding something, something that would probably help in this investigation. Do you not want your wife to be found?” Ray slammed his hands down on the desk, knocking the pen holder from the desk. Ray’s eyes were locked with Warren’s. The tapping of pens hitting the floor was interrupted by the sound of the door flying open.
“Sir, we found her,” the short dark haired Secret Service agent blurted as he burst into the room.
“Is she alive?” Ray questioned, still staring at Warren.
“No, I am sad to report we found her body. A knife was planted in her chest.”
“A knife? What kind?” Ray turned to face the man as Warren sat back into his chair.
“Russian markings, sir. It is standard issue for the KGB.” Ray turned back to face Warren.
Crocodile tears rolling down his face, Warren spoke for the first time. “It was the Russians. They are out to get us. I knew it. I want all military branches on red alert. They are planning something, and we need to be prepared. I need to meet with the Joint Chiefs of Staff immediately!”
The secret service officer quickly scurried from the room. Ray moved towards the door.
“Where are you going? I didn’t dismiss you.” Warren barked from his chair.
“Oh, but sir, I must check up on my teams, since apparently, we are going to war with Russia,” came Ray’s sarcastic reply.
“Better start with your England team. They are returning to London.”
“On who’s orders?!”
“Mine,” Warren smirked. “I suggest you catch up to them if you want to keep track of your children.”
Ray was enraged, “You have no right to move my teams. I was wary when you sent them to California, looking for evidence of James’ mother, but I played along. You have no authority to do what you are doing!”
“So, you know all about James’ mommy. Then you should know I have the cooperation of your boss. You can check with your director. I set up these teams, and I control them with his blessing. Do your job and get on that plane. Your team will need you.”
Ray’s nostrils flared, his fists clenched tight as he stormed from the office.
Warren smiled as he watched Ray leave. “He will play along if he knows what is good for him.”
Chapter
4
“So, where are we going?” Chessy questioned as they boarded the private jet.
“Back to London, we have unfinished business there,” Marie replied, taking her seat and removing her leather boots.
“We are going back for Blossom, aren’t we?” James questioned, sitting across from her.
“Ok, so you are helping us bring in Blossom?” Greg inquired, sitting across the row from James.
“No, and her name isn’t Blossom. Her name is Jasmine, so fucking use it,” Marie huffed. “We are recruiting her. She will be joining us.”
James nodded. Chessy and Greg were in awe. James was ready to kill her, himself, and now, he was all game for joining up with her.
“What? Why? I get that she has skills, but she is our enemy,” Chessy interjected.
“She has been raised by the wrong sort of person. She is my daughter, and she is his sister, and she will be joining us,” Marie ordered back.
Chessy and Greg’s jaws dropped. “How?” Greg blurted out.
“What do you mean, how? Do you need a sex ed class?” Marie chuckled.
“Ok, she is your daughter. Are she and James twins or something, because they are almost the same age?” Chessy inquired.
“No, I think the term people use is Irish Twins. They are about a year apart. When I realized I was pregnant again, I went into hiding to protect her. It failed, as I gave her to a couple, who ended up losing her to Ming. I had no idea she was in Ming’s hands, until it was too late. But now, it is my turn to take my daughter back. Ming has turned on her, as I have anticipated. Ming always turns on her girls when they fail, and Jasmine failed. She is in danger, and that makes it our chance to turn her.”
“Our chance?” James finally spoke.
“Yes, she is used to being on a team and will need another one. She doesn’t know how to live without the fight. We must give her one that matters.”
Chessy heard the words, but could only shake her head. “You need her to help you fight your own enemies. You are using your own children.”
Rage came over Marie as the words flew from Chessy’s mouth. Marie’s leaped from her seat, pulling a knife and holding it to Chessy’s throat. “How dare you! My children are in danger because of me. They stay near me, and I can keep them safe. If you think you can protect him, you are wrong. Working together is the only way any of you stay alive! If you stand in my way of protecting my children, I will kill you.” Marie’s eyes gleamed with tears as she clutched the knife in her hand. Chessy’s eyes were locked on hers. She could see the pain in her eyes, and she knew she had gone too far. James and Greg were standing, frozen; a sudden move could cause Marie to strike.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to come out like that,” Chessy pleaded gently.
Marie could feel James next to her and turned to face him.
“Mom, please put it down,” James softy added.
Seeing James’ green eyes, Michael’s eyes, she instantly calmed and pulled her knife away from Chessy’s neck.
“So, where are we going, again?” James said with a chuckle, trying to lighten the mood.
“London. She is still there, in hiding. We have to find her,” Marie replied, taking her seat again. The flight would be long, but if she knew anything about how Ming's girls were trained, she knew exactly where to start the search.
Chapter
5
Jasmine was, in fact, in hiding. She knew her number was up. She had to attack James, and that was against her instructions. She always knew this day would come. Ming was no faithful mother as she portrayed herself to the girls growing up. Fear was her weapon of choice. Jasmine knew it all too well. From the day she was brought to Ming, the threat of death to her parents was always there. Be a good little girl, and your mommy and daddy will be safe. That phrase was etched i
nto all the little girls’ minds. Resting her head gently against the steel beam of the old factory, Jasmine wept. Her failure was their death warrant, and she would be next. Visions of happy times played in her head, a mother and father loving and caring for her. She knew they were not her biological parents, but that never mattered to her. They were all she knew, and they loved her. Death was coming for her. What to do next was playing over in her head. Should she fight back or accept her fate? The smell of the old textile factory was stale. The smell of moth balls and deteriorating fabric filled the air. It was nothing like the scent of Ming’s estate, where all her girls lived. Jasmine hardly knew it was wrong to grow up that way. She was only four when Ming took her. The perfect age, as Ming would always say. The first words Ming spoke to her brought her situation to reality, something a four-year-old should never have to understand. “You are my daughter, now. Your parent’s did not want you to be strong. They were fine with you being weak. You behave, and they will be safe. I will teach you everything you need to know to be strong.” As her present situation was clear to her, her strength was the only thing that would keep her alive. Formulate a plan, evade, escape, and re-group. Going back to her parent’s home was a suicide mission. She had to think of a place, but who would take her in? Her body count was too high. She would be wanted for crimes in every country. None would give her sanctuary.
As Jasmine wept, Marie found exactly what she was looking for.
“This is the old industrial area. Nothing but abandoned warehouses here. Why are we searching here?” James questioned, following behind Marie as she scanned the area.
“Because it is a great place to hide. Nobody wants to be or is around these areas,” Chessy replied, following behind James.
“See, she is catching on,” Marie retorted as she continued her search.
Suddenly, Greg stopped. “Shh listen, did you hear that?” Everyone froze and looked around.
“I hear nothing. What are you talking about?” James questioned.
“No, I hear it, too. It is coming from there.” Marie pointed towards the old textile factory to their right. Marie ran towards the factory and climbed through the broken front window. James, Chessy, and Greg were right behind her. The noise got louder as they moved into the factory; it was crying. Fear was taking hold of Marie. It was Jasmine, and she was crying. Was she hurt?
Jasmine heard the footsteps coming towards her. She got up and moved behind the steel beam she had been sitting against. This was her fight. Marie could see strands on Jasmine’s blonde hair, flickering against the beam. “Jasmine!” Marie called out. Jasmine steadied herself. It must be one of Ming’s, come to kill her. “I am not here to hurt you,” Marie called again.
“Liar!” Jasmine finally called back, “Leave before I kill you.”
“You won’t kill me. I want Ming dead as much as you do. I am not one of hers, but she took one of mine!” Marie bellowed.
Jasmine slowly turned her head to look around the beam. She saw Marie, a face she had never seen before, and behind her James, Chessy, and Greg. “They tried to kill me. Why should I believe you?”
“Because they are with me, now, and I will not allow anyone to harm you. Come out and talk to me.”
Jasmine knew she had few options. Her back was to a wall, literally, and taking on the three was no challenge, but she did not know who this woman was, holding the reigns. Jasmine slowly turned her body around the beam, so she was facing the mystery woman. “You say you are not here to harm me. Then what do you want with me?”
“I am here to protect you. Ming is after you, and you know it. You will be safe with us.”
Jasmine huffed, “Please, I took down those three, without even trying.”
“You cannot take me down, and you won’t try. You knew your mother, but you knew she wasn’t your real mother. I am,” Marie choked out. Saying those words to her daughter were harder than she had imagined.
Jasmine’s face was stone as shock took over her. “Why should I believe you?”
Marie stepped closer, until she was in arm’s reach of Jasmine. “Look at me and tell me I am not.” Jasmine’s eyes drifted across Marie’s face. She recognized it immediately from the picture the Ling's had shown her. The picture sat on her nightstand, before she had been taken by Ming. The Jasmine blossom tattoo covered the right side of Marie's head. Tears took over Jasmine’s eyes as she clasped her hands over her mouth. “Why?” she let out.
“I had to in order to protect you. It was the same with your brother.” Marie gestured towards James, who then stepped up to the pair. He had been standing in silence, waiting for her to tell Jasmine.
“You sent me to protect him?”
Marie nodded, “Yes, I wanted you two close, and I knew you had the strength to help him. I am so sorry for everything.” Tears flowed from Marie’s eyes, as looked deeper into her baby girl’s eyes for the first time in eighteen years. Marie reached out and touched Jasmine’s face. “My baby girl, I am so sorry for this life, but I am getting you out. I am getting you both out, but I need you two to help me do it.”
Jasmine nodded and reached out and grabbed Marie, pulling her into an embrace. Marie hugged back. It was the first time Jasmine had been in her arms, since she was baby, and she couldn’t let go.
James watched, trying to hold back his tears. This was his family, his real family, his blood. Marie pulled back slightly and could see James’ longing. She reached out and pulled him in. Holding both her children at the same time for the first time filled her with more joy than she ever thought possible. “We will stop them. We will finish this together. You two deserve a life, free of them. Together, we will make them pay for making us wait this long to be a family,” Marie whispered to them. Both James and Jasmine pulled back and looked to each other.
James smiled. “I guess winking at me is kind of creepy, now.”
Jasmine laughed
“So what next?” Chessy interjected.
Marie turned and looked to Chessy and Greg. “Now, we put Franklin in power. We eliminate his handler. We force them to put him in charge.”
“How do we do that?” Greg questioned.
“We kill her,” Marie replied with a smirk.
Chapter
6
Ray had arrived in London shortly after Marie and her team had arrived. However, his mission was different than hers, find his team. Instantly making his way to the Ambassador’s estate, manners were not on his agenda. He wanted answers. He barged into the estate and found Huntsman writing in his office.
“Is my team here?” Ray demanded, storming into Huntsman’s office.
“Well, hello, how are you, as well?” Huntsman retorted. “To answer your question, no, I have not seen your team. In fact, I haven’t seen them or my assistant since you so politely threw her out. I don’t appreciate your manner or lack of tact.”
“You have no idea what you are dealing with. I need to find them, so I apologize if I was rude,” Ray blurted as he stormed back out of the office. Ray’s head was spinning. Where could they be, and worse yet, who could they be with? Ray found himself wandering the ground of the Ambassador’s estate when his phone rang, a blocked number. “Hello?”
“Time to relax, Mr. Clayton. Your agents are in good hands. I will contact you again when it is time.”
Ray felt a chill go down his spine. He knew that voice; he could never forget it. It was Marie, James’ mother. “What have you done with them? I know who you are. Where are you?!” Ray barked.
“Then you know they are safer with me than they ever were with you. Now, calm down and quit making a mess of things. We will rendezvous with you in two days at the Ambassador’s residence. Stay put until then.”
“Safer? That’s the biggest joke ever. You're insane. Where is my team?”
“Ok, I hate having to repeat myself. I am not telling you anything. You are going to be a good boy and sit still, and I will bring them to you. You will not tell anyone you are talking to me, and you
will behave yourself.”
“Give me one good reason not to bring hell down on your head.”
“Because you know it won’t do any good. This will be done my way, and I will keep them safe.”
Ray huffed he knew she was right. She had the skills to hold her own and take down anything he could send after her. The risk of one of them getting killed in the cross hairs was too high, despite it crushing his pride he had to do what she said. “If anything happens to them, I won’t rest until I make you pay,” he snarled.
“Of course you will.” Marie hung up the phone. “He is such a doll.” She laughed to the foursome in front of her.
“It would probably have gone better if you would have let me talk to him,” James replied.
“Oh, but that would have ruined the fun. He’s going to be a fun one to play with.” Marie grinned.
“So what’s the plan, now?” Jasmine interjected.
“Now, we put Franklin in charge. We take out his handler.”
“One of Ming’s girls?” Chessy inquired, staring at Jasmine.
Jasmine shot her a dirty look.
“No, she is just a puppet, who will do what she is told. We need to make it so Franklin is in charge of operations in Great Britain, which means his boss needs to die.” Marie looked to James. “Gold’s death put Warren in charge of America. It’s a trend. They will put Franklin in charge, once Paloma Barez is dead.”
“Wait! Time out! Paloma Barez, the media tycoon, is in on all this?” Greg blurted out.
“Yes, she holds the reigns, here in England. She is the main intelligence source. Gold was in charge of weapons, Barez intelligence, and Sergei holds the reigns. Ming is his little helper, but she feels she is more important than that.”
The trio looked to Jasmine.
“What? This is the first time I am hearing any of this. Everything at Ming’s is need to know, and she very rarely told us anything other than what our mission was. I hardly even knew why I was taking out a target.”
Jasmine (Teumessian Trilogy Book 3) Page 2