"First off," he began, "this is where everyone will be staying until our Op is complete and all of you should see Mr. Philips afterwards in the lobby to get room assignments. This isn't the Hilton, so I don't want to hear any whining. Showers are situated in the basement and cable television has been set up in the lobby. As soon as we're done in here today, another television will be placed in this room to keep you occupied until you're called upon. Everyone take some time to find your way around later."
"Now to business," he said with a gesture to Mike who hit a few keys on his laptop that produced a picture on the projection screen. "The lady on the screen behind me is Bailey Ann Cameron. She was born Irish and is thirty-one years old. She currently resides on the eighteenth floor of the C-Corp building, she owns both the building and the corporation." He stopped and walked around the table so not to obstruct the view.
"I've heard some of the talk, so let me clear up any doubts that any of you have," He paused. "Bailey Ann Cameron is The Wraith, gentlemen. I'm sure you've all heard the rumors and the stories. I was briefed yesterday by the Assistant Deputy Director. The Wraith began her employment with the Secondary at the age of sixteen and for almost fifteen years served as a hard target infiltrator. Our mission here is to see to her elimination," He paused again to let the rumbles die down.
"I'm sure some of you are wondering why we haven't already moved on her and why so many have been gathered here. We are in a state of surveillance until a game plan is finalized. She presents an enormous security risk and the Organization believes that if an attempt is made and fails the danger of exposure increases dramatically. It is also the opinion of the Organization that unless perfectly orchestrated, any conventional means of elimination used upon The Wraith stands a very low average of success. The Organization also feels that the number of operatives assigned is appropriate and believes that if a confrontation is forced upon us that numbers is the only assured way to take her down." He stopped and looked around.
"Don't shake your heads, this lady is the real deal and can be counted upon to inflict heavy casualties in a confrontation. Don't let the fact that she's female mislead you, she is extremely intelligent and has more experience than everyone is this room combined. She has received not so much as a scratch in over a decade of operations in the field. The Wraith is a supernaturally skilled operative and if you underestimate her in the slightest, she will walk right over your corpse." He stopped to let his words sink in.
"There are further complications unfortunately," he said after a moment and with another nod to Mike a different picture appeared on the screen behind him.
"This Martin Eugene Satterfield, a former assistant to our Deputy Director. Satterfield stole Cameron's file and fled to Atlanta for her protection. We believe he is currently residing on the eighteenth floor of C-Corp as well. Ben Richards and his team caught up with Satterfield as he attempted contact with Cameron and were eliminated by her shortly thereafter." He stopped again to let the murmurs die down. "If Satterfield is sighted outside the company of Cameron, he is to be immediately removed from the picture, regardless of surroundings," He paused. "This is a standing order and applies to our surveillance people as well," he said with a look at Mike who nodded in understanding.
"The Organization faces extreme danger if Cameron, the documents, and Satterfield were to threaten exposure," he continued. "However, it is the Organization's opinion that Cameron won't do this unless faced with no other alternative. So you can see how a confrontation or a botched attempt would be the last thing we're looking for. The Organization is also very concerned that she isn't running and feels that she has a plan to deal with the situation. Cameron knows we're here and is content at this time to ignore us. And until we get a green light, no one, I repeat, no one is to approach her for any reason."
"Personally, I have no desire whatsoever to tangle with her and will be perfectly happy to hang out right here until they come up with a safe way to resolve the situation," he admitted.
"In addition, the Organization has planted several operatives inside C-Corp as employees. These men may turn out to be our ace in the hole and they're operating independently under the direct supervision of the Deputy Director. But as of right now, our plan is to continue light surveillance, and I mean light..." he said with a look at Mike, "…until notified differently. So get comfortable, we may be here for a while.
"Oh, one other thing," he said before anyone could rise out their seats. "I had a look at a very abridged version of Cameron's history with the Organization, and let me tell you all now that none of the stories surrounding The Wraith have been exaggerated, if anything they haven't been exaggerated enough. Keep that in mind, especially those assigned to surveillance, you don't want to spook her or in any way threaten her. In addition, the Organization has had paper circulating internationally on The Wraith for over a week and no one has shown the slightest interest in a contract. That should tell you something," he said gravely.
"Alright, there are no questions I can answer at this time so make yourselves at home," he finished in dismissal and everyone began to mumble to each other and slowly filter out of the room.
Russell got out of his chair and glanced at Zack who was still seated with a thoughtful expression on his face.
"Let's go get a room, I need some sleep," he said to Zack who looked at him for a second before nodding and rising from his seat.
They started through the crowd toward the exit but were called up short.
"Zack, Russell," Mike called out in his gravelly voice and gestured them over.
"What's up?" Zack said as they approached.
"You guys are in room 211 on the second floor. I know you guys just got in and I didn't want you to wait in line with the others," Mike said and they nodded gratefully. "She hasn't moved in two days and with the holiday starting tomorrow I suspect we won't see much of her until next week. She seems to come out at night most of the time and I want you two to stay on that shift."
Zack and Russell both groaned.
"Suck it up, boys," Mike said unsympathetically. "Go get some rest and end the bullshit I've been cutting you slack on. I don't want to see either of you show up here with gum all over you or a nasty fucking scab on the end of your nose. You get me?"
"Yes, sir," they said almost in unison.
"Good," Mike said. "You heard the man, don't fuck around with this bitch. Keep your distance; you're to report her whereabouts only. If she enters a building you stay outside and wait for her to come out unless you are specifically told to go in. Now take your happy asses upstairs and go get some sleep," he finished with a chuckle.
Russell waited until Mike was out earshot and turned to his friend. "My scab isn't nasty is it?"
"Shut up," Zack said rolling his eyes.
----------
Nancy looked up from her magazine when she heard the garage door open and hopped from her seat, entering the garage in time to see Piper getting her bag from the trunk of an old black Corvette.
"Sweet car," she said when Piper closed the trunk. "Where did ya find it?"
"It's Bailey's, she's letting me drive it," Piper said tiredly.
"What's wrong with yours?" Nancy asked as they strolled through the house towards the living room.
"I forgot to tell you didn't I?" Piper said throwing her bag at the foot of the sofa and plopping down with a sigh. "Didn't you notice mine out back?"
"No," Nancy said. "What's the scoop?"
"Mine broke down and Bailey brought me one of her cars to drive. She says mine has a cracked block," Piper said. "Anyway, she arranged to have mine put in the backyard until I decide what to do with it."
"How many cars does she have?"
"Three that I know of," Piper said. "Did you do laundry for me?"
"Yes, all you have to do is pack," Nancy said. "No thanks necessary, I love doing laundry," she added sarcastically.
"Thanks, Nan," Piper said with a playful slap.
"Did you call your
Mom?"
"Yeah, someone will pick us up tomorrow," Piper said yawning. "I'm so tired. I was hoping to be home hours ago."
"How's things between you and Bailey?"
"Great, or they were up until today, I've been trying to call her for hours but she hasn't answered," she said with a frown.
"She picking you up tomorrow?"
"I assume so."
"Bet your Mom is excited," Nancy said mischievously.
"Yeah, I talked to her last night, she interrogated me for over an hour," she said with an aggrieved sigh.
"She's just happy for you," Nancy consoled. "By the way, I came home to a clean kitchen, didn't you stay here over the weekend?"
"Bailey cleaned the kitchen. She stayed here with me all weekend."
"Really?" Nancy asked with raised eyebrows. "Have you broken your long standing vow of chastity?" she added playfully.
"No," Piper said. "And be quiet."
Nancy chuckled. "If she stayed the weekend you guys must be getting serious."
"I love her, Nanny," Piper said with a sigh.
"I assumed you did when you said you were taking her home," Nancy said unsurprised. "Have you told her?"
"No," Piper said. "I don't think she's ready to hear it."
"Why do you say that?" Nancy asked curiously.
"She's…completely inexperienced," Piper sighed. "Emotionally and sexually."
"How's that possible? What's she been doing all of her life?"
"I don't really know," Piper admitted. "I have some suspicions, but she's afraid to talk to me about it. I know her father and brother were killed when she was sixteen, she's been alone ever since."
"Killed?" Nancy said. "How?"
"They were killed by the British in Northern Ireland."
"That's horrible," Nancy said sympathetically. "She's been alone since then?"
"Yes," Piper said. "Sometimes she's very much like a child, Nanny. She can be very insecure. She's been alone so long, I think it took a Herculean effort on her part to even attempt a friendship with me, let alone a relationship."
"I don't think she had a choice, Pippy."
"Why do you say that?" Piper asked curiously.
"She loves you," Nancy said pointedly. "She may not know it yet, but all ya got to do is watch her watch you."
"You can?" Piper asked happily. "Really?"
"She looks at you like a lost puppy," Nancy said. "I know she loves you."
"I hope so," Piper said wistfully. "I think she does, but it feels it good to have someone else confirm it for me."
"Why don't you just tell her?"
"I think it would scare her," Piper said. "Sometimes she's very clingy, other times she acts like she thinks I'm going to leave her. I know she's confused and I don't want to add to it."
"Why would she think you'll leave her?"
"Honestly, I think she's ashamed of herself for unknown reasons and I think she's afraid to tell me things because she thinks I'll dislike her," Piper speculated.
"Wow," Nancy said slowly. "Could you choose anyone more difficult to get involved with?"
"Probably not," Piper admitted. "But I know I didn't have a choice."
"I know we talked about this before… " Nancy braced herself for a possible explosion. "…And I told you she scared me, does she scare you?"
"No, not at all," Piper said casually. "But you're evidently not the only one who thinks she's scary. Apparently, plenty of people think she is or could be if she wanted to be."
"Why aren't you afraid of her then?"
"Because I've gotten to know her and she's really the sweetest person, but I think I'm the only one who's ever seen that side of her." Piper paused and considered. "But I know she can be dangerous, very dangerous if she wants to be."
"What do you mean by that?" Nancy asked worriedly.
"I took her dancing Friday night and when we were leaving there was this couple, or at least I think it was a couple, that got into a fight and the guy hit the woman. The guy was gigantic but Bailey went over and grabbed him by the arm when he went to hit the woman again. He was easily twice her size but she like flipped him in the air in front of her and when he landed she broke his arm on purpose," Piper said while demonstrating with her hands.
"Holy shit," Nancy said amazed.
"Anyway, I guess the guy had a friend and he tried to grab her from behind and she turned around like she had eyes in the back of her head and hit him the chest, the guy just collapsed. So the bouncers show up and I thought for a moment one of them was going to try and grab her but she just shook her head at the guy and he didn't move. The bouncer asked what was going on and the guy with the broken arm screamed like it was her fault and she grabbed his other arm and stepped on his throat until he passed out."
"What happened then?" Nancy asked engrossed in the story.
"I told the bouncers what really happened and the girl who got hit confirmed it so I took her out of there as fast as I could. She beat up those guys like it was child's play."
"Jesus," Nancy said in awe. "Where did she learn to do that?"
"I didn't ask her because I knew she wouldn't or couldn't tell me," Piper said. "But I thought it was great, she didn't even hesitate to help that lady. That bastard hit her hard too. He won't be hitting anyone again soon, you could hear his arm break a mile away."
"That's too much," Nancy said unbelieving. "She doesn't mess around I guess."
"No she doesn't," Piper confirmed. "Don't say anything to her, okay, Nanny? I haven't said a word to her about it except to tell her how noble I thought it was for her to get involved. I don't think she could help herself from stepping in and I know she was afraid of what I thought afterward."
"I won't," Nancy said gravely. "What do you think she's been doing all these years?"
"I really don't know, but she has these scars on her back that I know someone put there on purpose. I suspect whatever she's been doing wasn't pretty."
"What kind of scars?" Nancy asked tentatively.
"My guess would be knife scars, she has eight of them, four on each side of her spine. They've faded a lot, so she probably got them a long time ago."
"Knife scars?" Nancy asked in horror. "Jesus Christ, are you sure you should get involved with her?"
"I've never been more sure of anything in my entire life," Piper said assuredly. "She's the one."
"I hope you're right," Nancy said uncertainly.
"I know I am," Piper said. "I'm gonna go pack and try to call her again. Nanny, please don't tell anyone this."
"I won't."
"Promise me, Nanny," Piper said gravely.
"I promise."
"Thank you," Piper said throwing a hug around her friend. "I think I needed to talk a little bit."
"Anytime," Nancy said returning the hug. "If I ever find a boyfriend I expect you to return the favor."
"You can always call Spunker back," Piper said teasingly. "I'm fairly certain he's still single."
"It was Spencer," Nancy sighed. "I'll never live that down I guess."
"Nope," Piper said happily jumping up from the couch and picking up her bag.
"If I'm not up in the morning to see you off, give me a call from your parents, alright?" Nancy asked.
"Will do," Piper said with a smile. "Night."
"Night, Pippy," Nancy said watching her thoughtfully until she disappeared down the hall.
Piper tossed her bag on the floor and plopped face down on to the bed, allowing herself a yawn and long, satisfying stretch. A scowl etching its way on to her features as she rolled over to pick up the phone from its place on the nightstand. The scowl deepened as she waited through thirteen rings with no answer. She had called four times before she left and had even risked calling twice from the car in the company of Debra. The scowl gave way to a frown as she hung up the phone with a sigh and reluctantly rose from the bed to pack for her trip.
----------
Bailey put her bag by the front door and produced her cel
l phone from her jacket.
"Josh?" she said when it was answered. "Are you set up? I'm leaving the building in about ten minutes, I'll be in the Barracuda." She waited for an answer. "Good, I'll call you from the car, you have everything you need?" She nodded into the phone and hung up, leaving her bags at the door and padding through the house until she reached Martin's room.
"Mr. Satterfield," Bailey called with a knock on the door. She waited patiently until she could hear movement behind the door and knocked again.
The door opened to reveal Satterfield dressed in sweatpants and a T-shirt that was emblazoned with a huge, blood splattered yellow smiley face suffering from a bullet wound to the forehead.
She chuckled. "Mr. Satterfield, I'm leaving tonight for the weekend I should return on Sunday."
"Alright," he said groggily. "I am safe here alone aren't I?"
"I doubt they'll know I'm gone," Bailey said. "And even if they did, they still wouldn't try to get in."
"Okay," Martin said convinced. "Have fun."
"Uhm," she started hesitantly. "Can I ask you a question?"
"Of course," he said amiably.
"Is there anything I should say or do when I meet her parents?" she asked reluctantly.
"Hmmm," Martin grunted in consideration as he walked over and sat down on his bed. "I'd say be polite but you're always polite, so the only other thing I could suggest would be to make sure you thank them for having you."
"Is that it?" Bailey asked suspiciously. "That sounds too easy."
"It's never easy meeting a lover's parents, it can be extremely nerve racking," Martin said knowingly. "Just be yourself and I'm sure you'll be okay."
"That's what Piper said," she said more to herself than Satterfield.
"She's right," Martin said. "They'll either like you or they won't and there's nothing you can do about it. But odds are they'll like you just fine because you're a neat person and their daughter likes you."
"I see," Bailey said mulling it over. "Happy Thanksgiving, Martin," she said in parting as she turned and padded down the hall.
A slow smile creased Martin's face as he got up to close the door behind her. It was the first time she had called him anything other than Mr. Satterfield.
Stories by Kiera Dellacroix Page 29