by Matt Lincoln
I offered my hand. “I’m Jake. Pleased to meet you, Verity.” She glared at my hand and nodded curtly. It wasn’t quite the response I was expecting, but I didn’t take it too personally.
“Charmed, I’m sure.” She had lost her Scottish brogue, as her father was starting to. I considered that hers might have come from travel and educational study to appear more appealing to a broader audience.
She looked to be maybe in her mid-twenties if that. The timelines weren’t adding up in my head with the ages, so I asked her a sensitive question to figure it out.
“So then, Kippy is your mother?” There was no resemblance there, but sometimes a child favored one parent over the other, right? Maybe there was a weird story behind this mystery.
“Oh, God, no!” That got her animated. Her eyes flared wide, and her face contorted angrily. “She’s nothing more than my father’s ex-wife. My mother was named Delphine, and she was a saint compared to that harpy.” She said this with pride, and sort of like she’d been dying to free herself from that association for a while.
That answered that I supposed. I had to smile at her passion on the matter. I wasn’t Kippy’s biggest fan, either. “Sorry, I wasn’t aware of the family dynamic there. I didn’t mean to offend.” I thought it best to drop the matter, but George had overheard us and added his take on it.
“Your mother was neither a saint nor a devil, my dear. And it is the same with Kippy.” George had brought over a large platter of sauteed green bell peppers, mint, and small lamb chops to the table. He then turned and reached into the refrigerator to produce a jar of mint jelly, bottles of salad dressings, and some green olives that he set on the table. Once that was all placed before us, he sat, and we dug in.
“Agree to disagree, father,” Verity retorted. I got the feeling that this was a long-standing family conflict, with Kippy being the cause and epicenter. I didn’t want to pry into it, though. It wasn’t any of my business, even if it was interesting to hear about it.
“I would, but you can’t seem to let my attachment to Kippy lay.” I could sense the tension and the forcefulness behind George’s voice. In the short time that I’d come to know him, he was very politely natured when it came to other voices and differences of option. It seemed this was a newer side to his temperament. “Now then, let us converse on other matters as I know that our guest has no interest in that squabble.”
“Fine.” Verity’s tone suggested that it was not fine, however. “Jake? What line of work has brought you to my father’s attention? Are you a client of some sort of his?”
I really wished that I didn’t have to answer. It could get awkward very fast when explaining my work and business contacts. It was best to be vague and honest when I could manage it. “I met him through Kippy, actually.” I could see her eyes narrowing in on me. “His skills came in handy with my team when we were in need of medical aid.” I hoped I wouldn’t have to explain the whole thing. That was not a conversation for a dinner like this.
But George illuminated on the subject. “Mr. Header’s team are the ones that rescued Arik and brought him here. They take a much more refined approach to retrieval than your stepmother’s crew does.”
So that meant the Verity already knew what type of work Kippy did. That was a weight off my mind. I guessed that they’d already discussed it, at least in part, which allowed me to ease my cautiousness around her. Verity accepted this explanation and nodded at me. “I see. You do not work with or for her, then? That’s a small mercy.” I didn’t know for sure yet, but her distaste for Kippy may have matched my own, and that may lead to a friendship. I grinned to myself, just thinking about it.
“So, Arik? Where is he? I thought that you said he’d be around today?” He was one of the two reasons I had come to visit, after all. The other was to check in on George, per Kippy’s last request of me. It would be a bonus if I could get some info on or about the other people in our sphere of connections.
“He should be along shortly. He was submitting some job applications nearby.” This was good news to hear. George, LaShawn, and I had all been trying to get the kid up and moving about. “He plans to go to a university soon. He wants to study the law, I believe.” George included this information, and I nodded.
With his mother’s background and the uncertainty of just what her plans had been involving Arik, I could see why he wanted to become educated in matters of the law. I secretly felt that he was motivated to find the best legal path to take out her corrupt dealings with the DEA and the Yabut Drug Cartel. It was an extremely personal battle for him now.
My team and I had uncovered a deep set of duplicity and misconduct surrounding Judge Fu, her DEA Task Force, and the cartel they’d hired. It started off with the Yabut ring being types of undercover dealers and runners to flush out the real cartels here in Miami. But that dissolved into double-crossing each other and the Yabut’s kidnapping of Arik to leverage more power and control from the Task Force and the Judge personally.
That hadn’t worked out in the way anyone had planned, though. Judge Fu proved to be more concerned about her reputation than her own son. This led to Arik being used only to locate the proof of her lawbreaking with no worry about what became of him afterward.
As it stood now, my team was in possession of the damning evidence that tied Judge Fu to the DEA Task Force and the Yabut Cartel, all of whom were profiting from the seizure, production, and sale of designer drugs throughout the world. At least, that is what the documentation on the cell phones and thumb drives we had led us to believe. The only thing really keeping us from exploiting the news and proof was Arik and his need for further security against his mother’s dealings.
Arik wasn’t exactly a star witness, either. He had left more than a few rehabilitation centers for his addiction and was known to be a thief with a bad memory. He had overheard a phone call between his kidnappers and his mother where she’d all but told them that she wouldn’t care if they killed him. So now, my team and I were still trying to maintain his safety and to do that, we were using the evidence that we had against the Judge to keep him safe.
It wasn’t the best way or a long-standing plan of action, but it was working for now. Arik was free from his mother and her machinations, and she and the Task Force were being kept in check with the threat of exposure for all the criminal activities they had been controlling. It was an uneasy truce.
My attention was brought back to George, who continued. “He needs to gain trust, responsibility, and respectability if he intends to move forward, which is why I insisted that he seek out a mode of employment and move ahead with his life. And more so if we expect him to accept them and turn from what he’s been.” George spoke from experience. “I am well aware of the risks and pitfalls. But there is no future for him if he is not allowed to confront his past.”
“Your dad’s a philosopher at heart,” I mentioned to Verity, smiling at the thought and looking her way. “George Yout, renaissance man.” I raised my bottled water to him and bowed my head in respect.
Verity joined in, but only half-heartedly. “Yes, a man of many talents.” She sipped at her sparkling water. “Perhaps Arik should find a trade school or something of that caliber to engage him instead, though. Is he good at anything?”
I knew that she probably meant well and most likely wasn’t up on all that had happened to Arik, but I did find her approach a little… rude.
“He’s eighteen, and he’s been in and out of private schools and rehabs,” I informed her. “I’m sure that he has interests in many things that could lead to a career, maybe even in law. It’s just a question of discovering them.”
“Discovering what?” Arik’s voice sounded from out in the foyer. He rounded the archway and stood there, looking intrigued by whatever we had been talking about.
Arik had started to fill out, weight-wise. When last I saw him, he was a skinny, weak-looking kid with a gray skin tone and brittle, thinning hair. Now, he was getting back to what a kid his age
and build should be. His black hair had been shaved, and now he had a nice, new growth coming in. His skin was healthy but pale. He had spent a lot of his recovery indoors as of late.
He was slowly gaining muscle again in his entire form. The emaciated look was getting replaced by a steady stream of exercise, good food, and determination to thrive. It made me smile to see him doing so well. I couldn’t help but feel proud of myself and my team’s part in his recovery.
George gestured for him to join us at the table. “Discovering your talents, son. Everyone has some, and the key is to make yours work for you to provide a better life and understanding toward affairs. Now, come. Sit and eat.”
“What do we have this time? I could smell it all the way outside.” Arik sat next to me and across from George. He looked it all over and then helped himself to a little of everything.
“Minted Lamb and peppers, and a tossed salad with no ruffles. The olives are a tad strong, I warn you now.” George had spooned out about a half dozen of those onto his plate. I had yet to try them. The odor was… robust.
“Sounds good.” He responded in thanks toward George. “Mr. Header, it's good to see you, sir.” Arik nodded at me, and I returned it. “Verity, you, too.” He then began to eat with a marked appetite.
“I imagine that now would be an appropriate time to bring up your compatriots, Jake. I haven’t heard much from them in the last few weeks.” George speared another piece of lamb from the plate. “And at the risk of upsetting my daughter, perhaps you know of Kippy’s whereabouts?”
I did, but I wasn’t sure that I was supposed to tell anyone about it, especially him. “Um, well, Ozoa visited me down in Puerto Rico a while back, and I’m not sure that she gave the precise location that she was heading off to.” That was a massive lie. I knew right where she was. She had gone to Columbia with the intention, I supposed, of routing out the Yabut at their source. “But can’t you just check in with her mercenary team? I mean, they have to know, right?”
Verity was listening and watching this exchange closely. Yet she was remaining silent. I wondered about the purpose behind that. I started to think about just how much she did know about her step-mother’s mercenary ways. George shook his head at me. “No, they’re not telling me a word about it. Even with my connections there, I’m being refused intel. I perceive that to be Kippy’s doing.” He sounded displeased by it but not surprised.
“Well, then,” I took a sip of water to buy more time, “I don’t know what more I can tell you. But as for the rest of the team,” I needed the subject change, badly, “Doc is taking care of some personal issues in Pune. He should be back by the end of the month, though.” That was all that I could say about that. Whatever his personal mission there was, he was keeping it very private.
“Where’s Pune?” Arik asked as he slurped up a pepper, making something of a mess on his face. “And I thought that it was a family thing he was dealing with?”
“Pune is in Western India,” Verity added, not wanting to be left out of the entire conversation, I guessed. “It has a fantastic wada there. I visited a few years ago. Utterly amazing.” I got the impression she was trying to impress us. I smiled and nodded to not make her feel as if her comment had fallen so flat.
“Family is usually personal, I would claim that knowledge first hand,” George commented defiantly and yet jovially. “And the lovely Rosa? Is she still traveling with her mysterious amore?” That had been the joke for a while now, that Rosa was carrying on a secret relationship with someone. Her absence wasn’t as shrouded in secrecy as Doc’s was, but she was keeping her current whereabouts and any possible companionships very quiet. I wasn’t about to question her as to why.
I didn’t know if any of it were true, and I didn’t need to. Whatever the case was, she had the right to keep her privacy in the way she alone wished to. “I haven’t really heard from her. I did get an email about being a reference for an apartment here in Miami for her, so maybe she’s closer than we know.” I saw that also as proof that she was planning on coming back to Miami sometime soon.
“Too true. And Xavier? I was promised a cruise on his yacht when he settled in this way. I’m hoping that he hasn’t forgotten.” George had a mischievous look about him, and I didn’t know how much of what he’d said was true. He didn’t strike me as a yacht kind of guy.
“He’s actually on his way to Miami. I got a call from him yesterday. He was looking for a reputable marina to park at, so I tried to give him a few names and places to look into.” And that call had given me a few ideas that I’d ignored as undoable. Now, I wasn’t so sure. I was going to be looking into them, for sure.
I was going to need a good location to keep Wraith if I was going to be staying in Miami. Owning a place was the surest way of keeping my baby’s tech and secrets safe, but that was a big undertaking. And the places around here were, well, they left a lot to be desired.
“What about Eve? How is she doing?” Arik had finished his meal and was interested in hearing more now. He drank the rest of his water and got another bottle out of the fridge.
“You should tell us,” I teased him. “I know that she calls you at least once a week. What’s that about?” I knew, but I wanted him to say and have a role in the conversation as more than just a listening bystander.
“Oh, she just asks me about my plans for school and about my health. She wants to make sure that I’m not getting into any kind of trouble out here.” Then Arik looked down to avoid my stare. I wondered how he felt about people still checking up on him all the time. That must be hard on a young guy like him. “She tells me about my mother and what she’s doing, how she’s doing, that sort of thing. Nothing too exciting.”
“She tells me about the same,” I admitted. George, too, nodded at this. I offered a little more about it. “I guess she’s pretty busy, doing her own job hunt and all that. She was planning on coming down soon, though. She was asking what days would be good for me for a visit.” I wanted to see her so badly. I was looking forward to any time that I could spend with her, but it just wasn't working out too well at present. But we were still trying.
Verity broke into what I’d been avoiding. She had her elbows on the table and her fingers laced together. She was looking for an opening to speak. “Has all of your team left you, Mr. Header? Or is this a frequent event where you split up and have your own time alone? I was under the impression that you four went everywhere together. Is there something out of place within your organization, perhaps?” Her tone was pretty rude for someone I’d just met, but as she was George’s daughter, I wasn’t going to go off on her. Yet.
I knew what she was getting at, though, and I didn’t appreciate her allegations about my team, considering that she didn’t know any of us.
“It’s not like we’re joined at the hip, Verity,” I chuckled, laughing it off to avoid conflict. “Everyone needs a break and time to decompress now and then. But I will let them know about your concern.”
Arik seemed to be confused. “How does Verity know Jake’s team?”
George sighed and started to clear the table. “She doesn’t. She’s merely condescending and impolite to my guest.” We could all hear the pressure in his tone. He ignored his daughter’s eyes and went about his task. “Now, after I clean this up, I do have some work to address, so please, do relax in the gathering room. It’s set for all visitors.”
“I’d love to, but I actually have another appointment I need to get to this evening.” I hadn’t forgotten about LaShawn, and I didn’t really want to stay here and get intertwined in whatever drama George and Verity were stewing in. “Arik, it's been good to see you, and I’m glad that you’re doing so well. Keep it up, okay?”
“I will, thanks, Mr. Header.” He began to help clear the table and put the items back into the fridge.
Verity watched me go, and I nodded toward her. “That was a great salad. Thank you. George? Thanks again. I’ll talk to you later on, alright?”
“Sounds
lovely. Thank you, Jake. Have a safe drive home.” He was already piling in the dishes and cleaning off the counters. I headed for the door, letting myself out, back into the warm Florida air. I was already looking forward to the quiet drive back to my condo.
4
LaShawn
I’d gotten Jake to agree to meet me at my place before I headed to work that evening. I made sure to straighten the living room up to make it presentable, as I wasn’t known for having too much company. From what I could recall, Jake liked his coffee plain, so a simple pot without all the fancy stuff was right up my alley. He’d texted that he’d already eaten and that left me with more time to clean up around the place.
My apartment wasn’t much to look at, but it was home. I had an overstuffed brown sectional couch that took up pretty much the entire front room. There was a flat-screen tv mounted to the wall and a small set of shelves for the PlayStation and a few older movies that I couldn’t live without. What could I say? I was a simple man.
The kitchen area was small and where I spent a lot of my free time when I had it. There was a point in my life when I’d thought about heading to Culinary School, but I chose a counseling path instead. I still enjoyed cooking, though. I just didn’t do a lot of entertaining as of late. Gourmet meals for one weren’t too much fun to make.
I closed off the doors to the bedroom and the laundry room, and that just left the tiny balcony to go. As I worked a lot of overnights, my ‘mornings’ began at around three in the afternoon. I usually took my coffee and juice outside in the air and sun, and I never minded the heat of the day like my neighbors did.
That meant that for a few hours, the balcony was the quietest, most private place on my block of apartments, and I loved it. I could sit in the shade and soak in the peace. Sometimes I even ate out there, but not too often. That depended on my appetite.