Amber Storm (Assassin In Paradise Book 1)

by Jack Stroke

“Right. Heroin. Heroin is bad news for everybody.”

  “You still think I’m five, don’t you? I know heroin is bad.”

  “No, but… I haven’t really talked to many people about this, about who I am and what I do.” She floundered, struggling for the right words. “I don’t go around killing random people.”

  “I got that. You didn’t say you were a murderer.”

  “Yeah, it’s just… I don’t know. Yeah.”

  “Why did you say ‘See you soon’?”

  “Hey?”

  “When you were putting the bodies in the hole, you said ‘See you soon’.”

  Amber rubbed her eyes, suddenly very tired. “Because they will be back. One way or another, they all come back.”

  “What? Like zombies?”

  Amber shook her head. Would Ava come back and haunt Ben? Amber hoped not.

  The squeak of the door surprised them both. Joan’s stout figure appeared in the same nightgown she was wearing the other night. Ben looked anywhere but at his grandmother.

  “What are you two doing? It’s very late.”

  Amber and Ben glanced at one another.

  “Just… having a chat,” Ben said.

  “Oh, okay. That’s nice.”

  For a horrible moment Amber thought Joan might stay, asking what they were chatting about. She didn’t. Instead, she moved behind Ben and kissed him on the top of his head. She repeated the action with Amber.

  “I’m glad you changed your mind,” she said to Amber with a smile. “Good night.”

  Amber watched her waddle out of the room. “You know, I think your grandmother has had that nightie since I was your age.”

  “Wouldn’t surprise me,” Ben said. “I wish she wouldn’t wear it around the cottage though. It doesn’t leave too much to the imagination. Changed your mind about what?”

  “Never mind.”

  “Oh, is this because you ran away again yesterday?”

  “You were right, when I first arrived. There are no secrets in this place, are there?”

  “Says the woman hiding the fact that she’s an assassin. I take it you’re not planning on telling Mum what you do?”

  “No. I mean, I was thinking about it, but I don’t think I should. And there’s no way your Mum can know about any of what happened these last few days.”

  “Which part? When you almost shot me the other night? Or how you almost got me killed tonight?”

  “You weren’t almost killed tonight.”

  “Yeah, once you arrived, I was like ‘Whoa’. You were in total control.”

  “But yes. We can’t say anything to your Mum about either. Both.”

  “No, definitely not. Who knows how she would react?”

  “Can I count on you not to say anything?”

  A sly smile crept across Ben’s face. “How about we make a deal? I promise I won’t tell Mum… if you train me.”

  “Train you?”

  “Yeah. To be an assassin, like you.”

  “That doesn’t sound like a deal. It sounds like you trying to blackmail me.”

  “No, not blackmail. Just an agreement.”

  “You don’t want my life, Ben.”

  “Yes, I do. It’s all I have ever wanted since I was five.”

  Before she could stop herself, Amber assessed the possibility. He might not be too bad as an assassin. Young and healthy, he had handled himself exceptionally well in the potentially terrifying scenario this evening. She removed the thoughts from her head.

  “I’ll think about it,” she told Ben.

  “Fine. I’ll think about whether or not I tell Mum you’re an assassin who almost killed me.”

  She smiled. This kid was cool. Why had she missed so much of his life?

  75

  The sun rose the next morning, just as it had every morning since Amber had arrived in Paradise Cove, climbing lazily into the light blue sky. A few ineffectual clouds skirted the horizon. The palm trees lining the beach swayed back and forth ever so slightly.

  Amber wandered out of cabin six in no hurry, gazing across the road to the beach. Paradise Cove, perfect as always. Where else would she rather be? She found Megan outside the owner’s cottage patting the appreciative Lion in his usual morning spot.

  “How are you feeling this morning?”

  “I’m fine.” There was a note of defiant challenge in her tone. “Why wouldn’t I be fine?”

  Because your son almost got shot last night, Amber longed to say. But you were probably passed out by that point.

  “No reason. Listen, we have to talk.”

  “Have to or you want to?”

  “What does it matter?”

  Megan shrugged.

  “What’s going on with you and me, Megan? I feel like there’s an… I don’t know. A block between us.”

  Megan looked away, not responding.

  “You don’t feel it?”

  Megan shook her head. “Amber, you are so… Everything has to be on your terms, doesn’t it? You make the decisions, no one else gets a say. No one asked you to come back. You just showed up, just like you disappeared. You do what you want, like you always do. Just don’t tell me how I’m supposed to react.”

  Amber gazed towards the ocean. “We used to stand right here, remember? As kids. Planning our day. Deciding whether to go for a swim or play at Hidden Beach or just sit around the cabin talking nonsense.”

  “Yes, I remember. I am not hard of remembering. Or whatever the hard of hearing expression is for memory.”

  “Until we got older. Then it was all boys and sneaking out and getting drunk.”

  “Yes, Amber. I recall. What’s your point?”

  Amber pulled out the photo from her pocket and gave it to Megan. The photo of the two girls on the tropical beach.

  “This your pretend family?”

  “Do you know why I came back here? Because of you.”

  “You’re a liar, Amber. You can’t change your story now. You already said you didn’t come back here because of me. It was an accident.”

  “I did. I may have had no idea you were here, but you’re why I came back. This is the last place I remember being happy. The only place I remember being happy. Being in Paradise by the Bay, with you. I was trying to find that again. A little piece of happiness.”

  Megan handed back the photo and nodded, giving nothing away.

  “Listen, I messed up, all right? I know that. I should have never run away all those years ago. I was young and scared and stupid. And I should have been in touch much earlier. But I am here now. And I am going to stay. Please find a way to, even if not forgive me, accept me.”

  “So, you admit you caused all of this.”

  “I do.”

  Megan stared straight ahead. For a long while, she didn’t say anything.

  “Amber, I don’t know who you are anymore. I don’t recognise you.”

  “People change.”

  “Yes, I know. For sure. I’m sure I’ve changed a lot too. But you… It’s like… You know those movies where an alien is trying to pretend they’re a person, but they’re really crap at it. They get all the basic stuff wrong? That’s what it’s like with you.”

  “You think I’m an alien?”

  “At this point I wouldn’t be surprised. You’re like someone doing an Amber impression and a bad one at that.”

  Amber focused on patting Lion. Megan went on.

  “I don’t believe a single word you’ve said since you’ve been here. Everything has been a lie. Who you are now, what you do, why you’re here.”

  “Okay.”

  Megan shuddered, trying to shake it off. “I didn’t ask for any of this. No one asked you to come find us. I had no choice, but I still have to deal with it. Just like everything in life. I’m always dealing with everyone’s rubbish.”

  Lion decided he had had enough attention and pranced away to chase bugs.

  “I can… I can go.”

  “Jeez, make up your mind. You onl
y just got back from running away.”

  “Yes, but, if you don’t want me here.”

  “Great. Make me the bad guy as usual. With Ben and Mum.”

  “I’ll say leaving is my choice if you don’t want me here.”

  “Oh, stop being melodramatic. I’m not saying you should leave. I’m just saying… it’s not easy for any of us, so don’t expect it to be easy, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  They stood in silence for a bit before Megan walked away.

  Amber watched her go with a smile. It wasn’t a whole lot, but it was a start, and a start was better than nothing. It would take time and work. Luckily she had time.

  Turning, Amber saw the office curtain flutter. Joan had been watching the encounter. Of course.

  76

  Amber breezed into the office and found Joan pretending to work.

  “I just had a chat with Megan.”

  “Oh, really?” the older lady said. Should Amber call her on it? Say she knew Joan was watching? There didn’t seem to be much point.

  “How did that go?”

  “Okay, I guess,” Amber said, taking a seat opposite the desk. “What about you? What are you up to?”

  “Just looking at the books.”

  “How bad is it?”

  “How bad is what?”

  “How much trouble is Paradise by the Bay in?”

  “Trouble? We’re not in trouble.”

  “You need guests. Paying guests.”

  “It’s off-season. A good tourist season and we will be fine.”

  “And if you’re not?”

  “I don’t know. We’ll find a way. We always do.”

  “Joan, I want to help.”

  “That’s nice of you to say, Amber, but —”

  “I’m serious. I have money. I want to invest.”

  “Invest? You want to help run Paradise by the Bay?”

  “Nope. Not at all. Silent partner. In fact, so silent you don’t even tell Megan.”

  “Well, I couldn’t not tell…”

  “Why not? I’m willing to bet she has never looked at those books in her life. It’s pretty clear you do all of that sort of work around here. So we keep my investment between us. And I don’t get a say, in any of it. I am completely silent.”

  Joan studied Amber’s face. “Are you serious?”

  “I couldn’t be more serious.”

  “Why would you do that?”

  “Same reason you guys bought this place in the first place. I want to see Paradise by the Bay continue. As it is. Plus, you know, you have done so much for me, my whole life. Think of it as a way of saying thank you. But it has to be our secret.”

  Tears filled Joan’s eyes.

  “Oh, don’t cry, Joan. Please.”

  “I’m not. I’m not crying.”

  “I can’t stay if you’re going to cry, but I’m serious. Completely serious.” She marched to the door and paused. “Oh, and Joan? Thank you.”

  Amber strode out, leaving Joan to her tears.

  77

  Outside, the sun greeted Amber like an old friend. What now? A run? A swim? Maybe both.

  Back in cabin six, Amber decided it might be the time to invest in a proper bathing suit. Her phone buzzed again. A message from Mother. A straightforward message. Just a smiley face emoji. The signal the job was complete. Although something told Amber things weren’t over quite yet. Four people were dead. Someone would come looking for their missing people, they always did. And even more so, the drugs. Someone would always come looking for ten missing bricks of heroin.

  Amber couldn’t worry about that now. Now, it was time to relax for the first time in a long time. Actually, she couldn’t quite relax. Not just yet. She had to have a chat with Vaughan first. But what would she tell him? Just make it clear she wasn’t interested in him. That they could be friends and nothing more. She couldn’t say anything about Megan though. Not just yet. That would take a little more finessing.

  It all seemed too hard. Maybe she wouldn’t see Vaughan just now. Perhaps she would see what Lion the cat was up to first. Nice to have options.

  The sun smiled down on her, the grass warm between her feet. Whatever she ended up doing, she was confident it was going to be a pretty good day.

  Keep Reading

  Amber Storm returns, along with Ben, Megan, Joan, Vaughan and Lion the cat in Jack Stroke’s Storm Warning.

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  1

  With her feet dangling over the roof’s edge, halfway up towards the clouds, Amber could see forever.

  To the edge of the world and beyond.

  She’d never had a problem with heights. What would it be like not to be able to even approach an edge like this, let alone sit up here and look over? How would that feel?

  The building wasn’t the tallest, not by a long shot, and yet it felt high. Way down below, cars crawled along the road, constant despite the late hour.

  She glanced around as she waited. On either side were a long line of high rise buildings; casinos, hotels and apartments.

  In front of her, the ocean stretched out in a murky blackness.

  “Report in,” came Mother’s voice in her ear.

  “Good to go,” Amber replied.

  It was the third time Mother had asked. Was there a delay? Or was Mother merely being more prudent than usual? Probably option two, this being Amber’s first job back. First job for Mother in a few weeks. It felt strange having Mother’s actual voice in her ear again, as opposed to Amber simply hearing Mother’s voice in her head.

  “Repeat objectives.”

  “Again?”

  “Amber…”

  “Fine. Infiltrate the club without being seen. Find Gomez. Swap his hotel key for the decoy.”

  “Good girl.”

  Was Mother nervous? Impossible to tell from her voice.

  Movement caught Amber’s attention. To her left a couple wandered about aimlessly in their hotel room, no sensing they could be seen. The couple close enough for Amber to reach out and touch. They hadn’t bothered to close the curtains. Why would they? The room was halfway up to the clouds. What did it matter? The couple couldn’t see Amber. Even if they had known she was there and looked, they would have struggled to spot her.

  “Okay, Amber,” Mother’s voice said. “Go time.”

  “Roger that,” Amber replied, a flicker of excitement lighting up her chest.

  Inhaling deeply, she leaned forward and toppled off the edge of the building, face first.

  2

  Amber fell too fast for a floor or two before the harness kicked in, slicing her abs. She found her feet and walked face first down the wall. The ground slowly approached, although at this height, not enough to make a significant difference.

  Counting five floors down, she stopped and turned. The window was completely dark. It probably had a great view of the ocean, except what was the point in a place like this? Would anybody ever actually take the time to appreciate it?

  Amber reminded herself what came next. Not that she was unsure, just to concentrate on the important parts. An error now could be problematic. She removed the glass cutter from a tiny pocket in her dress, taking great care not to drop it. Cutting the window took a concerted effort. Eventually she had a circle deep enough.

  Pushing off from the building, Amber swung out on the rope, both feet colliding with the window as sh
e swung back. The aim was to use enough force to remove the circle while making as little noise as possible. The impact caused a dull thud. Unavoidable. She kicked off and tried a second and third time. No luck. Had she not cut the hole deep enough?

  Cursing that she may have to cut some more, Amber tried one last time, pushing off the window and swinging herself back. This more forceful fourth strike did the trick. The window cracked loudly and the circle fell back, slowed by the blind. It didn’t break as it landed flat on the floor. Amber followed it in.

  She paused. Was there anyone here? Had she been heard? Didn’t appear so.

  Detaching the rope and stepping out of the harness, Amber crawled under the blind. She glanced about the room. Two doors. One to a bathroom, one to the corridor. No people.

  A plush bed sat up against the wall with little else to keep it company. The space could easily be mistaken for a hotel if Amber didn’t know any better.

  Wind tore in through the hole in the window, playing havoc with the blind, kicking it backwards and forward. The owner wouldn’t be happy about the window. It would probably be a nightmare to have to fix, all the way up here.

  “I’m in,” she informed Mother.

  “Good girl.”

  Amber tiptoed to the bathroom. The light let out a soft buzz as it spluttered to life. She could have used either of the mirrors in the main room - the one facing the bed or the enormous one covering the ceiling. The bathroom seemed safer. She barely recognised the face staring back at her.

  “Was the intention to make me look like a clown?”

  She was made up to within an inch of her life.

  “You look lovely,” Mother said.

  Did she? The makeup job at least went with the sparkly black dress that Mother had provided, its fabric barely covering her thighs.