by Sara Schoen
It took almost no time to get the bottom lock, but as it clicked open, I heard whatever distraction Sandstorm made breaking up. The cheer stopped abruptly and the rapid footsteps were coming people right to me. Putting my shoulder into the door to force it open, I slipped into the building before any passerby’s saw me. I listened as authoritative voices called for people to stop and footfalls echoed through the back building. I locked the door from the inside just to keep out anyone else, and to make it seem like someone else had broken the camera, but not gotten in.
I turned to look around the room, only to discover I was in a stairwell. Glancing up between the steps, easily a dozen flights of stairs greeted me. This is going to take some time. Now the real work begins.
Chapter 16
I snuck around the building until I found a room filled with information. Files were crammed into filing cabinets and from the computer sitting in the corner, surrounded by boxes of files. Half of the information was digital now. That’s a lot to go through, I thought as I glanced over the roughly twelve cabinets. Paper takes longer to look over. My gaze shifted to the computer. More in less time, I rationalized, making my way to the computer and waking it up to type in a few key words.
I didn’t bother to look at the files that popped up as I slipped in the flash drive Spit Fire had given me, and copied as many as I could onto it. When the ones with information on the Cardozas, Mark Avery, Don Moretti, the Nights, the Rickers, the Reeves, along with Camo’s and Spit Fire’s family were loaded I copied any other files I could find. Honestly, finding anything about Camo and Spit Fire was hard until I remembered their real names. I had come to care for people who didn’t have real names. I cared for the people behind the name. A name didn’t make them, their actions did. They took these names to stay hidden and to say, ‘anyone could do this, but we chose to.’ Something I don’t think anyone realizes outside of CIRA.
The flash drive alerted me that it was full and couldn’t hold anymore. There were easily over a hundred files on it, which would take a lot of time to look through. Thankfully, these will be so much easier to carry and I get more out of it. I laughed to myself, remembering when I carried the files from Ash Crest’s home. They fell and became disorganized from natural movement, but these would be intact no matter what. My gaze returned to the filing cabinets. But I’m far from done here.
I noted the time on the computer. Fifteen minutes had flown by. By now, someone would be looking at the camera to figure out what happened. With the back door locked, I bought myself some time for them to piece it together. I just hope it’s enough time. I made my way to the cabinets and started digging through the overwhelming amount of paper work. Keeping a close ear for anyone coming, I dug through cabinet after cabinet. I didn’t find much, but I did manage to find random files on the Cardozas and Mark Avery. There wasn’t much in them, and most of it was probably in the electronic files I took, but just in case. I pulled them out and started snapping pictures to take with me. I doubt they inventory files, but just to be safe I didn’t want to take them like Spit Fire pointed out. I was most of the way through when the soft echo of footsteps met my ears.
Shit, time to go. I put the files back where I found them and sealed the drawers as best as I could without making too much noise. Kneeling to the ground, waited to see what would happen. The footsteps inched toward me, heading for the door. I need a way out. I’m a sitting duck here... I glanced around for anything helpful. The air vent was too small for me to fit in to, there wasn’t a window, and the only exit would be blocked by whoever was coming down the hall. I pulled the knife from its sheath when the door knob turned. Shifted into a stable stance to attack from when the door pushed open, and was about to leap forward when the door shut. Until I heard my name.
“Night Stripe?” a soft, meek voice whispered. You have got to be kidding me. There’s no way... “Night Stripe, it’s Shadow. Are you in here?”
“Shadow, what are you doing here?” I put the knife back in its place at my side, but her eyes grew wide at the sight of the blade. “I could have killed you. You were supposed to be with Camo and Spit Fire.” She opened her mouth to say something, but I cut her off. “I don’t want to hear a word from you until we are back at the compound. We’re getting out of here now, before whatever you did gets us caught.” I grabbed her by the wrist and quickly made my way back towards the exit.
I couldn’t be sure how much time had gone by while looking at files, but apparently, it had been too much. There were men all over the back staircase. I could hear orders being give out, footsteps all over the place and most were heading right for us. So much for not getting caught. I pulled Shadow out of sight and covered her mouth as a few men walked by the door yelling about finding someone. How did they know I was in here? I paused for a moment before glancing at Shadow and releasing her. “How did you get in here?”
“I walked through the front door.” She shrugged like it was so obvious and I should have known that. How could I have guessed she was so inexperienced that she used the front door? It’s like she’s never seen a movie. You never go through the front door.
I fought a groan and the overwhelming need to lecture her on how to do her job. If she’s going to follow me everywhere, she should at least follow my lead. I grabbed her hand and yanked her out of the room once it was clear. We needed a way out fast, and with cartel members and security looking for her by blocking the obvious exits, the only way that was going to happen was to jump. I found the first room with window I could and pried it open without so much as an explanation. I could feel her panic as voices closed in on us, but I needed her to focus or we’d be screwed. “You’re going to get a crash course on maneuvering and escaping,” I said, slipping out the window and giving her hand to help her onto the ledge.
“Oh, my god.” Shadow’s voice quivered as I yanked her up and into place. She stumbled slightly and her eyes bugged out when she looked down. First mistake, never look down.
“I know it’s high, but we have to do it.” I tried to keep calm as I judged the distance to the next building. It was only a few feet, maybe five, from us, but it was still far for a rookie. It was far for me. Her hand shook in mine and suddenly, I thought fighting through however many men were in the halls was a better option. She doesn’t know how to fight and I’d have to protect her. This is the best way. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve made further jumps. We’ll be fine, but you have to relax or you’ll freak yourself out.” I didn’t mention that I had a running start for the longer jumps because it wouldn’t help. If she wants to be an agent so badly that she’ll follow me and disobey orders, then she should act like one. “Just follow my lead exactly.”
I waited for her to nod before I leapt from the Carrera’s building toward the next building. I managed to land just on the ledge and regain my balance to turn to her. I recomposed myself from the close fall and then turned to help her. “Now you!”
Shadow shook her head viciously. “No. I can’t make that! There’s no way!”
“You have to.” I looked through the windows to see shadowy figures approaching the office we had escaped from either side. She’s going to be surrounded soon. “You have to jump. Just do it!”
“I can’t!” Her voice cracked and hurt me just to hear it. It sounded like she had torn the lining of her throat in the panic, but it would be worse if they caught her. I glanced to her side to see a man enter the office and inch his way toward her.
“You can, now just trust me! Jump!” My eyes were focused on the figure approaching Shadow. I didn’t hear what he said, but he pointed to Shadow and then she turned around. She let out a scream when his hand reached for her. She took a step back, but almost toppled off the ledge. She’s stuck. “Shadow, jump to me!”
Shadow shook her head again, but when the guy grabbed her foot she seemed to snap out of it. She stomped on his hand and then threw herself off the ledge towards me. I knew she hadn’t had enough momentum to make the jump. I saw her falling bef
ore my eyes. I didn’t think before I raced to the edge and jumped to grab her in mid-air. I grabbed her before she fell to the ground and sent us back to the Carrera building. I managed to get my feet in front of me and planted them on the side of the building before pushing off again. We bounced between the buildings, rather roughly and graceless, until it was safe to fall, but we still weren’t in the clear.
“Someone get out there and grab them!” a voice called from above.
Once my feet touched the ground, I grabbed Shadow’s wrist again and pulled her behind me. She didn’t complain while we ran, but she stumbled a few times. We stuck to the back alleyways and made our way through the city. Honestly, I don’t know how long we ran. We crossed through the streets, sometimes multiple times in case we had people following us and I didn’t stop until I heard a familiar voice.
“We came because Shadow went missing, we figured she’d come here,” Spit Fire’s urgent whisper drifted around the corner.
“She did,” I replied, pulling her with me as I revealed myself. “She came to help me again.” She shrank slightly at my harsh emphasis on her version of help. “She almost got me caught, but—”
“Did you get what we needed?” Sandstorm asked before I could finish my sentence.
I glared at him, silently telling him to shut up. “If you’d shut up and listen, then you’d figure it out eventually. I just went through hell because of her, you can chill for ten seconds to let me explain!” He stepped back but I could tell from the curious gleam in his eye, he’d want an answer sooner rather than later. “As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, she almost got me caught, but I managed to get what information I could before the Carrera’s figured out that someone was in the building. I think everything on the flash drive will be enough.” I dug the flash drive out from my pocket and handed it to Spite Fire. “The most important thing I found was that the guy you’re looking for isn’t here. You’re going to have to convince someone to take you back to the East Coast. He’s still over there.”
“Us? You’re not coming with us?” Renegade asked confusion and concern lacing his words. He stepped forward, placing his hand on my cheek to have me look at him. It’s touching to know he’s concerned, but Shadows act of help, proved I can’t go with them. She’ll just follow me. It’s safer to stay behind and healthier for me. I didn’t want to really go anyway, so why make it harder for those who wanted to?
“That’s right, I’m staying with Spit Fire and Camo to look through everything. I haven’t been as...excited,” I said, lacking a better word for it. “To go after the Morettis. I moved on in my own twisted way after Ash. I’m not ready to open those wounds up again. So, this time, I’ll leave it to you. Now it’s your turn to take revenge, just like you always wanted. Meanwhile, I have to deal with this one before she gets out of hand.” I pointed to Shadow, who shrank back a little more as if hoping she’d vanish from sight if she tried hard enough. Been there before.
Renegade looked upset, but nodded in understanding. He opened his mouth to reply, but Spit Fire cut him off. “If we split up, then each team should take a phone,” Spit Fire said, being the voice of reason. She moved the bag on her back to the ground and started digging in it. “I want to keep in contact with you two while you’re out on your killing spree.” Her joke fell a little flat, but both guys nodded in understanding and gave her a soft smile when she handed them a phone.
“Glad to see this time in the field has gotten you to care about us.” Sandstorm’s tone tingled with laughter and was light for the first time since I arrived. It’s amazing what the right person can do for someone. He took the phone from her and jammed it in his pocket. “I promise to call with an update every day...if I remember.” Spit Fire hit him in the chest, but he laughed and brushed it off like it was nothing. I know it hurt, even just a little bit.
“Night Stripe,” Renegade whispered, bringing my attention back to him. “I understand why you’re staying, but I also know you’re doing it to look for Fire Fox. Just be careful. We’re not sure what happened and I don’t want to see you getting hurt. You may not like what you find.” I leaned forward, hugging me to me for a moment of comfort. I was aware of what I could find if I looked for Fire Fox, but I needed to know what happened. I didn’t need to go after another cartel member.
“Thank you for caring, I’ll be careful so don’t worry too much. I should be the one worrying about you not the other way around. I’ll be at an empty compound reading over files while you’re fighting a cartel member. You have to go I know, just like I have to stay here. We’re going where we are needed. There’s a lot of information we missed the first time, so I want to look at it again to make sure we didn’t miss anything important. If I find Fire Fox while doing that, great. If not, I’ll keep looking once CIRA is in the clear...”
He planted a soft kiss on my forehead. “I know you will, and if you’re still looking when I get back then I’ll help you. I’m just asking you to be careful while I’m not here.”
I nodded, about to reply when Sandstorm stepped forward. “Come on, Renegade. We should catch a flight with KC. He was on his way to pick up people, but with Maverick and Huey on his tail, he agreed to take us.” Renegade pulled away, giving me a quick kiss on the lips before turning to Sandstorm to leave. “Also, Camo,” Sandstorm chimed. “Huey agreed to take you and the shadow back. You’ll have to come with us for a bit.” Camo nodded to tell him she heard him, then stepped to my side quickly.
“Don’t worry, I’ll watch her as closely as I can.”
“Good luck,” I whispered back. “You’re going to need it.”
She laughed as she took Shadow by the hand and led her to Sandstorm and Renegade. Shadow looked back at me as they walked away with longing in her eyes. I did my best to ignore it as they vanished from sight, leaving the city to meet up with KC and Huey. Something just didn’t feel right. I couldn’t place it. I felt like this would be the last time I saw them, but I knew they’d come back. That didn’t ease the fear sitting in the pit of my stomach like a rock settling to the bottom of a river. Something is going to go wrong. It always does. It’s only a matter of time.
Chapter 17
Spit Fire and I had spent the last few hours going through the compound and surrounding warehouses for anything we might have overlooked. We knew Mark liked to keep as much information as close to the chest as possible, and we learned pretty quickly that meant not keeping everything together. I assumed it was because he figured someone like us would come looking, but it didn’t make it any easier to tolerate. It kept us constantly looking for something we missed. At this point, it seemed like the best idea to gather everything and then go through it rather than going through it as we found it.
It just caused too much confusion and annoyance. Every time we realized we needed something else we had to stop and go looking for that one sheet. This way, it would all be in one place and we wouldn’t skip over anything. Though I feel like we’re still missing a lot of information, I thought as I carried the paper files from warehouses back up to the office. Every time we find something remotely helpful it’s a piece to a larger puzzle. At this rate, I’m not sure if we’ll find what we need before the mole decides to act. The thought struck a chord with me. All the agents who knew what was going on where away from CIRA. What happens if we don’t get back in time?
I tried to force those thoughts from my mind, but the whole building reminded me of what lurked at CIRA. It was impossible to ignore the blood stains on the floors, the charred walls, and the rubble scattered around my feet. Then knowing the whole thing was caused by an agent who had more allegiance to a cartel than to CIRA left a foul taste in my mouth.
Being back in this building is hell on Earth. I kicked a rock out of my way and pushed forward, but I couldn’t stop my mind from replaying every aspect of the fight. What I could have done differently? I thought of my moves, what I have chosen to dodge, when I had chosen to fight, and how I fought. It was exactly like I
was trained to do. What I should have done instead? I wondered, thinking over each encounter with a cartel member. They seemed determined, smug even. It’s almost like they knew what was coming. How could I ignore that? Adrenaline, I answered swiftly. If I had done things differently, if I had noticed that they anticipated my moves and what was coming, who I could have saved...? Guilt crashed over me. Good agents had given their lives and for practically nothing. I couldn’t have saved Whip Lash. Even though I knew it was true that didn’t make it an easier to accept his death. There’s always something I could have done differently. I shook my head. It just wasn’t possible in this case. I hadn’t been near him. I didn’t see him. But would I have stayed with him if I did?
I glanced out the broken window to the field, which had once been littered with bodies. Somewhere out there, Whip Lash and countless other agents died. I lit a mental match, piled all those dark thoughts into a pile, and burned them away, hopefully for good this time.
I can’t blame myself. I told Spit Fire she couldn’t, but that didn’t stop her. I groaned. I hated when these thoughts invaded my mind. I could never shake them as quickly as I’d like. They stayed with me, even in my dreams, which had been more nightmares lately. Renegade seemed to think it was guilt. That’s why most of us couldn’t sleep now. We all felt responsible so we were punishing ourselves. What else is new? I thought sarcastically as I trudged through the hallway. Spit Fire blamed herself, why would I be any different? Why would any of us not feel guilty? We lived, our friends died, and somehow, we make it our fault. We like to think they were in the wrong place at the wrong time, but sometimes bad things happen…unfortunately all we can do is try to move on.
The thought weighed heavily on my mind as I entered the office and placed down my findings on the desk before digging in. Spit Fire didn’t even look up when I slammed the files down on the desk. She seemed deep in thought as well. I wonder what goes through her mind. She’s always been the silent type, but even she needed to talk to someone. I opened my mouth to say something, but lost my words. What could I say to make this any better? So instead, I opted to dig through the files. Most of what I had found in the compound wasn’t anything more than a list of names. There were ones for cartel members, rankings, jobs, even agents listed from CIRA and why each was “of interest”. Unfortunately, it didn’t give a me a clue to figure out who the mole was. I didn’t expect it to, but I hoped.