The mission statement held true in the harsh daylight. Kaden said, "Kaden Rivera and Benjamin Benson will devastate the corrupt systems that create victims and are ignored by our current criminal justice system."
"Yes," he said. "Let's add somewhere 'without creating different victims.' I'll find a way to do our mission, and you can come with. You might need to change specialties."
She fought a smile because he wasn't joking. His expression was stony, hand in a fist and gaze still on the floor.
Kaden didn't know how else to comfort him, so she swiveled in the chair and pondered. Rose stayed an observer, cradling the hedgehog. Kaden’s buzz brought her true thoughts to the front of her mind.
Staring at the faux window, today depicting an ocean scene, Kaden said, "I know you're worried that we're on the wrong side, but I'm over second-guessing ourselves. I can order human slaves from Sub Rosa without even getting out of bed, and that puts them solidly on the wrong side. We have to demolish that product category. That's why we're doing this one job and retiring. We'll find our way soon."
Of course, an appalling number of people would be trafficked even without Sub Rosa, but a Sub-Rosa-sized scoop from the network had to be enough for her to fade into the background and piece together an average life. A few seconds passed as she contemplated what she'd just said. She liked it—this day drinking made her seem smarter.
Benny stood. "You're right." He peered at her and said, "That's not how I thought you would react. No hair yanking, even? Who are you and what did you do with my best friend?"
Kaden stood and patted Benny's shoulder. She gave a hint of a smile and said to Rose, "Good to meet you, Rose. Let’s all grab lunch sometime."
Rose smiled back, although she looked like she might cry. Kaden couldn't guess why. Rose murmured, "That would be nice. Good luck with your… task tomorrow."
"It's Omar's assignment, I'll just be sitting in a park at sunrise." When she worded it like that, the long drive didn’t seem like a chore. Kaden grabbed the door handle and spun. "Oh! I came in here to ask you about it, Benny. You're our driver?"
"We leave at three a.m."
"Gross, I quit."
"No complaints. At least you get to sleep on the drive."
"Yeah, yeah. I expect an exceptional breakfast once we're done." Maybe she'd just stay up.
Finally, a reserved grin from him. "See you tomorrow."
She left the office and headed toward the training room. She'd sneak in another swig, then start bashing things in the training room.
Three
Kaden's lungs filled with the fresh air of an unfamiliar park, two hours south of Denver. The sky was just lightening into a soft blue. She sat on a bench, smiling at the tree-lined path despite the aching bruises on her shins, the last of the battle pains.
The target ducked into bushes just off the main path. Omar would wait a long three minutes for the heroin addict to subdue himself, making this the most elementary job imaginable. Easier than a barfight. The bench creaked as Omar stood, and he stared at the bushes, unmoving.
Over a month ago, the target had stabbed and killed an elderly woman for her cash. An ATM camera captured the incident, and police released a photo of the hooded man. But the victim was without family or friends, so no one pressured the police and the case remained unsolved. Cori set Benny loose, and he found the murderer within minutes. Cori assigned Omar to capture the murderer and anonymously nudge the police in the correct direction, in this case with a literal sign. Cori claimed most of their cases looked like this one, with little violence, and she wanted Kaden to see it for the sake of understanding VC.
The past few months, Kaden had trained him in basic combat. The seventeen-year-old's role within VC would be as a field worker, gathering information or completing smaller side jobs like this one. Kaden refused to train anyone as an assassin.
Omar patted his pockets and sat again. A few seconds passed, and Omar tapped his fingers on the bench. Kaden glanced at him, and he halfway understood the hint to stop fiddling and making noise. He poked the lumps in his pockets.
"Stop patting yourself down," said Kaden, watching an owl swoop around before disappearing into a patch of trees. "You're still in public, and I can tell you that your taser hasn't gone anywhere in the past minute."
Omar shook out his hands and bounced his knees. Poor kid reeked of nerves. She’d be a hardass later, but now, Omar needed the best encouragement Kaden could muster.
She continued, "Let me remind you that this job is beyond easy. He's a big guy, but he'll be high as the kite in there. Think of all your combat training." She turned to face Omar. Her knee dug into the bench arm. "Now stop thinking about the training, because you won't need 99% of it. Seriously, this’ll be easier than training with me.”
Omar stilled and said, "I believe that. You’re mean as hell. Did you have your supervisor around for your first job?"
Bitterness tinged Kaden's laugh. "Never had the luxury of a supervisor. Just go, Omar." Although she adored Omar, her patience ran thin at five-thirty in the morning.
"Yes." He abruptly started stalking toward the bushes.
"Guess he was ready," she mumbled to herself as she took out her phone, which had a thermal camera attachment. She opened its app and pointed the lens at the bush, where the man appeared through the leaves as a red and orange blob. Head lolling, he sat against a pole that displayed a No Biking sign. High as a kite.
She didn't remember being that nervous for her first hit. Back then, she had relished the accompanying sense of power, but now understood it to be fake and pitiful.
Omar, as another red and orange blob, orbited the bush. The addict was twice Omar’s weight. She half watched Omar, because the brilliant sunrise snatched the rest of her attention. The two forms converged, and she stood and stepped toward the bush, still watching the screen. The scuffle lasted less than five seconds before an orange arm divided a red head and torso. Omar held the man in the sleeper hold until his flails stopped.
Omar hoisted the man onto his shoulders and laid him next to another bench alongside the dirt trail. Kaden smiled at Omar's compassion—she would have dragged him. Omar handcuffed the murderer to the bench, and dug into the man’s pockets to find his phone. Omar pressed the man's finger onto the device, then used his own knuckle to make a call. He said, too loud into the hushed morning, "Hi, I found an unconscious man in Wheeler Park. He's near a No Biking sign, in the east side of the park. More like my dog found him, ha ha!”
A pause.
“Sorry, I can't stick around."
Omar replaced the phone, then unfolded a printout of the photo the police had half-heartedly passed around. He wedged it under the man, and the task was complete.
"Nice job," said Kaden as Omar returned. "I'm excited for breakfast. You?”
“I am famished.”
The sun warmed her face as they strolled from the park. Benny waited in a rental car, exhaust rising from its tailpipe.
Once the waitress served Kaden a mimosa without carding her, Omar ordered his own. The stop was supposed to be a quick breakfast to refuel before the long drive home, but the food service slogged, forcing a leisurely morning on the patio. The speedy drink service helped though. Kaden ignored Benny's surprised looks as she continued to order mimosa refills. On the fourth glass, she swam in the perfect amount of carefree euphoria.
Omar beamed as he popped the yolks of his over-easy eggs. The teenager was well into his third mimosa. As he stuffed his face, he said, "Man, that was great. I got nervous, let me tell you, but it's done. VC is great."
Benny said, "Yeah? Why's that?"
"Because," said Omar, through his chewing. He kept them waiting until he swallowed. "VC has firepower. Organizations with power don't help people without bragging nonstop about it. Cori's badass and just wants to help. Speaking of which, Benny, have you found a dirty source of money from her?" He waved his fork at Benny.
Benny said, "I have no idea where the money comes
from besides the grocery store. I mean, the groceries are overpriced, but it's not that overpriced."
"Exactly!" Omar boomed. "Cori is badass and selfless and has a heart the size of my head. She let me postpone getting my GED until after I'm eighteen. Makes things simpler, anyhow, ’cause otherwise, she'd have to adopt me."
Even before today, the one obvious thing about Omar was that he was behind VC, one hundred percent, so it was refreshing to hear a hint of his motives. Usually, he kept conversations professional. Heck, it took three mimosas for him to reveal he didn't have a legal guardian.
Kaden said, "It's hard to believe you're only seventeen."
Benny chimed in, "At your age, neither of us had a clue. I was certainly self-absorbed."
Omar said, "Oh, I lived it. My parents were fugitives, killed trying to flee their country, then my aunt sold me because she couldn't afford another mouth to feed. Somewhat better than death, I suppose. I was trapped in a basement somewhere for three months."
"Oh my God," blurted Kaden, and Benny shot her a look. Kaden’s mind raced to Company’s basement, full of shriveled, despairing future slaves. She couldn’t scrub the moment from her consciousness until Company's parent company, Sub Rosa, was defunct.
But trafficking victims were often held in basements. It couldn’t be the same basement. She wanted—no, she needed Omar to finish his story now.
Omar must've misinterpreted their reactions, thank goodness, because his outpouring continued without a hitch. "Yeah, not the best time of my life. Although to their credit, they let us use a bathroom twice a day and fed me enough. I could do without ever eating white rice again, though.”
A kitchen, rife with bags of white rice. Kaden’s heart sank lower, and her throat tightened. She croaked, "How did you escape?"
“I was asleep for the action, but one day some crazy lady killed the person in charge, and like that, we were free."
An exact match. Tears welled in her eyes. She shoved them away, despite her buzz lowering her self-control. Omar had to assume her tears were for him only.
"Aw, c'mon, it's not so awful. You know why? Because here I am, dedicated to saving as many lives as possible. The three of us will beat everyone we target."
Kaden said, "Is that why you train so hard? It's a chore to convince you to go home sometimes."
Omar's utensils clanged onto his plate, and his mouth twisted downward. He'd turned bleak in an instant. "Have you guys seen the videos online of animal abuse, trying to convince you to go vegan?"
"Sure," said Benny.
"Their griping is absurd to me now. Imagine those same scenes with people instead of cows. Every person there is smart enough to see their life collapsing. Every person carries memories of those they'd loved and lost, and those can't be undone."
He gulped the bubbly mimosa, and continued, "Although maybe the cows do too—what do I know? Anyway, I'm here because I got lucky. The system will use many other kids then toss them into a dumpster when they're worn out. Who is outraged for them? It's us, it’s VC." He finished his glass.
The leisurely mood of the morning had fouled. The bright, clear day mocked her. She wanted to be in a cave, alone and curled up. In a different time, she could have been sent to kill Omar. She would have ended this determined, good-hearted teenager's life. She pictured him in her crosshairs and clenched her chest to hold a sob. Omar should be safe with his parents, not here with them. This was no place for someone his age, but his experience and passion rocketed him beyond his years.
Maybe Omar's optimism was onto something. They fought for the good guys now; the past was past, but that didn't stop the searing guilt swelling from her core. She started to cry. He was a victim of her old life, although she'd never call him that nor tell him the truth.
Benny said, "Oh, Kaden. We're all safe here now. We just got a murderer caught." Of course, Benny knew her train of thought. Together, they’d done a stellar job of securing people in that basement. He patted her hand.
"I'm sorry," she said. To have emotions showed weakness—best to bury them for later. "Too much champagne. Let's get out of here. Please."
The check had appeared sometime during Omar's rant. "Yes, let's. I promised Rose I'd take her to lunch," said Benny, as he tossed his credit card on the bill. He said in one breath, "I'll get the car. Sign for me." He looked at the floor as his chair scraped on the cobblestone, and he hustled out.
She nodded, understanding his need to get away. She'd practiced repressing emotions her whole life, while Benny let them out. He might break down the moment he escaped.
The next day, Kaden twiddled her thumbs while waiting for Cori to return to her office. It was five strides in every direction, which felt undersized for the boss. Kaden twiddled her thumbs more and stared at the giant faux window above the desk, showing a cat looking out a window to a residential street. Just when she was about to stand and stretch her legs, Cori walked in.
"Thanks for waiting, Kaden," she said.
"No prob...lem." Kaden replied, eyeballing Moe, who followed her in. Sweat dampened his hairline.
Kaden couldn't think of anything she had done to upset him in particular, besides exist. It was no secret that Moe had wanted to let her and Joy die of thirst. This meeting stank, even three seconds in.
Cori sat, and only an orchid and a closed laptop separated them. Through the glass desk, Kaden saw Cori's hands clutching one another. It seemed like every day that Cori's dark olive skin dulled and her frown deepened. Today was no exception. Kaden was sure a hidden closet somewhere served as Cori’s crash pad.
Cori settled while Moe leaned on a wall next to Kaden, standing with his arms folded.
Cori said, "How are you doing physically?"
"I'm stiff as hell, but okay. I need to get back to training."
"Good to hear. And how was Omar’s trial?" Cori's expression showed a casual friendliness, which Kaden had never seen before. Cori was infinitely practical, not even bothering with cheeriness to keep people motivated.
"Perfect," Kaden said. "Like I told you yesterday? On the phone?" Kaden narrowed her eyes. Cori wasn't forgetful, but she was delaying the meeting that she'd initiated. A chill ran down Kaden's spine, multiplying her alertness. Moe didn't move.
Cori looked down. "Yes, you're right. I have something serious to talk to you about today." Cori cleared her throat and said, "The situation has changed, Kaden. It's time to be transparent with you about us and Sub Rosa."
"Against my advice," interrupted Moe.
Without turning around, Kaden snapped, "Before you talk, sometimes it's best to ask yourself if it needs to be said."
"Excuse me," said Cori, face hardening while her eyes flitted to Moe. "You insisted on being a fly on the wall in this conversation. Be a fly. Now that we don't have Rich running our satellite station anymore—"
"He's not?"
"He’s quit Vigilant Citizens because he wants to settle down with your mother. He’s still the receiving manager of Wholly Fresh, though."
"How weird." Kaden scratched her head, feeling nothing for Rena but knowing she should. "Who's taking over?"
"Nobody. We only set it up to be closer to Mr. Ng. Can we move on?"
Moe stepped up to place a yellow clasp envelope on the desk. Cori bent the clasp one side at a time. With a glance at Kaden, she edged out a single sheet of paper and positioned it facing Kaden. She said, "I mentioned Sub Rosa's forum blew up the day the politician died. Here's the thread about it. I'll give you a minute to read it."
Keeping her hands in her lap, Kaden leaned forward and skimmed the paper. One poster panicked, wondering if Sub Rosa would go under now. Responses were all speculation, with many absurd questions and answers that meant nothing. The one closest to the truth, that the murder was a hit due to his protection of Sub Rosa, had been shot down, because politicians kept many enemies.
Since Kaden knew the truth, the conversation dragged, and Kaden skipped to the reply that someone highlighted. An administrator had
replied two hours later, saying that they were moving discussions offline. He also announced that they would temporarily lock the forum but keep the marketplace open, in order to strengthen security both on and offline. It was the last response.
Kaden said, "So what, they're being more careful? It'll be harder to find them?"
Cori folded her hands. "Are you still not interested in dismantling all of Sub Rosa?"
"Correct." Suspicion tickled at the obvious lead-in.
"We've been gathering information on them for three years now. The admins have always been careful to protect their privacy, but they shared more back then, including their motivations. The founder claimed that his only vice is a fervent belief in the free market. His right-hand man had a fused spine, and his doctor wouldn't give him enough pain medications. Assuming truth, what's your impression on that?"
"If that's true, it's unexpected. They sound like regular people." She'd always pictured them as masterminds, sitting on their piles of cash and surrounded by only their vice of choice while the world burned around them. A sober radical and a suffering man didn't suit that image.
Cori nodded. "We hoped they were misguided idealists. Yesterday, they showed how far they'd go to protect the website. Do you remember George?"
People didn't usually ask that if the person was still around, and Cori always chose words carefully. Kaden's voice shrank. "He's one of the few that treats me okay around here."
"He was spotted doing surveillance of a home and was captured by Sub Rosa goons."
"How did he get caught?" A heaviness grasped Kaden’s chest, but she needed to gather all information before letting herself mourn.
Unleashed (End of an Assassin Book 3) Page 4