Friction

by Dwayne Gill

  “Could it have been Marcene?” asked Cane, but it seemed like more of an outward thought.

  “Yeah, I doubt it,” said Daniel. “Sending helpful messages is a long way from kicking one of the lieutenant’s asses.”

  “If it makes you feel any better, I had a tough time with Amos,” said Cane. “He was by far the most formidable opponent I’ve ever faced.”

  Daniel looked down, remembering the sight of Amos’s falling body and head exploding. It hadn’t looked like Cane had much of a problem.

  “We’ll get Rick,” said Cane. “I promise you.” He extended his hand to Daniel, and they shook on it. “We have to be smart about it.”

  Daniel felt more comfort from Cane’s words than he ever would have thought. Having the world’s most dangerous assassin on your side had its benefits.

  “You gotta keep that beast bottled up,” said Cane. “Can you do that?”

  “I’ll try. It’s all I can do,” said Daniel.

  They sat in silence a few minutes. Daniel glanced over at Cane, who seemed distracted. Cane noticed Daniel’s gaze and sighed.

  “I’m genetically altered,” said Cane.

  Daniel hadn’t been prepared for the sudden revelation. “What? How do you know?”

  “Remember the professor in Boston I told you about?” asked Cane. “He confirmed the marked man from the hotel was genetically altered. But some of my blood got mixed in the sample. Turns out I’m mutated too.”

  Daniel wasn’t shocked by this revelation, for he’d always suspected a connection to the marked men. However, having it confirmed was different. Daniel and Cane had matching birthmarks on their right forearms, and while they were sure they’d never crossed paths before meeting weeks ago, it appeared they had some intertwined connection. If Cane was genetically enhanced, in all likelihood so was Daniel.

  “I thought you needed to know,” said Cane. “We’ve both struggled with some aspect of our own identities. This probably explains it.”

  “Were we made into monsters?” asked Daniel.

  Cane shrugged. “Maybe.”

  Daniel considered his lifelong battle with his darkness, and although the thought had crossed his mind that someone had altered him, the truth was sobering. And maybe encouraging?

  “It may not be such a bad thing,” said Daniel. “If someone made us this way, we had no say in the matter. But we’ve both overcome our imposed limitations to some degree. So, I say, to whoever tried to screw with us, screw them.”

  Cane smiled a little. “I’ve never thought of it like that.”

  Daniel knew Cane wrestled with his own humanity; he felt alienated from normal people and couldn’t experience emotions like most others. Though Cane had made strides since his days as an assassin, Daniel figured his newly discovered knowledge came as a punch to the gut.

  “So I’m guessing William is enhanced too?” asked Daniel.

  “Lynks has found nothing suggesting he has the same markings we do,” said Cane.

  Marcene had commissioned them to rescue William, an army ranger, from a POW camp somewhere in Asia but had provided no additional information. Lynks had all but expired his technical genius trying to find out where he was, but so far, they’d come up empty. Bowman was pursuing other avenues using his military connections. In the meantime, they were just waiting around.

  There was a noise at the back door, and Daniel looked up to see Lynks emerging.

  “He’s awake,” Lynks said, referring to the sedated man upstairs.

  Cane got up and walked toward the door, glanced back at Daniel, and nodded.

  Daniel was alone again, this time with much more to contemplate, but not for long. Moments later, Jordyn and Taryn eased out the back door to join him. He felt a rush of relief when he saw them both smiling, and they hugged him before they sat.

  “I didn’t want you to think I was upset with you,” said Jordyn. Daniel shook his head, but she waved him off. “I had imagined a thousand different ways I’d want to kill Tom. I said it out loud. I don’t blame you for taking me seriously. I even had myself convinced. In fact, what you did was sweet, in a weird, twisted way.”

  Neither Taryn nor Jordyn were smiling anymore, but they appeared content. They had likely spent the last few hours talking.

  “I don’t know what to feel, but I know I don’t want to kill him,” said Jordyn. “He’s still my dad, at least on the outside. And from what we’ve learned, it looks like he was just as much a victim as I was. Whatever he was, or is, someone made him that way.”

  Daniel cringed as he drew the parallels between himself and Tom and found himself pitying Cane, too, who’d probably been having the same thoughts since he found out.

  “I think having to face him showed me how hurt I still am, which is a good thing,” said Jordyn. I thought I’d overcome my past, but I still have deep wounds.”

  “I don’t think anyone can totally recover from what you experienced,” said Daniel. “But you’ve come a long way, and you should be proud.”

  Jordyn smiled.

  “As badly as I’ve hated him, I feel the same way,” said Taryn. “It’s hard for me to hold him responsible.”

  After Tom attempted to murder his daughter, he killed Taryn’s dad, which gave her just as much motive for wanting the man dead. Daniel couldn’t help respecting both girls’ restraint and reason.

  “Both of you are the strongest people I know,” said Daniel. “I’m sorry I didn’t think this through. I should’ve run it by the two of you before I brought him here.”

  “You’re different from us,” said Taryn. “Not in a bad way, it’s just that you approach things differently. It’s not your fault. We still love you.”

  Daniel tensed again at her mentioning him being different. If she only knew how different, he thought.

  *

  Cane stepped into the room upstairs and saw their captive, his eyes wide with fear. Everyone else had abandoned him when he woke up, waiting for Cane to do the talking.

  “Where am I?” asked the man.

  “You’re safe,” said Cane. “I’m not going to hurt you. The restraints were just a precaution.”

  The man was indignant. “A precaution for what? You’re the one who abducted me!”

  Cane realized how silly this must seem to him. Calvin and Lynks stepped inside, causing the man to appear freshly terrorized.

  “I saved you,” said Cane. “You were being held captive. I freed you and brought you here.”

  “Why didn’t you call the police?” asked the man.

  Cane took a deep breath. “I’ll explain why later. First, I want to find out what you remember. What’s your name?”

  “Jesse Vercher,” he said.

  “You live in Chicago?” asked Cane.

  “Yes,” said Jesse, who was trembling with fear.

  “What’s the last thing you remember?” asked Cane.

  Jesse paused in thought. “I was at a doctor’s appointment. The last thing I remember is lying on the examination table.”

  Cane exchanged looks with Calvin and Lynks. “What’s your doctor’s name?” asked Cane.

  “Dr. Brewer,” said Jesse. “He’s been my doctor for years.”

  Jesse fit the prototype for the marked men; he was young, likely in his mid-twenties, and fit. Cane guessed he held a mundane job and had a family as well.

  A family.

  “Do you have a family?” asked Cane.

  Jesse looked perplexed. “Yes. I have a wife and two kids.”

  “I’d suggest giving me your address,” said Cane. “They’re in danger.”

  Out of the Dark

  September 30, 2028

  2:00 a.m. EST

  Virginia

  Agent Hart woke up to his phone ringing, looked at the clock, and grunted in frustration. The caller was one he couldn’t ignore. “Hello?”

  “It’s Lindsey.”

  The first sign something was amiss was her saying her name, as if Hart didn’t know who she w
as. The second was her distressed tone.

  “What’s wrong?” asked Hart.

  “I’m in Miami,” said Lindsey. “At one of Quinton Mason’s nightclubs.”

  Hart couldn’t fathom why but knew something significant must have happened. “Are you okay?”

  “It’s a bloodbath here,” said Lindsey. “Over a hundred dead, including Mason.”

  Hart felt queasy, for he was almost certain of what had happened. His heart went out to Lindsey, for she had trouble processing this type of violence.

  Lindsey Flanagan was a senior agent with the FBI, a seasoned veteran, but she had limited experience with things so brutal. They had thrust her into a bigger role in the past couple of weeks because of Hart’s absence, and for that he felt guilty. It should be me at that crime scene. Lindsey had kept in touch with him following his disappearing act while he and Barkley tried to figure out how to salvage their FBI careers. There were lots of questions that needed addressing, by Hart, Barkley, and the leadership at the bureau.

  The late FBI director, Harvey Foster, had been colluding with Vinson and the Russians, which had caused a firestorm at FBI headquarters, with Hart and Barkley also at the center of the investigation. Hart still didn’t know whom to trust, apart from Lindsey, who’d stood by him despite the risk to her own career.

  Hart had to emerge from the shadows at some point, but not until he knew where he stood. If the marked men could get to the director, then who knew who else could be involved. Hart and Barkley had more at stake than just their jobs; their lives could be in danger.

  Lindsey had been his eyes and ears inside the FBI, trying to help him find a way back in, not only to resume his duties, but also so he and the bureau could get to the bottom of the alleged terrorist plot. While Cane and Daniel had their own way of handling things, Hart felt they needed a lawful approach as well.

  “What do you know?” asked Hart, getting back to the matter at hand.

  “They deployed an EMP, which explains why no one called 911,” said Lindsey. “Other than that, there’s nothing tying the marked men to the attack, at least to those who don’t know their history.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Hart.

  “Mason,” said Lindsey. “The way they killed him. The rest of the victims were stabbed, beaten, and shot. It could be explained away as a random mass murder.”

  Although the number of shootings and violent acts had decreased overall in the United States since the implementation of Eguns, they did still occur. The improved safety functions, fingerprint recognition, and electronic shut-off features, aimed at those who possessed stolen weapons, had made it more difficult for perpetrators. However, those determined to wreak havoc still found ways to make it happen.

  “How’d Mason die?” asked Hart.

  “They hung him from the second-floor balcony, crucifixion-style,” said Lindsey.

  Someone had wanted to make an example of Mason, and there was no doubt in Hart’s mind who that someone was. Mason had been an associate of Cane for years, finding him jobs to keep him busy after the assassin program shut down. Hart and Barkley had interviewed Mason weeks ago concerning his connection to Cane, when Hart was still trying to capture the rogue assassin.

  Much had changed since then. Hart had become Cane’s ally after discovering the corruption within the FBI and had even assisted him in rescuing Daniel. Mason’s interview seemed like ancient history now, but Hart suddenly recalled something even more disturbing.

  His heart raced as he connected the dots. “I’m gonna have to call you back,” he said to Lindsey. He ended the call before she could protest then walked down the hall to Barkley’s hotel room. He swiped her card, entered, and found her in bed, as he’d expected. She was sound asleep, so he walked over and shook her.

  Barkley shot up out of bed with a wild look in her eyes. “What the hell, Hart?”

  “I’m sorry,” said Hart. “Something’s happened.”

  “What?” asked Barkley. She sat up in bed, covering herself with the sheet. As Hart relayed the news in Miami, Barkley gasped.

  The only person who knew about their interview with Mason had been Harvey Foster, who was dead. However, the late director must have informed Vinson, the leader of the marked men, and possibly others, which had further-reaching consequences. They hadn’t only interviewed Mason; they’d also met with Helen and Kristy, who’d been victimized shortly after, Bowman, Cane’s lifelong friend and trainer, and Mary Swelling, a former Miami police officer who’d unknowingly worked with Cane. Of all of them, there was one who would be more vulnerable than the others.

  “Mary Swelling,” said Barkley.

  Hart nodded. “She’ll be next on their list.”

  *

  September 30, 2028

  1:30 a.m. CST

  Naperville, Illinois

  Cane escorted the long, brown-haired woman into Jesse’s room. The lady looked scared and confused but smiled as she entered. Judging by Jesse’s reaction, he was shocked to see his wife walking through the door, especially so quickly. He studied the woman, and after a moment, a smile formed on his face.

  “Vicky!” he shouted.

  The woman walked toward him, smiling, but Cane suddenly grabbed her arm and stopped her. Jesse frowned. “What are you doing?”

  Cane pulled Natalie back and gave her a shove out the door, walked to the bed, and leaned down. “That’s not Vicky,” he said.

  Jesse’s demeanor changed; his genuinely perplexed look turned into a sinister grin. “You got me,” he said.

  Something had seemed off about Jesse, so Cane did his homework before trusting the man. Lynks looked up information on him, and it turned out he had a family. However, the wife’s name he provided was Vicky when his actual wife was named Violet. Jesse also had a third child he’d apparently forgotten about. This haziness went a long way toward knowing whether the man had been turned; the effects of the brainwashing weren’t total but had evidently begun eroding the man’s memories.

  “You really think I’m that stupid?” asked Cane.

  Jesse smirked. “It was worth a shot.”

  “So they injected you already,” said Cane. “Why were you sedated?”

  “I guess we’re swapping info now,” said Jesse.

  Cane took a step toward Jesse and glared at him. “I don’t have to swap it. If I want it, I’ll get it from you, one way or the other.”

  Cane had never extracted solid information from any of the marked men through interrogation because he needed time to break them, which he’d lacked until now. Jesse’s smirk disappeared as he seemed to realize his cockiness wouldn’t benefit him.

  “I was recently turned,” said Jesse. “It takes a while to get rid of all the old memories. Sometimes that part can be problematic, so when there are episodes, we sedate them.”

  “Is Brewer really your doctor?” asked Cane.

  “I made it up,” said Jesse. “I have no idea what his name is.”

  “The address and phone number you gave me belongs to your family,” said Cane. “Were you sending me into an ambush?”

  Jesse shrugged. “I figured Vinson and the others would eventually find out what happened at the house. I was hoping they’d be looking for me at my family’s home.”

  “Are they in danger?” asked Cane.

  Jesse shook his head. “We don’t like to kill families. It doesn’t benefit us, and it brings unwanted attention.”

  Cane didn’t know whether to believe Jesse, but what he said made sense. He couldn’t wait to spend quality time with him to pry out some useful information. Cane’s phone rang; it was Hart, so he answered, hoping for news of any kind.

  “Have you heard?” asked Hart.

  “Heard what?” asked Cane.

  “Mason,” said Hart. “There was a massacre at one his clubs last night. A hundred dead, give or take, including Mason.”

  “Vinson?” asked Cane, although he already knew the answer. Jesse grinned when he heard the name.


  “There were no witnesses, but yeah, it was the marked men. They deployed an EMP.” If there had been any doubt, this revelation eliminated it.

  “If they’re going after Mason…” Hart let the statement hang.

  “Swelling,” said Cane. He tried to notice any change in Jesse’s demeanor as he said her name, but the man remained stoic.

  “You’re in Chicago,” said Hart. “I’m in Virginia. Things are too hot for me and Barkley to catch a flight to Miami. And she’s not answering her phone.”

  “Do you know anyone in Miami you can trust?” asked Cane.

  “I think so,” said Hart. “I’ll see what I can do. What about Bowman? Vinson will know I talked to him too.”

  “I’ll call him,” said Cane. “What are you doing, Hart?”

  Though Hart had been a trustworthy ally, he seemed to have grown uncomfortable in the presence of true fugitives. Whatever wrong the agent had done had been necessary at the time, but he was no outlaw.

  “I’m talking to someone from the bureau later this morning,” said Hart. “Let’s hope he’ll listen to the facts.”

  “Good luck,” said Cane. After ending the call with Hart, he tried to reach Bowman, but there was no answer. He left him a brief voicemail and hung up.

  Vinson and the marked men had taken a very different strategy with their move last night. Were they trying to squeeze Mason? Cane wondered. It didn’t seem like it. In the past, they’d been hesitant to bring attention to themselves, but something had changed. Maybe they’re just pissed off.

  It was hard for Cane to mourn Quinton Mason, for though he’d been a useful ally, he only did it for money. Cane didn’t fear what Mason could have told Vinson, for he possessed no valuable information.

  Swelling, on the other hand, was a good person who’d helped a ton of kids. She didn’t deserve to die at the hands of the marked men. However, leaving Chicago wasn’t an option now, for there were things that needed to be done.

  Cane called Lynks and Calvin into the room. “I need some clear plastic,” said Cane. “And time alone with Jesse.”

  “Painting?” asked Calvin. “An earth tone would look great in here.” Lynks nudged him, and they left the room.