It Gets Complicated After That

I put away my gun, picked up the plastic bag and left. The crowd that had appeared at the sound of the shots parted as I passed through them. The corridors seemed to go on forever. I walked out the front door, down the sundrenched sidewalk and there was a bus. I got on, paid the fare, then rode downtown. I hid the blood splatter on my clothes with the plastic bag. When I got downtown, I had determined what needed to happen next. I found a public phone and called the torturer. He answered after a bit. I said, "Well, you can stop looking for Avery Shrike, assuming you were. I caught him today. He tried to kill me and I killed him."

"You're back at the phonebooths, except this one is downtown. At this time of day I could not get there in under an hour or two... So the mythical Avery Shrike died. So what?"

"Ummm... You did read his NSA file didn't you? I sent it to Wesley in a PDF. Avery was always real."

There was a bunch of cross talk in the background, then he said laughing, "I don't believe this. Here it is all laid out in front of me. When I said that he died in Venezuela, I was lying. I never heard of him... Ah, I see, he mostly worked over in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Dangerous looking fellow... You were lucky... again... Why did you call?"

"Oh, I just had an epiphany while coming over here... You have been the only person, I could count on to tell me something close to the truth throughout this... debacle. And... I am the only one who has consistently told YOU the truth. Don't you find that fascinating?" I asked in a companionable tone.

He was silent for a moment, then said, "Yes,... yes,... that is rather strange. Normally a client asks me to interview someone like you and I have to literally pull teeth to get them to tell me the truth. Throughout our relationship you have been polite and informative... I have no one to blame but myself for not listening to you in the first place... I mean, if you can find this Avery person in less than a week, surely I could have... We would still have the ton of cocaine then... By the way, do you know where the ton of cocaine is?"

"You and that damned cocaine!... I have no idea where the cocaine is! I was going to go by his house and try to find out where it was, but I just do not care... Compadre, I just wanted you to know that now that Avery is off the board, you should default and go home... No, no, hear me out. You have killed too many rich people, sir. Your boss is starting to become terrified of you. I gather he promised you a finder's fee for getting the coke back. He doesn't have the money... Did you get the car you are using at the airport?"

"Yesss... Why do you ask?"

"I suggest that you drive out to the airport, turn in the car and buy a ticket with cash in one of your known aliases, then take a shuttle bus back into Houston. Get off at a random hotel and ask the concierge about cruises leaving from Galveston. Go down to the docks at Galveston, pay cash for a cruise ship leaving today... At the first stop, catch an airplane to a random place under one of your unknown aliases... In a year or two, things will have calmed down and you can go back to work."

A silence stretched out then he said, "That might work, but I am going to play this hand out."

"Sir, with due respect, that's a four not an ace. I swear to you, that's a four! If you continue on this path, your client will kill you. He'll need to offer up your body to avoid getting killed himself. The level of apparent incompetence in this operation will force him to show how very good he is. He won't be able to claim that he was up against one of the best black ops people in the world, Avery Shrike. All he will be able to show is that an 18 year old, me, left his A-Team in the dust. He's going to have to blame someone."

Jorge said finally, "You are right. Only if I can get the cocaine back can I survive. With this Avery dead, there is little likelihood of that happening, but I must try."

I sighed and said, "Sobeit, my friend." I hung up and started walking. I ducked into a shop, then went out the back, into the back of another store and out the front. I crossed the street... and flagged down a taxi. When I got to the parking lot close to Jenkins' house, I had the taxi driver circle the block... I saw two then three cars suspiciously sitting there with people in them watching the parking lot and Jenkins' house... I told the driver to keep going... Then I realized what I had to do. I said, "I missed my friends. Could you take me to Blackwood Park? I'll catch up to them there. The free concert shouldn't have started yet." The driver let me out at the park and I started walking. I walked on the other side of the street from the rental where the girls were and saw nothing suspicious. I circled the block and found nothing.

I walked in hoping for the best... They were vegged out in front of the TV. I dropped the bag of Avery's possessions next to the box with the printouts. Brittany had obviously cleaned up. I started for the nearest shower, shedding clothes as I went. All three of them followed me kind of apprehensive. When I was in the shower, Ashley asked, "What happened?"

I started the water and tried to get the temperature right. "I had an epiphany this morning... Avery had to be in Thunderbolt Security in order for him to know so much about security AND the movements of the sugar. I had assumed that he was in the accounting section of my mother's firm... That's why he did not run. He kept going to work at Thunderbolt Security as usual." I soaped up and started to feel human again. "This morning, Jenkins helped me find out who he was. He called in the Avery's supervisor. I convinced him to help me. We captured the guy and carried him to a place where we could test his fingerprints and DNA. The fingerprint test verified his identity as Avery Shrike. I got the firm to get a DNA swab and compare it to the national DNA database. While that was happening, I was watching Avery. A nurse came in and would not sedate him. Avery woke up, got out of the handcuffs somehow and grabbed the nurse. Ummm... Then he killed her and tried to jump me. I shot him three times... Avery is very, very dead... That's his blood on my clothes."

Silence fell... except for the running water. I sighed and said, "Now we have to figure out a bunch of things before we go on to the real game."

"What do you mean, real game?" asked Brittany.

"The real game is the Game of Thrones. We have to play and win that to have a chance of survival... Or rather you two do... I could just walk out of here and one of our relatives would kill you... I would never desert you two, but do not think that the idea has not crossed my mind." I finished my shower and stepped out... I had a huge erection. Just being around them forced me to do that.

Brittany was n.a.k.e.d. Without a word, she put her hands against the wall and spread her legs. She looked back at me with a come hither smile. I couldn't help myself. I entered her from behind. I quickly came... I pushed her until she came as well. I pulled her upright with me still in her and said in her ear, "Thank you. I really needed that... I love you Brittany. That was very thoughtful of you."

She was breathing hard. "God, Taegan, you are just so good... and you are welcome... I'm beginning to learn to read your moods."

I stepped away from her. Turned her around and kissed her. "And this from a woman who was a v.i.r.g.i.n a week ago."

Ashley said archly, "Not quite."

"A v.i.r.g.i.n with guys, surely."

"There is that," she said.

At that instant, it hit me. I had lost my laptop... and the mad money pouch... AND the van... Dammit... The laptop and mad money pouch were at my house. I had popped in and put them in a safe, before going to the warehouse to wait for Avery.

As I got dressed, I tried to imagine who would have a vehicle they could loan us or buy us or something. When I was done in the bathroom, I said, "We need to move. ASAP." I moved into the bedroom and started dressing. "The taxi driver who brought me here dropped me at a park, but sooner or later the police or the A-Team will get the information. They will start a house to house search for us." I finished dressing and we sat at the breakfast table.

"There is no polite way to ask this... Did either of you two go to bed with an a.d.u.l.t female who is a stay at home mom... who you can trust?"

Brittany blushed and nodded. So did Ashley albeit with a brazen smile.

I set a cellphone on the table and said, "Decide on one, then call her. Ask if she will drive us around for a couple of days without telling her kid... It would be best if she was unmarried."

They whispered together then Ashley took the cellphone and called. "Hi, Joyce... Yes, I am okay. So is Brittany. Things have been crazy. Thank you for asking... That's sweet of you. Joyce, I am going to ask a big favor of you, but I want you to say 'no', if it frightens you. I... Joyce, I need you to drive us and two others around for few days. If anyone ever found out,... Really, Cindy is away at math camp... No, living at your place is out of the question... Taegan has found us places to hide in elegance. Think of it as a vacation away from life... Really? Cindy will be gone for a month. Joyce, whatever is going to happen will be resolved in a month... No, you need to pack an overnight bag. You can always pop back to your place... Thank you, Joyce, I look forward to seeing you." There was a short pause, then she said, "Of course there will be time for that. You know Brittany and I have always enjoyed our times with you. Here is the address." She said the address. "Come by in about an hour... No, we need to clean up this place and get packed. Looking forward to seeing you again." She pressed End... She was breathing hard. "Damn that woman is something." She whispered to Brittany who blushed really hard. "Come on let's get packed... Taegan, there is not that much to clean up. The items we consumed could be bought today and restocked." I frowned. "Taegan, if the items are missed, then someone at the main office will be informed, then our entire strategy of staying in rentals will be revealed. Look, we already got the names of the stores. All we have to do is run in buy the stuff and rush out."

I went in and made myself up to look like someone other than me and other than Sergai... When I was done, I was Beechy Lee. I had black hair and a scar on my face. I worked from his drivers license picture. I stored the Sergai papers in the briefcase.

The girls came in and had to make themselves up... even Marsha. I went off and packed. When I came back they were all three blond girls with markedly different faces... An idea hit me. I transferred some money from the briefcase to my wallet. I put the $5000 in my pocket.

Joyce arrived early in a soccer mom van. We quickly loaded up and were away. I said, "Joyce, we have to stop at some stores to make sure no one notices that we were there. I mean, we have to go buy some stuff." Brittany had laid out the route so that we could hit all the stores without having to double back. I handed the $1000 to Britanny... After the first few shops, things went like clockwork. Britanny and Joyce would rush into a shop and buy what was on the list. Brittany would pay in cash and they would come out... I had decided that I did not want to have all of us in the store with them, because that would encourage them to... shop... Joyce, Ashley and Brittany were world class shoppers... No time... I tried to get that across to them... I was absolutely astonished that none of them complained... much.

The last place was this exclusive wine shop. Brittany had to come out and get another $300 for a rare bottle of wine. I didn't argue, because I did NOT care. The money was from gambling. Easy come. Easy go. Besides this was survival.

We drove back to the rental. I had Joyce circle the block twice looking for something out of the ordinary... Nope... We all helped carry in the supplies. Brittany very efficiently stored everything in its correct place. When she was done, she took out a fine quality piece of paper she had gotten in one of the stops and left the note:

--- === === ---

Dear Yvette,

I hope you enjoy your stay in this house.

I have taken the liberty of getting you a house warming gift. I know you were born near Barsac. I hope you will drink this white wine and think of home.

I have to run up to Dallas tomorrow. I hope to see you when I get back.

With love,

Tiffany Shrike

--- === === ---

She set the bottle on top of the note and said, "Yvette Gironde is supposed to

move in soon. She said in an article that she was born within walking distance

of the vineyard that makes this wine." I noticed that she got my mother's

signature exactly right... which made me wonder what else Brittany had signed

for in our mother's name.

I set the burgler alarm and put the key in the rock in the backyard.

We got in the van and we were on our way.

I said, "Next stop: A place where we can be outfitted for soccer. You three, think knee socks and shorts and colorful shirts. Don't forget bathing suits... at least four outfits a piece... Joyce, I would suggest that we go somewhere that you have never been."

Joyce considered as she drove, then made a right at the next light. Along the way, I examined the garbage bag with Avery's possessions. I stripped his wallet of all the cash and credit cards and doc.u.ments I could find. Then there were the keys. Keys everywhere. I put my finds in a separate bag.

We arrived at No Name Sports and Athletic Suppliers. The doors of the van opened and seemed to vacuumed them into the store... along with Joyce. I put the briefcase under the seat in the back, after taking out too much money and locked everything up... and prayed. Hopefully no one would steal our stuff and force us to start over again.

I went through aisles looking for soccer referee's apparel... black and white stripped shirts, black shorts and shoes with plastic cleats. I even bought the whistle. I know, I know, black and white striped shirts are for football, but this was for show, not actual play. The goal was to leave an after image of a mom in a van with three girls in soccer clothes and a guy in referee outfit in the back... in June... in Houston. No one in his right mind would bother to remember that for very long.

I waited for quite a while for them to show up at the checkout counter. When they did, they had coordinated their outfits... including Joyce. Marsha looked kind of out of place because she was overweight, but then again, this was for show... I shelled out over $1000 in cash for all of our clothes.

When we got back to the van, I could not but sigh with relief... The thing was still there and no one had smashed in the windows and stolen... well, everything. Joyce noticed what I was doing and said, "Taegan, relax. Not everyone is out to get you."

I looked her in the face as the others got in the back along with all the backpacks and stuff. Joyce Futrell was a remarkable attractive woman in her early 40's. She was in very good shape physically. She had big b.r.e.a.s.ts. She dressed with style. Her earrings and jewelry proclaimed to the world that she was worth something and proud of it. She asked, "What?"

"I... Joyce, you are beautiful. I..." said stumbling to a stop. I got in the van.

Ashley said in the silence. "Joyce, he's just letting you know that he appreciates your noticing that he's under a lot of strain. Your trying to help means a lot to him... He also finds you s.e.xy, but he would never say that to your face." Everyone laughed and we started off.

"Where to next?" she asked.

I noticed a Wendy's with WiFi. I said, "There... We need to stop there and let me sit for a while on the computer. I need to co-ordinate the next round of moves. Then we go to the next rental... Oh, Joyce, you don't know... My mother owned a LOT of real estate in Houston. Most of it is rented out. Some of the upper end houses sit idle for long periods of time between rentals... I know when the next tenant will arrive. We get there after the cleanup crew and before the new tenant. According to the books the house is rented by a person whose identity is solid... No one would think to look in a house that was rented assuming they noticed that my mother owned land... Anyway... We go to the next one after this stop." We piled out of the van for all intents and purposes, a set of kids with a mom who had just come from somewhere. I had a new laptop Ashley had bought somewhere along the line under my arm as we came in and ordered. We sat together. Brittany got up and got our meals as they became available. I opened my laptop and started to work.

I checked in with Duke. Pepe was getting desperate. His associates in Colombia were not at all happy at the way things were going. Out and out threats were starting to appear in the emails between the two parties. How Pepe was going to hold it together much longer was anyone's guess.

I opened the bag with Avery's possessions. I gave Duke Avery's information... SSN, credit card numbers, place of residence, bank account number,... everything I could find in the doc.u.mentation in his clothes for him and his aliases. I even scanned in the keys on his key-chain and other parts of his clothes. One key had been tucked into his collar. I wanted Duke to find out everything he could find out about Avery... Most particularly I wanted to know where that $50M was. I even gave him an account that my father had on the Thunderbolt Security server that had allowed him to snoop on people without anyone knowing.

I also wanted Duke to find the internal report on the operator who had been on duty when I called Thunderbolt Security. Where had he gone? What were his motives?

When I finished sending email to Duke, I realized that I had finished my meal. I said, "We have to be going. Staying in one place for too long invites trouble."