Chapter 9

Chapter Nine

Derrick

"Well, that was quick."

I made the statement with resignation. I'd been expecting a call like this even as I'd halfway hoped it wouldn't come. We were four hours into our trip, and the sun was disappearing beyond the edge of the Sierra Nevadas on our left when I'd pulled over at a rest stop so Aubrey could use the restroom. Aside from one other car in the parking lot and a semi idling while the driver probably slept, no one else was around. As I was standing outside the restroom while Aubrey relieved herself, my phone had rung.

Colbie.

"Did you expect anything less? As soon as Ms. Delgado called her father, he was on his plane heading back to the US. After he'd made a few phone calls first, that is."

I gazed out across the barren landscape that faded into a dull grayish purple to the east. "Let me guess, you were one of them?"

"Well, we are business acquaintances, after all."

"Does he have any suspicion who's actually behind it?"

"Please, Ric," Colbie scoffed. "You know me better than that."

I couldn't help but grimace. "He's not a stupid man. He wouldn't be where he is today if he was. If he really wants to dig into this, I'm sure he'll figure out who's really behind it. If not you, then at the very least the people in his own family who authorized it. And that will eventually lead to you, unless you can keep them quiet."

Colbie snorted. "You give him far too much credit. He was stupid enough to do what he did that set all of this in motion. And when it comes to having their daughters threatened, all men turn stupid."

"Point taken," I conceded.

"And speaking of stupidity…"

I narrowed my eyes. "What?"

"I should advise you your little video had exactly the desired effect and achieved everything that was hoped for."

"Oookay. I sense a ‘but' here."

" Erm , not so much a ‘but' as a ‘however.'"

Goddamn, he loved being enigmatic . "However, what?"

"You should know your methods might've been a little too effective."

"I don't understand."

"So, it appears Mr. Delgado took what you did to Ms. Taryn a little harder than expected. We'd assumed his main focus would be on considering what could've happened to his daughter and comforting her rather than any major reaction for what was actually done to Ms. Taryn. We knew he'd express a certain amount of sympathy for her, of course, but that would be the extent of it. He surprised us, however. He seems to have taken quite a shine to her in the short time they were together, and his reaction to your video has been… far more extreme than we anticipated."

"Bottom line this for me, Colbie."

"He's sent someone to kill you."

Fuck. "To kill me? Well, good luck to him with that. How does he even know who I am?"

"Well, Ms. Delgado did see you clearly, and the house had security cameras which caught you. Plus, you didn't exactly hide any part of yourself on the video…"

I brushed away the comment dismissively with my free hand. "That's irrelevant. I do not exist. You made sure of that years ago. That's part of my effectiveness; I cannot be tracked."

"Of course, in most circumstances that's one hundred percent true…"

I closed my eyes briefly. "You gave me up to him, didn't you?"

"Ric…" Colbie replied patiently, "you know how this game is played. The man was quite passionate, and you can hardly blame me for wanting to cash in on that. So, I said I'd utilize the resources available to me to see if I could find out who you were and get back to him."

"And then you did. You told him who I am."

"In the very broadest, very loosest sense of the word. I provided an old alias, and some vague references to some of your past work, things of that nature. He was quite thankful, and now he owes me. Surely you can see the benefit to that?"

"Wonderful," I answered with a sigh. "So glad I could help you establish a rapport with the guy you just screwed over."

"I do appreciate it. Oh, and by the way," he continued, "I should point out he has a description of the vehicle you're driving. His security cameras caught that, too. Just FYI."

"I took the normal precautions." Which I had. The SUV itself was fairly nondescript, a model of which there were tens of thousands on the road. Plus, I'd swapped plates at a brief stop we'd made before leaving the Valley to head up the pass.

"I'd expect no less. You've a… six-hour head start on him? I'm sure you have the situation well in hand."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence."

"You're welcome," he replied blithely, ignoring my tone of sarcasm.

I glanced toward the cinderblock building with the restrooms. I expected Aubrey to step out at any moment, and as soon as she did, I wanted to be back on the road. Which reminded me…

"I need the location of a safe house on or close by Highway 395. Something before Reno."

"Hmm." The line went quiet except for the faint taktaktak of Colbie tapping at a keyboard. "Well… you could continue north and turn yourself over to the Marines at the Mountain Warfare Training Center at Pickle Meadows. I could make arrangements to have you met there."

"Very funny." Asshole.

"It was just a thought. Give me a moment."

I listened as he tapped away some more, until he said, "Ah. Here we are. There's a large home about fifteen miles off your current highway, just south of Bishop. It's owned by a team of contractors we sometimes utilize. They appear to currently be away on an op. I could reach out to see if they'd be willing to grant access."

"It's on private land?"

"Yes. A secured property."

Perfect. "If you would, please."

"Of course."

"And if you're going to tell him where I'm headed"—Colbie would know exactly who I was referring to—"at least do me the courtesy and let me know, so I can be prepared."

"I wouldn't dream of keeping you in the dark."

"I'm sure."

The call went quiet for a moment before he continued. "There, I've sent an inquiry. I'll text you once I've heard back and have further information."

"Excellent."

I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. Aubrey had stepped out of the restroom and was now standing by the ‘Points of Interest' information board, peering at it. Even with the distance between us, I could see the redness of her cheeks, a puffiness around her eyes.

She'd been crying.

"Well," Colbie's voice interrupted my train of thought, "I suppose I should let you go. As always, you did an exemplary job, Ric. I appreciate your attention to detail and follow-through. Payment in full for your services has been rendered."

"Thank you," I managed to reply, though my attention was focused on Aubrey.

"Nice touch, by the way."

"What?"

"Using the other girl."

I looked over as ‘ the other girl ' dropped her gaze to the concrete walkway in front of her, scrubbing the back of her hand over her face. "If I told you it was her idea, would you believe me?"

" Hmm . Interesting," Colbie murmured. "I've always found Stockholm Syndrome quite fascinating," he added quietly.

"I was more inclined to think of it as an opportunity for her to fulfill a latent desire."

"A latent desire? For what?"

"Being heroic. Amongst… other things."

" Hmph . A curious hypothesis. I know the young woman is no longer at the Delgados'. Did you take her with you? Or…" He let the unspoken question hang in the air.

"I took her."

"Ah."

"I did ask if I could," I added pointedly.

"Yes, you did," Colbie concurred. "A word of advice, if I may… if you still have her, get rid of her the first chance you have. Considering that you now know you're being followed, she's a hindrance you can't afford."

"I'll give your recommendation all due consideration," I replied drily.

"Don't let gluttony guide your hand here, Ric." I could hear the frown in his voice. "She may play well into your vices, but is she really worth the risk?"

"I believe I told you she's a bonus."

"Yes, you did, but what good is a bonus if you're dead?"

Aubrey looked up from the ground, turning her head in my direction. I caught her eye and gestured for her to come. She began walking, her pace slow, her lips pressed tightly together.

"Do you think so little of my skills you believe whoever Antonio Delgado has sent might be proficient enough to take me?"

"All things must come to an end eventually."

"Something I believe many people have said of you," I retorted, "and yet…"

"Here we are."

"Here we are," I echoed.

Aubrey came to a stop in front of me. A glance at her face confirmed what I'd suspected. She had been crying. I had a pretty good idea why, but now wasn't the time or the place to deal with it.

"Do you know who it is he's sent?" I asked while keeping Aubrey pinned in place with my gaze.

"No. He's taken on this responsibility entirely on his own. That said, he does have access to people who do have skill sets that shouldn't be dismissed lightly. Be careful, Ric," Colbie cautioned. "I'd hate to lose a valuable asset to a random fluke."

"Your concern is touching." I made a ‘this way' gesture to Aubrey, placing my hand against her lower back when she stepped past.

"Practical," Colbie corrected, "but I understood what you meant."

"I can take care of myself," I replied as we approached the SUV. "I always have."

"I've never doubted it. I merely offered a suggestion."

I opened the passenger door for her, helping her inside. As I closed it, I said, "Mm-hmm. And for the record, this is the last time I'll take on this kind of assignment. Don't come to me with something like this again."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, Ric," he chided. "You know that's not the way this works."

I opened my door and slid into the driver's seat. "I'm serious."

"And so am I," he said firmly. "However, I'll take your request under consideration and do my best to refrain from employing you for an operation of this nature."

I pressed the ignition button, waiting for what I knew was coming. It was Colbie, after all.

"Well, at least anytime soon."