Presidential Cleaning: A Psychological Suspense Novel (8 page)

‘We were trained to fight.’

Okay, so maybe Tony was born the way he was. Some people are. However, the chip that he constantly had on his shoulder was one that I’d been able to remove from mine- it wasn’t one I was born with. Before the government recruited me, I was just a guy who happened to find himself in MIT. I was a guy who worked out too hard to overcome the nerdy demeanor that didn’t allow me to get along with the ladies. Early mornings in the gym, days in the classroom, hours in the library and weekends at whatever party was going on. That’s what my schedule looked like. Until, one day, a massive dude, dressed to perfection spun around in the office chair in my dorm room. I thought I’d gotten myself in shit with the Headmaster or something, but no, he was recruiting. He’d been keeping an eye on me ever since high school, ever since my friends and I hacked into the Pentagon. The technology I’d been working on had piqued his interest and thus, he found that it was prime time to get me on his team. Though when I finally succumbed to their desires, technology wasn’t something I had much to do with. They realized that a gun in my hands was even more useful to them. Needless to say, there was no debating whether or not I should take a job working with the president. The fact that my family had passed away the previous year meant that I had no one to answer to about skipping out on school and becoming one of the government’s secrets.

‘They’re here,’ Tony’s voice pulled me away from my thoughts.

I felt my heart rate increase along with the moisture of my hands. I took a few deep breaths, trying hard to settle my nerves. Tony looked as relaxed as ever, and I could understand why. He didn’t have as much at stake as I did. He popped the door open and I followed.

Together, we stood at the side of the vehicle, facing the dark Sedan that stopped only a few feet away from us. I squinted my eyes, trying hard to see through the blackened out windows; trying to get a glimpse of Lila. And though a part of me strongly felt that she was there, behind the glass, there was no guarantee. My eyes slowly traveled down and then up as I watched Harry extend his legs out of the vehicle, wrap his hand above the door and pull himself out of the car.

His face was a lot smoother, a lot more human-like, than the way it looked on the photo I had of him. Rather than looking like rugged badass, his appearance leaned more toward that of an oversized dad; a man with a soul. But like they, say,
looks can be deceiving
and that they were. The perfectly groomed man who flashed a white smile-unlike that of his brother’s- didn’t have a tender heart. He wasn’t a caring, loving individual. No, he was a ruthless criminal. Someone who found joy in ruining the lives of those around him. Someone who believed that it was okay to set off a bomb in the middle of a city and claim the lives of innocent folk who had no reason to feel his fury.

My eyes were set on his face as he walked closer and closer to me. For a moment, I forgot that Tony was standing beside me. It felt as though Harry and I were the only people in the world. But rather than having my spirits lightened by the calmness he exuded, I felt a pounded in my heart- one that made me want to take him down even more.

‘Mr. Chandler,’ he flashed me a crooked smile. ‘It’s so great to finally meet you.’  He reached out a hand which I didn’t take before turning to Tony. ‘And you would be?’

‘Now’s not the time to be scouting for new buddies,’ I jumped in. ‘Where’s my wife?’

‘Where’s Derrick Shaw?’

Not this again.

‘That thudding you hear in the trunk isn’t coming from my radio. Now, where’s Lila?’

‘Seems like I treat her a lot better than you treat my family. See, I was starting to think we were friends.’

‘Where’s Lila?’ I insisted.

‘For heaven’s sake, she’s in the car.’

‘And I should just take your word for it?’

‘Boys,’ his voice came loud and enforcing, ‘show the man his wife. You see, Mr. Chandler, I’m a man of his word. I wanted one thing from you and seeing as you’ve brought me that one thing, I no longer need to hold on to your wife.’

Two men hopped out of the back of the vehicle. One, a short guy with a scar that extended from his forehead to his neck, made his way to the left side of the vehicle, pushing the door open. My eyes were stuck on them. Was she really here? Was my Lila, really here? Was it all over?

Chapter 10

To say that Harry Peterman was careless would have been an understatement. Lila emerged from the vehicle. Her weak body was held in place by two of Harry’s men- seemingly, the only two who came with him. Upon showing that he had Lila, he demanded that we set Derrick Shaw free. In only the cockiest of manners, he made his way to the back of the vehicle, where I fumbled with the keys, buying Iron, Adam and Jones time to take out the guys. The stocky man was the first to hit the dirt and the second guy, a tall slender figure, found his destiny right beside him. I didn’t have time to look at Lila, as I was busy strapping handcuffs on a dazzled and frantic Harry Peterman.

‘Is this some kind of setup? I knew I shouldn’t have trusted you. Oh, you’re going to have it coming. Just wait. You’re going to see that I’m bigger and badder than you are,’ he threatened.

We moved quickly, shoving him into the drunk, on top of his brother before slamming it shut. We had won. We were victorious. I ran over to Lila, who looked as though the grim reaper was standing before her.

‘Honey, it’s me. You’re safe,’ I said before lifting her frail body and carefully placing her inside the SUV. The other guys, Iron, Adam and Jones, joined Tony, Lila and me, only a few moments later. Now, it was time to put part two of our plan in action. Tony started the engine and whizzed through the bushy and rocky area and into a hiccup. Harry had been stupid in not coming with enough people but what we didn’t expect, was that he was smart enough to have backup. Another vehicle headed in our direction with two men bent out the windows with guns pointed at the windscreen of our vehicle. A flurry of gunshots filled the air as they pumped round after round into our vehicle. If it weren’t for the bulletproof glass, we would have all been out cold. Tony sped around them, and onto the streets. Through one road and down the next. Turn after turn, it seemed as though we’d lost them. But we knew we still needed to be cautious.

‘Are you okay, Lila?’ I asked, streaming my hands down her tear soaked face. She looked at me as though she had no idea who I was; as though I was the enemy. ‘It’s okay. It’s going to be all okay,’ I reassured her. ‘These guys. They’re going to take care of you. They’re going to make sure you’re fine. I promise you Lila. I promise you that nothing bad will ever happen to you again.’

When we were certain that we’d lost them, we turned off the lonely street we’d been on for over ten minutes and parked beside Iron’s vehicle. Carefully, he lifted Lila from my arms. I watched sadly as he placed her into the vehicle and sped away with her. I had no idea what she was thinking. The fact that she didn’t speak; that she didn’t resist what was transpiring was incredibly frightening. A part of me felt as though she’d given up hope; that she’d stopped fighting and was willing to allow just about anything to happen to her. I’d imagined our encounter being different. I thought that maybe she’d see me as her knight in shining armor; that she’d realized that I’d save her. Shaking the feeling that she viewed me as one of the bad guys was impossible. Did she think that I was just like them? What had Harry Peterman said to her? She had no idea what my past entailed. She’d insisted that we just swept it underneath the rug and moved on with our lives in a direction filled with only positivity. I was terrified that the negativity of who I was and of what I’d done was too much for her to handle. There was no telling if, once she got back on her feet, she’d move on from us and leave me behind. But now wasn’t the time to think about all that. The second part of the plan needed to be put into action and it carried significantly more risks than Harry Peterman’s encounter could ever begin to compete with.

Iron was to carry Lila back to the bunker, taking her away from all the action. He’d keep her safe while we carried out the rest of our plan- a plan that could blow up in our faces in ways we hadn’t bargained for. A part of me wanted to tell all the guys to leave; to allow me to handle everything on my own. However, I knew that I needed the assistance. I knew that even though we’d be the underdogs once we arrived and that they wouldn’t be able to shelter me or themselves from the vehemence we could face, I needed them.

‘You think the president remembers us?’ Adam smiled cheekily. ‘Maybe we’ll just be able to walk inside and bump fists like old buddies.’

The reality of it was that we’d never been able to sit back and have a beer with the president. Our meetings were always a ‘yes sir’, ‘no sir’ kind of ordeal. How the president would accept us was in the air. But we had a prize, one that I knew he would enjoy. Unfortunately, there was no telling if he’d take us as an addition to an already great deal.

Chapter 11

As tony maneuvered the vehicle around the final bend, a knot, the size of a baseball developed in the pit of my stomach. Some may say I was nervous but the truth was, I was scared shitless.

‘We’re here. Are y’all ready?’ Tony said before approaching the gigantic gate that stood between us and either victory or demise.

‘We don’t have a choice but to be ready,’ I replied.

Slowly, the vehicle rolled closer and closer to the majestic gates, prompting the men who stood guard to aim their weapons right at us. I stuck my hands out the window-hoping they wouldn’t shoot- willing them to come closer in order to see who we were and what we were about.

‘State your name,’ said one of the guards who was donned in everyday clothing- jeans and a bulky jacket- combined with a pissed off look on his face.

‘Joe Chandler. NW45’ I yelled through the window, refusing to stick my head out in fear that they’d shoot it right off.

‘And what’s your purpose here?’ he barked.

‘I need to speak to the president.’

‘Well the president’s not here. I suggest that you turn your vehicle around and head away from the premises.’

‘Hold up a minute,’ toned a familiar voice, though I couldn’t quite put a face to it. ‘Did he say Joe Chandler?’

I peered through the glass, trying to get a glimpse of the man who had his hoodie pulled too far down his face. The guard turned around and made his way to his colleague who stood only a few feet away from him. They talked quietly for a few minutes. Jones, Tony, Adam and I waited in an impatient silence.

‘If it ain’t these bastards it ain’t no one else,’ he approached the vehicle.

The big not that had developed in my stomach subsided. ‘Holy crap. Alexander!’

‘Just Alex now,’ he replied, pushing his head through my window and checking out the other parties inside.

Alexander had worked on a few jobs with us and had disappeared after the last one. We’d thought that he died; that he now called the soil six feet under his home.

‘What the hell are y’all up to? You know that these ends aren’t ones you should be idling around, especially not with what happened earlier,’ he whispered.

‘What happened earlier?’ Adam prompted.

‘Nothing. Nothing. But seriously, can’t you guys you know, get in touch with Presi the right way.’

‘It’s important, Alexander,’ I pleaded.

‘Alex,’ he corrected me. ‘I’m afraid it’s not up to me to grant permission.’

‘But you could at least ask.’

‘I could,’ he agreed, ‘but I’d be risking my job and my behind. What is it about anyways?’

‘It’s about what happened earlier.’ Adam ran a hand through his hair and raised his eyebrow in a manner that prompted Alexander to believe him.

‘You’re shitting me,’ Alexander exclaimed.

‘Alex,’ called the guard who’d spoken with us first. ‘You know you’re breaking a whole bunch of rules by doing what you’re doing?’

‘Let me ask you something Mario. Who is in charge of the gate and each one of you surrounding it?’ Alexander replied sternly.

‘You sir.’ Mario nodded and stepped back.

Evidently, Alexander had authority. I felt as though we’d hit the jackpot by running into him. If it were up to Mario, we’d be on our way without him even knowing why we came.

‘As I was saying,’ Alexander pushed himself further through the window, ‘you’re not serious, are you?’

‘I’m afraid we are,’ I said, pointing to the back of the vehicle.

‘Holy hell. Give me a minute.’ Alexander stepped away from our vehicle and started to talk into a radio. I couldn’t quite decipher what the person on the other end was saying, but the tone wasn’t a very inviting one.

‘What do you think that’s about? Adam asked.

‘Hell if I know. But I’m just hoping that this plan works as well as we need it to.’

‘I don’t know,’ Jones entered the conversation. ‘I think we should have just taken care of that bastard Peterman ourselves and then disappear.’

‘You know that would never work,’ Tony chimed in.

I could tell that Adam was getting irritated by the negativity as he’d rolled his eyes more than ten times in the one minute that went by. ‘Just stop it already. It’s going to work. We have what the president wants, plus a bonus. It’s not like his party’s ruined because we stole Derrick Shaw, it’s just delayed.’

‘It makes him look like a fool,’ Jones snapped. ‘He’s supposed to have these top secret guys working for him- the best there is in the world and they get taken out by a few rounds of tranquilizers.’

‘But we did work for him. We worked for him a lot longer than these people worked for him and we’re a product of his training. We were able to accomplish what we accomplished because
he
trained us well. If we get him to realize that, then we’re golden.’

‘I just hope he sees it that way,’ Jones replied dryly. ‘I still would have preferred to take him out myself.’

I got where Jones was coming from. If I didn’t know the repercussions of handling Harry Peterman rather than handing him over, I would have unleashed more fury than he could begin to comprehend. Jones, of course, had his own agenda. After the pain, Harry Peterman had put him through by not only kidnapping his wife, but killing her right before his eyes, I didn’t blame him for wanting revenge. I understood why he wanted to be the one in charge of draining Peterman’s body of each ounce of life.