The Deadliest Secret (The Deadliest Series) (32 page)

              The night he escaped Kody had a hard time finding a dark space to ditch the boat. After he was out of immediate danger of being caught again he heard the alarms sound. That still forced him to crash land the boat. After the boat hit the land Kody left the dead body of the old man on the boat, he posed him like it was a heart attack, for some reason he didn’t want this kill on his list of many. It wasn’t near his level of brutality, it was a pitiful old man and all he had to do was punch the other in the chest. It killed him. Kody figured it was only a matter of time till the old man croaked anyways.

             
He left the boat and ran in the direction of the Narrows Bridge. The big green bridge connecting Tacoma to Gig Harbor, it used to be named “Galloping Gertie” because it twisted and turned when it was first built, then it went crashing into the sound back in the 1940’s. The bridge was illuminated in the dead of night normally but during the sunset it was sort of just there and nothing special about it, except it acted as his beacon. Kody made it to a pay phone and began making calls to his sources within the mob to find everything he needed.

             
When Kody had gotten the information he needed he hung up the phone and wiped his prints from the phone and buttons he pressed, and then took off on another run. He needed to ditch the guard special he had stolen; maybe he should have stolen the old man’s clothing. They looked like a golfer met pastels so that was a no. Kody could pull off the black uniform better, he looked at the watch he stole off the corpse as well and there were still places open to shop at. The sunset had only just begun.

             
The area wasn’t completely unknown to him, Kody stayed off the main roads, careful to not be seen just in case they were already looking for him. He checked the wallet that Ford had on him, he had cash and cards on him, Kody could sell the cards unless they got turned off when they found the dead fuck. He put the wallet back into the pocket and changed his course slightly. He would be able to get something from the mall; at least till he was able to get to his own hideout and reconnect with the sources he had on Gwen’s tail. They had found her place, took her address book, and next was to just get the book from them. Gwen had a limited amount of contacts, her parents most likely knew where she was if she wasn’t already with them.

             
The next day dawned and Kody got a cab ride up north, to a neighborhood that was so ritzy he wanted to puke. These people had no clue what the real world was like. He was surprised Gwen turned out so down to Earth as she was. He had the cab drive by first, there was a black SUV leaving so he told the driver to go back towards the market.  Kody would walk from the market, less of a chance that someone would remember him at this point.  His walk was a short one, his legs ate the distance up, and back at the community he was in just a few moments ago. He knocked at the door. The woman was an older version of Gwen. Things snapped and he saw red, before he knew it there was blood all over his hands and the distinct smell of death filled his lungs.

             
“Shit.” He cursed at the two dead bodies at his feet, these must have been Gwen’s parents.

             
Their eyes were opened and trained on him as if they had any ability to be controlled still. Kody took off from the house. He hadn’t meant to kill them. He wanted to use them as leverage to get Gwen to talk to him. He had to get to the safe house and fast before anyone saw him fleeing or found the bodies. He slapped the sides of his head in dismay, he hadn’t meant to hurt Gwen like that, the woman looked so much like his love he couldn’t stop himself from trying to touch her. When she refused and screamed he had to punish her, just like he had to punish Gwen. Then the father came at him, they fought, broke things, and destroyed the beautiful house’s clean look. Kody fucked up.

              Gwen’s sobs could be heard miles away she thought. The last people she had in her life were gone. Her parents had been killed in their house because of her. The blood stained walls hurt her heart. First Torrian then her parents Kody was moving up the list and getting closer and closer to her. The agent had tried to drag Gwen away but she fought him and pulled her mother’s head into her lap with trembling hands Gwen closed Marie’s eyes and kissed her head, Gwen’s tears transferred to Marie’s forehead.

             
The sirens started to wail in the background and the anxiety hit Gwen even harder than before. She clawed at her throat and let the agent drag her away from the scene before her. Once outside Gwen held her arms around her chest seemingly to hold herself together. She felt like she had died. “It should have been me.”

             
“What?” The agent stammered.

             
“IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME!” She screamed at him louder than before.

             
“No, McQueen is a sick bastard and death follows him. If we let him get you he wins, he has to lose. You need to live.” The agent was trying to comfort her but she wasn’t having it.

             
“What’s your name?” Gwen asked of him.

             
“My name is Kevin…. Remember?” He asked her, she was exhausted and not truly listening when he had spoken earlier.

             
“Well Kevin, my fiancé, and my family is dead because of me, because of him.” She was hysterical.

             
“He will be dead before this is over.” A ringing phone disturbed them; Kevin answered it, giving short details about the scene before them.

             
“Who is that?” Gwen asked.

             
“Go get your belongings, everything that can fit in a carry on.” Kevin told Gwen, she took off towards her room, thinking she must be getting moved again.

             
Gwen returned quickly, she grabbed only a few things, she wore Torrian’s tags under her shirt, and her most sacred possessions were tucked in a small bag of hers. Kevin grabbed Gwen’s arm and escorted her to the car, closing her into the black SUV again. He got into the drivers seat while listening to the directions. Gwen could hear someone’s harsh tone on the other side spouting orders; Kevin kept repeating the phrase, “yes sir.”

              Darrien Davis was a tall, statuesque hunk of a man. He had short dirty blonde hair and amazing light green eyes. Darrien wore a white v-neck and dark wash jeans. He stood in the warehouse waiting for the package to arrive. Another protective detail another dollar. He was a specialist; he was one of the best at what he did. He was able to lie smoothly about his identity, the mark of a true agent. He was charming, but most of all he was handsome and he knew how to use it. The women he had to deal with became puddles at his feet when he unleashed his charms and that was good when you were on the run trying to protect someone from a certain death.

             
After what seemed like hours later Darrien checked his watch yet again. They were en route, probably a rookie trying to ensure they were not being followed. Or the package he was waiting for would be one of the reluctant ones. Sure he was there to save them but sometimes they rejected his protection because they wanted to stay home. He did get his way, normally by throwing the package over his shoulder and walking out of the old life, heading to the temporary new life the government had established for them.  Darrien patted the new details he had stashed in his pocket. A hastily thrown together parcel of cash, documents, identification cards, anything they would need including untraceable cell phones.

             
Darrien heard the car pull up and stiffened his back, squaring his shoulders. He needed to show his dominance over the issue. He did not know all the particulars of the case; he was just briefed and brought in. The door opened and in poured the light of day and two people entered, he crossed his muscular arms over his broad chest, the agent Kevin was newer to the force but seemed solid, the handler, and him all shook hands then he saw the package. A crying woman named Gwen; apparently she was the key to a case they were running against the mob or mafia. That is all he needed to know about her. He didn’t need the sob story. He nodded in her direction as the handler briefed him on the case, then he took possession of the package, Gwen, and the luggage thrust at him. They were new identities and new clothes. As long as Darrien didn’t have to play doctor or stuck up art enthusiast again he would be fine with the attire.

             
They quickly introduced Darrien to Gwen; hopefully he thought it wouldn’t be long till they were both able to go home. She was silent mostly through introductions, just shaking hands. She was still shaken up and Darrien knew she wouldn’t be much of a problem. She honestly didn’t look like she would miss her old life. He pushed the luggage into the SUV and climbed into the back with her and began to take his authoritative tone.

             
He handed her the envelope that contained her new identity and cash. He kept the majority of the cash and put his new cards in the old leather wallet his sister bought him years ago, it was his only personal possession he never left behind. “That’s your new identity, learn it quick, and leave Gwen behind. As long as you’re with me, she doesn’t exist. Understand?”

             
Darrien’s smooth baritone voice carried in the vehicle but there was no mistaking he was the one in charge. The woman nodded and started reading her cards and the short back-story that came with the envelope. Darrien stayed quiet, he never mentioned his “new” name or the one of the female that was posing as his wife. He could see the pairing. She was built the way a woman should be, slender, but curved. He caught his eyes roaming her, learning each curve in case she ran or was taken, he needed to be able to find her just in case.

             
The ride to SeaTac airport was a short one. The usual hustle and chaos outside the departures wasn’t made any easier, in fact the pandemonium was how Darrien preferred it to be, if for some reason they were being watched they could melt away in the crowd and disappear from sight. Darrien hopped out and grabbed the two small bags that were going to be checked once they were checked in. He then took her hand to keep with appearances.

             
When she recoiled, he kept a firm grip. “I’m not making a move or getting fresh, just playing the role. We’re married try to make it believable.” His voice was low in her ear, hopefully seductive enough to make her calm down.

             
They get to the check in and Darrien works quickly, checking the bags, handing over the identifications, and then getting the tickets. Gwen was too stunned still to be too much help in the conversation. He grabbed the tickets, receipts, and the cards back and slipped them into the wallets.

             
They went through security, finding the gate, and boarding. Everything went smoothly, Darrien was relaxed in his seat. Gwen was still silent and looked miserable so he decided to make conversation.

             
“Have you ever been to New Orleans?” He asked.

             
“No.” She finally spoke even if it was just a word.

             
“Ever been on an airplane?”  Pressing for more information.

             
“Yes, a few times.” Four words this time, she was short of words now.

             
The flight attendant interrupted him from having to make more conversation; he pretended to pay attention to the flight safety video and let Gwen be alone with her thoughts. They were taking off for the Big Easy one of his favorite locations.

             
He stole more glances at her still subtlety memorizing her features. They had a short layover in Houston, then onto the final destination. Too many hours of flying, he didn’t let Gwen out of his sight the entire time.  Darrien tried initiating more conversation, but she wasn’t too big on talking about herself, which was fine, they weren’t exactly in the best location for a personal talk. Package, not personal. He became business as they left the plane, already a band was playing “When The Saints Go Marching In” and he had to stifle a laugh, way to go stereotype. At least there wasn’t someone greeting him with beads and a Hurricane.

             
More silence ensued.

             
Darrien checked himself and his new “wife” into the hotel. It was fancy, and the bellhop would be delivering the bags to their forty-third floor hotel room. The hotel was outside the Bourbon Street area right on Canal Street. There were plenty of exits in case there was need for a hasty one. The reason Darrien liked this hotel was because of the size, there would be no one who could memorize them, there had to be hundreds of people that worked here, he doubted that he would see the same one more than a few times. He checked the credit cards under his assumed name and put his possessions away. Gwen just sat on the bed opposite of him.

             
“Anything you want to see here?” He asked trying to be nice and make this at least a little more comfortable.

             
“I don’t know. I haven’t been here, perhaps a tour of the general area? If we’re allowed out of the hotel.” She was not happy; her voice was tinged with disdain.