Vengeance In Blood (Book 1), page 20
part #1 of Vengeance In Blood Series
“No. I didn’t want his concentration elsewhere,” she replied, and Maliki nodded in approval.
“Timothy, I believe he’s had enough,” Maliki said, and Bereno suddenly collapsed on the floor. “Your initiate has our thanks. I for one hope he can join us. Anyone you hold in regard deserves respect.”
“Thank you,” Besseta said, pulling her hoodie up.
“Do you need to feed? We have some fine subjects in the back,” Maliki offered, standing up.
“No thank you. I fed on two the night before last,” she said with a smile.
“Very well. Watch for alternate contacts,” Maliki told her.
She turned to the door. “Maliki, you may want to get some metal detectors and scan all of our kind before they get near you. Remember in warfare, you go after the head,” she said, opening it.
“So we shall.” He smiled as she walked out. Maliki turned to the others. “Gather your followers close to you. We will start sending a message tonight. We will retreat to our winter compound, sending out our closest to relay messages and have them ‘metal detected,’” he stumbled over the concept, “before they return.”
“What of the other Leagues?” May asked, standing up.
Maliki smiled. “We have warned them. If they don’t take the advice and fall prey to this attack, we must take up the responsibility to oversee their territory for them.”
Kyrista shook her head. “Besseta’s initiate provided the places to look for our kind. Do we turn a blind eye?” she asked.
“I know, Kyrista,” Maliki said. “My gift is similar to yours, but the answer for now is no. We may decide different later. To cause the death of one of ours is to break the utmost law,” Maliki said with a smile.
Chapter 13
When Kenneth left work early after telling Trish he wasn’t feeling well, he headed to the bank and withdrew the money in his account, putting “car purchase” down as the reason. Then, he cashed in his 401K, wincing when the bank manager told him how much the government was taking. When he told the manager he wanted cash, Kenneth thought the man was about to faint.
Walking out with eighty-six thousand in cash, Kenneth kept his hand near his gun as he headed to the SUV. He stopped at a gold exchange and bought twenty grand in gold coins and ten in silver. The owner knew Kenneth from the sheriff department and gave him market value much to Kenneth’s pleasure.
Finally heading home, he looked at his watch and saw he had several hours until he met Besseta at the airport. “Have some work to do,” he said.
When he got home, he threw the money in his safe and started packing bags to put in storage. “Shit, I need a new ID,” he said as the dogs ran around in a circle around him. “Damn, you are a fucking idiot,” he said, running out the front door.
Bonnie and Clyde took off after him, glad Daddy was finally playing games. They followed Kenneth to the side of the house. Kenneth had built a cover over the gas meter just to hide the ugly thing. Opening the top, he spotted a suitcase, not a briefcase. Kenneth carried it inside and put it on the coffee table.
Keeping his eyes on the suitcase, he walked over and closed the door then returned and sat down on the couch. “This isn’t a briefcase,” he said as Bonnie and Clyde jumped on the couch, burrowing under his arms to remind Kenneth he still owed them love.
“What if they took the briefcase and put a bomb here?” he asked, looking at the dogs, and they just panted at him. He took a deep breath. “If we blow up, at least Besseta will be safe. They don’t know about her leaving,” he said, closing his eyes and slowly pushing the releases. When they popped, Kenneth jumped. Letting out a breath, he slowly lifted the case open.
The top and bottom had black cloth over them to hold the contents in. Kenneth slowly lifted the bottom and whistled. “That’s more than fifty Gs,” he said, timidly touching the stacks of bound hundred dollar bills. Replacing the cover, he pulled down the top and found electronic gear and passports. Opening the passports, he found them blank. When he stuffed them back in, he noticed a folded sheet of paper and pulled it out and unfolded it.
Sorry I didn’t catch you Ken. I will catch you at work so we can go somewhere and talk. If you’re reading this I hope we did have that talk. I know you’re an investigator and so am I. I left this for you, it’s all I could put together sorry I couldn’t do more. I’ll cover for you as long as I can but if I call you, run. Don’t wait, just haul ass and don’t look back.
On the storage device I left all the information I could get on The Strong Hands. Again it’s the best I could do with the short time I had. When this is done I want you to talk to my little princess Samantha and tell her I’m sorry but her daddy did what he had to do.
Whatever you do don’t try to contact me. The apartment I’m renting is bugged as is my SUV and office. They didn’t bug your home or office because they were scared you would find it and start digging around before you helped them. I hope you take these asshole’s down but I’m not holding my breath. You’re an investigator not a killer but I think you will let them know you can be a pain in the ass.
I’ve loved seeing the lost look you’ve always had finally disappear. Little Besseta is the best thing that’s happened to you and she may not admit it but you are the best thing for her. Keep your dogs close.
Your friend
Harry
“I should’ve known you wouldn’t trust someone to drop this off,” Kenneth said, closing the case and running to the office. He moved his guns, making room for the suitcase. He looked at his watch. “Shit,” he said and ran to his bedroom, taking off his suit. He put on jeans and a t-shirt then dug through the closet until he found an old flannel shirt and put it on, leaving it open. He put his gun on and covered it with his shirt. Satisfied, he grabbed his FBI credentials and ID. Clipping on the ID, he looked down at the dogs.
“Let’s go,” he said, running to the kitchen to grab the leashes. Seeing that, they started jumping up, barking as Kenneth scooped them up and ran for the door. He armed the alarm and ran for the SUV. The dogs jumped over to the passenger seat as he pulled out, tires squealing.
Driving just over the speed limit along the freeway, he pulled into the airport as his phone beeped. Pulling out his phone, he saw a text from Besseta. “Just landed.” Dropping the phone, he hit the lights and siren, blowing by traffic then pulling into the airport, speeding past the traffic around him so fast it seemed they were going backwards.
Locking up the tires in front of the terminal, he shut down the siren but left the lights blinking. He put the leashes on the dogs and lifted them out. As he walked around the front of the SUV, he saw four TSA agents running at him.
He pulled out his FBI badge. “At ease, gentlemen,” he commanded, and they came to a stop.
“What’s the emergency?” a sergeant asked.
“VIP pick up,” Kenneth said, putting his badge in his pocket. “We will be gone in a few minutes.” He headed for the door.
“You can’t take dogs in the airport,” the sergeant called out.
“They are service dogs. The VIP has seizures,” he said over his shoulder. “Don’t let anyone block the vehicle, or we will have to ram our way out.” The four smiled, drawing weapons, and surrounded the SUV.
Walking up to the security checkpoint, Kenneth pulled out his badge and asked where the flight was pulling up to. They waved him past, just looking at the dogs.
This is going to ring every bell known to man, he thought, walking with the dogs, who thought this was the best thing ever. Seeing an airport taxi, Kenneth stepped in front of it. The driver hit the brakes. “Sorry dude; I’m off duty,” the young kid droned.
“No you’re not,” Kenneth said, pulling out his badge. “Take me to terminal eight, gate twenty,” he commanded, and the kid groaned. “Or I can arrest you and take the cart anyway,” he offered, climbing up with the dogs.
The kid groaned, stomping the pedal and honking the horn, scattering anyone crazy enough to stand in the way. Reaching the gate, Kenneth looked at the kid. “Leave before I get back, and you will spend the summer with large men wearing orange,” he warned, and the kid nodded nervously.
Getting off, Kenneth strode over like the world was his to command. On the inside, he wanted to wet his pants, expecting any minute for someone to come up and take him into custody.
Besseta saw him and smiled then noticed the hard look on his face and the dogs with him. He walked over and stopped. “Ma’am, I’m Agent Terrell. I’m your escort and security for your stay in Los Angeles,” he barked, making people stare, wondering what was going on.
Handing her the leashes, Kenneth guided her over to the taxi, where the young man was telling people to get back. Seeing Kenneth walk over, they didn’t need any encouragement. Very nervous, Besseta climbed on with Bonnie and Clyde as they gave her kisses.
Kenneth climbed on the back. “Kid, you have four minutes to get me to the doors.” The kid stomped on the pedal and almost threw all of them off as he turned around, racing for the front of the terminal. He made it in three minutes.
Walking beside Besseta, Kenneth scanned the faces, watching them as he walked over to his SUV with the lights flashing and the four standing armed guards. “Thank you, gentlemen,” Kenneth said, helping Besseta get in. “Your cooperation is appreciated.” He got in and hit the siren, stomping the gas.
“I take it something has changed?” she asked, trying hard to read his thoughts but only catching pieces, and every one was a swear word of some sort. The further they got from the airport, the fewer she could feel until, like always when he was calm, nothing.
Finally speaking, Kenneth said, “Yes, you could say that.” He turned off the lights and siren as he pulled onto the freeway. “We are in a river of shit, and it’s big, deep, and wide,” he said, heading home.
Staring out of the front window, she tried to push the nervous feeling out of her gut. “Can you talk and drive? You’ve done it before,” she asked.
“Not drive—talk and protect you,” he said, glancing in the rearview mirror. Besseta looked over at him with a warm smile. He glanced at her then back at the rearview mirror. “I swear to you no one is going hurt you as long as I have breath in my body,” he vowed then suddenly yanked the steering wheel, darting off the freeway, taking an exit they almost passed.
He looked behind them to see if anyone followed. Satisfied, he stomped the gas, pulled over the roadway, blew through the stoplight, and headed down the ramp then pulled back on the freeway.
Seeing his devotion, tears trickled down her face. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“For what?” he asked, looking around.
“Getting you into this.”
“No, I got you in this,” Kenneth corrected her, “and I’m going to get you out of it. Now, let’s wait till we get home. We may have a day or two, and we need to use them wisely.”
Besseta nodded and hugged the dogs tight. “You took good care of him while I was gone, didn’t you?” she asked them, getting lots of licks. When Kenneth pulled in the driveway, he took the dogs from her, putting them out first. “What are you doing?” she asked.
“Seeing if it’s clear,” he answered as Bonnie and Clyde walked over to the grass, sniffing around, then looked back, wondering why they hadn’t gotten out. “Guess that will pass for clear.”
They climbed out, and Kenneth almost pulled her to the house. When he opened the door and saw the alarm hadn’t gone off while he was gone, he breathed a sigh of relief. “Okay, now can w—” she started, but Kenneth reached over, putting a finger to her lips.
Trotting to the office, he came back with the suitcase. Opening it up, Besseta raised her eyebrows when he uncovered the money. Then, he pulled out two pieces of electronics, watching them. She didn’t know what to make of either of the things but saw Kenneth breathe a sigh of relief and left them on.
“Okay, now we can talk, but we need to keep it short. We have a lot of work to do,” he said, pulling her to his lap. “Are you okay?” he asked.
“Kenneth, I’m sorry, but I can’t keep it from you anymore,” Besseta said, looking down.
“I know; but are you okay?” he asked again.
She wasn’t paying attention and took a deep breath and closed her eyes. “Kenneth, I’m what humans refer to as a vampire,” she exhaled, waiting for the torrent. She didn’t want to see the disappointment and hurt in his eyes.
“Did you not hear me? I said I know. Are you okay? Did you have any problems?” he asked slowly.
Slowly cracking her eyes, Besseta saw Kenneth looking at her with love in his eyes. Her eyes popped open. “You did hear me, right?” she asked.
“Yes, but you are ignoring me,” he said, smiling.
“You…you knew?” she stuttered. “And you aren’t scared? You don’t want me to leave?”
“I’ll be scared if you want me to,” he said, shrugging. “If you leave, I will follow. You may be fast, but I can track the best of them. The only way I’ll leave is if you tell me you don’t love me, but I will stay close to protect you because I love you.”
“Protect me? I’m going to protect you?” she corrected.
“Well, looks like we have to protect each other,” Kenneth said, smiling. She squealed with delight and hugged him tight. Really tight. “Besseta—” he groaned, seeing stars.
She let go with tears running down her cheeks. “I’m sorry,” she cried.
“Huh, you hurt me more when I wen—” he stopped when she put her finger on his lips.
“I remember. I was excited,” she blushed. Then, she moved her finger off his lip and started to caress his face. “I’m in love with you.”
“Whew,” he said, smiling. “In case you’re wondering, I wasn’t worried.”
“When did you know?” she asked, laying her head down.
“I knew the day I met you that you were different. You never got cold, never tired, and when Johnny came up, you answered questions before he asked,” Kenneth said. “If you want to know when I knew you were the one I was investigating, it was the second day you were here. If you are asking when I knew you were called a vampire, it was this morning when Harry told me that’s what the drug users were called. I’m not a chemist, but we don’t have the know-how to make a drug like that. When I saw that folder you looked at—” he stopped as she gasped.
“How the hell did you know that?”
“I put a hair on the hinge of the door. It was gone when I came back.” He smiled.
She cast her eyes down. “You weren’t scared to stay with a monster?” she said in a low voice.
“Well, I don’t know,” he admitted, making her glance up. “I’ve never stayed with one, but when I do, you’ll be the first one I tell if I was scared.” She started crying and laid her head on his chest, careful not to hug him too tight. “Now, may I ask you questions?” he asked.
“You can ask anything you want.” She sniffled.
“They are going to come after us, more like you. How do I stop them?” he asked.
“Chop off their head,” she said, wiping her nose.
“Can a gun hurt them?” he asked.
“Yes, it hurts, but unless you take the head or completely destroy the heart, you just make us mad,” she said, sitting up.
“Okay, so some of the legends are true,” he mumbled. “What about silver?”
She smiled. “No, and the legends say that’s for werewolves.”
“Are there werewolves?” he asked, stunned.
She nodded. “Yes, I’ve only met and fought one, but that was enough. He couldn’t run as fast as I could.”
“Okay, so silver is out, and I’ve seen you eat garlic,” he said, thinking.
“Kenneth, in ancient Samarian text, it says, ‘the liquid metal of the moon destroys those that walk with strength at night.’ That isn’t silver; it’s mercury. And let me tell you that is deadly to us.”
“How much? Humans show symptoms at twenty-five micrograms per liter,” he asked with a grin.
“I don’t know what a microgram is, but liquid mercury isn’t absorbed by humans easily. You are hurt by the gas it releases. We don’t breathe much. We are very dependent on our digestive tract as you can imagine,” she said and nodded; he was following along.
“Now, unlike humans,” she continued, “We don’t take months to show signs. I killed a vampire with a large drop of mercury in his blood. He died in seconds.”
“I take it that’s one of the three that murdered your family?” he asked.
“Yes, I was testing other things out as well and stumbled on one that I couldn’t believe. I wanted to know if quicksilver, mercury, could really kill our kind. The way he screamed, it seemed painful, but it didn’t last long enough,” she admitted.
“When we take care of this business, we will look for the other two,” he said, giving her a hug. Then, a vibrating sound made them freeze. Besseta turned around, looking at the briefcase. “I would’ve found it in a few minutes,” Kenneth said, making her giggle.
Reaching over, he dug through the electronics and pulled out an old flip phone. He opened it and read the screen. “In Miami, scored 4 new members for a team. Moved to Philly tracing two. You have three days before the head returns so forth trouble comes. Don’t respond this phone has been destroyed.”
“I take it that’s Harry?” she asked.
Closing the phone and putting it back, Kenneth said, “Yes, he’s feeding me information from the inside, covering while I call in sick and get ready to leave.”
“Well, I’ve been getting us ready.”
“How?”
“You have to sleep a lot; I don’t.” Besseta smiled.
He laughed. “Okay, what did you do?”
She jumped out of his lap. She stood in front of him, smiling. A breeze hit the room, and she vanished. Kenneth blinked, and Besseta was standing in front of him, holding her backpack. “I can run really fast,” she said, smiling.
“Wow,” Kenneth stated, stunned, as she climbed in his lap.
Unzipping the top, Besseta reached in and pulled out two leather folders. She undid one and pulled out several passports with a bunch of stuff stuck in each one. Pulling out one passport, Besseta opened it, showing it to Kenneth. More shocked, he took the passport and opened it, taking the larger papers out to find they were birth certificates, bank sheets, and a mortgage sheet. Slowly putting them down, he took several cards out, finding one was a California license with his picture but a different name. Then, looking at the other cards, he saw they were credit cards.
