The Pilot's Redemption

The Pilot's Redemption Part 6

Chapter 6

    Charles stuffed a few shirts and pants into his black duffle bag. He struggled to find the strength to keep packing. His mind filled with thoughts of Robyn. The look on her face as she stormed out was etched into Charles' memory. He sighed and stood up looking at himself in the mirror. "Shit. I messed up. I just need to get Robyn back. First, this stupid job." Charles tried to motivate himself.

   As he left the apartment he locked the door and noticed Robyn's door closing. He rushed over to the front door. "Robyn! Robyn….please look I'm sorry. I….I wanted to tell you I just-" Robyn swung and connected with Charles's jaw. "Leave. Me. Alone! I don't wanna see you now." Robyn slammed the door as Charles clutched his jaw. "Yeah, I deserve that" Charles thought to himself as he staggered to his feet. He shook his head and grabbed the duffle bag on the floor.

   "You just upset every woman in your life, yeah?" A posh, British voice echoed from the entryway of the apartments. "Aura? The bodyguard lady? What are you doing here?" Charles put the duffle bag over his shoulder and walked towards Aura. "Well, I'm here to make sure nothing happens to you. Anthony wants no needs this deal to go well. So you're under my protection for the next 48 hours. Get in the car and shut up." Aura walked towards the car and opened the door signaling Charles to enter.

    It was a couple of hours before the car arrived at the airstrip. There, a large cargo plane filled the makeshift runway. Bill was absent which was odd to Charles. "I see Bill's not here. Just when I was starting to miss his charm." Aura didn't even smirk or look in Charles' general direction as she spoke. "Alejo isn't needed for this particular job. I'm sure you never learned his name. Or he just didn't want you to butcher it the way most Americans do." Aura made her way to the plane and stood on the ramp looking around, searching, making sure it was all clear.

   Charles got into the plane and admired the inside before making his way to the Pilot's seat. Aura wasn't too far behind. She signaled to the others that it was time to leave. The Cargo Plane took off successfully and they reached cruising altitude. "Hey, Aura? How long have you known Anthony? Or is that even his real name?" Aura looked at him and started silent for a few moments. Charles patted the chair next to him in the cockpit. "I mean we have 2 hours before we land and neither of us have a phone or anything that can be used so let's talk at least." Aura sighed as she adjusted her bulletproof vest and sat next to Charles. "Fine, I guess you do have a point." Aura crossed her legs and looked out into the blue and white of the sky and clouds.

   "I met the man you know as Anthony a few years back. He was just getting into the….game for lack of a better word. Small time. He always dreamed big." Aura looked at Charles then out the window again. "He was to set up a desk between two rival…business groups. Thing is, he wanted to take both groups out and grab everything for himself. Obviously that's not a one person job. It would take an army. Or one really skilled….woman." Aura winked at Charles. "So you two went in and killed, what? Twenty to thirty armed people by yourselves?" Aura laughed as she wiped a tear away from her eye. "Oh that is funny. No. I got to the meeting place and switched the products and let one think the other betrayed them. Then let them deal with each other. Afterwards, me and Anthony cleaned up what was left and have been partners ever since."

    "I was well known in certain circles and Anthony needed me so he went through a lot to find me. The pay was pretty damn good too. Almost double what I usually charged. He was either desperate or cheeky." Charles looked at Aura and a thousand questions read through his mind. He took a moment to decide on a question to ask. "That's…wow. What about that crazy, paranoid guy from a few weeks ago? The one who told me to tell Anthony to slow down? The hell was up with that?" Aura stood up and gripped the hand bar above her. "That was a code phrase saying that the job was a go. He was nervous because he didn't know what it meant and thought he messed up. We like to keep things on a need-to-know basis. He didn't need to know. You on the other hand, do. Because this is the last job so….why not?"

   The hanger was in view and Charles brought the plane in nice and easy. Aura noticed the men standing around waiting. She reached into her side holster and loaded her pistol. "Shit is that a gun?! Are you expecting a gun fight?" Charles said, visibly shaken. "It's more of a show of power than anything. Just stay calm." The pair exited the plane and a man dressed in a brown camo outfit approached them. "This the shipment from Emigdio?" Aura's right eyebrow rose. She then noticed a body out of the corner of her eye. "It's a trap!" Before she could reach for her weapon two other men pointed their guns at her and Charles. "Seems I shouldn't have used his real name. Now you two, off to the side, on the floor. Tell Anthony, this is no longer his cargo. Someone paid a better price. Good luck." The man laughed as his men boarded the plane and flew away.

   "This is not good Aura. What now? Anthony is gonna be pissed." Aura stood up and dusted herself off. "You go home. I'll tell Anthony. Might be less anger inducing if it's from me." With that Charles headed back home. Once he got there he thought about going over to Robyn's but wanted to respect her wishes to be left alone. He held his head down and unlocked his door. The living room was still a mess. He grabbed a bottle of Blue Label and a glass and plopped down on the couch. He poured himself a drink but stopped to look around. He couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching him. Or maybe it was paranoia.