Switchblade

Chapter 15: Pass The Message

Tati stepped into the locker room to change back into her comfortable clothes. But she also had an idea.

"Taylor, can I borrow your phone?" she asked.
"Sure." Taylor took out her phone and handed it to Tati.
"He doesn't let you have a phone either?" Suki asked.
"What kidnapper let's their victim have a phone?" Mariah asked.

Tati began dialing then held the phone to her ear to hear it ring.

It was 2am but it was also the only time she'd have a phone to use.

"Pick up, pick up, pick up..." she murmured.

It went to voicemail.

Tati huffed in annoyance then redialed.

She listened to it ring again.

"Come onnnn..."

It went to voicemail again. But she didn't have time to keep trying to force a call.

She left a message.
"Mom, it's me. I'm okay, don't stress. You don't have to sell the restaurant. He gave you six months to get the money, no raise in interest. Just keep working to get it like you did the last time but you don't have to sell the restaurant! Just get the 50,000 that's all. Please don't sell the restaurant. He doesn't hurt me. Just think of it as I'm on vacation. Don't sell it." She hung up and took a deep breath.

"Here you go. Thank you." Tati said to Taylor and passed the phone back.
"Sure."
She went to go find her clothes and take her shoes off.

~•~

Mitch arrived at home for the last night before he'd be moved for witness protection. He slammed his keys and briefcase onto his kitchen counter.

He squirmed in anger but tried to make the least noise possible to not wake his wife.

He began to pace until he just walked to his liquor cabinet and opened a bottle.

As he took his sips, he heard his floor creak just a few feet down. He lowered the bottle and wiped his mouth to see.

"Caroline?" he called.
There was no answer.

He put the liquor back into the cabinet.
But heard another creak.
He turned his head to face the sound and still saw no one there.
"Caroline?" he called again.
No answer.
So he grabbed his phone and started walking backwards with his eyes still in the direction. He unlocked his phone.

He couldn't begin to dial once he received a punch to the back of his head. He fell onto the floor and winced before turning around and seeing the large man dressed in all black who had broken into his home.

He looked on his person to see if he had a gun but he didn't see one. Instead, in the man's right hand, he saw a syringe.

He continued trying to crawl away until he finally stood up. Only to be swung at again and forced back onto the floor.
The congressman groaned and held his head in pain.
"CAROLI-..."
The intruder crouched down to him and forced a hand over his mouth.
Mitch squirmed underneath the brute, trying to break free while the man forced his mouth open. He whined in fear as he watched the syringe come close.
Fingers slid into his mouth and grabbed his tongue. He tried his hardest to scream but was only punched again until he fell unconscious.

The syringe pierced into the bottom of the congressman's tongue. He began to inject the entirety of the liquid by pressing down on the back button.
He finished and gently removed the syringe.
Mitch would be dead in the next thirty minutes and labeled as a heart attack victim.

"Mitch?!" Caroline called as she left her bedroom. She was awakened by the loud noise coming from downstairs.

The man in black stood up off of the body. He stayed bent over as he began to walk out of the kitchen.

Caroline eased down the stairs.

"Mitch?" she called again as the intruder snuck out of the back window.
She didn't see or hear her husband so she migrated back upstairs, assumpting it was just an odd dream.

The back window closed gently. Killian's employee walked past the security footage that he timed well enough to not be looking in his direction.

~•~

Tati left out of the locker room and found Killian standing there and waiting.
She ignored him and kept walking to head to the car. Since he'd probably make her walk in front of him anyway.
He followed behind.

The moment they stepped outside, their car pulled in front of the building.

Tati walked towards it and got in. Killian followed and slid into the seat next to her.
He shut the door and the car drove off.

"I need makeup wipes." Tati said randomly. She stared forward through the windshield with her arms crossed.
Killian didn't answer.
She looked at him.
"What?" he asked, staring at his phone.
"I need makeup wipes. I can't sleep with this on my face."
"Ask politely and I'll think about it." he said dryly.
She scoffed and faced back forward.

"Can you tell him to take me to get makeup wipes...please?" she said with an annoyed tone.
Killian didn't say anything.
She rolled her eyes and looked out of the window.
Fucking assh-...
"Soren." Killian called.
"Yes, sir?" Soren answered.
"Find a 24 hour store."
"Yes, sir."

Tati sat there silently.

Neither of them spoke for the rest of the ride to the store.

When they arrived, Tati reached for the door on the left side until she heard the one on the right open. She looked and saw Killian had gotten out.
"You're coming?" she asked.
"Just 'cause you asked politely, you think I trust you?" he asked rhetorically. "Get out."
Tati rolled her eyes and climbed out of the car.

The two of them went inside while Soren went to find a parking spot.

The phone that was connected to the car rang.
Soren clicked accept.
"Yes, sir?"
"Weren't you supposed to be picking up Kil? Where is he?" Doc asked.
"He told me to take him and the girl to the store, sir."
"The girl? What girl?"
"Some girl he's been watching over."
"He's babysitting?"
"N-No, sir. She's a woman. I don't know her age but she's an adult."
"And why is he watching her?"
"I don't know, sir. But she's not allowed out of his sight."
Doc groaned. "Pass a message when he gets back. Tell that prick I want him to come to my office 9am sharp tomorrow."
"Yes, sir."
Doc hung up.

Soren sighed. Anytime the boss called them they felt a rushing sense of fear and worry. Even if they hadn't done anything wrong.

Tati had grabbed her wipes and was still being tailed by Killian as she went to find somewhere to checkout.

She grabbed a bottle of water as well then went to the register.

"Hey." said the cashier.
"Hey." Tati replied.
The cashier began to scan her items.
"$10.76." she stated.
Tati looked at Killian.
He looked back at her. "You don't have any money?"
"I'll slap the shit out of you in this store."
He chuckled and slid his card in. "Sorry, sweetheart. Forgot you didn't come here with anything."
"Funny." she said sarcastically.
"Want your receipt?" the cashier asked.
"Keep it." Killian answered.
Tati took her bag and started walking off.

They made it outside and Soren saw then drove towards them to pick them up.

"Did you find what you needed?" Soren asked in case he had to stop somewhere else.
"I did, thank you." Tati replied.
Soren nodded and drove off with the occupants inside.
"Sir, Doc said he wants you in his office at 9am sharp."
"I get out of the gym at 9." Killian argued as he took out a cigarette.
"He sounded like it was nonnegotiable..."
Killian flicked the lighter on and held the flame to the tobacco. Tati looked at him and watched his focus as the filter was held gently between his soft lips.
He took a deep inhale then held it between two fingers. He placed the lighter back into his coat pocket.
"Alright." he said deeply as he exhaled.
Tati faced back forward.