Innocent

Chapter 18: Chasing Ghosts

I didn't even flinch. A sly smile made it's way unto my lips. "Raymond, in Russia, I don't remember you having such a sense of humor. If you have actual information please proceed, if not please stop wasting my time." I stood up, and started to walk away. Raymond persistently followed me, "I'm not lying and you know it, here I have proof. " He places a flash drive into my jacket pocket and walks hurriedly in the opposite direction. I reach into my pockets as I fiddle with the flash drive while walking down the streets. I take the burner phone I had been carrying and quickly dialed a number.

"Hello?"I hear Aidan on the other line.

"Hi, I'm back in New York, any news?"

"I found out something, love."

"And that would be?" I reply back to him.

"Your friends are in a warehouse near Central Park, Warehouse 352, it's right by the lake." I smiled. Luck was on my side today.

"I'm in Central Park as we speak, where do I go?"

"Go West and you should stumble upon it."

"I met with Raymond today." I say casually, because I know the hell that is about to be unleashed.

"Raymond Reddington?" I could feel his temper rising.

"Look I know you two have some problems since Moscow, but he gives good intel. So you just going to have to suck it up and move on."

"Move on?! He shot me in Moscow!"

"Yeah, but if I remember correctly you stabbed him, first."

"He put a gun to my head!"

"Only because he thought you were double crossing him."

"I don't want to talk about this now."

"Okay then we won't."

"I don't like you seeing him, he could hurt you and I'm not there to protect you."

"Trust me when I say I don't need protecting."

"I'm coming to New York."

"What?! No way, it's too dangerous."

"I'm tired of not being there for you. No more phone calls, I want to see you. No, I need to see you. When I arrive in New York tomorrow night, I expect to see you waiting for me on your porch waiting for our date."

"Date? Are you kidding me right now? I have to deal with Russian Mobsters and corrupt Presidents' daughters and a bunch of things that don't add up, and you expect me to go on a date with you, tomorrow night?"

"Yes and I expect a kiss from the love of my life tomorrow."

"Oh I didn't know you were going to visit your mother."

I heard his laugh over the phone, and my heart skipped a beat.

I hadn't realized I was walking and I had already reached the warehouse.

"Hey I reached the warehouse. I got to go."

"Are you going to call for backup?"

"No I'm pretty sure I can handle this."

"Come back in one piece."

"I'll try, I'm not perfect."

"To me, you are perfect." Aidan paused as if holding the world in his words. "I love you, be safe."

The phone clicked off. I sighed, let's do this.

I kicked open the door as I stormed through the building. The warehouse was filled with filing cabinets containing FBI intel. I heard muffled screaming coming from the east side of the building. The old, abandoned warehouse creaked as water dripped from the ceiling. Remind me to never sleep here at night. I thought silently. Suddenly I heard Agent Collins yell, "We're in here!" I started running to where I thought I had heard him. My quickened my pace when the warehouse became silent and all I could hear was the pitter-patter of the water dripping from the ceiling. I kicked down another door and smiled in relief, when I saw all of the agents tied up with gags in their mouths. They were safe, and I found them. I sighed happily as I took out my pocket knife and began cut the nylon zip tie handcuffs. I paused and removed Agent Collins's handcuffs first.