Thorns (Sequel to A Dozen Roses)

Chapter 8 SD Card

Chapter 8
Mitch POV

The flight back to the U.S on a private plane was kinda nice I guess. I refused any food or drinks on the account of the SD card sitting under my tongue.

Alesa had called ahead and Ian and his new team would be meeting us at the airport. I was nervous to see them, but I knew I was safe with Ian.

When Ian saw me walk off that plane he threw his arms around me and hugged me so tightly I thought I would snap in half. I threw my arms around his midsection and pressed my face into his button up shirt.

"I'm glad you're alright" he admitted pulling away keeping his hands on my shoulder, "You look like you could use a hot shower and a meal." I sighed and nodded my head at the thought of such a thing. "First off let me introduce you to my replacement team, they're covering for you and the others until they return." He turned and motioned to the four men standing in suits behind him.

"This is Mitchell Hughes. My original technical analysis. Mitch this is Ross he's my new technical analyst."

Ross was a short nervous looking guy but he smiled. He had short brown hair and wore glasses.

He went on to introduce me to Barney, Gizzy and Steve. The guys who were all taking over for us. They seemed nice and all said hello and Gizzy even shook my hand.

"Now I'm gonna run you back to your apartment so you can get some clothes, then we'll get something to eat and head back to the station. That sound good?" I nodded slightly and Ian put an arm around me helping me over to the SUV.

I climbed in the front seat and buckled up before finally managing to relax against the seat. I closed my eyes for a moment cherishing these few seconds of silence.

Ian climbed into the car and started driving. I opened my eyes slowly fiddling with the SD Card under my tongue.

"What happened to you there Mitch?" Ian asked calmly, "Are the others okay?" I noticed he avoided saying their names in case they were dead.

"Tyler and Jerome were alive when I left. Adam won't let them die, especially not Tyler." I said softly, "Ian there's so much you don't even know. We're out numbered big time. Deadlox has so many connections all over the world."

There were dozens of people he knew and that frightened me.

"We're pushing ourselves into the middle of a domestic war." I continued, "His group has split in half, they're fighting against one another. It's the student over throwing the teacher."

"Whose there leader?" He asked pulling into my apartment complex.

"On Deadlox's side it's Deadlox and Adam. On the other side it's a man by the name of Ghost. I don't know anything about him I just heard his name. Deadlox has an army at the ready, they'll go to drastic measures to get what they want."

We climbed out of the car and headed up to my apartment. I was grateful I had given Ian a spare key when I moved in, because my keys were God knows where.

Inside my apartment was untouched. The furniture was all in the same place and even that box of cereal I left on the counter was still there. I headed for my room unconsciously running my fingers along every possible surface searching for hidden cameras.

"Do you mind if I shower?" I asked opening my dresser drawer, "The cell they kept us in was a bit dirty and there's dried blood on me." Ian nodded and I pulled sweat pants and one of Jerome's shirts from the drawer.

The bathroom connected to my room and I cranked the hot water up to the point where it was steaming. I stripped off my shirt and jeans stepping into the hot water. It burned but it felt great.

A solid 45 minutes later I decided I was as clean as possible. I dried off and changed into the clothes. Blow drying my hair and brushing it out was quick. I know I didn't look professional but who cares.

"Ready to go?" I nodded my head and we went back out to the car, I could still feel the SD card under my tongue. Ian started the car and we started driving.

"Ian do you have you computer here?" I asked, he reached back behind his seat and produced his laptop handing it to me.

"Eager to get back to work?" He joked. I chuckled and pulled the SD card from under my tongue. "What's that?"

"Pull over. It's important." He did as I asked and we pulled over on the side of the highway. I wiped off the SD card and inserted it in a small slot on the side. "Adam gave me this right before they gave me to Alesa."

"What's on it? Information?" I shrugged and loaded the file up. It was filed with hundreds of mini files. "Holy shit there's a lot on here." I clicked the file labeled The Start and pressed play.

Suddenly Adams face appeared on screen, only it wasn't the Adam I knew. It was the one who looked so young and full of life.

"Hello there. My names Adam-Sky Dahlberg. Today is my first day on a new case. I'll be finding all information I can and documenting it on Deadlox." He shuffled threw a file and produced a picture of a younger Deadlox and held it up to my camera.

"This man is named Deadlox, or that's what the agents all call him. He's wanted for multiple homicides, minor acts of terrorism and even acts of kidnapping and torture. It's my personal goal to take this sick son of a bitch down."

The video ended and I stared at the screen. Adam had logged every single one of his findings in video form on this single SD card.

Basically every single thing Adam knew about Deadlox, we now knew too.