Double Crossed

Chapter 13~Drake

The short reprieve from my bad mood disappeared the moment we dropped Aria off at her house. I walked her to her door, and she thanked me for looking out for her. I didn't think I deserved her gratitude. It was my fault she was even in this situation.

"Now back home?" Martin asks when I get back in the front seat. I nod my head sullenly.

Thanks to Martin's insane driving we beat the rush hour traffic and arrive back at the house in twenty minutes. Martin immediately heads towards the fridge but I'm not very hungry.

I'm back to worrying about this messed up situation I'm in. I promised Aria I would take care of everything but I have no idea how I'm going to do that. I'm still no closer to finding out who wants me dead. I've been tense ever since the first time I was attacked but now I feel like a frail old lady worrying over every little detail. I knew I could handle myself but Aria has no experience with these kind of people. She was right. I couldn't watch her 24/7 to make sure nothing happened.

A stack of papers being dropped into my lap breaks me from my internal freak out. I look at it in confusion.

"What's this?" I ask Martin who collapses on the couch next to me.

He leans back solemnly and looks me in the eye. "This," he says, pausing for dramatic emphasis. "Is all of the answers you are looking for. That's why I took so long earlier."

My eyes widen. "No way!" I begin scanning the pages but I'm not seeing these so called answers. I look up at Martin questioningly.

"Okay fine not exactly," Martin admits. "But I think they're here somewhere. Check out what I found out."

Martin picks a number of sheets from the array of papers around me and lays them out for me to see. I look them over and listen as Martin explains what he found out.

After he logged the mission we went on into the databases, he decided to do some research. Martin looked into the company Webb was involving himself with and discovered that it was a partner of Imperial Real Estates. Oil was just discovered in Puerto Rico, but the United States was keeping it a secret, not wanting people to come in and try to steal it. This company got a hold of the information and has been secretly exploiting it and making a lot of money. Apparently military action had been taken but they've been keeping the story quiet.

That underground company known as Latin American Relations is the main bank of Latin America. They popped up only twenty years ago and have grown larger than any other company in a short amount of time. According to Martin's research, they were a drug ring, but they also specialized in smuggling weapons. That's how they quickly earned all of their money, and they just disguised themselves under Latin American Relations so that they could go global.

After explaining it all, Martin leans back with a proud smile. I just stare at him stunned and shake my head. "I only partially get what you're saying."

"Don't worry it'll suddenly hit you in all its wonder eventually," Martin assures me.

"Sure," I say though I doubted it. "I don't get how this helps me understand who's trying to kill me."

Martin's face falls as he searches the papers in front of us. "Well, um, I mean," Martin stammers. "Ugh will you just appreciate my hard work?"

I laugh and pat my friend on the back as I stand up. It didn't help me right now but the information can come in handy later on. "I'm just kidding. I really do. You're the best, man."

It was enough to at least give me the impression that we were getting closer to the answers I wanted. But right now I need a distraction. I pick up two video game controls and hold one temptingly towards Martin who grabs it excitedly. Then the two of us play Call of Duty until we can't keep our eyes open any longer.