Double Crossed

Chapter 27~Drake

Precisely at eleven I'm sitting on the patio of Four Barrel Coffee. The coffee I ordered is sitting untouched in front of me. I keep looking around for some indication of danger. The moment I sense something amiss I'm going to hightail it out of here.

Suddenly a middle aged man with a slight beard enters and takes the seat opposite of me. I look him up and down. He looks completely normal. Jeans, a polo, and a messenger bag slung across his shoulder. But what I've learned over the past few years, normal can be the most dangerous.

"I'm James," the man says. He offers me his hand and I tentatively take it. He smiles at me and my hand goes limp. I can't take my eyes off his face. That smile. It looks so much like Mom's.

"So thank you for meeting me today," James says, making it sound like we're talking business. I know that strategy. He's making everything seem normal in case someone overhears. He's either really smart or part of the CIA too.

"I have the files you wanted. They were a little difficult to obtain but nothing I couldn't handle."

James reaches into his messenger bag and pulls out my small jansport backpack where I kept the files. I take it in disbelief. I have no idea how he managed to get this.

"How?" I ask James.

He smiles again. "I work closely with Paul. I happened to be his getaway driver. I subdued Paul, kept him, and took the file."

I'm still dumbfounded. I don't get why he did all of this or how he even knew. I'm pretty sure I've never seen him before. I just nod my head and choose to accept this rare stroke of luck. I look through the files. Everything is here. I finally have what I need to give my parents and Aria justice.

"Wasn't it kind of dumb to meet in such a populated area?" I ask.

The coffee shop is full and there are many people walking the streets. Some have their dogs with them, other are chatting with friends, and a few are shopping.

"Sometimes you're most hidden in plain sight," James says. The fact that Dad told me the same thing is too much to be a coincidence.

"What's your real name?" I ask with narrowed eyes.

"It is James. James Beverly."

My mouth parts in shock. Beverly. That was Mom's maiden name. That would make him...

"I'm your uncle," James says with that familiar smile that sends a pang of longing through me. "Sorry it took so long for us to meet."

"I didn't even know Mom had a brother," I say after a while. The police said there wasn't any living family to take me in. Maybe they just told me that so I wouldn't feel unwanted.

James looks at me with a sad and regretful expression. "Me and your mom got into a huge fight. We cut contact with each other. I knew your parents for a long time before that though. I was best friends with your dad.

"I work in the computer side of the CIA, not the hands on action like your parents. When I found out what happened to them I was devastated. I wanted to get you, but I thought I'd be of more help staying out of your life for now. Your mom did send me one letter in the years we weren't talking. It had a picture of you with a certain Tyrone the tiger at the zoo. I guess she wanted to make amends but I was still angry."

I can see the guilt in his eyes. James just missed the chance to make up with Mom. He probably thinks she died thinking he hated her still. That's the worst feeling in the world, realizing you were too late.

"I became Paul's assistant," James continues solemnly. "I always suspected Paul. That was one reason me and your mom fought. She trusted him. I did some digging but couldn't find anything to prove my suspicions. No one knew me and your mom were related. I stayed low and looked for anything to bring Paul down. That's why I couldn't take you in. It would ruin any chance I had, but I made sure to keep my eye on you. Finally the chance to get the proof came with you. Your parents would be very proud."