Always Mine (An MCU Fanfiction)

23. Farewells and Pursuit

When I informed Austin and Ellie of my planned hiking trip to the Patagonia region with Sylvia, they surprised me by taking me to REI for some hiking clothes and gear that I could easily pack and carry with me-the rest I could always pick up in Santiago.

Afterward, Ellie took me to a hair salon when I informed her that I would need to alter my hair so that various surveillance systems wouldn't recognize me. The hairdresser darkened my hair to a deep, rich chocolate brown. Before heading back to the house, I found a costume shop and purchased some eye contacts.

Some days later, my final day in Dallas had arrived. After packing my backpack, I tagged along with Austin, who coached a local Little League team. My flight was later in the day, so I had all the time to spend with my relatives.

I sat in the bleachers as my uncle coached the kids in some baseball practice. It brought me back to when Dad and I would toss a baseball or football at each other.

As I watched the kids practice and Austin giving them some pointers and confidence, I glanced ahead and saw a man in a black suit and shades observing the ballfield. I wondered if he was watching the game. I picked up a pair of binoculars and peered through them. The man wore an ear-com on one ear, telling me he was an agent. Craig must've gone far to hire a few of them to locate me. I sent a text to Vince asking if he could block any hackers and informed him of the agent.

Vince replied, explaining that he had placed a blockage and realized that a hacker had broken through his barriers. He assured me that he would get on top of blocking them.

Austin and the Little League team stopped practice for the day. As the kids either started walking away from the ballfield or were picked up by their arriving parents or guardians, I approached my uncle.

"Oz, don't look now, but there's a suit across the field," I explained, trying not to get him freaking out.

"I thought he looked suspicious," Austin remarked and turned to get a look at the agent. "Think your crazy ex-boyfriend hired 'im?"

"Very likely."

"Guess we'll have to get going."

My uncle was careful not to mention any locations in case the agent had a listening device on him. I helped Austin gather some of the baseball equipment and load it all into the truck bed.

"I kept telling your dad that goin' off to work for the suits was a bad idea," Austin shook his head after we got into the truck. "Look where it got 'im! Six feet under! And not to mention, it took your mom, too. I'm glad you decided to quit workin' for 'em."

"Yeah. In most cases, there are too many lies within," I nodded, thinking back to the night Nicole read Craig's thoughts and uncovered the fact Phil had been alive the whole time.

Although I get that some good people among the suits are trying to do the right thing. And I commend those folks who looked out for ya, Case. I'm sure they'll understand your reason for quittin'."

"I hope you're right."

Austin drove back to the house. We left the engine running in case we were being followed and needed to make a fast getaway. I rushed in to grab my backpack and say goodbye to Ellie.

"That time already?" she asked after I hoisted one of the straps over my shoulder.

"Yeah," I nodded. At the same time, I didn't want to worry Ellie. She had enough on her plate.

My aunt rushed into the kitchen and pulled something out. I saw that it was a grocery bag.

"I bought you some granola bars and other snacks for the hike," she told me as she handed them to me. "There's enough to share with Sylvia. Tell her I said hi."