The Ghost

Chapter 22 - The break

"Sir, why didn't you let me take him down? He is no match for me. This could have ended tonight."
Falconi smiled wryly. "When the time is right, you'll get your chance hotshot. But I need him alive. Least until we can find out what's inside that guy. No way he could still be alive on MRG-241 alone. He's got help. I suspect it's that bitch daughter. You should've taken care of her in the basement."
"Her time will come." The eyes glowed again.

Across town, Lexi was close to her target. The dot on her screen had stopped moving. He was near the river's edge. A couple of squad cars passed her by. Seemed she wasn't the only one looking for Ghost. She pulled into the side of the road but couldn't see him. Why are we back at the Bridge? she thought. She headed towards the spot where they had escaped the Hudson that cold morning. She walked carefully through the trees and suddenly caught a glimpse of him. A solitary figure looking out across the river.
"I know you're here Lex, no point sneaking around."
"Ghost. I wasn't trying to sneak up on you. I was worried. I am worried. About you. And me. About what happens next." She began to sob and felt his touch almost immediately.
"I know you're scared. But we only really have one man to fear. Falconi. When I deal with him this will all go away." He didn't want to tell her about the other passenger in the car; she'd had enough for one day. It could wait. "More importantly, we need to somehow get back to the lab and get the equipment out of there. Fire investigators are gonna be all over the place so we need a plan." His words suggested he was open to advice but Lexi knew from the tone of his voice that he already had something in mind. He continued.
"First job. You're going to get in and around the scene, tell them you're from the local press, and find out who I need to 'speak' to."
She didn't like the way he emphasised the word speak but she had learnt fast to accept he wasn't for changing. "I have a girlfriend close by, her name's Brie. We went to Kean University together. I'm sure I can crash at hers for a few days."
"Ok, you do that. Lie low, don't tell her anything. I'll get to your place, see what state it's in." With that, he was gone.
"Grab me some clothes please!" she called after optimistically.
It was some time after midnight when she arrived at Brie's. Luckily, Friday night was 'Poker Night' so she was warmly received by Brie's dad Henry and his friends. "Hey stranger, what brings you to this part of town? Brie's out at the moment I'm afraid but we're expecting her home in the next hour. You wanna drink?"
"Sure Mr Johnson, if it's no trouble?" Lexi took the bottle of Miller Lite and sat herself at the kitchen table.
"You not joining in? The boys wouldn't mind."
"I'm good thanks Mr Johnson, just need to relax if that's ok?
Henry shrugged his shoulders and returned to the living room with beers
for the boys.
Lexi sat there quietly and listened to the laughter echoing around the house. She hadn't heard that for so long now. It felt good. She knew it couldn't last. It wouldn't last.
A knock at the door. Instinctively, she  reached for the knife block and moved towards the rear of the kitchen. Henry jogged towards the door much to the annoyance of his poker buddies who didn't appreciate the break in play again.
"Mr Johnson, wait!" yelled Lexi. "Don't open the door!"
Too late. Henry fell back as the hooded figure barged past him. Lexi lunged at the assailant.
"Hey, get the hell off me! Dad, what's going on?"
Lexi released her grip and thought fast. "Surprise! Guess who?"
Brie looked at her in disbelief as it took her beer-muddled brain a few seconds to register. "Oh my god, Lex! What the hell are you doing here?" She clapped her hands together excitedly and jumped up and down. "Drinks! I'll grab us a Lite. We need to catch up." Lexi wanted so much to tell her friend about recent events but knew that she would only drag her into an already dangerous situation. "There you go babe. Cheers!" That was all Lexi remembered until she heard a knock on the bedroom door. "Brie. It's dad. You guys up. We need to talk. I've just had a very strange phone call concerning Mike."