Spies

Chapter 20

Alessandro's Point of View

I drove to the meet up point, checking my devices beforehand to ensure that they were off and untraceable as well as using different routes to make sure I was not followed. I had to get Callie back, who knows what they were doing to her.

I made my way to the specific spot in a follow up text the culprits sent – right in the middle of the area but in the blind spots of all available cameras. Getting out of my car, I hid a gun on my back and a few other concealable gadgets on my person. Whatever they planned on doing, I had to make sure I was ready for anything.

Just as I closed my car door, another familiar vehicle pulled up next to me.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Same as you," replied Brent. "Getting Callie back."

"They asked for me to come alone," I replied, slightly frustrated. I don't have time for this.

He smirked, closing the door of the Escalade, "And alone you shall go in."

"Alone?" I asked, incredulously. "You just pulled up in the most cliché spy vehicle known to man. They probably know we're here already."

"Don't get your knickers in a twist, idiot," he said, securing his weapon. "I'll check the perimeter; you handle the meeting point and shit. Got me."

Does this dude know who he is talking to? "Okay, let's get this straight-" he cut me off.

"You can berate me later. Just get Callie back," he said, moving through the area as any normal bystander would, but carefully observing his surroundings.

I made my way to the meeting point, searching for anything or anyone that would lead me to my missing partner. St John's was unusually empty for this time of day, with schools being let out around that time and it was almost prime time for walks, runs and midday strolls.

I waited and waited, looking at the surroundings. A little boy, around five years old, played in one of the few play areas around the gardens, his mother or babysitter close by keeping an eye on him. A couple joggers run pass me, not sparing me a moment's glance.

Then, just out of the corner of my eye, I saw something strange. Lurking by the nearby trees were two guys, dressed in all black. One was taking photos in my direction while the other placed an odd-looking box on the ground. The three of us stared at each other for some time, the two of them at me. I then took a look at the box, nothing too ornate in nature or large in size. Black and metallic summed up its prominent features.

I saw Brent walking up to me from a distance, having completed a check of the surroundings. Out of nowhere, they dropped the box and ran off. I looked to Brent signalling to him to check the box and chased our suspects.

They stopped in the parking lot, having nowhere else to go. "Don't move," I said to them, pulling out my service weapon.

Smirking at me, the taller of the shorter of the two said, "What? You gonna shoot me with that?"

"If it comes to that," I said taking a few calculated steps forward, not breaking eye contact. "Without hesitation," I completed, staring directly into his unmasked face.

They both looked familiar to me but I could not place it. Accent sounded too forced, like he was trying to cover up something he knew could be easily detected.

They were of the same size, one slightly taller than the other. White males, in the 30 – 35 age range, clearly ready for a fight if it was necessary.

"Well then," the short guy said, smirking and putting his hands up. "Sweet Callie would just have to die."

Before I could react, a loud explosion erupted behind me. I turned around for a split second to see trees and nearby infrastructure engulfed with flames. The origin of the blast seemed to have been the spot where I was standing before chasing these clowns.

"Go," said a new voice behind me, accent sounding to be Russian or of the sorts.

I turned around to see them making a run for the nearest exit of the parking lot. I made a shot at the short guy, him being the closer target since the other guy had a head start.

"Ahh shit," he said, falling to the ground, clutching his leg.

"I told your stupid ass I would shoot you," I smirked, enjoying the pain that he was in at the moment. "Now look what you made me do."

He groaned in response, me looking down and looking directly into his eyes as he rolled about on his back. He let out a few expletives now and then but I did not pay it any attention.

A couple minutes later, I had him in handcuffs sitting on the curb next to my car when one of the agency's registered Escalades pulled up next to us. My boss peeled out along with Nyx and a couple experienced agents.

"You better have some explanation for this Diakos," he said coming my way.

"No disrespect sir, but what are you doing here?" I asked.

"Mr. Wilkerson reported that he had found something valuable to the case at this location."

"Wilkerson?"

"Brent, I think his first name is," he said thinking back and looking at Nyx. She nodded in response to the name given.

Remembering him, I ran to the scene of the explosion. Dust, debris, ashes and small fires were scattered everywhere. Everything in sombre colours of grey, black and red flames. The suspicious box, the cause of the initial explosion, just as I had expected. It was barely noticeable with the colour of the remain being able to blend in with its surroundings. Unfortunately, a body could be seen from the area I stood, one vaguely resembling Brent's height and build.

Walking closer to the unrecognisable corpse, I observed everything on and around it. Pieces of his suit were still attached to the remains of the severely burnt body as well as a phone, car keys and a service weapon. Looking closely, I saw something, something important that does not conclude that he died from the blast from the explosion.

My keen eye picked up that there was a small bullet wound in the head of the corpse. Barely noticeable to an untrained pair of eyes but very obvious to me. What would there be a need to shoot a corpse after an explosion? Unless...

Seeing that Mr. Matthias had followed me to the crime scene, I marched right up to him, needing to test my theory quickly.

"Where's the guy in handcuffs?" I asked him.

"What?" he replied, surprised by the question. "Right where you left him, surrounded by agents. He's not going any-"

I did not hear the rest of the statement. I ran to the parking lot and dragged the man off the curb by his shirt, making sure he could see every reaction on my face.

"She was here, wasn't she?" I said, looking directly into his eyes.

NB:

Hey guys, this chapter is long overdue. Sorry to keep you waiting. Been busy with a lot that has been going on. 

More updates this month to make up for barely posting last month. 

Best wishes and happy late Thanksgiving.

AW0706