Embraced by Fire (18 page)

“Kait.”

Her eyes sprang open. Johnny stood in front of her. The sun behind him shadowed his face, hiding his expression and casting an angelic halo around his body. She could almost believe she was dreaming.

She stood up, moving so she could see his face. “Johnny.”

“You came, I wasn’t sure you would.” His face was blank, no trace of the friend she thought she knew.

She gripped her bag tighter. “You’re my friend, of course I came. What’s going on, Johnny? You have to tell me, I’m worried about you.”

“I’m sorry, Kait.” He sighed and glanced away. “I can’t talk about it. Do you have the flash drive with you?”

Kait ignored his question and soldiered on. “That nasty phone call, creeping around and fiddling with wires in the wall, rushing off early, the weird files on the drive. Are you in some kind of trouble?”

He scraped his fingers through his hair. “Shit, Kait, I’m in over my head. You don’t know what these people are like. If they find out you know what’s going on I’m dead. Hell, you’re dead too.”

Her mind stuttered, her throat flooding with bile. “D…Dead?”

“Dead, as in they’ll kill you and they’ll kill me.” His voice jumped erratically as he spoke.

“What’s going on?” The words came out in a whisper.

“I don’t want you getting any deeper into this than you already are, Kait. I’m sorry you’ve found out as much as you have.” His voice sounded more in control.

“Okay, don’t tell me the details. Tell the authorities. Johnny, you need to go to the police.” She looked imploringly at him and gripped his arm, feeling his bicep jump.

He shook her off. “You’re joking, right? These people won’t let that happen.”

“
‘These people’
you sound like you’re in some B-grade movie.”

His eyes narrowed. “This is not a movie, and it’s not a joke. Give me the flash drive, Kait. I don’t have time for this.”

“Why don’t you have time? Do you think someone knows what you’re doing? That the police suspect?” Her voice tightened with anger.

Why wouldn’t he listen to her? She wouldn’t betray Ryu, but she wanted so badly to warn Johnny.

She saw a muscle jump in his jaw. “No, I don’t think anyone suspects.”

“Yes, you do.” She spoke slowly. “You think you’re under suspicion, that’s why you haven’t been in to work.”

“Okay, I thought I might be, then I found out it was only you following me. The drive please, Kait.” He was starting to get impatient.

“No, it’s more than that. That’s what the drive is…it’s evidence of what’s going on, isn’t it?” A smile warmed the edges of her lips as hope blossomed. Getting evidence meant he was doing the right thing, didn’t it?

“Give it to me, Kait.”

“Give it to the police, please, Johnny. For the sake of our years of friendship, don’t throw your life away for some two-bit scam.”

He snorted. “It’s anything but ‘two-bit’, Kait. It’s serious business.” He rubbed his fingers against his mouth. “You’re right, it’s evidence. I’ve been collecting it as long as I’ve been involved in this. But I’m not taking it to the police, I’m keeping it until I need it. Where is it, Kait?”

Her hope wilted. “Um…it’s not here.”

“Damn it, Kait, I told you to bring it!” he exploded.

“I wanted to talk to you.” Blood drained from her face, his harsh expression scared her.

He grabbed her arms and glared down into her face. “Do you want them to kill me, Kait? Do you?”

His fingers cut into her arms and she winced. She shook her head, no, she didn’t want them to kill him.

He squeezed even tighter. “Where is it?”

His grim face filled her vision.

“My…my bag.” Fear thickened her tongue.

“What?” He released her, grabbing her bag.

“Wait, let me get it.” She forced a shaky laugh. “You know what a mess my bag is.”

He handed her bag over and she rifled through the contents. Her hands shook. Damn, she knew it was in here.

“This better not be a joke, Kait. It better be in there.”

“It is, I’m finding it.” She hated the quiver in her voice.

Her hand brushed against the drive and she closed her eyes briefly in relief.

“Found it.” She handed it to him, watching his face for any sign he knew it was only a copy.

His fist closed around the drive and he looked at her through slitted eyes. Her heart rammed against her ribs, and she licked her lips. Tightening her grip on her bag, she held it in front of her, but it was a fragile shield.

“This is a copy.” His voice was terrifyingly calm. “Where is the original?”

Cold sweat trickled down her spine. “At…at home.”

“Home isn’t good enough.”

“It’s safe. If you go to the police, you might need it as evidence. I don’t know what’s going on but I want the best for you. I’m going to keep it in case you need it.” She tried to sound strong, weakness now would be disastrous, because she didn’t have the original—Ryu did.

“Did you copy everything?” He held up the drive.

“Yes, everything is there.”

Johnny’s eyes impaled her. “Fine, you keep the other one, I know where it is. It might even be a good idea to have a backup copy.”

Relief made her shoulders slump, and she realised she was breathing properly again. “I’ll keep it for when you need it. Please think about going to the police.”

“I can’t.” He shoved the drive into his pocket.

“Why not?” She started to reach out to him, but pulled her hands back before she touched him.

“I’m in too deep, and I need the money.” A strange little smile played around his lips.

“This is all about money?” Shock punched her.

“Why else do you think I’d get involved with something like this?”

“I…I don’t know. If you’d needed money that badly you could have come to me.”

“Thanks for the thought, Kait,” his smile softened, becoming more genuine, “but I sincerely doubt you could cover all my mother’s medical debts.”

His mother, suddenly so much made sense. “Think what it’ll do to her if she finds out what you’re doing to get the money.”

“She’ll never find out and neither will anyone else.” He stepped closer, his height a weapon. “You haven’t told anyone have you?”

“No,” she gasped out the lie, hoping he didn’t detect it.

“And you won’t tell anyone will you?”

“No.” This time it was the truth, after all, she didn’t need to tell. They already knew.

“Promise, me.”

“I…I promise.” The words tasted bitter on her tongue.

“I’ll be in contact if I need the original drive. In the mean time, let Vic know I won’t be at work for a while.” He stepped back when she nodded.

“Ciao, Kitty-Kat.” He walked away without looking back.

Kait’s knees gave out and she thumped down onto the bench. She should have called Ryu.

What was she going to do now?

****

From the moment she woke up, Monday had stretched on interminably before her, but after her hellish weekend, Kait wasn’t surprised. Nothing during the day had changed her initial feeling. At least it was over.

She pushed open the main door of Fantasia Alive with a sigh, and stepped into the heavy twilight beyond. She couldn’t wait to get home and put her feet up. Not that getting home would help.

Ignoring a prickle on the back of her neck, she shifted her bag more comfortably on her shoulder. She still wasn’t sure she was making the right call not telling Ryu about meeting Johnny. If Ryu had come in to work today, she probably would’ve broken down and told him everything.

He hadn’t. He’d sent her an email saying they were making head way decrypting Johnny’s files and he needed to spend the day following up leads. An addendum at the end of the email included a phone number where she could reach him, and a message warning if it was urgent, and he didn’t answer, then to call his boss, Adrian, then another number. She added both numbers to her cell phone, but she didn’t call either of them.

She rubbed distractedly at the pain in her temple. Guilt ate at her like a canker from within. She hated lies at the best of times, but right now she was drowning in them. Not telling Ryu the truth, not telling Johnny the truth, not telling Victor the truth. Could it get any worse?

Well, yes, it could, so she should shut the hell up. She fumbled for her keys as she walked toward her car. A shiver across her shoulder blades made her gut clench. She peered around the car park. It was empty.

She was imagining things. Stress did that to you, didn’t it? She’d felt the same itchy tension in the corner of her mind when she went out briefly on Sunday. As if someone were watching her, but she’d ignored it.

She inspected the area again. A few cars whizzed by on the road, a sprinkle of lights dotted the neighbouring buildings, and shadows haunted the edges of the car park. If someone was watching, they could be anywhere.

The hair on the back of her neck stood up. She forgot dignity and ran to her car, jamming the key at the lock. Missed. Jammed again. Got it. Slamming the door behind her, she started her car and reversed out of her spot faster than safety allowed—instinct screaming she run, run far and run fast.

A car screeched its tires and the blare of a horn cut the air as she pulled onto the road without looking. Her heart, already beating too fast, leapt into her mouth. Quick, panting breaths raced though her lungs. Shit, she’d almost caused an accident. She needed to get a grip and get it fast.

Turning on her stereo, Primal Scream’s
Accelerator
blared out the speakers, she turned it off quickly. She loved the song but it wasn’t going to calm her nerves. Stopping at a red light, she managed to get her breathing under control.

She was imagining things. Who would be watching her? Ryu…no, she was sure if he was watching her, he'd tell her. Johnny…no, he was in too much trouble to watch her. The people Johnny was working for…

The light turned green and the car behind her hooted. Pulling herself together with difficulty she drove on. Could someone Johnny worked with be watching him? The idea scared the bejeezers out of her, because if they were watching Johnny, then they’d have seen her. Now they might be watching her.

She glanced at her phone lying on the passenger seat. Should she call Ryu? She gnawed her lip. If he found out there were things going on she hadn’t told him, he’d be seriously pissed and she didn’t blame him. Deception sucked.

She pulled into her driveway with the disturbing realisation she couldn’t remember most of the drive home. She turned the car off and stared at her phone. Hesitantly, she picked it up, the cold plastic sticking to her anxious palm.

She stuffed the phone into her bag and got out of the car. She’d call Ryu tomorrow if this constantly-watched feeling didn’t go away. Right now, the idea of seeing disappointment in his eyes was too much for her.

Brrrrring.
Her phone rang.

Startled, she tripped. Her hands and knees hit the path hard and the contents of her handbag spewed across the driveway. This was all she needed, not. Tears pricking, she scrabbled for her phone, finding it in the nick of time.

Dirt covered the display, hiding caller ID. Wiping her finger across the mess only smeared it, making it worse. Who was calling her? All her dark fears rushed back.

Holding the phone to her ear like it might bite, she said, “Hello.” Her voice quavering at the end.

“Kait, are you all right?”

Victor. It was only Victor. She sat down on the concrete with a thump.

“Yes, I’m fine. What’s up?”

“You sounded strange when you answered the phone, are you sure you’re all right?”

“Dropped my phone when it rang.” She laughed off the strain in her voice.

“Not like you to be clumsy.” He sounded puzzled rather than amused.

“We all have our moments.”

“Sadly that is all too true. Sorry for interrupting your evening, I called to let you know our meeting for tomorrow morning has been confirmed.”

“That’s great. It sounds like they’re going to give us an open budget on the event.”

“That’s what I’m hoping, we’ll find out the details tomorrow.” Kait could practically hear him rubbing his hands together in glee.

“I’ll see you at eight, Victor.”

“Night, Kait.” He hung up.

Kait dusted off her grazed hands and knees, wincing as she did so. She’d never have startled like that when her phone rang if she hadn’t worked herself up into such a state. Picking up her scattered possessions, she shook her head in bemusement at her reaction. Imagining things.

Chapter 19

From:
[email protected]

To:
Kait Jones

Subject:

Do you still have it?

—J

—

From:
[email protected]

To:
Johnny Blake

Subject:
RE:

You mean the flash drive? Yes, I still have it.

—K

—

This couldn’t be happening so soon, she’d been sure she put Johnny off with the copy. Saturday, he’d seemed happy, well, not happy at all actually, but resigned to letting her keep the original drive.

Three days later, this. She nibbled the tip of her finger.

—

From:
[email protected]

To:
Kait Jones

Subject:
RE:

I need it.

—J

—

From:
[email protected]

To:
Johnny Blake

Subject:
RE:

I think it’s a good idea for me to keep it, Johnny. You might need it for the police. I want to know I have something that’ll help you if this all blows up in your face.

—K

—

Despite her self-induced trauma last night, she’d slept remarkably well. While sleep hadn’t given her the answers, a good rest made her feel more rational about this whole nasty situation.