Strong Reflection: Book 2 of the Dark Series Trilogy (26 page)

“Here I am.”  A breathless Catlyn came jogging into the room with a huge first aid box.

She too sat in their little circle.  “Ok, I need to do a little triage here to take care of my band of warriors.”

They all tensed when suddenly Jack and Carl Rider entered the room guns drawn.  They all released a relieved breath.

Taking in the chaos and carnage, Jack rushed to Catlyn’s side, “Baby, you alright?”

Catlyn smiled, nodding.  “Thanks to this bunch here.”

The tension gushed from Jack’s body as he took a seat next to his fiancée.  Taking in Kyle’s appearance he jokingly asked, “What truck hit you?”

“Believe it or not Bunny was the main driver.”  Kyle’s voice was getting lower.

Jack spared her a glance on the floor, “Looks like she met her match, bitch!”

“Yeah, my Babydoll took her out with a one-two.”

Sirens sounded in the distance.  Carl Rider cuffed the very large man.  “The other two need serious medical attention, especially the guy with the mangled face.”  Jack tossed his cuffs to Carl as he walked over to the other man and quickly cuffed him also. 

“Fuck them, Kyle gets the help first!”  Mackenzie’s eyes grew stormy.

Everyone was silent and then Kyle softly said, “You heard the lady,” before passing out in her arms.

Chapter 16

“I can’t believe this bitch’s entitled attitude.”  Jack listened to Carl but his eyes were watching Bunny Bencroft through the observation glass.

“People like her think they own the world and lose their minds when that theory is put to the test and doesn’t hold.”  Jack smirked.  “She probably thinks this is all Kyle’s fault for dumping her.”

Carl frowned.  “I thought Director Strong said it was a mutual break up between them.”

“Kyle was being a gentleman.   It’s the same reason Kyle has so many injuries, because, he couldn’t bring himself to truly hurt a woman physically, at least not one he has had sex with.”

“Excuse my language, but, fuck that!”  Carl huffed.  “Any woman who puts hands on me like she did the director is getting laid out!”

“I hear that.”  Jack wholeheartedly agreed while he continued to study Bunny Bencroft through the observation glass.  She wasn’t acting as someone who had her plans thwarted and was knocked out in the process.  She had been wearing a self-satisfied smirk ever since the hospital cleared her to be taken fully into custody of the Newburgh police.  Something wasn’t right.

Jack had tried questioning her earlier when her high priced lawyer had shown up.  Daddy’s billions to the rescue.  He wasn’t able to get anything useful or incriminating to pass her well painted lips.  He saw the writing on the wall, the lawyer was going to use the temporary insanity plea.   He would be surprised if it worked.  Bunny was too arrogant to allow anyone to believe she was deficient in any way whatsoever.  She couldn’t manage the humility that was needed to pull off an insanity defense.

Jack was also surprised that
just
the lawyer showed.  He had expected to be bombarded with a whole entourage of Bencrofts.  Not one single member of Bunny’s family had arrived to help her through her ordeal.  The proverbial washing of the hands of anything that stained their good name.

Feeling frustration to his bones, Jack turned to leave.  “Well, we’re not going to get anything from her.  I am going to try the giant in the next room.  You coming?”

“Definitely.”

**** 

Two hours in Jack knew that he wasn’t going to get much from ‘Spencer’ either.  The only name the man would provide had proved to be the only identity that they had to go on after an extensive search of the combined databases.  No one knew who this guy was, even with his very distinctive tattoos.  Spencer was just as much a mystery as Bunny’s attitude.

Spencer acted as though he were on vacation enjoying tea with the Queen or some shit.  His cold eyes didn’t reflect emotion of any kind.   If he weren’t moving and talking, Jack would have bet money they were the eyes of a dead body.

Carl kept his stance just as cool as he asked another question.  “You have to be pissed that you didn’t get a job done you were paid for.  Now that has got to be a blemish on you record.”

Suddenly there was a break in the curtain that had until now kept Spencer’s face and emotions a complete blank.  He had the same self-satisfied smirk Bunny had been wearing during her interrogation.  It was as though they had been the ones came out on top instead of Kyle and the police.

“I always complete the job I am hired for, make no mistake about that, gentlemen.”  His smooth flectionless voice gave Jack a bad feeling.

“Well, you didn’t finish this one you piece of shit.”  Carl stood letting his frustration show in his movements towards the door.  “Enjoy your stay in Downstate prick!”

Again, the same self-satisfied almost happy smirk flittered across Spencer’s non-descript facial features.  Jack moved slowly towards the door, looking him in the eye, totally confused about his actions.  Jack’s bad feeling increased when Spencer nonchalantly pursed his lips and blew him a kiss as he walked out the open door.

**** 

“Hi, honey.  No Mackenzie isn’t here.  She went to the hospital to pick up Kyle.  He is refusing to stay another day against medical advice.  Jared and I were just fixing lunch for when they get back.  Is something wrong?”

But Catlyn was speaking to air.  “Jack?  Jack?”

**** 

“Now, you’re sure I can’t bribe you into staying a bit longer?”  Ashley teased her fiancé as he stubbornly tried to dress himself, ignoring the aid offered from the nurse and herself.

Kyle paused in pulling up the sweat pants she had brought to him.  “Hmm, sounds tempting but I am outta here, Babydoll.”

Ashley shook her head indulgently.  She knew she wouldn’t get him to stay, worriedly she eyed the bandage to the back of his head.  They had to shave some of his hair to give him the 15 stitches and dress the wound.  She was worried.  He also had two cracked ribs.  He pulled the sweats’ top over his tightly wrapped ribs, moving slowly.

“Please, Kyle, I’d feel so much better if you’d stay.”

Ignoring her as he sat on the bed to put his sneakers on, he asked, “Did you visit your grandfather again?”

Sighing, knowing she lost the battle she answered, “Yes, for a little bit while you were sleeping last night.  They say he can go home tomorrow.” 

“Good news then.”  His face didn’t match his cheery tone.

“Kyle, please, stay.”  She gently cupped his strong jaw.

He looked down into her face, softly kissing her lips.  “Babydoll, I promise, when we get to Jack’s I will do whatever you say regarding resting if it will make you feel better.  But, I have to get out of here.  Between my dad and you, and all the other agents I’ve visited when they were injured, I really hate hospitals.”

Sensing how deeply he felt about the issue, she gave in, kissing him and then smiling, “Whatever I say, huh?”

“Uh, oh, I am in trouble.”  He laughed, giving her another sweet kiss.

“Oh, sorry to interrupt but I have Director Strong’s discharge papers and an A-M-A form.”

They looked up to see a nurse with a clipboard filled with many papers.  Ashley gathered Kyle’s things putting them in the duffle.  “You take care of signing papers.  I am going to go get the car and bring it to the front.  I am parked near the park.”  She stood on her toes to give him another quick kiss to his lips.

Kyle watched her go, smiling, thinking, there goes my wife!  He looked at the nurse and noticed her smile.  “She’s my … well, she’s my everything and soon to be my wife.”

“Oh, you didn’t need to tell me that, it’s written all over your faces and I couldn’t help but notice her beautiful ring.  Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

Kyle’s cell phone rung.  He excused himself to answer it.  “Hey Jack.”

The nurse watched the director’s face go from happy and smiling to frowning deeply.  “No, she isn’t right next to me right now.  She went to get the car.”  He paused listening.  “What do you mean you’re on your way?  Why, Jack?”

Suddenly the director clicked his phone and started out the door as fast as his abused body would allow.  “Sir, you haven’t signed the papers and you have to be taken out in a wheelchair, sir!”  But the nurse called out in vain.

Kyle’s heart hammered in fear as he ran through the halls and went flying pass the security desk, ignoring the security men who tried to stop him.  Ignoring the pain flashing through his ribcage he went top speed towards the park across the street.

****

Ashley stowed the duffle in the trunk.  She had just unlocked the driver’s door when a strange feeling went through her body.  Not sure what was causing the anxious feeling she scanned her surroundings. 

The sun shone brightly, there were several families out enjoying the wonderful weather.  The usual sounds of a park could be heard, children laughing, sounds of running and playing.  She saw a small group of girl scouts feeding the ducks in the small pond.  The neat row of brownstones sat unassuming and quiet.  Shrugging Ashley shook the feeling off, chalking up to her experience last night.

Just as she opened her door she saw a metallic glint in the corner of her eye.  Before she could turn fully to get a better look she heard her name shouted.   “Arieeeel!”

She turned in enough time to see Kyle had jumped on the hood and took a dive at her bearing her to the ground.  At the same time, she felt the hard impact of Kyle’s body plowing into her, she heard several shots ring out, a siren, screeching tires, and shouts of “Police, freeze, drop it!” and there were more shots.

Kyle continued to lay on top of her.  She closed her eyes and held him tightly to her chest until all the sounds lowered and she heard Jack.  “Kyle!  You guys alright?”

Slowly she opened her eyes.  Hers cannoned into Kyle’s.  He gave her a slow smile, his eyes shone with love.  Then he coughed and blood appeared on his lips.  “S-Sorry, B-Babydoll, we almost m-made it.  I-I l-love y…”

As his words slowly petered out, Ashley felt the warm wetness on her chest and hands.  She began to scream Kyle’s name as his eyes slowly closed.  “Kyle, Kyle!  No, no, no, Kyle, don’t leave me!”

“Fuck!  I need a doctor over here, damnit!”  Jack shouted as he tried to separate Mackenzie from Kyle.  “Come on, Mackenzie.  I need to see about getting Kyle help.  Come, sweetie, give him to me.”

Vaguely she felt Kyle pulled from her arms.  She watched in a daze as he was placed flat on the ground and a medical team started to work on him.  She stared not understanding the blood staining her hands and clothes.  She screamed and continued to scream her pain and anguish.

“…I don’t give a fuck about your policy, sedate her right fucking now… that’s her fiancé over there on the ground dying… she’s going to scream her voice and sanity away, sedate her, sedate her now!”

**** 

Mackenzie sat under the canopy in a chair in front of the grave newly covered with dirt.  She heard the hesitant footsteps behind her.  “You can stop tip-toeing around me.”

Catlyn Lyte sat in one of the vacated chairs next to Mackenzie that had been placed in front of the casket for immediate family.  Cheryl, Nancy, Holly and Drew had been seated in the other chairs earlier.

“Sorry for the kid gloves everyone has been using.  But we’re just worried.  We love you.”

Mackenzie looked at Catlyn.  She was one of her best friends.  The only one greater was Nancy and she couldn’t lean on her right now, it was her brother buried in the grave before them.

“It was really great of you guys to postpone your wedding and come to Virginia for his funeral.  Thank you, Tasha too, that surprised me.”

“No thanks required.  Kyle was a friend.  He and Jack grew to be very close.  And Tasha likes you a lot.”

“I didn’t even know Kyle had so many friends.  The church was so full and so many had such wonderful things to say about him.  Jack’s words made me cry even more if that were possible.”

“Kyle was his friend.  He felt his loss greatly and hated himself for being just seconds too late.  It was your eulogy that brought me and the entire church to tears.”

“It was hard and not.  It was hard because I hurt so much and feel his loss so deeply.  But it wasn’t hard at all to tell about what a wonderful man he was in his personal life and business life.  A great man all around.”

Catlyn reached into her purse and pulled out a folded piece of paper.  “Cheryl gave this to me and asked that I pass it along to you.  It was in his wallet when she received his personal effects from the hospital.  It is for you.  I think it’s his vows.”  Catlyn gave her a kiss on the cheek.  “We’ll wait for you at the condo.  Take your time.”

Mackenzie waited until there was silence.  She looked up at the inappropriately bright sunny sky.  She didn’t know how she’d make it without Kyle.  With a heavy heart she unfolded the paper and read:

Ashley, Ariel, My darling Babydoll,

Since the day we met I’ve felt your pull

Pulling me towards you until my heart was full

Full to brimming with your sweet innocent touch

From the first day you’ve given me so much

To strangers, friends and family you have given your all

I ask that you come to me and we will follow the call

The call of an endless love is what we have and share

We become one today from and individual pair

We’ll give each other our love, attention and care

As an agent you have risked your life numerous times

I ask you today to risk it all again by being mine

To love and live for us and our future kids too

But most of all Ariel love and live for you

With tears streaming down her face Mackenzie cried to the sky begging to the powers that be to ease her pain.

**** 

Undisclosed location of a FBI/HCD Safe House

The lone man in military attire leaned nonchalantly against the balcony door frame.  Looks were deceiving for the man was aware of every sound, motion and every entrance into the house. 

His telecom came to life, “Base to Defender 1”

“Defender 1, go base.”

“Chief 1 wants a sit-rep on Chief 2.”

“The doctors left about an hour ago.  Situation is unchanged.”

“Ok.  Guardian 2 is relieving you tonight, after, report to location Beta 5.”

“Copy that base, Defender 1 out.”