She's a killer, She's a thriller
- R. Zombie
Josh parked his car and amiably began to trek through the garage toward the C-Corp lobby but stopped with a suddenly thoughtful look. After a quick second of internal debate, and finding himself powerless to resist the lure of cappuccino, he changed direction to venture across the street. He waited patiently at the corner and crossed the street in the midst of a robotic crowd that mindlessly obeyed the pedestrian traffic signals. With a little spring to his step, he entered a small but crowded coffee shop that resided next to several other small stores lining the first floor of the towering business complex situated above.
He sighed a little when he observed the number of people in line ahead of him but shrugged indifferently when it occurred to him that he really had nothing better to do. Biding his time, he waited patiently until he gradually achieved the third position in line. The sound of an Italian accent fluttered to his ears and he suddenly became very alert, instantly pinpointing the man currently at the front of the line.
The man took his order and started to move away, helping himself to several napkins from a dispenser as he exited the store. Josh used the people in line behind him for camouflage and watched through the glass storefront as the man halted to deposit some coins into a newspaper vending machine. His gaze zeroed in on his features, recognizing the man as the one in the fuzzy and outdated photo in the file that Bailey had given him.
"Can I help you?" a voice said and he turned to find himself at the head of the line.
"Coffee, black," he said, cappuccino forgotten as he noticed the man beginning to walk away.
He hurriedly paid for his coffee and exited the store, spending a few frantic seconds trying to isolate the man from the crowd and reacquire him. Catching a glimpse of the man's dark hair, he casually began to trail after him, pausing often and using the pedestrians surrounding him as cover, until the man walked into the parking garage that housed all of his work cars. As the man strayed away from the crowd, he was forced out into the open and he summoned his most casual expression as he watched the man get into the garage elevator.
"Hold the door, please," Josh said as he closed the distance between him and his target.
The man courteously extended an arm to hold the door and Josh jogged the remaining steps to enter the elevator.
"Thank you.".
The man pressed his floor button and turned to Josh inquiringly. "What floor?"
"Three, same as you," Josh said and the man looked at him carefully.
Josh recited a quick prayer of thanks that he had a car on three and when the doors opened, the man turned a polite stare on him, obviously inviting him to exit the elevator ahead of him. Josh smiled graciously and nonchalantly ambled out in the direction of his car, his back itching uncomfortably as the footsteps of the man echoed on the cement several paces behind him. He had begun to dig in his pockets for his keys when the footfalls started to recede in another direction.
He forced himself to walk the rest of the way without looking behind him and quickly sat down at the wheel. He backed out slowly, watching the man take a seat on the hood of a gray Buick and begin to read his newspaper. He shot a quick glance at the plate number as he passed and he drove to the bottom level of the garage and parked. He noted the car's license number and the make and model in his notebook before he got out and walked back out onto the street.
Martin looked up from his newspaper and did a double take as Bailey practically floated into the kitchen wearing her usual sweats and a huge smile.
"Good morning, Martin," she said as she opened the refrigerator.
"Good morning," he said. "Someone's in a good mood."
"Yep," Bailey said, grabbing a bottle of orange juice.
"Piper go to work?"
"Yeah, saw her off a little while ago," Bailey said with a sly smile that Martin noticed with a smile of his own.
"Don't take this the wrong way," he cautioned. "But you two make a cute couple."
"Thanks," Bailey said. "By the way, I want to thank you for pleading my case the other night. Piper told me what you said to her."
"You're welcome," he said as her cell phone rang.
She smiled at him as she answered. "Cameron."
"Could you come to my office, please?" Josh asked.
"I guess so, what's up?"
"I found your other contractor."
"Really?"
"Yeah, you can actually see him from my office."
"I'll be there in a moment. Call me if he moves."
"Alright."
Bailey put the cell phone back in her pocket and turned to Martin. "Excuse me," she said, turning to vanish down the hallway.
Martin returned to his paper and she returned a short while later dressed in faded blue jeans and carrying her leather half trench. She had left her hair hanging loose around her shoulders and had donned a baggy black beret to keep it out of her face. His eyes widened slightly when he noticed a holstered gun on her waist and the katana in her other hand.
"Trouble?" he asked as she put the katana on the counter and finished her orange juice.
"Shouldn't be," she said putting on her coat. "There's a contractor across the street."
"Contract killer, I assume?" he asked and watched as the sword disappeared into the back of her jacket.
"Yeah."
"Are you going after him?"
"If I can, yes," she answered. "I'll be back in a little while."
"Be careful, Bailey."
"I will," she said slowly, giving him a careful look as she made her way out of the flat.
Bailey made her way to Josh's office being thankful that it was somewhat isolated from the majority of the others, only encountering a handful of people who rather studiously ignored her. She entered the office without knocking to find him looking out the window through a pair of binoculars.
"You sure it's him?" she asked, joining him at the window.
"Positive," Josh said, handing her the binoculars. "Third floor of the parking garage, reading a newspaper."
Bailey searched for a few seconds before she acquired him and stared for a long moment, humming thoughtfully.
"What do you think?" he asked after a moment.
"Maybe. Do you have the file I gave you?"
"Yeah," Josh said and turned to open the briefcase on top of his desk. "Here," he added, handing her the file.
She thumbed through it until she reached the picture and studied it closely for a moment, eventually setting it aside and returning to the binoculars. "How did you pick up on him?"
"He was ahead of me in line for coffee across the street, I heard him speak. He's Italian," Josh explained. "From his position, he has a great view of both the lobby and the car exits."
"Lucky break, he's our man," she said. "I can't get across the street without being noticed, I'll need you to do me a favor."
"What do ya need?"
"Loan me your car and call me if he moves."
"Alright," he said, handing her his keys. "Are you going over there?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure about that?"
"Quite sure."
Josh visibly wavered and she turned a look on him.
"What's on your mind?"
"I read the file you gave me. He's no slouch."
"Do I detect a hint of concern?"
"Perhaps."
"It won't be a problem, Josh," she said with a smile. "What are you driving and where is it?"
"Blue Intrepid in one of the visitor spaces," he said tearing another page out of his notebook. "This is the tag number and the make and model of his car."
"I'll give you a call in a few minutes," she added taking the paper and turning to leave.
"Alright."
"Thanks, Josh."
"Jesus," he whispered after the door closed behind her.
"Anderson," Josh said into his phone.
"Has he moved?" Bailey asked.
"No, he's still there," Josh said, looking through his binoculars.
"Very good, I'm gonna turn off my phone," Bailey said. "So…"
"Wait," Josh interrupted. "He's moving."
"Did he get in his car?"
"No, he walked away," Josh said, scanning the third floor intently. "Are you over there?"
"On the fifth floor," Bailey said. "Watch the street, I'll hold."
"On it," Josh said and he watched nervously for several minutes, finally letting out a relieved sigh. "I got him."
"Which direction?"
"It looks like he's going for coffee again," Josh said, watching the man unhurriedly stroll up the sidewalk.
"He'll be back then," Bailey said. "I'll hang on."
"Okay," Josh said and he could hear a cigarette being lit. "I didn't know you smoked."
"On occasion."
"What's he hanging out over there for anyway?" Josh asked, mainly just to keep himself occupied.
"He's waiting to get a look at me," Bailey said. "He hasn't got the order to move on me yet, he just wants to check me out."
"I don't understand."
"He's scouting," Bailey said. "Getting the lay of the land and hoping that I'll make an appearance."
"I see," Josh said and curiously raised his binoculars to the fifth floor when the man entered the coffee shop. He scanned for a few seconds and blinked in surprise when he caught sight of Bailey leaning against a concrete support and smoking her cigarette. She was wearing her sunglasses and he noticed that her beret had a little tassel hanging from the button on top.
"Don't stare, Josh."
Josh's mouth dropped open in disbelief. "How the hell did you know I was looking at you?"
"I didn't."
"Funny," Josh said, shaking his head. "He's coming out…" he started, watching closely, "…and headed back your way."
"Okay, I'm turning my phone off. See ya in a bit."
"Bailey," he said before she could hang up.
"Yes?"
"I'm looking forward to whipping up on you tonight," he said. "Be careful."
"I'll be okay, Josh. And you'll get your shot at me later."
Josh hung up and glued his attention on the parking garage across the street.
II
Times have changed and times are strange,
Here I come, But I ain't the same- O. Osbourne
The man called Dante couldn't believe his luck and he smiled to himself as he got on the elevator that would return him to his car. He had made a small fortune in the last week and if things panned out, he would be a very wealthy man in the near future. He smiled widely at the money that would roll his way with the reputation he would receive upon eliminating The Wraith. He had been floored when he received the dossier that informed him that The Wraith was a woman, a fact he still found a little hard to believe. He had stared at the photo provided for hours while reclining on the bed in his hotel room. The woman was beautiful, but in the end, she was just a woman and he had convinced himself that it was a job he could complete.
He had debated with himself for days before finally deciding to express interest in the contract, being well aware of the exceptional reputation of his target; everyone who pursued a career within his chosen field knew of The Wraith. Eventually, he convinced himself that he could pull it off or, at the very least, make a graceful exit if he found himself in over his head. He thought the latter most likely as he was certain he didn't want to end up a nameless statistic, insignificantly attached to an already long list of forgotten corpses. But now, armed with new information, he had grown immeasurably in confidence and had discounted most of the stories as exaggeration. A little voice in his mind told him that he was letting his ego get him into trouble, but a much louder voice was content to drown out any protests or misgivings.
The elevator doors opened and he walked briskly towards his car hoping to get a glimpse of her before he called it day. He was halfway there when the hairs on his neck stood up and he came to an immediate halt. He scanned the rows of cars in front of him and squatted slowly to set his Styrofoam coffee cup on the concrete floor at his feet, his hand entering his jacket to rest on the butt of his gun. Standing, he slowly turned to look behind him and experienced an icy jolt that traveled the length of his spine when he found her leaning casually against a concrete support about twelve feet away, hands empty and hanging loosely at her sides. He felt the perspiration bead on his upper lip as he ran a quick gaze over her and he knew, with a painful knot in his stomach, that he should have listened to the little voice in his mind very carefully. A tangible aura of malevolence surrounded her and, despite her relaxed appearance, she emitted a dark energy that promised an abundance of speed and strength.
"Good morning."
"Good morning," he replied slowly, risking a glance around and noticing to his dismay that there were no bystanders.
"How much did they offer you?"
"Excuse me?" he asked, taking a deep breath to try and calm himself.
"How much money did you stand to collect upon my death?"
"The offer was very generous," he said collecting himself and letting his body go limp, his confidence reasserting itself; he had his hand on his gun and her hands were still empty.
"You should've sat this one out."
He blinked in complete surprise, stunned at how fast the gun pointed at him had appeared. His own hand still resting uselessly on the butt of his gun and his bowels turning to water.
"Wait," he pleaded a second before the world turned black.
Bailey removed the silencer from her Browning and holstered it as she turned and nonchalantly walked to the elevator. When she emerged onto the street, she loitered on the sidewalk until she was sure that the current surveillance team got a good look at her and, after a moment, she briskly climbed the stairs to disappear into the lobby.
"Terry?" Bob's voice came over the speakerphone.
"Yeah, Bob," Terry said, turning away from his computer.
"Come to the Situation room, please."
"On my way," Terry said as he rose from his chair.
Terry was a little curious at Bob's tone but he shrugged indifferently as he made his way out of his office. He had felt better these last few days than he had in weeks and was confident that his plan would work. He had been mentally preparing himself for the victory and had already practiced his most condescending smile in the mirror, the smile he planned on wearing when he had her at his mercy and could issue the order to put her down. With a greasy smirk, he glided into the Situation room with an air of indifference to anything that Bob had to report.
"What's up?" Terry asked congenially as he seated himself.
"Our other Free Agent is dead," Bob said.
"What?" Terry asked. "When? How?"
"This morning, round through the left eye. Daytime surveillance sighted Cameron leaving the parking garage across the street from C-Corp where they knew our man to be located at. They investigated and found Dante dead several yards away from his car."
"Shit," Terry said. "He was supposed to keep his distance, what the hell happened?"
"He was just scouting and was actually further away and better hidden than our surveillance team."
"That means she knew who he was," Terry said thoughtfully, suddenly slamming his hand on the table. "The limey," he said shaking his head.
"Yes," Willis agreed. "Watts is in a position to know who picked up her contract, and he's obviously giving her that information."
"Do we want to lodge a complaint with British Intelligence, Terry?" Bob asked.
"We can't," Terry said. "They're well aware I submarined them on Cameron's family. They have a protest of their own, if they wanted to pursue it."
"Why would she go out of her way to eliminate Dante and completely ignore our surveillance teams?" Keith asked.
"Because a contractor is somewhat out of our control and is a wildcard to any plans she may have," Terry said. "Leave her paper on the market, Bob. And personally contact the Australian you mentioned the other day, see if you can't entice him on board outside of the prescribe channels."
"Alright."
"Did we clean Dante's body?" Terry asked.
"Yeah, surveillance called in Phillips to take care of it," Keith said.
"Good," Terry said. "Any movement?"
"Neither Cameron or Tate has left the building since Monday that we're aware of, that is until Cameron was seen this morning."
"She's holing up," Terry said. "Whatever she has in the works, she's getting close to springing it on us."
"What's the word then, Terry?" Keith asked.
"Let's hold steady through the weekend and see what happens," Terry said with a shrug.
"What makes you think that Cameron is going to let Tate out of her sight?" Bob asked.
"We may have to grab Tate from inside C-Corp," Terry said. "Marland and his men might have to take a risk."
"You mean grab her in public and hope like hell Cameron isn't close by," Keith said. "That's pretty fucking risky."
"Indeed," Terry agreed. "Let's wait a few more days and see if an opportunity presents itself."
"Very well," Bob said, standing. "I'll attempt to contact the Australian," he added as he walked stiffly toward the exit.
"Contact me immediately if we get any movement," Terry said, rising himself. "It's coming down to the wire," he added as he followed Bob out of the room.
"Hello, Debra," Bailey said as she approached. "Is Piper in?"
"Yes, Miss Cameron," she replied. "Go on in."
"Thanks," Bailey said rounding the desk and entering Piper's office.
Piper looked up as the door opened and smiled. "Why hello there," she said from behind her desk. "That's a cute beret."
"Thanks," Bailey said flopping down on the sofa.
"What's up?"
"Nothing," Bailey said. "I just wanted to see you."
"Really?"
"Really."
Piper grinned and rose to join her on the sofa. "What did you do today?" she asked as she took a seat next to her.
"Thought about last night mostly," Bailey said, blushing slightly.
"What a coincidence," Piper said. "Want to know a secret?"
"Sure."
"I thought about you all day."
"Is that the secret?"
"Yes," Piper said, placing a quick kiss on Bailey's mouth.
"You wanna leave early?"
"I guess I could," Piper said. "You got something planned?"
"No plans," Bailey said bashfully. "Well…I thought we could…well…you know."
"Ahh, you want to fool around?" Piper teased, wagging her eyebrows.
Bailey studied the carpet and nodded.
"Let's go," Piper said hopping from the sofa to collect her purse and jacket. "Well?" she asked with a look at Bailey who was still seated.
"Is that a yes?"
"Yes, it's a yes," Piper said with a touch of exasperation. "Hurry or I'll start without you," she added tapping her foot impatiently.
"I'd like that."
"That can be arranged if you'd get up from there."
Bailey rose from the sofa with a smile and stepped through the door Piper held open for her.
"Debra, have a good weekend," Piper said when she got outside. "I'll see you on Monday."
"You too," Debra said. "Both of you," she added with a smile at Bailey who nodded to her politely.
They walked together across the floor toward the elevator and Bailey curiously noted at least two people who smiled at her as she passed. Puzzled, she turned to Piper as soon as the elevator doors closed.
"Piper, is there something different about me?"
"Why would you ask that?"
"Because people just seem friendlier all of a sudden."
"Maybe it's just because you're not so gloomy all of a sudden."
"I'm not gloomy," Bailey protested with a scowl.
"Let's just say you're far more approachable now that you've shown everyone you can actually smile," Piper said bumping her with her hips as they exited the elevator.
"Hmmm," Bailey grunted as she went through the process of gaining entry to her flat.
As soon as they were inside, Piper kicked off her shoes and dropped her purse. "I need a shower, join me?"
"Sure."
"Hey, you got something on your shirt," Piper said, pointing a finger.
"Huh?" Bailey said looking down and Piper flipped her nose with the finger.
"Sucker," Piper said, turning to run off down the hall.
Bailey chuckled and followed after her.
"I love you so much," Piper said, rolling over to embrace Bailey while they both caught their breath in a mass of tangled sheets.
"By the way," Piper said after a few minutes. "Did you work out again today?"
"No," Bailey said. "Why?"
"Your sword is on the dresser next to a handgun."
"Oh."
"Oh, what?"
"Do you remember the Italian Major Watts spoke of?"
"Yes, the other hit man," Piper said and Bailey nodded.
"Josh spotted him outside today."
"Really?" Piper asked. "Is everything alright?"
"Yes, he's dead."
"Dead," Piper said slowly. "How?"
"I killed him."
Piper closed her eyes and let out a long sigh. "Bailey, this scares me."
"I know," Bailey said. "I'm sorry."
"It also scares me that it's so casual to you," Piper said with a quick look at her face and had to move quickly to keep her from rising from the bed.
"Let me go."
"No," Piper said. "I love you, talk to me."
"About what?"
"About this whole situation," Piper said. "Did you know when I got up this morning I cried for an hour in the bathroom."
"Why?"
"Because I got scared that I would lose you," Piper said. "And because I'm afraid for you."
"You won't lose me," Bailey said. "Unless you want to."
Piper stiffened angrily and sat up straight. "Don't you ever say shit like that," she chided. "What the hell do you mean?"
Bailey looked at her for a long moment before speaking. "It means that I'm yours and the only thing that can change that fact is you."
Piper sighed. "I just want you to be free from this. I hate the fact that people want to hurt you. I hate the fact that you can kill a person today and act like you went for a walk. I hate the fact that sometimes I get so scared that I'll wake up one day and I won't have you anymore."
"Do you think I like it?" Bailey said and Piper saw her eyes begin to flash. "I hate it, and I hate myself for it. Every time I have to hurt someone, I pray that it'll be for the last time. If I seem cold or indifferent it's because it hurts to think about it. I've learned to shut it all away and to do whatever was required to insure my survival. If I hadn't had my family depending on me, I would've killed myself long ago," she finished and looked away.
Piper closed her eyes as the words struck her, it all becoming crystal clear in an instant. When she had read the file Bailey had presented her with, the hardest thing to come to terms with was picturing the woman she knew with the one the file portrayed. On one hand, you had the insecure girl who had spent the last fifteen years wondering what life was all about and on the other hand, there was the killer. A killer without remorse, without mercy, capable and prepared to do anything she had to do to win. A killer who knew that failure meant the deaths of the only thing she had left to hold dear. There were no rules in the world the killer lived in, and anything and everything that presented an obstacle, however slight, was immediately removed from the picture. Ruthlessness was not only required, it was necessary.
Piper opened her eyes and reached out to tenderly cup the cheek that was still turned away from her. Pulling it softly around to face her, she looked into eyes that not only held an unspeakably dark knowledge, but had seen things that the gentle heart inside the woman found hard to bear. She suddenly knew why, with a pain in her own heart, why her eyes made her seem so much older.
"Oh, baby," Piper said, her eyes filling. "I'm so sorry."
"Don't be sorry," Bailey said. "Just love me."
"I do love you, Bailey," Piper said. "More than anything."
Bailey let out a long sigh and Piper situated herself behind her to rest her head on her shoulder.
"Sometimes, I wonder if the lives of two people can excuse the deaths of so many."
"You mean your mother and brother?"
"Yeah," Bailey said with another sigh. "I try to justify it sometimes, but I never come to terms with it."
"Maybe you can't," Piper said. "If you could, you might not be the person I fell in love with."
"You're my life, Piper."
"And you're mine," Piper said with a kiss to her back. "I just don't want to lose you."
"You won't."
"You can't guarantee that."
"Yes, I can."
"Bailey, you said there were around seventy men here with the sole intention of killing you," Piper said. "How can you guarantee that they won't succeed?"
Bailey closed her eyes. "Because I'm The Wraith."
"No, you're just Bailey."
"I'm both," she stated. "But I just want to be Bailey."
"I love all of you."
"That's the only thing I can't live without, Piper."
"You'll never have to try," Piper said, embracing her as tight as she could. "I promise you that."
III
But I won't cry for yesterday,
There's an ordinary world somehow I have to find- Rhodes, Le Bon, Taylor, Cuccurullo
"Did you tell Martin we have company coming?" Piper asked while grating cheese at the kitchen table.
"I only saw him for a bit this morning, didn't you tell him?" Bailey asked from across the room.
"I guess it'll be a surprise then."
"I guess," Bailey shrugged walking over to peek in the oven and looking up at the ringing of a cell phone. "That's your phone."
"Huh?" Piper said confusedly then looked at her purse that was still lying in front of the door. "Oh," she rose hurriedly and ran over to get it.
"Hi, this is Piper," she said. "Oh, hey Nanny, can you hold on a sec?"
"I'll be back in a bit," she said with a look at Bailey who nodded and she took the phone down the hall to enter Bailey's office.
"What's up, Nanny?" she said, seating herself behind the desk.
"You tell me, I got your note," Nanny said with a chuckle.
"You just get in?"
"Yeah, a little while ago," Nancy said. "I have to leave again on Sunday."
"That stinks."
"Yep, so tell me," she asked. "You guys shacking up?"
"Yeah," Piper said with a little grin.
"Things okay between you two?"
"Couldn't be better."
"That sounds evasive."
"It is kinda," Piper said."But you'll have to wait a couple of weeks to hear the whole story."
"You know the whole story?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"And you'll have to give me a couple of weeks."
"Hmmm," Nancy grunted. "Are you sure everything's okay?"
"Things really couldn't be better between us," Piper said. "But there's an ongoing complication that should finish up shortly."
"I see," Nancy said. "I'll look forward to hearing it then. Should I look for another place to hang my hat?"
"No, it's your house too," Piper said with a little scowl. "I'll continue to pay my share."
"Are you sure, Pippy?"
"Yeah, it's not a problem, I don't want you to leave," Piper said. "I'd miss you too much.
"I'd miss you too," Nancy said. "Your mother called by the way."
"Oh, I should give her a buzz," Piper said. "Are you going home for Christmas this year?"
"Yep."
"Great," Piper said. "Mom would love to see you and there's some people I'd like you to meet."
"Really? Who?"
"Just some guests that'll be there for Christmas."
"I'm not getting much out of you tonight."
"It's very complicated, Nanny," Piper said. "I'll explain everything as soon as I can."
"You'd better."
"I will," Piper said. "When will you be back again?"
"Wednesday."
"I'd like you to come over here for dinner, will you?"
"To the Princess's lair?" Nancy asked feigning alarm. "I don't know."
"Be quiet."
"Of course, just let me know when," Nancy relented with a chuckle.
"Okay."
"Well, I thought I'd check up on you," Nancy said. "Tell me not to worry so I can hop in the shower and hit the sack."
"Don't worry," Piper said. "Talk to you soon?"
"Yep," Nancy said. "You'll need to tell me how things went over Thanksgiving too."
"Alright," Piper said. "Take care."
"You too, see ya, Pippy."
"Bye," Piper said, waiting until she heard the line disconnect before she hung up.
She spun a little in Bailey's chair and with a happy sigh, she hopped up and padded back into the kitchen.
"That was, Nanny," Piper said. "Can we have her over for dinner?"
"Sure," Bailey said with a shrug and Piper narrowed her eyes.
"Are you okay? You look a little pale."
"Yeah."
"What's wrong?" Piper said, closing the distance and putting a hand to her forehead. "You're burning up."
"I've just been close to the oven."
"Don't give me that," Piper chided as she pulled her over to the table and seated her.
"You're running a fever, does your head hurt?"
"A little."
"Since when?"
"For about an hour now."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"It'll pass."
"Bailey, I don't want you to hurt. Do you want to go to the doctor?"
"No!" she said loudly.
Piper stared at her curiously for a moment. "Have you taken anything?"
"No."
"Come on," Piper said taking her hand and pulling her from the chair. "I want you to go lay down, where do you keep your medicine?"
"In the bathroom cabinet," Bailey said as Piper led her down the hall.
"Okay," Piper said. "Go get in bed," she demanded when they entered the bedroom and watched in concern as Bailey lay down in all of her clothes and curled up on her side.
Piper hurriedly entered the bathroom and to her dismay only found a bottle of aspirin after rummaging through all the cabinets. She poured a glass of water and took it and the aspirin back into the bedroom, seating herself gingerly on the bed next to her lover.
"Sit up, sweetie," Piper said and handed Bailey the aspirin, which she swallowed dry before taking a drink of water.
"Turn off the light, please."
"Are you sure your okay, baby?"
"It's a migraine," Bailey said. "I get them sometimes."
"Why didn't you say something?"
"Because I didn't want to spoil your evening."
"You're more important, goofy," Piper chided. "Is there anything I can do?"
"No, it'll either go away soon or I'll have it for hours," Bailey said reaching into her pocket. "Here's my cell phone, the key to the elevator and my entry card for the front door. When Josh calls, you'll have to go to seventeen to get him."
"I'll just cancel," Piper said taking her things and setting them on the bed beside her.
"Don't, there's nothing you can do for me, I need to try and sleep it off."
"Bailey, I can stay here with you," Piper said stroking her hair, noting sympathetically that her eyes were watering.
"It would be better if you didn't," Bailey whispered. "I get very short tempered. Please go and have a good time."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Alright, love," Piper said reluctantly. "I'll check on you from time to time."
"Okay."
"You call me if you need anything," Piper said placing a gentle kiss on her cheek and collecting Bailey's phone and keys.
Piper got up to leave but stopped at the door and looked at her for a moment before she sighed and headed back into the kitchen, catching Martin curiously peeking in the oven.
"Get out of there," she scolded as she approached.
Martin chuckled and closed the oven door abruptly. "Busted."
"Yep," Piper said, shooing him out of the way and setting her stuff on the counter.
"Where's Bailey?"
"She has a migraine," Piper said. "It'll be just me, you, and Josh I'm afraid."
"Is she alright?"
"She say's she is, but she's pretty helpless right now."
"That's too bad," he said. "Who's Josh by the way?"
"A friend of hers," Piper said. "Nice guy, don't know where she met him, but he identified the people posing as employees downstairs."
"Really?" Martin said, taking a seat at the kitchen table. "What's she going to do with them?"
"She said she's going to put a hiring freeze into effect and fire them on Monday."
"Really?" Martin said. "I would've figured…" he stopped himself and looked sheepishly at Piper. "Sorry."
"Me too."
"Is there anything I can help you with?"
"Finish chopping up the stuff in front of you there," she said with a smile.
"Will do," he said, giving her a grin of his own, and frowned when he realized he would have to use his left hand. "Uhm, this might not turn out so pretty, I'm right handed."
"Do your best."
"God, what a horrible loser," Martin said in amusement several hours later.
"No shit," Josh said, shaking his head at a fuming Piper.
Piper crossed her arms over her chest and gave them the glare of death, which only served to elicit laughter from both of them at her expense.
She huffed and shot up from her chair. "I'm going to check on Bailey."
"No need," Bailey said emerging from the hallway.
"Are you feeling better?" Piper asked.
"A little," Bailey shrugged. "Sorry I missed dinner."
"There's leftovers," Piper said. "Want me to heat some up for you?"
"Yes, please," Bailey said taking a seat.
Piper bent to kiss her on the cheek and rested her chin on her forehead. "You're much cooler now," she said with satisfaction. "But your hair is a mess and your eyes are all bloodshot."
"Thanks," Bailey said and Piper smiled at her as she went about making her a plate.
"Sorry I missed out on Monopoly," she said to Josh and Martin.
"That's okay," Martin said. "Although you missed seeing Piper throw a fit."
"I did not."
"Yes, you did," Josh and Martin said in unison and Bailey chuckled.
"No dessert for either of you," Piper said, putting a plate in front of Bailey and sauntering off down the hall.
"I saw you come back across the street today," Josh said. "I take it everything went well?"
"Yes, he's dead."
"Was this the contractor you spoke of before you left today?" Martin asked and she nodded.
"I need to talk to both of you when Piper gets back," Bailey said, taking a forkful of lasagna. "Things are going to wrap up quickly from this point.
"Alright," Josh said and Martin nodded.
"So who won Monopoly?"
"Martin did," Josh said as Piper ambled back into view shooting Martin and Josh an ugly look as she pulled a chair behind Bailey's and began to brush out her hair.
"What do you have to tell us?" Josh asked after a minute.
"I'll be leaving Atlanta on Tuesday to wrap this up," Bailey said. "I've made arrangements for both of you. I can discuss them privately or together, it's up to you."
Josh and Martin exchanged a look and they both shrugged indifferently.
"Where are you going?" Piper asked. "Can I come with you?"
"Not for this."
"Can we talk about it?"
"No, I have to take care of this alone," Bailey said with a look over her shoulder at Piper who nodded reluctantly.
"Okay."
"Josh, I need you to find a safe place that could serve as a fire position, if needed, in sight of the building where the Organization has their operatives living. I'll need to know immediately if they move in numbers."
"Okay."
"Take your rifle," Bailey said, handing him a key across the table.
"What's this?"
"The agreed upon fee for your services. I've transferred all of Renfield's holdings into Anderson's accounts. I've also had the requested amount transferred into your former checking account to see to the welfare of your spouse. She already has access to the money. The key opens a locker in the Greyhound station at 232 Forsyth, you'll find everything you need."
"Thank you."
"No, thank you," Bailey said. "You'll need to hang out after I've left town until you get word from me."
"Consider it done."
"Your criminal record and your fingerprints will have to wait until I've come to settlement terms with the Organization, but I'll see to it," Bailey added and he nodded.
"Martin, that goes for you as well," Bailey said. "If you were to appear in public, all operatives no doubt have orders to kill you on sight outside of my company. The day I leave, I've arranged a safe haven for you at the British Embassy in Washington; you'll be traveling there on Tuesday. Your situation won't be resolved until the final settlement, but I promise it will be. You'll be under the care of Jeremy Watts and in the company of my family. I'll send word or will come myself when everything is over."
"Thank you, Bailey."
"You're very welcome, Martin," Bailey said. "My family is in your debt."
"What about me?" Piper asked. "What do I do until I see you again?"
"I'd like you to stay at the embassy as well."
"Why?"
"Because they obviously realize by now that you're very important to me," Bailey said. "I can't put you at risk."
"Do you think they'll try to hurt me?"
"These people are petty and vindictive. I wouldn't put it past them to hurt you to hurt me. I'd like you to do this for me. Things will go far smoother if I don't have to worry about you and I know you're safe."
"Alright," Piper agreed reluctantly. "What about the company?"
"Put Debra in charge until your return and I'll inform the Board to keep it business as usual."
"Okay," Piper said, running Bailey's hair through her hands thoughtfully.
"I won't be leaving the building from now until Tuesday unless I have to," Bailey said. "In the event of an emergency, Josh, I'll need you on standby. Martin and Piper, you need to be ready to leave from the roof immediately."
"What about you?" Piper asked.
"I'll deal with the situation and meet up with you later."
Piper grunted in irritation but remained silent.
"I've got to make a phone call and I still have a bit of a headache, so if you don't mind, I'm going to excuse myself for the rest of the evening," Bailey said, rising from her chair. "I apologize for being poor company tonight, but I'm glad to have both of you in my home," she added to Martin and Josh as she bent and kissed Piper gently on the cheek. "We'll talk later," she whispered in her ear before heading back down the hall.
Piper watched her go with a pained expression and let out a long sigh. "I'm worried about her."
"She'll be okay, Piper," Martin said.
"She'd better."
"She has a lot of pressure on her."
"I know," Piper said. "I don't know how she bears it."
"Can I ask a question?" Josh asked. "I know she worked for the government but in what capacity?"
Martin looked at Piper who shrugged, still staring down the hallway after Bailey. "She was a hard target infiltrator."
"What does that mean?"
"It means that for almost fifteen years she was sent in to eliminate targets, often multiple targets, that offered her very low survivability odds," Martin said. "She's probably the most dangerous person on the planet."
"She's the sweetest, gentlest, smartest, and most incredible person I've ever known," Piper said. "And it'll kill me if I lose her."
"You wont, Piper," Martin said. "She doesn't know how to lose."
"Watts."
"Good evening, Jeremy," Bailey said into the speakerphone.
"Hello there."
"I'll be sending you Piper and one other on Thursday," Bailey said. "Has it been cleared?"
"Yes, the Ambassador has no objections," Jeremy said. "Things wrapping up?"
"Getting close to that time."
"Very well. Is there anything I else I can do?"
"Yes," Bailey said. "The man I'm sending you is Martin Satterfield."
"Alright."
"I've made arrangements for someone else to contact you if I don't make it."
"I hope I don't get that call."
"Me too, but I have to prepare for the possibility."
"Understandable."
"Also, I'd like you to credit the deaths of Mr. Nguyen and Dante to The Wraith," Bailey said. "Put it on the wire, it might keep anyone else from picking up my paper."
"You took care of Dante I assume?"
"Yes, this morning."
"I'll see to it."
"Thank you," Bailey said. "How's my mother?"
"Pestering me everyday for news of you," Jeremy said. "Apparently, I've been removed from her least favorite person list."
Bailey chuckled. "That's good to hear."
"Your mother is a new person, Bailey," Jeremy said. "She loves you very much."
"That's also good to hear," Bailey said. "I'll contact you shortly."
"Very good," Jeremy said. "I'll be looking forward to it."
"Goodnight."
"Take care."
Bailey leaned back in her chair and wiped at her eyes before she got up and took her tube of blueprints to the large desk and spread them out. She clicked on the desk lamp and seated herself, beginning to study them in detail.
She was still at it two and a half hours later when Piper appeared in the doorway and stared at her silently for several minutes. She stopped what she was doing and leaned back in her chair to return the gaze until Piper finally came forward.
"I don't want to go without you."
"I know, but you can't come with me."
"Do you have a backup plan, in case things don't work out the way you expect?"
"Several."
"I'm scared for you."
"I know, this'll be over soon."
Piper closed her eyes. "Come to bed," she said, walking around the desk and offering her hand.
Bailey silently took the hand and rose from her seat to be immediately enveloped in a crushing embrace. "I love you, Bailey Ann," Piper said into her chest.
IV
Where black is the color and none is the number
- B. Dylan
Piper haunted Bailey every waking moment over the weekend, never letting her out of her sight and taking every opportunity to tell her that she loved her. Saturday melded into Sunday and she made it a point to dote on her constantly, keeping her in bed the majority of both days, making love, watching television or listening to music and always holding her tightly. She knew she had slipped over the edge and was smothering her, but Bailey accepted it for what it was and never complained. Every night after she assured herself that Bailey was sleeping, she would slip out of bed and spend hours in the other room staring at Bailey's mural and working the tears of worry and frustration out of her system.
Monday morning came too soon and Piper made love to her in the hours before dawn desperately, ending with the tears she had tried so hard not to let fall in front of her. She fell into her arms and held her close as Bailey tenderly comforted her until she had cried herself out. When she finally subsided, Bailey led her into the shower and covered her with gentle attentions, bathing her and washing her hair.
"I know you're scared," Bailey whispered holding her close as the shower rained down on them. "I wish I could convince you not to be."
"I wish you could too."
"I'll be back, Piper."
"You'd better be."
"Trust me."
"It's not a matter of trust," Piper said, using Bailey's words against her. "It's more a matter of fear."
"What a wise observation."
"It took me a little while to truly understand what you meant," Piper said. "But I do."
Bailey kissed her on the forehead. "I know," she said. "Get ready, I'll need your help today."
"Okay," Piper said, kissing her lightly before stepping out of the shower.
Bailey turned the water off and got out after her, drying off and wrapping a towel around herself as she exited, leaving Piper to stare in the bathroom mirror thoughtfully for a long moment. She dried her hair and put on her makeup reluctantly, entering the bedroom to find Bailey in her usual black business clothes, two handguns holstered on the sides of her belly.
"You expecting trouble today?"
"Just taking precautions," Bailey said walking over to sit down on the end of the bed.
"Take off that towel and let me see you."
Piper smiled and let the towel drop to the floor at her feet.
"Come here," Bailey said and smiled when Piper covered the distance between them to stand before her naked. She tenderly placed a kiss on each of her breasts and stood to kiss her soundly on the mouth. "You're beautiful," she said. "Would you like me to fix you breakfast?"
"No, I'll just have a bowl of cereal."
"Alright," Bailey said. "Will you meet me in the executive conference room when you're ready?"
"Yes," Piper said. "Are you going to dry your hair, you got the back of your shirt all wet."
"Yep, right now and then I'm off," Bailey said with another kiss, throwing a grin over her shoulder as she ambled back into the bathroom.
Piper watched her go and waited for the hairdryer to start before she looked at the ceiling pleadingly. "God, please watch over her."
Bailey was seated at the head of the conference table when Piper entered. "I informed the Board that you'd be on leave for a few weeks and they guaranteed me that everything will still be standing after the holidays. Have you spoken to Debra?"
"Yeah, she's a little nervous but she relented. She'll do fine," Piper said, seating herself in the chair next to Bailey. "What do you need me to do?"
"I need you to bring me the seven people on this list," she gestured to the list in her hand. "One at a time, with another non-related employee so they don't suspect anything. Once they're all here, I'll deal with them."
"Do you want to alert security?"
"No, my guess is they'll leave quietly."
"Alright," Piper sighed. "Who first?"
"Steve Wickman," Bailey said. "Grab someone else from their area, I'll dismiss them when they get here."
"Okay," Piper said. "You'll be careful, right?"
"Of course."
"Hmmm."
"It'll be okay, I promise," Bailey comforted. "Once they're all here, why don't you take Debra to lunch?"
"Okay," Piper said, getting up and placing a kiss on her mouth.
She waited just under eleven minutes for Piper to return with Wickman and another man she didn't recognize. "I'm sorry to bother you," she said to the unknown man. "I only need Mr. Wickman."
"No bother, Miss Cameron," he said amiably and left.
"Have a seat, Mr. Wickman," she said pleasantly to the man who narrowed his eyes suspiciously but seated himself at the table.
"Who now?" Piper asked.
"Sean Coleman," Bailey said looking at Wickman whose eyes widened almost imperceptibly.
Piper left the room throwing a worried look over her shoulder, but grinned a little when Bailey winked at her. As soon as the door closed behind her, Bailey turned a casual stare upon the man.
"What's this all about, Miss Cameron?" Wickman asked.
"Let's wait until everyone is present."
Wickman tried an indifferent shrug and worried his hands together under the table while she rocked in her chair, seemingly disinterested in him. Piper arrived a few minutes later with Coleman and dismissed the second man herself before they entered the room.
Bailey watched them exchange quick looks and smiled to herself as she turned to Piper. "Andy Richmond," she said and Coleman opened his mouth to speak but she turned a look in his direction. "Save it," she said and he subsided.
By the time the sixth man entered the room they were all exchanging openly worried looks with one another and trying not to sweat.
"Who's the last?" Piper asked as the sixth man seated himself.
"Kevin Marland," Bailey said with a smile, which Piper returned on her way out.
They only had to wait a few minutes for her to return with Marland, who, to his credit, showed no reaction to being in a room with all of his cronies.
"Have a seat, Mr. Marland," Bailey said. "Thank you, Miss Tate, I'll talk to you later," she said, beaming another smile at her.
"You're welcome, Miss Cameron," Piper said, heading off to invite Debra to lunch.
Bailey turned in her chair and studied each man carefully. "Who's in charge?" she asked and looked expectantly at each man but received no response. "The games up, let's get this over with quietly," she added, noting the rapid-fire glances around the table directed at Marland.
"Mr. Marland," she said. "How would you like to handle this?"
"That's up to you."
"I'd like it be as friendly as possible," Bailey said. "Are any of you armed?" she looked around and again received no answer.
"Do you know who I am?" Bailey asked turning a glare on Marland.
"Yes."
"Do the rest of your men know?" she asked but received silence in return. "Tell them," she added and he looked away from her. "Tell them voluntarily or I'll have you screaming it," she purred darkly.
He studied her intensely for a long moment. "Miss Cameron is The Wraith."
All faces turned fearful or disbelieving looks in her direction. "Now, I'll ask you again," she said, her eyes flashing. "How do you want to handle this?"
Piper left the conference room feeling much better about things and smiling at the charisma Bailey had at her command. She bounced a little on her feet when she arrived and leaned over Debra's desk with a grin.
"Wanna go to lunch?"
"I can't today," Debra said. "My husband's coming to pick me up in about twenty minutes.
"Oh poo," Piper said. "Tomorrow then?"
"Sure."
"Okay," Piper said. "Maybe I'll run across the street and get something"
"Sorry."
"That's okay, I'll see you in a bit," Piper said, puttering away toward the elevator.
On the way down, she decided to just grab something at home, needing to pick up some more things since she was going to be staying out of town for a while. She walked through the lobby and upon entering the parking garage, she looked around carefully, and when reasonably sure no one was watching, she skipped happily to the Corvette.
Bailey sighed and looked at the clock, frustrated at how long it was taking to get past all the posturing Marland was throwing at her. She swallowed her desire to handle things in the way she was accustomed and tried to summon a little more patience. She really wanted to resolve the situation peaceably, not only for her sake but for Piper's. However, having put up with over twenty minutes of Marland's attitude, even the continuously reinforced reigns on her temper were beginning to show signs of strain.
"Bottom line, Mr. Marland," she said, interrupting him. "You and your men will be leaving C-Corp today. I'd like you to walk out under your own power but I can very quickly make sure you are carried out."
"Do you think you could risk that?"
"It wouldn't be a risk, Mr. Marland," Bailey said darkly. "Call your people and arrange to return to them."
Marland stared at her defiantly for several minutes, slowly withering under the increasingly dangerous glare that she silently returned, his hand eventually reaching out for the phone in front of him.
Josh mentally patted himself on the back as he sat in his folding chair on the third floor of a very old and abandoned masonry company. He had a perfect view of his target and the chances of his being discovered were distantly remote. The bottom floor had been rather thoroughly boarded up and the property itself surrounded with a chain link fence, topped by a nasty ring of barbed wire. The only disadvantage that he could find with his stakeout position was the temperature, which was freezing and he often rubbed his hands together briskly and drank liberally from an industrial sized thermos that he had filled with steaming coffee.
He was bringing his current cup of java to his lips when he saw something that made his hands go numb and the cup fell to the floor. He brought the binoculars up so rapidly that he flinched in pain when they collided with his eye sockets. Regaining his bearings, he focused in on the flash of red hair, a sinking feeling making itself at home in the pit of his stomach.
"Excuse me," Bailey said when her cell phone rang, her patience nearing its end as Marland pretended to be on hold.
"Cameron," she said narrowing her eyes at Marland as she answered.
"Bailey, its Josh."
Her chest tightened unbearably and she bent forward slightly in her chair. "Yes," she said hoarsely closing her eyes, knowing that her time was up.
"They got her," Josh said urgently. "They got Piper. I just saw them lead her in."
Her eyes widened and her hands begin to shake. She clamped her teeth down violently on her tongue to keep herself under control and turned in her seat, presenting the men around the table with the back of her chair.
"Bailey, did you hear me?"
"I heard you," she said with difficulty, having trouble finding her voice. "Stay put. I'll call you shortly," she said, disconnecting and dropping the phone in her lap, her hands trembling uncontrollably.
She closed her eyes tightly and hyperventilated for several seconds in an attempt to compose herself. An attempt that failed miserably as the thread holding her temper in place broke with an almost audible snap, a white-hot anger building within her that she gave up all attempts to corral, willingly letting it take control. When she opened her eyes, they burned with black fire and she let loose a frightening scream of pure rage as she spun in her chair, guns flashing into her hands.
She stood and raked gunfire down both sides of the table so fast that the reports sounded singular. She dropped one gun on the table and reloaded the other in an almost invisibly rapid motion, needlessly emptying all ten rounds into the already lifeless form that only seconds ago had been Kevin Marland. Dropping the now empty pistol on the table to join its twin, she emitted another scream that echoed resoundingly around the room and reverberated down the surrounding halls. The wave of anger having not completely released her, she picked up her chair and hurled it violently over the length of the conference table to collide with the window, which remained intact but spider-webbed impressively as the chair bounced off and crashed to the floor. She stood panting heavily at the head of the table, closing her eyes tightly and waging a furious internal battle to get control of herself. When her eyes finally opened, her gaze completely ignored the seven dead men and she brought an arm up to her chest protectively in an effort to ease the sudden pain she felt there.
"Baby," she choked around a sudden sob.
The sounds of commotion outside the room penetrated her senses and she turned to shut the blinds and lock the door. She collected her guns and exited through the other door, locking it behind her.
She passed a half a dozen people on the way to the elevator, all of whom got out of her way rapidly and she ignored them completely. She took the short ride up with her eyes closed and entered the flat, letting out another scream as the door closed behind her and hyperventilating furiously. Closing her eyes tightly and balling her hands into fists, trying to reign in the anger that was threatening to engulf her. When her eyes opened this time, the anger was manageable and a calm, if a somewhat terrifying, dark conviction filled black orbs that promised retribution as she stripped off her blazer and threw it to the floor violently on her way down the hall.
Martin heard the scream over the television in his room and jumped out of bed in alarm, landing on his injured hand. He grunted in pain as he attempted to collect himself, the sound of the scream still raising his hackles. Steeling himself, he raced through the door and into the kitchen where he paused hesitantly before he proceeded to the mouth of Bailey's hallway and stopped.
"Bailey," he called out cautiously and reared back in alarm when she came out of her bedroom and walked straight for him.
He took a few involuntary steps backward, noting with increasing unease that he was dealing with The Wraith. Her eyes were flashing dangerously and the menace coming off of her in waves was perceptibly electric.
"Martin, get your things together, you'll be leaving shortly."
"What's happened?"
"Get your things together now," she said and turned to walk into her office without another word.
Martin turned and ran for his bedroom closing in on panic.
Bailey took several breaths before she dialed a number into the computer.
"Yes?"
"I need that helicopter on the roof in twenty minutes."
"You got it," Thumper said quickly, his spine turning to ice at the tone of her voice.
"Tell him to wait until someone shows," she said. "He'll need to leave in a hurry, Washington D.C., no passenger return."
"He'll be there."
"Thank you, Thumper."
The moment the line disconnected she dialed another number into the computer.
"Watts."
"Major, it's going down now, I'll be sending Piper and Satterfield in that direction shortly, Potomac airfield."
"I'll be there to collect them," Jeremy said. "Be careful, Bailey."
"Thank you, Major."
She disconnected and glided into her bedroom.
Martin sat nervously with his bag packed at the kitchen table trying to forget the sound of the scream Bailey had emitted. He looked up with wide eyes as she emerged from the hall with a large black canvas shoulder bag and wearing black fatigue pants. She had a bulletproof vest on over a tight black T-shirt and her hair was greased back and tied firmly away from her face. The katana was already sheathed on her back and two pistols adorned the sides of her belly, magazines encircled her waist.
"Martin," she said as she placed the bag on the table with a clank and withdrew two soft leather document bags. "Listen carefully. The brown bag is for Major Watts, give it to him immediately, he'll be at the airfield you land at and escort you to the embassy. Understand?"
"Yes."
"The other one is for Piper," Bailey said her voice cracking at the name and she looked away for a moment before continuing. "Give it to her, after you get settled there. Understand?"
"Yes," Martin said. "What's happened?" he asked as her cell phone rang.
She looked at the phone with cold eyes and irritably powered it off. "Come with me," she said to Martin and led him down the hall and into her office. "Listen to the phone call I'm about to receive," she said, standing in front of the speakerphone at her desk. They waited only twenty seconds for it to ring and she answered it immediately.
"Wraith."
"We've got her, Bailey," Terry said.
"I know."
"Then you know what we want."
"Yes, give me your terms."
"You, the file, and that puke Satterfield," Terry said. "In return, I'll guarantee you she survives as well as your family, which we know is currently residing with the British in Washington. Turn yourself over to Kevin Marland within an hour and you have my word, I'll stand by my promise."
"Marland and his men are dead."
"I see," Terry said, trying not to act surprised. "We'll send a car for you."
"Not unless I get what I want."
"And that is?"
"I want to speak to Piper, uninterrupted and unmonitored."
"I can arrange that, can you hold?"
"Yes."
She waited unmoving for five minutes until he returned to the line. "Do you have a pen?"
"Go ahead," she said and scribbled the number down.
"They'll let her talk for five minutes, alone."
"Call me back in half an hour," Bailey said and hung up.
"They have Piper?" Martin asked.
"Yes," Bailey said with a hitch in her chest.
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to get her back," she said. "You'll both be leaving shortly."
"You know where she is?"
"Yes, they have her at the building where they have everyone stationed."
"Bailey, that's too many men."
"It doesn't matter how many they have," Bailey said. "One way or another, Piper will be leaving with you. Now give me a minute so I can talk to her, please."
"Alright," Martin said, walking out of the office and back down the hall.
Bailey leaned against her desk and put her head in her hands to fight off the sobs as soon as Martin left the room. She got herself under control quickly and with a deep calming breath, she dialed the number Terry had given her.