Sisterlings II

To Kill
Chapter 1
The kettle screamed from back inside the house.
Carefully, she got up from the white couch and
limped across the porch. Floor boards creaked,
lightly, as she passed through the living room to
the kitchen.
She twisted the black knob on the stove into
the off position. Turning ninety degrees with a
mild wince, as her ankle still pained her, she
reached for the clear jar of coffee on the counter. A
light suction pop was made when she pushed back
the wired lid. The scent of fresh coffee permeated
the air.
Sticking her cigarette in her mouth, she
tried not to inhale wafting smoke as she sifted a
few scoops of coffee into the press. An ounce of
steam floated from the kettles spout as she poured
the water over the grounds and stuck the plunger
in halfway.
She went back to her spot on the couch, next
to the heat lamp and set the coffee on the table.
Three weeks had passed since shed seen her
husband, Alec, and their daughter, Caramia. But
Anna didnt dare go to them for fear of leading
those who would destroy her straight to her
family.
There was no way that she could protect
them. Gone were her days of martial arts. She was
suffering from a slight concussion and shed nearly
broken her ankle.
She was almost recovered, though.
Occasionally, she got dizzy but she hadnt had a
headache in days. But she was in no shape to fight,
let alone protect the family shed come to cherish.
Over and over, in her mind, she replayed the
last words she said to her daughter. Dont you
want breakfast? And her refusal based on perfect
reasoning. Je suis en retard! Ill just have my caf,
maman!
Silly as it was, the response made her smile.
The way she said it was so mature. However,
Caramia knew she didnt like her taking caf au lait
on an empty stomach, and quickly ate the croissant
Anna had stuck in her hand.
That was the morning she got the strange
photo with the address on the back. Someone had
snuck into the house while she was on her morning
walk and left the picture on her desk. Dead on a
bed Sheila lay with a single bullet in her head.
Next to her bed, on the nightstand, the picture of a
boy whom she suspected was her friends son.

Anna didnt wait. She went to Paris to see
why someone would want her to go the old flat.
Not paying attention, she stepped out into traffic
and got hit. She was lucky to be alive, for the car
sent her flying 25 feet through the air.
She sighed and took a small sip of her coffee.
Many years ago, Anna gave up coffee which
was a strange thing to do in a place like France.
Some of the best cafes in the world were there. She
did sample some of their finer brews, now and
again, but for some reason, cutting out coffee was
symbolic: it was cutting out her old life, though
she knew she never really could.
Since it all began again, shed picked up not
only coffee but cigarettes. It was all she could do in
the constant stress and anxiety of waiting for those
who would do her in, and the constant worry
about the safety of her family.
Thank goodness for Luc. If it werent for
him, she was sure worry would kill her. Every day
he checked in with her at 10:00 and 19:00. Hed
confirm that Luc and Caramia got to work and
school alright, and back home without problem.
Luc was a private detective her husband
hired some years ago. He tracked down the owners
of a few acres of land that their vineyards would
have crossed. The tax office said they were about
to occupy unauthorized property. They needed the
land, though, as they were to plant their first crop
that year, so he found the owners and persuaded
them to sell.
Alec and Luc went to school together when
they were boys. They were friends, then, but had
drifted apart. Luc was a Paris police officer for
nearly a decade while Alec became a teacher and
stayed in Bordeaux. Luc was very intelligent but
had a criminal side. Anna didnt know how
criminal, as shed never asked. She suspected that
Alec hadnt a clue, either.
One thing she could say about Luc was he
was incredibly loyal. When she needed his help, he
promised her anything as long as it didnt involve
lying to Alec. She promised Luc shed never lie,
and simply hoped that Alec would forgive her
when, if ever, she went back home.
Anna had hoped that the whole thing was a
misunderstanding. No one wanted her dead; she
could go home and sleep in her warm bed. Then
she woke up in the hospital. Next to her, on the
desk, was a red leather jacket. It took a moment for
her to recognize it. She thought shed lost it on the
train to Bordeaux, upon her first arrival all those
years ago. It was Bethanys, the one shed taken
from her apartment after her supposed death.
How did it end up in her hospital room and
why?
Obviously, Bethany was sending her a
message.
Now, it hung on the hook behind the door.
She never learned what happened to
Bethany and her brother, David, or who won the
war to control the Crest Foundation. Anonymity
was their specialty. This made her anxiety worse
because she couldnt go on the offensive. She had
to wait for them to come to her; even though she
knew it would only be a matter of time, waiting
was the hardest part.
In a secluded part of the Bordeaux mountain
region, her house was situated. It sat on the edge
of a forest that could only be reached by a single
ten mile gravel road. Behind the house was
nothing but trees, and in front, miles of land that
had enormous boulders sticking out of the ground.
She drained the last remnants of her cup and
refilled it. And as she leant over, noticed
something in the distance that walked across the
property on four legs; a brown blur that stopped
for a moment, and then progressed back into the
trees.
Was it a bear or a wolf?
The snow fell hard all through the night.
She loved the look of the prairie beyond the porch,
like a blanket of snow that had no end.
Despite the constant wind and regular
storms, even if she couldnt hear someone approach
the place was a tech bomb. Set one foot anywhere
within seven hundred feet, and her alarm went off.
Luc helped set the place up, and had even installed
automatic weapons in the trees which lined the
gravel road that led to her house. All she had to do
was zoom in on a target, using her mouse pad, and
push the left tab.

Early evenings were her favorite time. Shed
walk down the gravel road, and veer off on an
unmarked trail. Through towering pines, yellow
gold streaked down, slashing at the forest floor.
The scent of pine mingled with frost and broken
leaves under foot relaxed her.
She supposed it would have been safer to
stay indoors all the time less chance of being
seen, but she just couldnt. That country was a
vision, especially in the evenings.
And so like before, after shed finished her
coffee, she disappeared into the forest. Only this
time, Anna veered off and went out towards the
cliffs and walked along a rocky incline that
brought her to a small peak.
Her breath was taken away when she looked
down and saw a 1500 foot drop. Below, hundreds
of acres spread out under sky, creating a horizon.
It would be the perfect time and place for
someone to get her, she mused. Just push her off
the side and her body would burst into parts. All
would be frozen and covered by snow in less than
an hour. By the time spring came back around, her
remains would be mush, and her skeleton likely
never found.
A loud growl came from the trees. She
skimmed the landscape, looking for the source. At
first she couldnt find it, but then, blending in with
the tree trunks behind it was a grey spotted wolf.
Anna waited for what seemed like many
minutes, hoping that it would just leave. Instead,
the wolf put a paw forward and growled even more
persistently.
Slowly, she squatted to the ground and
picked up a large stick. Then she made a show of
breaking it in half, making a loud cracking noise.
The wolf flinched and ran off.

~~~

Over a light dinner of pasta, she resumed
her search of websites.
When she was recruited, it was called
Sisterlings: a website that, under the pretense of
finding friends for social misfits, recruited
unbalanced women into killing jobs.
For many hours, she looked until she came
across one possible site. Pollen Days was the name.
On the front was a picture of men and women
mingling. Displayed in bold letters across the top
was: This is not a site for dating, but a place for
friends.
As she did with the other similar sites shed
found over the last few weeks, she signed up with a
throwaway email address. Throwaways were great
because you didnt need to sign up. Simply, the
server was set to receive any and all mail, and it
deleted any and all mail every five or six hours. All
she had to do was go to the site and put in the
name the email would be addressed to.
Anna did just that but instead of an
acceptance notification, there was an error notice.
Dear patron,
Unfortunately, this is a membership by
invitation only.
We appreciate your interest.
Pollen Times
Thats weird, she thought to herself.
She went back to the site and clicked on the
contact us link and filled out a customer service
inquiry. She wanted to know how to get an
invitation.

Needing to stretch her numb legs, she got
up slowly from her desk and walked about the
room.
She jumped at the sound of a loud howling.
At the porch glass window, she peered out
into the darkness.
Irritated that she couldnt see anything, she
sat at her desk, once more, and minimized her
internet browser.
Anna clicked into the security page. She
sifted through a dozen images yet saw nothing.
When the sensors picked up body heat, it showed a
red aura on the screen.
There were no auras there, either.
Next moment, a mail notification sound was
played.
She clicked it and found a personal response
from customer service.
We were unable to locate your IP address. We
cannot enroll people without identification. To fix this,
please see your internet provider.
Her jaw slackened.
She supposed it wasnt wholly insane to be
rejected because of such a thing, especially with
serial killers out in the world, but it hadnt
happened to her yet.
Anna pulled up her Skype and clicked in
Lucs number. Cell phones were too risky, shed
decided.

Anna. How are you?
Im well. Im trying to create an account on
a website, but I keep getting rejected because my
IP address is undetectable because of software that
I installed. You wouldnt happen to know a way to
create a fake IP? One that shows me as in another
city, say Paris?
You know, its funny that youre hiding for
the sake of your life, yet here you are, fretting over
not being able to get into some website.
Ignoring him, she said, Its important. Can
you do it?
Please, he said. A piece of cake.
Hows my girl?
Shes at a sleepover with her little friend,
Megan.
Alec?
Hes alright.
Nothing suspicious happening?
Not that I could see.
Anna sighed.
Whats wrong?
I dont like that youre not there all the
time. Do you think you could hire body guards?
Listen, Anna, dont worry. Alec can take
care of himself. Trust me on that.
You dont understand.
What dont I understand? Weve had
Mafioso punks come through here before. We kill
them; thats what we do. They know better than to
mess with us.
Okay, she said, trying to sound like she
believed him. Well, email me that file, please?
You got it, dear. Goodnight.


That night she went to bed thinking about
little Caramia. Her friend, Megan, was a brat. Her
parents spoiled her and she had that terrible
attitude that such children like her tended to have.
Anna didnt want her daughter hanging out with
her, but they always seemed to be together. She
didnt know if she was being silly, as Megan was
just a girl, but she didnt want Caramia to be like
her.
For a few minutes, it seemed that she was in
a nice sleep, until her house alarm sounded.
Anna leapt out of bed and grabbed the gun
she kept on the nightstand. She slipped on her
ankle brace and shoes, and dashed into the
bathroom.
On the wall, shed hung a tablet for fast
viewing. She pressed the power button and
immediately viewed all sides of the house.
Next to the burn pile, the grey spotted wolf
had opened a trash bin and was tearing a bag
apart.
Anna sighed and set the gun down on the
counter. She could either kill the wolf, or just clean
up the mess in the morning.
It was probably just hungry, she reasoned with
herself, and there was leftover steak and chicken in one
of the bags. But what if its not the same wolf from
earlier, meaning that there was a pack in the area?
Tomorrow, she said and went back to bed.

The next morning she sat on the porch and
sipped her coffee while reading news on the
internet. Overnight, the snow had let up. Now the
sky was a clear and icy blue.
Anna was distracted by a distant humming
noise that was carried through the air.
She set down her coffee and pulled up the
security screen. Something was moving through
the trees, but it was distorted from the angle of the
camera.
Anna zoomed in on the moving target.
A black jaguar made its way up the gravel
road. Her heart sped and sweat erupted along her
hairline. Had they finally found her? But then, she
remembered that Luc drove an old black Jaguar.
She zoomed in on the drivers side window
and his gradient face came into view.
At the front door, she watched as he
approached. Gravel kicked up into the air when he
parked in front of her door.
As soon as he stepped out, she asked, What
are you doing here? Whos watching my family?
Theyre safe, dont worry. I got someone
watching them at all times.
When she didnt respond, he asked, How
are you? and pulled her into an embrace.
She stepped back and motioned that he
follow her inside.
Un caf? he asked.
As you wish.
Sucre et le lait, sil vous plait.
She stirred in some milk and two lumps of
brown sugar.
Why did you come?
I wanted to check on you. Alec and Caramia
are very worried. No matter what the
circumstance, how does a mother just leave, like
you did? he asked and then sipped his coffee.
I already told you: my ex is a crazy mafioso.
Hes coming for me, and I dont want to put my
family in danger.
He pursed his lips and said, Hmpf.
Did you work on what I asked?
He stuck his hand behind the lapel of his
jacket and pulled out a thumb drive.
She reached out to take it.
First, he said as he snapped the drive back,
tell me whats going on.
If you dont feel comfortable helping me,
then fine, but if you can just trust me, I might get
to go home sooner.
Once more, he held the thumb drive out for
her to take.
She stuck it in her laptop.
The software automatically started to
install. A small black screen came up and white
words sped upward.
So did you add something to this program
to track me with?
She turned in her seat to look at him.
His eyebrows rose, slightly.
Anna wanted to be annoyed, but she couldnt
help but think that if she lost her war, perhaps Luc
would continue the battle on her behalf.
Once more, she pulled up Pollen Times and
tried to sign up.
Thats what you needed me for? he said
sounding disgusted.
She ignored him and continued to fill in the
registration form.
Come on, what is this about?
I already told you, Luc, so stop asking.
Fine, he said, slurping down the last of his
coffee. I guess Ill be going, then.
She didnt even look up as he walked out.
Anna wasnt stupid. Luc wasnt going anywhere.
He was a detective, after all; hed probably hide out
in the trees and watch her, waiting for something
to happen.
Anna supposed it would be nice if she could
let someone in on her secret. Perhaps Luc could be
a big help to her.
She pulled up the security page and saw the
black jaguar driving, fast, off the property.
Perhaps she was wrong. It looked like he
was, indeed, leaving.
Pollen Times didnt appear to be what she
was looking for. Shed thought for sure that it
could be a Sisterlings type of thing all over again,
but when she went into the chat rooms, it was
nothing like it was before. One lady went on about
politics while a man continued to send her pictures
of lips and beers. Others in the room told dumb
jokes or made silly comments about nothing
important. Sisterlings types, even the most
pathetic, just werent like that; they were simple
yet severe in their communications.
As usual, she went for her evening walk
along the cliffs. The temperatures had risen a bit,
and the snow had softened. When she looked down
the peak, as she did the night before, a rush of icy
wind blew up into her face, throwing back her hair.
Anna closed her eyes and inhaled the cold
air as deeply as she could. Cold particles of air
penetrated her pores, bled down the neck of her
jacket and chilled her to a new level of awake. It
was almost like the fresh air whisked away the
putrid cigarette smoke, shed bathed herself in,
from her pores; and canceled out the drag brought
on by that days caffeine.
From behind, she heard the patter of small
footsteps. She turned around, fast.
From about a hundred feet away it stared
but came no further.
Slowly, Anna put her hand on her gun and
walked backward, away from the animal. It kept its
eyes on her without moving.

~~~
At midnight she woke to the sound of the
clock, in the hallway, right outside her door,
chiming.
Shed installed a heat sensor alarm. Anytime
she went by, it would chime; it was annoying but it
was a last chance alarm system, in case all her
other measures failed.
Just like before, she rolled off her bed and
picked up the gun from the night stand. In the
bathroom, she looked at the camera viewings
inside the house.
Right outside her door, a figure with a gun
pointed upwards quietly opened her bedroom door
and stepped in.
In that bathroom, Anna had installed a push
door and camouflaged it to the wall. And as it was
called, she pushed into the door and released. The
spring inside flung the door open. She slipped into
the hallway and pushed the opposite side of the
wall, closing it.
She stood there, with gun at the ready, as
the person likely inspected the bathroom,
wondering where she went. Just as the person,
unsuspecting, stepped into the hallway, she shot at
the persons torso.
Although silenced, the gun still made a
deafening noise that echoed through the hallway.
The person stood, still, a moment and then
fell to the floor.
Anna kicked his or her gun across the
landing.
Something was wrong, she thought.
When up that close, you always got some of
sort of blood splatter from a gunshot; however,
there was nothing on her face, hands or chest.
She knelt down and ran her hand over her
attackers torso. He wore a bullet proof vest.
Quickly, she slipped it off and tried it on.
Its a little loose but should come in handy.
Anna checked his pulse; then she pulled off
his hat. He was no one she knew.
Id better get you downstairs before you
wake.
She stuck the fore of her arms under his
shoulders and lifted him just off the floor. His feet
slammed onto each step as she dragged him down.
By the time she reached the basement, she was out
of breath.
Too tired to hold him again, Anna opened
the door and pushed him down the stairs. She
watched as he rolled feet over head and fell to the
cement floor with a loud smack.
Downstairs, she slipped a chain around his
chest and clipped it onto its own link. Behind a
chair that was bolted to the floor in the center of
the room was a metal shaft that she cranked. The
chain pulled the man backwards into the seat
where she strapped down his wrists and ankles.

From his pocket, Anna pulled out a cell
phone, a wallet and a set of keys. He had only a few
euros but no identification.
She tossed the items onto the table.
The man showed no signs of waking just
yet, so Anna went out and looked for his car.
She adjusted the straps on her vest before
stepping outside. Using a small led flashlight, she
shined light all around, low to the ground.
Down to the road, she walked but saw
nothing and no sign of anyone. There werent
many ways to come to her house by car, though, so
where could it have been?
She walked out to the cliffs behind her
house. Nothing there and once more, as she turned
she found the wolf behind her. Its tongue hung out
of its mouth calmly; clearly, it wasnt in the
fighting mood.
Walking backwards, she slowly made her
way back to the house. Another snow storm was
moving in and she was freezing. Shed just have to
look again tomorrow.

Tortured Times
Chapter 2
Anna woke to birds that chirped right outside her
window. She lay in bed and listened a while,
feeling happy.
Today was the day her battle would begin.
And it would start with the man in the basement.
She wondered if she really had the stomach to do
what she had planned.
Anna wanted to lie there a bit longer and
imagine how to start, but the man had incredible
vocal range. His vibrato hummed through the
walls.
In the kitchen, he was even louder. She tried
not to laugh as she made her coffee.
Helloooooo! Untie me, now! I know who you
are. More will be coming. If you let me go now, Ill tell
them youre dead.
Anna laughed so hard that she almost spilled
hot water on the counter.
Out on the porch, she watched the icy grey
sky and wondered where his car could possibly be.
She needed to find it. It was likely unmarked and
untraceable, and fitted with fake identifications: it
would be perfect travel for her when the time
came.
After a couple cups of coffee, she decided it
was time to get started. Shed spent too many
weeks idle. No longer, would she delay.
Next to the door of the basement was a vinyl
overall, just like the fishermen wore. Carefully, she
slipped it on, followed by vinyl boots. She tied her
hair back and put on a headband that held a large
pair of plastic glasses.
As she went down the stairs, the man finally
fell silent.
She stood facing him.
His eyes fell to the meat carving knife she
held in her hand. Butchers used it in their shops all
the time. She hoped it would do the job well.
Look, let me go and Ill leave, and thats
that.
He sounded a little too confident for Annas
taste.
I have a few questions.
I cant answer any questions. Surely, you
must know that and understand why.
Okay, well, I guess well get started then.
She took a step toward him.
If you think you have what it takes to
torture me into confessions, youd better think
again.
Really? Anna grinned. Have you ever
heard of a method called slow slicing? Its not just
a cutting ritual, like the Sisterlings did, but this is
actual carving of flesh away from the bone, and of
course, this most certainly involves removing body
parts. See my outfit? she asked while tugging at
her overalls. This is so I dont get your blood all
over me.
What are you, psychotic?
The question took her aback. Her eyebrows
furrowed up into her head.
Arent you?
But he didnt answer.

Anna knelt before him, looked up into his
face as she pulled the large plastic visor down.
So heres how this will go: Well begin with
your leg, because if you should get out of your
restraints, I dont need you chasing me. Slowly,
well work up towards your torso, perhaps remove
some fingers. If by then, youre still silent, I will
bring out the chain saw and sever your legs,
okay?

What is it you want to know? he asked
casually, as if he didnt believe shed do those
things.
Wheres Bethany Winthorpe? I want to see
her, now.
Who?
Rather than indulge his feigned ignorance,
she continued.
Slow slicing doesnt really have any rules of
where to start or how to cut. For the most part,
this torture is left up to the executioners
imagination.
His eyes flickered and widened at the word,
execution.
Thats right; this method is not meant to
keep you alive. All the blood loss, well, youll see.
She held his pant leg taught by the hem and
pushed the knife through, ripping a large frayed
piece of jean away, exposing his shin.
To just off the side of his shin bone, the knife
pierced in easy. Similar to cutting wet cloth, so did
the feel of the knife slicing downward through his
flesh. When it grazed his bone, it was lightly
gradient, yet smooth, sort of like when rubbing a
pearl on a tooth.
The sight of the blood made her queasy, but
she continued to cut right over the ridge of his
shin, and reversed direction, cutting upward and
over. Her glove slipped on the bloody flesh as she
pulled it, neatly, away from the bone.
He screamed louder than shed ever heard a
person scream before. She didnt know it was
humanly possible to reach such decibels. Anna
would be sure to put in ear plugs for next time,
and maybe play some music.
When she stood up and dangled the ten inch
long strip of flesh, his eyes bulged.
Im gonna kill you!
If you could catch me, Im sure you would,
but you cant run, now. In fact, you might need a
cane and medication for the rest of your life.
Youve just lost a vital piece of muscle and flesh.
Anna didnt know if what she said was true,
but the man was affected by her words all the
same.
Im just gonna keep going until you tell me
what I want to know, she said, trying to sound
like she hardly cared.
She threw the skin over her shoulder; it
landed with a splat somewhere behind her. Then
she began cutting away his other pant leg.
I dont know Bethany Winthorpe.
Anna stood up and looked at him a moment.
It seemed he might have been telling the truth.
She stabbed the knife into his chest; it made
a loud thud when it hit his bone.
Tell me where you got your orders from,
then?
I dont know.
Alright, she sighed. I guess I might as
well move on. Maybe I should remove a breast? In
my research, people always removed at least one.
No, please, no, no
She ripped open his shirt, exposing his chest.
Just when she stuck the knife under the small rise
of his right breast, he passed out.
Hey, she said, slapping him.
He didnt respond, so she stabbed him in the
thigh, burying the entire knife up to the handle.
He still didnt move.
Then she realized the mistake shed made.
Damn it! she cursed at herself.
What if shed cut into a main vessel or
something and he died before she got any answers?
Not only did she almost kill him, but hed already
passed out and it had only been ten minutes.
I guess I suck at this torture stuff.
She yanked the knife from his thigh and
threw it in the sink.
Might as well have some lunch.
Upstairs, she made herself a sandwich and
checked her email. She had gotten an invitation to
join an exclusive website: Blackened Light.
Sounds mysterious.
She clicked into the invitation.
Immediately, there was a familiar feel to it:
the personality evaluations, the looks on the faces
of the women. Could it be another Sisterlings?
Anna got warm with excitement.

Just then, the sound of humming was carried
to her ears from a distance.
She pulled up her security screen.
Her blood went cold.
What the hell?
What looked like the special edition fiat, she
and Alec had bought, made its way along the road.
She zoomed in and saw Luc with Alec and
Caramia.
An array of expletives flew off her tongue.
What was she gonna do?
She jumped out of her chair, ran across the
room and locked the basement door. What would
she say if he started screaming again?
Then she went into the bathroom and
looked at her face. There was one little speck of
blood on her chin. She rubbed a bar of soap under
water and washed and rinsed her face.
At the front door, she waited, furiously, for
them to arrive.
When they stepped out of the car, Anna ran
up to Caramia and gave her a hug.
I missed you, maman.
I missed you, too. Then, looking at Alec
and Luc, she said, You, two, over here! Caramia,
stay here a moment.

Anna motioned that Luc and Alec follow her
a few feet away so her daughter couldnt hear them
talk. Caramia busied herself by picking up rocks
and throwing them.
What the hell are you doing here?
I had no choice but to tell, said Luc.
Its been a long drive, can we please go
inside? asked Alec.
No! Stay out here!
What? Why? he asked, sounding startled
by her behavior. Arent you happy to see us? You
barely said hello to your daughter.
Im sorry. Why dont we go out to eat,
okay?
There isnt a restaurant for at least forty
miles, said Luc.
Were not going anywhere, Alec said
firmly.
He walked over and picked up Caramia, and
they disappeared through the doorway into the
house.
Some moments later, Caramia sat at the
kitchen table, eating a sandwich. Luc and Alec sat
next to her, sipping cups of coffee. Anna stood by
the counter, watching them all while heavy sweat
juiced from her pores and ran down her face and
back.
So youve been hiding here all this time?
asked Alec.
Dont you realize how stupid you are? You
not only put yourself in danger, but you put our
daughter at risk.
AAAAHHHhhhhhhh!!!!! Im bleeding to death,
lady! Help me, please!
Alec and Luc jumped.
Who was that? asked Caramia, turning in
her seat.
Both Alecs and Lucs eyes snapped in her
direction.
I need a tourniquette!
Anna only looked back, unsure of what to
say.
Luc and Alec got out of their seats and went
to find out where the screams came from. Their
shoes slammed down the hall. Her skin tingled
when she heard the sound of the basement door
open, and their footsteps descend the stairs.
Caramia, lets go eat out on the porch.
Anna picked up her plate and cup of milk.
Caramia followed her to the porch couch. She
turned on the tower for warmth and sat down next
to her and waited for Alec and Luc to return.
A moment later, Luc stuck his head out of
the sliding glass door and said, Anna, a word.
Without getting up, she asked, Wheres
Alec?
Hes downstairs, wrapping up the mans
wounds.
No!
She stood up.
Dont worry, hes still tied down.
Just then, Luc pulled his head back into the
house, only for Alec to storm through the glass
door. He walked up and gathered Caramia onto his
hip. Without a word, he turned and went back
inside the house.
Wait! shouted Anna, as she followed him.
I can explain.
I dont want to hear it! Come on, Luc. Lets
get out of here. I dont want my daughter in this
place.
Wait in the car, Alec. Ill be there in a
moment.
He stomped through the front door.
Luc looked at her and said, Explain.
I told you that my ex is after me.
If that were true, you would have involved
the police. You wouldnt be slicing and dicing
some poor guy in the basement.
Her brained raced with a hundred possible
lies she could tell them.
Luc turned and walked off.
Where are you going?
If Im not gonna get answers from you,
then Ill just ask your friend whos downstairs.
Alright, alright!


~~~
It was eight o clock. Caramia lay asleep on
the couch. The man, downstairs, had been silent
for hours.
On the porch, they sipped whiskey and
smoked. The full moon shone brightly above them.
Snow lightly fell to the ground.
She told them everything from the
beginning. How shed signed up to the site,
Sisterlings, back in New York; when she became
friends with Sheila; about going on the run. And
finally, the photograph and jacket that
mysteriously appeared on her desk at home and in
her hospital room after her accident.
Let me see the jacket.
I already checked it for devices.
But Luc inspected it anyway.
Thats quite a story, said Alec, not
sounding happy. What do we do?
Are you asking me? Luc tapped his ash
into the tray. Mafia is one thing to fight, but a
high tech, secret killing corporation? Who knows
whos protecting them!
For a moment they said nothing. Then Luc
asked, So what were you trying to get from the
guy downstairs?
Information on the woman who got me
involved in this in the first place. I think she can
stop these people coming after me.
We should call the police, said Alec.
Are you mad? said Luc, a new cigarette
dangling from the corner of his mouth. Do you
not understand that, if shes telling the truth, the
police are the last people you want to inform?
Besides, even if they believed us, Anna is guilty of
kidnapping and torture. She will go to jail for sure.
Once they see what she did to the guy downstairs,
it wont matter what his line of work is.
Well, now you know, and now you can go.
Ill just say goodbye to Caramia. The sooner you
leave here the better, said Anna, stamping out her
cigarette.
Agreed, said Alec who stood and stretched.

Some moments later, Anna stood beside the
car, waving goodbye to her daughter. Alec didnt
kiss her or say goodbye; he simply climbed into the
front seat and waited.
I guess hes pretty mad at me.
Alec stuck his head out of the window and
asked, Luc, are you coming or what?
No, Im staying. Anna needs my help.
I can do this on my own.
Anna, youve been found. You need to move
quickly. Well find the car your would-be-killer
came in, and Ill take you to another place you can
hide out for a bit.

Mystery Places
Chapter 3
In a large crevice on the other side of the road that
led back to the city roadway, the car was hidden.
Strange because Anna was certain it wasnt there
before. Luc was fortunate enough to stumble onto
it.
They drove all through the night. Luc
suggested that she try and rest in the back seat,
but Anna just couldnt, not with the way the wind
howled outside. Plus, he was a crazy driver, and
she felt better being awake in case anything
happened. She might need to jump from the car
before they went over a cliff.
I still think we should have taken that guy
with us, she said.
Luc left him on the ground at a hospital in
the next town over.
Chances are he didnt know anything. He
probably got his orders from an anonymous source
and thats all.
So we could have gotten ahold of his
source.
Even if we did, theyd probably be
expecting you, and would only make another
attempt to draw you out and kill you.
Why do you say that?
He would have been expected to call in and
confirm your death hours ago. Naturally, theyll
assume that something went wrong and be
working on another plan of attack. What we need
to do is take them by surprise, and not give them
the chance to get the better of you.
I disagree. He could have still had time to
check in. And if that didnt work, we could have
tried blackmail.
Just trust me, Anna. You are playing with
only half a deck. How can you negotiate or counter
these people when you dont know whats going?
Well, you had better be right because the
Crest people are hard to find. He might have been
our one chance to connect with them.
A few miles outside of Paris, they turned
onto an empty road with an old office building at
the end. There was nothing around for miles,
except the backdrop of Paris lights.
What is this place? And are you sure its
safe to be this close to the city?
This is my old office. I stay here whenever
Im in town. Its got everything we need; no one
will know youre here as long as you dont go out,
as there are no city cameras here, just mine. The
next neighbor is five miles that way, he said,
pointing east.

Unlike the outside, which was cold and
lonesome, inside was cozy and inviting, despite
being small. In the middle of the room was a large
desk with a computer. To her left and right, two
leather couches lined the walls. And behind the
desk, a twin bed stood.
Anna set her suitcase on the floor.
Sorry, its just a flat, but you may rest on
the bed, if you like. There is a bathroom and
shower in the back, and a kitchen.

~~~

Several hours later, Anna woke to the sound
of Lucs typing.
Good morning, he said. Theres fruit and
coffee in the back.
Groggily, she got up.
The kitchen was small and plain. Grey sky
bled through a large window to her left, bathing it
in a dreary light. A refrigerator hummed, and on
the counter next to it was a bowl of fruit.
Biting into an apple, she looked through the
window and saw miles of dirt with no grass.
During the day, the place looked even lonelier.
Paris was grey and serious without sparkling
lights.
Back in the office, she asked, Find anything
interesting?
Actually, I did, he said and sipped his
coffee. There have been reports of murders in
Paris, Prague, and other cities; ritual types of
murders that looked like some sort of initiation.
This, in itself, is not terribly unusual, as there are
always gang initiations or those who like to
practice occult. The remarkable thing about these
murders was the scenes, which were so clean that
they could have only been committed by
professionals. The bodies were cleaned of any
evidence, and not a single clue, like DNA or fabric,
was left behind. I wonder if some of these could be
your friends from the Crest Foundation. He
paused for a moment, and then continued, Also, I
couldnt find anything on your friend, Sheila.
Well, she didnt go by Sheila. We changed
our names, remember? She was Gabrielle, and I,
Piper.
But you kept Anna as your middle name?
he asked as he typed.
I just couldnt get used to my new name.
Silly, I know, and dangerous, but when I got
married, I figured it would be okay.
When a picture of Sheila appeared on the
screen, she said, Thats her.
He clicked into the profile.
According to this, she was a witness of
some sort. She was under police protection. Your
friend wasnt the only one killed that night, but so
were her bodyguards.
A witness? To what?
I dont know, it doesnt say. My access to
these files is limited.
That bitch!
Luc turned in his seat. My god, Anna.
What is it?
No wonder they found me; its because they
found her! She was always sloppy.
Dont jump to conclusions. There could be
a million reasons why she ended up in police
custody.
So what, now?
Im going to visit my friend in Paris; he
works in the records department and hell have
better access.
Great, lets go.
She grabbed the red jacket off the couch.
Actually, I was thinking Id go alone.
Why?
There are security cameras on every street
corner. Even with a hat and sunglasses, you could
be seen and recognized. Just let me go. Ill only be
gone a few hours. Anytime I need information, this
friend has helped me out. Ill find out why Sheila
was in custody; only then might we learn why
Crest is trying to kill you after all this time.
Because it just seems to me that if a company like
that wants you dead, then you would be dead
already. There would be no happily ever after or
ten year bliss, which you sort of got away with.
Something else is going on here, and we need to be
clear on that.
She thought about it a moment, and then
reluctantly agreed. Youve got a point. Alright,
Ill stay here and wait. Just be really careful. Dont
let anyone follow you back.

~~~

Night had long since fallen before Luc
returned. Anna sat in the kitchen, sipping scotch
and watching the stars and the flickering lights of
the city through the window.
Her heart raced when she finally heard is car
approach.
She leapt out of her chair and ran to the
front door.
With a few grocery bags in his hand, he
stepped out of the car.
Anna held the door open for him as he
walked through.
Well? she asked.
He put the bags on the desk and pulled out a
bottle of vodka and two glasses.
Want a drink?
At first she hesitated, but then said, Sure.
Well, I talked to my friend, and he
researched the matter as much as he could. All he
found was that Sheila was about to be transferred
back to the United States and into FBI custody.
She was also being considered for the witness
protection program.
Anna almost dropped her glass.
And?
Unfortunately, we were unable to find out
anything more; however, I can say that, usually,
when people are in these situations, its because
theyre about to give witness against persons of
great and powerful influence: persons who could
easily put a hit out on the witness life.
Anna sat back, sipped her drink and thought
a moment.
Well, I guess it only makes sense to assume
that she was going to witness against Crest or
someone involved in the organization.
Exactly, my point.
And thats why she ended up dead, and
thats why their coming for me, now. I just cant
guess why shed do that, because she was perfectly
safe in hiding.
You say she might have left a son behind,
so perhaps thats the reason. What parent wouldnt
risk his or her life to be with child again?
Right.
She probably tried to make a deal, not
thinking about the risk she was taking. I mean, an
organization like Crest will have many hands in
many pockets.
They sat in silence a moment, thinking.
Maybe this could be your chance, he said.
For what?
For a new life: to give up hiding and help
the FBI.
Are you crazy? Look where that got
Sheila.
Youll just be more careful. Think about it:
you can help bring Crest down and then disappear
with Alec and Caramia. Youll no longer need to
pretend to be someone else all of the time.
Pretending that I was from the Virgin
Islands was easy, I guess, because my old life
wasnt all that great. Charlotte Amalie is a small
place and very memorable. The only difficult part
was lying to Alec and Caramia. I wanted to be
honest with him many times, about who I really
was and I hated feeding Caramia false stories of
where her lineage comes from, but I knew that I
needed them to believe the lie so that others would
believe it, too.
So what are you going to do? Just hide out
forever?
No, Im going to take your advice and help
the FBI, but there is no way Im going into their
custody.


Sweet Home
Chapter 4
Although he tried to talk her out of leaving, she
insisted. If Crest had been found out, and the FBI
was involved, then Anna had to get back to New
York, where it all began. Crest was an American
organization and would be tried as such.
Besides, the situation could get messy. She
might just end up dead, anyway. The farther away
from Alec and Caramia she got, the less chance of
them getting caught up in her war. But if it all
worked out, she could finally live without fear. And
its not like she was a fugitive from the law; just
from Bethanys company.
So with reluctance, Luc drove her to the
airport. He hugged her and said, If you need
anything, please call.
Alright. Thanks for everything. Oh, will
give something to Caramia from me?
What?
Anna looked around.
She ran into the gift shop just behind her
and bought a small stuffed bear with a heart.
A few seconds later, she shoved the bear into
Lucs hand.
Are you sure you dont want me to come
with you?
No, Id rather do this on my own.

A few hours later, the plane took off,
smoothly, into the air. She sighed with relief
because, although she wasnt afraid to fly,
ascending always made her nervous.
Anna leant back in her seat and uncapped a
bottle of water. She took a long sip and started
working on a Sudoku puzzle.
The flight attendant put a plate of food in
front her. Anna said thank you, and as she turned
her head forward again, she noticed a man, several
rows ahead, looking over his seat at her.
He had dark eyes and light hair and wore a
grey suit. Just as her eyes met his, he turned back
around in his seat.
Anna wasnt fooled, though. She knew it
couldnt be a coincidence. His eyes met hers and
communicated, plainly, that he recognized her; the
way they quick yet subtly dropped to her mouth
and back up to her eyes. Perhaps he was
comparing her to a photo hed seen.
Judging by his suit, he was definitely
American. Not that it was terribly cheap looking,
but it wasnt exactly stylish, like the men of Paris
or Bordeaux wore.
Her hand shook, lightly, as she picked up her
plastic fork.
Calm down, she told herself.
But her jaw had tightened so that it was
hard to chew her food.
Every so often, shed glance up at the back
of the mans head. He never looked back, or at
least, she never caught him doing so.
Finally, it was dark. People turned off and
dimmed lights. The flight attendants were done
delivering snacks.
Anna was tired but couldnt sleep, for even
though she hadnt caught him looking at her again,
she just knew he had to be there for her.
Feeling stuffy, she reached up to turn the air
on.
The man got up to use the restroom. Anna
tried her best to only look out of the corners of her
eyes to see if he looked at her.
As he passed, just like she guessed, his eyes
averted to hers and lingered. At that moment, she
knew she was right.
Anna tried to think of clever ways to get
away when the plane landed, but nothing came to
mind. Getting through customs was always a
cramped ordeal.
The next six hours were restless, but she
kept her eyes closed and her head rested on a little
complimentary pillow.
When they landed, she ignored angry glares
from passengers and ran to the front of the plane.
And as she waited for the flight attendants to
release them, she glanced over her shoulder.
The man looked back. He stepped into the
aisle and moved forward with his bag.
Anna got through customs quickly and
without a search, but so did the man. Now, amidst
crowds from all over the airport, they shuffled,
together, towards baggage claim.
She stayed ahead of the man by some fifty
feet. When she looked back again, he seemed
mellow and disinterested as he swayed left and
right to avoid passersby. And for a brief moment,
Anna thought maybe she was just paranoid. Maybe
the guy simply found her attractive and was
admiring her. Perhaps her anxiety was making her
overthink things.

Just when she felt the weight of worry lift,
someone placed their hand on her shoulder and
said, Im gonna need you to come with me.
She turned and saw, there and in a black and
white uniform, was airport security.
He grabbed her other arm just as she made a
step forward in an attempt to break away. Instead,
she bounced back and stumbled into him.
I think youve made a mistake, she
exclaimed.
I dont think so.
What is it you think Ive done?
Well talk about that in a moment.
He dragged her in the opposite direction of
the crowd and into a dim corridor with an office at
the end.
Excuse me, someone shouted from behind
them.
The guard stopped and turned. Who are
you? he asked.
The man in the grey suit walked up. He put
down his suitcase and said, Shes coming with
me.
Sweat broke out on the back of her neck.
He pulled identification from his pocket and
showed it to him. It wasnt any kind of
identification that she recognized, but the security
officer did.
Well have to settle the matter with my
boss. Will you come with us, then?
He nodded his head and picked up his
suitcase again.
Panic enveloped her. Were they really going
to give her to the man?
She reached into her purse and pulled out
her key chain. On it hung a little canister of pepper
spray. It made a loud hissing sound as she pressed
the red button and pointed it in the security
guards and then the man in the suits face.
She slipped out of the security guards grip
and ran back down the corridor, toward the lower
level of the airport.
Hey! the man in the suit shouted. Stop!
It was her lucky day, for her single piece of
luggage had just ridden up the conveyor belt.
She ran up, grabbed her bag and zipped
through the sliding glass door.
A dirty old bus was parked a few feet to her
right. She leapt on just as it closed its door.
$1, said the driver.
Thankfully, she had some old American
money from all those years ago, when she first
went on the run. Currency counters refused to
exchange small change.
Anna pulled four quarters from her wallet
and stuck it in the machine. She just hoped that her
memory of the bus system was still good. Not that
it mattered, as there was always a way to get
around and back in a place like New York.
Anna turned in her seat and saw the security
guard and the man in the suit watching the bus as
it drove away.


~~~

As luck would have it, the bus only took her
over to Queens. She got off at the first stop and
crossed the street to catch the bus going back into
the city.
Half an hour later, she checked into her Soho
hotel. Exhausted, she fell on the bed and slept for
hours, only to wake when a bright yellow light
glared through the space in the curtains and her
eyelids. She turned over onto her other side and
tried to go back to sleep, but the light had
brightened the entire room.
She opened her eyes, rolled onto her back
and sighed.
Through the crack in the drapes, she saw
something she hadnt seen in a decade: a New York
City sunset. Nostalgia crept up on her as she
recognized the way the light looked so golden
against the grey of the buildings, like paint on a
dirty canvas.

After a quick shower and change, she went
to see if her favorite sushi restaurant was still
around. Through the old neighborhood, she went
from memory; it was almost as though shed never
left.
Down at the end of the block, the same little
tables and chairs sat outside of the restaurant; the
only difference being the double doors had been
painted from black to red.
Inside all the old art that once hung on the
walls had been replaced with black and white
photos. Behind a new and shiny sushi bar was the
familiar face of someone whom she rarely spoke to,
when she lived there before, yet she knew his name
was Yoshi because shed heard others call him that.
Yoshis hair was much greyer, now, and he
had a few lines around his eyes.
Hey, he said as she took a seat. Where
have you been?
Wow, you remember me? Ive been away to
Paris.
Whats there?
I got married.
Congratulations! Here, he said and set a
small plate of Bluefin sashimi in front of her.
Welcome back.
Thank you so much! she said with a wide
smile.

After a lengthy indulgence, she took a walk
around the neighborhood and then up to the West
Side. Then she went past her old apartment
building and remembered the night Sheila got
shot. She had come to warn her about the
Sisterlings group, and that they were coming to
kill her. As they walked through the door of her
apartment, they were attacked. Sheila was only
grazed but there was still so much blood
everywhere.
She hated that apartment for so long, but
when things got scary and she left the city, only
for Blake to drag her right back some days later,
boy she was grateful to see that place again.
Thinking about Blake turned her stomach.
She thought he was an honest cop, helping her to
find out what happened to Bethany, but it turned
out that he was working for Sisterlings all along.
He was simply keeping an eye on her.
Then there was Angie, whom she thought
was a friend, too. She was the most evil of them all,
even Sheila who loved violence. Anna thought they
were tight, but Angie turned on them, both. She
was the coldest when it came to killing.
There were some days when she thought
shed never forgive Bethany. She was part owner of
the Crest Foundation, and never once warned her
about what she was getting into. Had she known,
she would have gotten far away.
Where was Bethany?
Gently she pulled the sides of the red leather
jacket and looked at it. It was well preserved over
the decade; almost as if it just lay in a drawer all
those years. No signs of wear or scent of age.
She shivered and realized that it was almost
midnight. And as she turned to go back to the
hotel, she saw a strange shadow jump across the
wall. Quickly, she spun around while grabbing for
her keychain with the new can of pepper spray.
Seeing nothng, she ran back to Soho.

~~~
The next morning, Anna went for breakfast
at her old caf. Make the Most of Your Time
seemed to be modeled after a Garden, The Secret
Garden Anna thought but never asked. She found
the dcor soothed her with its small water gardens
and plants.
Inside, there were all new faces but it still
felt like home. She took a seat and ordered her
favorite salmon and eggs benedict on baguette.
Suddenly, a thought occurred to her: What if
by going to the FBI, shed have a hand in sending
Bethany to jail for many years and most likely the
rest of her life?
What should I do? She asked of herself. Anna
came all that way to get her life back, but didnt
quite know where to start.
Wasnt there any other way to go about
this?
After her breakfast, she turned right at the
stop light and walked to the Penmac building,
where the Sisterlings headquarters was located last
time. People walked in and out in a shuffle. They
mostly wore suits and carried pieces of papers,
briefcases or folders in their hands.
Despite being a bit nervous, she went inside
anyway.
The dcor had changed from sterile and
grey to office beige. She looked at the company
directory: Match Employment Services. It
appeared the Penmac building was a corporate
office and acting staffing agency.
She scanned the entire lobby; everyone
looked normal. Then her eyes settled on the lady
behind the lobby desk. She looked up at Anna,
inquisitively probably because she wasnt dressed
like everyone else.
Self-consciously, she looked down at her red
sweater, blue jeans and brown leather boots.
Thinking there was nothing there, she
turned to leave. But then, instinct told her to turn
back, because nothing was ever as it seemed with
Sisterlings. Match Employment could be just
another cover.
Her boots echoed off the walls as she walked
up to the desk. The ladies eyes widened at her
approach and her lips tightened.
Is there a Bethany Winthorpe working
here? Im an old friend, and its important that I
speak to her.
No, Im sorry, she said in a lilting voice.
But Anna didnt buy it. The way her eyes
quickly shifted; the way her mouth barely moved
when she spoke. The woman knew something.
Anna leant in a bit closer and whispered,
Where is she?
A security guard came up behind her.
Time to go, maam.
It was just a question, Anna said and
turned to leave.


Outside she stared at the building awhile. It
was very interesting how they would give their
location away, to her, so easily or hire someone
who was as terrible at lying as the woman behind
the lobby desk. Youd think theyd have enough
sense to prepare for her to come asking questions,
as shed proven all those years ago that she could
be resourceful.
Ill be back, she said to herself.

Unsure of what else to do with her day, she
decided to take a long walk. Down to the old park
she went, where she used to frequent when she
lived there before. All of the benches had been
replaced, and new flower arrangements had been
added to the garden. Still, the smell of honey
suckle moistened the air.
People strolled or walked their dogs and
jogged. Anna made for her favorite bench which
was right under the bells of the honey suckle vine
trees.
Anna watched people for hours before going
for a light lunch. Then she returned to her hotel
and rested.
When eleven o clock came, she changed
into black pants and a shirt. At the bottom of her
suitcase were the soft soled shoes and the neoprene
gloves she had received all those years ago. They
were perfect for breaking and entering without
leaving any tracks, not that she planned to do
these things. She just didnt want to leave any
physical traces behind in case she did need to sneak
or break into an office; however, Penmac usually
had a security or a cleaning crew. All she would
need is to hit the cash machine on her way out, so
she could offer bribes.
And so she caught a cab across town.
If she remembered correctly, there was a
backdoor that was usually unlocked. She stepped
out of the cab and watched it drive off. It didnt
matter if the cab driver became her witness, as she
wouldnt be breaking and entering, technically. All
she needed was to hide her face from the camera so
that no one recognized her immediately, and attack
her - although they probably already knew she was
there.
From her pocket, she pulled a black hat and
put it on.
The door handle made a loud click as she
pressed it downward.
All was dark and quiet.
Stray rays of moonlight shined across the
office, illuminating messy desks. Across the hall
was the elevator, which took her up to the seventh
floor. When she got out, she walked the hall, and
made a few turns until she faced what was once a
grey wall, only now, it was white. Behind that
wall, all those years ago, she found David
Winthorpes hidden office.

Anna remembered that there was a loud
vibration that came through the wall. However,
there was no vibration and no sound this time. She
rested her palm on the wall to see if she could feel
anything.
The wall started to move upward.
A familiar face came into view. She had very
pale green eyes and an old fair and stone like face
that reminded her of a Greek statue.
Anna.
Stunned, she replied, Your name escapes
me.
My names Jillian. Im the one that helped
you when you had your little trouble with your old
employers.
Suddenly, she remembered meeting her at
the coffee shop. She threw her coffee on Nica a
moderator for the Sisterlings website - in the
hopes to gain her trust. Anna didnt like Nica and
had quit the site, but Jillian wanted her back.
Wheres Bethany?
Her eyebrows rose in a questioning manner.
I dont know.
It was hard to tell if she lied because her face
was so steely.
Why are you guys coming after me again?
I dont know what you mean, she said
casually.
Just stop!
Jillian looked her up and down, and then
said, I really dont know what youre talking
about. Im just a chairwoman and I work in
contracts. There is nothing more or less to me.
Fine. Tell your people that Im here to
make a deal: You stop coming after me and I wont
go to the FBI.
Jillian didnt even blink like a normal person.
Was she capable of feeling any emotion, Anna
wondered?
I dont care about deals, except those
concerning real contracts. My work isnt in
protecting the foundation. Why dont you try your
threats out on our legal department?
This is not a threat.
Im not sure what you hoped to get by
coming here, tonight, but youre wasting your
time. Just be on your way, Anna.
Please, Jillian, I have a family now. Ive
proven over ten long years that Im not a threat to
your organization, so why are you bent on
destroying me?
Leave.
Is it because of Sheila?
Who?
She used to work for you! She was my
friend: tall, blonde, brutal.
Look, I told you. Im sorry, but I havent a
clue.

One thing she remembered from before was
that Jillian was stone on the inside, so there was no
point in arguing or pleading, for she could hardly
be moved.
Anna turned and walked off down the hall.
She was so upset that she didnt even stop
for a cab. Instead, she made the three mile walk all
the way back to her hotel.
In the hotel bar, she ordered Grey Goose on
the rocks with a lime. For a moment, she stared at
the clear yet misty liquid and the way the warm
lights reflected off the glass; the two olives, like
little anchors in an ocean, perfectly oval and
rested. Then she picked up the cold, perspired
glass and took a small sip. She rolled the liquid
over her tongue and swallowed.
She sighed and set the glass down.
Just what was she gonna do? Jillian was no
help. Why couldnt she have found someone else in
that office?
The only other option, then, was to go to
the FBI. But she just didnt want to work with
them. Who knows what would come of it? Shed
have to not only agree to speak of things shed
rather forget, but shed have to tell on those who
could have her shot while admitting to crimes that,
even if she could negotiate immunity of
prosecution for, would still come to light. People
would know of the horrible things shed done, and
she didnt want that.
However, if she could just reach Bethany,
she would surely take care of her. All her problems
would be over in a minute, and then she could go
home to Alec and Caramia.
Having drunk the alcohol too fast, the effects
went to her head. Still, she ordered another and
the bartender didnt care.
At midnight, just barely able to stand, she
pulled herself away from the bar and stumbled into
the elevator. Just as the doors were about to close,
a tall man in a suit slipped through them.
Something about the speed at which he
moved made her really dizzy. She held onto the
rail on the wall for support, but it was too late.
Anna fell to the floor and spewed.
When shed done, she looked up and barely
saw the mans face.
He pulled her up off the floor by her
shoulders.
What room? he asked.
She slipped the key card into his hand.
That was all she remembered.

~~~
The next morning, the phone rang.
Oh god, she moaned.
She lifted the phone but hadnt the strength
to pull it to her ear, so she let it drop to the floor,
along with her arm.
Anna? asked a female voice.
Once more, she opened her eyes. Shakily, she
reached for the phone again and laid it on her ear.
Who is this?
Its me, Jillian. So I looked into your
problem, and well, I have a proposition for you:
take care of this job Im about to hand off to you,
and Ill make your problems go away. Its already
been agreed upon by me and some others.
Why would you make me an offer like that?
Im not one of your employees. I was never trained
for your kind of work.
I know that you can help us with this one.
Goodbye, she said and hung up.

Right as Anna heard the phone disconnect
sound there was a knock on the door.
She pulled herself out of bed.
Cautiously, she peaked through the hole and
saw a man in a suit.
Who are you? she called through the door.
Jillian sent me. I came around last night,
but you were out of it. We need to talk.
Anna thought for a moment, asking herself,
Am I really going to do this?
Listen, its really important; it cant wait.
Downstairs in the restaurant: Ill be there
in thirty minutes.
Actually, we should talk privately. Can I
come in?
Forget it, she said and went into the
bathroom and started the shower. There was no
way she was letting a strange, dangerous man into
her room.

Thirty minutes later, Anna found the man
sitting at a table, sipping a cup of coffee.
He looked up and said, Anna! and waived.
She walked over and sat across from him.
You dont remember me, do you? Im the
one who drove you to the apartment, that night,
remember? Im a friend of Bethanys.
Although she didnt recognize his face, she
did remember having coffee in a strange apartment
across the city.

The waitress came and got their orders. As
she used to do, Anna had a mimosa to help her
hangover.
My names George. We havent much time,
so Im just gonna drop you right in it. The thing is
you cant trust anyone, right now, and things are
crazy.
Im only interested in one thing, and thats
finding Bethany.
I dont know where she is, but Im gonna
help you find her. Now that youve revealed
yourself, perhaps youll recognize any clues as to
where she is.
What do you mean?
Shes gone into hiding.
Why? Crest is her company. Besides, I
thought you, two, were friends? Why dont you
know where shes at?
Some time ago, Bethany accepted a contract
and handed it off to her best agent. She failed to
make her mark, and not only that, but got herself
caught.
So Jillian wants me to kill her target?
No, the targets already dead.
Then, what?
We didnt have time to get to the agent
before she started to talk. You see, the woman had
a guilty conscience and told the authorities
everything, and now, the FBI is onto us. He
paused to sip his coffee.
So, what? Dont tell me Crest isnt equipped
to deal with such a problem.
The investigation is still ongoing, but were
working on it.
I dont get it. Why are you telling me this?
What has this to do with why you people are
trying to kill me?
At the start of the investigation, many
feared for their lives and went into hiding. You see,
in the event of exposure, people are typically to be
terminated. Weve found the others and theyve
been taken care of. Now, we just need you to help
us draw Bethany out.
So you want me to help you find my closest
friend so you can kill her?
Shes a loose end, and unlike you, she cant
be ignored.

Scurry
Chapter 5
Even now, the information still rung in her ears:
They wanted her to help them kill Bethany, and in
exchange, theyd make all her problems go away.
It was either her and her family, or the woman
who saved her life, all those years ago.
But the biggest question was whether she
should trust George and Crest at all. They could
easily go back on their word. As it was, they still
hadnt told her who it was that tried to kill her;
they still claimed it wasnt them.
So how are you gonna make my problems
go away if you dont know whos trying to kill
me?
Jillian knows. Crest knows everything.
Do you know?
I dont, sorry. Im not that high up in the
organization, but I will tell you this, she always
keeps her word. Whether it is us or someone else,
shell get to the bottom of it.
Where are we going? she asked.
The last place Bethany lived. You can look
around. Maybe youll find something.
Theres one thing I dont understand.
What?
How can you expect me to kill someone I
was close to? And how could you help me? I
remember she said you were a good friend.
Were not so good of friends so much as
longtime friends. But you know, thats just how it
goes in this kind of work. We all accept it, and we
expect that itll be our friends who get us in the
end. She understands, trust me. Shell forgive you.

Oh my gosh, she said when they pulled
into the parking garage of Bethanys old building
the one that she, herself, helped clean when
Bethany faked her death.
What?
Bethany moved back here?
It was her favorite place. Its cozy, right in
the middle of everything and a great view.
Anna never would have thought to revisit
the place: it just seemed reckless to live there
again, especially given her desire to lose her real
identity.
Inside was almost as she remembered it:
funky unknown art on the wall, a few plants in the
corners, hardly any furnishings and the scent of
Michael Kors in the air. And the only outrageous
flourish to Bethanys personality, be it dress or
dcor, was in the middle of the room in the form of
a bright cobalt blue couch.
How long ago did she go into hiding?
Its been six months.
George walked around the room looking at
all the art on the wall and picking things up.
Anna walked into Bethanys bedroom and
just like old habit, went to her closet to see what
kind of clothes she could steal.
Bethanys taste in clothes hadnt changed
much: lots of black, lots of leather, lots of
cashmere. However, her clothes were larger than
usual. It looked like she might have put on some
weight.
Hey, Anna! George called from the living
room.
Coming, she said, but before closing the
closet door, she nabbed the fur lined leather jacket.
In New York, she might be criticized; in Paris, it
would be fabulous.
And then she remembered a conversation
shed had with Bethany. If she lived in Paris, shed
wear fur all the time. But yet, she had never
owned any fur clothes before.
Could Bethany have been in Paris, at some
point?
She slipped on the jacket and remembered
how annoyed Bethany used to get with her for
going through her closet. Sometimes, shed take
things without asking. Anna knew the look shed
have on her face, right now, if she knew she was
stealing such a beautiful jacket.
Oh well, she said and smirked to herself.
She can take it from me, herself.
Back in the living room, George stood in the
doorway of Bethanys office.
Over here. He motioned with his hand that
she come. Why dont you look through her desk
drawers?
Okay.
She sat at the oak desk and opened the
drawer to her right and found a mass of files. Anna
pulled up the first and found a contract between
Crest and someone named Petrovsky. She turned a
few of the pages and found Bethanys signature on
the last page.
She put the file back and opened the left
drawer. There was nothing but financial reports.
Well, I dont see anything indicative.
Didnt Bethany have vacation homes? he
asked.
Yes, but everyone knew where they were;
they werent exactly secret. What ever happened
to David Winthorpe?
Dead. He was taken care of back when they
were fighting for control of the company.
Have you talked to any of her friends?
No, she kept to herself, mostly.
Hmmm, she said. Thats not the Bethany
that I knew. She was always having parties and
guests.
When she took over the company, that all
changed. She didnt have time for breakfast, let
alone friends.
After theyd looked over every square inch
of the apartment, George drove her to the Penmac
building. They went into a special viewing room
and looked at street surveillance for a few hours.
At eight o clock, she said, Im tired; lets
go eat.

Twenty minutes later, they sat at a small
pizzeria down the street.
It has been too long since New York pizza!
Anna exclaimed as she took a huge bite of her slice.
So what have you been doing all of this
time in Paris?
Aside from raising my girl and being a
good wife? Not much, she said which was a lie; it
was just better not to talk about her family and
their business dealings.
And you never spoke to Sheila in all that
time?
Nope.
He wiped his mouth with his napkin and
said, What I dont understand is why you didnt
just go to the FBI, when you came here?
I dont want Bethany to spend the rest of
her life in jail, plus Im not sure that its her thats
after me.
What makes you so sure? he asked and
sipped his soda.
I think she tried to warn me.
Oh yeah? How?
Id rather not say.
He looked at her intensely and said, I need
to know what you know; its the only way were
gonna find her.
Ive told you everything necessary to do
just that. No one else will come before me and my
family. I want to find her just as much as you do.


After theyd eaten, Anna said, Im tired. Id
like to be alone for a bit and go back to the hotel.
Do you mind if we part ways for the evening?
I need you to come and look at Bethanys
other office before you do. The more we get done,
the sooner you can go back to Bordeaux.
She sighed and said, Alright.
As she did before, they went around to the
back and up in the elevator until they got off on
the eleventh floor. The hall before them was
completely black. Immediately, Anna felt on guard
because shed never been up that high.
Why is it so dark and quiet?
There were no pictures on the walls, no
plants or other office decorations. And the only
door was at the end of the hall.
George typed a code into the keypad and the
door opened with a loud pfft sound. After you, he
said.
She stepped in and looked around.
The room was dimly lit by two rows of floor
LEDs. After a moment, her eyes focused. There
was a mass of mesh wire boxes on the left and
right sides of the room that went down for quite a
few yards. They extended from the floor all the
way up to the ceiling.
Are these cages? she asked.
George grabbed her around the shoulders
and shoved her into the wire box to her left.
What are you doing?
He closed the door and an automatic lock
bolted into place.
My orders are to see that Bethany perishes;
if I dont, its my neck. I know you arent telling
me everything, so youll remain here until you
decide to cooperate. Keep in mind that if it means
youre here a year, then so be it. No one comes in
here, except for a few of us who know what this
room is for. No one will hear you scream.
George, I dont know anything.
Lies! he spat. You think youre the only
adept at reading people? This is not a game! Both
of us will die; its her or us. Dont you
understand?
George! Im not lying. Please, let me out!
George! she screamed.
But he walked out, leaving her in the
dimness.
She looked around the room once more.
Each cage had a single bed bolted to the wall
and a toilet with a sink attached. Their doors all
had little green lights flashing, and the only noise
was the dull hum of whatever electronics kept the
doors locked.

Wondering if she could really be there a
year, she lay on the bed, feeling hopeless and
scared.

Sometime later, she woke to the sound of the
door making its unlocking sound.
Well? said George.
What time is it? Are we on a different day?
Ignoring her questions, he asked, Are you
going to tell me where Bethany is?
I dont know, I swear. I thought she might
have been in Paris, but Im not sure.
His eyes lingered on hers a moment; then he
turned and left without a word.

~~~
It seemed that shed slept for many hours
before he came back. The door made its loud pfft
noise, and in walked George again. He had a large
paper bag which he stuffed through the hole in the
cage door.
Youd better eat something.
Anna unrolled the bag and found a bottle of
water and a sandwich.
You know, we could force it out of you, if
we wanted.
Go ahead, I dare you.
He looked at her a moment as if trying to
figure out if she were serious or not; then he said,
Good night, and walked out.

Feeling restless, she ate her sandwich and
walked back and forth, swinging her arms around.
But it didnt help much because the cage was the
size of a small closet.
As she did this, she felt a light scraping
under her left arm. Must be a thick stitch, she
thought to herself.
The more she swung her arms, the more it
scratched her.
Ow!
Angry at her situation, she violently pulled
off the jacket and reached up the sleeve and felt
something hard. She tried to rip it out, but then
she stopped and remembered something. Years
ago, she found a USB drive in Bethanys red jacket;
it was one of the clues that helped Anna learn of
her involvement with the Crest Foundation.
She looked around the room for cameras but
didnt see any. Still, she was likely being watched.
Casually, she turned her jacket inside out
and lay back on the bed. Acting as though she were
making herself a cozy fur lined pillow, she fluffed
the jacket and positioned it so that she lay on it
while facing the wall, so she could feel the object.
Annas face grew warm as she realized that
it was, indeed, hard rectangular plastic.
Suddenly, a thought occurred to her: What if
Bethany had intentionally left the drive and the jacket,
knowing that Id pick it up?
Nah, it just couldnt be.
A clicking noise rent through the air,
scaring Anna. She flinched into a sitting position
on her bed.
The door to her cage had opened.
What the hell?
She stepped out of the cage.
Great, she said to herself, but theres no
way out of this room!
Then, as if someone read her mind, a red
light blinked across the room and in front of her
face. She looked right and noticed how the light
seemed to come through the wall at the other end
of the room.
The light continued to blink.
Anna walked toward the red light and as she
got closer, noticed that the wall looked shiny and
off-grey.
Its glass.
She put her hand up to the window and felt
the cool surface. To her right, a light gleam caught
her eye. It was a silver handle to a door that was
mostly obscured in the dim light of the room.
I couldnt be so lucky.
And yet, she gently groped the handle and
pushed down, and with a light click, it opened.
The red light stopped flashing.
Once more, she looked at the glass,
wondering who was behind it.
Thanks, she said and ran through the door,
only to find herself in another dark hall.

She ran down and made a right turn. At the
end of that corridor was another elevator. Looking
at the digital clock above, she saw that it was day
time and thought, what could they do to her if they
saw her leave through the front?
So she took the elevator down and got off at
the ground floor. As before, job applicants and
employees rushed in and out of the building. No
one paid any attention to her, except the lady
behind the check in counter whose eyes followed
her out of the double doors.


Bread Crumbs
Chapter 6
The first thing she did was pack her suitcase and
check out of her hotel. Now, in a new place on the
other side of town, she lay on the bed and stuck the
USB in her tablet.
There was nothing on the drive except a
dozen or so PDF documents.
She clicked into the first one and found
nothing but legalese. None of it made any sense at
all. So she clicked into the second and third and
found more of the same, only shed managed to
understand that the documents were about
purchases of shares of the Crest Foundation.
By the time she clicked into the sixth
document, she realized she was on a transfer of
ownership contract and her name, along with
Bethanys, was mentioned several times.
She clicked in and out of the rest of the
documents but still hadnt a clue what it all meant.
Tired, and seeing that it was five o clock,
Anna tapped out of the windows and went down to
the hotel bar.
She was the only person in the bar, which
she was grateful for. Its hard to be on guard all
time and wondering if everyone who noticed you
was there to kill you.
As she sat there, sipping her drink she
wondered if she should take the USB drive to a
lawyer and have them translate it.
Once again, she asked of herself, if Crest
didnt try to kill her, who else could want her
dead?
No answers came to mind. There were
always the thugs in Puerto Rico where she and
Sheila first went on the run, but that just didnt
seem likely.
The only other person who could possibly
have any interest in her was Bethany.
At that moment, it came crashing down on
her.
Holy shit, she said under her breath.
Whoever went out of their way to find her
and leave those photos on her desk, had to have
been the same to leave the jacket in her hospital.
And that person had to have had the inclination to
take such a jacket from her in the first place.
Only two people would have done such a
thing: Sheila and Bethany. But Sheila was already
dead.
Which means that Bethany knew where I
was the entire time, she said aloud to herself. She
or one of her people must have followed me onto
the train to Bordeaux, all those years.
Can I get you something? the bartender
asked.
Yeah, another drink, please.
Another occurred to her: Bethany knew
Anna would go through her wardrobe, and she
knew shed steal the fur lined jacket. So she planted
the device there, knowing Anna would find it.
I have to get these documents translated. What
does it all mean?
Anna had been a fool. Shed spent all that
time looking for Bethany, when she had been there
all along. Bethany lured and drew her out, but
why?
Her teeth clenched and she mumbled, That
bitch. Games as usual.
The bartender set another drink in front of
her and she took a short swallow.
But why drag her into the middle of her
war? Why do such an insensitive thing?
To kill me? She thought as she reflected on
the car that hit her.
No.
She sipped her drink.
The car accident had to have been a
coincidence, or someone else. Bethany couldnt
possibly have wanted her dead.
So, what now? Do I keep looking for her, or
do I let her continue to lead me?


The next morning, Anna nearly jumped out
of her bed when someone blasted through her
door. Before her stood the man from the airport,
only today, his suit was blue.
Get up, slowly.
She pushed back her blanket and stood.
He pulled handcuffs from his pocket, which
he then, put on her wrists.