Chapter II:The Boss' Daughter
Eliot's plane landed in Dallas; from there he took a bus to a small town west of Dallas. He glanced out the window of the Greyhound bus as the scenery changed to a more desolate scene. He took a deep breath starting to feel the anxiousness to get off and see what the past had to say after six years. But he had another thirty minute drive before he returned to a place he called home once.
It was nearly eleven when he arrived at the bus depot and walked to the small hotel. He checked in and went up four flights of stairs and made it to his room. There he took a moment to survey his room and check it for anything that might be suspicious. Eliot wasn't one to be paranoid, but coming back to the dusty town he wasn't expecting welcome home, especially after six years.
After sweeping the room he showered and unpacked what little belongings he had. He stared at the wrinkled up paper that he had read over and over again. He lifted it and stared at the writing. The penmanship was very distinctive to him. He lifted the paper to his nose and sniffed it before glanced at the letter again. His lips pulled into a tight smirk and lifted the paper to the natural light that seeped into his room. The wear and tear that the paper had survived began to reveal contents.
The rendezvous coordinates were faded and Eliot knew there was a reason why he had been contacted.
He folded the paper and headed out his room. He headed out into the rising temperatures that the sun was beating hard against the town's residence. Eliot made long strides to the local bar and walked in. It seemed that everything stopped the moment he stepped in. Eliot glanced around as he made it to the far table. He took a seat and looked at everyone as they turned back to what they were doing.
It was only for a moment he sat alone.
"What's it been, Spencer?" a feminine voice approached him.
Eliot lifted his gaze and stared at the well dressed woman. Her hair was pulled back into a tight bun and her expensive clothing said that she had done real well for herself. Her hazel colored eyes stared him down for a moment before she smiled.
"Amelia," he said as he stood up.
She glanced up at him and smiled. "Welcome home, tough guy."
"Only for a day or so." Eliot smiled a little.
She took a seat and he sat across from her. The auburn haired woman made herself look so delicate, but she was anything, but delicate.
"How's your sister?" she asked.
"Married," Eliot said.
"Still?"
"Remarried to her FBI handler."
Amelia smiled and stared at him. "Well, any choice is better than Deville."
Eliot chuckled and glanced around the local bar. The locals occasionally glanced over in their direction before sipping their first rounds. He turned back to Amelia as she sat there.
"I'm sorry about your old man," Eliot stated. "He was a good man, well until he decided to conspire with the wrong people."
Amelia smiled and laughter slipped from her lips. She leaned forward and looked at him.
"He really liked you, Eliot, like you were the son he never had. He was hoping by some scary twist of fate you'd take over his job." Amelia reached over and rested her hand on his. "I was hoping you'd stay longer than you did."
"I don't stay long in one place." Eliot looked down at her hand.
"I know. You had to often go on different jobs."
"So, did you."
Amelia smirked a little and turned to look at the bartender. She gave a nod of her head and he grabbed two beers.
"So, who is taking care of your old man's estate?" Eliot asked.
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about." Amelia looked back at Eliot. "My father as brilliant as he was left much of his estate to me and my half brother. The rest he left to you."
Eliot's eyes became wide with shock. He never expected a man of such prestige to leave some of his vast wealth to him. Amelia smiled and a string of laughter escaped her lips.
"You are shocked," Amelia asked.
"Very shocked. Your father and I were just business partners. I was a gun for hire never anything more." Eliot folded his hands into one another.
"Surely you don't believe you were just a gun for hire. My father was trained in the art of fighting with what he was given. And he passed that knowledge on to his students. You were recruited to be one of them. Eliot, don't you know before you he had no real reason to pass on the business expect to his heirs?"
The bartender placed two beers on the table and she gave a nod. She turned to Eliot and he looked at her.
"Why wait six years to tell me this?" Eliot asked.
"I didn't want to just walk back into your life when your sister was in it and now that she's married your free to do what you want. Isn't that the whole reason you joined a team of thieves?"
"No, I joined a team because I was tired of being a one man band," Eliot said. "I'm for once settled in my life."
"Weren't you six years ago when you met my father. And most of all when you met me?" Amelia asked. "You abandoned the life you had after your folks passed and your sister was married.
She grabbed his hand and he glanced down at her hand. His eyes slowly met hers and she smiled. It was like looking back on a memory and the feeling that someone like Amelia made him feel.
"Come back home, Eliot, where you belong," Amelia remarked. "You're still the same wild spirit that needs to run with others like you."
Eliot didn't know what to say to her. He wasn't the same person she thought he was. He had made a home in Boston and had people who were like family. His sister and her husband had settled down there.
"Amelia, I can't." He pulled his hand back and pushed back his hair.
"Eliot, can you at least think about it before you give me an answer?" Amelia asked.
