Chapter 7: Alliance
Disclaimer: Please read Chapter 1.
Bold= Thoughts/ POV
Italics= Emphasis
[] = Telephone conversation
A/N: S.D.G. CHANGED TO CANIDAE!!! Thanks to all those who reviewed u guys are the bestJ
Jade walked downstairs in a daze about everything that she had dreamt about last night. She couldn't believe what she was about to do; but it had to be done or she would never find the answers she was searching for.
She dragged her bike to the elevator and once she hit the streets she was off. Arriving at her destination in record time, she checked her watch and it was a quarter past ten in the morning. Jade rode the elevator up to the penthouse and she hesitated knocking at first but, finally, did.
Logan opened the door and was surprised to see Jade there; and Jade tried not to look as uncomfortable as she felt but her actions failed her. She kept staring at everything and shifting from foot to foot just so her gaze wouldn't meet Logan's. They were still out in the hallway quiet when Logan broke the silence.
Logan (blocking the entrance into the penthouse): What are you doing here?
Jade (avoiding his questions): No 'hello' or 'how are you'? (Logan rolled his eyes.) I'll take that as a no.
Logan: Take it anyway you want it; and I'll repeat my question again: What are you doing here?
Jade: Invite me in and I'll tell you.
Logan (standing aside): Alright, then.
Jade: Before I do, are we alone?
Logan: Basically yea, but Zack is in the guest bedroom asleep. Strangely he wasn't feeling well today, which let me tell you is not a very Zack "thing."
Jade (getting his point, also relieved to know Zack was okay but not showing or telling Logan): Well can we go into your computer room and talk?
Logan (hesitantly): Sure.
They both headed for the room, Logan leading the way. Upon their arrival Logan took a seat in his chair behind the desk and offered Jade a seat in front of the desk; and unlike last time she took this offer. Well if she's actually taking a seat this time then this is going to be a long day, Logan thought to himself grimly.
Jade: Well Logan let me get right down to it. I'm here cuz even though I hate to admit it, I need your help. (Logan was starting to protest.) Now before you say anything I know last time I came to you for information you gave it to me but I didn't exactly give you anything in return. So here I am now, asking for your help and this time in return I will help you or Eyes Only in whatever you need, I promise. If you want I'll do two things for you, one for the last thing you did. Ok what do you say? Do we have a deal?
Logan (astonished in her change of attitude): Wow, I am impressed. What brought about this change in heart?
Jade (trying to form the words so she didn't sound crazy): You could sort of say I had an epiphany.
Logan (skeptically): Alright but if I agree, what would I be helping you with exactly?
Jade: If you agreed you would help me find a man that I met last night who just might be connected to my past.
Logan: And does this man have a name?
Jade: Shane Black.
Logan (sadness shown in his eyes): You couldn't have met Shane Black last night.
Jade (confused): What? Why?
Logan: Jade, Shane Black has been dead for two years. There is no possible way the man you met last night is him.
Jade: How do you know this?
Logan: Shane was a good friend of mine plus an informant. An Eyes Only mission had gone down wrong and he was murdered, he died in my arms.
Jade: The man I met last night was clearly alive; I danced with him for PETE SAKE! He wasn't a damn poltergeist.
Logan: Ok calm down and give me a description of him.
Jade: He's about six two, well built, muscular, dark brown hair that's about to his ears, and he has blue-green eyes. I'd say he's about one eighty-five to a hundred ninety pounds and he's about twenty-three years old.
Logan: Tell me again, where did you meet him?
Jade: Last night at the Acapulco restaurant.
Logan: Alright I'll hack into their security cams and see what I can find.
Jade: Does this guy sound like the Shane you knew?
Logan: To be honest, he really does; and if her were alive today he would be twenty-three.
Jade: What do you think is going on?
Logan: Either Shane is alive somehow or this man has gone to great lengths trying to impersonate him.
Jade (changing the subject): So what's my first assignment?
Logan (handing her a picture): See that man? (Jade nods.) His name is Jacob Calderon; he's a Columbian drug lord who has recently taken up residents in America, more specifically, here in Seattle. (Handing her another picture.)
Jade: Who is she?
Logan: She's the wife of one of the people that was on Calderon's payroll, her name is Kira Valdez. Apparently her husband double crossed Calderon by going to the feds; and since the feds aren't what they use to be Calderon's hit man got to him before he could testify and the wife was a witness to the murder. Now she's under police protective custody, which, I have reason to believe won't help her much. So I need you to go pick her up and take her to a safe house until the court date, which isn't till tomorrow.
Jade: There's only one day left I'd say cops have kept her safe so far. What's got you buggin' all of sudden?
Logan: Got a source who says there's a hit out on her tonight.
Jade: Is the source legit?
Logan: I'd bet my life on it.
Jade: Alright, all I need is the address of where she is and where the safe house is.
Logan (handing her a printout of the addresses): Here you go.
Jade (wanting to know if Syl and Krit knew about her): This is totally off the subject but how many others know about me?
Logan (honestly): Me, Zack, and Max.
Jade: What about Syl or Krit?
Logan: As far as I know, they don't have a clue.
Jade (relieved): Good, let's keep it that way for the time being. Plus let's keep this "alliance" on the DL for now.
Logan: Not a problem.
Jade: Thanks again and I promise I won't fail you.
Logan (small smile): I know you won't.
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Jade headed to the building this Kira woman was at, and climbed the roof. She checked the inside by looking in from the skylight, she saw about five guards all sitting around a round table playing what looked like poker. The woman she suspected was Kira was sound asleep on the couch, she was a petite woman with dark hair and she definitely looked from Hispanic origins. Jade was about to make her entrance when a man with a sniper rifle on the rooftop of the building across the street caught her attention. Jade instantly knew this was Calderon's hit man. What the hell is going on? Logan said the hit was tonight not right now in broad daylight!
Jade figured he hadn't seen her yet, maybe because he was busy gearing up. At exactly the same time Jade jumped through the skylight, he pulled the trigger hitting one of the guards, killing him instantly. In all the commotion Kira had awoken and was screaming, one of the guards was trying to keep her calm while the other three were shooting their guns off never getting their target. The other guards were way too busy to realize Jade there but the guard with Kira did know she was there; and to him Jade was the enemy who had to be eliminated but before he could do anything Jade quickly and quietly knocked him out. Jade grabbed the girl and ran out the door, once they hit the street Jade headed to an alley where her bike was and handed the woman a helmet.
Kira (putting on the helmet and in panic and hysteria): What's going on?
Jade: Not much, just Calderon's hit man tryin' to kill you is all.
Kira: Who are you?
Jade: Person who's savin' your ass. Now get on the bike before we're both moving targets for this lunatic.
Kira (backing away a bit): Why should I? Who's to say you're not going to kill me.
Jade (Getting on her bike and starting it up): Because if I was going to kill you I already would have.
Kira hesitated for a few more minutes then reluctantly got on and Jade sped off. She was hoping the hit man hadn't spotted them or realized that Kira was gone until she had safely gotten her to the safe house.
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The hit man entered the room the girl that was his target was supposedly at; but all he found in the smoke and carnage was broken furniture and five dead guards but no girl. He called his boss to give him an update on what was going on and the man wasn't happy. This time he told him to find the girl, finish the job, and kill anyone that helped the girl escape—if there was one.
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Jade and Kira arrived at some random, cheap, and old looking motel near South Market. Jade checked and rechecked to make sure that this was where Logan had wanted the safe house to be; and on the paper remained the same address…this one.
It was two o'clock in the afternoon and when Jade opened the door the girl went straight in—not caring how the place was—and just collapsed on the bed. Jade took a seat in an armored chair that was in the corner and let out a breath she did not know she was holding. So far so good, now all I have to do is keep her alive till the trial tomorrow and everything will be okay. I better call Logan and give him an update on the situation.
Before Jade could complete the task she was thinking about, Kira sat up from her lying position on the bed and started asking Jade questions.
Kira: So what's your name?
Jade: Just call me Hunter.
Kira: Alright. Well Hunter why are you helping me exactly?
Jade: Didn't have much of choice.
Kira: You've always got a choice.
Jade (irritated): Not this time.
Kira: No need to get bitchy about it.
Jade (snapping): Look lady just shut up and be thankful I came along to save your ass; plus stop giving me the damn third degree!
Kira: Why did you save me? What's in it for you?
Jade: Like I said I didn't have much of a choice.
Kira: Okay, so if Calderon didn't send you, who did?
Jade: Someone who needs you alive so you can testify against Calderon.
Kira (relieved): It's very good to know you're not going to kill me.
Jade: Yea well if I were going to kill you I wouldn't need a gun or any weapon for that matter.
Jade was glad this shut her up, she wasn't thrilled she had to use the tactic she did but it got the job done. Now she could call Logan and then maybe order a pizza because she was starved.
Kira went to use the bathroom and Jade took this opportunity to call Logan.
[Hello?] [Hey, it's me.] [Jade, how is everything?] [Oh just peachy, considering I haven't been a moving target in about, say thirty minutes.] [Wait. What? What happened?] [Not much just that your source was wrong about the time this Kira woman was supposes to get shot at.] [What are you saying?] [What I'm saying is the hit man came at her with a sniper rifle in broad daylight; but managed to kill five cops instead.] [Jade, I'm sorry I thought for sure it was gonna happen tonight.] [Whatever, look, it's not your fault so don't even apologize. Anyways that's only one of the reasons I called. Did you get a chance to look at the surveillance footage yet?] [Actually, I did, but I can't see his face and there are about three guys with the same profile that I got from different feeds. Basically I can't go on until you come and identify him.] [Fine, I understand.] [Meanwhile I'll do some more research, see if he used this alias at different places and times.] [Okay, thanks. Look is it possible you could bring me a pizza? I'm starved!] [I'll see what I can do.] [Thanks, bye] [Bye.]
When Jade hung up Kira came out of the bathroom and saw her shutting her phone off.
Kira (curiously): Who was that?
Jade: Someone who might bring us food.
Kira: Good I'm hungry.
Jade just sighed and leaned back in her chair, she closed her eyes for a few moments, thinking about the days events when Kira broke through her thoughts and brought her back to the present.
Kira: So how old are you?
Jade (letting out a deep breath): To young to die and to old to being this.
Kira: You look like you're twenty-one.
Jade: Try nineteen.
Kira: Wow! Really? Well someone your age shouldn't be in this line of work. You should be in school or something.
Jade: And how old might you be?
Kira: Twenty-seven.
Jade: Nice age not too old and not too young.
Kira: So what made you get into this business?
Jade (lying): Pay's good; plus, people like you.
Kira (offensively): What'd you mean people like me?
Jade: You know people who can't protect themselves and have to be involved with drug addicts, drug lords, or something to that extent.
Kira: I wasn't involved with anyone like that.
Jade: But your husband was.
Kira (angrily): Don't you dare talk about my husband, you know nothing about him.
Jade: I know plenty. Your husband is why you're here and you're husband is why they're trying to kill you.
Kira: Why are you such a bitch? Is it a major task for you to be nice?
Jade: My job isn't to be nice; it's to keep you alive till your court date; and after that to hell with whatever happens.
Kira: You're just like everybody else.
Jade: And what the hell is that suppose to mean?
Kira: Nothing, just forget it.
Jade: Gladly.
Jade went back to her thoughts and Kira went and sat back down on the bed. After awhile Jade got up and started to pace around the room. All of a sudden she heard the engine of a car; and she took a look outside from the window, only to see Logan's blue Aztec parked out there.
Jade (turning to Kira): Hey I'll be back in five minutes. Stay here, don't go anywhere, and if anyone comes don't let them in.
Kira (rolling her eyes): Yes mom. Where are you going anyways?
Jade: To get our food.
With that she walked outside, closed the door, and headed towards where Logan was parked.
Jade (knocking on his window): Knock, knock.
Logan (rolling down his window): Hey.
Jade: Hi. Please tell me you brought some pizza.
Logan (getting two medium size boxes of pizza): Of course I did.
Jade (taking the boxes): Thank you. Was their anything else?
Logan: I was going to bring pictures of the guys by but my printer is on the fritz.
Jade: Okay. Did you find anything else out?
Logan: Not yet, but I also brought you this.
He took out a small handgun and gave it to Jade, she was hesitant at first then she took it. Jade lifted up her shirt a bit and put the gun in the waist of her pants, using it as a holster.
Jade: I hope it doesn't come down to me using this.
Logan: I hope it doesn't either but if it does at least you'll have something to retaliate with.
Jade nodded and thanked him, they said their goodbyes and then Jade left. What she didn't know was Kira had spied on her and Logan; and she had seen the gun traded between them. This scared the hell out of her so she decided to run, she went to the bathroom, opened the window, and started climbing out.
Jade arrived in the motel room and put the pizzas on a table, she didn't see Kira anywhere. She went and knocked on the bathroom door but there was no answer so she opened it and saw no one. Jade went to the window and saw Kira running, cursing aloud she jumped out the window and ran after her. Jade reached her before she could exit the alley.
Jade (grabbing her by the arm): What the hell are you trying to pull? You really wanna get yourself killed?
Kira: Let go of me or I will scream!
Jade: Go ahead!
Kira let out a head splitting scream and Jade punched her in the face, thus made Kira lose her balance and fall to the floor.
Jade: Don't say I didn't warn you.
Kira (getting up from the floor): You really are a bitch!
Jade (grabbing her by the arm): Don't you know any other word?
Kira: Why don't you do it already?
Jade (confused): Do what?
Kira: Oh don't play dumb. You know you wanna pull the trigger.
Jade: What trigger and what the hell are you talking about?
Kira: I saw that guy give you that gun. So go ahead you know you wanna shoot me.
Jade: That gun was for our protection you idiot!
Jade exasperatedly paced around with her head in her hands; and out of the corner of her eye she saw Kira standing there confused.
Jade: I knew this wasn't going to work.
Kira: What do you mean?
Jade: All I have been trying to do is help you stay alive when I'd rather be at home or out with my friends.
Kira: But you still got some sort of hidden agenda.
Jade: Fine, I'll leave right now and you can take care of yourself, cuz I'm through. I hope you're still alive to testify tomorrow.
Jade gave her the gun and started heading to where her bike was parked. Kira started to follow her and watched her get on her bike. She headed back to the room only to find that Jade was telling her the truth. There on the table were two boxes of pizza which was probably cold by now. Oh God what have I done? She was telling me the truth and now I'm probably gonna die. She went out but Jade was gone, little did she know Jade was just a block away calling Logan.
It rang and rang but there was no answer and she didn't wanna leave a message so she hung up. The sun had set and in a matter of minute's night would fall; and Jade just couldn't leave Kira the way she did so she headed back. She parked her bike and from the distance she was at she could see the motel room door wide open. Just like Kira to be so careless. When Jade entered the room Kira was sprawled on the bed; and for a minute Jade thought she was dead. Jade went over to her and saw that she was asleep, so as to not wake her she shut the door and then went to the bathroom and locked the window. Upon her return she took the gun from the table Kira had left it on and sat in the armored chair eating her cold pizza. Once Jade finished the whole box of pizza Kira's eyes fluttered open and she shot out of bed like something on it was going to kill her.
Jade (nonchalantly): Bad dream?
Kira (small smile): You came back.
Jade: If I hadn't you'd be dead within an hour.
Kira: Hunter, I am so sorry for not trusting you. I want you to know from here on in I will listen to you no matter what.
Jade: Good to know.
Kira smiled at that and went to eat her box of pizza while Jade had decided to close her eyes for a few minutes.
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~~~~~The loft~~~~~
Lee had just gotten in with some Mexican take out since it was six in the evening and knowing his roommate she should be starving by now. Little did he know he was coming home to an empty loft with no word of Jade all day. Lee checked his messages but nothing from Jade, he called Maria but she hadn't heard from her all day either. He dialed her cell number while he went to answer the door; upon opening it he saw Max, Krit, and Syl. Lee motioned for them to come in as he shut the door he started leaving Jade a message on her voice mail.
"Hey Jade, it's me, thought I'd check up on you since I haven't heard from you all day. Anyways once you get this call me ASAP. Okay? Bye."
With that he hung up and greeted his guests.
Lee (sitting down): This is a nice surprise.
Max: Glad you think so. We were in the neighborhood thought we'd drop by, see how you were.
Lee: Glad you did. I was just about to have some Mexican take out you guys want?
Syl: No we wouldn't want to impose.
Lee: I wouldn't have offered if you were.
So they accepted and they all sat down to eat. They were halfway through their dinner when there was a knock at the door. Lee excused himself and went to open the door, only to find a frantic Maria.
Lee (letting her in and closing the door): Hi, what's up?
Maria: Is there any word?
Lee (both walking into the living room): No, not yet. I called her cell and left a message; but she hasn't called back yet.
Maria (saying hey to the others): Why hasn't she? I mean it isn't like her to just leave and not tell anyone anything.
Max: What's going on?
Maria: It's Jade. She's missing.
Max: Are you sure? Maybe she's just caught up in what she's doing that she forgot to check in.
Lee: Come on Maria have a seat and have dinner with us. I mean Max is probably right. Let's wait an hour or two and if she doesn't call then we'll do something.
Maria: Okay.
They all sat down and proceeded to eat their dinner.
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~~~~~The motel~~~~~
Jade opened her eyes and checked her watch to see it had been a half hour since she had closed her eyes. Kira was eating her pizza and watching TV while Jade heard the beeping of her cell phone telling her she had a voice message. So she checked it and there was a message from Lee; and after she listened to the message she called Lee.
~~~~~The loft~~~~~
They were just cleaning up when the phone rang and Lee rushed to pick it up.
[Hello? Jade is that you?] [Yea, it's me what's up?] [What do you mean 'what's up?' you've been gone since morning without a word or note.] [Look, I'm sorry something came up and I had to take care of it.] [Well I was just worried, sorry I snapped.] [It's fine. Look was there anything else? Cuz I gotta go.] [Maria's here she wants to talk to you. I'm putting her on.]
[Maria?] [Yea, gurl where have you been I was so worried, you said you'd call but never did.] [I know I'm really sorry, something came up and I forgot.] [That seems to be going on a lot lately.] [I know and again I'm sorry.] [Don't sweat, where are you?] [I'm just handling some personal business.] [When you gonna be back?] [Probably not till late tomorrow.] [I see.] [Speaking of tomorrow you think you can cover for me at work?] [Sure not a problem.] [Thanks Maria I owe you big time.] [So what else is knew?] [Thanks again for everything and I am so sorry for all of this.] [Listen just take care of yourself and whatever it is you're dealing with I hope it turns out the way you want it to.] [Thanks. I'll talk to you later. Could you put Lee back on really fast, I need to ask him something.] [Sure, bye and be safe.] [Dido.]
[Hey.] [Hi, Lee.] [When you gonna be back?] [Late tomorrow.] [Alright well I'll see you then.] [Okay, I need to ask you something.] [Shoot.] [What are your plans for tonight?] [It's going to be me and the TV. Why?] [No reason. Look I gotta go again I'm sorry and I'll talk to you soon. Bye.] [Okay bye.]
Lee hung up and faced Maria with a curious look on his face.
Maria: What's going on?
Lee: It was odd, Jade was happily talking to me one minute and the next it was like she couldn't wait to get me off the phone.
Maria: I'm sure there's an explanation.
Lee: Sure you're right. Did she tell you why she's gone?
Maria: Had some personal business to take care of.
Lee (nodding): Oh.
After they finished cleaning Maria, Krit, and Max went into the living room and Syl and Lee were in the kitchen. Syl was getting a glass of water and Lee was putting away a couple of plates. When they finished with their tasks Lee asked Syl out and she accepted.
~~~~~The motel~~~~~
Jade looked out the window and just as she suspected, the hit man had found them and he was heading straight to their room. Damn! How the hell did he find us? This room wasn't even registered under my name or Kira's.
Jade (looking at Kira): We've got a problem.
Kira: What is it?
Jade: Hit man's back to finish the job.
Kira (in panic): What do we do?
Jade: Go out the bathroom window and wait for me in the alley.
Kira: Okay. What about you?
Jade: I'm going to get rid of this guy once and for all.
As Kira went into the bathroom, Jade unlocked the door and also retrieved back to the bathroom. Kira was already gone and Jade turned on the shower, then hid behind the door waiting for her prey.
The hit man cautiously walked into the room, with his gun raised, ready to shoot at any sign of movement. He saw no one, then, he heard the noise of running water so he headed towards the bathroom, not knowing the surprise that awaited him there. The hit man entered the bathroom and quickly turned around when he heard the door shut behind him. Jade stood there blocking his exit and with a smirk asked, "You lookin' for me?" He gave her no answer, just raised his gun so that it was directly pointed at her head. Good, he doesn't want to go through the pleasantries. Good for me, bad for him. Jade thought smugly.
Jade kicked the gun out of his hands and she kicked him in the stomach. That only caused so little damage to this very large and muscular man; and he grabbed Jade by the arm, swiftly turned her around so her back was facing the tub instead of the door, and pushed her into it. He came at her again but Jade gave him a powerful kick to the stomach again and sent him flying through the door. She grabbed the gun on her way out; and as he tried to get up she pushed him back down. He was looking at her, waiting to see what her next move was; but what he saw amazed and scared him at the same time. Jade had the sniper rifle in her hands, she brought her knee up and held the gun on it with both hands, then as quickly as she could, she snapped the rifle in two, and then dropped the broken gun onto the floor.
Jade took out the small gun that Logan had given her and pointed it at him. She wasn't going to kill him but he didn't know that and right now she was working it to her advantage.
Hit man: Please don't kill me.
Jade: Sorry you're a liability that I can't afford.
Hit man: I promise I won't kill the girl; I'll leave and act like I never found her.
Jade: You say that now but we both know when your boss finds out, it's you or her. And I'm betting it'll be her.
Hit man: Please…
Jade: Sorry.
Then without any hesitation she shot him twice in the right leg and heard him scream out in agony.
Hit man (yelling out): YOU BITCH!
Jade (tossing him a box of tissues and heading for the door): Clean yourself up, you're bleeding.
Hit man (calling after her): You can't just leave me here, at least call the paramedics.
Jade (smugly): That's where you're wrong, I can leave you here, cuz I only shot you in one leg. The other one is just fine, so use it.
With that said she turned her back on him and walked away, without a second glance or thought. In the alley she found Kira and they were on the move, to find secure nights' lodgings in a post-pulse Seattle.
~~~~~TBC~~~~~