Lexxiss departed silently and left Shelly alone to think over the conversation. Turning down a hallway and through a set of glass doors, she entered the open air patio and critically surveyed the scene. Xander was talking with Andrew at the breakfast table as the servants brought out platters of food.
Andrew was at the end of the table with Samine to his right and then it was Casey next to her. She sneered slightly at Casey in disgust and tried not to reach for her gun. He was Andrew's nephew from his sister who just passed away about a year ago, and he was good friends with Justin. Both of them valued nothing more than money and the sly greediness that both young men possessed.
On the left side of Andrew was an empty seat where Lexxiss wound sit and beside her would be Charles Whitesides. His bifocals persistently insisted on sliding off his nose which caused him to repeatedly push the glasses back up his nose. His scar was as prominent as ever in the morning sun. it was a little memento from his previous employer who incorrectly believed that he stole a few million dollars from his employer's many accounts.
Next to Charles was Cory, looking slightly uncomfortable. Next to him and at the other end of the table was Xander looking every bit of the wealthy business man that demanded respect. Just as she looked to the empty seat at his left, Shelly walked onto the patio and moved towards the empty seat next to Xander. She looked at Lexxiss and the two women held gazes before Shelly leaned over to whisper to Xander after breaking gazes. Lexxiss smirked before moving to her seat as Xander spoke up.
"I contacted my people in London and they shouldn't have any problems with attaining your artifact. It should be delivered in three or four days if no conflicts arise," he said before eating a bit.
"That would be marvelous. I have some things being shipped out tomorrow and that will clear up my time."
"Do you have any dealings with a drug called Mecathilis?" Shelly asked before taking a sip of orange juice.
The table was silent except for moving cutlery as Shelly watched Andrew. A muscle in his jaw twitched slightly as his eyes narrowed.
"I have dealings with many things and that is a small dealing I do," he replied and set his fork next to his plate before wiping his mouth with his napkin. "Why do you ask?"
"My informants in the United States have reported the growing popularity of the drug to me. I was interested in introducing the drug into Europe and was told that you were the man to talk to about it."
"This is not the best time for me to entertain that thought. The shipment that is going out tomorrow is a shipment of Mecathilis and I wish to be done with that order before beginning another. Tomorrow evening or the day after would be better."
Casey tossed his napkin on the table and stood up causing everyone to look at him.
"If you'll excuse me. This discussion is about to bore me into a coma. I'll go and entertain myself."
He left the table and disappeared into the house as a servant came out and moved to Samine's side. Bending at the waist, he whispered in her ears and she nodded slightly at him. When he stood back, Samine stood up and walked past Andrew and into the building.
"What do your wife and you have planned for this beautiful day?" Andrew asked and swept his arm towards the beach.
"We were thinking of going into town and doing the tourist thing. Any advice?" Shelly asked as a breeze blew up from the beach.
"The entire city is worthy of exploration. I'll have a jeep waiting for you in the drive in an hour," Andrew said with a smile as Shelly glanced over at Lexxiss.
Lexxiss had her head turned facing the doorway that Samine had departed through. Despite the calm face Lexxiss wore, Shelly saw the faint lines of worry etched in her face. Lexxiss was worried about something and Shelly wanted to know what it was about.
Samine walked through the halls quickly and silently as she moved towards the main foyer. True to the servant's word, a small FedEx envelope was on the elegant table addressed to her. Picking it up, she looked around to make sure she was alone before tearing open the end. Slipping her hand in, she pulled out a bundle of twenty dollar bills with a note attached. The note read: 'Counterfeit. All of it.' Moving to flip through the bundle, she stopped when she heard an angry voice moving her way. Shoving the money and note back inside the envelope, she pulled open the coat closet and slipped in as she pulled the door partially shut. A sliver of light streaked across her face as she peered through the door crack and wait4ed for someone to appear.
"No, you don't understand! They were talking about the drugs; what's going to stop them from digging to deep? Once they find out about the extra production of meca, they'll find out about the money."
A body moved past the door suddenly and Samine jerked back in shock. She could see a cell phone but that was about all.
"We have to hold off on the next shipment until it cools down. There are visitors here and I don't trust them. They're here for other reasons."
Samine realized that the person was talking about Shelly, Xander, and Cory. Pressing her face towards the door, she tried to catch a glimpse of the man.
"No, you can not come over here! Someone might see you. Let me grab my wallet and keys and I'll be right over."
She heard the phone beep off and the person disappeared from her line of sight. Leaning closer, she smothered a yelp when someone pushed the door shut and bumped her nose. Tightly holding her nose, she slipped behind the coats as her eyes teared up. Holding her breath, she waited for any sign that the person had noticed her. When nothing happened, she moved forward and slowly pushed the door open. Someone suddenly jumped out in front of her, making her jump back, trip, and fall into the closet. On her way down, she grabbed at the hanging items and jerked everything off the hangers and on top of her. She heard someone chuckling above her as she groaned slightly and pushed everything off her.
"Funny…I always thought you preferred the more mature means of spying. You know, the cameras the size of tacks and repelling from the ceiling but not hiding in a closet."
"Shut up Lexxiss. I really don't need your sarcasm right now," she grumbled and slowly climbed to her feet.
"Well when do you need it? Four o'clock is free for me," she replied after a glance at her watch.
"Annoying little bitch," Samine said as she gently felt her tender nose.
"Clumsy big whore."
Samine glared at Lexxiss before walking down the hallway and out into the massive lawn. Lexxiss jogged after her and walked beside her as the two walked towards their private part of the complex Lexxiss looked down at the FedEx envelope in Samine's hand and thumped a finger against it.
"What's up with this? Is it why you left breakfast so suddenly?"
"Yeah; well one of the reasons," she mumbled, looking at the envelope again.
"Are you going to tell me what's in it?" Lexxiss asked impatiently.
"Once we get inside."
Reaching the small building they lived it, the two women situated themselves in the kitchen as Samine picked out an apple from the refrigerator. Taking a bite from the fruit she handed the packet to Lexxiss and watched as she opened it and pulled out the money and note.
"Well?" Samine asked and pushed herself onto the counter.
"Any idea who sent it to you?"
"I have ideas but no certainties. I don't want to accuse someone and then be wrong."
"And that means for me to not go along that line of questioning. Okay, changing directions; what does it mean?"
"No bloody clue. Andrew only ships out mecathilis; he doesn't counterfeit bills. If he did then you and I would know about it."
"Yet we didn't know that your ex was coming with the boss," she said smugly and Samine rolled her eyes.
"That was a one time flook but we covered just fine. So what do we do now?"
"I say we do some spy work. We know the meca lab is under the plantation. What's the possibility that the counterfeiters' equipment is also under the plantation? There are enough tunnels and passageways down there to hide a few marine corps," Lexxiss said as Samine opened the window.
"Lets do it tonight. We'll leave here at eleven."
"Eleven o'clock it is."
Shelly and Xander took advantage of the offered jeep and drove into town, leaving Cory at the villa to fend for himself. Shelly anxiously looked at Xander as he drove the jeep and mentally prepared herself for what she knew was coming. Xander was silent as they entered the town and he started looking for a quiet area. Finally finding a quiet side street he parked the jeep and climbed out with Shelly following eventually. She could see the vein throbbing in Xander's neck as she leaned against the door and watched him.
"You knew about this, didn't you?" he asked as he pointed at her.
Shelly sighed before answering. "Yes, I did know. I was ordered not to tell you by Gibbons and Samine."
"Oh, so Gibbons was in on this to?"
"I thought you told me that Samine was in the past and you wanted to get past her?"
"That was when I thought she was dead Shelly! Christ that was why it was a closed coffin funeral, because she wasn't in there!"
"No, someone was in there but it wasn't Samine," Shelly replied casually.
Xander spun around in shock to stare at Shelly. "You're saying that there is an unidentified body in Samine's grave?"
"In short, yes."
"Jesus fucking Christ Shelly! I can't believe this! I can't believe you didn't tell me about this!"
Shelly looked around for anyone who might have heard Xander by now. She stared at a curtain in a window that was fluttering softly from a breeze and waited for Xander to pause and take a breath. When he finally did pause she held up her hand to stop him from starting again.
"Samine is here rather you like it or not. I don't know about her mission and I doubt she knows anything about ours. Just avoid her and finish the mission and we'll be outta here. It's as easy as that."
"It's never as easy as that," Xander snapped and Shelly silently agreed with him.
A few seconds later, Shelly was looking at Xander's back as he walked away.
"Where are you going?" she called out to him.
He turned and walked backwards a few steps while he answered. "I'm going to get a Brazilian bikini wax!"
"And you didn't think to invite me?" she yelled and laughed when he flicked her off over his shoulder."
Shelly chuckled and looked around a bit before pushing away from the jeep and walking around to the driver's side door. Opening the door, she climbed in and checked her phone and made sure it was on. 'When Xander wanted a ride back to the plantation, he'll call,' she thought and turned the jeep around.
Xander walked down the street and grinned at the activity. A group of kids were playing soccer on the side walk while adults worked their vendors and sold items. With a smile, he turned to look at the other side of the street just as something caught his eye. Focusing on the man he suddenly pulled back and disappeared into the shadows. Keeping his gaze on the spot, he moved through the crows and finally reached the side street. Glancing back at the crowded street, he walked down the small street and listened for footsteps. He heard someone ahead of him and moved faster to catch up. Moving past a door way, he barely saw the movement at the corner of his eye.
Xander twisted to the side and swung his arm out to catch his attacker in the stomach with his elbow. Standing up quickly, he brought his knee up and kneed the guy in the gut. Pushing the guy away, Xander stumbled and fell to his knees when someone kicked the back of his knees. He saw hands descend beside his head and pull back. Something tightened around his throat as his fingers clawed at his throat. His eyesight started to blur slightly as someone walked up to him.
"You should have stayed out of our business Mr. Dorman. It could be detrimental to your health," he said and Xander blinked a few times to try and clear his vision.
A blinding pain erupted at the side of his head and he offered no resistance as he slipped into unconsciousness.
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Well there it is…*pant* *pant*…hope…you…enjoy…it. Eh gads I worked really hard on getting this chapter out. It just wasn't coming as quickly as I wanted it to, but here it is now and I hope you enjoy it. I just wanted to put in this little bit because I forgot to in the previous chapter. In the previous story I had Samine's car being a Toyota Celica and I saw the 2003 one at the Toyota store and I have to say…damn. It was silver, 6-speed manual, leather and chrome interior and I just slid right into that car and…damn. What can I say other than damn? Well, anyway.