Justin
Deciding who to talk to was actually pretty easy. Instead of going back to my apartment, we drove to a junkyard, winding through the rows of old cars and appliances and God only knows what else. Kat swore that once she found a pair of solid silver candelabras in one of the cars. I didn't know about that for sure, but I did know that there was a lot of stuff around there, so who knows.
We passed a row of cars that officially began Kat and Scott's place. Those were the cars that would at least start. They were decoys. If someone came in to steal something, they would grab one of those and not notice the closest line of cars that were in process of being restored. I was actually thinking about commissioning one because once those two decided to go back to dealing in car restorations instead of drugs, they were actually quite phenomenal.
Kat was walking out of their little shack connected to the garage when I pulled up. And that was another thing I didn't get with them. They were making good money now, but still living in this one room hovel. I had asked Kat about it and she gave me a look like I was crazy and started cataloging what they had done to the place. It now had paneling on the walls (hoods from cars) and an oven (I didn't want to know) and a bathroom with a tub that you could, and I quote, fit three people and a midget with a camera in. I stopped asking at that point and said I liked the color of her new car.
Kat stopped as I pulled up and got out of the car. Her hands were on her hips and she gave me her flirty little smile. She had changed a lot since that night at the airport. Talk about getting scared straight. Well, not totally straight. She still had an open invitation towards Jhondie, she just wasn't actively pursuing anymore. She had become rather useful in another way though that neither of us was expecting.
The girl had a lot of underground sources. She went to a lot of parties and listened. For some reason Kat was one of those rare persons that people just loved to tell all sorts of things to. I didn't get why. Tongue-studs and trustworthy don't always go together, but the point is, in Kat's circles, if someone needed to get something off of their chest, they loved to tell her. And now that she decided a life a crime was not the way she wanted to go and she still liked a thrill, being one of my secret informants worked for her. She didn't know about Eyes Only, but she knew that she had been an unnamed source in two of my articles. She had then framed on the wall above her bed now.
"Hey, I said I was up for a little group action with you and your girl, not your gym-buds," she greeted. Zack was still in the car, staring straight forward. "But damn, boy does look like he could use a little lovin'," she commented. "Tell you what. You work the bumpers and he can handle the chassis."
I laughed. "And leave Scott complaining that you're not helping?"
She raised her hands. "Hey, I'm all into making the world a better place now." She winked. "So what's up? You finally getting serious about a specialty vehicle?"
"More interested in finding out if you've heard of any new players in town," I said.
She rolled her eyes. "Men! Talk about having a one-track mind. I'm offering the best booty in town and you're all save the world."
"Kat!"
She grinned. "Lot's a new players all the time. Got some details? Genital size maybe?"
I groaned. Yes, it was always like this to get anything out of her. "They're a group from South Africa. Going to have marks on the back of their necks."
"Marks?" she asked suspiciously. She glanced over her shoulder towards the garage. "What kind of marks?"
"Small metal circles," I answered, wondering what had her hackles up. Oh well. Figure that one out later. It was hard to tell anything with Kat.
She visibly relaxed. "Blonde hotties in trench coats with accents?"
"Could be."
"Met up with Rachel the other night at this rave," she began and I almost stopped her. That name typically led to a mention of something sexual and I just didn't need to hear that. Even though Kat said they were 'just friends' now, it was still TMI. "And she pointed out these two guys that were totally new. They didn't have that party look, you know? Rach thought they were gay and in the wrong place but I was thinking they had that prowling look, you know?"
"They knew exactly what they wanted and were waiting for it to walk by?" I supplied.
She nodded. "Topped off with the cheesy bad-spy leather trench coats too. I told Rach that they were probably serial killers and not to let her new girlfriend go anywhere near them." Kat's eyes widened. "Is that it? Killers with high-connections? Assassins?"
I shook my head. "Not that I know of. Any word on where I could find them?"
She pursed her lips, thinking. "Ray was at this shoot the night before and he said he had seen those guys hanging around near there. Black vans, that kind of thing. He thought maybe they were invading on the payoff, but no equipment and they were kind of spooky, so he dropped it," she said and then gave me the address of the movie shoot. Ray had recently graduated from actor to director of amateur pornographic movies, or so Kat had explained before. Anyways, they liked to use abandoned warehouses and the like because it was a lot cheaper than studios who might also insist on checking the ID's of the actors rather than just believing that they were 18. All you had to do was pay off the cops, and they wouldn't be anywhere in that area for the two days it took to film.
"Have I mentioned lately that you have become one the most valuable resources a journalist could have?"
She grinned. "Everyone needs a bad girl behind them. Care to finish our little get-together with a good romp around the junkyard? I'll make it worth your while."
I laughed. "No thank you. If anything pans out with these guys, I'll make sure you get a copy of the article." Not that there would be an article on them, but if I didn't mention it then Kat would be quite suspicious.
"Room on the wall for plenty more," she commented and then looked back over at Zack. "You sure he's not plastic or something, 'cause I don't think he blinked the whole time you were out here. Trust me, fifteen minutes and his whole outlook on life would change."
I had no doubts about that. And honestly, Zack probably really could have used getting laid. Other than Dink, I didn't know of anyone else that needed a woman more. Still, I had to answer, "The problem is, I need him in one piece and I think you might break him." She beamed. "Thanks Kat."
"No sweat. And pick out a car soon, okay?"
"I will," I promised, and she turned with a little wave, heading back to the garage, her hips swaying with deliberate exaggeration.
I got back in the car and pulled out of the lot as Scott came out to get Kat's attention back on the cars they were working on. I gave him a little wave, but there wasn't time to stop and chat. "Got a lead," I said to Zack.
"And now she's full of questions on why you want this information."
"Don't even think about it," I said sharply. He was not going to take out Kat later to prevent a leak. "Kat knows she's a source. She's answered a lot of questions for me and doesn't know why I was interested. That's what a source does. If it pans out and her information is published in an article, then she frames and keeps it. If not, she doesn't ask questions."
"Where does she think they are?" It was really annoying to me how Zack wouldn't even acknowledge anything I had to say that wasn't directly related to what he wanted to hear. And I refuse to acknowledge Jhondie's comments that is simply a male trait and has nothing to do with Zack's personality quirks.
"A couple of guys that fit the bill were seen around some warehouses a way out from here," I said. Before I could say anything else, my cell rang. I really needed to get in the habit of screening calls. I picked it up and before I could say anything, Jhondie's mother exploded on me.
"WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU DONE?" she shouted. I winced, almost dropping the phone from the volume. It was six inches away from my ear and I could still hear her loud and clear. Even Zack looked like he wasn't about to say a word to stop that rampage. "My youngest isn't home when I get home, so I call Jhondie and her cell is turned off," Ashley continued, still in a rage. "So I call your place and guess who tells me that you just send Jhondie off for no real reason?"
"Ashley, there's actually..." I tried to get out.
"There is *nothing*," she spat out. "If that...that monster isn't in Los Angeles, then there is no reason for her to have left with Zack."
I thought about telling her that Zack was with me, but decided against it. I had no idea what she would do to me then the next time we saw each other. I now really hoped that all of this was just a false alarm and that Jhondie would be home in a couple of days. If not, Ashley did know where I lived and I was going to get hurt severely. "I want her to come back as much as you do," I said quickly.
She laughed coldly. "Justin, I know you may think that. But you have absolutely no idea what it's like to have your child come up missing. When you do, then you can say that. In the meantime, where the hell is my daughter?"
I swallowed. "I don't know," I answered.
Her silence was venomous. "I am waiting." Her tone would have frozen fire.
"I'm telling the truth," I said, feeling all of fifteen. "You think Zack's going to tell me where they were going? I'm checking into what's going on and if it's nothing then she'll be back soon. And if it is something, then it's safer for her to not be here. Of all people, do you think I would let her leave over nothing?"
"Chen-Li called," Ashley said, abruptly switching topics. It was one of her favorite tactics to have someone so confused as to what the conversation was about that you didn't know how to argue the topic anymore. "Jhondie's order is ready. Why don't you pick it up for her since you *will* be able to give it to her soon." And then the connection was mercifully broken.
I hung up my phone. I knew that was going to happen sooner or later, but I would have preferred that confrontation with my future mother-in-law to be much later. "Whatever happens," I said to Zack, "do not let that woman know that you are anywhere within beating distance."
He nodded but stoically refused to comment. I checked my watch. Dr. Lee's shop was on the way to where we were heading. "I'm going to have to make a stop before the warehouse," I said.
Zack flashed me a look and I could see why he was their leader. One look and you were falling all over yourself to explain. "Jhondie's order?" I reminded him. "She's running a little low on Tryptophan and this is her supplier. If...worst case, you can take it to her." Think positive, I told myself. Don't think about Zack carting the stuff to her wherever she is. Think about it being in the medicine cabinet at the apartment where it belongs.
"She's been sick?" Zack finally asked, the question forced. He didn't like it that he honestly had no idea what was going on in her life. And as much as he wanted to sit there scowling, he still cared enough about her to ask.
"Not all that bad," I replied. "A little stressed with pulling heavy class loads so that she could graduate in three years and start med school next fall. And they hit her harder than normal when she's under a lot of stress." I paused. "She finished in the top 2% on the MCAT and was accepted into three schools, but she had already decided she wanted to stay in LA." I didn't mention that it was because her husband was going to be in LA and she wanted to stay with him.
Zack didn't comment on that note, but I had a feeling that he was thinking about Jhondie's life. She had one here. They had risked so much in running away, but they did it in hopes that they might end up with a life like that which Jhondie was leading now. She had a home and people that loved her. Sometimes I thought that Zack was envious of Jhondie. If she had been their leader instead of him, then he would be the one getting ready for medical school. He might even have a fiancée. Not me, hopefully a girl. But seriously, not me.
We stopped by Dr. Lee's and I ran in while Zack, shockingly enough, sat in the car and stared. I saw my dashboard every day. There wasn't anything that thrilling on it. Oh well. Zack's motives were something that was known only to him. I got back in the car and handed him the large bottle.
"What does Jhondie say to him?" he asked suddenly.
I thought about the truth. Yeah, right. "A couple of years ago, we found out who murdered his son and since then he's been rather grateful," I replied. "He doesn't ask questions and doesn't breathe a word to anyone. One of those rare types that you can trust your life to, you know?" Zack shot me a look that said he didn't know what it was like to blindly trust your life to someone. "He's a real doctor and he's bandaged us up a couple of times when going to a hospital would just involve way too many questions."
"If Jhondie wasn't involved in your mess, she wouldn't need his services at all."
I rolled my eyes. "I think Jhondie's racked up three broken nails in all of the work we've done. I'm the one that ends up getting cut on razor wire and needing stitches." Almost true. Jhondie actually did get a nice slice on a piece of metal that she fell into...long story, anyways, it was on the back of her shoulder and there was just no way I could suture it, so it was off to Dr. Lee. He laughed and said it was about time she had a scar to go along with one of mine. Except the little brat's scar went away in a couple of months.
Zack didn't comment, but there was this little twitch, and I would swear he had to choke back a smile of pride. One day he was going to admit that he was proud of Jhondie for being able to do all that she had done and help to make the world a better place. They were meant to be killers and instead Jhondie was using those abilities to save lives. She was careful, despite what he thought. And I know she felt much better about herself by doing what she was. Zack's way of combating what had happened to them was to set himself up as the savior of the X-5's. Jhondie's was working for EO. It was the same church, just a different hymn. I wasn't going to sway Zack right now though. It was time to do some recon.
I knew the area we were looking around. Jhondie and I had done some surveillance there before working on a story. The whole area was going to go down in a heap the next time we had a decent earthquake but in the meantime, it was a rats nest of various bad guys doing what bad guys did best. I knew about the porno films being done there, but most of the people in them wanted the filming to continue because the money was great. One day I was going to get someone to go on record and I would be able to write a whistle-blowing article. But that would have to wait. There were bigger fish in the pond today.
We cruised around a bit, using a trick that worked really well. I had a map that was unfolded all over the dash and it looked like we were lost and trying to figure out where we were. Trust me, it's silly, but it works if someone sees you. After a while, we noticed a black van. This isn't an area where a brand new van just shows up. I parked a little ways away and we went over to one of the other buildings, breaking in and getting up on the roof.
I knew Zack didn't want me along, but he couldn't get rid of me either. We crept to the edge of the roof, staying low and being quiet. And I had to respect the man with that. I knew how much better Jhondie had gotten at covert surveillance. He blew her out of the water. Not a single pebble scraped under his feet. If there were the slightest chance at getting him on board with the boss, I would have been switching partners in a second.
We watched for several minutes and then a man emerged from the building, looking exactly as Kat had described. I leaned forward, observing, and then all of a sudden, Zack's hand shot out and knocked me backwards. I fell onto my back, shocked more at his expression than his action. His pupils were dilated, indicating he was using his telescopic vision and it's hard to describe, but the best way I could define his look was to say he had just disengaged from the surveillance operation. He hadn't moved, but in his mind, he was out of there.
"Fall back," he whispered. I blinked, and went to say something, but he made a sharp gesture that I understood. Keep your damn mouth shut. What the... I took one more peek over the edge, and I thought for a second I saw a black-clad leg disappearing around a vent on top of the warehouse, but it could have just been shadows.
In any case, whatever Zack had seen, it had spooked him to the point where he was out of there. And I had no doubt that he would leave me high and dry if I didn't catch up to him. He was already in my car (I had locked it and he didn't have a key) by the time I got there. I think he was about a second from hotwiring it and taking off. I got in quickly and we started back towards my apartment.
"What the hell was that all about?" I demanded.
"You are to stay away from there," he ordered. "Under no circumstances are you to approach or attempt surveillance. And I will not be around to back you up should you disobey. You're no soldier, but you should be able to understand what's best for you." Jhondie's reports of him turning into Captain Butthead were not exaggerated in the slightest.
I didn't bother to argue and I know it irritated him that I refused to answer. I just drove. After a while, I finally spoke up. "If you don't have other arrangements, you're welcome to stay at my place," I said flatly.
"Not staying in town," he replied. Okay, that was the number one thing to not say to me. He was all gung-ho to find out how they knew where Jhondie was and now he was high-tailing it? It was stupid and arrogant and I should have thought of myself not as a reporter but as a husband first, but I was still very young and firmly believing I was immortal. There was no way I could let this go. Even when we got to my place and Zack didn't even come up, just jumped on his bike and took off, I knew without a doubt that I had another date with a warehouse.
Deciding who to talk to was actually pretty easy. Instead of going back to my apartment, we drove to a junkyard, winding through the rows of old cars and appliances and God only knows what else. Kat swore that once she found a pair of solid silver candelabras in one of the cars. I didn't know about that for sure, but I did know that there was a lot of stuff around there, so who knows.
We passed a row of cars that officially began Kat and Scott's place. Those were the cars that would at least start. They were decoys. If someone came in to steal something, they would grab one of those and not notice the closest line of cars that were in process of being restored. I was actually thinking about commissioning one because once those two decided to go back to dealing in car restorations instead of drugs, they were actually quite phenomenal.
Kat was walking out of their little shack connected to the garage when I pulled up. And that was another thing I didn't get with them. They were making good money now, but still living in this one room hovel. I had asked Kat about it and she gave me a look like I was crazy and started cataloging what they had done to the place. It now had paneling on the walls (hoods from cars) and an oven (I didn't want to know) and a bathroom with a tub that you could, and I quote, fit three people and a midget with a camera in. I stopped asking at that point and said I liked the color of her new car.
Kat stopped as I pulled up and got out of the car. Her hands were on her hips and she gave me her flirty little smile. She had changed a lot since that night at the airport. Talk about getting scared straight. Well, not totally straight. She still had an open invitation towards Jhondie, she just wasn't actively pursuing anymore. She had become rather useful in another way though that neither of us was expecting.
The girl had a lot of underground sources. She went to a lot of parties and listened. For some reason Kat was one of those rare persons that people just loved to tell all sorts of things to. I didn't get why. Tongue-studs and trustworthy don't always go together, but the point is, in Kat's circles, if someone needed to get something off of their chest, they loved to tell her. And now that she decided a life a crime was not the way she wanted to go and she still liked a thrill, being one of my secret informants worked for her. She didn't know about Eyes Only, but she knew that she had been an unnamed source in two of my articles. She had then framed on the wall above her bed now.
"Hey, I said I was up for a little group action with you and your girl, not your gym-buds," she greeted. Zack was still in the car, staring straight forward. "But damn, boy does look like he could use a little lovin'," she commented. "Tell you what. You work the bumpers and he can handle the chassis."
I laughed. "And leave Scott complaining that you're not helping?"
She raised her hands. "Hey, I'm all into making the world a better place now." She winked. "So what's up? You finally getting serious about a specialty vehicle?"
"More interested in finding out if you've heard of any new players in town," I said.
She rolled her eyes. "Men! Talk about having a one-track mind. I'm offering the best booty in town and you're all save the world."
"Kat!"
She grinned. "Lot's a new players all the time. Got some details? Genital size maybe?"
I groaned. Yes, it was always like this to get anything out of her. "They're a group from South Africa. Going to have marks on the back of their necks."
"Marks?" she asked suspiciously. She glanced over her shoulder towards the garage. "What kind of marks?"
"Small metal circles," I answered, wondering what had her hackles up. Oh well. Figure that one out later. It was hard to tell anything with Kat.
She visibly relaxed. "Blonde hotties in trench coats with accents?"
"Could be."
"Met up with Rachel the other night at this rave," she began and I almost stopped her. That name typically led to a mention of something sexual and I just didn't need to hear that. Even though Kat said they were 'just friends' now, it was still TMI. "And she pointed out these two guys that were totally new. They didn't have that party look, you know? Rach thought they were gay and in the wrong place but I was thinking they had that prowling look, you know?"
"They knew exactly what they wanted and were waiting for it to walk by?" I supplied.
She nodded. "Topped off with the cheesy bad-spy leather trench coats too. I told Rach that they were probably serial killers and not to let her new girlfriend go anywhere near them." Kat's eyes widened. "Is that it? Killers with high-connections? Assassins?"
I shook my head. "Not that I know of. Any word on where I could find them?"
She pursed her lips, thinking. "Ray was at this shoot the night before and he said he had seen those guys hanging around near there. Black vans, that kind of thing. He thought maybe they were invading on the payoff, but no equipment and they were kind of spooky, so he dropped it," she said and then gave me the address of the movie shoot. Ray had recently graduated from actor to director of amateur pornographic movies, or so Kat had explained before. Anyways, they liked to use abandoned warehouses and the like because it was a lot cheaper than studios who might also insist on checking the ID's of the actors rather than just believing that they were 18. All you had to do was pay off the cops, and they wouldn't be anywhere in that area for the two days it took to film.
"Have I mentioned lately that you have become one the most valuable resources a journalist could have?"
She grinned. "Everyone needs a bad girl behind them. Care to finish our little get-together with a good romp around the junkyard? I'll make it worth your while."
I laughed. "No thank you. If anything pans out with these guys, I'll make sure you get a copy of the article." Not that there would be an article on them, but if I didn't mention it then Kat would be quite suspicious.
"Room on the wall for plenty more," she commented and then looked back over at Zack. "You sure he's not plastic or something, 'cause I don't think he blinked the whole time you were out here. Trust me, fifteen minutes and his whole outlook on life would change."
I had no doubts about that. And honestly, Zack probably really could have used getting laid. Other than Dink, I didn't know of anyone else that needed a woman more. Still, I had to answer, "The problem is, I need him in one piece and I think you might break him." She beamed. "Thanks Kat."
"No sweat. And pick out a car soon, okay?"
"I will," I promised, and she turned with a little wave, heading back to the garage, her hips swaying with deliberate exaggeration.
I got back in the car and pulled out of the lot as Scott came out to get Kat's attention back on the cars they were working on. I gave him a little wave, but there wasn't time to stop and chat. "Got a lead," I said to Zack.
"And now she's full of questions on why you want this information."
"Don't even think about it," I said sharply. He was not going to take out Kat later to prevent a leak. "Kat knows she's a source. She's answered a lot of questions for me and doesn't know why I was interested. That's what a source does. If it pans out and her information is published in an article, then she frames and keeps it. If not, she doesn't ask questions."
"Where does she think they are?" It was really annoying to me how Zack wouldn't even acknowledge anything I had to say that wasn't directly related to what he wanted to hear. And I refuse to acknowledge Jhondie's comments that is simply a male trait and has nothing to do with Zack's personality quirks.
"A couple of guys that fit the bill were seen around some warehouses a way out from here," I said. Before I could say anything else, my cell rang. I really needed to get in the habit of screening calls. I picked it up and before I could say anything, Jhondie's mother exploded on me.
"WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU DONE?" she shouted. I winced, almost dropping the phone from the volume. It was six inches away from my ear and I could still hear her loud and clear. Even Zack looked like he wasn't about to say a word to stop that rampage. "My youngest isn't home when I get home, so I call Jhondie and her cell is turned off," Ashley continued, still in a rage. "So I call your place and guess who tells me that you just send Jhondie off for no real reason?"
"Ashley, there's actually..." I tried to get out.
"There is *nothing*," she spat out. "If that...that monster isn't in Los Angeles, then there is no reason for her to have left with Zack."
I thought about telling her that Zack was with me, but decided against it. I had no idea what she would do to me then the next time we saw each other. I now really hoped that all of this was just a false alarm and that Jhondie would be home in a couple of days. If not, Ashley did know where I lived and I was going to get hurt severely. "I want her to come back as much as you do," I said quickly.
She laughed coldly. "Justin, I know you may think that. But you have absolutely no idea what it's like to have your child come up missing. When you do, then you can say that. In the meantime, where the hell is my daughter?"
I swallowed. "I don't know," I answered.
Her silence was venomous. "I am waiting." Her tone would have frozen fire.
"I'm telling the truth," I said, feeling all of fifteen. "You think Zack's going to tell me where they were going? I'm checking into what's going on and if it's nothing then she'll be back soon. And if it is something, then it's safer for her to not be here. Of all people, do you think I would let her leave over nothing?"
"Chen-Li called," Ashley said, abruptly switching topics. It was one of her favorite tactics to have someone so confused as to what the conversation was about that you didn't know how to argue the topic anymore. "Jhondie's order is ready. Why don't you pick it up for her since you *will* be able to give it to her soon." And then the connection was mercifully broken.
I hung up my phone. I knew that was going to happen sooner or later, but I would have preferred that confrontation with my future mother-in-law to be much later. "Whatever happens," I said to Zack, "do not let that woman know that you are anywhere within beating distance."
He nodded but stoically refused to comment. I checked my watch. Dr. Lee's shop was on the way to where we were heading. "I'm going to have to make a stop before the warehouse," I said.
Zack flashed me a look and I could see why he was their leader. One look and you were falling all over yourself to explain. "Jhondie's order?" I reminded him. "She's running a little low on Tryptophan and this is her supplier. If...worst case, you can take it to her." Think positive, I told myself. Don't think about Zack carting the stuff to her wherever she is. Think about it being in the medicine cabinet at the apartment where it belongs.
"She's been sick?" Zack finally asked, the question forced. He didn't like it that he honestly had no idea what was going on in her life. And as much as he wanted to sit there scowling, he still cared enough about her to ask.
"Not all that bad," I replied. "A little stressed with pulling heavy class loads so that she could graduate in three years and start med school next fall. And they hit her harder than normal when she's under a lot of stress." I paused. "She finished in the top 2% on the MCAT and was accepted into three schools, but she had already decided she wanted to stay in LA." I didn't mention that it was because her husband was going to be in LA and she wanted to stay with him.
Zack didn't comment on that note, but I had a feeling that he was thinking about Jhondie's life. She had one here. They had risked so much in running away, but they did it in hopes that they might end up with a life like that which Jhondie was leading now. She had a home and people that loved her. Sometimes I thought that Zack was envious of Jhondie. If she had been their leader instead of him, then he would be the one getting ready for medical school. He might even have a fiancée. Not me, hopefully a girl. But seriously, not me.
We stopped by Dr. Lee's and I ran in while Zack, shockingly enough, sat in the car and stared. I saw my dashboard every day. There wasn't anything that thrilling on it. Oh well. Zack's motives were something that was known only to him. I got back in the car and handed him the large bottle.
"What does Jhondie say to him?" he asked suddenly.
I thought about the truth. Yeah, right. "A couple of years ago, we found out who murdered his son and since then he's been rather grateful," I replied. "He doesn't ask questions and doesn't breathe a word to anyone. One of those rare types that you can trust your life to, you know?" Zack shot me a look that said he didn't know what it was like to blindly trust your life to someone. "He's a real doctor and he's bandaged us up a couple of times when going to a hospital would just involve way too many questions."
"If Jhondie wasn't involved in your mess, she wouldn't need his services at all."
I rolled my eyes. "I think Jhondie's racked up three broken nails in all of the work we've done. I'm the one that ends up getting cut on razor wire and needing stitches." Almost true. Jhondie actually did get a nice slice on a piece of metal that she fell into...long story, anyways, it was on the back of her shoulder and there was just no way I could suture it, so it was off to Dr. Lee. He laughed and said it was about time she had a scar to go along with one of mine. Except the little brat's scar went away in a couple of months.
Zack didn't comment, but there was this little twitch, and I would swear he had to choke back a smile of pride. One day he was going to admit that he was proud of Jhondie for being able to do all that she had done and help to make the world a better place. They were meant to be killers and instead Jhondie was using those abilities to save lives. She was careful, despite what he thought. And I know she felt much better about herself by doing what she was. Zack's way of combating what had happened to them was to set himself up as the savior of the X-5's. Jhondie's was working for EO. It was the same church, just a different hymn. I wasn't going to sway Zack right now though. It was time to do some recon.
I knew the area we were looking around. Jhondie and I had done some surveillance there before working on a story. The whole area was going to go down in a heap the next time we had a decent earthquake but in the meantime, it was a rats nest of various bad guys doing what bad guys did best. I knew about the porno films being done there, but most of the people in them wanted the filming to continue because the money was great. One day I was going to get someone to go on record and I would be able to write a whistle-blowing article. But that would have to wait. There were bigger fish in the pond today.
We cruised around a bit, using a trick that worked really well. I had a map that was unfolded all over the dash and it looked like we were lost and trying to figure out where we were. Trust me, it's silly, but it works if someone sees you. After a while, we noticed a black van. This isn't an area where a brand new van just shows up. I parked a little ways away and we went over to one of the other buildings, breaking in and getting up on the roof.
I knew Zack didn't want me along, but he couldn't get rid of me either. We crept to the edge of the roof, staying low and being quiet. And I had to respect the man with that. I knew how much better Jhondie had gotten at covert surveillance. He blew her out of the water. Not a single pebble scraped under his feet. If there were the slightest chance at getting him on board with the boss, I would have been switching partners in a second.
We watched for several minutes and then a man emerged from the building, looking exactly as Kat had described. I leaned forward, observing, and then all of a sudden, Zack's hand shot out and knocked me backwards. I fell onto my back, shocked more at his expression than his action. His pupils were dilated, indicating he was using his telescopic vision and it's hard to describe, but the best way I could define his look was to say he had just disengaged from the surveillance operation. He hadn't moved, but in his mind, he was out of there.
"Fall back," he whispered. I blinked, and went to say something, but he made a sharp gesture that I understood. Keep your damn mouth shut. What the... I took one more peek over the edge, and I thought for a second I saw a black-clad leg disappearing around a vent on top of the warehouse, but it could have just been shadows.
In any case, whatever Zack had seen, it had spooked him to the point where he was out of there. And I had no doubt that he would leave me high and dry if I didn't catch up to him. He was already in my car (I had locked it and he didn't have a key) by the time I got there. I think he was about a second from hotwiring it and taking off. I got in quickly and we started back towards my apartment.
"What the hell was that all about?" I demanded.
"You are to stay away from there," he ordered. "Under no circumstances are you to approach or attempt surveillance. And I will not be around to back you up should you disobey. You're no soldier, but you should be able to understand what's best for you." Jhondie's reports of him turning into Captain Butthead were not exaggerated in the slightest.
I didn't bother to argue and I know it irritated him that I refused to answer. I just drove. After a while, I finally spoke up. "If you don't have other arrangements, you're welcome to stay at my place," I said flatly.
"Not staying in town," he replied. Okay, that was the number one thing to not say to me. He was all gung-ho to find out how they knew where Jhondie was and now he was high-tailing it? It was stupid and arrogant and I should have thought of myself not as a reporter but as a husband first, but I was still very young and firmly believing I was immortal. There was no way I could let this go. Even when we got to my place and Zack didn't even come up, just jumped on his bike and took off, I knew without a doubt that I had another date with a warehouse.