So, this marks the end of a small side trip.
Freaking writer's block! Damn it to hell!
I had a whole different direction I wanted it to go but just couldn't get it to move.
Half not sure what I got now! I'll figure it out.
week 8 sunday
Lincoln had been surprised to have Linda request that they stay.
He was even more surprised to find himself waking up with Rhonda in his arms. They both had game controllers in their hands and the TV displayed the GAME OVER screen from Grave Puncher III.
He breathed in the scent of Rhonda's shampoo.
She stirred slightly and he half panicked. He had the typical guy issue. Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled at him in the mirror that sat on her small table.
"Good morning." He greeted.
She mumbled it back and slid off the couch. "Draw?" She finally said something coherent as she motioned to the television.
Lincoln nodded. They had mostly tied up and won about the same ammount of rounds.
"Who is that Jen person you were talking about in your sleep?"
"Oh, uh... I... don't mention it to my aunt. I don't think she and Genairre get along for some reason." He almost explained what the haunting female was.
"Alright. So, you obviously work out, want to see around the neighborhood?" Rhonda asked.
"Sure! I'd like that!"
After telling Linda where they were going the two were off.
Lincoln was amazed at how much this little slice of Ohio suburbia was like Royal Woods, and also enjoyed the differences.
The two went through the streets until they seemed lost, before he knew it she pulled him into a small taco joint.
"Hey Greg!" She greeted and a large man turned to wave. "Two of my usual!"
In a short matter of moments there were two take out boxes with four tacos each. Lincoln could smell the spices coming off his plate. "You actually eat these?"
"Mom had this pepper preserve, after that, I can eat anything spicy." Rhonda laughed. "I cried when I ate it, I cried while my tummy burned, I cried after that too."
"Where did she get it?"
"She had it when she moved out here. I opened it. Stupid me." Rhonda laughed. "Really good with peanutbutter!" She lifted up one of her tacos as they walked. "I was sad when it was gone." He watched her bite into the soft taco and sigh happily. "Come on, eat! You'll need your energy for the run back!"
"Run on a full stomach?"
"No, i'm just joking!" She laughed.
Lincoln picked up one of the tacos with a sigh of reliefe. He didn't feel like running after eating. Gym class had been right after lunch last year and he still remembered the feeling. His relief was short lived as his mouth caught on fire with his first bite.
His pain must have been obvious because he heard Rhonda giggle.
He had to admit though that this one taco had beat the previous ones he had ever eaten, with the exception of his Dad's.
"Good?" Rhonda asked.
He nodded yes. "But painful!" But he still took another bite.
She laughed and they made small talk as they walked back.
Lincoln had just finished his as they walked up the drive. it was cold to the touch but it still burned. He wondered if he'd be able to taste dinner later. He caught a glimpse of himself in the window as they passed. Red faced and soaked to the bone with sweat and he knew it wasn't from their jog earlier.
They came in and were greeted by Linda's amused laughter. "Greg's?" To which Rhonda nodded yes. "I'll get you some milk, Lincoln."
"Thanks!" He could imagine the cool, refreshing drink now.
As they rounded the corner into the kitchen they saw Shinji on her laptop.
"Don't ask, she's been in the zone for a while now." Linda mentioned.
"So, when will Dad be home?" Rhonda aksed her mom while Lincoln walked around the table to see what Shinji was doing.
The other two were quickly forgotten by the Loud teen as he saw a list of names and pictures. Some names were crossed out.
She had a small headset plugged into the laptop and was listening intently to someone on the other end.
"So, tell the bastard I'll take on Rouge if he can tell me anything." He heard Shinji whisper. "Wait, I have another call." She tapped a key on the keyboard and looked as if she had been shocked after a moment. "Thanks." She rolled up the headset and closed the lap top.
"Garmen died last month of a heart attack. They found him in his bed last week at his hideout in the Swiss Alps." She addressed Linda. "The only one left is S. S. Junior and he isn't into that whole crime thing anymore. Not after that four month trip to prison."
Linda broke out in a smile drawing her daughter's attention.
"What is up with you guys just having videogames and porn on your computers?" Lincoln asked leaning in closer to the screen as he opened the laptop again. This drew Rhonda'a attention as well.
"Not the place, Snowball. Plus I think you'd have been one to allow people their privacy." Shinji snapped the device closed.
"Sorry." Lincoln pouted.
"Who's Garmen and who's Senior?" The deep voice from the doorway dre their attention.
"David!" Linda greeted warmly as she walked over to her husband where she hugged him tightly and kissed him deeply.
""Seriously, who are they?" David smiled but was still stern in his tone "She looks like some sort of goon and I don't like the feeling I'm getting from her."
Shinji chuckled and made a light curtsey like move.
"David, this is my old friend Dearest and her nephew Lincoln." Linda motioned to them and gave them both a smile. "They came to visit and fill me in on a few things."
"Linda..." Shinji started. She saw the woman deflate a bit. "I think he deserves to know."
"Lincoln, Rhonda, would you two take the boys for a walk?" It sounded like a question, but was more of an order by the look the woman used.
"Okay." Rhonda agreed, maybe Lincoln had some clues.
A few minutes later the three adults sat at the kitchen table. Linda sipped a long Island Iced Tea while David and Shinji drank beer.
"I'm waiting." David stated.
It was obvious that Linda was stalling so Shinji stepped in. "I'm former CIA and currently work for the NSA. Linda used to work for me. We also, dated for a little while." Seeing Linda's face she stare unapologetically back. "He deserves to know. I'm not going to lie." Her attention back on David. "She broke up with me, and trust me, I could never make her smile like you do."
David smirked. Hearing those words made him feel rather pleased and the added touch of Linda's hand on his arm made him feel secure in his relationship and loved.
"Anyway after an undercover op went bad, she disappeared. I found her while looking for my neice and decided to let her know that the people who were after her are no longer a threat." Shinji finished.
"Actually..." Linda set her tea down. "I did teo jobs for her." Shinji knew what was happening. The real truth. "My real name is Ariel Sevonavich, and I was kidnapped, lost in a card game and raised by a a professional assassin." Her hands trembled as she spoke. "I was actually hired to kill Shinji. She knew, and, she didn't care. So I didn't do the job and the people who hired me put the price on my head."
"So you're not really NSA." David looked to Shinji.
"Oh, no, that's true!" Linda answered for her friend. "They just... use her differently."
"I do America's wet work." Shinji admitted then took a long drink of her beer. "It's kinda my speciality."
David nodded. "Why would you try to lie for her?"
"I didn't. She did work for me. I just didn't tell you everything. That was her call."
David grinned. "You're a tricky one!" He said with a chuckle. Shinji mearly shrugged. "So, this is why you don't talk about your past?" He focused on his wife. She nodded. "Do I still call you Linda?" He seemed unconcerned with her admission.
"As far as we're all concerned, Ariel is dead." Linda answered.
"Okay. At least I Know why you speak Russian and Korean. Or why you have the Smith Wesson in your purse."
"It doesn't bother you?" Linda asked.
"I love you, I can't imagine not loving you. Plus, our kids are the safest on the planet. If you were hired to take out the daughter of Shogun Jun, you must be quite skilled."
"You know my dad?" Shinji asked surprised.
"I knoe of him. My grandfather was in California for all of that. I used to study his case files and there was these girls and their parents. Took me a bit to work that out."
"You got a copy of that photo?" Shinji asked.
"I'll make one."
Out in the park Lincoln and Rhonda listened on a walkie talkie to the conversation at the house.
"My mom kills people."
"Used to. I think she wants to forget all that." Lincoln put an arm around her.
"Oh." Rhonda looked a bit disappointed.
"Trust me, it isn't as awesome as the movies make.it out to be."
Rhonda took her eyes off her little brothers and gave Lincoln a strange look.
"Long story short, I killed someone." That admission made him feel a little better. "Even though he was a human monster and deserved it, the first time is hard."
"Good one!" Rhonda laughed. Lincoln took the oprotunity to play it off as a joke and laughed too. "Let's go get on the merry go round!" She pulled him to his feet and they joined her little brothers on the playground.
Week 9 Monday
Lincoln woke up early and trained with Shinji. A short run and some light talk, going over a few of the rules of the trade.
"So, Rhonda is a smart one. Spying on us like that." Lincoln tripped with Shinji's words.
"How?"
"Paranoid spy and a former assassin. You think we didn't see that RC camera car? My daughter has one!" She helped him up and dusted him off. "You okay?" He nodded. "Come on. Half a mile left."
"Can we walk it?" Her picking up the pace was a clear answer of no to his question.
As they entered the Petard house they saw the Petard family in the front room watching the news.
"Continued fighting between the two gangs has turned portions of Michigan into war zones. Over seventy fatalities have been confirmed..." David hit mute.
"The Black Rattlesnakes and Cochino Cartel have been fighting an all out war. They've declaired it a national emergency." David explained.
"Less work for me." Shinji shrugged. Until she saw the bad side of Royal Woods on screen. "Lincoln. You're on your own right now, bud." She was heading upstairs. "I'll send someone to help find Leni, but I've got to get back!"
"What was that about?" Rhonda asked.
"That's what I was thinking." David added.
"The Black Rattlesnakes are based out of Royal Woods. She's supposed to take them out." Lincoln explained as he grabbed his suitcase. "And I have family to protect!" He gave a quick hug to his new friends and ran out after Shinji.
Outside Lincoln threw open the car door.
"Linc..."
"I know, I know, but Leni has... a friend. I need to save our sisters and my baby!" He was hit with a sudden realization, he was going to be a teen father. He had been excited before, but now, it seemed like a challenge. Especially with the new career option he was looking into. "I need to keep them safe!" He steeled his gaze and held a strong, confident tone. "And I will!"
Shinji smiled as she drove. The it faded as Lincoln turned to her and asked. "So what was that little stop over with the Pertards all about?"
She sighed. "For me, closure. Catching up with a friend." She stare ahead for a few minutes, only breaking the foreward gaze to check the mirrors. "For you, it's in the back seat. The brown box under the jacket."