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Writer's pictureKendra Cassidy

The Cassidy Chronicles - Chapter Twenty-Five

It's a Zeus-blessed good thing that I didn't know what Derek did to Cass until later.

He wouldn't have survived the drive to Houston.

I have spent my life learning why I am so fierce when it comes to my loves, my family.

I won't get into it here, because you want to read the chapter, not my own personal psychoanalysis.

Suffice it to say that it all goes back to feeling like I was abandoned by any family I had when I was born. (Emotional, not logical.)

Anyway. Strap in, this is gonna be a big ride!


Chapter 25: You Call Me a Bitch Like It’s a Bad Thing


Travel from Los Alamos to Houston was smooth and efficient, with no questions about their documentation. The weapons arrived ahead and were reacquired and distributed to their users. Singly and in pairs, they made their way to the HLC Headquarters campus. They entered the building with their seemingly-legitimate IDs. Mac and Lisa monitored the internal security and servers, waiting for even a hint of trouble, but instead received confirmation Kaine was indeed staying late at the office. By nine-thirty, all were in position.

Mac spoofed the cameras, Lisa cut off the internal alarms from her remote location, and Alycia triggered a jammer that blanketed the radio frequencies with static.

Stone burst into Kaine’s office wearing an HLC Security uniform with the rank of Lieutenant on the shoulders, Bruce and Michael at her heels.

“Can I help you?” said the young blonde. It was the same girl Aiyana had met, though Stone hadn’t the slightest idea. She was sitting at a desk before Kaine’s door, the guardian of the inner sanctum, and had continued to be bored. The nails of one hand were halfway redone.

“Is the Director in?” asked Stone.

“Yes, he is, Lieutenant, ah, I’m sorry, do I know you?”

“Lieutenant Rasczak, I’m from the Canberra campus on TDY.”

“Of course,” said the secretary. Stone could see the nameplate on her desk read Courtney. “I’ll announce you,” she continued.

“No time, this is urgent,” Stone said, moving quickly to the door. Bruce followed Stone while Michael faced Courtney.

“Ah’m sure that the Director won’t mind a bit,” he assured her. “Don’t y’all worry yourself about it.”

Kaine sat behind his desk, visibly angry and frustrated at the sudden breakdown of the systems.

“Who are you?” he barked.

“There’s a problem with the security systems,” Stone answered, telling the truth.

“No shit, dumbass,” retorted Kaine.

“We’re here to keep you safe,” added Bruce.

“Safe from what?”

“Sir, it’s actually fairly urgent that you come with us,” continued Stone. “There may be an attempt on your life.”

“Bullshit,” snapped Kaine. “What’s your source?”

“Sir, I’d rather not reveal that information,” said Stone, with a slight nod to the open door. “If you know what I mean?”

Kaine’s eyes flashed, and he nodded.

“I understand.” He reached below his desk, pulled up a carrier bag, and dropped his computer into it. “Ready.”

“Very good, sir,” said Stone, dripping deference. “Our transport is waiting.”

Bruce led out the door, followed by Stone, Kaine, and Michael.

“One moment,” said Kaine, stopping.

“Are you done for the night?” asked Courtney, half-standing.

“No,” said Kaine, reaching into his jacket. “But you are.”

The woman’s eyes widened as he pulled a compact pulse gun from his holster, aimed, and fired at her chest. Most of the left side of her chest, including her heart, vanished in an explosion of superheated flesh. Courtney’s body collapsed into her chair.

“I don’t deal well with traitors,” Kaine said blandly, tossing the exhausted pistol at Stone. She caught it in one gloved hand. “Charge that. You said you have transport?”

“Yes, sir,” answered Bruce. “If you’ll follow me?”

He led the way out and down the corridor.

“Bloody ruthless bastard,” said Stone under her breath, dropping the pistol on the floor. “He’ll be a pleasure to eliminate.”

“Too right,” agreed Michael, equally quietly.

Stone pulled the door closed, ensuring it locked.

“Exiting,” subvocalized Stone. “Kendra to the transport. Monegain, Sanzari, meet us at junction AA-23 to escort.”

“Roger,” confirmed Kendra.

“On the way,” said Sanzari.

“Sir, won’t anyone ask questions about the body?” said Stone when she caught up with Kaine.

“No,” he answered brusquely. “I heard you close the door. Nobody goes in there when that door’s closed. I’ve made that completely clear to more than one stupid bastard who, well. Never mind why. I’ll deal with the mess in the morning.” He said the last as casually as if he’d spilled coffee on his desk.

The small group walked in silence until they met Sanzari and Monegain.

“Santos,” said Stone to Sanzari, using her appropriated name. “On point. Morgan, you’re tail-end Charlie.” Monegain nodded and held his position until everyone passed, then fell in behind.

The campus was large, and it took several minutes to walk to the exit Stone had planned. Kaine only commented once, asking why they weren’t going to the main entrance. Stone had explained the concerns and need to act unpredictably, at which point Kaine had returned to his comm. He walked blindly out the door and over to the transport, where Sanzari opened the side door for him.

With Michael and Bruce behind, Sanzari next to him, and Stone in the front passenger seat, he climbed in. Monegain stayed outside and closed the door. He would join Mac’s team and make his way out with them.

Kaine’s home was fifteen minutes to the East. When the vehicle headed West, he asked why.

“Unpredictability, sir,” repeated Stone.

“I hope you’re not going to go around the long way,” he muttered, then pulled out his computer and returned to work. He was oblivious to all for another twenty minutes until they pulled up at the OutLook safe house. The Bugatti was already there.

“Hey, this isn’t my house!” blurted Kaine, and he tried to bring his bag up.

“Ah ah ah,” scolded Sanzari, snatching it away.

“What the fuck are you playing at? And don’t give me that unpredictability shit.”

“Fine,” agreed Stone equably. “This is a kidnapping.”

Bruce and Michael reached over to grab Kaine’s shoulders and pin him against the seat from behind.

“You can’t be serious!” snapped Kaine. “My security –”

“Is in Los Alamos, or heading there,” completed Stone, now leveling a nasty-looking flechette pistol at Kaine. “Sorry, Mr. Kaine. It was an inside job, but I’m afraid your secretary had nothing to do with it.”

Kendra turned around from the driver’s seat.

“Aiyana sends her regards, asshole.” She was holding a small tube.

“You!” he sputtered. “You’re supposed to be –”

“Dead? Sold into slavery?” Her grin was cruel.

“Fuck you, bitch!” he spat.

“How cute,” said Kendra. “You call me a bitch like it’s a bad thing.”

She turned to Stone. “May I?”

The Master Chief nodded. “Your privilege.”

“Nighty-night, Glenn,” said Kendra. She pressed the end of the tube. A single thwip! sounded, and a tiny dart embedded itself in Kaine’s chest. In seconds, he was out cold.

Stone took charge.

“Let’s get this lump inside before anyone notices something weird.” She, Sanzari, Michael, and Bruce each took a limb of the unconscious Security Director and carried him up to the house. After grabbing his bag from Sanzari, Kendra went ahead, so she was the one who opened the door.

“Come on in,” said a voice from inside.

“Derek?” said Kendra, walking in. “Where are you?”

“Just in the kitchen,” he replied. “Straight back.”

“Hold on,” Kendra answered. “There’s a few more of us, and we have a, uh, guest.”

“The more, the merrier! It’s a big kitchen. Everyone can fit.” Derek sounded ebullient, and Kendra wondered.

Maybe he’s excited because they made good time?

By now, Stone and the others were through. Kendra closed the door.

“Derek’s here,” she said. “In the kitchen.”

Stone raised an eyebrow.

“How’d he get here before us?”

“I’m waiting,” called Derek, a hint of impatience in his voice. “You don’t want me to wait.”

“Why don’t you come out here?” Kendra replied.

“Oh, there’s something I need to keep an eye on. I couldn’t step away for a moment, sorry! There’s plenty for everyone, though, so why don’t you come back?”

Stone shrugged. “He’s your husband.”

Kendra led the way, opened the door, and stepped back to let the others through first.

“Oh, now isn’t that interesting,” she heard Derek say. “You brought a surprise. Why don’t you put that over at the table?”

Kendra followed. “Hi, Derek. I didn’t expect you to be here yet.”

Derek was standing with his back to them. It looked like he was stirring something on the cooktop. He turned, and Kendra was stunned to see that he was holding a sonic disruptor.

“Derek?” she said, confused.

“Put your weapons on the table, everyone,” said Derek coldly, the weapon never wavering. “Do it gently. I’ve had a busy night, and I’m not feeling very trustful right now.”

Carefully, they complied. Kendra started towards the table, but Derek waved her off.

“You. Stay away from the table. Put everything on the floor.” His voice was arctic.

“Where’s Cass?” trembled Kendra.

“On ice,” answered Derek. “But alive.”

“She’d better be,” threatened Kendra.

“Or what?” mocked Derek. “You’ll kill me? Don’t stop,” he said to Kendra, who had slowed her disarming.

“What’s all this, then?” asked Stone, quietly fuming and furious she hadn’t trusted her instincts.

“Oh, you haven’t figured it out? Gee, with those two supposed computer geniuses, I would have thought it easy for you super-agent types.”

“You own HLC,” Kendra said flatly. “You’re behind all of this.”