Chapter 1 #2
sprayed him. Now all her pepper spray was gone. Grant was having
trouble with the three humans left. She grabbed a lamp and brained
another guy. Then she started tying the other guys up as some of
them looked to be getting better. Grant took out the last two and
they tied them up too.
She tied those last two up, but she was
pretty shook up. “I’m sorry.”
“What are you sorry for?
You did great.” Grant observed.
“We came close to
losing.”
“They sent more guys than
they have in months. I’ll load them up while you finish, . and
we’ll run them all to the office.”
“What about Rita?” Bindi
asked.
“She knows about the crazy
hate group. Tyne and Moe told her last week, but she can’t tell
anyone. But you’re right, Naqi will want them.”
“It’s not good that they
hit so hard. Could they be about to start again?”
“I hope not, but we’ll know
soon.”
“Since we’re done and they
are loaded, let’s get out of here.” Grant decided.
They got in the truck and headed home.
“I’ve always wondered how they seem to know locations and what
teams are sent to them.”
“I always thought they just
hacked the system.”
“Wouldn’t there be some
sign of that?” Bindi asked.
“Maybe, but they aren’t
always right. They’ve also waited for several days before we get to
that location.”
“What does it all
mean?”
“That we’re probably going
to have to worry again and that we need a computer expert to see if
we’ve been hacked.” Grant observed.
She and Grant spoke all the way home
and Bindi relaxed until finally she fell asleep. It seemed no time
had passed when he was telling her to wake up. “It seems like I
just fell asleep.”
“You did. It’s been about
thirty minutes. I drove straight to Naqi’s.”
She got out and followed him in. Bindi
checked the time and they had made big money this trip. There had
been no looking for a house to rent for her since she wanted back
to HQ. Her bonus agreement had almost run out of time. Alaska was
beautiful, but she never had time to see it. So, she was still here
with Joey.
Bindi had offered her rent, but she
refused to take it. She bought her gifts because she didn’t know
what else to do. The move back would be easy since she didn’t have
much here. It would get her away from Duroc too. She knew he’d made
a deal with Tyne and would eventually go back, but this would give
her time to get over those feelings she’d developed for
him.
This made her sad but also relieved.
Bindi didn’t know much about relationships. Yes, she’d had a few
but the man had always run them, and they’d been purely sexual.
Women have needs too and she’d tried to assuage her needs, but none
of her past lovers had been good. Maybe that sounded mean, but
they’d put no effort forth to please her and they hadn’t. That’s
why those relationships had ended.
A vibrator could do a better job so why
keep them around? More than that was needed out of a relationship
just physical or not. She’d had good friends, even some that were
men. Getting physical seemed to ruin that, not just with her, but
she’d seen it happen in other couples. Tramp and Petie were the
rare exception. She felt like that was too big a risk to take with
Duroc since she might have to work with him again, but she’d bet
he’d be a better lover than those in her past had been.
“Naqi, we brought you a
gift.” Grant said as he led him to the truck where the enemies were
stacked three high.
“I see someone’s been
acting up again.”
“These guys attacked Bindi
and me.”
“Are you some kind of super
warrior?” Naqi asked.
“No, Bindi took most of
these guys out. I got less than half.”
“How?”
“She had a stun gun and
pepper spray.” Grant explained.
“And I wasn’t afraid to use
it. I need to stock up on my pepper spray and charge my stun gun.”
Bindi explained. She had followed them to the truck.
“You did a great job.” Naqi
praised. “Especially since we’ve all hoped they had
stopped.”
“What are you going to do
with them?” Grant wondered.
“We’ll question them then
send them to Tyne.” Naqi replied.
“I thought you’d give them
a chance and let them run from the pack. Some of them have
complained that they’ve not had a good hunt in a while.” Grant said
then he laughed.
“You’re right but Tyne
wants them, and he’ll pay the plane to bring them to him.” Naqi
answered.
“There goes all the fun.”
Grant complained.
“I’m sure you’ll get
something out of it.” Naqi observed.
“You want to call Tyne, or
should I?”
“I already did. He said
he’d call the pilot, so he’d be ready.” Bindi explained.
“He say anything?” Grant
asked.
“Yeah, oh hell, not again.”
She replied.
“Maybe he’ll let us start
killing them since he’s getting tired of them now.” Grant
suggested.
They all went inside. “What was all
that about?” Bindi asked.
“Tyne says some word is
getting out from the guys we take prisoner back to the group. Maybe
this will discourage them. They’ve also set up listening devices
all over the prison and on a few prisoners that will get out sooner
for doing this. Who knows what they’ll find out.” Grant
said.
“Okay, that makes sense.
It’s late enough now to eat supper than get to sleep.”
“You’ve had a hard
day.”
“Yeah, for a human?” Bindi
asked.
“Hey, you said it, but
humans aren’t as strong as wolves. But I have to say it, you were
better prepared.”
“I was, wasn’t I?” She shot
him a smile.
They went to supper and then everyone
went their own way. As soon as she got to her room, she called Rita
to tell her they made it back.
“Okay, I heard you two were
attacked. Tyne has me told me to direct everyone to be cautious.
How many were there?” Rita asked.
“My guess is fifteen. They
filled up the back three high.”
Rita chuckled. “Being on the bottom of
that pile was a punishment in itself.”
“Not enough of one. That’s
okay though. Tyne will see they get theirs.” Bindi
observed.
“I imagine he
will.”
They said goodbye since it was time to
go to bed. She was the only security specialists staying here and
right now she was glad. Bindi went to her room and got ready for
bed. There was a shared bathroom so she was careful to lock the
other door which she would unlock once she was done. A hot shower
put her to rights and now she was ready to get a good night’s
sleep.
When morning came, Bindi wondered if it
had all been a bad dream, but it hadn’t been. It was impossible to
deny the fear she felt as her day began. Breakfast was good as
always and Joey had stayed to talk to her and finish her
coffee.
“You feel okay?”
“I can’t deny I’m nervous
about going out on the job, but we managed to survive, and we
weren’t near base. Help would have come too late.” Bindi
observed.
“I heard you were
amazing.”
“For a human?”
“There is more in you than
just human. Maybe you should asked Tyne to check that out for you?”
Joey suggested.
“I imagine there’s wolf.
They raised me in a pack but when I turned sixteen, they said I was
old enough to manage on my own. All I had was the clothes on my
back. Maybe I should thank them because it made me
tough.”
“What pack?”
“They have a third of the
state of Oregon. The top third and they are a large pack with money
making businesses.” Bindi admitted.
“Why didn’t you tell
Tyne?”
“Why?”
“I imagine you worked a job
with them since you were old enough to walk?”
“Yes, that’s
true.”
“There are rules. They are
supposed to take care of you until you are at least eighteen. At
the time they want you to leave, they should give you two thousand
dollars to get a new life. That’s not a lot, but it would have made
life easier on you.” Joey observed. “How did you
manage.”
“I walked to Warrenton, the
nearest city. Once I got there, a small diner had a help wanted
sign. The owner was a lady that could pass for a sweet grandma. She
gave me a job. Fran wanted me to start right away. It was pure luck
because I didn’t have a birth certificate or a social security
number. Most jobs asked for those two things and references.” Bindi
explained.
“You were
lucky.”
“I was. By the time Fran
retired and closed the diner, I had a birth certificate, a social
security number and a GED. There was also job experience and
references. That’s when I got a job in an electronics company. They
paid well and I went to college part time getting an associate
degree in business. When I turned twenty-one, it was time to move
on. That’s when I headed north across Canada and ended up in
Alaska.”
“How long were you here
before you started working for Tyne’s company?” Joey
asked.
“About a year before Tramp
saved me and everyone has been so great and helpful. But I’m ready
to leave Alaska and see if I can go to Missouri. It was nice down
there. When I was there, I talked to Ariel, and she said she’d help
me find a house. Can you imagine me owning my home?”
“Actually, I can. You’ve
adjusted perfectly and rebounded from harsh circumstances. My
belief is you can do anything you set your mind to.” Joey
observed.
“Thank you for that.” Bindi
finished her meal and hurried to walk to the office.
It was a good walk, and she was
composed by the time she arrived at the office neither first nor
last. Rita had the coffee on so everyone filled their travel mug.
The office had a group size pot so everyone could get their
own.
“I’ve got everyone’s list.
Want it now or do I send it to you?” Rita asked.
Most had it sent but Bindi grabbed
hers. “Let’s go.” She told Grant and nodded at Rita as they exited
the office.
This was something she could do.
Speaking about her past had reminded her of all she’d overcome, Her
stun gun was charged, and she had an order in for a bigger, better
one. and she could handle anything. At least she hoped she could.
The pepper spray was a new bottle, and she had an extra in
case.
Bindi had decided she would not live in
fear. They might take her down, but they would get a fight.
“Where’s our first job?” Grant asked as she added it to the
GPS.
“Twelve miles north of
here. Mostly driving on the highway but two miles down a side
road.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I refuse to let
fear rule me.” Bindi replied.
The rest of the drive passed in
silence. “We’re here.” Grant said and she startled. Maybe she
drifted off.
“I’m ready.” They both got
out and loaded up.
Grant went to the door and knocked on
it. A woman opened the door and she smiled as soon as she looked at
him. Yes, he was pretty hot. Maybe he’d get a date out of this.
Bindi got to work and let Grant deal with the client who was
flirting heavily and circling like a land shark. He didn’t seem to
mind.
When they were done, he gave her the
instructions then they headed to the next place. “I think someone
has a fan.”
“Come on Bindi, not you,
now.”
“What am I doing?” She
looked innocent.
“Trail and Tramp gave me
hell even though they got as much attention from the women as I
did. There was no going to Mad’s for me. Trail told her I was
single, and that girl is several kinds of crazy.”
Bindi couldn’t argue. “I didn’t know
you had it so tough.” Bindi answered with a straight
face.
“You’re still going to give
me a hard time, aren’t you?”
“I will, but I’ll feel bad
doing it. Does that make it better?” Bindi asked.
“No. We’re at the next
job.”
“This is a dump. What are
they trying to keep safe?”
“Let’s go find out.” Grant
suggested. He walked up to the door first.
The elderly man that answered the door
seemed safe enough. “Here you are. Follow me in and I’ll show you
where to go.”
That was what he did as he showed them
windows and doors. He was glad to have the pad to turn things on
and off by the main door. The man looked at her and winked. “You
can give me my instructions.”
She blushed. Maybe she had misjudged
how safe he was. “Why did you decide on a security
system?”
“Not me, my kids paid for
the system for a year. It was some special your company is
running.”
“The company is always
doing something. I’d best get back to work.”
“If you need a different
job, I’ll give you one.” The man offered.
“Thanks for the offer, but
the owners are friends.” Bindi admitted.
He wandered away leaving her to get her
work done. She put her concentration into her work. The house was
medium sized, but they got it done quickly. As he had requested,
she gave him the instructions.
“You are leaving, no?” She
nodded. “My heart is broken.”
That didn’t stop them from leaving to
get to their next job. This looked like a mansion and might take
all day. Once they got inside and looked around, they saw it had
been wired before. By using the wires which looked new and were
just like theirs, they saved a lot of time. It would be a late
lunch, but they would have time for another job.
The places to eat were spread out and
could sometimes be found in surprising places. There was a place
just two miles away that was on Rita’s list. It was another hunting
lodge but the rooms to rent were small and not as nice as those
she’d seen before. The food however was wonderful.