Chapter 6 #2
“Fair enough. But the offer is always there.” With a smile he turned on his heel and disappeared into the bowels of the office.
“He seems nice,” she said as they made their way toward the elevators.
“He’s an exceptional boss. Actually, everyone who works here is great. It’s nice to be part of a team that all like and respect each other.”
“What type of security do they provide?” Marie asked when they exited the building and headed for the café across the road.
Once they were seated and confirmed that they’d preordered their food with their server, her mom finally answered her question. “They do all sorts. Private security. Event security. And other things as well.”
Marie’s interest radar was piqued at the last comment. There was something more to it. “What do you mean other things?”
Their food arrived, once again providing her mom with an excuse not to elaborate, which only caused Marie to worry more. “Mom, you still haven’t answered me.”
She tried to keep her tone even, but she hadn’t been able to stop the bite of concern from coming out.
Her mom leaned forward, encouraging Marie to do the same. “There are things they do that can’t be talked about. But it’s for the greater good.”
The greater good?
That made it sound even worse. “Does Dad know about these things?”
One thing she knew about her father was, he wouldn’t let Mom work in a place that was dangerous for her.
Or run by people who were less than above board.
If he knew about what they did and was okay with it, then she would be.
If he didn’t know about it, then Marie wasn’t sure she’d be able to keep it from him.
The last thing she wanted was for her mom to be hurt by the people she trusted—no matter how nice they all seemed to be.
“Of course, your father knows. I don’t keep secrets from him. Trust me when I say that everyone who works for Alliez Security has military or other types of backgrounds. I’m proud to be associated with them.”
There was no doubting the belief in her mother’s voice. Who was she to distrust what her parent had to say? If her dad knew and was okay with her working there then that was all that mattered. Besides, she didn’t have any reason to tell her mother what she could and couldn’t do.
“That’s good,” she said, tucking into her salad while steering the conversation to safer subjects—like her younger sister who lived in Idaho with her husband and two kids.
She should try and make an effort to go see Anne and her nieces.
It had been too long. They didn’t have a close relationship, but maybe Marie should change that, because she’d seen how life could be taken away in a shake of the earth.
“What are your plans for the rest of the day,” Mom asked as they stood out the front of her building.
“More unpacking,” Marie grimaced at the thought.
Mom laughed. “I did offer to help you.”
“I know. Honestly, though, I could probably get rid of half of my stuff. I learned to get by with the bare minimum in San Carlion.”
“True, but sometimes it’s good to have a little luxury around us.” Her mom laid a hand on her arm, and Marie soaked up her mother’s love in that small gesture. “Don’t be too hasty in getting rid of everything.”
“I won’t. Now, my ride should be arriving shortly.”
Her mom shook her head. “I don’t like the idea of this driverless car you’re talking about. There is something to be said for having a human behind the wheel in case anything happens.”
“I admit I was worried too, but I used it to bring me here, and there weren't any issues. It was kind of fun to see the wheel moving and everything. I’ll be fine.”
“If you say so. I can wait if you want.”
Marie shook her head, just managing to stop herself from rolling her eyes at her mom’s comment. “It’s fine, Mom. You go up. I’ll call you when I get home, okay?” She leaned forward and kissed her mom on the cheek.
“You do that.” With a wave, her mom disappeared into the depths of the building, just as her car arrived.
Marie walked over to the silver sedan, got in and hit the start ride in the app.
A sudden jolt of the car stopped its forward momentum.
A light-colored vehicle had pulled up in front of them blocking their exit.
She expected the sensors to kick in and start reversing to enable them to have enough space to pull out and go around, but it didn’t, and they stayed where they were.
Not moving. Not doing anything.
What was going on?
The screen in front of her displayed a message advising they were blocked both front and back, and until that clears the car can’t move.
What the hell? Surely this thing can reverse a little and get out—like any normal driver would do.
No sooner had she finished the thought than the door opened. “You need to get out now!”
The voice was male, urgent and … somewhat familiar, but Marie was too shocked at his presence to try and figure out why she thought she recognized it.
“What? I don’t think so.”
The stranger leaned in, his eyes brown and intense. The angles of his face were harsh but handsome at the same time. “Now!” he said again and grabbed her arm, hauling her out of the car, just as a man appeared blocking their exit, a gun pointed directly at them.
A quick punch to the gut from the person holding her, was enough to bring the man holding the gun to his knees, gasping for air. Another assailant appeared, but stopped when he saw she wasn’t alone.
Around her people shouted, but the person holding her, ignored their cries and swept her back into the building her mom worked in and toward an elevator whose doors were beginning to close.
She had no idea what happened to the men with guns.
Quite frankly, she didn’t care. She was safe, well sort of.
The whole process from getting out of the car to where she was now, happened in thirty seconds. As the elevator whisked them up, Marie had a chance to look at the person who still held her arm, the grip strong, but not so that she couldn’t shake it off if she wanted to.
So why don’t you?
She ignored the voice and studied his profile.
There was something about him that screamed she should know him.
That she should recognize him. Apart from the brief moment in the car when he leaned in, she hadn’t really looked at him until now.
She couldn’t place who he could be or where she may have met him. “Who are you?” she asked.
He turned to face her and didn’t say anything. Marie took in the color of his eyes. The tiny lines etched beside them that spoke of someone who’d seen and experienced a lot.
Suddenly another image of a man hit her.
One with a scruffy beard and longer hair.
In her mind she combined the two images and added bristles of grey and brown to the clean-shaven face.
Add a few inches to the short back and sides of his current hairstyle, and the person in front of her was the same one who’d come to her rescue when she’d needed help all those months ago. “Samuel?”