Chapter 39
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
MAYA
Another month passes. That’s three months, three fucking months, and nothing. I miss him so bad. I think I'm losing my mind. All I do is work and work out. Unfortunately, no one will spar with me anymore. After the fight, everyone became scared of me.
The investigation has come to a standstill and I know it's because of the fact that it's a cop.
How can I keep my job? I wasn't relieved of duty but every day they think about it as more photos turn up of me.
My knife had no prints on it. The man who attacked me was found dead in his cell the next morning.
They say it was an unrelated jail attack. I never got my questions answered.
After the attack, Lawrence kept coming to the condo. I filed a restraining order against him. I go to the range and practice shooting all my firearms. I've gone to Quantico a couple of times to work with some of the instructors and push my skills.
My life becomes a series of days blending into work one week and working on forgetting the next week. I finally can't take it anymore; today I'm making a change. I brace myself as I dial the number I've memorized after staring at it for weeks.
"Securities International Incorporated, this is Rebekah. How may I direct your call?"
"Joshua Donovan, please."
"May I tell him who’s calling?"
"Can I just surprise him?"
"Sorry, ma'am, I'm going to need your name." I don't want to give my name in case it's too late and he's in a meeting with him.
"Okay, tell him...it’s another angel in a dark place."
"Excuse me, ma'am, what?"
"Tell him, another angel in a dark place. He'll know what it means. Please, I can't give you my name in case he's in a meeting with someone."
"Okay, ma'am. Hold, please." The hold music isn't bad, but I'm already twitching for a gun or knife when he finally picks up.
"Maya, is that you?" He sounds breathless.
"Yes, I didn't want to give my name in case you were with him. I don't want him to know I called you. Is it too late?" I hope he understands what I'm asking.
"Never! He'll never see another woman as he sees you, Maya. It's just you. What can I do for you?"
"I want a job. I want my man back. I want your help."
"That's a lot of wants. Should I help you after you hurt him like this?"
"Joshua, I was scared and I deal with a lot of guilt from my parents’ deaths. I got that threat and knew he couldn't outrun another sniper. I won’t be responsible for his death."
"I know about guilt, Maya. I also know about being scared. We found the note. We've been doing our own surveillance." He pauses as I've gotten used to him doing; Joshua waits for you to admit something. I'm about to when he says, "Okay, what do you want?"
"How about a partnership?"
"You got enough money to do that?" He knows I do.
"Yes, I do and you know it. I can bring you a lot of American businesses, including the military. First, I need to know how it's going with Ana's case. She hasn't really talked to me much. You never responded to my text message last month."
"Ana seems to be up to something, she's at your Grandmother's place working on it. She appears to feel the tails on her, but Jonathon has also put a tail on her. My gut says something is up. We've doubled the surveillance on her and I'm personally keeping an eye on both of them for you."
"Mine too. How is he?"
"Like hell, please call him soon. He's taking a couple of days to do some research he said would take him some time."
"I need to get this all figured out. I'm talking to both of my bosses today. I'll have my solicitor get into contact with you so we can start drawing up the papers. Please keep this between us."
"Only for a little bit, Maya. I can't lie to him."
"Okay, goodbye, Joshua." I hang up and head out to the station. I'll tell Derek tonight, I hope he doesn't get upset with me. Maybe he'll come with me. I don't know how Greg will take it.
"Derek, we need to talk."
My day went as I thought it would. Both my bosses tried to stop me, but with everything going on, they expected it.
"What’s up, sexy?"
"I'm moving to London. I can't be away from him anymore. He is my life. If being with him puts him in danger, I'll be there to get between him and that bullet."
"Then I guess it's time for me to leave too."
"What?"
"After this December, I decided I'm tired of living in the past. I will put myself in front of any bullet you try to jump in front of. I'm going with you."
"You know I love you, right?"
"Yeah, I know, sexy. I love you too."
The rest of the evening we make plans for hopefully a bright future.
I still haven't been able to talk to Greg because he's in Europe on an assignment.
I head to bed, finally feeling like this pain will end and my life will start again.
The attack showed me that no matter if I'm with him or not, he'll be in danger.
At least with me at his side, we have a chance.
I want to call Ana in the morning, instead, as I start to fall asleep, I receive an email from her.
To: marron_krav
From: Analovesmaya_preston
Maya,
Please pick me up at BA2329 in City of Brotherly Love, March 4. Don't tell anyone.
Love you,
A
PS he misses you!
Okay, this is seriously cryptic. Oh well, she's my best friend and I told her I'd be there. She hasn't used the cell phone ever.
The next morning I call out sick for work.
I grab a go bag from my closet, along with two burner phones.
I open my gun safe and pull out two different calibers of Sigs, my two service weapons, and several knives.
Out of the closet, I pull my SR-25 and plenty of ammo for them all. Yep, I'm that paranoid girl.
After the shooting at Duncan and Joshua's building, and both of the attacks, I’ve made sure I always carry a piece on me, but today I feel the tension in the air around me.
I'm fully decked out in tactical pants with my shit-kicking steel-toe boots, a body-hugging sports bra, Henley T-shirt, and a hoodie.
I slip my knife into the holster on my boot.
I put on my belt with the double sheath for two of my throwing knives.
I load it up. I clip on my holster for the twin punch knives and look at myself in the mirror.
Yep, I'm almost ready. I braid my hair and twist that into a bun at the back of my neck. Now, I'm ready.
I take the elevator to the garage and throw the go bag in my toolbox.
I check to see if my competition rifle and bigger gun are in their compartment, pull my sidearm out, and put it in the box under my seat.
I check that I have two bulletproof jackets in the back and check my other gear.
The body armor vest Duncan bought me for Christmas is in the back seat.
I pull up the seat and place my SR-25 in its compartment.
Of course, I always over pack, but you never know what you're going to run into.
Lack of sleep is seriously making me paranoid. I put one of the Sigs into my calf holster over my other boot, and a couple knives hidden in various areas on my body. I'm ready to kick some ass. I could use the fight.
I jump in my truck and head to Philadelphia. Only Ana would call it what she did, as non-American as she is, but if someone who doesn't know American slang was reading her email maybe they wouldn’t know. Maybe they'd have to look it up, it would give her, and me, more time.
As I get on the freeway, I notice a black sedan a couple cars behind me.
Great time for a backup plan. Wish I could have ridden my bike, I could outrun them with that for sure.
I pull off the freeway into a truck stop, lock and set the alarm for my truck.
I have one of my sidearms under my hoodie in my back holster over my knives.
Walking into this truck stop armed is going to cause a few glances, but I couldn’t care less right now.
The sedan pulled into the McDonald's across the street. Yep, real obvious, assholes.
Truckers and other drivers look me up and down.
I know I have the don't fuck with me look on my face but really, I brushed my hair and all today.
When I walk into the back of the truck stop, I head for the coffee first, need some after my lack of sleep, and second, I need a distraction.
I find it in the trucker checking me out.
"Hey, mister, can you help me?" I pull my badge and flash it to him. "Can you park your semi in front of that black truck to block the view from McDonald's?"
"Yes, ma’am." He walks out to do as I ask.
I pull out the burner phone and send the text that will get me all the help I need.
Me
911. Rudolph has a red nose.
Duncan
Who's this?
Me
Need your help, heading to Philly for sister. Being tailed. Forgive me. I miss you.
Duncan
I'm in DC, pulling up to your flat. I decided to chase you.
Me
Meet me at Philly airport at 1525 hours.
Duncan
I still love you.
Me
I know. I never stopped loving you. I'll explain later.
I do love him, it's true. I realized it at his flat and about an hour into my flight home. I was just too stubborn and couldn't figure out a way to make it work.
I was going to call Joshua today, but plans have changed, I needed to tell him how it went with my superiors.
I hope that Duncan can make it. I hope he remembers my reference to Rudolph from lunch with Joshua.
He's coming for me. God, I love that man.
My heart lightens, but I need to stay focused.
I hated confessing my love through text, but I wanted him to know, just in case.
It's only a two-and-a-half-hour drive but not long enough for me to lose my tail. It’s as if they know where I’m going.
My diversion with the semi only helped for about thirty minutes.
I can't figure out a way to lose them without showing my hand that I know they're there.
I pull into the airport parking lot, take my second gun from my safe in the center console, and put it next to my seat just in case.
I pull my backup gun from my ankle and check it.
I drop it on the floorboard, as I know I'll not be able to carry it in the airport.
I want to take it but know that will draw too much attention.
I remove my hoodie and Henley, leaving me in my sports bra, and put on my standard issue vest, making sure my knives aren't visible because they'll be the only protection other than myself.
I'm glad Abba made me take all those Israeli knife-fighting courses, I'm even happier David has kept me in practice.
I know my heavy-duty body armor vest is stronger, but that's for Ana. I place it on the passenger seat.
I put my Henley and hoodie back on and check my appearance and the time.
I'm glad I put my hair up, I'm going to need to be able to move without it in my way.
I leave the third vest on the back seat.
I leave my purse in the truck but pull my badges and place them both in the hoodie pocket. My ID goes in my back pocket.
I run for the British Airways arrival area and begin my wait. It's at this point I figure out a way to get rid of my tail. I pull my Secret Service badge from the pocket and clip it to my jeans, leaving my DC Metro one in the pocket. Federal officers get more attention.
I tucked my Henley in so my vest doesn't show, plus I'm a strong believer in clothing helping with bullets. It's something that the older cops tell the younger ones, but I'll try anything. I know my standard issue vest won't work for point blank shots or even a high caliber sniper bullet.
Security was watching me carefully until they saw my badge. I'm now identified as a law enforcement officer, allowing me to walk around armed with the visible boot knife.
If only I had packed my guns instead.
Duncan
My heart is about to beat out of my chest. Both of them are in danger.
I call Joshua and clue him in. He's immediately cussing and getting the guys to run as much current information on Jonathon as they can.
He hints that he has talked to Maya recently.
He and I will be discussing his conversations with my girl.
He also helps get me some pull with the local police departments, as I know when I catch up to my girl, I'm going to have to rough someone up.
He says they'll be heading out as soon as possible to help me.
I pray I get to my girl before she does something stupid.
She is so talented and smart, but she never thinks about that person who doesn't go by the rules.
I've spent the last three months working around the London area, trying to figure out my next move.
I've missed her so much. This short time apart, with no contact, was far worse than the previous six months.
I knew I was not going to be able to stay away from her much longer. She's my air and my very life.
I'm pulling into the Philadelphia airport at 1600 hours. I'm late. Please, Lord, let them both be okay, I pray. My phone pings in my pocket.