Hidden Secrets (Garrett Investigation Book 1) (16 page)

“No fucking way is Fletcher a brother of Malachy’s.”

“Well, you can’t say I didn’t warn you Blaze,” Haier said clicking off his phone.

“Moron,” muttered Blaze tossing his phone on the desk.

Anastasia found her way to the garden centre, needing to burn off her temper with work.  Lifting and carting plants around on a trolley she banged into Kevin Truit.

“Hello there.  Not seen you out running recently Ana?”

“That’s what happens when you’re busy running a business, Mr Truit.” She replied striding past continuing on her way.

“May I walk with you?”

“Whatever, I’m busy so don’t get in my way.”

“Charming to customers are you not?”

“Look Mr Truit, I’m working on filling the empty trays.  I don’t do customer service.  If you want help go and ask Brandy over there.”  She left him standing, hands shoved in his pockets; eyebrows lifted in surprise.  It seemed something or someone had upset her; he smiled as he planned how he could take advantage of it.  Walking over to Brandy, he tapped her on the shoulder.

“Hi, could you help me pick out a couple of rose bushes for a friend.”

“Certainly sir, do you know what colour they like; perfumed or un-perfumed?”

“I think white would be lovely,” he looked thoughtful, “Yes a nice fragrance too, please.  I like a rose that can entice,” he smiled.

“Well sir, come this way we’ve quite a few different white rose bushes.”

“Thank you.”

Walking up and down the aisles of white roses, he stopped by a tall, elegant one, very few thorns by the buds, though rather prickly towards the base.  He leant over inhaling the fragrance.  Smiling, he turned to Brandy.

“This one will do fine, thank you.  I’ll take two of them, please.”

“Certainly sir, if you wait here I’ll get you a trolley.”

As Brandy walked away, Ana turned down the aisle, looking in a better mood.

“So Ana what do you think of this rose.”

She stopped, looking and smelling, smiling up at him.  “I’m sure your wife will enjoy them.  They have strong flowerage and give plenty of buds.”

“That’s nice to know Ana, though they’re not for my wife.  I don’t have one anymore; she died a few years ago.”

“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that Mr Truit.”

“I hope to have a lovely woman in my life one day soon.”

“Good for you.  I must get this finished, see you again sometime.”

“Yes, I’m sure we shall.”

Ana left him thinking about what he said, just turning the corner she stopped and shuddered finally realising he meant her ‘eww what a creep,’ she muttered under her breath.  Parking the trolley Ana wandered back to Rose Cottage for dinner trying hard not to think of her encounter.  Wondering how Malachy’s day had gone.  She’d missed his company, though knew they both needed a break, everything was moving far too fast.

Walking into the cottage Ana found it was later than she thought.  Abby started tutting and fussing over her, taking her coat ushering her into the lounge where a plate of sandwiches awaited her.

“I’ll just get your coffee, Ana.”

“Stop fussing Abby,” she sighed settling in a comfy chair.”

“You know I love to fuss,” Abby beamed as she left the room.

Leaning her head back, she tried not to think about her morning.  Soon she slept only awakening by a gentle kiss on the lips.  Lifting her arms dreamily, she smacked them into a hard body, making her bounce to her feet positioning herself in attack mode.

“Hey, I surrender,” Mal waved his hands.

“Never,” she muttered, “never wake a sleeping woman.”

“You looked soabsolutely adorable Ana,” he grinned.

“Whatever.  What do you want.”

“Still grouchy I see,” he replied, raising an eyebrow.

“Well, if you had a Mr Truit encounter, then you’d be a bit cranky too.”

“What did he want?”

“Romance, what do you think,” she said relaxing her stance pushing her hair out of her eyes.

“You have to be joking!”

“Sadly no,” she sighed.

“That’s just bloody sick.  I get my hands on the bastard I’ll…”

“Think I’ll get there first Mal.”

“Lunch is ready, come eat and I’ll give you an update.”  Her stomach rumbled making Mal smile, “Your body agrees Ana.”

The security team watched as Mr Truit arrived back at the old Johnson house; he seemed happy unloading some rose bushes.  His Butler Hayes came out helping him; they couldn’t hear their conversation from this distance, just the laughter as they entered the house.  Every two hours they updated Yuri.  It wasn’t until five pm that evening when a van screeched to a stop, men tumbling out.  All dressed in black fatigues; guns and bags slung over their shoulders.  Lining up, they walked to the door that now stood open.  Each gave Mr Truit a hi-five as they assembled in the house.  They counted twelve men in all.

“Get this info relayed now Mitch.”

“Yes Hank.”

“Tell Yuri reinforcements needed with weaponry, and we’re awaiting orders,” Hank said.  “Clint set up the laser mic so we can listen in, record everything.”

“All set Hank.”

Inside the house, Truit was marshalling his men into the soundproof basement, welcoming them all, slapping their backs.  Each one, an old comrade of his son from the time he served in the Marines.  Truit promised them payback for the loss of their Second Lieutenant, who died in US friendly fire. Each man had left the Marines, though still using the skills they’d acquired, suing them in various security areas of employment.

“Well men, thank you for coming to help me.  Here are your lodgings for the next few days while the final details are taken care of.”

“Good enough, Mr Truit,” said one man.

“Tis good to be back in the game,” another smiled.

“So when do we get the details?”

“Show down’s in two day’s men.  I’ll make sure you know those details in time.”

“So what happens in the meantime?”

“Look around you men!  Kitchen, training and weights room, dorms, etc.  Enjoy.”

Of course, none of this was heard by the security team surrounding the house.  Hank picked up the thermal imagining camera aiming at the house.

“What the hell?”

“What’s matter?” Clint asked.

“Only one body in the house, oh hang on, there are two more.  Look like we have a cold spot, smart ass, bloody good job we saw those men go in.”

“Yuri’s sending in reinforcements,” said Mitch.

“So how the hell are we going to listen in, ah shit,” he exclaimed.

“Not much we can do about it.  Relay to the men that the basement is shielded.”

“Who do you think they are?”

“Ex-Marines by looks of things Clint, possibly men we knew and worked with.  I fucking hate it when this happens.”

“Shit.”

“Exactly,” muttered Hank, “Clint anything on the voice recorder?”

“All quiet right now.”

“Mitch let Yuri know we need building plans, we need to know what we’re going to be up against.”

“Consider it done.”

Fletcher slowly opened his eyes, groaning quietly, looking up blearily at the ceiling seeing nothing but white.  The light was low.  He moved to sit up grunting in pain.

“Fuck,” he muttered through dry lips.

“You want some water Fletch,” said a voice.

“Who’re you, what, where the fuck am I.”

“It’s Tallon, security.  We’ve been keeping an eye on you for the last couple of days.”

“What the fuck happened.”

“Hey, take it easy man, you were shot several times.”

“Water?” he whispered.

“Yeah, here you go, I’ll call the doctor.”

“Thanks, that’s better,” Fletcher said licking his lips, “why all the security?’

“Will let Malachy explain that one Fletch.”

“My assignment, shit the Vial?” He muttered, “Crap did those dickheads get the vial?”

“They got a vial apparently, no idea which one yet.”

“Shit,” he muttered, “the guy uses morons for brains.”

Tallon raised an eyebrow at that without responding.  The doctor walked in, checking his vital signs, pleased with Fletcher’s progress.

“Good to see you awake at last.  We were all getting worried for a while there.  I’ll let your family know; they’re eager to visit.”  With that, he left.

“I don’t have any fucking family.  What the hell’s he on about?”

“I wouldn’t have a clue.”

“Brilliant,” he sighed as sleep claimed him.

Mal got both calls within moments of each other.  Still at the cottage with Ana, he strode to the study slamming the door behind him grimacing as he listened first to Yuri and then to Tallon.

“Yuri, keep everyone on red alert in the compound; nobody is to leave other than you and your men.  Let me know if you get a clearer idea of what’s going down.”

“Yes boss.  Hank says they were Ex Marines, going to have to be careful with this one.”

“Crap.  Do what you can Yuri, in fact, do what you have to.”

“Yes boss.”

Mal switched his phone to the other caller.

“Yes Tallon?”

“Fletcher woke up for a short while.”

“Was he coherent?”

“Yes, to a degree, he did mutter that ‘some guy hires morons for brains’ that was about it, boss.”

“Thanks.  Did the doctor give him the all clear?”

“He told Fletcher his family could visit and walked out.”

“I can imagine what Fletcher said to that.”

“Well, I couldn’t help him on that one boss.  He just said ‘I ain’t got any family’ to me.”

“Fine, keep a close watch.  With luck, we’ll be checking in with him tomorrow.”

“Ok boss, no worries here so far.”

“Good, considering things are starting to move here.”

“Hey, I wanna catch the action too boss.”

“I’m sure you will Tallon,” smiled Malachy.

“Thanks boss.”

On his way back to the lounge, his head down in thought he walked into a stranger.  Abby was wringing her hands behind the gentleman looking worried.

“Sorry sir, he wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

“That’s ok Abby, looking up at the man, “Who are you and what can I do for you?”

“The name’s Truit, Kevin Truit.  I was wondering if the lovely Anastasia was home.”

“I’m afraid not Mr Truit,” looking at his watch, “She’ll be at work right now.”

“Maybe you can give her this note Mr?”

“Garrett.”

“Please give her this note when you next see her Mr Garrett.”

“Yes of course.  I’ve other things that need seeing to so if you will excuse me, Abby will see you out.”

“Oh.  Well, yes of course.”

“Abby, please see Mr Truit out.”

“Yes sir.”

Abby let Mr Truit out of the cottage, turning to Mal.  “Sorry about that Malachy, he practically forced his way in.”

“No worries Abby. I’ll deal with him later.  Could we have a pot of your lovely tea now?  I’ll need you in for this meeting too.”

“I’ll be with you shortly then Malachy.”

Wandering back to the study Malachy opened the note, un-amused by what he read, crushing the note into a ball, throwing it in the fire. ‘Christ, I’ll kill the bastard,’ he muttered as he walked back to the lounge.  Smiling at Ana, he sat down beside her.

Re-entering the lounge minutes later, Abby found Malachy and Anastasia sitting on the couch facing each other talking quietly.  Abby smiled; they made such a beautiful couple.  She rattled the tray a bit, Mal being the gentleman he is crossed the room, taking it off Abby setting it on the coffee table.

“Oh Abby, you spoil us far too much,” sighed Ana looking at the cake and sandwiches.

“Just making sure you eat properly young lady.”

“Sit Abby, I’ll pour for us.”

“Thank you, Malachy.  Now tell me what’s this all about?”

“First Abby, I need you to pack a bag tonight.  In the morning, you’ll be moving to the compound for a while.”

“Why?”

“I need your nursing skills for one.  I also need you safe.  It’s about to get, should we say explosive.”

“What on earth is going on Malachy?”

“Yes do tell,” said Ana.

“One of my agents has been injured in a gun battle,” he turned looking at Ana, “as you already know Ana.  He’s awake now, and I’ll have him transferred to the compound, apparently he’s on a death list, so I’m not going to take any chances.”

“Oh my,” Abby exclaimed.  “How badly hurt?”