James (Teumessian Trilogy Book 2) (8 page)

Chapter

13

James met with Chessy that evening and every evening after to work on his translation skills. He grew more and more fond of her as they spent more time together. She was warming up to him as well. James felt himself getting comfortable around her, even more so than around Tim and Greg. However, she always kept it professional, holding him at an arm’s length. James knew that he needed to be honest with her to gain her trust and he wanted nothing more than to be closer to her.

“Chessy, I need to tell you something,” James said as he slowly closed the book in front of him.

Chessy looked up from her book, “James, unless it has to do with your learning, I think you should just keep it to yourself.”

“No, I really need to talk to someone about this. Would you please just listen?”

“Okay,” she replied, closing her book.

“I think I am responsible for Rachel’s death.”

Chessy’s eyes widened, “What? Do you know who killed her? Why haven’t you told Ray or John?”

“No, I don’t know who did it, but I think it was because of me.”

“Because of you?”

“That day when you found me on the field, I had been in a session with Rachel. She had been pressing me for information on my mother. I didn’t want to tell her anything, but I told her what I knew and she was killed shortly afterwards.”

“James, that is a stretch. It could have been a coincidence. Who was your mother that people would kill for information about her?”

“I don’t know who my mother was.” James paused and took a breath. “I only remember what she did.”

Chessy lowered her head and whispered, “What did she do?”

James was struggling, but he needed to tell someone he trusted, “She killed a man and then herself, in front of me.”

Chessy gasped, holding her hands to her mouth. She was at a loss for words. She just stared at James.

“I’m terrified of knowing who she was when someone would want to know what I remembered of her when I can only remember so little.”

“You know she was your mother?”

James just nodded, “I see her face at night when I go to sleep. In my heart, I know she was.”

Chessy was trying to process what she was hearing, “Your father, he died as well?”

“Yes, but before that. The man who took me to my mother killed my father. I am starting to believe it was a custody thing or something. She isn’t on my birth certificate.”

“James, that sounds….”

“Off.” James finished her sentence. “I know it is weird and there are pieces missing. I want nothing more than to find out what really happened and who she really was.”

“Do you have any other family?”

“My Uncle Finn raised me, but he never talks about my father and never admits to knowing anything about my mother. I never wanted to push him. He is a good man, and I didn’t want to burden him.”

“Then what do you plan to do?”

James shrugged.

“Cute, but you have a plan. Don’t act like you don’t."

“Well, we work for the CIA now, so maybe I can get some information that way. They may have more in my file then I know about myself.”

Chessy scanned the room, “Are you considering doing what I think you are? If you get caught, you will be kicked out and potentially locked up. Why don’t you just ask Ray? He may be willing to help. Whatever you told Rachel, I am pretty sure she told him anyway.”

James sighed, “Okay, I will try that first, but if he gives me nothing, I'll have to try it my way.”

“Okay, you better go now.”

“Why? Is he still here?”

“Yah, he stays late into the evening. I see him in his office this late all the time.”

“What are you doing near the admin building late at night?” James replied flirtatiously.

Chessy laughed, “And you’re done. Get going.”

James got up and saluted, “Yes ma’am!” before walking from the room.

James made his way to the admin building, and she was right. Ray’s office light was still on. James entered the building and walked down the hallway to Ray’s office. The door was half open. James could see Ray at his desk, reading through files. James gently knocked on the door frame.

Ray looked up, “James, come in. What can I do for you?”

James stepped into the office and gently closed the door behind him. He was nervous, wringing his hands.

Ray could tell. “James, what’s wrong?” He leaned back in his chair.

“Sir, I have been debating talking to you about this. I don’t want you to think I’m crazy, because I am not.”

Ray smiled. “James, out with it.”

“I think I’m responsible for Rachel’s death,” he blurted out.

“Why do you think that?” Ray leaned forward, resting his elbows on his desk.

“Because she was digging into my past and she was killed shortly after she learned about my mother.”

“Your mother?” Ray questioned, confused.

James realized that Ray knew nothing about his mother killing herself.

“James, you need to tell me more about this.”

“I told her that I witnessed my mother killing a man and then herself. That’s all I know about her, but I think it was enough to get Rachel killed. I don’t know who my mother was or why anyone would want to know anything about her, but it seemed really important to Rachel.” James was rushing through his words. He was nervous and scared.

“Calm down, calm down. I believe you.”

“Please tell me you know something about my family. Anything that can give me some answers. I need to know if this was my fault.”

“James, when you were added to the program, I did as much research as I could. A birth certificate with no mother and no information showing why you were selected raised major flags to me. I’m really sorry to tell you that I found little. Your father had his hand in a lot of pots. It is almost impossible to figure them all out. However, I figured out that he was heavily involved in Soldat Industries.”

James looked confused, “What’s Soldat Industries?”

“That is where all the money in your trust fund came from.”

James gulped. He had never touched that trust fund and didn’t want to. Making his own way was important to him. He also never wanted anyone to know about it.

“Yes, son, I know about it. Soldat was a weapons' company that was shut down after numerous deaths, including your father’s.”

James held his breath, “How many deaths?”

“Enough."

“Who was responsible for the deaths?”

“That is sealed.”

James nodded. “Did you find anything about my mother?”

“No, she is a mystery. There are no records of her.”

James hung his head.

“Son, I’m sorry, but she doesn’t exist.”

“You know that can’t be true. I had to have a mother.”

“Yes, but what you are telling me about her is the first piece of information I have ever heard. Do you know anything else about your family?”

“No, that’s why I am asking you,” James replied, frustrated.

“James, trust me to keep looking. I am not a big fan of being out of the loop on my team. You see that portrait up there?” Ray pointed to the large black and white portrait that was hung on the wall to his left.

James looked to it, “Yes sir.”

“That is my great-great-great-grandfather General John Buford. Do you know who he was?”

James smiled, Uncle Finn would be disappointed if he didn’t, “Yes, sir. He was a Union Cavalry General during the Civil War.”

“Well, he knew the importance of the ‘high ground’ and back in those days, it was about position. In this day however, it is about information. I make it my business to stay informed. James, you are one of mine and therefore you are under my protection. Let me try to find out more.”

James smiled slightly, “Yes, sir.”

“Now go back to your dorm and get some sleep. You are not responsible for Rachel’s death. She was responsible for herself, not you.”

James nodded, “Yes, sir.” James turned and left the office. Ray leaned back into his chair. He knew there was more, there had to be more. James was thinking the same as he made his way back to his dorm.

              Once James got to his dorm, he realized all his roommates were already asleep. It was only 10:00pm, but they had to be up early. James quietly moved to his bed and pulled his bag out from under his bed. He opened it and pulled his teddy bear out. He sat down on his bed and gripped it in his hands. It was getting old and worn, but the words ‘we love you’ were still clear. He felt tears coming to his eyes. She was real. He could remember her face. He never understood why he clung to her so much. It just had to be the belief that she was real. James held the bear to his chest and laid back onto his bed. He would find out who she was and who he was. Those were his last thoughts as he drifted to sleep.

Chapter

14

The following morning Ray caught John up to speed.

“Okay, what did you need to talk to me about that I had to get up an hour earlier for?” John said as he took the seat across from Ray’s desk.

“There is more going on with James than we thought.”

“I told you.” John leaned forward in his chair.

“He knows very little about his mother, but he told Rachel what he knew. I am really starting to worry about what the information actually means and who she was.”

“Is she alive?”

“According to James, she is dead. She killed herself in front of him.”

“Then why would anyone care about her?”

“His father’s weapons' company fell apart. There were numerous deaths that have no record of why or how, just that they died. People may think James knows more about what happened there than he is saying. I am worried for his safety.”

“I’m worried for everyone's safety with him around. If people are out after him, he could jeopardize all of them.”

“We are not turning our backs on him. He is one of ours and we will protect him. I will find out what is going on and I need to know you are on board with this.”

John shook his head, “Ray, I trust you. It is not that. I just worry that this is beyond us. I have your back and you know that, but you need to keep all of their safeties as a top priority. We are not even one hundred percent certain what we are sending these kids into, and with a potential secondary threat....” John stopped himself and looked straight at Ray.

Ray hadn’t flinched, “Tell me you are on board. I need your help.”

John ran his hands through his grey hair. “What do you want me to do?”

“Train him, and train him well. We will keep him with those he trusts nearby. Always keep your ears and eyes open. This stays between us.”

John took a deep breath. “Okay, then I better get to the training grounds. We only have six more months to get them ready.”

Ray nodded, “They will be ready, I have complete faith in you.”

John stood up, “I don’t plan on letting you down.”

John walked out the room and went straight to the training field. As he approached, he could see the candidates were already lined up and waiting for him. He scanned the group and saw James right in the middle of the group. John felt fear for them. He knew they wouldn’t survive if they weren't ready. He had to up their training. Fight training would be more intense, they had to master multiple formats. They had to be able to take on any foe. Today would be the beginning of the toughest six months of their lives or at least John was hoping this would be the toughest.

Chapter

15