Price of a Bounty

-Guy-

A Meeting with Scott



Board meetings, lunch meetings, endless meetings! Pushing gats this way and that, back and forth among the rich – never in the right direction. That was all life at the firm ever was and ever would be.

Before I’d always had the Resistance to give balance and meaning to my life. Now, only two thoughts kept running through my mind. One was Elaine Ramsey. Was she still a threat? And what about Keira? Where was she? Was she safe?

The morning after she left, I instructed Eberhardt to drive around the city searching for her. After four days with no leads, I called Scott to arrange a lunch meeting. Our cover, as usual, was to discuss his portfolio.

“Hello, how have you been?” I placed a cloth napkin on my lap. Scott sat opposite me in a fancy restaurant just off the base.

“I’ve been better. You?” His voice was like ice. I’d never heard him sound quite like that before.

“I’ve been better too,” I confided. A waitress arrived to take our orders. As soon as she left, I said, “Keira is missing, and I’m worried sick.”

“She’s not with you then?”

Was that why he was angry with me? Because he thought she was with me, and I hadn’t told him?

“No, she’s not.”

“And you don’t know where she is.” It wasn’t a question.

“No, I don’t.”

“So that’s why you didn’t call.” His voice had a warmer tone now. “But, you do know what happened to her apartment, right?”

“Yes, I know, but she wasn’t there when it…happened. You don’t know where she is either?”

“She doesn’t want to be found, but I’ll be seeing her in a couple of days.”

“You’ve been in contact with her! Is she all right?”

“I didn’t say that. I haven’t spoken with her yet. She’s playing this her way. I’m surprised she didn’t go to you though. If there was ever a time for her to turn to the Resistance for help, this was it!”

I dropped my gaze, too ashamed to tell him what had really happened.

“What is it?”

“She came to me, but I pushed her away. It wasn’t my intention,” I quickly added. If I hadn’t walked out of the bedroom that night…if I had instead…she definitely would have stayed. “Do you think I can convince her to come back?”

“I’ll talk with her, but I can’t promise anything.”

We sat quietly, lost in thought, until our food arrived.

After a few bites, Scott looked at me and said, “How do you feel about her?”

I looked right back. “Isn’t it obvious?” I heard the intake of his breath.

“I have an idea, something that may help.”

“What do you have in mind?” I asked.

“I’ll encourage Keira to see you, and I have something I’d like you to give her. But if she decides not to see you, I’ll want it back.” He reached into his bag and retrieved a thin book. “This belonged to our father. It’s a book of poetry. It was a gift from our mother. Each of us took something to remember them by. The locket Keira had and some musical recordings that our mother loved…well, she always kept them safe in her apartment. Anyway, I’d like for her to have this book. I think she may need it more than I do right now.”

“You could give it to her yourself.”

“That was the plan, but I think it may mean more coming from you.” He handed me the book, and I gratefully accepted it.

“I have something else.” He reached into his pocket and took out a slip of paper with an address on it and a key. “I have a week on holiday coming up. I was planning to go with…a friend, but I’d rather you took Keira there instead, if she’ll let you. She’s never been on holiday.” He tried to hand me the address and key, but I waved them away.

“Well, then it’s about time, but you should keep your week on holiday. I can afford to take Keira anywhere she’d like to go.”

“I know you can, but I insist that you take her here.” Again he held out the key and address. “We’re partners, aren’t we? Equals?”

“We always have been,” I assured him as I accepted his gift. “Thank you.”

When I climbed into the car a half hour later, Eberhardt asked, “Did we find her?”

“No, but Scott said she’s all right.” Then I hesitated. Scott hadn’t said that. He just said he would be seeing her. He didn’t even know where she was. Where could she have gone? Not to Scott, obviously. Was she with her sister? I realized I didn’t even know her sister’s name. Probably not, Scott would have known if she was with family.

More than once, Scott had described Keira as independent. I tried to think like her. What would she do now, after her most valuable possessions had been destroyed?

Eberhardt immediately noticed my expression in the rear view mirror. “What’s wrong?”

“I think she may be planning to take out Elaine Ramsey by herself, whatever the cost.”

“That’s no surprise,” he said. “It’s what I would do.”

I looked at him in alarm.

He looked back. “She hasn’t done anything yet.”





-Scott-

Liberty Park



Several days ago, I heard a news report about an explosion at an apartment complex. They attributed it to outdated electrical wiring – 53 dead. I watched the reflection of the teleview in the mirror and set down my razor. I recognized that neighborhood and immediately called April. She hadn’t heard anything. We were both worried but refused to accept the worst.

I’d last seen Keira at Ramsey’s party. When I’d left, Elaine Ramsey was still saying goodbye to her departing guests, and Keira was nowhere in sight. I had a feeling she was hiding somewhere in the house waiting for an opportunity. And the next morning, I saw the news.

Later that day, I received a call. “Maddock here.” I turned on the vidscreen.

April’s image appeared, her brow furrowed. “Can we get together sometime soon? I’m so worried about Keira.”

She didn’t sound quite like herself. Keira must have contacted her somehow. “I’ll be done at noon on Wednesday. Where?”

“By the trees.”

“I’ll be there.”



***



April and Keira sat on a blanket in front of the apple trees. They stood as I approached. Keira had cut her hair; short dark curls framed her face. I leaned down to hug them both.

“You’re late,” Keira said. “Is everything okay?”

“I was followed, had to shake him. Where are you staying?”

“With Cole.”

“I’ll kill him.”

“No, you won’t,” she said firmly. “This was my choice, Scott. I went to him. Cole’s done nothing wrong, and he treats me way better than most.”

“That doesn’t make him a good person. Has he hurt you?”

“No! He never has. See, no scratches or bruises.” She stood up and spun around. “No new ones anyway.”

“Well, that’s a start. You do know what he is, what he does? He’s very well known in certain circles.”

“I don’t partake. Besides he only sells to the Elite and the…” She looked at me then with a question in her eyes. “You don’t, do you Scott?”

“No, I don’t do drugs,” I responded emphatically, even though that wasn’t entirely true. Every soldier in Special Ops was expected to take certain drugs to enhance performance in the line of duty. “It’s likely he’s killed, you know. In his line of work…”

“And I’m a Freelancer. What do you think I do?” she countered.

“Cole doesn’t love you.”

“Nobody said he did. He’s just giving me a place to stay.” April leaned over and gave her a hug.

“Really? Is he helping a friend in need, or is he charging you?”

Keira looked away, so it was as I’d assumed.

“His price is fair,” she responded quietly, “and he honestly hasn’t hurt me.”

“I could give you money.”

“No, I take care of myself. You know that Scott.” Yes, I knew. Keira had never accepted money from me, not even when I’d worked so hard just for them. At least April had accepted my help back then, and I knew she made sure some of that money had benefited Keira too.

“Keira…” I sighed and shook my head. I wished she’d let me help her, but I had to be careful. If I said the wrong thing, she may run again. To complicate matters, we couldn’t speak freely in front of April. As far as I knew, she didn’t know anything at all about the Resistance. “I’ve spoken with Rick.”

“What’s he like?” April asked.

“Worth it,” I said to Keira. “I think he has real feelings for you.”

“No.” She shook her head, and her eyes grew dark. “I went to him first. He turned me down.”

“Oh Keira!” said April. “That could be a good sign.”

“How would you know?” she spat.

“Well, I’ve met someone.” April sounded hurt.

Keira and I both looked at her in surprise.

“It’s the new groundskeeper.” April blushed.

“What’s he like?” Keira asked.

“Oh no! No distractions. Today we’re talking about you, not me.”

I returned my attention to Keira. “I think you should see him, at least one more time.” I paused. “There is something else I wanted to discuss with you.”

“What is it?”

“Have you been paying attention to the news?”

“Not much electricity where I’m staying,” she pointed out, “so no.”

“There was a… well an attack at the Ramsey estate.”

“Oh yeah, the butler…”

“Not the butler, the chauffeur.”

She looked convincingly shocked.

“You didn’t know?” I asked, my eyebrows raised.

“What are you implying, Scott? No, I didn’t know. I’m not the one keeping secrets,” she accused quietly.

I held her gaze but didn’t speak. April looked back and forth between us but didn’t say anything.

“How?” Keira finally asked. “What happened?”

“It was a car bomb. Her chauffeur was killed instantly. It happened a couple of days ago.”

“Her chauffeur? You mean her bodyguard.”

“Yes, it was clearly retaliation for what she did to you. Don’t you think?”





-April-

Ashton



When I arrived at the park, Keira was already there, on a bench in the shade. She smiled and stood as I approached.

“Would you like to stay in the shade or enjoy some sun?” I held up the blanket I’d brought along.

“Enjoying some sun sounds perfect.” She smiled at me and took one end of the blanket. We spread it on a grassy knoll.

“You’ve cut your hair.”

“Will you help me even it out?” She handed me the scissors.

“Are you going to dye it too?” I asked.

“Maybe.”

“Would you go back to red?”

“No, not yet. Maybe I’ll try your color.”

I smiled. “That would be nice. Then we might actually look like sisters.”

We sat down together and faced the three apple trees we used to climb when we were children. I went to work on her hair. The birds twittered in the trees, and the sun warmed my bare arms. I breathed in deeply and felt the muscles in my shoulders begin to relax.

“Are you all right, Keira? I mean really all right?” I’d been able to help her in the past. Did she need my help again? “Remember the first time you stayed with Cole? I was so worried.”

“I wasn’t with Cole back then. It took me a long time to figure out who was safe.” Keira turned and gave me a reassuring hug. “I’m safe with Cole. Haven’t I always let you know where I’m staying, and how you can reach me?”

“Ever since those first few weeks, yes.” She was right. She had. “If you need a place to stay though, I could sneak you in. Here, I’m finished.” I handed her the scissors.

“And jeopardize your job? That’s not a good idea, April.”

Losing my job might not be so bad, but she was right to worry, then we’d both be on the street. How would we survive? I didn’t have any savings of which to speak. Live in help received payment mostly in the form of room and board, and Keira’s accounts had been closed.

Just then we saw Scott. I wondered if he could loan Keira some money, but quickly dismissed the idea. I knew that Keira would never accept. We stood and each received a warm hug from our big brother. Then we sat again, the three of us together, like old times.

Our parents used to bring us to this park. The apple trees were much smaller then. They had grown and twisted with age. I thought about how similar we were to those trees: beauty on the outside masked a twisted and shady interior. Well, the trees reminded me of Keira and me actually. Scott had been luckier; he’d had more opportunities.

“Where are you staying?” Scott asked Keira.

I watched the rest of their exchange with interest. Scott really didn’t like Cole.

“Has he hurt you?” he asked.

“No! He never has. See, no scratches or bruises.” She stood up and spun around. “No new ones anyway.”

We both knew she’d been hurt before, but I trusted that Keira was telling the truth about Cole. I’d stayed with him before too, but Keira didn’t need to know about that. While I’d been lost in thought, their conversation had continued.

“I’ve spoken with Rick,” Scott said.

Now that was an interesting topic! “What’s he like?” I asked.

“Worth it,” Scott said and turned back to Keira. “I think he has real feelings for you.”

“No,” she said, and her eyes grew dark. “I went to him first. He turned me down.”

“Oh, Keira! That could be a good sign.”

“How would you know?” she asked harshly.

That hurt! She didn’t think I knew much, but I knew a lot more than she realized. She didn’t know that I protected her too. “Well, I’ve met someone,” I revealed.

Keira and Scott both looked at me. I read the surprise in their eyes. Was it really such shocking news?

“It’s the new groundskeeper.” A warm glow rushed to my cheeks.

“What’s he like?” Keira asked.

“Oh no, no distractions. Today we’re talking about you, not me.” Today our focus should be Keira. Besides, I wasn’t ready to share details just yet.

“I think you should see him,” Scott reiterated. He meant his friend, Rick. “At least one more time.” He paused to let her think it over. Then he shared something really important about an attack at the Ramsey estate.” He said it was in the news. Keira looked shocked. “You didn’t know?” he asked her.

“What are you implying, Scott? No, I didn’t know. I’m not the one keeping secrets.” She gave him such a cold look. I shivered.

What’s this? Keira accusing Scott? What secrets had she uncovered about him? I knew what she’d do if she ever learned my darkest secrets, and I didn’t want her to kill for me. That’s why she mustn’t ever find out.

A short while later, after a walk around the park together, I had to leave. When Keira gave me one last hug, she whispered in my ear, “I’m sorry. You don’t deserve my anger. You and I are going to have a talk one day very soon about this new groundskeeper.”

I smiled as I waved goodbye. Then I hurried back to the Beckett estate to resume my duties and to see Ashton again. Well, to watch him from a distance actually. Scott and Keira didn’t need to know that so far, this was only a crush. I was sure Ashton would notice me soon enough. Most of the male servants did because of the uniform Mr. Beckett required me to wear – a very short black skirt and a tight white blouse.

It was my understanding that a maid’s job was to keep people happy. We kept the mistress of the house happy by keeping the environment clean and organized and by running any errands she didn’t want to do herself. We kept the master of the house happy in other ways.

I was pretty sure that everyone involved was well aware of this arrangement. As long as we were discreet, everyone saved face and everyone, except me, remained happy. When I was hired, I knew what would be expected of me. I could see it in Lance Beckett’s expression, by the way his eyes roved over my body during the interview.

So why had I accepted the position? It was a job, and there weren’t many of those available in Tkaron. I couldn’t continue to rely on Keira forever. I needed a way to support myself. Anyway, people with no money were ruled by those who had money. It was that way throughout the entire realm, especially since the end of the last war. As for the rest of the world? I knew Terene fared better than most. According to the adspace and billboards, we were very lucky. As a whole, Terene continued to prosper.

Even so, I was always on the lookout for opportunities to improve my situation. And now, something wonderful had happened! Being in the right place at the right time had brought Ashton into my life. He wasn’t wealthy, but he was hard working and self-sufficient. It didn’t hurt that he was good looking too. I sensed a positive change in my future.

When I returned to the estate, I spotted Ashton alone in the garden. This was my chance!

“Hello and welcome!” I said as I ventured off the cobblestone path. I offered him my hand.

Ashton wiped some dirt on his slacks, took my right hand in his and covered it with his left in a warm handshake. He was not wearing a ring.

I smiled. “I’m April. It’s nice to finally meet you!”

“Are you one of the family?”

“No, the maid. Only I’m not in uniform because I was away on personal business during my lunch break.”

He looked at the level of the sun. “Lunch break? Do you normally take such a late lunch?”

“No, not usually, but like I said, I had some personal business, so Mrs. Beckett authorized a later lunch time for me today. I’ve been here long enough, to be granted such privileges. Mrs. Beckett is fair, you’ll see.”

“What about Mr. Beckett?”

I avoided the question. “Even with the later lunch time, I’m sure I’ll be missed in the house if I don’t return immediately. I hope we’ll have the chance to talk again soon,” I smiled nervously and backed away. Then I turned and walked around to the servants’ entrance. I couldn’t believe what I’d implied about Mr. Beckett. If I were caught saying the wrong things about my employers, I could lose my position.

I looked down at my hand and smiled. It was still warm from Ashton’s touch.