Deadly Testimony (Safeguard #2)

Some people were like Frederick, content with their existence.

Kyle might have been too, but in the past several months, things had changed. As self-centered as he’d grown to be in his adulthood, and perhaps even a bit narcissistic if certain disenchanted ladies were to be believed, he had compelling reasons to adjust his lifestyle. There were more important things in the world than his bachelor life.

Speaking of which...

He headed over to the sofa and sat facing the laptop Lizzy had left behind. Using login information she’d given him for the guest profile, he accessed the desktop and brought up a browser. He typed in a URL by memory and a site loaded.

It was a live streaming video platform with a forum community for gamers. Normally, the broadcaster he was looking for was online at this time, even though it was late night in South Korea. But at the moment, the boy was off-line. Odd.

Personally, Kyle had no interest in games. It was the broadcaster he was looking for.

Ji Sung was diligent, both in his studies and in his game play. Kyle’s sister had written him many emails about his nephew. In fact, the boy’s abilities were professional level and there had been more than one team to offer Ji Sung a place. Ji Sung’s father had refused though.

At first, Kyle had thought the man had been irritating, unsupportive of his son’s talents. But after some time and research into the actual career a player of Ji Sung’s talents could build, Kyle realized the father was standing in the way of a huge opportunity. The gaming industry was booming. South Korean players at the professional level could bring in substantial earnings via tournaments.

In fact, when one took a look at developing markets for the gaming industry globally, South Korea was arguably the leader in many ways. Several players had actually been awarded special visas to the United States usually reserved for baseball players or other athletes. It was a chance for Ji Sung to pursue an incredible career.

Frustrated, Kyle pushed to his feet and began to pace. In his fishbowl, Frederick seemed to keep pace.

Without access to any of his personal accounts or email, Kyle had no way of communicating with his sister. There could be no video calls or texts, no emails or other messages. He’d warned her he would be out of communication for a time.

But the streaming video broadcast would’ve been a way for Kyle to see his nephew and be reassured that both Ji Sung and his mother, Eun-bi, were well. With the boy off-line, Kyle was left to wonder...and worry.

For the first time since coming under Lizzy’s protection, Kyle chafed at his restrictions.

He did not take well to sitting and waiting for things to happen. He preferred to be proactive, shape events based on his planning. This entire situation had left him powerless and vulnerable until he was able to testify. It left his pride bruised in countless ways.

Needing something to do, he moved back to the bedroom area and gathered the few clothes Lizzy had obtained for him besides the suit she’d saved and the clothes he’d had on his back when they’d bolted from the initial hiding place. He shook each article of clothing out and folded it carefully. After a moment’s thought, he also retrieved the toiletries in the bathroom and tucked them into the bag.

If they had to run again, at least he’d be ready to grab the bag and leave quickly. Besides, it kept his hands busy.

He was alone with too many thoughts. It’d happened too, over the weeks he’d been in protective custody and the other night when he’d met Lizzy. His frustration had driven him to leave the room to move, to walk, to do anything but remain in one place while he waited for events to happen around him. How anyone could come under witness protection and not lose their sanity was a mystery to him.

But he’d promised Lizzy he would stay in this room, within the safety she’d established for him. A promise to her held weight where he hadn’t cared about the police officers.

Perhaps she was his only chance to get through all of this. Or it could be something about her as a person. She was certainly a woman of action and determination. Her ability to assess situations and make definitive choices quickly had impressed him. He respected her.

And so a promise to her meant something to him.

She was worth admiring, a reminder that he was striving to be a better person himself. And the more she inspired him to evolve and improve, the more he wondered what past had shaped who she was today.

*

“When I invited you to contact me directly, Miss Scott, I had hoped it would be more immediately following any issue requiring my attention.” Nguyen stood this time by the chocolate bar.

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