Marie (Teumessian Trilogy Book 1) (11 page)

Chapter 17

Tyler just stared at the screen before him, Gold paused the picture of the bloody lens and through it Marie walking out of the room.

“This was the last time she was caught on camera and it was taken four years ago.”

“She hasn’t been seen in four years!” Tyler replied “Is she even still alive?”              

“Oh she is alive and well and her handy work has been visible across the world. She has been on a one woman killing spree ever since. Anyone she deems worthy of her knife ends up dead. However, these gentlemen have gone untouched.” Gold pulled out a file and handed it to Tyler.

He opened the file to see pictures and fact sheets on Bruce, Ivan, Henry, Ethan, Justin, and Dr. Jones. “Hold on, I thought she was after these guys. Why hasn’t she touched them in four years?” Tyler asked confused.

“That’s a very good question. We do not know, but our intelligence says that she has made no attempts on them and they are not hiding. Well, at least they can’t hide from us. We know where they are; each and every one of them. We are not sure if she does or she is just not focusing on them right now.”

“But why not?”

“My boy, I can’t answer things I don’t know the answer to.” Gold replied with a smile.

”So we have no idea where she is but we know she is alive?” Tyler said fumbling over and over through the pictures and papers in the file.

“Oh we know where she is,” Gold said with a smile.

“What what?!” Tyler exclaimed almost jumping from his chair.

“She reappeared on our radar last week in downtown Los Angeles,” Stevens added.

“So we go get her right?” Tyler was still on the edge of his seat “She’s the key to everything. She has the gene and its been unlocked just like I was proposing. We have to get her!”

“Calm down my boy,” Gold said pulling a large accordion file from his desk drawer. “Do you see this?” Gold pushed the file across the table towards Tyler. “This is the file of deaths we can tie directly to her. Her methods, her style, and sightings of her in the area. Her body count is astronomical. I send in men and she sends out body bags. This is not something I am keen on doing over and over again with the chance of getting her alive.”

Tyler nodded his head, “But the implications of her abilities could change the world.”

“I am aware of the implications, but sending in soldiers will not work if she perceives a threat. She destroys it plain and simple. So, we need to work smarter.” Gold replied

“Ok what’s the plan?”

“We don’t threaten. We tempt her.” Gold smiled again.

“Temp her? With what?”

“Information. Get her to cooperate with us in exchange for our help taking out the rest of her targets. Get her on our side, on our team.”

“We are going to help her kill these men?” Tyler replied confused

“Yes, they are ‘bad men’. Who cares if they die? If in the end we can get her to trust us and to help us,” Gold replied firmly. “But I am not sending some hardened Ranger to work with her. Because she wouldn’t trust a physical threat. No, she needs a more comforting soul, like that sweet doctor she loved so dearly. I think I have such a person, don’t I, Captain Stevens?”

“That you do sir,” Stevens replied, smiling.

“Ok who?” Tyler replied looking at the both of them.

“You”

“What, what?! No no no no sir, bad idea. I am no soldier I barely passed basic training! I am good in my lab and in my office and that is it. I have no way to defend myself against her. She will kill me in like two seconds.” Tyler was visibly flustered, he was shaking

“Calm down. The fact that you are not a threat is the reason she won’t hurt you. She only takes out threats. She is not just killing everyone she crosses paths with. You are a gentle man and she will see that.”

“She may even take pity on you,” Stevens said with a laugh.

“That’s enough” Gold ordered “Now, just relax. You will have all the intelligence she wants and you will just give it to her piece by piece and she will keep you alive to get it. Work with her, make her trust you and that you only want for the world to be a better place.”

“But that is what I want. That is why I do the work I do because I want the world to be a better place.” Tyler protested

“I know and that is why she will believe you because you are sincere.” Gold replied “If you can get her to cooperate to join our side, you will have the data you need and we will have neutralized a potential threat. That is what you want isn’t it?”

Tyler nodded his head but his body was still shaking a little. He was scared as he looked at the file of her bodies and could just see his name being added to it.

“I believe in you on this one. You are our best hope.” Gold said clearly, looking Tyler directly in the eyes.

Tyler again nodded, “Yes sir,” he replied taking a deep breath.

“I think he is going to pee himself,” Stevens replied with a laugh.

“Enough! He will be fine.” Gold replied firmly. “Now my boy do you like Christmas?”

“Huh, do I like Christmas? Sir I don’t see how that has anything to do with this.”

“Do you like Christmas?” Gold asked slowly again.

“Well, yes sir, I think everyone does.”

“So do I. I love Christmas. Giving presents getting presents having a good meal. It is the best. Now, a few years back, I got the best Christmas present ever.”

“Well that’s nice, sir, but again I think we need to get back to this whole Marie situation. I think there needs to be a few details of this more clearly explained.” Tyler replied, trying to get himself together to discuss.

“Oh come now, my boy, let me show you my Christmas present.”

“Ok, sir, I would be happy to see it.”

“Stevens, go get my present so Ty here can see it.” Gold ordered

“Yes sir” Stevens got up and walked out of the study.

“I have always been a bigger fan of giving not receiving but when my buddies in the Rangers brought this to me I just couldn’t say no.” Gold replied with a smile. Tyler just stared at the general. He couldn’t understand why Gold was so off base. They were just talking about sending him to his potential death and all he wants to talk about his Christmas present from a few years ago. Was he out of his head?

“Ah here it is.” Gold said with a smile pointing to the doorway of his office. Tyler turned and saw Captain Stevens standing there with a small boy. He couldn’t have been more than five years old. He had green eyes and was clutching a small teddy bear.

“Bring him in.” Gold waved to Stevens to come forward with the boy. Steven walked the boy into the room and set him in front of the large desk right next to Tyler’s chair. Tyler could just stare at the boy. That couldn’t be him could it? Tyler thought to himself. Gold got up and walked around his desk and walked over and picked up the little boy. The little boy let out a little laugh.

“Tyler I would like for you to meet James. James say hi to the nice Major.”

“Hi!” James said with a smile on his face.

Tyler could just wave back. There was no way, the boy was dead, there was no way this could possibly be him.

“James, why don’t you and Captain Stevens go play with your trains. I have to chat some more with the Major.” Gold said as he placed the boy back on the floor. “Stevens, go play trains with the boy.”

“Yeah, trains,” Stevens replied sarcastically as he walked James out of the room.

“Confused a bit?” Gold said with a laugh.

“The boy is dead there is no way that is him.” Tyler said stumbling through his words.

“Oh it’s him alright. Just because they told her he was dead and just because his files say he is dead means nothing. We found him in a safe house within the company; they were trying to pretend he was in fact dead to hide him from competitors. They thought, as I did, that the boy held the same genes that caused her abilities. However, their research showed that he didn’t have the same abilities as Marie. They were going to give up and we knew it, so we took him and figured our own research could find something. As of yet, we have found nothing. It is just her, but I grew fond of the boy and I knew long term he could be our key to getting her.”

“Ok, so this makes this simpler. We have what she wants, so I offer her what she wants in exchange for her cooperation. That I can do. That’s easier.” Tyler let out a sigh of relief

“No that’s a good way to end up in a body bag.” Gold said firmly.

Tyler gulped.

“If you tell her we have her son that the child she thinks is dead is not only alive but in the care of the US Army, she will torture you for where he is and kill you for spite. She cannot know the boy is alive until she is ready to fully cooperate. It will be a bonus for her when she joins us.”

“So I can’t tell her anything about the boy?” Tyler questioned.

“If you want to end up dead you can talk about the boy all you want, but you will be giving all of us a death sentence.”

“I understand.” Tyler replied.

“Stick to the plan of gaining trust through information on her targets.” Gold ordered. He walked back behind his desk and opened his large bottom drawer and pulled out a deep green satchel and placed in on the desk in front of Tyler. “In here you will find what you need. There is a complete file on each of her targets, four rolls of cash totaling $5,000, a 9mm pistol with holster along with three clips of ammunition, and a switch blade knife. She loves knives, so I suggest you learn how to use it before you leave. You need to return to your home and pack only a few essentials in this bag, then head to her last know “place of employment”.”

“Wait place of employment? She has a job?” Tyler asked

“You could say ‘job’,” Gold replied, smiling, and grabbed from his desk a piece of paper. He handed the paper to Tyler.

Tyler looked down at the paper. It was a flyer for a club. “She’s a stripper?”

“Looks like she is using her agility to her advantage to fund her exploits,” Gold said with a laugh. Tyler just stared at the flyer. “Never been in a strip club have you?” Gold asked

“No, sir. It is not appropriate, not decent.” Tyler replied firmly.

“Well, get used to things that are not decent. They seems to follow her. She seems to enjoy them.” Gold replied. “There is a car waiting to return you to your home to pack.” He pulled an envelope from his desk and handed it to Tyler, “Here is your plane ticket and a watch. The watch has a GPS in it so we can track you. Wear it at all times.”

Tyler nodded his head.

“Off you go my boy,” Gold replied.

Tyler stood and saluted.

Gold saluted back. Then Tyler walked from the room the satchel over his shoulder.    

Chapter 18

“Essentials, what’s an essential for something like this?” Tyler said aloud to himself as he looked around his bedroom. He lived simply, one bedroom one bathroom. He didn’t need a lot and he couldn’t afford a lot. His apartment was very plain with just a bed and a nightstand with a small black lamp sat in his white walled bedroom. His living room consisted of a plain white couch and metal coffee table. He never bothered with a kitchen table, he would just eat on his couch. No decorations were on his walls. The only real color came from his comic books that he kept in his closet. He had his military clothing and that was about it. He stared at the satchel sitting on his bed with the envelope next to it. He picked up the envelope and pulled out the watch. It was a nice watch, titanium band with an elegant glass casing on the front. It had roman numerals on the face and must have been a very expensive watch. He placed it on his wrist, attaching the clasp and looking at it. It was much nicer than he had anticipated and he actually felt high class wearing it even though he knew it was just a big kid’s leash. Tyler continued to look around, “I guess some clothing would be a good idea,” he chuckled to himself. Tyler was trying to keep his cool as he packed a few clothing items in the bag. Suddenly he heard a horn honk. He took a deep breath, he knew that was for him. Tyler strapped the bag over his shoulder, picked up the envelope and looked around his apartment as he walked out the door. He knew it might have been the last time he ever stepped foot into his apartment and he wasn’t sure how he felt about that.

Tyler took his flight and landed in Los Angeles by late the following day. He picked up the rental car that was waiting for him. Tyler took out the flyer from his bag and found the address and took the drive to the nightclub. By that time he reached the club it was nine o’clock at night. Tyler parked his car and stepped out and looked at the club before him and shuddered. He had always found strip clubs to be inappropriate and just plain wrong. Women parading their bodies for money and men encouraging it. It was not the way he was raised. Tyler took a deep breath and walked up to the neon lighted sign that hung over the velvet lined door. He slowly opened the door and the smell of smoke hit him like a ton of bricks. Tyler waved his hand in front of his face to try to catch his breath as he was coughing. Tyler took four steps into the club when he suddenly greeted by a tall sleazy looking man.

“Hello, service man, and welcome to my fine establishment. I’m Chuck the owner, and if you need anything, you just let me know.” The man, Chuck, said with a smile showing off his gold front canine tooth. His greased slicked back black hair seemed to glimmer in the flashing lights and smoke from the cigarettes. Chuck extended his hand for Tyler to shake,

Tyler hesitated but reached out and shook his hand, “Fine establishment? This is a strip club, nothing ‘fine’ about it.” Tyler replied.

“Oh no no no this is not a strip club it is a ‘burlesque club’. My girls are very high class.”              

“High class? There is such a thing?” Tyler said with sarcasm in his voice.

Chuck took a deep breath, “Then what can I do for you if you are not interested in my girls?”

“I am looking for one of your girls, just one in particular.”

“Oh, I see, a bachelor party. My girls are most defiantly for hire if you’re interested.” Chuck replied with a laugh and giving Tyler a small playful shove.

“Sure, for a bachelor party.” Tyler replied.

“Well what are you looking for? Red head, blonde, brunette? Give me some parameters for what the bachelor wants,” Chuck said with a laugh.

“Brunette and very flexible.”

“All my girls are flexible. How about this. You hang around tonight and if you see something you are interested in you let me know and we can get it set up.” Chuck placed his hand on Tyler’s shoulder. “Ah, and you have perfect timing our main attraction.” Chuck said, pointing to the stage. Tyler looked up and there she was; only she was different than she was in the video, but it was unmistakably her. She was thinner, looked more toned and was draped in a short red laced dress.

“Her, I want her,” Tyler replied pointing to the stage

“Oh, you like ‘the snake’,” Chuck said,

“The snake?”

“Just watch”

Tyler looked back at Marie. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her as she moved around the stage. Suddenly she ripped the dress off revealing a red lace bra and thong and sporting two large pit vipers tattooed climbing up her back and resting their heads one on each of her breasts.

“The snake.” Chuck said pointing to Marie.

“Technically, that is two snakes.” Tyler replied, still mesmerized by her, his eyes never looking away.              

“One snake, two snakes, it’s all the same, but I will tell you she isn’t much for extra jobs. Might I suggest another girl, maybe one who might be more accommodating?” Chuck said with a wink.

“No it’s her.”

“I can let you meet her but I cannot guarantee anything. I would really recommend we try another girl.”

Marie finished her set and was leaving the stage. Without hesitation Tyler began to follow her. Chuck quickly followed behind. Tyler let himself backstage,

“Hang on, wait for me. I don’t need you scaring my girls. That’s her dressing room.” Chuck pointed to the third door on the right of the hallway.

“Thank you,” Tyler replied walking towards the door.

“I’m going to have a body to clean up again,” Chuck said to himself as he walked back to the front of the club.

Tyler slowly approached the door, ‘should I knock’ he thought to himself. Tyler slowly lifted his fist and knocked three times.

“Go away,” came the female response.

Tyler got up his nerve and slowly started to open the door, “Excuse me, miss,” he said as he opened the door. Marie was sitting at her wooden make-up table, feet up on it, and was flipping through a magazine. She was still wearing the red lace bra but was now wearing a white tank top over it and a black pair of yoga pants. She had removed her red heels and replaced them with black sneakers.

Marie never looked up, “If you’re looking for a ‘good time’ try the girl next door I hear she is very ‘enthusiastic’”.

“No, no I am not looking for that” Tyler replied nervously as he walked through the doorway and closed the door behind him.

“Then I think you are lost. You have no business with me.” Marie continued to flip through the magazine.

“Actually I just wanted to talk to you.” Tyler felt himself trying to calm his nerves wringing his hands, he could feel the sweat start to form on his forehead.

“I’m not much for talking.” Marie looked up slightly from her magazine and into the mirror in front of her catching a glance of Tyler behind her. “Especially to the Government” Marie returned to her magazine

“I’m not here to hurt you or anything” his voice was shaking.

Marie laughed, “Sweetie, by the looks of you I don’t think you could hurt anything. You look and sound like you are about to piss yourself.”              

Tyler felt his blood begin to boil, “I know who you are.”

Marie closed the magazine and placed in on the make-up table took her legs down from the table and turned around crossing her arms across her chest and crossing her legs, “And who precisely do you know I am?”

Tyler was shaking again, “I…I know what you can do and I know what you have done” He wiped the sweat from his face.

“So you know what I am capable of and yet here you are standing before me, I guess that would explain why you look like a scared little boy.” Marie stood up. Tyler took a step back,

“I am not here to hurt you, I swear.” Tyler replied anxiously. “I’m here to help you.”

Marie started to laugh, “Oh, my god, are you serious? This is what the US Army considers helping me? Sending me a scared little boy scout. Have you ever killed anyone?”              

“No, no I haven’t. I am not here to kill people.” Tyler replied stumbling over his words.              

“News flash that is what I do!” Marie barked at him.

Tyler stumbled back, regained his footing, but he was backed to the door as Marie walked towards him.

“So how do you think for one second, you are any good to me?” Marie got within inches of him.

Tyler was terrified he was shaking, “I know where they are” is all he could get out and he repeated it “I know where they are”

Marie took a few steps back, “Where who are?”

Tyler took a deep breath, “You’re remaining targets I know who they are and where they are. I can…can take you to them.”

Marie smiled, “And when you take me to them are you going to watch?”

Tyler just stood frozen in place, “I’m not a killer”

“So you intend to help me find people I want to kill and then let me kill them but you intend to not help? I thought you were here to help.” Marie replied with a smile.

“I…I am”

Marie suddenly held up her hand, “Shhh,” she placed her left hand to her lips and slowly walked up to Tyler and placed her right hand on his right shoulder and stood silent. “Get down” she ordered, throwing him to the floor and diving to the ground as well as gun shots rang through the door. Tyler held his hands over his head as he lay on the ground. The gun shots stopped. “Move,” Marie ordered, pushing Tyler from the doorway against the wall next to it and moved to her make-up table. She grabbed her knives from the top drawer. Tyler sat with his back to the wall as the door was kicked in. Marie was ready for them. Two men entered the room dressed in black and wearing masks. She quickly went to work on them and disarmed and sliced both of them. As she was finishing her work a third man began to enter the room. Tyler quickly grabbed him and struggled with him for his gun. The man freed a hand and grabbed his knife from his side pocket and cut Tyler across the right chest as Tyler was able to get ahold of the gun firing it into the man’s leg. Marie turned, having taken out her two assailants, and finished the man off with a knife to the neck. Tyler stumbled to the floor holding his chest as blood fell out of the slice in his shirt onto his hands. Marie looked out the door and scanned for more assailants. She saw none. She went to the man she had just killed and pulled the mask off his face,

Tyler looked at the man’s face, “Japanese?” Tyler questioned as he was panting.

“Chinese, you idiot” Marie replied looking at Tyler’s wound. “This is an initial incursion crew. More will come. Let’s go before you bleed out.” Marie pulled Tyler to his feet and grabbed his wrist. She slipped the watch off Tyler’s wrist and threw it against the wall. “I know a GPS when I see one. Tracking me will not be happening.” She heard footsteps coming down the hall, “Or they will come now, out the window.” Marie said pointing to the window on the far wall next to her make-up table. She helped Tyler out the window to the parking lot. “Follow me,” she ordered pulling Tyler along the building towards the dumpsters. Once there Marie pulled a motorcycle from between the two green dumpsters and straddled it, “Get on,” Marie ordered. Tyler hesitated. “Get on!” Marie barked at him. Tyler held his chest. He knew he would die if he didn’t go with her but if he did he wasn’t guaranteed to live either. Tyler took a breath and got on the back of the motorcycle as Marie revved the engine and sped off with Tyler clinging to her.