Spike (20 page)

Aidan takes a black flick-knife from his pocket and holds it away from me. He presses a button and a gleaming silver blade shoots out, making me gasp. “Take this … just in case,” Aidan says as he pushes the blade back into the handle. I could never imagine using a weapon like that, but I have to be prepared. I carefully slip the knife into my coat pocket, and then bury my head against his firm chest.

“Aidan …” I look up at him, my vision blurred with tears.

Is this it? Am I gonna get through this? Will I have to defend myself?

Urgh! I thought I had a handle on this shit. I grit my teeth together, and swallow my insecurities.

Aidan holds my face in his warm hands. The reassuring look in his eyes calms me.

“Eevie, I never knew love before you, and every day I fall even more in love.
You
are the most amazing woman I have ever met, and I promise you, on the other side of this our love will be that much sweeter. Be strong, baby girl, and know that I love you … more than anything.”

“I love you, too.” My voice croaks, and I sniff back my runny nose. He squeezes me once more. “I’ll see you soon.”

He winks. “
Yes
, you will.”

****

Hand him the envelope in plain sight
, I repeat in my head, over and over.

Thankfully, the tables inside the café are all taken so I sit at a small table outside with two chairs. I huddle with my hands inside my pockets, and do my best to be calm.

“So, you convinced him, huh?” a man beside me says.
Oh God, it’s him
. The hairs on the back of my neck prickle defensively like an echidna. In faded blue jeans and a black duffle coat, he lowers himself into the seat across from me, and moves in close. He looks similar to the photo Ryan showed us, but his hair’s longer and he has a dark beard. A black tattoo creeps out of his sleeve on one arm, and the lines on his face tell me he’s led a hard life. Lots of sun, and from the smell of him, plenty of cigarettes.

“It wasn’t easy, but he’s agreed to meet you, but … I’m not bringing him to you until you give me what you promised.” I take the envelope from my pocket and hand it to him, as obvious as I can. They’d better be getting this on tape.

He opens the envelope enough to take a quick glance at the notes, and then stuffs it into his back pocket. “Chill, honey. Just chill. You’ll get ‘em.”

“No,” I bark, surprising myself. “I want it now. Just give it to me. It’s no use to you now.
This
is what you wanted. Your son.”

I stare deep into the somewhat familiarity of his pale-blue eyes, and resist the growing urge to turn and run, run until I’m gasping for air, and far, far away from this man. But I can’t. Not yet. I just hope to God that deep down this man has a heart. That somewhere in that tired-looking body, there’s a trace of paternal feeling towards his own flesh and blood. Maybe if I try to reason with him, remind him that he’s a father, this will go to plan. 

Plan B isn’t an option. Whatever the hell it is.

“Aidan is your son. You are the part of him that’s been missing his whole life. I’ve done what you asked of me. I’ve talked him around and brought him to you, and believe me when I say it wasn’t easy. But he trusts me. Please don’t let him think I did this for any other reason than reuniting father and son. Please make this meeting everything Aidan hopes it to be.”

He looks me up and down, and rubs his chin. “You’ve got balls, girl. I’ll give you that. I can understand what he sees in you.”

He reaches into his pocket and then hands me a USB drive. I shove it into my jeans pocket, like a hot rock searing at my flesh. The evil it represents. The damage that it has done to me, and to Aidan.

“Is this the only copy?” I ask. I don’t even know why I bother with the question; he wouldn’t tell me the truth anyway.

“Yeah … but how do I know you’re gonna live up to your end of the deal?”

“We came all this way. He’d be suspicious if we turned around now without seeing you.”

“I guess. Where does he think you are?”
Is he trying to catch me out?

“I told him I was getting breakfast.”

“Tell him to meet me in the stands at Ew Moore oval in one hour.”

“Okay. I can do that.”

A waitress comes to our table, a smile across her young freckled face.

“What can I get you two?” she asks sweetly.

“Two flat whites and two ham and cheese croissants, takeaway, thanks.” I narrow my eyes at
him.
He wouldn’t want to think I was buying him one. Fuck him.

“No problems. If you don’t want to wait out here, come inside out of the cold. It’ll be ready in five,” she says, and moves onto the next table.

“One hour,” he says, and stands and walks away.

It takes every shred of restraint not to collapse on the table and cry, but my racing heart has other ideas. This is nearly over. The end is in sight, and that gives me all the more determination to harden my resolve. I text Ryan the details of the meet, so he can give the taskforce as much time as possible to prepare.

I collect the coffee and food from the counter, and drive the long way back to the hotel, doing my best to see if I’ve been followed. I’m not, that I can see.

When I get back into the hotel room, I put down the bag of food and coffees on the table. Aidan snatches me in his arms the moment my hands are free.

“Thank fuck you’re okay, baby. You got it?”

“Yeah, I’ve got it.” I laugh nervously through my tears.

“Do you think he suspected anything?” His nervous eyes search mine.

“No. I think we’re good. Where’s Ryan? I want him to check the USB drive. I don’t have my laptop.”

Aidan picks up his phone and dials. “Bring a laptop so we can check the USB … Thanks.” Aidan hangs up the phone. “He’ll be here in a minute.”

“Okay. We’ve got about thirty minutes before you have to meet. Let’s have something to eat.”

We sit at the small table with two chairs, and Aidan takes a croissant and stuffs most of it in his mouth, and then washes it down with a mouthful of coffee. I take a sip of mine, which is now lukewarm.

“Sorry it’s cold,” I mutter.

Aidan shakes his head in disgust. “Don’t apologise. Cold coffee is the least of our worries.” He smiles wearily. “Gimme the knife,” he says, extending his open palm to me.

I hand it over, and he flicks it out and back in again. He slips it into his back jeans pocket.

“Don’t worry, babe. I know how to use it,” he assures me, and winks. He’s told me before he knows how to skin a rabbit; not that this is the same, but at least he has something to defend himself with if he needs to. I hope to God it stays buried in his pocket.

Aidan puts on the vest, and buttons up his black winter coat over the top. He’s as gorgeous as always, but I swear, even with the enormity of what’s ahead of him, he’s calm. Almost too calm.

After a soft knock at the door, Aidan looks through the peephole, and slowly opens the door. Ryan walks in, black bag in hand. I move the remnants of breakfast from the table, and he opens a small laptop. I hand him the USB from my pocket, and he inserts it into the drive. I can’t even watch. If this is blank, I’ll be completely gutted. And all this would be for nothing. How do we play it if there’s nothing on it? Do I ring him and tell him Aidan’s not coming?

The sound of my groaning comes from the laptop speaker, filling the room. Ryan shuts it down.

My heart tries to escape my chest as the terror of the first time I watched it returns tenfold. Aidan squeezes his arm around my waist.

“It’s nearly over,” he whispers in my ear, and then kisses my temple “They’ll have this fucker in custody in no time.”

“Skipper will be along shortly to have a chat to you,” Ryan interrupts. “Eevie will come with me. We won’t be far away. We’ll see you on the flip side, man.”

“Keep her safe, Ryan,” Aidan says, his face blanketed in seriousness.

“You have my word, man.” Ryan pats Aidan on the back.

“Stick with Ryan. I’ll see you real soon.” Aidan draws me into a hug, and kisses me hard on the lips.

“Yep. See you soon,” I say.

****

* AIDAN *

“Aidan, I’m Skipper,” says the middle-aged man in front of me as we shake hands. The collar of his white polo shirt pokes out the top of the black police vest which is snug over his ample frame. His gut overhangs his ill-fitting beige pants, and he smooths down his fine, blonde hair over his blinding bald spot. “I’m in charge of the taskforce and just wanted to have a quick chat before the meet.” Judging from his serious face and brows furrowed, this will be no casual chat.

I clear my throat. “Sure.”

“We appreciate what you’re willing to do here to facilitate this operation, but be under no delusions about this man. Regardless of the fact he’s your father, he is a fugitive. He is dangerous, and may be armed.”

“Got it.”
Armed and dangerous. Fucking great
.

“The most important thing is for you to be calm, but more importantly, to keep him calm. We don’t wanna spook him. Just keep him talking, try to forget we’re here, keeping the meet as natural as possible.”

How the fuck do I do that? Go to a happy place? Like I’d be able to forget the whole purpose of this shit.

I mumble and nod.

“We’ve had one of the local undercover guys take a drive near the oval. Make sure you sit on the left-hand side of the stands so we’ll have a better element of surprise. We don’t want to give him any opportunity to do something stupid. Try and keep him talking as long as possible. Distract him.”

“Okay. Is that it?”

“Yes, that’s about it. We’ll have our eyes on you as soon as you arrive. We’ve got you covered.”

“Thanks,” I say, secretly hoping there’s at least a dozen well-trained snipers at the ready.

He grips my shoulder with his pudgy fingers, and looks me right in the eye. “Let’s do this.”

“Let’s.”

****

* EEVIE *

I’m afraid for him. Afraid of what Aidan’s father really wants. Terrified of what a desperate man might do if cornered.

Ryan and I sit in silence, waiting in a black four-wheel drive with dark-tinted windows, a couple of blocks away from the oval. I won’t know how things have gone down until it’s over. I wish I were there to hold Aidan’s hand, as stupid as that sounds. Not that he needs it. Regardless of the actual situation, this is the first time he’s seen his father in what must feel like a lifetime, and I wanna be there with him. Right beside him. Even if all I can do is hold his hand. But this is no ordinary meeting. This is something that was thrust upon us. Aidan knew in his gut he didn’t want anything to do with his missing father. How right his instincts were.

I twirl my hair tight around my finger, wishing the caffeine buzz from my last coffee would disappear. It’s only feeding my anxiety more.

“You know, it’s weird. I feel like I already know you. Cassie’s always talking about you.” Ryan’s words pull me away from my thoughts of doom.

“All good, I hope.”

“Yeah, all good. You know, you’re pretty brave to have managed this on your own up until this point. I’m just glad you asked for help. I’d hate to see something happen to you.”

“I appreciate all you’ve done, Ryan. I just want this last part over with. Aidan needs it to be over with.”

Ryan flattens his palms at the top of his thighs, and smooths them over his blue jeans to his knees. He turns side on, his chocolate-brown eyes doing their best to penetrate my thoughts.
What is with him?

“You really love him, don’t you?” he says as if it’s just dawned on him.
Why would he think any different?

“Yes, Ryan. More than I can say.” I smile, and stare back.

“So, I’m definitely out of the running, then,” he says with a cocky smirk, that trademark dimple making an appearance. Regardless of how good-looking he is, and how I’m sure he knows how to do wicked things to a girl, he’s not Aidan. He can’t even compare.

“There isn’t even a competition,” I say softly and then realise how harsh that would’ve come across. But really, it’s the truth.

“Ouch. Ah well, you can’t blame a man for tryin’.” His gaze shifts to the two-way radio, and he checks the display. Then he checks his watch. Even though he’s engaging in casual conversation, he’s still business.

“Is this you trying to distract me from what’s happening?”

He opens his mouth to speak, but pauses. “For the most part,” he says, grinning cheekily through his almost-perfect teeth. “You don’t happen to have a sister, by chance?”

“Nope, you’re outta luck. Three brothers.”

“Go figure.”

The radio squelches. “Briar’s set. We’ve got eyes on our POI,” a deep male voice says.

My heart pounds violently in my chest, and the weight of my thoughts have my head falling back against the headrest. I close my eyes, dreading whatever comes through the speaker next.
Please be safe, Aidan. Please.

I grip the doorhandle and dig my fingers into the edge of my seat. A warm hand covers mine, and I release my tight grip. Ryan squeezes my hand, reassuring me, and I open my bleary eyes and turn to him. “Eevie, this’ll be over in a matter of minutes. Like I said before, we’ve got the best in the country working on this take-down. Please … trust me.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

* AIDAN *

As directed, I sit down at the left-hand side of the stands by the edge of the oval, my knees fidgeting nervously. I rake my hands through my hair, and have to consciously unclench my teeth. What is probably only a few minutes drags on like the final laps of a big race. You know the end is coming, but everything seems to go in slow motion.

There’s only one thing that’s been a comfort while sitting here. Eevie is safe. It’s the one thing I
don’t
have to worry about. Thank fuck she got the tape off the prick. This shit is almost over. The cops wanted to take him down then, but I couldn’t have Eevie in the way. I couldn’t be responsible for her getting hurt, not after coming this far. When she walked away from that café carrying two coffees and a paper bag, it was the biggest fucking relief of my life. Seeing her come out the other side, unscathed, my lungs finally let me take the air in deep. I no longer felt crushed.