Chapter 5
Jason
“Captain!”
I finished my clip at the enemy and ducked towards an upended car for cover. I took another mag from my left cheek pocket and loaded it into my gun while another explosion happened back where I was standing mere seconds ago.
My second-in-command, Martins, dropped by my right, fixing his helmet.
“Thanks for the heads up back there,” I said, and he nodded while he checked his weapon.
“I didn’t think it was going to get this crazy so soon,” Martin said lightly. I said nothing, opting to narrow my eyes and try to see through the sandstorm, picking off potential locations for where the other terrorists might be hiding.
“Captain,” he called again, and I turned toward him. My eyes widened to see his eyes dripping with tears of blood, his uniform splattered with red as he coughed up blood, looking at me with shock and rage.
I jolted awake from my dream and got up from bed, the covers falling down my lap and the cool air hitting my bare chest. I buried my face in my hand as I breathed heavily, my body still trying to get its grips back on reality. It was just a dream, or rather, a morbid reinterpretation of what happened back in Afghanistan. I was out of that hellhole and back in my goddamn country, for crying out loud. I thought that fact would at least put my mind at ease. Clearly, it didn’t.
I wiped the sweat off my forehead and pulled the covers off of me as I got out of bed, my eyes immediately catching the envelope lying on top of my desk. I walked over and picked it up, hating how I still couldn’t bring myself to deliver it. It was Martins’ last wish, and here I was wasting my time.
I had forgotten myself in the moment and realized I was lightly crushing the letter with my hand and I quickly tried to straighten out the creases.
I placed it back on top of my desk and checked the time. 0359. That’s too fucking early to be awake, but I doubt I’m going to be able to go back to sleep. I put on some sweatpants and decided to just kill time working out. Chase was going to pick me up again for an official meeting with my ‘bosses’ at 0800, so I might as well get the exercise out of the way.
I thought about my new job while I worked the salamander bars. I had researched about Veronica Langley on the internet as soon as I got home, and the broad was a hell of a lot prettier than Chase described her. At least he hadn’t assigned me to a spinster, or worse, a dude. Thank goodness this one was really easy on the eyes. I just hope she really was as nice as Chase said. It didn’t matter she was a solid 9, if her personality sucked, then it was going to be difficult to deal with her.
I kept up my workout for three hours and then showered. I texted Chase whether I needed to wear something formal when we met with Veronica’s manager, but he said anything was fine. I picked out some jeans, a plaid polo shirt, and a white wife beater, leaving the polo shirt unbuttoned. I went to the fridge and took out eggs and bacon and prepared breakfast.
My door rang as I was loading up the dishes in the washer and wiped my hands on the rag hanging from the fridge. Seeing it was Chase, I looked around my apartment to see if there was anything I forgot to bring, and then I took my keys from the counter and opened the door.
Chase whistled low as he walked inside, looking around my place. I scratched the back of my neck as he continued his inspection, a little uncomfortable. I never invited guests inside my apartment before, so this is the first time anybody else saw it. Two of my walls were decorated with bricks from top to bottom, and the other two were cream-colored and bare. I had a master bedroom that connected to the living room and a small kitchen on the other side with a small circular dining table to the side.
“Sweet place you got here, Keyes,” Chase complimented, still looking around. I cleared my throat.
“Uh, thanks. Now, don’t we have to go somewhere right about now?” I reminded him and he jumped a bit as he remembered. I held the door open as he walked back out and I followed, locking the door behind me.
“So, other than introducing me to this Henry Stevenson guy, what else are we going to talk about?” I asked, hanging my arm out of the windshield as I kept my eyes on the road.
“Well, we will be discussing what your scope of duties actually entails, what your schedule is going to be, days off, that sort of thing,” he said, and I nodded.
“Am I also going to be able to talk to my subject this time?” I asked, and he shrugged.
“I don’t know, he didn’t say. I guess we’ll have to see once we get there,” he replied.
I asked Chase where we were meeting him and he said just a diner nearby, as Henry needed to go sort out another matter regarding one of the actors he was also handling besides Veronica. He drove for about ten minutes before pulling over by the curb. I looked up at the sign that said “Chuck’s” and I went inside.
The place looked like your typical diners around America, with the red hotdog booths and circular spinning chairs over by the counter. There was even a classic jukebox standing beside the counter, blasting some good old Elvis music. I saw a fat man with a mustache start waving in our direction, and Chase waved back at him in acknowledgement before nodding at me to follow him.
I spotted a dark-haired person sitting adjacent to the mustached man I assumed was Henry, and my heart skipped a beat all of a sudden, thinking it was Veronica. Chase went ahead and shook Henry’s hand before the latter held out his hand for me, shaking it in turn.
“Hello, you must be Jason Keyes. It’s nice to finally meet you,” Henry said, grinning. I smiled and nodded before turning to see his companion, who turned out not to be Veronica.
The woman was probably Latina or of South American descent, judging by her honey-colored skin. Her wavy black hair was tied in a loose braid hanging down one shoulder and she stood up and shook my hand.
“Chase, Jason, this is Sasha Klein, Veronica’s manager,” Henry introduced.
“Pleasure to meet you both,” she said politely, asking Henry to scoot over so she could sit on his side of the booth, facing us. She pulled out a couple of documents and handed them over before launching into an explanation stating it was my contract, and that I should read it over carefully and discuss anything that might need change or further clarified on.
Chase and I reviewed the contracts and discussed Veronica’s schedule and what my living arrangements are. Apparently, I was supposed to stay at Veronica’s house for most days, though I had a day off in which I could unwind and go about my usual routine. They also gave me an allowance so I could buy a suit or two for formal gatherings whenever Veronica had to attend a gala or an awards ceremony needing formal attires. But on a regular day, I could just wear my casual stuff.
“Why isn’t Veronica here?” I asked, and both Sasha and Henry sighed.
“About that,” Sasha said, glancing at Henry before looking back at me. “Veronica’s not exactly thrilled by the idea of having a personal protector,” she said, and I furrowed my eyebrows.
“So you mean she’s not going to be welcoming when I pop into her place,” I said, and she looked at me apologetically.
“We’ve talked to her about it and she knows you will be coming—oh no!” she cried all of a sudden and all three of us looked at her in concern. She grimaced. “I forgot to tell her you would be starting today!” she said.
“I haven’t even packed my stuff yet,” I said. “Are you sure I should be surprising her right now?” I asked, and Henry waved his hand dismissively.
“Nonsense. I’m sure everything will be fine,” Henry said, but I wasn’t convinced. He looked at his watch and started to fix his bag. “I’m terribly sorry to leave you all, but I have another meeting to attend to,” he said. “Sasha, please help Jason and take him to Veronica’s place. Jason, if you need any assistance, Sasha would be glad to help you. It was nice meeting you all again,” he greeted, placing his hat on his head and tipping it to us before walking out of the diner. Sasha stood up next and smiled at us.
“Well, gentlemen. It’s getting late. Shall we go?”