Basement Level 5: Never Scared (13 page)

Chase pointed in the opposite direction. “Third door on the left. Lei and Makayla are the second door on the left.”

Pop nodded. “I won’t wake them up now. Thanks for coming to pick me up.”

“
How was your trip?”

“
It was tough. I didn’t know what I would find when I got back. I want to be briefed on the situation as soon as everyone’s up. We need to develop a plan of action.”

“
Well, I’m ready. They should be up in a few.”

Dro burst into the kitchen, wearing only sweatpants. “You’re here,” he said, embracing Pop. “Good to see you.”

“
Good to see you too. Where’s my ladybug?”

“
In the bed. Rough night.”

“
I bet. I was just telling Chase I want to know everything that’s happened.”

“
That’s fine,” Dro agreed. “Let me finish getting dressed. I actually came out here because Chase only brought soap for Alexa.” He glared at Chase. “And there’s no way I’m using cinnamon fruit drop or anything like that.”

Pop laughed as Dro hurried off in search of soap.

CHAPTER 14

November 4, 2011, B5
:

Alexa rolled over, expecting to burrow into Dro’s warm body, but all she found was cold sheets. Opening her eyes, she spotted him on the far side of the room, slipping on his pants.

She sat up straight. “Is everything okay? Where are you going?”

“
Pop is here. He wants to talk.”

Alexa couldn’t help but feel excited at the news of her father’s arrival. She had missed him. Hopping out of bed, she headed for the closet. “Well, then let’s not keep him waiting.”

“
Wow, when I came in last night, you wouldn’t even look at me. Your father comes, and you jump right out of bed.”

She brushed passed him and bumped him away from the dresser so she could retrieve a bra. “That’s not true. I remember very well what I did when I saw you.” She looked over her shoulder at him and winked. She rushed to the bathroom, bumping into him again. “Dro, can you please not start this discussion without me?”

He followed her into the bathroom. “You know that’s not going to happen. We’re in this together, baby,” he said and started to shave as she stepped into the shower.

“
I’ve been thinking,” she said. “Daddy is probably going to want to come up with a game plan and wait before we make a move. But I think we need to make a move first and then see what happens.”

“
I think we need to wait until we have more information. We definitely need to set up surveillance on Melissa’s family and do some digging around to see if we can figure out who her partner is.”

“
Yeah, but Melissa is a dingaling. If we get to her first, we may be able to break her.”

Dro cleared his throat. “I know you want to see her suffer, but we have to think about her family. Her parents are very wealthy and have a lot of influence. We don’t want to make a move too quickly.”

“
Dro, she hired men to come into our house and kill us. Didn’t you tell me it was time to fight? I want to fight that bitch.”

He laughed. “Oh, you’ll get your chance, but not until we know more. You told me you were going to make some calls. Did you get that done?”

Pretending she didn’t hear him, she sighed and turned off the water. “What about the kids?”

“
We’ll play it by ear. We’re pretty secure here, but we should still consider other options.” He tossed her a towel as she stepped out of the shower. “Are you going to answer my question?”

She dried her body then wrapped her hair up in another towel. “I put in a call to my contact. He’s checking into it. And that’s what makes this so hard. We know Melissa isn’t smart enough to do this by herself. It could be anybody.”

“
It’s important to narrow this down though. Are these thugs after you for your work with Martinez Security or is this connected to some outside job you did for the CIA?”

A chill ran up her spine. Could this have something to do with the Company? It wasn’t common knowledge that she’d been recruited by one of her father’s friends to do freelance work for them. In fact, the only people who knew were Dro and Kendrick. Even her father had no idea she’d done freelance work for the government.

Pop had made it clear to his contacts that all jobs contracted with Martinez Security went through him. He funneled them to the group because he didn’t want them involved in the politics. When Alexa was contacted directly, she’d thought long and hard about betraying her father to work with the CIA. Ultimately, she chose the money and the adrenaline rush they provided. But there wasn’t a single day that she didn’t wish she could share that side of herself with her father.

“
You’re right,” she said, running a brush through her hair. “We need more information before we go any further.” She stopped when she noticed Dro watching her. “Baby, what’s up?”

“
Nothing.” He wrapped his arms around her and placed a quick kiss on her lips. “Just looking at you. I can’t look at you?”

She smiled. “You can look at me any time you want. But are you sure you’re okay?”

“
I’m good now that I know you’re good. Once we figure out what’s going on, we can end this and live our lives the way we planned.”

“
Then let’s get to work.”

***

August 23, 1998, Alexa’s eighteenth birthday
:

“
Daddy,” Alexa cried as she ran into Pop’s arms. “You’re here. I didn’t think you were coming in until tomorrow.”

Pop smiled as he embraced her. “I wouldn’t miss your birthday for the world, sweetheart.”

She beamed with pride as he kissed her forehead and handed her a gift box. “Why don’t you wait until later to give this to me? At the dinner?”

“
No, ladybug. I need to give this to you now.”

She glanced up at him. “You’re going to be at dinner aren’t you?”

“
Of course, but this is not a gift for the dinner table.”

She tore the gift wrap off the small package and gasped when she noticed the small antique locket. “Oh Daddy, it’s so beautiful.”

He sat down on the bed and pulled her next him. “I bought this locket when you were first born,” he said, as he took her hand in his and squeezed. “I always knew I would give it to you on your eighteenth birthday.”

Tears sprang up in her eyes when she opened it. Inside was a tiny braid of hair, a picture of her as a baby, and a baby picture of him as well. “Is this my hair?”

“
Mine and yours, braided together. I gave your brother one too—well not a locket—but I did give him a braid to symbolize our bond together. I always dreamed of having a little girl. But you’ve turned out to be so much more than I ever hoped for. You’ve grown into a competent and wonderful young lady. I’m so proud of you.” He reached into the briefcase sitting next to him and pulled out another box. “This is for you too.”

She ripped the gold wrapping paper and tossed it on the floor. “Daddy, you got it?”

“
I got it.”

The semi-automatic .45 caliber pistol finished in titanium gleamed at her. She lifted it out of the box and gripped the handle. “It’s beautiful.”

“
I bought your first gun when you were a little girl. Now you’re a woman, and you need a woman’s gun.”

She hugged him again. “I love you, Daddy.”

“
I love you too, ladybug. I’ll take you out tomorrow so you can practice with it. I want you to do your first job next week.”

She grinned, excited about her first job. She had dreamed of being a part of this growing up and the anticipation was killing her. Would she have to do a kidnapping or a robbery—a murder? “Did you get the knife I wanted too?”

She knew the men did plenty of different jobs for her father. Pop was hired to assassinate, to infiltrate, to kidnap, to secure—whatever his country needed. The men learned a great deal from each experience.

Now it was her turn.

“
Of course I did,” he said, handing her another box. “Keep this in a special place. Make sure that when you whip it out, no one knows where you pulled it from. Always leave them guessing, ladybug.”

She grinned and snatched it from his hands. “You’re the best, Daddy.”

***

November 4, 2011, B5
:

Pop was standing at the breakfast bar when Alexa entered the kitchen, followed by Dro. She ran straight to her father’s waiting arms, just like she had when she was a little girl.

Pop wrapped his arms around her and held on tight. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

“
I’m glad you’re here. I’ve missed you.” She pulled away and scanned the empty room. “The kids aren’t up yet? Where’s everybody?”

Pop shrugged. “My guess is everyone is still sleeping. I heard you had a rough night. “

“
Coffee?” Kendrick was leaning against the counter in the kitchen. “I filled Pop in on some of the details of last night, but we should probably talk in another room in case the kids decide to make an appearance.”

Alexa held out a coffee mug for Chase to fill then handed the piping hot liquid to Dro before fetching another mug for herself. When everyone was served, they all headed to the security room.

Once everyone was seated, Pop addressed the group. “Kendrick told me about this woman, Melissa. Is her family into some kind of shady business?”

“
Her family is very wealthy,” Dro answered. “But as far as I know, they’re legit. She used to always walk around acting like her family owned the town, but it wasn’t because they were criminals or anything.”

Pop rubbed his beard. “Well, the first thing we need to do is check out her family. I already asked Kendrick to get going on that with Nicholas.”

“
I went over the employee list,” Lei added. “There were a few names that popped out to me—one in particular. I don’t know how we missed it, but it seems there’s a connection between one employee and the Neal Family.”

Alexa gasped. “The Neals?”
Erik’s
family
?

“
Naomi Gardner, who works in the records division of Martinez Security,” Lei continued. “She could have had access to our security routines.”

“
How is she related to the Neals?” Alexa wondered. “That name should have never gotten through our checks.”

“
She married...” Lei scanned through the folder. “Adam. This was months after she was hired, though. And she kept her maiden name.”

“
Damn.” Alexa winced when Pop frowned at her. “Sorry Daddy.”

Dro glanced at Alexa. “We’re going to have to bring Naomi in,” he said to Lei. “If she’s connected to Adam, chances are this could be some sort of revenge.”

Alexa set her mug on the table. “I want to talk to her.”

Dro shook his head. “Kendrick and Chase will talk to her. You don’t need to be there.”

“
Why the hell not? If she’s involved, I want to talk to her.”

“
There’s no reason to change how we do things,” Dro said calmly. “Kendrick and Chase can handle it. It’s too personal for you, and if you piss her off, she might withhold her cooperation.”

“
Under normal circumstances, I’d agree with you. But this
is
personal,” she insisted. “It’s personal for all of us, even Kendrick and Chase.”

Kendrick cleared his throat. “I don’t see why she can’t come with us. If the bitch is in on the attacks, she’s not likely to cooperate anyway. Alexa may be able to persuade her.”

Alexa loved Kendrick for always having her back, but she wished he hadn’t stuck his nose in. Dro glared at him like he wanted to fling him across the room. But then they always had a love-hate sort of friendship.

“
I just don’t think it’s a good idea,” Dro growled through clenched teeth. “They’re after Alexa and right now it’s that best no one knows what happened to her. If we bring her into this too soon, they’ll be prepared for her.”

“
He’s right,” Chase agreed. “Alexa, you might have to sit this one out. You can watch the whole thing on the monitors, but you’re better off not being involved in the interrogation.”

“
I agree, ladybug stays behind,” Pop concurred. “But we have something more pressing to discuss. I don’t think it’s wise to keep the kids here. They need fresh air. They need to be able to play. There’s no telling how long this will last. And I would feel better if we got them out of the country.”

“
I was thinking the same thing,” Dro said. “We can send the kids, Ma, Makayla, and Ari away. One of us has to go with them, though.”

“
That’s going to leave us vulnerable up here,” Lei said. “You don’t think we can send Nicholas or someone else down there?”

“
No,” Dro said. “I’m not sending my family out of the country without adequate protection. And I don’t trust anyone else. We’re going to send others, but I need one of us there too.”

“
I feel like Kendrick should go,” Pop suggested.

“
No,” Alexa stated.

Dro sighed, but remained silent.

“
Kendrick would be best,” Pop argued. “His kids and his wife are going too. He may want to be in control of the situation.”