Strong Reflection: Book 2 of the Dark Series Trilogy (24 page)

Talon had asked her if she was sure because the badass thugs he knew would slit her throat if she didn't keep her end of the deal.
She had assured her cousin she was beyond sure and needed some serious wet work done by tomorrow night. Talon gave one last warning before giving Bunny the contact information she craved.

The rain which had started hours earlier, and continued to fall, had driven her from her hiding place in the woods surrounding the house in which Kyle was staying. The place was certainly busy.
There had been cops and ambulances on the scene quite often. Bunny felt the satisfied grin slip across her lips. She knew she was definitely responsible for some of the commotion. A frown quickly replaced her grin. But, she hadn't been the cause of the uproar yesterday. She wondered at the reason.

There were 3 sharp rapid knocks on her door. Bunny quickly stood and opened the poor excuse for a barrier. A very large white man stood on the threshold.

"Mr. Spencer?"

The man raised an eyebrow. "Just Spencer, no mister."

"Come in," she waved him inside and quietly closed the door. She turned and studied him with keen eyes. He was at least 6' 4" and had massive shoulders and a tank-size chest. His huge hands matched the rest of him as did his equally large feet.

His hazel eyes gave her a once over and then his lips turn into a knowing snare. "Listen lady, you got a job for me or am I going to just drip rainwater all over your rug all night?"

She walked into her gruesome bathroom, taking the one towel by the very tips of her index finger and thumb she offered it to him.

He rolled his eyes, ignored the towel, wiping his brow with his hands and then shaking them. It was then Bunny noticed the swastikas on each of his hands on the cagina area.
Talon had chosen well.

"This needs to happen tomorrow night.
I am sick of this disgusting town. But I won't go home until I know it's done."

"Putting a rush on the job is going to cost you extra."
The man's voice was big like the rest of him without being loud. He certainly got his point across. "And I get half up front."

She had already taken care of the finances using one of her offshore accounts unconnected to the Bencroft name. Bunny went to the closet and grabbed the duffle bag she had prepared earlier. A matching duffle was in the trunk of her car waiting for the job's completion.

"I must warn you, the residence is full and seems to be busy. I can't give you a good time to execute your plan. Just ensure it's done by midnight tomorrow night."

Spencer shouldered the duffle after taking a peek inside.
He held out his hand.

Bunny rose condescending brows, "Yes?"

He smirked, "A picture, an address, any of this ringing a bell?"

"Yes, of course." Bunny took out several photos of her and Kyle and a slip of paper with the address.

Spencer scanned the pictures before giving a snort, "Trouble in paradise?"

"That's none of your business, handled the part that is yours!"

Spencer slipped the information and photos into the duffle, "Don't get your panties in a bunch.
Before I go I need to ask are you very sure? And is there anyone who may be at the house you don't want hurt or involved?"

Bunny' s cold blue eyes didn't flinch as she directed, "Kill the entire house if you have to, I don't care. And I am always sure!"

With a quick nod Spencer opened the door and disappeared into the downpour.

Bunny walked over to the failed attempt for a bed and flipped the paper thin pillow. She stared down at her new purchase of the day.
She liked the gleaming black metal. She caressed it like a lover enjoying the cold feel. Tomorrow it will all be over one way or another.

****

Ashley hesitatingly entered the kitchen, frowning when she didn't find Kyle with the others at the table having breakfast. She had to admit she missed waking up in his arms.

"Morning, Ash-- uh, Ariel, uh, I mean Mackenzie." Jack stuttered over his greeting.

"It's okay you guys," she made sure to include Catlyn and Jared by looking them all in their eyes. "I had my name legally changed to Ashley when I was 18 but I’ve been known as Ashley since I entered the orphanage."

Jared pulled out the chair next to him. "Take a load off sis." Ashley laughed, glad of his easy acceptance.

She sat and ruffled his hair, "Good morning bro."

Jared stared at her and touched her cheek with a gentle finger, giving a sad smile. "You look so much like Mom."

Ashley repeated the gesture. "And you are the spitting image of Daddy. In fact you look like him when he had time to tan in the summer. He tanned really well."

Jared quirked a brow, "Yeah it's pretty cool when you can pass for a multitude of races and nationalities. And while in prep school I ran the gambit of personas. I was Alan Waterford-Smythe the third from England, Daniel Connor O'Brien from Dublin, Marley Kingston from Jamaica and I even had my 'I'm black and proud' rebellion." Jared changed his accent for each alias he gave doing a more than credible job at sounding authentic.

Jack laughed, "That's quite a trick you got."

"It helped me get in just enough trouble over the years and drive Grandpa crazy."

At the mention of the director the whole atmosphere changed. Catlyn passed Mackenzie a cup of coffee made to her liking. "We asked Jared to stay with us and join us at the wedding."

A real smile spread across Mackenzie's face and reached her eyes. "Thank you, Cat and Jack."

"No thanks required. That's what our wedding day is all about, sharing it with friends and family." Jack wanted them to feel comfortable. And after viewing that video he couldn't agree with Catlyn more when she told him the siblings needed some time to get to know one another. Their story was a heartbreaker. 

"So, Jared, you were told by your grandfather that your entire family died in a car accident?"

"Jack!" Catlyn admonished.

"What? You know you're curious. Your big profiler brain must be tweaking off the charts."

"Hey!" Catlyn slapped his shoulder.

Jack took her hand, bringing it to his lips, "Sorry Kitten, you know I love you for your body."
He laughed at her annoyed look and tasted her frown before she could say more. After a quick kiss on her cheek as well he turned his attention on the siblings who watched him and Catlyn with happy smiles.

"Sorry to put you on the spot man. You don't have to answer."

"No it's alright." He sighed, giving Mackenzie an apologetic look. "I really had no idea you had survived. I was told you all died in a car accident and the doctors were able to save me last minute."

"Where did you live?" Mackenzie was more than curious about her brother.

"At Grandpa's place in Richmond. I use to go into your room, play with your toys, not the dolls, but for girls, you had some pretty cool stuff."

"He kept our room at his place?"

No one needed to ask which 'he' Mackenzie was referring.

"Oh yes, and tons of pictures.
I used to stare at your faces in all kinds of photos, all kinds of expressions. Your faces became a part of me, made me feel as though I knew you a little."

Jared took Mackenzie's hand.
"You have to believe me, if I even had a hint you were alive, I would have found you, insisted on seeing you, living with you. I had been missing you guys-- and, yes, it is possible to miss someone you never met-- so I needed something to occupy my mind. A friend from college invited me to her hometown for a visit. I think I was trying to get over missing you all so deeply and it was working until she took me to the Newburgh Waterfront. I was having a really good time. Then I saw this gorgeous girl with the D-J."

"So, it was you Mackenzie saw that day at the dance?
Why'd you run?"  Catlyn asked.

"Mainly because I had people I care about very worried over my mental state and I thought I had totally gone nuts, seeing my sisters' likeness in women around me.
I had always missed you but I had never conjured up a hallucination before, I thought, this is it, Grandpa was right I obsessed so much over my lost family that my mind was manufacturing mirages!"

"Don't worry, you
’re not alone. I chased you because I thought you were Dad! How is that for crazy?"

Jared laughed, "I guess it runs in the family."

Jack pointed out, "It turns out you were both right, well almost Mackenzie. You can't get any closer to the father than the son."

Catlyn gave Jared a smile, "You know you unwittingly help bring down the Newburgh Slasher."

Jared guffaw, "How's that now?"

"Well if you hadn't caught Mackenzie's eye she never would have seen something she wasn't supposed to see."

"Like what?"

Mackenzie and then Jack gave Jared a rundown of the events that followed which culminated in the fatal capture of the Newburgh Slasher.

"Jesus! A coma, sis, you don't do things small do ya?"

Jack gave a bark of laughter, "Mackenzie doesn't know what small is, do you?" Jack winked at her, "It's why we love you Mack, never a dull moment."

The landline rang. Jack gently pushed Catlyn back in her seat. "I got it sweetheart."

"Mackenzie what were you told about Jared?"

“To be honest Director Mackenzie never said Jared was dead.  I just assumed he died with Mom."

Jared stood, "An assumption the old fool never corrected.
Why are you calling that bastard 'Director Mackenzie'? He doesn't deserve respect, especially not yours."

"Jared, he's your grandfather, whether we like it or not that position deserves respect."

"How can I continue to respect and love someone who has wronged me and someone I love so grievously?"

"Like I did. One day at a time, try to make him proud, and pray one day he'll forgive you."

Jared sat back down and hugged her. "Oh, little one, there is nothing to forgive. You were practically a baby. Nothing, and I mean, nothing on that video is your fault. It's a tragedy but not your fault."

Mackenzie held him tight, hiding her tears against his shoulder. "You do know I am older than you right? Why are you calling me little one?"

"Hey, you may be older but I am way bigger." The siblings shared a laugh.

Catlyn smiled too, "He does have a point."

Jack came back into the kitchen with a deep frown marring his handsome face. He leaned over and gave Catlyn a kiss, "Catlyn, I have to go. One of my detectives has been in an O-I-S.  I arranged for Tasha to pick your mom up at the airport. I don't know how long I will be."

"What's an O-I-S?" Jared asked.

"An Officer Involved Shooting." The 3 others answered simultaneously.

"Please be careful." Catlyn gave him another kiss before wiping her lip
gloss from his lips.

"Sweetheart, careful is my middle name." Jack winked.

"It's Anthony silly." Catlyn shooed him out of the room.

"Catlyn, where is Kyle?"
  Ashley was curious.

"He didn't mention specifics only that he had an errand to run."

Mackenzie was puzzled. What possible errand could he have in a strange town where the only people he knew were right here?

Chapter 15

Kyle watched the director sleep.
He had been here over 30 minutes waiting to speak with him. Kyle once again used his credentials to seek out medical information. The director did not have a heart attack as they all had thought. The doctors said it was a warning sign though. The director would have to make some serious life style changes if he wanted to avoid a real heart attack and be around for his grandson's graduation from West Point.

Kyle glanced over to the door, detecting motion.  It was the same male nurse that had checked in just a few minutes ago.  Kyle looked him directly in the eyes before turning his scrutiny back towards the director.

Kyle glared at his sleeping form with disgust. How could he call himself a grandfather when he had chosen one grandchild over the other? He had no business controlling the reigns of one of the most powerful positions in the country while harboring such biases and bigotry.

Without preamble the director's eyes sprang open and immediately found Kyle's.
  He felt obligated a little to ask after his welfare before he tore into the director, telling him what he really thought of him as a parent and as a man.  "How are you feeling?"

He pushed the button to raise the upper part of the bed. "Fine. Where is my grandson?"

Kyle's eyes narrowed, "With his sister."

The old man's gray eyes sparked to life, "She is not hi--"

"Finish that sentence and so help me God you are going to need to stay here in this hospital."

Director Mackenzie faltered in his attempt to sit all the way up, "Listen, here boy, I don't know who you think you're talking to
, but--"

Kyle moved up closer to the bed. "I know exactly to whom I speak.
An old bigot that chose the grandchild that could pass for white over the one who couldn't."

"You don't know what you're talking about!"

"Oh, don't I? David John Mackenzie, Sr., born April 15, 1946 in Atlanta, Georgia to a Nick and Bobbielyn Ryland. You had a pretty normal and moderate upbringing until you reached your twenties after your parents died and joined none other than the Klu Klux Klan!"

"I see you've been snooping in files you have no business in and definitely no security clearance."

"And I see a man who took a severely traumatized little girl who had survived anyone's worst nightmare and traumatized her even more." Kyle stood and ran an agitated hand through his hair, "You sick, twisted son of bitch! Your son chose his woman to love, he chose his kids, it was your responsibility to protect and love her too. Do you think your son would be proud to know that his very own father had become the thing he hated most and fought against every day, the very thing he died for?"

"Get, out, you know nothing!"

"My God, I still remember the way you introduced her, 'Come meet our new team member, Agent Ashley Mackenzie, no relation, of course', la de da, like she was nothing!"

The old man seemed to shrink and age 20 years right before Kyle's eyes.
And Kyle really started to worry as tears formed in his eyes and then overflowed on to his cheeks.

"You don't understand!"

"What could possibly explain how you've treated your granddaughter and disrespect of your son's wishes?"

"Shall I answer that for you, Sir?"

Kyle turned to the open door. Ashley, Catlyn and Jared stood there with varying degrees of anxious expressions.

Ashley and her grandfather locked gazes for an eternity. "I suppose you must judging by that ring on your finger.
Please follow protocol."

"Catlyn and Jared, Sir?"

The director huffed, "The more the merrier." Although he sounded anything but merry.

"Catlyn and Jared why don't you guys sit down."
Ashley turned to Kyle whose eyes hadn't left her since he turned towards the door.

"Assistant Director Kyle Strong, security clearance code, I-D and badge please."

"Are you joking? My clearance is higher than yours!"

"I'm sure it is
, Sir. Security clearance code, I-D and badge, please, Sir."

Seeing that her dark eyes were serious Kyle rattled off his code a
nd produced the items Ashley had seen a thousand time.

After inspecting his information she turned to her grandfather, "Director Mackenzie are you satisfied
, Sir?" He nodded approval reluctantly.

Looking into Kyle's eyes Ashley started to speak. "Director Mackenzie is not only the director of the FBI.
In a way you can say that is his cover.  He belongs in a clandestine special ops unit that specializes in anti-racial terrorism. He was first recruited in his early twenties. His first assignment was to infiltrate the Klu Klux Klan. He spent years posing as D.J. Mackey. He worked his way up through the ranks in the KKK. Ultimately he and his team were able to disband the local chapter of the KKK and had thwarted many crimes against minorities and government agency that supported them. His second assignment was to enter a cult where the members performed racial cleansings as an initiation. The recruit would have to kill 10 or more to join, acceptable lambs to the slaughter were: Blacks, Jews, Hispanics and any female that wasn't Caucasian. Director Mackenzie and his team successfully took this group out too.

"Director Mackenzie then for the next 20 years traveled all over the country foiling crimes against minorities and disbanding groups, clubs and organizations which took any kind of illegal stand against minorities. His last assignment before he was to take on his new position as Director of the FBI was to infiltrate an organization known as W.H.A.M."

Catlyn gasped, "White Heterosexual Aryan Masters?"

Ashley looked at her, "You've heard of them?"

"So have I." Kyle said, bringing Ashley's attention back on him. She probed his eyes. He looked angry.

"Go on and finish."

Ashley tried to gauge his reaction but other than his strong jaw being clamped tight she couldn't tell how angry he was underneath.

"Something went wrong on his last assignment.
After netting some top level guys for major felonies, including murder, kidnapping, false imprisonment, money laundering and extortion there was a leak and Director Mackenzie's true identity was revealed to W.H.A.M. all his files were accessed, his true name, true employer, his promotion and all the information on his family particularly his son and his son's upcoming promotion. The remaining members of W.H.A.M. retaliated. They killed Director Mackenzie's wife, his son, his son's family and all the top ranking agents that were due to start in the new department and their families.  It was decided that it would be best and safer for everyone involved that there be no survivors."

Jared got up and angrily stared down at Ashley. "You lied?
You told me you didn't know about me being alive!"

Mackenzie Sr. spoke up, "She didn't know about you son.
I explained to her how we couldn't be family anymore and how she had to go live in an orphanage and be brave this time--"  

He stopped talking when he felt the disapproving eyes of the others, except Ashley who looked at the floor.

Kyle gave a humorless laugh, "Let me get this straight, you destroyed an 11 year old girl, forcing her to suppress being herself, forcing her to be her twin, forcing her to live as an orphan with no family when she has a brother and a grandfather, making her believe it was her fault her family died, all for the sake of your job?"

"It wasn't for my job.
It was for her protection!"

"Bullshit!"

"It's not bullshit. Still to this day we have no idea who or how my information was leaked. I needed to protect the family I have left!"

Jared jumped in, "If protecting her was what this was all about, explain that hateful shit outside Jack's house last night, calling her nothing to you, shoving your granddaughter to the ground?"

"She understands why that was done." The director turned a bright shade of red.

Kyle split a look between Ashley and her grandfather.
"If you are so concerned about safety why did you allow her to tell us your true identity virtually in public?"

At this question Ashley raised her head and her eyes met her grandfather's.
They participated in some non-verbal communication that ended with a nod from David Mackenzie. "I activated Guardian very shortly after the director went down. The ambulance you saw last night was driven by Guardian 3 and 5. The Director has been under guard ever since."

"Wow, that is some special ops you got going."
Jared was sarcastic. "Where'd his guards go now?"

Kyle nodded, "I thought it kind of odd that male nurse kept popping in here and when he wasn't actually in the room he hung around outside your door."

David Mackenzie confirmed with a nod, "That was Guardian 2."

"So like the kid said, where's your guard now.
I haven't seen him since the others arrived."

Catlyn looked towards the door.
"He's not out there anywhere now."

Jared smirked, "Come on guys, even special ops can yield the room to two agents and a former agent."

Catlyn frowned, "I guess so."

Kyle had been watching Ashley the last couple of minutes and although not even a hair on her head had changed he knew there was something different.
"That's not it is it, Ariel?"

All eyes were on her as she answered, "No, that's not it...I am Guardian 1."

Kyle's eyes closed and he shook his head. "Oh my God!"

Jared wasn't as eloquent, "Holy shit!"

Catlyn's eyes were sad as she added, "This explains so much!"

Kyle rounded on the director, getting in his face, "Are you fucking proud at what you've done?"

The Director gave it right back to him, "I am damn proud of Agent Mackenzie."

"Her name is Ariel!
And she is your granddaughter! All she has ever wanted since I've known her is a family. She's so starved for family she hijacked mine long before I fell in love with her. Look what you have turned her into. Do you even see?"

"I see a damn fine field agent with a sharp shooter ranking in firearms, with top scores in hand to hand and several forms of martial arts, an agent who is smart, quick witted and can survive if you dropped her in the middle of a jungle with no supplies."

"Well I see a woman with nothing left to lose but a grandfather she desperately loves and will die before she ever fails again, according to him. You've created a ticking bomb."

"Agent Mackenzie is fine."

"You coward, you can't even say her name. And, she is not fine. I've loved every inch of her body. I have seen the scars, both the internal and external. Your granddaughter has been shot, stabbed, has had too many near misses to count, beaten into a coma and violated. You think that's fine?"

"It shows her endurance."

Kyle grabbed the director by the front of his hospital gown. He caught Ashley's hand as she went to remove his. He held her hand tightly pulling her towards him forcing her to stumble against his body. His eyes drilled into hers, "Stand down, Guardian 1. He isn't hurt and doesn't need rescuing, understand?"

Ashley stated into his gorgeous eyes and saw only love.
She nodded and Kyle released her.

He pulled the gown tighter and warned, "You had better start doing right by your granddaughter or she is going to die trying to win your love, approval and wanting to be 'brave this time'.
You should have never been allowed to take your position after losing most of your family and friends and she should have never been an agent at all." Kyle shoved him back against the mattress, releasing him. He turned and left the room.

****

Kyle tried to keep his temper in check. He had insisted Ariel...yes, damn it, he would call her what her mother named her. Not by the name chosen from pain, grief and guilt...ride with him. She had remained silent so far as did he, time to change the silence, "So all those times I thought I was saving your job by finagling a report or looking the other way or accepting it when you told me one of your half-truths was a waste of time. You were never getting fired."

She turned from her contemplation
out the passenger window.   "That's not true. If you had fired me and asked for my resignation I would have had to comply. Our unit is clandestine but it's still part of the HCD and you head that department."

Kyle harrumphed and drove a few more minutes in silence.
"So pretty Miss Ariel are we still getting hitched? I only ask because I think I've alienated your family."

"I said don't call me that anymore."

"Sorry Babydoll can't do that, I want all of you, the real you. I want you Ariel, not some tribute of an amazingly brave little girl who didn't live beyond pre-pubescents. And why do you automatically assume she would have been this hard, ass-kicking, unfeminine automaton that dressed like a man?” 

He didn’t give her a chance to speak.  “
I'll tell you why, because that's the 11 year old Ariel part of your brain. It was how you viewed your sister back then. And she viewed you as the prissy, girly-girl who wouldn't break a fingernail for some fun. You don't know what she would have been like. By the time she got interested in boys she could have ended up more girly than even you were."