The Recruit (19 page)

Ryan interrupted her thoughts with a question.

‘Pardon?’

‘I asked if you’d been here with your mum at all.’

‘At the range?’ Jaz asked and Ryan nodded. ‘Ha, no. My mum doesn’t get out much. She likes to stick to her little suburb and her job.’

‘So…um…what was your mum’s name, Natalie, was it?’ he asked awkwardly.

‘No, it’s Natasha. Well she goes by Tasha but I’ve heard Pax call her Nat a few times. I think it’s a pet name.’

Ryan nodded slowly but that weird feeling came over her again. It was like Ryan had left the room, yet his body remained.

‘You right?’

‘Yeah, sorry. It’s just, I have a bit of a problem and I was thinking maybe you can help me. But on the other hand I really don’t want to involve you.’ Ryan dropped his voice to a whisper.

‘Ask me, Ryan. I don’t mind.’ Jaz cupped her mouth in a stage whisper. ‘You want me to stake out at the club again?’

‘No, it’s a bit harder than that.’ He put the gun down and eased her closer so he could speak into her ear. ‘I need some information picked up tonight at ten but I will be at the club on a shift, and you know how important it is for me to keep an eye out there.’

She nodded. ‘How come you have to pick it up?’

‘Because phones and emails are traceable. Jaz, we have spots where we go to pick up info all around the city. We can’t just pick up a phone and call people. This is serious stuff.’

‘Oh, right. Well I can pick it up, no worries.’

He let out a deep breath and it tickled her ear. ‘Jaz, this info is kept at one of our main pick-up points and you’d have to dress the part to go there and I’d be worried about your safety.’

‘Come on, Ryan. Don’t you think I can look after myself? Did I not lay you out on your arse? Why are you being so cautious about this? I can do it.’

Ryan’s jaw was flinching, hesitant. ‘Jaz. The info is at a well-known whorehouse. I’d need you to dress up…’ He left the sentence hanging open as he glanced away.

‘Dress up? Oh. Like a hooker?’ Now Jaz got it. ‘I see.’ She shrugged. ‘Well, I’m sure I could manage that part. I have a nice little black dress I could wear. Who do I need to see?’

Ryan glanced over her shoulder to check they weren’t being listened to. ‘The Madam who runs the place. Her name is Sasha. Look, are you sure you want to do this?’

Jaz nodded, but her racing heart was uncertain.

‘Okay. If you’re sure. Meet me at nine out the front of Ramblers before it opens and I’ll go over it with you. It’s just a simple pick-up. Just remember to come looking…the part. Can you get away?’

‘Yep. Anna will be my alibi. But I’ll have to tell her something convincing, like I’m sneaking off to the club to see you.’ Ryan smiled and Jaz’s heart raced even more. ‘At least it’s kind of true.’

‘That’s a good idea.’ His face gave nothing away.

‘Hey, Ryan, wanna have a tour through the new section? Derik can take us through,’ said Taylor as he walked over.

Jaz turned around to see Anna standing by Taylor’s side, her eyes questioning and glancing to Ryan. She knew that look from Anna. She was trying to read into the situation, and no doubt reading far too much. Then Jaz realised she was standing only a foot from Ryan, but it would work well for her alibi tonight.

‘Sure, sounds like a plan,’ he told Taylor as he walked off leaving Anna and Jaz to take up the rear.

‘Hey, you! Were you having a little romantic powwow before?’ whispered Anna as she grabbed Jaz’s arm.

‘Um, well he wants me to come see him at the club tonight,’ said Jaz laying the foundations for their plans. But Jaz couldn’t help feeling that there was something there, a little spark, that was more than just work.

‘Oh my God. You have to go. Oh I wish I was you.’

‘So you don’t mind if I use you as my alibi?’

‘That’s what friends are for. BUT I want all the juicy details when you get back.’

Jaz felt the sickening wave of deceit that came from lying to her friend. She didn’t enjoy it one bit.

‘So did Taylor help you any?’ asked Jaz, hoping to change the subject.

‘Oh, yeah. All my shots are now hitting the target…but I just won’t say where.’ And it was as easy as that. Off Anna went, into depth about Taylor and his ‘coolness’.

Jaz followed behind Ryan and Taylor, trying to figure out how tonight would go. Nervous as she was, she couldn’t help but feel excited about meeting up with Ryan. Why was that?

Jaz pulled out her clothes from her overnight bag and got changed in Anna’s bathroom. She hid her raunchy dress under a little black jacket and carried a dangerously high pair of heels she’d borrowed from the back of her mum’s walk-in-robe. They were sure to cramp her calves.

‘Anna, can you do my make-up please?’ she asked.

A veil of strawberry blonde hair appeared around the corner. ‘Really? You wanna go really glam?’ she said walking into the bathroom. ‘Ryan is totally worth it, and being older you want to look older.’ Jaz nodded because she couldn’t think of an answer to that. ‘You look fabulous. Your hair up in that high ponytail is very sexy with those massive hoop earrings. How do you want the make-up?’

‘Can you do dark and sexy? Put it all on.’

Anna smiled and went to work. Ten minutes later, after putting on thick mascara, Anna stepped away and they admired her handiwork in the mirror.

‘I am a legend. You look so hot, Jaz.’

Anna stated the truth. Jaz turned her head, amazed with the transformation. ‘Wow. It doesn’t even look like me.’

‘You better get going or you’ll miss your taxi. Now if you kiss you must tell me. Got it?’ Anna pulled her into a hug.

‘Thanks Anna. See you later.’

Jaz snuck out Anna’s window, pulled her short dress up to her waist so she could climb her way down the tree. Lucky she didn’t have to wear stockings. On the ground she adjusted her dress, took off her jacket and hid it under a bush. When she glanced down all she could see was her breasts straining against the black material. My God, it was amazing what a push-up bra did. Anna would have freaked if she’d seen Jaz like this. Jaz was a little freaked herself.

Down the street, she could see the taxi sitting where she’d requested it to wait. ‘Ramblers nightclub please,’ she said as she climbed in.

She put on her black pumps and opened her clutch purse to apply some more lipstick. When the taxi pulled up outside the club, Jaz scooted forward and paid the guy. She would use another taxi to go to the pick-up point, which was a nice way of saying where she was going. Into the red light area even sounded better than a whorehouse. With a shiver, Jaz got out. In front of the club she could see Ryan talking to a bouncer mate, both with the black Ramblers’ shirts on.

His back was to her as she began to walk carefully towards them. The dangerously high heels threatened to topple her before she found her balance. After a few steps she began to swing the hips. Think sexy, she told herself. Just don’t fall over!

The other bouncer spotted her first, his eyes watching her as he paused mid sentence. Ryan turned to see what had caught his attention.

She gave him a smile and a wave and then watched as his jaw dropped. The last ten metres seemed to take forever as she tried to concentrate on walking in the ankle-breakers. There were whistles and catcalls but Jaz only had eyes for Ryan. She was using him to keep her steady.

‘Jaz?’ He held out his hands to her and she was relieved to be able to grab onto something. His hands were strong and warm. But it was the look on his face that caused her insides to burn.

‘Yes, it’s me. So do I pass?’ she asked.

Ryan turned back to his bouncer mate. ‘Do you mind if I just have a few minutes here? I’ll be in in a sec, Peter.’

Peter gave him a wink, gave Jaz a last minute gawk, muttered under his breath before heading inside the club.

‘I’m speechless,’ said Ryan as he stood back to take in her heels. His eyes continued up her legs, paused for a moment on her chest; he shook his head and then found her eyes again.

‘So what’s the address?’ she asked as she felt a blush creeping over her skin.

‘Um yeah, right.’ Ryan let go of her hands and pulled out a piece of paper. ‘Go here, it’s a green door. Go in and ask for Sasha.’ Ryan spent ten minutes going over what she had to do and say. ‘Then come back to the club and find me. Okay?”

‘Sure, sounds easy enough.’ If only her heart would stop pounding away. If it kept up this pace she’d likely faint before too long and what good would that do them?

‘Good luck.’ Ryan pulled her in for a hug. Jaz clutched her arms across his strong back, rested her head on his shoulder, and breathed. It was weird how safe she felt in his arms, how much it calmed her in the face of what she was about to do. She felt his hands move down her back to her waist and slowly he pulled her back a fraction. ‘I’ll get you a taxi and see you off before I go inside.’ He raised her chin with his fingers so he could study her. ‘Now is the time to speak up if you’re not sure.’

Jaz smiled and brushed his hand away. ‘I didn’t tart myself up just to walk away, Ryan. I said I’d do it and I will. I’ll see you back here soon.’

‘I’ll be waiting.’

They said no more but lots passed between their eyes as she climbed into the next taxi. She could tell Ryan didn’t want to let her go, he was worried but he also trusted her, which was special. She wanted to do this for him, in a way to prove herself. And she trusted him.

The taxi driver didn’t bat an eyelid when she gave him the address and when they arrived she pressed a fifty into his hand. ‘Can you wait around please? I won’t be long.’

‘Yeah, yeah,’ he said pocketing the money.

Before she could lose her nerve, Jaz walked around the corner and straight towards the green door. It wasn’t hidden, in fact it stood out on the quiet street, lit with bright lights. She was half expecting a red light flashing at the top.

Holding her purse in a near death grip, she pushed open the door and headed inside without pausing. Get in and out quick, that’s what Ryan had said.

The place smelt funky but Jaz wasn’t going to stop and deliberate. She found herself in a small reception area and stepped to the dark desk.

A girl in what looked like a red satin slip smiled up at her. ‘Can I help you?’

‘I’m here to see Sasha.’

‘She’s in her office.’ The girl flicked her platinum blonde hair and gestured to the door down the creepy looking passageway lined with colourful doors. Fantastic, she thought.

With more confidence than she felt, Jaz strode towards Sasha’s door. As she passed a bright pink door she heard a giggle and it caused her steps to falter. She should be relieved that’s all she’d heard. Quickly she lunged out the last steps and knocked on Sasha’s door.

‘Come in.’

A woman in her sixties sat behind a desk, glasses sliding down her nose, and she was dressed in a nice suit outfit. Not at all what Jaz had imagined.

‘Hi Sasha,’ said Jaz, shutting the door before she spoke again. ‘I was sent to pick up a message as my friend couldn’t make it,’ she said. She watched as Sasha’s eyes went to her hand, spotting the ‘sign’ Ryan had told her to make with her thumb and little finger. With a nod her eyes went back to Jaz.

She opened her top drawer and pulled out a small wallet, one that you would hold a few cards in, and left her chair to come to Jaz’s side.

‘You’re new, I see,’ said Sasha, handing over the wallet. Jaz put the ‘message’ into her purse while trying to keep her shaking at bay. ‘If you ever decide to change professions I could keep you very busy here.’

Jaz smiled weakly. ‘I prefer what I’m doing, thanks.’

Sasha pushed up her glasses, her manicured eyebrows disappearing behind the frames. ‘Give my best to him, won’t you.’ Then she sighed as if she’d just had a spoonful of chocolate mousse. She shuddered and licked her lips. ‘He’s just divine.’

Jaz nodded but couldn’t find her voice as she launched herself at the door. Sasha followed her out. It was nearly over.

She had to endure the creepy walk back, her ears scared to hear anything. The front desk was soon in reach.

‘Hey, who’s this?’ A deep voice that sent shivers up Jaz’s spine. Jaz turned to see a well-dressed man coming out of the closest door by the front counter. ‘Sasha, have you been holding out on me?’

His green eyes leered and she instantly didn’t trust him. But she could tell he had money, and a wife.

‘No Michael, she is way out of your league.’

Michael stepped closer to Jaz, reaching out his hand to touch the skin on her arm. Jaz held herself firm, she couldn’t give the game away. What if this guy was a spy for the bad side? Or worse, he’d want her for other things. Sasha glanced at Jaz and flicked her eyes to the door.

‘Michael, have you come to settle?’ Sasha drew his attention and Jaz didn’t wait to be told twice. She left without saying a word. Sliding through the green door, she walked slowly to the corner. Once around it she fled to the safety of the taxi. Stay calm, keep your act up until you’re a block away in the taxi. Jaz strung Ryan’s words through her mind to keep her going.

‘Back to Ramblers, please,’ she told the taxi guy who put his paper on the passenger seat.

It was a twenty-minute ride back to the club and halfway there Jaz couldn’t keep her purse closed any longer. She was dying to see what was inside the small wallet. She pulled it out, fought with her conscience a bit more, then carefully unfolded the paper.

Oh my God, she thought, putting her hand to her heart. It felt like it would explode from her chest.

She let out a rush of air, a whole lungful that she’d been holding.

The message was typed out in code.

Jaz had never felt so glad to see a bunch of numbers in her life. Part of her had been worried it would say ‘your mission is to go and kill so and so’. She was scared of glimpsing Ryan’s future command to kill. At least this way she couldn’t be killed over something she didn’t understand. As her heart rate went back to normal, Jaz folded the paper and put it back. She sank back into the seat and closed her eyes.

By the time she got back to the nightclub it had a queue out the front. The bouncer letting people in was Peter, the one Ryan was talking to earlier. Feeling a little game after her big mission, she walked right up to him. ‘Hey, Peter right?’