Page 76 of Shades of Mercy
“Let’s get this over with,” she said.
Mercy was surprised at how calm she felt thirty minutes later as she walked into the apartment complex and took the stairs to the third floor. From the outside, the apartment looked like all the others, but inside, there were desks, computers, and a row of monitors on the wall that resembled those of a secret agent.
SMH Security offices seemed different without her team.
The office was empty. She examined the piles of clutter on Howie’s desk. Placed on top of a stack of papers was a recorder with a note taped to it. It read,Listen to me.
She placed the earbuds in and pressed play…
If you want answers, follow my instructions. First, take the burner phone from the top drawer. Once you reach the corner of Piat Street, call the saved number. I will provide you with further directions from there. However, if I suspect that you are not alone or that you are wearing a wire, I will not share any information.
She opened the drawer and took out the burner phone. She powered it on and just as Howie had said, there was a number saved in contacts.
Her mind raced.
She could tell Jag and Mateo, but then the opportunity would be lost.
If she met with Howie, could he be trusted?
Time was ticking. She had to decide quickly.
At her desk, she opened a drawer and dug out the taser that Mateo had given her. Only he would have given her a weapon as a birthday present. She grabbed her jacket off the back of her chair and pulled it on, placing the taser inside the zipper pocket.
Entering the bathroom, she carefully peeled the wire from her skin, placed it on the back of the toilet, and turned the sink faucet on to a gentle stream.
She didn’t have much time before Mateo and Jag suspected something wasn’t right.
Leaving through the front door wouldn’t be an option, so she went into the bedroom, which they used as storage, and opened the window, peering out at the rusted emergency stairs. The exit couldn’t be considered safe, but this was her only chance at getting out without being seen.
“Here goes nothing.” She climbed through the open window and tested the stairs. They creaked and whined when she stepped onto them.
Descending them carefully, she finally made it onto the last rung and sighed in relief. She scanned her surroundings; it looked like the coast was clear. She hesitated a moment, rethinking what she was doing. She knew she had to do this.
She remembered the conversation with Jag last night.Stay logical.
Staying close to the building until she had reached the street, she lifted the hood of her jacket, tucked her hair in, and slipped into the mass of people on the sidewalk.
She could barely breathe as she made her way down the sidewalk, anticipating that Jag or Mateo would sweep in and stop her at any second. Yet, it didn’t happen. Guilt washed over her. They’d trusted her, but in the end, they’d see that she needed to do this to put an end to the threat hanging over them—to save the lives of the girls whom Cross had taken advantage of.
Pulling away from the crowded street, she took the alley over to Piat and once she reached the corner, she took out the phone, pressing ‘talk.’
Howie noticed the first ring. “I anticipated that you’d figure things out.”
She could hear the smile in his tone. It sickened her.
“Call it determination,” she said, looking over her shoulder to ensure she wasn’t being followed. “Are you alone?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Good. An Uber driver will be arriving shortly. Get in, and he’ll take you to an address. When you arrive, call me.” The line clicked off.
Shoving her phone into her jacket, she subtly pressed her hand against the taser in her pocket, needing the reassurance that she had something in case things went awry.
Just as promised, a black sedan pulled up.
With some last threads of hesitation, she opened the back door and peered inside.
Nothing seemed unusual. The driver seemed as professional as any other.
