Blind Trust Read online

  Blind Trust

  Copyright © 2015 by Peiri Ann

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from the publisher, except as provided by the USA copyright law.

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Cover design by Okay Creations (www.okaycreations.com)

  Edited by Champagne Book Editing (http://champagne-editing.com)

  Line Edit by Progressive Edits (http://progressivedits.com)

  Formatting by Unforeseen Editing (www.unforeseenediting.com)

  ISBN-13: 978-0-9913811-8-0

  ISBN-13: 978-0-9913811-9-7 (PB)

  (Available In Paperback)

  To you. Because you’re as important as air.

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  I stood near the pier awaiting the call to wrap up. Lingering eyes of a passerby caught my awareness. His gaze stuck for a sliver of a second, recognizing me, until he turned his attention to his path. Ignoring his unswerving stare, I focused on the robotic voice in my earpiece, informing the mission was complete.

  Heading for the arriving ferry, commotion erupted behind me. I drew my gun, pivoting. A sharp pain struck my arm and I immediately became dazed, my surroundings dividing in twos before everything went black. My body crumpled to the ground as a searing pain coursed through me and my head connected with the concrete.

  A metallic taste flooded my mouth as consciousness reclaimed me. My head was hurting so badly, I knew it had to have hit the concrete ground I lay on. Maybe I was slammed onto it and knocked out.

  Slowly, I pushed up from the ground. The concrete was cold and rough under my hands. I was indoors; I could tell from the stale and still air.

  I blinked. My surroundings took longer than normal to come into focus.

  “What happened this time, Shultz?”

  I cringed. That gravelly voice was the last thing I wanted to hear upon waking with a concussion. I couldn’t figure out what he was doing here. I didn’t know where here was.

  “Where am I?” I asked, sitting up. There was a wall to my back and I leaned against it, placing my head against its cold stone.

  “Once again, your daredevil stunts, reckless need to endanger everyone, and inability to follow instructions got you put on your ass.”

  “Am I back in the States or still in the UK?”

  His hard-soled dress shoes clacked against the ground as he drew near me. “You’re back home, in Austin.”

  “What did you hit me with?” I pressed my fingers to my temple in an attempt to quell the pain coursing through my head. I had to have passed out; I hadn’t been knocked out. From the cottonmouth and sluggishness I suffered from, they had dosed me. Sons of bitches probably set me up.

  “Something better than what they would have shot you with.”

  I blinked again. A soft haze coated my sight but I was able to make out Agent Johnson, standing two feet before me in his beige suit, bald head and shiny, all-black dress shoes. I stood up, using the wall for support. “Am I in trouble? Are you going to suspend me or what?” I examined the concrete room the two of us stood in. It was brightly lit from a lamp hanging over a white table.

  Johnson stuffed his hands in his pocket, glancing up at me from his bowed head. “You are suspended. I have no choice. Two months out.”

  “Two months! For what?! We got the guy. The others involved have been—”

  Cutting me off, he shouted, “We did get the guy at the cost of over five hundred K that you can’t afford to cover! You were supposed to stick to the plan, Shultz. All we ask you to do is stick to the plan.”

  “Your plan was weak! I did what was needed to accomplish what you sent me there for. It doesn’t matter how the job was done, only that the job got done. I’m the best man you’ve got on this team. You can’t afford to have me out for two months.” I brushed my hands through my hair, feeling the stress of suspension worsen my headache. There was no way I could afford to be out for two months. It was bullshit! Every time I gave an assignment my all and succeeded, they’d come down on me like I’d fucked up because I didn’t do it their way.

  “That’s you young kids’ problem. You think the world revolves around your swollen heads. The job you do, we can get someone else to do.”

  “Is that right, Johnson?” That was it. I looked for a door. “Let me see you get someone to do my job. Find someone better than me. No, find someone as good as me.” I headed to my left, to a metal door that was unfortunately locked. I banged my fist against it. “I’m out,” I told whoever was listening, hoping they’d open it.

  “Take this time off, Shultz. A lot has changed for you over the past couple years. Since your brother Nixon got arrested for killing your father, someone needs to be around to help with your niece, Chrissy. Your mother’s sick and you need to take the time to help her. Use this opportunity to get yourself together. Make sure your family is okay.”

  It irritated me that they knew every ounce of my life and Johnson mentioning my mother stabbed me in the pit of my stomach. “Don’t worry about my family.”

  The door buzzed.

  “I’ll call you, Shultz.”

  “You’ll get my voicemail,” I said over my shoulder.

  “We’ll talk soon,” he called behind me as the door closed.

  “Eye and voice recognition required for entry,” a robotic voice requested from a screen when I approached the door to exit the lengthy hallway.

  “Agent Kyle Shultz,” I told it, bringing my face close to the eye detector. I opened my eyes wider and a green light beamed out before scanning them.

  “Agent Kyle Shultz… Identity confirmed.” The door slid open to the main floor of the Purcell Building.

  A building I intended never to step foot in again after that day. No matter the cost.

  “Kyle,” Grimmer stopped me before I could make it to the exit. “You leaving early?”

  “No, I quit.”

  Doubt overtook his face. “For what? We need you around here.”

  I shrugged. “Apparently not. Johnson just suspended me for two months. Said I fuck up missions more than I help them. I’m the only person in this entire agency who has ever been successful in shutting down as many drug lords and crooked
cops as I have. And for him to suspend me every time we come back from a mission, all because I didn’t do it his way is bullshit.”

  “You know no one walks away from this… alive.”

  “I’m walking away. Purcell and Johnson can kiss my ass. Plus, my mom does need me way more than you all. She’s getting sicker.”

  Grimmer nodded. “Well.” He threw his hand out and I met it. “Let me know if you need anything. I’ll be around.”

  I nodded and headed out of the revolving doors.

  “Hey, Shultz!” Rick, a student in my chemistry class, was jogging toward me. He was alone, which was unusual from him. He normally traveled with a group.

  I reverted my attention back to my phone, though I was curious about what he’d want with me. I was standing outside the chem lab, waiting for a call to come through. The benefactor had some new names on a million-dollar hit list and I needed at least one name. I’d take one hit and count myself out for a while. It wasn’t that I was greedy, but I had debts and more than myself to take care of.

  “Shultz,” Rick called again, slowing his jog to a halt.

  My last name sounded better than my first to these people. It reminded me of being back with Purcell.

  “It’s Kyle, not Shultz,” I corrected him, walking into the lecture hall with him following close behind. “Wassup?” I asked, taking another glance at my phone. Not one damn call was coming through.

  “My bad, bro; you’re new here. I wanted to introduce myself appropriately,” he said, adjusting his backpack on his shoulders.

  I wasn’t new. I’d been registered at the University of Texas at Austin for the last year and a half. After attending maybe two classes back then, I left to do other things. But I’d been back for ten months, sticking to myself, watching my peers, and observing my surroundings. I’d seen this guy over twenty times in a few of my p.m. classes.

  I came back, fully intending to stay under the radar. Because I fucked up some shit in the black market, a few agencies’ had me on their shit lists. Plus, my mom was concerned about my safety, constantly saying, “Kyle, I am not going to bury my son like I had to bury my husband. I’m not ready for you to die.” I promised her I’d lie low after I’d been involved in a few incidents.

  Rick rambled on about what he did at school. He wasn’t the least bit self-conscious, I could tell by the way he carried himself; head held high, confidence in his tone, a constant smirk on his face regardless of what he said. He seemed easy going but stoic.

  I studied him for a second. To help further my plan, I was in need of some friends. They would help make it look like I was actually involved in the college-boy life I forced myself to believe I was a part of. Befriending Rick could turn out to be a good thing.

  I lightened my tone to sound accepting of my new acquaintance. “Yeah, okay, Rick. Wassup? What’d you stop me for?”

  “Right, bro.” He grinned. He was the guy everybody knew. The benefit of hanging with him was that I’d probably be involved with everything and around a lot of people. They’d keep me busy and help me further my disposition. The downside of it was… I’d probably be involved with everybody and around a lot of people.

  “Let’s grab this row here.” He shuffled around me, scooting into a row of seats.

  I needed to have a low profile as much as I needed to be known. Realizing that, I took the seat next to him.

  “We have American Lit together. I watched you save that chick from choking on a Bugle.” He smacked my arm with the back of his hand. “If it wasn’t for you, she would have died.”

  This skinny girl had been lugging down chips on a bingeing spree. I didn’t know if she forgot to chew or swallow, but she started choking and her face was going purple. Everyone, including the instructor, stared at her like they expected the Bugle to pop out on its own. I had to do something. Heimlich maneuver it was.

  She was fine. I offered her my water, knowing her throat had to be sore after choking. Respectfully, she declined, sat, and finished the rest of her bag as if nothing happened.

  “Yeah, that happened. Couldn’t let the chick die,” I said, shrugging.

  “Good thinking. I was just looking at her, hoping she didn’t die, you know.”

  I nodded. “Yeah, man, I found out if you stare and hope real hard, you can save someone’s life.”

  He laughed, shoulders shaking. “Aw, he’s a hero and he’s funny!” He threw his head back, laughing harder. With a chuckle in his voice, he asked, “Ay, you live on campus?”

  “No, I got a spot.”

  “Cool, me too. We should hang out sometime. You seem like a guy who likes a lot of action, girls, and parties. But could also be a good friend to have around.”

  I did, and if I cared enough, I could. “Yeah. Maybe.”

  “Ay, Rick.” More of his crew came around. “What’s up, Shultz?”

  Again with the Shultz. My last name had to have a ring to it. It wasn’t that I disliked my last name, it just reminded me of my ex-agency, and them I disliked.

  I bumped fists with five of Rick’s guys. “Wassup? It’s Kyle, not Shultz. The instructors call me that because they messed up and registered me under my last name as my first name,” I explained, in hopes they would start addressing me casually.

  “Oh, okay. Kyle fits you better anyway. Shultz sounds like I’m addressing a police officer.”

  We joked and laughed, talking loudly about some gathering last night. My comfort with Rick and his friends was a little unnerving, but I went with it. It was something I’d have to get used to. New friends and congregating…

  “You should come by tonight.” Rick hit my arm again. “We’ll be hanging out at Rob’s place. He lives over on Cypress Avenue. In that three-floor apartment building across from the Delta house.”

  “Yeah, I live in the same building. I’ll stop by,” I said, with a slight shrug to my shoulder.

  “Ay, Rob. Kyle lives in your building.”

  “Get the hell out.” Rob was a big guy; six-four, had to be over two-fifty. He played on the football team and was a decent quarterback. “Ay, man. That means I can come by your crib and get some peanut butter.”

  I shook my head. “No, you can’t.” I tried to sound casual, but I meant it. I wasn’t a fan of drop-bys.

  “Boys,” called Instructor McMenamin, requesting our attention.

  I called her Winter, for reasons not related to her looks. She was twenty-six, a couple years older than I, and liked bending the rules. During class, she’d steal small glances at me, and if she looked at me four times too many, I was staying behind. Bad boy status.

  Everyone calmed down, taking seats around me. Winter stared at me for a while, and then looked around at my new associates. She knew it wasn’t like me to hang out. Especially with these guys. But it’s what the mom called for. Had to keep the heat down. Couldn’t have my mom burying me. So, friends it was.

  Winter continued to stare, asking me questions with the pinch of her brows and crook of her lips. When she looked away they pursed, then crooked back when she looked up from her notes. She knew I didn’t do questions. I looked away from her. Don’t ask, don’t tell. I liked to keep my lives separate. There was family, friends, relationships—which I didn’t have—and my benefiting friends. That’s what she was. There was only one thing we did and that was as deep as we got. I couldn’t get involved with someone; I’d get too attached.

  Unfortunately, I suffered from this disease called easily enamored. I tended to get too close and put too much into it. And these merciless women would take me and my love and tear both of us to shreds. I gave up relationships at twenty. That shit was for the birds. It wasn’t worth it after the last one.

  TARGET: KYLE SHULTZ, EX-PURCELL AGENT.

  INSTRUCTION: TERMINATE TARGET.

  SUB-INSTRUCTION: TERMINATE ALL RELATIVES OF TARGET.

  I watched Shultz from across the lecture hall of our chemistry class, something I’ve done going on a year now. He’d finally found some friend
s and I wondered why the sudden change of heart. He sat, crowded by his new associates, engaging himself in whatever the conversation was. Kyle wasn’t average, unlike the guys that sat around him, he stood out. And I’ll admit, I enjoyed surveying him. He wasn’t at all hard on the eyes and I was embarrassed to say I could describe every feature of him down to a T. Six-foot-one, enchanting green eyes that lightened and darkened based on his mood, a trimmed boxed beard that complimented his oblong face, and a smile that could knock a girl off her feet.

  From what I’d picked up from Kyle, he was a loner. Never got too close to people and never let people get too close to him. So him accepting new people into his life threw me off. And of all people to befriend: Richard Newman, the campus hot boy. Rick was very popular at UTA. He had all the girls falling all over him. He was also a pompous asshole. Kyle fit in well with Rick and his friends, but they didn’t seem like the type of people he’d associated himself with. The party-boy, loud-mouthed, rude guy demeanor didn’t seem like Kyle’s M.O. I could’ve been wrong about him, but it seemed to me he was more of a cuddle-up-with-one-girl kind of guy.

  I received notice a year ago Kyle was next on our hit list, along with everyone in his immediate family. As an agent for Cohen and Associates, I got the assignment. My instructions were to watch Kyle until I got the final notice to terminate. I was a secret agent, as was Kyle before he dropped Purcell and started doing business with a national benefactor.

  His benefactor, Cunningham, was next on my list. We were using Kyle to lead us to him.

  I leaned back in my seat, studying him. Kyle was a cutie. He thought nobody saw him, but we all saw him. You couldn’t miss his light brown hair, which stood up in the front and fell down in the back just the right way. His unyielding confidence that shined out through the way he carried himself with his strong posture and broad shoulders.

  Everyone swooned over him, including the men.

  “Hey, Val.” Audrey Herdul. She was perfection in warm-toned skin with long flowing brown hair, and clothing that accentuated every bit of a perfectly toned body. I couldn’t hem a fabric to hug my body the way hers did.