Chapter 15

Ian sat in the chair facing the door, feeling he needed to keep it in sight. When he’d arrived at Jac’s, Reid had let him in and handed him a coffee, and had been talking on the phone ever since. Jac made a quick appearance and then disappeared into the kitchen with Doctor Sandy to make tea. He had questions... mainly why was Sandy here and why was it taking this long to make tea?

Brent had come through the door a few minutes later and was now standing by the window tapping a folder against his leg while talking on his phone.

Alec had already been there before him. She was sitting at the table working on a laptop with a frown on her face. Other than a brief acknowledgment, she hadn’t so much as looked in his direction.

He wasn’t sure what he’d be walking into this morning when he got here, but so far this wasn’t it.

Still talking on the phone, Brent came over to him and held the folder open in front of Ian’s face. The pictures from the club were sitting in the center of it. Brent quirked an eyebrow at him, taking the pictures out of the folder, Ian tucked them into the pocket inside his jacket. Part of him wanted to go over and drop them on the table by the keyboard Alec was using, just to see what reaction she had. The other part wanted to hide the pictures away and protect her from the angst he knew she’d feel from seeing them.

Reid hung up and stood behind Alec, looking over her shoulder. “Getting anywhere?” Alec just shook her head and kept doing whatever she was doing. Sighing, Reid glanced at his watch and then picked up a cup off the table and went into the kitchen.

Brent tucked the phone in his pocket and rubbed the back of his neck as he stood there looking at the floor. Finally looking up at Ian, he shrugged and offered him a weak grin. “Trying to get things set up at the courthouse is taking more time than we have.”

Ian glanced at Alec and gave Brent a curious look. “Is it going to happen?”

Nodding, Brent dropped the folder onto the table and then sat down. “It will be close. Alec’s tapping into some cameras near the courthouse, so we can keep an eye on things from here.”

He must have looked confused because Brent grinned and leaned back in the chair. “We’re closer to the courthouse here than at the station, so we figured we’d set up base camp in Jac’s living room.” Glancing at his watch, he continued. “Felicity will be here shortly, she had to take Miracle to the vet for shots.”

“Miracle?”

Brent laughed. “Our dog. Seemed like a great idea at the time to bring her a puppy.”

Ian had never had the opportunity to have a pet when he may have to move with no notice and was rarely at home. “A little more involved than you thought?”

Shrugging, Brent unfolded his large frame from the chair. “Some days, but she makes Felicity so damn happy, I don’t care.” He moved in the direction of the kitchen. “Big dog’s identity is in the folder if you’re wondering.”

Ian didn’t even hesitate; he picked up the folder and opened it on his lap. There were photos from the club clipped to the top of the pages. They had a full sheet on Willard Jacks and the man he had been there with. Rory Miller was his name and the list of his crimes was three times as long as Willard’s. Ian made a mental note to check into some of the details in more depth later. The connections to Nick Colette were crystal clear in the known associates. Definitely one of the players he needed to know more about. When he turned the page and saw the photo of the big dog from the night before, he studied it for a moment before flipping it up to read the name. The man had an air about him that said he thought he was the most important person on earth. Ian didn’t mix well with people that had that sort of arrogance. Lifting the photo, he read the name a few times before it clicked. Maurice Travini was like the king of organized crime. His name was linked to viler ‘incidents’ than Ian cared to know. No one had ever been able to prove any of it without a doubt.

Closing the folder, he rubbed his forehead. This was getting more ominous by the second. Going after Maurice was like buying a one-way ticket to hell.

“I see you recognize him.”

Ian looked up to see Reid watching him. “Yeah. It’s not going to be some small time, is it?”

Reid shook his head, his expression deadly serious. “No. It’s going to take some serious planning and a lot more people than just us.”

Is it too late to pack? Ian wondered. “Knowing who to trust is going to be a problem.”

Reid sat on the arm of the couch and studied him. Before he could speak, Felicity came in the door and dropped her bag on the floor.

She smiled. “Next time I decide to use a taxi to take a dog to the vet, someone kick me.”

Brent came out of the kitchen. “I offered...”

Felicity waved a hand at him. “You had more important things to do than play chauffeur for me.”

“I would have done it.” Jac came out and held out a cup to her.

Moving over, Felicity took the cup and shook her head. “I don’t mind relying on public transportation. I did manage to get places for many years.”

Ian sat there trying to figure out once more why he was here and how any of this fit in with what he’d told Brent last night. While he sat there debating on saying something about it, Sandy came out of the kitchen and sat down on the couch.

Alec got up and stood behind the chair across from him. Ian waited until she made eye contact with him, it was brief but the slight flush in her cheeks told him all he needed to know. For now.

Jac sat on the couch next to the arm that Reid was perched on and watched until Brent came in and sat down.

Glancing at the door, Ian wondered if it was too late to make a break for it.

“Okay, Ian, why don’t you start this by telling us who we can’t trust.”

Ian turned and looked at Brent. He was giving him an easy look that said, ‘trust me’. Ignoring the part of his brain that screamed run, Ian took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Well, you know the obvious ones, Willard Jacks and Rick Pelts.”

“And the not-so-obvious?” Reid asked.

Ian was sure no one in the room was so much as breathing at this point. “Bill Redding...” he paused to make eye contact with Alec, her expression said retribution, but she didn’t say a word. “Andrea Weaver...” he waited again taking long enough to see if anyone was going to jump to the woman’s defense. No one did. “Nick Colette and now Maurice Travini.” The tension in the room became a physical presence. “I don’t have all the details yet on the association of Kimberley Almay and Christian Veritas, but they were on the list I received. The last one I’m sure of at this point is Pierre Cardiel.”

“Shit,” Brent and Reid said at the same time.

“Your information is a sure thing?” Alec asked with a monotone voice.

“It doesn’t get any more of a sure than my sources,” Ian said, knowing he wasn’t lying.

“Are you a plant?” Her voice was a bit shaky.

Ian shook his head. “No. Law enforcement isn’t really my thing.”

Alec waved her hand, brushing off what he’d said. “You can substantiate this information?”

Looking briefly to Brent, who nodded, Ian inclined his head. “In a manner of speaking, they told me themselves.”

“What do you mean?” Alec crossed her arms over her chest and watched him.

Here we go. Ian looked at Brent again.

Ian? Ian, you have to tell them the truth. Alec’s life is in danger. You have to tell them.

The thoughts just filled his head, whether he wanted to hear them or not. Looking slowly from one person to the next, he paused when he reached Sandy and she was smiling at him.

Her eyes lit up. So, it’s true. You can hear what I’m thinking. “Interesting.” She said out loud making all eyes turn to her. “Trust us, Ian.”

Turning back, he looked at Alec once more before focusing on Sandy alone. “The things I’ve overheard aren’t what people are saying out loud.”

“Then how do you hear them?” Felicity asked with doubt in her voice.

He looked over at her. “I can hear what people are thinking and sometimes if I go right in, I can see memories and thoughts.”

“Can you hear what I’m thinking?” She looked excited.

Clearing his throat, Ian glanced down at the floor before looking at her. “I’ve tried before, but there’s something a little different about your brain waves, they leave me lightheaded if I try to barge in.”

She laughed. “I’m going to take that as a compliment.”

Jac sat forward and looked at him. “What about me?”

Having never really discussed this with anyone before in a casual way, actually in no way, Ian wasn’t sure if he should be on guard for them to all suddenly start laughing or if they were sincere. “Uh, with you it’s nothing but static and a brick wall on the other side of that.”

Reid snorted, earning a glare from Jacinda. Looking repent, he studied Ian for a moment. “So, all those nights at the bars, the noise level wasn’t a problem at all?”

Ian shook his head, not sure what to even say at this point, so he said nothing. Taking a chance, he looked over at Alec but the expression on her face was one he couldn’t translate to help him know what she was thinking.

Her eyes held his for a second. “Can you hear what I’m thinking?”

“No.” Which was the truth. Other than in her weak moments, her mind was a solid steel door, closed to him. She looked relieved. He still felt like he was in some kind of dream, or nightmare.

Sandy laughed quietly. “I think in all fairness to Ian we should come clean with why we’re all sitting here acting like this is nothing new to us.”

Felicity cringed. “Oh, I didn’t even think of that.” She offered him a smile. “It’s just so fascinating and very cool compared to what I’m saddled with.”

“I don’t understand.” Ian looked at Brent and then back to Felicity. “What are you saddled with?”

She paused for a moment and thought. “Well, I suppose the easiest way to explain it is I’m able to connect with people in moments of high anxiety and emotion. It’s like I’m dreaming but I see what they see.”

“I’m still not sure...”

Brent sat down on the arm of the chair in front of him. “Do you remember that kidnapping ring that was busted six months ago?”

Ian nodded. “Yeah, you were part of the arrests.”

Nodding, Brent looked at Felicity briefly before continuing. “The boy that was taken somehow reached Felicity and she led us to everywhere he’d been until we caught up with them.”

Taking a moment, Ian digested that information. “So, you go to sleep at night and end up in someone’s head?”

Felicity laughed softly. “I wish it was when I was lying down. No, it can hit me at any time, anywhere...and believe me it does.” She smiled. “At least you get to control it, I’m not so lucky.”

“Well...” Ian began but stumbled over what to say next. “That’s...” He lifted his hands, having no idea what to say.

“Exactly,” Sandy added with a tone of finality. “Jac has some control too, as long as she behaves.”

Jacinda rolled her eyes and then smiled at him. “She makes me sound like a child.” Sitting forward on the edge of the couch, she clasped her hands and looked solemn. “I saw you looking at the gloves I was wearing last week.” She sighed. “I have to keep my hands covered when I’m out in public or I might touch someone or something accidentally and pick up more than I bargained for.”

“Pick up? Like someone’s thoughts?” Ian was beginning to feel like he was in some weird movie suddenly. Things like this didn’t happen in real life. In the cruel reality of life, people didn’t just accept what he could do and then play show and tell with him.

“I can’t necessarily hear their thoughts, but I pick up images and emotions, sometimes intentions I suppose would be another way to look at it.” She sighed. “If I pick up something other than happy thoughts it has an adverse reaction.”

“Maybe he’ll understand better if you show him?” Sandy suggested.

Ian held up his hand. “No. I get the gist of it. I don’t think a demonstration is necessary.”

Jacinda looked shocked. “Really? I don’t think I’ve ever had someone just, believe me.”

He grinned. “I could say the same.”

She laughed. “I guess you could.” Waving her hand around at the others, she shrugged. “So welcome to our strange little world.”

Ian took a minute and looked around at all of them. He understood the association with the women brought Brent and Reid into the circle, but that didn’t explain Alec and the doctor. Pausing, he looked at Alec and raised an eyebrow.

Her eyes widened. “Don’t look to me for some funky skills, the only thing I can do is kick ass.”

Chuckling, he nodded. “And you excel at it.”

“Damn straight.” She agreed in a harsh tone, but there was a softness in her eyes as he held them for a moment longer.

Jerking his head back, he looked at the doctor. “So, are you the professor X of the group then?”

Sandy grinned at him. “I like that. Yes, that’s my official position in this mix.”

Reid cleared his throat and crossed his arms over his chest. “Now that we’re one big happy family, can we get back to what matters?” He glanced at his watch. “We have a little over an hour before show time and I’d like to be paying attention when it happens.”

The smiles left everyone’s faces. Ian relaxed in the chair, feeling like he wasn’t under a microscope any longer.

“How did you come across this information, Ian?” Reid asked it quietly, but his tone said he was done with the skimming of details.

All eyes looked at him again. “It started the night I was in Lucky’s and heard Rick Pelt’s plans for Alec.”

“And the rest? You said something about your latest job.”

Ian looked over at Brent. He had hoped his actual job didn’t come up in this meeting. “I had a job offered to me...”

“So who do you work for?” Jac asked.

“I work for myself, but I pick up jobs through a broker site. It’s hard to explain.” He’d never realized how weird it would all sound, for him it had just become life.

“There’s a site for mind readers?”

Yep, weird. He grinned. “Not exactly. There’s a broker that deals in corporate and other opportunities to select members.” He felt like he was sinking when he noticed the odd looks he was getting.

Alec leaned on the back of the chair. “I’m not getting it. What is it you do and don’t say corporate research specialist, because that says nothing.”

Rubbing his jaw, he thought about it for a moment. “You know when two companies come out with almost identical products or ideas within a few weeks of each other?” She nodded. “How do you think that happens? Do you think two people have the exact idea at the same moment? Afterward, they spend months setting up marketing, tests, and preparations to launch it?”

Felicity sat forward. “You’re responsible for trends?”

“What?” He squeezed his eyes shut trying to figure out how she’d come up with that. “No.” He opened them and looked at her. “I don’t choose the products; I simply find out what company A is doing for company B and bring them up to speed.”

“Maybe you should suggest products.” Felicity shrugged. “Every time I like something it’s discontinued...”

“I think we’re getting off track, babe.” Brent smiled at her briefly then turned back to Ian. “So, you what, read the minds of the competition for the highest bidder?”

It sounded wrong when he put it like that. “Sometimes. I do other jobs too. I’ve taken down a few corrupt CEOs here and there as well.” He sighed. “Which is how this assignment was offered to me in the first place.”

“What is your objective? Your job?” Reid’s tone let everyone know he was done with the twenty questions.

“To get enough information on four players so they could be exposed.”

Reid nodded. “Exposed for what?”

Ian opened his empty hands and motioned in the air. “I guess that’s what we’re finding out. I had no idea the threat to Alec and what I was doing was connected until I overheard Bill and Andrea Weaver at the station.”

“That’s problem number one, keeping Bill away from what we’re doing.” Alec straightened and tucked her hands in her back pockets. “It’s like he’s my big brother and needs to know what I’m doing all the time.”

Jac glanced up at Reid. “Do you think he’s part of the threat to Alec?”

Reid frowned. “I actually don’t. I think it’s just shit luck that what Ian heard at Lucky’s is tied into all the rest.” He glanced over at Brent.

Brent nodded. “I have to agree.” Rubbing the back of his neck, he turned and looked at Ian. “Is that your take on it?”

Pushing around the different scenarios in his head for a moment, Ian sat forward and leaned on his knees. “I think so. The problem though is Alec is in the line of sight no matter which way we go about this, the threat by a vengeful brother and now her own partner.”

“Don’t even think about taking me out of the game.”

Ian glanced at Reid and Brent, their expressions told him they agreed she should be out of the picture, but like himself, they knew it wasn’t going to happen.

“I have a question about something you said.” Sandy looked right at him.

“Which part?”

“You said there’s a broker site for select members for corporate jobs and other opportunities?”

He nodded, not sure where she was going with it.

“What members? And are these opportunities legal?”

Ian swore every cuss word he knew inside his head, he’d wanted to avoid this part completely. “I don’t know the other members. It’s not like we’re a big happy community, most, like myself I suppose work alone and keep the details private.” He almost held his breath, hoping it would end there.

“And the opportunities?” It was Alec that pinned him with an anxious look.

Sighing, Ian got up; he couldn’t sit there and be a target any longer. “Years ago, I was offered many that were of questionable legality, but I didn’t do them.” He wandered over to the window, trying to keep calm under fire and there was no question he was close to being under fire now. “Now the broker knows what I excel at and brings the offers to me to select from...”

“But laws are broken by your select members and elite site.”

Turning, he looked back at Alec, and even with the distance between them he could see the accusation in her eyes. “I suppose, but not by me.”

She straightened up, her hands flexing at her sides. “I need a minute.” Turning, she headed for the front door and was out it before anyone could move.

Just like that, the switch that changed him from a calm, rational man was flipped, and his blood pressure shot up. How does she do that to me? He didn’t know, but he was going to go find out.

“I think I missed something,” Felicity said softly.

“Me too,” Jac admitted.

“No, you didn’t.” Ian strode past the table, dropping the photos onto it on his way to the door. “I’ll be right back.” As he closed the door, he heard Sandy’s ‘oh my’ as a comment on the pictures of Alec and him at the club.