ON THE RUN

18

"No. Why should I do that?" The woman's patience was running as she stomps her feet on the ground. "It is about Ethan" Talia furrowed her brows and stood up while the woman continued. "I know who killed him. Don't look back" but she did the opposite and spotted a man in a black trench holding a gun approaching them. 

The man fired few shots but the woman was quick to draw a weapon and aim at him. "We gotta go, now!" She told Talia who, at last, agreed to follow her. "Call me Nina, Sam's cousin. Talia looked at the woman and couldn't see any resemblance between them. Not even the slightest. "Never heard or seen you before. Why should I believe you?"

Nina fished a phone from her pants and showed Talia a photo of Ethan, Sam and her at their house. "It could be photoshop for all I know"

"It's real. You can ask her if you want. It's safe to hide in my car in the meantime before the guy comes back"

Once inside a familiar voice spoke. "Hello doll, so good to see you"

Talia was pissed and was almost getting of the car when Jack spoke. "I come in piece doll. I just want 5 minutes of your time and then you can go." 

"If I knew this was a strategy to get me to speak to him, I wouldn't have followed you," Talia told Nina. "Good thing you did because you need to see this" Jack handed Talia a few photos and she questions gazed at him. "These are my photos. Why do you have them? Are you stalking me or something?" She asked.

"Calm down. Those were found in Alek's house few blocks from where you live."

"What do you mean? Some of these photos are way back even before I knew him and besides he wasn't staying in my neighbourhood, I would have known"

He grimaced. "You are easily gullible, doll." Nina chirped in. "What Jack is trying to say is that Alek was stalking you for some time. The police found some comprising photos of you in a hotel and Jack thought it was best if he burned them" Talia eyes almost barged out of their sockets. 'The worst day of my life she thought. "That's impossible. That night...nothing, we.. nothing happened he told me so"

Jack laughed. "He drugged you that night and took those photos but thats, not the reason he got close to you. We have reasons to believe he is after a certain drive that you possess" Talia's stomach twisted while tears streamed down her face. "What drives? I don't have any drive"

"That drive is what got your brother killed in the first place so if you have it it's best to give me. Ethan and I were working on this case for a while that involves this guy. Recognise him?" Talia stared at the photo of Scar and nodded. How could she forget that horrible old man with a rotten mouth? "Ethan found some evidence to bring him down, something that could put him behind bars for life but Scar hired someone to kill him and do you know who the person was?"
Talia didn't want to listen to the rest. It was too much, too painful for her to take. "Your face tells me you know who I am talking about. I warned you before"

Nina cut him off. "Now it's not the time, Jacky" The way she spoke to him meant they knew each other well. "Why didn't you arrest him back at the airport then?"

"I didn't have enough evidence and someone is working for Scar in the per cent that's why they are always ahead of us. You still don't believe me? Watch Sam's interrogation and the statement" After listening to the audio she was heartbroken even more. Whom shall I believe? Jack or Sean? Everything points to him' Talia was conflicted. Jack dialled on his phone, "You can ask your friends" and at the mention of her friends, she felt relief.

"Talia? Cough. Bestfriend? Cough. Are you alright?" Odd it felt hearing Prem struggle to speak. "Prem?" The coughing from the other end increased and Talia began to worry. If there was someone immune to diseases and coughs was her best friend and she didn't understand what was happening. Usually, Prem would bombard her with thousand of questions but now he sounds different. "Are you alright? Zara? I miss you" Talia heard splashing of something at the other end followed by Prem coughing. I have a bad feeling about this' she spoke through her inner mind. "We are cool. Jack has been helpful. He - he is right." Prem seemed hesitant. "Can we talk later? I'm studying for the finals" he paused and continued. "Talia? Remember Mr Fiancee that I lent a shirt the other night?" What was he hinting at? "Mmm," she played along. "Turns out he is a good guy and Zara wants him to be one of our groomsmen at our wedding." Shuffling and static sounds were heard before the call dropped and mere seconds later, a message popped up and Jack swiftly grabbed the phone. "Your friends are safe and are waiting for you.  if you choose to come with us back home I give you my word that I will have your name cleared of all charges. You don't have to run anymore"

"I can't believe this!" Talia thought out loud. "You believe the words of a spy and an assassin? Come on, doll! He is a pathological liar." No one understood her well, not even Talia herself. "Are you going to arrest him?"

Jack facepalmed. "I can't without that drive. It is the last piece of the puzzle that holds strong evidence to put Scar, Alek and all the other syndicate behind bars for good. Help me find it"

"I wish I knew where it is but I don't. I want justice for my brother" Talia said softly.

"You will get justice, I swear. Did Ethan perhaps mention anything about it? Think.."

Talia shook her head, "Not that I remember of. Why did he not give it to you since you were working together on the same case"

Jack didn't expect that question. "I was out of town for some work and there wasn't any network coverage. You must believe me, he was my best friend. The only way to have him arrested is by setting a trap. You can help"

Talia gasped. "H-o how?" Jack wrote something on a piece of paper and handed it to her. "Convince him to come to this location tonight and leave the rest to me. Remember, this is for Ethan and little Jace"

Meanwhile back at Amy's house, everyone was worried, it had been almost two hours since Talia left. Sean and Roland went looking for her while Amy decided to stay behind in case Talia showed up. The look she saw on her brother's face was enough to know that the brunette meant so much to him. Talia pressed the doorbell and Amy pounced on her, embracing her tightly. "You scared us"

"Sorry I took a walk and got lost on the way"

"Mmm, this isn't that of a big neighbourhood. Well, I am glad you are okay. Come in"

Later as Talia sat on the edge of the bed in the room which Amy had assigned her, she wondered how she will pull things off to convince Sean. Every fibre of her being screamed abort mission and she was confused. Her inner mind conflicted with her. The question was, can she do it?
Just like the day began with Ryan's outburst she thought it will end worse when her eyes met those of Sean.

Hey.

The drama is yet to unfold so stick around to find out more about love, romance and battles. Romance parts coming soon....

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