Chapter 67

Charles bolted off down the street, and I sprang forward instinctively as well, but then quickly realized it was pointless, as he quickly outstripped me.

Instead, I crouched and removed the rock from the manila envelope and grabbed it, then straightened up as a cry came from the street in front of me.

Someone had stepped out of an alley as the figure in black was running past. Both were already struggling and then slumping to the ground. When the new figure straightened up, I saw the flash a knife.

I began to run toward the masked figure now on their back on the pavement. Charles was about to grab the back of the assailant's collar as he hopped on a motorbike, but they darted away just out of reach. Charles continued to chase them around the corner and out of sight.

I crouched next to the shaking, gasping figure on the ground.

"Elena," it said, reaching a hand out to me.

My stomach sickened. I knew that voice.

I knelt on the pavement next to her and pulled the mask from her face. It was exactly who I feared it would be. It was Jessica.

I could see a dark red, wet stain beginning to spread under her and there was a wet patch on the left side of her chest.

"Elena," she said again, her eyes wide and pleading.

"Just relax," I said, trying to sound confident and soothing. I grasped her hand. It was slick with red and I tried not to feel sick. "You're going to be okay."

With my other hand I pulled out my phone and dialed emergency services, laying the phone next to us so I could talk to both.

"No," she said, her face full of pain. "No. I'm so sorry Elena." She began to choke, blood dotting her lips and chin.

"I was so jealous. I was wrong to give them information on you, on the protests. I was..." she gasped. "I'm sorry."

I smiled into her eyes. "You and I are good."

"You have... the envelope?"

"I've got it in my shirt," I said, patting it so she could hear the crinkle of the paper.

She tried to smile, her face relaxing slightly. She seemed to inhale a little of me and smile more. "I was wrong..." she whispered.

"No," I heard a gasp behind me and watched Jessica's eyes shift. I turned to see Charles looking down at her, horrified. "No, Jessica. What is happening?"

A voice chirped on my phone from the emergency operator and I grabbed it, standing and taking a few steps away while Charles knelt next to Jessica.

She looked up at him with sad, confused eyes as he gently held her hand and stroked her forehead, whispering to her.

I turned away, tears filling my eyes, trying to give them some privacy. I gave the operator our location and specified what had happened, and then hung up. I stood quietly aside while Charles kept eye contact with her.

"I'll get whoever did this to you," he said softly, his voice grim. "I swear to you, Jessica."

"Envelope," she rasped.

Charles looked at me and I nodded, patting my chest.

"Okay, Jessica. Don't you worry. Just relax."

She sighed, and then with a slight final smile at Charles her breath rattled out, and her body went still.

"No," Charles said, his voice commanding. "Jessica, don't do that. Don't die."

She didn't respond.

He slammed his palm into the pavement next to her. I jumped at the smacking impact, but she didn't flinch.

"No!" He stood abruptly, looking down at her, his face twisted in pain. "Not one of mine!"

"Charles," I said softly, reaching a hand toward him. He turned, his eyes wild, his face full of fury.

"Someone is targeting my employees. I am going to find who did this and I am going to destroy them," he raged.

I wanted to speak, to do something, but his anger was frightening me. It was so thunderous and powerful, my instinct was to shrink back against the brick wall next to me and hide.

I looked down at Jessica, and hot tears began to roll down my face.

This seemed to jolt Charles out of his fury. He stepped to me and engulfed me in a hug so fierce I thought it might break my bones, but I threw my own arms around him and held him as best I could, squeezing my horror and fear into his body.

I felt him inhale deeply and then felt his body relax.

"Elena," I heard him say, his voice a harsh whisper. "It was Jessica. All this time. The mole. The inside source. It was Jessica."

"I know," I said softly into the bicep my face was nestled against. "I know. She apologized to me."

I felt him convulse and for a moment I thought he was crying, but he straightened as a siren started at the end of the block and I could see his eyes were still dry.

"Can you call one of your colleagues who was at the party?" he asked, not looking at me. "We need someone to cover this."

"I can."

He shook his head sadly. "You're too involved emotionally."

"Thank you," I said, realizing he was right. I pulled out my phone and called Sheila who was still helping wrap up the party.

"What's happened?" she asked, the happy sound of children in the background.

"There's been a murder just down the street. It's Jessica, Charles' assistant."

"Oh no!"

"Can you come cover it? I don't think I can manage. Please don't tell Matilda yet. We don't want to spoil her night."

"On my way."

When I looked up, an officer was speaking to Charles, though he was looking at Jessica. I stepped next to Charles who put an arm around me and pulled me closer.

Charles was giving him as many details as he could, and as the ambulance arrived I also tried to remember and contribute.

The person who stabbed Jessica was the same person who had been following me, I was almost sure from the way he moved, but I had nothing to say more than that he was dressed in black.

They quickly put a sheet over Jessica's body, and I had to turn away, tears choking me. Only then did I see Sheila talking furiously into her phone, taking audio notes. I nodded and she nodded back.

"Listen," the policeman said, pulling Charles aside as the ambulance workers began to lift the body. "I'm not saying this right now, understand? But we've been given orders to delay, or even find something else to do, if calls come in from your company."

Charles looked grim, but nodded his head. "I was afraid of this," he said to the policeman. "I understand you have to do what you need to do."

The man shook his head. "We aren't standing for it. Sure, we nod our heads and take our orders, but we signed up to protect the citizens and do what's right, and that's what the majority of us are going to do."

Charles clapped a hand on the man's shoulder, and the policeman smiled solemnly. "I just wanted to give you a head's up to be careful. Someone is out to get you."

Charles nodded. "I appreciate the warning."

"I have your contact information if we need anything else. You two are free to go."

Charles watched the policeman and the emergency workers continue to move, the flashing lights from the sirens illuminating his face. He looked down at me, his face grim.

"Are you okay?"

I nodded, and then shrugged. Was I okay? I was alive, but I felt far from okay.

He nodded, seeming to understand. His eyes caught Sheila's and he motioned her over. With his arm still around me he said, "I'd like to make an official statement, if I might."

She nodded, looking slightly intimidated at his presence, but held her phone out to him.

"To all of the employees at Rafe Media, I swear I will do everything in my power to protect you from harm. We have uncovered something rotten in our governmental system, and they are taking steps against us. I promise, I will do everything in my power to bring our colleagues and friends justice and destroy whoever is responsible."

With that he turned away. "Let's go home, Elena. To my place this time."