Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
A priest was hired to do the ceremony as he began ushering people to the gravesite “Please, I need a moment to do the traditional blessing of the body. I want to please ask everyone to wait outside by the burial grounds.”
“I’m sorry Father, but we are doing a military type of funeral.” Erin spoke up.
Mia shook her head at her friend “It was Doug’s request to have it done the Christian way. He would not rest in peace if this can’t be done.” She covered her quivering lips before she began to choke up with tears again.
Erin turned to Devin who nodded “I will respect his final request.” She took a hold of Mia’s shoulders and walked her outside. The double doors closed behind them “He’s been smoking all morning.” She nodded to Darren, still in the same place he was an hour ago.
She shook her head “I couldn't get him to quit.”
“Yes, you could.” Erin insisted “Go, talk to him.” She pushed. Mia was reluctant but Erin was persistent, pushing her towards his direction. She gaze at her friend with desperate eyes but knew she would not take no for an answer. Erin watched as Mia said a few words to Darren, a slight smile on her lips. Yet, he was not easing up to her. Suddenly, he threw his cigarette down on the ground and stormed away. Worried, Erin rushed over to her friend “What happened?”
Mia shrugged “I told him I wanted a divorce.”
“You what?! Mia, how could—” Erin was cut off when the chapel door opened and the pastor waved to catch their attention.
“We can move the coffin now.” He announced with a bible in hand.
Eight guys joined together to escort the coffin outside. The girls stood in the front row, leading the way. Flowers surrounded the grave waiting to be buried with the lost agent. It was hard for everyone to keep the tears to themselves as they cried openly. Mia held a rose close to her heart as she sobbed, saying her goodbyes was almost impossible. Throwing the rose into the ground, she kissed her fingers with her lips and pointed it downwards “Goodbye.”
Erin bowed, eyes damped but she wasn’t afraid to show emotion “We’ll miss you.”
Ryan and Jenna joined hands as they threw down a handful of flowers “You’ll never be replaced.” She whispered, “Long live the three musketeers.” She managed to choke out.
“We’ll never forget you.” Ryan bowed.
Devin knelt to the ground and looked downward, his eyes twitched strangely but decided not to question “Help us find the others.” His eyes moved up and in a far distance, he noticed someone was watching them. Getting up, he walked back to Erin while the priest said the final prayer before the grave was covered “Nine o’clock.” He whispered.
She turned her head slightly and noticed the figure “Becca.” She sighed “She still loves him, I know it.”
“Maybe we could get her to turn around.” Devin suggested.
Erin shook her head “No, she has to turn herself. Trust me, I’ve known this girl since she was naïve and innocent. She’s always been a stubborn mule about her decisions. Once she settles on it, it’s almost impossible to convince her otherwise. She’ll turn back.”
“How can you be so sure?” he asked.
“Instincts.” She placed her sunglasses and bowed when the last scoop of dirt fell over the grave. Without saying another word, she turned to leave. Everyone else too left silently, still mourning for a lost friend. She took off in her car, not knowing where she was going, but she followed the gut feeling in the pit of her stomach. Suddenly, she had an urge to see Michael. Parking her car in the front, she made her way to the glass doors and let herself in.
By the time she reached the receptionist, the girl advised her “Mr. Wu is gone for the day. Actually, you just missed him by a few minutes.”
“Was he alone?” Erin wasn’t sure why she asked.
“No. There was a man with spiky hair that walked him out. They seemed very solemn, like there was a serious issue that needed to be taken care of.” The girl analyzed.
Spinning on her heels, she rushed towards the elevator and when it finally stopped, she raced towards the exit. Catching a glimpse of Michael on a motorcycle with Ah Gam, she hopped into her car and drove off after them. Pulling out her cell, she dialed for Devin’s number “They got Michael! I don’t know what he’s planning, we need to warn Riley and Leah, I have a feeling they’ll target them next.”
“I’ll get Jenna and Ryan on it.” Devin replied, he too was on his way home.
“Too late for that. You need to go yourself.” Erin insisted.
“Fine, we’ll meet tonight at headquarters. Call the others for me.” With that, he hung up and spun his car in a U-turn, screeching tires, he raced towards Riley’s office building. By the time he got there, he realized he was too late with the police surrounding the building and ambulances pulling out injured people. He easily found Ted “What happened here?”
“Kidnap…shooting.” Ted motioned for him to follow him inside “Riley is missing, some witnesses said there was a girl with a gun, she appeared to be out of her mind shooting at everything and everyone. Two fatalities and six injuries.”
“Do we have an identification on the crazy woman?” Devin asked while looking over the bullet holes in the wall.
Ted shook his head “We have a few descriptions, but no one knows recognizes her.”
“Becca.” A female voice spoke up from behind them.
The guys turned and quickly smiled “Leah. You saw her?”
The young girl looked devastated but she explained, “Yes. I was in a meeting with Riley and a few managers when I got up to get him some water. He gets thirsty when presenting with a speech. I was in the kitchen when I heard loud gunshots and then people screaming. I peeked my head out of the door and saw Becca in a black suit with sunglasses aiming her gun at everyone while she yanked Riley along. She was screaming for me and asked Riley where I was, but he refused to answer. I hid back in the kitchen and prayed that I wouldn’t get caught. At least you guys would have one lead.”
“You did the right thing.” Devin nodded firmly.
“What happened to her? Why is she doing all this? I heard about Doug when Jenna called us this morning but we couldn’t make it to the funeral…now that I think about it, maybe we should have.” She felt guilty for losing Riley.
Ted shook his head “It’s not your fault Leah, they had a plan that was to be executed regardless of where you two might be. They very well could have done it at the cemetery, this group of assassins were cruel and ruthless, they stop at nothing.”
“Assassins?” Leah whispered, “She’s an assassin?”
“As far as we know.” Devin agreed “I need you to stay safe, is there anyone else that can run the company until we get him back?”
Leah nodded “The other shareholders and managers can do it. I’ll stay home and wait for your call.”
“No, they’ll find you there easily.” Devin said wisely “I’ll set up a room for you at Erin’s, in the meantime how would you feel like being a temp agent? We’re a little shorthanded.”
She smiled confidently “I was waiting for you to ask.”
**************
Erin rushed up towards the gated house and buzzed the doorbell but when no one answered the intercom, she jumped the metal fence and ran to the door banging on it “No, please be home…Julie!! JULIE!!!” she cried.
The door was opened by an exasperated butler “Miss, it is not polite—”
“Is Julie home?!” she demanded.
“Mrs. Wu is in the library.” He answered slowly.
Erin pushed her way through and ignored his calls for her to stop while he announced her arrival. She had long ago memorized where the library stood. Opening the door, she found Julie on the couch, a letter in her hand while her hand covered her face sadly “Julie…”
She looked up with a tearful face “He’s been kidnapped.” She picked up the letter and pointed it to Erin.
“I know.” She sighed and read the brief ransom note. It basically had no special meaning, they were asking for a ridiculous amount of money “We’ll find him.”
“Why does this keep happening? We only want a normal life.” Julie covered her face again.
Erin bent down to comfort the girl “I’m sorry, I know you guys have a lot of faith in the team but once your linked to the team, it’s hard to hide from being targets. Maybe when we find him, you two should move out of the country with little Terry?”
“If he comes back.” Julie said without hope “How many times can luck happen to a person? I have a really bad feeling about this.” She reached out and gripped her hand “Please…find him. Bring him back safely. We’ve worked too hard to be together. I’d rather die than to continue living without him.”
She smiled “I promise you Julie. Whether I come back alive or dead, I will bring back Michael. Now the most important thing is for you to stay in the house. Leave the alarm system on 24/7. We’re not going to give them another chance to get anyone else.”
“Okay.” Julie said, feeling better from her confirmation “Be careful.” She smiled. Erin got up to leave when she stopped her “By the way, how is Ga Jei? The last time I talked to her, she sounded stress about her upcoming wedding next year.”
Erin debated with herself of whether or not she should tell her the truth. Instead, she thought the young girl didn’t need the added worries “She’s doing good. I’ll tell her you said hi.”
“Tell her to eat more. A skinny bride is never healthy looking.” Julie smiled. Erin nodded briefly before letting herself out.
**************
Reina felt mechanical when Devin broke the news to her. It was way past visiting hours but he was able to get through the rules. She sat back in her chair looking dazed “He’s so stupid.”
“Love makes you do stupid things.” Devin said “You can lie to Matt because you love him but I can see it in your eyes. You still love him very much, why did you tell him that you didn’t?”
“So he could move on with his life. How could he be with a criminal?” Reina asked.
“I guess you forgot how he overlooked that part and helped you out of jail. You weren’t exactly a saint before and I don’t think he ever cared about your past.” He pointed out.
“Well I guess he’s wrong.” She stood her ground and got up to leave.
Devin turned around on the chair “No, he’s not wrong, just blinded by love.” She paused to turn to him “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he’s back on the team all in one piece.”
“Thanks.” She smiled gratefully and allowed the guard to escort her back to her cell.