New Huntington, CA
2004

“Jimmy, are you sure this is the best thing we can do?”

Jimmy looked up at the woman who was leaning against his front door. Melissa Masters flashed a smile at him. He rolled his eyes and sat back, grinning at her in return.

“Of course not.” He shoved a sheet of paper into an envelope and held it out to her. “Get this to Papa Gates. I’ll meet you outside Town Hall in fifteen.”

Melissa took the proffered envelope stuffing it in her purse. “What about your friend at The Creed?”

Jimmy paused, looking at her. “Jason Berry?”

“No, Matthew…”

“Don’t worry about him.” Jimmy gave a confident smile. “We’re not planning on getting caught.”

Melissa laughed, nodding as she checked for her keys. “That’s true enough.” She glanced around his apartment for a second, noting a pile of scrap metal near the door leading to his room. “What’s that?” she asked curiosity evident in her voice.

Jimmy followed her gaze and smirked widely. “That, my friend, is my master plan…” He stood and walked over lifting a couple of pipes and holding them out to her. “What do these look like to you?”

“Uh…some old metal pipes?”

“Wrong. The main frame of my drum kit,” Jimmy’s smile was dazzling. She rolled her eyes.

“Well, good luck with that, Sullivan.” She lifted a hand in farewell before heading out the door, leaving it to swing behind her.

* * * * *

“Sir?”

General Eskino turned his head to look at the soldier who was standing in front of his desk. “Yes, Corporal?”

“There is a woman here to see you.”

“A woman?” He leaned back on his chair, the wheels squeaking on the floor. The soldier nodded and motioned to someone who was standing just outside the door. Eskino blinked as the woman walked in and smiled at him. His daughter. The only good thing left from a marriage that he’d rather not dwell upon. His wife left him when Melissa was only a child…

He shook his head and motioned for the soldier to leave. He was saluted and then when the door shut behind his man, the General relaxed and smiled at the woman.

“Mel…what’re you doing here?”

Melissa’s brow furrowed. “I thought I should fill you in with what’s going on.”

The General smirked. “Dangerous thing to do. If anyone found out…”

“My team know whose side you’re really on.” Melissa smiled tightly. “By the way, Jimmy says hello.”

Eskino snorted, shaking his head. “Young Sullivan is going to have to be careful. If Shadows ever found out he was part of this…” He allowed his voice to trail off as he leaned back on his chair, looking at her seriously. “Do you know what you’re about, involving him in this?”

Melissa rolled her eyes. “Dad. I’m not the one involving him. This is his plan.”

The General raised his eyebrows, splaying his fingers out on the desktop. “Jimmy’s?” He frowned at his daughter. “Are you for real?” He picked up a pen then put it down again a little agitated by that piece of information.

Melissa nodded slowly. “He came to me a few months ago telling me he had a plan.” She leaned against the front of the desk. “He’d already joined PeaceLine months before.”

PeaceLine was a non-profit organisation that raised funds for sick children. That was its legitimate front, and it was good at what it did. However, it was also a cover for operations that happened underground to spread the awareness of issues in the government. Both Jimmy and Melissa were topline members of the organisation. She was the Captain, so to speak and Jimmy…well, no one really knew what he did but it was important.

The General tilted his head. “Are you sure? I’ve had intel that suggests he’s been there longer.”

Melissa’s brow furrowed. “Well, now you mention it, I think he actually joined when he was eighteen, but I only met him a few months ago.”

“So…you don’t really know him?”

His daughter laughed. “He volunteers a lot of information about himself, dad. But, he’s a good person. And…I just hope I can protect him from the repercussions of our actions.”

The General’s lips twisted wryly. “I’ll get on that…”

“Pardon?”

“Mel, do not forget whose side I’m on.”

“Dad…you could get in serious trouble if you help us.”

The General gave a cold smile. “You let me worry about myself. Just do what you do best.”

Melissa nodded and made to leave then looked over her shoulder at the General. “If I get caught…”

“I won’t be able to help you…” There was an edge to his voice. There was only so far he could go in supporting the organisation. He could help keep his men distracted but if anyone was actually apprehended he couldn’t be seen to be covering them.

Melissa brushed a hand through her hair, nodding. “I understand.”

“Good. Keep me in the loop, kid.”

Long Beach, CA
2013

Matthew dragged his fingers through his hair staring at his phone screen. Elijah was on the other end of the line waiting for him to speak.

“I didn’t know…Elijah…”

“How could you? My niece only told you what you needed to know.” The elder male’s voice was gentle. Matthew groaned in frustration shaking his head.

“Why didn’t she trust me with this?”

“Matthew, why are you surprised? You weren’t particularly…easy on her.”

“Dammit…” He tugged at his hair, shaking his head more. He paused when he saw Zacky looking over at him with a questioning look. He rolled his eyes at him and returned to his call. “I need to fix that…”

“There’s nothing to fix.”

“So you say,” Matthew sighed and leaned back on his seat. Too many thoughts were going through his mind, and then there was the added worry from not knowing what Melissa had told his friend. After he got off the call with Elijah that was the first thing he would be asking Zacky about. He glanced across at his friend who was back at his tapes; the concentration on his face was almost endearing.

“Matthew…Matthew?”

He rubbed at his cheek, looking back at the screen. “Melissa won’t talk to me.”

Elijah sighed, but didn’t sound too surprised. “I’ll talk to her.”

Matthew nodded. “Good luck with that.” He gave a soft grunt. “You’re right. I wasn’t easy on her. No way she’s forgiving me for that.”

“I’ll talk to her,” Elijah repeated. The reassuring tone to his voice would’ve helped if Matthew was paying attention. But, Zacky was motioning to him an urgent expression on his face.

“Look, I gotta go, Eli.”

“Alright. Don’t worry, I’ll talk to Mel, go do what you need to do.”

Matthew nodded, smiling faintly. “I’ll let you know how we’re doing.”

“Shads!”

Elijah chuckled, “You’d better go before Zacky explodes over there.”

Matthew rolled his eyes, scoffing. “We wouldn’t want that. Talk later.” He clicked off his phone and went over to Zacky who was frowning at the file on his desk. “What’s the emergency, V?”

The mechanic pushed the file away and turned to face him and when he did Matthew noticed that his friend was clutching his phone so tight his knuckles were white.

“What, V?”

Zacky exhaled roughly. “The Major was trying to get a hold of you.”

“What for?” Mathew frowned. “I didn’t hear any missed calls on my cell.”

Zacky shook his head. “That doesn’t matter. He got a hold of me.” His tone was strained as if whatever he needed to get out was stuck. “And…Shads…” He paused. Matthew cocked his head to one side.

“What? Zacky? What is it?”

Zacky stared at Matthew, pupils dilating. “The Creed knows we’re here in Long Beach.” He paused then added, his voice filling with anger, “Major Thom told him we’re here.”

Matthew’s eyes narrowed. “You’re not saying what I think you’re saying.”

His friend nodded slowly, pain flashing across his face. “We’ve been betrayed.”

Matthew was silent for a moment then slipped his phone from his back pocket, his expression remaining unchanged. “I’m going to call him.”

“What? Call Thom?”

Matthew nodded as he started dialling and began to walk back to the other end of the bunker.

“He’ll deny it, though,” Zacky called out after him thoroughly confused by his friend’s reaction. He’d expected anger, or disbelief or just plain shock. Not this calm, calculated response. And definitely not for him to jump on his phone and call the Major. His confusion heightened even more at Matthew’s parting shot.

“I know he will.”

Notes