The Kingdom Ch. 14

CHAPTER 14 -- SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL

I woke up with a splitting migraine, lying on my back atop a hard surface. Groaning in agony, I lifted my hands to my throbbing forehead. My arms were heavy as lead and I felt as if I'd just finished running a marathon. My head ached so severely that I could barely open my eyes. Through blurred vision, I could see aged wooden rafters above me and the sound of running, splashing water could be heard.

Disoriented and confused, I began quickly retracing my steps to determine where exactly I was and how I'd gotten here. Waking up unclear of my setting and circumstances had become something of a routine as of late.

With great effort, I lifted myself into a seated position. Still in too much pain to fully open my eyes, I squinted into the dimly lit room, studying my surroundings. It only took me a few seconds to recognize that I was in the boathouse, seated on a long wooden bench against the wall. Confused as to how I got here, I swung my legs to the side and placed my feet on the dank wooden floor.

This boathouse had always been something of a secret hideout for me. A place on the quiet side of the lake where I frequently brought boyfriends, girlfriends, booze in my misguided youth. The best thing about this particular hideout was its privacy. It was basically a large wooden shed built atop of two adjacent boat docks. The dock floor was U-shaped, leaving the water exposed on the south side. So, even when the entrances were locked up, we were always able enter and exit by swimming underneath the walls.

I was suddenly snapped out of my stroll down memory lane as my eyes made out something move on the other side of the room. Startled, I dropped my hands from my head and scurried backwards on the wooden table. A cold chill ran down my back as I made out the silhouette of a person against the light that shone through the wooden planked walls.

"Who's there?" I asked in a shaky voice.

"Easy," a male voice, replied. "You're safe, now."

"I said, who's there?!" I shouted. Projecting my voice only caused my headache to spike.

The silhouette moved forward, prompting me to slide backwards on the wooden bench. Just then, a streak of light from a crack in the boarded up window fell across his face. The moment that the light caught his eyes, I instantly recognized him. It was the blond-haired security guard from Sycamore Market. The one who... stuck a fucking needle into my neck!

"You," I said in a lower voice.

Silently, he raised his hand, offering what looked like a thermos to me. Steam billowed up from its lid.

"Drink this," he replied softly. "It'll help with your headache."

"Who the hell are you?" I insisted, speaking in a louder voice.

"I'm the one who saved you from your predicament at the market," he answered camly.

"Saved me?" I retorted incredulously. "You drugged me and abducted me to a fucking boathouse."

"It was the only way I could get you out of there without raising too many red flags," he explained. "I set off the alarm and then knocked you out in order to justify relieaving you from the remainder of your shift. The shop owner believes I took you to the emergency health clinic."

"So, you decided to take me to a floating shack in the middle of nowhere?" I asked, suspiciously.

"I wanted to bring you somewhere we could talk freely," he replied softly. "You can leave any time you'd like. I won't stop you. The bag by your feet contains all of your belongings."

I glanced down at a tote bag on the floor with my clothing folded neatly inside. It wasn't until that very moment that I realized that I was still wearing the golden catsuit and straps from the market. This also meant...

I quickly pressed my hand against my sex, not so subtly double-checking the occupancy of my pussy and anus. To my relief, the dildo and butt-plug were no longer inside of me. But that relief instantly turned to affront as I contemplated how they'd been removed. My eyes shot wide open as I directed my focus back toward the blond-haired guard.

"Did you-" I started to ask in an accusatory tone.

Seemingly guessing what I was about to ask, he interjected, "Would you have rather I left the dildo and butt-plug inside of you?"

I stared back at him with my mouth open. He wasn't wrong, but the thought of him deciding on his own to un-penetrate me while I was unconscious was disturbing, nonetheless. As I contemplated how to reply, I suddenly noticed that the man was no longer attired in a security guard uniform. He now wore jeans, a casual grey jacket, and a New York Knicks ball cap. Despite my reservations, I couldn't help but notice how attractive and well-built he was.

"So, are you going to tell me who you are, or not?" I asked, changing gears back to the most pressing matter.

"We spoke on the radio yesterday," he replied, as he slowly placed the thermos on the far end of my bench. "You know me as Alpha."

Lost for words, I merely stared back. It was him.

"I hope my intrusion didn't mess up any plans you may have had," he continued. "From what I could tell, your reactions to the shop owner as she was setting you up gave me the impression that you weren't exactly a willing participant."

I hesitated before mumbling, "I was being blackmailed." As thankful as I was to be off that podium, I needed more convincing before I threw this guy a "thank you" party.

"How did you know I was there?" I asked. He didn't reply, prompting me to follow up with, "Were you following me?"

"I was," he replied bluntly. "But then again, you were on public display without a hood for 45 minutes. I'd have seen you from the street whether I was following you or not."

"And why were you following me?" I probed him.

"You know why," he replied flatly, his face looking solemn. "For the same reasons I told you yesterday."

"Refresh my memory," I countered, indignantly.

"You have something that has the power to save a lot of lives. Earning your trust is the only chance I have to gain access to it," he explained. "It's simple, Alison. I need that suitcase."

Hearing the man called Alpha use my real name sent shivers down my spine. It was a subtle reminder of just how much power he held over me. If he'd wanted to, he could expose my true identity at any time. While I never got the impression that he would take this action, I'd have been naïve to not consider the possibility.

"A lot of women's lives depend on this operation's success," he added. "Success is impossible without the suitcase."

I exhaled slowly, turning my face away from him. Nothing softened my resolve quite as adequately as the invocation of innocent lives. Every mention of them pushed me closer and closer to spilling the suitcase's location...

But I still had more questions. Questions that Alpha would have no obligation to answer once I'd given up my leverage. Turning back to face him, I decided to begin my interrogation.

"What did you inject me with?" I asked.

"A low dosage of horse tranquilizer," he answered. "Completely safe."

"Where'd you get it?" I pressed inquisitively.

"Stole it from storage at the stadium," he replied. "Secured by only a simple lever-handle lock."

"And the guard's uniform?" I asked him, skeptically.

"Made it," he replied matter-of-factly. "Bought a sewing machine from The Supply Chest my first day and completed the ensemble by day two."

"And this... suitcase-" I probed. "What's in it?"

Alpha shook his head. "I'm afraid can't tell you that," he replied softly.

"Can't or won't?" I challenged.

"Won't," he replied bluntly. My eyebrows raised, prompting him to elaborate. "If those details were to end up in the wrong hands, it would effectively end the operation. Every protocol, every contingency would be shot. It would amount to certain failure."

"And what's the ultimate goal?" I asked. "If your mission succeeds, what'll happen?"

Alpha took a deep sigh, clearly weighing his words carefully. "The objective... is to expose the degenerates who fund and operate this trafficking ring. It's far bigger than just The Kingdom. We're talking about an organization with ranks in the thousands. The goal is to pull them all from the shadows and hold them accountable so they can't hurt anyone else."

He suddenly turned and walked to the bench against the opposite wall. Taking a seat, he leaned forward, resting his hands on his knees. It was at this moment that I realized how exhausted he appeared. He looked as if the weight of the world rested on his shoulders.

"It's why time is of the essence. I'm the only remaining operative who hasn't been captured," he said softly. "Foxtrot and the others may be the toughest in the world, but a soldier can only withstand so much. Especially at the hands of the kind of people we're dealing with. If any one of my operatives cracks, it could mean game over for everyone."

I shuddered to think of what kinds of torture his operatives were currently facing. As horrible as Brandy, aka Foxtrot, was to me, it gave me no satisfaction to imagine her current state in Annabelle's custody.

For several seconds, neither of us said anything. Unsure of what to say, I rubbed my still-throbbing temples. Glancing down at the steaming thermos, I finally broke the silence. "What's in here?"

"Camomille," he replied. I took a sip of the piping hot tea as I studied Alpha's body language. Slouched forward, Alpha had the look of a defeated man who had officially run out of ideas. Whether his demeanor was genuine or by design, I couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

"Say that I did know where this suitcase was," I said. "And I were to tell you where to find it." Even in the darkness of the boathouse, I saw Alpha's eyes flick up toward me, suddenly looking alert. "What's to stop your trail from leading authorities right back to me if you get caught?" I asked.

"Simple," Alpha quickly replied. "You'd have my word that I won't make a move on the suitcase until you've had time to leave the fairegrounds."

"Leave?" I asked, perplexed by his offer. "Who says I'm leaving?"

He tilted his head in apparent confusion. "Did you not get my message last night?"

"The one about Katie?" I replied. "Yeah, I got that."

"And... you still want to stay?" he asked in disbelief. "Despite having proof of a plot to spy on you?"

I rolled my eyes, replying, "What you sent me isn't proof of anything."

"Surely, you're not that naïve," Alpha challenged, squinting at me incredulously. "Your girl's profile was altered hours before she being rushed off to the emergency clinic, put into a wire-tapped collar, and generously placed in your custody... And you think it's all a coincidence?"

"It's a hell of a lot more logical than the theory that Katie is some Academy-award caliber master spy." I countered, defensively. "You don't know her. It's just not possible for her be what you're suggesting."

Alpha leaned forward, suddenly looking deathly serious. "I've spent the last 8 years investigating these people. This conglomerate's ranks are groomed and trained by the most talented espionage agents in the world. Manipulation and subterfuge is their expertise."

"You may be right, but Katie's not one of them," I replied defensively. "She just doesn't have it in her."

"Well, I suppose you would know," Alpha replied bluntly. "You have known her for a day longer than I have."

At a loss for words, I merely glared silently at Alpha. His jab may have been harsh but his point was grounded in truth. As eager as I was to believe the best in Katie, it came at the expense of suppressing the reality that we hardly knew each other. How well could anyone really know a person they had just met?

Alpha suddenly stood up and walked over to a stack of canoes that hung over the exposed water. Reaching inside the bottom canoe, he pulled out what looked like an aluminum soup can with no label. I cocked my eyebrow as he held it out to me.

"What's that?" I asked, hesitantly taking the can.

Alpha sighed before saying, "Canned peaches."

I stared at him for a moment, too shocked to say anything. "Are you out of your mind?" I asked.

"Look, I can't make you leave, but I can at least give you the tools you need to uncover the truth for yourself," he explained.

"So, your recommendation is that I poison Katie?!" I shot back.

"My recommendation is that you forget Katie and get the hell out of here while you can!" Alpha replied suddenly sounding forceful. "But if you won't take that advice, my next suggestion is for you to safe-guard yourself. Add a few drops of peach juice into her coffee. If she has a reaction, it means that she's telling the truth. If nothing happens, it means she's lying."

"Wow," I replied sarcastically. "Is that how they teach it at Harvard med?"

"That's how they teach it at the CIA," Alpha countered. "Look, if you're worried about hurting her, don't be. One or two drops really shouldn't have a serious impact."

I blinked at Alpha, dismayed by his advice. But I was even more surprised by the fact that I was actually considering it. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt Katie. But if it meant clearing up any doubts about her and give me a peace of mind to pursue our relationship, I suppose it could be worth it... My eyes flicked down at the can as I weighed the pros and cons.

"Personally though, I'd recommend you chuck the can and get out of dodge. Immediately," Alpha reiterated. "But it's your choice. I can't make that for you."

After a few seconds, I looked back up at him. Silently praying that I was making the right decision, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "The suitcase is at the Trading Post," I said softly.

Alpha sat straight up, saying nothing but suddenly looking energized.

"I left it with a woman named Laura," I continued. "She's been holding it for me since yesterday morning."

"Does anyone else know it's there?" Alpha said in an urgent voice.

I shook my head. "I don't think so."

"Did anyone else see you with it?" Alpha interrogated me. "Guests, security?"

"I- don't know," I replied, quickly racking my brain. "I don't think so. It was early and the streets were still empty.

Alpha suddenly stood to his feet and stepped quickly over to me. His eyes no longer looked tired, defeated, or emotionless. They now had a spark behind them. An almost contagious excitement that compelled me to keep talking.

"And Laura," He pressed. "Is she a trading agent?"

"Uh, yeah," I replied. "She was the one who helped me. Her cubicle's toward the back of the center aisle on the left.

"And you're certain that the suitcase is still there?" Alpha asked.

"To my knowledge," I answered. "Along with my other stuff."

"And she's expecting you to come retrieve it?" he asked.

"Yeah," I replied. "I asked her to keep it behind her desk until I came back for it."

Alpha nodded his head, taking everything in. I could tell that the gears were spinning as he turned and stared for several seconds at the boarded up window.

"Last question," he said, turning back to face me. "What were you trading?"

"The suite," I answered, prompting him to furrow his brow in apparent curiosity. "In exchange for Katie."

Alpha's face softened, his eyes almost looking empathetic. "If it's of any consolation, I'd love to be wrong about her." He gave a sigh, before adding, "But I'm afraid my experiences with these people have made me too jaded."

I looked away, not wishing to discuss Katie any longer. Alpha clearly wasn't going to be convinced of her innocence and that was okay with me. I certainly didn't need his blessing for anything I that decided to do.

"Thank you, Alison," Alpha said sincerely.

"I didn't do anything," I replied, shaking my head. "I was just in the wrong place at the right time."

"Nevertheless, a lot of women are going to end up owing you their lives," he said. I looked down at the floor, unsure of how to respond. "I can hold off on intercepting the suitcase, but not for long," he added. "It's 14:00 right now. I can wait until 15:30 to give you time to leave."

"Shit," I said abruptly. "It's 2 o'clock already?" I leaned over and began fishing through the tote bag on the floor for my cell phone.

Alpha glanced down at his wristwatch and replied, "9 minutes til to be exact."

"Dammit," I whispered as I double-checked the time on my home screen. Katie was probably worried sick about me. We had agreed to meet back at the suite an hour ago.

"Alright then," Alpha said reaching out to shake my hand. "Best of luck to you."

I nodded and accepted his hand. "Same to you," I replied. Goodbyes were awkward enough without the high stakes dangling overhead.

Releasing my hand, Alpha turned and headed toward the door. "Give me a five minute head start and then you should be safe to leave."

"Okay," I answered.

Pulling the large wooden door open, Alpha turned and looked back at me. "If I can offer one more piece of advice..." he added, his eyes looking sincere. "Take a beat before you decide anything. Put your emotions aside and really think things through. Trust the little voices in your head."

I merely replied with a small nod.

"Be careful," he added. "Remember that there are eyes everywhere."

And with that, the man named Alpha exited the boathouse, closing the door behind him. Oddly enough, I suddenly felt as if a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. As nerve-racking as it was to entrust Alpha with the suitcase's location, not longer having to worry about it any longer was a huge relief.

It was almost like a "fixer" voluntarily burying a skeleton they'd discovered in my closet. Granted, this particular fixer also scared the hell out of me with conspiracy theories and warnings of being trafficked. But in the spirit of small victories, the enigmatic suitcase was now off my plate. Whatever happened to it from this point forward was officially none of my concern. And that was good.

Now alone in the boathouse, I began the laborious process of changing out of my skin-tight latex catsuit. Standing gingerly to my feet, my legs still felt shaky from all of the orgasms I'd endured at the Market. On top of that, my asshole felt sore from the expandable butt-plug inside me. I stabilized myself by resting my hand against the wooden slatted wall.

Moments later, I was stark naked and shivering in the brisk air. While the lubricant coating my body had definitely helped with the catsuit's speedy removal, it left me feeling wet and slimy from head to toe. With my teeth jittering from the cold, I knelt down and began to remove my clothing from the tote bag on the floor.

To my pleasant surprise, in the bottom of the bag was a towel for me to dry off with. Alpha really had thought of everything... Once I was dried off, I tossed the greasy towel and catsuit into the bag and proceeded to get dressed into my street clothes. After taking one last glance around to make I hadn't left anything, I exited the boathouse.

It was drizzling outside, which made the air feel even colder. As I walked along the wooded trail back to the fairegrounds, I couldn't help but wonder how Alpha had gotten me to the boathouse in the first place. Had he carried me? Staring down at the damp ground, I couldn't make out any footsteps, telling me that Alpha had clearly taken a different way.

Deep in thought, I took my time with each step. My impulse was to hurry back to the suite so that Katie wouldn't be concerned about me. But I couldn't help replaying Alpha's advice in my head. Take a beat before going back to Katie. Put your emotions aside and really think things through...