Chapter 55

With the new recruit, Silencer could carry out the work he always wanted to.

"Marcus, how does it feel to be back? Can you remember what happened?"

Claire had pulled up by the house, "what is she doing here?" Nicole said.

"I will be staying by her for a while."

"But here is a place for you. I mean, there is plenty of room, right Angela."

"Yes, there will always be room for you."

Claire walked in carrying an expensive handbag and shoes, "I see you spoiled yourself?"

"Yes, Angela, if the men won't, we will do it ourselves."

"Well, I love the color. Why don't you and Marcus stay here?"

Claire looked over at Marcus. While Jack was not taking notes, he made notes in a diary. "Jack, what could be so important?"

Jack looked up at Claire and smiled, "I am just abit busy with some of Angela's work."

"You doing the graphics for her website?"

"Yes, I am. You should come to take a look at this."

Jack had a talent for art as a hobby. He could program but only did it when it was needed.

"This looks amazing, man." Marcus pat Jack on the back of the shoulder, "it looks nice," said Claire, "did you hear what we said earlier?"

"Yes, that Marcus will be moving in with you?"

"And you don't have a problem with that?"

"No, why would I?" I'm glad he has someone like you to care for him."

Claire was hoping for some jealousy, Angela over Claire and knew she was trying to make him Jealous.

"Ready to go?"

"No, wait, I've been doing some thinking. Your sister is here, and she needs you."

"Angela and them will take care of her. We had this talk."

"I know we did, don't get me wrong. With everything happening, isn't it best we all stick together?"

Jack shrugged, "stay if you want to stay, and go if you want to go."

Claire sighed, "what's wrong, Claire not the answer you were expecting?" Said Angela, smirking.

"No, it's nothing."

Jack received a text from an unknown source, saying they were all in danger in the house. He stopped what he was doing and stood up, walking to the window. He saw four black BMWs parked opposite; the windows to the cars were tinted. "Jack? What's going on?"

Jack walked to the kitchen window and looked out and saw two men sneaking around in the yard. He picked up his phone and sent a text to the Silencer. He then turned and looked at his sister; he had to protect her. "Claire, when you came in, were there any cars around you?"

"No, not that I have noticed why?"

Claire walked over to the window, "those cars were not there."

"What cars?" Said Angela standing up. Jack pushed them back.

"Get away from the blinds. Follow me."

Jack walked to the kitchen and moved the kitchen table. Under the feet of the kitchen table, it had a metal, "help me move this table."

They had lifted the table and moved it to the side where they had rolled up the mat. Under the table, it appeared like perfectly normal large porcelain tiles until Jack bent down and lifted one, which had a basement door under it.

"Jack, how long have you known this is here?"

"Mom showed me this before she died, she said down here we will find all the answers we are looking for, and it will take us through to a tunnel that leads to a hideout place with sufficient food supplies and everything we need."

"Don't you think this is a bad idea?"

Angela looked around, "I mean, to be honest, I don't feel like I can trust Claire and Marcus after they were so cozy at the hospital laughing."

"Why don't you tell us what you were laughing about, Claire?"Angela turned to Claire with her arms folded.

"We were catching up on old times."

"Now is not the time Angela."

"Jack, I know what I saw, and they are scheming."

"We weren't. If we were, why would we be followed here? Last time I checked, it's your brother."

"My brother, what?"

"Now is not the time." Jack lifted the tile and opened the door, which led to a stairway going down."

"Wait, what about my brother?"

Claire looked up at Jack, "he. I can't explain; it's as if he scares the people you know."

Jack laughed, "Seriously, scaring people I have never seen."

Claire listened to how she sounded. It sounded stupid, and she felt guilty about throwing Jack under the bus after everything he had done for them.

"Listen, Angela, right now, it's not whether you can trust us. It's about everyone else in this room. Let's put aside our difference. Besides, Nicole has been through enough."

They heard the window in the lounge shattering. "Nicole's started to panic as she curled herself up, "we need to go. Nicole, you are safe; you go first."

Nicole stepped on the ladder; her legs were shaking as she looked around frantically, "down there is a basement that leads to a tunnel. Wait for us in the basement."

"Angela, you go next."

More windows started shattering in the house bricks came flying through the window. Jack could see from the kitchen there were men with rifles.

"You guys are going to have to move faster."

Claire went next, and Marcus followed. He shouted, "I will see you on the other side."

"Jack, don't be stupid. What are you doing?" Jack closed the basement door. Claire burst into tears, and there was no reception. She wanted to call backup she refused to climb off the ladder, trying to push open the basement door.

Nicole stared at Claire and realized that Claire didn't just like Jack. She loved him.

Marcus had lifted her off the ladder, "you need to get a grip on yourself."

Angela walked over to Claire and smiled gently, "I know my brother will be fine."

"But how do you know? I saw those men; they are killers."

"You just said you never saw anyone coming in?"

Claire looked around and looked down, "they followed me. I came here to escape them but didn't mean to offend or harm anyone."

Marcus grabbed Claire by her arm, pulling her aside, "who did you piss off?"

She was crying frantically, "I didn't mean to."

"I pulled out Marcus; they weren't happy."

"Why would you pull out?"

"I wanted things to change. This is not the life I wanted."

"It's not the life I want also, but we don't just pull out, Claire. Do you realize what can happen?"

Claire shook her head, "they going to kill me, aren't they?"

"Yes, they are. It would be best if you went into a hiding place where they can't find you. You must make it seem like you're dead and get a new identity."

"What about my family."

Marcus shook his head, "you are dead. They can't know you are still alive. You are endangering their lives."

"What's happening here? Are the two of you scheming again?"

"Stop exaggerating and assuming, Angela. We are talking about getting your brother out of the house."

Angela walked over, shining the bright torch on their face, "so, did you figure out how you will get my brother out of there?"

"Myself and Marcus will have to go around and back up to the house."

"Good. What are you waiting for?"

Claire rolled her eyes, "at least we are trying. I can't say the same for you."

"That's because I trust my brother to get himself out of any situation."

Nicole sat on the bed, holding her knees to her chest, "Nicole, we can't stay here. We have to keep moving."

Nicole stood up and strolled towards the tunnel. Claire and Marcus followed them; the tunnels were quite dark, and all they could hear was something that sounded like a waterfall, "stay behind us," Angela insisted, "we lead the way."

Near the end of the tunnel was a waterfall, "I don't see a safe house." Claire said.

"You mean a place to hide? If Jack says it's here, then it is here."

"I don't see anything?"

Angela looked around the tunnel, noticed something shiny at the corner of her eyes, and walked over to it. It appeared like a rock glassy blue texture; she looked closer, using her index finger spiraling around the glass stone. As she looked around, all the rocks were damp except this particular rock. Angela then used the palm of her hand to push it flat to the rock when a door covered with rock slid open. "I take back what I said. There is a safe room."

Angela rolled her eyes as she looked back. The rest of them followed as the door slid open it was like she entered a sitting room with red sofas; it had an open-plan kitchen stocked up with food and sweets.