Project Rescue - A Shifter Novel (NaNoWriMo19)

“This is how we say dumb shit in the Philippines,” he said.

At the same time, we both said, “Pipi tae.”

He nodded his head at me as his phone rang,

I wandered off and cleaned my weapons, making sure I cleaned the barrel of each gun separately. I didn’t want to have both guns down if it came to trouble. When I was finished with my guns, I started with my blades. I wet a rag at the end, wiping my blades. I took some of my gun oil and wiped the blade, getting all of the blades, handles included. After the blade soaked for a few minutes, I wiped the blade down, making sure the handle was wiped down too. I couldn't have the handle slippery if I had to throw my blades. After I was done with my blades, I stuck them back into the slots on my harness, putting my guns in their holsters. When I was done I stood up and emptied the towel into the trash, making sure the cloth was put back where I got it from in my case.

I turned around and looked at the silent General, wondering what was up. He was white as a ghost, hardly breathing, and shaking. “What is it?”

“Rivera’s helicopter went down over the water. They haven’t found a body but they could,” he answered on automatic.

I snapped my fingers in his face. “Wake up, man. He seems smart enough to get rid of his HELO. He probably dove from the HELO, diving deep to avoid the wreckage. Who knows? He’s a smart guy, right? Could he have had some underwater device he could use to take him away from where the HELO went down?”

“You’re right. He was developing one to help u-” He shut up immediately, shaking his head at himself. He was an idiot. It was not something anyone should know. “How?”

“The way you talked about him. I knew he wasn’t in the service, so what else could he be doing?” I answered. “It couldn’t be some office job. Look at his place...it has security in it. Pretty sophisticated for a tree house, don’t you think?” I didn’t give him time to answer. “It had to be something where he makes a pretty penny for his village.”

“You’re very intelligent. I like the way you see the whole picture,” the General voiced.

“You don’t want to know how I learned to see the whole picture,” I told him. “But, you probably already know. I’m sure the trainer told you everything I went through.”

The General nodded his head. “Yes. He reported everything. I’m not going to apologize, you don’t need apologies. You got out of there even though it seems you’re still running.”

“Yeah.” I looked at my toes for a few seconds, raising my head and straightening my back. “But, I’m stronger than he thinks. I was taught defensive and offensive moves he doesn’t know about. Now I understand what the trainer was doing. He was trying to make sure I survived when I ran.”

“He was. He wanted to get you out of there himself. But, I told him not to break his cover. I had to have him there.”

“If he would have helped me he would have died as the others did. That monster shot the men if they were nervous about anything. He did it for nothing. I didn’t get any help from his men. I wasn’t sure if I could trust them, so I didn’t. I watched as he slaughtered his men. I left because I was to be enslaved by his new right hand man. I was to have his pups. But, he was going to kill me to be with his mistress.”

“I didn’t get all the information from my spy. But, he did tell me that the men fought to be your husband or jailor. They made you watch the whole thing,” the General disclosed.

I shuddered at his words. I couldn’t help the shivers going up my spine. If it made me look weak, I didn’t care. I wanted to cry but I knew I wouldn’t. A thought caught in my mind. I needed to find out if it was possible. “The spy you have there is Manuel’s brother. I told him his brother turned. I feel bad but I thought he did. Can I tell him diff-” I paused. “He already knows. He heard us talking.”

We heard Manuel say, “Don’t worry, my lips are sealed. I don’t want him killed by the monster.”

“I’m sorry, Manuel. I thought he had turned. It was my mistake,” I whispered to him.

“Don’t worry about it, Seri. I’m not mad. It was a mistake I would have made myself,” Manuel whispered back.

“So, we wait for three days to see if he comes home. But, your men need to go,” I stated. “The drug runners or the monster will know something is up if they stay. You won’t have to as long as you keep on the down low. Have your Shadows Cat’s come here and keep to the trees.”

After the General thought about what I said, or just about ordered, he said, “Okay. Good plan. I’ve already sent for the Shadow Cat’s. We can operate on foreign soil and with them being shifters it makes sense to have them here. I need to let them know. I’ll be back. Thanks, Seri.”

I nodded my head as he walked out the door. If Rivera’s partner had been kidnapped is wife would be here soon. She would want to help rescue her husband, not that I blame her. I wonder how the monster got him, and I knew it was him who jaguar-napped him. There was a reason for it. Maybe to make new weapons for him. I just didn’t know.

Jaguar-napped? I’m definitely losing it.

I heard Manuel ask the General if he had cash on him. If so he would need to get some food from the village. It was a good idea if we were cooking for a lot of shifters. I’m sure some of them would hunt in their jaguar form or whatever form they shifted to.

I heard someone walking on the porch. I was getting ready to go behind the door when I heard a low whistle. Manuel knocked and walked in. “Are you okay, Seri?”

“Yes. Are you? I know the information about your brother being alive was a great relief. But, he works, kind of, with the monster,” I went on. “He lasted this long I know he can last longer.”

“You’re right. He’s good in tight situations. He’s like a ghost and will get more information with the monster. I’m wondering if he’s coming with the monster when or if he comes here,” Manuel mussed.

I thought about his words, hugging myself as I rocked and biting my lip. “You know he’s here. I can’t see him being anywhere else. Not right now. He knows I’m here or why would he have his men looking for me here?”

“You’re probably right. Did you recognize the voice when you heard them ask me about you?”

“I didn’t at the time but I think I know who it was now. His name is Amador, he’s a nasty piece of garbage,” I whispered, trying to keep from puking.

Both Manuel and I whipped our heads to the door. As Manuel went to open the door, I went behind the door, my usual place of late.

“You want what?” Manuel asked incredulously.