Shadow Steps (Closed for Asa)

[Asa]

Watching him simply and rudely leave without another word she shrugged and put the file and her Ladyhawk away in her case and walked out with the other two and sat down taking with their boss. What neither of them knew was one of her fathers associates had seen the young man at the table with her and watched him give her back the Ladyhawk and word got back to her father fairly quickly who immediately did investigating on the facial description and sent a message to his daughter that they Would be talking soon.

Seeing that she realized that she had recognized someone else in that coffee shop and sighed till she realized that they saw this Ryan and would investigate him as well so she would get answers hopefully as well or there would be another body in the wake of this case. Either way she had been ordered and even as an adult she knew you did not go against the Col. or nay of his requests. She was never really sure what her father did only that he was a Col that not even most Generals would cross.

 

[raiguy]

Ryan smiled as a search for him popped up on his computer. He quickly misdirected it. It paid to have worked for the CIA at one point in time. He smiled as he realized who it was. So, he finally started looking again. Ryan just shook his head. He had hoped that that issue wouldn't pop up again. Oh well. If that man wanted to deal with him again, Ryan would be ready, and already knew how it would end.

 

[Asa]

Finishing her meeting she went to her apartment and putting things away and made sure she had everything including the ladyhawk just in case that came up and headed for the base to see her father. Showing her ID being told her father was expecting her on the range she smiled to the guard and drove to the gravel parking that helped separate the range from PT field. taking out her stuff and walking over to her father exchanging pleasantries and nodding to her "Uncles" who were all present it seemed she realized this was a walk and talk through knowing her father live training exercises.

Nodding to them she was ready again to prove whatever and answer whatever questions and there were many... from her father asking if she knew exactly who the man was she met with why she did not tell him about him or all the killings around her assignment and why his old friend who she worked for was stubborn enough not to tell him either. Her Uncles all had questions as well as the various exercises seemed to go on forever but her attention never wavering from the targets as she answered the questions.

 

[raiguy]

Ryan just shook his head as he went through the file from the military operation he helped with. It had gone bad when a colonel had ended up not being listened to. When that was found out, some of the higher rankers tried to get his mentor to take the contract. Ryan had tagged along on one such contract, but found out then and there that killing a woman or child was never going to happen. As he and his mentor walked away from the contract, the colonel never realized how much danger he or his young daughter had been in. Luckily for them, the higher ups realized what was going on and removed the rankers who put the hit out.

Ryan pulled himself back and then went back to figuring it all out. He figured it was time to give the colonel a call. It had been 10 years or so, but he figured that he at least owed the guy, and his daughter, a reason why they should stop looking for him. He had consistently gotten pings from this one colonel, and he wanted it to end. He decided to just set up a meeting, already knowing the PT routine of the colonel. He just hoped it would work and he would walk out of there in one piece, or alive for that matter.

 

[Asa]

Once the training exercises are over she has pieced enough together from their questions as she stands there before them.

So you all have stated without stating that the man I met with earlier today is an assassin potentially within the ranks of the CIA and clearly you all have no idea why he would be involved in this non military situation surrounding my article and report. I call Bullshit on that last part Davidson you realized before the rest of them I was piecing it together and backed off from your questions a little too soon and moved to my fathers side... tell tale sign you were trying to confer with him before returning with more questions for me. So I know what I need to do now gentlemen... have one of them follow me again father and everyone will get to see just how dangerous I can be with that Ladyhawk... got it... I do not need this CIA assassin watching me nor do I need any of your people following me. Clearly if you feel I do then you have no faith in your own training you have given me which means you have no faith in the men standing here with us that you trained. I highly doubt thats what you are trying to say so lets just leave it at that and I will see you all in a few weeks for Day of the dead.

With that she turned and left the base with all of them standing there like whipped pups for a moment before toughening up and the Col getting a phone call.

 

[raiguy]

Ryan quickly called the colonel before he changed his mind.

"I understand you are looking for me. Instead of searching, how about we meet. Just you and me, none of your friends. I'm tired of you looking for me, and just want to get everything straightened away. If you agree to this, just say yes, and I'll tell you where we meet." Ryan said.

After getting the green light, he told the colonel to meet him at a local coffee shop that would be packed with people to avoid suspicion. Ryan was tired of people trying to track him and just wanted this over.

 

[Asa]

A perfect poker face and sending his associates on random jobs and training the Col headed to the coffee shop. He had only learned of this guys existence today so he was curious how he thought he had been looking for him. Looks like they both had a mystery or two to solve.

SO you think I have been looking for you for how long kid? he sat there moments later across from this assassin who had been seen with his daughter and now accusing him of looking for him for years he was not too thrilled by all this from someone he had never heard of before today.

 

[raiguy]

Ryan callously asked, "I have been getting military searches from someone in your area for the past 9 years. You are the only person I know of who would have a reason to search for me. Why are you searching for me? I just met your daughter, but figured you'd be happy that I saved her from getting killed at least 4 times. What are you so desperate to find out about me that you keep searching for me?"

 

[Asa]

Kid I just found out you exist today when one of my associates saw you with my daughter. I searched you today... cute reroute. Now the question is why are you meeting with my daughter?

He had not searched him but that meant one of the others... at least his level or higher had been but why and 9 years... that narrowed it down too but now was time to listen without offering too much information.

 

[raiguy]

"I was with your daughter because I saw her being followed by two guys with suppressed handguns that meant business. I took them out after she got to her car. I did that at least two more times, then finally got the round of targets she was interviewing to back off before I fulfilled their hits. I haven't taken anymore hits yet until I find out who is trying to kill your daughter. I don't know why I wouldn't step out of the way, but I didn't want her to die if I could help it. Since then I gave her information on the guys she was investigating now, and have still tried to keep her safe since then. If it wasn't you, then it must have been the guy directly over you, or the one two levels up," Ryan finished, suddenly realizing what this all meant.

"It's a setup, and your daughter is in danger," Ryan said, getting up and immediately taking off to look for Liria.

 

[Asa]

Hang on I may know where she ran off to... There are only a couple of places she goes when she is irritated by me or work... I'll hit the bar just off the base that the soldiers tend to hit you check that little Japanese place on the beach.

With that he was gone

Liria sat at the "bar" where she could watch the sushi chef work. The old man smiled to her as they talked and he prepared food for her.

Give him break... caring father only knows life as soldier... still loves and protects...

I know I... Before you say it no matter how old I am always his daughter... I know this is all just getting way too insane... I may once this assignment is over just take up traveling and stay on the move and not have to deal with it. Maybe get one of those cushy jobs Traveling for some tv channel or something

 

[raiguy]

Ryan rushed into the bar and quickly pulled Liria out of the chair. He dialed a number then used military phonetics to get patched through to the colonel.

"Sir, I have your daughter. I'm going to take her to a safe location until I have time to rendezvous with you and set up some kind of game plan. Don't worry about your daughter. She will be safe with me. I will contact you as soon as I can," Ryan said, then dismantled the phone, dumping it in the trash.

Ignoring Liria's scowl, Ryan pushed her into his humvee then drove through a maze of streets until he got to the shipping docks. After unlocking a shipping crate and pulling the humvee in, he got out and then guided Liria to a couch in his safehouse.

"Look, I know you are pissed at me, but here's the deal. I figured out who hired me to kill the guys you were interviewing. I also figured out who ran the syndicate you were digging dirt on. It's the same person. I'm tying up loose ends for him that you have interviewed. I wouldn't be surprised if contracts come out to kill the men you've already interviewed," Ryan said, knowing that it had to make sense to Liria.

 

[Asa]

Fine... let me guess Dad is using you as a loophole to my telling him to have his people leave me alone?

She was not happy about this at all the whole time her hand was never far from her gun as she sat there in the humvee.

They have me get info so they would know exactly what each person knew and then have you wipe them out.

 

[raiguy]

"This has nothing to do with your dad," Ryan said. "There is someone pulling strings to get me to eliminate the people you interview even before you are able to. Apparently they don't want you to be able to bring the evidence you have to bear, so dead bodies are the best way to prevent that."

Ryan got up and went to grab a beer, figuring he would need another by the time Liria put him through the ringer.

 

[Asa]

SO it was you killing them. and you who broke into my apartment TWICE! SO now I am just supposed to trust you... What in the HELL do they think I am going to find... this is insane. Much less Father thinking I should trust you after all of this.

She began pacing her agitation levels doubling especially now that her normal decompression process was interrupted when she got dragged from the Sushi bar. She was tapping her fingers against her hip her hands as she was falling into deep thought.

 

[raiguy]

Ryan just shook his head and sipped his beer, letting Liria come to her own decisions. He figured that she would find out her dad didn't trust Ryan, but believed him when he said that he would keep Liria safe. Ryan just hoped Liria would settle down soon, otherwise the beer was going to run out.

 

[Asa]

So now what before I call father and get him here to make it easier to explain things about my ability to take care of myself to both of you at once.

She was calming down she suspected that they were right that something was up but this was seriously pissing her off. Sick of having to prove herself twice as much to not be thought of as someone who needed protecting because she would just shatter to pieces in the real world She was beyond sick of it and her dad was going to get an earful yet again not that it would do any good.

 

[raiguy]

Ryan finally had enough.

"You are breakable, got it? You'd be dead right now if I for some reason hadn't taken an interest in you. The men these bosses employ are paid killers. They wear bulletproof vests, rarely miss, and don't bother with cleaning up a mess. You are lucky they haven't found you. If they had, you'd have been tortured and killed for fun. Still think you can handle this with your weak 9mm and no ability to spot the dangers you are walking into?" Ryan asked, tired of her attitude.

 

[Asa]

Turning sharply she glared. If you know who my father is then you can imagine what I have gone through in unofficial training Its a hell of alot easier to aim for the head then the heart. Bulletproof vest is pointless then. But how do I know you are not just working on another contract having me here... Maybe you are stringing both of us along Hmmmm.

I have lost enough BODYGUARDS due to you after the first interview I did was more interested in out talking in his bed than in his office... his own partners set me up with them... protecting me... My ass you were... Got it... Mr high and mighty killed innocents thinking he was protecting me!

How do you feel now? Those dark eyes glaring through the man before her her own temper beyond overload her mind on high alert as she watched him carefully.

 

[raiguy]

Ryan quietly got up and then walked to the door.

"Get out," was all he said as he held the door. He was tired of her not realizing what she was getting into. If she didn't want to listen to someone who grew up in the business of death, then that was on her.

 

[Asa]

She headed straight for the door only to run into her father. He had heard it all including the get out.

Lets go Liria...

A glare to the young operative as he led the way for his daughter to follow him. I will assign one of your uncles... you will deal with it and you won't have to deal with the CIA any more

 

[raiguy]

Ryan just laughed then told her dad, "I'm not CIA, nor was I ever CIA. As for your "uncles" dealing with it, they will be killed just like your girl when the man pulling the strings finds out that you are trying to protect her and help her get dirt on him and his associates."

He didn't want to be mean, but he didn't know any other way to make them realize that they were in way over their heads. The best killers in the world were working for this man, and military training meant little to them.

 

[Asa]

She left with her father and headed back to her apartment pissed at both of them. Getting set back up she made several extra copies of her report and arranged a few anonymous files to be sent to certain well hidden contacts of her own just in case something happened these people would blow the story wide open and then some.

 

[raiguy]

As mad as Ryan was, he still couldn't help but worry about Liria. He just hoped she was safe, and that she would eventually see what he did as his caring for her.

After grabbing his keys, Ryan made his way to a local surf and turf restaurant, wanting to unwind. He was still fully armed, just in case. He had a bad feeling the mystery puppeteer had realized he had figured it out, and didn't want to take a chance.

 

[Asa]

She had grown up around the spec ops her father commanded and they were all like uncles to her especially her fathers primary team. So when they each called randomly throughout the day she was as polite and calm as she could muster then called the base had the main switchboard pipe it into her dads office and their mess hall and proceeded to tell all of them that while she enjoyed talking to them to back the hell off she had dealt with military and know it all males all she was going to deal with that week and the next call would warrant a broken jaw unless someone was dying. Hanging up she went back to the sushi bar and resumed her down time with her old friend the chef and a bottle of Saki