~ Dark Alliance ~

by

Anne Patrick

Alex watched the woman exit the motel room. She was much taller than he expected, at least 5’8. Her light auburn hair was bound in a ponytail, which stuck out the back of a New York Yankee’s baseball cap. Faded blue jeans formed well to her shapely hips and legs underneath a baggy Yankee’s sweatshirt. “She’s a beauty,” he commented as he turned to the man in the passenger seat.

“Yeah she is, and she can be quite a hand full. So don’t underestimate her.”

“Sounds intriguing, this might not be as boring as I thought.”

“Your job is to keep an eye on her, that’s it… Do you understand?”

Alex nodded, then shifted his eyes back to the woman as she paused to talk with a maid. “Is she really a princess?”

“Not only is she a princess, she’s King Edward’s only child.”

“You mean that’s Princess Tara?”

“The one and only.”

She wore dark sunglasses, but he was still surprised he hadn’t recognized the Crown Princess of Gautier from the supermarket tabloids, where she often appeared. The small European island was almost mystical in its history, and like most royalty, Princess Tara, was highly sought after to help sell their magazines, fetching handsome rewards to the photographers lucky enough to catch her off guard. There was hardly a week went by her lovely face didn’t grace one of their covers.

“Since when are you interested in the comings and goings of royalty?”

“Since she hired me last year to find her brother.”

“It’s been over fifteen years since Prince James was kidnapped. If her own government couldn’t find him, what makes her think we can?”

“Because we have better connections than they do.”

“Do I need to remind you I was terminated by the CIA eight months ago?”

“You’ve still got friends and so do I.”

Alex grinned. He’d known Scott Humphreys long enough to know when he wasn’t being completely honest. “Why do I get the feeling there’s more you’re not telling me?”

“The two of you have a mutual acquaintance. Diablo Lazario.”

Alex stiffened at the name, as if an old wound had been ripped wide open. “What’s he got to do with this?”

“Nothing, I hope. But according to the official investigation by the Gautiern government, he was one of the main suspects in her brother’s disappearance.”

“How can that be, if he was killed in ’83?”

“Like you said, a body was never found.”

“So you think her brother’s abduction was politically motivated?”

He nodded. “Giving me all the more reason to believe her life is in danger.”

“You do realize if this gets out of hand, there could be international ramifications?”

“That’s why she’s keeping a low profile outside her royal duties. Anything happens to her and the future of her country could be in jeopardy.”

Alex watched the princess stroll to the curb, wait until the taxi driver came around and opened the door for her, then with a generous smile slide into the back seat.

“She has a charity benefit tonight but I’ve got to meet a contact in Jersey so I need you to stay with her. She’s to meet me at Paddy’s Bar & Grill to go over the details. I’ll try and make it back before our flight to Richmond.”

“Why are we going to Richmond?”

“Lazario has a son living here in the states. His last known address is in Richmond.”

The hairs on the back of Alex’s neck stood on end. What was he getting himself into? True he needed the money, he hadn’t worked in eight months and his savings were almost gone. But babysitting some spoiled princess was the last assignment he needed.

“She isn’t much for surprises so it might be better if you didn’t mention my not making it to the benefit until you reach Crown Center. I’ll have a tux waiting for you inside.”

“Does she even know you’ve hired me as her bodyguard?”

“I don’t want to frighten her. Besides, she hates bodyguards.”

Great! “What am I suppose to tell her?”

“I’m sure you’ll think of something.”

 ~ * ~

Tara lifted her sunglasses and scanned the room. When she saw no sign of Scott, she lowered her shades back over her eyes and moved to the bar, taking a seat on one of the stools.

The gray-headed bartender came over and placed a napkin down in front of her. “What can I get you miss?”

“A whiskey please...neat.”

She watched him pour the drink. “I’m supposed to meet a friend here. His name is Scott Humphreys. Do you know if he’s been in today?”

“Haven’t seen him.”

Tara glanced at her watch. Maybe he was running late, too.

The bartender came over with her drink and sat it on the napkin. “That’s a pretty accent. Where are you from?”

“Western Europe,” she answered, withholding the fact the small country of Gautier was actually centered in the Atlantic Ocean between North America and France. Tara pulled a small wad of bills from her pocket and placed a five dollar bill on the counter.

A hand came forward and drew the bill back. “Please, allow me.”

She looked over at the gentleman now standing beside her. “That’s very kind of you but I’m meeting someone,” she said and started to push the five toward the bartender.

The stranger picked up her money, handed it to her, then paid the man with his own money. “Consider me the welcoming committee. It isn’t often we get foreigners in here.”

Tara smiled. She’d heard a lot of pick up lines in her life, but this was by far the corniest. “This is New York City. I would imagine you have more foreigners here than anywhere else in the country.”

“You’re right, that was pretty lame.” He sat down on the stool beside her and offered his hand. “Let’s start over. I’m Alex Girard.”

She shook his hand. “Thank you for the drink, Mr. Girard, but I am meeting someone.”

“I heard you the first time,” he said with a smile. “Would you mind if I waited with you? It’s pretty dead around here until happy hour.”

She followed his gaze. Other than a handful of men playing cards at a back table and a couple dancing on the miniature dance floor, the place was deserted. “Of course not.” She glanced at her watch again. If he was going to be late, surely he would have paged me. He knows I have a benefit to get ready for.

“You never told me your name.”

Her eyes came back to rest on the stranger. He didn’t look much older than she and he was probably perfectly harmless, but her instinct warned her to be careful. He could be a reporter. “Tara,” she replied and took a drink of her whisky.

“Does Tara have a last name?”

“Just Tara.”

He smiled. “A woman of mystery. I like that. So what are you doing in New York, Miss Tara? Are you here on business or pleasure?”

“Business.” She took another drink and considered waiting outside for Scott, but if this guy was a reporter, he probably had a partner lurking somewhere. No doubt the media had been notified of tonight’s charity event and there was probably a bounty on her head.

The door of the bar opened. Tara turned and saw an older couple entering.

“Who is this friend of yours? Maybe I know him?”

She hesitated. If he were a regular he could know Scott. She wasn’t going to take any chances though. “I’m sure he’ll be here any minute.”

“Are you always this suspicious of men, Tara?”

She smiled. “Only of the ones I don’t know.”

“That’s understandable. A beautiful woman like yourself can never be too careful. There are a lot of creeps out there.”

The front door opened again and a young man entered. After a brief glance in their direction, he took a seat in a booth near the corner of the bar.

“Tell me something Tara, do you have a permit for that gun you’re carrying?”

She had to stop herself from reaching into her right jacket pocket. How could he possibly know she had Scott’s .45? “What makes you think I’m carrying a gun?”

“I just assumed you were since I don’t see any bodyguards lurking around.”

“You’re a reporter?”

“No, I’m a friend of Scott’s.”

“You’re the man Scott wants to hire?” She couldn’t help but be angry at his little charade.

“You sound disappointed.”

“Try mad. You just wasted a half hour of my time Mr. Girard. If Scott is going to be late you should have said so in the beginning, right after you told me the truth, instead of playing this silly little game.”

“I could say the same of you. What’s with this get-up you’re wearing?”

“You make it sound as if I’m an ordinary woman, Mr. Girard.”

“Oh from what I hear there’s nothing ordinary about you Princess.”

That did it. She wasn’t about to sit there and be insulted. Her eyes fastened on him; she picked up her glass and with one gulp swallowed the whiskey, set the glass back on the counter and stood. “When Scott arrives tell him I’ll call him later.”

Tara felt his eyes on her as she left the club. She suspected he was following her, but when she turned back to look, no one was behind her. She walked to the awaiting cab. As she reached for the door handle, someone grabbed her left hand. She swung around with a doubled fist. Her attacker ducked, grabbed her by the waist. She rammed her head back into her attacker’s face, then drove her heel into his foot. He grunted, stumbled backwards. She broke free, opened the door of the cab, and was then shoved into the backseat.

Her face pressed against the seat, both arms bound behind her back. Fear prompted her whole body to shake involuntarily.

“What’s going on? Ma’am, are you all right?” the driver asked.

“She’s fine. Tara, it’s me, Alex. I’m not going to hurt you. Just relax.”

His words seemed like they were coming from inside a tunnel. Desperate, she struggled against him trying to free her hands.

“You’ve nothing to be afraid of, Tara. I’m not going to hurt you. Just stop fighting me and listen.”

Against her will, he rolled her over onto her back, her arms still pressed beneath her. He seemed as surprised as she was, as the veins in his forehead pressed against tanned skin. Her eyes shifted to the corner of his mouth. Blood clotted around a thin cut. Good! “Who are you… what do you want from me?”

“I told you, I’m a friend of Scott’s. Don’t be afraid of me, I won’t hurt you.”

“You are hurting me.”

He loosened his grip and raised slightly, his eyes lowered to her jacket pocket where he could still feel her gun.

She rose on her elbows. “You look as frightened as I am.”

“Scott warned me not to underestimate you. Guess I should have believed him.”

She scooted over in the seat, her eyes steady on him. “If you wanted a lift, you could have asked.”

He straightened in the seat, turning slightly to face her. “I doubt you would have given me one. We didn’t exactly get off to a good start.”

“Well now you’re here, where can I drop you?”

“Actually, I’ll be going with you.” He looked up at the driver. “The Crown Center, please.”

“What do you mean you’re going with me…and how did you know where I’m going?”

“Scott asked me to keep an eye on you tonight. He got tied up in Jersey and couldn’t make it.”

“Why didn’t you tell me in the bar?”

“Scott told me you hated bodyguards, so I was trying a different strategy.”

Tara couldn’t help but laugh. “Surely you weren’t hoping to win me over with your charm and good looks?”

“Hey, I might be a little out of practice, but most women happen to think I’m very charming and good looking.”

“I’ll allow you that delusion, but I don’t need a babysitter. I’m quite capable of handling myself.”

“As capable as you are of taking care of yourself, you don’t have eyes in the back of your head, which is where I come in. For instance, I doubt you’re aware you were followed to the bar.”

“I was?” She glanced out the back glass.

“He was probably just a reporter, but then again, maybe he wasn’t. From what Scott tells me, you two have been looking for Derek Lazario, which isn’t a very smart thing to do. You do know who his father was, don’t you?”

Tara looked at him. “Diablo Lazario, a paid assassin born in Italy, was killed during a raid in Zurich.”

“And that doesn’t frighten you?”

She didn’t answer him. She was still trying to ascertain if she should believe him.

“Not only are you stubborn, you’re foolish.”

“How do you know Scott anyway?”

“We met in Iraq.”

“You were in the Army?”

“I pulled a short stint. Scott was my sergeant.”

Tara considered the man. Scott must trust him or he wouldn’t have offered him the job. She still had a bad feeling about him though, like he wasn’t being completely honest.

“Shall I wait for you, ma’am?”

She glanced up and saw they were at Crown Center. “That won’t be necessary, Joe, I’ll have the limo drive me to the airport. Thank you again for all you your help.”

Alex held the door for her as she climbed out. She reached into her pocket and pulled out several bills, handing them to Alex. “Do you mind?”

Without waiting for a reply, she walked to the side entrance where two uniformed guards, she had met earlier, were posted. They both bowed in greeting. She offered her hand to each of them before glancing back at the cab. “That young man is making a nuisance of himself. Please see he doesn’t follow me in.”

“Of course ma’am.”