The Weapon (3)

9:34
Tuesday 23rd April
Devon Training Facility

Jacob swung his fist into the punching bad. Over and over again. His mind preoccupied. Sweat rolling down his forehead. He couldn’t get Emily out of his head. She seemed innocent enough. But then again, there was that hidden inquisition while they ate. Her questions were enough to set him on edge and force out the lies that he’d gotten used to telling. And then she had gone through his things.

There was no real logical reason she should be going through his things.

He switched hands.

She had seen the knives. There was no doubt about that. He kept them polished and ready at a moment’s notice. He didn’t need a fingerprint test to know it wasn’t his. He was never that careless. He could not have forgotten or missed a spot. She had seen them and fled.

“Whoa, take it easy, Jake.”

Without missing a beat, wiping the perspiration from his face with the back of an arm, he spoke, “Danny, can you do me a favor?”

Daniel White chuckled, “How long did you know I was here?”

Jacob stopped and turned to his friend, a grin tugging at the edges of his mouth, “The second you opened the door.”

Daniel nodded thoughtfully, bending down to fix a loose shoelace, glancing back up at Jacob while his hands worked. “So what’s this favor? You know I’d do anything for you Jake.”

He nodded at Daniel, who stood once more, brushing dirty blond hair from his face. “I need you to do a background search.”

“What happened?”

Jacob shrugged, “I doubt it’s anything important. A snooping neighbor.”

“Why? What’d they do?”

Jacob’s eyebrows knitted together, “Danny, I just need this done, okay?” He didn’t like being questioned.

“Okay, okay. No problem. Lighten up Jake, buddy.”

He sighed, “She found my knives.”

“She?”

“It isn’t like that.”

Danny gave him a look, but continued anyway, “It probably doesn’t mean anything. I mean think about it. All you have to do is make up a story about finding them on eBay or something. Just because you have them doesn’t mean you know how to use them.”

Jacob nodded, “But still. I want more information.”

“Yeah, sure. I’ll have it for you by tomorrow.”

“Thanks.”

There was a comfortable silence as the two of them fell into a routine that had long been developed over the years of their friendship. Doing a few more warm up exercises and sparring matches. As usual, Jacob came out as the winner, barely breaking a sweat as Daniel panted to catch up. It wasn’t until they entered the locker room that Daniel spoke again.

“I’ve heard rumors that you tried to quit.”

Jacob started changing, his shirt hiding the shrug, “I tried. But my uncle isn’t having any of it.”

“That’s because you’re the best Jake.”

He looked at the other man sharply, “I don’t want to be the best, Danny. I don’t want to be good at killing.”

“So what are you going to do? You can’t just walk away. They’ll kill you.”

Jacob was silent for a moment, “I have a different assignment. No more assassinations. That’s what he promised.”

“That’s funny. I thought for sure you’d be the biggest contender for that kid.”

“What?” Jacob swallowed his surprise. It wasn’t the first time Daniel knew things that supposedly went on behind closed doors.

“I’m surprised you don’t know about it. Ferrell wants that kid and he’s going to do everything he can to get him. He doesn’t care if he’s dead or alive.”

“Ferrell? What’s the kid got that Ferrell wants?” A small feeling of dread crept into his insides. Who was Noah and how did he manage to get the biggest crime lord in Chicago after him? Sean Ferrell was a ruthless man. He had killed, bribed, schemed and yanked his way to the top and he wasn’t about to give his position away easily. When Michael clearly made himself known as a rival, Ferrell had done everything in his power to destroy him. In effect, there was a battle of wills and strength that waged every moment. Jacob was constantly out, doing his best to destroy other assassins and helping to prevent his uncle from being killed. It made living a very dangerous thing.

The moment he slipped once Ferrell had been there. His memory was still vivid. Held down with five men, a gun at his head, cold grey eyes staring straight into him. It made him forget about his broken arm for a second or the blood dripping from his nose. The confusion. Why hadn’t he been killed yet? He remembered the man shook his head with a wry grin.

I had expected someone older. You’re not much more than a boy yourself.

Tight lipped, Jacob refused to cooperate or even acknowledge he was listening. But the man kept talking.

You realize you’ve made my life very difficult? How many of my men have you killed? How many have you evaded? You were bound to slip up sometime. You can’t be more than twenty. Your uncle must have a lot of faith in you.

He leaned in close. So close their breath mingled. Jacob’s labored, Ferrell’s dangerously quickly. I wouldn’t mind having a man like you on my side.

Taken aback, Jacob had blinked in surprise for a split second before his mask fell shut on his face, but Ferrell saw it. He chuckled.

Think about it. I’ll be in touch, Jacob Statton.

“…and that’s not the only thing.”

Jacob snapped back to the present with the realization that Daniel was still talking. “What else?” He asked warily.

“The word on the street is Ferrell’s got himself another assassin. And he’s good.”

“Who is it?” It had been drilled into Jacob over and over again. All the names and faces of other assassins in the world. If his name was known, Jacob knew it.

“His name is Perkins,” Jacob’s lips pressed together in a thin line before Daniel even said the first name, “Wyatt Perkins.”

He slammed the locker door without thinking, tugging on his shoes.

Daniel stopped, “So you are involved somehow.”

With a sigh, Jacob looked at him, “It’s complicated.”

“You didn’t seem worried until that name came up.”

“I don’t want to discuss this right now.”

“Jake wait!” He Daniel called as Jacob pushed open the locker room door.

Pausing, he turned to look at his friend. “What Danny?”

“I want to help, but I can’t unless you tell me what’s up.”

Jacob looked at him blankly and gave him a small smile that made Daniel sigh in defeat as he spoke, “Nothing’s wrong. Absolutely nothing.”