With a Pull of a Trigger

Chapter Twenty-Eight

After getting into the agency, she was paid even better than she had been when she was a lawyer. At that point, she knew that anything could happen, and so, she started investing in backdoors and emergency escape routes. State-of-the-art technology was bought to produce fake IDs and various disguises she could use. She started pulling strings—called up those who had a favor or two for her—and got various certificates and papers, along with various other identities she could use at a later date.

Apartments all over the world were bought with the savings she had kept over the years. Weapons of all kinds were bought and were hidden in the many safe places she had. Various gadgets and gizmos were strategically placed in all her properties.

So when all went straight to hell with the job she had, Reini knew where to go.

Uncle E had a string of world-class hotels all over the country, and all of them had topnotch storage facilities underground that no one except him, a few employees, and a select clientele knew. He had been kind enough to let Reini—his favorite niece—to have one storage unit in his hotel in Washington D.C., and she had stashed all the important things she might need in it.

Reini silently input her code—1347—and put her index finger on the biometric scanner. After a few seconds, a small beep was heard, and Reini opened her storage unit.

The black metallic box inside was only slightly smaller than the locker it was put in. Reini smiled in relief, taking the box via the stainless steel handles it had on top. She put it on the ground and closed her storage unit, turning around to smile at her uncle.

Her uncle smiled at her, though it did not reach his eyes. “I won’t be seeing you for a long time, will I?”

Reini was apologetic, shaking her head slowly. “If all goes to plan, I won’t be in your radar for a long time.”

Reini took the box and stepped forward, surprised when Emmanuel suddenly enveloped her into a warm hug. “Don’t die, my dear.”

Reini smiled weakly, and shook her head, slowly putting her arms around the man. “I’ll try not to.”

Emmanuel pulled back and put his hands on Reini’s cheeks, looking her in the eye. “I still have my contacts in the FBI, Miss Reini Crysanthe Saunders. I can look for you,” threatened Emmanuel.

Reini chuckled. “CIA trumps FBI, Uncle E. Besides, I’m going international. I don’t think there’s much you can do. And really, uncle E? Using my whole name on me?”

Emmanuel laughed, a big and booming laugh that reverberated the entire room. “You’re a grownup now, R. Sure, you have problems and you’re steadily making your way through them and fixing them up like a mature adult, but you’ll always be my favorite niece who once wanted to be the Queen of England. Omit your middle name, sure, but to me, you’ll always be Reini Crysanthe who beat up a first grader boy because he bullied your bestfriend in kindergarten.”

Reini shook her head, tears making their way out of her eyes and she smiled at her uncle. “I’ll take care of myself.”

Emmanuel hugged her tight to his chest. “I have no doubt you will, R. What I want you to do is to believe in yourself. Stop second-guessing and go with your instincts. That’s what got me through all those years with the Feds. I have no doubt that it will see you through, too.”

Reini nodded. “I’ll remember that,” she said, her voice muffled by Emmanuel’s custom-tailored shirt. She pulled back, wiping at her cheeks with the hand that wasn’t holding the box. “I’m sorry, I must be getting your shirt wet.”

Emmanuel shook his head. “Don’t worry about that.”

Reini walked away, towards the elevator, and pressed the button. She was about to step in when Emmanuel’s voice stopped her.