Page 110 of Boss

Kassidy sliced into the head of lettuce. She glanced up to the television news report. There was a prediction of another winter snowstorm coming their way. She reached for the phone to call her adoptive mother. She finally got the strength of mind to do so. But it rang before she could dial. At first she wasn't sure if she should. It could be the press she was warned about.

“Hello?” she answered.

“Kass... it's me,” the person breathed.

“Tarek? Where are you? Are you okay?”

“Listen to me. We don't have much time. My brother is coming after you.”

“I know. Reese has already been here questioning me.”

“Thumb drive,” he said in a weakened voice.

“They want it Tarek. They know I have it.”

“Never admit you have it. Tell them you lost it. Or say you destroyed it. Never mention it exists. Not to me, not to anyone, until we... my plan...” he said. “I want you to contact the feds.”

“What? No. How does that help anything? They'll arrest you and your family.”

“Contact them and make a deal. Have them wire the place. Does Reese come often?”

“She's been here. Snooping around my things when I’m not in the room. She says she'll be back and there are men outside. She says they work for your father.”

“Probably not. Those men probably work for the feds. I dunno.”

“Tarek, you don't sound good.”

“I'm fine. The name Kovalevsky, make the feds tell us how he is connected to my father and that man in the picture.”

“You know who the man in the picture is?”

“I have known for two months. And the feds know too. Make them tell you, and convince them that I have no idea who my father really is. Do you understand?”

“No. None of this make sense. Who is your father?”

“It’s too long of a story. The feds need a way in. If they can’t use you they will take you down with all of us. So we use them. Can you play this game with me Kassandra? One last time?”

“You think I have that kind of power?” She sniffed and wiped away her tears.

“You’ve always had that kind of power over me. You can do it. You're good at this remember My wicked sorceress?”

“What if what they have incriminates you?” she asked.

“Then all the better, just make sure you get it before we give them what they think they want. Everything. A mailman is going to come by tomorrow. He will have a package for you. In it is a cellphone and a thumb drive. After the feds give you the deal you call me on the number I’ve put in the phone. You tell me their plan and then you destroy the phone. Hide the original USB where no raid can uncover it. The one I send you is the one we turn over. You’re my daredevil Kassie. We can do this. Together.”

“Why will we do this?” she asked.

“I can’t protect you like this. Not from my family or Yegor. They all want to silence you. This is the best way.”

“No. I want to know the real reason. Why are you doing this?”

“Because I’ve fallen in love with you. And I’m not going to lose you. Not I like I lost Clarissa.”

“I love you too Tarek. I always have. I'll do anything for you,” Kassidy said. And she meant it.

“Good girl. Call the feds. Make the deal.”

“Tarek...”

---