Chapter 39: The Dark Side

The next day at work, I got a call from a man who introduced himself as ‘Mr. Smith’ at work the next day. He said that he had information I’d want to hear. Something about his tone unsettled me. I put him on hold, grabbed Randy, and we moved to the conference room. He picked up the extension while I resumed the call.

I apologized for the delay. ‘Smith’ didn’t waste time. He said that he’d give me the names of those plotting revenge, people whose political careers I had supposedly destroyed, for an undisclosed amount of money. They wanted payback, and it wouldn’t stop with me. My family was part of the plan.

I looked at Randy. He was as furious as I was. I told ‘Smith’ that I’d meet him by the Reflecting Pool near the Lincoln Monumen at 2:30 PM.

Randy assembled the security team as I prepared to head to the Reflecting Pool. Scotty and Jean would be stationed on a bench nearby. The ‘Twin Mountains’ took up positions at each side of the pool. Randy posed as a tourist, pretending to snap photos of the Lincoln Monument, though his real focus was ‘Mr. Smith’ and me.

I carried a Makarov under my suit jacket for protection. It was quickly becoming my weapon of choice. I’d need to secure more ammo, and soon, if I planned to regularly carry it.

I planted myself on the bench and waited. 2:30 came and went. I was just about to write it off when a man approached and casually asked if he could sit. He looked like any other government drone, harmless and forgettable. I was already shifting to leave when he spoke.

“Dr. Mercer.”

That stopped me. I took my glasses off and slowly wiped the lenses, a quiet signal to the team confirming contact.

He didn’t introduce himself, didn’t need to. His presence spoke volumes; calm, cold, rehearsed. This wasn’t some blackmail scheme or petty vendetta. This was bigger, the kind of quiet operation that moved behind closed doors and didn’t officially exist.

The shadow government wasn’t just watching, it was making moves.

I confirmed that I was Dr. Mercer. The man’s eyes scanned the area, searching for backup. Randy stood over a hundred yards away, watching through his camera lens. Scotty and Jean were closer, playing the part of a couple more interested in each other than anything across the walkway. The surveillance net was tight but subtle.

I turned back to Mr. Smith, waiting for his demand.

He said “You’ve made enemies, several politicians were ruined by your actions. Three Soviet diplomats vanished, and your name keeps coming up.”

His voice was flat, deliberate.

“If you want the stories about your role in those disappearances, and the other incidents in Russia to stay buried,” he coldly said, “You’ll have $250,000 for me by Friday.”

I asked what guarantee I had that he wouldn’t run to the press anyway. He just smiled.

“You’re going to have to trust me.”

I called his bluff. That’s when his mask slipped.

“Then you’ve just put your wife and children in danger.”

That was the trigger.

I gave the signal.

Scotty and Jean moved fast, flanking him as one of the ‘Twin Mountains’ closed in. He was cuffed, hooded, and hustled to the van Robert had waiting nearby in seconds. Robert hadn’t hesitated when he heard someone had threatened my family. He wanted in, and he now was our extraction driver.

This wasn’t just blackmail. It was the first shot in something much deeper.

The original plan was simple, drive him around DC for twenty minutes to disorient him, then haul him out to some remote patch of nowhere, squeeze him for answers, and leave him there, stripped to his underwear, far from the city with nothing but time and regret for company.

That plan changed the moment that Scotty and Jean figured out who really was behind the threats.

Without a word to him, they pulled the hood back over his head and had Robert keep driving in circles, then rerouted to my house.

They carried him upstairs in the carriage house, tied him to a chair out of sight on the second floor, then called me.

I was still at the office when the call came in.

Scotty said, voice tight. “We’ve got a serious problem, Doc, you need to get home. Now.”

Scotty met me at the door and motioned for a walk when I got back to the house. Whatever he had to say wasn’t meant for Karen or Grandma Jorgensen’s ears.

We circled the backyard in silence before he spoke.

“Washington’s no different from other cities where power concentrates,” he said, “And where there’s power, there’s always a shadow. A criminal element, small, quiet, and tolerated.”

He glanced back toward the house before continuing.

“They’re not part of polite DC society. They don’t show up at fundraisers or embassy dinners, but they’re there operating in the margins. What’s the price for their silence? Tribute. This powerful criminal element remains silent as long as people pay.”

His voice was low, steady. There was no outrage in it, just fact, cold embedded truth.

The dark underbelly of Washington saw us as a threat. We were rising too fast, wielding too much influence, and bypassing the usual power structures. We hadn’t paid our dues in their eyes. We were young, powerful, and climbing too quickly, and that’s why they wanted tribute.

It wasn’t just about money or leverage, it was about our place in the grand scheme of things. A lesson in humility. A reminder of who truly controlled things in this city. It was the price that we had to pay to survive in Washington.

As Scotty had predicted, the powerful thought that we were uppity and needed to learn how it worked in Washington until you either played by their rules or disappeared altogether.

Scotty and I walked the yard for another thirty minutes, strategizing our next move. We needed to send a message, one that would reach Washington’s dark element loud and clear.

I crafted a response with Scotty’s help. We weren’t going to bow to their demands. No tribute, not a cent. We’d let them if they wanted to coexist, but on our terms. They’d be facing something far more dangerous than they were prepared for if they chose to escalate.

Scotty raised an eyebrow. “A little dramatic, don’t you think?”

I met his gaze. “It’ll make an impression.”

He nodded, though an edge of doubt lingered in his voice. “I don’t think that they’ll immediately push. They’ll watch us, and test the waters to see how far they can take it, but they’ll be watching.”

I walked into the house and made my way to the study, hanging my suit jacket carefully on the back of the chair. The quiet of the room offered a brief moment to clear my mind. I took a few minutes to replay what I was going to say to ‘Mr. Smith’, trying to keep my emotions in check. This wasn’t about reaction, it was about control, about staying calm and logical in the face of chaos.

I needed to be strategic.

I decided to re-read The Art of War by Sun Tzu to focus. I had memorized its principles years ago, but they felt like a lifeline now more than ever. I’d need every advantage I could get in a city built on power plays when it came time to face them.

I made my way to the carriage house after what felt like a reasonable amount of time. The quiet of the house felt distant as I climbed the steps to the second floor, the weight of the moment settling on me. The ‘Twin Mountains’ stood at attention, guarding ‘Mr. Smith’, who was still sitting in the chair, hooded and restrained.

I motioned for one of the ‘Twin Mountains’ to remove the bag from his head. ‘Mr. Smith’ rapidly blinked as the hood came off, trying to orient himself, his gaze darting around, searching for any clue about where he was.

He was disoriented, vulnerable.

I could see the unease in his eyes, the brief flicker of doubt. It was the opening I needed, and I planned to use it. This was my moment to take control of the situation, to drive my point home.

“Mr. Smith,” I began, each word deliberate, “We still haven’t decided whether or not we’ll let you live.”

The panic in his eyes was all the confirmation I needed. I knew that I was getting the reaction I wanted. It was a calculated risk, but playing on his vulnerability was the key to breaking him.

I leaned in slightly, keeping my tone steady and deliberate, knowing the pressure was working. What I needed now was the truth, the identity of those pulling the strings behind this extortion scheme, those who thought they could make us their serfs in their twisted little fiefdom.

That wasn’t going to happen. Not as long as I had a say in it, and I knew the others felt the same way. We weren’t going to be anyone’s pawns, not in this city, not ever.

I leaned in closer, my voice cold, unwavering.

“Your continued existence rests entirely in your own hands, ‘Mr. Smith’,” I said, my gaze never leaving his. “I have two requests. You’ll live another day if you fulfill them, or they’ll find your body face down in the Potomac, floating out to sea if not ... So, which is it?”

I let the words hang in the air, watching his every twitch, every shift in his expression. I needed him to know that his fate wasn’t just in my hands, it was in his as well.

Apparently, my acting skills were better than I’d given myself credit for. ‘Smith’ was on the verge of tears, his face a twisted mask of fear. He furiously nodded, his voice trembling as he promised to cooperate.

“Just ... please ... don’t hurt me,” he begged.

I couldn’t help but think ‘who says all those years watching James Bond and tough cop TV shows didn’t pay off?’

I’d picked up some of the best tricks from those movies, and they were working like a charm right now.

He was practically tripping over his words, desperate to spill everything, when I asked him for the names of those involved. I had to ask him to slow down and repeat some of the names. He was a goldmine of information, far more than I’d expected.

He mentioned others, but couldn’t remember their names. In the end, We had a list of around twenty individuals connected to this Washington, DC, power cabal, people we’d have to deal with.

I recognized most of the names. I had crossed paths with some at one point or another, but three of the names stood out for one reason, they were in the President’s inner circle.

One in particular caught my attention. I had met him and his wife when we were invited to join the President and a few others on their private patio. Karen was scheduled to have lunch with the man’s wife later that week if I wasn’t mistaken.

The connections ran deeper than I had imagined. This was no longer just about dealing with a few shady figures, it reached into the highest echelons of Washington’s power.

I leaned in close before I left, making sure that he understood the weight of what I was about to say.

“Tell your masters this,” I firmly said, each word deliberate and sharp. “We can coexist peacefully. We’ll leave them alone, and they should do the same with us, but they won’t be prepared for the level of retribution they’ll face if they touch any one of us ... It’s in their best interests to heed this warning.”

I motioned for one of the ‘Twin Mountains’ to place the hood back over his head before I left. I wanted to make sure that ‘Smith’ was thoroughly disoriented.

“Spin him around a few times,” I instructed. I wanted him to lose all sense of his surroundings, to be so confused that he couldn’t retrace his steps or lead anyone back to where we had him stashed.

I motioned for one of the ‘Twin Mountains’ to follow me as I turned and walked toward the stairs. I suggested they spin him a few more times for good measure when we reached the bottom of the stairs. We couldn’t afford any loose ends, not with the stakes this high.

I turned to the ‘Twin’ and quietly said, my voice low and controlled, “Drive him around in circles for an hour. Then take him up around Harper’s Ferry and dump him somewhere along the canal in his underwear.”

There was no need for elaboration. The message was clear; we weren’t just letting him go, we wanted him to remember this.

The ‘Mountain’ gave me a slight smile, quickly covering his mouth to stifle a chuckle. He nodded in agreement, clearly entertained by the task I had set. I didn’t need to say more, he understood perfectly.

I turned and made my way back to the house, a small smile tugging at the corner of my lips. The rest of the night passed in eerie quietness, but I couldn’t help but feel a certain satisfaction in the task I’d assigned to the ‘Twin Mountains’.

I knew they’d enjoy it, maybe a little too much, and ‘Mr. Smith?’ Well, he was about to have a very long night.

I gathered the security team at the office the next morning and laid out the list of names we had gotten from ‘Mr. Smith’. The weight of the situation was palpable; no one needed reminding about what was at stake.

“I want a full background check on each name,” I said, my tone firm. “I need their strengths and their weaknesses. Find any connections between them; civic organizations, business partnerships, neighbors, anything that ties them together. Don’t miss a thing.”

I let the silence hang for a moment, letting the gravity of my words sink in. “This needs to be your top priority. We’ll need it sooner than you think.”

There was no hesitation, they understood.

A gnawing feeling in my gut as I walked away told me that we would be needing that information soon, and sure enough, my instincts proved right just days later.

I received a call from a near-hysterical Karen mid-afternoon a few days later. Her voice was shaky, panicked.

“I’m at a police station in DC,” she said, barely able to get the words out. “Someone ... someone attacked me as I was walking back from the restaurant after my luncheon.”

My first thought was that it was just another random attack. Washington, DC, was a crime-ridden city after all, and attacks like this on women, particularly in the areas where Karen had been, weren’t uncommon. The police would do little to prevent these incidents, as usual. They’d take the report, offer some reassurances, and then clean up the mess afterward, but something about her voice, the urgency in it, made me think that this was different. It couldn’t just be another random mugging.

I immediately called Robert and told him to drive me to the station where Karen was. I noticed Scotty was the only member of our security team in the office as I waited for Robert to arrive. I pulled him aside and quickly filled him in on what had happened to Karen, at least what little I knew at the time. I told him to meet me at my home as I wanted backup. He didn’t hesitate. “I’ll call the others,” he said, already reaching for his phone.

I arrived at the station forty-five minutes safter Karen’s frantic call. I rushed to the front desk, heart pounding, dread tightening in my chest with every step.

“I’m here to pick up my wife,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “She was the victim of an assault.”

The officer at the desk gave me a sympathetic look, probably used to the same requests every day. He gave me directions to where Karen was.

I followed the officer’s directions through the dimly lit hallways, the sharp echo of my footsteps filling the air. I reached a large room with a sign above the door reading Detective Division. My stomach tightened as I pushed through the door.

I spotted Karen inside right away. She was sitting in a chair, quietly speaking to a female officer. Her face was pale, her eyes red from crying. She looked completely helpless, nothing like the Viking Princess I knew her to be.

I started walking toward Karen when a detective near the door, who had been sitting with his feet up on the desk, challenged me. His gaze was cold, as if sizing me up.

“What can I do for you?” he asked, his tone businesslike.

“I’m here to pick up my wife,” I replied, my voice steady despite the panic swirling in my chest.

He gave a slight nod, motioning for me to proceed.

Karen had been crying. Her makeup was smeared across her face, and her mascara had run down her cheeks, giving her an almost Alice Cooper-like appearance. The floodgates opened again when she saw me, and the tears started pouring once more. She jumped up from her seat and ran into my arms, seeking comfort, needing me as much as I needed her.

I held her close, my heart aching as I felt her tremble in my arms. The female detective sitting nearby barely flinched. She’d seen this kind of thing countless times before—victims breaking down, families torn apart, all part of the daily grind in a city that didn’t seem to care.

I gently pulled Karen back to the chair where she’d been sitting, guiding her down so that she could rest for a moment. I felt her still shaking in my arms, but there was no time to dwell on the moment. We needed answers, and I wasn’t leaving until I had them.

I could feel the anger and frustration building up inside me as the detective spoke. I focused on the details, trying to find something useful in the situational mess.

“So, she was slapped a few times, and that’s all?” I asked, my voice controlled but tight with tension.

The detective nodded. “Yes, it’s not as brutal as it could’ve been, but it still was an assault. They cut her above the eyebrow with one of the slaps. They were quick, but it wasn’t a full-blown assault from what she told us. More of a threat, intimidation, and the masks complicate things, of course. She couldn’t give us a clearer description of the men. Just that there were two white men and one Hispanic or light-skinned black person.”

I clenched my jaw, trying to keep my emotions in check. The streets had been full of people, but no one had done a damn thing. That hit harder than anything else.

The detective, seeing my frustration, let out a sigh. “I get it. It’s always the same story in a city like this. No one wants to get involved. No one wants to risk sticking their neck out for someone else. People turn a blind eye even in broad daylight. It’s just ... the way it is around here.”

I was quiet for a moment, letting her words sink in. “So, what now?”

She shrugged. “We follow up on what we’ve got, but we don’t have much. We’ll keep digging and maybe we’ll get lucky.”

Lucky? That was not a word I wanted to hear right now. Karen deserved better than lucky.

I turned and walked toward Karen, who was sitting quietly, looking defeated. Her makeup was smeared, her eyes red from crying. Seeing her like this made the situation all the more real, and all the more personal. I couldn’t let this go. These men would pay for what they had done.

I could feel the weight of the situation pressing on me, but I kept it together as we left the police station. Karen’s face was pale, and the emotional toll was clear. I knew that she needed rest more than anything else, but my mind was racing.

The detective had handed Karen a stack of brochures meant to help her through this traumatic experience. I saw the concerned look in Robert’s eyes as we approached the car. His silent support was palpable, but I also knew him well enough to understand that he would be more than willing if I asked him for help with retaliation. Robert was fiercely loyal, and I could see his anger in the way that he clenched his jaw, even as he tried to hide it.

“How is she?” Robert quietly asked as I opened the car door for Karen.

I nodded slightly, “She’s shaken up, but she’ll be okay.” I wasn’t sure if I was trying to convince him or me.

I sat in the back seat with Karen as Robert drove us home. She sat there, quiet, staring out the window, lost in her thoughts. I wanted to say something reassuring, but I knew that words wouldn’t change what had happened.

I helped Karen inside at home, and made sure that she got settled on the couch. She was exhausted, physically and emotionally, and I knew that she needed to sleep the stress off. I told her that I would give her the space she needed, but made it clear that I wouldn’t be far away. I slipped into the study to allow her a chance to get some rest.

Grandma Jorgenson had been out taking the twins for a walk in their stroller, accompanied by Beast and the Dobermans. Her face lit up at the sight of me when she came in, her smile wide and welcoming, but it quickly faded when I told her about Karen’s condition. She swiftly moved, handing me one of the twins and placing the other in the playpen.

She asked where Karen was and I told her that she was resting on the couch. Grandma went into the living room and pulled Karen into a tight, motherly embrace. Karen leaned into the hug, her body slightly trembling, the weight of everything was finally catching up to her.

“Are you alright, Sweetheart?” Grandma softly asked, her voice full of concern. She helped Karen sit upright, her hands never leaving Karen’s shoulders.

I stood for a moment, watching the exchange, feeling grateful for Grandma’s calm presence while frustrated by the helplessness of the situation. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to say to Karen, but I knew that she needed peace and comfort more than anything. I turned my attention back to the twins With a quiet sigh. Still small enough to be blissfully unaware of what had just happened, their laughter was a welcome distraction. I placed the one I was still holding into the playpen with her sister.

Trying to focus on keeping them entertained in their safe little world, while chaos spun out of control just beyond these walls, felt surreal. I glanced over at Karen and Grandma through the open door to the living room as I knelt to arrange the toys and get the girls settled. Karen and Grandma were speaking in low tones, Grandma offering gentle reassuring words.

A surge of protectiveness rose in me. This was my family, and no one was going to hurt them without consequences.

I turned back to the twins, watching them in the playpen, toying with blocks and stuffed animals. The sound of their giggles helped quiet my racing thoughts, but I knew deep down that the peace in this house wouldn’t last. I was going to make sure of that.

Those men, whoever they were, wouldn’t get away with what they did.

The doorbell rang just then, and Scotty was standing there when I looked through the peephole.

I opened the door and led him into my study.

“Have you got any updates from the team?” I asked, trying to keep my tone steady despite the rage building inside me. The people responsible for what happened to Karen had to pay, there was no doubt about that.

Scotty shook his head, “Not yet, but we’re still gathering intel. I know where to hit if it comes to that.”

I gave him a sharp nod, “We’ll find these guys if the police don’t. No one hurts my family and gets away with it.”

Scotty wanted to get back to the office, once he felt that I had everything under control, so that he could start making phone calls and talk strategy with our teammates. I thanked him for coming to the house and asked him to keep me informed.

The phone in my study rang as Scotty turned to leave. I closed the door behind him and went to pick it up.

It was Molly, checking on my status.

“I won’t be coming into the office tomorrow,” I said. “Something’s happened, and I need to be with Karen. I’ll keep you updated as needed.”

Molly didn’t ask any questions, she just acknowledged my message. That was fine. I didn’t have the energy for explanations right now. I ended the call, sitting back in the chair for a moment, letting the silence envelop me.

My mind began to churn again, focusing on the events from earlier this time. The attack on Karen wasn’t random. This was something far more personal. It was clear to me now that the shadows I’d been dealing with weren’t going to leave us alone. They had made their move, but I wasn’t going to let them hurt Karen. I wouldn’t let them win.

I stood up and walked out of the study after a few minutes, my thoughts moving with purpose. I was done waiting.

The scene as I entered the living room was as I’d left it; Grandma still comforting Karen. Karen was awake now, but she still looked exhausted and fragile. Beast, ever vigilant, hadn’t moved from her side, his eyes trained on me, as if assessing if I was also there to protect her. He was a quiet reminder that Karen wasn’t facing this alone, no matter what happened next.

I sat down in the armchair across from them, took a deep breath, then spoke quietly but firmly. “We’re going to find out who did this, Karen, and they won’t get away with it. I won’t let anyone hurt you again.”

Karen looked at me, her eyes red-rimmed from crying, but there was a flicker of relief in them, as though my words brought her a sense of security. She gave a faint nod, and I could see the exhaustion mixed with a bit of hope that maybe, just maybe, things would start to turn in our favor.

I got two phone calls that evening. Andi and Molly had suffered an attack similar to the one that Karen had on their way home. Molly was assaulted at the Metro station near home. Andi was attacked in the parking lot of her condo complex. They were OK, just roughed up a little. Molly’s husband was with her and I called Jean to stay with Andi.

The weight of the world seemed to settle onto my shoulders with those phone calls. Karen, Molly, and Andi, three women I cared about, all victims of a threatening attack, sending us a message. Whoever was behind this had to know that they were pushing me to the edge, and I wasn’t about to let them get away with it.

I stood frozen for a moment after hanging up from the last call, fighting the surge of anger that was rising in me. I forced myself to focus. There was no time to waste. I needed to get everyone together, get the answers we needed, and take action.

I grabbed my phone and dialed Randy’s number, a tightness in my chest as the call rang through. I wasted no time when he answered.

“Get to Andi’s place with Olive right now, and relieve Jean, Randy. Don’t let Andi out of your sight until you’re back here with her. We’re dealing with a serious situation and I need her safe. Got it? And tell Jean to come straight to my house, understood?”

Randy’s voice was sharp and steady, as always. “Got it, Doc. We’re on our way.”

I hung up and turned toward the kitchen. My heart was still pounding from the news, but I couldn’t show it, not now. I’d already told the others to get here, and I had a feeling that this wasn’t just a random pattern of attacks. There was something more behind it, something personal, and it was only going to escalate if we didn’t take control soon.

I quickly finished setting up the meal, though the food felt like an afterthought. As much as I wanted to maintain some semblance of normalcy, I knew that it was a futile effort. Nothing about the situation was normal.

The doorbell rang just as I was wiping my hands on a dish towel. I walked over, my mind already racing ahead to the meeting that was about to take place. Jean stood there when I opened the door, her face set in a grim expression.

“Everyone’s on their way,” she said, stepping inside without waiting for me to invite her in. “What do we need to do?”

I motioned for her to sit at the kitchen table and took a seat across from her.
“Two things,” I said, my voice steady but laced with controlled fury. “First, we need to find out who’s behind these attacks, and second, we need to send a clear message that they won’t get away with this, not while we’re still breathing.”

Jean’s eyes narrowed, her expression hardening. “You think that it’s the same people?”

“I don’t think, I know. The pattern is too familiar.” I paused, leaning forward, “And I want names. I’m making this personal. I’ll start with the people we know are already involved, and I won’t stop until I know who else is behind this.”

“Scotty and I will get the intel you need. Just say the word, and we’ll move out.”

I could see her resolve. Jean was as ready for this fight as I was. The others would be here soon, and we’d strategize once we were all together. We had to act fast. They were in for a rude awakening if they thought that they could push us around.

I felt the familiar rush of adrenaline as I glanced over to the kitchen clock. Everyone would be here soon. It was time to take the fight to these bastards.

Jean stayed in the kitchen to use the phone as I walked into the living room. The sight of Karen with one of the twins on her lap, Grandma beside her, and the other clambering over Beast, trying to rattle his calm, brought a small, bittersweet smile to my face. Despite everything, there she was, still taking care of the little ones, still showing her strength, but I knew that I had to tell her the truth. It wasn’t just about her, and it wasn’t just about me anymore. This was bigger.

I sat down on the other side of her, my gaze locking with hers. I didn’t waste any time. “The attack on you today wasn’t random, Karen,” I said, my voice steady, “Molly and Andi were attacked like you were.”

Her eyes flickered with confusion, and I could see the pieces of the puzzle starting to fall into place. She didn’t need to hear any more before I sensed her instincts kicking in.