[10] End Game

[Kaden]

There was no doubt in Kaden’s mind, Kai’s mansion was just creepy. The first time he had been in, the courier had been more concerned with staying out of sight, and where the guards had been. When it was virtually empty, though, everything seemed different. Every footstep echoed throughout the halls and corridors of the giant building. It didn’t really seem to bother anyone but the courier, though. If it did, they were good at hiding it.

As the quintet made their way through the mansion, Kaden found more than a couple of things odd. There were ornate pedestals that held nothing, and large empty patches on the walls that bore the signs of paintings or pictures. Not a bad idea, the courier mused. If the owner of the mansion was distracted by his little game show, and he had been a soldier running away, why not help himself to a painting or two?

According to Jackson, they had a few options for escape vehicles. On the roof were a number of helipads. The garage housed vehicles of all shapes and sizes, some intended for personal use and some intended for para-military use. The mansion itself was situated on the edge of Kai’s island and though the backyard ended in a sharp drop, Kai had built a small marina on the water. The discussion was about which vehicle would be the best for extraction.

“Why don’t we just take all three routes?” Kaden found himself asking.

“That means we have to split up,” Rosemary answered. “You saw the way Kai dealt with the helicopter. Do you think we’d be able to stop him if we were split up?”

“Well, yeah,” Kaden agreed, “but he can only go after one at a time, right?”

“So you want someone to be a distraction?” Trisha scoffed. “Are you volunteering?”

“Am I… what?” Kaden hadn’t actually thought out the question, he had simply asked it. “I mean… sure. I don’t really mind,” the courier shrugged.

And he really didn’t. The thought that he could still be of use to the girls left in the volcano was… well it was something. It would, at least, let the courier feel like he had an actual purpose. Running around with Kai’s bodyguards had a way of making the courier feel less useful than he knew he could be.

“Fine with me,” Jackson nodded. “Can you fly a ‘copter?”

“No… I probably would be able to handle a boat, either,” Kaden shrugged. “But I pretty much drive for a living. I can handle a car pretty well.”

With a nod, Jackson informed the group that he would head to the roof to prep the helicopter for Trisha. Oliver and Rosemary were to take the boat, and Trisha herself was going to direct Kaden to the garage. The courier was actually pleased with the arrangement. There was something else he wanted to do in the mansion.

“Trisha,” Kaden started once everyone had split up. “I need your help with something.”