Chapter 48: This time.

"I'll explain." Keith held up his hand to silence Karma. "First, I learned about Eric, and after doing research, I discovered that if Eric doesn't choose to accept the position or if he's unable to take it…." Keith trailed off.

"Like if he's dead?" she asked.

"Yes, if he's dead, then Canada has a second choice. They asked a man who's head of a criminal organization known as 'The Originals.' This scum lives near the border of Mexico and the old Texas area surrounded by an empire of more scum. They call themselves the Mexican Government, but that's not accurate. They're not Mexican or government. They're nothing more than hitmen and thieves. They've been rivals of mine for years. The Canadian government just doesn't see it. They hide behind their government influence and their money. They use terms like government like I use underground building."

"It's a cover." Karma nodded.

"Yes, if Canada passes this president job to the head of The Originals, they'll take over the C.T.O.N.A. and crush anyone who stands in their way. Because being stuck under these men would be awful for business, I made it my personal mission to ensure Eric takes the job."

"But you were with me, not Eric." Rea moved next to Gears. He picked up a piece of wire off the floor.

"I had a stroke of good luck," Keith smiled broadly. "I had my men tail Eric, and then he came to me. I had everyone here that I wished to babysit."

"You're right, Rea," Eric muttered. "I don't care much for that term."

Rea went back to the door. "Why not tell Eric or me?"

"You don't give your trust easily, and by this time, Eric was cautious. I knew he wouldn't trust just anyone, either. He was safe with my men. That's all that was important."

"I was moving around a lot." Eric dropped the flashlight he'd been holding for Gears. "I thought the moving was what was keeping me safe. I didn't know I was being followed. I feel dumb."

"Don't feel stupid, Bennett." Karma adjusted her rifle. "Fletcher tossed in Gears' name and yours right before I came here. At the time, I didn't care. I wanted to be done. I should've paid attention."

"You can't know everything and always be working," Rea whispered to her.

Keith turned to Eric. "The Originals are not to be underestimated. They're attacking this base because a takeover of the NEDs is a huge part of their goal. They want you and Rea dead, and they'll kidnap Gears. Controlling the C.T.O.N.A. has been their mission for years. They'll use whatever they have to do this."

"You're helping Eric because of money? This is about his death being bad for business?" Karma thought that was more like her dad. He was protecting his territory, not Rea and Eric.

"The world is about money." Keith shrugged at her. "It's about money and sex. People do things for two reasons. Love for someone or for what they can get. I've never seen anything different than that."

Silence reigned after her father's statement. All that could be heard was Gears humming.

Rea talked on the radio and then looked at her dad. "Are we done now? We should get out of here. How are we doing, Gears?"

"One more minute," Gears responded.

Keith looked at her and Rea. "I guess I've one other thing I should tell you."

"I know what you're going to say," Rea said. "When Fletcher was kicked out of The Seemyah, he started working for The Originals. We can talk about that later."

Karma nodded. She'd thought that too. "That's why Fletcher is still involved in killing Rea and Eric. That's where he's getting his team." Even if she saw that coming, it still kind of hurt. He had been family.

"That's not what I was going to say, but that's right. The Originals offered him a position. The only problem was that he was having a hard time getting his targets. All of The Seemyah knew how he worked. They stopped him from killing Eric at every turn. To my surprise, he did something I didn't expect."

"He hired Karma to kill me." Rea's eyes looked tired. She wanted to hold him. "Right now, Brice said he has the surface under control. We need to get the power up for the men attacking with night vision near the trains. Gears, how you doing?"

"Almost." Gears tipped up the flashlight.

"I've thought about Fletcher, and I think his plan was to have Karma kill Rea while he was off trying to find Eric and kill him." Keith took out a second pistol and checked the clip. "When Karma got here, I'll admit I didn't know what to do. When she lost her memory, I guessed I'd have to wait and figure it out when she was better." Her dad slipped his gun back into its holster. "I locked this base down tight and kept Rea safe. I thought I knew what to expect out of Fletcher. I was looking out for Eric, and so were all the men I hired."

"All the men on the water base are your guys?" Gears asked.

"Gears," Rea snapped. "We need light."

"All but the two Mac fired the day they hurt Karma. And Nash, the bastard. His paperwork was perfect." Keith nodded.

Karma considered all the men she'd met on the base. They weren't as good as The Seemyah, but she didn't kill Rea, and she was thankful for that. They weren't totally useless.

"Your guys are kind of lazy," she mumbled.

Keith gave a short burst of laughter. "My men have been working many hours and are tired. Tired is different from lazy. They were told to protect the base, look after Eric, watch Rea, and make sure Gears didn't get taken…. or hurt himself."

"I don't hurt myself," Gears piped up. The words weren't even past his lips before a spark flashed at the panel. He promptly winced and put his finger in his mouth.

Rea shook his head and then looked at her. "I could tell they were trying. If I'd thought they were a lost cause, I would have fired them all, but I just kept hoping it was going to get better."

"It did get better," Keith smiled.

"No, it didn't." Rea exhaled. "This isn't better. Fletcher's here. We're pinned down in a room with no power." Rea glanced at Gears.

Gears jumped guiltily.

"It's better. We're not dead," Keith insisted.

"Wait." Karma held up her hand. "What was it that you wanted to say? You said there was one other thing."

"No," Rea interrupted. "We're done talking."

Keith looked uncomfortable. A look she'd rarely seen. "When you showed up, I didn't want to meddle in your life anymore." He paused. "I waited for Fletcher to make his move." Another pause. "After I took care of my business, I thought maybe I'd move on." A third pause. "I considered letting Rea have you this time."

Keith stopped talking abruptly. It was as if he thought he had given all the explanations.

"This time?" Karma had a terrible feeling she wasn't going to like the answer to that question.