Blood Season Read online

  Blood Season

  A Mitch Crowne short story

  Written by: MacShayne

  (2018 re-issue)

  Copyright Page

  Copyright 2018 by MacShayne. Smashwords Edition

  Copyright 2015 by MacShayne. Original Edition

  Edited by: MacShayne

  Coverwork by: MacShayne

  All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, persons (living or dead) are coincidental.

  Smashwords Edition, License Notes

  Thank you for downloading this eBook. You are welcome to share this story with friends and family, although I’d appreciate it if they would download a copy themselves. This book may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes only, provided the book remains in its complete original form. If you enjoyed this book, please return to your favourite eBook retailer to discover other works by this author. Thank you for your support.

  Discover other titles by MacShayne

  Mitch Crown (book series)

  1. The Drifter

  2. Manhunt

  3. A Dangerous Man

  4. Killing Crowne

  5. Perfect Enemy

  6. Cold Case

  7. Chaos

  Other Books

  Once Upon a Time in Navajo

  Table of content

  Chapter 1: Hunting Game

  Chapter 2: Seven Mile Bridge

  Chapter 3: Long Distance Shot

  Chapter 4: Rendezvous

  Chapter 5: Running All Night

  Chapter 6: The Settlement

  Chapter 7 : Last Blood

  About the author

  Contact me

  Chapter 1:

  Hunting Game

  Southport, Beach, 16 April 2010

  The last ten years were all but peaceful. Things changed for lots of people. Especially around him. Mitch Crowne used to be a weapon for his government until he went rogue. His latest alias was the rogue assassin. In this ten years he brought justice to all that hurt the people around him. That alone is already surprising. Mitch Crowne wasn’t the same person that killed without emotions. He had someone to care for now. Her name was Mia, a nine year old girl with extraordinary high IQ who lost her father and mother. Mitch was able to safe her multiple times before he left her with the only person he trusted, George Dreyfuss and his 54-year old wife Emily.

  Soon Mia would turn ten years old, was he going to be there for her? Mitch was sitting on the beach while Mia was playing with her dog, a German shepherd that was saved by George two weeks ago. George and Emily stayed behind in their new house that Mitch arranged for them to life in. He didn’t buy the house on his own name of course, he had some help from his brother that he briefly got to know. Mia looked really happy from where Mitch was looking, but then again, she had this same aurora surrounding her than a younger version of him used to have. The only difference, she was a better person than Mitch, she was a female, she was smart and intelligent where Mitch was reckless, filled with rage and lost his senses for love and companionship.

  Mitch was still recovering from injuries he sustained while bringing the people down responsible for Mia’s pain. Those that also betrayed him. Mia was smiling while Mitch stood up and walked towards her. An itchy pain above his knee was stinging while he walked, which reminded him about the last shootout days prior to today. While he came closer to Mia, he started to think about his place in this world, did he still have a purpose?

  Mia stopped playing with Sam (dog’s name) as she saw Mitch walking towards her. She saw the man that was her hero. He was the only one that she really trusted. She got used to the idea that George and Emily would bring her up until she was old enough to stay on her own two feet. She wanted to make a difference in this world, like the person she recognized as her father. Mitch Crowne. She was pulled by his strong arms against him as he gently placed his arms around her and kissed her on her forehead. It was only three hours before sunset.

  ‘What would you like to do?’, Mitch asked.

  Mia turned around and looked at a boat that was speeding in the distance. She pointed at it and said: ‘Could you teach me?’

  ‘I can teach you anything you want. You know, why don’t we try it right now?’

  So, Mitch rented a speedboat and the two hit the water after they brought Sam back to the new house. At the open water, far away from the coast, Mitch gave the wheel to Mia. After a while, she really got the hang of it. After an hour they returned to the marina. Mitch returned the keys to the owner and walked back home together with Mia.

  ‘How long are you staying?’, Mia asked while she picked up a rock.

  ‘You know the answer Mia.’

  ‘For what it’s worth, I’m really glad you are here now.’

  ‘I’m glad to be with you also. Do you like living here?’

  ‘Can get used to it. It’s better than the Netherlands.’

  ‘Couldn’t disagree with you’, Mitch said as both laughed.

  ‘How far can you throw this rock?’, she asked.

  ‘Where do you want it?’, Mitch replied.

  ‘I think, I think I really want to keep it.’

  ‘Than you should.’

  ‘Don’t you ask me why I want to keep a piece of rock no one else care about?’

  ‘Okay’, Mitch said as a smile appeared on his face. ‘Why?’

  ‘It reminds me of you. Sometimes something simple as a rock can save you from harm.’

  Later that evening

  Mitch and George were sitting on the veranda, enjoying the view while Emily and Mia were preparing dinner. George was wearing shorts and an Hawaiian shirt while Mitch wore a tight white shirt and brown shorts. The two were sharing a corona.

  ‘It feels good to be home again Mitch. Thank you for everything.’

  ‘You can thank me by keeping Mia away from this, this life, all of it.’

  ‘Mia is in good hands. Which makes me wonder, how come I never noticed you have a dad inside of you. I mean, you are the world to her. Her hero.’

  ‘One of these days, my past comes hunting for me again. I don’t want her near me when I go out.’

  ‘You forgot that you brought down a shadow organization almost on your own.’

  ‘Only a part of it. The remainders might be interested to finish me.’

  ‘They should. I mean, you proofed yourself to be a threat.’

  ‘And then there is another person I would like to find.’

  ‘Whom?’

  ‘Someone I don’t know if she really exists.’

  Emily and Mia joined the two as they watched the sunset. After dinner, Mia and George went to bed around nine in the evening while Mitch was smoking a cigar on the veranda. He was joined by Emily before both went inside also. Mitch placed himself on the couch since both bedrooms were now occupied by Mia and mister and misses Dreyfuss.

  Langley (Virginia), Mr. Home’s office, 7 February 2010

  Richard Bennard Home was sitting behind his desk and looking at a picture of him with his wife and their only daughter. Mister Home was the person that ordered the assassination of one of the best pupils he ever had at his disposal. He also put Eveline Turner on the assassination list and knew that this might be his dead sentence. Also, since Mitch Crowne’s body was not found in the Dominican republic. He knew Crowne better than the most within this agency, and now he would certainly aim his full attention on the one person that had betrayed him.

  His assistant downstairs informed him that he had company. The man that was visiting him was his superior and a known as a ghost within the US defence system. Alan Fitch was also highly connected within the same organisation that Home himself was associated with. The Cabal. Home looked one more time at the
photo of his beautiful wife and late daughter Crystal. She was the reason that he had joined the Cabal. Since 9-11, his opinion about the defence system changed dramatically. And he accepted the offer the Cabal had given him for multiple years.

  The door swung open and two FBI agents entered the room before Alan Fitch himself followed. Mr. Home stood up and waited until Fitch stopped in front of him. The two shook hands before Home offered Fitch a seat.

  ‘You know that I only visit when it has the highest priority Mr. Home.’

  ‘As of now, I’m dealing with the problem the best way we possibly can.’

  ‘We believe you do, but the situation is out of hands. It reached crisis level one and has now our full attention. Your man is believed to be responsible for abducting and presumably killing Cherikov.’

  ‘Why didn’t I know earlier?’

  ‘Because it happened just moments ago. And you know what this means. When he talks which we must assume, you’re the first he’s going to give up’, Fitch said as he chuckled. ‘Now does he have any information that can expose anything about me or the organization.’

  ‘Not according to my knowledge.’

  Fitch sighed. ‘Mitch Crowne has proved himself to be a huge threat. There’s no room for any more underestimation Home. We have to deal with him now. Or else we have to take other measures.’

  ‘I understand. Mitch Crowne has our full attention.’

  ‘We have to take into account that Mitch Crowne is working with another party.’

  ‘Raymond Reddington.’

  ‘If he gets anything to his disposal that contains data about us, then he can use it as leverage against us.’

  ‘So, if we take out Crowne, he will try again with someone else.’

  ‘You see where I am getting at?’

  ‘The core of the whole threat is not Crowne, he’s the operator.’

  ‘Reddington has been years on the list, he was never found nor came near apprehension.’

  ‘Do whatever it takes Home. This has our first priority now. Contain the damage!’

  ‘I will, too much is at stake right now.’

  Fitch looks at the picture and sighs again. ‘We are doing something good Home. Don’t forget that.’

  Washington, Abandoned Old Factory, 21 January 2010

  For a few days he was transported from one hide-out to another. Sybren Sibranski was an 1.77 meters long man with dark blonde hair. His blue eyes distinguished him from the locals in Miami where he was abducted. He was what is called a pretender and is known as killed in action by an organization that is called The Centre. He was sitting in a chair, strapped with handcuffs as the door swung open. Two men stepped inside before they were followed by a third person. Walking on more expensive shoes. His blindfold was taken off when the third person sat down opposite him.

  ‘Sybren Sibranski, to what should I owe the pleasantness of your arrival? It’s a question I’ve been asking myself when I walked down the stairs to this dump hole.’

  ‘I don’t really know what I’m doing beneath here Raymond Reddington. Looking good, like I imagined.’

  ‘I’m impressed by your work Mr. Sibranski. That’s why I would like to offer you a job.’

  ‘Not interested Reddington.’

  ‘You didn’t listen to my proposal yet. It’s way more fun than being a journalist. Besides, don’t you want to find out about Mitch Crowne’s whereabouts?’

  Sybren for the first time looked interested but didn’t respond.

  ‘If I’m correct, you have been trying to find the man for quite the amount of time. This might be a great opportunity for that cause. And you make money as well. Doesn’t that sound like a good business arrangement Mr. Sibranski?’, Raymond continued.

  ‘Continue’, was Sibranski’s response.

  Dahlgren Airport, 7 February 2010

  Mitch and Eveline followed the other car for more than an hour in which they left Washington. Eventually, they arrived at a nearby airport where Raymond Reddington and a few crew members were waiting. The two cars were parked near one of Raymond’s private jets. Mitch left the car while Eveline stayed behind. Reddington wore a black coat and a black hat. Almost unrecognizable in broad daylight.

  ‘You did your job more than well Mr. Crowne’, Reddington began.

  ‘There is one name still on my list, and it’s not Alan Fitch.’

  ‘I see, you found out that it wasn’t Fitch at all that orchestrated the assassination.’

  ‘It was Home all along. He’s going to pay for it. My business with this all concludes afterwards.’

  ‘You must know that mine just begins Mr. Crowne.’

  ‘As I said, my business with Fitch is over. I’ll expect you to cut my brother loose somewhere safe.’

  ‘You can count on me, I’m a man of my words, I’ll let him go somewhere remotely. So this’ll be the end of it? No more killing people?’

  ‘Just the one. Then I’m out’, Mitch concluded.

  ‘You and miss Turner should come along.’

  Mitch and Reddington looked each other straight in each other’s eyes for a few seconds before Mitch and Reddington both turned their backs and walked back to where they came from. Mitch and Eveline then both stepped into Reddington’s jet soon after...

  Crystal Gateway Marriott, 24 January 2010

  Within a mile from Ronald Reagan international airport, the Crystal Gateway Marriott is a 3.5 star hotel. It was raining that day when Frances Franklin didn’t show up at work. Well, the real Frances didn’t show up. Sybren Sibranski was well disguised as he entered the hotel in his new outfit. He was disguised as hotel security.

  One day earlier, Reddington’s men abducted the real Frances and put him away in one of Reddington’s hideouts far away from Washington. They didn’t kill him since Sibranski wouldn’t cooperate if they did. The plan for Sibranski was simple, adjust and blend in like he was a random security guard. Sibranski had his hair dyed blonde and cut short. Sibranski hadn’t the biggest impressive posture, but he looked almost the same as Frances. In the changing room he met one of his colleagues. His name was Brad. Brad was twenty centimetres taller, in his mid forties and was very muscled. Sibranski immediately guessed he was a former Marine.

  ‘Looks like you could use some training, Franklin.’

  Sibranski was not planning to cause trouble and smiled Brad’s comment away.

  ‘Today I’m going to introduce you to your new working space Franklin. If you like, you could join me in the afterhours in the gym. Introduce you to the game mate.’

  Did he call him mate? Sibranski thought. ‘I’m fine already. But thanks anyway.’

  Brad looked amazed, like he was offended in the worst way possible. ‘Yeah, uh’, he stammered. ‘Let’s begin then eh?’

  ‘Of course’, Sibranski said in a calm voice.

  Chapter 2:

  Seven Mile Bridge

  Key West, Florida keys, 8 February 2010

  From Dahlgren Airport, it lasted a few hours before they landed at Key West International airport. When Reddington, Crowne and the others left the plane, two cars were waiting for them. It was still night. Although, the sun was rising in the far horizon. Mitch smelled the ocean sea breeze as they walked to the last car. Both were black SUVs’, bulletproof and tuned Mitch judged. Of course he knew that Cherikov would be transported in the first vehicle. It slightly surprised him that Reddington also stepped into the front car. Crowne seated himself next Eveline in the backseat. Eveline looked tired. She sighed deeply as she closed her eyes.

  ‘Ever wondered what this thing leads us to?’, she asked.

  ‘There is no path to peace’, Crowne answered. Meaning that he wouldn’t rest before those responsible for killing Mia’s parents would be death.

  ‘Well, I hope we see the end of this Mitch.’

  ‘You will’, Mitch answered as he looked outside the window as the engine was turned on.

  Crystal Gateway Marriott, 9 February 2010

  Richard Home
met his wife Meredith in Manchester 37 years ago. Since their first day together, he as trainee for the FBI and she as a student working in a Manchester United bar, they were in love. Home eventually came back for her five years later when he decided to change field operations for a job behind a desk. Home was always the most intelligent agent of his year and far beyond after. He wasn’t the best field agent tough. Since they started living in Washington, they had a child that died in a car accident shortly after he married Meredith. It was believed to be a simple car accident, it was not a an assault on his life.

  Since that day he became aware that the fall of the USSR would mean that times were about to change once again. The enemy wouldn’t be political anymore. But what it could be was also a huge question mark for the much younger Home. Unexpected, Meredith and he became parents once again. She was a beautiful daughter and they named her Crystal. Because that’s what Home gave Meredith when he proposed, a crystal ring.

  That was decades ago. The new era of terrorists was more complicated than any era that Home could remember. Since the attacks on the world trade centre, he also was persuaded into joining a highly secret government organization the Cabal. He even was the biggest influence of one of its most acclaimed sections. A section that brought up a few of the best agents. Agents in the likes of Mitch Crowne and Eveline Turner. The former was recognized as the second best hit man the government of the United States had created. Only Will Robie, field assassin in another agency was believed to have a more improved skill set. Mitch Crowne was also a test subject for many other operations within the agency. He was considered to go up against Jason Bourne himself once. That mission never finalized when Mitch Crowne went rogue and assassinated the Vice President.

  Crystal was a twenty two year young lady. She was blonde and had the same eyes (blue) as her mother. However, she looked more like her father in appearance. Same mouth and nose. She wasn’t the most beautiful student, but she was gorgeous and in shape. Home had her learn self-defence and how to use a fire arm. They picked her up from her apartment two hours earlier. Meredith was able to comfort Crystal after Home almost demanded that she got into the car. Home knew that like his, their life’s were on stake. And he was not going to lose anyone of the persons that he did the very thing that caused this madness. Mitch Crowne got to Cherikov, and no matter if the Russian named him, he knew that very soon an assault on him would be likely possible.