Seven’s Father
Matthew Ryan Fischer
Seven found his father practicing in his dojo. Mid-fifties, his
father was still in shape and an excellent fighter. Whatever he had lost in
speed, he made up for in discipline, form and precision. Seven had lost many
fights he thought he had won due to overconfidence. He could perhaps run
circles around his father, but at close contact, it would be more than a
challenge. Seven’s muscles were still sore from a fight a few days before, but
he knew his father liked to spar, so he did it anyway. He couldn’t talk about
work or explain any of his unsanctioned investigations, so he did his best to
hide the pain he felt with each blow.
Days earlier he had chased a suspect. A suspect of what, he wasn’t
sure. There had been a man in Nine’s apartment when he got there. They fought
and the man escaped, but Seven chased him through the streets. Whatever secrets
the man possessed, the man took to his grave. Seven figured it must have had
something to do with Nine’s murder, but he couldn’t figure out what.
He couldn’t tell his father. He couldn’t tell anyone, other than Gideon.
Or perhaps Three. Three already knew too much. He had called Three the night
Nine arrived at his apartment. He had called Three when he got into trouble
chasing the man. Three wasn’t asking questions, yet, but Seven was sure that he
was curious.
Gideon was a different case altogether. Gideon had asked him to
investigate Nine’s murder in secret. Seven promised to assist, but he hated
going outside the system. If Ten caught him, he could lose his position. He was
risking everything because a boss asked a personal favor. Seven knew Gideon had
been partners with his father decades ago, but he wasn’t sure he could trust
his father with any of this.
Seven’s mind was wondering and his father noticed. He had lost the
fight several minutes ago, but he was now in danger of an injury if he wasn’t
careful. His father stopped the fight and began to question his son. Seven tried
to find a subject that was safe to discuss.
“Who will replace Nine?”
“Gideon will make his recommendation. The families will review.”
“You and he were agents together.”
“Is there a question in there?”
“You trust him?”
“To replace Nine? Of course. The man I knew was a skilled agent
and loyal to the families. Now he’s a boss and has his family to protect. It’s
a different job than what he and I used to do, but he’s still that man I knew. Nine
will be remembered. But Nine will be replaced. Just like any of us would be. What
are you concerned about?”
“Why was I picked? Why was I given the opportunity? Because you’re
my father?”
“You earned your chance.”
“You were a great agent. I know that. And you trained me well. But
within the family, I’m no one important. Our last name--”
“Is just a name. No more, no less. The Dragon’s Claw doesn’t care
about your position in the family or your rank in the gang. They care about
your skills and abilities. You were vetted, and if I had anything to do with
it, it was in raising you right and preparing you. I knew Gideon from a long
time ago, but he wouldn’t have voted for you if he didn’t believe in you.”
“Gideon approached me.”
“About?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“But it has you worried? Did he ask you to betray your brothers? The
Organization?”
“No, nothing like that.”
“Gideon is a boss. If he needs you to do something, and it’s in
your purview, do it. Nine is dead. You and the others will have to do a little
more now, that’s all.”
But can I trust him? Seven
wanted to ask again. But he knew it was a dead-end. He couldn’t tell his father
what he was working on. He couldn’t tell his father about Nine or the man at
the apartment, or the USB drive. Seven hadn’t told Gideon about that either. He
had kept that to himself. It was encrypted, but Seven was working on that too.
Hopefully some answers were on that.
“I trust you son, to do what you can, and to do what’s right.”
“Thank you.”
“Should we relax? Take a meal? You’re clearly in no mood to train
today.”
“Truth is, I’m a little sore.”
“Something else you can’t tell me about?”
“Something like that.”
“I guess I’ll have to buy you a drink. Maybe then you’ll loosen up
and tell me about your life. What about women? Are you seeing anyone?”
The truth was his building was full of young single people. Seven
didn’t know how to balance that with his job.
He shook his head and his father laughed.
“Someday.”
“You’ve been saying someday for years now.”
“Someday.”
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