Red Heart Shoes
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The day was coming to an end, and I still hadn’t decided on my next move. It was one thing to do as the Guild had asked, but it wasn’t right. The Guild’s orders were all well and good for the most part, but they weren’t about me. They were about how much money the Guild could make off of me, not how I would be treated as a person.
I looked out over the city again. This time, though, I didn’t see a beautiful skyline. I saw the same place that I’d seen in the mirror. The same place where I’d been beaten, drugged, and raped. I remembered the fear, the anger, and the frustration that had built up inside me.
I had no idea what had happened to me after I’d blacked out. All I knew was that I’d been locked away in some basement somewhere with only my own thoughts for company.
I thought about the Guild, its rules, and how they operated. If I left, if I went back home, what would happen to me? Would I be locked away again? Or maybe I’d be put into some kind of rehabilitation program. I couldn’t go back there. Not even for them.
As I sat there, my mind kept returning to one thought: I would never be able to live with myself if I did this.
I had to leave.
The next morning, I packed my things, checked out of the hotel, and took a cab to the airport. As I boarded the plane, I was so nervous, I nearly threw up. My stomach was in knots, and I felt like I was going to have a panic attack. But I had to get away from here. I had to think clearly.
Once the plane landed at LAX, I took a taxi to the apartment that I’d rented online. It was just outside of downtown Los Angeles, and I knew I’d be safe there. I could afford it, and I’d been assured that there was no one else living in the building. I had no intention of telling anyone about my plans.
After I’d unpacked my bags, I started to go through my finances. I wasn’t a millionaire or anything, but I’d been doing pretty well in the last year. I had some savings and investments, plus an inheritance from my grandmother that was still in trust. I had enough to buy a car and pay for my rent for the next few months.
I could live without anything else.
As I lay on the bed, looking at the ceiling, I thought about what I wanted to do. I could start over somewhere new. Maybe I’d find some kind of work where I wouldn’t have to worry about being recognized. I could use my skills as a thief, and maybe I’d be able to make a living off of that.
I knew I didn’t want to go back to the Guild, and I had no intention of working for another thief.
I could make something of myself.
A few hours later, I was sitting in the kitchen, drinking coffee, when the phone rang. I almost didn’t answer it, but I was too curious. Whoever had called me, they’d given me a number. I couldn’t imagine who would have done that unless it was the Guild.
“Hello?” I said, my voice shaky.
There was silence on the other end of the line, and I wondered if I’d just lost my chance. But then the person spoke again.
“You’re not going to believe this,” a man’s voice said. “But I think we’ve found you a buyer.”
***
The Thief Who Wouldn’t Be Caught
My name is William H. Kress. I’m forty-six years old, and I was born and raised in New York City. I was never much of a reader, but I did enjoy the occasional biography. One day, I picked up a book by the author, Thomas A. Edison. He had some interesting stories about his life, and I decided to read them.
What I discovered about Edison was that he invented all kinds of things, but he also made a lot of mistakes. The story I remember best was about how he had tried to invent a device that would run on electricity, and it had failed.
In fact, he had tried to make so many different types of inventions, only to fail at each one. It wasn’t until he gave up on the electric light bulb that he finally succeeded.
It’s funny, but the story made me realize that Edison wasn’t perfect. That he was human. He hadn’t been born with an idea for an invention. He’d had to learn how to do things, and he’d had to fail a few times before he was successful.
I liked that.
So, after reading a biography or two, I started making notes of my own life. I kept track of everything from the time I was six years old and fell off the roof of our house to the time I graduated high school. I wrote down every failure and success, every person I met, and everything I learned.
After that, I took all the notes I’d written and put them into a book. I didn’t call it a biography, because I wanted to tell a story, not just record the facts.
I called my book The Thief Who Wouldn’t Be Caught.
In it, I explained how I had gotten involved with the Guild. How I’d been trained as a thief, and how I’d eventually become a master thief. I told the story of how I had tried to get away from the Guild, and how I’d gone on to be a thief without them. I told the story of how I had gone to Europe to start over, and how I’d come back to New York and set up shop.
Then, I told the story of how I’d been caught by the Guild and how they’d punished me.
And finally, I described how I’d escaped, and how I’d ended up in the desert.
That was a long time ago. Now, I’m sitting at home, looking out the window, and thinking about what I’ve done since then.
The thing is, I haven’t really been a thief for a while. Not since I left New York. I’ve been working on my own, doing things I like. I have a little business going, but it’s more of a hobby than anything else.
I’m still trying to make a living without stealing, which means I need to find another way to do it.
I know I’ll never be able to go back to the Guild. They would recognize me immediately, and they’d have no problem killing me if they found me. So, I can’t even consider that option.
As much as I hated being a thief, I’m not sure I could ever go back to working for someone else. I’d probably end up killing them before too long.
So, I guess I’m stuck.
I just hope I can figure out what to do next.
***
“We’ve got a buyer,” the man said. “You’re going to like this one.”
He sounded excited, and I couldn’t imagine why. What did he think I’d been doing since I left New York? Sitting around waiting for something to happen?
“Who is it?” I asked, still skeptical.
“A man named Eddie Leland. He’s an old friend of yours, right?”
Eddie Leland. The man who had taken me in when I was younger. He’d taught me all kinds of things, and he’d looked after me.
I hadn’t seen him since I’d left New York, but I still remembered his face.
“It’s a small business,” the man said. “But it’s going to pay well.”
“How much?” I asked.
“Two thousand dollars.”
I almost laughed. Two grand would barely cover the expenses of running my business.
I’d made a lot of money in New York, but now, I wasn’t so sure how to handle it. I was used to taking risks, and I had always known that I might get caught. But, now that I was on my own, I didn’t know how to do things differently.
“What do you want me to do?” I asked.
“Just bring the cash, and we’ll take care of everything else,” the man said.
I thought about it for a moment. I knew I should say no. That I shouldn’t trust Eddie.
But, I also knew that if I did, I’d probably end up dead.
So, I decided to go ahead with the plan.
***
Eddie was happy to see me. He took me into his office and offered me a seat. He leaned forward on his desk and looked at me for a few moments before he spoke.
“I don’t know how you ended up in the desert,” he said. “Or how you survived. But, I’m glad you’re still alive.”
He paused.
“How’s your business going?” he asked.
“Well enough,” I said. “I have a few regular clients.”
“I was hoping you could do some work for me,” Eddie said. “I’ve got a new client who wants to buy something from you.”
“What kind of thing?” I asked.
“The usual,” Eddie said. “Stolen goods. You know how to find them, right?”
I nodded.
“Good,” Eddie said. “You can start tomorrow.”
I didn’t know what to say.
“Okay,” I said. “When do I need to be there?”
Eddie smiled.
“First thing in the morning,” he said.
***
I was standing outside the door of Eddie’s office when I heard the sound of feet approaching. I turned to look, and I saw a woman walking toward me.
She was tall, wearing a pair of leather pants and a loose blouse. She had long red hair that fell over her shoulders, and she carried a short sword on her hip.
I recognized her immediately. It was the woman who had been chasing me down in the desert.
“Hello,” she said. “My name is Katya.”
“Katya,” I said. “I remember you.”
“Yes,” she said. “You were quite an interesting man. So, you’re back then?”
“I am,” I said. “But, I don’t really have anything to steal. What do you want me to do?”
“That’s where we differ,” Katya said. “You’re used to steal things. I’m not.”
“Then what are you here for?” I asked.
“I just want to talk,” she said. “To get to know you.”
“We don’t have much time,” I said. “I need to get to work.”
“It’s okay,” Katya said. “I’m not asking you to do anything. We’ll be leaving soon, anyway.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Because it’s time to go,” she said. “You came with us willingly once. I think you might like the idea of being our prisoner again.”
I didn’t like the sound of that at all. But, I didn’t have any choice. If I ran away now, they’d probably kill me.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
“Out of town,” Katya said. “We’ll be going north until we reach the ocean.”
“The ocean?” I asked. “Why?”
“Because, my people will be waiting there,” Katya said. “They’re going to take care of you.”
“Take care of me?” I asked. “What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean,” Katya said. “You’ll be safe as long as you do what I say.”
“Why would I want to be safe?” I asked. “If you’re planning on killing me, then it won’t make any difference.”
Katya smiled.
“It’s not like that,” she said. “I’m not here to hurt you. You just need to trust me.”
She took a step forward and looked at me for a moment. Then, she reached out and touched my face.
I flinched.
“Oh,” Katya said. “I forgot. You’re afraid of me. You’ve got a hard head, don’t you?”
She laughed.
“But, it’s okay,” she said. “I’ll forgive you. We’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other while we travel.”
Katya took another step toward me and put her hand on my shoulder. She leaned in close to my ear and whispered something.
“You need to tell me,” she said. “Don’t worry. I’ll forgive you.”
Katya kissed me on the cheek, then turned and walked away. Her feet were bare against the grass as she stepped over the rocks and out of sight.
***
Eddie was waiting for me when I got back into his office. He motioned for me to sit down and handed me a glass of water.
“How did it go?” he asked.
“Fine,” I said. “I think.”
“It went well enough,” Eddie said. “Did you see Katya?”
“Yeah,” I said. “I saw her.”
“Well, she’s on her way,” Eddie said. “As soon as she gets here, we can leave.”
“What about my stuff?” I asked. “I need to get some of it.”
“You can leave it all,” Eddie said. “We’ll be traveling light.”
“Light?” I asked. “That doesn’t sound good.”
“It’s not,” Eddie said. “But, I’m going to ask you again. Do you want to come with us?”
“Do I have a choice?” I asked. “I don’t think I can stay here. If they find me, then—”
“They won’t,” Eddie said. “As long as you do what I say, we’ll be fine. But, if you run, you’ll die.”
“That’s what you said before,” I said. “And, it didn’t work out very well.”
“Maybe not,” Eddie said. “But, this time will be different. You’re coming with us because you want to. We’re going to get to know each other better, and I’ll make sure you’re safe.”
“You keep saying that,” I said. “But, I’m still not really convinced. What are you planning on doing with me?”
“I’ll explain it when Katya gets here,” Eddie said. “But, let’s just say we need your help. As long as you’re willing to do whatever we ask, then you’ll be okay.”
“Okay, I guess,” I said. “But, I’ve got one condition.”
“What is it?” Eddie asked.
“I want my phone,” I said. “If you want me to call someone, then you need to give me something to use.”
Eddie laughed.
“That’s easy,” he said. “You can call anyone you want. It’ll be safe.”
“Like you said,” I said. “You’ll forgive me.”
“As long as you do what you’re told,” Eddie said. “Remember, you need to trust me.”
***
Katya was waiting for me outside the door when I got back from Eddie’s office. She had her hair pulled up into a ponytail and wore a black leather jacket over a white t-shirt. Her skin was pale as she stepped toward me and put her hand on my shoulder.
“Good morning,” she said. “I’m Katya. You must be Sophie.”
She smiled at me.
“Yes,” I said. “I’m Sophie.”
Katya looked down at me and took a step closer.
“Let’s go,” she said.
“Where?” I asked.
“To where we’re going,” Katya said. “We’re leaving right now.”
Katya grabbed my arm and led me through the hallways of the hotel. There were a few people walking by, but they all kept their distance from us.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve walked out of this place,” Katya said. “I didn’t think I’d ever leave.”
“Why did you?” I asked. “What happened?”
“Your father was a good man,” Katya said. “He never hurt anyone. But, he also didn’t have much of a choice. He wasn’t able to fight the system. The people who ruled him made sure he would be destroyed if he tried.”
Katya stopped at the lobby door and turned to look at me.
“My father was an honest man,” she said. “And, I believe in him. If I could have taken his place, I would have. I’m not afraid of the people who killed him. I’ll show them what happens when they mess with me.”
“How?” I asked. “You’re just one person.”
“But, I’m not alone,” Katya said. “As soon as you get your phone, we can call the others. We’ll make sure the world knows about what they’ve done.”
“What are you talking about?” I asked. “Who is the other?”
“We’re going to change the world,” Katya said. “We’re going to make them pay for what they’ve done.”
***
Katya drove us back to the apartment. It was dark outside, but she knew exactly where we were going. She parked the car on the street and hopped out without a word. I followed her down the sidewalk and up the stairs to the front door.
“We need to hurry,” Katya said. “I don’t know how long I can stay here.”
She put her hand on the doorknob and then pushed it open.
“We’ll go upstairs,” she said. “It’s much safer.”
Katya led me into the kitchen and pushed a button on the wall. A door opened in the ceiling, and I saw lights coming on above us.
“This way,” Katya said. “We’re going to a place where we can talk.”
She grabbed my hand and pulled me through the doorway.
“I’ll explain everything,” she said. “But, you need to trust me.”
The lights were dim in the room. There was a bed on one side of the room and a couch on the other. In the middle of the floor was a large wooden table with a bottle of whiskey sitting on top.
“This is where I used to hide,” Katya said. “They never found me. They always thought I’d been killed or escaped. I stayed here for years, waiting for the time when I could strike back at them.”
Katya reached behind the headboard of the bed and pulled out a gun. Unloaded, it looked like a handgun, but it was made from some kind of black metal.
“They never expected to find me,” she said. “If they had known, they would have taken this away from me. I’m sorry.”
She handed the weapon to me and stepped back.
“It’s loaded,” she said. “You’ll need it.”
Katya sat down on the couch and stared at me. Her eyes were bloodshot. She hadn’t slept in days.
“How did you get out?” I asked. “Did you escape?”
“I didn’t want to leave,” Katya said. “But, they wouldn’t let me go. It took a while for me to figure out how to break free. Then, when I was ready, I called Eddie.”
“Why Eddie?” I asked. “He’s just a lawyer.”
“Eddie is a good man,” Katya said. “A little rough around the edges, but he’s loyal. He’s also the only one who knows what I look like. I wanted him to be able to identify me if he ever saw me again. I needed someone to watch my back.”
“I see,” I said. “And, you thought I was the best person for the job?”
“You’re the only one who has the courage to do what needs to be done,” Katya said. “And, you have the ability to take care of yourself.”
“What about your father? Did he have the same qualities?”
“Yes,” Katya said. “My father was a fighter. He believed in justice. But, he also knew there were times when people needed to be protected. He would have agreed with me that this is one of those times. If I can help you stop the people who killed my father, then I will.”
“Are you sure you won’t run away?” I asked. “Do you really think you can trust me?”
“I’ve trusted you since the moment we met,” Katya said. “We need to make sure the world knows what they did to us. We need to make them pay for taking my father from me.”
“They’re not going to just let it go,” I said. “The people who did this are powerful, and they have friends in high places.”
“Then we’ll make sure they pay,” Katya said. “For as long as I live, they’ll never forget what happened to my father.”
I put the gun into my pocket.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” I asked. “I would have helped you.”
“I couldn’t risk it,” Katya said. “There were too many eyes on me. When I went to the police, they were useless. They were afraid of what my father had done. It took me a long time to convince them to even talk to me. There was no way I could have told anyone else without putting myself at risk.”
“How did you find out about the men who killed your father?” I asked.
“I was just a kid,” Katya said. “I used to visit my father at work. One day, I came home and found him dead. They never told me what happened. My mother tried to protect me. She was so afraid for me. It was all she could do to keep me from being taken away. She gave me this room as a safe place.”
“What about the police?” I asked. “Did they ever get involved?”
“Not really,” Katya said. “It was my word against theirs. No one believed me. Even when I called Eddie, he only agreed to help if I swore that I wouldn’t reveal anything about him.”
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?” I asked. “You could have saved yourself all this pain.”
“I couldn’t risk it,” Katya said. “I didn’t know how they would react. I’m sorry. I should have told you sooner. I didn’t want to put you in danger.”
“I understand,” I said. “And, now you know why I can’t let any of this go. If I don’t do something, then nobody will ever be able to pay for what they did to you and your father.”
“If we’re going to do this,” Katya said, “then we need to do it right. We need to make sure that the people who did this are never allowed to hurt anyone else. I want justice, not revenge.”
“I think I might know someone who can help us,” I said. “She’s a very powerful woman. She’s also very old. I’ve only met her once, but I felt an instant connection with her. She was kind enough to listen to me, and she agreed to help.”
“Who is she?” Katya asked.
“I’ll introduce you later,” I said. “First, I need to get some things together.”
Katya looked confused.
“There’s something I need to do,” I said. “It’s important that I go alone. I promise you, Katya. It’s all going to be worth it.”
The End