Caught In The Middle

By Kara Pittman

Katherine (Kat) Scott is a skilled assassin and a member of an international team rooting out evil worldwide. She is driven to make the world safe for every innocent person caught up in an ever-widening circle of violence.

Kat’s motivation is simple: she believes in second chances, just like the one she was given when she was fourteen and a group of vicious thieves attacked her. They would have surely gang raped her and very likely killed her had an elite group of crime fighters not suddenly intervened.

Kat didn’t know it at the time, but these same men were destined to change her life forever. They do more than care for her; they train her. Teach her what it means to be an elite fighter. They save the weak and transform them into unstoppable killing machines, fighting back against a corrupt world. And one of them, Alex, teaches her what it means to love, and be loved.

Over the years, Kat’s team masterminds a global initiative meant to change the course of human history and rewrite the rules of fighting crime. If she can only save herself and those she loves. Only time will tell.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kara Pittman
• Release date: Dec 17, 2015
• ISBN: 9780692593004

Book preview

CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE

A Novel

Kara Gatherum-Pittman

Copyright 2015 Kara Gatherum-Pittman

This story is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places and incidents are invented by the author or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any similarity to actual persons or events is purely coincidental.

All rights are reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in form or by any means without the prior written consent of the author.

ISBN 978-0-692-59300-4

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

I dedicate this novel to my children: Clay and Maren. Life will be difficult at times but never giving up is how you will find happiness and success. If you can’t do it yourself don’t do it! Believing in yourself is all you need. You have taught me there is no deeper love than the love of a mother. I love you all the way to Heaven.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to: Jerry Cleaver: My very first writing coach, I am so thankful for all you taught me. Great men like you change the world for the better!

Mark Graham Communications, Graham Publishing Group, Eric Eggly Photography, PointSeven Studios, Luke Gillis- first edit, Ann Tinkham- second edit

Special Thanks to:

My parents

My best friend Aaron Christy

My Ex for the great life I have, and the advice when I need it.

My entire family for your love and encouragement.

All the strong women in my life: nanas, mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, and girlfriends.

My SWAT Team: Thank you for your service and risking your lives to protect all of us! May God bless you.

In the last decade violent crimes have escalated throughout the world, any one of us could be in the wrong place at the right time (Caught in the Middle) and our lives would be forcefully changed forever. However, good will ALWAYS prevail over evil, I encourage you to pray more, love deeper and live for today!

Prologue

A family business was passed on from one generation to the next. Multigenerational families shared a unique dynamic relationship—a sacred bond. The Carters were such a family; love, knowledge, and ingenuity knitted the generations together. By all accounts, they lived an enviable life of good fortune and good will. But their good fortune would turn and they would learn there was one thing they could never replace: the life of a loved one.

The family was originally comprised of Mr. and Mrs. Carter, their two sons, and a daughter. Mr. Carter was a state-of-the-art security scientist, brilliant in computer forensics and technical surveillance counter-measures throughout the world. He was involved in air surveillance, providing real-time over-target surveillance for the United States spying operation in 50 countries. He oversaw the development of more advanced technology. He was an extremely inventive man; there were only a handful of individuals in the world who could do what he did, and a majority of them were in his generation line. The United States government paid him tens of millions to develop cutting-edge technology. They needed his unparalleled technological genius and he knew it. Over the years Mr. Carter earned more money than he could spend in ten lifetimes.

As his children grew, he passed on knowledge that had been taught to him by his father. It took a lifetime of education to become such a successful and powerful force. Technology had changed dramatically over the years. Just as Bill Gates had revolutionized computers, Mr. Carter had revolutionized security to help protect the innocent. Little did Mr. Carter know the United States government wouldn’t help him when he needed them most.

The Carter children were natural triplets born minutes apart. Caleb was the oldest boy, followed by Cadence, and their sister, Catalina. Mr. and Mrs. Carter had been three times blessed. Although the triplets were inseparable, they often dealt with sibling rivalry. Every breath they took was a competition for oxygen, not that they necessarily wanted to outdo the other, but they each wanted to win, to be the best they could be. Despite sibling rivalry, they never left one another behind. They shared with each other everything they knew so they would remain equal.

The Carters were a close-knit family whose camaraderie was built on hard work, shared experiences, and a cherished Sunday night dinner. Mrs. Carter served dinner at six o’clock sharp and no one ever missed the occasion. Mrs. Carter not only prepared a home-cooked meal on Sundays; but she cooked every other meal, making her family a priority. Money couldn’t buy certain things; there wasn’t a price tag for family memories.

Caleb, Cadence, and Catalina were 29 when tragedy struck the family. Catalina was driving alone to a Sunday dinner when she never arrived. The family searched for her tirelessly, even enlisting an elite search team, trying in desperation to find her, all the while suspecting something terrible had happened. Caleb and Cadence felt they had a responsibility to protect their younger sister, not knowing where she was or how to find her was devastating. After she had been missing for four days, the brothers knew she was no longer with them in this life; they felt an emptiness no one else could. Being triplets gave the Carter brothers feelings that were indescribable to others.

 Five days later, Catalina’s cold, denuded body was discovered in a ditch off the side of a secluded road. The forensics revealed that she had been held captive and repeatedly raped for days. The case wasn’t being investigated properly, because there was evidence of the involvement of a high-powered police officer. The US government refused to help solve the disappearance of Mr. Carter’s daughter, as it would have brought down an entire police force. The Carter family hired the best bounty hunters to hunt down her killers for a generous reward; however, Catalina’s killer or killers were never found. Exorbitant sums of money couldn’t bring Catalina’s killers to justice. Police corruption was endemic to The United States as in most other countries. A majority of crimes were committed against innocent people in the wrong place at the wrong time. Mr. Carter vowed to design a more efficient and effective way of hunting down corrupt people who got away with murder and mayhem.

Twenty years had passed and the Carter family was still haunted by the death of Catalina. Not knowing who killed her and never having achieved justice had brought them unthinkable anger and pain. They made it their life’s mission to help innocent people. The tragic and untimely death of Catalina in the spring of 1991 resulted in the birth of something the world had never seen before. The TEAM, a revolutionary crime-busting enterprise, was founded by the Carters.

Caleb and Cadence had become billionaires, Caleb by selling security technology to banks worldwide and Cadence by developing solar paneling. This made it possible for them to fund The TEAM. At long last, vast sums of money would have a positive and enduring purpose. It would create the kind of world in which women like Catalina would never be taken and would never be harmed.

After years of research and development, Mr. Carter had unveiled a surveillance system that caught criminals in the act of a crime. His favorite three words in life were: discovery is golden. Crime was the destruction of humanity. A violent crime had taken their beloved Cat from them. Mr. Carter couldn’t save his only daughter, but he would save someone else’s daughter.

The Carter family served as the top-level executives of the TEAM. They had built, funded and led the TEAM from its inception. Believing in each other gave them the drive and the will to create something that would rock the world to its core. The loss of their beloved daughter and sister unleashed an enterprise so vast, so powerful; it would put an end to criminals that plagued the world. The world’s evil just took, took, and took from humanity now it’s our turn to take. The time had come to seize the world from its evil clutches. Turning the tide of evil wouldn’t be easy, but the TEAM knew if they didn’t intervene soon, the world would be lost forever.

Chapter One: Bad Things Happen to Good People

"It takes a lifetime to heal the damage evil individuals have caused me. They didn't change my life they changed a moment." K.G.

It was a warm December evening. The skies were clear and the stars illuminated the night. A humid breeze blew through my window, gently blowing my hair. I breathed in the salty briny scent of the Pacific Ocean. I sat in my high performance prototype vehicle waiting, basking in the silence. Was I really ready for what was about to happen? I had trained for most of my life for this event. History would be made tonight, and I was honored to be a part of it.

How did I get here? I thought of all the dedication and paths that had led me to this point. Am I a good person? Have I lived a good life? I had endured more trials in my life than a normal person should ever have to all because of the evil in the world.

As a young girl I was very naïve. If you told me anything, I would have believed you. I had lived a sheltered life; my parents were always very protective of my brother and me. My brother, Nick, was two years older. I was one grade advanced, so instead of being a ninth grader, I was a proud tenth grader. Nick and I often attended the same classes. Other brothers might be jealous of what a smart little sister I was, but not Nick. He was proud of me. Nick and I did not have a normal brother-sister relationship. We never fought. Fighting was common among brothers and sisters dealing with rivalry. We were a very close family, one who ate dinner together every night at six o'clock sharp at the dining room table. We were an average middle-class family. We weren’t poor, but we weren’t rich either. My father believed that protection of his family came from him and his faith. My mother did not always share his confidence. She believed protection came from two things as well—a dog and an alarm system.

My mother would say, One can never have too much protection. Every time someone entered or left the house, you would lock the door behind you. It became an automatic response, a twist of your wrist. If you forgot, Mom would go off the deep end. But no matter how conscientious you were, if someone wanted you, they could and would get to you. I learned this one afternoon at the age of fourteen.

I was attending the birthday party for my best friend, Alexa. We had just finished dinner and she had opened her presents. Alexa came from money; her parents were very wealthy, her family had a luxurious house and fancy cars, but her parents worked hard to get it. I appreciated people who came from nothing to having everything it is a reminder that hard work pays off. Alexa lived in a gated neighborhood on the east side with colossal homes. There was no crime in this neighborhood, so my mother had no qualms about me attending the party. After dinner, Alexa wanted to walk three houses down to another one of our friend's place whose father had just given her an amazing birthday gift the week before—a German Oldenburg jumping horse named Souci. Just as we were about to leave, my mom called to check on me. The girls were eager to go, so I urged them to go ahead and said I would catch up. I told my mom how much fun I was having. We talked for about five minutes and then I left to meet the girls.

Walking in Alexa’s peaceful neighborhood, I noticed the sky had become a collage of pastel colors, the swirl of clouds blending into the approaching night. The light was dimming. I was alone and, for a second, I felt frightened. I had an eerie feeling that something bad was going to happen, so I picked up the pace. I thought I heard footsteps behind me. Then I heard my name Katherine! I turned around and sustained a blow to my stomach that took my breath away. Three men dressed in black and gray wearing ski masks surrounded me. Then one man threw me over his shoulder and ran. Being kidnapped was one of my worst fears. Panic-stricken, a thousand images raced through my mind. The man carrying me was very tall and strong. At 90 pounds, I seemed to be light as a feather. I attempted to scream, but I couldn't catch my breath from the blow. I kicked and tried to break free, but that only infuriated him. The men ran between houses towards an isolated field.

All I could think about was trying to escape. With my body draped over his shoulder, my thoughts raced. How I could get out of this situation? My first instinct was to bite his ear. That infuriated him. He hurled me to the ground and kicked me. The other men joined in on the attack. I could see they were beating me so I would not escape. With all the blows I was taking, I couldn't sit up even if I tried. I begged for my life. Please stop, please stop, I said in an agony-filled whisper. They didn't care. They just kept hitting, kicking, and cursing at me. One of them even spit on me. As they spoke, I realized they were not men but boys, maybe teenagers. They were not much older than me.

When they stopped beating me, the stockiest boy said, If you make any noise, we will kill you. You will stay silent and enjoy what we’re going to do to you. His voice was flat and toneless. Not only were they stronger than me, but I was outnumbered. Panic pulsed through my body; it heaved in an uncontrollable spasm. Suddenly the boys ripped my clothes off, every stitch a stolen piece of my soul. I could feel the fabric of my life tearing away. I was bloody, naked in the dirt, and begging for my life. My mind was blank; only instinct remained—the instinct to survive. I repeated, Why are you doing this to me? Why me? What are you going to do?

The tallest boy replied in a cold, angry tone, "We’re going to rape you. That’s what. We picked you because you are a virgin. At that moment I knew I might die afterwards, and, for a split second, I wished I could die before being gang-raped. I had always preferred dying to rape. I’d be stripped of my purity, the one thing that was truly mine. I wasn’t afraid to die; death seemed easier than torture by these barbaric boys. I felt a surge of anger and panic, and fought with all my strength. I struggled to break free by kicking one in the groin and head-butting another. This prompted the boys to grab my arms and legs and shackle me to the dirt. Then the boy who had carried me grabbed my right leg. My leg slipped from his grasp. I kicked him in the face with all my strength. He recoiled, momentarily dazed and disoriented.

I couldn't see his face because of his mask, but I could see his anger rising in his wide-eyed glare. His fingers curled up and formed a fist. He sprung towards me and repeatedly pounded my face like a boxer going after his opponent. For a boy so tall and skinny his force was undeniable. I drifted in and out of consciousness, my vision hazy. He grabbed my leg and completed the pin-down. Now all of my limbs were forcefully held down by three strangers. I was no longer in control of my body. He unzipped his pants and forced his way on to me. Now I’m going to really enjoy this, and when we are done, you will be a whore.

Fuck you. You are all going to hell for this. I could barely speak, but it felt good to express my disdain. As I lay there, pinned to the ground, about to be raped, all my energy drained out of me. The only thing I had left was prayer. I closed my eyes and let go of my fear unto my father. Please help me. Please don't let this happen, not to me. I would give my life not to be raped. Help me through this. Give me strength. Please give me a miracle and please don't give up on me. I don't want to die like this. Bloody tears flowed down my face as I prayed. Just as I finished, the tallest boy, the one in control, pulled his pants down and pressed his body against mine. My body tensed feeling our skin touching. As he prepared to penetrate me, he was breathing hard. His breath reeked of rancid garbage thinly veiled by the faint scent of mint. I tried not to meet his gaze, but when I did, his eyes had a hard, hateful look—a look of control. They reflected no color, only blackness. I knew he was someone who got off on dominating other people. I trembled with terror, more frightened than ever. As I lay trapped underneath him, I knew my life would never be the same; it would be forever changed by this moment. My thoughts were with my family. Would I see them again? I flashed on my mother's face— her bright smile, the way she gazed at me, as if I brought her nothing but pure happiness.

I suddenly heard a high-pitched whiz while peering up at the boy on top of me. His head forcefully jerked to the left as he cried out. I flinched as warm deep red blood and brain matter sprayed us both. His body went limp falling off of mine. The other boys released my arms, and I curled up in a ball, newly aware of my nakedness. I tracked the boys’ movements, fearing they’d come after me again. But when I looked up, I noticed that their eyes reflected sheer terror. They spun around and sprinted in the opposite direction. The boys didn’t get very far. I heard the same high-pitched whiz before their heads burst and their corpses struck the ground like sacks of flour. They too had been shot in the head.

I twisted around to make sense of the mayhem. Through blurred vision in the distance, I spotted two very tall men racing towards me. They also wore masks and were dressed in black. They had silencers on their guns. They looked sophisticated, like professionals. I knew they were grown men because they were much taller and broader than the boys who had attacked me. One man bolted past me to check on the status of the boys. He’d quickly discover they were dead. The other knelt down by me and whispered, You are safe now. Don't worry. We’ll take care of you. A third man appeared carrying a blanket. He wrapped me up and cradled me in his arms. His warmth comforted me. It was as if they had come straight from heaven. We didn’t exchange any more words; a silent goodness radiated from them. The third man picked me up. His mask concealed his identity. I peered into his unique sliver-green eyes feeling this gentle man’s aura. I could see emotion in his misty eyes. I had heard you could look into a man’s eyes and see his soul. I now believed that to be true. This stranger strode with intention as he cradled me tightly to his chest. I trusted him so deeply; I passed out in his arms.

#

It was a horrible memory. One I tried to forget. I noticed I was grasping the steering wheel and clenching my jaw. I pushed the disturbing images out of my mind and instead reflected on my life and the person I had become. Had I been a good person? Had I lived an incredible life? The answer was clear; I had received a gift, one not given to many people—a second chance at life.

I glanced in the rearview mirror. Strong-willed light blue-grey eyes peered back at me. I ran my finger over the scar above my right eyebrow, a constant reminder of my attack. I pushed the wisps of hair out of my eyes. I had styled it into a messy bun with a small braided twist on the side. My mother’s Italian genes graced me with exotic dark skin and ombre hair—warm brown on the top tapering into shimmering golden blonde. I was half Italian and half Scottish. I was blessed with my father’s grey eyes. I was often told my eyes were amazing but intimidating as if I could look right through people. I believed that was my spirituality doing its magic. My belief and faith in god were the most important things in my life. I wasn’t cocky or arrogant, but I did possess a quiet confidence. A woman needed to believe in herself to be powerful, to make a statement.

My experiences fueled my motivation. Confidence and adrenaline coursed through my veins. I was in the mood to kick some ass. My training had fully prepared me for this moment. I had learned early that familiarity and skill in carrying out critical missions only went so far without tools. That was why Sweden, France, and Germany had collaborated in creating the twenty million dollar high-performance vehicle that I would drive tonight. This car was a masterpiece, an aerodynamically shaped two-passenger sports vehicle with steering and suspension designed for precise control at high speeds. It was a cross between a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport and a Koenigsegg Agera R with a touch of Audi engine, a one-of-a-kind 8.0 litre, quad turbocharged, W16 cylinder engine and 7-speed transmission. I sat at the controls of the fastest car ever made. The control panel at my fingertips rivaled the cockpit of an F16 fighter jet. Three video-computer screens lit the dash like the Vegas strip. The fresh scent of the new Italian leather lingered. This innovation had not been designed to accomplish the mission of a man, but the mission of a thirty-year-old woman. This high performance machine had never been driven by anyone. Until now. I glanced outside at the swaying palm trees lining the road. Hawaii was one of my favorite places in the world. I was lucky to be an American and lucky to be executing this mission tonight.

The familiar sound of Drake Vander’s voice on speakerphone pulled me out of my thoughts. Vander was not just our team leader; he was also a mentor, friend, and savior. Vander was the sniper who had fired the long distance shot that killed my attacker, saving me in seconds of being stripped of my purity. He was in his late forties and still very physically fit, his short hair had turned a shiny platinum-grey from aging. Vander had trained me into the skilled assassin the world was about to meet. Kat are you ready? Go-time is in five minutes. Can you hear me okay?

Hearing the excitement in his voice, I said, Affirmative. I can hear you perfectly, and you are even more handsome in HD. I said while admiring Vander’s sliver-light green eyes staring back at me, an eye color which was very rare. I noticed Vander hadn’t shaved in a couple days.

I like the scruffy look Vander it looks good on you.

Thank you Kat. Yes I haven’t felt like shaving, I’m more concerned with the safety of my team.

Don’t worry we got this one. I smiled, realizing this moment was sixteen years in the making. I had never felt so prepared, so confident. Valor was a word I would use to describe our team. Tonight we will go down in history.

Good. I’ve got your visual and sound confirmed. It looks like you were lost in thought. What's on your mind? he