The Dangers of White

By Ariel Hall

You will know when the time comes and have five seconds to decide. If you take the poison no one else will be hurt. If you try the antidote on your sister she will be shot. We will find out together if it works or not. No lifting the clasp. No tampering with the box. No trying to leave town. No contacting the police or involving others. Doing any of these things will be an instant forfeit of your lives and you will not see the next sunrise. You will be constantly watched. There is no escape.

Drew Evergreen is a twenty-six year old man who has everything going for him. Money, successful businesses, private security team, and a younger sister he would do literally anything for to protect. When his parents where murdered and he was six, he was forced to chose between following the murder and becoming a killer to protect his sister, or letting them both be killed right then. Holly, Drew's sister, is sixteen and happy go lucky. She does whatever her brother says to keep him as happy as she can, seeing the stress he is constantly under while not knowing any of the danger. Drew is prepared to celebrate his sister's sixteenth birthday as soon as she flies in with as much joy as always, until his past comes back to haunt him. Marietta Graves appears once more to ruin not only Holly's birthday weekend, but to kill Drew for what he's done to her. Drew, determined to keep the truth from his sister, does everything he can until Holly finds out anyway. The race is on when Drew brakes the rules and leaves with his sister to the safe house, Marietta right behind them. When the two finally come face to face, Drew will gladly die if he can only kill Marietta first. His sister is his life, he will protect her. Question is, will he be able to, or will Marietta win?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Publishdrive
• Release date: Aug 6, 2019

Book preview

Ariel Hall

The Dangers of White

The Dangers of White

By, Ariel Hall

Five more minutes. Five more minutes and then he could leave this ridiculous party. Drew discreetly texted his bodyguard the plans from his watch and waited the two seconds it took for the man to reply. Drew’s smile became a little less forced as he walked casually through the crowd to the double glass doors. He’d need to say goodbye to the host first, assure them he’d written a check, then he was free.

Dr. Mitchell, Mrs. Arissa, Drew bowed his head politely. A wonderful party, as always.

Dr. Mitchell smiled his plastic surgery smile, his deep tan hiding whatever wrinkles might have appeared since his last Botox injection. His ten-thousand-dollar suit fit his thin frame well, the gold cufflinks shining in the chandelier light.

Mrs. Arissa’s thin smile did not lift the corners of her eyes, or her lips. As a plastic surgeon’s wife, she was like a living Barbie doll. A stick figure who spent too much time under the tanning light, her black dress flowed over her body like liquid and pooled around her feet. Her bleach blond hair curled gently over her bare shoulders. Gold jewelry and large diamonds hung from her ears, neck, wrists and decorated her fingers.

Thank you so much, Mr. Evergreen, for coming. Mrs. Arissa’s voice was cold and too soft, too fake for his liking.

Did you write that check you promised me, Drew? Dr. Mitchell laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. He was a loud man and it didn’t work for him. He sounded like he was still going through puberty, so he always had to deepen his voice.

I wrote the charity a check as soon as I came in, don’t worry, Drew replied with a wink. I trust it will go to great things.

Of course, of course, the doctor quickly agreed.

You aren’t leaving so soon are you? Mrs. Arissa asked sipping her champagne, seeming to note the direction he was headed.

Drew took a drink of his water and nodded once. I’m afraid so. Meetings start at seven in the morning and I have to at least be present.

Terrible things meetings are, Dr. Mitchell replied with a sigh. He downed the rest of his drink and motioned to a passing waiter for another. All you seem to do, Drew, is go to meetings.

Running several successful companies means meetings all of the time. Drew set his empty glass on the waiter’s tray and thanked them as they disappeared into the crowd. I’m afraid I must take my leave now. I wanted to thank you and wish you well the rest of the evening.

Drew shook Mrs. Arissa’s hand and held Dr. Mitchell’s for a second longer than was necessary. The man looked uncomfortable and eagerly led his wife to someone else, not even thanking Drew for the check. Drew smiled faintly and grabbed his coat and scarf from the pretty young attendant who smiled easily at him.

Shoving open the glass doors, Drew breathed the icy fresh air deeply into his lungs. The room inside had been stuffed with expensive suits and dresses with dozens of different perfumes and colognes. The air outside was relatively clean and fresh with only the city smells to bother him. He looked up and the black sky depressed him, the city lights were too bright to see the stars.

John and the jet-black Ferrari were waiting for him at the curb and Drew hurried his descent. It was nearly midnight and still the city was abuzz of people and sounds. Drew went down the gallery steps and jumped into the passenger seat. A moment later John was in the driver’s seat and easily maneuvering between cars, taking the fastest route back to the apartment.

Drew closed his eyes and rubbed his temple. Being surrounded by so many conceited people for over four hours had taken its toll. He felt tired and wished more than anything he could just sleep. He knew he couldn’t, though, and that only made it worse. Maybe he’d get a nap in, it would be something. And, if he couldn’t, he could always go down to his VR room and work out.

Long night, Drew? John asked softly.

Drew quickly sat up and blinked several times. Longer than it was. He grabbed his tablet and turned it on, pulling up the accounts and profiles he was watching. I want to follow the money, John. Follow the money to the offshore and the mistresses accounts. How many do you have working on this? The children’s wing to the hospital isn’t going to happen, I have a good feeling about it. I know everyone who came tonight and the money they’d be willing to give, if it isn’t close to ten million then I know who to blame.

I have five guys on it, sir, John assured him. I’ll send a copy anonymously to the FED’s myself as soon as their report is finished.

Drew looked at the profile his people had compiled on Dr. Mitchell, his smug face and not so clean background lighting up the screen. Soon enough everyone would know who the good doctor really was, and with him behind bars the children’s wing would actually be built. The woman next in line for the task at least didn’t have a criminal record and wasn’t a suspect in a robbery from her teenage years.

And what of the wonderful Mrs. Arissa Mitchell, Drew mumbled as he clicked her profile. This was a new folder and he read over it greedily.

Harder to prove she knows what’s going on, John answered. However, one of our guys found a mistake and followed the thread of a lead.

This won’t get her life, Drew said with a sigh.

It’ll ruin her reputation and get her at least ten years.

Unless she pleads out.

With all this? John didn’t sound convinced. I don’t know. She’ll serve some time.

John expertly slid the car into the tiny parking garage spot between the other dozen Drew owned. Both men got out and John locked the doors as they headed to the elevator. Drew shared this garage level with two other tenants and between the three of them the space was filled with crazy expensive cars and motorcycles.

Drew followed behind John as he read the reports on Arissa. A flutter of white caught the corner of Drew’s eye and he froze and spun the direction he’d seen it. No one was there. Drew’s heart hammered in his chest as he searched the open space. He heard the click of John’s gun leaving the holster and felt a little better. There was no one anywhere and not enough time from the flutter of movement to hide behind a car. Drew ran his hand through his hair and shoved the tablet in his coat. He had to be seeing things.

Sir? John asked softly from his side.

Drew looked in the direction John was and felt his heart stop. A white handkerchief lay on the floor only a dozen yards from them. Drew stumbled back and stared in horror at the cloth. John walked slowly towards it and Drew opened his mouth to stop him, but his words were lost. John pulled a knife from his boot and touched the cloth gently. When nothing happened, John picked it up with the tip of his blade and turned back to Drew. John nodded towards the elevator and Drew forced himself to walk forward. Only when the elevator doors opened to his personal rooms did they dare to speak. John set the cloth on the counter and started washing the blade off in the sink with bleach. Drew walked to the counter and stared at the cloth like it was going to explode. His heart was hammering in his chest, his pulse quickening.

I’ll have someone run tests on it now, John promised. I’ll pull the video from the cameras and we can see how and when it got there.

Drew looked at John, dread already threatening to consume him. John,

Sir, John stopped him and stuck the knife back into his shoe. We will handle this. Before the night is through, I’ll have some answers for you. John grabbed a Ziplock bag and a butter knife, then slid the cloth into the bag and threw away the knife.

Drew took a deep breath and reached for his cellphone. I have to call her. I have to make sure,

She would be asleep by now, Drew, John said calmly. We should with Benson, he’ll be up tonight.

Drew nodded and dialed the other man’s number deftly. Benson answered on the first ring. Where is she? Drew’s tone was harsher than he’d meant it to be, he didn’t have time to apologize.

Sleeping, sir. Benson replied promptly. Has been for an hour.

Has anything strange happened? Seen anyone unusual? Heard any odd sounds? Drew couldn’t think straight he was so stressed, not about this.

We stayed in today, sir. She didn’t feel very well so we watched movies and built gingerbread houses. I cooked. Nothing out of the ordinary, sir.

Drew nodded as though Benson could see him. Good. Don’t scare her. Don’t even tell her I called. John will let you know what’s going on the morning. Drew closed his eyes and lowered his head. Just, he was being too emotional. More than likely this was nothing and he was overreacting. He looked up and saw John coming over with a laptop. Keep her safe. Drew hung up and watched as John set everything on the counter.

Hacking into the camera feed was child’s play and in seconds John had footage from ten minutes ago up and playing on the screen. They watched themselves park the car and get out, then start walking towards the elevator. Drew’s head was down and John was looking around the parking garage critically. There was a fluttering of white and after a second Drew was spinning around in search of danger. John played the tape over and over again and still they didn’t see where the cloth had come from.

It’s almost like it appeared from nowhere, Drew whispered. It fell from the ceiling, Drew mumbled as they watched it over yet again. He stepped back and ran his hands through his hair. He had to calm down, he had to think straight. Alright. We go back down there and see if there is anyway the handkerchief could have somehow been stuck on the ceiling and fallen just as I was walking by. It sounded crazy and he knew it was pointless.

Sir, let me get someone else to investigate, John called to him from the kitchen. If it is her,

Then I’m the only one who would be able to tell, Drew cut him off. He pressed the elevator button and waited impatiently for the doors to open.

Drew, John said evenly.

Drew took a breath and turned to face his friend and bodyguard. The man knew who he really was and didn’t care, didn’t judge him. John knew everything and still protected him with his life. They’d only known one another for six years and John was more family than anyone ever before. Drew knew his friend was right and he should listen to him, he just couldn’t. John knew everything, he didn’t understand everything. He would never understand everything.

You aren’t going to do your sister any good if something happens to you. John stood and went to Drew’s side, gently putting his hand on his shoulder. Let someone else go investigate. You need to change out of your tux and I’ll keep going over these videos.

Drew looked down at the expensive suite and coat he still wore. John was right, if something happened to him, he wouldn’t be able to keep his sister safe. He wanted to know the danger, wanted to know if there wasn’t any. He wanted to tear the apartment building down with his bare hands if that would give him the answers. However, he wanted to be able to keep his sister safe and protected. He didn’t want to send someone else to investigate when he was perfectly capable, not when they could get hurt. It was his past coming up, not theirs.

The doors opened and Drew looked inside the empty space. There wouldn’t be any evidence left. There wouldn’t be any trace of anything at all. She was too clever for that.

There won’t be anything, John. Drew turned away from the doors and stalked to his bedroom.

Drew owned the top three floors of the very high-end apartment building. He had six bedrooms and seven bathrooms, a large kitchen and dining, a huge living room, a game room, and a theater room on the top floor. The second floor was a state-of-the-art gym with every expensive toy a person could want, a pool and sauna, and a VR system for working out. The third floor held, well, some of his business endeavors, a couple of scientists, a few live-in guards, a few full time computer people, and the proper living spaces for them all.

Drew’s apartment was all wood and warm colors. Floors were stained, walls were either navy blue or a deep, rich red. Leather and wood furniture filled the spaces with few pictures on the wall and only then of his sister. The kitchen was stained wood and glass, the counter concrete and the sink bronze. It was warm and comfortable, spacious and as open as it could be, neat and organized.

His bedroom was large and comfortable. The walls here were a dark gray, the floor a thick, gray carpet. His bed faced the floor to ceiling windows and had a navy comforter and pillows, thick and expensive. There were bookshelves on either side of the bed were filled with his work. There was a glass table and leather chair near the bedroom door littered in papers and notes. A closet was on the other wall with a hidden door leading directly to the third floor behind a shoe rack. Beside the closet was the master bath, all stone and wood and black features.

Drew shucked off his coat and dropped it on the bed, then threw himself on his back and stared at the ceiling. He’d been ready to try to sleep for a few hours and then get up at five for work, and this happened. He needed to get up and change into normal clothes, he needed to plan and prepare and higher more security for his sister.

His cellphone buzzed and in an instant it was beside his ear. He tried to school his emotions, wishing he’d taken the time to glance at the ID before answering. Drew, he said in way of greeting.

Hey, a