SON OF A SPY

By Samantha Harris

Jason Rex had a pretty normal life as a senior in high school getting ready to graduate with a full football scholarship. He was obviously popular with his handsome looks and charismatic charm, everyone who met him knew he was going to do incredible things one day. If he ever lived long enough to get the chance that is. Everything changed in an

• Language: English
• Publisher: The Mulberry Books
• Release date: Jun 5, 2020
• ISBN: 9781952405211

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Son of a Spy.

Copyright © 2020 by Samantha Harris.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher and author, except by reviewers, who may quote brief passages in a review.

This publication contains the opinions and ideas of its author. It is intended to provide helpful and informative material on the subjects addressed in the publication. The author and publisher specifically disclaim all responsibility for any liability, loss, or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this book.

ISBN: 978-1-952405-22-8 [Paperback Edition]

978-1-952405-21-1 [eBook Edition]

Printed and bound in The United States of America.

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The Mulberry Books, LLC.

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Prologue

Wednesday, July 19th

The eruption of the black and silver gun, the newly upgraded 38 Special, came after the shrapnel exploded from the box and into Agent Rex’s face. They were close behind him now. He was trapped like a mouse between an army of hungry, angry cats. The dark warehouse held crates of military issue weapons imported from all over the world. The best of the best stocked the room but even with it all, it wasn’t full enough to lose his pursuers and he wasn’t strong enough to outrun them anymore. Wounded and carrying the enemies secrets in his pocket, the spy dodged behind a tall crate housing semi-automatic AR-57’s.

Agent Trent Rex should be thinking only of his escape, if not for himself but for the evidence he hid in his satchel that now lazily hung by his left hip. The Intel that would change everything and bring this terrorist group to its knees. He should be concerned about the secrets he was carrying, and the assassins sent to kill him. He should be worried about getting back to headquarters as soon as possible and trying to ensure these terrorists don’t start another world war.

But he wasn’t. Agent Rex thought of only one thing; his son, Jason. The kid who wouldn’t leave his mother’s side on his first day of preschool. A little boy who saved the neighbor’s cat from a high branch in the tree. The young man who captivated all the ladies in school and was the star of the football team. The same young man that earned a football scholarship to the University of Oregon and would be leaving in just a few weeks. They were just two strangers living in the same house now.

Rex thought of all the reasons why he never told his son he worked undercover for a secret government organization; the death of the boy’s mother contributed to it. After he lost his wife Maranda, Rex dug deeper into his work at the FBI, which was how he found himself on I.D.I.A.’s radar and was invited to join the International Defense and Intelligence Agency. His son was twelve at the time and was handling her death just as poorly as Rex was. Both dove into their work as a means to handle the pain. But it only drove a wedge into their relationship. They still loved each other and lived well together, but neither really knew who the other was anymore.

So here Agent Rex was; facing death and wishing to see his son one more time. To talk, really talk. He needed to reach his son, to explain everything. To confess. Though he knew he never would, he wanted to tell Jason everything but didn’t want to invite him into this chaotic and perilous life; or so was his excuse anyway.

He was the best at gathering secrets and keeping them. Both professional and personal and he hated himself for it.

The gun rang out again, closer this time as he made one last ditch effort to escape. For the intel he protected, but mostly for his son.

Chapter 1

Saturday, July 22nd

Jason Mark Rex, a good kid with a wild side, now stood in line at the crowded Burger Hut in Camarillo California waiting to order his favorite lunch with his two best friends. The dinner was crowded as usual for a Saturday afternoon, a single TV hung in the far corner above the bigger booths. Normally local games or events occupied that screen. Today it was the news talking about another attempted terrorist attack in New York City.

’Naw man, what are you talking about, she’s not as hot as Bethany? Traven was saying, awaking Jason from his thoughts of food.

Eighteen-year-old Traven Braven was most definitely the talker of the group and could BS his way out of any situation. His dark complexion and tall muscular build made everyone believe his basketball scholarship would turn out into a full career in the NBA.

What? No way. argued Alex, the impulsive redhead, Cynthia is way hotter. She’s going into modeling, there’s no way Bethany is getting into any modeling agency. Alex McCarthy was the genius of the gang, with a full scholarship to the University of Texas in Austin.

The two boys constantly argued about whose girlfriend was better; today’s subject was who was better looking,’’ yesterday was who was smarter. Neither girl was especially attractive to Jason. In fact, he never really liked dating as much as his friends did. Although every girl wished she were by his side, Jason only cared about football, his college scholarship and getting out of this town. Girls were a nice, but a silly distraction", he often argued when asked.

But there was this one girl during sophomore year that caught him off guard. Her name was Mary Jane and to Jason she was the most beautiful, kind girl he had ever met. They were in love and they lost track of everything else in the world. Jason stopped showing up for practice and his grades began slipping. Things were getting to the point of no return and Jason nearly lost his scholarship and his only option for leaving this town. He got scared of his feelings for her and losing his opportunity so he broke things off with Mary Jane and they never spoke again. It still hurt him to think about it, as if he relieved it all over again.

Jason tried not to think of it but his friends always talked about their girls and it made Jason miss her and wonder about his decision.

Cynthia does that weird eye twitch thing when she gets excited. Traven argued with Alex.

Dude it’s cute! And what about Bethany’s impulsive and aggressive attitude? Alex shot back.

What had started out as bragging about their own girls had turned into bashing the other’s, and Jason was quickly growing tired of this conversation.

How about we save it for later guys, we’re up. Jason gestured toward the counter.

Say J, Traven said as Alex ordered first, Now that highschool’s over, why haven’t you gotten yourself a real girl yet?

Alex jumped in, "because he doesn’t love women, he loves the game." He overly exaggerated like a commentator would. The two laughed at their unwitty joke as they took their medium cups from the counter and began to fill them from the drinking fountain.

Keep it up guys. Jason started, You know the score. he smiled.

Harsh man. Alex smirked.

Dude, just cause all the girls want to be with you doesn’t mean nothing if you don’t capitalize. Traven said as he sipped his Coke.

Yea and besides, both our girls thought they wanted you until they found us real men. You should’ve made a move when you had the chance, what do you say to that? Alex smirked as they walked to an empty table in the middle of the room.

I guess they realized they’d just have to settle. Jason smiled and Traven punched Alex in the shoulder, Don’t give him that. Alex rubbed his arm as a high voice called over the diners’ intercom. Order eighty-three. Jason got up, You guys better be on a different subject when I get back. he threatened with a smile and walked up to the counter.

* * *

Late that night Jason walked into the dark, empty house and dropped his keys off on the table next to a photo of himself after the championship game last year. The caption on the bottom of the photo read Jason ‘The Flash’ Rex.

Jason always liked the nick name, after all if there was one thing he was good at, it was running. But his mom had called him that when he was younger and it stuck immediately. He had always had a knack for football since he was a little boy and when he and his dad would play together, mom would always watch. She once said he was as fast as the DC hero The Flash. It made his young little heart skip a beat that his mom thought he was as a superhero. Ever since he began to love the DC hero and it became a thing at school. Shortly into his junior year it became his football nickname and he loved it even more.

Jason glanced around the quiet house, Wasn’t Dad supposed to be back from his trip today? Jason wonder at the dark house, noticing its void. Must’ve been delayed at the airport. He shrugged it off as he glanced at the digital clock on the Blu-ray player in the Living Room reading 11:48. If not at the airport, the man was probably held up in his office or with a colleague somewhere glad not to be home, just as Jason wished he wasn’t either.

This house reminded them too much of his mother. Her decorations, her spirit, the absence of her cheer that used to fill every inch of the house. Jason couldn’t have guessed that silence would be so loud and painful. It had been six years and yet they still didn’t talk about it. Or anything for that matter.

Maranda Rex was a successful sales woman in her sisters company Sweet & Sound, selling various beauty and health products. She was supposed to be coming back from a business conference in Seattle one evening, but the plane was caught up in bad weather and didn’t make the flight. It was struck by lightning and crashed, killing everyone onboard. Although this was so long ago now Jason and his father still hadn’t truly processed their grief, nor could they move on. The light in their life had been permanently put out and buried in the dirt, never to shine on them again

Jason walked to the fridge and pulled out what was left of the milk, last night’s leftover pizza and the lunchmeat. After lunch with Traven and Alex he had gone to the gym to run a few miles on the treadmill then played some late-night football with a few of the guys from the team who hadn’t already left for an early start at college. Jason himself would be leaving in just a few more weeks for Oregon with his full scholarship to play football, the only thing in Jasons life that he understood and could control.

Jason would usually get home after his father on a daily basis, but sometimes he’d pull late nights or even stakeouts that would consist of days. Jason assumed this was something of the sort, so he walked to the couch with his midnight snacks and turned on the sports channel before dozing off shortly after.

* * *

Morning came faster than Jason realized. The late summer sun shone brightly through the window, waking him up before eight thirty. He groaned and rolled over on the couch, trying to avoid the blinding light. After several restless minutes he stumbled into the kitchen and found his way to some breakfast.

It wasn’t until he finished placing the dishes in the sink did he notice the coffee pot was empty. Either his father didn’t make it home last night or he forgot to set the timer when he got home, maybe he’d already left this morning and finished the pot. Jason curiously wondered. His dad had left for a trip last Tuesday and said he’d be back in a few days, but it was Sunday now. Usually Mr. Rex wouldn’t go so long as to not say something to his son, he often would call or in the least leave a note. Considering Jason hadn’t gotten a message, he looked for a quickly scribbled note.

After not finding one Jason started up the stairs delicately and peeked toward his father’s’ room. Strange, the door was opened wide, wasn’t that closed last night? He must be up or out then; Jason reached the top and made the slight right turn toward his father’s’ door and glanced in.

Everything was how his father had left it several days before. Jason stepped in, Dad? he called as he crossed the bed to the master bathroom. Finding it empty Jason turned back toward the door facing the empty room and called louder, Dad!

Jason walked out and peeked into his own room which was across the hall. It appeared just as he’d left it yesterday evening. He made his way around the house and outside to their suburban neighborhood in sunny Camarillo. After no sign of his father nor a note Jason decided he’d probably forgotten and just simply shrugged it off. When his father got home later they’d laugh and talk about it, he was sure.

In the meantime, Jason would have to get ready for his shift at the auto shop. He didn’t hate his job. It was good work, but he hated the thought of being a mechanic. Either way he had to remind himself it was going to help pay for his move to Oregon and his