"Tucker, we have to get her out of here!" exclaimed Mary frantically.
Tucker looked at her sadly, and his wife gave him a sad, knowing look.
"I called Mr. Maverick. He knows a safe place where we can take her, and she will be safe!"
Tucker looked at her with concern.
"Do you really trust him, Mary?"
"Yes, I do. Also, I have to wonder, do we have a choice?" she breathed nervously.
He looked at her sadly as they finished packing the diaper bags and heard a car pull up to the house. He walked toward his daughter and picked her up, thinking about how much he was going to miss her. He took a last look at the bright auburn red locks that grew on her perfectly round head and gazed into her beautiful blue eyes, adoring the gold ring on the outskirts of her left pupil.
"Alexis, Daddy always loves you, no matter if I am dead or alive," he whispered, tears streaming down his face.
He kissed her forehead and handed her to Mary.
"I will be back soon," she said.
She quickly kissed him, and she and Alexis disappeared outside.
******
It was a rainy, cold night in the city. Mary thought that this was the weather telling her this was her last night, but she wouldn't let that bother her in the final moments with her child.
Her gut turned when she saw Maverick's black car in the driveway, and the driver opened the back door. She set her bags on the floor and slid into the seat beside Leonard Maverick.
He was an older man but still good-looking for his age. He had black hair with gray threatening at the roots, and his dark eyes were unreadable when it came to emotion. He dressed in a dark suit with a white button-down shirt and a red tie.
"Good evening, Mrs. Berson," he said with no emotion.
She wasn't sure if she trusted him to keep Alexis safe, but what choice did she have? Leonard Maverick was the most ruthless, prosperous, and powerful man in Charton. He ran that city, and nothing got by that man without finding out. She didn't know, at that time, that he was the one that wanted them dead.
She and her husband were on the job to murder someone who they were told the people involved had stolen information from his company. They had found some duffle bags of money, and the Bersons were instructed to hand over anything found.
Instead of handing over their findings, they kept the bags in hopes that someday they would be able to escape. However, now, Mary knew that they would never have gotten away with it. Sooner or later, they would have been caught.
"Mr. Maverick, thank you for helping us keep Alexis safe. Tucker and I have messed up, and Alexis doesn't deserve what is in store for us," she stammered, and he smiled a crooked smile.
"Mary, please call me Leonard. We have been friends for a very long time."
She smiled at him weakly. He looked down at Alexis and then back up at Mary.
"May I?" he asked, extending his arms.
She looked at her daughter and up at Lenard. She only nodded and handed him Alexis. The baby girl cooed happily, pulling on his beard, and he cooed and grinned at the child. Mary smiled at them through her tears.
******
The ride out to the small town of Glee took what seemed to Mary was half the night. The car finally turned and stopped in front of a dimly lit quaint house. She could barely see a thing.
Lenard exited the car with Alexis in his arms as Mary grabbed the diaper bags and followed him to the front door. He rang the doorbell and patiently waited. A few moments later, a young woman with blonde hair in a spiral of curls, bright green eyes, and an average figure opened the door.
"Mr. Maverick, what a pleasant surprise," she said, noticing Mary standing behind him.
"Laura, this is the child I called you about, the Berson kid."
The woman looked at him for a moment, and then Mary saw his words register.
"Oh yes, of course. I just didn't expect you until tomorrow."
Leonard glanced at Mary, and then he said, "Well, something came up to make this a more urgent matter."
********
Inside, it was small but cute. First was the living room, cozy and very kid-friendly, with the toys in separate bins, a small chalkboard and chalk on the wall, a TV, and what looked like a DVD player below it. So far as Mary could see, this would be a great start to a beautiful and healthy upbringing for Alexis.
Laura led them to a small room in the back of the house that was furnished with a desk, a couple of file cabinets, and chairs. Laura sat behind the desk and gestured to Mary.
"Please, sit down. We just have some paperwork to fill out before you leave, and everything will be set for me to take your child into my care," stated Laura.
Mary nodded sadly, sitting in front of her. Laura pulled a packet of papers out of a filing cabinet and said,
"Now,t I just need you to fill out as much information as you can. I need to know everything about her check-ups, shots, and anything else that is time and age-appropriate."
Mary nodded sadly, and Laura rose from her chair.
"Mr. Maverick, can you come with me, please?"
Laura and Leonard stepped out of the office. shut the door, and walked into the living room.
"Mr. Maverick, are you sure she wants to do this? On the phone, you said she is voluntarily surrendering."
Leonard glanced at Laura and tickled Alexis under her chin. The redheaded child squealed with delight and grabbed the man's beard.
"Ms. Langston, we can not have an orphaned baby left at a crime scene."
Laura looked at him in confusion, and he sighed a heavy sigh.
"Let's just say she doesn't have a choice," he added.
Laura only nodded. Working for a dangerous man can have its perks, but it also has its penalties if you cross him the wrong way. She worked for Maverick Industries for years and fostered children for them. He wasn't all bad, and the payout was well worth it. Plus, she loved working with children.
About twenty minutes later, Mary went out into the living room.
"Here you go, Alexis now belongs to you. Please take care of her," she cried, looking at her daughter with a pain-stricken face.
She walked toward Leonard and took Alexis out of his arms. She looked into her daughter's eyes and said,
"I'm sorry things had to be this way. You are a survivor. Stay strong and safe, my little angel."
Quickly, Mary kissed Alexis on the forehead, handed the baby to Laura, and without a word, Mary walked out of the house and got into the car.
She let the tears fall and didn't care anymore. She knew it was the last time she would ever hold or see her daughter. Their plan to use the money and run away with had failed, and now they were going to die. She knew it was only a matter of time now. However, Alexis was safe, and that is all that matters now.
*****
The ride was silent on the way back, and it seemed like the trip had taken no time to get to the city. Mary realized she didn't know what town they left Alexis in and hung her head.
The car pulled into her driveway, and she sighed.
"Thank you, Mr. Maverick," she breathed, reaching for the door handle.
Leonard cleared his throat, and she stopped.
"Oh, Mrs. Berson. I never hurt children because of what their parents did. I am happy Alexis has a chance for a good life and won't be repeating her parent's mistakes."
She only nodded, got out of the car, and right at that moment, she knew the truth about Leonard Maverick. He was their boss, man. Now she knew that she wasn't ever going to know if Alexis was truly safe. She had to tell Tucker! She took a deep breath and ran into the house.
"Tucker?!" called out Mary.
No answer!
She looked around and noticed the house was broken into. Their furniture was broken, glass everywhere, and she gasped, seeing blood in the kitchen.
"Noo!" she yelled, dropping to her knees beside her husband's body.
There were three shots in his back, and it was the Maverick mark. She stood and backed away from Tucker's body. She heard a gun cocking, turned around, and stared into the eyes of her former friend and coworker.
"Damien?!"
Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger three times. Mary fell to her knees, looked at the blood on her hands, and slumped over her husband's dead body.