Project Sparta (The Xander Whitt Series Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

necklace to help him in his decision—on its end hung a sterling silver crucifix about an inch and a half tall. After twirling the crucifix through his shirt, Xander’s gaze settled on the man before him asking for his trust. He gave Hardy one more look over, as if sizing him up.
    “Okay. Let’s go.”

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 5
     
    Arlington, VA
    June 29 th 2016
     
     
     
    It was a normal day, one where people kept to themselves and milled about their business. Melissa Haynes was no different as she pushed her baby stroller down 15th Street N toward the Court House Metro station. She often rode the Metro into the city to take long strolls across the National Mall. She enjoyed the smell of the fresh-cut grass there, the sounds of children riding the Carousel, tourists photographing everything, and the towering sights of the Smithsonian museums and the Capitol. She thought of the Mall as America’s front yard and could feel the city’s pulse beat beneath her feet.
    As always, she brought her fifteen-month-old son Benny along. Benedict Michael was his full name, but she thought Benny was cute for a kid. He was just now popping teeth, so drool was continually running down his chin. Melissa wore large sunglasses to hide the bags under her eyes from the late night required from her teething son. Benny gnawed on his hands as if digging for the crusted peanut butter in the cracks of his fingers. Now that Benny was of the age to sit outward, he was able to observe the scenes passing by him with his little teddy bear, the one he had to take everywhere. Melissa had to sew its left eye back on because Benny’s teething had gotten the best of it. It was a patch up job, a temporary fix until his second fang sprouted. Melissa sauntered her way toward the Metro elevator.
    The elevator dinged as its doors opened. Melissa boarded with the stroller as her thoughts wandered through the trivialities of the day.
    Potbelly Sandwich Shop. Yum. Screw Atkins. Bread is good. Another celebrity DUI… Why do all child entertainers end up going off the deep end by the time they can drive?
    “You’re never going to drive and leave your mommy, are you Benny?” Melissa leaned down to look at her baby and finished her thought through a wide smile. Benny cracked a gummy smile at the sight of his mother, releasing the floodgates of drool. She snatched up his little teddy and before he could cry, she buried the teddy’s nose in his neck. Benny giggled the cutest thing she had ever heard.
    As soon as the elevator opened, Melissa felt the settling breeze from the train heading to New Carrollton open for boarding in the station. She scurried across the platform with the stroller and darted through the closing doors of the train at the last second, stumbling into a stranger. She gazed up at the tall man who had caught her with a smile.
    “I’m sorry, sir!”
    “You’re fine,” he responded, entertained by the scene before him.
    “Thank God I wore flats today,” she said. The passengers nearby chuckled. As usual on such a normal day, people were off in their own thoughts, keeping interactions at as low of a level as possible.
    Melissa’s eyes found a young, tan-skinned man with a black patchy beard across his jaw. He looked college-aged and appeared to be disturbed by something, as his lips formed quick silent words over and over again. His eyes clung to the ceiling and beads of sweat dripped down both sides of his head. The growing stream of perspiration inched its way from his temple to his jaw line. And then his saddened eyes fell to Benny in the stroller.
    That’s weird. The A/C is cranked up in here. Why is he sweating? Why is he checking his watch? He must be late for something… Why is he looking at Benny like that?
    The automated voice sounded throughout the train, announcing the next stop. “The train is arriving at Rosslyn. Next stop Foggy Bottom.” The passenger started huffing and puffing mantras in Arabic. His volume became