by Smith, T. L.
I turned my head against the door. “What am I? If all this is real, than I’m not any more human than that monster is. You didn’t look at the video. You didn’t see it. If that’s what it looks like, what will I turn into?”
“I have to assume something still human. Look at your mother. Aside from some strange…” He didn’t finish the sentence. She’d embarrassed him often enough to and keep him on his toes around her. “Listen, babe, you won’t know more until you ask her. We’re going to the hotel. You’ll get a little more rest, then we’ll figure all this out.”
“You’ve got to go into the office.” I turned more, putting my hand to the door where he was crouched on the other side. “I’m… scared. What if they figured out you tricked them? What if they have someone in your offices too?”
“I think they’d have hit us here if they had. This isn’t exactly Fort Knox.” He laughed softly, but under it was a tone of seriousness. “Listen, if you’re that worried I’ll see if Daniel can change up the plan a bit. We’ll go to my office together. You can stay in the back office with Charles while I set everything up.”
I didn’t respond and he didn’t push me. My skin stung a bit from the intensity of this episode, but I was transitioning back to normal. I needed to get a grip on this fear and this weird thing inside me. Another deep breath and I let out a sigh. “No. Go. I’ll meet you at the hotel.”
“Okay, but not until I can see you’re all right.” His voice had shifted. He was standing up. I turned the lock on the door as I got off the floor, opening it. He immediately pulled me into an embrace. “I promise I won’t be long. Just stick to Daniel’s side until he has you to safety.”
“I will.” I gave him another hug. “I need a few minutes to get ready, so go.”
Casey gave me a kiss and another hug, then pulled on a civilian windbreaker, adding a cowboy hat. It was still dark enough no one would notice the uniform underneath. Chucky was waiting outside.
Frankie was there too. “I got the room covered. Get yourself ready to move.”
I locked the door and took another shower. A quick one, but the cold water totally woke up my nerves. I dressed in the civvies Joey had for packed. I half-expected him to pull out the ugliest of everything I had, but he’d packed for hunting. Nothing to draw attention. Jeans, dark t-shirt, boots, my cowboy hat.
I shoved my dirty clothes into the duffle as I heard a rapping on the door. It was Daniel. He didn’t say anything as I let him in. He just gathered up our stuff. Frankie wrapped an arm over my shoulder as he walked me down the stairs to their truck. “How you doing, Sis?”
“Tired, confused, scared.”
“If you weren’t, I’d be worried.”
He kept his arm around me, a ball cap dangling from his hand. I realized it was intentional, raised just enough to cover the rest of my face. He kept me on the inside railing, using his body to block anyone watching street-side. Daniel added another layer of coverage for the few steps it took to reach the truck.
They put me in the back passenger seat. The windows were dark tinted, but also had pull down screens to further block out the sun. They were down already, even though the sun was just creeping over the horizon.
As we headed for the highway, I saw Joey pull out of the convenience market across the street, driving Billy’s truck. He fell in behind us. Not so close as to be obvious, but close enough we could keep an eye on each other.
Daniel looked at me in the rear view mirror. “Ricky will join us on the Res.”
“I’m pretty sure you know he hates being called that.”
“I’m pretty sure you know I won’t stop.” He winked at me, then shrugged. “However, in mixed company we’ll give Officer Delgado the respect he deserves. That work for you?”
“I’m sure it will.”
Frankie turned around in his seat to face me. “He’s a good man. We’ve never had anything but respect for him. We knew from the first day he was a keeper. It’s not easy to find that one person our inner Spirit can bond with.”
“A pure Spirit.” I shook my head, looking out the little crack between window and shade. Maybe if I’d known a bit more about…us, I could’ve saved a lot of late night fights.”
“Yeah, you’d have believed us. Hey, Sis, we’re aliens tasked with the job of chasing down other alien monsters, and killing them.”
I jerked my head around to look at him. “Who said anything about us being aliens?” Out came the denial he’d just used as their excuse for not telling the truth.
Frankie stared back at me, unblinking. “Gods, spirits, ghosts, demons… we all grew up with TV shows espousing they were aliens. Guess what, in this case we are. Primitive humans needed to explain what they saw in the simplest ways possible. Earth’s people are humans, everything else isn’t. That includes us.”
He didn’t blink and glancing at Daniel, he didn’t look at me. So much for someone telling me we weren’t aliens. I wanted so much to hear those words.
Frankie laughed at my silent attempt to cling to hope. “You’ll see. When mother brings you the rest of the way over.”
Daniel shot Frankie a glare and he turned around. Daniel’s eyes met mine for a second, then back to the road ahead. “You know all this. Your Star Spirit is waking up. You just don’t know how to integrate yet. You will by the end of the day.”
He was using his leader of the pack voice, flat, firm and inviting no questions or dissent.
CHAPTER
19
I turned back to the window, watching as he got on the highway heading west. I knew where the new casino was. I’d grown up hearing my parents discussing Nation politics, teaching it to us. After being shattered by the spread of the white man across this continent, the People finally reunited in this century, as a true Nation.
All the People were now one People. As one People they entered into court battles against the U.S. Government to regain their most historic homelands. Unity and determination yielded rulings all over the country, even involving Canada and Mexico.
For the Cocopah, they won back their traditional river lands grabbed by the U.S. Government and Mexico over the previous two hundred years. The revised Cocopah territory carved out four hundred square miles, mostly between Arizona and Mexico, spanning both sides of the Colorado River.
There was an immediate panic as Imminent Domain was established. But the Cocopah worked to quickly quell the unrest. One-hundred year land grants were issued to many of the current non-tribal home and business owners who wanted to remain inside the new territory.
There were no grants offered for the lands immediately around the Colorado River itself. That long swath of river land was declared sacred Cocopah land. The tribe removed all offensive buildings, cleaned up the wetlands and rebuilt recreational areas.
Lands too damaged to be returned to wild lands were used to build new hotels, restaurants and shiny casinos all interconnected along the river, creating a Cocopah Riviera. Eco-friendly tourism brought in revenue for new schools, hospitals and community programs.
The tribe balanced the new with the old. Every Cocopah spoke their native language and observed tribal traditions, but also spoke English and excelled in U.S. standardized education. The younger generations were effectively encouraged to be competitive with the rest of the United States, and the world.
In less than a decade, Arizona had a Cocopah woman in the U.S. Senate. One elected mostly by the non-tribal population. Their successes and failures set example to all the other tribes in the Nation. Restoring harmony to the People. A harmony my parents talked about with personal great pride, at the same time keeping the truth of my heritage a secret.
A pothole jarred my thoughts away from the past. Ironically we were headed south on 95. We passed signs warning people they were entering the reservation and subject to tribal laws. Nothing other than the signs really changed, except that being the last pothole we were likely to hit. Arizona wasn’t as progressive as the Nation on their side of the 95.
/>
The tribal side of the highway was a wide new expanse, still patrolled by DPS. An interagency agreement made sure criminals couldn’t just jump the territorial line to avoid pursuit. Suspects caught on tribal lands they were handed over immediately. Their tough policy was an effective dissuasion and cut down the costs of supporting non-tribal prisoners.
We passed the ‘Last Chance’ sign and were on the Cocopah Reservation.
Even though I had a lot of Cocopah friends, and I liked it on the Res, I didn’t come this way often. Other than concerts or events, my visits were usually representing the USMC. Typically, as their token ‘Indian’, I got tapped as liaison if one of our boys got into trouble. It didn’t happen often. Newbies were briefed that the last person they ever wanted coming after them, was me. I could make a Marine cry, and would.
Leaning my face against the window, I watched the buildings go by. Right now I wasn’t coming onto the Res as a friend, rock fan or Marine, but as a refugee. I suddenly felt… different… displaced. Unsure if I’d ever fit into any of these worlds again.
In the distance I saw a long swath of green. The Colorado River. It wasn’t far now. The new casino was close to San Luis. I’d be there soon and could sleep, maybe get rid of this feeling of… dread. No, not dread. I felt something else. Something overwhelming the weariness of a sleepless night. Jittery, as if… pursued.
I looked behind us and saw Joey about three cars behind us. He was looking around him, looking as jittery as I felt. My skin got warmer. “Daniel! Something’s wrong.”
Right then Frankie’s phone chirped. He flipped it to the dash speaker. “What’s up?”
“Someone’s behind me. A big tan SUV.” I could see Joey talking as he tailed us. “I’ve changed lanes but they’re not passing. I’m getting off at the next exit.” Joey was the youngest of my brothers, but still older than me. He’d been put through the same brotherly torture I had, so I was closer to him. My heart thudded as he took the off ramp. The SUV followed him. “Still on my bumper.”
“I know this exit!” I threw myself against the seatbelt, shouting over Frankie’s shoulder. “Take a left at the light and about a half mile on the right is the police maintenance yard. Billy… the guy who owns that truck, he’s tribal police. Officer William Ortiz.”
“Do as she says. Stay there until Charles comes to pick you up.”
“Got it… turning left… still behind me. Two guys. I can see a rental tag in the window.”
“You should be able to see the sign, and a lot of outside light posts. There’s a guard at the gate. He’ll run the plate when you pull in and probably open the gate without stopping you.”
“Pulling in and… there goes the gate.” There was a laugh. “Ha! They don’t look too pleased to see where I led them. They just tore out of here. They’re gone.”
“Don’t count on it.” Daniel changed to the exit lane to get us off the highway too. “They’ll turn around and watch the place. Get out so they can see you’re not Din’ah or Casey. That’ll confuse them.”
“And alert the guards. Tell them to call Billy… William Ortiz. Tell him you’re my brother and…” And what? I was supposed to return the truck and bikes yesterday.
Daniel looked at me in the mirror, that stern ‘I’m in charge here’ look. “Let them get a glimpse of you, nothing more. Then get inside to do any explaining.” His eyes flipped to his own rearview mirrors, looking to see if anyone followed us off the highway.
Joey kept his phone active, picking up the conversation with the duty officers on the gate. Giving us a blow-by-blow as they called Billy. Joey found a front window. “The SUV swung into the McDonalds across the street, facing the maintenance yard. They’re still inside, fighting from appearances.”
Daniel switched to city streets, making several more turns, slowing down to see who turned next, speeding up to put lights between us and other vehicles.
I called Chucky. “They followed Joey. I sent him to the Santa Fe District Police Yard. Casey knows where it is. Pick him up and have Casey call Billy. Make something up and tell him we’ll… that we needed to hang onto the bikes, something believable.” He’d be sorry to lose them, but he didn’t need to know until this was over.
Daniel added a few more instructions, sounding a bit peeved and tossing me a glare. I shut down my phone.
The jitters let go as we zigzagged through town, the dread diminished to match. I eased back into the corner. “So, I know I’m supposed to wait, but what just happened? Was my Star Spirit trying to warn me something was wrong?”
“You’re getting stronger. You felt it nearly as fast as Joey did.” Daniel didn’t snip at me, instead sounding a bit impressed. “Your run in with these guys must have been pretty intense, to have triggered such a rapid Rising.”
“It was.” I hunkered down a bit more in the back seat. “If I can feel them, can they feel me? Is that why they were following us? Do you think they know I’m not dead?”
“They didn’t touch you, did they?” Daniel’s eyes were on me again.
“NO! I never took my gun off the pack leader until I drove away. He got close, maybe four feet from me. It took everything not to shoot him.” I shivered, remembering that moment. “He was… creepy. Beady-eyed, but not a hint of emotions. Just an ugly smirk.”
I got head nods. “He couldn’t know what you are unless he actually touched you.” He did a mirror check as we took another corner. “They must have latched onto the truck when we sent Joey to your apartment. As good as he is getting in and out of places, they’re just as good at hiding in the cracks.”
Frankie shrugged. “Hopefully we’ve confused them.”
“Hope so.”
“He’ll do a recon before Charles gets there.”
“There’s a back gate to the complex.” I pulled out my phone, sending Chucky a text.
“Hey, enough with the calls!” Frankie reached back for my phone.
I evaded him. “I’m not an idiot. We switched to burners. And the message is vague. To anyone watching it’ll look like a drug hookup. I did learn a little counter-intelligence in the Marines.”
“Which explains a lot. That being counter of real intelligence.” Frankie sniped at me.
“Shut up, Francis!” He hated that name.
“Knock it off!” Daniel was louder than both of us. “We weren’t thrilled when you joined the Marines, but it was probably the best thing. Your training gave you skills we could only gloss over until you came into your own.”
He gave me a softer glance. “It just drove us a bit crazy that we couldn’t keep you safe anymore.”
“Oh, is that what you called it when we were growing up?”
Frankie didn’t say anything, staring out the window. From the tension in his jaw, I knew he was struggling to not argue. I’d fought with my brothers a lot growing up, but it was the usual sibling stuff. When I announced I was going into the Marines, he freaked out the most. Since then there was a strange distance between us. Now probably wasn’t the time to keep feeding it.
Instead I started keying in access to my virtual laptop. I had to erase the automated messages Lutz and I left. The sound of the phone keys made Frankie jerk around again. “I need to delete the ‘come look for us’ message I programmed for auto-delivery.” He scowled. So much for not antagonizing him. I wiped my call history, removed the battery and internal cards, then rolled down the window and tossed the phone out into the street. “All done.”
Frankie gave me a nod and I went back to watching the road behind us.
CHAPTER
20
I saw the casino. It had opened just the week before. Special promotions and A-List headliners were drawing in crowds of people. “Is this what you consider hiding? Every media group is here this week for the grand opening.”
Neither answered me as we went around to the back of the complex and were let through a private entrance, being directed to the rear pavilion. Usually the back of a complex was industrial, but this
entrance faced the river and was as luxurious as the main facade, just smaller.
Two security guards met us as we pulled into the circular drive. Frankie opened my door to let me out and they immediately surrounded me. I was buried in broad shoulders as they escorted me into the hotel’s foyer.
My brothers replaced them as they returned to the truck to get our bags.
I had a minute or less to take a look around the foyer. It was clearly set up to cater to celebrities or private guests who didn’t want to advertise their presence, but expected the best of everything.
Glittering quartz granites caught and reflected light around the lobby, bouncing off polished dark rich woods. A chandelier hung low and sparkled. Though the metal and gems glimmered, the design looked ancient. It was. Their eco-policy required as much recycled materials as possible, so they used a lot of antiques in their hotels.
Starring up at the chandelier, I caught a flicker in the corner of my eye. The gorgeous wood wall opened and an immaculately groomed woman in a tailored black suit stepped out. She approached me, not the least bit fazed by my Levis and t-shirt.
“Ms. Adams. It is my honor to meet you. I am Cherise Begay, your personal concierge. Anything you require will be provided with the upmost of discretion.” She nodded towards the two security guards behind us.
I didn’t attempt to correct my name. It didn’t take a Bond genius to know we wouldn’t be using real names. “Thank you, Cherise.”
She gave me a slight smile. “The members of your convention have already been accommodated. The penthouse floors are available to your party, exclusively. All service individuals have been vetted by your own people, but if you have any concerns, alert the security immediately.” She stepped aside. “If you’ll accompany me, I’ll take you to your suites.”
I looked at the two guards behind us, looking grim and ready to react if necessary. I met eyes with Daniel, but he didn’t flinch. I turned back to the woman. “Lead the way.”
