by A and E Kirk
Matthias laughed as well, and the two of them kept up the game to the point that Oron got the hiccups.
“Enough of that, eh?” Matthias slid to the floor and leaned his back against the wall. He bent his knees and set Oron on top of them.
“So,” he said, the baby’s feet kicking softly at Matthias’ thighs. “Is it always this loud here? And busy? It’s like a three-ring circus. Who has a water fight? On a school night? And the talking. About everything. Plus all the questions. And I’ll probably be forced to have an entire conversation with your dad about what to call him. Mr. Lahey? Mr. L? Papa Smurf? Or maybe Dr. Freaking Doolittle?” He dropped his head back against the wall with a dull thud. “They’re all bloody nuts and now they’re making me nuts. I’m not sure how much more I can take. You seem like the only sane one. How do you do it, mate?”
“If he knows,” came a voice, “he isn’t talking.”
Mr. Lahey appeared at the top of the stairs wearing sweats. He was appropriately sweaty having just returned from his evening run.
Matthias froze. His cool grey eyes opened to the size of saucers. Then he closed them, completely mortified and wishing he could disappear. “Oh bloody hell. I am so sorry, sir. Or, uh, Mr. Lahey. Or—”
“What about Dr. Freaking Doolittle?”
Matthias looked up.
Mr. Lahey had a wry grin and playful glint in his eyes. “I’m kind of partial to that one.”
Matthias groaned and dropped his forehead on Oron’s legs. The baby’s little feet kicked him in the face a few times. Matthias didn’t move, figuring he deserved some sort of beating.
“Sir, uh, Mister—” Matthias groaned again. “Son of a— Please accept my apology. I didn’t mean what I said.”
“Sure you did,” Mr. Lahey said affably. “But no apology necessary. This is our fault. Aurora warned us. We just didn’t listen too well.” He picked up Oron off of Matthias’ knees and tossed him in the air. Oron squealed with delight. As he caught him, Mr. Lahey called, “Luna!”
The music blared louder as she peeked out her door. “Yeah?”
“Take Oron, please.”
Luna glanced at Matthias sitting on the floor, elbows on his knees, forehead resting in his palms.
“Sure,” she said. As she came down the hall and took Oron from her dad, she glanced at Matthias again. “Did we break him?”
“Only a little. But I think I can use my stellar doctoring skills to put him back together.”
“You’d better. Or Aurora is gonna be mad.” Luna headed for the stairs yelling, “Mom! Where’s Oron’s bottle?”
“Kitchen!” Mrs. Lahey shouted from somewhere down below.
After Luna left, Matthias frowned and raised his head. “Exactly what did Aurora warn you about? That I was a jerk?”
“No,” Mr. Lahey laughed. “Why would she say that?”
Because I just was a jerk, Matthias thought bitterly.
“No, she warned us that you were under some serious stress,” Mr. Lahey said. “Worried about your friends in Australia, missing your dad. And you weren’t used to the Lahey-level madness, so we should give you some space. Otherwise we’d drive you crazy, which we apparently have. So please, accept my apology on behalf of all the lunatics in our asylum.”
Now Matthias felt like even more of a jerk. And was Aurora looking out for him? That couldn’t be right.
“Come on. No harm, no foul. Except by us.” Mr. Lahey reached down a hand. Matthias took it, a little surprised by the man’s powerful grip, and let himself be pulled up. Mr. Lahey slapped him on the shoulder. “Don’t want to scare you off. It’s nice having you around. Another guy, especially. And your accent reminds me of Gemma when I first met her.”
Matthias’ brow wrinkled. “She’s from Australia?”
“No. South Africa. She came to the States to go to college after her parents died. That’s where we met. Most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. Still is.”
Matthias said, “I’ve never noticed any accent.”
“She lost it after a few years,” he shrugged. “Too bad. I thought it was adorable. Look, I’ll talk to her about being so, well, Gemma, but I hope you know she means well.”
“Of course. And I’d rather you didn’t say anything.” It was the last thing Matthias wanted.
Downstairs, Sadie let out several barks. Helsing yowled back.
“At least Sadie seems to be enjoying herself,” Mr. Lahey said. “She went on my run tonight. Which reminds me…” He lifted an arm and sniffed his armpit, then made a face. “Whew! I need a shower. So, you’re not going to sneak out in the middle of the night to be rid of us?”
“No,” Matthias said, his smile sheepish.
“Good. Because we’d miss you. Have a good night.”
As he started past, Matthias said, “Thank you. For everything.” Then he put out his hand.
Mr. Lahey took it, but smiled broadly and yanked Matthias forward into a hug.
Aurora always said they were legendary. For once, Matthias thought, she might be right.
Mr. Lahey let go and slapped him on the back again. “Sorry. Couldn’t help myself. Last one. I promise. At least until tomorrow. Ha-ha!” He looked past Matthias at Selena coming down the hallway. “What are you doing up?”
“Is something wrong with Matty?” she said in a sleepy voice.
“’Course not, munchkin,” Mr. Lahey said. “Well, other than he’s been getting a little too much Lahey. Come on, I’ll put you back to bed.”
“But I want Matty to read to me again. It helps me sleep.”
“Nope,” Mr. Lahey said, scooping her up. “Matty’s done enough.”
Selena made a face. “Daddy, you stink.”
“And you are beautiful.”
“I can take her,” Matthias said.
“No, I’ve got this.” As he carried Selena down the hall, Mr. Lahey added, “No worries, mate.”
Matthias shook his head. Why did they all think it a good idea to do the accent? They were terrible. And yet, he found himself smiling.
OPERATION:
Who Needs a Plan When You Can Improvise?
LOCATION:
M-Terprises Warehouse
In his earlier recon of the warehouse, Logan had timed the guards on their rounds. The Boys found the easiest route through the back where the property backed against the water with several boats moored on the docks. Blake manipulated the security cameras away from their locations while the Boys moved with stealth and remained hidden.
Once inside the large building, they used the boxes and crates stacked high on pallets as cover. Staying quiet wasn’t an issue. The place was loud. Forklifts, conveyer belts, hydraulic lifts, trucks in and out at the loading bays, plus the general bustle of dozens of workers doing their jobs.
“The office is down at the other end,” Matthias said. “Jayden, let’s get you in there with the computers. We’ll need some sort of distraction.”
“On it,” Blake said. “Wait. Where’s Logan?”
“Here.” Logan came around a corner wearing a yellow hardhat and a white lab coat with the word INSPECTOR printed on the pocket. He held a clipboard with papers on it. “Take these. I found them in the locker room.”
He handed the Boys matching caps that all the workers wore. Only the security guards had any kind of real uniform, the rest of the employees wore basic T-shirts and casual pants. The Boys didn’t stand out as they moved toward the office, following Logan who appeared very official.
Ayden snatched up a radio someone had left on a table. Blake picked up a large box and hefted it onto one shoulder, then he and Logan peeled off in another direction. A short time later the ground rumbled and rolled. A crash could be heard along with calls for help to clean up the mess. Then there was a second crash. More yelling. Forklifts headed in that direction. Another crash. Plenty of loud cursing.
Ayden pressed a button on the radio and spoke into it. “We might have ha
d an earthquake. We need all hands on deck at the north end. It’s a mess. I repeat, all hands on deck at the north end. And that means everyone. Now, people.”
As Matthias, Ayden, and Jayden neared the office, they saw all of the occupants head out except for two young women, one of whom worked on a computer.
Matthias gave Ayden a questioning look. “You wanna take this?”
Ayden strode into the office as he lifted the radio to his mouth but only pretended to press the button. “Copy that. We’re here now.” He paused. “With two very beautiful ladies I might add.” He tipped his hat to the women and gave them a dashing smile. They smiled back. “Right,” he said into the radio. “I’ll send them out and we’ll take care of it from here.”
“What’s going on?” the woman on the computer asked.
“We had a report of an electrical issue in the office,” Ayden said as he swirled the fingers of the hand which wasn’t holding the radio.
The woman looked confused. “What kind of issue?” She stopped and sniffed. “Is that smoke? Oh, God.” She pushed away from the computer and both women looked around for signs of danger.
Ayden spoke into the radio again. “Yep. We’ve got smoke.” Then he ushered the women out. “Go relax in the break room. Unless you hear an alarm. Then I’d recommend getting out fast.”
“Wait, I need to log off my computer.” The woman started to turn back, but Matthias caught her elbow.
“Too dangerous, ma’am,” he said, showing off his dimples. “Our tech will handle everything.” He looked at Jayden. “Tech?”
After a brief hesitation, Jayden gave him a salute. “Yes. I am the tech. A shortened vernacular for technician. Which I am. Not that I am short. Ha-ha. I’m actually well above the quantitative average height for the male gender. In a statistical sense. Anatomically speaking. And I am able to quote numerous evidentiary studies that would corroborate my assertions if you would like me to quote—”
“Hey!” Ayden said. “Tech. We’re in a hurry. Remember?”
“Yes, of course. Farewell madams.” Jayden did a stiff, awkward bow and then sat in front of the computer.
When the woman gave Jayden an odd look, Matthias smiled and shrugged. “Nerds. Am I right?” He closed the door after the two and said, “Jayden, when we are undercover, maybe not speaking would be the best course of action.”
Already typing away on the keyboard, Jayden nodded. “Agreed. Improvisational make-believe is not my strong suit.”
Ayden maintained a lookout on the inside of the warehouse. Since everyone was in the other part of the building helping clean up Blake and Logan’s mess, no one bothered them.
Matthias kept watch from the office window which looked out over the large asphalt-covered work yard that sat between the warehouse and the fence at the front next to the street. He saw a truck leave one of the loading bays and drive toward the only gate. Otherwise, nothing seemed amiss.
Jayden paused his typing. “I believe I found something helpful.”
“Well, hurry up,” Matthias said. “I’m not sure how long we have before those workers come back.” He noticed a familiar car drive along the street and pull up to the gate. He rolled his eyes. “Are you kidding me? Bloody hell!”
“What is it?” Ayden asked.
“Trouble,” Matthias groaned. “With a capital A.”
“Aurora?” Ayden rushed to Matthias’ side and peered out the window at the Suburban driving up to the gate. “What’s she doing?”
“Being a moron. As usual.”
“Shut up. Why didn’t she call us?” Ayden took out his phone. “There’s no phone service. Jayden?”
Jayden paused to check his own phone. “You’re correct. It must be the same unfortunate situation as that which we encountered at the M-Terprises building.”
“Why didn’t you catch that, genius?” Ayden snapped. “There’s a problem.”
“Obviously,” Matthias said.
“No. I mean Aurora’s trying to warn us about something. We’ve got to help her. Let’s go.”
Matthias raised a hand. “Relax. Jayden needs more time. We don’t know what’s going on. She’s talking to the guard. Give her a minute. Maybe she can pull this off.”
Honk-honk!
“Or maybe not,” Matthias said.
Ayden bolted for the door. Matthias grabbed his arm, but Ayden’s worry flashed so hot, the Aussie winced and let go. He frowned. Ayden was seconds away from lighting into flames.
Ayden glared at Matthias and turned for the door again.
“Stop and think, mate,” Matthias said, trying to hold onto his own temper. “If you go out there like this, if they know we’re here, you’ll blow everything. You could get us all killed.”
“Matthias is correct,” Jayden said.
Ayden turned his glare on his brother. “No one asked you, Jayden!”
“A lament you have mentioned previously,” Jayden said evenly. “But it doesn’t change the logical fact that your cognition is flawed and could cause you to act in a way which endangers us all. Including the Divinicus. But if you insist on going out there, I’m going with you.” He rose from the computer.
Hooonk!
“No!” Ayden said. “Stay here. Both of you. I’ll deal with this.” He opened the door and started to leave but stopped short when he saw an armed guard coming toward them. “Ah, crap.”
Matthias had readied a shadow whip to lasso Ayden and keep him from leaving, but deftly switched targets. He jerked his fist back. Outside the office, shadows punched off the walls and knocked two heavy boxes off their stack. Both hit hard atop the armed guard’s head. The man went down and did not move. His sunglasses clattered on the floor.
Hoooonk! Honk!
“Ayden,” Jayden called with alarm.
Ayden refocused out the window. A truck had stopped in front of Tristan’s SUV. When Ayden saw the driver get out of the truck, he swore under his breath.
“It’s one of those goons who was snooping around M-Terprises.” Ayden turned to leave. “The Ted guy, I think.”
“I’ll get her.” Matthias was already outside the office, putting on the unconscious guard’s sunglasses. “Give me his jacket. Quick.”
“No way,” Ayden said. “I’m going to get her.”
“No.” He shoved Ayden into the office then took the jacket off the guard. “You are way too fired up. You know I’m right. Get back to Jayden and get everybody the hell out as soon as he has something. We’re running out of time.” He slipped on the jacket. “And if this doesn’t work, I’ll let you go down in a blaze of moronic glory. Watch your brother.”
Honk! Honk-honk!
Ayden’s jaw clenched. “Do you want his gun?”
“Since when do we need guns?” Matthias said with irritation. Then he ran toward the front of the warehouse.
Ayden took a deep breath. He started to go back to the office, but turned around, picked up the handgun, took off the safety, and cocked it to put a live round in the chamber.
“Since now,” Ayden said.
When he entered the office, Jayden did a double-take. “A firearm? Ayden, I don’t think you should use such an escalated and mechanical level of response.”
“Get the information we need and I won’t have to.” He looked out the window and almost choked.
The guard yanked open the Suburban’s door, pulled Aurora out, and put a knee on her spine. Then he shoved the muzzle of his gun into the back of her head.
For Ayden, everything stopped. His breathing. His heart. Any sense of self-preservation. And any clear thought.
Frigid water splashed on Ayden’s hand and doused the papers which had burst into flames on the desk he’d been leaning on. Jayden wasn’t even looking at him, still focused on the computer screen.
“Trust Matthias,” Jayden said.
Ayden crumpled the charred documents and chucked them in the waste bin. He looked out the window. His jaw drop
ped.
Aurora no longer had a gun to her head, but he wasn’t sure if the current situation was better or worse. Ted had his arm around her, and he and Bill had weapons trained on the guards.
“What the hell?!” Ayden fumed.
Seeing Matthias run up did little to quell his fears as he watched what happened at the gate.
Which wasn’t much. They were talking. It seemed tense but not escalating. He breathed deep. Again.
“I have it,” Jayden said. “Or more precisely, I have answers. Not ones I am happy with. The shipment we are looking for departed the facility yesterday.”
“Great. What was in it?”
“That is an additional difficulty.”
Logan ran into the office. “Time’s up.”
Jayden punched several keys. The printer spit out sheets of paper which he snatched before the final page had completely cleared through. “I am ready.”
“They’re still out there,” Ayden said.
Jayden glanced out the window. “Matthias will handle it. And I’ll help.”
“How?”
Jayden leveled an irritated look at his brother, then he brushed past Logan and joined up with Blake. They both moved swiftly toward the back of the warehouse.
“Well?” Logan said expectantly to Ayden.
After one more frustrated glance at the gate fiasco, Ayden said, “Damn it!” and ran out, Logan following close behind.
“Since when do we use guns?” Logan asked with concern.
Ayden didn’t answer. He removed the magazine from the pistol and racked the slide. The one bullet in the chamber flew out. He caught it, put it back in the magazine, flipped the safety back on, and left the gun with the unconscious guard.
As soon as they made it outside, Jayden flicked his wrist. A huge wave rose out of the water. It crashed the boats into the docks and splashed over the edge and into the warehouse.
They made it outside the warehouse property and waited behind a thick group of trees as Aurora drove away unscathed, which let Ayden breathe easier. A big improvement on not being able to breathe at all. Now that she was safe, they just had to worry about Matthias.
