“We’re dividing into teams. Those who’ll aid in your missions, those who’ll continue with the hacienda’s missions, and finally, those who’ll be watching our guests. They all have volunteered for the roles,” said the Doña, while pointing at each group.
That last one made me grin, especially because Aedan stood at the front of that line. Five men stood in each line. I looked to those who had volunteered to aid in taking down Somatotech. All of them looked to me with confidence in their eyes. Stefan stayed near them. He nodded as if to acknowledge that he had picked them out specifically. I nodded to my little army. I looked to the other groups and noticed the man I had beaten stood in the “watch our guests” group. He kept his eyes downcast.
“Thank you all for sticking with us, and especially me.” I walked over to the man. “I’m sorry for my outburst. You’re part of the family.” I was about to place my hand on his shoulder but thought better.
“Si senor.” He shot a glance at me and then returned his gaze to the ground.
My heart ached. I wanted to explain that wasn’t me and that I was actually a good person, a clone granted, but a good clone, but I knew the message probably wouldn’t be well-received right now. I never wanted someone to fear me as he did.
“We should split up and discuss our next moves,” said Stefan.
“Those helping with my missions, please come with me,” I said and motioned toward the garage.
“Those watching Roxanne and her group, please come with me,” said Stefan.
“Everyone else, meet me in the kitchen,” said the Doña. “You picked the group who gets fresh tortillas.” She winked at me and her group chuckled.
Just as we started to split, Talon walked out of the hacienda. All eyes instantly swung to him. He sensed the tension and looked to me.
I shuffled over to him swiftly. “Dude, Talon. I consider you part of the team, but you gotta know these guys see you as one of them.”
“Can’t I be both?”
“I wish you could, but with you-know-what…” I tapped my head near my ear, “… the men will always be nervous around you.”
The hard stares from the men told him the truth. “OK, I gotcha, guess I’ll be on my way.” He started to sulk in the direction of the guesthouse.
“Wait,” I said and started showing him some of the sign language I’d learned. I signed, “We’ll talk later. Sorry.”
He signed back with quick gestures, but I only understood about half of it. Looked like, “Don’t worry. Friend. Go my group. Leaving”
He smiled, nodded, and then jogged off toward the guesthouse.
The Doña walked over to me and whispered in my ear. “They found the surveillance equipment in the guesthouse. It’s gone offline.”
“Figures. I’ll try and push Talon for info on their plans.” She nodded and stepped back. “OK, let’s meet in our groups,” I yelled but nearly stopped before the words came out. I glanced to the Doña, worried about any hint of usurping her authority. She grinned and seemed to say, “Don’t worry,” with a slight nod of her head. The men froze in place.
“Do as Coyle says,” she said and nodded to the men.
The respective groups split up without hesitation. My group and I met amongst the cars in the garage, while the others met in their predetermined locations.
When everyone settled in between the cars I began, “We’re planning on meeting with Jamie’s dad and will need surveillance and potentially protection. The thing is; we can’t use cellphones to communicate ‘cause Jamie’s got a cell blocker to stop Somatotech from controlling her and my dad.”
“So how we gonna communicate?” one of the men asked.
“Look around, men. We’ll use these.” I extended my arms out in the direction of the cars around us. A few of the men cocked their heads in confusion. “We’ll develop a code with the horns.” I opened one of the car doors and hopped in. “OK, ready?”
I hashed out a code where one sustained honk meant danger they’re near, they’re entering the parking lot, two sustained honks meant they’re in the building so get the heck out, three short meant we’re coming in to help, four short meant all clear, we’re headed home.
I reviewed the details I’d given the pastor and laid out where I’d like two groups of men to watch while we rendezvoused. We also went over a plan if Somatotech goons infiltrated the seminary; where Jamie and the pastor would meet the team, where I would draw the goons and finally where we’d meet afterward if we were separated.
Finally, I needed to give them a warning, “If I go all crazy on you again, run for your life and find Jamie, or my dad, or just freakin’ shoot me. Shoot me until I’m on the ground not moving. Everyone needs a weapon, for your own protection.”
They nodded in agreement amid nervous looks. I knew what they were thinking, “Who’s the bigger threat? Our leader or Somatotech?”
Before I could dismiss them, Dr. Bartnev entered the garage.
“Presents!” he said loudly and held up a fist-full of syringes.
“Whatcha got, doc?” I said and pulled one out of his hand.
“I call it ‘Super Juice.’ It jumpstart our leader, Coyle when he dead, well, almost dead.” He handed them out to the group with a wide grin only partially obscured by his bushy mustache and beard.
“Same stuff you gave me earlier?”
“Stronger,” he said and winked at me. I couldn’t help but smile. Crazy Russian doctor, I thought.
“All right, keep those out of me unless I’m not breathing. OK?” The group nodded in unison and pocketed the Super Juice.
“OK, Dismissed. We’ll meet up Monday morning at 9 a.m. before heading out.”
Before they’d all left, Coyle’s dad approached me and placed his hand on my shoulder.
"Coyle, I’d like to come."
"I'm not sure that's such a good idea." Actually, it was a freakin’ terrible idea.
"All this is my fault; I need to help remedy it."
"How will you risking your life help to remedy this whole situation?”
He pulled me to the side, away from the men who remained and Jamie. “There may be some details Jamie’s dad will only tell me,” he whispered.
“What kinda things?”
“About his work there, about what he did to thwart their research.”
“And why can’t I just ask him?”
“Greg and I are friends; it may take that friendship to get it out.”
“All right, but I’m not too keen on you going out there.”
“Really, Coyle?” He cocked his head and raised his brow. “I don’t think I need your permission; you are my son and all.”
“That I am,” I said slowly and walked out of the garage.
I met up with the Doña, Aedan, and Stefan in the kitchen after we had met with our groups. The “watch Roxanne” group made plans to place a tracker on their van to which I said, “Good freakin’ luck.” They’d have to be as stealthy as a ninja to get anywhere near that thing without them knowing. The “Hacienda operations” group had a few protection cases, both pretty low key but would at least provide some income. The Doña was smart enough not to put her men too far out there right now.
Just as we finished our discussion on the roles, Roxanne silently strolled into the kitchen like a prowling cat.
“So, friends, what’s the plan? Seems you all are organizing without us. It there anything we extremely fast, strong, and intelligent clones can help with?”
Stefan nearly sneered at her but toned it down with the look I shot at him.
“We’re going to meet up with the pastor on Monday, but I don’t think we’ll need your help on that one.”
“Suit yourself, Coyle, but we had plans anyway.”
“Oh?”
“Just some prep work for our own little operation, you know the one you promised to help us with?”
“I didn’t promise, but I’m still considering it.”
“Well, you’d better consider quicke
r because we’re exacting that mission on Wednesday.”
“I’ll let you know after I meet with the pastor, I promise.”
“Where ya going to meet him?”
The look in her eye gave me pause. “Uh, we’re still fleshing that out. Somewhere discreet, somewhere safe.”
“Holding your cards tight to the chest, I see.”
“That’s the only way to play, right?”
“But is the game worth playing, Coyle?” She gazed around the room. “Especially with us, the people who’ve helped you and saved you?” Her eyes met Stefan’s. She glared at him.
“I’m balancing a lot of crap right now, Roxanne. Give me a break.”
“Breaks are earned. See ya ‘round clone of Coyle,” she said and left the kitchen.
Why did she just say that all in front of Stefan and the Doña? I thought. Why rile them up? The look on dad’s face indicated he didn’t understand what the heck was going on. I hoped it was true, that he just thought Roxanne was crazy and babbled nonsense. I still hadn’t spilled those beans to Coyle’s dad.
“As I’ve said, Coyle. I don’t trust them,” said Stefan to which the Doña nodded in agreement.
“We trust until we’ve got a reason to mistrust. Get that tracker on them, and then maybe we’ll have something on them.”
I heard a shuffle in the hallway outside the kitchen. Someone was listening. I tiptoed quietly over to the entryway and glanced around the corner. Talon stood near the front door, staring back at me.
“Dude! You can’t be sneaking around here,” I said while jogging down to him. When I reached him, I signed, “What did you hear?”
“Sorry, just wanted to use the bathroom,” he said and then signed, “All of it.”
“Dang it,” I said and shook my head. Now they knew we were planning to place a tracker on their van.
He signed what I believe was, “Sorry.”
I managed to sign, “Trust?” I then pointed to the guesthouse. If I could’ve I would’ve signed, “Do I have reason to not trust Roxanne?”
Talon nodded but he cast his eyes down, and his face twitched. “She’s dealing with a lot, too, Coyle,” he said aloud.
I signed, “I know.” I looked around to make sure none of the rest of his crew was around. I signed, “Could you teach me more sign language?”
“Sure,” he signed and then made the universal sign for pen and paper.
I pointed to the hallway, and he followed me into my room. We remained silent so as not to tip off the rest of his crew of our doings. We plopped down on the island, and Talon ran through a couple hundred signs by showing me the sign and then writing down the word.
Aedan strolled by my room about fifteen minutes into the lesson.
“Hey, what’s going on?”
Talon glared at him, knowing he just gave us up to the crew. Aedan curled his brow, confused.
“Just grabbing some food for the crew,” Talon said, trying to save the situation.
I tossed Aedan a few of the drawings Talon had made and motioned for him to remain silent. I tiptoed quickly out of the room.
From the hallway I yelled, “Hey Aedan, where ya at?”
“In the kitchen with Talon,” he said with a slight air of confusion.
“What’s going on?”
“He said he was just getting food, but we bring his crew food, so I’m not really sure what he’s up to.”
“Wanna explain yourself?” I said, trying to sound angry.
“Just getting a snack, boys, relax.”
“Eat the snacks in the guesthouse, where you belong,” I said, trying to paint Talon as an adversary rather than a friend. I couldn’t have his crew thinking we’d turned him, even a smidgen.
“OK, chosen one, I’ll obey and stay in my little house on the prairie.” He winked and signed, “I hope that worked.”
I nodded, and Talon left, jogging out of the hacienda to the guesthouse. Aedan started out of my room.
“Hey, dude, how are you doing?”
“How am I doing? After you nearly choked the life out of me? Just peachy, thanks.” He turned again to leave.
“Hey, Aedan! I said was sorry, and I really am. That wasn’t me.”
He paused at the entryway but kept his back turned to me. “Who knows who you are now, man? Surely not my friend anymore.”
“Not your friend? What are you talking about? Dude, that crap won’t happen again, I promise,” I said, hoping it would be true.
“You’re real freakin’ dense, Coyle.” He tapped his temple with his finger. “It’s not about that. It’s about you not trusting me, not letting me help like I’m some kinda worthless kid you have hanging around. This,” he pointed to Talon exiting the hacienda, “this is the first time you’ve used me for anything, and I just stumbled onto this crap.”
“You’re looking at this the wrong way, dude. You’re pissed off at me because I don’t want you to die? Because I choose to keep you safe rather than throw you out there?” My arm shot out pointing at the world beyond the hacienda.
“I can take care of myself. And, I can hold my own with them.”
“With who? Aedan, huh? With the clones that are stronger, faster, smarter and more determined than you?” My voice was sharp, exacting, and almost cruel. I spoke the truth though, and I’m sure he knew it. “They’ll rip you apart, dude,” I added.
His face went flush, and his upper lip twitched. “Doesn’t matter, screw it.” He stormed out.
My heart dropped with the sight of my friend’s pain. But, I had to keep him safe. I’d rather have him alive and offended than dead.
The thought of Aedan out there unprotected reminded me of Coyle’s dad’s insistence on coming on our little mission to visit the pastor. The pastor would want to talk about me being a clone, I was sure of it. That news needed to come out sooner rather than later and better it came from me.
After a quick search, I found him lounging on the patio chair outside with Jamie.
“Hey ya’ll,” I said, my voice wavering. I parked down on a chair next to Coyle’s dad. “I’ve got something serious I gotta tell you and it’s gonna come as a real shock.”
“Coyle, c’mon, don’t do this. You just got your dad back,” said Jamie with a look of exasperation.
“He’s got a right to know, Jamie,” I retorted.
“What are you talking about?” His eyes shot from me and then to Jamie.
“It’s a freakin’ lie, so don’t believe him. Coyle thinks he’s a clone of your son.” She blurted out as tears began to form in her eyes. She wiped them with quick swipes. “And it’s a lie!” she yelled. A twinge of anger summoned from below because she’d spilled the beans before me, but the pain on her face quelled it almost instantly.
“Why would you think such a terrible thing?” Coyle’s dad turned to me.
“It’s not what I think, it’s what I know, You’re Coyle’s dad and I’m his clone,” I said with a flat tone.
“Don’t you dare call me that, I’m your dad, you’re my blood.” He stood up and then kneeled at my feet. “I came and visited you every day at Somatotech. Every single day, Coyle. I witnessed your transformation day by day into who you are.”
“I thought they kept you away from me.”
“They did, sort of. I watched from an observation room that I could visit at any time.”
“They could’ve switched out your son whenever you weren’t there and put me in his place.”
“They didn’t, Coyle. You have to believe that I can recognize my own son.” His hand cupped my cheek, but I shook it off.
“I’ve been engineered to look, talk, and freakin’ breathe like your son. That’s the travesty; that’s what we have to stop.” I looked to Jamie. “That’s our motivation to stop them from doing this to another family.”
“That’s not my motivation, Coyle,” said Jamie with her gaze locked on the floor.
“Somatotech has confused you, Coyle. You can’t succumb to the thoughts they
planted in your mind. I know firsthand how that is. Are you sure there isn’t an implant still in you somewhere?”
“Dr. Bartnev removed the implant. I’m not under anyone’s influence, Dad. My mind is clear and for that matter, it’s made up. So drop it.”
Dad gazed down, but a slight smile grew on his lips.
“I’m glad me being a copy of your dead son amuses you.”
“Coyle, your mother, while sweet and caring, was stubborn as all get out. She’d say, “Once my mind’s made up, it’s made up. End of story.” You’re so much like her. No company could implant the quirks passed down from your mother. You’ve always had them.”
Tears formed in my eyes and lump grew in my throat as if someone had stuffed a golf ball down my esophagus. My heart yearned for it to be true, for me to be someone other than a meaningless human copy. I couldn’t let them see me cry, to give them hope that I’d changed my mind because I hadn’t, so I stood up abruptly and walked toward the hacienda.
“We’ll leave soon for the seminary. Be ready.”
30 Penance
Because we couldn't drive right up to the seminary, I parked the car in a residential area on the west side of the South Platte River across from the seminary. I hefted Jamie on my shoulders and forded the river, although fording is a strong word for crossing the shallow waters of the Platte. Coyle's dad followed close behind us taking large high steps. Once on the other side and under the cover of the grove of trees outside the seminary, my dad and I changed our shoes and pants from the backpack he carried.
"I'll scope it out." I climbed the tallest tree I could find, bounding from one branch to another. At the top branch, I checked my watch, 9:50 a.m. From my vantage point, I could see the rear entry but not where the pastor would enter. At 9:55, the food supply truck rolled around the street and backed into the loading bay.
I released from the tree, going horizontal with my face down as I flew down. With each passing branch, I slowed my descent until the last branch. I hooked my arm, swung around and landed on my feet.
“My little monkey,” said Jamie smiling.
“Swinging from the trees, baby.” I adjusted my sweatshirt. “Time to head in. Glasses on, hoods up.”
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