by Eden Crowne
Her sister gave Sky a shocked look.
“Crap. I didn't mean that the way it came out. Besides, unless he does a DNA test, how will Jake know the baby isn't his.?
“How naïve are you? Jake is Chinese American. The Colonel is a redhead with about enough skin pigmentation to fill a thimble. And of course the hospital will do a DNA scan along with the blood work. The procedure is standard on newborns.”
“It is? I didn't know that. Just let me get this perfectly clear. You, Kara Elizabeth Murphy-Christensen, are not and never have been involved in any scheme to steal American blood reserves for a European Cartel?”
Now Kara really did look confused. “What blood scheme thing are you talking about?”
The relief was so great, Sky felt her hands begin to shake. Kara was a bitch and the least generous sister in the world. She wasn't a traitor and had no part in these murky plots and murders.
Eloise came bursting through the door, breathing hard as though she'd been running. “What on earth is going on in here? I heard you two shouting all the way from the carport.”
Kara reached out both arms, her face twisted with distress. “Oh, Aunt Ellie, I am in so much trouble. I want mom.”
Sky left them, saying to her aunt on the way out, “I need to speak to you later.”
Sitting on the couch hugging a pillow, Sky couldn't help wondering what they were doing to Hugo right now. Something terrible. She hugged the pillow tighter. Maybe he was already dead. Maybe it would be her turn tomorrow or the next day. Her stomach churned and she felt as though her insides were in a slow burn. The situation was helpless and hopeless at the same time. Like Rickey, she was scared. She needed more information. Tomorrow she would go to the hospital and try to speak with Hugo's father. Tonight she needed to see what her aunt could tell her.
When Eloise finally came into the living room, Sky was curled around her nest of pillows half asleep on the couch. She stirred, rubbing her eyes and wiping her mouth. She'd been drooling.
“Aunt Eloise, I want you to tell me about the Power Company.”
Her aunt didn't pretend to misunderstand her. “You've been talking to that Hugo boy, I guess. Sky, I cannot tell you about the Power Company. I have taken an oath and I am not prepared to break it.”
Sitting on the other end of the couch, she cocked her head expectantly, as though anticipating another question.
Sky thought over her aunt's words. Oaths were generally quite specific. Perhaps Eloise could talk about the past instead of the present. A history lesson.
“Then can you tell me how the Power Company came into existence?”
Eloise nodded as if she approved of Sky's approach. “That, I can do.”
They sat on the couch with Tricia curled up between them.
“You know that once the die-offs began in earnest, the government had to be scaled back, simplified so the chain of command could be maintained and Martial Law enforced. The same applied to intelligence gathering. Before the plague there were around sixteen different departments charged with gathering and analyzing threats to the US, both domestic and international. Most of them were dissolved.”
Eloise held up her hand and counted off on her fingers. “The National Reconnaissance Office – they monitor satellites –the State Bureau of Intelligence and Research – a sort of think tank of gifted academics – and the National Security Agency, one of the most powerful and secret of them all. Those three were bundled together into Homeland Security. The Center for Disease Control got thrown in later. As the death toll increased, the FBI joined the party. Over the last twenty years, the Bureau of Homeland Affairs has grown into a beast with big teeth. They codenamed it the Power Company. Regional and local units were set up within real utility service offices and power plants. An excellent cover. They operate twenty-four seven, employ large numbers of people and nobody questions you if you work for the utility services In fact, they're grateful.”
“Are they the good guys?”
“Sometimes they are, sometimes they are not. They have maintained order within the continental United States aided by the Home Guard and Tactical over some very terrible times.”
“Are they trying to kill Rickey and...” She added very softly, “Me?”
“All I can tell you is there are a number of covert operations going on in the Bay Area. None of them involved scrubbing two high school students that I know of.”
Sky started to protest.
Her Aunt held up a hand to forestall her. “That is not saying someone else, perhaps involved in profiteering, did not conduct that action.”
“What can I do? I'm scared. There's something going on at Base. Rickey found out.”
“I've contacted someone about this.”
“Someone who will help?”
“Yes.”
“Can you tell me what you do at the company?”
“I am employed at the plant as an analyst. I report on weaknesses within the system.” Eloise gave Sky a significant look, urging her to understand the new interpretation those words had.
Hugo had been right. Her aunt was a spy.
“But,” she protested. “Does that mean you're not really a pet psychic?”
That made Eloise smile. “The Power Company is what I do. A pet psychic is what I am.”
Patting her on the knee, Eloise went in to make dinner. Sky lay down with Tricia next to her, tired and sore in body and mind.
She didn't wake up until the morning sun was in her eyes, still on the couch, several fluffy blankets tucked carefully around her. Kara walked by on her way to the kitchen. That must have been what woke her.
“What time is it?” she asked groggily. Her head was pounding and she felt like someone spent the night beating her with a stick. A big one.
“Nine o'clock,” her sister called out from the kitchen. “And don't freak out. Eloise phoned your school and said you wouldn't be in today. Go back to sleep.”
“Kara, I want to...”
“I don't. Don't talk to me.”
“Fine,” she said irritably. “I don't want to talk to you either.”
Sky dozed off again, curled up in her warm blanket cocoon There was a clatter from the kitchen, Tricia barked, followed by the sound of something breaking.
“Klutz,” Sky shouted.
Her stomach growled. Maybe she would go in and make some toast. Buttered toast was good she thought a little hazily. The events of the previous day had yet to blast in upon her consciousness. Then she thought of Hugo and all was lost. Her well being washed away on wave after wave of fear that reached up from the pit of her stomach to choke her with nausea. He might be dead now. Over what, she still didn't really know. He'd only hinted at the conspiracies reaching out from the shadows around her. The plague children carrying the fate of the world in their blood. Her family's mysterious involvement. Secrets piled on top of secrets.
A call buzzed in on Sky's phone. She had fallen asleep in her clothes and had to dig through the blankets on the sofa to find it. “Don't hang up!” she implored, finally locating it between the couch cushions. The screen said the call was from an unknown number. She had never wanted to ignore a call more. It could be from the kidnappers. Or, she reminded herself, it could be from Hugo needing help.
Groaning, she tapped the cell. “Hello?”
“Miss Christensen? This is Philip St. James. Hugo has been returned safely. I thought you should know.”
Her heart leaped into her throat before she remembered she wasn't supposed to like him anymore. “Is he all right? Is he hurt? And what do you mean by 'returned'?”
“His brother gave him back. The police or Home Guard or whatever they call themselves these days have been informed. If you could come by, I am sure he would be pleased to see you.”
'His brother?' she thought wildly.
He terminated the call before she could ask anything else.
Pulling one blanket off the couch, Sky wrapped it around her and shambled towards the kitchen. This
sort of news could not be faced without caffeine.
“Kara, is there any coffee?”
“Here's a cup,” a man's voice answered.
Sky stared. The beautiful young man with the crooked nose and thin white scar was standing in their kitchen holding out a mug of coffee. He was dressed much like she'd seen him the first time, in a very grown-up style. White shirt, trim cut coat and matching trousers that hugged his body. He smiled a cheerfully.
“Go on, take the cup. Your sister won't be needing it.”
Inside the kitchen, Sky saw Kara sagging limply in a chair, her head on her chest, her long, tangled hair masking her face.
Sky made a move towards her. “Kara!”
The man blocked her path. Bringing up a pistol fitted with a silencer in his other hand, he shook his head. “Not just yet, Skylar. Take the coffee and have a seat. Please?” He said the last word politely and offered her the cup again.
Sky took it. He stood back to let her pass. She threw the hot coffee and the mug at his head and dove for the gun. They were dead anyway probably, she and Kara.
The two of them grappled together. Sky kept pushing to keep him off balance. Hooking one leg under his, she threw her weight to the side. They both fell. He dropped the gun and turned before they hit the floor. So fast, Sky couldn't compensate. In a heartbeat, she was pinned to the ground. Still smiling, he straddled her, holding her arms above her head.
Arching her back, she reached up with both legs to lock them around his throat in a wrestling move. She pulled with every ounce of strength to overbalance him, throwing herself up and over his body. She twisted her arms inside, towards her, to break his grip. Then lacing her fingers with his, forced his hands back and twisted. This move was excruciatingly painful Sky knew from training.
She pressed harder, keeping him on the floor and at the same time thinking desperately, 'Now what?' She couldn't fight him indefinitely and the gun was behind her. Then he went limp and she nearly lost her hold.
He began to laugh. “That was fun. Really. I've never wrestled with a girl before. I quite like it.” He turned his head, giving her a sly grin. “Exciting.”
Without knowing how it happened, she was thrown to the side all the way to the dining room. In a blur of movement, he was standing, aiming the gun once again at her chest.
He glanced down at his stained shirt, frowning.“Now I smell like coffee. Really, was that necessary? Just look at the state of my clothes.” He went to the kitchen sink and picked up a dishcloth draped over the side. Never taking his eyes off her, he carefully wiped his face.
“Perhaps you will sit down right here,” he indicated the chair by Kara with the muzzle of the gun. “Or do I have to shoot your sister in a non-vital organ? I'm asking politely. You have a choice. I always give people a choice.”
He turned the gun towards her sister.
Sky got to her feet. Her heart was pounding and for a moment the room spun. She sagged against the wall into the kitchen, waiting for the blood to get to her head again. She stumbled more than walked to the chair and sat.
“Hands on the table.”
She did as he ordered.
“There. That's better. So, I thought we should have a little chat.”
“Who are you?”
He raised one eyebrow. “You mean dearest Hugo hasn't explained?” He studied her face. “Ah. I see. I am his brother, Quentin.” He gave her a little bow. “Firstborn and true heir to Winthrop Manor and, eventually, the title of Viscount. You may continue to call me Quill since I feel we are already becoming fast friends and if I had friends, they would call me Quill. Most people call me 'sir' or 'please don't kill me,' which is somewhat unwieldy. You did know he had a brother, didn't you?”
Sky shook her head. “Not until today. You're the one that took him from the hospital parking lot.”
“I did actually. I'm giving him back, though. He should already be home by now. Shall we call mon papa?”
She just stared at him.
“No? I can't believe Hugo didn't mention me during your little tete de tetes. Really?”
She shook her head.
“Well, that wasn't very nice. It's like they're ashamed or something.”
A hint of bitterness crept into those last words, Sky thought.
“What do you want?” her voice came out hoarse and raspy. “Why did you take Hugo?”
“I wanted to speak with him and he refused. So I un-refused him.”
“Two of your men were shot, I saw it. Just so you could have a conversation?”
Quill gave a casual wave of his hand. “'Twas but a mere flesh wound for such as they. Takes more than a few low-caliber bullets to keep one of my minions down.”
Despite the dangerous situation she was in, Sky could not help commenting. “You did not just say you had minions?”
“I did, and I do!” He grinned and his eyes practically sparkled with delight. “Doesn't everyone want minions? Come on, admit it.”
“What do you need with my sister and me?”
“My sister and I. To business then. Seems your Home Guard has captured my mother. Most inconvenient. I need your help to get her back and Hugo was not willing to ask you for it. Lover's quarrel?” He raised both eyebrows with a knowing look.
Sky said nothing. Actually it was all she could do to keep from throwing up, or worse. There was a chill to this young man that no charm or good looks could entirely conceal. She felt far closer to death sitting here than she had when the sniper began shooting at the mall.
“Your hands are trembling. Really, am I that beastly? Have some coffee, and this time, please drink it.”
Pulling out a coffee capsule, he plugged it in the coffee maker and put another mug from the stack next to it. The smell of hot, bitter coffee filled the kitchen. It was then that Sky noticed she couldn't smell him. Everyone has their own unique scent. That was normal. There were three people in the room. She inhaled deeply. Kara's was musky from stress and illness. She couldn't smell herself. Except for the regular sort of hair and skin smells. Weird but true. Quill's scent. She inhaled again. Was absent entirely.
“Smells good, doesn't it?” Misinterpreting her deep breath, he inhaled the steam from the mug. “I think I'll have a cup as well.”
He placed the coffee on the far end of the table so she'd have to reach for it. Popping out another cartridge, he fitted it in and flipped the switch. The coffee took only a minute to brew. Then, cup in hand, gun tucked into this belt, he leaned against the counter. He appeared completely at ease, as though nothing was amiss and he'd just dropped by for a friendly chat.
“Here's the deal. That sounded very American didn't it? Your country is rubbing off on me. I hold on to Kara, and you and Hugo help me get dear mama out of the clutches of your double dealing Home Guard. We had an agreement with them for a transaction. They've gotten greedy and want more. As a result, Mother is in the detention center of Base 51 with threats of torture and being sent to a prison blood farm dangling over her head. You have access to the base.”
“I'm not committing treason for you and your mother. I've never even met Hugo's mother.”
“I'm not asking you to commit treason. If things go according to plan, you can hand over these profiteers to your own authorities. Provided you can find someone who isn't in on the deal already. My side will even provide the evidence. You have some of it already, if I'm not mistaken. From your friend Rickey's memory card. I get my mother; you get your sister back. Alls well that ends well for America and the home of the brave.”
Draining his cup, he set it on the counter and pulled out a cell phone, tapping the screen once. He walked with studied grace across the kitchen to Sky, pulling out the pistol. “Now, don't move.”
Leveling the gun at Kara's head, he leaned over Sky and ran his fingers intimately through her hair. He brushed his lips across the top of her head and breathed deeply. “It was I who saved your life in the forest not so very long ago.”
His lips caress
ed her ear and his breath was warm as he whispered, “Taking out that Power Company operative so intent on cutting your young life short. Literally cutting. That was a big, nasty knife he had in his hand. Funny, I came to the forest with the intention to kill you myself. How ironic, don't you think? That I should save you.”
He kept stroking her hair and it took all of her control not to just take her chances and bolt for the door. Her eyes kept flicking to the gun resting against Kara's temple and she held on, biting her lip until she tasted blood.
“My brother has grown rather attached to you. I can see why. There's a beguiling sort of enchantment at work here. I sense my father's meddling hand in this. Better loving through chemicals, eh?”
Two men in black came through the door leading to the laundry room. There was a side entrance from there to the car port. Both men were massive. By far the largest human beings Sky had ever seen this close. She could readily believe a low-caliber bullet would hardly slow them.
One was carrying Tricia. The dog wagged her tail wildly and squirmed to be let down. He set her carefully on the floor and the poodle ran to Sky.
The other man went to Kara and lifted her effortlessly out of the chair. Kara's head lolled back. She was unconscious, whether from a blow or drugs, Sky couldn't tell.
Both of them went back the way they came, as though Sky was not even there.
There was a pop of sound and Sky started only to see the poodle slump to the floor at her feet.
She made a strangled noise of denial and dropped to pick up the dog. “No, no, no. Why did you do that? She's just a little dog.”
He looked down, directly into her eyes. He was no longer smiling. “You can see animal ghosts, can't you? If she's dead, she'll be with you forever. You can't say the same for Kara. I'll be in touch with the details. Goodbye.”
Chapter 19
Blood Stains
Sky didn't call the Home Guard 911 hotline. In light of the information she'd learned, she called her aunt, sobbing almost incoherently about Kara's abduction and Tricia's death.
Eloise came home to find Sky rocking back and forth on the floor, clutching the little body of Tricia and crying inconsolably. The poodle had barely bled. She didn't even look dead.
