“Come on out whoever's in there now,” said the first deputy. He drew his gun. Shauna saw Susan open the door and start to tell the deputies it wasn't safe, but there was a gunshot and one of the deputies went down. The other one dove for cover next to the deck. Susan urged him to come inside, but apparently he wasn't trusting because he stayed where he was and used his shoulder mic to call in that there was an officer down. He tried to make a run for his car when another gunshot went off and he went down.
“Oh, Jesus!” cried Shauna. “What do we do now?” She looked towards Hawk who was in shock. She shook him. “Hawk! We have to do something. They're going to get killed in there. More officers will be coming, but a lot could happen before they get here. We're not safe here.” Shauna sat him down on the bench.
“What can we do? I can't think,” he said. Shauna peeked back through the cracks. She couldn't see anyone and the two deputies weren't moving. Then there was screaming coming from the cabin. Shauna figured the men must have come in the back way. Shauna couldn't bear it any longer. “Give me your gun, Hawk.”
“What are you going to do?” he asked.
“I don't know, but I can't stand here while our friends are in danger.”
“You're the one who's in danger, Shauna. If you go in there they're just going to grab you or even hurt you.”
“Well, maybe I should give myself up. I can't let them go through this.” She unlatched the door and stepped outside. Hawk followed her. Just as she did so, more cops swerved down the driveway, dust and gravel flying. Several of them jumped out of their cars, guns drawn. One of them called out to the man holding Fern at gunpoint.
“Put the gun down. Now!”
“No way,” said the guy. We came here for Shauna Troy and we’re going to get her. Why don’t all of you put your guns down and this little lady won’t get a bullet through her head.”
“I’m sorry sir,” said the officer all too calmly,” I’m afraid we can’t do that. Let her go. Put down your weapon.”
Shauna knew the only way to save Fern and the others was to make herself known. She tucked the gun inside her pants in the back and slowly crept from her hiding place.
“Officers? I’m Shauna Troy,” she said as she approached them with her hands up in the air. Hawk came right behind her.
“And this is Dr. Hawkins, my associate.”
The cops’ attention was drawn towards the two of them.
“I’m the one they want.”
“Get down, miss Troy. We’ll handle this.”
“We just want that woman and we’ll let the others go,” said the dirtbag. The officers didn’t seem to know what to do next. Everything was happening so fast they had no time to think.
“You two get down, I said!” said the lead cop nervously.
“But I want to surrender myself officer,” said Shauna. She knew it was the only way.
“But ma’am, we can’t be sure he will stick to his word and let the others go. Stay where you are.” Fern was whimpering and hanging by the guy’s arm, which was around her neck. He said, “We’ll take Troy for this woman and all the rest of them. All we want is her.” Shauna walked over towards the cabin. She was standing in the center of the grassy meadow. Hawk had held back. “Shauna, don’t do this!” he whispered loudly.
All at once there was a strange glow coming from the darkness above them. It got brighter and brighter. Shauna saw it first, then the rest of them looked up. It was a spacecraft hovering just above the tree line. Noiselessly it settled down into the meadow before Shauna. Steps flowed down out of it and an extraterrestrial being that looked very human walked out. The cops were astonished and some sat where they were. The man holding Fern let her go and shielded his eyes from the light. Beckham came out of the cabin and looked on in awe.
“Hello Shauna Troy,” the being said to her. “We’ve been waiting for you.”
“Hello,” she said tentatively. “Waiting for me?”
“Why yes. I am your father.”
“My father?” She looked around at the surrealistic scene. She’d forgotten about her odd parentage. “But I have to go with these men so they’ll let my friends go.”
“All right. We can fix that for you easily enough. Which of you is a Mr. Beckham?” he asked, looking around. Beckham came forward with one hand held up. “That would be me,” he said.
“Would you please come with us? We can show you everything you want to know. We’re aware of the being called Seta and have had dealings with it before. I think we know how to help you Mr. Beckham. Beckham’s lips trembled and turned into a smile. “Yes, yes. I will go with you. There’s so much I need to know, so many things I want to find out from your kind. That’s the only reason I wanted Shauna Troy.”
“Well, we’ll be happy to give you everything you deserve, sir,” he said and held out his hand to Beckham. Everyone was out of the cabin by now and was watching Beckham follow the Starborn one into the ship. Before he disappeared, the being turned to Shauna. “I will be seeing you again, Shauna Troy.” The steps to the ship receded back inside and disappeared. The ship took off into the dark sky as quickly and quietly as it had arrived.
After a moment the cops regained their composure and tackled the cabin. Hawk and Shauna told them who was who and there was a great reunion between the friends as the goons were whisked away. Like a snake with its head now gone, the men were no longer a threat. Shauna cried and hugged every one of her comrades. Then she put her arms around Hawk and said, “What do we do now?”
“I suppose we go on with our research. I’ve still got plenty of money and maybe with the help of our Starborn friends we can figure out how to keep this planet alive, not to mention ourselves.” They all walked inside the main cabin. Anybody want something to drink?” asked Hutch. They decided to open a couple bottles of wine. They stayed up till almost sunrise brainstorming ideas for what to do next, what path to take. Susan took several pages of notes on a legal notepad. Shauna sat next to Fern, making sure she was okay. Stories were told. They decided to stay at the cabins for a while longer until Six Rivers was cleaned up. In a way they felt this was a new beginning, and that their lives had changed course, but in a good way. Shauna made a toast: “To the future of the Earth!” Hawk put his arms around her and kissed her wine-quenched lips.
About the Author
Julie Achterhoff has led a very eclectic life, going from poor little rich girl to living on welfare after the end of her twenty year marriage with five children to raise. Out of all the pressure has come a series of suspenseful thrillers that are difficult to categorize. There is passion, tension, mystery, paranormal aspects, and bits and pieces from many genres within her pages. Now, with her youngest going off to college, she has the time and energy to put the words down to paper to give her readers a wonderful ride. She lives on the north coast of California with her son, his fiance, and her best friend and love, Ron.
Connect with Julie Achterhoff Online
Julie’s Website: http://www.julieachterhoff.tk/
Julie’s Blog: http://www.earthwalker.tk/
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