Untouchable

by Stephanie Doyle

  “Really?”

  Tarak twisted in his seat and stared at Lilith. She could feel the censure in his gaze. “I thought maybe the only information on this drive was the process of how Echo and Lilith were created. You are saying there is more?”

  “Hell, yes,” Lucy said.

  Lilith bowed her head shamefully. After what had happened between them, the way she’d opened herself to him and trusted him so completely, it wasn’t right that she’d held back anything. Even if she thought she was doing it for his own good.

  “I knew there was more on the drive. Files. I didn’t read them all, but what I did read…Tarak, they were so horrible. When I asked you what you did you said you worked for governments. There were government leaders in those files. Names of people even I recognized. I did not think you should know about it. I did not think it would be good for you.”

  “No,” he said carefully. “You didn’t trust me with the information. I can understand that at the beginning, but you should have told me later.”

  “I do not suppose you will believe me when I say I forgot,” Lilith said sincerely. “We have been rather busy chasing that necklace through the jungle.”

  “Uh-oh. Lover’s spat. Look, guys, I can appreciate that relationships are tricky things. Believe me! But now is really not the time. What else did Echo tell you about the package she received from her mother?”

  Lilith blinked as she tried to change focus and process the word lover at the same time. “Echo said she had received a gift like mine. She said there was another child. Kwan-Sook. She would have received some of this information, as well. Echo told me that this Allison Gracelyn had her killed because she wanted that information.”

  Lucy shook her head. “That I can promise you is not true. In fact it all makes sense. Echo got a package. She learned that two other siblings each received another third of the information and she decided she wanted it all. She tracked down Kwan-Sook and killed her. Then she went after you.”

  “So she has all three packages,” Tarak concluded. “No wonder she was in such a hurry to get out of India. I’m furious with you now, darling, but I also congratulate you on your determination to stop her. Because of you we were able to slow her down. We actually have a chance to capture her before she has a chance to use any of that information.”

  Lilith tried to work out whether Tarak was really furious or only teasing. It was difficult to tell by his tone of voice. When her father had gotten angry at her it was always very easy to tell.

  “Are you going to threaten to spank me again?”

  Lucy erupted into immediate laughter. Tarak simply turned a few shades of red. Lilith never recalled seeing such a color on a man’s cheeks.

  Chapter 19

  “S top snickering,” Tarak ordered his copilot.

  “Sure,” Lucy said. Then she snickered.

  Lilith chose to ignore it. But not before a spurt of anger she recognized as jealousy emerged. Lucy was teasing Tarak. Obviously what Lilith had said about spanking was funny, although again she wasn’t sure why that would be. That’s when it occurred to her that Lucy and Tarak could communicate on a level Lilith and Tarak could not. Because they were friends. Because they shared the same experiences and came from the outside world.

  It would no doubt always be like this when she was with Tarak and the people he knew. Once more she would be on the outside, only not because of her gift but because of how she’d grown up and where.

  With a surge of determination she decided she would find a way to adjust. Tarak was worth it. Although she might be on the outside for a time in certain situations, she was sure he would always welcome her in. It was time to be part of a new world. Lilith only hoped she was ready for the challenge.

  Sitting in the backseat of the cab, she felt time ticking by. Every second was an hour. Not prone to impatience, she was surprised by her behavior. But she sensed that the new life she’d just started to contemplate was only hours in front of her. Possibly minutes. She wanted to get started with it now.

  “I do not understand why we are still sitting here in this lot. We could go to these key spots ourselves and search for Echo. I know what she looks like. So does Tarak. I believe that would be more efficient.”

  Lucy tilted her head toward Tarak. “Your girl’s not patient.”

  “Lilly has the unique ability to carefully weigh all the options, pick the most practical course and naturally leap right in. Darling, we’re waiting because once they spot Echo we want to go where she is directly. If we’re at one terminal and she’s at another we might miss her.”

  “Oh. That sounds logical.”

  “Thank you,” Lucy said. “I try to be sometimes.”

  To pass time, Lilith found herself looping back to everything Lucy had said regarding Allison Gracelyn. She wondered what Jackie had done to Allison’s mother and hoped it wasn’t horrible. Then she thought of the school she supported. Athena Academy. “You spoke of the school for women. The academy. How did you learn about it?”

  “I’m a graduate. I didn’t find out about it until later in my high school career but they let me transfer in anyway, which was a great honor. I remember every day like it was yesterday. They were great years.”

  “And Allison built the school?”

  “No, her mother started it. Allison just keeps the tradition alive. It’s a place where girls are allowed to be strong, aggressive, competitive, talented, smart. It’s encouraged. Girls really thrive in that kind of environment. You don’t realize how much sexism still affects so many things in a patriarchal society. A woman goes for what she wants and she’s labeled a bitch. A man does it and he’s assertive. A woman points out her accomplishments, she’s arrogant. A man does it, he’s confident.”

  “Oh, no,” Tarak groaned. “Am I going to have to leave the car for this?”

  “I’ll be good. I’m just letting Lilith know what kind of place it is.”

  Lilith thought about Sister Peter. How she might have thrived at such a school as she was all of those things and more. Maybe in her next life.

  The phone sitting on the console between the two seats beeped. Lucy snatched it up. “Talk to me.”

  “We think we’ve got a visual,” the voice on the other end said. “Heading for the private jet terminal. You called it.”

  Lilith could feel her anticipation building. Soon they would have Echo and with so many people to help they had to be able to stop her this time.

  “Got it. You know what to do. Stall until we get there.”

  “Out.”

  “Okay, let’s go.” Lucy pulled the car out of the lot and drove like a woman who knew exactly where she was going. Obviously she had studied the layout of the airport grounds. For a moment Lilith felt chagrined that she had doubted Lucy’s plan to wait. Then once more she fell back into the side of the car as Lucy made a vicious right-angle turn and wished they had been able to walk.

  “What do you mean there is a problem with my plane?”

  This was not a good day, Echo decided. First she had to deal with the police at the train station, then she had to have Kent forcibly remove a driver out of his car as he had the nerve not to hand it over of his own accord. All of this was costing her time, time, time.

  Now there was a man in a blue blazer with some damn airplane pin on the lapel telling her that there would be a delay in taking off because there was a problem with her plane.

  They were virtually alone in the terminal. At an isolated end of the airport the company that rented the jets catered to an elite and high-paying crowd. There had been security as they entered the terminal, but as they walked the long, narrow hall to the gate, Echo could see only a smattering of staff and cleaning crew.

  Large windows opened out to the rest of the airport and she could see two white sparkling jets, one of which was about to take her home. The flight crews, consisting of two pilots and a flight attendant, had already boarded their respective planes as she could see people moving around insid
e both jets. A ground crew was hard at work getting them fueled and ready for takeoff.

  The only person at the gate besides Echo and her men was the Indian man in the blue blazer standing behind a white counter, who was delivering some very discouraging news.

  “Yes, ma’am. There is an engine light on and it must be thoroughly investigated before we allow you to take off. For your own safety, of course.”

  Echo tilted her head in the direction of the large windows. “There are two planes out there. Both with crews ready to go. If my plane is broken, then give me the other one. Simple.”

  “I am very sorry, ma’am. That plane has already been reserved. Its passengers should be here shortly.”

  Echo took a deep breath. She recognized that people skills were not her forte, but she also considered that in this case it might be easier to catch more bees with honey. She plastered a smile to her face and leaned on the counter in a way that she hoped signaled friendliness to Mr. Blue Blazer.

  “Hear me out. You say my plane is not ready yet, but it will be shortly. However, I am here now and want to leave. Whereas the passengers for the other plane will be here shortly. Let’s put me together with the plane that’s ready now. And the plane that will be ready shortly with the people who will be here shortly. That would make me very happy.”

  The man smile and nodded. “Oh, yes, of course, but I am sorry. I cannot do that.” Then he leaned over and said in a softer voice. “Big movie star is coming. Wants plane waiting for him as soon as he is ready to take off. I am under orders by my superiors to make sure that happens. But your plane will be ready very shortly. You’ll see.”

  “Oh darn,” Echo groaned.

  Kent, who had been standing back with Rolf, came up behind her. “What’s the problem?”

  “Well,” Echo whined, her shoulders dropping to a slump. “I didn’t want to do this, but now I’m going to have to kill this guy.” She threw up a force field around her fist and swung as hard as she could. The field out in front of her hand made impact with the man behind the counter before he was expecting it, forcing his neck back and to the right at a harsh angle. She heard it crack and then watched him drop behind his precious counter into a heap on the floor.

  Walking around to where he lay sprawled out on the thin carpet, his eyes open but unseeing, she couldn’t help but smile. She crouched down near his head even though she knew he could not hear her anymore.

  “When I am done there will not be anyone, anyone, in this world who is more important than I am. Rolf, get his blazer off. Put it on and walk over to the phone near the door on the right. Tell the pilot he’s to get the plane ready as soon as possible. Keep your voice low. Make like there is a bunch of static. The pilot should only see the blazer. Got it?”

  Rolf did as ordered and Echo found a seat by the door. She plopped down on top of it and sighed.

  It seemed like nothing was going to be easy today. Nothing.

  Lucy brought the car to a screeching halt in front of the entrance to the private jet terminal. Uncaring of the man shouting at her in Hindi that she couldn’t park there, she ran straight inside the building.

  Tarak jumped out and waited for Lilith to extract herself from the backseat. She started to take off at a full run and realized her skirt wouldn’t allow her that kind of movement.

  Beautiful certainly, but not practical. Next time they went chasing after her psychotic sister, she would remind him that she needed more practical clothes.

  “Tarak, wait. I cannot move in this thing.”

  Tarak stopped and turned around. He instantly recognized the problem and sighed, clearly disappointed that he was going to have to destroy such a beautiful piece of clothing. He knelt down in front of her and began ripping the material in front so that her legs would have the freedom to move.

  “You can buy me another one and I will turn around as many times as you would like,” she promised, trying to comfort him.

  He looked up at her and smiled, and she returned it. Then she saw a flash of skin between the gap in the material he had created. She was glowing.

  Instantly she backed away from him.

  “Yes, I see,” he said. “Be careful, Lilly.”

  She nodded and then he once more turned to follow Lucy down the terminal. This time when Lilith ran she kept up with him stride for stride, driving her legs as hard as she could. At the end of this long hall was Echo.

  It was time to get her necklace back.

  “Okay,” Rolf said. “The pilot is preparing the plane for takeoff. We’ll follow this gate down to the tarmac. They’re wheeling up a set of stairs for the hatch.”

  Echo glanced down at the crew busy preparing the plane for flight. “Is that our luggage out there?”

  Luggage was a euphemism for two carry-on bags that they had purchased to transport their guns. While they never would have made it past the terminal security checkpoints armed, the baggage check for private jets was not as stringent as a courtesy to many of the high-profile passengers who used them. The people who rented the planes asked for and received a certain amount of discretion regarding their personal belongings as long as they didn’t try to carry them through the airport.

  “Call down there,” Echo told Rolf. “Tell them I want the bags inside the plane not in the luggage compartment underneath.”

  “Why?”

  Echo shot him a deathly glare. “Are you seriously standing here questioning me? After the day I’ve had? Call down there and tell him to put the bags in the plane. Up front where I can get to them. We need to be prepared for anything.”

  “Yes, Echo.”

  Without further questions, Rolf actually headed down to the tarmac to instruct the ground crew directly. Two more men in orange blazers met him at the doorway as he made his case. Echo watched as the stairs were rolled up to the sleek jet’s door. Someone from inside the plane released the hatch and one of the workmen tossed the bag inside.

  Then Rolf gave her a thumbs-up as if it was time to board.

  “Kent, let’s go. It’s time to leave.”

  “Yeah, in a second. I need to hit the can.”

  He wandered off into the bathroom marked for men, and Echo nearly screamed with frustration. Tempted to leave him there, if only she didn’t have to kill him, Echo walked over to the door that would lead her outside and opened it.

  “Any year now, Kent!”

  There was no response from across the hall. Determined that she would pull him out of the bathroom in midstream if she had to she started to walk toward the men’s room when she stopped.

  Her senses went on high alert. Glancing around, there was only her and the dead body in the gate. What in the hell was causing…

  “Hold it right there!”

  Echo glanced down the hallway and saw a tall redheaded woman running at high speed. She could care less about her. It was the man and the woman in the blue sari who was currently outpacing him that drew her attention.

  “Kent! Get out here now!”

  Reaching for her gun, she growled when she recalled she was unarmed. Just then the bathroom door swung open. And Kent walked out with two hands over his head. The man behind him was holding a gun.

  No, nothing was going right today.

  Lilith pulled up short, as did Lucy and Tarak. Lucy’s man had successfully detained one of Echo’s men, his security credentials allowing him to carry his weapon inside the terminal.

  “Our two guys on the ground should have the other one by now.”

  Tarak walked over to the window and nodded. “He’s on the ground, his hands over his head. Good work. Your men know what they’re doing, Lucy. Not that I would have expected anything else.”

  “I only work with the best.”

  Lilith ignored the chatter, however, and kept her eyes trained on Echo. The woman didn’t appear to be concerned about her fate. Only mildly irritated. Walking toward her, Lilith pulled at the glove. Loosening it until it released its grip on her hand. She dropped the first gl
ove and then went to work on the second. By the time she dropped both of them, she was standing only two feet away from Echo. She knew there was no point in getting any closer. The field would have already been constructed around her.

  “I want my necklace back.”

  Echo reached inside her vest and pulled out the gold spider, letting it dangle from her fingertips. “You mean this necklace? Hmm, no.”

  “You cannot win. We have your men. You are trapped. Give me the necklace and you will not die.”

  Echo merely smiled. “I’m not going to die anyway. If you want the necklace why don’t you take it?”

  Quickly Lilith reached out to snatch it away, but as she suspected her hand bounced off whatever it was that Echo used to separate herself from the rest of the world. “You can’t touch me. You can’t shoot me. You can’t have the necklace. It seems like what we have here is a stalemate.”

  “We can’t shoot you,” Tarak corrected. “But your men are not so invulnerable. How difficult would it be for you to watch us blow off their kneecaps?”

  Echo leaned forward clutching her stomach as she laughed. “Not very difficult. Especially since I was going to kill them myself as soon as I was on the plane.”

  “You bitch!” Kent moved as if to strike at her, but the man behind him stopped his actions by jamming the gun farther into his spine.

  “Sorry doll face. You had your uses, but I wasn’t about to leave anyone alive who knew that Lilith existed. But I guess the cat is out of the bag now.” Echo turned back to Tarak. “Anyway, you’re welcome to torture them if you think that might help. But I sincerely doubt it.”

  Slowly Echo started to take a step toward the door. Then another.

  “How do you think this can end?” Lilith asked.

  “It’s going to end with me getting on that plane,” Echo told her. She turned and bolted for the door that led down to the ground. The man who had been holding the gun on Kent changed his direction and fired at her, only to watch the bullet bounce off.