by K. L. Wallen
Justin took a paper out of his backpack and handed it to Ms. Carter. “I got a B on my math quiz. My grades are coming up.”
Ms. Carter actually smiled. “Congratulations. I’m glad to see this. I’ll make a note of it in the report.”
She focused on Carlie, “I would recommend you get a statement from all of his teachers and from his school counselor before your court date. The apartment is clean and you have plenty of food. I don’t see anything negative to report.”
Carlie blew out a breath. “Thank you.” She took the math quiz back and walked Ms. Carter to the door. Carlie froze but didn’t say anything when she touched the door’s interior handle. She didn’t want to announce that the aliens had been inside their apartment. That news could wait until after Eloise comes and goes.
Twenty minutes later, there was a knock on the door. Justin had just folded the couch back up. He looked through the peephole and saw a middle-aged woman who looked cautious. “Eloise is here,” he called out as he opened the door. He quickly lifted his hand as if it had been scorched.
“Don’t worry, we’ll walk you to your car when you leave,” Justin said in an apologetic voice. It wasn’t often he was embarrassed about the neighborhood where they live, but seeing this well dressed woman, who had the stones on her rings turned palm side down, so only the bands showed on the upper part of her hands, made him feel that way.
Eloise smiled kindly at the young man. “Thank you. You must be Justin. Sally had only kind words to say about you and your sister. I hope you can help me.” Eloise couldn’t help but cry.
Justin looked for Kleenex but came up empty. He darted into the bathroom and pulled the toilet paper roll off the roller, and dashed back into the living room.
“Sorry, this is all we have unless you want scratchy paper towel.” He shoved it at her.
Carlie made a mental note to pick up tissue and put some back for such occasions. She was grateful that Eloise didn’t protest the toilet paper. “Eloise, I’m Carlie. Please have a seat. Did you bring the items?”
She sat on the couch and replied, “Yes. I have a couple of them in my tote. The rest of the items, including Mimi’s bed, are in the backseat of my car. It was too much to haul up here in one trip.” She used a strip of toilet paper to wipe at her eyes. “Do you really think you can help me get Mimi back?”
Justin sat on the couch next to her. “Let me hold the items and I’ll tell you.”
He took first the leash, and then the chew toy. “Mimi is very upset. She misses you. She sleeps with you.”
Eloise sniffled and answered, “Yes, she does. I bought her, her own bed and no matter how many nights I try to get her to sleep in it, I always wake up with her in my bed. She’s so sweet.”
“Did you take her to the vet’s office lately or for grooming? Mimi knows the person who took her. That’s why she went with the person.”
“I took her to the groomers the day before she was taken. I told them she was scheduled to be spayed and I wanted her looking her best for the vet.” Eloise looked alarmed. “But the ladies there are all so nice.”
Justin snorted. “Yeah. Real nice. They took your dog. So how about we go get her back?” He smiled with a devilish look.
Eloise laughed when Justin waggled his eyebrows. “Let’s go. I’ll drive. The groomer’s are open for another half-hour.”
“I know,” Carlie softly remarked to Justin when he took hold of the door handle. She didn’t elaborate. She didn’t need to.
*.*
“That’s her,” Justin pointed to a girl about 25 years old who was walking out of the building to her car. “She’s the one we need to follow.” The three of them sat in the back of the parking lot watching and waiting.
Eloise was grateful that Carlie had suggested she not go in there and confront the woman. That could have been a mistake that might have cost her Mimi.
“We’ll just follow her. When she gets home, we’ll verify Mimi is there and call the cops. You have a picture of you and Mimi, or paperwork to prove she’s yours?” Carlie asked as she slumped to the side in the backseat to hide her presence.
“Yes. I have a picture of me and Mimi together in my wallet. It was taken at Mimi’s one-year old birthday party. She’s wearing her birthday hat,” Eloise responded and slid as far down the driver’s seat as the steering wheel allowed.
Justin, who had also stealthily slid down as much as his knees meeting the dashboard would allow, resituated himself. “She’s turning left.”
Eloise started the car. “I’ll stay a couple of cars back from her, just like in the movies. You’ll help me watch which way she turns?”
“Uh huh,” Justin mumbled. After several blocks he announced, “Turn right.”
They followed the car for half a mile more before making two more right turns. “She’s getting on the freeway.” Justin started rapping his fingertips impatiently on the passenger door’s armrest.
Two miles later, Carly announced, “She’s exiting. Get in the far right lane.”
Many turns later, Carly smacked her lips and stated, “She lives only a couple of blocks from us. Huh. We really need to move if this is the kind of neighbors we have.”
“I’ll help you move. I own a lot of properties,” Eloise remarked. She pulled to the curb and parked the car when the woman’s car pulled into a driveway.
As soon as the groomer entered the older home, Justin opened the door. “I’ll go around back and take a look.” He closed the door and jogged off.
Eloise was concerned and asked Carlie, “Should he be going out there by himself?”
Carlie reassured her, “He’ll be fine. He knows the area and he’s really fast. Plus, he’s at that age where he’s stupidly brave.” She watched Justin run to the fence and climb over. “Odds are on his side,” she mumbled as she scanned the surrounding homes to see if anyone had noticed.
Minutes later, Justin was tapping on the passenger side. As soon as Eloise unlocked the door, he slid into the car and informed Eloise, “Call the cops. Mimi’s there. So are many other dogs.”
Eloise wasn’t sure if she wanted to hug him or call the police first. She decided to call the police and then hug Justin. “Where are we?” she asked when she realized she hadn’t caught the name of the street.
Carlie held out her hand. “Why don’t I talk to them? You’re barely holding it together.” She accepted the cellphone from Eloise and informed dispatch of their location and the circumstance. She excitedly followed up with, “You need to get here quick before there’s an ugly scene. I don’t know how long I can hold the owner back. She’s very upset and looking for blood.”
Carlie abruptly hung up and passed the phone back. “Sorry Eloise, but the cops don’t tend to come out to this area of town willingly, or quickly.”
“Especially not for a dog,” Justin helpfully added.
Eloise sighed and settled back into her seat. She kept her eyes on the house.
*.*
“Ya did good.” Carlie reached up and ruffled Justin’s hair as they reentered the apartment. “I’ll deposit the check in the morning on my way into work.”
“Maybe we should advertise?” Justin walked over to the refrigerator and took out a couple of cans of Pepsi. “First, we need to get rid of the alien assholes. They were in here today.”
Carlie took one of the sodas. “I know. Perhaps it’s time to move. After the court date. Eloise did say she’d help.”
Justin smiled. “Yeah, knowing someone who owns a lot of properties helps. She did say she has several fourplexes and half a dozen duplexes. I bet they’re in a better part of town.” He raised his can and clinked it against Carlie’s.
Carlie chugged her soda. “I heard. We can talk to her about it this weekend when we see her.” Carlie and Justin accepted an invitation to go to Eloise’s house for a barbeque and swimming on Saturday. Eloise had told them that she had a number of people she wanted to introduce them to.
Carlie took several long sip
s of her soda before announcing, “Let’s walk the apartment, and see what the aliens were up to.” They set their cans down and began touching one piece of furniture after another. As each one came upon an item that was touched, they called out their impression to the other. Carlie didn’t announce the intrusion into her lingerie drawer.
*.*
Commander Gharm, Blaize, and Tyce sat in the bridge conference room listening to, and watching Carlie and Justin move from one room to another, and one piece of furniture to another.
“This is amazing,” Dorn remarked. “The pair of them are definitely gifted.” He took another bite of his evening meal. “Kodiak and Gabriella. Christine and Dakota. Now, Carlie and Justin. The MacKenna’s are right when they said gifts often times run in families.”
Dorn picked up his data pad and sent a message to Favian ordering a genealogical workup that will show the odds of birthing gifted children between humans and Pzianians. This is a report that he knew Leader Thalmar and Co-Leader Scorpak would find interesting.
They quieted and listened as Carlie and Justin discussed all of the different objects that were touched by Tyce and Blaize. When they didn’t find the monitoring equipment, Blaize remarked, “So they’re not like Gabriella. They don’t sense energy. As soon as they’re asleep, I’ll put a monitor in her transport.”
Tyce was quiet and kept watching until Carlie and Justin settled in for the night. “I’ll try again tomorrow after she gets home from work. That area is not safe. Maybe I should offer them a job. Any suggestions?” He listened as his commander, and head of security, tossed out a few.
Dorn finally stood and instructed Tyce, “If they don’t come willingly. Take them. Every day they are left in that place, is a day that harm could come to them. They are better off with us.” He didn’t wait for Tyce to agree or argue.
“I’ll go with you after my meeting with Gabriella,” Blaize stated in a way that let Tyce know it wasn’t optional. He then followed Dorn out.
Chapter 11
Gabriella shut her car door and inhaled the jasmine that grew nearby. She closed her eyes and tilted her face towards the warm sun. Gabriella loved mornings like this. A perfect start to the day, as her mother would say. She deeply inhaled one more time before making her way to the lobby of the James Consulting Group, where she’s employed as a personal consultant.
“The file on your new client has finally come over and is on your desk for review, Ms. Powers,” the receptionist, Maria, informed Gabriella as she entered the lobby.
This area of the building was designed to impress. The lobby floor was shades of cream colored marble that boasted an artistic, intricate, diamond pattern offset with a floral edge. Off to the right side was a spotless crocheted covered tablecloth covering a table with a Keurig coffee machine, a variety of coffees and teas, Danish, and mints. A few feet away was a cozy three thousand dollar Lawson style leather sofa with two accompanying tub style chairs of the same leather material. A glass top mahogany coffee table was in front of the sofa and a smaller, matching, mahogany table rested between the two tub chairs. Autographed magazines showcasing clients they assisted on the front covers adorned the tables. Eighteen inch throw pillows livened up the seating arrangement. One wall held pictures of the owners and personal consultants with famous clients. The remaining walls had oil paintings, commissioned with local artists.
Gabriella was not a person easily impressed by expensive embellishments; however, the place where she works is a place of pride. She knew that it was more than the rich decorations. It is the warmth that radiates from all of the people who work here that makes this place so special. Her personal office, like the other consultants’ offices, was nowhere near as elaborately bejeweled as other areas but was large enough to comfortably fit her desk, a filing cabinet, and two chairs. As such, the consultants, herself included, preferred to use one of the two plush conference rooms to meet clients.
All of the consultants were allowed to paint their offices as they saw fit and to hang pictures they liked, so long as it were tasteful. Charles and Simone James represent this branch of the James Enterprises. Gabriella enjoys working for them as they’re very supportive and only asks that their employees uphold the image they promote when decorating, speaking, entertaining, and in their professional choice of attire. Furthermore, Gabriella was glad that they gave her a car, entertainment, and clothes allowance.
She was particularly grateful that Charles and Simone didn’t tolerate clients who thought the consultants were there to provide sexual relief. Nor did they tolerate clients who were sexually suggestive. Mr. and Mrs. James rightly had a lot of pride in the business they began more than twenty years ago. They had enough high profile clients that there was no need to tolerate mischief makers.
“Thanks. So what’s he like?” Gabriella stopped at Maria’s tall, half-circle mahogany desk.
Maria rolled her coffee cup between the palms of her hands. “Other than his name is Blaize Pulten, no idea. This one came over the net from the home off,” she paused mid-word and squinted her eyes. “What the hell?” The receptionist narrowed her eyes and pointed outside.
Gabriella turned her head and squinted her eyes. She saw a tall, gorgeous, man being attacked by horned lizards. She sighed as she recognized Nayen’s handiwork. “He must be my new client,” she remarked as she watched the man dart around the corner of the building.
“He’s fast. And good looking, if you’re into that whole virile thing,” the receptionist remarked as she leaned over the desk and stretched her head to the side, as if that might allow her to see around the corner of the exterior wall. “Do you suppose he’ll come back?”
Gabriella stared at where the man turned the corner. When he didn’t come back around, she jested, “I guess his virility, was injured.” They burst out laughing.
*.*
“Transport, transport, transport!” Blaize was transported to the containment unit and was shortly joined by his commander and the ship’s healer.
“Damn pants are too baggy,” he remarked as he dropped his trousers and dislodged the critters that ran up the inside of his trouser legs and took up residence near his boys.
“Fried balls, what are those?” Dorn exclaimed.
The ship’s computer answered, “Commander, those are Phrynosoma Blainvillii, commonly called horned lizards. They are not poisonous.”
“Do they typically travel in hordes?”
“No, Commander.”
“Blaize, how did they get on you?”
“I don’t need to return to the academy for training, Commander. They literally came out of nowhere and leapt on me as I passed by the bush outside Gabriella’s place of employment. There was no movement, whatsoever, until they landed on me,” Blaize huffed. “I don’t see how so many of them could have blended with that bush. Did you see them?”
“I didn’t. Nor did I notice any sway to the bush,” Dorn answered. “Computer. Is this typical behavior for this species?”
“No, Commander.”
Dorn cocked his head slightly to the side as he studied the numerous small creatures. “Perhaps you should postpone your appointment with Gabriella and wait for Kodiak to arrive,” the Commander commented.
Blaize shook his head. “No, I’ll give meeting Gabriella another try. Computer, send a message to Varun to reschedule my lunch with Gabriella Mendez-Powers.” He tossed the last horned lizard into the bin and closed the lid. Blaize accepted the sealant cream from Favian and got to work closing up all of the little stab wounds.
“Blaize?” Favian questioned with mirth in his voice.
Blaize growled back, “Favian, I don’t need your help with this.”
“Trust me, I wasn’t going to offer.” Favian cleared his throat in an attempt to stifle a laugh. “I just thought you might like to know that you missed one.” Favian and Dorn heartily laughed as the last one, whose head just peaked over the rim of Blaize’s boot, emerged and raced up his leg, heading straight for his sac.
<
br /> “Bagallards!”
Dorn left the bay and com’d Adal, “Set course back to Oregon. Tyce has honored guests to retrieve.” He was still laughing when he entered the lift.
*.*
Rort and Maxon were discussing the psychic fair during midday meal when Varun joined them. “Have you found possible honored guests from the monitoring feeds Blaize uploaded?” Varun inquired.
“I may have located one,” Rort put forth. “There was discussion about a female who died and came back with a gift. I’ve asked my father to help me research her.”
“Do you have a name or location? What is her gift?” Varun asked.
Rort tossed his bread down on his plate. “Her name is Charlotte Carmichael. She came back with the power to heal. Other than that, all I have is that she lives in Gatorland, Lazey-ana. I haven’t been able to locate such a place.”
Maxon shrugged his massive shoulders. “I’m not sure if I’ve located a gifted human or not. There are a couple of possibilities. I watched video of one who wrote things that appeared to have meaning to her client. She looked as if she was in the same type of trance that Carlie Longwood went into when she met with that human female whose sister was murdered. There’s also another female who reads auras. I’m not sure what that entails, or if it’s even a valid psychic gift. What about you?”
Varun sat across from Rort. “Adal and I watched hours of feed. Mostly, I’ve had a good laugh. That was until I became angry. The MacKennas were right about the slight-of-hand and body language. I listened as one female convinced another female that her deceased parents were trying to contact her. She declared herself as able to communicate with spirits, but her manner of communicating was vastly different from what we witnessed with Dakota and Christine Shasta. Neither Adal nor I believed she was talking to ghosts.
