The couple walked up the steps and entered the building. Xander took out his passcode card and swiped it. The light lit up green. Next the monitor asked him to step forward and have a full body scan. He did as he was asked. The door opened and he stepped through, leaving Anjoleah to watch for officials. He walked quickly down the hallway and entered a room that was filled with what looked like junk. Alexander quickly assessed the room. He picked up various objects and put them in his pockets. When he was finished, he left the room and headed for the other wing of the building. Once he came to his destination, he paused and waited for the small light above the door to turn green. Xander entered and went right to the area that he knew contained small handguns. He placed the weapons in his holsters and exited the room. He went back to meet Anjoleah. They made their way to their next destination and waited.
Adena Dauze was running late. Not because she didn't think this meeting was important but no matter how hard she tried, events kept distracting her. When she talked to Xander earlier, she tried to explain another day would be better, but Xander insisted by calling in a favor. In her line of work, she and her family relied heavily on favors to get the necessary results they needed for their clients.
As she walked, Adena kept going over in her head the list of unusual items Xander had requested of her. Not sure if she had missed an item, she stepped into a novelty shop and moved out of sight to double check the objects in her purse. It was important to make sure she had everything he requested. She finished the task, zipped her purse and held her head high as she made her way to the agreed upon destination. Adena was curious as to what her cousin was up to. The objects were specific to dismantling a Passageway, and had he not been in law enforcement, she wouldn't be giving him these crucial objects. If it leaked out they let these objects out into the public, it could damage her family’s reputation and be the end of their business.
Adena was thinking about Xander and the last time she saw him. He scared his family to death, running off to join the Marines. His dad nearly had a heart attack. His mom cried for months, afraid of losing her son. It was a shame, such a promising future. Then she heard of a mysterious woman he met and that he couldn’t be persuaded to leave her side. His parents offered him numerous enticements. He refused. Adena wasn’t surprised his parents would make such offers. The woman didn't fit the usual mold of their social class. His parents were afraid she would be an outcast and drag Xander in that class with her. They just couldn’t understand why he’d chosen her. Women swooned over him wherever he went. His childhood sweetheart was, to her knowledge, still waiting for him to come to his senses and return for her.
Adena believed no one in the family had ever met Anjoleah. She could only imagine what the woman must look like. The female agent must be a rare beauty to compensate for what Xander gave up to have her by his side. Most men wouldn't have; from her experience everyone had a price.
Alexander and Adena’s paths had crossed several times through the years, but for the most part they ran in different circles. His family dealt with buying, fixing up and making a company profitable, then selling off the company or its assets. Adena's family business dealt with Passageways. For generations they had been in the business of installing, or finding and returning stolen Passageways.
The Passageway business was a very tricky and dangerous profession to be in for various reasons, political or otherwise. The truth of the matter was, that one slip up could result in the loss of someone’s life. The Hub media, when reporting on them, seemed to dismiss the danger involved in their line of work. Most of the stories were anticlimactic at best and often made them seem like stuffy old money. The latest story was true, in light of the fact that Passageway thievery was on the rise and that most families couldn't afford to pay the exorbitant fees involved if tragedy struck. Adena hated to admit the fact that their clients were mostly wealthy individuals. It just so happened the wealthy were the usual targets, because the thieves often stole other artifacts as well as their Passageway.
She was working on a deal with a Passageway Seeker when Xander interrupted the negotiations. It was rare that a criminal would help the Dauze family in any way, but this one seemed to want out. Adena, through their brief encounters, had limited conversations with him. She felt the inner torment he struggled with and she felt sorry for him. Often she would find herself daydreaming of ways to try to help him. When she didn't hear from him for several days, she would be on edge. One thing was certain, if his clan discovered that he was willing to help her, they’d kill him. It wouldn't be a fast death either. No, not this clan, it would be a slow painful death of something unimaginable. She shivered and pushed the thoughts out of her mind.
She reached their meeting spot and saw Alexander in the distance. She squinted to get a better look. When she noticed the figure of a woman standing next to Alexander, Adena wished that she had her Sojourner glasses on in order to see clearer. She quickly walked toward them, excited that she would be able to finally meet Xander’s significant other. Her aunt and uncle would be so overjoyed to hear good news about their son.
Adena gasped as Xander explained how he was intending to use her tools. “Alexander! Your mom and dad will be... Oh my...! What have you got yourself into? Was it all a lie about what you have been doing? What have they done to you? Were you harmed in any way?” She looked him over. “We will get you out, don't worry. Anything, have them say a price! How did it happen? How do we identify your clan? We will put together an army to extract you. We will change your identity.”
She turned to Anjoleah and shrieked, “Was it because of her?” She glared at Anjoleah.
Adena turned back to Xander. “Our family name will be tarnished... We are ruined. Oh Xander, how on earth could you do this to us? How will we fix this? Oh, how will I tell your parents?” Adena began to cry. Xander tried to comfort her but she was beyond being helped.
Anjoleah rolled her eyes and said, “Get a grip.”
Adena scowled. “I beg your pardon?”
Anjoleah didn't look amused. Xander was trying to use hand motions to stop Anjoleah from going on but it was too late. She let Adena have it.
Xander rubbed his forehead and took a deep breath. “Ladies, ladies, ladies... stop!”
They both stopped their bickering and looked at him. Somehow Anjoleah had Adena was in a headlock. He wondered how he missed that one. In a nonthreatening way he said, “Anjoleah, release her.” She reluctantly did.
Xander cautiously went on, “Now that you have met Anjoleah, and from the looks of things I'd say it went rather well, wouldn't you Adena?” He left no time for Adena to respond before he continued, “We have a favor to ask of you.”
Adena's mouth dropped open. “A what...? Xander you are crazy!” She pointed to Anjoleah. “And this one... Words cannot express.” Adena turned and started to storm off. “Xander, your parents were right.”
Xander looked at Anjoleah. “What did she say?”
Anjoleah repeated, “Xander, you are crazy.”
“No, no, I know that! What did she say about my parents?” He fumed. “No she did not!”
As a matter of fact, Anjoleah said, “She did. She said they were right.”
Xander took off after his cousin. By this time Adena was in a full sprint running from him as if they were kids again. Xander was yelling, “Dee Dee, you come back here this instant!”
She yelled back, “Never!”
Finally he caught her. At first she looked frightened and then as they held each other’s stare, they broke out in laughter. He hugged her. “Dee Dee, it has been too long. Don't go away like this. I really need your help.”
She hugged him back. “I know, and you're still crazy.”
He kissed her on the cheek and said, “Adena, I am so sorry. Please hear us out. Thank you for coming.”
He looked at Anjoleah. “She's not all bad. I think you will really like her when you get to know her. You have a lot in common. After all she was the commissioner.”<
br />
Adena looked at Anjoleah then back at Xander. “You've got to be kidding? The woman is an assassination squad. So the rumors were all true? She’s not the Passageway Authority Commissioner anymore?”
Chapter 127
Non decided to walk home since it always helped clear his head and refocus his thoughts. He hoped the cool fresh air would sharpen his thinking. Right now he had many things to sort through and some very tough decisions to make. Non believed it was past time for a visit that he’d been putting off. He’d wanted to wait to see how things would materialize before he made this visit with Nasser, hoping things in the Universal Game would stabilize beforehand. However, this visit was crucial for their plan to succeed. This meeting was going to be all about the down and dirty details that Donovan loathed.
Non had a strategy that he hoped would work. The difficult part was going to be convincing this influential man to make a decision in their favor, in spite of Donovan’s actions that demonstrated he made imprudent judgments when engaged in difficult circumstances. It would be imperative that he present their side of the situation in such a way that Nasser would see the logic behind Donovan’s reasoning. At the same time, Non would have to abolish any doubts that Nasser might cast on the situation. If successful, Non was prepared to ask Nasser to proclaim that the actions the Suzerain took were justified and that he made the right decision. If Nasser became convinced by Non’s argument, then half the battle would be instantly won because Nasser was known for his wisdom throughout the universe. Non shuddered to think of the consequences if his plan backfired and he lost the debate. Then the sealed fate of war would be unavoidable, and would inevitably spread throughout the entire universe.
**********
Meanwhile Joseph was with Nxy while she rocked their newborn baby. She turned to Joseph and said, “Since our son was born during the night, I think we should name him Shade.”
They were interrupted by a knock on the door. Joseph stood to answer. The man on the other side informed him that Donovan demanded he come immediately. He turned and looked at Nxy.
She said, “That’s fine. Work calls.”
He went to her side and kissed her on the forehead. “The name Shade is a good choice.” Joseph left the room.
Nxy gazed down at her son and said, “Some people think the night time is scary because things are not what they seem. But I know exactly who you are, and who you will grow up to be.”
Chapter 128
Charles had a lot to accomplish during the last few weeks of school. He was glad to put the school year behind him. Just recently, he found out that he had earned enough points to be the valedictorian of his class by just a few more points than Caroline, who ended up being the salutatorian. Caroline took the news very well. She joked that with Charles out of the way, and off at college in Europe, then she’d have another chance at the valedictorian honor while in college. The one thing Charles hadn’t considered until the last minute, was presenting his speech. He'd painstakingly taken the time to write and rehearse his valedictory. During the ceremony, there wasn’t a dry eye in the auditorium upon hearing it.
It was after the graduation when the fun began. Family and friends drove back to the farm. Carson and Bev had planned a celebration for the graduating class and their families. Most of the invitees showed up. The biggest surprise to everyone in the graduation class was that Jaine arrived with her new boyfriend, Daniel. They were the talk of the gathering. Bev and Carson planned a barbecue picnic with a tractor pulled hayride afterward. Then they commissioned a local band to perform for a dance. The party ended with a bonfire, where the students told stories about their school years and the senior prom, while they roasted large marshmallows over the fire to make S’mores. It was memorable and bittersweet in their private conversations as the graduates discussed their plans to attend college and what they dreamt their life after high school would be like in the future under the stars.
Natalie and Wayland sat snuggled together as they reminisced out their high school days together. He joked, “So I guess we could say you were my high school sweetheart?”
Natalie smiled. “And you’re mine.”
Natalie asked dreamily, “So how would you feel about going back to college?”
Wayland laughed at that remark. He knew she was just kidding but he had to ask just to be sure.
Before the last senior day of school, their classmates had a chance to say goodbye to the two foreign exchange students who came into their lives. Natalie and Wayland told them the official story. It seemed to Charles that they were almost sad to tell their newfound friends goodbye. He was glad that they had taken the assignment. In the end it all worked out.
Walter and his sons came to extinguish the fire. Their friends walked with the family on the gravel road back to the Jones’ farmhouse in the moonlight. As the last car drove away, Charles and Caroline said goodbye to Natalie and Wayland and thanked them for taking the assignment.
Wayland said, “It really wasn’t as bad as I thought reliving my senior year. It was better the second time around.” He reached over and pulled Natalie over to him.
Natalie said, “I’m actually going to miss making these clothes look good.” Everyone laughed as she spun around.
Charles teased, “Only you could wear an outfit like that, and get away with it.”
Natalie reached in her jacket pocket and handed Charles a black lacquered box. “This is a graduation gift from my father. He is very proud of your accomplishments. Go ahead and open it.”
Charles opened the box and took out a small top. It was made of a sleek black metallic material. Crystals were embedded on the top’s surface in a spiral pattern.
Carson stared at the device and said, “That top was manufactured on Bridgeiro. The metal is mined there.
“Did Dimitrios leave you any instructions?”
Charles looked in the box. “No. This is the only item in the box.”
He turned to Natalie and said, “I’ll send your father a thank you note tomorrow. Thank you for bringing it tonight.”
They hugged. Natalie told Charles, “Don’t forget you still have to get up early in the morning to spar. I’ll be here bright and early.”
Charles groaned, “Can’t we just take the day off?”
He knew what the answer was, and in unison they said, “No. Crime doesn’t wait.”
Charles reluctantly agreed. “I know, I know.”
Carson walked them to the office, so Natalie and Wayland could return home through the Passageway.
Charles called, “See you tomorrow.” They turned and waved at the office door.
“See you then.”
When they were alone, Charles hugged Caroline. He whispered in her ear, “I love you Caroline.”
Caroline smiled. “I love you too. I wonder what the future holds for us?”
Charles said, “I don’t know what the future holds, but at this point there’s no turning back. We’re about to find out what life in the real world is all about. It’s going to be difficult going our separate ways for the next several years attending different colleges. I promise, I will try to find a way to come home as often as I can. I want to spend as much time together as possible. We’ll find a way to make sure that we don’t grow apart. I’m already looking forward to our next adventure together when we come home for winter break, the clonsayee race on the Island of Nevshyaway…”
Return of the Clonsayee Page 60
