by V. E. Lemp
The dark-haired woman turned and acknowledged me. “This is a memory, Karen Foster Hallam.” Her lips didn’t move. “Something that occurred in the past. But there are those who have discovered a way to recreate this scene. You must leave your current location as soon as possible. Leave and take your friends with you. Do not hesitate, or you will be trapped in a repetition of this memory.”
“Leave Dulce?” I only thought the words but could tell the strange woman understood. “There is danger here?”
“It is coming.” The woman’s dark eyes were fathomless. “It is intended to simply cause confusion and restrict your movements, not to cause death. Yet these matters often fall out differently, when those who use force without understanding allow their fears to outweigh their judgment.” She stared at me for a moment with a flicker of pity in her eyes.
“Leave tomorrow, Karen Foster Hallam, with your husband and friends. Take all those willing to escape. And make certain Alex Wythe travels with you.”
A haze fell between me and her departing figure, until I found myself standing in a plain white room, empty of all furnishings. I walked to one of the bare white walls and paused for a moment, then stepped straight through the wall and woke up.
NINE
Mark said nothing the next morning when Karen related her dream. He simply walked to the dresser and picked up his cell phone.
She sat up in bed and reached for her robe. “Who are you calling so early?”
“Myron. And a few others. We need to make plans.”
“You think we should leave as soon as possible?”
“Of course. Your dream was a direct warning from one of Alice’s friends. Foolish to ignore it.”
Karen crossed the room to stand beside Mark. She laid her hand on his arm. “Can we convince the others, though? They may write it off as just a dream.”
“Ariel won’t.” Mark absently stroked the back of her hand. “I doubt Myron will argue with anything you say, and I’d wager Elena Charles will simply follow Myron’s lead. Now, Sam Lester, I don’t know.” Mark lifted his hand and tapped the phone against his palm. “But if Myron advises him to leave I believe he will.”
Karen leaned against the dresser. “And Alex?”
“Will go wherever you go. Do I have to tell you that?” There was a shadow of pain in Mark’s eyes.
“Surely you aren’t really worried …” Karen thought better of speaking on that topic. “Well, I’ll volunteer to pack for both of us. So make your calls and lay out your strategy. I know you must have one.”
“Not yet.” Mark brushed her tangled hair away from her face. “But I will. Now, why don’t you grab a shower and start packing? I’ll finish my calls and catch a shower after you’re done.”
Karen looked at him with suspicion. “Are you trying to get me out of the room? Just who else are you calling?”
“Yes, and I can’t tell you.”
“Or won’t,” Karen said, heading for the bathroom.
Mark placed the phone to his ear. “It’s can’t. I don’t keep things from you by choice.”
Karen just shook her head and closed the bathroom door as soon as Mark began speaking.
The diner Myron suggested as a meeting place was a slice of a building squeezed between a hardware store and a beauty salon. Karen would never have located the restaurant without Myron’s explicit directions which, she supposed, was the point. The aroma of sausage and toast wafted over her as soon as she opened the front door.
Ariel leaned out from one of the dark, high-backed booths in the back. “Karen, here we are.” Her hair was pulled into two plaits that wrapped her head like a crown. “Where’s Mark?”
“He had to meet someone.” Karen navigated the narrow aisle separating the booths that lined the exposed brick walls. She paused in front of where Ariel was sitting next to Myron. Alex was seated on the opposite side of the table.
“Have a seat.” Alex slid toward the wall.
“Didn’t realize Mark knew someone else in Dulce,” Myron said.
“Neither did I.” Karen sat next to Alex. “But then, he doesn’t tell me everything.”
“I imagine not.” Myron passed a menu to Karen. “We’ve already ordered. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Of course not. I know I’m a little late. What’s good here?”
“Pancakes,” Ariel said. “They have all kinds. I like blueberry the best.”
“Blueberry pancakes it is,” Karen said as the waitress appeared at their table. “Two orders please. And two cups of coffee.”
Alex leaned back and extended his right leg until his ankle was draped over Karen’s left shoe. “So I assume Mark’s joining us at some point?”
Karen wiggled her foot and shot him a sharp look. “Yes, once he concludes his business. He said he wouldn’t be long.”
Alex smiled, his blue eyes unnaturally bright, and slid his foot slowly up her leg to rest on her knee. Karen bit her lip and refused to drop her gaze. Stop it, she mouthed at him.
He just slid his leg back down to her ankle. Karen jerked her leg away, dropping Alex’s foot to the floor with a thud.
“Anything wrong?” Myron asked.
Ariel, a frown clouding her face, looked from Alex to Karen and back again.
“No, nothing’s wrong.” Karen caught Alex’s amused expression out of the corner of her eye.
The waitress appeared and distributed platters of pancakes about the table. “Your food will be out soon. Is someone else coming, then?” She placed the second cup of coffee next to Karen’s elbow.
“Yes, my husband. He should be here any minute.” Karen felt Alex’s fingers creep over her left hand.
The waitress examined them for a second, apparently intrigued by the sight of Alex caressing the back of Karen’s hand.
“The extra cup is for her husband.” Alex shot the waitress a dazzling smile. “In case you missed that point.”
The waitress, sporting a bemused expression, wandered off, and Karen yanked her hand free.
Myron examined Alex and Karen as if he’d been called to defuse a bomb. “Mark mentioned you had a dream. He said it seemed like a direct warning. Something about an epidemic?”
“Yes.” Karen gripped her coffee cup with both hands as she lifted it to her mouth. She knew she had to do something with her hands to keep from smacking Alex.
Alex laughed. “Sorry,” he said, as Myron gave him a questioning look. “I was distracted by an errant thought. Please, do continue, Karen.”
She stared at him for a moment, wondering if his mention of an errant thought meant he’d somehow read her mind. It was possible, considering the ten years he’d spent with the Oneiroi. Karen frowned. Quite possible. When she’d told him she knew his secret and walked away from his avatar, he’d told her he’d studied their ways, as well as their technology. So perhaps he’d learned some mental tricks like mind reading. Knowing Alex, that would be likely. “I’d rather wait for Mark. He’s drawing up a plan to get us out of here.”
“All of us?” Alex scooped up a portion of pancakes with his fork. He stared at the utensil for a second. “Amazing how good this tastes. I keep forgetting how enjoyable it is to eat real food.”
“Yes, all of us.” Karen sipped her coffee and glanced over at Alex without meeting his eyes. “They were particularly insistent you get away. It seems they still take a special interest in your welfare, whatever you might think.”
“They want to protect their investment.” Alex returned his focus to his plate.
The front door slammed, and Ariel leaned around the edge of the booth. “I think Mark’s arrived.” She waved her hand. “We’re back here.”
“Started without me, I see.” Mark met Karen’s eyes and raised his eyebrows. Karen assumed anxiety was written all over her face. “Have you filled everyone in?”
“No, not completely. I did order for you, though. I hope you like blueberry pancakes, Ariel says they’re good, and here’s some coffee. I thought you might ne
ed coffee.” She sat back, tightening her lips.
“They are good.” Alex slid closer to the wall. “Sit down, Mark. Karen doesn’t take up much room. I’m sure we can manage.”
“Won’t be here long, anyway.” Mark settled next to Karen. “As soon as I lay out what I believe to be our best strategy we’ll need to move quickly.” He raised his coffee cup. “I doubt we have much time to waste.”
“Sam and Elena are waiting back at the house with Mary and Will,” Myron said. “I can fill them in as soon as we’re done here. Do you think we should stagger our exits from Dulce, Mark? I know Vance’s people are watching us, and it might set off alarms if we all decide to leave at once. Oh, hold that thought a moment, here’s your food.”
The waitress handed Karen her plate and laid down an identical platter in front of Mark. “More coffee?” She glanced around the table, her eyes taking in Mark and coming to rest on Alex, who studiously ignored her. When no one responded she left with a shrug.
“I’m full already.” Ariel pushed back her half-empty plate.
“Yes, it’s quite a pile,” Mark said. “From the looks of it we probably could’ve shared a serving.”
“Sorry, didn’t think of that.”
Ariel blinked, obviously picking up the unintended razor-sharp edge to Karen’s tone.
Mark leaned in toward her. “Something wrong?”
“Tell you later.” Karen jerked her head toward Alex, who’d already cleaned his plate. His leg was pressed against hers, and she shifted closer to Mark, but the bench seat was too small to allow her to pull away completely.
Mark seemed oblivious to this silent drama. “Now, as to your question, Myron—yes, I agree we need to leave in small groups. Certainly not all at once. Mary and Will should leave first. I believe you said they’ve family outside of Durango, so they could just take off for a visit. Then Sam can use his van to get Alex, and any extra luggage, out of town. That just leaves you and Ariel and Elena. If your luggage goes with Sam it won’t look odd for the three of you to take a rental car and head for Durango. Could be explained as a day trip.”
Myron’s gray eyes darkened. “Unfortunately, my followers will get no such advantage. Whatever’s to come, they’re stuck here. I’m having trouble with that. It feels like I’m abandoning them to a terrible fate.”
“I know. But we can’t warn them.” Mark raked one hand through his short hair. Karen knew he was as tortured by this decision as Myron. “A mass exodus would send a message to those seeking to harm us. You in particular, Myron. You know they’d love to lock you away and lose the key. And we certainly can’t risk Alex falling into their hands.”
“What about Karen? And you, of course.” Alex sat back and surveyed Mark gravely. “When do you leave?”
“We need to wait an extra day. Vance and crew know I’ve been sent here to keep tabs on Myron. Leaving before he and the girls return from a supposed day trip would send the wrong message.”
Alex fixed his gaze on Mark. “Karen should come with us then.”
Karen knew that look. She shook her head. “No, I’m staying. We arrived together, and we must leave together. We’d send up a million red flags if I disappear before he does.”
Mark turned to Karen with a smile that made her cheeks flush. “You’re correct, sweetheart. We don’t want to arouse suspicions until the others are safely away. There are people watching us, I’m afraid.”
Ariel’s gray eyes widened. “Did they follow us here?”
“No, they met with a distraction,” Mark said. “They are monitoring us, but I have a few people watching them. Agents loyal to me, but, more importantly, believers in our mission. There are a few of those in the government. I certainly couldn’t function without their help.”
“So that’s who you met with this morning?” Karen laid her hand on Mark’s arm. “I should’ve known.”
“Yes, and they’re going to continue to distract our watchers. But we do need to move quickly.” He finished off his coffee. “I haven’t made much of a dent in this food, but I think it’s time to head out. Had enough, Karen?”
“Plenty.” Karen pushed back her plate. “I’m ready whenever you are.”
“Well, let’s allow Myron and Ariel to go first. See if you can catch the waitress’s eye, would you?”
Alex leaned across Karen to face Mark. “I don’t like the idea of Karen staying here an extra day. Can you promise me she’ll be safe?”
“It’s not your call,” Karen said, before her husband could reply. She turned to Alex and met his intense gaze without flinching.
He leaned back. “I see I’m to be put in my place. But I still wish to register my displeasure with your decision.”
“Noted,” Karen said, turning to face Mark. “I assume we’re to rendezvous with Myron and Ariel and the others somewhere?”
Mark looked her up and down, a smile twitching the corners of his mouth. “Yes, we are. I trust Myron to secure the location. He’ll inform Sam and Mary and get word to me later.”
Alex crossed his arms and stared at Karen and Mark. “And I, like the luggage, will be conveyed to that destination?”
“Exactly.” Mark’s smile broadened. “I hope you won’t find it too demeaning. We’re trying to protect your interests, after all.”
“No doubt.”
“Let me cover this,” Myron said, as the waitress brought the bill. “Ariel and I can head back to Mary’s and start the ball rolling as far as departures are concerned.” He waved away Mark’s protest and followed Ariel down the aisle to the front register.
Mark stood up. “I’m going to see if I can throw in a few dollars. Stay here for a moment, Karen, then follow me out. Alex can leave after us.”
As soon as Mark walked away, Alex reached out and took Karen by the arm. “You shouldn’t stay here. I don’t care about people watching us, it isn’t safe. You could be caught up in the very scenario your dream warned against.”
Karen shoved his hand off her arm. “I have to stay, and you have to go. This is bigger than the two of us. We have to do this for others.”
“I don’t care about others.” Alex gripped Karen by the shoulders. “I only care about you. Mark may be dedicated enough to risk your life for some greater good, but I’m not so high-minded. I don’t want to lose you again.” He leaned forward and laid his head on her shoulder. “I don’t think I could survive that.”
“I’m staying to protect you.” Karen resisted the temptation to smooth back his hair. “As well as for the greater good. We can’t allow Vance to get his hands on you. That would be disastrous.”
He sat back and studied her face. “Mark had better take care of you. I’m holding him accountable.”
“I’ll take care of myself. I’m capable of that, you know. Although I’m sure Mark will do everything in his power to protect me.” She met Alex’s steady gaze and realized his eyes were glistening with tears. “I’ll be fine,” she said, more softly. “Now, I really must go. Mark will be waiting. Impatiently.”
“As will I, until I see you again.” Alex placed his hands on either side of her face. He stared into her eyes for a moment before leaning forward to kiss her on the forehead. “So run along. I’ll follow orders, if only because you ask it of me. But I intend to keep tabs on you, in my own way.”
“What way?” Karen studied Alex’s face, which betrayed nothing. But that in itself made her suspect that he had learned some extrasensory mental skills from the Oneiroi. “Never mind. We’ll meet again soon, never fear. Mark’s plans tend to play out as designed.” Karen stood up and brushed a few crumbs from her worn jeans.
“They’d better,” Alex said, as she walked toward the front of the diner, “or Mark will have more than Vance and Exocorp to worry about.”
TEN
The following day Karen paced the floor of her small motel room. It was late afternoon. All morning the television had blared reports of a mysterious illness that was filling doctors’ offices and overwhelming th
e local emergency room. Karen and Mark retreated to the safety of their room when the small café attached to the motel closed down after breakfast with no indication of when it might reopen. After a lunch of cheese and crackers Mark left on some mysterious errand, ordering Karen to stay inside until he returned. No doubt his errand had something to do with the other agents he had placed in the area, but when Karen posed the question he simply smiled, shook his head, and said, “Better you don’t know.”
Whatever his business, it was taking far too long. He was not even answering his phone. Every minute that popped up on the digital clock made Karen lengthen her stride. Soon she’d be jogging. She collapsed onto the extra bed and stared at the stained ceiling tiles for several minutes.
There was no sense staying here and going crazy. Time to take a walk and figure out what was going on.
She sat up and leaned over to fish her sneakers out from under the bed. Mark would be furious with her, but it was worth the risk. Besides, if he was in trouble, he’d thank her for the intervention. Maybe. Karen grabbed her purse and a door key from the top of the dresser and stepped outside.
It was very quiet. There was no one on the sidewalks and only one car rolled slowly down the street, as if scouting the area. Karen walked away from the motel, heading in the direction of Mary’s house. As she approached the first intersection, she heard the rumble of large trucks and stepped back into the shadows of a shop doorway. The shop was dark, even though the posted hours clearly indicated it should be open. Karen jiggled the door handle. It was locked.
