I ran along the beach while looking over my shoulder every three minutes - the Commander’s last words were ringing through my head. I’d never forget what he said. If you don’t acquire that file by sunrise, you’ll be left behind. I couldn’t screw this up or I’d be tossed aside and abandoned. I’d be alone like Davis.
The sand looked like rolling hills next to the ocean waves. The street lights in town reflected against the water making it sparkle. I grinned as I looked around at the quiet oceanfront streets. My mission was supposed to be easy and free of complications, but I still couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. And after hearing what Brian had said, I couldn’t stop scanning the street for stalkers.
I walked from shadow to shadow, trying not to be seen. The streets were empty but I could hear laughter coming from each open window. There was more than one house party in progress. I could smell cooking meat and fruit pie. One house in particular was bustling with noise and cars were lining up along the wide driveway.
I stared at the house in front of me. It had huge front doors and extravagant windows that went up four stories. The grainy brown colored brick blended in with the dirt in the flowerbed. A professional landscaper had placed every flower in the perfect spot. A car door opened and a man in a suit got out. He opened the door for a slim woman with heaps of jewelry around her neck.
This was my chance. The house’s alarm system would have been deactivated for the party and the best way to get somewhere undetected was to use a crowd. All I had to do was blend in with the guests, avoid the hosts, and break away when no one was looking. I’d done it before.
I moved closer to the wide brick house. The front entrance was huge, displaying a few marble statues and expensive looking art pieces. My attire definitely wasn’t fancy enough. The front double doors opened. A waiter smiled and gathered coats. I bolted out from the bushes and found a comfortable spot next to an elderly woman with a fur shawl.
Looking up the wooden spiral staircase, I was immediately overcome with the smell of floral perfumes. Pots and pans were banging in the kitchen. I heard them as if I were standing the kitchen myself. Dinner was ready to be served. There was a long hall ahead of me that led to the dining room. Waiters rushed from room to room, some with trays full of finger foods.
“Can I take your bag sir?” I shook my head at the waiter standing by the front door. A woman in a red cocktail dress approached the crowd and started greeting people. The hostess.
I stepped into the long hallway ahead of me and turned a corner that led to another set of rooms. If the map I’d memorized was correct, I should be headed towards the office. My footsteps were silent the entire way which wasn’t easy with the hardwood floors. I caught sight of a glass door with tall bookshelves behind it.
The sight of two blurred figures behind the glass made me jump back. I flattened myself against the wall, hiding the outline of my shadow. Frustrated voices escaped through the cracks in the door.
“We’ve done all we can, but our resources are limited.” The man’s voice was firm but his quick breathing told me that he was anxious.
“What are you saying exactly?” The second man’s voice was more confident.
“I’m saying that our search has gone worldwide, and there are certain . . . costs that come with that.”
“So you’re asking for more money? Clark, I don’t have to replace you and find someone more capable do I?” The man called Clark pounded his fist against the desk. His force of his hand sent a loud noise through my eardrums. He was obviously upset. The second man’s heart was beating fast. I could faintly hear it from behind the closed door.
“Go right ahead then! Are you going to head up the search yourself? Or explain your lifelong obsession to some other criminal for hire?” More tension filled the room. Both men were uneasy.
“Alright, I’ll transfer more funds. But what assurance do I have that we’ll make progress this time?”
“You have this.” The sound of rustling paper made me move closer to the door. The patterned glass wasn’t an issue. My eyes focused immediately so I could see the small scrap of paper being laid on the office desk. I caught a whiff of Clark’s pungent scent – sweat and smoke.
“Have you taken the team to investigate?” the second man asked.
“That article will be printed in tomorrow’s paper. We leave in an hour.” Clark stood up and folded his arms. “Here’s a list of our new requirements.” Clark passed another scrap of paper. The second man still looked shocked. “Do we have a deal?” Clark outstretched his hand and waited.
“You better be right about this,” the second man replied as he shook Clark’s hand. Clark advanced towards the door. “Not that way! Leave the way you came in.” The office window slid open and Clark disappeared from the room. I ducked into a bathroom before the office door could open.
The second man rushed down the hall and before I knew it, I was alone. I glanced around the corner before walking straight into the office, shutting the door behind me. Rows of bookshelves lined the walls. All shelves were full. The desk was made of dark oak and a black leather sofa sat in the corner. I turned on the computer and opened my backpack. A list of codes that would give me full access to all files was written on a small scrap of paper. How did Commander Z get this information? No idea. And I’d never find out either.
With my flash drive in hand I searched everywhere for the word ‘Atlantis’, the file’s codename. I typed in a code and the named popped up. I started the file transfer. The crumbled piece of paper Clark had left was sitting inches away. My priority was acquiring the Atlantis file, but I was still curious enough to take a look.
The conversation I had just heard buzzed around in my head. What was Clark looking for? I reached towards the paper and immediately stopped. The computer made a small beeping noise. The file transfer was complete.
I heard a small squeak and when I looked up, I was mesmerized. A girl stood in the doorway. Believe it or not, I had never been alone in a room with a teenage girl before. There were no females aboard the Pugio. The M.E.R. program only recruited males. I couldn’t stop looking at her and I found myself unable to move – that never happened.
The girl had bright eyes that twinkled in the light. I waited for her to scream but she didn’t. She was startled, but she too couldn’t stop staring. I finally grabbed hold of myself and slipped the flash drive into my pocket.
“So, what’s on it?” She watched my hand reach for my pocket. Impressive. I could smell the night air through the open window. It was time to leave. My stomach started doing strange things and my cheeks were getting hot. I still didn’t move.
“On what?” I answered. As soon as I heard my own voice, I realized what I’d just done. I’d broken one of the M.E.R. program’s number one rules. I wasn’t supposed to talk to anyone. Why? Because technically I did not exist. If the Commander ever found out about this, my whole team would pay - not just me.
“I saw you come in. Actually . . . I was hoping that you’d been assigned to the open seat next to me.” The girl reached for her dangly necklace and ran a finger through her hair. My stomach wouldn’t settle down and now my entire face was starting to sweat. “What’s your name?”
“Uhhh,” I replied. The girl took a step closer, making me a little nervous.
“Well ‘Uhhh’, what brings you to my father’s office?”
“I can’t really . . . I mean I can’t . . .” My heart wouldn’t stop racing. All my training felt like it had been erased from my memory. The girl was walking towards me and I was entranced. I knew I couldn’t stay but a part of me wanted to find out what might happen next.
“Sorry,” the girl replied. “Sometimes I’m a little too forward. It’s just that, I’ve been bored all night. But then I saw you.” I found myself staring at the girl’s glowing eyes. I’d never been briefed on a situation such as this.
The girl giggled, staring at my pockets. She was inches away from me now. And when her hand
moved towards the flash drive, I stood frozen. Why can’t I think of anything to say?!
“Hmmm, this seems pretty important.” She held the flash drive in her hand and slowly backed away. Do something, you idiot!
“Uhhh, actually I need that,” I stammered.
“How about we make a deal? You keep me company at the table, and then you can have it back.”
In all my years on the Pugio, I’d never come this close to failing a mission. I needed that flash drive in order to return to the sub. If Commander Z was here, I knew exactly what he would do. He would knock this girl out and take what he came for without hesitation. So, why couldn’t I? Why couldn’t I think straight around this girl?
“I can’t. Listen, you have to forget you ever saw me.” I eyed Clark’s scrap of paper on the desk. I envisioned an exit plan in my head. In seconds I could grab the paper along with my backpack, and disappear out the window.
“Oh, right. I totally get it.” She glanced down the hallway. I was a little confused.
“Get what?”
“You’re trying to lay low,” she whispered. “I completely understand. I’d do the same if I had to wait tables all summer.” She must have thought I was one of the waiters. I grinned. Maybe I could talk to her and get away with it. After all, she thought I was someone else.
“Yeah,” I agreed. The girl smiled looking impressed, like ditching work was something admirable. “I mean, no one will notice I’m gone. So you don’t need to ask anyone about me or anything . . . because I’m pretty new so no one . . .”
“Relax,” the girl interrupted. “I’m not gonna tell anyone you’re playing hooky. I have an idea.”
“What?” I gulped. I was doing everything possible to calm my beating chest.
“I have a big screen TV upstairs in my room. You can hang there for a while until this gig is over.” My eyes went wide. So this is what it felt like to be invited up to a girl’s room.
I was still at a loss for words. My stomach was churning like crazy and all I could think to do was agree. I nodded.
“Up the stairs, and it’s your third door on the right.” Before I could take another breath, the girl left, skipping down the hall. My brain was all fuzzy for a minute. It was hard to form any thoughts. Then everything registered. The flash drive was gone. I had failed.
I ran through some possible scenarios in my head. The most logical thing to do would be to wait upstairs until the girl came back. Then I’d have a shot at getting the flash drive. I couldn’t leave without it.
I eyed the wrinkled piece of paper, sticking it in my pocket. I grabbed my stuff and crept towards the stairs. The dining room was noisy - noisy enough to disguise the sound of my feet against the floors. I could hear side conversations coming from every corner of the room.
A couple of waiters were complaining about some snotty kid and a group of ladies were giggling at the hostess’ expense, saying she’d put on weight since getting married. Everyone was so caught up in their own business that they wouldn’t notice me.
I resisted the urge to cough as I got another whiff of multiple floral perfumes. They all mixed together, filling my nose with a very unpleasant smell. I raced up the stairs and found the third door on the right. My nostrils were filled with a fruity smell. Very different than the perfumes downstairs.
For a minute I stared around the bedroom and pretended that I was indeed a delinquent waiter who was just trying to ditch my boring shift. The bed was cluttered with clothes and the dressers matched. Everything wasn’t the same color. This must be what it felt like to be normal. I’d never had my own bedroom before.
The piece of wrinkled paper made a lump in my pocket, something I wasn’t used to. I’d already taken it, and I had the time to read it. I unwrinkled the paper, looking closely at the words on the page. It looked like a newspaper article. There was a bold black heading on top of the first column. I was confused for a second, but then I realized that the article wasn’t written in English. It was written in Portuguese. My Portuguese wasn’t as good as Frankie’s but I did my best to translate each word.
Factory Accident Causes Mayhem by Stella De Santos
Shocked factory workers in Curitiba were in a frenzy yesterday claiming the existence of extraterrestrials. The disastrous factory accident took place in the afternoon. According to witness Tiago Gonzalez, 38, a man came walking through the factory and was accidentally pushed towards an operational sheer cutter. The man lost his balance and fell victim to the heavy blade that pressed down against his arm.
I looked away from the page for a moment, trying to focus my concentration to translate the rest of the article to English. Why was this article so important?
Onlookers say the area was full of blood and bodily fluids. Tiago rushed to help the man but he insisted that he was fine. The man stood up without assistance and fled the scene, taking his separated arm with him. Tiago claims that he and a few of his coworkers spotted the same man an hour later at a local market. He was carrying a sack over his shoulder, and Tiago was astonished to see that the man had two healthy arms.
I re-read the last few sentences. This article couldn’t be true. That would mean there were other people out there. . . like me. Ones that didn’t have to follow orders or serve a Commander. Frowning, I wrinkled the paper back up and shoved it into my pocket.
Did Commander Z just send me into the home of a man who was chasing regenerators? And he hadn’t even given me a partner or back up. But the article could be bogus? I’d seen tabloid magazines before that made outrageous claims like the one about the old woman finding a baby goblin in her fridge. Then again, people didn’t think regenerators existed either.
I sat down and tried to think of things to say to get the flash drive back. I had to be prepared this time. I couldn’t let myself fail because of a girl I barely knew. By speaking to her, I was putting her at risk too. If the Commander ever found out, who knows what he would do. I just hoped she’d give up the flash drive without a fight.
MARIELLA
4
The Announcement
I couldn’t stop smiling as I sat at the dining room table. This was turning out to be an exciting dinner party after all. I discreetly shoved the flash drive into my shoe. I had no idea what was on it. Actually, I knew nothing about the guy I’d invited upstairs other than he was quiet . . . and blond . . . oh, and he liked to play hooky - all traits that were fine by me. I hadn’t even caught his name.
“You were gone for a while,” Ethan commented. My salad was gone and in its place sat a small serving of something with wings.
“Use your manners Ethan. It’s rude to tell a girl how long she spent in the ladies’ room.” Ethan shook his head and took a bite of his food. My goal was to annoy him and I think it was starting to work.
“So, Cynthia tells me you’ll be spending lots of time at the country club this summer.”
“Cynthia plans a lot of things without telling me.” I picked at my food and looked around. Cynthia was engaged in conversations all over the table and William was downing drinks.
“You know, it wouldn’t hurt to put in some effort once in a while.”
“Excuse me,” I protested. “What do you mean by that?”
“I’m just saying if we’re going to be seen together, you’ll have to wash that out.” Ethan pointed to my pink color streak.
“What you see is what you get I’m afraid.” I smiled and stared at my Coke glass.
“We will see.” Ethan took another bite of his main course and adjusted his neck tie. I couldn’t stop daydreaming. Leaving New York was exactly what I needed. A summer with no rules and no parents - Cynthia-free.
William looked in my direction and smiled. I nodded and took a sip of my Coke.
“Are you finished, miss?” I’d been too busy staring at nothing to finish my meal. It was already time for the next course and I’d barely touched my food.
“Yeah take it,” I said to the waiter. He took my plate, replacing it wit
h a colorful dessert. It looked like pudding but I wasn’t sure. There were different fruits thrown on top. I picked up my spoon, putting a large bite into my mouth. It was the best thing I’d tasted all night. Ethan kept talking but I stared at my plate and let my thoughts wander elsewhere.
“Delicious,” I said out loud. Ethan gave me a strange look. “I was talking about the dessert,” I reiterated.
“Do you always have this much trouble staying focused?” Ethan asked.
“Only when I’d rather be somewhere else.”
“I totally agree,” he whispered. “This dinner wasn’t that great. All I asked for were a few substitutions, and they couldn’t even manage that.”
“No, I mean . . . never mind.”
Ethan was too self-centered to reason with. His stupid comments would make for a great laugh with Carmen. I put another bite of pudding in my mouth and started tapping my shoe against the floor. I was anxious to finish the night and go to my room. Carmen wasn’t going to believe the night I’d had. “How many more courses are there?”
“Seriously?” Ethan laughed. “You think you’d know this by now.” I rolled my eyes again.
“Do you hear yourself when you talk?” I muttered. Ethan shook off my comment and kept up his act. Cynthia must have paid him to bother me.
“Can I get you a coffee or a cappuccino?” The waiters in white suit coats were back collecting empty desert plates.
“No thanks,” I said while shaking my head. I looked around the dining room table and slid my chair back. I’d participated long enough. It was time for me to leave before I slapped Ethan in the face.
Iris came rushing over from the kitchen. Her shiny green cocktail dress glimmered as she hurried towards me.
Mutiny (M.E.R. Series) Page 3
