by R. D. Brady
“But you do think they are dangerous?”
David had a feeling the President did not want a balanced opinion in the dangers of the Fallen. She wanted justification for whatever she already had in mind. “Some of them are, yes.”
“Thank you, David. That will be all.”
David stood. “Madame President.” As he turned for the door, he couldn’t help but wonder what the President had planned. One of the Secret Service agents opened the door. Sheffield and the tall agent were waiting for him.
David began to follow Sheffield back down the hall when he heard footsteps heading toward the room from a different hallway. He slipped his hand into his pocket, pulling open the stiches inside. He pushed his house keys through the newly created hole. “Oh no.”
He scrambled to the ground to get them, quickly pulling his lace on his left shoe loose. Grabbing his keys, he continued kneeling as he began to slowly tie his shoe. “Give me one second.”
From the other passageway, three men emerged turning onto David’s hallway as David finished and stood. “My apologies, gentlemen. Shall we?”
Sheffield and his silent partner said nothing, just headed back down the hall for the exit.
David also said no more as he followed them back to the Yukon. But his mind was swimming, picturing the man being escorted to the conference room. Why was the President meeting with the U.S. Attorney General right after meeting with David? As he climbed into the back seat, he had a sinking feeling he knew.
And Rahim was not going to be happy.
CHAPTER 17
Cardinal John Moretti walked down the long hall, escorted by the Secret Service agent. The meeting had gone better than planned. The agent opened the door leading to the exit outside the White House gates.
“Cardinal, if you’ll follow me.”
“Actually, I think I would like to take a walk. My car will meet me.”
The Secret Service Agent looked around. “I’m not sure that is safe.”
A dark black Cadillac pulled up to the curb. A tall man in priestly black stepped out, nodding to the cardinal and the agent.
“Ah, here is my security now. Thank you for all your help, Agent.” John smiled but made sure the agent knew he was not requesting being able to walk but informing the agent of his plans.
The agent stiffened before nodding his head. “I hope you enjoy the rest of your trip.”
“Thank you.” John started down the street as Father Pedro joined him. Pedro walked next to him but said nothing as he continually scanned the street. John pulled out his phone and dialed.
Cardinal Francisco answered. “Si?”
John smiled. “It went well, better than expected. The President has agreed to help make her uncle available to us.”
“But how does that get us her?”
“She will not let him go alone. If she accompanies him, we will have our shot.”
“Excellent. I have to admit, I did not think this idea of yours would work. In the past, the Americans have been very protective of their citizens.”
“But that was before Delaney McPhearson demonstrated she could be more powerful than the President if she chose to be. Now the President is trying to crowd Delaney McPhearson off her stage. Being we are offering such an opportunity, she jumped at it.”
“Well done, Cardinal. The Brotherhood will be pleased. You bring honor to our ranks.”
“As always, we do this not for glory but to protect the papacy. Nothing is more important to me.”
“And me either. I will be home tomorrow morning. We will need to discuss next steps.”
“I have already begun the preparations. Come by my villa. We will eat and plan.”
“I look forward to it.”
John disconnected the call. He stopped turning. He could just make out the dome of the U.S. Capitol Building. All the power the Americans had, and it paled in comparison to the power Delaney McPhearson could unleash with her followers. The President didn’t truly see the danger. She looked at McPhearson as a political issue. But John knew she was so much more than that. She was the greatest threat mankind had seen, perhaps ever. She was not just a threat to lives but to people’s very souls.
But there was one within the U.S. government who did see Delaney McPherson for the threat she was. He might be coming at the issue from a different angle, but their goals were the same: to neutralize Delaney McPhearson.
Moretti had spent years collecting favors and information all over the world, including in D.C. Now was a perfect time to put those contacts into play. He pulled out his phone and dialed.
A young professional voice answered. “Senator Shremp’s office.”
CHAPTER 18
Baltimore, Maryland
“Are you sure you don’t mind? I don’t want to impose.” Cain stood in the living room of the McAdamses’ new home, looking around, unsure.
Mary Jane squeezed his arm. “Nonsense. The girls are having a great time. I’ll give them some lunch, put them down for a nap. Go take some time.”
Cain looked over to where the girls were playing on the floor, Tiger dozing near them. It was hard to tell Nyssa and Susie apart in a glance. Both had light, curly red hair, bright blue eyes, and a skin tone that promised that a lifetime of sunscreen would be required. They were also the same height. They could be mistaken for twins. And they acted like they belonged together. When Cain had brought Nyssa over that first day, the two girls had taken one look at one another and hit it off. They had been inseparable ever since.
Mary Jane herself had hit it off with Nyssa’s guardian, Cain. She’d been a bit taken aback by his name at first. I mean, who would name their child Cain? But the man himself was lovely. Considerate, attentive to Nyssa’s every need, and he knew so much about history! She and Cain had spent hours talking the first day they had met.
But she recognized the need for him to go spend some time away from Nyssa. Laney had taken Patrick to meet with the Chandler lawyers about his green card, so Cain was on his own. She stepped in front of Cain. “You are a wonderful father. But all parents need to take a little time for themselves. So go, run a few errands, have a coffee solo. Just take a little time. Nyssa will be here waiting for you when you get back.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Maybe just an hour,” Cain said, looking at Nyssa. At least, Mary Jane thought he was looking at Nyssa. It was hard to tell with those dark glasses of his. He never took them off, even indoors.
“Go. Enjoy yourself.”
He leaned down and kissed Mary Jane’s cheek. “Jake is lucky to have you.”
Mary Jane smiled. “You are too sweet.”
“All right. I’ll be back in a little while. If there are any problems—”
Mary Jane escorted him to the front door. “I have your cell phone number and will call. Now shoo.”
“All right.” He paused, standing in the doorway before he slipped out the door.
Mary Jane shook her head as she turned back to the living room. Cain really needed to make some time for himself.
A chuckle snapped her head up. She narrowed her eyes at Jake, who stood leaning against the doorway of the kitchen. “And what are you laughing at?”
“Cain. I’m not sure he’s ever been handled like that before.”
“What? He’s got a lot on his plate. Taking care of Nyssa and helping Patrick adjust. Now with Laney and Patrick busy, it’s the perfect time for him to take a little break.”
Jake shook his head, walking toward her. “Only you would see that. The rest of us see him as invulnerable.”
“He’s only human. And we all need a little help.”
“I suppose we do.”
The back door swung open. Cleo strolled in, kicking the door shut behind her. She nodded at Jake and Mary Jane before strolling into the living room. After a quick lick of each of the girls, she curled up next to Tiger and closed her eyes.
Mary Jane puffed out an incredulous laugh. “I
know these leopards are smart, but every time Cleo opens that door and then shuts it behind her, I am amazed. I can’t even get the boys to reliably do that.”
“Speaking of your boys, they called while you were trying to get Cain out of the house. They wanted to know if it was okay if they ate lunch down at Dom’s. Something about a Minecraft marathon.”
The back door flew open. Mary Jane’s hand flew to her throat as Molly zipped in. Theresa, a Fallen the same age as Molly with blonde hair and big blue eyes, appeared right behind her.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Hi, Mrs. McAdams.”
Trying to talk around her heart, which had leaped into her throat at their appearance, she glanced back at the door they had left open. “Hi, girls. What are you up to?”
“Jen and Noriko are going to get burgers in town,” Molly said.
“They wanted to know if we could join them,” Theresa said.
Molly clasped her hands in front of her. “Please?”
“Please?” Theresa echoed.
Mary Jane tried not to smile. While she was happy the boys had hit it off with Lou, Rolly, Danny, and Dom, she was over the moon that Molly had hit it off so well with Theresa. These last few days had been the first ones where Molly actually looked relaxed since the Day of Reckoning. Theresa had spent the night every night since they’d arrived, and the two could be heard giggling away in Molly’s room. The sound lightened the weight on Mary Jane’s shoulders immensely.
“Yes, yes. Just bring me back a burger and shake.”
“Me too,” Jake said.
“Okay.” Molly sprinted over, kissing Mary Jane’s cheek. “Love you, Mom!”
“Love you too. Have fun.” The two girls grinned at her before sprinting back out the open door. This time, they remembered to close it.
“What’s that smile for?” Jake asked.
Mary Jane wrapped her arms around Jake’s waist. “I think things may finally be turning a corner for Molly.”
“I’m glad.”
She leaned her head on Jake’s chest. “Me too.”
CHAPTER 19
The traffic was surprisingly light as Jen made her way toward downtown Baltimore. “Have you ever been to the inner harbor?” Noriko, who sat in the passenger seat, asked Molly.
“No. This is my first time in Baltimore.”
“There’s a really great aquarium and a really cool scavenger hunt you can do. Maybe we can take your whole family there tomorrow.”
Molly smiled. “That would be great. Thanks.”
Jen returned the smile in the rearview mirror. She really liked Molly. She was quiet, sweet, even bordering on shy. But on the day of the attacks, she had gone out there to help as many people as she could. That was the reason that she and Henry had asked her to be the face of the new public relations campaign. She was a great choice. Straight-A student, wholesome look. They couldn’t have chosen better if they’d gone to a casting agent.
Sadly, they were going to need that kind of good press. Jen did not like the hot topics on the talk shows or the views being spouted by the talking heads on the twenty-four-hour news networks. Protests had sprung up in some major cities, but they hadn’t made it to Baltimore yet. And so far, the ones in other cities had been pretty small. But Jen had a feeling that would change soon enough.
Jen slowed at a red light, and Theresa gasped in the back seat.
“What is it?” Noriko asked.
Theresa just pointed out the window. Jen followed her finger to the graffiti on the side of the building. It said “Death to the Aberrations.”
The Aberrations—the title bestowed upon those with abilities by the pundits trying to drum up outrage.
The light turned green. Jen hit the gas. “It’s just a bunch of idiots. It doesn’t mean anything.”
But the mood in the car had shifted from happy to wary. Molly and Theresa scanned the street as if looking for a threat. Even Noriko was tense in the passenger seat. With relief, Jen saw the Burger Joint parking lot coming up quickly. Pulling into the lot, she put the car in park. She turned to look at the two frightened girls in the back seat.
“You are not aberrations. You are strong young women. And one day you will be a force of good of this world. Okay?”
They nodded back at her.
“Okay. Now let’s go get some milkshakes.” Jen stepped out of the car as a beat-up Nissan Sentra drove slowly by on the road. The occupants all stared at Jen and the girls as they got out of the car.
A chill crawled over Jen, but she got no sign that they were anything but human, and therefore not a threat. She forced a smile to her face. “Let’s eat.”
The Burger Joint was filling up as Jen pushed the door open as they came back out into the parking lot an hour later. The lunch had started off a little tense, but as time wore on and the carbs were consumed, everyone’s mood improved. Molly laughed as she scooted out behind Noriko. “There is no way Zane did that.”
“I’m telling you,” Noriko said. “He took one of the guards’ shoes and hid it in the top of the oak tree. None of us know how he managed it, but I swear he did it.”
“You sure you still want him to come live with you?” Theresa asked.
“Absolutely. Besides, if he hides anyone’s shoes, it’ll be the boys’. I’m totally okay with that.”
Everyone laughed, and Jen was still smiling as she started across the parking lot. But then she went still as she caught sight of her car. “Freaks” was spray painted across the passenger side. “Die” was sprawled across the front.
“Oh my God.” Noriko’s mouth dropped open next to her.
Molly stumbled forward, looking unnaturally pale. “Who would—”
Jen’s head snapped up, her vision narrowing as someone disappeared around the side of a building. She took off like a shot. Three men, all in their early twenties, sprinted down the street. Jen ran past them, materializing right in front of them. The guy in front screeched to a halt, lurching back and nearly losing his balance.
“And where are you running to?” Jen asked.
“None of your business.” One of the ones behind the dark-haired man stepped out, a can of spray paint falling from his pocket.
“Really?”
The third one grabbed his friend and turned to go, but Theresa and Molly blurred into the space just behind them.
The men stumbled. “Freaks,” one muttered, spitting at Molly’s feet.
A police siren rang out before a patrol car slid into the curb. Two officers stepped out of the car. An older officer with gray at his temples stepped forward, his partner, a younger female, stayed by the car. “What’s going on here?”
Jen didn’t take her gaze off the men. “Officer, these men here just vandalized my car with spray paint.”
The officer studied Jen. “I know you, don’t I?”
“Agent Jennifer Witt, with the SIA.”
“You’re one of them Fallen,” the officer said.
Jen didn’t like his tone. “I’m a federal agent, and these men need to be placed under arrest.”
The officer crossed his arms over his chest. “Did you see them spray paint your car?”
Jen gritted her teeth. “No.”
“Then it seems to be your word against theirs.”
“You are conveniently forgetting the spray paint can right there and the marks all over their hands.”
The officer shook his head with a shrug. “Still not enough to make an arrest.”
Jen flicked a gaze at him, noticing the stance and derision barely hidden behind the scowl on his face. “Let me get this straight, you are refusing to place these men under arrest?”
“You got that right.”
Jen looked at the man’s badge. “All right, Officer Benson. I’m sure my boss will have a lovely little chat with your boss about this.”
The female officer stepped up, handcuffs in her hands. “You want me to secure them while you call for transport?”
Benson turned to his partn
er. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“My job,” the officer answered. “What do you think you’re doing?”
He narrowed his eyes. “You don’t want to do this, Stein.”
“No, sir, I think you don’t want to do this. My job is to enforce the law. That’s what I’m going to do.” Stein nodded to the men. “Up against the wall.”
The smirks dropped from the men’s faces. They looked to Benson, who scowled in response.
Stein stepped forward. “I said, up against the wall.”
The men faced the wall. Stein snapped cuffs on the first man before pulling two zip ties to make cuffs for the other two. Secured, she ordered them to sit.
While Stein was securing the men, Jen called the SIA, who contacted the Baltimore PD to send an additional squad car over.
Benson stormed back to his cruiser.
Jen stepped next to Stein. “You going to get in trouble for this?”
Stein shrugged. “Maybe. But I signed up to enforce the law, not look the other way because of someone’s prejudice.”
“Well, thank you.”
“You’re part of the Chandler Group, aren’t you?”
Jen nodded.
“You know Delaney McPhearson?”
Jen smiled. “I do.”
“Then tell her to not listen to the garbage a lot of people are spouting on the TV. They’re just trying to get ratings. You guys have a lot of people pulling for you.”
“Thanks, Officer Stein.”
“Thank you, Agent Witt.”
CHAPTER 20
The next morning, breakfast had just finished when Henry knocked at the back door of Patrick’s cottage.
