Discovery

by Char Webster

  ~*~*~

  Robert watched the emotions play across Kate’s face. He wanted to reach out to her, but he knew that Nick would flip out. He hated seeing the stress on her face and the exhaustion she was fighting. He could tell that Kate was devastated that Brooks had gotten to Maddy. It was a serious setback that none of them had expected. The sadness in her eyes was awful to see.

  Robert tried not to pace around the room, but it was starting to feel stifling. He was terrified that they wouldn’t find the kids, but he couldn’t and wouldn’t say that to Kate. The longer they were gone, the less likely they would be found.

  Robert sighed, still not knowing where he stood with Nick. He missed his best friend, and hoped that they could mend their relationship. He had a feeling that they would all need to stay close for a while.

  Jason broke the silence in the apartment and interrupted Roberts brooding. “So, babe,” he said, addressing Kate, “you didn’t tell us how you managed to go from kidnapped victim to throwing yourself into my arms.”

  Nick looked at Jason with annoyance but turned to Kate and asked, “Are you up to telling us what happened?”

  Kate looked at Jason. “Don’t call me babe, or I will find an entertaining name to call you.”

  Jason grinned. He liked the idea.

  Kate shook her head. “There really isn’t anything to tell. They grabbed me in front of your house, Nick, which I’m sure you figured out.” Nick nodded, and she continued. “When we got to the warehouse, the Asian guy picked me up and dropped me on the floor.” She rubbed her still-bruised cheek.

  Robert interrupted. “His name is Ray and he’s a hired assassin. You’re really lucky to be alive right now.”

  Kate shivered. “I’m glad I didn’t know that at the time.”

  Nick rubbed her arm and said, “You’re safe, now.”

  She smiled slightly. “After they dropped me on my face, that guy Ray grabbed my arm and looked directly at me.”

  All four of the guys flinched. They knew that Ray had the power to inflict horrible pain on anyone he touched.

  “I’m not sure what happened exactly, but I felt him begin to get frustrated and then he roughly grabbed my other arm. He looked like he was concentrating really hard, but it hadn’t worked out like he had wanted. I could feel a little discomfort, but I don’t think that was what he was going for.”

  The guys looked confused. Ryan came over to the couch and sat on the coffee table facing Kate. He said gently, “Have you had any martial arts training or deep meditation training?”

  Kate looked at him oddly, but said, “Not really. As a licensed psychologist, I’m trained in a lot of the breathing exercises and mind-relaxing meditation, but not what you’re thinking.”

  “Kate, Ray’s gift works on everyone. Those with special training can suppress the pain, but I’ve never heard of anyone feeling only slight discomfort, especially if he was concentrating like you said,” Ryan explained.

  Ryan gave Nick a look and then continued, “What were you doing or thinking when Ray was attempting to hurt you?”

  Kate thought about it for a second. “I kept thinking over and over that I didn’t want him to do whatever he was going to do. I didn’t want his gift, whatever it was, to work on me.”

  All the guys were shocked to hear what Kate had told them. Nick spoke up first. “Kate, what were you thinking about when I threw Tony up against the wall in the alley yesterday?”

  “Why?” Kate asked, confused.

  “Just answer and I’ll tell you.”

  Pink tinged her cheeks and she was a little bit embarrassed, but she had managed to say, “I wanted you to kick his butt because I knew he had some answers.”

  Kate looked to Nick for an explanation. “Kate, I want you to do one more thing and then I promise I will tell you everything. I need to be sure.”

  “Sure of what?” Kate didn’t like to be put off. She huffed a little. “What do you want me to do?”

  He pulled her to the window. “Ryan, can you see what that sign says over the building on the right with the cell tower on the top of it?”

  Ryan looked over to where Nick was pointing. “No, that is even farther than my gift allows me to see.”

  “Good. Come stand directly next to Kate.” Nick looked at Kate. “Kate, think over and over that you want Ryan to see that sign, that you want him to see farther.”

  She looked at him like he was nuts but tried it any way. She stared at Ryan and concentrated on him and his gift. She pictured him using his ability and imagined it growing in strength until it reached far beyond its normal limits.

  “Ryan, can you see it now?” Nick asked. Jason and Robert were watching in fascination.

  Ryan looked at the sign and smiled. He turned back to the guys in the room. “Yes. I can read it now.”

  The four guys were stunned. Kate was still confused.

  Nick grabbed her hands and said, “You seem to be able to enhance or diminish our gifts. You diminished Ray’s gift enough so that you were not harmed. You also were able to increase my energy so that I could hit harder. And you just saw what you did with Ryan.”

  “Wow. I have another gift,” Kate muttered to herself.

  Robert spoke up first, “Kate, you don’t understand. That gift is really rare. In fact, it is so rare that no one has been reported to have possessed it since the original ten lines left Atlantis.”

  “You couldn’t possibly know that. Aren’t there tons of gifted people out there?” Kate asked.

  Jason jumped into the conversation. “We know because gifts are usually handed down in some form from one generation to the next. Gifts usually run in the same category or type, such as forces, mental, physical, and environmental. Stuff like that. We know there hasn’t been another one like you because they are recorded and have been through time.”

  “You guys are acting like that is a bad thing,” Kate told them, feeling uncomfortable.

  “It’s not a bad thing,” Nick told her, pulling her in for a hug. “It’s just unusual.” He lifted her chin and looked in her eyes. “It will certainly help when we go get the kids. You will help us kick some serious butt.”

  She smiled but felt like they were holding something back. She didn’t have time to think about that when Jason jumped up and grabbed her hand. He had an excited look on his face. “Let’s try something out.”

  “Okay . . . What?”

  “I didn’t tell you about my gift. I want to see what we can do together,” he said with a playful grin. “Robert, come at us fast when I tell you to.” He walked Kate to the other side of the room and faced Robert.

  He looked at Kate and said, “Just watch this time to see how it works and what I can do.” He motioned for Robert to start coming at them.

  Jason put up his hand and slowed Robert down until he was moving in something close to slow-motion.

  “That is really cool,” Kate told him.

  Jason released Robert and then said, “Okay, Rob, go back and try it again when I tell you, but first, Kate, think ‘Stop him,’ over and over. Let’s see what that does.”

  Once again, Robert started to come forward with determination. Jason put up his hand to slow him down, but this time, Robert couldn’t move forward any longer.

  Jason whooped and said, “Awesome!” He high-fived Kate and said, “Babe, you are the best partner ever.”

  “HEY!” Ryan complained. “I thought that I was the best partner ever.”

  Kate laughed and let the guys bicker back and forth. She walked over to the couch and flopped down, tired once again. The concentrating made her feel a little wiped out.

  Nick came over to her and sat down close. He pulled her against his side and neither of them said anything. They were both lost in their own thoughts. Nick was worried about what this would mean to Kate’s safety when this was all over and also what the Association would do once they found out.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Frank would call Brooks once he was all s
et up with his plan to exchange the kids for his daughter. He wasn’t about to go to Brooks’ estate. That would be suicide. He needed to make sure that it was a location that had several different escape routes. Brooks would not play fair and he would also plant people around that he thought would assure his victory in the exchange.

  Frank knew that George would help him somewhat. George could follow directions, but he was not very brave, so he would run at the first sign of trouble. He didn’t want to bring anyone else into this because he wasn’t sure whom he could trust. He wished he had someone to help him that he could trust.

  Frank was just about to call Brooks to set things up when his phone rang. He looked down but didn’t recognize the number.

  “Hello,” Frank said briskly.

  “Hey, Frank, it’s Bret.” He sounded hesitant.

  “What’s up, Kid? Why’re you calling me?” Frank wasn’t sure what he was up to.

  “I know Brooks has your daughter and that you’re going to try to get her away from here. I want you to take me with you when you go,” Bret said quickly. He needed Frank to listen to him.

  “Why would I do that?”

  “You know I hate it here, and you know that it’s only a matter of time before I get sent to one of the other estates to never be heard from again. I know he says that when he kills the kids he has no use for. I don’t want to be next.”

  “You know I’ve always liked you, but I can’t get you out. I’ve got enough problems right now.”

  “I know and I’m supposed to be one of them,” Bret told him.

  “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

  “Brooks wants me to blind you when you make the exchange.”

  Frank knew that Brooks would try something, but he was surprised Brooks would use the kid since Bret’s gift wasn’t fully developed. If the kid screwed up, Brooks would kill him. It was too much pressure to put on a teen just learning his gift. Bret was probably scared and figured he was going to die. “How do I know you’re being straight with me?”

  “I have no reason to lie to you,” Bret told him. “I didn’t have to tell you Brooks told me to blind you.” Bret needed to get away from there, and Frank was his only chance. The more he had thought about what Brooks was asking him to do, the more worried he became. If he messed this up, Brooks would kill him. He couldn’t wait around until he was old enough to leave.

  “I can’t guarantee you’ll get away from him.” Franks was going to focus only on getting his daughter out. Bret would have to be on his own.

  “I’ll help you get your daughter. I’ll stick by her and protect her as best I can. If I help you, you need to take me with you.” Bret was desperate for Frank’s help.

  “Okay, Kid, you can come with me, but know this: my daughter is my only priority. She’s the only reason I’m doing this,” Frank told him. Maybe Bret would be able to help.

  “Thanks, man.” Bret was feeling better already.

  “Don’t thank me yet.” Frank still needed to make plans with Brooks for their meeting. “Here’s the plan. I’m going to have Brooks meet me at Palmyra Cove Nature Park near the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge. There are a few trails that lead throughout the park and to the beach along the Delaware River. I’m going to drive a boat to the beach and walk in from there. I want you to grab Kali and make it to the boat. Any cover you can work up would be great.”

  “Will do,” Bret said, feeling happier. “Thanks, Frank.”

  “Don’t screw this up,” Frank told him and hung up. He was feeling a little bit better now. He knew the kid would come through. Frank was also glad to have someone on the inside to help him get Kali.

  Frank took a deep breath and braced himself for his next phone call.

  “What?” Brooks demanded.

  “Meet me at Palmyra Cove Nature Park at 6:00 a.m. tomorrow morning near the boardwalk. Bring Kali, or you won’t get the kids. Ever,” Frank told him with a deadly calm voice.

  “Don’t you dare dictate instructions to me! Who the hell do you think you are?”

  “I’m the guy who has all three of the kids you want,” Frank told him. “One more thing. If Kali is hurt in any way, I’ll make it my mission in this life to make you pay for it for the rest of yours.” Frank hung up before Brooks could respond.

  Frank needed to get George to be a decoy, but he wouldn’t tell him that he was doing it.

  ~*~*~

  Kate was feeling overwhelmed. She was worried sick about the kids, felt exhausted by all of the revelations about her gifts, and concerned about the plans the guys were making. She watched as Nick and Ryan went over aerial views of Brooks’ estate and architectural plans that Ryan had somehow obtained of the building and grounds. He was amazing with computers and technology.

  Robert and Jason went out “to get stuff.” They didn’t say what the stuff was that they were getting. She figured it was more weapons and equipment to storm the estate. She wanted to help do something, but she couldn’t concentrate enough to really help. These guys seemed to be in their element. It almost seemed as if they liked making battle plans and strategies. She knew that they were trained for events like this, but it still scared her. Although, she had to admit, the whole warrior thing rather turned her on.

  Nick looked over at her as she wandered around the living room aimlessly. She blushed when he caught her looking over at him and checking him out. He winked and came over to her to whisper in her ear with a very husky voice, “If you keep looking at me like that I’ll give you something much more fun to blush about.”

  Her eyes got wide, but she was saved from responding by Robert and Jason coming back in the house through the front door.

  Jason came over to her with her backpack in his hands. Kate was happy to have some of her things back. “I thought that you might need this,” Jason told her with a grin.

  Kate smiled widely. “You went back to the apartment to get it?”

  “First, we went back to the warehouse to check things out. Tony’s body was gone, but there’d been no sign of police activity. We snuck into the building to see if Ray had been back, but there was no sign of him. After that, we went to Nick’s apartment and grabbed your backpack and a few things for Nick.”

  Kate hadn’t taken her purse with her to get breakfast that morning. She had just grabbed some money and her phone to walk down the block. Her purse and other stuff were in her backpack.

  “You didn’t happen to find my phone at the warehouse, did you?” Kate asked.

  “No, it wasn’t around. They probably threw it out the window when they grabbed you,” Robert told her. “We can get you a new phone later.”

  Robert was carrying a large brown paper bag filled with Chinese takeout. He knew it was Nick’s favorite and used that to his advantage. He was really trying to patch things up with his best friend.

  Nick immediately started to dig through the bag looking for egg rolls.

  Ryan was too busy playing on his computer equipment on the dining room table to take a break to eat. Kate brought him over a small white container of Sesame Chicken. He thanked her with a big smile and told her it was one of his favorites.

  She settled on the floor in front of the coffee table, leaning against the couch to eat her extra spicy Hunan Chicken. She loved hot food—the hotter the better.

  They had just finished their meal when a noise came from Ryan’s computer. It sounded like an alarm. “Bingo!” Ryan said with a smile. “I got in!

  Nick walked over to where Ryan sat. “Take a look at this,” Ryan said with a smile and clicked a button on the screen. A phone conversation suddenly came over the speakers. They all had come over to listen.

  “I need you to have the boys at Palmyra Cove at 5:00 a.m. tomorrow. Frank’s meeting me there with the kids at 6:00 and I need you to be ready,” a commanding voice was telling someone.

  “I think that’s Brooks.” Ryan whispered so that didn’t miss anything being said. They all nodded in agreement.

  “Do you wa
nt us to take care of him when he gets there?” answered a deep voice.

  “Not until I tell you. I want those kids first. I don’t trust him, so don’t go doing anything stupid. We wait until I have the kids and then you can take him out.”

  “Bret’s going to provide us with fog cover when I tell him to,” Brooks continued. “That will give us the opportunity to surprise Frank and get the kids while he’s blind.”

  Brooks continued his conversation with the guy. “As soon as you get the kids, put them in my car and take them to the airport. I want the Washington Crossing house emptied and closed up. I’m making arrangements to move everyone.”

  “Got it. Those kids shouldn’t give us any problems,” the deep voice told him.

  “Don’t get too confident. That’s when things get screwed,” Brooks said. “I don’t have to remind you of what happens if you mess this up.

  “No, sir.”

  The phone conversation ended. Ryan was beaming. Kate gave him a big hug.

  “All RIGHT!” Robert yelled. “We now know where the kids are going to be tomorrow morning. This is our chance to get them.”

  Nick agreed, “This is the break we were waiting for.”

  Nick, Robert, Jason, and Ryan began to make plans to grab the kids tomorrow morning, and Kate figured that they wouldn’t give her much to do except concentrate on making their gifts stronger. Knowing that she should probably pay attention, she tried to focus but she was just too spent.

  Kate picked up her backpack and rummaged through it, finally fishing out her mother’s journal. She laid back in the chair across the room with her feet up on the ottoman and flipped open the book. She loved reading about the budding romance between her parents, and how incredible their love must have been to sacrifice everything the way they did. Kate wondered what a love like that would feel like.

  School starts tomorrow and James is going to be attending my school. WooHOO! I’m the only one who calls him James. Everyone else calls him Jim, but I wanted to be different. I wanted a name that was mine alone. He loves it. He calls me Mandy. I used to hate it and would never allow anyone to call me that but when he says it, I just melt. A total puddle. He could probably call me anything and I would melt. Just thinking about him calling me baby makes my skin fill with goosebumps.