by Tom Holloway
I whisper to myself, “Henry, where are you when I need you?”
I will have to sneak out with Nikki. She will have to go with me. Nikki will tell John she is going to the drugstore; he will agree. I will be hiding in the trunk, letting my sister drive us out. Nikki will have to go to dinner, too, no matter what that idiot Anthony wants. But only Nikki. No way would Anthony talk about Sam with the FBI there. Nikki and Mom need to know if he is still alive; there is not much choice. Could Anthony be so stupid to try something in a public place? Nikki will be there, too. John Jacobs would not like this plan.
The dinner goes well for Anthony. He drinks and talks the entire time, mostly bragging about his exploits with women and the world, miserable for me and my sister. Nikki hates him, too. He is not modest about being part of the Mafia or, as he calls it, “The Family” and how important he is. He proudly states how he is a natural-born killer, not afraid to do the wet work himself.
I just listen to him although his accent is so strong he is hard to comprehend, and he is disgusting; he grins then looks at me with a leer, but I politely nod. I keep looking around. He is scary, probably dangerous, and, worse, truly boring. I’m thinking, Maybe somebody will recognize me, get me out of this. But I put on a wig so I would not be recognized, so no surprise no one knows who I am. Stupid!
Anthony says, “Sam is at our place hidin’ out, a safe house we own, not in this country. He is fine.” He then laughs. “The senator has done some bad things, could go to jail. Good thing we are helpin’ him.”
Anthony is saying that ever since his father died, there have been constant problems. He says he committed suicide, shot himself over the pool. He was getting old anyway, not doing all that well. Anyway, it was good for everyone, as he is in command now. He says, “Don’t worry, I will make sure Sam is protected; the FBI will never find him. You and your sister owe me for helping Sam.”
Nikki laughs at him, tells him he is full of shit. She says she is going to the bathroom and we are going home after she comes back. I tell her I am ready, too. Anthony makes a cell-phone call and, talking intently, ignores me.
Except Nikki does not come back. Anthony is off his cell phone, grinning at me. I leave the table to search for Nikki and find out she is nowhere in the restaurant. “That damn Anthony has done something,” I hiss. I am thinking about the phone call he made while we were telling him we were going. I reach into my pocket for my cell phone.
Anthony comes up behind me, grabbing my phone away. “Don’t touch me! I yell. I’m calling the police. Give me the phone or I’ll scream.”
He responds, “No problem, Anna. Stop hollerin’. Here’s your phone. Your sister is in my limo waitin’ for ya. I just wanted to have a little time with you without her. Let me pay the bill. Don’t fret. We will go get her.”
When we are outside the door, in the parking lot, Anthony is brave enough, mostly because of the booze controlling his brain, to manhandle me. He reaches under my skirt, squishing my bottom with his hand. It hurts. I shout at him as I push him off, quickly trying to make my way toward the limo, across the parking lot, to escape him and find Nikki. We need to get out of here.
I think, She’d better be in here! I open the door and stare in disbelief, no Nikki. It’s impossible to believe I fell for this. Anthony comes up behind me as I start screaming, trying to run, fighting him off. He grabs me, throws me into the limo through the open door, the bodyguard holding me down. Anthony is on top of me before I can do anything. The bodyguard puts tape on my mouth, muffling my screaming, and then goes to the front seat. Anthony has my arms pinned back.
The limo takes off; the driver ignores my muffled cries. Anthony takes the tape off my mouth, tries to kiss me.
I push him off. “What happened to Nikki? Let me go! ” I scream, terrified.
The driver and the bodyguard are now sitting up front, and the window now closes behind the front seat.
Anthony is sitting across from me now, saying, “Anna, calm down. If ya behave you will see Nikki again. No one can hear you in here. It’s soundproof. Just give in and no problems; ya might like it.”
I loathe him and his sarcastic tone, his eyes revealing an ugly, sadistic look. If possible, he looks even more ugly now, with a face and body that looks like a junkyard dog. He is about six feet tall, well built, with huge brute hands. He is the kind of man with no friends; it’s doubtful his mother would even want to spend time with him. He needs more than two bodyguards, for when John Jacobs comes for him. The other bodyguard must have Nikki, as he is not here, maybe using her car.
Anthony smiles. He can see Anna is really frightened. This will make it easier. He has been looking forward to this for a long time. Afterward she will tell no one; she will be too ashamed to tell anyone. She will be a good girl when I’m done with her. He reminds himself how much he likes this.
I see that idiot looking at me with that look. I am scared more than at any other time in my life. I think, Stay cool. How can I get out of this? A gun would help. This is a huge error on my part. I am alone with him, other than the bodyguard and the driver. They could not care less.
The driver is driving them into a bad area of LA, and my mind whirls. Oh my God, what did they do to Nikki? I am so sorry. How stupid can I be? Henry, if you are listening, I could use some help here right away! I try to twist the locket and wonder, How do you activate it? I know there are no drones or slips to help me; I’m too far from a starship or an energy source to energize them.
I yell at him, “Anthony, where is my sister? You better not have hurt her. You will have more heat than you can imagine. You will not get away with this. It is not too late to take me back. You don’t want to face Henry. You have no idea who he is or what he will do to you. You will never escape him.”
He just looks at me. “Ya came with me willingly. Those two up front will say you wanted it. And yeah, I know about your so-called boyfriend. Where is he now? Maybe you got a little love ’em and leave ’em. Ya better be a good girl if you want to see your sister alive again. Your stepfather wants us to be a couple. Did ya know that? Think about him. You know what is going to happen to him. Ya can take that look off your face. I know how to give you an attitude adjustment.”
He eyes my skirt and legs although I am wearing the longest skirt I own. Then, in a quick second, he tries to take off my skirt, actually tearing it off, then jerking my blouse off, trying to undo my bra; I desperately fight him off, screaming at him. He slaps my face, rips off my bra, then pins me, holding me facedown; my arms are behind me, and my legs are trapped under his legs yet he manages to pull my panties off, slapping my butt hard, then splits my legs, starting to probe me with his free hand.
Though struggling with everything I have, I start thinking plainly. He is going to rape me, maybe kill me. I realize there is nothing I can do about it. He’s too strong for me. He is a total dumbass. How stupid, and I got Nikki into this. I would love to see Henry now; even John Jacobs would be good. Why in God’s name did I sneak out? If only I had John’s Walther nine-millimeter, or any gun would be good. Damn it!
My rage fires up. I free my right hand and strike out with my elbow, hitting Anthony in the nose hard, blood spurting everywhere. He is enraged, yelling at me, cursing. I pull myself up; he grabs for my throat.
Suddenly police sirens on screeching cruisers are close; then shots are fired. I can feel the tires blow out. The limo comes to an abrupt stop, throwing us forward.
I yell, “Thank God!” Then I shriek, “Please help me! Help! Please help me!”
There are police cars with blinking red lights all around us. The doors are opened, the FBI and the police are ordering Anthony and his bodyguards to get out, grabbing them, cuffing them, and saying they are arresting them for kidnapping and assault. The driver fights, and then is put on the ground, bleeding from a head wound where a policeman had hit him.
John Jacobs is there, looking mad. “Thank God,” I say as I see Nikki is with him. The military cars are here
now, and more police cars are coming in, sirens blasting, lights blinking, then blocking the road. There are three military helicopters hovering a couple hundred feet overhead.
I am embarrassed and humiliated to have to look for my clothes in the limo, including my panties, then to put them on, with everyone there, all standing outside the limo. I need some ice to reduce the swelling on my face and neck. Anthony was brutal. I am totally mortified. No one ever needs to ever know. I think, I need to carry a gun. Could I be so lucky as to have a chance to put a bullet in him?
The other bodyguard is in a huge police van, looking bad, face swollen from being hit several times. I am glad to see him helpless. Anthony is handcuffed and surrounded by police, him yelling, protesting that there is no reason to arrest him. He says he has done nothing. He yells at me that it is not over; he will be seeing me again. They jerk him into the police van and then slam the door. I hope he does not get released, ever.
John Jacobs asks me if I am all right and if I want to go to the hospital. I shake my head, saying I’m fine. He says he will take me home but does not look pleased with me. I ask him about Nikki. He walks over and opens the door to an unmarked police car.
Nikki is there, and I jump in. We are hugging, crying. I bawl, “Nikki, I am so sorry. How could I be so stupid! What happened?”
Nikki tells me she was able to call John on her cell phone in the bathroom. She knew it was going bad when the bodyguard followed her to the bathroom, but she managed to lock the door behind her before he was able to enter. He grabbed her when she came out.
Nikki says, “John has GPS tags on both of us, in our cell phones, so when he found out we went AWOL, he was there fast.”
John passes all the security gates and checkpoints and drives up to the front door. Nikki goes in, and John asks me to wait a bit, to please listen to him, just a little talk.
He says our mother is frantic, as they all are. “You scared the hell out of all of us! It could have turned out badly. All this security does not work when you sabotage us, no matter the reason. Please, Anna, never do this again! For sure now you need to think about moving to New York, to Henry’s penthouse. Henry’s drones weren’t helpful today. They must not be operating, no energy left; they need to recharge at Henry’s building. It is dangerous and stupid not to have them. Please, seriously think about it. By the way, Nikki’s car is being driven over here by Mark, one of my guys. He will leave it in the driveway. Are you sure you are OK?”
I reply, “John, I am fine. I am so sorry about today. I owe you my life and Nikki, too. God only knows what that thug would have done to me. He is a scary guy, and I was reckless. I will talk to my mother and Nikki about New York. I will let you know. We will do it, just not this month. I know you know about my pregnancy. Thank you so much for all your help. I am not doing well without Henry. I am in constant fear. I need him terribly, and I don’t know what to do. He doesn’t know I am pregnant. I am so lonesome, and I just can’t imagine life without him. I feel like a fool.” I start to cry.
John says, “Anna, don’t blame yourself for the recent events. We know you went to see Anthony Deforleo because he told you he had information about your father. You did it for your mother. By the way, we think your stepfather is dead. We think the Deforleo Mafia family killed him, as he knew too much about them. We may never find his body. Anthony Deforleo may have done it. He is a pimp and a thug. However, he probably will not be held long. The Mafia has good attorneys, and I doubt if you want to testify against him. Stay clear of him as he runs the family now. His father just committed suicide not long ago, shot himself in the head. The FBI will eventually get Anthony, as he is a genuine criminal; and, he will continue to commit crimes. But until they catch him for some awful thing, he is dangerous.”
Continuing, he says, “Anna, again, please tell us your issues before you react. Never leave your security team! The entire world is watching you. I know you’re young, yet the people of planet Earth are going to be making a massive transition. You could be a big advantage and truly help in making the shift to becoming a member of the ‘Civilizations of the Universe,’ the Consortium. This is a huge historical passage, this specific time in the evolution of the human species, and you are right in the vortex of it. You may be leading the way. You are already famous, probably more than anyone ever in the history of mankind.”
I shake my head, looking directly at John, declaring, “I am afraid I am not up to what people want from me. I may not be able to do this. I know I should not be this way, yet I can’t help it. I am in constant fear.”
John replies, “Join the club; the entire world is in constant fear. This whole thing with Henry could be really good for Earth, or it could be a complete bust. I choose to hope for the best.”
He looks at Anna with a tender expression, “Don’t burden yourself too much about Henry. He has a lot of savvy. Don’t count him out yet. I think he will be back if he’s allowed to come back. He committed to helping us, and I think he keeps his word. I know he loves you; you can see it in his eyes. He is motivated to come back to you. Please have faith, as it will all work out. I probably should be more cynical, yet I have faith in Henry. Also think about your son. After he is born, he will need you to be strong. This is your first child, and everything will change after he is born. You are not alone in this. Your son is a citizen of an alien race. He might help us become part of the family of worlds. It can’t hurt. I know you have the prayers of thousands. I know you are a true leader, and you will prevail.” John smiles. “For what it’s worth, Judy and I will always be here for you. You are family.”
I look at John in a kindly way. My eyes are moist. “John, you are such a blessing. Thank you again. Your friendship, and Judy’s, too, have been comforting, to say the least. You have no idea how much it has helped me, and you are right, of course. I hope I live up to everyone’s expectations, yours included. I will do my best.”
At night, the massive oblong starships, alien battleships, silently slide into Earth’s orbit; all six ships are orbiting seventeen hundred miles out with a speed of fifty-six thousand miles per hour. They look like oversize stadiums, each almost two hundred miles long and forty-eight miles high and sixty-four miles wide. At night, when viewing them from Earth, looking up, they could be orbiting moons, although no one notices them until daybreak. Yet they are so enormous, at sunrise, anyone eyeing upward can easily see them from Earth’s surface as they block the sun as they pass in front of it.
It is early September; most of the world worries about the drought conditions, as no real issues like wars, and it’s been a hot, dry month so far, causing concern. Some say crop production will be thirty percent less than normal. Yet no weather guys across the world are announcing weather this morning when everyone turns on their radios. When daybreak arises, no one is talking about the weather. All those concerns disappear. Everyone on Earth has one common thought: who are these aliens, coming from somewhere in the universe, with six massive starships, ominously circling Earth?
The president is talking to John Jacobs, using a secure cell phone connection, knowing he is still on Anna’s protection team in California. “John, you know about the massive starships orbiting us. Do you think they’re Henry’s?”
“No, Mr. President, I think they are the Seatisveres. This is our worst nightmare; we do not have Henry; and we do have some pissed-off aliens. This is the enemy Henry battled. He destroyed one of their ships, and that ship looked just like those above us, just smaller than these things. I saw the satellite video. I understand we have no communication from them. I would expect the worst from them.”
“John, should we prepare for war?”
“No, Mr. President. Henry said if they come before he gets back, we should light up his beacon to call for him. You know how, as he left you instructions. They will know about this SOS, and they cannot turn it off; it’s beyond their ability without destroying themselves. The beacon is located on Henry’s building in New York City. The building h
as the ability to destroy them if they get too close to it. They will stay away. The beacon will also make them nervous, cause them to hurry, to get out before he gets back. He said to stand down, give them whatever they want. He will get it back from them later. He said we could never recover from their all-out attack. Earth would be mostly destroyed.”
John continues, “He said whatever happens, tell them he is coming with several fleets. Tell them he will find them, no matter what it takes, and they will pay the price for their actions. Henry said they will not stay long after you tell them he is coming for them. They may take energy and metals, as fast as they can, as much as they can carry, then leave. They will plug in to the nuclear reactors at the power plants around the world. They will do this for their energy needs. People will die, as they will have no regard for human life, think of us like cattle; anyone getting in their way will be destroyed, then actually recycled, the chemicals used again. They use all kinds of metal and are good at finding and taking it. Sometimes they take beings, hold them as hostages, and then ask for tribute. Henry said, no matter what they say, they always kill the hostages.”
“Mr. President, you need to warn the rest of the world.”
“John, take Anna and her family to Henry’s New York building immediately. If they know about her, they will take her. I doubt we could do much to stop them. Henry’s building is her best bet. We should have taken her there a long time ago. We will turn on the beacon and signal Henry. Hopefully he is listening.”
John hangs up, afraid, not sure how all this is going to work, and then his mind goes to trying to protect Anna. He can’t help but think about Judy and the kids. He needs to head east immediately. Where is Anna, and her family? Time to collect everyone for the trip east, to head out today.
Finally, he is heading for Anna’s house, with a massive convoy following behind, including lots of big coach buses, police cars, and many military vehicles. Troops and security people are on board; also the buses are loaded with fuel and food. He had told Anna to be ready, and he has called her again.
