by Regan Black
"A distraction and added stressor to keep us off balance?"
"He created havoc and desperation where there wasn't any."
Randall massaged his neck and studied the floor. His aura practically crackled with pent-up hate and Petra understood all too well how he felt. "Neither of you are to blame," she soothed. "You did your best with the information you had. Kristoff's a maestro when it comes to playing people."
"It might get worse before it gets better, love." Randall spun away toward the kitchen, leaving Petra alone with her quietly sobbing mother.
She couldn't handle it. She'd been through too much already today. Her mother never cried, never risked showing Petra any depth of her feelings. Inexplicably, that unbridgeable gap had always made Petra feel steadier somehow. Tonight, whatever walls her mother had erected were crumbling and Petra didn't like the pure anguish pouring off Pamela.
Standing, eager to escape, Petra paused when Pamela whispered her name.
"Oh, Petra. I'm so sorry, baby." She choked on yet another sob. "He duped me every step of the way. I've lost such precious years with you, holding back like this. I've lost your brother…"
Petra couldn't help herself. She reached out with her hand and her heart. "Nathan's innocent, Mom. You've got to believe in him." Words failed Pamela, but an uncensored wave of love and acceptance swamped Petra. She couldn't recall a time when her mother had ever been so open. The warmth went a long way toward healing years of misconceptions and hurts. The affection reminded her of the diary Jaden had shared earlier. Hope bloomed in the purest part of her spirit and she locked it away, safe from the hours ahead of her.
"Pet!" Randall's panicked voice summoned her to the kitchen.
She rushed around the corner to find her father shuffling through plastic-coated papers on the counter, the freezer door hanging open behind him. "What's wrong?" She moved to close the freezer but he stopped her with an iron grip.
"Someone's been through my notes."
"You keep notes in the freezer?"
He shrugged. "Old habits die hard, honey. It's more convenient than a lock box at the bank."
"Apparently not more secure," she pointed out. "How can you tell anyway?"
"Two pages were out of order." He ran a hand through his hair, then rubbed hard at his neck again. Petra took over the massage, working on the knotted muscles, hoping her father would elaborate. He did. "Most of this is old stuff, encryptions more sentimental than valuable. But the original contract with Kristoff and a recent private study I'm working on were layered in the box incorrectly."
Petra hands dropped to her sides. She didn't want to know but forced herself to ask. "What original contract?"
"A security encryption program to protect his clients." He nodded and continued as if she'd verbalized a barrage of questions. "Yes, it was a morphing design. No, it's never been reported breached and yes, I understand the tremendous implications. Yes, he discounted the fertility services in exchange for the program when I lost my job. No, he's not the contractor of the current private study."
Maybe he didn't think Kristoff was behind the study, but Petra was unraveling the data on the counter. "This is a prison stat sheet."
Randall gave an affirmative jerk of his head. "I'm illustrating the correlation between the behavior patterns and subsequent health of prison inmates serving sentences in excess of fifteen years."
Which now included Nathan, currently paying with his life for a murder he didn't commit.
"It was just a gravy assignment after I finished the Smart-loc program."
"Who gave you this gravy assignment?" she pressed.
"You don't have the clearance to know, honey, and I don't have the authority to tell you. I can promise you it wasn't Kristoff."
Petra kept up her end of a minimal conversation while she memorized and deciphered what she could of the Smart-loc details. She hoped there would be some way to show Nathan how to escape whatever prison held him before something terrible happened.
Then she made a hasty exit from the penthouse, wanting to get all her new information into better heads than hers. Between them, surely Brian and Gideon would know what to do with everything she'd learned tonight. Carefully, her strength dwindling, she made her way back to the closest el platform.
Drained from the lengthy revelations of best laid plans gone awry, she found an empty car and a relatively clean double seat, covered herself with a newspaper and did her best to blend. There, under the paper and the pressure of exhaustion, all her fractured mental spaces gave in to sleep at last.
Chapter Thirteen
A package arrived today. A holographic photo album of the reunited family. They all look so happy and the mother's at ease at last. She won't have long with them, but it will be enough.
Moments like this keep me sane through all those dark scenes with Kincaid, but I can't stop helping CRIA, either. It's tough work, but knowing I can make a positive impact in a terrible, chaotic time is important.
And it just doesn't matter if no one understands that. –From the case files of Petra Neiman
Kelly stared back at the inscrutable faces of Gideon, Brian, and Jaden, helplessly lost for words.
She'd explained the situation and her search for Petra, but now there was nothing more she could do but wait for the response. It was taking far too long for that response.
With Jaden and Brian at the table intent on the sketch, she studied Gideon. He'd been the last to arrive at this emergency meeting and she couldn't help wondering where he'd been and what kept him distracted. With the sparks she'd seen between them, she would've thought he'd show some real concern for her Petra.
"You checked with the desk?" Brian asked again.
"Yes and with the security team outside," she recited again. "The guy at information remembered her because she drew this picture and then walked away without saying a word. Security came up blank. Nothing on their external surveillance either."
"What about the interior security feed?"
Kelly refrained from sniping at Gideon for not listening and merely repeated this, too. "They have her near her father's display and touring the human health gallery as well."
Jaden was studying the sketch with Brian. "Looks harmless," she said. "Skinny, but harmless."
"I think that's the point. But look at the eyes," Kelly added, "they're flat. Not a hint of emotion."
"That wouldn't help her," Gideon muttered.
Kelly murmured her agreement.
"Okay. I'm still not sure I get this," Brian complained to the room in general. "She reads auras and emotions, but not minds."
"She can read memories, if someone's touching her," Kelly added.
"Touch isn't a requirement anymore," Gideon corrected, threading his hands through his hair.
You let her in before. Open up again.
"What're you talking about, Brian?" Gideon asked.
Brian shook his head and shot a questioning look at Jaden. She frowned when she addressed Gideon. "Brian didn't say anything."
"Someone sure as hell said something," Gideon defended.
Kelly tilted her head and studied him. "A deep voice? With a familiar ring to it? Insistent but quiet."
Gideon spun around to face her. "Yeah?"
"That's probably Nathan."
"In my head?"
She's right. It's me. Open up so she can find you.
Gideon shook his head to clear it of the odd sensation. He thought Petra poking around was weird enough. This was crossing a major line. "I don't like it," he growled.
Kelly shrugged. "It's a gift. Accept or decline as you wish. He doesn't make telepathic contact on a whim."
"You think Petra's in trouble," Jaden said, looking hard at Kelly.
"I know she is. She's the most dependable, predictable sort of boss. Something happened if she left me hanging without instructions or contact info."
"Can't she contact you like he does?" Brian looked as baffled as Gideon felt.
"Not
unless she's flying and not always then."
"She said I lent her strength," Jaden said, thinking aloud.
"I'm sure that's true with your special history," Kelly replied. "Do you want to try to find her?"
"I don't know the first thing about astral flight."
"She and Nathan often dream together. As sisters it might work for you as well."
"I just fall asleep and hope for the best?"
"I'd try it if I were you." Gideon groaned. "It's gotta be better than a nag like Nathan taking up residence between your ears." He rubbed at his temples.
Kelly laid a hand on his arm. "What's he telling you?"
"He's a damned broken record. I'm supposed to 'open up', 'open up and let her in'." He looked down at Kelly. "But he doesn't tell me how."
She smothered a chuckle. "First, sit down." He did. "Then relax."
"Working on it."
"Tell me what you know of Petra," Kelly ordered gently, settling beside him but not close enough to touch.
"She's precise and observant. She's stubborn." Gideon let the adjectives flow. "A fighter. Sincere. Dedicated." He paused.
"Do you understand her or her gifts?"
"No."
"Do you trust her?"
"Well...yeah."
"Close your eyes." Kelly reached out, brushing her fingertips across his forehead. "Picture her face. Now just hang on to that," she whispered. "She'll do the rest when she's able."
"What do you mean 'able'," Jaden snapped. Brian reached an arm around her shoulders, but she shrugged him off.
Kelly explained, "I think if Nathan's interfering then she's probably asleep somewhere."
"Somewhere?" Gideon interrupted, eyes flying open.
"It's not easy to explain." She tried to soothe him with her touch. "Gifts like Nathan's and Petra's aren't always as predictable as their personalities imply."
Jaden and Brian exchanged another private look. "Cleveland might've found one of the links we've been looking for."
Kelly felt the hair rise on the back of her neck. "What link?"
"I had him search the Burkhardt's new condo on North Lakeshore. Burkhardt and Kristoff bartered security for fertility."
"Is that all?" Kelly asked, with as much calm as she could muster.
"No. Burkhardt wrote a special security code for Kristoff's research."
"But we've recovered Petra's records," Kelly said.
"And hacked a lot of his various research projects," Gideon added.
"There must be an even deeper layer or pet project. Petra's father had the foresight to seal something in a program of his own design. Cleveland's working to break it open."
"He knew," Kelly gasped, slouching back onto the couch. This changed everything. "Oh, God. He knew about the experiments."
"He insured himself against Kristoff," Brian explained. "We're working out a plan to bring Burkhardt around to willingly give up the details."
"I'll take the car, her files and get Petra checked out of the hotel." Kelly came to her feet and pulled the heavy tote over her arm.
"I'll go with you," Gideon said.
While he rummaged through his duffle bag, Jaden and Brian made their own plans. "Think Cleveland and the kids are up for some scouting work?" Jaden asked Brian.
Brian nodded. "I'll fill them in while you take a nap."
"If I can get to sleep, I'll try to be helpful," Jaden said. Then she tipped her face up for Brian's kiss.
Kelly paused at the door Gideon held open for her, watching the couple get lost in each other. "Pet's got good friends in you two," she said when their lips finally parted. "Thanks."
Gideon nudged Kelly through the door. He was eager to find Petra and see to her safety. Once Kristoff was contained they could figure out if there was a next step for them personally. He may not understand how she did what she did, but he understood how he felt about her. He wouldn't let that go without a fight.
He folded himself into the passenger seat and Kelly released the Mustang into traffic a bit wildly even by Gideon's standards. He wondered if Nate had any idea what this woman was putting it through. "You're clearing out her room and then what?" he asked.
"Back to her office to dig up the past. You have a better suggestion?"
Gideon thought about what might protect and serve Petra best. "She needs you," he decided. "If you find anything significant or sensitive, I want you to keep it safe."
"Naturally."
"What do you expect Kristoff to do?"
"Anything he wants. He thinks he's unstoppable."
"The bigger they are, the harder they fall."
Kelly smiled at him. "Voice of experience?"
He needed a good laugh. "Yeah, guess so." By normal population standards he leaned toward the super-sized. Next to the petite Kelly, he felt like an absolute giant.
"Feeling anything from her, yet?" she asked.
"No." It disappointed him more than he wanted to admit.
They reached the hotel without further conversation and Gideon held out a ridiculous hope that Petra would be there.
The front desk monitor announced that her suite was empty. Gideon went on up, leaving Kelly to close out Petra's hotel account. At the suite, he used his full-access print to get inside, only to discover the damned computer was right.
The room hadn't changed since Petra had made her escape. Gideon didn't see how he could help at all, so he left the room to Kelly.
Except for the bag of lingerie sitting abandoned behind the door. That little treasure he took with him to his fallback suite. Whenever he got Petra back, before they had to part ways again, he intended to see her in all of these sexy outfits.
He knew the minute he opened the door that his security had been breached. Not through any psychic gift or genetic manipulation–just pure instinct. Well, instinct and the soft clacking of fingers on a keyboard.
Silently, he closed the door, dropped the lingerie bag, and approached the intruder from behind.
"Stay back, Callahan. I can't type with you hovering over my shoulder."
"Yes, sir." Gideon kept the smile out of his voice, but not off his face. He was too relieved to see the Commandant alive and well.
The imposing figure turned and Gideon made a hasty reassessment. The man was alive, but well was an overstatement. The bloodshot eyes, deep lines across his forehead and the persistent frown were expected. The angry red burn trailing down his face and into his collar–that surprised him.
"Twelve-A," was all Gideon could think to say. "God, sir, I'm sorry."
"You did the right thing, son. I wasn't sure you survived. Pretty convinced you didn't survive when your pager went off line."
Gideon rubbed his biceps. "Seemed prudent, all things considered." He braced himself for the nasty memory of gripping illness and found only a numb sort of awareness remained. Silently he thanked Petra.
"Callahan?"
"Yes, sir?"
"Where is your assigned target?"
Gideon weighed his options. He honestly didn't know, but would he say if he did? Trust. The word echoed in his head, but not from Nathan this time. He trusted Petra and he trusted his gut, and at the end of every mission he'd trusted the Commandant.
"She's missing at the moment, but we expect prompt recovery."
"You were assigned to keep her safe. It was the least I could do for Burkhardt."
"You could've mentioned the relation, sir," Gideon grumbled. For the first time he wondered which Burkhardt the Commandant referred to. Could Nathan's dad be on the Commandant's payroll, too?
To his shock the Commandant laughed. The wounded skin tugged in a grimace, but the sound was sincere. "That woulda spoiled all your fun, Callahan. How'd you find out?"
"Long story. It'll require tequila and cost you your life if I tell it."
More laughter. "Can't wait. Just as soon as we get Kristoff and his private army under control, I'll buy the bottle. Now about that info you salvaged from 12-A," the Commandant said, returni
ng to business.
"It seemed I was the target. All the most recent searches were of operations involving me. I believe they were learning my habits and patterns."
"Good thing you don't have any."
Gideon agreed. "So how and why access me?"
"Petra Neiman," the Commandant said thoughtfully.
"Exactly. You saw what they did and when they attacked. They had more information than I did."
"And no-doubt-dead weapons, which means they were likely Kristoff's men."
"They were juiced up more than I'd ever seen."
"Glazed eyes?"
He nodded. "On complete auto-pilot search and destroy."
"He must be stopped, Callahan. These new reports are frightening."
A defining statement considering all the action the Commandant had seen through the years. "Do we have any of his team in custody yet?"
"No. They've all disappeared."
Gideon thought about the implications of Kristoff always being a step ahead. Only one answer made sense, yet it went against everything Gideon knew and held dear. There was no other explanation. Brian had sent Lorine's report directly to the Commandant. Gideon had been under the Commandant's command his entire special ops career. This assignment in particular had been completely black–no one knew he was even on duty and he himself hadn't known Petra's full connections.
Gideon put distance between himself and his commander by offering a beer from the hotel mini bar.
That the Commandant accepted shouldn't have been a shock at this point. He popped open two bottles and held one out to the Commandant. "Toast?" he asked.
"Go ahead." The Commandant smiled.
"To those who've been compromised," Gideon raised his bottle and then took a long drink. Surprise was on his side along with the very remote possibility of ignorance.
The Commandant sputtered, snorting beer, and Gideon lunged at him, striking him carefully in order to knock him out with the least amount of pain and injury.
If he didn't get court-martialed for this, he might just get a medal. Assuming of course, that the Commandant was an unwilling party to Kristoff's scheme.
