Dangerously Yours

by Lark Brennan

  The problem was there were too many square miles to scan and too many variables that affected the energy. He decided to eliminate Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, not because Oxley couldn’t be there, simply because there was too much orphic activity to detect any changes that might be significant. Transportation was the next factor he considered. He’d checked the commercial flights out of Anguilla and found they were mostly to nearby islands. If Tolian planned for him to be at the next laser demonstration, then a boat and perhaps private plane were the obvious options. He shrunk his radius to a hundred miles and re-ran the scans beginning with the moment the Argos disappeared.

  “There’s got to be a clue here,” he said in frustration.

  She cleared her throat. “I was thinking. The laser uses delphic, not orphic, right?”

  “Yeah, why?”

  “The primary ability of a Sentier is to channel and control the delphic of his Source.”

  Now she had his attention. He leaned back in his chair. “Okay.”

  “What if we’re looking for the wrong energy? You’re looking for a change in the orphic but Tolian’s all about delphic and so is the laser.”

  “But the scanners picked up the yellow trail from Anguilla to Sombrero a few hours before the laser was used.”

  She shrugged. “I’m not saying there’s no relationship between the Dissemblers and the orphic change. I’m guessing their presence is responsible. I’m just suggesting it could be more productive to track Tolian by his delphic footprint than his orphic.”

  “It’s worth a try. Otherwise I have to get on that boat.”

  Pain crossed her face. “You aren’t seriously thinking of defecting.”

  The more he considered, the surer he was that agreeing to work for Tolian would be delivering himself into a form of slavery, even ignoring his moral objections to how the laser had been used so far. Going back to work for Mark Durand might not be an option, but neither was signing on with the Brazilian Sentier.

  “I’m going to stop any further misuse of my intellectual property and if I survive, I’m washing my hands of both sides—the Durand and the Dissemblers. It’s your war, not mine.”

  “It’s everybody’s war even if most of the world doesn’t know it.”

  “Then we better get back to work.” He re-started the scan history and angled the screen for her to see. “I’m going to filter out all the blue and green orphic and enhance all delphic energy over fourth degree.”

  The map changed colors from a muddy mix of shades of yellow, orange, and brown to waves of lavender, pink, and purple.

  Lex scooted her chair closer. “The purple is delphic, right?”

  “Yup. The only color orphic can’t be.”

  “And delphic energy is stationary, right?”

  “Right. Unless someone is messing with it. I’m filtering out the baseline map of delphic so we can see if anything’s new.”

  Most of the purple faded away. Not all of it. His pulse spiked. He clicked on satellite view, zoomed in on the deep purple spot, and stared at the screen for several seconds. A complex came into focus not a hundred yards from the water on the south shore of St. Barthélemy, aka St. Barts, aka the Caribbean playground of the ultra-rich.

  “Not exactly a Third World location,” Lex said. “Think it’s Tolian?”

  It made sense. Oxley had mentioned a beach and lab. No one would notice private planes, yachts, or expensive speedboats, and privacy was almost a religion among the wealthy. “I guess I’ll find out.”

  “We’ll find out.” She began packing up her gear.

  He synced the coordinates of the compound to his ComDev and shut the lid of his laptop. “I can’t let you come.”

  Her eyes widened. “Can’t let me come? Are you kidding?”

  “It’s too dangerous.”

  “I’m a Protector. You won’t have a chance in hell of getting in there and back out alive, much less with the laser, without me.”

  She was probably right but it didn’t matter. Putting her life in danger wasn’t an option. Even without Mark’s threat, the possibility of Lex being hurt or killed because of him wrenched his gut. “I can take care of myself.”

  Her body stiffened and trembled with outrage. “Against Tolian and a bunch of Dissemblers? You’d never even heard of the Sentier or the majik wielders until a couple days ago. I’ve trained all my life to fight them.”

  A fierce surge of protectiveness stunned him. “Too bad. Tolian told me to bring you. He wants you under his control. If you walk into his trap, he’ll have a weapon to use against the Durand. Not to mention what he could do to you.”

  She scowled at him and shook her head. “This isn’t my first mission. I can handle it.”

  “No.”

  “Suit yourself.” She stood up and piled the plates. “The way I see it you have two choices. You can sit here and wait for Tolian’s goons to come for you, or we can take Silverbelle and go to him. Me, I like to have my own ride when it’s time to go home. But if you’re going over to the dark side, guess that won’t be a problem.”

  “I’m not going over to the dark side. All I want is to stop any further use of the laser and there isn’t much time.”

  “How do you know?” She planted her fists on her hips and pressed her lips into a tight line. “Let’s have it all.”

  “The next demonstration comes at midnight. A bigger target this time. At first he threatened the Ariel and Aurora, then upped the target to a cruise ship.”

  “The laser can do that?”

  “I don’t see why not if it took the Argos.”

  She reached for her ComDev and tapped the screen. A moment later David answered.

  “Evacuate both the Ariel and Aurora immediately,” she barked.

  “Why?” David asked.

  “Just do it. Put everyone up at the best hotels available on my credit card and make them stay there until I give the all clear.” Her voice was calm and authoritative but a faint pink in her cheeks and neck betrayed her anxiety.

  “Does this have anything to do with Flynn?” David asked.

  “No. We got wind of a terrorist threat and I want to be sure our people are safe. I’ll be in touch.” She clicked off before David could press for specifics, and blew out a deep breath. “I don’t trust Tolian not to take out my boats just for the hell of it. If they’re on his radar, they’re vulnerable. So how do we find out which cruise ship?”

  “We don’t. We find the laser.”

  “Then we better get going.” She hoisted her leather equipment bag on her shoulder. “I’ll go pull up anchor and motor to shore to pick you up.”

  “When the boat arrives and I’m gone, he’ll know we’re coming.”

  “Probably,” she said with a smile. “Doesn’t change a damned thing.”

  • • •

  An hour later they approached the entrance to Gustavia harbor. Huge motor yachts floated amongst sailboats and powerboats. A three-masted ketch—wooden hull and all the latest rigging—caught Bodie’s eye.

  He whistled. “Talk about serious boats. Maybe I’ll replace the Talos with one of these babies.”

  If he lived that long. They’d discussed strategy during the flight and agreed that dropping onto the beach in front of Tolian’s compound might be heavy on moxie but made them sitting ducks. A more subtle land approach under cover of dark was their best chance, which gave them a couple of hours to get into position.

  Lex eased Silverbelle into an open space of water between two oversized powerboats and flipped on the motors to the pontoons. The propellers slowed and finally stopped but not before half the eyes in the harbor were on them.

  “Hey, Lex!” a young man in a blue uniform called from the deck of one of the yachts.

  “Let me guess,” Bodie said, “One of your boyfriends.”

  “Jealous?” she asked with a grin.

  “Don’t get sidetracked before we get the laser.”

  “Me? I’m all business on a mission. Ev
en you couldn’t distract me.”

  “Good. So where’re you parking this thing?”

  She pointed to a low floating dock where several open speedboats were tied up. “We’ll pull in there and I’ll flash my passport to Henri. You have a passport?”

  “Courtesy of Mark. What about customs?”

  She peered at him over her sunglasses. “Not for me. You? Maybe.”

  “So the weapons…?”

  “Can you lug the leather dive bag without looking like a hit man?”

  “Very funny.”

  When she climbed out of the cockpit, two young men hurried to take her tote—which held the sensor—and helped her onto the dock. Her gushing thanks that followed drew the two far enough away for him to rearrange the guns, slip a couple grenades into a side pocket, and stuff towels around the weapons so they didn’t clink against each other. When he finally lifted the bag out of the back compartment, Lex and her fans had already reached the open-front building with the Customs sign hanging from its roof.

  Nobody along the pier paid any attention to him, not even the immigration official who was much more interested in chatting with Lex in French than scrutinizing the passport her porter presented. As long as all eyes were on her, he was invisible.

  “Anton, cher,” she drawled, switching to English and producing her ComDev from her tote. “We’re staying with Bodie’s uncle on the south shore. Could you tell us the easiest way to get there?” Two taps called the satellite map up on the screen. She held it out to the dapper West Indian who had stamped their passports.

  The young man traced a line along the shore. “The best road is here. It is smooth and well maintained.”

  She pointed to a route over the hills. “What about this one? It looks more direct.”

  Anton shook his head. “It is paved to the Hotel Bel Soleil, then it gets rough. Some gravel, some dirt, and only a little paving. The shore road is better.”

  Lex squeezed his hand. “Thanks. The shore road it is then.” With a flirty wiggle of her fingers, she took off down the harbor side road, not even looking to see if Bodie was following. He swore under his breath, shifted the heavy bag on his shoulder and trotted after her.

  As soon as they turned into a deserted alley, he said, “Quite a performance back there.”

  “You’re not in jail and you still have your arsenal. That performance served a purpose.”

  “Hey, I’m not giving you flack. I guess I’m thanking you.”

  Her smile warmed something in his chest. “Ahead is the long-term parking lot for people leaving the island by boat or plane. If there’s an attendant on duty, we’re screwed. If not, pick the sturdiest SUV you can find and hop in like you own it. I’ll meet you at the gate and let you out.”

  “What about keys?”

  “They’re usually left in the car. Try the floor, the glove box, above the sun visor. Just be quick. The longer you take…”

  “The more likely we are to be caught.”

  They reached the end of the alley and a parking lot with about fifty cars and SUVs—mostly Mercedes, BMWs, a few Porsches, and a Bentley—all high-end makes. He couldn’t imagine the owners leaving their keys in these vehicles.

  “Now move,” she said and took off toward the gate.

  It only took him five seconds to pick out the silver Range Rover and another one to open the driver side door. Unlocked. He shook his head then threw in the bag. A swipe across the floor on the driver’s side located the keys. Even in his wild high school days, he’d never stolen a car. His hands began to sweat. What the hell was he doing?

  He glanced out the side window and saw Lex wave to him to hurry. Adrenaline rushed through his limbs. They needed to stop Tolian from using the laser. Everything else was unimportant—even an arrest for grand larceny. The key turned easily and the engine roared to life. He shifted into drive and headed for the gate.

  Auto theft was now officially on his resume.

  • • •

  “I think my fillings have shaken loose,” Lex grumbled.

  He veered the Range Rover around a hole so long and deep it could qualify as a trench. “I’m doing the best I can. You’re the one who wanted to take the scenic road. This is the longest three miles I’ve ever driven.”

  She checked her ComDev sat nav. “Only a quarter mile farther.”

  “That’s what you said a half mile ago.”

  The front wheel ran over another large rock that tipped the Range Rover to a precarious angle before it slammed down into a dip in the dirt track. Only the seatbelts kept them from being tossed around the cab. The physical punishment had gotten old in the first mile and wasn’t getting any better.

  If it wasn’t for the sunshine and the turquoise sea in the distance, he would have sworn he was driving through the northern tundra. “For a tropical paradise, this place sure is barren and bleak.”

  No trees or leafy foliage covered the ragged hills, only prickly scrub, rock, and sandy gravel. And to make things worse, the road, pitiful as it was, dead-ended twenty yards ahead.

  “We’re here,” she announced and bounded out the door to a cropping of boulders at the edge of the steep drop at the end of the track.

  He surveyed the hills around them, all too aware that the drive this far had been the easiest part of their undertaking.

  Using a huge rock for cover, Lex flipped her sunglasses to the top of her head and focused her high-tech binoculars on the scene below. “Not a bad set-up.”

  He crouched next to her. A luxurious villa compound sat perched on the hillside a hundred-fifty feet down the steep rocky incline. Thirty feet beneath the main house a white beach met the cliff. The enclave was built like a fortress. Thick stone walls surrounded by cactus and bayonet plants would keep out any riff-raff or casual thieves if the terrain didn’t do the job. The layout allowed for security cameras, lights, and motion detectors to alert the inhabitants if an intruder managed to get inside.

  “Hand me your ComDev,” he said.

  She did and he opened the app that scanned for life forces. The screen came up as all static. “I’m not getting a read on how many people are down there.”

  A crease lined her forehead and her lips pressed together tightly. “Nothing?”

  “There seems to be some pattern but not anything distinct.”

  “This place may be under some kind of psychic bubble that’s scrambling individual energy. You picking up anything unusual?”

  He opened his senses to the villa below. “Concentrated delphic with swirls of yellow orphic. Explains why we picked this place up on the sensor. So you think Tolian’s inside?”

  She shrugged. “Good chance he is.”

  “We still have to go in for the laser.”

  She nodded behind her binoculars. “Do you have any idea what it looks like? How big it is?”

  “No, but Oxley does, and he and Tolian were together a few hours ago. If they could move it, and have it operational by tonight, the thing can’t be too big. We find Oxley and we’ll get our answers.”

  “Two guys just came out of the flat-roofed building closest to the back wall. They’re having a smoke. The L-shaped building to the right could be a garage for a fleet of tanks.”

  “Can I have a look?”

  She handed him the binoculars and sat back on a flat rock to give him a better view.

  He squatted next to her and studied the structures as she spoke. She was right, the garage had a military look about it. The smokers both had dark hair and tan skin—neither was Oxley. “So did this Protector training of yours include covert operations strategy, because if it did, now’s the time to speak up.”

  When she didn’t answer, he put down the binoculars and turned to her. She stared at her ComDev, her brow furrowed in an expression of concentration. “There are two life forces in the hill behind the house.”

  His pulse picked up. Maybe they’d get lucky after all. “Another bunker. So all we need to do is get into it and force Oxley to turn ove
r the laser.”

  “Without alerting Tolian or his Dissemblers. Not knowing the layout of the compound, we’re heading in blind. Tiptoeing around searching for the entrance to the bunker and hoping not to get caught isn’t much of a plan.”

  “If you’ve got a better one, let’s have it.”

  Mischief danced in her eyes. “You could chuck some of your grenades into the main house and we could shoot anyone who ran out.”

  “You’re crazy.”

  “He’s Tolian. All the odds are in his favor. He’s as powerful a psychic as Adrien and he’s a master of dark majik. Given the chance, I’d shoot him without hesitation.”

  “In cold blood?”

  “Where Tolian is concerned, Durand blood is never cold.”

  “So we play it by ear. Not a happy prospect.” He turned his attention back to the compound. Without a plan, they’d need as much information as they could get before going in. There was a flat area behind the back wall with a gate wide enough to drive a car through. “Think that’s a helipad?”

  “Could be. The wind shears make landing in these hills difficult but not impossible. There’s no dock off the beach and a shore drop here isn’t ideal because of the coral heads out there.”

  “So Tolian’s men would probably arrive by car through the front gate.”

  “Probably.” She glanced at her ComDev. “Five-ten. Sunset is in ninety-five minutes. We can assume he knows we landed in Gustavia and is waiting for us. If he sent someone to Prickly Pear for you, we have some time before they get back here. We know there are at least four people in there now—the two smokers and the two in the hill—and the concentrated delphic is probably Tolian. Five-to-two isn’t bad odds but I’d rather wait until dark to climb down this hill.”

  She’d changed into long pants and hiking boots on the way from the harbor. He was still in shorts and boat shoes, not having anything else to wear. Climbing down the hill in the dark didn’t excite him. On the other hand, any cover was better than no cover.

  “Fine,” he said. “You keep watch out here. I have a couple of downloads and some fine-tuning to do on my ComDev before we leave.”