by J. R. Rain
Ayden sat up front with the driver. A large envelope was handed back to me. I knew it had the cash in there, a new identity, and anything else he might need to get out alive.
I could feel Noah’s eyes on me as I thumbed through the contents of the envelope. “What?” I finally asked without looking up.
“Are you okay? I mean, finding out that this kid might be your sister...”
“I’m fine,” I interrupted before he could finish. To be honest, at that moment, I didn’t know if I was fine or not. Yes, knowing she could be my sister did compound some of the emotions swirling inside my brain and heart. Mostly, I knew that we had to get to Hope before Orlenda destroyed the girl in one way or another. Even if the monster of a woman kept Hope alive, she would take the girl’s mind and soul. That was what she did. She destroyed people for her own gain, and the gain to Orlenda came down to what her diabolical mind considered a goal to benefit human kind, which was the biggest joke there was. To her, that meant running the world. She had a Christ-like complex, although she was far from religious. In many ways she reminded me of Hitler, in search of a perfect race. The constant question banging inside my head was this: what did she want with Hope? Sure, the kid was an audial. I got that, and an audial can do many things for someone who desires power. However, I knew that even with the gift of being an audial psychic, I myself was limited without a team of psychics around me, a team that possessed gifts that I didn’t have. As a team, we could paint complete pictures. As an individual, we painted with one color only.
Plus, Hope was still a child with a lot to learn and process about her gift. There was a much larger picture that I suspected was about to unfold.
And, within the hour, I had discovered that I was right about that deeper reason for Hope’s abduction by Orlenda, and the bigger picture. The thing was, I was having a hard time comprehending it because it was so big, and to me untouchable, that getting my brain wrapped around it was going to take some time. Time that, according to Dr. Graves, who was the scientist now with a wad full of cash in his wallet, a new identity, and a reason to fear for his life, had impressed upon the team. We had to get Hope out of Orlenda’s hands, and not only that, we also had to keep the child away from Grant Simms.
Our mission had rapidly changed from a direct order from Simms, to one in which the team was about to go completely rogue.
Chapter Twenty-two
The team had been driven to a dock and led onto an older sailboat.
Dr. Graves was seated at a table in the galley. I didn’t know the man at all, but I was guessing that he looked older than he was, and he also was lacking sleep and nutrition. The man was scared. His dark hair was silvering throughout and he had a five o’clock shadow covering his drawn face. His dark eyes appeared not only frightened but also pained.
I have to admit that at first I found the doctor to be crazed, but then my second set of “ears,” told me that he was not completely insane, although I think he may have been being driven there. I hoped we were getting him out in time.
Noah kept guard outside the boat with the driver while Ayden and I went down inside.
“Dr. Graves, I’m Kylie Cain and this is my associate Ayden Connors.” I slid into the booth next to a sink and small oven. Ayden remained standing for a few minutes. This was typically how we played things. Allowing the “softer” sex to move in closely, while Ayden remained a physical deterrent.
“Do you have my money?” he asked in a near whisper.
Ayden tossed me the package and Graves started to grab at it. I pulled it away from him. “Wait a minute. Not so fast. You supposedly have information for us. This is a two way street, my friend.”
He sighed. “How do I know you’ve brought me what I require?” He looked up at Ayden.
“It’s all there. New identity, the cash, details on where you’ll be living and what you’ll be doing. You do understand that there can be no contact with anyone from your former life? If we are to protect you, it has to be this way.”
He looked away. “I don’t have anyone anyway. Orlenda had my fiancé killed. My parents are long gone, and I have a brother in the States who would probably prefer that I disappear.”
I swallowed hard. “What do you mean that Orlenda had your fiancé murdered?”
“I can’t prove it, of course, but she did. Heidi drowned but that would have never happened. She was a competitive swimmer. I don’t want to go into the details, but trust me: I got the message loud and clear that Orlenda Kobach owned me and she was willing to destroy anything or anyone I am associated with, and there is one person out there I still love and want to see alive, hopefully, someday.”
“Who is that?” Ayden asked.
“My son. He’s twelve. Lives with his mom and step-dad, so he has a good life. I mean he will have a good life without me.”
Tears welled in Graves’ eyes, and my stomach sank. I didn’t have a child, but I had lost a parent and I am sure they aren’t the same, but deep loss is exactly what it is—deep loss, and this man was going to be losing his child.
“I just want him safe, so I know what I have to do.” He shook his head.
Ayden moved in closer.
Graves said, “This is all about the girl and what she’s capable of.”
“Hope Mitchell?”
“What is she capable of?” I asked.
“I know that you’re aware that this girl is an audial...”
“We are,” Ayden said, combing his hand through his dark waves.
“Have you ever heard of the concept of parallel worlds, or multiple universes?” He looked from Ayden back to me.
Ayden shrugged. “Sure. I’ve heard of them.”
“Yeah. In science fiction,” I muttered.
Ayden frowned at me.
“That’s true, Ms. Cain. A parallel universe is assumed to simply be a hypothetical or fictional self-contained separate reality coexisting with one’s own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a ‘multiverse’, although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality. While the terms ‘parallel universe’ and ‘alternative reality’ are generally synonomous and can be used interchangeably in most cases, there is sometimes an additional connotation implied with the term ‘alternative reality’ that implies that the reality is a variant of our own. The term ‘parallel universe’ is more general, without any connotations implying a relationship, or lack of relationship, with our own universe. A universe where the very laws of nature are different—for example, one in which there are no Laws of Motion—would in general count as a parallel universe but not an alternative reality. The correct quantum mechanical definition of parallel universes is ‘universes that are separated from each other by a single quantum event.’”
“In English,” I interrupted. “Please.”
“We live here in this universe. However, there is proof that there are other universes occurring at the same moment as here and now. So, you and I are here. However, we could be somewhere else in an entirely different space and time. For instance, you at this moment Ms. Cain could also be existing as a 1950’s siren.”
I coughed. “Siren?”
“You know, as in a Marilyn Monroe type.”
“I like that visual,” Ayden said.
I rolled my eyes at him. “So, you’re saying that there are these other dimensions that we here could be existing in at the same time that we are existing here in this moment?”
“Exactly. That is the simple way of putting it,” he replied. “But you are close, and if we had the time I could give you an entire dissertation on the subject. However, seeing that time is of the essence, I think the cliff notes are working just fine,” Graves replied.
“The kid...what does she have to do with all of this?” Ayden asked.
I was having difficulty buying into this. But, I am sure that many in the world would have difficulty buying into my gift, or Ayden’s and Noah’s gifts for that matter. And, whether
or not I was believing any of it right now, was not the point. The point was if this theory had anything to do with saving Hope, then I had to be all “ears.”
“It takes a very unique soul to be able to transfer between time and space. There aren’t many who are capable of doing this type of transference. In fact, I have never known of any, thus proving the existence of these theories has never been easy. Until Hope.”
“She can go between the universes?” I said.
He nodded. “Grant Simms was involved, and Orlenda received information that this child had this unique specialty. I oversaw pieces of this project along with two other colleagues. They’re both dead now.” He cleared his throat.
“Why? Why would she want the scientists who are involved in something like this dead?” I asked.
Graves looked at me again. “Ethics. The doctors I worked with...Claire Freeman and Jess Stone had ethics, and so do I. She wants me gone now, too. The child is unaware of the complexity of her capabilities, but she has been hooked up to monitors associated with video and audio, and we have been able to take her back twenty years.”
“Wait...what?” Ayden said. I could see that like me he was having a hard time wrapping his brain around this.
“I know it sounds unbelievable but it is true—and can you imagine the consequences of what this all could mean?”
I was so confused that I didn’t think I could imagine the consequences.
“If this little girl is controlled by Orlenda, brain washed, manipulated, whatever you want to call it, she can have this child change the course of history. Change the here and now, and change the future, just through gathering information, and providing the wrong information, or for that matter the right information. Wars could be altered. Financial districts could fail. This is all vague, I realize, but as we’ve determined there isn’t much time. You have to trust me, though. Orlenda plans to use this girl as a weapon...as a tool...for her own purposes. Because, as ludicrous as it may sound, the woman wants to run the world with a superior race of super humans with gifts such as yourself. But more than that, she wants to control that race. It would be a massive destruction of decency, of true spirit and human connectedness. This world would become flush with human robots, with Orlenda at the helm. And the rest of us, well, the rest of us will all be dead, of course. If someone had access to these other dimensions, they could, theoretically, destroy them as well.”
“You’re talking about the complete destruction of the universe?” said Ayden.
“Even bigger, my friend,” said Dr. Graves sadly. “They could destroy the multiverse and everything within it.”
I sat there for several seconds. Neither Ayden nor I had a response to any of this. It took me nearly a moment to finally say, “Dr. Graves, the driver will take you to where your physical appearance will be transformed, and from there to a private plane, where you will head to your new life. I may not see you again in this one, but I hope to in another life.” I stood and looked at Ayden, “If this is all real, then we better find this little girl. Now.”
Chapter Twenty-three
With Dr. Graves gone, the three of us sat together on the gently rocking boat.
As evening approached, I had a majestic view of the harbor, which might house some of the world’s finest collection of yachts and other fine crafts, all ablaze with lights and many issuing music. The harbor was, for all intents and purposes, one big party. As was typical with my job, I rarely, if ever, got to enjoy the local flavor. And I almost never vacationed.
“Please tell me Graves is insane,” said Noah.
“Maybe,” said Ayden. “But I have a feeling—and you should really trust my feeling—that he’s on the up-and-up.”
“I have the same feeling,” I said. “I suspect we all do. there’s something very big going on.”
“But, I mean...c’mon,” said Noah. “Other dimensions? Multiverses? Parallel universes? Did we just step into an H.G. Wells novel?”
I wanted to laugh. In fact, under any other circumstances, I might have laughed. Instead, I bit my lip and thought of Hope. My sister? Jesus...
“Remember,” said Ayden. “There are many skeptics who scoff at what we do. ‘There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.’”
“We all love Hamlet,” said Noah, “but I hardly think he was talking about multiverses and time travel and the eradication of all known—and unknown—life.”
“We need to find Orlenda,” I said, dismissing them both. They could bicker with each other for hours, time we didn’t have. “What do we have on her?”
“Moves around a lot,” said Noah. “Officially, last known in Paris.”
“And unofficially?”
“Only what I saw,” said Ayden. “She’s in a hotel or palace of some sort. An ornate one, at that.”
“That rules out only about half of Morocco,” said Noah. “Which is why I have my wife and her team combing through our contacts—”
“Your wife?” I said, looking up sharply. “I thought we were keeping this in-house.”
“Hell, I thought we were keeping this between the three of us!” said Ayden.
“She’s my wife, you guys. She also works for us. She’s taken the same oaths as we have.”
“I don’t like it,” said Ayden.
I knew the feeling. I instantly felt sick to my stomach as well. Always trust the gut, my father would tell me...a message that Simms reiterated from day one. All we had was our guts, our instincts.
“I’m trying not to take offense at your words—” began Noah, making a move to stand.
“Down boys,” I said. “We did agree to keep this between us, but now that the cat is out of the bag, there’s nothing we can do but move forward. Noah, we’re not saying anything against your wife, so please quit being so goddamn sensitive.”
He took in some air, held it, then nodded. “You’re right. I should have talked to you guys about it first.”
“Well, get on with it, man,” said Ayden. “What did she say?”
“We have an agent here—”
“CIA?” asked Ayden.
Noah nodded. “Yeah, one of her own people. And he knows where to find Orlenda.”
“Then let’s go,” I said.
Noah nodded grimly, looked at us, then got up and headed off. I was about to follow when Ayden pulled me aside. “I don’t like this.”
“I don’t either,” I said.
“Mighty convenient that his wife has an agent here, who knows how to find Orlenda.”
“The Lord works in mysterious ways,” I said.
“Don’t be flippant, Ky. We could be walking into a trap.”
“Have you seen anything?” I asked.
“No, not yet.”
“Until then, let’s move out...and keep our eyes and ears and minds open.”
Chapter Twenty-four
Noah made the meet with the agent and, like Ayden, I wasn’t feeling too good about it. Something wasn’t right.
As dusk descended upon the sea and the glitzy town, the night had turned to an inky blue. The reflection of the moon on the water gave way to an eerie glow. In other circumstances, I may have thought that glow peaceful. I liked moonlight just as well as any other girl did, but I knew with every passing second we could be losing Hope. I meant that in not only the most literal of meanings, but obviously the little girl as well.
Ayden stood on deck where I knew he was keeping watch. We were both waiting for a signal from Noah as to where we needed to go and what was to be done. In the meantime, as a subtle current lapped gently against the sides of the sailboat, I tried once again to make a connection with Hope. Maybe if I could “hear” her or her surroundings, I would have a better idea as to where to find her.
I leaned my head against the wall and breathed myself into the deepest meditation that I could. I pictured Hope’s face from the photo that I had now looked at over a hundred times. Her face was etched in my mind. I wanted to r
each out and touch her as I knew without ever truly meeting this child that I was developing a connection with her—maybe that was sisterly love, or maybe that was my empathy for a little girl who was having to endure a similar situation that I went through concerning Orlenda twenty years ago. Whatever it was, it was there.
I don’t know how much time passed but it started with a whisper. It wasn’t Hope. It was another woman. She was speaking French. Fortunately, I also spoke French.
“She’s settled again. She’s been sedated as the last thing we want is for Kylie or any of the others to gain access to her.”
“What makes you think they won’t gain access to either of us?”
“I have a shield in place. Grant Simms is a good teacher.”
My stomach started hurting, because I didn’t feel right about this. It was too damn easy. Whoever the woman was, she couldn’t have put a shield in place, or else she wasn’t nearly as gifted as she presumed.
There was something about the tone in the woman’s voice that I thought I recognized. I tried to keep listening. Keep breathing—not focus on Simms or anyone else.
“Yes, I suppose he is,” Orlenda said.
“So good, in fact, that Kylie Cain is about to get the surprise of her life.”
My eyes shot open as I heard the low whistle before I ever had a chance to spot it.
I ran from the galley, pushed Ayden hard into the water and jumped in alongside of him, just as the missile hit the boat, and everything went dark.
Chapter Twenty-five
“Kylie! Kylie! Come on! Wake the hell up! Come on!”
I could hear Ayden’s voice. I felt his strong arms around me. I wanted to answer him but couldn’t speak. I felt so light and warm, and distant, yet in a strange way also close. Was this what being in another dimension or universe felt like? I didn’t know. To me, it felt really good, but I could hear the fear and desperation in Ayden’s voice so I pushed myself to speak and come back.
