She smelled of Spam.
Once outside the airport she followed behind him, giggling, and squeezed her considerable girth into the back of the waiting limo.
Clapping her hands together she surveyed the limos interior and then poured herself a mimosa. “Can you believe this? I hardly ever get out of the lab, and now this! Hong Kong! Where should we dine after the show? I have always wanted to try eating those small baby octopus. They’re still alive when you’re eating them. I’ve read some people have died trying to eat them. They spread out their tentacles and suction themselves to the inside of your throat if you eat too slowly. WHAM! DEAD!”
Randall paled, offended with the mental image she planted in his mind. His repulsion didn’t translate to Judy, or maybe she simply didn’t care. Wiping the back of her hand over her mouth after draining the mimosa, she opened a Whatchamacallit candy bar. Biting into it, she spoke with her mouth full, spewing chocolate crumbs across the limo.
“OH! And there’s a place where we can eat Puffer fish that has just a little bit of poison left on it, it makes your lips tingle, to remind you of how fragile life is. People have died eating that too!”
Randall nodded quietly and considered contacting his favorite chef in the city and insisting he leave the poison on her portion of fish. If the Summit didn’t need her so badly he would do it.
They weren’t far from the station where the show was being aired, and Randall looked out his window, dreading the next two hours.
Judy continued to talk, oblivious he had checked out. He didn’t even acknowledge her existence again until he felt her poke her earphone into his ear while it was blaring “I Feel Pretty.”
Randall pulled the earphone from his ear, placed his palm on her forehead and firmly pushed her away from him. “Please remain outside my personal space.”
Judy threw her head back, laughing uproariously.
“What’s so funny?” Shoving the remaining bits of Whatchamacallit into her mouth, she licked her finger clean of chocolate. “YoHan said you would say that. He said men get defensive when they have feelings for successful women.”
His stomach turned. Judy slid forward and flicked him on the end of his nose with her index finger. “It’s alright, Mr. Sterling. We will learn to understand each other. However long that takes.”
As their limo pulled up outside the station Randall exited without waiting for the driver to open their door.
“Hey! Ladies first!”
Judy bounced out behind him, grabbing his arm as she hummed her latest tune. Stopping suddenly she looked up at him.
“Randall Sterling, do not embarrass me in there.”
~*~
Mic attached, face powdered and topic reviewed, Randall pressed further back into his uncomfortable chair and cringed. Judy’s debut on Asian television would certainly scar him. She smiled and waved exuberantly from a small make-up counter across the room. The rouge they'd applied to her full cheeks gave her the appearance of an aging doll from which a child had cut the hair.
The host of the Asian Cryptid Report, Lein Li, studiously reviewed his notes. He was seated between Randall and where Judy would sit, drawing the spotlight to himself. His glossy black hair and trendy spectacles gave him the appearance of a scientific hipster. The scarf around his neck matched his white shoes, and he sprayed something onto his tongue, smacking his mouth repeatedly.
As people on the set hustled back and forth, Randall was handed a hot cup of green tea. The fine bone china soothed him, and he reminded himself of the many delicacies of Hong Kong he could indulge in following his forced time with Judy. He knew YoHan would leave him alone for several days following the talk show. He had trumped Randall and would be content in enjoying the humor of the situation he'd contrived.
Wisdom. Not youthful revenge. That was what he yearned for. YoHan knew nothing of what The Summit protected. Seeing a simulated three-dimensional film on what The Summit protected America from was not the same as dealing with it on a daily basis. He’d see to it YoHan learned that.
“Jeez, you look like you’re lost in a dream world.”
Judy flopped down across from him, trying to rub red lipstick from her teeth. “You ready for this, Mr. Randall Sterling?”
Randall rolled his eyes. “Not particularly. I had a twenty minute notice.”
Judy nodded toward their host, who smiled cordially before returning to his notes. “Well, for the most part I do the talking. It’s my field, not yours. You’re just eye candy.” Winking, she clapped when they heard the music cue up and the lighting changed. Someone zoomed past Randall and removed his tea cup from him as he sat up straighter in his too-small chair.
The camera panned in on Lein Li. Poised and prepared, the man smiled and offered polite applause in return to the sound-filtered applause from the studio. “Thank you. Today we have a special guest. She has extensive experience in the field of DNA and diagnostics. Dr. Judy Padna opened her own lab several years ago, and now is privately funded to continue her critical research on Human Hybrid DNA. Welcome Dr. Padna.”
Judy waved with both hands to the camera, which she followed with finger guns and winking.
“Dr. Padna, can you tell us of what’s happening recently in your field of study? Is there any new information?” Judy nodded. “There is, Mr. Li. Thank you for asking. First of all, the recent discovery of a human hybrid in the mountains near your great city is what originally brought myself and Dr. Randall Sterling to Hong Kong. That DNA will be collected and tested by my team and me. I look forward to sharing the results with you.”
Lein nodded. “Are you suggesting that this discovery will possibly confirm the existence of what North Americans refer to as Sasquatch?”
Judy smiled. “It could indeed. However, if this particular specimen doesn’t yield the results we’re seeking, there’s a research team in North America gearing up for an exploration that could provide a live specimen.”
Lein raised his eyebrows with interest. “Really? Might you speak further to that?’ Judy paused a second, and then, as if having just decided, agreed by shrugging her shoulders. “I have just learned that I’ve been promoted to Lead Researcher for that expedition, which will depart within a few days.”
Lein looked somewhat surprised, checking his notes quickly with a glance. “I was under the impression Dr. Sterling would be the highest ranking researcher on that expedition.”
Randall frowned. He did not participate in expeditions, and he hadn’t for years. He glanced at Judy, who was beaming a smile his direction. YoHan had promoted her above him? A knowing look glinted in her light blue eyes. He’d been set up.
He cleared his throat. “May I?” Lein gestured that Randall should continue. “I myself will not be attending the expedition. There has been some confusion. Dr. Padna is enthusiastic, and apparently mistaken. I will be overseeing the expedition from my field office in the area.”
Judy frowned. “That’s not true! I’ve been promoted to Lead Researcher. You will assist me!”
Smiling tightly Randall turned to Lein. “My apologies for the confusion. Please, do continue.” Judy stomped her foot and crossed her arms over her chest.
“Well, I’m in charge. I’m the one who will be submitting a paper for peer review following my findings. My current DNA sequencing has suggested that the Sasquatch of legend, which has been sighted throughout North America, is in fact a relative to our human chain. And that DNA strand is suspected to have risen fifteen thousand years ago as a hybrid cross of the Homo sapiens and an unknown primate species. The study will include sequencing of up to twenty intact mitochondrial genomes.
Thus far, my findings have revealed the hybrid species discovered in both Asia and North America are quite possibly the results of males of a hominid species we have yet to identify, crossing DNA with female Homo sapiens.”
Lein raised his eyebrows, glancing at his notes and clearing his throat.
“So, Mr. Sterling, you will then be assisting with t
he gathering of that information?”
Randall took a deep breath and promptly disconnected his mic, standing and exiting the set.
Judy jumped up as well.
Lein gestured to the empty seats. “Please, if you would-“
Judy jogged behind him at his heels, her tap shoes echoing throughout the studio.
“Stop! I order you!”
Turning on his heel briskly, Randall faced Judy, who nearly ran into him. Smirking, he crossed his arms. “Did you enjoy that little display back there?”
The tone of his voice caused Judy to shiver. The sound of honey dripping from a knife blade. She refused to show fear.
“Yes. Actually, I did!” She squared her shoulders. Randall placed his hands behind his back, clasping them. The set behind them erupted into chaos as stage hands and producers scurried to correct the abrupt stop to the show.
“I see,” Randall mused thoughtfully. “Well, perhaps you’ll enjoy knowing the information you’ve accrued is in fact going to be exploited. You are being exploited. I don’t expect you to understand that. I do expect you to never set me up on camera like that again. Understand?”
Judy shook her head. A depth glinted behind her doll like eyes. “And I encourage you, Mr. Sterling, to purchase a warm parka. Once we are back in the States we are heading to Montana. Your stomping grounds. We are setting up camp to locate Matilda and the other missing girl. And the Summit feels it’s time to reveal some of what we see to the world.”
Randall hissed. “You have no idea what you’re starting.”
Judy grinned from behind black shark eyes and spun on her heels to re-join Lien. Randall took the limo, leaving her without transportation.
Inside the limo he called YoHan, who wisely allowed the call to go to voice mail.
“My life is but a firefly’s flicker, so I’d better use my brief moment to light up the darkness that covers her path.”
― Jarod Kintz
~Ten~
Gordon found Bixley on the front porch wrapped in a blanket, watching the snow falling in the dark shadows just beyond the house. He stood next to her. Neither spoke. Both yearned to find Shelby. Both knew she would be alright, but in what sense? She had already been through a lot in her young adult life. She was already tougher than the peers she refused to interact with. Bixley closed her eyes.
“If I had known this was going to happen I would have said more during our last call together.”
Gordon said nothing. “She said she would see me at Christmas and I said I hoped I could get away from work. She sounded disappointed. I hate myself. I should have said I would be there, no matter what. She just wants a full-time mom.”
Gordon remained silent. He was thinking of his granddaughter’s fortitude. Praying for her strength. While he was hearing Bixley, he just didn’t know how to respond. She had always been a medicine bag. No one knew what was truly inside of her.
She dropped her head a moment and then reached out with her hand, letting the large white flakes land in her palm. Slowly closing her fist around the flakes she opened her hand again. The flakes were gone.
“Wyatt inside?”
He nodded. “Yes, he’s inside.” Gordon’s deep voice soothed her. He knew it did. He knew she was on the cusp of something. She was being stretched. She was used to being the one who stretched those around her. She was in a new role.
Her voice was childlike and soft.
“Did he visit with you?”
Gordon nodded. “He said he wanted her found. And that once he found her, he didn’t want you leaving again.”
The wind shifted direction and the snow slanted in its wake, drifting across the deep covered porch.
“It’s probably time for you to stay. Think about it.”
Gordon turned and walked inside. In the quiet, Bixley dropped her head in shame. It pressed in on her. Pushed her soul to a new limit. She knew if every mom were forced to feel what she was feeling at the moment, far away jobs would cease to exist. She revisited a memory of Shelby calling it a far-away job.
“Don’t go, mom.”
Bixley leaned against the beam of the porch and whispered to her daughter, wherever she was.
“I’m coming.” “She knew there was something dark in her then, when she left the alley and the shadows followed.”
― Daniella Michalleni
~Eleven~
Blaze sat in the Search and Rescue hangar alone. The gathering wasn’t scheduled for another hour, but she wanted to collect herself ahead of time. Many minds would be gathering; some educated, some not. All were coming together to plan for the departure scheduled within three days. To Blaze, that seemed like an eternity.
In the silence of the large empty space, Blaze perched on the edge of the metal folding chair, rubbing her forehead with her thumbs absently as she thought. She wondered how she had managed to become involved in something so beyond her scope of experience. Even as she considered Cindy's word, discerning, she knew Cindy had not meant it as complimentary or supernatural in any way. It was simply meant as an explanation for individuals who had a knack for identifying monsters.
Folding her hands, she took a deep breath and thought of all the things Matilda had left undone. Her work would have been reaching a critical point in the next three days as a team was assembled to scour Wolf Canyon.
With all of her work waiting for her, Blaze offered another prayer that Matilda was still alive, fighting to return and complete her research. She and Blaze had unfinished business as well. Blaze had questions for her; questions she deserved answers to.
Leaning back in the uncomfortable chair, she rolled her neck to loosen up the muscles tightening on each side.
“Is this seat taken?” Blaze jumped slightly, looking up. Hoyd's associate pastor stood over her, his hands tucked into the pockets of a worn brown leather jacket. Blaze indicated he should take a seat.
Pulling the chair out of the line-up in order to face her, he smiled. Blaze noticed it was actually less of a smile and more of a grimace, but he managed to cover it fairly well. He had red hair, pushed back from his face in an unruly flame. Sharp green eyes seemed to focus on something just beyond Blaze. She had heard of him, but in the hours that had passed following the trauma of losing so many, she hadn't met him face to face.
“I'm Rick. How you holding up?”
Blaze considered the question. Sitting up straight she rubbed her eyes. “Not too great, Rick. How are you?”
Rick didn't respond. In any other situation she would have found his unfocused gaze disconcerting. He seemed to be looking past her, somehow through her.
“You have a lot happening in your world right now, Blaze.”
Shrugging, she dismissed his words. “We all do.” Rick nodded. “We don't have to pretend that you’re not in over your head. Let’s just recognize that Hoyd called in a capable team to unwind this mess. You were a bench warmer, an MVP in training, and now you’re suited up and going in unprepared.”
Blaze couldn't help but laugh. It spilled out spontaneously and left an echo in the large metal building. Pressing her hands to her cheeks, she shook her head. “You don't know how badly I needed that honesty right now. And, that's not the first time I've heard myself referred to as’ the new MVP’. It’s getting old.”
Rick considered her response. “I know I always appreciated it when Hoyd was direct with me.” They sat a moment. Rick pulled out a packet of spearmint gum, extending it to Blaze. She took a stick and Rick opened one for himself, placing the shiny wrapper on his knee.
“You know Matilda probably isn't alive?”
Blaze nodded. “I know.” Her gut ached with the knowledge.
“Then why go up there?” Blaze lifted her head, frowning. She hadn't considered not going. “Both Hoyd and Shelby saved my life up there. I owe it to them to finish this, and I'm pretty sure you'd go up there for Hoyd. I don't know you but that's what a loyal person does.”
Rick toyed with the silver gum wrapper on hi
s knee. “Says who?”
“Me.”
Rick glanced up and noted the heat rising in Blaze's cheeks. He continued. “Both Hoyd and Shelby made personal choices. Neither of them conferred with you before assuming the risks they took on. How is it your job to honor their choices?”
“Are you saying I shouldn't?” Blaze clenched her jaw slightly. “Because I have no idea where you're going with this.” “I'm just saying...why is it your job to clean up after other people’s decisions?” Blaze felt herself react. The blood in her cheeks caused a flush to spread to her neck. “They didn't ask me to come up to conduct research on Cold Cat. Matilda did and I accepted the position. I didn't confer with them ahead of time about that either. It just happened. I just came, and when the time came they offered help without regard for their own safety. That is why I am here. To honor their help. It's the right thing to do.”
Nodding silently, Rick raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, I am sure. What’s this about?” Rick extended a leg. The silver wrapper he'd left on it glinted in the light. “Sometimes we do things we don't want to in the name of honor, but it's actually selfish. We may be doing it to alleviate our own guilt. Do you have guilt about their fates?”
Blaze cocked her head to the side. “You a therapist, Rick?” Her voice held a note of suspicion. “Because I don't recall asking for a session.” “No, you didn't. That is true. But here are some observations: You’re sitting here all alone. You're not qualified for what's about to take place. You’ve been drafted onto a whole new team, whom I imagine is claiming they see some unlit potential in you, or some such thing.
“And, your guilt is driving you to go back up that mountain. We don't know each other, Blaze. But I knew Hoyd, and you and I both know he was aware you can't look those things in the eye. They’re evolving, rapidly, developing an advanced defensive ability science hasn't even considered. Know why? Because we’re crowding them. Those missing people from the past- it was simply a warning system.” Rick stood up. “And you, so far, are the only individual to have seen how they try to kill. Thought of that?”
Wolf Canyon: Cold Cat Mountain Book II (Cold Cat Mountain Trilogy 2) Page 5
