The Lost Power: VanOps, Book 1

by Avanti Centrae

  “So, about Ramiro--” Her question was cut short as swift movement outside caught her eye. Through the window, a charred version of the blond-haired shooter pounded up the street.

  CHAPTER 15

  2:10 p.m.:

  Will ignored the rock of grief in his stomach and looked with dismay at the packet of wealth in his hands. He had figured on a paltry inheritance when his father died. What was it with all this cash, the diamonds? Why leave them liquid assets?

  The implied stealth made him feel uncomfortable, and he was certain this was undoubtedly the harbinger of a dangerous scenario. An engineer by training and a skeptic by nature, getting shot at in the morning and being handed diamonds in the afternoon was just not his cup of tea.

  “Will!” Maddy hissed in a loud whisper, frantically pointing outside to the attorney’s front porch.

  Why did she care about the porch swing?

  Maddy stood and poked him in the shoulder. At her insistent, not-so-subtle prodding, he looked out the window. The shooter from the vineyard was running up the stairs, a gun held in his right hand. Burned clothes and half a scorched face drifted by the window. The front door slammed open and a man’s loud, thickly accented voice boomed in the lobby. Had the guy hijacked a car?

  Fear flooded through Will all over again, and he sprang from his chair. And how did the man know we’d be here?

  “Merda!” he swore. He had moved so fast that the chair was knocked over behind him. Not the best way to stay unnoticed.

  Will reached for the inner-office door lock and turned the bolt, thankful for modern renovations in the old house.

  Maddy threw the fallen chair under the door handle and grabbed both manila envelopes. The attorney’s face held a wide-eyed, slack-jawed look. Shock.

  “Let’s go!” Will whispered as he ushered them both toward the swinging door at the back of the office.

  Maddy moved fast, but Will had to grab the attorney by the elbow and manhandle her out of her chair and toward the door. Right before he made it through the doorway to the kitchen, an ominous thump came from within the foyer. Will hoped the good-looking receptionist hadn’t been the target, but he felt a lump in his throat as he guessed she had.

  Together, Will, Maddy, and the attorney raced through the small kitchen toward a back door, Maddy in the lead. Brewing coffee gurgled as they sped through. Maddy led them outside, into a long, narrow, fenced yard.

  Will looked at the attorney. “Which way?”

  “The back alley,” she said, pointing to the fence.

  They sprinted across the yard and through a small wooden gate. On the other side, a narrow, unpaved alley ran in both directions.

  The attorney headed to the left. “There’s a mall just down the street. I’ll run in there and call the police.”

  “Thanks! We’ll get out of here,” Will said over his shoulder.

  They ran down the backstreet to the right, in the direction of the parking garage.

  Halfway down the alley, a Rottweiler jumped into a chain-link fence and Will instinctively jumped to the left at the sudden, angry assault.

  “Get down!” Maddy yelled as she ran by.

  Will looked behind him. Clear. But, as they turned the corner at the end of the alley, the shooter rushed through the gate, into the alley, and took a practiced two-handed pistol-shooting stance.

  Pop! Pop, pop!

  A telephone pole near Will’s head splintered with a loud crack. They raced for the Mustang.

  Will ducked. “Faster!”

  They hit the parking garage at a dead run and jumped into the car. The keys were in the ignition before Maddy had even shut her door. Will had never moved so fast in his entire life. But was it fast enough?

  CHAPTER 16

  2:17 p.m.:

  Maddy sought to catch her breath as Will gunned the car engine. Tires squealed as they careened out of the Midtown parking garage and drove away from the attorney’s office. She prayed the shooter wouldn’t follow them.

  “Where to?” Will panted.

  His dark curly hair was damp with sweat.

  Sensing Will’s fear, Maddy was somehow gratified that he was as freaked out as she was. Then she criticized herself for being so shallow. “Away from here. Take a freeway.”

  The street they were on led to a freeway on-ramp. Will took it and headed south on Highway 99. A short minute later, he had the option to turn off toward either Lake Tahoe or San Francisco. He took Highway 50 east, toward Lake Tahoe. Maddy watched behind them for signs of pursuit but saw nothing unusual. Will checked his mirrors as well.

  “I don’t see anybody. Do you think we’re being followed?” Will asked.

  “You may have lost them by heading east, but I’ll keep an eye out, too.”

  “How do you think that bastard found us?”

  Scared and pissed off, Maddy turned again and studied the traffic behind them. “I have absolutely no idea. And why does he want us dead?”

  “Really good question.”

  “His voice sounded Russian when he spoke at the attorney’s office,” Maddy offered.

  “It did?”

  “Yes, I recognized it from some of the kids at the dojo. AJ’s family spoke Russian, and I have one other student who is also fluent.”

  “Hmm, I wonder--no, that’s being paranoid.”

  Maddy tried to keep her tone level, but she was still on edge. “What?”

  “You mentioned to the cops on the phone that we were heading to the attorney’s office when you called in the car accident, right?”

  “Yes.”

  Will checked his side mirror. “Well. Maybe the guy has connections.”

  “You mean connections inside the police force? Perhaps. Does sound a bit farfetched. He or his friends could have tapped our phone conversation, too, I guess.”

  “True. Of course, he did kill Dad and Maria this morning. That would have sounded implausible yesterday.”

  “You’re right. Either way, we’re kind of screwed. I don’t feel safe making any more phone calls. At least we seem to have lost him, for now.”

  Will yanked the wheel and pulled the car over to the freeway shoulder. He grabbed his cell phone, and handed it to Maddy. “We need to destroy them.”

  “Why, so they can’t be traced with the GPS?”

  “Exactly.”

  “You’re in too many Facebook techy science groups.” Maddy didn’t want to take his cell phone, but turned it over in her hands. “Wish they still made removable batteries.”

  “Me, too. Put them under the tires.”

  Maddy pulled out her own phone and got out of the car, trying to think of another way to deal with the problem. She failed to come up with any other option, so as the highway traffic rushed by, she placed each phone behind a wheel, feeling as if she were cutting off a limb.

  Will rolled down her window. “Ready?”

  “Sure. Go backward.”

  Black tires rumbled over the small devices. The loud crunch of the breaking electronics made her wince. She sighed and closed her eyes. How much worse could the day get?

  Will pulled the Mustang forward and she confirmed both phones were pancake flat. Small pieces of gorilla glass and silver metal caught the sun and flashed. Leaving the piles of litter pained her, but she got back in the car and Will sped off.

  They sat in silence for a minute or two as the car continued down the freeway. Will lit a cigarette and rolled down the window. Maddy tried not to gag on the smoke and rolled her window down, too.

  Will broke the silence. “Do you think he killed the attorney’s assistant back there?”

  “I don’t know. I hope not.”

  “Yeah, me, too, but I definitely heard a thud as we were leaving.”

  “God, that would be awful, even if she did look like a child playing dress-up.”

  “She did not. She was good-looking.”

  “Are you serious?”

  The silence in the car was thicker this time and lasted a little longer.<
br />
  Bothered by the directionless driving, Maddy finally asked, “What do you think about heading to our old house in Lake Tahoe?”

  “Dad sold that place over a decade ago.”

  “Exactly--it’s not in any of our names any longer and the new owners are never there, except weekends during winter. They’re snow bunnies.”

  “Do they even still own the house?”

  “I think so. I have a friend who would have told me if they’d sold.”

  Will tapped his fingers on the wheel, a sign, Maddy knew, that he was feeling nervous. “I don’t know if it’s such a good idea. It’s not exactly legal,” he said.

  “But they won’t think to look for us there. Better than a hotel or going back to my loft. We’d be sitting ducks. And we’re already moving in that direction.”

  “True, but we would have to break in. We could get caught.”

  “There was a broken latch on the bathroom window. Maybe they never fixed it. I’d rather take my chances there than have that thug find us again. Wouldn’t you?”

  “All right. You win.” Will paused. “Think the lion statue will still be in the front yard?”

  “I hope so. It would make it feel like home.”

  They had spent much time as children playing with, and around, that four-foot bronze statue of a guardian lion.

  Maddy took one more look behind them, then pulled out the manila envelope and shook her father’s letter. “Feels like there’s something inside it.”

  “Besides a note, you mean?”

  Maddy rolled her eyes and opened the letter-sized envelope. “Yes.” She spilled the contents into her other palm.

  She gasped. It was her mom’s favorite necklace.

  “What is it?”

  Maddy picked the necklace up by the chain and held it so Will could see. She fought back fresh tears.

  “I thought she’d been buried with that!” Will said.

  “Guess not.” Maddy studied the necklace. A carved silver lion’s head hung from a delicate silver chain. An expensive-looking piece, it was a little over dime-sized, but thicker, the head in slight profile. “The king of the jungle. Mom, the Leo, sure loved her lions.”

  Will bit his lip. “She did.”

  “Guess astrology was a thing then.”

  “Nice that Dad saved it for you.”

  She put the necklace around her neck and fastened the clasp. It was a nice length. Not too long. Not too short. “Yeah. Want me to read the letter?”

  “Sure, maybe it’ll explain some things.”

  “I hope so.” She smoothed the seams out of the pages and began to read:

  “‘Dearest Maddy,

  “‘If you’re reading this, I’m gone, hopefully, at a ripe old age and passed in my sleep. I’ve written similar letters to Will and Bella, wanting to say something unique to each of you, besides the standard “I love you,” although that is as true today as it’s ever been.

  “‘You were such a beautiful child. Your mother and I adored you. You were a bright, curious girl with a keen mind. Do you remember learning to read? You curled up on your mother’s or my lap for hours and we read you one story after another. You’ve always been such a gifted athlete as well, learning to ride your bike before all the other kids in the neighborhood, running circles around them on the playground, and no one could beat you on the slopes when you skied competitively in high school. I still think it was a shame you missed the games that year. You’d have made a great Olympian!

  “‘Watching you grow up and become a lovely young woman has been one of the keenest joys of my life. I’m proud of how well you did in college, graduating at the top of your class, proud of the computer work you do to make cell phone apps easy for old farts like me, and proud that you made black belt at the dojo. Your mom would be proud too. I was saving her favorite necklace as a special wedding day gift, but if you’re reading this, please feel free to wear it now.’”

  She paused for a moment, tears welling in her eyes. To maintain control, she looked out the window and held her breath. The seemingly endless suburbs of Sacramento had given way to the oak-studded foothills of the Sierra Nevada. The view reminded her of the morning’s car chase through the similar landscape of the Napa hills, prompting her to check behind the car for company. But they still seemed to be without a tail.

  “You okay?” Will asked.

  “Not really, it’s just all so weird.”

  “I know.”

  She took a deep breath and flipped through the pages of the letter. “OK, skipping other sappy parts. Here’s where he talks about Ramiro.

  “‘What follows is shared only at the passing of a generation. I learned this family secret when your grandfather passed away a few years after your mom and grandmother died. The secret is not to be discussed outside the family, or with your future children, unless you have explicit permission from the current king. These are Ramiro’s wishes and they are wishes we honor.

  “‘As you know, Ramiro I founded this family over a thousand years ago and went on to create a dynasty that has contributed to, not only the current Spanish ruling class, but also to the royal families of nearly all the other current European monarchies. We have rich blood in our veins.

  “‘Many attribute his power to whatever is inside the Aragon Châsse, a small box that he supposedly hid before he passed away. The châsse is said to contain an arcane object of immense power--if you can find it by following the clues he left behind. Family legend indicates only Ferdinand and Isabella have found it to date, and we all know their legacy through Columbus.

  “‘Me? I couldn’t find the Aragon Châsse but didn’t have time to look. You kids were young and more important to me. Your grandfather did have time, but in retrospect, I think decades of fruitless searching made him angry and bitter before he died. Perhaps, with your smarts and the help of your siblings, you’ll have better luck.

  “‘Your first clue will be found in an old book, or codex, held by your great-uncle, the current king of Spain, at the family castle. Once he hears of my death, he’ll be expecting your call.

  “‘Although there is just one codex, all your cousins receive similar letters as inheritance. The cash and diamonds are universal currency to aid you in your quest. It’s all I could save up. I wish it were more.

  “‘Remember to quiet your mind and “listen” as you go. Family rumor says that will help. And good luck! Know that I’ll love you forever.

  “‘Yours always,

  “‘Dad.’”

  She put the letter in her lap, feeling curious, perplexed, and immensely sad. “Is he out of his mind?”

  “Seriously. Careening around the world on a random hunt for some old, arcane object? What the hell?”

  Tears slid down Maddy’s face. “Crazy. It must be important though, to mention it when he was...dying. He must have neglected the vineyard to save up money for us.”

  “Yeah.” Will’s face looked sad too.

  They rode in silence for a minute.

  Maddy fiddled with the letter. “He mentioned ‘quieting your mind.’ Think that’s why he taught us to meditate while we were growing up? At least meditation is what I think of it as now.”

  “It seems to fit. Have you practiced much?”

  “I’ve tried using it with aikido, but have a hard time shutting up my mind. What about you?”

  “Nah, hasn’t been my thing.”

  Maddy took a final look over her shoulder. “Let’s talk about this more later. It’s all too much. I’m going to take a nap. Wake me when we get to Tahoe City so we can get some Thai food on the way to the house.”

  “Sure, Sis, will do.”

  Countless concerns passed through Maddy’s mind, but she was so exhausted from the day that she nodded off within a mile.

  CHAPTER 17

  Tahoe City, California, 6:30 p.m.:

  As he neared their old lake house, his sister asleep, Will reviewed the afternoon’s revelations.

  The Aragon Ch�
�sse? How had none of the grown-ups slipped up and told them about this? Or did it have to do with the furtive looks he had caught them sharing at family reunions when he and Maddy were young? Could it be connected to his father’s murder? Or was it mere coincidence? He was skeptical of legends, especially those that involved stories of great wealth or power. It was no wonder his dad hadn’t pursued it.

  When Will pulled into the driveway, he was glad to see their childhood home. It was a classic Tahoe log-style house with a blue metal roof and rock fireplace, out of the way on a large lot that backed up to the national forest. He was gratified to see the sitting lion statue still gracing the front yard. Home.

  The knot that had been in his stomach since the morning relaxed a notch as he floated for a moment in a pool of happy memories. That statue had been his mom’s idea, and he remembered chasing her around and around it, laughing with glee. Always good for a mom-ism, she’d told them to “Go outside and blow the stink off.” Later, she’d joined them. It was one of the rare memories he had of his mom and he treasured it.

  There were also some less-than-happy memories from this house, too. Dad’s letter reminded him of all that Maddy had accomplished in high school, and all that he had failed. It was hell to live in her shadow.

  His momentary reverie finished, he put the car in “Park” and poked his sister. “Wake up, Maddy, we’re here.”

  Maddy yawned and stretched her back. Her green eyes still held sleep. “You didn’t wake me up, but I smell Thai food. Thanks for stopping. Let’s go see if that window latch is still broken.”

  “At least you were right, they’re not home. Hope they haven’t installed an alarm.”

  They walked around to the back of the house and peered at the latch of the bathroom window with dismay. After pushing on the window a few times, they concluded that the new owners had truly repaired the latch, so they went around the house and checked all the other windows. They were all locked but, as they stood looking over the back of the house, Maddy pointed out that the place didn’t have an alarm.