by Jaci Wheeler
“God, when is he going to come off his high horse? You wouldn’t catch him there, though, would you? Way to set an example in leadership, daddy dearest.”
Cam laughs and then nudges me as Edward makes an appearance.
“Exciting day, folks, exciting day. Chaperones, make sure you have your list of young ones; they are now your responsibility until you get back. Anything happens to them, it is on you. Enjoy.”
“Was that supposed to be a pep talk?” Ezra whispers as he joins us.
“About as peppy as he gets.”
“Looks like we know where all the pep in the family went,” Ezra jokes, earning a chuckle from Cam as we track down the kids from our lists. It looks like we each have about four, which shouldn’t be too hard under normal conditions. But at a place like Disneyland, four is incredibly overwhelming. Once we are all settled on the bus, I wait until most of the kids have fallen asleep and I make my way to the back where Cameron and Ezra are talking in hushed tones with concerned looks on their faces.
“I take it you just read over the curriculum pages as well? This is insane, you guys; it was hard enough when we had to do it. Now he’s adding things?”
Cameron and Ezra share a look and Cam tugs on his hair a bit, a sign that he’s angry.
“I’m not making these kids do this crap!” Cam says with fire in his eyes and a hiss in his voice. I look over my shoulder and lower my voice.
“That’s why he sent Boobs McGee with us. I think part of this is to see if the kids can do it, and part is a test for all of us. How much are we willing to push them…to follow orders?” I add with a hiss of my own. Ezra’s eyes pop in understanding.
“You think he added these as a test for you? To see if you will obey?”
I shrug my shoulders.
“I don’t see why else he would. These tasks are going to be impossible for these kids to pull off without help. Did you see the first line underlined and highlighted?” I ask, pointing to the section.
“If any chaperone helps with any of the assignments, the student instantly fails.”
“This is taking things a bit far, even for Edward,” Ezra states as he points to one of the new requirements which is to smuggle in a weapon without getting caught.
“I agree, but sitting around worrying about it gets nothing accomplished. I’m assuming there is a cache of weapons on board?”
Cameron nods. “I saw them loading a bag on before we left.”
“Well, no time like the present. Let’s wake up the kiddies and teach them how to smuggle.”
“It’s so disturbing that you are serious. I thought we were rescuing them from a life of smuggling,” Ezra says, shaking his head. That hits way too close to home for Ez.
I’m one of the few people who knows that Ezra was a child mule sneaking drugs back and forth over the border with his mom when he was very young. I remember hearing my dad talking about it and at the time I had no clue what it meant. Ezra is going down the aisle waking the kids one at a time. Cam and I follow suit and soon I’m at the head of the bus calling attention.
“Okay guys, we know you are tired, but part of your training is learning how to work on a combat nap. One of the requirements for your test is that you smuggle in a weapon without getting caught. It doesn’t specify what kind, so we will leave that up to your imagination. Get creative, but remember, they do a full-blown pat down. You are allowed items with you, so you can hide them, or make them a part of your wardrobe. We aren’t allowed to help, but you can talk amongst yourselves. You have the trip down there to discuss and come up with something. Ezra will bring a few bags of options to the aisles. Grab a few and go back to your seats. I also have a box of miscellaneous items that you may use. You may begin now.”
You can see the tension break out among the kids, the panic taking over their faces, but I turn and refuse to look. Edward is sick.
“Well done, Aria, although next time you might want to dumb down the vocabulary a bit. These are small children you are talking to,” Boobs McGee says, coming up behind me. I let out a bitter laugh.
“You might want to remember that when you require them to make and smuggle weapons,” I spit out, making my way quickly to the back of the bus, so I don’t lay the woman flat.
***
It’s scary just how many kids passed with flying colors on the first test. All the children were allowed to bring a comfort item along on the trip and most of them easily smuggled small weapons made of plastic and other items into their comfort object. I shiver at the idea but push it aside.
I take in all the little faces around me that have been transformed to awe as they take in their surroundings. Most of them have never even been to a carnival, much less an amusement park. As soon as we enter the gates, we break off into our groups so as to not draw attention.
Since we are trying to stay as inconspicuous as possible, we work in couples. Other Academy members and agents volunteer for D-day so the handler has a pair and you can pretend you are just one big happy family.
I can’t help the smile that transforms my face at the sight of the huge man making his way toward me. The Mickey ears may cover his tattooed bald head, but that ridiculous Hawaiian shirt does nothing to hide his massive frame. I throw myself at him and he wraps me in a bone-breaking hug, lifting me off my feet.
“I can’t believe you are here, Travis.”
“What, and miss Disneyland? No way. I freaking love this place.”
I know he’s really here for me, though. Out of all the Elite members, Travis and I are the closest and I know his volunteering was just a way to check up on me and make sure I’m doing alright.
“Well let me introduce you to our children, shall I? Travis this is Niko, Alani, Megan, and Syler. Kids meet your dad for the day.” I can’t help the laughter that spills out at the looks on the kids’ faces.
“He’s not as bad as he looks, guys.”
I have four kids staring at me, unblinking in response to this very scary looking man.
“Who wants cotton candy?” Travis asks and immediately the children snap out of their trance. We all head over and get our treats, and I take a moment to enjoy the normalness of the moment until it’s ruined by my phone beeping.
“And let the games begin,” I mumble to Travis as I show him my phone. He nods and gathers the kids together as we make our way to a small cove out of the way.
“Ok guys, for your next mission you all will have a photograph that you will get exactly one minute to memorize. Each of you will have a different person to find and exactly forty-five minutes to do so. These pictures were taken earlier and this is what the person looks like and what they should be wearing. Remember outfits can change in a matter of seconds by adding or subtracting a sweater or hat. So, study the faces, the coloring, any tattoos, etc. You have one minute. Here are your comms that connect you to Travis and I. Remember, we can’t help you but if you see a park employee or someone wants to know where your parents are, you make sure to talk into your comms saying either mom or dad. Once we hear the words, we will track you by GPS and come directly to your location. It will not affect your scores in away way. Other than that, you are on your own.” The excitement takes over their faces once again at the idea of a mission. Time to crush their dreams again.
“You have to successfully lift an item off their person. It can be anything at all, an item of clothing, cell phone, camera, etc. It doesn’t matter what the item is, but it must be undetected. You are all wearing cameras and are being scored, so keep that in mind.”
Travis passes out the pictures to each kid while I take out my stopwatch. After a minute has passed, he collects them again.
“And go.” Just like that, they disappear into the throng.
“Shall we wander?” Travis asks and I nod my head, taking his arm.
“So, how are you, Ari? Really. I’ve been worried.”
“Don’t worry about me T. You know I’m always fine.” I try to smile, but it feels fake, even to me
.
“You guys know what happened?”
He shakes his head no and then leads me over to a bench where we take a seat.
“Nah, you know how they are about confidentiality. We weren’t told any details, only that you blatantly disobeyed orders and were benched. But we figured it had to be bad in order to take you off rotation. What happened?”
I sigh. As much as I trust Travis, he is loyal to a fault and I need to be careful how much I say about my distrust of the organization.
“It was a gut thing, T. It didn’t feel right. I didn’t have any black and white proof, but I had to do what I felt was right. I couldn’t live with the outcome of following orders, so yes, I disobeyed them.”
“You did what you felt was right.”
“Yes, I did.” I let out a breath. “I’m glad you understand where I’m coming from.”
“I’ve been doing this a while now, Ari, and our job isn’t black and white. It’s a murky gray at best and you have to use your gut as a guide. If it doesn’t feel right, you don’t do it. There is no right and wrong in our business, but there is conviction.”
“Thanks for understanding, Travis.”
“So, what’s next? Are you going back to the Squad?”
“I have no idea. I’d like to, but honestly, I’m enjoying my punishment right now,” I say with a smirk, causing him to chuckle. “It’s nice not to have to make life or death decisions on a daily basis. I might be a cold-blooded assassin, but maybe I want more from this life. It used to be all about God and country, you know? Doing the bad things to keep the good people safe. I could get behind that, but somewhere along the way the lines started blurring and weaving together and crossing over and I need to do what I feel is right.”
“Just like Edward does,” Travis adds, proving I need to be careful how much I divulge to these people. Edward was their savior and their loyalty will always lie with him.
“Just like Edward does,” I repeat.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Aria
At nineteen minutes, my phone pings. I look down at the text.
“Alani is our first one done,” I tell Travis as he shoves a Mickey shaped pretzel in his mouth and finishes off the whole thing in about three bites.
Three minutes later Niko is done. I keep an eye on my phone as the minutes go by. Megan gets it done in thirty minutes. Syler has five minutes to finish and if he doesn’t, he heads straight back to the bus with the other kids who have failed. Both Travis and I are keeping a close eye on the clock and once forty-six minutes go by, that’s it. We both let out a sad sigh and Travis shakes his head.
“Poor kid. Well, there’s always next year.”
When the three kids make it back and still no sign of Syler, Travis takes off after his GPS coordinates while I congratulate the remaining kids. Megan looks exhilarated and I can tell I have a future agent in the mix.
“Well done, you three. Now it’s time for a break. Go to the bathroom before we get some food and then we’ll be on to the next assignment.”
Once everyone uses the bathroom we head over for some amazing chicken and waffles. God bless Disneyland, they are the best. Just as we sit down, Travis joins us.
“Everything ok?”
“Safe and sound,” is all he says.
We order and eat, allowing the kids to just be kids, even if for a little while until my blasted phone pings again signaling play time is over.
“Alright guys, round two has begun. Now that you have your item from your target, you must find them again and replace the item without being detected.”
“Do we get to see the picture gain?” Niko asks.
“Sorry kid. You’ve seen it once and you’ve made contact previously, so you should have it ingrained by now. Let’s go; you once again are being timed,” Travis says with very little finesse.
“What if they’ve already left?” Alani asks.
“Well then you are screwed, aren’t you? Tick tock people, you best jet.”
Three pairs of eyes turn into saucers and they all take off.
“That was just mean,” I say, slapping him and he chuckles.
“You know they are being monitored. If anyone were to have left we would be notified.”
“Yeah, but did you see how they all took off? I excel at motivation.”
I roll my eyes, but I can’t help the smile that takes over my face.
“Let’s hurry now; we have time to catch the Indiana Jones ride if we hurry.”
I cringe and try not to shiver.
“Isn’t that the one with the snake?”
“Don’t tell me the big bad spy is afraid of a little fake snake?” he taunts.
“It’s kind of hard to mock someone while wearing Mickey ears, isn’t it?”
“Nope, I’m just that awesome. Come on, little one, I’ll protect you.”
It’s funny to be called little since I’m only an inch shy of six feet tall, but next to Travis I look little. It’s nice to feel protected once in a while, so I smile and follow him to the ride.
We are finally all back safe and sound on the bus. I’m proud of my kids; they passed with a seventy-five percent success rate, which isn’t bad at all. Most of the children are fast asleep. A few tears and sniffles can be heard from the ones who failed and it sinks in exactly what we are doing to these kids.
They are practically toddlers and we are already putting so much pressure on them. Is it worth it? I used to think so, but at what cost? So they can sell their soul just to put a hit on a mother? I quickly blink the thought away.
“Hey, Cam?” I nudge him, knowing he isn’t sleeping anyway.
“Do you think it’s worth it?” He doesn’t ask me to elaborate; he already knows what I mean.
“I don’t know, Ari. I sure hope so. We’ve got to believe that it is or else what are we doing here?”
“I’m just starting to lose faith I guess…in all this,” I say, motioning to the bus around me. “At one time, it was exciting. I remember the thrill of doing my first op. Even preparing for my final test there was this drive and fire. But now…”
“You’ve tasted and seen?”
“Well that’s an odd way of putting it, but yeah, I guess. The fruits of our labor aren’t so sweet, are they?”
He just shakes his head and sighs deeply.
“How do you continue to do it day in and day out, Cam? You train these kids like your life depends on it, you put everything you have into a system you don’t even fully believe in.”
“First off, I train them like their life depends on it, not mine. Because it does, Ari. And I don’t have faith in the system, you are right. But I have faith in you, Hayden, Ezra, and each of them. I have faith in them and that’s enough. And I think about what would happen to them if I left and they weren’t prepared as well for what’s out there. It’s not worth thinking about, Ari, because if I train them or not, the end result is the same…this way I like to think they are a little more ready for what they will encounter. Like you were.”
I think about his words the rest of the way home.
***
“On your mark, get set, go!”
I’m in Hell, right? It’s one thing to work with the little ones, but hide and seek? Aren’t I the same girl that just months ago single handedly took down a drug cartel? Now I’m playing hide and seek and hating every moment of it. The break was nice for a while, but I’m ready for adventure again, ready for the adrenaline spike I didn’t realize I needed to breathe. I’m like a junkie and it’s been much too long since I’ve had my fix.
“Aria, come on. She’s almost done counting; you need to hide now otherwise you are it,” little Natalie says as she runs off behind a tree.
Oh great, the only thing worse than playing hide and seek is having to be “it.” I look around quickly, noticing I’m running out of time, not to mention options.
“Ready or not, here I come,” little Anthony yells.
Crap, I hurry to the closest room which
just so happens to by my father’s office. Luckily for me and unbeknownst to him, I know his password so I quickly put it in and breathe out a sigh of relief that he’s not in here.
I sit down in a chair and wait for this blasted game to be over. Of course my luck being about as good as a three-leafed clover, Edward picks that very moment to come back. I quickly duck behind a file cabinet. Oh, heaven help me, who knows how long I’m going to be stuck here now.
I can’t just admit that I’d been hiding playing tag; there’s no way he would believe that. I make myself as comfortable as I can possibly get, all scrunched up between the cabinet and a wall.
I must have fallen asleep because the shrill sound of the phone jars me awake. Oh, I hope I wasn’t snoring, although I’m sure I would have been found out by now if I was.
“Good morning, Senator,” my father answers in his kiss up smarmy tone.
“You got the results I sent over earlier then?”
“As successful as Operation Child Solider has been, I see this one going above and beyond our expectations.”
What the? Operation Child Soldier? What on earth is he talking about? I realize I am breaking over a dozen laws listening in on this conversation, but something about his tone has my blood freezing.
“Impossible!” my father shouts, bringing me back to the conversation. What I wouldn’t give to be able to hear the person on the other side of the conversation.
“There is no way we are adding more test subjects. For one, it is expensive and we need to prove it successful first. Do you know how much time and effort go into a baby? To bring on more now would be futile until we see how this one goes. What is another five years after all the time we’ve put into the project? I understand that Aria was a success, and yes you were right about her, but her child is another story. We need to be one hundred percent certain before we begin using the other eggs.”
I feel like I’m going to throw up, or pass out. Murdering my father with his stapler is also high on that list. What in the hell does he mean I was a success? My child? I’ve never had a child; I think I would know if I had. But that other little voice in my head says not to discount the type of monster I’m related to.
