by Lynsay Sands
Abel, who'd been standing at her side thanks to the electrified handcuffs, turned on her sharply.
Jane glanced up from the door, noted his expression, then followed his gaze to the handcuffs and flushed. "Well, it will be tricky but..." Her eyes slid away unhappily and he could see her trying to work out a solution.
"I suppose you used the facilities before collecting me," he said dryly and was surprised to see the flush on her face deepen. Taking that to mean no, he found himself grinning for the first time in hours. She didn't appreciate it.
"Come on," she muttered and led him to the bathroom door.
He didn't really expect her to join him in the washroom, so he wasn't surprised when she paused in the door, then pulled a key out of her pocket and gestured him inside. Like the main room the bath was incredibly small; it had a tiny sink, a toilet, and a tub. They were all standard white and crowded into the minimum necessary space. Jane cuffed him to the towel rack inside.
Abel wasted a moment examining the rack, but it seemed to be well affixed to the wall. There was no way he could get free without making a lot of noise. Deciding not to try it, he attended quickly to his needs and even managed a sloppy hand washing in the sink before calling for her.
Returning, Jane handcuffed him to the metal frame of the bed while she used the facilities.
When she was done she returned, but she left him chained to the bed. Turning on the TV, she handed him the remote. Then she collected his coffee and breakfast from the table where she'd set them earlier, and placed them on the bedside table within easy reach. That done, she took out her computer and mini satellite dish, set them up on the table, then sat down and called up her tracking program.
Ignoring the TV and his breakfast, Abel craned his head to see what was coming up on her screen.
"What is it saying?" he asked, finally. Jane was silent so long he'd started to get nervous
"She's disappeared," she admitted. The computer closed with a snap.
"What? What does that mean? Is she...?" He broke off, unable to voice his deepest fear.
"It means they've probably moved her into some sort of insulated room."
"Probably? How do you know she isn't dead?"
"I don't, but..." Jane straightened and walked wearily to the bed. "Look, Abel, I don't know what they've done. I do know that the signal has disappeared. Your sister being dead wouldn't make it disappear. It would still show on the screen. It isn't, so they've probably moved her into an insulated room that denies radio waves of any kind."
"You think they know she has a tracker on her? Why wouldn't they just take it away? Why--"
"I don't know," Jane interrupted, "and I'm too tired to sort it out right now." She bent to unhook him from the bed and cuffed him to herself again. "What I do know is that B.L.I.S.S. is looking into the matter, and that we'll do everything we can to sort it out."
Ah. Here was an opening. "What is B.L.I.S.S?"
"I am way too tired for this," Jane answered.
She gestured for him to shift over on the bed. He moved automatically and she joined him on it, stretching out to lie on her back, her arm at an angle to prevent pulling on the cuffs and shocking him again.
"You can't just go to sleep on me! I need to know what's going on! I need to..." He paused as her eyes opened.
"I don't know what's going on, Abel," she admitted in a soft voice. "We won't know until B.L.I.S.S. calls us back. We just have to wait. They'll get Edie back to you. I promise."
Her eyes closed again and this time Abel let her go to sleep. He believed her when she said she didn't have the answers. He believed she was waiting to hear back from her people, and he believed that her faith in B.L.I.S.S. was sincere. He just wished he could share some of it.
Abel shifted on the bed, using his free hand to rearrange the pillows so that he could lean back against the headboard with some comfort; then he grabbed up his breakfast. Opening it, he found a congealed mess. Still, he was hungry. He tried a bite, chewing cautiously at first, then relaxing. It was cold, but still quite tasty.
At that moment, Mr. Tibbs chose to give up his hiding spot. He leaped on top of the bed and ignored Abel to settle himself against Jane's side. She murmured sleepily and gave the cat a clumsy pet, then settled back again.
Abel scowled at his sister's tabby. "Traitor," he muttered, then turned on the television for distraction.
He was in for a long wait, he knew. He wasn't sure how long it would be before B.L.I.S.S. called back, but he knew exactly how he was going to spend the time till then. Worrying. He worried about Edie, he worried about himself. He spent a good while trying to decide the best way to get his freedom and even played it out in his head: He could tell her he needed to go to the washroom again, then this time, lock the bathroom door, rip the rack she cuffed him to out of the wall, and use it to break out the window over the bathtub.
Jane would no doubt start shocking him, but he didn't think she'd really hurt him. He could withstand the shocks long enough to climb out and make his way to the police station. Then he'd tell them--
That was where his plan fell apart. What could he say? That his sister had been kidnapped and brought to Sonora? But he hadn't seen her. He didn't even have any knowledge that had been given to him by anyone except Jane or her grandmother. And he hadn't really been paying attention to the roads they took to get to that gated community where the hearse had stopped.
Also, even if he stole the computer, he couldn't use it to find her; Jane had said Edie was no longer on the tracking system. There was a small possibility that with a little luck Abel might be able to find the gated community again, but then what? He'd been unconscious and hadn't seen the house she was in, so what could the police do? Start a door-to-door search? That, he feared, could very well see Edie dead. At the very least, it would get her moved to another spot where they couldn't find her. Which might happen as soon as the police made any misstep.
Much to his horror, Abel was beginning to see why Jane and Maggie didn't want to involve the law. Perhaps, if Jane and Maggie were really part of some secret agency, they really were his best hope to save Edie. If they could--
His thoughts were rudely interrupted by the ringing of a phone.
Chapter Eight
Jane was so groggy that she couldn't at first identify what was dragging her from sleep. When she realized it was the staccato ring of a telephone, she reached out to slap blindly around in search of the nasty device. Her hand hit empty bedside table, empty bedside table, then what felt like a lamp base. Relenting enough to open one eye, Jane found herself staring not at her own bedside table but a strange, cheap little beat-up one with a really tacky lamp.
The motel room, she realized and closed her eye with a groan.
The phone rang again. Jane gave a sigh and rolled to the left. If it wasn't on the right bedside table, the phone must be on the left her weary brain reasoned, then went dumb as she rolled atop something. Abel. Her eyes popped open, and she found herself staring down at the lap of a pair of gray linen suit pants. Edie's brother was still sitting up in bed as he'd been when she went to sleep. Jane had rolled right up on top of his legs, her face landing in his lap. She lifted her head to peer up at him.
He would be awake, of course, she thought on a sigh, then took a moment to wonder at the way his lips and one eyebrow were quirked with something that might be amusement. He really shouldn't be in such a good humor. He was handcuffed and held against his will.
"Good morning," Abel said cheerfully. "Looking for this?"
Jane flushed and turned her head to see he'd lifted the phone receiver and was now handing it to her. Even as Jane took it, another ring sounded. It wasn't the room phone ringing. Confusion covering her face, she glanced toward the floor, startled to see the edge of a purse sticking out from under the bed.
Gran's, she recognized, and shifted farther across Abel's legs to reach for it. I must have brought it in here with the rest of the bags.
She caugh
t the edge of the purse and struggled upright atop Abel to search through the bag for her gran's cell phone. The elusive object rang twice more and Jane was becoming a bit frantic, afraid it was Gran's B.L.I.S.S. contact and that whoever it was would hang up before she could answer, when her hand closed on the little black device. Relief flooding her, she pulled it out and hit the answer button.
"Yes?"
"Jane?"
Jane recognized Y's voice and straightened in horror. Abel immediately gave a pained grunt and jerked forward in response, nearly getting popped in the eye by one breast when Jane unconsciously thrust her chest out in attention.
"Ma'am!" Jane winced at the alarm evident in her voice. So much for playing it cool.
"This is Y."
"Yes, ma'am. I, er, recognized your voice, ma'am. Is there...?" Jane floundered briefly.
"I understand that you're watching the Ensecksis."
"Er, yes. Yes, ma'am. They kidnapped a friend of mine and--"
"Yes, yes. Bassmuth explained everything."
"Bassmuth?" Jane echoed, losing her military posture. She presumed Bassmuth was her grandmother's friend. And Bassmuth had explained everything? Great, Jane thought, her heart sinking. She was dead. Or at least jobless.
"It was very clever of you, getting this 'in' with the Ensecksis."
"It was?" Jane asked, straightening a little. "Yes. Edie was one of ours."
"Er, Edie was one of our what, ma'am?" Jane asked uncertainly.
"Informants. She contacted C.I.S.I.S. about her suspicions about Ensecksi Satellites two weeks ago. They started to look into it, then decided this was a job for us. Unfortunately, they only passed the information along on Thursday. We planned to set up a meeting with Edie Andretti next week, but..." Jane could almost see her boss shrug. Next week had been too late. Thursday had probably been too late. The Ensecksis had been aware of the fact that Edie knew something, which was why she'd been kidnapped. "Anyway, it was clever of you to crack this case, Jane."
"Er, well, I'm not sure what Bassmuth told you, ma'am. But the case isn't cracked yet."
"Certainly it is. You've confirmed that the Ensecksis are testing microwave mind-control technology by convincing the populace to wear yellow dresses and Hawaiian shirts."
"Well, that's just supposition. I mean, it appears an odd fashion choice for a town, but--"
"Yes, yes. Always the good scientist. Proof and all that. But we happen to think you're right, Jane. Besides, you've also discovered their lair. No one else here managed to do that."
"Was there anyone looking?" Jane asked doubtfully.
"Yes," Y said firmly. "Ensecksi Satellites has been under suspicion for some time. We've been trying to locate their test site and covert-operations headquarters for some time. Every piece of land they own has been thoroughly investigated. This one slipped through the cracks because it was purchased by the Ensecksi daughter using her mother's maiden name."
"I see," Jane said.
"It was always believed that the daughter wasn't involved in any of this, but it appears she has been the focal point all along."
"I see," Jane repeated.
"We need you to get on the case."
"Ma'am?" Jane's horror was reflected in her voice, she knew.
"I know you aren't trained for this, but we have great faith in you."
"Shouldn't whoever was assigned to this from the beginning--?"
"No. They were made."
"Made?"
"Two of our best operatives were set on the senior Ensecksi in Bulgaria. He must have 'made' them--recognized them for agents--because he gave them the slip. We believe he's on his way home to Sonora now, if he's not already there. We believe that Ms. Andretti's discovery has made them move up their plans. They may be preparing for a global attempt at mind-control."
"You think they may be intending to make the whole world wear yellow sundresses?" Jane asked doubtfully.
"Jane."
"Yes, ma'am?"
"How much sleep have you had?" "Um...not much."
"I didn't think so." Y cleared her throat and said patiently, "Jane, the yellow sundresses are just a test. Messing with a woman's fashion sense is pretty tough to do, and yellow makes most people look jaundiced. It is hardly a common choice. The Ensecksis are just testing to be sure the technology they've developed works. It's rather doubtful they intend to use their microwave mind-control technology to make the world wear yellow sundresses."
"Yes. Of course, ma'am," Jane said miserably, wishing she could kick herself for her stupid comment. She wiped one hand over her face, then gave her head a shake, trying to wake up.
"We aren't sure what they intend to do with it. They may plan to use it on politicians: the president of America, the prime ministers of England and Canada. Who knows? They may simply plan to make everyone go out and buy a satellite dish from their corporation. It doesn't matter. What matters is that what they can do is damned frightening. And illegal."
"Yes, ma'am. It is," Jane agreed.
"We have to stop them."
"I understand, ma'am."
"And you and Maggie are our best bet. You're there on the spot. We'll try to send in some backup, but most of our agents are on other assignments right now. Unfortunately, the Ensecksis aren't the only ones with aspirations of world domination at the moment."
"I see." Jane tried to sound strong, but her heart was plummeting. The world was counting on her and Gran to save them. A techno-geek and a half-paralyzed ex-spy. Oh, this was just great.
"We're putting you in the house next door. It's all set up."
"It is?" Jane asked, surprised at her boss's speed. Dismay filled her. There didn't appear any way out of this mess.
"Yes. A team is out there now, moving the old owners out. It should be all clear within the hour. Fortunately, the Goodinovs weren't very neighborly. Mr. Goodinov has Alzheimer's and Mrs. Goodinov stays with him most of the time. He can't be left alone. They aren't well known by anyone. The cover story will be that he has taken a turn for the worse, they're going to Europe for a few months to try an innovative new treatment, and they've asked his sister--Maggie Goodinov, and her granddaughter Jane--to watch over the house while they're gone."
"I see." Jane cleared her throat, her gaze going to Abel then skittering away when she saw him watching her closely. "Ma'am, Edie's brother--"
"Yes. Abel." Y was silent for a minute. "Is he going to be trouble?"
Jane's gaze captured Abel's and escaped before she said honestly, "I'm not sure. He may be if we don't include him."
Another moment of silence passed. Then Y said, "We can include him. Talk to him, explain the situation, and get a feel for him, Jane. If you think he'll be a problem..."
She left the rest unsaid and Jane nodded reluctantly, then cleared her throat and said, "Yes, ma'am."
"Good. You'll have to figure it out quickly. You're expected at the Goodinov house within the hour. Once you get there, I want you to watch and listen and find out whatever you can. I'm hoping to get some help up there in a couple of days, but in the meantime, you're on your own." Y was silent for a minute, then added; "Jane, under no circumstances are you to try to retrieve your friend."
"What if--"
"Under no circumstances," Y repeated firmly. "I know you're worried about her, but Edie is probably safe enough for now. According to the probability tests we've run, the Ensecksis are more likely to use her as a test subject for their mind-control technology than kill her. So we just want you to watch and listen for now."
"Yes, ma'am," Jane said miserably. How was she going to convince Abel to do that?
"Talk to Maggie and find out what she thinks. Once you've decided whether to include Abel or not, call me back and I'll arrange...whatever needs arranging."
"Yes, ma'am."
"You'll do fine, Jane. Ira has faith in you and so do I." Then the line clicked as the head of B.L.I.S.S. hung up.
Jane immediately slumped where she sat as if the strings hold
ing her up had just been snipped.
"Bad news?"
Jane stirred at that question, her gaze going to Abel's face. His voice had come out oddly husky and tense. She knew it had to be his worry over his sister, and struggled to find something in her weary mind to reassure him; then she noted the pained expression on his face. He really wasn't taking this well. She could sympathize completely. Now, not only was Edie's life in her hands, but the burden of the world as well.
World domination? Mind control? Dear Lord, what had Edie got her into?
"It seems your sister stumbled into a hornets' nest," she admitted reluctantly. "My bosses think the yellow sundresses are just a test, that Ensecksi plans on world domination with mind control."
"I see."
"That's good news for Edie, however."
"It is?"
"Yes. They won't want to kill her. They'll try brainwashing instead. She'll be a test subject."
Abel stared at her with horror. "That's good news?"
"She can be deprogrammed," Jane pointed out. "She couldn't be brought back from the dead."
"Oh." Abel was silent as he accepted that. Then he cleared his throat. "Do you think you could...?"
Jane followed his gesture to where she sat on him and felt humiliation overcome her. Dear Lord! She was straddling him like...
She leaped off his lap and tried to move away, wincing when the handcuffs jerked and jolted Abel as she tried to rise from the bed.
Falling back, she wearily closed her eyes. She really hadn't been made for this end of the business. She wasn't sneaky and graceful like the rest of her family. What had she got herself into?
"What are we going to do now?"
Jane stiffened. She dearly wished that Abel would just be quiet and let her suffer her humiliation while pretending she was alone, but she supposed that was too much to hope for. Besides, she didn't really have time for self-pity; she had to contact Y soon with the decision as to whether Abel was in or needed to be removed.
"We have to talk," she announced firmly, forcing herself to sit up.
"Okay." He sounded wary. She wasn't surprised, but ignored her own apprehension as she turned to face him on the bed.
