The Belial Guard (The Belial Series Book 8)

by R. D. Brady

  Laney watched the struggle play across Jen’s face. Jen kept her emotions under wraps at almost all times, but she was clearly having trouble doing that right now. Jen hadn’t spoken much about her early life, but Laney knew it had been hard, even before she went into the foster system.

  Laney glanced back at the screen, where Vanessa’s face was still frozen. She could see the resemblance—the dark hair, the strong cheekbones, the strength.

  She put her arm around Jen, pulling her into her side. “No, I don’t think it’s too much of a coincidence. Our lives… they seem to have been plotted out in advance. You and I met before we knew who either of us was. Drew sent me that paper and it led to all of the rest. For us, there are no coincidences. There are patterns and trails to follow. I’ve followed mine.” She nodded at the screen. “And I think now it’s your turn to decide if you want to follow yours.”

  Jen took a shaky breath. “She just left me, Laney. For the longest time, I thought…” She went quiet.

  “That she had no choice. She was forced to leave.”

  Jen nodded. “But she didn’t. She’s alive and well. And she never came back for me. She never checked up on me.”

  “You don’t know that. Maybe—”

  Jen turned, her eyes filled with pain. “You know what it was like for me after she left. How could anyone submit someone they loved to that kind of life?”

  All Laney could think about was Abe Hanley, the Alexandria bookstore owner and member of the Companion Killers, talking about his quiet childhood on Malama Island. Vanessa had apparently returned to that, but had done so without her daughter.

  “There has to be a reason,” Laney said.

  Jen gave a bitter laugh. “Do you remember how you described her after you spoke with her? Cold, hard. You really think someone like that had a broken heart over her lost child?”

  Laney had to admit she couldn’t picture Vanessa in a maternal role. Cuddling a child, hugging her—she simply couldn’t picture it. “I don’t actually know her,” she said. “She could be different. Maybe there really is a reason why she left.”

  Jen looked up. “And maybe it was me.”

  “No. You were a child.”

  Jen stood and wiped the tears from her eyes. “She left me, Laney. She doesn’t deserve any of my time, any of my thoughts. I’m glad to know where she is. But that’s as far as it goes. She’s in my past, just like I’m in hers.”

  Laney knew Jen wanted to believe the words she spoke, but she also knew that she didn’t, not completely. Jen’s mom was a question Jen had never been able to get past. She wanted to know what had happened to her.

  “What do you want to do?” Laney asked softly.

  Jen shook her head. “Nothing. I already have a mother.”

  CHAPTER 20

  Malama Island, Hawaii

  Aaliyah was hurrying down the path when her friend Bastet approached from the opposite direction.

  Bastet stopped in front of her. “Aaliyah, is everything all right?”

  Aaliyah fumbled for something to say.

  Bastet stepped closer. “We’re all upset about Kai. I just can’t understand why he would be exiled. I know he helped Hanake, but reuniting them seemed the right thing to do. I can’t imagine how upset you are.”

  Aaliyah nodded. She didn’t have to fake the tremor in her voice. “It is difficult.”

  Bastet embraced her, whispering in her ear, “Anything you need, let me know.”

  Aaliyah gave herself a moment to enjoy the comfort of an old friend before pulling away. “Thank you. I think—I think I just need to be alone.”

  “I understand. But I’m here if you need me.”

  “Thank you,” Aaliyah said, then continued home. It was getting close to time. She hustled up the path and quickly made her way to her bedroom. She counted out seven boards from the window, pried up the seventh, and from behind it she grabbed her cell phone. It was already lit up, indicating a call.

  “Hello?”

  “There you are,” Kai said. “I was beginning to worry you had forgotten me.”

  With a smile, Aaliyah sank to the floor. “Never.”

  Kai laughed. “Good.”

  “How are you? Where are you?”

  “I’m good.”

  “Did you find a place to stay? Do you have enough money?”

  Kai had called Aaliyah when he had been dropped in Argentina, and although he had tried to sound all right then, she knew how unsettled he was.

  “Yes and yes,” Kai said. “It’s actually a beautiful country, although the poverty…” He trailed off.

  “I hate that you’re out there.”

  “It’s not so bad. But it would be nicer with some company.”

  “Oasu misses you. I want to tell him that I have a way to communicate with you—”

  “Don’t. It will only endanger him. It’s bad enough that you’re taking the risk. We can’t endanger anyone else.”

  “I know. And I will look out for him.”

  “I know you will.” He paused. “How are things going there?”

  Aaliyah hesitated, not sure what to say. She didn’t want to worry Kai. After all, there was nothing he could do. But at the same time, she needed someone to talk to. “They’ve started to move people. And I overheard something today—I just don’t understand it. Maybe it’s nothing.”

  “Tell me.”

  “Two of the Guard were talking. They mentioned something called Project Jerusalem.”

  “Project Jerusalem? What is that?”

  “I don’t know. We don’t have any holdings in Jerusalem. No exiles have been relocated there. We have no dealings with the city at all.”

  “Could it be code for something else?”

  “If so, I don’t know what.” Aaliyah had researched the ancient city after she had heard the men talking.

  “What did the guards say about it?”

  “Just that preparations were being made. I’m going to keep digging. See if I can find anything.”

  “Is that a good idea? The priestess already suspects you. Surely you’re being watched.”

  “But what am I supposed to do? She’s up to something—we know that. And we can’t be caught unaware.”

  Kai sighed. “Please be careful. If anything were to happen to you—”

  “I’ll be fine. But take care of yourself. Have you contacted Delaney McPhearson, by the way?”

  Kai laughed. “Well, seeing as the Chandler Group doesn’t own a fishing fleet, I don’t think they’ll have a job opening for me.”

  “I’d feel better if you were around someone that could help you, Kai. Just promise me that if you run into any problems, you’ll contact her. She’ll help.”

  “She doesn’t even know me.”

  “No, but I know her. She’ll help you if you need it.”

  “All right. If the situation arises, I’ll contact her.”

  “Thank you. Well, I should go. Noriko will be home any minute.”

  “Tomorrow, same time?”

  Aaliyah clasped the phone, wishing she could speak with him longer. But it was too great a risk. “Same time,” she said softly.

  “Good night.”

  “Good night.”

  Aaliyah disconnected the call and sat there for a moment, staring off into space, imagining Kai’s face. She missed him so much it hurt. With a sigh, she placed the phone back in its hiding place.

  The front door burst open, and Aaliyah quickly put the board back into place and vaulted to her feet. She ran into the kitchen just as Vanessa came storming down the hallway, four members of the Guard on her heels.

  “What is the meaning of this?” Aaliyah demanded.

  “Aaliyah, you are suspected of conspiring against the priestess.”

  “I have never—”

  “Search it,” Vanessa ordered. The guards spread out through the house.

  Aaliyah stepped forward, her heart racing as one of the guards disappeared into her bedroom. “You have
no right. I am a member of the High Council.”

  Vanessa narrowed her eyes. “As was Kai before he was banished. Apparently being a member does not negate the possibility of violating the rules. In fact, your close relationship with an exile means you may have already been influenced.”

  “Prefect.” A guard stepped out of her bedroom, two objects in his hands. Aaliyah’s phone and laptop.

  Aaliyah’s stomach fell. She must not have placed the board back correctly.

  Vanessa smiled as she took the phone. “Well, let’s see what these tell us.”

  CHAPTER 21

  Laney sat in Henry’s office at the Chandler Estate. She had wanted to see if she could find anything else on Jen’s mother, and she didn’t want Jen knowing what she was doing. Not that wouldn’t tell Jen later; she just wanted to have all the information at her fingertips when she did.

  But her search had revealed little. Vanessa Rutledge had lived in San Francisco for six years before she had disappeared. During that time, she’d had no job, but she did have a large bank account that money was regularly deposited in—and that money came from Honu Keiki. She knew from their previous research into Honu Keiki that exiles were given a financial package when they left, one that would allow them to set up anywhere in the world. Vanessa Rutledge’s financial situation fit that bill.

  But besides that, there was very little information on the woman. Her social security number had been issued the same year she moved to San Francisco. When DCF had looked into her, they’d found no relatives or friends. Even neighbors said they barely knew her. The only place she was known to go to regularly was a gym in the neighborhood.

  Laney pulled up Vanessa Rutledge’s driver’s license. The picture did look shockingly like Honu Keiki’s Vanessa. Laney knew Jen had always wondered what had happened to her mother, but Laney didn’t want this to be the answer. From what Laney could tell, there was no warmth in this woman.

  But maybe I’m wrong. Maybe she’s cold now because she lost her daughter.

  Laney frowned. If this was Vanessa Rutledge, how exactly did she end up back at Honu Keiki? And why didn’t she take Jen with her?

  “Laney?”

  “Hm?” She looked up. Tiffany Youler, the head of Public Relations for the Chandler Group, stood in the doorway.

  Tiffany nodded to the laptop. “Sorry, I know you still have a lot to do, but I’ve had reports of our people fielding some unusual phone calls.”

  “Phone calls? From who?”

  “Mike Wallace’s research team.”

  Mike Wallace was the host of the top Sunday night news program. The show was insanely popular and highlighted issues of the day. But why on earth would he be calling Chandler Group employees?

  “What does he want to know?” Laney asked. “Is this about the school?”

  Tiffany shook her head. “No. He wanted to know about you.”

  “Me specifically?”

  “Yes.”

  “Did he say why?”

  “No. The people who called just said they were doing some advance work for a possible show.”

  It must be about the bridge accident. That had received a lot of press, particularly the Cleo angle, but so far Laney had been left out it, beyond the fact that she was Cleo’s owner. “Did they ask about Cleo?”

  “No. Not at all.”

  “Did anyone tell them anything?”

  Tiffany smiled. “No one would even admit they knew you.”

  Laney gave a small laugh. “Thanks, Tiffany. I’ll take care of it.”

  Tiffany disappeared from the doorway, and Laney sat back. What was that all about? Even if it was related to the bridge incident, that certainly wasn’t national news. So why on earth would Mike Wallace be interested?

  Maybe he’s doing something on Cleo or the school. But why ask about me?

  She reached for the desk phone and dialed. Henry answered after one ring.

  “Hey, Lanes. What’s going on?”

  “I think we might have a problem.”

  CHAPTER 22

  The priestess stormed down to Vanessa’s office. When her attendant opened the door, it was a struggle for the priestess not to bowl the man over. She glared at him to let him know her displeasure with his slowness.

  Vanessa got to her feet, and the other three guards immediately snapped to attention. The priestess barely spared them a glance. “Leave us.”

  The guards filed out, closing the door behind them.

  “Well?” the priestess demanded.

  “She contacted the ring bearer anonymously four months back. That is how the attempt on Brian Hansen was thwarted in North Carolina.”

  When the attempt to take out Hansen had been interrupted, the priestess had wondered if someone had tipped the ring bearer off. But no one in Malama was supposed to have the means to communicate with anyone off the island, so when the ring bearer showed up, the priestess had thought it was just happenstance.

  Now I know it was one of my people. Traitor.

  “What else?”

  Vanessa held up a phone. “I believe she has been in contact with Kai since his exile. She receives a call from the same cell every night at the same time. I had one of our people trace it. The cell towers for the call are in Argentina.”

  The priestess narrowed her eyes. “How did this happen? How did they even have this equipment?”

  “I assume Kai smuggled it in. The logs indicate it’s been in Aaliyah’s possession for over two years.”

  “Is there anything in her computer history about Project Jerusalem?”

  “No, but she was researching Jerusalem within the last few hours.”

  How does she even know about the project? “Has she contacted the ring bearer about it?”

  “No—not by phone or email.”

  Well that was a small blessing. She could have blown everything.

  “I will have her brought before the community in the morning and banished,” Vanessa said.

  The priestess nodded—and then frowned. “No. Let’s not be hasty.”

  “But priestess, she has grossly violated your dictates.”

  “True. But the community is disturbed about the recent banishments, and the move is causing some… discomfort. Besides, Aaliyah is very well-liked.”

  “But you are the priestess. You are loved.”

  The priestess smiled at Vanessa. Vanessa believed duty came above all else. She had never understood the role emotions played in other people’s lives and actions. It made her an excellent soldier; she received her commands and she carried them out. But it made her a lousy strategist.

  “It is important to keep the community’s faith,” the priestess explained. “And Aaliyah’s popularity can help us with that.”

  Vanessa frowned. “How?”

  “By making her our ally. She has created some problems for us. Now it’s time she cleaned them up.”

  CHAPTER 23

  Henry put down the phone and stared out the window. He’d just finished speaking with Mike Witt, Jen’s brother. He had also received a phone call from Mike Wallace’s advance team. They had moved on from the people on the periphery of Laney’s life to those in her inner circle: him, Jake, Patrick, Jen, Jordan, Yoni, Matt, and Mike. They'd all been contacted.

  There was a knock on his door, and Jake entered.

  Henry took one look at his face and knew it wasn’t good news. “How many?” he asked.

  “At least another dozen have received phone calls.”

  “Has any one said anything?”

  “No. But you know someone will.”

  “I don’t get it. Why the sudden interest in Laney?”

  Jake shrugged. “It must be the bridge thing. The second video was much more focused on Laney.”

  “Yeah, but she didn’t do anything. She was just standing there.”

  “And giving orders, including controlling Cleo.”

  “We need to find out exactly what the Wallace team is up to.”

  “Henr
y, I think we know what they’re up to,” Jake said quietly.

  Henry felt a weight press down on his shoulders. “Yes. They want to expose Laney.”

  CHAPTER 24

  After Laney had spoken with Henry, he’d assured her he’d look into everything and would take care of it, and Laney had gone to the school to try and get some work done. But she hadn’t been able to focus. She had the sinking feeling there were more holes in the dam than they could plug. So finally, she’d driven back to the estate and jogged up the three floors to his office.

  Henry had been frowning but smiled when he caught sight of her. “I’m surprised you managed to stay away as long as you did.”

  “What do you know?”

  Henry stood up and walked around his desk, gesturing to the couch. Laney took a seat and Henry sat next to her.

  His purple eyes looked serious. “Okay, would you like the good news or the bad news first?”

  “Good, please.”

  “Well, no one affiliated with the Chandler Group has agreed to speak with Mike Wallace’s research team.”

  “Okayyy,” Laney drew out the word; Henry did not seem as happy as he should be about that outcome. “What’s the bad news?”

  “A few other people have.”

  Oh, crap. “Who?”

  “A few of the men from the camp in Montana, a US diplomat in Ecuador, one of Rocky’s superiors, a US source in China, and one of Grayston’s followers.”

  Laney sat back, stunned. Most, if not all, of those people were associated with the Fallen and her work as the ring bearer. Which meant…

  “They know I’m the ring bearer.”

  Henry took her hand. “No. I had Danny hack into their computer system. They don’t seem to know about the ring bearer. But they are compiling a list of Laney’s greatest adventures.”

  “Wait—Danny? Henry, we said we were keeping them out of—”

  Henry cut her off. “And this was an emergency. We need to know what they know so we can prepare. Danny got in, got the info, and got out. He’s not part of this.”