"Nice," Lefty said.
Prez advanced on the downed guards, cleared their weapons and approached the fogged-in kennel.
"Something's huddled in the corner," Prez said. "Hard to tell but I think it's one of those Werebeasts."
"The Were things seem to be calming down back there," Bob said, moving to Prez.
Both camera feeds were trained on the creature veiled in gaseous smoke and pressed against the back corner of the wall.
Can't see a pinche thing. Damn pinche fog.
"Holy shit!" Bob yelled as the Beast leapt through the air, slammed itself into the glass and knocked itself out cold.
The Beast splayed motionless on the floor, and Xochitl could finally see its face.
"Miguel!"
"That's Miguel?" Lefty asked.
"Get in there! Get him!" Xochitl shouted at Bob and Prez.
"We can't." Bob squatted by Were Miguel, analyzing the situation. "We have to wait for the gas to dissipate."
"I don't care!" Xochitl shot back.
"Xochi." Lefty grabbed her arm, but she yanked it away. "Let them do their job. They'll get him."
Xochitl gripped the sides of the computer and pleaded into her mic, "Please!"
"We will, kiddo." Bob's voice was soft. "The fog's already clearing."
Xochi eased up on the computer, her hands flush with blood and aching. Lefty slumped against the Humvee.
"Bravo Team, give me a second to get that door open." Lefty slid the computer away from Xochitl.
"No need," Prez came back. "Got this guard's keycard too." Prez put the card in front of his camera.
"I'm starting to feel obsolete here," Lefty joked half-heartedly.
"Don't worry about it, kid. Happens to the best of us," Prez said.
"Hey, pendejos!" Xochitl yelled. "Could you please get my brother out of that fucking cage?"
"Sorry, Xoch." Prez moved to the flat, digital lock embedded in the side of the cell.
Where's the pinche door?
The wall looked solid and there were no seams to indicate an entrance existed. But as Prez swiped the keycard on the lock, half of the front panel of the glass enclosure slid into the other half, creating a pocket door.
"Cool," Lefty said, clearly impressed by the creativity of the design.
Cool, maybe. But the same cabrones that snatched my brother, doing God knows what to him, created this prison. I just wanna blow the place up.
"Moving in." Bob's voice brought Xochi's attention back to Miguel.
Despite the warm night air, her body shivered and her teeth chattered uncontrollably. She clenched her jaw and waited as Bob and Prez entered the cell and knelt beside Miguel. Prez leaned over the boy, and for the first time in nearly three months, Xochitl looked upon her baby brother. Tears flowed down her face.
¡Madre de Dios!
Miguel rested peacefully on the ground — once again Xochi's sweet, little brother. His handsome face and golden skin were smooth and unscarred. Except for hard, well-developed muscles, which despite his youth made him appear older, there were no evident Werebeast characteristics.
Lefty squeezed Xochi's hand as Bob and Prez tended to Miguel.
"Looks good," Prez said, checking his pulse and pupil dilation.
"Okay. Let's move," Bob said. The two men grabbed Miguel by the shoulders and legs. "On three. One...Two...Three."
"Holy shit. This kid's heavier than he looks." Prez grunted as he and Bob lifted Miguel's limp body and shuffled him through the opening.
Immediately sirens blared.
"What the fuck!" Prez shouted.
"Base, what's happening?" Vern's voice came over the coms.
"I don't know, sir. Bob and Prez must have triggered a backup alarm system when they moved Miguel," Lefty answered.
"The hell we did!" Prez yelled over the blaring sound and crazed howls of the pound captives.
"Shut up and move, Prez!" Bob shouted, throwing Miguel's arm over his shoulder.
Bravo Team's cameras were shaking like an earthquake as the two men ran side by side as fast as they could, dragging Miguel down the hall.
"Bravo Team, we're moving to you," Vern said.
"I can't take this any more," Xochitl hissed and raced to El Gallo.
"Xochi!" Lefty called out.
Ignoring him, Xochitl popped open the trunk, pushed through the interior backing and pulled out a rolled up red and green striped serape Memo had stashed in a hidden compartment.
She unspooled the wool blanket, revealing a Remington 12 gauge shotgun. Although she knew it would be, Xochi checked to see if the weapon was loaded. She reached into the cubbyhole again and grabbed a coffee can filled with shells.
"You're nothing if not predictable, Memo."
"Xochitl, what are you doing?" Lefty scowled at the shotgun.
"Getting my brother." Xochitl shoved several extra shells in her cargo pocket.
"Please stay here." Lefty's eyes darted from her to his computer.
"Just open the pinche door." Xochitl took off toward the pound.
Through her earpiece she heard Lefty say, "Shit!"
Xochitl was fast and made good time getting to the entrance.
The door flung wide, almost smashing her in the face as the two lab-coated men and the woman in the biohazard suit ran past her and disappeared into the night.
She jerked back against the cinder block wall, shaken.
Shit. That was close.
She took a few deep breaths, readied her gun and moved quickly down the corridor, periodically checking her flanks.
"Don't move," a gruff male voice said.
Xochitl heard a click and immediately knew a semi-automatic was pointed at the back of her skull.
She froze.
"Turn around slowly," the man instructed. "Hand me that gun."
Scenarios of how to take her assailant down sped through Xochi's mind.
If he grabs the gun, kick him in the groin. Or break his arm. Or hit him with it.
She raised her hands in surrender and turned to her captor — a pimply-faced man-boy. The scrawny guard's mouth twisted into a half-smirk, and then he dropped like a rock to the floor. Replacing him was Lefty, his tranq gun aimed straight ahead.
"Thought you'd need back up." Lefty holstered his weapon.
"Thanks." Xochitl grabbed Man Boy's gun, tucking it behind her belt. "Let's go."
Xochitl and Lefty had just made it to the end of the hall when Bob and Prez staggered through the west room doors, their bodies sagging under Miguel's weight.
"Little help here!" Bob grunted out the words.
"Go! Go! Go!" Vern scrambled down the east corridor, dragging his left leg.
Her uncle stumbled to the side but recovered quickly. Behind him, Mick sprinted from a huge, grey Werebeast wearing a shredded blue blouse and black pants, hot on his heels. The Beast caught Mick by the leg and slammed him to the side of the wall, knocking him out cold. Mick slid to the floor.
Vern tripped and fell on his back.
"Shit!" Lefty yelled.
"Go help Bob," Xochi said and tore after her uncle.
"Vern! Get up!" she yelled.
The grey Beast halted its pursuit and crouched down ready to spring on its prey.
Xochitl's grip tightened around the Remington.
This is gonna hurt like a mother.
The Werebeast leapt into the air. Xochi cocked the shotgun, shouldered it and fired. The strength of the blast propelled the Were in the opposite direction. It yelped in agony and slammed to the ground. Xochitl aimed at its head, silencing it for good.
"Fuck!"
She dropped the gun. Her arm felt like it was on fire.
"I'm okay. Vern?"
"I'm okay." Vern raised his hand. "We need to get Mick."
"I think he's coming to." Xochitl heard Mick groaning over the coms and ran to him.
"What happened?" Mick shook his head and winced in pain, his arm dangling by his side. "I think my arm's dislocated."
"Can you get up?" Xochitl asked.
Mick grimaced but nodded. Xochitl tucked under his good arm and heaved him up.
"Vern we gotta bug out of here," Bob's voice broke in. "Who knows what these alarms will bring next."
"Roger that," Vern replied, getting to his feet.
Snatching her Remington, Xochitl limp-jogged beside Mick.
They passed the last downed guard, face-planted half in and half out of the security room doorway.
Outside, the tranquilized lab techs littered the parking lot.
Lefty's handiwork.
As the team reached their vehicles, the first glimmer of dawn cut through the darkness.
We took too long. Everyone's at risk.
Xochitl watched Bob and Prez steady Miguel between them.
Miguel's safe.
She smiled.
He's worth it.
"Shit!" Lefty scurried in and out of Bob's Humvee like a mouse in search of cheese.
"What?" Xochi locked El Gallo's trunk.
Lefty poked his head out of the driver side window. "Did one of you guys see the computer?"
No one responded.
"Lefty?" Vern rubbed the back of his neck.
"I'm sorry, sir." Lefty's brow furrowed. "I left it here on the front seat before I came into the building." He pointed repeatedly at the spot as if his finger were a magic wand that could instantly make the computer reappear.
Xochitl hung her head.
It's all my fault.
"Vern, don't blame Lefty. I took off. He saved my life. I shouldn't have—"
Vern held up his hand.
Okaaay.
Her uncle swiftly scanned the area.
"It's fine." He handed Lefty the small digital camera. "I think we've got what we need."
"Sir?" Lefty's eyebrows arched. Vern patted the young Marine on the back.
"Let's pack up and move out."
Like a well-oiled machine, the group moved into action, stowing their gear and prepping for departure.
Within a few minutes, Xochi and Lefty had his truck loaded. Mick reclined in the front seat, his arm in a makeshift sling. His eyes drooping and his head flopping lazily, Mick looked as if his pain meds had kicked in.
"You okay riding with Lefty?" Vern asked, poking his head into the cab.
"Yeah," Mick slurred. "Together we make one whole person." He chuckled.
Lefty rolled his eyes. "He's high."
"Good." Vern tapped the hood of the truck.
"Don't worry about us," Prez grunted as he and Bob struggled to hoist Miguel into the rear of the Humvee. "It's not like this kid weighs a ton or anything."
"We won't!" Mick cackled.
Xochitl ignored their banter, her gaze never leaving her little brother.
"I figured you'd want to ride with Miguel." Vern put his arm around her. "I'll have Prez drive your car to the cabin."
"Thanks." She handed him the rooster key chain. "Do they have to zip tie him?"
"Xoch, it's for his and our safety." Vern gave her a gentle squeeze. "We don't know what these people did to him. It's just a precaution. It won't be forever."
Vern sucked in a sharp breath and reached for his calf.
"¡Tío!" Xochitl gasped at the gash above his ankle.
Vern waved her off. "Nothing some iodine and a few stitches can't fix."
"You sure?" Xochi folded her arms over her chest.
"I'm fine. Really."
Xochitl sighed and smiled weakly. "I'm gonna go to him now, okay?"
"Sure, baby girl."
Xochitl scooted into the Humvee and leaned over the back seat. Miguel was curled up on his side, his face peaceful.
Like when he was a baby.
Xochi quaked with quiet sobs as she stroked Miguel's soft black hair.
"Lo siento, mijo. Lo siento."
Chapter 25
In the Beforetime Brother Wolf threw the obsidian knife at the Night and cut a hole in the darkness to let a little of Sky look down at the Earth. The Animal People gathered together to see the glorious light. Sky and Earth saw not the Animal People but only each other. They sang to each other and fell in love. But Old Man of the Mountain didn't like the song. In a rage he grabbed Sky by the throat and flung Sky high up into the heavens. He stomped down onto Earth, driving Earth far down. Wherever his boot fell, Earth reached around him to touch Sky, creating the Foothills. The Animal People scattered in fear. When darkness fell again, Brother Wolf climbed the highest of the new hills and sang his song, calling Sky back to the hole in the Night. At Dawn, Sky peeked through the hole in the darkness and caressed Earth. High up on Skylark Hill, Sky and Earth kissed, promising to meet early each day as long as Brother Wolf sings his song.
-Tehachapi Mountain legend
Ranch life had treated them well. Hanna and Xochitl's initial difficulties seemed a distant memory to Lucy. She was happy to be home and, once recovered from the infection, eager to meet the challenges of the new, cutting edge "Hanna's Rescue and Rehabilitation."
Lucy and Xochitl had had quite a time of it, getting used to the best-practices regiment of the ranch, no longer a kennel for dogs but a state-of-the-art training camp for newly turned Hounds with good families and a refuge for Ferals deemed "troubled."
Lucy fell into the routine instantly, doing what she'd always done to help out around the ranch. She agreed with Hanna's training fundamentals and was able to build on them through experimentation. Lucy's skill with Weres grew daily, and she enjoyed taking on more and more groups of Hounds and packs of Ferals for specific training classes. Kai was her constant companion, and Xochitl helped keep her charges in line, the classes filling up quickly with students and boarders from all over California. Gerri was put in charge of keeping the long waiting lists organized. Hanna took Ronna on many rescue runs up and down the state, but Lucy and Xochi stayed busy at the ranch from morning until night and did not notice how fast the month slipped by.
One early morning Lucy left the house at sunrise and climbed Skylark Hill, where Hanna had placed Mama's memorial.
Lucy stopped at the crest of the hill and steadied herself against a massive pine tree. Golden light brushed over the Empyrean Valley, making the early morning landscape look vibrant and otherworldly. Lucy pulled the front of her old shearling ranch coat closed against the morning chill.
"Hi, Mama."
Lucy didn't know how to start. Mama's ashes had been scattered nearly two years ago, when Lucy was newly incarcerated. Hanna hadn't told her the exact day of the service because Hanna hadn't spoken to Lucy for months after that terrible day, not until Lucy was already out of prison and on the road. And Hanna's first words had been, "You're not wanted here."
Lucy understood how Hanna had had to battle her conflicting feelings of love and hatred. Lucy herself had been in shock for a long time. She knew Hanna had forgiven her more than she ever could forgive herself, but that initial rejection still hurt.
Lucy looked at the small white wildflowers blanketing the hill.
Mama had chosen this lovely spot ages ago. She'd said that when it was her time, she wanted her ashes scattered on this hill, by this tree because it was the one place on the ranch where the sky and the earth kissed.
"It's pretty here, Mama. Just like you wanted." Tears flowed down Lucy's face. She didn't bother to wipe them away.
Lucy studied Mama's memorial. It rested in front of the pine tree and consisted of a carved stone heart with Ellie engraved in the center. The stone was not very big.
Kneeling down beside it, Lucy spread out both hands, locking her thumbs, and curved her fingers around its edges. The stone felt cold. She brought her forehead down between her hands and rested it on the cool surface, bowing her body before the tree.
"Mama, I came to say..." Lucy closed her eyes, picturing Mama's face. "I came to this place to say goodbye. And to say, I'm sorry. I will be sorry until the day I die, Mama." She sobbed quietly, her shoulders shaking. She kissed her mother's name on
the stone heart.
Lucy sat back on her heels and watched the dark skies slowly welcome the new day.
"You are beyond needing anything now. You don't need me," she said to the sky and ran her fingers through her hair. "But it's so hard for me to move on."
"I've helped so many people. But I couldn't help you, Mama. Because I panicked. I didn't think. I didn't try. I just heard 'Do it' and I pulled the trigger." She felt at a loss, but continued anyway.
"Everything is changing. People don't see it. Xochi and I are treading water, helping where we can. But it's never enough. I just want to go back. Before any of this happened. We were happy."
"I am sorry I ever left, Mama. You were everything to me, and I took for granted that this peaceful place and you would always be here. I was a fool and a child." She took a deep breath. The next part was hard to admit.
"I thought I could help in L.A., but I wasn't enough. The horrible stuff never gets better. You arrest one bad guy, and another one pops up, worse than the first one usually. Being a cop wasn't what I thought it would be."
"And now...Mama. This Were plague...It's chaos and mayhem, but folks try to go on living their lives like nothing happened. Like they think they can adjust...I feel like I'm losing my mind." The words started spilling from Lucy's mouth.
"I have these dreams all the time now. You're in them. And then there's someone else, trying to get me." Lucy surprised herself. She wasn't ready to talk about those dreams, out loud.
She looked back at the stone heart. She kissed the tips of two fingers and ran them over the smooth rock.
"I miss you so much. There are so many times I pick up the phone to call you and tell you about something in my day. I dial your number sometimes before I remember. And then I just hang up."
Lucy stopped short, sensing she was no longer alone. These thoughts were too private to share, so she locked them up tight and clamped down on her emotions. She rolled her shoulders back, and came up into a crouch.
*
Xochitl was folding Lucy's clothes in the laundry room. Just as Doc Howard had predicted, Lucy had woken from her semi-comatose state completely recovered. Three scars of varying lengths marked the spot on Lucy's leg where Travis had mauled her. Lucy's wound never slowed her down, and they'd kept unbelievably busy training Hounds and Ferals. So when, out of the blue, Lefty called from L.A. it came as a complete shock.
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