by R. D. Brady
“You’ve seen the footage?”
“Of course.” Dom took a long drink. Apparently discovering his friend and boss was the offspring of a fallen angel wasn’t exactly rocking Dom’s world.
“But why would the Council want Henry or any other Fallen?” Jake asked.
“Do you remember when we talked about the Fallen? I explained how each of them had different abilities that they brought with them. Well, for some of them, it involves reading Enochian.” He looked at them expectantly.
“I don’t get it,” Jake replied.
The truth crashed through Laney. “The books from Ecuador. Some were written in Enochian. They need someone to translate them.”
“So they just grabbed Henry, hoping he could read them?” Jake asked.
Dom nodded. “Of course, Henry wasn’t the first. You know I like to keep track of the Fallen? Well over the last few years, some have been disappearing. I thought someone might be gathering them up. I just didn’t know why. I’m guessing it’s the Council, trying to see if they can read the books.”
“As a nephilim, will Henry be able to read them?” Laney asked.
Dom looked up slowly. “I don’t think so. I don’t know as much about nephilims, they’re harder to track. But in the cases I do know of, the offspring only have some of their parents’ gifts. . .” His voice trailed off.
“And Henry already has the physical abilities,” Jake said, “meaning it’s unlikely he’ll have any of the cognitive ones.”
Dom nodded.
“Which Fallen was Henry’s father?” Laney asked.
Dom’s face scrunched up. “That’s the funny thing. In almost every case where I’ve identified a Fallen, I’ve been able to figure out the original identity.”
“But in Henry’s case?” Laney prompted.
“I’ve never been able to. I have no idea which one Henry’s father was.”
CHAPTER 70
Jake had helped Dom back to his lab after he’d finished his cookies. Laney spent some time just trying to wrap her mind around what Dom had told them. The Council had been looking for Atlantean artifacts since the eleventh century. It made sense they’d be behind the Ecuador attack.
From what she’d read, the group was full of aristocrats, the wealthy, the power players. They’d definitely have the ability to put together the Ecuador attack. But the method of attack was very unlike them. They liked to go under the radar. The Ecuador attack seemed to go against their centuries-long need for secrecy.
She shook her head. But Dom was a genius. If he thought it was them, it probably was.
Speaking of geniuses, she hadn’t seen Danny since right after they got back. She knew he hadn’t slept last night. He was probably still in his lab. She walked out of Henry’s office and down the hall.
The door to his office was open. The carpet muffled her footsteps as she walked towards it, stopping just outside. Danny was sitting at his desk, although desk was probably too simple a term for his setup. Twelve monitors were lined up in front of him. Computers and technology Laney couldn’t even guess at surrounded him.
Danny sat hunched over a few keyboards and a wireless mouse, his fingers flying. His big blue t-shirt, rolled up at the sleeves and grey sweatpants, seemed to swallow him up, making him look even younger and smaller.
Occasionally, he would grimace and look up, touching the screen of one of the monitors and, with a flip of his finger, send a program into the trash. Besides the grimaces, his face was a mask of concentration.
All the monitors displayed multiple programs, running simultaneously. It was like a physical representation of how Danny’s brain worked. Data scrolled across the monitors, a kaleidoscope of numbers and letters. Laney couldn't even guess what they represented.
She bit her lip. What if they were going in the wrong direction? She knew other analysts were examining all of the Chandler Group’s projects for any possible connection to Henry’s abduction, but Danny was convinced it was related to Ecuador.
The longer she watched him, the more concerned she became. He was a boy obsessed. Although she tried to stay silent so as not to disturb him, the reality was that if she yelled, screamed, and set herself on fire, he probably wouldn't notice.
Moxy lay curled in her dog bed to Danny's right. Laney thought she was asleep, but as soon as Laney had moved into the doorway, her head had popped up. And if a dog could look worried, Moxy did.
Laney debated what to do. She knew Danny hadn't slept since the tracer had been found on her computer and she didn't like it. It wasn't healthy. Not for anyone, but especially not for a young boy. Granted, he wasn't exactly a normal child. But, genius or not, he was a child. Someone had to look after his health, right?
"Oh, you think that's a firewall? That's not a firewall," Danny muttered.
"Is he actually talking smack to a computer?"
Laney looked up in surprise. Jake stood next to her, his arm rubbing against hers.
She turned back to Danny. "I think technically he's talking smack to whomever created the firewall, but then again I could be wrong. Dom okay?”
"Yeah. But it took a lot of guts for him to leave his home.” Jake nodded towards Danny. “How's our other genius doing?"
Laney pulled him from the doorway, keeping her voice low. "Not good. He hasn't slept since Henry was taken. And he hadn’t been getting much sleep even before that. This can't be good for him. He's a thirteen-year old on the edge of a nervous breakdown."
Jake sighed, his eyes troubled. "I know, but Henry is for all intents and purposes Danny's father. He won't stop until he finds him. And to be honest, if anyone has a chance of finding him, it's Danny."
Laney blew out a frustrated breath. "I know, but I swear Jake, I am one step away from tranq’ing the kid. He's not sleeping, not eating. He's existing on junk food. He's placing a herculean burden on himself. Even a genius can't operate well under those conditions."
Jake rubbed his hands together and then cracked his knuckles. "All right. I'll put him in a full nelson and you jab him with the needle."
Laney smiled in spite of herself. "Let's call that plan B. I figure we'll start with a conversation. When that doesn't work, we wrestle him to the ground."
Jake gave a dramatic sigh. "Fine.”
Laney started to head back to Danny's office when Jake pulled her to a stop. "Hold on a second."
He dropped his voice, with a quick glance to make sure Danny couldn't overhear. "I found the name of the group who hired Hugo."
"What? How?"
He grinned. "It would be nice if you didn't sound so shocked."
She cringed. "Sorry. Its just Danny couldn't find anything and I kind of think of him as the great and powerful Oz in these situations."
"Well, Oz was just a man behind the curtain. And in this case, it needed more of a human touch than a computer touch. Hugo’s dad left me a message. Hugo was hired by a group known as Flourent, Inc."
Laney jolted. Flourent, Inc. again? "Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I'm trying to dig up what I can about them now."
He turned her to face him. She knew shock was written across her face. "What do you know?"
She opened her mouth to answer when Danny's yell interrupted her.
"Yes!"
She paused for just a second. "Not now. We need to take care of Danny first."
Jake looked like he wanted to argue, but he nodded.
She turned and walked quickly into Danny's office, Jake right behind her. "What is it?"
Danny turned, his face triumphant, but Laney despaired at the paleness of his face, the dark circles under his eyes. "I traced the signal."
"From Laney’s computer?" Jake stepped closer to the monitors.
"Yes. It leads to Nevada, somewhere around Vegas."
One of Danny's monitors beeped, drawing his attention back to it. His hands were once again a blur of motion on the keyboard. Laney had to physically bite her tongue to keep from demanding more answers.
Jake grabbed her hand and she looked up at him. "Just give him a minute."
She nodded, enjoying the warmth of his hands in hers. She let out a breath, counting to sixty in her head and then counting again.
Jake squeezed her hand with a grin. "Keep counting."
Laney looked at him, shocked.
He winked at her, whispering in her ear. "You always count when you're trying to be patient."
Danny wheeled his chair around. "I've got it locked down to a five mile area. I can fine-tune it as we get closer." He turned back to his monitors.
Laney stepped forward. "Okay, Danny, that’s it. You've got fifteen minutes to set up whatever you need to set up and then you’re getting some sleep."
He shook his head. "I can't. I need to-"
Raising her hand in the air, she cut him off. "You've done the heavy lifting. Hand the rest over to some of the other analysts. You need to sleep."
"No. Henry needs-"
She cut him off, again. "What Henry needs is for you to be healthy when he returns. And if you keep this up, you won't be." She placed her hands on his shoulders, gentling her tone. "You've done the impossible, Danny. Now let the rest of us help. And we're going to need you at the top of your game when we start planning the rescue. So sleep."
Danny nodded, reluctant. "Okay, but I'm only taking a nap. And in here." He gestured to the couch in the corner. "Just in case something needs my attention."
She placed a kiss on his forehead. "I didn’t expect any different. I'll be back in fifteen minutes."
Jake followed her out of the room. When they were out of earshot, he asked, "Laney? What do you know?"
She took a breath to steady herself. She felt a bit rattled. "The name. Flourent. That’s Warren’s father’s family. I sent Yoni to get some information on them in Vegas.”
“Vegas? The same place the signal was sent?”
Laney nodded.
“Looks like all roads are leading to Vegas. I’m going to start setting up for an op.”
“But we don’t have a target.”
“No. But we’re getting closer. And I need us to be ready to go as soon as we have a firm location or even a best guess.” He gave her a distracted kiss before heading down the hall.
Laney leaned against a wall, needing the support. One of her dearest friends was being held by the group who had mercilessly cut through the Shuar tribe. She knew Jake would move as soon as possible. But would they be fast enough?
She shivered. Please don’t let us be too late.
CHAPTER 71
‘Abigail’ sat in the back of the Escalade. She’d removed the wig, make-up and padding. Now she looked herself. Her formerly carrot top red hair now run through with grey was cut in a no-nonsense bob that framed her gamine face. Her small figure was encased in black slacks and a deep purple cashmere sweater.
The scenery flew by as Ralph navigated the smaller country roads. It had all changed so much in twenty years, and yet at the same time there was an eternal quality to the land that never seemed to go away.
A memory of riding through these roads with Henry flitted through her mind. Back then, she’d worried that he would fall and hurt himself. She’d give anything if a scraped knee was all he had to face.
Shutting her eyes against the ache the memory caused, the same useless questions hammered at her. Had she done the right thing? Should she have told him? Warned him? Would it have prevented anything? Would it have just made things worse?
She slammed her fist into her hand. Damn it. She should know what the right thing to do was. These decisions should be easier by now. She’d been making them longer than . . .
She shied away from the thought. No point going down that old road. Now she was going to have to share that information with people other than Henry. They needed to know why he was taken. Henry would need to know why he was taken.
In the last twenty-four hours, she’d pulled all the information she could find on Henry’s abduction. There was precious little. And now Laney and Jake had the information on the connection to the Flourents. But they still wouldn’t have the why. Only she could provide that.
She flipped through the file in her hand on Jake Rogan and Delaney McPhearson. All the relevant background information. But she didn’t need the reports, not really. Henry had told her everything about them. He considered them family. He trusted them with his life.
She shuddered, gripping the door handle. His life. She’d done everything she could to keep him safe and it hadn’t been enough. Now the very information she’d kept from him could be what got him killed.
“Anything new from the estate?” She called out to the front seat.
Andrew, one of the men on her security detail and a younger version of Ralph, looked back at her. He held up one finger, jotting notes down into a pad as he listened to the phone. He closed the phone, turning to look at her.
“They’ve traced the signal on McPhearson’s laptop. It originated in Vegas.”
“Do we have an trusted operatives in Vegas?”
Andrew shook his head. “I’m sorry ma’am. We don’t.”
Abigail looked out the window, struggling to form a plan. There must be some way for her to help.
“Ma’am?”
She looked up at Andrew.
“Rogan has arranged for almost all security from Chandler to be flown to Vegas. Once they have the signal pinned down, they’re going to go in.”
Abigail nodded. “Get me a listing of all of Flourent’s holdings in and around Vegas. Especially any listings they’re trying to hide.”
“Yes ma‘am.”
“What about Delany McPhearson? Will she be going too?”
Andrew glanced back. “Yes, but she isn’t part of any of the security briefings for the Vegas op. She’s being sidelined. Maybe Rogan doesn’t trust her abilities.”
Abigail shook her head, catching Ralph’s eyes in the rearview mirror. No, he loves her. Out loud, she said. “Have McPhearson and Rogan left the estate yet?”
“No. But they should be leaving any minute for the airfield.”
She nodded, once again watching the trees go by. A memory of six-year old Henry handing her a bouquet of dandelions flitted through her mind. His smile had stretched from ear to ear. He’d hugged her, his little arms unable to reach all the way around her.
She wrapped her arms around herself, feeling the ghost of that embrace. Her chest tightened. “Intercept them.”
CHAPTER 72
Jake gripped the steering wheel, staring at Laney’s little cottage. Flowers crept up the lattice on the side, spilling over the porch roof. The bloom of colors contrasted brightly against the pale brown stone façade and black shutters.
He wanted to turn his truck around and drive to the airport without her. He knew, though, that she’d never forgive him. But he hated the idea of her being put in harm’s way again. It was like a knife to his chest. In fact, he’d rather be stabbed than let her get hurt.
With a muttered curse, he pushed open his door and stomped up the three steps to her door. He was about to knock when the door flew open.
Laney stood in the doorway, her eyes wide, her face pale. “I’m ready.”
He pulled her into his arms. “We’ll get him back.”
Laney nodded against his chest. He felt a shudder run through her. He knew how much Henry meant to her.
And the fact was, Henry meant just as much to him. Jake didn’t have much of a family. He and his brother Tom had only recently started reconnecting. For a long time, he’d been on his own. His father was gone from his life and his mom had been dead for twenty years.
Henry was alone, too. That loss had helped cement their bond. Henry was part of his family. A big part.
Laney pulled away. “Let’s go find him.”
Jake kissed her on the forehead. “You got it.”
After tossing her suitcase in the back, he got in the driver’s seat. They drove in silence for a while.
A few miles from
the estate, Jake thought he should try to talk her out of coming one more time. “Laney, I know you want to help, but-“
“Jake, I’m going. And anything else you say about me staying is going to lead to a fight, so just accept it, okay?”
His eyes flicked over to her. “Okay.”
She gave him a small smile, but then her eyes darted away. Alarm flashed across her face. “Jake, look out!”
Jake whipped his head around. An SUV blocked the road. He slammed on the brakes. The truck jolted to a stop.
The black Escalade idled quietly on the road, blocking the way. No one got out.
Jake glanced behind him and then looked over at Laney, pulling his Beretta from its holster. “Laney, I tell you to run, you run. No arguing, got it?”
Laney nodded, pulling her own Beretta from her bag. “Yeah, sure Jake.”
Jake held in the growl. The backdoor of the passenger side opened. A tall, striking, woman with pale red hair, run through with grey, stepped out.
Jake looked down as Laney gripped his arm, her face growing pale.
"It can’t be." She scrambled for the handle of the door, her weapon left on the seat.
“Laney, no.” Jake tried to grab her but she slipped out of the door.
Laney rounded the hood of the SUV as Jake leaped from his door, his gun trained on the woman. Two men stepped out of the SUVs, their weapons now aimed at Jake.
Jake swore silently. “Laney, get back in the car.”
She ignored him, stopping when she was ten feet away from the woman.
Jake looked between the woman and Laney. Shock was splashed across Laney’s face. What the hell is going on?
Laney seemed to struggle to find words. "Why are you here?"
"Henry," the woman said.
Jake stared at her. "Lady, who exactly are you?"
"Victoria Chandler. I'm Henry's mother."
CHAPTER 73
Jake followed Victoria’s SUV to a little park just a quarter-mile from where Victoria intercepted them. “You recognized her from the photo in Henry’s office, didn’t you?”