by R. D. Brady
Henry nodded. “I realize that, but you’ve done your part, so I think you should—”
“What?” Danny demanded. “Run along and play? I’m not a child.”
“Yes, you are,” Henry lashed out. “You’re my child. And I don’t want you to be involved in this.”
Danny stood up. “I’m not your child. Legally, I’m not anybody’s child.”
Henry felt like he’d been slapped. He took a breath. “Fine. Then as your boss, I’m telling you, you are off this project.”
Danny’s mouth fell open and a look of hurt appeared on his face. Then his mouth slammed shut and the hurt was quickly replaced by anger. He punched at a few buttons on the keyboard. “I just sent you all the files, boss. Come on, Moxy.” He stomped out of the room, Moxy at his heels.
Henry watched Danny go, wishing he could take back the last five minutes. ‘As your boss’? He’d never pulled that with Danny before.
Henry turned. Jake and Laney watched him silently, yet that silence seemed to be filled with words. “What?” Henry demanded.
Jake raised an eyebrow. “Well, out of the three of us, I’d usually say you were the most diplomatic. And yet Yoni could have handled that better.”
Henry gave a heavy sigh, feeling wearier than he had in a long time. “You don’t understand. Danny’s just a kid. He shouldn’t be dealing with life and death issues. Especially not life and death issues involving other kids.”
“He’s not a kid,” Laney said softly. “He hasn’t been for a long time.”
Henry sighed, knowing she was right but knowing he was too. “I don’t know what to do. I know he’s not technically a kid. He’s a teenager, and legally he’s already an adult. But how can I want him to be a part of… this?” He waved his hand toward the monitors.
The room went silent, and Henry’s eyes roamed over the kids on the screen. Each additional face just made his resolve that much stronger. Danny was not going to be a part of this.
“Look,” Jake said finally. “We can keep Danny out of it from here on out. I’m okay with that.”
“Me too,” Laney said.
“Thanks.” Henry felt the weight on him lift a little.
“Okay, so now the problem is, who’s grabbing these kids?” Jake turned to Laney. “You’re sure it’s not the Fallen?”
She shook her head. “Of course I can’t be sure, but I just can’t see why they would. Not this young. They’d require too much care for too long.”
“Maybe someone thinks they’re rescuing them,” Henry said.
“Rescuing them from what?” Laney asked.
Henry shrugged.
“Or maybe someone’s just killing them,” Jake said softly.
Laney nodded. “Yeah. That’s what I’m afraid of.”
“Okay, so where do we start?” Henry asked.
Laney pointed to the picture of the little girl with brown pigtails and big brown eyes. “With Sophia Watson. She was grabbed three days ago. I’m thinking Jake and I should head down to Atlanta and see if we can find out anything.”
“I can go,” Henry said.
Laney shook her head and looked down the hall in the direction Danny had disappeared. “I think you’re needed here.”
“There is one other option,” Jake said thoughtfully.
Laney and Henry looked over at him.
“There are two triangles, right?” Jake asked.
Last year, they’d learned that Laney, Henry, and Jake made up an ancient triad that only comes about when the world has reached a dangerous point. They worked on the side of the good, protecting mankind. Unfortunately there was also another triad, one that was far less concerned about the welfare of mankind.
Henry and Laney nodded.
“But there’s also three groups,” Jake said. “The Fallen, us, and—”
“The Council,” Laney finished. The Council was a shadowy group of humans with extensive resources who, for financial reasons, helped the Fallen. They’d been around for centuries, operating behind the scenes, using whatever they uncovered from Atlantis and the Fallen to their financial benefit.
Jake nodded.
“But what reason could they have for being involved in this?” Laney asked.
Jake shrugged. “Who knows? But they’re always around, always at the periphery, and we haven’t paid them much attention because the Fallen have always been the greater threat. I think, though, we might need to start paying them some attention.”
“Why?” Henry asked.
Jake gestured to the monitors. “Whoever grabbed these kids did it before the kids’ powers manifested. Which means the kidnappers are most likely human. And whenever humans are involved…” He left his sentence unfinished.
Henry nodded with a sigh. “Whenever humans are involved, it’s in the form of the Council.”
“Uncle Patrick may know something,” Laney said. “He’s been going through the Council books.”
“The ones from Flourent’s house?” Henry asked.
After they had rescued Henry from Sebastian Flourent’s home, they’d uncovered a set of books in Sebastian’s office. The books had survived the destruction by pure luck: the bookcase had been bolted into a rock alcove, giving it some protection from the destruction of the home. Not all the books survived, but more than half had, and Patrick had slowly been going through them, one by one. Together they formed a history of the Council’s activities that went back centuries.
Laney nodded. “Once he’s gotten the kids set up, let’s pull him aside. See what he knows.”
Jake stood up, his eyes straying to the monitors. “Actually, I think we can let Patrick focus on helping the new kids, for right now anyway. Henry and I can get the rest of the investigation reports.”
“Okay. What about me?”
“I think there might be someone else you could call who may know a thing or two about the Council.”
Laney looked from Jake to Henry and back again, then paused before nodding. “I’ll make the call.”
CHAPTER 9
Danny headed toward the back of the school with Moxy at his side. All the new kids were getting settled in and Danny wasn’t in the mood to meet a bunch of new people.
Of course, Lou will be getting settled in too, he thought. Danny could feel the blush crawling up his neck at the mere thought of her. He’d only met her a few times, back when he’d helped Jen set her up with a tracker. But there was something calming about Lou. Maybe I should go say hi.
His subconscious laughed at him. Then you’d have to meet all the other kids. And you’re never in the mood to meet new people.
Danny was honest enough with himself to admit that that was true. In fact, he couldn’t remember there ever being a time when he was anything but terrified of meeting new people. New people were only another chance to get hurt.
Freak. The word slashed through his brain. His brothers’ voices, still loud all these years later.
A memory of his father, angry at Danny for using up all the pages in his notebook, popped into his mind. “Are you going to pay for more books?” his father had yelled, slapping Danny across the face.
Danny stopped in his tracks, a tremor in his hand. He tried to pull up a memory of his mother. He remembered sitting and reading to her when she was sick. And when he was done, she would always whisper, “I love you, my brilliant, sweet boy.”
She’d said the same words to him every single day, up until the day she died. He sighed. Why did the memory of his father’s and brothers’ angry words still hit him more powerfully than her words of love?
Moxy nudged his hand, and Danny leaned down to rub her head. “I’m okay, girl. Let’s go see Cleo. I bet she could use some company.”
Danny turned the corner and spied the door leading outside. As he pushed it open he heard Cleo’s screech. Oh no. His heart pounding, he ran to the end of building and turned a corner.
Cleo prowled the edge of her cage as two teenagers, a boy and a girl, tried to swipe at her wit
h a garden rake.
Summoning his courage, Danny marched toward them. “Get away from her.”
The teenagers turned, and Danny realized it was Michelle and Collin. He groaned. Why did it have to be them?
“Oh, look, super brain has arrived,” Michelle taunted.
“What are you going to do, super brain? Think bad thoughts at us?” Collin mocked.
Danny crossed his arms over his chest, feigning a confidence he didn’t feel. “Maybe I’ll just let Cleo out to defend herself.”
“Yeah, well, how are you going to get to the door?” Collin took a step toward Danny. “You’re not faster than us.”
“I’m betting we are,” called out a female voice from behind Danny.
Danny turned his head and saw Lou heading toward him, followed by a tall African-American boy.
Lou stopped next to Danny and gave him a smile. “Hey, Danny.”
He nodded back. “Hey, Lou.”
“Stay out of this,” Michelle warned.
Lou snorted. “Why? Cause a Barbie told me to?”
Collin took a step forward. “You really should listen to her.”
The boy next to Lou sighed dramatically. “See? That’s the problem with youth today: no understanding of when they’re about to get their asses kicked.”
Michelle rolled her eyes and turned to Collin. “Whatever. Come on.”
Collin feigned like he was going to throw the rake at Danny.
Danny flinched.
Collin laughed before dropping the rake to the ground. He followed Michelle back to the building, stopping at the door just long enough to give them the finger.
Danny let out a breath. “Jerks.”
Lou laughed. “Hey—watch the language. My pristine ears.”
Danny could feel the blush creeping up his neck again. “Sorry.”
“No problem,” she said with a smile, and Danny realized she was even prettier than he’d remembered. Much prettier.
The boy next to Lou coughed and raised his eyebrows. Lou smiled again. “Oh, sorry. Danny, this is Rolly. Rolly, this is Danny, the super-genius who put that tracker on me, traced our call, and saved our butts.”
Rolly held out his hand. “Heard a lot about you. Thanks for what you did. We all owe you.”
Danny shook Rolly’s hand. “It’s no big deal.”
“Well, it is to me. I like my butt,” Rolly said.
Lou whacked Rolly in the arm. “Ignore him,” she said. Her eyes moved past Danny to the cage, and she let out a low whistle. “Wow. That is one giant cat.”
She approached the cage but stopped a few feet short of it when Cleo let out a hiss.
“Uh, Lou, maybe you should come back here with me,” Rolly said, a tremor in his voice.
Lou took a step back. “I thought Jen said she was friendly.”
“She is.” Danny stepped up next to the cage and Cleo walked over to him. He reached in and petted her through the bars. “You just need to get Laney to introduce you.”
Rolly shifted from foot to foot. “Um, Danny?”
“Yeah?”
“Um, I was wondering. I know you don’t know me or anything, but I was hoping you could help me out.”
“If I can,” Danny said.
Rolly looked at Lou, who nodded back at him. Then he took a breath. “My sister Alicia… I think she might have been in one of the other training camps. I was hoping maybe you could find a record of her?”
Danny swallowed, knowing that whatever he found might not make Rolly happy.
“He needs to know, Danny—one way or the other,” Lou said quietly.
Danny looked at her for a moment before turning back to Rolly. “I’ll see what I can do. Do you have a picture?”
Hope flashed across Rolly’s face as he dug a picture out of his wallet and handed it over. “It’s my only one.”
“I’ll get it back to you.” The girl in the picture looked a lot like Rolly, except with higher cheekbones. “She’s very pretty.”
Rolly gave a half smile. “Yeah—we’re a good-looking family.”
Lou shook her head. “Although not a humble one.”
Danny smiled.
“Listen, we’re going to go to that carnival thing,” Rolly said. “You want to come?”
Danny looked between Lou and Rolly. For the first time, the idea of just hanging out with kids his age sounded like fun. “Yeah. That sounds good.”
CHAPTER 10
Laney’s mind churned as she walked down the hall and outside. She needed a little fresh air after everything Danny had showed them. She pictured Sophia Watson with her blond hair and bright blue eyes. A shiver ran through her as she imagined all sorts of dark possibilities.
But she forced herself to close down that line of thought. They’re alive until you know otherwise, she ordered herself, even as her stomach rolled.
Henry and Jake were pulling together everything they could on the investigations into the disappearances. But Laney couldn’t help but wonder how the abductor had identified the children. The only person who could identify a potential, as far as she knew, was herself.
Over the last few weeks, Laney had come to realize that she could feel a slight electrical charge from any potential nephilim or Fallen. Even so, the sense was minimal, barely there.
And that was for kids who were close to coming into their powers. She couldn’t imagine she would get a reading from a kid who wasn’t even close. Plus, as far as she knew, no one but her had this ability.
She sank onto a bench at the side of the school with a view of the front gate. The fight between Danny and Henry slipped into her mind. She wished she could help there, too, but she couldn’t figure out a way to ease the tension between the two of them.
She knew Henry was feeling out of his depth. Being Danny’s surrogate father had been pretty smooth sailing until the last year. Until the Fallen started making their presence known, she thought, with more than a little resentment. How many aspects of life could they possibly disrupt?
Laney shook her head, her eyes straying over the outline of the large school. A few of the kids wandered by now and then; others sat and talked beneath the magnolia to the right of the main drive. More were inside unseen, starting a new life here.
All these kids—their lives uprooted because the Fallen had plans for them. Were there still more of them being rounded up into a camp right now?
As she pictured the little kids that were missing, her gut clenched. They were all so young. So unfairly young.
She pulled out her phone and dialed Victoria, unsurprised when she got her voicemail. “Hi, Victoria—um, Mom. It’s me. Can you call when you get a chance? I need some help with something.”
She disconnected, frustration rolling through her. She was never able to directly reach Victoria. And she knew Victoria would have information. She always did.
Her eyes narrowed. There might be someone else who would know something else about the Council. She hit speed dial number eight. I can’t believe I have this guy on speed dial.
Agent Matthew Clark of the Special Investigative Agency, or SIA, spoke cheerfully through the line. “Laney. How are you?”
The SIA was a highly secretive branch of the Department of Defense. Clark had said their goal was to monitor the Fallen, but Laney couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more underneath the shadowy group.
“I’m good, Matt. How are you?” She paused. “How are the interrogations going?”
“Slowly. Our guests are not being overly cooperative.”
Laney frowned, feeling uneasy. After they’d taken down Amar, Clark had collected all the Fallen who hadn’t been killed. Six were now residing at one of the SIA’s facilities. Laney had never really been comfortable with that decision. Still, it’s not like there had been a better option. The people captured were too powerful to be housed in a regular prison, and the only other option would be to kill them—which was not an option, as far as Laney was concerned.
“So, have
you reconsidered my request to come down and speak with them?” Clark asked.
Laney paused again. Clark had been asking her with increasing frequency to come down to the facility. After all, as the ring bearer, she could compel the Fallen to speak.
She had visited once and questioned one of the inmates. But the place felt too much like a prison—a very bright prison—and the questioning had felt… wrong. It was one thing to use the ring to defend herself or others in the heat of battle. It was another thing altogether to force someone—someone who was no threat, someone who was completely in her control—to do something against their will.
“Matt, I told you I’m not comfortable with that.”
“But the stakes, Laney—”
“Are not dire enough at this moment to warrant me overriding their will, Matt. I said no.”
Clark sighed. “Okay. I’ll let it go for now.”
“Thank you.”
“Did the kids arrive all right?”
“Yes. They’re getting settled in. A few more will arrive in the next few days when they’re released from the hospital.”
“Glad to hear it.” He paused. “So, what’s the reason for your call?”
The picture of the pigtailed girl ran through Laney’s mind. “Well, we have a problem with some children. Just not the ones here.” She quickly explained about the missing children.
Clark was silent when she finished. An uncomfortable feeling swept over her. “Matt, you didn’t already know the kids were missing, did you?”
Clark hesitated. “I knew.”
Laney stared at her phone, stunned. She literally could not think of a thing to say to that.
“It’s not what you think, Laney.”
“It’s not what I think? What I think is you knew kids were missing and didn’t try to find them.”
Clark’s angry words burst through the phone. “We did try! In fact I lost men trying.”
Laney paused. “Lost men? How?”
Clark’s sigh was audible. “I thought there might be a link between the abductions and the Council. I had two of my agents investigating. They got close. One’s disappeared, and the other one…” He paused. “We recovered his body a few days ago.”