“We’re looking at the only remains of Paul Bobeck. His clothing, his boots, his wallet, everything except his body. Not a single hair was found.”
Chris inspected the arrangement of items in the on-screen hole. That’s more like absorption than devouring. She shuddered before glancing sideways at Emily, and saw the girl had her eyes squeezed shut.
The Counselor flicked to the next picture, and then the next. No more holes, just a bunch of clothing and personal items strewn across two different wooded and grassy areas with similar azure skies.
“The Technician and the Wildcard,” someone murmured.
The Counselor nodded. “Yep. Those are our south-of-the-border disappearances.”
“What about the others?” came a voice. It was the presidential assistant, but all trace of impudence was gone from her voice.
“Sarah Atkins couldn’t wear clothing due to her mutations, and Timothy’s belongings were never found because the local police weren’t aware of his disappearance until it was too late for the dogs to find a trail.”
That leaves the first guy in line, the Burrower, Chris deduced. That would explain how the killer travels undetected, and why some of the clothing was found underground.
As if reading her mind, the Counselor clicked all the way back to the photograph of the man who accompanied the first red dot in North Dakota. “Some of you might have guessed that we’re looking into the Burrower as our primary person of interest,” he stated. “But it doesn’t fit. Not completely. As of Queenie’s last reconnaissance, the Burrower wasn’t capable of doing anything like this.”
“How did he find his victims?” Mrs. Myers asked, her eyes on her notepad. “I’ve been informed that the locations of some of these Evolved weren’t made public. Should we be concerned about a security leak?”
The Counselor rubbed his forehead. “We can’t rule it out,” he admitted. “But I believe the killer may have Visionary powers. If he actually does travel below ground, access to electronics will become an issue. Now, I should point out something else.”
He glanced over his shoulder at the screen before pressing a keyboard key a few times to flip through slides until the screen displayed a list of locations. Each one included a note on how far from the victim’s home the tracker dogs lost their scent.
“The clothes were found at a distance of at least a quarter mile outside each of the victims’ communities. Always in the woods, or a field, or—in the case of West Texas—the desert, and we have reason to believe they went to those places on their own volition. For instance, neighbors said Timothy Valentine left his home, and walked in the direction of the woods before he disappeared. He rarely left his room so this was unusual behavior for him.” The Counselor paused, the information sinking in. “This means we’re dealing with—”
“Some kind of psychic lure power,” Chris murmured, unable to stop herself.
“Yes,” the Counselor said, eyeing her austerely. “Perhaps similar to the rogue Serene’s song, but more selective.”
When Overdrive shot her a sour look, Chris pursed her lips and pretended not to notice. She sank into her chair, fixing her attention on the table in front of her.
“We’ll provide the Wardens with every possible safeguard,” Mr. Turner said. “We’ve received confirmation that Saint will fly into San Francisco tomorrow morning. He’ll extend his protection to all of you for the duration of this mission.”
Saint.
The idea of meeting another Guardian intrigued Chris. It was said that members of the same classification were able to sense each other’s presence and felt a tingling sensation if they touched. The last time she felt any sort of personal connection with anyone had been with Ryan, which now felt like an eternity ago.
She pushed the memory from her mind to focus on the implications of Saint’s protection. The poor guy had drawn the short straw in regards to powers. The pain he kept his wards from experiencing was transferred over to him.
Being everyone’s punching bag has got to suck.
Saint’s involvement meant that the Wardens were playing in the big leagues for this mission.
Something smelled fishy to Chris, however. Why get Saint involved if the killer’s already moved on to South America, far away from us? She asked herself.
“Are safeguards in place for the other American Evolved, too?” one of the women in the room asked. Chris remembered she was the State Secretary of Evolved Affairs, the woman one step above Mr. Turner.
“Yes. All the rogues are informed of the threat, and have been offered safe lodging in various cities across the country.”
The woman looked pleased. “That should prevent any more deaths, especially if the killer is prone to targeting loners.”
It didn’t escape Chris how the various suits in the room had an excuse to keep tabs on all the American rogues, to keep a thumb on all the poor bastards with powers who just wanted to be left alone. She almost spoke again, but bit her tongue instead. The last thing she wanted was more trouble, and she had already drawn more attention than she intended.
The Counselor closed his laptop. “That concludes what we have so far. Unless anyone has anything else to add?”
Mr. Turner, the Wardens’ overseer, rubbed his chin while looking out over the assembled faces. None of the officials looked happy, but no one spoke up either.
“No, that’s all, thanks,” Mr. Turner told the Counselor. “Now better take your team to discuss the schedule and plans for tomorrow. You’ll need to get them ready.”
Chris didn’t have any objections whatsoever when they called the meeting to a close. If there were more plans to discuss, fine. She just hoped she wouldn’t need to socialize. Let’s get this over with, she thought, eager to get away from all the prying eyes and their personal agendas. Maybe she would even have some time to herself to check out the area for any decent jogging routes or parkour courses.
Besides, she had gone far too long without a smoke.
***
After the conclusion of the briefing, Chris, Kid, Noire, Overdrive, and the Counselor gathered in their top-floor apartment. The new Wardens team, alone for the first time, and they had a lot to discuss.
Overdrive flopped down onto the largest bean bag chair before anyone else had the chance and laced his fingers behind his head. Noire claimed her spot on one end of the couch by the window, and the Counselor sat on the other. Kid grabbed a pillow before settling on the second couch beside Chris.
“Let’s start with the basics,” the Counselor began, leaning forward so his hands hung from his knees. “I’m Joshua Whitfield, but just call me Josh. I don’t care much for those Evolved tags.”
Chris liked the sound of that. “I’m Chris,” she offered in a low voice.
Josh pointed at Noire, Kid, and Overdrive in turn. “Nora, Emily, and Peter,” he introduced.
“You can call me Monster Momma,” Nora said in an icy tone. Jerking a thumb in Peter’s direction, she added, “And just call him Pimp. He likes that.”
Peter gave her the finger, but smirked at the same time, showing that he wasn’t offended.
Josh ignored the childish banter. “I’m here to tell you about the game plan. We’re all flying into Ellendale tomorrow morning, and then we’ll make the half-hour drive to the town of Cowley, North Dakota.”
The first victim’s home town, Chris thought, recalling the map.
“We’re flying across the country? Cool.” Peter squirmed with anticipation. “Are we gonna take one of those supersonic aircrafts like the Special Ops forces—”
Josh cut him off before their debriefing session got derailed any more. “We’ll take a regular passenger aircraft provided by the Army,” he said with a schoolmaster’s patience. His forty-something years were evident in the lines around his eyes. “Once in Cowley, we’ll suit up in our costumes and head over to the residence of Chayton Wallace, the Burrower.”
“You mean the killer,” Nora pointed out.
“That’s improbable. But yes, w
e’ll have a look at the space to see what might have been missed earlier.”
Chris couldn’t hold her tongue any longer. Even after the briefing session, some of the puzzle pieces were still missing. “What exactly are we supposed to do there?” she indicated herself and the other Wardens. “I mean, you’re the only one with any crime-solving experience.”
“I’ve worked with the FBI for long enough to know that two heads are better than one. This is a serious case, and we need all the help we can get. Besides, it might help if Emily was there if we talk to any more witnesses.”
“There are witnesses?” Chris asked, surprised. That fact hadn’t been mentioned at the briefing session.
“One or two people said they saw something, but their accounts didn’t have much useful information,” Josh replied. “Depending on where any new leads take us, we may need to pay them a visit again.”
His response did little to answer Chris’s question. Something wasn’t right here.
“Okay,” she said. “But I’m still wrapping my head around this. They’re sending a nine-year-old girl after something so dangerous they need to fly Saint in for protection? And the rest of us are just supposed to stand by, in costume, and maybe talk to unhelpful witnesses?” Chris crossed her arms across her chest, bemused. “It all sounds like some sort of twisted photo op to me.”
Joshua Whitfield gave a slight smile and looked out the window for an extended moment. When he finally spoke, there was a degree of satisfaction in his voice. “They told me you were smart,” he said. “I think they were right.”
Chris just stared at him, waiting for an answer.
“This is as much about showing the Wardens in action as it is about tracking a serial killer,” the team’s leader finally conceded. “Public opinion of Evolved is plummeting in America because of the bad press that came after the power surges. Mr. Turner is hoping to do something about it before pressure from the taxpayers axes the Wardens program entirely.”
“So you admit it’s a PR stunt,” Chris challenged.
“Not quite,” Josh said, pushing back a little. “The threat is real, don’t kid yourself, and so far nobody’s been able to stop it. You’re correct in saying that they wouldn’t fly Saint in without a reason.”
So this isn’t just an excuse to pen up all the rogues, Chris decided while glancing at Emily. If she has to go, I’m not leaving her side.
“But, yes,” Josh continued, answering her question at last, “they’d also like to show the Wardens in action, doing something for the greater good.”
Well, that’s a shitty reason to get a kid involved, especially if you acknowledge the danger.
Emily’s attention wasn’t on the circle of seats or anything in the room. She stared out the window, hugging a pillow to her chest and frowning at nothing in particular. All of her usual bubbly demeanor had disappeared ever since the meeting began, making Chris uncomfortable in a way that she couldn’t figure out. It just felt … wrong.
She’s just a little girl. She should be out, building sandcastles or something, not risking her life to improve some government approval ratings.
Chris gently squeezed the girl’s arm. “You okay?”
“This is bad, isn’t it?” Emily mumbled into the pillow’s stuffing. “It’s, like, a bogeyman or something.”
“Maybe it’s a bogeywoman,” Nora joked. She toyed idly with the African-style braids spilling over her shoulders and reaching almost to her waist.
Josh glared at Nora.
“Emily has had bad dreams lately,” Peter explained. “All this spooky crap on the news has rubbed off on her, possibly because she’s an Empath.”
Not to mention the fact she’s just a little girl. Chris bit back the obvious. “You don’t have to do this if you’re scared,” she told Emily in a soft voice. “If they try to force you into it, I’ll beat them up.”
She was only half joking, though she wasn’t keen on the idea of beating people up. But she knew that she would do it anyway if anyone put that little girl in danger. That was why she’d agreed to come to HQ in the first place. Her allegiance was with Emily, not the suits who put her in this apartment. Period.
“No, I wanna help,” Emily insisted, meeting Chris’s eyes. She forced a small smile. “If anything goes wrong, you can protect me. That’s your role. It’s why you like dolphins—because they save people, too.”
Chris hoped the girl wasn’t just putting on a brave face. “If you’re sure.”
“Yeah, I’m sure. Super duper sure. Sure as eggs is eggs.”
Chris couldn’t help but to smile.
“Okay. Glad that’s finally settled,” Nora said, feigning boredom. But Chris could tell she had a soft spot for the little Empath, too.
Emily made a stern little face at Nora. “Can you keep Mr. Black inside this time?”
Chris was about to ask about the reference when she realized Emily was talking about Noire’s shadow. Yeah, I’d appreciate if that thing stays tucked away, too.
“Sure.” Nora heaved her broad shoulders. “But doncha piss me off by stealing my cheese crackers.”
“No cheese crackers,” Emily agreed.
At that moment, the tension evaporated from the apartment.
“I can just see it,” Peter quipped. “Kid’s gonna be the star of the show. The rest of us are just extras.”
“On that note, I’ll leave you to it,” Josh said, getting to his feet. “But before you enjoy the rest of the day off, I’ll remind you that the plane’s leaving at seven o’clock sharp in the morning. Do not be late. We don’t want to piss the Army off. And don’t forget your Wardens cell phones and your uniforms.”
“What about Chris?” Emily piped up.
“I’ll get admin to send her phone before the end of the day,” Josh said, noting it in his own mobile.
“Is her new costume gonna be ready, too?” the girl asked.
Peter flashed Chris a huge grin. “Oh, man, I feel kinda sorry for you. One lady with a kid on a train posts a picture of Mascot online, and now you’re stuck with that stupid character forever.”
Chris resisted the urge to smack him hard. “Don’t care,” she quipped.
Josh ignored their squabbling. “I’ll make sure it’s ready first thing tomorrow morning. It’ll be a day of firsts for both of us,” he added, trying to put her at ease. “It’s the first time they’re making a music track available for me. I’ve been cleared to receive power boosters in advance of our mission. I don’t see old connections as well, and, in this case, it’s important that we’re on the top of our games.”
He was looking at Emily, who averted her eyes to her pillow.
“Cool,” Peter said, oblivious to the moment. “One of DJ’s tracks?”
“Yes. They’re sending samples that were originally developed for Queenie, but they should work fine for me since I’m a Visionary as well.”
“Why doncha request something custom?” Nora asked.
“Because DJ was among the latest off-grid disappearances in Europe,” Peter answered.
“Oh, yeah, that’s right. I forgot. He disappeared along with your girlfriend,” Nora teased, drawing out the word ‘girlfriend’ with a playful cock of her head.
“Shut up,” he grumbled.
Chris didn’t ask, opting to avoid feeding the flames of teenage drama, but Emily sent her a knowing look.
“O liked the Euro girl who disappeared from Cheeseland,” she divulged in a stage whisper. “They were chatting on the Interweb.”
Josh clapped his hands, drawing the others’ attention. “Okay, I’m outta here.”
“Aw, you’re not staying here tonight?” Nora drawled in a way which showed she wasn’t upset by the idea.
Josh ignored her tone. “You guys stay up too late for me,” he joked, walking to the apartment entrance. “I’ll be at my usual hotel. But in case you need me later, my cell number’s on the fridge.”
He just wants to avoid the teenage drama, Chris assumed.
>
“Don’t forget. Seven o’clock sharp,” the Wardens’ leader added before the door closed behind him.
“Bye-bye, boss,” Nora called after him in a sarcastic voice. She turned to the others. “I’m gonna go call my Momma on the house phone, so keep it down in here, okay?”
“Wait,” Emily piped up. “Maybe we should let Chris call her folks first. You know, since it’s her first day here and all.”
Chris was surprised. “Um, no thanks. I’m not much of a phone talker, especially with my parents. Besides,” she added, getting to her feet, “I’m going for a run.” She needed a breather before she was thrown into whatever craziness the coming day had in store for her.
4.3 Investigation
San Francisco, USA
Saturday, the 9th of June, 2012
6:27 a.m.
As promised, Chris’s new costume was finished in the early morning. She took the elevator to the tailor’s office on the third floor while the others were busy getting ready upstairs. She hoped the designer had made sure that she would still be able to move in it. Bonus points if the headpiece didn’t impair her vision as much as the old one.
Chris pushed through the studio door and navigated her way through overflowing piles of half-completed Wardens merchandise in a multitude of colors. Her eyes were drawn to the mannequin which stood in the middle of the room, wearing her new costume. A dozen people, including Mr. Turner, were clustered around it, admiring their work or completing last-minute adjustments.
The designers hadn’t changed her Mascot theme. As Peter had so kindly pointed out, she was stuck with the family-friendly bear costume forever. But this design had been pared down to the essentials: a fur-trimmed, tight-fitting body suit and a matching helmet complete with furry round ears with dark lenses over the cartoon-like large eyeholes.
Great. They’re turning me into a tailless raccoon. The thought of going on a serial killer chase in this outfit was almost amusing.
Mr. Turner separated himself from the group to extend his hand to Chris. “Perfect timing, Christina. Your new costume is nearly finished.”
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