by R. D. Brady
“Thank you,” Mary Jane said.
He nodded before heading down the hall. Tiger followed Cain, but Cleo and Zane lay across the doorway, as if they wanted to keep a view of both rooms.
Molly curled up on the floor, leaning on Mary Jane’s legs. Theresa sat next to her, her arms wrapped around her knees.
Jake grabbed the remote, nodding at the muted set. “It’s starting.”
The last refrain of a chain restaurant jingle drifted through the room. Tension filled the silence as the opening of DC Tonight began to play. Once again, Jerome Fontane looked out into the audience.
“Good evening, and welcome to DC Tonight. Twenty-four hours ago, President Margaret Rigley authorized an executive order that requires all enhanced individuals to register with the Agency of Enhanced Individuals within a week.
“DC Tonight learned of the new agency about seven days ago and has been investigating it ever since. The agency falls under Homeland Security, but more specifically, it falls under the External Threats Task Force.”
Jake sucked in a breath, his jaw tight. But Mary Jane didn’t ask what was wrong because she had the feeling Jerome was about to explain it all to her in excruciating detail.
“The External Threats Task Force works under the auspices of Homeland Security and is an extremely controversial group. They act with very little oversight within a terrorism framework that is already criticized for being too harsh and failing to provide basic constitutional protections. Placing the agency under the auspices of this group is a bad omen for the treatment that enhanced individuals in the United States can expect.”
Jerome took a deep breath. “And that brings me to the agency known as the Special Investigative Agency or the SIA. For years, the SIA has worked quietly behind the scenes, apprehending enhanced individuals who have broken the law. The normal criminal justice system—and more importantly, the correctional system—are not set up to handle an enhanced population. Which is where the SIA stepped in.
“When we first learned of the SIA, we were concerned about their methods. Enhanced individuals did not receive a trial. They did not receive any sort of legal representation. They were simply ruled guilty by the SIA and put on ice.
“But at the time, in their attempts to keep the existence of the enhanced a secret, it was the best option. And in our review, the individuals targeted by the SIA, if brought to trial, would have almost undoubtedly been found guilty.
“The enhanced were then kept in a drug-induced coma, unable to access their abilities while the SIA looked for alternative methods to hold them. There weren’t many options. No facility was strong enough to contain them. And while they were held there, they were just that—held there. They were not otherwise mistreated.
“But then the External Task Force took over under the stewardship of Moses Stewart.” An image of a man in his forties, glaring at the photographer, appeared on the screen.
“Moses Stewart had a different idea of how the enhanced individuals in his charge should be treated. We managed to obtain a recording of the SIA’s treatment of the enhanced under Moses Stewart’s leadership. I warn you, the video you are about to see is graphic, and parents are strongly encouraged to remove their children from the room.”
A graphic content warning sign appeared on the screen for five seconds before the recording began. It was a security tape of what looked at first like a hospital room. There was a man lying on a bed. Mary Jane leaned forward with a squint and noted the restraints keeping the man there and some sort of IV. Two men dressed all in black with an insignia on their long sleeves stepped in. There was no sound, which made it all the more eerie as they moved toward the bound figure.
On the floor, both Theresa and Molly inched closer to Mary Jane. She stroked Molly’s hair as Shaun squeezed her hand. Both of the men in black pulled batons from their belts.
“Oh God.” Molly hid her face in her hands. The men struck the man in the bed repeatedly, over and over again. The prone man offered no resistance. It went on for two minutes without pause as they struck at him. Blood began to drip from the bed to the floor. By the time they were done, it had shifted from an occasional drip to a steady stream. The men stepped back, and one of them spit on their victim before leaving the room.
Mary Jane’s hand flew to her mouth. She worried for a moment she was going to be sick.
The image began to fast-forward as Jerome began to speak again. “The man was left there, bleeding, injured and without aid for a full day.”
“Mom,” Molly said, her voice shaking. Mary Jane wrapped her arms around her.
Jerome reappeared on the screen. “Those men were agents employed by the United States government. And that scene was replayed in every cell of the SIA’s secret facility in Lowell, Ohio. We reviewed each of those recordings. Each inmate was beaten and left without medical care. None of the individuals were in any state to fight back or defend themselves. They were completely defenseless.”
Jerome took a deep breath. “Some may say these individuals got what they deserved. Each of them was indeed locked up for a violent offense. But they posed no threat at the time they were beaten. Physical punishment is not part of the United States system of justice. It was Dostoevsky who said that ‘the degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons.’ These individuals were in our prisons, and this is how we treated them. What does that say about us as a society?
“Now our government is saying we should trust them with the names of the enhanced individuals within our country. Individuals who have broken no laws. Many of whom protected people on the Day of Reckoning. Yet the United States government has suspended their constitutional protections and said they could be subject to incarceration and submitted to experimentation at the hands of the same government that allowed this to happen.
“Is this what our government has become? Is this who we have become? Have we let fear push us to a point where we lock up innocent victims? When Josef Mengele conducted his experiments, he was reported to switch between affection for his charges and a callous disregard for their suffering. Are we going to use the same argument? History did not judge Nazis kindly. If the United States continues on this path, I do not think we will be judged any less harshly. We’ll be back after this commercial break.”
Jake muted the set. No one spoke. Mary Jane couldn’t think of a single thing to say.
Theresa finally broke the silence. Her voice shook. Tears had traced their way down her cheeks. “Can they really do that to us?”
Mary Jane just shook her head.
Joe sprang to his feet. “We can’t let this happen. It isn’t right.”
“But what can we do?” Shaun asked, his chin trembling as he looked at his little sister.
“We fight,” Jake said quietly. “We fight them every step of the way.”
CHAPTER 27
Rome, Italy
Laney was fit to be tied. They’d been in Rome for three days without getting anything but the runaround from the Vatican. She had the distinct impression they were stalling. No bureaucracy could be this incompetent.
Then she’d seen the news report this morning on DC Tonight. Already there were protests, people taking sides.
Yes, they deserved that treatment.
No, they didn’t. It isn’t what America is.
And here she was, twiddling her thumbs. She’d called Henry first thing this morning after she’d seen the broadcast. Henry assured her that everything was fine, but she could hear the tension in his voice. But she couldn’t press him for more information. It was a safe bet that their conversation was being recorded. She knew him, though. She knew he was making plans. No doubt he had arranged to whisk the kids away at the first sign of trouble. The DC Tonight revelation on top of the executive order—they were storm clouds along the horizon. Trouble was coming.
“It’s okay if you want to go home. I can handle this on my own,” Patrick said.
Laney shoved her feelings aside and shook
her head as Drake brought Patrick’s wheelchair to a stop at the entrance to St. Peter’s Square. “Of course not. Henry has everything under control. And when else will I get a chance to see behind the scenes at the Vatican?”
“I’m not sure you’ll be able to see much more than long hallways,” Patrick said.
“That’s all right. I’ll enjoy the peace.”
“And I’ll be there if it gets too boring,” Drake said.
Patrick winced. “Well, that’s . . . something.”
Drake leaned down. “I’ll be on my best behavior.” He nodded toward the giant Egyptian obelisk in the center of the square. “I helped deliver that. It originated in Heliopolis. Caligula originally brought it to Rome, where it was positioned in a place of honor to oversee the Circus of Nero.” Drake frowned. “It always seemed an odd thing for the Church to want, given those two associations with it.”
Patrick gaped up at him. “I actually didn’t know that.”
“When the obelisk was placed here, that was all that was here. The rest wasn’t built until a hundred years later,” Drake said.
Laney had to admit it was quite a sight. She had been to St. Peter’s Square twice before, both with her uncle. Her reaction to it was no different than the two times before—it took her breath away. St. Peter’s Basilica was straight ahead, built to mark the spot where St. Peter had been crucified. In front of it was St. Peter’s Square. It was a massive space, with an almost semicircle of four deep colonnades on the perimeter. Sitting atop the colonnades, looking into the square, were statues of one hundred and forty saints.
Drake pushed on Patrick’s handlebars, and they began to make their way through the square in the early morning light. Laney couldn’t help but think of all the people and power that this place had represented over time. For the most part, she liked the current Pope. He seemed like a good man, a very good man. She just hoped those who served the world under him were just as good.
Patrick put up a hand, stopping Drake from pushing him farther. “I think I’d like to wheel myself around for a bit. We have a little time.”
“Of course. We’ll meet you at the entrance when you are ready,” Laney said.
Patrick smiled and started to wheel away.
Laney watched him go. He was putting on a brave face, but she knew the executive order and the broadcast from the President had shaken him as well.
Drake took her hand. “We can go home.”
Laney shook her head. “No. We can’t. Not until my uncle finishes his business here. Until he gets this sorted out, he can’t come back with us, and I won’t leave him here alone.”
“He looks tired.”
Laney nodded, a smile creeping across her face. “I think your tour yesterday took a lot out of him.”
Drake grinned. “I just wanted to make sure he saw the Rome I know.”
Laney smiled back at him. The Vatican had kept pushing her uncle off each time he inquired when he was going to get to speak with someone regarding his status. So Drake had done his best to distract Laney and Patrick. For the last three days, they’d been touring the city and surrounding areas with Drake taking it upon himself to show them around. He had been the world’s most enthusiastic tour guide. He’d gotten them behind the ropes at every single tourist spot they had gone to and even at a few spots that did not have any official tour. Her uncle, while tense when they had arrived, had slowly relaxed, soaking in the history. His eyes had sparkled in a way Laney hadn’t seen since before he’d been shot.
“Thank you for all you’ve done.” Laney leaned toward him, but her phone beeped, halting her forward momentum.
Drake sighed dramatically. “Foiled again.”
Laney gave him a distracted smile as she read the text. “It’s from my uncle. The Vatican is ready for us.”
“And yet you don’t look happy.”
She forced a smile to her face. “No, no. This is good. Hopefully we can wrap all this up today and be on our way home tonight.”
Drake squeezed her cheek. “Aw, look who’s still overly optimistic about large bureaucracies.”
She swatted his hand away. “Fine, tomorrow at the latest. But it does mean this is finally coming to an end.”
This time it was Drake whose smile faltered for a moment. But Laney pretended not to see it. She wanted to believe that Drake thought that everything would be fine.
After all, at least one of them should believe it.
Patrick was waiting for them near the basilica’s entrance. He had more color in his cheeks, but he still looked a little tired.
Laney frowned. Maybe this was too much for him. I should—
“Father Patrick!”
A small, thin priest hurried over from the entrance. He had curly dark hair and an unfortunately hooked nose. He was accompanied by two younger priests. If not for their clerical collars, their build would suggest they were security.
The priest stopped in front of them and gave them a big smile. “Welcome to the Vatican! We are so excited you could join us today. I am Father Ezekiel.”
Laney looked at Drake, who was staring at the man like he was some form of unappealing luncheon meat.
“Thank you, Father Ezekiel,” Patrick said.
“We have a full day scheduled, including a tour. I thought we could start with—”
Before Laney could interrupt, her uncle did. “I’m afraid we are in a bit of a time crunch. We have been in Rome for three days, and as I’m sure you have seen the news from the States, you can understand our need to get back as quickly as possible.”
“Yes, yes, of course. The tour can wait for another time. This is Father Michele and Father Angelo. They will escort you to your first meeting.”
Both priests nodded. Father Angelo moved behind Patrick’s wheelchair.
Laney blocked the priest’s way. “That’s not necessary. I have it.”
Ezekiel’s face fell. “Oh, I’m so sorry. There are no outsiders permitted in the parts of the Vatican we will be in.” His smiled returned. “But Dr. McPhearson, Mr. Drake, I would be honored to give you a tour of the Castel Sant’Angelo while your uncle conducts his business. It will only take an hour or two, and your uncle should be done by the time we return. I assure you, this is a tour that no other tourist gets.”
Laney paused, studying the man. He smiled, but it didn’t seem to reach his eyes. She turned to her uncle.
He patted her hand. “It’s all right. Let’s just get this over with.”
“If you need me, you call. Drake and I will be right there.”
“I know. Now go, see the castle, then tell me all about it on the trip home.”
Home. Just the word sounded wonderful. “All right.” She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. He gave her a little wave as Father Angelo wheeled him away.
Ezekiel gestured to a side entrance. “If you’ll follow me. I have a car waiting for us.”
Laney inclined her head. He hurried toward the entrance. Laney began to follow, Drake falling in step next to her. He leaned down, his lips brushing her ear. “Watch your step, ring bearer. This place has changed much over the years, but one thing remains the same: There are wolves within these walls.”
CHAPTER 28
David strode through the airport in Rome, skirting around a family whose two young children were crying in earnest. He stepped out into the bright sunshine, enjoying the feel of the sun on his skin after the long flight. Within an hour, he had stopped at his apartment, gotten changed, and was back out on the street, slipping into the tourist pedestrian traffic.
He buttoned his suit jacket as he stepped to the curb and raised his hand to hail a cab. He had let Bruce know he was heading to Rome. Laney accompanying her uncle was not out of character for her. But after the executive order, he was surprised she was still here. Of course, his sources told him the Vatican, which had been desperate to speak with her uncle for the last few months, had not met with them yet. That was surprising.
David was not a fan of
unpredictability. He studied his marks inside and out. He could always predict what they were going to do. It was what made him so good at his job. He had an inkling of what the Vatican’s angle was, and if he was right, it would not be good for Delaney. David wasn’t sure it would be so good for the United States either, even though he was pretty sure they were in cahoots with at least some individuals at the Vatican.
Perhaps she’s just good. Rahim’s words slipped into his mind. The more reports he read on her, the more he thought his partner might be right. And that could explain why he was having such a difficult time with this particular mission. His targets almost always had selfish motivations: money and power being the top two. Altruism? Family? Those had never made the cut in any of his cases. He had one overlord who’d killed his entire family because he thought his wife was cheating on him. She wasn’t. Family ties? Those rarely offered any protection.
Shremp wanted something that he could use to take Delaney down. His motivation was clear: power. Shremp believed if he could take Delaney down, it would cause his own political star to rise. He didn’t care if the story he crafted was true or not. He just wanted it to look damaging enough to thrust him into the spotlight as the hero.
He grunted. Shremp wanted everyone to view him as a hero, and Delaney McPhearson, who had saved thousands if not millions of people, was uncomfortable with the title. But that’s how it always seemed to be. Those with the right to the honor felt unworthy of it, and those without the right felt entitled to it.
David lowered his arm as a taxi approached. The driver eyed his outfit and spoke in English. “Where to?”
David slid into the back seat. “The Vatican.”
CHAPTER 29
Father Ezekiel led Laney and Drake to a sleek black Mercedes. Two Swiss Guards on motorcycles were in front of the sedan and another two behind. The motorcycle security escorted them through the streets.