Shadows and Spice

by Grady, D. R.

  How would it be with strangers here?

  Janine feared she’d meshed her feelings and misgivings about Greg with her ability to host two unknown cousins. If she couldn’t handle her cousins, she probably couldn’t live in harmony with Greg.

  The knot in her stomach reformed larger than before.

  Chapter 28

  When Friday finally rolled around, Greg still wasn’t convinced Janine’s inviting these Morris siblings was a good idea. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was going down he didn’t want to contend with. Not that he turned away from danger and ominous feelings, but in this case, the instinct hovered just out of reach, remaining wispy and insubstantial. That never boded well.

  Because when they materialized, generally the substance gelled all at once only to blow up in his face when the time of revelation came. He hated when that happened. No time to prepare, no time to counter attack. They all simply had to be ready when the action started, and sometimes no one thought to inform them the action had started. All his instincts were shouting at him. But with nothing conclusive he had to go about pretending to be a regular citizen. He wondered what O’Riley would say about that?

  Greg slid to a stop in front of the ER entrance at the hospital and watched as the doors glided open to emit Janine. She strolled with the easy grace and serenity he associated with her. Her relatives would quickly realize she’d be hard to dispatch if that was their intent. If he could remember more about them, it might help, but Janine didn’t appear to have one single doubt about these potential Morris cousins.

  Her utter confidence in them had shattered some of his pessimism. Maybe they really did just want to meet up with more family. He supposed some people needed to be surrounded by family. Obviously, they must be Morrisons if that was the case.

  He reminded himself to breathe because the walls of her SUV tightened around him. Janine whisked the door open and slid into the passenger seat. She leaned over and kissed him hello. He liked it. With her came the scent of gardenias and a subtle spice he couldn’t identify. He recognized the fragrance immediately as belonging to Janine.

  “Are you sure about this?” He kept asking, but since he wasn’t sure, he wanted to make certain one of them held confidence in this endeavor.

  “Yes,” she answered with a slight smile. Confidence emanated from her, as did peace and serenity.

  Greg would have appreciated a large dose of all three. He turned the vehicle toward the airport.

  “What if things blow up in our faces?” He sounded grim, even to his own ears. That couldn’t be good, but it was authentic.

  “We’re trained to deal with explosives.” Janine’s golden eyes swept over him. “You’re used to things blowing up.” She raised a brow.

  He grinned, even though merriment was the least of his emotions at this point. So she had a point. He was skilled with and knowledgeable about explosives. Still. “I’m not so sure I know how the handle these particular attacks.”

  “We haven’t been attacked lately. Not since your car blew up.”

  “Notice I’m not driving my car,” he said wryly.

  She glanced around the interior of her SUV. “Yes, and I’m rather fond of this vehicle. Let’s try to keep it intact, please?”

  He shrugged. Merging into traffic required his attention, so he lapsed into silence until they joined the vehicles already on the highway. Friday afternoon traffic hadn’t built to unmanageable proportions yet, but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t.

  “Your shirt matches your eyes.” Her eyes grew dark as her hand trailed down his arm. Greg had to concentrate to keep the vehicle on the road.

  “Quit that,” he growled and shot her a quelling look.

  Janine grinned. “It does. I like it.” Her voice came out on a purr. He struggled to keep his thoughts pure. Greg realized he wasn’t doing a good job of it, so he was grateful when she glanced at her watch and he saw her peek at the speedometer.

  “Relax, we’ve got plenty of time.” A conversation change, good.

  She didn’t fidget, to give her credit, but his heart tripped up a beat. The serenity factor in the vehicle had dropped a few fractions. “I don’t want to be late.”

  “We won’t be.” Greg motored by a trailer truck and sped past a Lincoln before signaling to switch lanes again.

  “What if they don’t like me?” Her voice sounded small, unlike the Janine he knew.

  “What if they do?” he countered, and switched lanes again to breeze past a clunker burning oil.

  Janine turned in her seat to face him head on. “What if they decide they don’t want to help us build a medical history?”

  “They will.” Greg switched lanes again, just in case someone was following them. Never hurt to be safe. He decided to change the subject again, too. “Did you talk to Ben?”

  “Yes.” The serenity factor nudged up. Janine’s impassive face softened a bit. “He’s excited to meet Jonathan and Tasmin. I invited him, Treeny, and the kids for supper tonight.”

  “Sounds good. How soon before you unleash the entire Morrison clan on them?”

  Janine bit her lip. “I don’t know. Probably not until next week. Of course, I’ll have Max and KC and the kids. And maybe General Emma and the admiral. And my folks and grandparents.”

  He nodded. “Hit them in spurts. That’s probably the safest way to incorporate them.”

  “I made an appointment for us to have our DNA tests done on Tuesday.” Her voice sounded tight, and a little apprehensive. He saw her bite her lip again.

  “Quit biting your lips. They’re going to be fine with that.” Strange how he was now offering the reassurance. Greg parked the SUV and turned to her.

  “I know. I imagine they’ll be exhausted though.”

  “Right, well we’ll know soon, since we’re here.”

  Janine hesitated before she opened the door. How to encourage her? “Chances are good they’re as nervous as you are. Remember, they’re pretty sure someone is trying to at least hurt them, if not kill them.”

  She nodded, and slid out of the SUV. Janine landed with her usual grace, which never failed to impress him. She might be apprehensive, but she hadn’t lost her ability to function. He scanned the parking lot, watching for discrepancies and enemies, and felt Janine copying his perusal.

  Old habits died hard.

  “Act like normal citizens,” Janine said from the corner of her mouth.

  His mouth kicked up. “Like that’s ever going to happen.”

  “Why not?” He saw her shoulders relax a fraction.

  “Can’t teach an old dog new tricks,” he said and continued his surveillance of the parking garage.

  Whatever Janine had been about to say was cut off by the shot that echoed through the open concrete building.

  Greg didn’t have to yank Janine down beside him. She hit the ground in a movement so like his, they could have been synchronized bullet dodgers. The nether regions howled a known refrain at him as his operative instincts and senses increased a notch.

  What if something had happened to Janine? What if the bullet had slammed into her body?

  With a panic that bordered on the frantic, Greg searched the surroundings, hunting for the person who pulled the trigger. There was no scent of a fired weapon. Seconds eked into a half minute before the rumble of an engine spurred him to his feet.

  He tugged Janine to hers, and Greg thought her frown probably matched his. The old van that rumbled to the payment booth backfired again before rocking to a stop in front of one of the cubicles. Greg watched as a parking ticket and money exchanged hands and the old van backfired another time when the driver accelerated.

  “A backfiring van?” Janine’s mouth formed an o, and her eyes were wider than usual. She turned the bemused amber orbs on him.

  “I’m feeling stupid, too,” he admitted, as he brushed off the floor particles clinging to his clothing.

  Janine continued to stare at him, her jaw working but nothing came out.
He brushed her off next, since she didn’t appear capable. Greg tried not to enjoy the exercise, but failed.

  “We’re not meant for the real world, are we?” Her voice echoed the same thoughts screaming through his mind. The terror that had gripped him in its vice-like hold wasn’t relinquishing its prey quickly. Greg had to fight to release the vines that had crept round his spine, causing the space between his shoulder blades to twitch. He rolled his shoulders in a vain attempt to alleviate the itch there.

  He hated feeling like a sitting duck. Especially here in the “real” world. A world he obviously wasn’t growing accustomed to. Like a wart, he wasn’t welcome. Alien but not hostile, he couldn’t seem to shake the vestiges of his former life.

  Greg brushed a hand over Janine’s bottom and that spurred her into action. At least she half-heartedly joined him in brushing her clothing down. Her eyes, lackluster and staring, worried him. He’d seen signs of shellshock before, but hadn’t thought to associate the condition with Janine.

  “Are you okay?”

  She blinked at him and her eyes cleared. “Yes,” she said, her voice tight, her movements jerky as she edged away from him and wiped a hand over her pants again.

  “Then let’s go meet your cousins.” He didn’t take her arm as he was certain she’d yank away from him. Slanting glances at her every few steps didn’t enlighten him as to what was bothering her. But he thought maybe he knew. Hearing a car backfire had sent them hurtling to the ground. Only operatives and military personnel did so. Normal people heard a gunshot and thought it was a car backfiring.

  Abnormal people heard a car backfire.... Greg sighed. He decided to quiz O’Riley about how many people actually left the service and other assorted careers and managed normal lives. Because he doubted many of them had a clue how to be a “citizen.”

  “We don’t have to figure this out this minute.”

  “What are you talking about?” He noticed her words were tinged with more island spice than American cadence as her hand slid into his. Her simple gesture warmed the cold winds howling through him. The chaos inside settled to manageable proportions.

  He squeezed her hand to say thank you. “Being a regular person again doesn’t have to happen overnight. I don’t think we’re expected to get it right the first month.”

  She frowned. “We’ve had longer than a month.”

  True. “We don’t have to learn this the first year or even the second year, either.”

  “What if our skills deteriorate?” Ah, her issues were rising to the surface. He hoped he could dispel her anxieties. And his too, for that matter.

  “Is that a problem?”

  “I don’t know. I guess they already have because we just rolled at the sound of a backfiring vehicle.” She shoved her free hand through her hair. “It’s just that we worked so long and hard to acquire them, it seems silly to let them atrophy.”

  They reached the sliding doors of the airport and Greg followed her into the coolness of the darkened space. She bypassed the check-in desk, her eyes sweeping over the computer monitors and he followed her lead. He saw the Morris’ plane was on schedule.

  “They should have landed,” he commented as he followed her to the baggage claim area where they intended to meet. Greg realized he liked holding hands.

  “Right, they’re probably deplaning now.”

  He felt Janine quicken her pace and matched his stride to hers. “Where’s the fire?” he quipped and she sent him a very feminine shut-up look. Greg grinned and swung their hands, enjoying himself.

  He wondered if she regretted bringing him along.

  A man who looked like a Morrison entered the area, followed by a woman who reminded him strongly of General Emma. The man had brown hair that was cut exactly like a wealthy, young man of his set would sport, and Greg judged him to stand about six foot, maybe an inch or two taller. His eyes were the Morrison blue-green. He stopped and stared at Janine, who returned the stare. He held open his arms and she launched into them. The woman separated them and grabbed Janine in an equally tight hold. Tasmin wore her sun-streaked blonde hair nearly to her waist. Her eyes were also the Morrison blue-green, only they were much lighter. Her petite frame was nearly identical to Emma’s.

  In the manner of the Morrisons, the three of them all started talking at once. He noticed that while they could all talk at the same time, they also seemed to understand one another, too. That was another Morrison trait.

  Janine broke up the conversation by grabbing his arm and hauling him into the fray. He resisted the urge to leap onto the baggage conveyor and escape.

  “This is Greg Gilmore, he’s a friend of mine. And brother to my best friend.”

  “Hello, Greg.” Jonathan Morris extended a hand. His handshake was firm, his gaze steady. Nothing about the man raised his suspicions. That was good.

  “Hello.” He kept his body loose.

  “This is Tasmin,” Janine said unnecessarily.

  He shook hands with the woman and again, nothing triggered a negative response in him. Like the last time he had encountered Tasmin, she subtly impressed him. Janine should be safe with this pair. Neither seemed inclined to bear her any harm, although both brother and sister jumped when someone brushed against them, or ran toward them.

  That made sense in light of recent events in their lives.

  Greg kept up surveillance as they swung their luggage from the belt and turned to follow him and Janine from the airport. He took Janine’s hand again. She didn’t resist.

  Janine asked, “Did you have a nice flight?”

  “It was uneventful,” Tasmin replied.

  “We like that,” Jonathan added, with a wry twist to his mouth.

  Greg was sure they did. He’d appreciate knowing what uneventful felt like. Did it mean no car bombs? No weapons pointed at him? No looking over his shoulder everywhere he went?

  After stowing their luggage in the back of Janine’s SUV, Greg again took the driver’s seat. That way he wouldn’t be required to contribute to the conversation. Hopefully.

  For which he was grateful by the time he turned into Janine’s driveway. Not that their conversation wasn’t interesting, he just had nothing to contribute about their mutual grandfather. Having never met the man, even though he’d apparently worked for him, Greg couldn’t offer much in the way of intelligent comments.

  He helped carry the bags into the house and after Janine directed him where they went saw the couple settled in the family room. Greg steered Janine to the side. “Are you going to be okay with two people you barely know in your house?”

  Her eyes darkened and she looked away from him. “I think so.”

  Yeah, that’s what he thought. He tilted her chin up with a hand. “Are you okay with this?”

  He saw resolve and a determination there he liked in her eyes. Janine wasn’t one to back down from a challenge – that was for sure. He appreciated such qualities.

  “I really think I’ll be okay. I’m a little worried that my space has been invaded, but then, I did invite them.”

  “True.”

  “They are family, they needed this break, and I can do more to help them here than I can on Toliliel.”

  “If you need me...”

  “I’ll call you,” she finished and nodded.

  Greg bent his head and kissed her because he couldn’t stop himself. He enjoyed the embrace and the soft, happy sigh that escaped her lips.

  “I’ll be waiting.”

  Chapter 29

  After three wonderful days with her cousins, Janine wondered how she could have doubted them and herself. When she needed space, she escaped to her bedroom and closed the door. Both Jonathan and Tasmin seemed to understand and appreciate that quality in her, and she noticed both of them also took alone time. All was well with that situation, thankfully.

  Now she was on her way to see Greg, and hopefully steal a little alone time with him. These few days she had slowly come to the realization that she was in love with this
man. She loved who he was and what he had been and Janine wanted him permanently in her life.

  She turned into his driveway, excited to see him. As she slowed the SUV in his driveway a premonition of doom washed over her like a massive ocean wave. Janine parked close to the front porch and locked her vehicle before sliding out, her heart beating too fast. A knock on the front door produced nothing. The only sound she heard was the increased beats-per-minute of her heart. Swallowing, as sweat pooled on her lower back, Janine tried the door.

  It was open. That raised the hairs on the back of her neck. Greg wouldn’t have left the door unlocked. That went against all his training. They’d had this conversation. He wouldn’t lapse into “normal” living this soon. She doubted he’d ever feel comfortable enough to leave his home accessible like this.

  With a cautious step and her hand on her weapon, Janine eased the door open and peered around the room. Furniture was knocked askew, and puddles of an unknown substance splotched the floor. Unknown until a scent she knew all too well assaulted her as she stepped closer. Blood. Her own pounded in her veins, as bile rose into her throat.

  She had to remain calm. Assess the situation. Figure out what to do. Then proceed with the plan of attack.

  One lamp had shattered upon impact with the floor. Another lay in cracked glory nearby. There was a scrap of material caught on one of the shards. She recognized it as a piece of Greg’s shirt. The one that matched his eyes – she had admired it on him three days ago.

  Janine suppressed the sob of anguish and instead backed out of the cabin. Greg wasn’t here. She couldn’t feel him. Had they taken him or had he left on his own free will? There were no bodies littering the floor, but the blood smearing the space was testament that this wasn’t a typical robbery.

  When the next thought hit her, Janine nearly couldn’t think for the panic. Jonathan and Tasmin. She left them washing dishes to run over here and pick up Greg, who still hadn’t replaced his bombed vehicle.