‘Freeman,’ Emily said. ‘J Freeman.’
Karen released Emily. Jane pulled her daughter up into her arms and carried the sobbing girl away from the car towards the field. They slumped down onto the grass. Jane held Emily and rocked back and forth to soothe her.
‘That was a bit harsh,’ Julie said, her voice low so that Jane could not hear.
Karen winced as she stood and flexed her left knee. ‘I’ll apologise later. But I needed to know.’
‘How much time do you need?’
‘Twenty maybe thirty minutes. I’ll sit in the car and do it.’
‘Okay,’ Julie said. ‘I’ll be over with Jane and Emily trying to mend a few bridges.’
***
‘What do you think?’
Ben shrugged, his eyes on the laptop screen and the frozen image it showed. Next to him Kramer sighed in exasperation. ‘You’re our analyst.’
‘I know, but all I can see is the same as you.’
‘Which is nothing,’ Kramer said.
‘Well, a bit more than nothing.’ Ben tapped the screen. ‘See here, the light source seems to be the wall, about two feet off the floor. It grows so fast the security recording can’t see it.’
‘Yeah, and next we know there are five killers standing in the lobby. So where did they come from?’
‘From the light,’ Ben said.
‘Well, hello Einstein.’ Kramer clapped sarcastically.
Ben shot her a hard glance. ‘Until we get one of them alive we won’t know what’s on the other side. But a wormhole is looking more likely.’
‘How does it get projected to this precise location?’ Kramer pointed at the screen again. The image had moved on to show the killers moving on through the mansion. First, they rounded up the staff on duty before they gathered them in the kitchen and murdered them.
‘We’ve got good images of their faces.’ Ben ignored the question. ‘I’ve uploaded them to Joint Intelligence servers for facial recognition software to work on them. If any of these guys have popped up on our radar, we’ll know about it in the next forty-eight hours.’
They sat in their Dodge Journey with the laptop resting on the console between them. Each member of the team had watched the recording before going through the mansion grounds. Searching for clues they wouldn’t find. They did this for the local police’s benefit. Homeland Security seized all the images and the cops had no access to them. As far as the police knew, intruders had gained entry to the grounds and murdered the occupants. Kramer’s team needed the cops to keep thinking just that. Which was why they were off looking for fairies down amongst the shrubs and trees.
Kramer’s phone buzzed on its cradle. Ben caught a glimpse of the display before she picked it and saw the name Dawson in bright letters. As he shut down the laptop he heard her say, ‘Scarrett’s with me. I’ll put you on speaker.’
‘Okay. Can you hear me?’
‘You’re a little broken,’ Kramer said. ‘Best repeat what you told me.’
‘About ninety minutes ago Kenyon came under attack by what I can only describe as creatures of unknown origin.’
Ben felt his skin co cold. He could tell there was a heaviness to Dawson’s voice that told a story of its own. ‘Were there casualties?’ he asked.
‘The infantry unit who flew in this morning took the brunt. They were our front line defence.’
Ben looked at Kramer as she asked. ‘How many?’
‘There were ninety on the transport,’ Dawson said. ‘I think we’ve got maybe fifteen or so with us right now. The rest are still below ground. From what I saw, I doubt any will be coming out alive.’
‘Jesus Christ,’ Ben whispered.
‘Where are you now?’ Kramer asked.
‘We got out using the escape stairways. Rounded up some of the other survivors and got a dozen vehicles from the motor pool. We’re down at the far end of the runway now, with the trucks circled round like a wagon train in the Old West. I’ve called up for transport to get us out of here.’
‘Did all the civilians get out?’ Ben asked.
‘They’re dead. They were in the canteen and it got cut off from us. We received a garbled transmission from them. Something about dinosaurs and sabre-toothed tigers. Nothing since. The only survivors I know of for sure will be Julie Zabel along with Jane and Emily DeForrest. They were off base when this happened. I’ve got someone out looking for them but he just reported back that he can’t find them’
‘Do you think they’ve been attacked as well?’
‘I hope not.’ Dawson sighed. ‘I’m assuming the creatures found Kenyon through Alan Sieting. I’ve been told that whatever possessed him last night may also have stolen his soul. That would have given away the location of Kenyon. If that’s correct then the other three should be safe for now.’
‘But still missing,’ Kramer said.
‘Yes, still missing.’
‘Do you want us back there?’ Kramer asked.
‘Not for the moment. I’m assuming you haven’t had much time to get to grips with what happened in Seattle?’
‘We’ve been over the scene and viewed the security videos. Ben has uploaded stills of the killer’s faces to see if we have them on record. Otherwise, we have nothing to go on.’
‘Well, sit tight there. I’ve no idea where we’ll go after we pull out from here. You may as well wait for that decision before joining up with us again.’
‘Understood.’ Kramer pointed at Ben, as if to ask did he have anything to say.
‘General,’ Ben said. ‘Do you have any images of the creatures that attacked Kenyon?’
‘Not that we can get hold of right now. If we ever send in clean-up teams we may be able to recover some imagery.’
‘But you’re sure these creatures are unknown to you?’
‘Ben.’ Dawson sighed down the phone line. ‘Trust me. Like the photos you saw of the attack in North Africa these things are outside any normal species.’
‘I understand.’ Ben sat back. He listened as Kramer and Dawson signed off with promises to remain in contact.
‘You still think those photos from North Africa are rigged?’ Kramer asked.
‘No.’ Ben shook his head. ‘But if we think wormholes we assume human technology, especially with some of the events, like here at the mansion. Humans came out of the halo of light. But where do the monsters come from like the ones you saw and those that attacked Kenyon? That implies something not human.’
‘But it can’t be not human,’ Kramer said. ‘We’re back to aliens then, aren’t we?’
‘Not necessarily,’ Ben said. ‘It can be earthbound. It could even be technology created by another country. But the tech could be linking through dimensions. And that’s where the monsters are coming from.’
‘But we still need to find the source.’ Kramer saw two of her team approaching the Dodge.
‘But when we find it what do we do?’ Ben asked.
‘Destroy it,’ Kramer said. ‘And anyone found operating it.’
Ben didn’t disagree. Although part of him thought destroying technology like that was a crime. Imagine what they could do with it. They would be instantaneous worldwide travel. Perhaps a wormhole to the moon or Mars, maybe even wormholes to other solar systems and new worlds.
The two team members arrived at Kramer’s window. ‘There’s nothing to find, Captain. I think we’re wasting our time here.’
‘We have to go through the motions,’ Kramer said. ‘Call the other guys in. I need to brief you in on something. Then we’ll head to the motel that the Homeland Security guy back at the airport has us booked into.’
***
Karen got out of the car after thirty minutes. She looked pale and tired. Her blouse stuck to patches of sweat that had formed on her back. Julie sat next to Jane and Emily and as Karen approached she stood and said, ‘Any luck?’
Karen stared right through her with wide, bloodshot eyes. ‘Karen?’ Julie took a hesitant step forward.
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Karen blinked and shook her head as if to clear it of confusing thoughts. She looked up and out across the rolling farmland and said, ‘I found him.’
‘Who?’ Julie asked. ‘The soldier?’
‘No. Scieppend.’
Julie glanced down to where Jane and Emily sat. Karen turned around with her face tilted up, like a dog sniffing the air. This didn’t feel right and Julie needed some kind of reassurance from Jane that she would be there to help. She didn’t get it. ‘Who?’ Julie asked as Karen turned full circle and faced her once more. ‘What do you mean?’
‘I mean I found him and he found me and now we’ve found you.’
Karen’s features had a slackness that scared Julie. She seemed to be in some kind of trance, like a puppet controlled by unseen strings. Karen turned her attention to Emily. This time her smile reminded Julie of the child molester who used to live across the street when she was a child. The face held a cold, hungry smile that spoke of desire and craving. ‘A child,’ Karen said.
Jane pushed Emily behind her as she realised the trouble that faced her. This was no longer Karen the odd psychic. She had become someone – something - else. Julie grabbed Karen’s arm and pulled her back. ‘Karen? Karen, do you hear me? If you’re still in there, then fight it.’
Karen turned to her and said, ‘She’s gone.’
Julie released her grip as if jolted by an electric shock. ‘What?’
‘I’ve taken her.’
Julie couldn’t breathe. The afternoon sun had warmed the air and the world felt claustrophobic despite the unbroken view. ‘Who are you?’ Julie asked.
‘Scieppend. The Creator.’
It was a strange answer. Karen reached down to where Emily huddled behind her mother. Jane pushed the hands away as she scrambled to her feet. Karen tried again, and again Jane pushed her back but this time the older woman grappled with Jane. Their hands tangled until Karen screamed and slapped Jane hard across the face.
Jane fell and left her daughter exposed. Emily froze, trapped by the sight of Karen as she lunged at her. Julie took all this in before she leapt onto Karen’s back. Her weight drove Karen to her knees and then to the ground. Karen writhed and kicked as dust splashed up around them. Julie felt her eyes grit up and her mouth dry as Karen’s thin limbs gained some superhuman strength and threw her off. Julie landed on her back and stones dug hard into her spine. She saw Emily had retreated into the border of the crops as Karen stalked her. Julie moved and the muscles in her back screamed in protest. She ignored them. She had to move and move fast because Emily became tangled in the vegetation and Karen was almost upon her.
Jane came into view. She carried a fist size piece of stone from the stockpile. The impact on Karen sent the older woman forward onto hands and knees. Jane swung a second time and now Julie heard the sickening slap of stone on flesh and bone. Karen grunted, fell face down and did not move. Jane took a step back. She stared at the body in horror. She lifted the now bloody stone up in front of her face as if to confirm she held it before she dropped it to the ground.
Julie stood and forced her mind to be calm. To think things through. By some miracle the highway was quiet, but not for long. Off in the distance a truck popped into view over one of the rises in the terrain, trailed by a line of pickups and cars. They had maybe a minute. Julie looked at the body and made her decision. She pushed past Jane and tried to ignore the fact that this body had been her friend just a few minutes ago.
‘I’m sorry,’ Jane said. ‘She was…It was…threatening Emily.’
‘I understand.’
Julie grabbed Karen under the armpits and half lifted her. Even though she had been small and thin it was still difficult to get the body to move. ‘Help me.’ She looked up at Jane. ‘Grab her legs.’
‘Why?’
‘We need to hide the body.’ Julie jerked her head in the direction of the road ‘Before that truck comes by.’
‘Hide it?’
‘Just do it!’ Julie snapped.
Jane blinked in surprise at the anger in Julie’s voice then reached down to obey. Between them they got Karen off the ground and shuffled to the stockpile of gravel. They dropped the body close to the base of the pile, where the bottom of the bank bowed in. Julie scraped some of the loose chippings down to give a thin layer of cover. The body wasn’t completely hidden but the grey stones and dust would do enough to mask Karen from a vehicle passing at fifty or more miles per hour.
Julie got hold of Jane’s wrist and led her back to the car. The truck closed fast as Julie leant on the red paintwork and made out as if they were two friends taking a break from a long journey. The rig blew past and its caravan of smaller vehicles disappeared in a blur as Julie’s heart rate finally began to slow.
‘I killed her,’ Jane said. ‘I killed her.’
‘Jane.’ Julie reached out to brush a trail of blonde hair from Jane’s face. ‘Karen was dead already. Whatever we were talking to wasn’t Karen. It had taken her and killed her. It was most likely that same thing that killed Alan Sieting. We were never told how he died but if he was in a psychic session then it can only be the same way as Karen. Remember that. Don’t let it go. Otherwise you’ll drive yourself mad.’
‘How can you be so…callous? She was your friend.’
‘I’ll grieve later. Right now I just remember what that thing said.’
‘What?’ Jane frowned.
‘He said that he’d found us. And it was like he was surprised that Emily was only a child. That makes me think that he was searching for her.’
‘For Emily? Why?’
‘I’ve been telling you she’s special. Her talent is so strong and it can only get better as she gets older. He fears her so he wants to find her and kill her.’
Jane stared in horror at Julie. Too much had happened. She couldn’t function right now. If she concentrated she could still feel the impact of the stone on Karen’s skull and the way it had jarred up her arm. She felt faint, thirsty and tired. And now she found out some soul-stealing spirit wanted to kill her daughter.
Jane turned, looking for Emily, realising the last time Emily had been in sight was as Karen closed on her. She couldn’t see Emily. ‘Emily!’
Jane pulled away from Julie and stumbled to the edge of the crops. They were low, only reaching to mid-thigh, but still she couldn’t see her daughter. ‘Emily?’
Was that movement? Jane pushed into the field, the crops a tight mass around her lower leg. ‘Emily, can you hear me?’
She almost tripped over her daughter. Emily had curled into a tight ball, hidden from view. She was crying. Jane knelt beside Emily. ‘Emmy? It’s Mommy. Everything’s okay. You’re safe now.’
Emily half sat up. Jane cradled her as Julie came to them. ‘We need to get out of the field and into the car,’ Julie said. ‘We have to get away from here.’
‘We need a minute,’ Jane said. ‘Can’t you see the state of her? What happened with Karen has terrified her.’
‘It’s not Karen, Mommy,’ Emily said. ‘I’m not crying because of Karen. It’s the soldiers.’
‘Which soldiers?’ Julie asked. ‘The ones back at Kenyon?’
‘No. It’s the ones with Joanne. They’re going to die.’
***
Ben had stayed in the car when Kramer told her team about the attack on Kenyon. He could see from their body language how much it hurt the unit to realise that friends may have died. Kramer came back and sat in the driver’s seat. She stared out at the sweeping driveway and manicured gardens of Fenton’s mansion. Besides the three Journeys there were four other vehicles on the driveway. Two were CSI vans and the others unmarked police cars. At the end of the drive, on the other side of the imposing gates, was a marked patrol car. Across the street, a media pool gathered behind white tape. The story being fed to the reporters told of a terrorist attack aimed at Grant Fenton because one of his companies made military grade drones. Kramer let the other Journeys lead off, taking the loop that led
past a fountain to the entrance.
‘Why Fenton?’ Ben asked. ‘These attacks aren’t focussed on a single objective or at least they don’t seem to be. There have been monsters unleashed on a village in Africa. The killing of Grant Fenton and what looked like insurgents in Afghanistan. I’ve seen reports of attacks on hotels in Africa and restaurant in Europe. How are they connected?’
Kramer said, ‘Smile, you’re on camera.’
Kramer guided the SUV through the gates and onto the street. Ben looked away from the media pool. The other two Journeys pulled ahead as Kramer slowed briefly to acknowledge the police officer manning the patrol car. Up ahead a group of men waited in line like they were there to watch the circus that accompanies every violent death. Kramer saw them and, in the back of her mind, she saw something wrong. It was the way they stood, or maybe the clothes they wore. Her foot eased off the accelerator and her right hand reached for her radio.
Ben felt the SUV slow. It brought him back from wherever his thoughts had taken him. They were still in full focus of the media. The cop and his patrol car were just going out of his line of sight. The street ahead formed a dead straight avenue lined by mature trees that cast dappled shadows on the blacktop surface of the road. He saw the line of men as well, close enough that he could almost reach out and touch them. The lead Journey came level with the men. ‘It’s them!’ Ben shouted.
Kramer opened the mic of her radio and screamed, ‘Evade!’
Too late for both SUVs. The men brought AKs into view and opened fire. The Journeys drove into the torrent of gunfire. Muzzle flashes lit the shade as glass and metal fell like confetti. Kramer braked hard. Above the gunfire Ben heard screams as journalists, cameramen and bystanders ran for cover. Kramer slapped the gear selector into reverse and floored the accelerator. The SUV shot backwards. Two gunmen peeled from the group and ran into the road after them. The cop standing next to his patrol car didn’t move as he took a long burst of fire that turned him to jelly. Kramer swung the wheel hard. The Journey spun into some sort of cover behind the patrol car.
The Creator (Scarrett & Kramer Book 1) Page 9