“I think maybe I should go there,” I said. “Maybe if I get closer, I’ll get another vision. Or maybe I’ll even run into a ghost around town that’s seen him.”
I waited for Uncle Mark to say no, but he didn’t. I could tell by the way he was biting his lip that he didn’t like it, but at the same time, he didn’t seem too shocked by the suggestion.
“To be honest,” he said. “Varick and I thought the same thing. It’s a long shot, but it may be worth it. He was talking about leaving tomorrow morning.”
“How are we getting there?” I asked my uncle as I jumped up went to drag my suitcase out of my closet. I hadn’t touched the thing since I’d unpacked when I’d moved in here last year. I unzipped it and opened it up.
“How else?” Uncle Mark said. “We’re flying in the McKnight private jet. I don’t know how long to tell you to pack for.”
“It’s okay,” I said as I headed toward my dresser. “I’ll figure it out.”
“Yeah, I kinda figured you would,” Uncle Mark said with a slight grin. He got up to leave as I started to toss clothes in to the suitcase. Opening the door, Uncle Mark paused before leaving. “Do me a favor? When you do, clue me in.”
The next morning, I brought my suitcases downstairs and put them next to the one I assumed was Uncle Mark’s. As it turned out, I was wrong.
“Two suitcases?” Grandpa said. “I got all mine into one and I still had room left over. How long did you pack for?”
“Two weeks,” I said. “I figured if were there longer, I could find someplace to do laundry. You’re coming?”
“You bet your New York City tush. Somebody with half a brain needs to be there. This kid may be related to me. So I’m coming. This isn’t a vacation, you know.”
“Yeah,” I said. “I know. But who’s going to stay here with Simon and Zack?”
As if to answer my question, the doorbell rang. I opened the door and there was Aunt Breanne. Pretty as ever with her long, brown hair. She came in and gave me a hug. Eli burst in with her and immediately ran to the back to play with Spock and Larry.
“Your uncle called me last night,” she said. “Asked if I wouldn’t mind staying here with the boys. Which of course I’m thrilled to do. I love those guys.”
“Good,” Grandpa said. “Don’t let them go soft while I’m gone.”
“You’re going?” Aunt Breanne asked. “I thought you were—”
“Yes, I’m going.” Grandpa leaned heavily on his cane as he interrupted, and meandered over to his chair. “Why is everyone so surprised that I’m going?”
“Because, Dad,” Uncle Mark came out of his room carrying his own suitcase. “You don’t like going anywhere.”
Grandpa sat down and scowled at us all.
“Why go away unless you have to?” he asked. “Why not spend the day in the comfort of your own home. Or the lodge. Y’know, we have a hot tub there.”
“No,” I yelled, pointing a finger at him. “Do not start talking about that hot tub again. I’ll have nightmares.”
Grandpa tried to look upset, but he was really grinning. I know he did that on purpose.
“You sure you’re up for this?” Uncle Mark asked him. “It’s going to be a long flight and I’m not sure how long we’ll be there.”
“I’ll be fine,” Grandpa said. “I’m younger at heart than the bunch of ya. Besides, like I was saying, who knows what condition we might find the kid in?”
“Well,” I said. “Hasn’t the poor boy been through enough?”
Now Grandpa glared at me for real.
“You know,” Aunt Breanne said. “You’re welcome to stay. I was going to make lasagna tonight. I know you love that.”
“Save me some,” Grandpa said. “Lasagna is always better the next day. I’m going. So there. Stop treating me like an invalid.”
Before anyone could say anything else, Uncle Mark’s cell rang.
“Hello,” he said. “Yeah, we’re ready. Breanne is here. Just need to get the car loaded and say goodbye to the boys.” A pause as he listened. “What? That’s very nice, but it wasn’t...” Another pause. “Yeah, I guess it is simpler. Listen, I wanted to ask. Technically, I’m headed out of my jurisdiction, but I’d feel better if...” He paused again and his eyes narrowed. “How the heck did you arrange that? It can’t be legal, I’ve never even been to California.”
He listened some more and then said goodbye.
“What was that about?” I asked.
“Varick’s sending a car,” Uncle Mark said, holding up his cell. “Should be here any minute. And he wanted to let me know that I can bring my service revolver. I’ve got a brand new carry and conceal permit for the state of California. No idea how he arranged that, but it works for me.”
Zack came over to me and pulled me aside.
“Maybe I should come too,” he said.
“No,” I said. “You should stay here. Why would you come?”
“Because,” he said. “I can help. You said this boy was my age, right? Maybe I could be his friend. He might need one.”
I smiled at him. “He probably can use a friend, and I have a feeling you’ll get your chance to help, but we have to find him first.”
“What if something goes wrong?” Zack said.
“I’ll be fine,” I promised. “Your uncle is going to be there. And so is Payne. And Grandpa, although I may need protection from him. Or him from me. Hard to tell.”
Zack didn’t laugh. He was worried.
The doorbell rang. When Uncle Mark opened it, Payne walked in.
“I came with the car,” he explained. “I wanted to see Aunt Breanne before we left.”
I watched as he gave her a hug and a kiss. Aunt Breanne still worried about Payne, even though he could heal from anything. They had always been very close.
After a moment, Payne came over to me. We kissed quickly.
“You ready?” he asked.
“Yeah,” I said. “I was just saying goodbye.”
Zack quickly looked to see that everyone else was busy with something. Then he turned to Payne.
“Promise me you’ll watch out for Bristol.”
Payne’s face became very serious. He understood what it was like to have lost a mother, too. Payne offered Zack a hand. “I give you my word. I’ll protect her with my life.”
Zack took Payne’s hand, and shook it solemnly. He wished us both luck before running over to say goodbye to his father and grandfather.
“I can take care of myself,” I said to Payne. “I’m a big girl, y’know.”
“Yeah?” Payne asked. “Does the big girl want to drive the big car to the little airport?”
I scowled. “Shut up.”
Varick McKnight didn’t know how to do things in a small way. The car he sent was a long, black limousine. The boys were upset that they couldn’t ride in it. It had an all-black, leather interior with a TV and a mini-bar. Uncle Mark looked impressed. Grandpa looked miserable.
When we got to the airport, Varick met the car on the tarmac. Several men in black suits took our luggage. Grandpa was ready to hit the largest of the attendants with his cane when they tried to take Grandpa’s suitcase. Uncle Mark intervened and stopped the caning, but he couldn’t stop Grandpa’s threats.
“I know exactly how I packed that thing,” he hollered. “Don’t you go fingering through my boxers!”
“Why would anyone want to touch your grandfather’s underwear?” Payne asked.
I just buried my head in his chest.
“Let’s get going,” Varick said.
I looked up and took a good look at the jet. It was long and sleek, and mostly white, but had a daring blue streak that wrapped around its body. The door opened, and Varick ushered us on board.
I had never been on a plane of any kind before, but I’d seen them in the movies. I had expected to see a cramped space with rows of seats, one after the other. I should have known better.
The cabin was long and spacious. There were three
tan leather chairs, each big enough so that if Zack and Simon had come, they could fit in one together. Not that they would have to share. Three of them were grouped around a small mahogany coffee table over a Persian rug. They were all recliners. Each table in sight, and I counted at least 5, had a small basket on it with fresh flowers. There was a large, matching leather sofa that curved around another coffee table nearby. Behind that, I could see more chairs and another large couch, all centering on a TV.
The men in the suits all filed towards the rear of the plane, while a pair of tall, extraordinarily beautiful young women stepped out in flight attendant suits and took everyone’s jackets. They were tall, curvy and dressed in blue skirts and jackets. One had red hair, the other one’s was jet black. They handed Varick what looked like a giant menu, which he perused as he sat down.
“Please,” Varick said to us all. “Make yourselves comfortable. Anything you need or desire just let either Lisette or Amber know and they’ll see to it immediately.”
Uncle Mark looked stunned. I’m sure I did as well. Payne seemed at ease. Grandpa was grumpy as usual.
“What kind of airplane is this? I’m not used to flying like this. I fly coach.”
“Dad,” Uncle Mark said. “Be nice.”
“Well, really,” Grandpa mumbled as he looked around for a place to sit, although there were plenty of places to choose from. “Who flies like this?”
“I apologize if this isn’t up to your usual standards, Gregory,” Varick said. “But perhaps you will please bear with us. I’m sure Lisette and Amber can make you as uncomfortable as you wish, if that would help?”
Grandpa just scowled and plopped down in a chair. One of the flight attendants handed Grandpa the same menu and then showed him how to recline his seat.
“Are we ready to get going?” Uncle Mark asked.
“The jet is ready,” Varick answered. “We’re waiting for one more—” Varick looked to the cabin door. “Ah, it’s about time.”
“Sorry,” Archer said as he came on board. “I had to stop on the way here to see someone. Hope I didn’t hold you up.”
“Not at all,” Varick said. “Please have a seat. I’ll signal the pilot.”
Archer shrugged out of his jacket and handed it to the red headed flight attendant.
“Thanks, Amber,” he said as he accepted the menu. “I was afraid you were going to leave without me.”
Varick picked up a phone that was attached to the cabin wall next to him. He told someone on the other side that we were all aboard and anxious to get under way. He then nodded to the dark haired flight attendant, who I assumed was Lisette. She went and closed the cabin door.
“Please,” Lisette said. “If you’ll all take seats, we can start to take off. Amber and I will let you know when you can move about the cabin.”
Payne led me to the back sofa where the TV was. Archer followed us. We sat down, and Payne and I accepted menus from Amber before she walked away.
I opened it up and scanned it. There was everything from simple burgers to roast duck to sea bass to some dishes that I had never seen. I was tempted to order the Wild Fijian Albacore Sashimi with pea tendril salad, toasted hazelnuts, garlic chips, scallions, and a melon cilantro vinaigrette, just to see what it was.
“They’ll take our order once we’re in the air,” Payne said.
I nodded, put the menu aside, and scooted closer to Payne. Next to us, Archer was busy texting.
“So, Archer,” I said. “How’d it go with you and Cassie after you left?”
Archer looked at me and cocked an eyebrow.
“Are you really wondering? Or do you already know?” He looked around to make sure we were alone. “Did you see anything?”
“Yeah,” I said. “The two of you in your car.”
Archer’s eyes went wide.
“Don’t be that impressed,” Payne said. “You were parked right behind me, so I saw it too. Although I get the impression that Bristol may have seen a little something more before you even met Cassie.”
I just shrugged and smiled.
“I don’t want to know,” Archer said. “And I have no idea what happened. I mean, you saw how she was at the dinner. It was like she hated me. I didn’t even remember her at first, but then by the time we got out to the car, I told her I had remembered. She was in my third grade class. We did a Christmas play together, and she played one of Santa’s elves. The one that was in charge of giving Santa his cookies. Next thing I know, we’re kissing.”
“Aw,” I said. “You remembered her.”
“Yeah, well,” Archer shifted in his seat, blushing. “I’m certainly not going to forget her again soon. We mostly talked last night. She’s pretty cool when she isn’t ripping my head off. I was going to make plans to see her tonight, but then Payne called. I had to tell her that I was going out of town, but I promised I’d call. Any idea how long we’re going to be?”
“I packed for two weeks,” I told him. “I kinda felt that would be about right.”
Archer tried to hide his disappointment as the plane took off, but quickly went back to texting. I closed my eyes until I felt the plane level out. Payne then switched on the TV and loaded a movie. I wanted to hit him when he chose one that started with a plane crash.
We ordered something to eat. I was amazed how smooth a flight it was. Archer talked more about Cassie, which allowed me to ignore the movie. When it was over, I kicked off my shoes, pulled my feet onto the sofa and felt myself drift off as I leaned against Payne. I only meant to close my eyes for a moment.
That pizza sure looked good.
A bunch of guys were eating it. They had about seven pies between them. Wings too. Each of the guys had a beer in their hand and they burped and farted in-between yelling at the TV while a football game played on screen. I had no idea who the two teams were, and had no interest in football, so I watched the men. They all seemed to range in age from young twenties to their thirties. The two youngest were identical twins. The rest of them could all be older brothers or cousins. All of them were muscular, dark-haired and fairly good looking, if a bit unkempt. I watched and waited for something interesting to happen, but all they did was stuff their faces and watch football.
So far this had to be one of my most boring visions.
Someone else came in - a woman with long, black hair, and a face that was stunningly beautiful, with a cold and cruel glean in her eyes. Athletically built, she wore jeans a black tank top that showed off a tattoo of a black rose with sharp, green thorns on her right arm. She had piercings in her ear and on a diamond stud in her left nostril. She smacked one of the twins on the back of their head and started to yell about the time. The men groaned, but they shut off the TV, gathered up the leftover pizza, and shoved it into the fridge. I was able to take a peek and saw they had plenty of leftovers from other take-out places. Chinese, Mexican, Thai, fried chicken, and some things that looked more than ready to be chucked out.
“How long until we get back?” One of the twins asked.
“A week or so,” yelled the woman. “Better make it two, just to be safe.”
The twin shook his head as if he thought she was asking for too much, but he didn’t argue. He went over to the garbage and pulled out a couple of empty water bottles. He filled them with tap water. Meanwhile his twin brother stood by a counter doing something. It looked like he might have been buttering bread.
The two of them went through a quick game of rock, paper, scissors. The winner laughed at the loser and handed off a paper plate with something on it. The loser went to a door and pulled it open. He went down the stairs and into a basement with well-used workout equipment. Passing that by, he walked to the back of the room and placed the plate and two water bottles down on a bench and went to a large mirror. He removed the mirror, revealing a large metal door. Slowly, he fiddled with the combination locks until he was able to open it. Retrieving the bottles, he went to grab the plate, which he accidentally knocked on the floor. Shrugging
as if he didn’t care, he picked up what looked like two pieces of untoasted bread and put them back on the plate. The each had a chintzy smear of peanut butter which now had little bits of dust stuck to it.
The second door led into a deeper, subterranean basement. It had no windows, and the only light was from a few dimly lit bulbs that glowed a dull yellow. The man arrived at the final door, and placed the water and plate on a small table. He banged on the door and then once again fiddled with locks and a giant deadbolt until he was able to open it.
The room seemed empty. He kicked the door closed and proceeded in, placing the items down on the floor before turning around.
Something shot out from a corner and launched for the door. The man grabbed it and threw whoever it was back. The small person crashed against the wall hard. The man then walked over and kicked at the tiny body who was already using his arms to cover his head. The adult male then spat at the boy on the floor and headed to the door, leaving the boy shaking on the floor.
He sat up and sobbed. It was Seth.
“I told you,” someone said. I couldn’t see who it was, but it was the same young voice I’d heard in my last vision of Seth. “Why would you try and escape now? I told you someone is coming.”
“They’ll kill them,” Seth said. “They’ll never let me go.”
There was a moment of silence before the young voice answered.
“They won’t be able to,” the voice said. “Trust me. This will be over soon. I swear on my mother’s life.”
Chapter Eight
The Girl With The Balloon
“Did you see how many were there?” Uncle Mark asked.
When I woke up, Payne had instantly realized by the look on my face that I had a vision. Archer grabbed the others, and now we were all sitting in the TV in the rear of the plane. They had listened as I explained what I’d seen.
“Six men,” I said. “In their twenties and thirties. They all looked like family, I think. Big, like bodybuilders. Two were identical twins. And there was a woman with them. Maybe their leader.”
“And you saw the boy?” Varick asked.
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