She tossed the soggy tissue on the coffee table. "Then I got him back and I panicked and sent him away. I didn't deserve it, but he came back. This time, he was ripped from me. I'm dead inside. I never got the chance to tell him how much I love him."
Capri's tears dribbled down her cheek and puddled on Kat's shoulder. "I wanted to teach him about our world. Feed him cotton candy, strawberries with cream. Pizza. I wanted to feed him pizza! Oh, and ride on a roller coaster."
Sobs racked her body and a deep darkness settled on her. Kat said nothing, just held her in a comforting embrace and let her cry.
"Ms. Gray."
Capri blinked and mentally returned to the conference room. The others at the table were two FBI agents, the chief of corporate information security, Noreen Wongus, and the CEO, Felkins III. All of whom sat upright, with their hands on the table and gazes fixed on Capri. The senior Felkins was doodling on a yellow legal pad.
The dark haired FBI agent, Clayton Pusey, cleared his throat, "So, Miss Gray, do you—"
"Ms. Gray."
"So, Ms. Gray, do you wish to stick to your story that you flew to Jakarta then took T. Hall Charterways to…" He checked his notes. "Flores, Indonesia. You say you crashed landed on a remote island because of a hurricane. "
"Cyclone. They're called cyclones in the Pacific. And we didn't crash. The pilot safely put the plane on a small runway."
Agent Pusey scratched at his notes and scribbled something on the page before focusing on Capri. "But you can't tell us which island?"
"Indonesia has approximately seventeen thousand islands. No, I don't know which one. Dion, the Komodo dragon, didn't happen to mention where we were."
At the word dragon, Felkins III lifted an eyebrow.
The agent shifted in his seat. "Then you flew off that island, landed at Maingapu airport then rented a boat to get to Flores."
"Yes. Exactly." Capri inhaled and exhaled a deep yoga-breath, then with a steady hand reached for the pitcher of water and filled a glass. She swallowed several mouthfuls and set the glass onto the table. She folded her hands and returned her gaze to the agent.
He flipped the page of his notes. "You say you did not attend the meeting because you arrived three days too late."
Capri licked her already parched lips and brushed back a loose strand of hair from her cheek. "Yes."
The shorter agent, Matthew Hedgecock shifted forward and propped his elbows on the table. "Yet, you were at the meeting and accepted two flash drives with secret technical specs. You then flew to South Korea and eventually landed in Pyongyang, North Korea. Where you left one flash drive. The other, we presume you brought with you back into the country. But you may have traveled elsewhere to sell it, as there was no sign of you until you entered at LAX."
"I've never been to North Korea. I'm telling you, I didn't make it to the meeting. And it was a mineral rights deal we were working on. No technical specs." She made eye contact with each member of the inquisition panel.
Chief of corporate security, Noreen Wongus, and Felkins III lowered their gazes to the table and shook their heads. Cold dread filled Capri as she visualized her dismissal notice being printed, her severance pay revoked and the word Traitor stamped across her file. And possibly her forehead.
"당신이 한국어를 말한다." Hedgecock's face remained expressionless.
"Of course I speak Korean. South Korea is a major trading partner with Felkins Global Energy and Resources. I've been to South Korea a number of times."
"So you admit to flying to Korea?" Hedgecock smirked.
She slammed her hand on the table. "Not on this trip I didn't."
Senior Felkins looked up from his doodling. "Tsk. Tsk. Temper, Ms. Gray."
Capri fought the urge to rip the pad out from under his pen and beat him to death with it. Instead, she bobbed her head and folded her hands, glaring at him.
Noreen lifted her head, but directed her focus to the table. "If you could just give us the flash drive, I'm sure Mr. Felkins would be willing to offer a generous severance package for your years of loya…work with the company."
"You're firing me?"
"Ms. Gray." The younger Felkins smiled. "This is a fair offer. We don't have to press corporate espionage charges. Give us the flash drive and all of this…" He fluttered his hands in the air. "will disappear."
At the words will disappear, Capri's gut clenched. Spots danced before her eyes. She reached for the glass of water and gulped several mouthfuls. Having calmed herself, Capri reached into her purse and pulled out her cell phone. "I only have one flash drive. It's in my desk. On it are memos, work documents and…" She closed her eyes and pressed her fingertips to her throbbing forehead. "And whatever. Nevertheless, I didn't take it with me. It never left the country. Shall I text my assistant, Terrence, to bring it here?"
"No." Agent Hedgecock shook his head. "There's nothing left in your desk. We have all of your belongings at Headquarters."
They'd ripped through her desk and collected everything? Capri shuddered. A feeling of perverse violation washed over her. She wanted to scream at the soulless agents. How could they touch her personal things? Her picture of her parents. The box of Godiva chocolates she stored for special occasions and hormonal moments of need. Did they have the toothbrush she kept there?
She inhaled and released a deep breath. "Well, if you have everything from my desk then you have the flash drive. And that means you examined it and know there are no technical specs on it."
"Exactly." Agent Pusey stared at her with eyes as dead as a shark's. "And now we are going to search your apartment." He reached into his coat pocket. "Here's the warrant."
Agent Hedgecock keyed a message into his cellphone and placed it on the table. "Now, we wait. Unless you are willing to make this a bit easier and just tell us where you hid it."
"There's nothing to tell you. There is no flash drive." She closed her eyes and rubbed her temples. As she sat trapped in this prison of a conference room, strangers pawed through her private things. Personal secrets revealed to people she'd never met. Everyone, of course, has things they lock behind doors or in drawers. But hers were not illegal. They were private: arousal gel, electric nipple clamps, dildos and her red silk bustier. A wave of nausea bounced around her stomach. Just what she needed.
Her black lacy thong. Someone would finger it. She had wanted to make love with Thall wearing her bustier and that thong. The image of him removing her panties then dribbling arousal gel over her pussy should have brought joy to her heartsoul and a yearning between her legs. Now, it only brought pain to her heart.
She tried invoking him. But nothing happened. Not even Xyno appeared. She had to admit what she feared. He was gone. Nothing was right. It would never be right again. She'd have to throw everything away. Move. Start over. The repulsion of her apartment being raped left her numb.
Capri glanced around the table. No one made eye contact. She watched the minutes crawl by on the screen of her phone.
The buzz of Agent Hedgecock's cell snapped Capri's and the other's focus to him. He pressed a button. His eyes scanned the screen. Frowning, he looked at the people in the room. "They found nothing."
Bang.
Agent Pusey slammed his hand on the table. His eyes grew dark with anger as he glared at Capri. "This isn't over, Miss Gray."
"Ms. Gray." Her voice was a deep growl.
"We'll find that flash drive." He and Agent Hedgecock stood and stormed out of the room. The door vibrated with the force of its closing.
A tense silence interrupted by embarrassed coughs filled the room.
"Well. I…uh…" Felkins Junior rubbed the end of his nose
"What? That's it?" Anger burned in Capri's stomach. "No apology? No, oh gee sorry we mistrusted you, Capri."
Noreen Wongus examined her ring. Felkins III turned red and looked like he was having a small heart attack. Felkins Senior pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and blew his nose.
Capri pushed ba
ck her chair, stood and rested her hands on the table. "Let me explain how the next part goes. You are going to double my severance package and all the paperwork will be completed in two days or the lawyer I hire will eat your lawyer for lunch. And you, Mr. Felkins."
Felkins Junior lifted his head.
Capri snorted. "Not you, you wishwashy puppet. You!" She pointed at the senior Felkins.
"I thought you were the intelligence behind this company. You know I had nothing to do with this, yet you sat there and doodled while they tried to crucify me."
He blinked.
Capri opened her mouth. Words of criticism and scorn danced on her tongue. Snapping her lips closed, she snatched her purse and strutted out of the office.
After paying the taxi, Capri exited and glanced up toward her thirty-eighth floor apartment. A chill descended upon her. What would it look like? Could she feel safe there? Could she spend the night?
"Hey there, Sweet Cheeks."
Capri turned. Kat hopped off the edge of the condo's fountain and threw out her arms to hug her friend.
"I thought maybe you could use a hug."
"Oh my God, Kat. I love you." Capri fell into her friend's embrace. "I didn't want to go up there alone. They searched my place. Went through my things. I feel…" She placed her hand over her mouth.
Kat bent over and picked up her purse and a backpack. "Come on. Let's get this over with. See what the damage is. Don't they have to leave things neat?"
Capri followed her friend into the condo. "I don't know. I've never had an FBI agent hand me a warrant before. Hell, I don't think I've ever seen an FBI agent before."
The elevator doors closed. Kat pressed the 38 button. "Are they as hot in person?"
"What?"
"You know, in the movies and on TV, FBI agents are super hot. All manly and, you know, totally fuckable."
Capri grimaced. "These two weren't. They were soulless robots."
"Darn." Kat giggled. "I was hoping they'd want to strip search you, and since I'm your best friend, I might be involved in this and I'd have to submit. I'd fight them until they tied me down."
Capri chuckled. "Kat, you are certifiably crazy."
"Possibly. But I made you smile."
The elevator dinged and the doors parted. "Yes, you did. Thank you. Here." Capri handed Kat her key. "You open the door and tell me what it looks like."
Kat inserted the key, turned the handle and pushed the door just enough for her to peek inside. "Oh my God."
"What?" Capri shot past her and stepped into her apartment. She twisted her head side to side. "It looks fine. It looks like no one was here. Why did you say that?" She turned to face Kat.
"Got you in here, didn't I?" Kat walked to the dining room table, set the backpack down, unzipped it and tilted the contents onto the top.
Capri's bustier, black lace thong, nipple clamps and dildos spilled out. "When you fell asleep last night, I had the idea that they'd want to search here. And I kind of figured you wouldn't want them going through your stuff. So I shoved everything in here and took it home with me."
"I don't know whether to hug you or get angry. You could have gotten in trouble."
"What? No. If anyone asked, you let me borrow your sex toys for the weekend. BBF's share everything, you know." She grinned.
"Oh, Kat. What would I do without you?"
Capri walked over to the table and ran her hand along the smooth silk bustier. Something slid out from inside. She moved the garment aside and inhaled. Lying on her dining room table was a black flash drive.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Thall morphed beside Atropos. "What the fuck am I doing here? I'm going back." He started to shift, but a force pinned him to the world of the Fates.
Atropos cackled. "I think not. I have bound you to this realm. All of those under your domain have been given to worthy Fates. You are banished."
The warm sun blackened, the soft breeze died, and all birds ceased to sing. Thall glanced around. Everywhere was darkness. His heart beat faster as the realization hit him, he was alone and in an unknown place. Stumbling in the dark, he tripped over rocks and fell into a pool of cold wetness. Scrambling out, he tried to peer through the darkness to determine where he was. He called to Lachesis, but she didn't reply. He closed his eyes and focused on Xyno, but she did not appear beside him.
The wetness chilled him. A shiver rippled in his belly and spread throughout his body. I am so cold. He attempted to shift to his natural essence but remained in his corporeal form.
Rubbing his hands against his arms, Thall walked forward. He tripped over rocks and smacked his face on a boulder as he fell. Tapping at the ground, he felt nothing but stones, ranging from small to large. He adjusted his position to his hands and knees and crawled in, what he hoped, was the direction back to the light and the Tree of Life.
The rock's sharp edges caused intense suffering, but inflicted no cuts or scrapes on his limbs. Many times, he banged the top of his head on a large boulder as he groped his way in the darkness.
Using his fingertips, Thall discovered a new sensation. The hardness of the rocks eased to a powder. He pressed his weight onto his hands. Intense heat scorched up through his arms. Thall scooted back to the rocks and smacked his buttocks against a large object.
He turned and slapped at the ground, trying to find the edge. How could he have missed such a large boulder? He examined it to the left and again found no way to go around. He tapped his hands up the face until he banged his head on a roof.
Rubbing the top of his head, he sat and leaned against the wall. Why was he not allowed to return to his original position? Something seemed to be driving him forward. He reached out and skimmed his palm across the surface of the crumb-like substance. Searing misery drew a hiss from him as he snapped his hand back. Pressing up to stand, he discovered his way blocked by the invisible barrier. Resigned to his situation, Thall bellied through the loose grains. Scorching fire erupted when granules flew up, brushing his cheek. To relieve some of the blistering throbbing on his hands, Thall crawled along on his forearms.
The excruciating ache in his legs overwhelmed him and he writhed on the crumbs. It burned every part of him that touched it. Hopelessness filled him. He could not go on. Thall pounded the sand and screamed out his frustration. Inhaling pulled granules of powder into him adding an internal searing to his torment.
A fleeting image scooted through his memory. Capri laughing. Her face filled with joy as she stepped closer to wrap her arms around him. He had to go on. Capri must be protected. Gathering his inner resolve, Thall inched onward, trying to focus on the image of Capri and not on the agony that racked his body. He had no concept of time. He may have crept for days or moments. With no ambrosia to feed on, Thall's strength ebbed and he collapsed. "Forgive me, Capri."
Silent darkness was the response. It cocooned him. He lay on the burning substance wishing his existence to end.
"Why do you live?"
Forcing his eyelids open, Thall winced at the bright orange light inches from his face. The lights bobbled. "Why do you live? No one has ever come this far. Capricci steals life from Fates."
Thall forced the words from his mouth. "I live because I must return to protect someone I love."
A coolness washed over him as the darkness lifted. He bathed in the relief before lifting his head. The orange lights faded above him until a void hovered. It was deep blackness, surrounded by light. When the darkness moved, illumination filled where it had rested.
"I am Thall, son of Lachesis. Who are you?"
"I am Prodomorbus."
Thall gasped and scrambled to his feet. "You exist? No one speaks of you."
"All creatures fear me. I exist outside the realms of any world."
Glancing at his hand, Thall saw no burns. "How is it that I felt pain and burning and yet I am undamaged?"
"You should be dead. The capricci destroys Fates."
"I am no longer a Fate. Atropos banished me."
Prodomorbus floated nearer. Dizziness, nausea and distress swirled in Thall's stomach. The dark shape retreated. "You are not a pure Fate, but a hybrid. Your humanness protects you from capricci's death."
A small leather pouch with long ties hovered before Thall's face. He snatched it. "May I take some of this powder?"
"On one condition. I am lonely. I speak to no one. Spend a hundred of your Fate years and I will grant your request."
Frustration punched Thall in the gut. One hundred years. "To protect Capri, I will stay."
True to his word, Thall remained with the dark void, entertaining Prodomorbus with stories of the world of humans. Time slowed and impatience filled his soul. He sat at the edge of the emptiness and stared into the light. He saw nothing, but in his mind, he replayed the moments he spent with Capri. Her laughter and her love kept him strong.
"Your time with me has ended." Prodomorbus floated next to Thall. "I have enjoyed our conversations. Return."
Before Thall could spit out a question, the darkness vanished. Joyous relief swept over him as he checked the pouch was secure then shifted to Atropos.
"You?" Her essence darkened.
Thall changed to corporeal form and stood before her.
"You should not be here."
He grinned. "I fought through the darkness. You cannot stop me."
Atropos reached into the roots of the Tree of Life and pulled out a sickened gray tuber. "This one is in pain, weak and should be ended."
Suspicion filled his gut. Thall grasped the root. The image of Capri formed in his mind. She lay on her bed, curled in a tight ball, sobbing and moaning his name.
The Decider of Death skimmed her fingernail along the surface of the shriveled lifeline. Red droplets oozed from the scratch.
"Stop." Thall slapped against her hand.
"You are so bold as to try and stop me?" A force slammed into his chest and flung him to the far side of the realm.
Capri's Fate Page 21