“You know best Denise. How is it in Southern Illinois today?”
“Hot, a bit hotter than where we are now.”
“Hang on a moment. Quintus would like to speak with you.”
“Denise.”
“Good evening.”
“I have already made arrangements for a pickup to happen as soon as Odumnus returns with Anna and Coventina.”
“I don’t think you’ll have a hard time convincing her to make the trip upstairs.”
“Neither do I. She has asked about it a few times.”
“Quintus, be careful. Trust no one at this point.”
“Good advice.”
“Oh and Quintus.”
“Yes Denise.”
“Layla was right. You do have a fab accent when speaking English.”
“Thank you,” he laughed.
“Let me speak to Lucilla again please.”
“Yes Denise.”
“Lucilla. Try to keep Anna and Coventina up there with you until you hear back from us. Oh, and no bloodshed unless it is absolutely necessary, like self-defense or the equivalent.”
“I will Denise. Please be careful.”
“We always are.”
44
Judith
“To Fairfax Virginia my dear.”
“Not that long of a haul for her to get to the office.”
“Best to stay on the ground while we are so close to Washington,” Denise said.
“Yeah. They’re probably listening to our conversation somewhere right now,” Layla laughed.
“You’re probably right.”
Denise directed Layla to her home on Roberts Road. Layla slowed the vehicle to a crawl as they came up on her house. “Skid marks. Toppled garbage cans. Car in the open garage. Think we will even find her here?”
“Let’s alter our appearance and check it out. Should I ask the friends upstairs for some shield medallions next time I see them?”
“If you wish but you should be okay if you are with me.”
They pulled into the driveway and got out of the car.
Someone is in there. I just saw the drape move. Denise said.
Affirmative.
Appearing as two blonde women, they walked to the front door and rang the bell.
No one answered.
Could she be in danger, a hostage or worse? Denise asked.
I have a force field around us just in case.
Layla rang the bell again and knocked.
No answer.
“Hmm. Perhaps no one is home.”
Denise heard a car engine.
“Knock again. That car in the garage still has the engine running.”
Layla knocked again, harder this time.
“Ms. Raphael, please answer the door. We are here to help you,” Denise said.
The sound of locks being undone was heard before the door opened slightly.
“I am Ms. Raphael, what do you want?”
Denise recognized her face from the news broadcast that was not sporting a fat lip and a bruise on her forehead.
“You are injured. Do you need medical attention?”
“I, mayb, I don’t know.”
“May we come in?
“Yes.” She walked away from the door very wobbly. Layla supported her and helped her to the couch.
“Who did this to you?”
“Who are you again?” Judith asked.
“We are friends of Denise. She said she spoke to you earlier today and you seemed to be under duress.”
“That’s one way of putting it.”
“Which way is the kitchen,” Layla asked.
“Through there.”
Is anyone still here who did this to you? Denise asked.
“No, I’m here alone.”
Layla returned with a bottle of water and handed it to her. “I’ll go turn off your car and be back with the keys.”
“You called Denise earlier. You were not alone when you did were you?”
“No. Pretty good guess for her over a phone.”
“Would you like us to take you to a hospital?”
“I’m not sure.”
Layla returned with her car keys and laid them on the coffee table.
“That’s a nasty bruise you have on your head, you should get it checked out Judith.”
“I think I am going to be sick.”
Layla reached for a small trashcan next to the table where her computer was and it flew into her hands. “Here, use this.”
“It is settled. You need to be seen for your head injury feeling as you do.”
“I’ll be okay. That made me feel better somehow.”
“Can you describe the men who did this to you?” Denise asked.
“One average height, lean, mean look on his face. The other was a Neanderthal, tall, black hair on both. I think I had a small taste of what they are putting women through.”
“They were not police?”
“No way these guys were police. They found me, how I do not know, but I know it is directly related to a call from the British girls mother.”
“Coventina?”
“Yes, her. They called and said Denise and her friends had miraculously found her and asked if I could take her image off the website. We did, and the next thing I know, these thugs show up at my doorstep early this morning.”
“What did they want from you?” Layla asked.
Judith took another small sip of water. “Information.”
“Information?”
“About those who rescued the two girls and returned them to the U.K.” What did you say your names were?”
“We didn’t yet. I am Dolores and this is Linda.”
“They forced me to call Denise and ask those questions. There really was a path of brutal carnage in Rome and another spot outside Rome where they showed me images of a Crucifixion. A Crucifixion, can you fucking believe that?”
“That is beyond bizarre to say the least,” Layla said.
Remember their appearance, Denise thought. She saw a foggy vision of the two men that paid her a visit.
“Is there any reason we need to warn Denise about them?”
“They took my phone. They have all my contacts, including her number, that of Coventina and her family. I don’t have a good feeling about this. I think they are tied to the death and destruction that took place in Italy and Spain, and they are looking for answers and horrible payback.”
“We really should get you to a hospital Judith,” Layla said.
“There will be police. I don’t want to put authorities on the trail of a woman who had the guts and know how to beat these brutal fucks, pardon my language.”
“You don’t have to worry about that. Come one, let us get you some medical attention.”
“I think you are right. I’m not sure if I could stand up alone.”
Layla found her purse and they helped her to the car. Denise hopped in the back seat.
“Do you have a hospital preference?”
“George Washington.”
“Have you any cash on you if you need it?” Denise asked.
“I’m fine. They didn’t get near my purse or valuables. My phone though, geez.”
“Well, if they use it that may make them easier to find.”
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Yes.”
“Was bloodshed necessary to find your friends?”
“Unfortunately,” Denise said.
“Good.”
Denise gently massaged her mind to remember the attack on her as a theft and nothing more, that she was attacked getting into her car in the garage, and that they took her phone and cash and ran off after.”
“We are here. Hang on, let me get someone for you,” Layla said.
She returned with two members of the Emergency Room and a wheel chair.
They followed her into the hospital just long enough to make sure she was okay, and able to give them the information they needed to treat her be
fore they made their exit back to the Mustang.
“They’ll find us all with our numbers you know,” Layla said.
“I’m beginning to hope they find us first.”
“Where to?”
“Makanda.”
“The way I see it, there is no way they can beat us back there.”
“One advantage of living in the sticks,” Denise laughed.
“Fasten your seatbelt.”
“I already have.”
45
New Phone
“I have an idea,” Denise said.
“Yes.”
“We must go here,” she said, pointing to her phone and a map of Wal-Mart’s in the area.
“Okay.”
“It’s just outside Charleston on Hwy 64.”
Layla brought the Mustang that still appeared to be a Ford Taurus out of stealth on the Highway and drove to the Wal-Mart.
“I’ll be right back,” Denise said, walking quickly into the store.
She returned with a Samsung Android prepaid Smartphone.
“That was fast.”
“The sales clerk needed a little nudge,” Denise giggled.
“Pull over to an emptier spot in the lot.”
Within minutes she had her iPhone and the new phone ready.
“What is that exactly?”
“Oh just Google Maps, sort of.”
“Really?”
“Shhh, but keep the music on, I like that song.” The sound of Led Zeppelin’s Misty Mountain Hop was playing on the radio.
On the fourth ring the phone was answered. No one spoke. They could hear someone talking on the radio.
“Judith it is Janey. Are you there? Did you drop your phone again? Are we still on for pizza tonight?”
“She is sleeping. I will have her call you back when she wakes up. Please don’t call back and wake her, she is sick.” The call was then terminated.
“That was no guy, was it?” Layla asked.
“No, it certainly wasn’t.”
“What is that, exactly?”
“Come on, keep it on, keep it on. YES.”
“Hmm?”
“A program I bought a while ago. They are in Kentucky, just over the border.”
“Gee, I wonder where they are going?”
“Come on, let’s get out of here, preferably unseen.”
“A spying program? Have you been spying on me too?”
“Yes, all the time. You are usually SO far away.”
Layla threw the Mustang that appeared as a Taurus into stealth and programmed a course to the last location of Judith’s cel phone.
“They are going to be right about here by now,” Denise said. They were just west of Carter Kentucky when they came out of stealth on Highway 64. “They have still got her phone on.”
“Well they are either brain dead, or unaware of the fact they can be tracked if it is on, or they simply don’t give a shit,” Layla said.
“Or they want whoever might be tracking them to find them.”
“There’s that too.”
“They should be just up ahead.”
“Baby, what if they have the same technology and know exactly where we are?”
“I’m hoping they do.”
As they cruised around a heavily wooded curve a black BMW came into view.
“Shields up Captain?”
“Not yet. Let’s just follow for a bit at a safe distance.”
“Not a very busy stretch of highway is it?”
“No. Really thick though, just look at all those trees.”
“That sun is really bright. Could you hand me my shades?” Layla asked.
“Here you are. It really is bright, driving west and all. I’m concerned about the female. What if is someone innocent they forced to come along?”
“You think they would?”
“I wouldn’t put anything past them.”
Denise opened Google on her iPhone.
“What do you think about doing this again?” Denise asked, showing Layla a picture of three Kentucky State Troopers standing next to their car.
“Only if we both get out this time.”
“You got it. Let’s give it a few more miles, it looks a bit more remote up ahead.”
“Yeah, and that sun is going to be at eye level.”
When they came around the next curve Denise shouted. “That’s them, they pulled over.”
“We’re going to have to keep going right on past them.”
“It’s okay. Put it in stealth as soon as you can and we’ll double back.”
“A man and a woman on the passenger side got out,” Layla said, looking back through her rear view mirror.
“I see. She is heading for the trees with him.”
“Maybe they have to pee.”
“Maybe.”
Around another curve and out of sight, Layla threw the Mustang into stealth and headed back in the air.
“What are they up to, can you see them?”
“Not yet.”
“That’s a long pee,” Layla said.
“He’s walking back to the car alone.”
“What if he killed her?”
“Nope, here she comes.”
“I’ve been thinking. Why attract attention with flashing lights. It’s pretty obvious they are making their way to us.”
Denise looked at her and sighed. “I know you’ve been dying to use it, so go ahead. Let’s leave them here.”
“Agreed.”
Layla positioned the Mustang directly above the BMW. Before it could move, Layla fired the pulse weapon at the vehicle. With a hum, a whoosh and a crashing thud, the BMW’s roof was caved in. All of the car windows blew away from the vehicle in tiny shattered pieces. The tires were flattened and the electrical system fried. “Okay, they’re not going anywhere in that thing.”
“Let’s make sure they forget where they were going and why.”
Layla landed the Mustang in the front of the BMW. She and Denise slipped out and walked up to the car, their medallions activated to stealth.
“I cannot open the fucking door,” the man in the passenger seat screamed.
“Sjebano,” the woman from the back seat shouted.
Where were you going?
“To kill a few nosey cunts,” the driver said.
“Who the fuck are you talking to?” the man in the passenger seat said.
“No one.”
Who do you work for?
“Stucco.”
“Yeah, what about her?” the driver asked.
“Who?”
“Stucco who else?”
“I can tell you she is going to be pissed.”
Where can someone find Stucco?
“Rome.”
“I wish I was in fucking Rome right now. What the fuck happened?” the man in the passenger seat said.
“Jebena seljacina,” the driver shouted when a car going in the opposite direction slowed to see what was going on.
Where in Rome?
“Everywhere in Rome,” The driver said.
Who is the woman in the back seat?
“My bitch Nadya. I love to take her along for a good fuck.”
“Who are you talking to?” Nadya asked.
“No one shut up.”
Nadya, do you want to stay with these men?
“Yeah, I got nothing better to do?”
“You better be trying to squeeze your skinny ass out that back window to help get one of these doors open,” the driver shouted.
“I’ll never get through there, guzica,” Nadya laughed.
“I told you don’t call me that,” the driver said.
Seen enough? Layla asked.
Yes.
Denise scraped through each of their minds individually, erasing any memories they had about them, or Coventina, Judith or where they were heading and why. Before she worked on the girl she told her to collect all their phones and slide them out the small slits that were once windows. As she did Lay
la caught all four of them before they hit the ground. She finished up with the girl and planted a suggestion in them that help was on the way.
“This one’s got to be Judith’s,” Layla said, handing Denise a Blackberry.
“It is. We’ll make sure it gets back to her.”
Layla laid in a course for home as the Mustang rose above the darkening forest below.
Denise used the Wal-Mart phone to call in a dreadful accident on Highway 64, doing so “Only for the woman in the back seat,” as she put it.
“I’m hungry. Pizza?” Layla asked.
“Sounds perfect.” Denise said, hiding the feeling of dread she simply could not shake.
46
Upstairs
“It takes a little getting used to,” Lucilla said.
“How so?” Coventina asked.
“Well, apparently they do not speak when they communicate. You’ll hear them in your head. Your immediate reaction will be to speak in reply, but it is unnecessary. You can simply think it and they will get the message.”
“Appearance? Is it much of a shock, I mean I would not want to embarrass us?”
“Pleasing. You shouldn’t have a problem with that.”
Marcus and Quintus entered through a door that quietly hissed open.
“We’ve been invited to dinner,” Marcus said.
“Delightful. When?” Lucilla asked.
“Now. The others are already en route.”
“I love these doors,” Coventina said as they walked to the dining area.
“As do I,” Quintus said.
“Tell me, can they read all our thoughts?”
“I am uncertain. Denise believes they can,” Lucilla said.
Another door opened to reveal a large dining table. Anna was seated next to Odumnus, Diana by Venutius, Petilius with Maria who was laughing and feeling his arm muscles. Lucius was the only one without a dinner guest.
A rather large feast was laid out on the table.
“Will our hosts be joining us?” Marcus asked.
“Not for dinner,” Quintus replied.
Alongside dishes that looked and tasted like pork, chicken and fish was an assortment of vegetables, pasta dishes and fruits.
“Where do they shop for groceries? This is all so delicious,” Coventina said.
“The meals are, created,” Lucius said.
“Created?”
Coventina Page 15