The recruiter promised to meet him at the gated entrance. Two guards dressed in white ski-patrol gear waited with him for the recruiter to show. A cloudless sky and crisp breeze dropped the temperature down to a chilling ten degrees. Any exchange of words meant breathing frigid air into the lungs. No one said much.
A snowmobile approached from the center of the community, down the main street plowed wide enough to allow sleds, cross-country skiers, and snowshoers to pass. The man driving the snowmobile skimmed by Azrian and pulled up to the guard post. “Cold one, today, eh, gents,” he said in French. He signaled his guest over. “Hop on, Mr. Wright. Let’s get you out of the cold.”
Azrian had agreed with his father not to use Colton as his surname. Farian, Abyss, and other rogues might recall the name and relate it to Brian. The last time any of the Fallen saw him was when he was a toddler. No one would recognize him today, grown into a young man in his early twenties. Cobalt-black hair hung like silk compared to his father’s unruly locks. Unlike his father, his shorter and trimmer Asian build gave him a less conspicuous stance, his mother’s exotic face and full lips more prominent. The only identical physical attributes to his father were the amber eyes, nose, jawline, and Scots brogue. Despite the differences, Sabree still called him Mini-Me.
On back of the snowmobile, Azrian gripped the sidebars. He gestured a gloved thumbs-up and grabbed the bar again when the driver sped off toward the community building located dead center in the compound. So far, so good, but this was just the first ten minutes.
They pulled up alongside a set of double-front log doors. The driver yelled above the motor. “Get inside. Charlie’s expecting you.”
Jesse had drilled him on a list of names for hours at a time. This man’s name was one worth remembering. Charles Wentworth stood out for some reason. Too bad he could not remember why. Along with dismissing his longwinded thoughts, Azrian brushed the snow off his jacket and unbuckled his trapper hat.
One of the double doors opened and an arm pulled him inside. Azrian didn’t get a chance to adjust his eyes from bright snow to dark interior before the same arm shoved him toward the tunnel-shaped body scanner. He stumbled through it without setting off the alarm.
On the other side, a man in casual dress walked up to him and shook his hand. He pointed at a bin. “Welcome, the name’s Charlie. Leave your winter gear in the basket. We will dry them off and hang the items in your cabin closet.”
“Thank you,” Azrian said as he removed his hat and gloves first. “My own cabin?”
“Nope. You share one with Liz Abbott.”
“Coed dorms?”
“Do you have a problem with that?” Charlie asked. His eyes studied him for signs of resistance.
“No, no, of course not. It’s cool.” Azrian pulled off his coat next. He thought of Zoeree’s lingerie hanging in the bathroom to dry. Might be more of the same here. “All set.”
“Good.” Charlie waved to the auburn-haired girl who sat by the stone fireplace. “Liz, over here. Give Mike the grand tour starting with your cabin. Make sure he has lunch.” He handed Azrian a laminated map. “We will debrief you at fifteen hundred hours.”
“Great, sir, looking forward to it.” All this time, Azrian had understood and communicated in French, which most of the Swiss folk spoke. This Guardian stronghold based near the town of Sierre, Switzerland, was tucked farther into the mountains. Azrian hoped he would have time to hike the lower trails and try his hand at skiing. “Aye right,” his father would rebuke.
Liz shook his hand, her grip flaccid. By the way her eyes flitted back and forth, he could tell she was studying his features.
“Are you part Asian?” she asked.
“My mum was from Japan.” A pang of guilt knocked against his ribcage. He never learned much from online searches. “That’s all I know about her except that she loved the cello. She died delivering me.”
“Sorry,” Liz said without eye contact. She pointed at the door instead. “We can make a run for the cabin without winter gear if you’re up for it. It’s close enough. The cold shouldn’t take hold.”
Nowhere near as cold as her attitude. “Lead the way.” Azrian followed her out the door and across the road to four sets of cabins. Most of them were set in clumps of four. They reached cabin 4a before the chill had a chance to set in. She opened the door.
“No need to lock the doors around here,” she said squeezing through the entrance behind him. “Security is high.”
“You don’t mind sharing a room with a dude?”
“Heck no, I prefer dudes.” Her giggles tickled his ears. “We have separate bedrooms but share a bathroom. Hope you don’t mind brassieres hanging around.”
“Nope, my cousin does the same.” Azrian walked into the empty bedroom and dropped his duffle bag onto the bed already made up with heavy fleece blankets of red and black plaid. A small desk was propped against the wall under the one window. All he saw outside was snow. No time to unpack now, and a nap would have to wait until after the briefing. He yawned, took a quick glance around the room, and returned to the small living space. Liz stood by the door waiting for him. “No kitchen?” he asked her.
“No, just a coffee maker and a dorm-sized fridge. Ready?” She waited for him to respond and when he simply nodded, she said, “I’ll give you a quick tour and then we can do lunch.”
“Lead the way.” He followed her outside into the chill and hoped most of the tour would take place inside. He didn’t know how to figure Liz out. She seemed friendly enough while a bit standoffish. Jesse had warned him to be cautious around the members, human or Fallen. The Guardians were known to plant spies who pretended to criticize the organization as a way to weed out infiltrators. Best not to confide in her, given the aloof attitude. Her auburn pixie haircut and pale freckles reminded him of the scientist who analyzed his father’s DNA, one of many shared memories. He’d make it a point to ask about her.
The tour ended an hour later at the dining hall where all meals, except snacks, were served. She quickly introduced him as Mike to a table of younger members. Several seats were left unoccupied.
Liz noticed his curious stare and said, “Some are on the job, hence the empty seats. Take your pick, but don’t get used to this table. The dining commissioner will assign you a permanent table during your debriefing.”
Azrian almost let his mouth drop but held back. In a way, he hoped they wouldn’t assign him to this table, so he could avoid spending more time than necessary with Liz. He stuck to his original opinion of her: an odd bird and not one to confide in. At that point, he wondered what assignment would befall him. He did list communications and computer expertise on his résumé.
After lunch, Liz wished him good luck and left with the rest. Azrian stood alone, wondering how to find the debriefing room. Then he remembered the last room she showed him inside the central building. He left the hall and strolled to the front lobby near the exit.
Azrian stopped and held his breath. He whipped out his cell phone and pretended to read a text. Abyss and someone he didn’t recognize walked by, discussing how inhospitable the humans in this organization behaved. They didn’t seem to care if he overheard them. Azrian photocopied the image of the Fallen rogue into his mind.
As part of his training, Jesse showed him a list of troublemakers, a few from the past, for him to memorize. Abyss ranked number one on the list. Definitely someone who could compromise the mission. He relayed the news to Ariane via telepathic code. Ariane and Zoeree maintained communications from a small town nearby, unwilling to let distance jeopardize his telepathic ability. He continued on his way, curious as to how the folks at home would react to this update.
3 3 3
Sabree and Jesse paced the library, each one heading in opposite directions and orbiting around me. The news Azrian sent on day one, only hours after he arrived, placed our mission on standby. Abyss knew Azrian and Zoeree had gone through the growing process in Scotland. She also knew what Azrian looked lik
e as an adult. “Bugger. What does this mean?” I asked.
Jesse paused in front of me. “How the hell am I supposed to know. Anyway, at this point in the game—the endgame—it doesn’t really matter. Nothing does.”
If the situation hadn’t gone south, I would’ve laughed after hearing Jesse’s high-pitched voice, exasperation not one of his commonly portrayed emotions. “Let’s sit and think this over. Not all is lost.” I heaved a sigh loud enough for all to hear when Sabree walked over to the bar and poured three glasses of wine. “Seriously, Sabree? Alcohol isn’t the answer.” I gladly accepted a glass though. What could it hurt? “Maybe Cayiel knows why she’s there.”
“Doubt he will admit why Abyss joined the Guardians.” Sabree grabbed a glass and gulped half the contents. “I can ask him about her.”
“Good idea. You two go way back.” No one could blame me this time. Sabree got the drinking ball rolling. I refilled my glass and tossed the empty bottle into the trash. Might as well drink up enough courage. An unannounced visit to the Caderen called for a lot, especially after I told Cayiel to eat Ariane’s inquisition—it’s not happening. “When I’m done questioning Cayiel, slip into stealth mode—mist inside—and see what he says or does. If he calls to warn her, we know Azrian’s in trouble. If he confesses that she’s a double agent, then we’re golden.”
“Slip into stealth mode? That’s my constant state.” Sabree glared at me.
“Makes sense to me,” Jesse said, raising his glass in salute. “Keep me posted. The sooner we can get back to Azrian, the better.”
“We’d better head out now,” Sabree said. He placed the empty glass on the bar. “Cayiel should be alone at this time.”
“How do you know?” Jesse asked.
“It’s what I do. I drink, and I know things.” Sabree’s body dispersed into a fine mist.
One side of my lip quivered upward. Then I recognized the quip from a tee shirt Azrian wore, quoting Tyrion from the Game of Thrones. Instant travel suited me just fine. A visual of the Caderen stronghold in Arizona came to mind as I imagined being inside the hall outside the elevator. Sabree misted beside me seconds later. “Hah, beat you,” I whispered.
“I’ll never get used to JLS. Didn’t feel like heaving my guts. A waste of fine wine.” Sabree led the way to Cayiel’s quarters. Our unexpected visit should catch him off guard and give him little time, if any, to conjure a bunch of lies. Outside the room, I knocked on the door while Sabree stood by.
“Come in, Brian.”
“How’d you know it was me?”
“Abyss called me about your son. Why did Azrian link up with the Guardians? Do you know about it?”
Sabree walked in behind me. “We both know about it. We sent him inside their lair as a double agent. To find out what secrets Farian and his rogues sold the Guardians. Azrian saw Abyss there and called right away.”
“She’s a double agent.”
That bit of news sent me over the edge. My boot kicked the desk leg. “Is there anyone who isn’t a double or a bloody triple agent?”
Sabree squeezed my shoulder. “Remember where you are.” He confronted Cayiel. “Are you serious? Why didn’t you tell us about her infiltration of the Guardians?”
“Probably for the same reason you were hush-hush about Azrian doing the same.”
We exchanged glances. “He’s right, you know,” I said. “So, between us, we have three double agents.”
“Actually four.”
All three of us joined in laughter, mine reaching a higher pitch. Neither of us asked whom, certain Cayiel would refuse the intel. “Did you know Wayde has been a member of the Guardian since the beginning?”
“Yes.”
Too easy, too coincidental. Abyss a double agent? Not likely. The time had come to tell a few untruths of my own just to even the score. “We’ll tell Azrian not to worry.”
“Tell Azrian to back down. Get him out of there. We have it covered.”
“Oui, we will do that,” Sabree said. “Come on, Brian, let’s go.”
Without a nod or any other type of pleasantry, I left with Sabree. Neither of us said a word nor spoke telepathically until we returned home to Edinburgh, the trip taking less than a minute for Sabree.
As soon as Sabree appeared inside the library, I grabbed him by the shoulders. “Cayiel’s gone rogue, hasn’t he?” When Sabree nodded, I let myself sink into the nearest recliner. “We have to get Azrian out of there. If they hurt him, they must know that I will retaliate.”
“The very thing that’s keeping Azrian alive.”
The door flew open and slammed against wall. Several books fell off the shelves when Jesse ran inside as if the estate were on fire. “Cayiel is working with Abyss! He’s one of them.”
“We know,” Sabree and I snapped together.
“Time for plan B.” I left the library before either could protest.
47
NEUTRALIZER ON STEROIDS
W ith my son neck-deep in espionage, and little chance that I could dust every rogue involved, more numerous than originally imagined, I sought Wayde next. If I revealed the truth along with Farian’s suicidal tendencies, maybe I could convince him not to accept the rogue’s plan to neutralize the Earth.
Hope was all we had to go on. The launch back in time seemed so final. I’d leave behind cherished family and friends. No qualms about dusting Abyss and Farian but Cayiel and the rest were a different story. Like misguided sheep, they had joined the herd believing the shepherd plotted to use an uncorrupted neutralizer.
The location of Wayde’s hideout posed a problem. Since everyone else had infiltrated this Guardian nest, I brought it upon myself to join the masses. Tablets, JLS, and the few photos Azrian took of the complex landed me outside the compound in front of the main building. Once inside, my nose caught a whiff of meatloaf. My stomach growled. Colton tabs fueled my speed and abilities, but rarely filled my gut, so I followed my nose.
Inside the cafeteria, after I loaded my tray, a few young Fallen members caught my eye. The rest of the dining hall was empty. “Hey, mind if I join you?”
“Why not. No sense eating alone. No higher ups around to complain about us sitting at the wrong table. Silly human rule.” The others at the table laughed, which meant this group had to be the renegade bunch.
I placed my tray of meatloaf and mashed potato on the table. Most of the meat loaf disappeared before I spoke. “The dude in charge of this place changed my job for the sixth time. He’s got me updating software now. My specialty is networking.” I chowed down the buttery hot roll next.
“You must be talking about Mr. Morgan,” the guy seated at the head of the table said.
The young man seemed to be the speaker for the group. Another rule? “Guess so. He never mentioned his name. I’d like to give him a piece of my mind.”
“Like to see you try. Mr. Morgan’s a hard human to track down. He refuses interviews or meetings with any of the Fallen.” The loose-lipped speaker passed his dessert to the female next to him.
A red flag waved in my face, almost slapping me silly. When did the Fallen pass off sweets? I leaned forward. Something had to be amiss. A set up? Maybe blabber mouth had a crush on her. The googly eyes he gave her confirmed my guess had hit the mark. Time to set the bait. “I’d give it a shot if I could find him. Forget making an appointment, I’ll just barge in.” Now to reel the sucker in.
“The name’s Galleen by the way. Mr. Morgan usually hangs in the library.” He noted the time on his phone. “I’m late. See you later,” Galleen said to his friends. His gaze lingered on the female.
“Thanks for the info.” Full of doubt, I twiddled my thumbs as he left. For whatever reason, the kid had lied through his eyeteeth, his eyes darting about like a crazed bouncing ball screensaver. None of the others seemed to share anything worth waiting for, so I excused myself and emptied the tray. A quick sprint caught me up to Galleen as he scurried down the hall. Shadowing him, I kept my guard up for a remote no
ok to ambush him. My lips curled when he slipped into the restroom. Glancing left and then right, I eased in behind him.
“Are you following me?” Galleen asked, leaning over a urinal.
“Yes, so put that thing away and listen.” I spun the kid around to face me and quickly glanced down to make sure he’d put his junk away. Thankfully, the youngster listened. “Ever hear of the anti-being?” My brows shot up and down. The moment Galleen glanced at the door, I slammed him against the urinal, pretty sure the flusher poked his spine. “Tell me how to find Wayde and I might let you live.”
The kid had no choice but to sit inside the urinal. He winced.
“Where?” My voice echoed off the walls of the small-sized room.
“The library.” He yelped when his backside slammed into the flusher again. “A private office in the back of the nonfiction section. Look for a wooden-carved door. You can’t miss it.”
I released him and washed my hands. As I peered in the mirror, I noticed Galleen hadn’t budged. From the reflection, I’m sure he saw my red-rimmed eyes, my irises lit up like embers. I spoke to him from the mirror image. “This will hurt a wee bit, but don’t worry, you’ll be conscious in time for breakfast.” My reflection glared in his direction until the kid groaned and pressed his hands against his skull. His body slid to the floor at the base of the urinal and crumbled into a heap.
“Nasty place to take a nap, laddie.” Satisfied, but somewhat put off by my ability to mentally knock someone out, I left the restroom and headed to the north wing. No time left to waste.
Inside the library, something tickled the back of my neck. Baby spiders came to mind. Ariane had done this to me, branded me with arachnophobia. I may never forgive her for the mental scar. I scratched the spot and fingered something crawling underneath my collar. A real bug. The heebie-jeebies took over as I swatted my neck several times until something buzzed my ears. Both hands swatted air next.
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