Lexie’s laugh grated through the air like bits of hail. She threw the dirty paper towels in the trash and turned to her little sister, arms akimbo.
“I wrote a check for $50,000 and drove it down to St. Silvia’s Orphanage. I mean, where would a creep like that be least likely to give his money? They were shocked, let me tell you. And think how shocked he’d be if he knew!” She stood tall in triumph when she finished her tirade.
Then she noticed her sister’s face. Tori was a little freaked out. Lexie prided herself on her control, but ever since Kane Curtis had walked back into their lives, she’d lost it more times than she had in the last few years. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d scared Tori.
Lexie’s shoulders sagged. “The thing is,” she said, wondering if her voice was shaking the way her insides were, “if Kane could make a deposit in my bank account, he could probably track where the money goes. That, more than all the news articles, scares me. That he can track us down, even the most intimate details of our lives, and interfere in whatever way he wants.”
Her privacy was more than normal expectations of confidentiality. It was the key to protecting Ben. If their father could meddle with her bank account, what else could he meddle with?
The sisters stared at each other for a moment. Lexie wiped her hand down her face and leaned toward Tori. She grasped her hand and squeezed. “You see, don’t you?”
Tori closed her eyes and leaned back, pulling her hand away. “He doesn’t deserve to be hated. Maybe he just didn’t realize he was overstepping his bounds? He hasn’t had any practice at being a father. Maybe I just need to explain to him…”
Lexie slumped in her chair as her sister trailed off. She stared across the table, but Tori wouldn’t meet her gaze. Lexie shook her head. “Oh Tori…”
For the first time since she was sixteen, when her naive little sister had come to save her from a life on the streets, Lexie felt completely alone.
CHAPTER 11
MEANWHILE, in the underground team office, Joe and the rest listened carefully while Art and Casey explained what they had learned so far.
“It looks like Evan Ruffalo might have found something after all,” Art said. “Joe found a file with Jason’s information in it, and another file with names and dates and locations for over a dozen more kids. Most of them are in our missing persons database. There were also printouts about biological research companies in Vegas, Chicago, and here in Double Bay.”
“We think Evan was trying to link the disappearances,” Casey interjected.
“Joe also found a ticket stub in Evan’s desk. Looks like he flew out to Las Vegas the weekend before he was killed.” Art tapped his pen rhythmically against his knee. “Maybe he found his link and someone didn’t like it.”
Joe felt a shiver run down his spine. “You know whose headquarters is in Vegas.”
Mickey whistled long and low. Bull massaged his temples. Hayley sat back hard in her seat.
Vegas meant a lot of things to a lot of people, but for Joe, it always meant one thing – The Nine. An organization with nine leaders who called themselves The Fathers, the members all had super powers. But in the exercise of free will, the members had chosen to use their powers for personal gain. Not for the protection of the human race.
“Who?” Art and Casey asked together.
“I’ve told you there’s a criminal element among the superheroes,” Mickey said slowly. “There’s a group headquartered in Vegas called The Nine. If Evan talked to someone connected with them – and we have no reason to suspect–”
“We have every reason to suspect them!” Hayley argued. “One of their leaders used to live here in Double Bay. The city became a much better place when that Thriller died!”
Bull patted Hayley’s knee in an effort to calm her. In typical Hayley fashion, she folded her arms over her chest and pulled into herself. Joe wished she could let go of her demons, whatever they were. She rarely talked about her past, but he figured she must have been mistreated in some way, probably because of her abilities, and that’s why she’d built such thick walls around herself.
“What’s a Thriller?” Casey asked.
“Someone who gets a thrill using their powers to subjugate others. You need to talk to Owen,” Mickey said. “These are not people you want to stir up. Fighting The Nine would be like Peter Pan and the Lost Boys fighting the U.S. Army. They’re highly organized and well equipped, with extreme powers. Paladins – well, we generally aren’t. Our policy has always been to spread out and try to protect as much territory as possible.”
“Joe’s dad, Owen Clarke? What does he have to do with it?” Casey looked to Joe for an answer.
“My dad is the local Paladin Guild Leader,” Joe said. “That’s our official name, Paladins. The superhero nickname started after comic books became popular in the early 1900s, though we’ve been called heroes for as long as anyone can remember. In fact, the Bible stories of David and his Mighty Men – they were Paladins. The Guild was started in the early thirteenth century. There is one guild worldwide, with hundreds of local chapters like ours.”
Joe met the eyes of his teammates, but more than that, his family. “We’ve all sworn to live by a simple set of rules whereby our number one priority is to protect the areas we live in. For the most part, anyone with powers not affiliated with the Guild is considered a potential enemy.”
Art frowned. “Why? I thought you guys had kind of a live-and-let-live policy.”
“Potential enemy,” Mickey said. “Because left unchecked, those who live outside the rules can become too powerful to stop. Like The Nine. Unfortunately, they’ve experienced a huge growth spurt in the last thirty years, particularly in the United States, their base of power. Their policy on Paladins – ignore, recruit, or destroy. We’ve heard stories that would curdle your blood. I have no doubt they would execute an Unmarked who dared question them.”
“An Unmarked is…” Art looked around the group.
“A person unmarked by powers,” Hayley said quietly. “These powers are a curse from God because Cain killed his brother Abel.”
“Not a curse,” Joe interjected, looking at Hayley. She’d always considered her powers more curse than gift. Sometimes he just wanted to shake her until she understood that God did not have it out for her. Since that probably wouldn’t be the best way to get across God loves you, he’d refrained. So far.
“The Bible calls it a curse,” Hayley murmured, picking at lint on her jeans.
She had him there. But trying to explain to her that the curse had become a gift, a physical and spiritual responsibility that could open her heart to a deep, foundational joy…well, those conversations hadn’t gone well.
“I beg your pardon?” Art’s eyes widened. “I thought powers had to do with genetics.”
“When Adam and Eve’s son Cain killed his brother,” Joe turned back to the detectives, “God’s punishment was to give Cain and his descendants supernatural powers that they were to use to protect humankind. They were to travel the earth, keeping people safe from the forces of evil. It was a way to constantly remind them how precious human life is, particularly to God.”
“Learn to protect that which you’ve destroyed.” Art nodded. “Some people believe rehabilitation works that way.”
“I’ve never heard any of this.” Casey made notes in a small spiral notebook. “So much to learn.”
“We like to keep the details close,” Mickey said, looking pointedly at her notebook. “It’s one way to protect ourselves.”
“But you’re the superheroes,” Casey said, closing her notebook. “What do you need protection from?”
“You know, he could’ve just been gambling,” Bull suggested. “Isn’t that the big reason people go to Vegas?”
Joe took advantage of the opening and pulled out a folder. “I found something else.” He passed around copies of Evan’s email to Tori. “Tori told me about this today. Evan sent it just before midnight Wednesday.”
If I’m not around tomorrow, remember the Nine.
Hayley gasped and paled. “Joe! Is Tori in danger?”
Joe felt a shiver run down his spine. “Of course not! She was just a temp. No one could possibly think…” Could they? She was Evan’s assistant, if only for a few days. Surely no one would connect her to Evan’s personal investigations.
Art tapped his pen harder against his knee. His lips pressed into a thin line.
“Let’s not be too hasty in making any assumptions regarding The Nine,” Mickey said, leaning his elbows on his knees. “That includes you two.” Mickey pointed at the detectives.
“If you’re saying they’re homegrown terrorists, Homeland Security is going to want to know,” Art insisted.
“A dog doesn’t shit where he sleeps,” Mickey said.
“But a dog does return to his vomit.” Casey met Mickey’s unwavering stare with one of her own.
A quote from Proverbs. Joe wondered if Casey believed what she was hearing about superheroes and the origin of their powers. Maybe. That could be helpful. Or maybe she grew up in a church where she’d memorized a few now-meaningless-to-her Bible verses.
“The Nine is more like organized crime on steroids. And no,” Mickey interrupted himself before Art could, “I don’t think you should call the FBI yet. We don’t know for sure that they’re involved.”
Art looked at him coolly. “Not really your call.”
Maybe inviting the police into their meetings hadn’t been such a great idea. Joe wondered, if push came to shove, if they would respect Owen’s authority.
Joe watched Mickey clench his teeth, fighting to stay calm before he continued. “Let’s find out who we can pin some evidence on first. We won’t be finding any of The Nine to arrest, I can tell you that. I know a couple of them, and I’m not too keen to meet them in a fight. They’re…” Mickey clenched his fists and didn’t finish. “There’s a good chance they sent a footman. Someone you can actually send to jail.”
“You know some of The Nine?” Bull looked as shocked as Joe felt.
How could Mickey know them? Did Dad know? This whole thing felt like it was spiraling out of control. Joe had never worked a case like this. For a moment he wished he were back on street sweeper patrol, picking up petty thieves and helping little old ladies and lost cats.
Mickey continued without answering. “Do you know anyone on the police force in Vegas? Personally?”
Casey cleared her throat. “I’m checking to see if a woman I went to the academy with is still there.” She shook her head and met Art’s worried eyes. “We don’t know if anyone in Vegas understands exactly what they’re dealing with over there. Or that they even recognize a problem. And I’m not sure how to tell them.”
Joe rubbed his hands over his face. “Do you know who Evan met with?”
The detectives shook their heads. “We’re still investigating the lead. You’ll be the first to know.”
“Okay, can we please get back to Tori now?” Hayley swung her foot impatiently on her knee. “She’s been in a robbery, found a dead man, and got mugged, all in the last two weeks. Uh, duh!”
Everyone stared at Hayley.
“It sounds a lot worse when you say it like that,” said Bull.
“Thanks, Bull.” Joe cracked his knuckles on both hands. Tension built inside, needing a release. He eyed the door to the gym.
“I still wonder if it has to do with you.” Bull looked at Joe. “She gets married to a superhero and doesn’t know it, then all hell breaks loose.”
The pounding of his heart stopped Joe’s breath. He coughed to clear his throat. He’d pretty much ignored Bull the last time he brought up this idea. And Mickey had agreed that there was no connection. But Joe was her husband, her protector; he had to look at all of the possibilities.
Protect her.
Was the voice in his head a sign telling him that what Bull said was true? Could Tori be in danger because she’d married him? Now he wanted to punch Bull instead of the bag. His fists clenched as his body responded to the adrenalin in his system. His muscles trembled. His skin tightened. He knew that if Art shot him right now, the bullet would do nothing. But Tori was defenseless.
“Easy, Joe,” Mickey said. “Two of those things happened at work or after work. It could be related to Evan.”
“Not making me feel better if Evan’s involved with The Nine.” Joe scowled at his friend.
Casey flipped some pages in her notebook. “Okay, where else has Tori worked? Has she worked for St. Silvia’s? Volunteered there? Has she ever worked at a school or a daycare?”
Hayley shook her head. “I don’t think so. But her nephew goes to preschool. She lived with him and her sister till she married Joe.” She told Casey where she thought the preschool was located.
“What else?” Casey asked.
“I can’t see how she’s involved,” Mickey said, leaning back against the couch.
“I can’t either.” Joe let his head fall back against the leather, his eyes sliding closed.
In his mind, he saw Tori getting mugged on Halloween, saw her shaken and pale after finding Evan, saw her attacked again in the alley behind their house. “Do you really think it could be a coincidence?” He opened his eyes and looked at Mickey. “All those things happening in just a few weeks?”
“Ugh!” Hayley huffed on the couch. “Sometimes you guys are so stupid.” She crossed her arms and glared at the ceiling.
Mickey stared at him for a moment, thinking. “I rarely see coincidences anymore. Eventually, I see connections.” Mickey rubbed his chin. “It doesn’t help that you have secrets. Makes it hard to find patterns.”
“What secrets?” asked Art.
Everyone looked at Joe. “I’ve been meaning to tell her about this,” he waved his arm around the room, “but I haven’t had a chance to do it yet.”
Mickey coughed in a way that sounded like “bullshit.”
Joe tensed, trying not to fidget. “As Hayley mentioned,” he ground out through clenched teeth, “it’s been a little busy around here.”
“Just talk to her,” Art suggested. “How bad can it be?”
“And listen,” Casey added. “Maybe she can tell you something that will help.” She looked at Art, who nodded at her.
Joe saw the others nodding, too. It’s true that he and Tori had had a busy couple of weeks since they’d returned from their honeymoon. But maybe, just possibly, he was scared to tell her. What if she didn’t like the idea of being married to a superhero? What then?
Well, he was going to have to man up.
At the next convenient moment.
HAYLEY’S fears were unfounded. Just because her best friend rushed into marriage with someone she barely knew – someone Hayley knew pretty well and had to pretend she didn’t when Tori was around – that didn’t mean Tori wouldn’t want to hang out anymore. Hayley was so excited when Tori called and asked to come over tonight, she spent time working on some of her plants to make them flower, even though it was out of season. Flowers made people feel welcome, made them want to come back.
On the other hand, she wasn’t sure her fears for Tori’s safety were baseless. She wanted to help her friend figure out her powers so she could protect herself if anything else happened. But it would be a lot easier to teach her by showing her Hayley’s own powers. Which she couldn’t because she’d promised to let Joe tell Tori everything. Which he hadn’t.
Grr.
Maybe last night’s conversation would spur him to action. Otherwise, she was going to tell Tori anyway. Hayley was her best friend and best friends protected each other.
When Tori arrived, they ordered a Hawaiian pizza and curled into the couch for a long overdue girly chat. So relaxing. Better than hanging out with the boys. Hayley even took a third piece of pizza. It was like a vacation day, her and Tori hanging out alone.
Tori studied her water glass. “Have you ever seen a superhero, Hayley?”
Hayley choked o
n a piece of pineapple. She took a moment to catch her breath. Was this an opening she should take advantage of? Remembering her stupid promise, she decided probably not. “Sure. They’re on the news.”
“I mean in person.”
“I saw Sonic once. At least I’m pretty sure it was him.” Hayley hoped that didn’t count as a lie. It was him. They’d been having lunch. “No one else can run that fast.”
She watched Tori trying to piece things together. Her friend had never believed in superheroes before, so it’d been kind of easy to pretend to be normal around her. But now Tori not only believed they were real, the police had convinced her that she had a power herself. But she had no one to talk to about it. She didn’t know that both her husband and her best friend had super powers, too.
Damn it. Promise or no promise, she wasn’t going to let her friend flail around alone. “Does this have to do with the superhero you met at the robbery?”
“Spook? No. Well, maybe. I don’t know.”
Yeah, that was clear as mud. She tried again.
“Is it about the one you met on Halloween?” No one said Hayley couldn’t confirm a direct question if Tori asked her anything. She’d only promised not to tell.
Tori folded her cloth napkin into some form of origami. “Um, maybe, yeah.” She let go a wicked grin. “He was totally cute!”
Hayley smiled. Joe was okay.
“Of course, not nearly as handsome as Joe,” Tori hurried to add.
Hayley laughed. If she only knew. She wondered if she should tell Joe how loyal Tori was to him. Nah. He was being a turd. Maybe later.
“He showed up last Friday when I was mugged, too.”
“Yeah,” Hayley said. How hard could it be to tell her, Joe? You go around saving her enough, just tell her already. Too bad Hayley didn’t have any psychic powers or she could berate Joe all she wanted right this minute.
“What do you mean, yeah?” Tori asked. “I didn’t tell you that.”
Unexpected Superhero (Adventures of Lewis and Clarke Book 1) Page 17