Legacy of the Watchers Series Boxed Set: Books 1-3

by Nancy Madore

  What had you gotten yourself into Wayne?

  Beth set the statement aside with trembling hands and began carefully going through the rest of the items in the wooden box, starting with the pictures. There was an old, black and white of a soldier wearing a brown uniform that looked just like the ones worn by the British army during both world wars. Beth examined the picture thoughtfully. Wayne never mentioned having a relative in the British army. In fact, he never mentioned having any relatives in Britain at all. As far as she knew, both sides of his family had lived in the States for at least three generations. Aside from that, she knew very little—only that the name ‘Timmons’ was Irish and that his mother was partly French. Who cared about those things anymore? At any rate, the man in the picture didn’t resemble Wayne in the least—though Beth knew that this didn’t necessarily mean anything.

  She flipped the picture over and saw that a note had been scribbled on the back.

  “If the worst happens, visit Brisbin at Highgate Cemetery.”

  It was simply signed, “A.”

  Beth read the message again.

  “Highgate Cemetery,” she repeated absently. “Why does that sound so familiar?”

  Suddenly she jumped up, dropping the contents of the box on the floor as she scrambled to get to Wayne’s computer. It was in ‘sleep’ mode again and she groaned impatiently as she waited for the password screen to pop up and then typed in ‘elizabethloveswayne.’

  “Come on!” she yelled, and a moment later she was in. The screen was exactly where she had left it the night before, on the website of the Winchester Pub Hotel. She scrolled down until she found the address. It was located in Highgate, London! Beth just stared at the screen for several minutes, and then she typed ‘Highgate Cemetery’ into the search box and hit ‘enter.’ The website for the cemetery was the first item that came up. Beth clicked on it and once again scrolled down the page in search of an address. Sure enough, there it was: ‘Highgate Cemetery, Swain’s Lane, Highgate, London.’

  “If the worst happens, visit Brisbin at Highgate Cemetery.”

  The ‘worst’ must have happened, and that was why Wayne was going to London. But who was this ‘Brisbin’ that he was supposed to visit? And what was he doing at Highgate Cemetery? Was he an employee there? Or was he one of the residents? Beth shuddered at the thought, and yet it seemed to fit with the cryptic message and everything else that had happened. And too, the message was almost as faded as the picture, indicating that it had been written a long time ago. It was unlikely that it would be referring to an employee of Highgate—though it was possible. From what Beth could tell from their website, Highgate Cemetery was both historic and very large. Glancing through the pictures, she could easily imagine a doddering old groundskeeper by the name of Brisbin wandering about the place.

  And yet, Beth felt a strange certainty that the man her husband had been planning to ‘visit’ was dead.

  Assuming this was the case, what was the point of visiting him?

  And who was the ‘A’ who signed the note on the back of the picture? Did it have anything to do with the ‘Anonymous’ alias that Wayne and the other members of those online websites were using?

  Beth was vaguely aware of the online hackers who called themselves ‘Anonymous,’ but she had assumed that they were mostly pranksters, acting independently, on issues relating to the internet. But since they were anonymous, Beth supposed that anyone could use that alias for any reason. Other groups could easily hide under that umbrella. This would explain why Wayne’s postings didn’t fit the mold. In fact, he seemed at odds with the majority of the ‘Anonymous’ members, who appeared to be mostly computer geeks and atheists. By comparison, Wayne’s messages seemed almost fanatical, with his allusions to Revelations and Armageddon. Most of the other members either laughed his comments off or ignored them altogether. But then again, Beth recalled that there were a few who had responded in kind. It was likely that Wayne’s messages were only intended for a few. But it would be impossible to find out for sure. Even if she were to go online and message each of them individually, they would probably not enlighten her. They were anonymous for a reason.

  Beth picked up her phone and punched in the number to the hospital.

  “Extension three forty-eight please,” she said. While she was waiting for the head nurse to pick up the phone, her fingers were busy typing on the computer. Though her insides were all aflutter, she felt strangely determined.

  “Jeanette,” she said when the head nurse came on the line. “I’m sorry about the short notice, but I’ve decided to take you up on your offer.” She paused a minute to think. “I’m going to take a few weeks. Maybe more.” There was another pause while Jeanette asked if she needed anything. “No, I’ll be fine,” replied Beth, going through the rest of the conversation mechanically. “Yes, I will. Definitely. Yes, yes, I’ll keep in touch,” she said. “Thank you.”

  The moment the call was ended Beth immediately entered a phone number from the website she had pulled up on Wayne’s computer.

  “Yes, good morning,” she said. The fluttering in her stomach was growing stronger, but she didn’t hesitate. “I would like to book a flight to London.”

  Chapter 6

  Manhattan, New York

  “Gordon!”

  A small sob escaped Nadia’s lips as she rushed into his arms. He squeezed her affectionately.

  Nadia was the first to pull away. She did so reluctantly, brushing aside her tears with a little laugh. “I didn’t realize how much I missed you until I saw you just now,” she said. She noticed that he looked older. And that his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.

  “It seems a lot longer than two weeks,” he agreed.

  There was a moment of awkward silence. Nadia was suddenly aware of how much it must’ve hurt Gordon to hear that she had contacted Clive instead of him.

  “Let’s sit down,” he suggested, glancing around anxiously. They were in a restaurant just down the street from her office, and people were beginning to stare. She did as he suggested.

  “Whatever happened to Ornias?” she suddenly thought to ask. Everything had ended so abruptly on that tragic day. Nadia was still putting the pieces together.

  “Back in the dome,” said Gordon.

  “Oh,” she replied. She was a little surprised to find that she felt sorry for the djinn that had shared so much of her father’s life.

  “I know,” said Gordon. “I felt kind of bad for him too.”

  “I mean they are living creatures,” she added, “just like us.”

  “Not just like us,” countered Gordon. “Let’s not forget that they need human bodies to live in.”

  “No, I haven’t forgotten,” said Nadia with a weary sigh. “It’s just too bad that it has to be this way.”

  The waitress came over and took their order.

  When she left, Nadia gave Gordon a conspiratorial smile. “Much as I hate to admit it, I kind of liked Ornias,” she said.

  “I know what you mean,” he replied. “He said something to me the last time we spoke that I haven’t been able to get out of my head.”

  “What did he say?” asked Nadia.

  “He said; ‘Whatever Asmodeous was trying to stop is still out there.’”

  Nadia looked down at her plate.

  “So how did Lilith look?” he asked, moving from one awkward subject to the next with his usual tact. This, too, had to have been galling—to hear about Lilith’s visit to Nadia’s office from Clive, and especially the part about the ring. Nadia couldn’t even guess at Gordon’s reaction when he found out that Poseidon was the djinn that had been working for T.D.M.R.

  “Lilith looked just how you would expect her to look,” replied Nadia. “Stunning.” She paused uncertainly. “I wanted to call you, Gordon. I did. But I…wasn’t myself.”

  Gordon’s expression was one of understanding, but he didn’t reply.

  “Clive said I chose him because I knew he wouldn’t put up wit
h my shit,” she laughed. “I think he may have been right about that.”

  “I would’ve liked to have been there for you, Nadia,” said Gordon. “But I’m glad Clive was, if I couldn’t be.” Nadia met his eyes and she was suddenly reminded of all the times that Gordon was there for her.

  “I know,” she said. There was another awkward silence.

  “So what are you doing with yourself these days?” she asked for something to say.

  “You really want to know?”

  Nadia suddenly realized that she didn’t.

  “Of course!” she replied, blushing.

  “I’m trying to find out why T.D.M.R. has technology that can create ten-point-three earthquakes,” he said. “That’s what I’m doing with myself these days.”

  Nadia flinched. She lowered her hands into her lap in an effort to hide their trembling. “I know,” she said quietly.

  “I didn’t come here to make you feel bad,” said Gordon. “We can talk about other things if you want, but there are a few things that need saying first.” Gordon paused, as if struggling for the right words.

  “It’s okay,” said Nadia. “I know—”

  “No, you don’t know,” interrupted Gordon. “This isn’t about you, Nadia. Or your father. Or me, or Will…or even the United States of America. It’s about life on earth.” His typically kind, brown eyes were twisted in anger and brimming with tears. “I saw some things that look like a very real threat to that, Nadia.” His eyes held hers. “You saw them too.”

  Nadia couldn’t speak.

  Gordon blinked away the tears and sniffed. His look was determined. “We need your help,” he said.

  “I can’t,” she whispered.

  By some miracle the waitress chose that moment to deliver their food.

  “I’ll take the check,” said Nadia, getting up from her chair.

  “No,” said Gordon, grabbing her arm. “Please.” He turned to the waitress. “We’ll take two glasses of wine.”

  “But I have to go back to work,” objected Nadia.

  “I don’t want either of us to leave here angry,” he said. He waited until she sat back down in her chair before releasing her arm. “I’ve said what I have to say and if we can’t agree then I want to move past this.”

  Nadia nodded. “Okay,” she said shakily.

  “I won’t say that I’m not disappointed,” he went on. “But I forgive you.”

  Nadia just stared at him, torn between outrage and relief.

  “Do you forgive me?” he asked when she didn’t respond.

  In spite of the difficulty she was having with this conversation, Nadia could feel the corners of her mouth twitching, as if she might smile. “For what?” she asked.

  Gordon shrugged. “For anything…and everything. Do you?” he persisted.

  Nadia eyed him suspiciously, but he appeared to be perfectly sincere. “If I have anything to forgive you for, Gordon, you most certainly have my forgiveness,” she said.

  The wine came then, as if on cue, and Gordon raised his glass. “To friends,” he said.

  “To friends,” she agreed. She was still feeling a little shaky from Gordon’s confrontational manner, so she took several large gulps of the wine. They both visibly relaxed.

  “I wonder how Lilith’s going to get Asmodeous out of that ring,” he mused thoughtfully. To her look, he added—“We can still chat about it, can’t we?”

  Nadia took another drink of her wine as she contemplated this. “Yes, we can still chat about it,” she said. “In fact, I was wondering about that too.”

  “I just can’t figure out how he managed to escape the power of the ring to begin with,” he continued.

  “Are you sure he’s really in there?” she asked.

  “Something was definitely in there,” he said. “I saw the mist. We just couldn’t get him to appear. Besides, Lilith wouldn’t be going to all this trouble to get that ring if Asmodeous wasn’t in it. Immediately after changing the formula, she went directly to DC in order to get Poseidon to barter with.”

  “How’d she do it?” asked Nadia.

  “Get this. She entered the body of a homeless woman in Wessler’s parking garage.”

  Nadia remembered the look of determination on Lilith’s face the day she showed up in her office. “Yes,” she agreed. “Asmodeous must be in that ring.”

  Gordon nodded. “There’s a good chance he’ll contact you once Lilith gets him out,” he warned.

  Nadia took another sip of her wine. Would he? She wondered. Asmodeous’ life as Edward Adeire was over. He’d be starting anew with Lilith—the love of his life. Perhaps he would never forgive Nadia for betraying him.

  For that matter, did she even want to see him again? The man she had known and loved was Edward Adeire. What did she really know about Asmodeous?

  “Clive tells me that you’re planning a big event,” said Gordon. Nadia jumped on this change of subject.

  “It’s going to be a masquerade ball,” she said. “A ‘Tribute to Hollywood.’” She filled him in on the details while he listened with interest. “It’s November fifth,” she finished.

  “Of this year?” he asked.

  “I’ve got a month to pull it together,” she replied casually—much more casually than she felt. “I can do it.”

  “Why the rush?”

  “Well, it is kind of a race, you know?” she said. “The first event will raise the most money. I want it to be mine, because then I’ll know the money will reach the victims.”

  Gordon smiled. “I just don’t see how it can be done,” he said.

  “You and everyone else,” she groaned. “I’ve got a network to cover it, but even they’re balking at the short notice.”

  “I would think they’d be glad for something new to put on the air,” remarked Gordon.

  “I know, right?” agreed Nadia. She sighed. “I have about twenty calls in already today. One way or the other, I’m going to convince them to do it. I don’t care if I have to fly out there in person.”

  Gordon laughed. “Well, if anyone can pull it off, it’s you,” he said, his eyes glistening with admiration.

  “Thank you, Gordon.”

  “It does seem rather pointless, though, to expend all this effort raising money for victims after the fact, when we could use those same resources to try and prevent disasters like this.”

  Nadia just looked at him.

  “They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” he added.

  “I find that people are much more generous after a tragedy than before,” she replied tartly.

  Gordon smiled. “You don’t have to get defensive, Nadia. I’m just making conversation.”

  “The idea behind first relief is that, sometimes, in spite of all our best efforts, bad things happen,” said Nadia. “Sometimes there’s really nothing that can be done to prevent it. Other times there is. But either way, the point is, something bad happened and people are struggling because of it. That’s what first relief is for.”

  “I’m not putting down first relief,” said Gordon. “I just think—”

  “I know what you think,” interjected Nadia. “You think I should just hand over BEACON to you and Clive so you can use it to spy on T.D.M.R.”

  “What makes you so sure I was talking about T.D.M.R.?” asked Gordon. “I could have been talking about anything. There must be hundreds of ways to prevent disasters.”

  “Are you saying that you and Clive don’t want to use BEACON to spy on T.D.M.R.?” she asked.

  “Okay, so what if we do?” asked Gordon. “Would that be such a bad thing?

  “Yes,” said Nadia.

  Gordon frowned. “Not even a month ago, you were determined to find out why your father was going after T.D.M.R.,” he said. “Suddenly you don’t care anymore?”

  “He wasn’t my father,” she said. “Thanks to Asmodeous, I never got to know my real father.”

  “Asmodeous raised you,” insisted Gordon. “That makes
him your father in at least one sense of the word.”

  “I just don’t think it’s wise to go around chasing ghosts,” she said. “We should just let them be.”

  “Why?” asked Gordon.

  “Because!” she said. Though she kept her voice down, she could feel herself becoming more animated. “Because it’s out of our hands! Because we don’t know what we’re doing! And because we’ll only end up making things worse!”

  Gordon reached across the table and took hold of her hand. He spoke slowly, emphasizing every word. “It wasn’t your fault.”

  Nadia stood up to leave, but she was momentarily blinded by tears. Gordon stood up too. “Nadia.”

  “I’m sorry,” she said, running blindly out of the restaurant.

  Chapter 7

  NADIA reluctantly turned off the shower. It almost seemed as if the steaming hot water could wash away the day’s tensions along with the residue it had left on her skin.

  Despite the upsetting lunch with Gordon, she’d managed to get an enormous amount of work done. She simply refused to think about Gordon and Clive, and their crazy scheme to conduct their own private investigation on T.D.M.R. She couldn’t afford to get caught up in another misadventure. She had the masquerade ball to think of. If she was going to do this, she had to do it right.

  And she was going to do it—there was no turning back now. Tomorrow it would be made official with a press release. All of her plans were falling into place exactly as she’d hoped. She had managed to talk the network into airing the live event on the desired date of November fifth, and had booked eight of the ten big name entertainers she wanted to headline the show. Not bad for a day’s work!

  Nadia was doing what she loved and, in the process, she was providing assistance to people in need. Why should she jeopardize all of that for some dangerous mission that she not only didn’t want any part of, but that she wasn’t even qualified to do?

  It wasn’t her responsibility!

  She felt mildly irked by the unfairness of it all. There were literally thousands of people being paid to protect the world from those who might try to endanger it. Where were those people? Why weren’t they checking up on T.D.M.R., and other top secret organizations like them? Who knew how many ‘classified’ ventures of the Department of Defense had gone rogue? Was she supposed to stop them all?