FreeForm: An Alien Invasion Romance Series (FreeForm Series Book 1)
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"Would you like me to take it to your room?" The cabbie asked.
"No, that won't be necessary,” Pat answered, seeing him for the first time and realizing she must have over-tipped him. "I believe they have someone here at the hotel who will take care of it. We better let them do their job."
The cabbie smiled and nodded then pulled a rumpled business card out of his shirt pocket. "Don't hesitate to call when you need to go somewhere and be sure to ask for Archie. If I'm on duty, I'll dump whoever I'm driving and come a running."
"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind." Pat took the card and stuck it in her purse, wondering how much she must have tipped him to get such service.
One of the bellhops from the hotel came out and placed her bag on his dolly. Archie looked for a moment like he might take issue with the bellhop but then realized it was time to release his best customer of the week.
Pat walked through the revolving door of the hotel. Not until she was on the other side of the reflecting glass did she turn around and study the street. In a moment she found what she'd been looking for — the black sedan, parked on the other side of the street fifteen or twenty yards from the front entrance of the hotel. She wondered, as she walked over to the front desk to check in, whether the driver and occupant of the car were still inside or if they had already checked into her room ahead of her. She decided to request the largest bellboy on staff to take her bag up to her room. She was really too tired to take on two thugs on her own. All she really wanted to do right now was to take a hot soaking bubble bath. Could they please leave her alone long enough for that?
The army jacket reeked of body odor. Great for the image Allan was trying to convey but hard on his own senses. He pounded on the door again, ignoring the doorbell.
"Come on, Ms. Vogt, I know you're in there. I saw you drive up yesterday. If you don't open the door and give me my rent, I'm going to have to call the cops." Allan stepped back away from the door being sure he didn't glance to either side where Allison, Frank, and Cindy stood, flattened against the wall waiting to rush in on Allan's signal.
Was Dawn still alive or was he risking his own life and the lives of three other people just to recover a cold stiff corpse? What if there was more than one man inside and they couldn't get to all of them before one of them did something to Dawn?
Shut up, he told himself as he heard someone on the other side of the door slip the lock. His left hand twitched slightly, notifying the other three to be ready.
The door opened and there in front of him stood Pat, tugging on the rope belt of a white terry cloth bathrobe. Allan stood frozen to his spot out in the hallway, his mind racing. It couldn't be Pat, could it? He'd left her in Greensboro two hours away, waiting to fly to Washington. But here she stood just as clearly as could be. But it couldn't be.
The thoughts raced through his mind in a millisecond. It couldn't be. That was the bottom line. The person or thing standing before him had done a remarkable job of mimicry. Just like one of them had done with copying TJ, Allan thought as he lowered his head and right shoulder and dove through the doorway, catching the Pat look-a-like just below the solar plexus with his shoulder. It was a most satisfying yet confusing experience to see the shocked and frightened look on the Pat look-alike just before he knocked the breath out of her. The other three followed closely behind Allan. Allison joined him in subduing his target while Frank and Cindy ran towards the bedroom to find Dawn.
If Allan had been momentarily surprised by who he was attacking, Allison was thunderstruck when she realized they were overwhelming her boss of ten years. Still, much to her credit she didn't hesitate but planted a knockout punch to the left temple, sending the Pat look-a-like crumpling to the floor.
"Good work,” Allan said as he stared down at the unconscious woman.
"Yeah but ... are you sure ... " Allison stuttered to a stop, unsure what to say.
"I'll explain it all to you later. Trust me, we're doing the right thing," Allan said as he ran towards the bedroom to see if he could help Frank and Cindy. Cindy and Dawn were sitting on the bed. Cindy was cleaning dry blood from Dawn's forehead while Frank finished untying the last bond from around one of Dawn's legs.
"She'll be okay,” Cindy said as Allan rushed over to them. “She’s pretty frightened but there doesn't appear to be any serious injuries. I know of a doctor we can take her to that won't ask too many questions."
Allan felt the tears welling up in his eyes. He had never stopped to think how much Dawn meant to him -- until now.
"Great work. It's obvious why Pat has been so successful as a private eye with a team of people like you." Allan sat down beside Dawn on the bed. She threw her arms around him and began to weep.
"It's all over, sweetie,” Allan said. At least for you, it's all over, he thought. I've got a couple more hands to play out.
"Now listen closely. I don't have time to explain in detail right now. Just trust me when I say the person in the other room is not who she seems."
"Oh, I believe you." Allison said. "If so we're all out of a job."
"You've got to keep her or it under very tight surveillance for the next twenty-four hours. After that, we can decide what to do from there."
"How ‘bout you? Where are you going?" Allison asked.
"There's some unfinished business that needs attending to in Washington. I noticed you have a phone in your car. If you will take me to the airport, I can call from the car to see when the next flight to Washington is. Pat or I will call to let you know what to do with this one. We'll explain everything at that time. For right now, the less you know the better."
Allan gave Dawn a final hug then held her out at arm's length so he could look into her eyes. "I'm going to leave you here with Frank and Cindy. When Allison comes back, you go stay with her." He glanced questioningly at Allison who nodded.
"I don't want you driving home to Waynesboro just yet." He decided not to tell her that it might not be safe for her to go home. She'd been through enough for one day. "I may need to ask you a few questions later, and it'll be easier if I know where you are." Not to mention, I'll worry less if I know where you are, Allan thought.
He stood up but continued to hold Dawn's hand for a moment longer. He gazed down at her and gave her a reassuring smile. "It's going to be okay. I promise you. When this is all over, life in Waynesboro will be too boring for you."
"I can't think of anything I'd enjoy more than to be bored in Waynesboro,” Dawn answered with a tired smile.
Alex glanced at his watch. 4:15 and still no sign of the vet. He picked up the portable phone and punched in Homlin's number. After a couple of rings, Homlin answered.
"Still no sign of the doc. Vogt checked into the Marque about an hour ago. I think it's the right time to snuff her before her boyfriend shows."
Homlin was silent at the other end. Alex waited patiently for his boss's orders. This was the moment he'd been waiting for, ever since Vogt had dug her heel into his foot and made him look foolish in Homlin's eyes. It's time to pay for your mistakes, bitch, he thought as he waited for Homlin's decision.
“Okay, fine. Wait for another hour for her to settle into her room. Then slip in and take care of her. Tell Lenny to stay outside and watch for Allan and to call up to her room if he shows up."
"You've got it boss. I'll take care of her — real good care."
"Alex, I know you have your own plans for her. I don't even want to know what they are. Just be careful. Don't let your silly games jeopardize the operation. Is that clear?"
“Perfectly,” Alex answered with a smile. Silly games, maybe, but Vogt wouldn't think they were so silly. By the time I'm finished with her, she'll be begging for me to end it.
Alex cut the connection and put the phone back in its case. He reached over and shook Harrison's shoulder. "Wake up. I need you to watch the hotel for a while. I'm going out."
"Where are you going?" Lenny asked as he pulled himself up by the steering wheel in front of him.
Lenny nodded and rolled down the window to get some fresh air.
"That's the first flight you have out?" Allan asked for the second time. He covered the receiver with his hand and whispered to Allison. "Nothing before 5:45 this evening."
"I have an idea. Hang up."
Allan thanked the airline agent and hung up.
"Punch in this number 554-2233, and give me the phone,” Allison said. Allan did as he was told and handed the phone to her.
"I'm calling a friend of mine, Steve Runyon. We use him from time to time. He has a small airplane leasing company. If he's in, we'll get you up to Washington in a couple of hours. If not, we'll just have to find another way." Allison smiled as the connection was made.
"Hello, Stevie. This is Allison. I know you hate to hear my voice on a quiet Sunday afternoon, but I've got a real problem. One of those life and death situations. I know you'll charge us an arm and a leg for me to say it, but it's real important we get someone up to Washington, D.C. this afternoon. Can you help us out?"
Allison listened for a few seconds and signaled Allan with a thumbs-up.
"That's great Steve. We're on the way to the airport now. How long before you can be there? Super. I owe you a dinner for this one."
She hung up the phone. "You're on your way."
Pat walked out of the bathroom, wrapping the thick terrycloth robe the hotel supplied around her still wet body. My second bath of the day, she noted to herself. It seems like the closer I get to my alien, the dirtier I feel. I must be getting close. I feel like I need another shower already. She strolled over to the phone and punched in the number to Allison’s apartment. Allison picked up the phone before the second ring.
"Oh, it's so good to hear your voice,” Allison said after Pat identified herself. "Everything is fine down here. Dawn is in my spare bedroom right now, napping. It was pretty scary for her, but she's no worse for wear. A couple days of rest and she should be as good as new."
Pat breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, I'm so glad. Take real good care of her, Allison. Allan thinks the world of her and so do I. Speaking of Allan . . . "
"He's on his way to you at this very moment. We couldn't get a commercial flight that worked so we put him on one of Steve's specials. I hope you don't mind."
"Goodness, no. Good thinking,” Pat replied. “What time should I expect him?"
"I don't know exactly. Allan sent me on my way before they took off. He wanted me to get back to be with Dawn. I'd guess somewhere between five and six though."
Pat looked at the digital clock beside the bed. 4:05 pm. She had an hour or two of free time. "Let me give you my number. You should be able to reach me here until tomorrow morning. Allan knows which hotel I'm staying at but he may call you to find out which room. More than likely, he'll just call me or come on over. I think I'm going to lie down for a while but don't hesitate to call if you need me for anything." She gave Allison the numbers.
"Will do,” Allison replied. "Oh, Pat. There's one more thing. I know you can't discuss this case with me right now but I've gotten the idea that something big is about to happen. Just be real careful. We all need you to come home safely. Okay?”
Pat chuckled. "Will do, sweetie, give everyone my love." She hung up the phone.
Yes, it was all coming to a head. After ten years of searching for him, she finally had her alien cornered in her old stomping ground of Washington, D.C. — where the search had begun. 'Her alien.' Funny, how long had she thought of him like that. Years. And now it was almost over. Either she'd have finally tracked him down and stopped him or he would have finally won out. His long years of staying in hiding, scheming quietly to overthrow human civilization. It had been a difficult ten years for both of them. Both struggling for the survival of their respective races.
Pat pulled the covers back on the double bed and climbed under them. It felt good to lie down between the clean sheets and let her tense muscles relax. Somewhere in Washington, Homlin waited as well — waited for the final moment when he could safely disseminate his race across the country and then the world.
He knows I'm out here and that I intend to stop him. He'll be out to stop me first. It really is coming down to who stops who. Their first meeting had been a draw. She'd survived his assault but he'd also managed to escape. There would be no draw on this next meeting. It was time to end the ten-year game of cat and mouse.
She found herself smiling as she drifted off to sleep. Funny, she thought, I've never figured out which one of us is the cat and which the mouse. I prefer being the cat this go around.
Kink in D. C.
Monday Evening, Dec. 6
The jarring noise of the jangling phone sliced its way through Pat's sleep until she found herself sitting upright in bed with the receiver against her ear.
"Yes, who is it?" She asked with her eyes still closed. Where was she? Not in her own bedroom, that much was certain, but it had been so long since she had slept at home, she wasn't surprised by that. But where was she?
"Hello, Ms. Vogt. I'm sorry to disturb you but there is a gentleman down here by the name of Dr. Allan Pritchard. He is asking for your room number."
Allan...room number...it all washed over her and started to make sense. She was in D.C. at the Marque. She leaned over to the nightstand and twisted the digital clock around so she could read it. 5:15. She'd been asleep for a little over an hour. It felt like she'd been asleep for days.
She swung her legs over the edge of the bed. "That's fine. Send him on up. I'm expecting him." She told the voice at the other end of the phone. She hung up the phone and walked into the bathroom to wash her face.
5:15, she thought, He made good time getting up here. She threw a clean bath cloth in the sink and ran cold water over it. It would be really good to be back in Allan's arms. Maybe they'd order dinner through room service and just stay in the rest of the evening. Stay in and cuddle, maybe make love. Who knows, it might be the last chance they'd get for quite a while.
"Room 444. Take the elevators over there to the fourth floor and turn left. Ms. Vogt is expecting you." The desk clerk demeanor had altered since the phone call.
Alex smiled. "Thank you,." he replied as he turned towards the line of elevators. She's expecting me, huh? Won't she be surprised.
As he stood waiting for the elevator, he gazed at himself in the wall of mirror between the elevator doors. Not bad, he thought. He'd only seen Pritchard a couple of times, but he had made it a point to notice every detail. He suspected having the vet's physical attributes down, as well as having as many of his behavioral characteristics as possible, would be useful one day. Today was the day. He even thought he'd done a good job of picking out his wardrobe. It was unlikely he had matched what Pritchard had been wearing when he'd last been with Vogt, but it was close enough that he doubted she would notice. If so, he was prepared to explain how he'd had to change clothes while on the plane. The silly lady beside him had spilled her drink all over his other outfit.
The elevator chimed and the door opened. With a final gaze, Alex stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the fourth floor.
Homlin stared out the window at the city lights below. Although it was only dusk, already most of the lights were on. He looked up into the sky and saw the lights of a plane circling. He'd grown accustomed to the constant air traffic around D.C. Tonight, it seemed more noticeable, perhaps because on one of those flights might be one of the two humans that could thwart his plans — plans he'd been building on for almost ten years.
He now knew where Vogt was, and he expected to hear from Alex within the hour of her tragic accident. That would leave only Pritchard. It was strange, even though he didn't know where Pritchard was at the moment, he was less concerned with him than he was w
ith Vogt. Pritchard would show up wherever Vogt was. Hopefully by the time that happened, it would be just a matter of having Alex kill him as well. He'd rest easier once he knew both Vogt and Pritchard had been eliminated. There was no reason at this point in taking any other risks. Get rid of them once and for all. By this time next week, FreeForm would be in the labs across the country, and Earth's destiny would be decided.
Not that his job would be over. There'd still be the transition stage. He suspected the human race would put up some sort of resistance. Then there would be the clean up and the administration of the new order. No, in some ways his job was just beginning, but for Homlin the fun part, the really challenging part, would be over and done with. Within a few weeks, life would become pretty routine. Not all at once. At first it would be hectic and probably from time to time a little nerve wracking but in a much different way.
Would he request another settlement? That was always the question he asked himself, but careful to not ask it too early, however. This one wasn't over yet. Vogt could still pull something fast, and even Pritchard could cause some trouble. Better wait and be sure this one was in the bag before looking towards the next planet.
Pat pulled the knot tight on her robe as she walked to the door. Peering through the peephole, she confirmed that it was Allan before opening the door and flinging herself into his arms.
"God, it's good to see you,” Pat said as she pulled him into the room. "I didn't know I could miss someone so much in such a short time."
"I've missed you too,” Allan replied, blushing a little from so much attention.
Pat threw her arms around his neck again. "I don't know why, but I've been horny all day. Maybe it's pent up energy from what we are about to do."
Allan smiled. "Well, maybe we should see what we can do about it. I could hardly wait to get here myself. In fact . . . " He paused for a moment, the smile turning to a look of mischief. ". . . I was thinking on the plane that it might be fun if we went a little beyond our normal love making."