Chapter 7: In the Wilson Residence
A few nights after the abduction and Jill had stayed home from the academy hoping that they would find her step mother soon. She had been allowed to sit in on a briefing that Lord James held for her father, Queen Aggie, and Mylea. She could see the frustration on all of their faces. They were without a doubt at their wits end trying to find Hozenbur and recover her step mother. Now a few nights after the abduction she was sitting in the study trying to work on some school work so she wouldn’t get behind when she was distracted by her father and her step sister.
“Dad, are you all right,” Jill asked watching her father where he was distractedly coloring with Abby. The two were stretched out the floor. Normally her father tried to do something with the child before she was put to bed, to give Lisa a break from the child rearing. Sometimes the two of them went for a walk, or played some game. In some respects he was trying to make up from when Jill was growing up and he had to spend so much time away from her. Normally it was one of the best parts of his day. Tonight, the night after Lisa’s abduction he was getting little joy out of it. He had never felt more powerless than right now. That he had not been able to protect his wife from Hozenbur was burning into his soul. He felt guilty about not being there with her as she went to the doctor. He was pissed off that he had risked her safety so she could go to the doctor instead of insisting that the doctor come to her. Even as he thought it he knew he couldn’t keep her locked up in the palace. She was his spouse, he didn’t own her. He looked up to his daughter not sure what to say. Abby knew something was going on but not what.
They had told Abby that her mother was visiting a client on the other side of the planet, and she would be gone a couple of days. That would work in the short term, but not over time, Abby was a smart child for her age. When he had talked to Sally, Sally had reluctantly agreed to the charade. Thinking the child wouldn’t understand.
“Sally would you see to Abby’s bath?” Michael asked the protective agent who was sitting quietly by the study door ready to be of assistance to the family.
“Come on Little Bear,” Sally said, “Let’s get your bath.”
“Will you tell me a story Aunt Sally,” The little girl asked as they left.
“What would you like to hear?” Sally asked leading the child away.
“Let’s take a walk Jill,” Michael said standing up. “We need to talk.”
“Sure,” Jill answered closing the book she was unsuccessfully trying to study.
They left the residence, and walked to the gardens. The gardens took up thirty or so acres in the center of the palace grounds. They were some of the most secluded areas in the palace, yet fully secure. Jenny and her father’s aid were walking with them, a few feet behind them as they walked. Jill waited for her father to start, knowing he would have to do it his way.
“No Jill, I am not all right.” Her father took her hand, “but there isn’t a lot I can do about it. It is almost impossible for me to not join the search for Lisa. This may be the second and last time that I have lost her and I can’t face that I may lose her forever.”
Jill said nothing, she had seen how close her father and step mother were. After her grandmother had chilled out and was talking to her again, she remarked on it to her. Her grandmother had nodded and did not say much. Only that her father had found that one special someone, who had made it work for him. When she asked about her mother, her grandmother had said that her father had been in love with Killeen, but it was never the bond that Lisa and Mike had.
“Yet I must,” Michael continued interrupting her thoughts after a few minutes, “face the fact that I might have lost her and that I have to go on. Hozenbur is one mean vicious witch. She is dangerous. I can’t figure out what is going on with this. It makes no sense what she did. Lisa and Hozenbur have a history. Lisa has been associated with several of Hozenbur’s failures. Hozenbur tried to kill Lisa couple of times, and Lisa just survived, by out witting her. Dumped her into a life boat, or left her to die. For these Hozenbur wants her dead. When Lisa was seen on holo with me that first night it told Hozenbur where to find her. I broke a promise baby. I promised never to put her or Abby into harm’s way. And that’s just what I’ve done. Put them into harm’s way. Now you!”
“Dad,” Jill spoke softly, just above a whisper, “Lisa and me talked about the danger. It was one of those nights when you were out with the troops and it was just me, mom, and grand mom. She was so worried about you. Worried about all of us! She knew the danger she was in. Mom was afraid you were doing things to keep us safe, and not taking care of the business you needed to. She knew that this was the job that you were born to do. She was willing to take the risk so that the people of Trena got to safety!
“She knew that you had to do that and if she let you take her to safety she couldn’t live with her self.” Jill continued. “We just prayed that Kellogg would find Hozenbur before she could strike.”
“Now what do I do?” Mike asked.
“Dad,” Jill said sharply, “Mom would say it maybe a little more politely; but she would, and you know she would say, Worry about me; but get your ass in gear, you have a world to save now hustle your ass mister.”
They walked for a while in quiet finally leaving the gardens, as they did Wilson turned to his daughter, “Yes, you are your grandmother’s granddaughter. And Lisa would have my ass if I didn’t finish this job. I can see that she is rubbing off on you.”
Jill waked in silence for a bit and then said, “Dad I have had all types messages from the guys at school. They want to help.”
“Jill it’s too dangerous.” he said walking back towards the residence, “There is going to be death when Hozenbur’s captured. She won’t go down without a fight. I can’t and won’t let your crew help.”
“Dad some of my older cadets can ride along with the MPs and Mounties, we can do some of the jobs that are safe and will let some of your cops help with the search. My guys can direct traffic and walk security beats near the loading zones. Simple stuff that a handful kids can do with a little adult supervision,” Jill pleaded. “Why can’t we help out? My guys want to help. They know it’s dangerous; but not as dangerous as the long march that Lamile led. But Dad if they can relieve one Mounty or MP or Companion to help find mom, then it worth doing.”
Her father walked in silence.
“Dad my guys want to help.” Jill said, “We need to be of help and this is what the Queen had in mind when she created the corps.”
“Lieutenant,” Wilson was deep thought for a while and as they turned to walk into residence he turned to his aid, who had been walking with Jenny a discreet distance away.
“Yes Marshal,” The young man said.
“I know I am supposed to be on leave; but would you get a message to the XO for me that I want the Queen’s Own Corps of Cadets to be assigned such tasks as befit young people with the Mounted Patrol, and The Companions. Tell her that some of these guys could be of use to General Langtree and that might put a few more bodies on the street. Under no circumstances are they to be put in the search of Hozenbur.” Michael ordered.
“Aye-aye,” the young militia officer replied. He noticed a change in his commander.
“And LT,” the Marshal said ruffling his daughters hair, “Be careful how you raise your children. If they are smart, they may argue you into logical positions you can’t back out of!”
“Aye sir,” the Lieutenant chuckled. Jenny locked eyes with her charge and nodded. Jill didn’t know if Jenny was approving the way she had cooled her father out, or because of her suggestion. Whatever it was she knew that Jenny approved of her, and for some reason even with the grief she was feeling that was enough. She had to help find her step mother. Her father wouldn’t let her kids go hunting; but there was no reason they couldn’t help out where her kids were not in danger.
Every Last Mother's Child Page 206