Sullivan nodded. “I knew you were behind this. You’ve brainwashed Frank.”
Liz took a few steps toward the bed. “Frank has done what needed to be done. And now you will as well.”
“I was right. You were just using Frank to lure me.” He shook his head. “Is he all right? He was bleeding quite a bit.”
“I took care of his injuries.”
“Thanks for that, at least. Now what do you want with me?”
“Frank is taking this ship to Abilene. Once there, he will arrange to buy a large supply of energy weapons.”
“What for?”
“You don’t need to know that yet.”
“Then why are you telling me anything?”
“Because Frank will need your help securing the weapons. You see, he doesn’t have any credits to pay for them. You and Frank will go to Eugene Brain and ask for a line of credit. You will remind Eugene Brain of Kate Alexander’s wealth and ensure him that he will be paid back in full, with interest.”
“Why?”
“Because if you don’t do as we ask, we will make sure that news of the debt never reaches Kate. We will also see to it that Eugene Brain comes to the conclusion that you have betrayed him. Then who can say what he’ll do to collect his debt and exact revenge?”
“Brain is our friend. He wouldn’t do that.”
Liz smiled. “Frank is your friend, too. And just look at what we’ve convinced him to do these past few days.”
Sullivan tightened his grip on the strip of bed sheet. He knew it would be pointless, but he had the urge to rush Liz, to hurt her, to kill her.
Liz shook her head, as though she could sense his intentions. “You’re in hyperspace now, Rick. I have complete control here. I can harm you, but you cannot harm me. To illustrate the point….” Liz strode forward and reached her hand out toward Sullivan. He tried to hit it away, but his hand passed through hers. Liz’s hand touched his chest, and he felt as though his skin were being split open. He pulled back and fell onto the bed.
“I think we understand one another,” Liz said, smiling. “When Frank comes in, you will do as he tells you. And remember: we don’t need Eugene Brain to harm Kate. We have ways of seeing that she spends the rest of her life in pain and fear. The choice is yours.”
20
BROTHER PETER SAT in front of Father Curtis, fidgeting slightly.
“Brother Peter,” said Curtis, “you asked for this meeting.”
“Yes, Father. I know.”
“Well?”
“Father, I’ve had a vision. Well, visions.”
Curtis leaned back in his chair. “Tell me about them.”
Peter told Curtis of his first vision, of its recurrence every night when he closed his eyes and his final vision, along with the message that had been delivered to him.
Curtis sat is silence for a moment, slowly nodding his head and running his thumb across his bottom lip. “Brother Peter,” he said, “I need to pray and discuss this with some of the others.”
“I understand, Father.”
“I want you to pray as well. I want you to take the day and spend it in solitary prayer. If you have another vision, come and tell me immediately.”
“Yes, Father.” Peter stood.
“Oh, Peter?”
“Yes, Father?”
“Have you told anyone else about this?”
“Only Brother Mark.”
“From now on, please keep it to yourself. Until we have more answers, there’s no point in getting everyone excited.”
“I understand.”
Peter exited Father Curtis’s office and walked slowly down the corridor. Brother Mark was waiting for him at the other end.
“What did he say?” asked Mark.
“He wants to discuss it with the other leaders of the monastery. He says I should spend the day in solitary prayer.”
“Then I’ll leave you be. God bless you, Brother Peter.”
Peter smiled and put his hand on Mark’s shoulder. “And God bless you.”
Peter returned to his room and went down on his knees beside his bed. He prayed for guidance, illumination, understanding. He prayed for Father Curtis and the other leaders of the Brotherhood. He prayed for peace in the world.
After several hours spent in prayer and reading his Bible, Peter realized that it was time for dinner. He made his way to the dining room and joined the others who were already seated. Father Curtis smiled at him as he sat.
As Father Curtis led them in prayer, the vision of the crucified Christ returned to Peter’s mind. After they finished praying, he opened his eyes. What he saw stunned him. At the end of the dining room, the entire wall had been replaced by the crucifixion scene he had seen in his vision. It took him a moment to overcome his shock, but when he did, he realized that everyone else around the table was also staring at the far wall.
“Do you see it?” Peter cried, standing. “Do you all see it?”
Father Curtis slowly nodded his head. “Yes, Brother Peter. We see it.”
Curtis stood and moved away from the table. He fell to his knees before the vision and bowed his head. The others silently followed his example. Only Peter remained at the end of the table, standing, unable to move. He was captivated by Christ’s face. As before, Jesus raised his head and looked directly at Peter. The words were clear and full this time. “Look for my return.”
In his peripheral vision, Peter could see his Brothers raise their heads. They had heard it, too.
Seconds later, the image faded, and they were all left staring at the wall. Father Curtis stood and turned. “Brother Peter,” he said, “I must speak with you.”
21
KATE ALEXANDER HAD not been sleeping well. She was still waiting to hear something from General Miller. So far, he had not been able to give her any information, good or bad.
Kate looked out her window into the streets of Agrona. She hadn’t left her hotel room in two days. Miller’s men were standing guard outside, and all her food had been delivered. She understood the reason for the precaution, but she was growing restless.
Kate opened the window. Agrona was a warm, humid city on the edge of a jungle, but this night felt almost pleasant. The smell of rain was in the air, and a breeze blew in from the west. Kate took a few deep breaths. The smell of this city, this planet, is what Rick had known his whole life. She tried to imagine growing up here. It had been a police state before the war. Citizens had been closely monitored, and if the government put you on its enemies list, it was unlikely that you had more than a few months left to live.
This planet, because it had been hard, had made Rick strong. His parents had been killed during the first, unsuccessful uprising, and he had lived in an orphanage for several years. When he’d entered the military, as all young men were required to do when they turned eighteen, he had embraced the structured lifestyle. It had been something reliable that he could depend on after the chaos and confusion of the previous few years.
She had lived as different a life as was possible. Her father had already been incredibly wealthy by the time she was born, and she had never been denied anything. While Rick Sullivan was mourning the loss of his parents and living in a crowded orphanage, she had been living the life of a princess.
Everything was different now. Her eyes had been opened by her experiences of the past year and a half. She had always known that people on other planets lived in poverty, in misery, but to see it firsthand was altogether different. Now that she controlled her late father’s fortune, and especially now that she saw how inexcusable her excesses had been while other were going hungry, she resolved to do something worthwhile with her life. However small the good she could do might be, it would at least be something.
Kate glanced back down at the streets of Agrona. She would begin here. As soon as she and Rick had settled on Faris, she would establish an organization to bring relief to all those who had lost their homes and jobs in the war.
Kate pulled her he
ad back inside. She considered leaving her window open for the night, but a sudden noise that sounded like gunfire changed her mind. She closed the window and drew the curtains.
She returned to her bed and was lying on her side, looking toward the door, when she felt a chill and a presence behind her. She turned. Liz Wagner was standing beside the bed, smiling at her.
“We never did meet,” Liz said.
Kate shuddered. “We still haven’t. Liz Wagner is dead. Whatever you are, you’re not her.”
The entity nodded. “True enough.”
“What do you want?”
“I’m here with the best of intentions.”
“Where’s Rick?”
“He’s safe. He’s with Frank.”
“Where are they?”
“In hyperspace.”
“Where are they going?”
The entity shook its head. “That’s not important right now. As I said, I’m here with good intentions. I came to ask you if you wanted me to deliver a message to Richard Sullivan.”
A tear rolled down Kate’s cheek and fell from her chin. “Bring him back, please.”
Liz’s expression saddened. “I can’t do that, Kate. I know this is painful for you, but what he’s doing is very important. What he’s doing is bigger than you can imagine.”
“Why should I believe you? You’ve done nothing but lie and deceive. I know you turned Frank against us. I know you’re manipulating him.”
“I won’t argue with you, Kate. Now, is there a message you want me to deliver to Richard Sullivan or not?”
Kate bit her lip. “Just tell him that I love him.”
Liz smiled. “I will. And I will return him to you, Kate. If it is at all possible, he will come back to you.”
“‘If it is at all possible’? What does that mean?”
“If nothing happens to him. We will do our best to keep him safe, but some things are out of our control.”
Liz remained a moment longer, still smiling down at Kate. She began fading, and as soon as she was gone the warmth returned to the room.
Kate put her face in her hands and cried.
RICK SULLIVAN PEELED back the bandage on Allen’s side. “I’m going to hit it with another shot of sterilizer. It’s almost healed, but I don’t want to take any chances.”
Allen grimaced as Sullivan cleaned the wound and sprayed on the solution.
Sullivan looked up at Allen, sensing a change in his expression. He was smiling. Sullivan was wondering what had caused Allen’s change of mood when he sensed someone else. He turned and saw Liz Wagner standing behind him.
“Is Richard Sullivan behaving?” she asked Allen.
Sullivan glared up at here.
“Yes. He’s just checking my injury,” Allen said quickly.
“Good.”
“Where have you been?” Allen asked her.
“I had a few people to visit.” She looked down at Sullivan. “I went to see Kate.”
Sullivan stood and turned to face her. He clenched his fists and tried to suppress the effects of the adrenaline coursing through his body. “If you touch her….”
“I only spoke to her. I went to tell her that you were all right. She asked me to tell you that she loves you.”
“You leave her alone from now on.”
Liz stepped around Sullivan and put her hand on Allen’s cheek. “That’s up to you. If you do as we say, she will be left in peace. If you do not….”
Allen moved away from her touch. “Liz, there’s no need to threaten him. It’s not right.”
Liz’s eyes flashed, and Allen recoiled slightly. Her eyes grew kind again. “I’m sorry, Frank. It’s just that this is too important. We can’t leave anything to chance.” She turned to Sullivan. “I only want you to realize what we can do. We do not want to harm her, but we can.”
Sullivan nodded. He took a few breaths and tried to regain control of his emotions. He couldn’t win this fight just yet. He knew it would be better to wait. “I understand. But please, just leave her alone now.”
The entity smiled. “We’re nearly at Abilene. We’ll be dropping out of hyperspace in six hours. When we do, you will contact Eugene Brain and ask to meet him.”
“Why don’t we just get the weapons from Brain?” asked Sullivan. “Why are we getting credits from him to buy the weapons from a third party?”
“Because we do not want Eugene Brain to know about the weapons. You will not tell him what you need to buy.”
“But why?”
Allen put his hand on Sullivan’s shoulder. “Because those weapons can’t be traced, Rick. No one can know that we bought them.”
“The people we buy them from will know.”
“Assuming the deal goes according to plan,” said Liz, “the people who sell you the weapons will be unable to remember who you were or what you looked like. Eugene Brain already knows you well; it would be difficult to alter his memories.”
“You can do that?” asked Sullivan.
Liz smiled.
Sullivan closed his eyes and shook his head. “And why the secrecy? Why do you care if anyone knows that we bought those weapons?”
“We care,” Liz said, “because we do not like our movements to be followed. There is more going on here than you realize.”
Allen nodded. “And we need to show proof that we have the credits before they’ll even consider selling us the weapons. It’s standard business procedure. After we get the weapons, we can send a message to Kate to repay Brain.”
“Why are we doing this, Frank? Has she even told you?”
Allen looked at Liz. “No. But I trust her. It’s what we must do.”
“Do you really believe everything she’s said?”
“I… I do, but….”
Sullivan turned to Liz. She was staring at Allen, her face hard, her eyes cold.
“Like I said,” Allen continued, “I trust her. And you should, too.”
22
EUGENE BRAIN WAS grinning as he watched Sullivan and Allen step out of the ship that had landed in front of one of his warehouses. He walked toward them, shaking his head.
He embraced each man. “Never thought I’d see you two again.”
Sullivan smiled. He glanced at Allen. He was smiling, too, but Sullivan could tell it was artificial. “How are you, Brain?” he asked.
“Can’t complain. Orion Zednik’s former associates have fallen in line now that they know he won’t be returning.”
“Good. You keeping the peace?”
“I’m trying. There are people around here who don’t make it easy for me.”
“I’m sure that’s true.”
Brain smiled again. “So what brings you two to this hell hole?”
Allen put his hand on Brain’s shoulder. “Perhaps we’d better talk in private.”
Brain nodded. “I have a car out front. We’ll go to my place.”
BRAIN’S HOME OCCUPIED the entire top story of one of the taller buildings in the city. Armed guards were at every entrance. Sullivan could tell that Brain really was a man to reckon with now.
Brain led the two men into a sitting room and, after drinks had been brought in, dismissed his servant. He reached out to the table and flipped a switch on a box the size of a pack of cards. “A signal scrambler,” he said. “I use one wherever I go. Can never be too careful.”
Sullivan glanced around the room. “You’ve really arrived, my friend.”
Brain grinned. “All because of the two of you. You helped me bring down Zednik’s operation.”
Allen nodded. “And you know what it cost me, Eugene.”
Brain sighed. “Yes. I really am sorry about that, Frank.”
Allen waved his hand. “It’s in the past. And it wasn’t your fault, it’s just one of those things. But we do need something from you now.”
“Name it.”
Allen turned to Sullivan. Sullivan cleared his throat. “Eugene, we need two hundred thousand credits.”
B
rain’s cheek twitched. “That’s a lot of money.”
“It is. But you know that Kate Alexander’s father has died. She now controls the company. We can easily repay you, but Frank and I need money now. We can’t wait for Kate to send it.”
Brain smiled. “You two are up to your old tricks again, eh?”
Sullivan laughed. “Something like that.”
“What do you need to buy with the money?”
Sullivan shifted position in his chair. “It’s better if you don’t know that, Eugene. We don’t want to put you in an uncomfortable position if something should happen to us.”
Brain looked off toward the far end of the room and nodded. “I understand. And I trust you both, completely. You’ll have the money.”
Brain took out his tablet and began typing on it. After a few minutes, he put it away and smiled. “There. I’m having the credits transferred to a prepaid. One of my men will bring it as soon as it’s ready.”
“Thank you,” said Sullivan. “You have no idea how important this is.”
Allen leaned forward. “So the last we knew, you were off to find Orion Zednik’s body to bring it back to Abilene.”
Brain laughed. “Now that’s a story. My men and I went out to that house in the woods you told us about. You’d mentioned that there was a man tied up in a van inside and Zednik was dead in the kitchen.”
Sullivan nodded.
“We got there, and the garage door was wide open, no van. We went inside and, sure enough, no Zednik. Well, it seems Zednik had credits squirreled away in banks on other planets. It wasn’t that much compared to what he had on Abilene, but combined with the ransom he would have gotten for Kate, it would have been enough to begin rebuilding.
“Zednik was just waiting for the authorization to transfer the money, but you killed him before it came through. When we eventually tracked down Zednik’s man, we found out he had scooped out Zednik’s eyeball and let Zednik’s tablet scan the eye to confirm the transfer. The transfer was for half a million. All that was left on the card when we got it was a few thousand. It appeared he’d wasted much of it on drugs and whores by the time we got to him. But we couldn’t kill him. We had to take him alive because he knew where Zednik’s body was, and I needed that body to prove to everyone here on Abilene that he was really dead.”
Sullivan Saga 2: Sullivan's Wrath Page 8