Recruit

by R. D. Brady

  "Well, you're not my mom. She's dead. Just like my grandma and my sister. I couldn't do anything about my mom and grandma but at least I can catch the guy who took Charlotte."

  Jen sighed, knowing she'd lost. "Two more weeks. If these guys don't make a move by then, we're gone. Okay?"

  Lou nodded. "Okay."

  CHAPTER 33

  A week and a half later, Lou was worried. Not because someone might contact her - but because they might not.

  She knew Jen would keep her word and pull her at the end of the week. She was annoyed at Jen but at the same time, it was nice having someone worry about her for a change.

  Lou glanced around the athletic fields as she headed for the bleachers. Even though she was at a different school, her life was still the same. Actually, if she was being honest, it was a little easier. She didn't have to worry about rent. And while the Tuttle's weren't exactly warm and fuzzy, she always had clean clothes and food.

  The high school itself was better. I mean, it wasn't what you saw on TV with the shiny lockers and pristine football field. But it was definitely a step up from her last one. The history books even went up to 2010. Still out of date, but a heck of a lot closer.

  Lou climbed the bleacher stairs. Taking a seat two rows from the top, she pulled the brown lunch bag Mrs. Glover had packed from her backpack. Looking inside, she shook her head - peanut butter and jelly again.

  With a sigh, she unwrapped the sandwich. Would it kill her to change things up a bit? Maybe a turkey sandwich? I'd even take tuna fish.

  Lou took a bite and went still as a thin shot of electricity ran through her. Heart pounding, she reminded herself to keep calm.

  Jen's instructions rolled through her mind. Just because you can feel them, doesn't mean they can feel you. If it's a nephilim, they won't feel anything. If it's a Fallen, no need to clue them in that you realize who they are.

  Lou grabbed her water bottle noticing her hand shake. She took a drink and stared at the field where a gym class was running track.

  She forced herself to not look around. But her senses were on high alert for any sign of someone moving in.

  She waited a few seconds but nothing happened. Nothing changed.

  Keeping her movements unhurried, she reached into her bag. Her hand curled around her phone.

  The feeling appeared again. A boy stood at the bottom of the stairs. He was short, not even five feet. Honestly, he didn't look old enough to be in high school. It couldn't be him, could it?

  He smiled but Lou cut her gaze away.

  Undeterred he walked up the stairs and sat next to her. "Hi Lou."

  Lou had never seen him before but everything in her screamed that he was a Fallen. She put an edge to her voice. "Do I know you?"

  "Nope. But we're going to be good friends. I'm Pascha."

  Lou grabbed her backpack and stood. "Yeah, well, Pascha, I don't need any more friends."

  He moved to block her way.

  Lou glared down at him. "Look, kid, I don't know you. So get out of my way."

  His face went hard. "I'm not a kid."

  She stepped down to the next row of seats. "Whatever."

  From the corner of her eye, she saw him reach out to grab her arm. She twisted out of the way lightning fast, shoving him with her other hand.

  He laughed as he fell back landing in a crouch. He straightened with a grin. "So you do have your powers. I was beginning to wonder. Look, I've been sent to tell you there's a place for you."

  "A place for me? What the hell are you talking about?"

  He watched her for a moment. "You're special like me. You know that, don't you?"

  Lou watched him for a moment debating what to do. Maddox's advice sounded in her mind. Be interested but not too interested. After all, you're supposed to be a bit of a hard case.

  "Yeah. What of it?" Lou asked.

  "Well, there's a place where you can learn more about your abilities - how to use them. And you'll meet others like you."

  Lou watched him but said nothing. Pascha seemed to take it as interest.

  "I know you're in foster care," he continued. "You lost your sister. It's got to be rough."

  He looked at her with what she knew was supposed to be a comforting look. But it needed practice.

  And behind his mouth, there was the glimmer of a smirk. Lou knew as soon as that smirk appeared that this was the monster who'd killed Charlotte. She dug her fingers into her palms to keep her hands from reaching for his neck.

  "I'm like you. And there are others like us." He gestured toward the kids running on the track. "We don't have to be like these sheep."

  Lou scoffed. "Okay, let's say I believe you. What do you want besides to introduce me to people like me? You just thinking we should all be friends?"

  He stood up with a laugh. "Hardly. I think you know no one just helps people without getting something in return. And the people I work for want something, but it'll be something you want to give."

  "Yeah, see I'm not a big fan of not knowing what I'm getting into." Lou turned to walk away, hoping she was making the right move.

  She got only a few feet before Pascha's voice stopped her.

  "There's money. Lots of it."

  Lou turned around. "What do you mean?"

  "I mean money. More than you'll ever get with some measly job around here. Why not come try it out? What have you got to lose?"

  Lou watched him for a moment, knowing that if she hadn't met Jen, this pitch would be really tempting. And right now, she needed to act like she hadn't met Jen. She crossed her arms over her chest. "Okay. Let's say I want to know more."

  Pascha smiled. "Then I'd say you were making the smart choice. Besides, you have a better offer?"

  Lou looked him in the eye, thinking of Charlotte and Jen - and she imagined killing the boy in front of her.

  Slowly, she shook her head. "No. I guess I don't."

  CHAPTER 34

  Pascha started to head down the bleacher stairs. "Well, come on."

  "What? Now?" Lou asked.

  "Why not? You don't have any ties - no one to say good-bye to. Why wait?"

  Lou scrambled for a way to stall him. "Um, but I don't have my clothes, my toothbrush, anything."

  Pascha waved away her concerns as they reached the bottom of the steps. He headed toward the gate that led to the parking lot. "Don't worry about any of that. We'll get you all new stuff when we get there."

  "Um, okay. Cool." Lou followed him out into the parking lot. Slowly, she reached into her bag.

  Pascha turned suddenly. "Oh hey, do you have a phone?"

  Lou nodded. "Yeah, why?"

  Pascha held out his hand. "Can I see it?"

  Lou pulled it out and handed it over. "Uh, yeah sure. You need to make a call?"

  Pascha just smiled, then he threw the phone to the ground and stomped on it.

  "What the hell?" Lou yelled.

  Pascha shrugged. "Your foster parents will probably report you missing. We don't want them tracking you through the phone. Don't worry. We'll give you one of those as well."

  Lou stared at him and then at the broken pieces of her phone scattered across the ground. How the hell was she going to tell Jen what was going on?

  Pascha stared at her. "What's wrong?"

  Angry, you'd be angry not scared, she reminded herself. She gritted her teeth. "That was my phone. And you could have just turned off the GPS."

  Pascha shrugged, then turned and walked through the gate to the parking lot. "Yeah. But like I said, we'll get you a new one. Money's not an issue."

  Lou stared after him. If she didn't go with him now, there was a chance they'd lose him entirely. He might never contact her again. Damn. She ran after him.

  "You drive?" Lou asked as she caught up with him. He couldn't be more than twelve.

  "No need," he said as a limo pulled up to the curb. He looked at Lou expectantly.

  "Cool," she said feigning enthusiasm. He seemed to buy it. As the limo stop
ped, the driver got out and opened the back door. Pascha gestured for Lou to go ahead of him.

  Lou climbed into the back and slid along the black leather seats. Pascha followed her in. A few seconds after the door closed, they took off. Lou struggled not to stare out the window looking for Jordan.

  Instead, she sat in the back, watching the world she had known her whole life slip past her until she didn't recognize where they were any more. She turned to Pascha. "Where are we going?"

  "For a little ride." He gestured to the sign up ahead.

  Lou's heart almost stopped - Detroit Metropolitan Airport.

  A plane. Why didn't we think of a plane?

  She thought of the tracker in her shoe. It was only good for fifty miles and Jen, Jordan and Maddox didn't even know she was on the move.

  She swallowed hard. She was on her own.

  CHAPTER 35

  Jen paced along the floor in the suite. She was probably going to have to pay to have the carpet replaced if this went on much longer.

  Maddox lay sprawled on the couch. "Jen, you need to relax."

  "Can't," she said and left it at that.

  She pushed back the curtains and stared out the window. She hated being cooped up in here when Lou could be in trouble. No one had made any moves on her yet. But from Jen's perspective that meant each day increased the likelihood that this would be the day.

  She would have felt better if she and Maddox were watching her at the school. Actually, she'd feel better if they were on a plane back to Baltimore with Lou.

  Until that time, though, she and Maddox were holed up in the hotel. They knew a Fallen or a nephilim would most likely be the one who made contact. And they didn't want to take the chance that he or she would sense Jen or Maddox. So, they couldn't go anywhere near the school.

  Jen pulled out her phone but Lou hadn't checked in. She normally called during her lunch break.

  Probably nothing, Jen thought. But she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

  Her phone rang and Jen looked at the screen. Jordan. Dread pierced through her. She clicked on the phone. "What's wrong?"

  "They made contact," Jordan yelled and Jen could tell he was driving. "She's on the move."

  "On the move? Where?" Jen was already running for the door, Maddox on her heels. Together they raced down the hall. By mutual silent agreement, they skipped the elevator and started sprinting down the stairs.

  "The airport."

  "What?" Fear coursed through her. "Jordan, that tracker's only good for fifty miles. If she gets on a plane-" Jen couldn't finish the sentence. The idea was too unbearable.

  "I know," Jordan said quietly. "We'll lose her."

  CHAPTER 36

  Lou walked down the Jetway toward the plane, trying not to act as terrified as she felt. Pascha had given her a fake ID and a plane ticket. Beside her, he nudged her arm. "Ever flown before?"

  "Um no."

  "Well, don't worry. It's perfectly safe."

  She nodded, not sure what to say. But if he thought she was terrified of a little plane flight, so much the better.

  She followed Pascha down the plane aisle and into their seats. Pascha took the window seat without asking if she wanted it. But being she already thought he was a slimy piece of crap, it didn't really reduce her opinion of him.

  Lou stuffed the magazines she'd picked up in the seat pocket in front of her. Belting herself in, she drummed her fingers on the hand rest.

  I'm sitting next to the person who killed Charlotte. She glanced over at Pascha and imagined bashing his head against the wall of the plane.

  But if you do that, you lose your chance at helping find the others like you. Lou looked away with effort.

  "Still nervous?" Pasha asked.

  "Um, yeah, well, you know. First time and all," Lou answered staring straight ahead.

  "Well, it'll be fine." Pasha put on his headphones, closed his eyes and turned to the window.

  Lou stared at him in disbelief. Gee thanks for the heartfelt pep talk.

  Lou looked around. There was a family across from her - Mom, Dad, and a little girl. The girl smiled at her. Lou smiled back before turning away.

  Lou looked past Pasha's sleeping form to the sky outside. A plane. They would never be able to track her on a plane. What the hell had she been thinking? She was in way over her head.

  Someone bumped into her chair. "Oh sorry."

  Lou looked up into Jordan's eyes and had to keep from crying out in relief.

  She just nodded. "It's okay."

  Jordan continued on to his seat. Lou forced herself to not look for where he was. He was here. They knew where she was. She wasn't alone.

  She let out a breath. Okay. I can do this.

  CHAPTER 37

  Jen sat in the passenger seat of Maddox's SUV. Maddox skirted around a city bus, barely missing the bumper. Jen didn't even blink.

  Jordan had just called and told them he'd gotten on the same flight as Lou. Some of the fear that had filled Jen with Jordan's first call dissipated. As soon as she disconnected the call with him, she called Henry. He picked up immediately. "Hi Jen."

  "They have her. She's on a commercial flight to Boston. Jordan's on the same flight."

  "Got it. I'll call you back." Henry hung up without another word.

  Maddox took the turn into the private airfield almost on two wheels. The Chandler jet sat idling on the tarmac. Henry had left it for them in case of emergency. Jen and Maddox were out of the car as soon as it stopped and up the steps into the plane a few seconds later.

  Maddox disappeared into the cockpit while Jen sat down, buckling herself in.

  Her phone rang and Jen snatched it up. "Henry?"

  "I've arranged for operatives to meet Jordan and I contacted the SIA. They're sending agents as well."

  Jen leaned back against the seat closing her eyes. "That's good. We should be there a little before they land."

  "I'll have a car waiting for you two. But let the operatives take the lead. They'll be human. The Fallen won't be able to sense them."

  Jen bit her lip. She knew that was smart. But she wanted to rush in and grab Lou. She didn't want her spending any more time with these people than necessary. "Who are you sending?"

  "About a dozen operatives and Yoni."

  Jen felt the tightness in her chest ease a little more. Yoni Benjamin was the five foot two former Navy SEAL and Israeli army officer who worked for the Chandler Group. He was also one of the few people she trusted with Lou. "Good. And make sure we have enough receivers for Lou's tracker."

  "Yes, ma'am."

  Jen groaned. "Sorry. Thank you - for everything."

  "We'll get her back Jen. And we'll get the rest of the kids too."

  Jen nodded. "I know."

  "Do you?"

  She sighed. "No. But I hope so."

  CHAPTER 38

  Boston, Massachusetts

  Jordan hadn't said a word to Lou or even looked at her the whole flight. She'd made eye contact with him when she'd taken a trip to the bathroom. But that had been it.

  Knowing he was here, though, calmed her considerably.

  When they disembarked, she had to force herself not to look for him. Instead, she kept her eyes straight ahead, trusting Jordan to follow.

  Pascha led her through the airport. He bypassed the baggage claim and headed straight for the curb.

  Lou stepped out of the airport following him. The noise of planes and traffic assaulted her.

  From the corner of her eye, Lou saw Jordan wave at a car which pulled up to the curb. A short bald man Lou didn't recognize sat at the wheel. Without a glance at her, Jordan got into the passenger seat and the car pulled away.

  But Lou knew that Jen and Maddox had to be around here somewhere, even though she couldn't sense them. They would stay out of range to make sure Pascha didn't pick up on them either.

  They knew where she was. They'd come get her. She had to have faith in that.

  "Ready?" Pasch
a asked as he came to stand next to her.

  Lou nodded. "Um, yeah. Where are we going anyway?"

  Pascha smiled. "To meet everyone. And this time I got to choose the location. You're going to love it."

  "Uh sure. Are we getting a taxi?"

  Pascha laughed pointing down the way. "Of course not. That's our ride."

  A white van pulled up toward them. Lou was surprised to see a couple of other teenagers already in the back. Lou felt the electric tingles roll over her. Not everyone in the van had powers though.

  Pascha took the passenger seat leaving Lou to struggle with the panel door. She climbed in and slid it close behind her. Then she had to climb to the back row, because all the other seats were taken.

  No one smiled at her and a few straight up glared. Oh, well glad I'm risking my neck for such a nice group of people.

  She took a seat. Sitting next to her was a guy about her age with mocha colored skin and light green eyes. He nodded at her and she nodded back.

  Twenty minutes into the drive, Lou was looking anxiously out the window and drumming her hand on her thighs. Where was the cavalry? Shouldn't they be here already?

  Lou bit her lip. Maybe they were waiting until they got to where ever they were going.

  Another fifteen minutes passed in silence. Then the guy next to her leaned his head closer to her. "Hey, um, you doing okay?"

  Lou looked over at him. "Yeah. I'm good."

  "Awesome because I'm freaking out."

  Lou gave a little laugh. "Well, we signed up for this."

  He glanced out the window, a nervous smile on his face. "Actually, I'm not really sure what I signed up for. I was kind of thinking of this as summer camp for people with superpowers." He nudged his chin toward the driver and Pascha before leaning down to Lou. "But those two are not the happy counselors I had in mind."

  Lou laughed quietly, feeling relief that at least someone here seemed normal. "Yeah I know what you mean. My name's Lou by the way." She held out her hand.