Korembi and Sharon offered up their own shoes and each stood for their own scan.
Captain Dodge told Sharon, “This is Thursday. I’d like a full report on my desk by first thing Monday morning.” He glared at the lot of us before he turned and left.
I stuck out my tongue as he walked out of the room. Sharon looked appalled, but one of the techs was biting his lips like mad, trying not to laugh.
Lieutenant Clark finally spoke up after the front door closed. “If you need a few days, just let me know. I’ll talk to the Captain.”
“No,” she said. “Unless there’s a problem, I’ll be at work tomorrow. Hopefully I still have a desk.”
“Don’t worry about that,” he said. “Everything will be taken care of. We’ll bring you up to speed in the morning. In the meantime, get some rest. Can I drop you at home? You left your car at the station. I can send a squad car to pick you up in the morning.”
“I think I’d like that,” she said. “I’m feeling a little shaky, all of a sudden.” She did look a little pale. “I think I’ll be late,” she said in an odd voice. “There’s something orange that’s going to cause a delay.”
“Whoa, Sharon. Way to go weird on us,” I said.
She gave me a crusty look. “Olivia. Korembi. I’ll be in touch. You all take care. Cordelia, it’s good to see you again. I wish it had been under different circumstances.”
In just a few minutes, it was down to us and Agents West and Miller, who gave no signs of leaving.
“Was there something else?” asked Mikah. “It is getting fairly late.”
“I would still like to ask you a few questions about the Grove, if I might, and if you have a smart phone, I’d like to see it,” said Agent West.
“As long as you’re not keeping it,” I said, and handed it to her.
She turned it on and showed me the date on the splash screen. It was freaky. It kept racing backward and forward between June and July. “I suggest you back up anything important and then wipe it and do a fresh install. We’ve seen this before.”
“I’m tired, so I’ll be quick,” I said. “We saw Oaken three days ago, before he first went into the Grove, and he looked like he’d had a good ten years of hair growth since then. Oh, and what else? Yeah—they said the God and Goddess had called them to the Grove in the first place. It was really dark and shadowy in there. Where we were, anyway, you couldn’t see the sun through the trees, and we couldn’t see anything more than ten feet from the van, even with the headlights on. Did I miss anything, Korembi?”
“Not really. Oaken did say that if we stayed much longer, our friends would think us lost.”
“I do have another quick question,” said Agent West. “How did you make contact with your friends inside the Grove? As far as we can tell, the Groves are impenetrable.”
“I called Cliff on his cell phone,” said Korembi. “We talked a few minutes and he agreed the dinosaurs could come there to live. Once we had the van, I called back and let him know we were on the way.”
“Dinosaurs?” For just a second, Agent West didn’t look quite as bland.
“Uh, yeah. We had some dinosaurs. They needed a home,” I said.
“You don’t be wantin’ to clean a raptor’s litterbox, mon,” added Korembi. “It not be a pretty sight.”
It looked like Agent Miller was dying to say something, but somehow he contained himself. I expected more questions, but instead the Agents exchanged looks, stood up and gathered their things. “We appreciate your cooperation. If there’s anything else, we’ll be in touch,” was all Agent Miller said.
“Have a good what’s left of the evening,” said Agent West.
Finally, we were alone.
Cordie hugged me again. “Don’t ever do that again. I can’t stand to lose you too.” She was crying again and looked about ready to fall over.
“Cordie, I promise. I’ll be good. You better stay here tonight. You don’t look like you can drive.”
She wiped her eyes. “I have been staying here. Mikah insisted. I’ll see you in the morning, right? You promise not to disappear again?”
“I promise. I’m going to take a shower and go to bed. I’m not going anywhere.”
She gave me one more squeeze, and finally let go. “Why don’t you let me see you to your room? I can tuck you in like old times.”
“I appreciate the offer, sis, but I was kind of hoping to get a minute to talk with Kat.”
“It’s late,” Cordie spat out. “I’m sure Kat and her girlfriend want to get some rest.”
Kat looked stricken and the Goth-girl patted her shoulder.
I took a deep breath and held out my hand. “I think we might have met once a few years ago. I’m Olivia. And you must be Gracie.”
She looked at me warily, but still gave me a firm hand shake in return. “Glad to formally meet you Olivia. The rumors of your demise were greatly exaggerated.”
“I’m tricky that way,” I said. “I have more lives than a cat, so to speak.”
“Cordie, please go on up to bed. I don’t need a teddy bear. I’ll be fine.” I turned back to Kat. “I’m sorry I disappeared like that. I…hope we can get some time to catch up in the morning.”
I left the room with my dignity mostly intact, and then ran up to my room as soon as I cleared the corner. I remembered what Kat had said, about having room for more than one love in her heart, and I’d agreed, but right now it still hurt.
I pulled the door closed behind me, and turned on the light. Tessa was stretched out on my bed, wearing nothing but a smile.
“She does love you, you know,” she said. “Kat was devastated when you disappeared. She wouldn’t eat or sleep—she just held that cat of hers and stared out the window. Berto finally found her friend’s number and got her to come over.”
I stared at her. “Tessa, what are you doing in my room?”
“Talking,” she said. “Now get undressed and come join me.”
I don’t know why, but I did. I wanted someone to hold me tonight, and I wouldn’t admit that to Cordie if my life depended on it.
She kissed me, and then pulled me snugly against her, spooning around me. “Your sister was already a wreck when she arrived from Atlanta. From what I could tell, Mikah had told her that you and Kat were an item. She and Mikah got back from the airport about when Gracie had finally coaxed Kat into eating something. She walked in and saw Kat kissing Gracie, and not in a sisterly way—if you catch my drift, and your sister blew a gasket. Verbal unpleasantness was exchanged. Names were called. Frost was in the air.”
She rubbed the tension out of my neck while she talked, and dropped the occasional kiss on my ear.
“Kat’s been staying at Gracie’s apartment for the last few weeks, while your sister stayed here. I called this morning and let her know today was the day you’d be back. She didn’t believe me. No one but Berto did, actually, but she still came.”
I rolled over to face her. “How did you know I wasn’t dead, and that we’d all be back today?”
“I had a feeling. A little dove whispered in my ear, you might say.” She kissed me gently on the lips, and I felt myself responding.
“This thing you have with Kat,” she whispered, “doesn’t have to be broken. It changed, is all. The only people that never change are the dead. Talk to her tomorrow. You won’t regret it.” She kissed me again, deeply this time, and I kissed her back.
“Enough about other people, already,” she said. “I’ve learned a few tricks while you’ve been off not having adventures. Let me show you some of them. I promise I won’t bite, unless you ask nicely.”
It was an offer I couldn’t refuse. My shower could wait until morning.
Report 7
Project Underhill
Memo
To: Senator Rxxxx
From:Agent West
Contact made with the three people known to have returned from a Grove. All data from O.M., S.C. and K.B. was personally couriered to the Underhill t
eam. You will have an update when we know more. FYI—the people made contact with their associate in the Grove by CALLING HIM ON HIS CELL PHONE. With all due respect, Senator, did anyone, at any point, attempt to use the freaking telephone to make contact? You should also add dinosaurs to the known occupants list of the Denver Grove.
Memo
To:Major Parker
From:General Dxxxx
I was told you denied compassionate leave to a Sergeant Leonardo Mitchell. His sister just returned after being missing, presumed dead. This sister is flagged as one of the Grove Three, and is also one of the Changed. The other sister is with public health and was part of the CDC conference. Sergeant Mitchell is currently deployed to Underhill. I don’t believe in coincidence. You are to grant leave immediately and for an indefinite term. We feel this is an excellent opportunity to gather as much intelligence as possible on the Grove phenomenon. The Sergeant is not being requested to spy on his family and this should not even be raised as an issue. Make certain he is collecting the maximum amount of passive data during his leave. He is required to keep his phone on his person at all times, should his unit need to reach him in case of emergency.
Chapter Nineteen
Catching up with the World
I woke up alone in bed. My muscles ached a bit, but in all the right ways. Tessa was right. She had learned some new tricks. Whatever she did to make me so weak before hadn’t happened this time. Maybe she learned more control or maybe she ate before I got home—or maybe a little of both.
I definitely needed that shower. It felt wonderful to get clean all over. I had a little twinge of anxiety about going downstairs, but my growling stomach won the argument. I didn’t know what I was going to say to Kat, but I couldn’t put off talking to her. Hopefully Cordie went to work today.
Nope. Kat and Gracie were at the far side of the library in one of the nooks. Cordie was sitting on the sofa, pretending to read. Everyone stared when I walked in.
“Morning, all—or whatever time it is. Just going to get some food.” I hustled through the room as quickly as I could, without trying to look like I was running.
Cordie dropped her book and followed me into the kitchen. “You sit down and let me fix you something,” she told me.
“Okay. Sure. Um, how about orange juice and something from the leftovers from last night?” I sat down and watched her try to look domestic.
She got a cup of coffee for herself and sat down with me. It was a little unnerving trying to eat while she stared at me.
“So, Cordie, how’s work going? How was Atlanta?” I had to say something to break that silence.
“I’ve been on leave,” she said. “Atlanta was…not what I expected.” If possible, now she looked even more troubled.
Ted came bouncing in through the back door. He smelled like sunlight and warm earth, and had obviously been working in the garden. His basket was full of fresh rhubarb. “Oh, hey, Olivia, Cordie. Morning.” He started cleaning the bright red rhubarb stalks in the sink, and then called over, “Olivia, I almost forgot. Tessa said to tell you she’d see you after work, and not to forget what you talked about. Take the kiss as a given, okay?”
“Sure, Ted. Thanks.” Poor Ted. I just bet Tessa told him to give me a kiss for her.
Cordie was staring at me again. “I thought Mikah said you were with Kat? Last time we talked, you were dating Colby. Next I hear you’re dating Kat. Are you dating Tessa, too?”
“Please don’t give me a headache,” I told her. “It’s too early in the day. I broke up with Colby before the Sylvan Faire. Apparently he was cheating on someone else with me. Yes, Kat and I were together, and we met Tessa at the Faire. It’s kind of complicated.”
I could tell she was torn on what to say. On the one hand I was the prodigal, newly returned from the dead. On the other hand, she had pretty conservative views on monogamy. She was spared having to respond by the arrival of Razaini and Henry.
They definitely had their lunch prep down to an art. I know Roz had said Henry was a great organizer when they were at their digs, but I hadn’t appreciated the half of it. I think they had the entire meal prepped and served in less than fifteen minutes. I was just being social when I joined them in the dining room. I certainly wasn’t avoiding a private lecture from my sister.
“Wow, you guys are amazing. Your digs must run like clockwork,” I teased. “What else have you all been up to while I was off in wherever the hell I was?”
Ted showed me his new Elf-self ID. “You missed the ‘voluntary’ registration program. They announced a day where all of the Changed could go get new IDs. When we got there, they also requested, somewhat insistently, blood samples and cheek swabs. They said it was to make sure we weren’t incubating any unknown diseases, and it was to protect us from future identity theft.”
Cordie stared down at her plate, a flush rising over her cheeks. “About that…yes, some of the idea was to check for new disease vectors. But part of it was to collect data on new species. It was being discussed at the CDC in Atlanta before I came home. I know the CDC was getting a copy of the data, but I had a strong feeling they weren’t the only ones.”
“That’s interesting… On the way to the grove, Sharon told me and Korembi that there’d be some kind of announcement about new IDs for the Changed, and that all of us should skip it and stay home. She said to wait and just go to the DMV later. Did all of you go and do this?”
Ted’s face was glum. “Yeah, we did. We didn’t know anything about the blood and DNA samples until after we’d already done paperwork, stood in lines, got our new pictures taken, and waited another hour to be called that our ID was ready. They did it all in a big tent. We knew people were going to another room when their names were called, but you didn’t know until you got to the room what they wanted. It was strongly implied that further proof of identity would be required if we declined to give our samples. They could teach psychological warfare to used car dealers. I was exhausted. I needed a license. Work said I couldn’t come back without one. Mikah was appalled when we got back. He went into a long rant about unreasonable search and seizure.”
“I guess me and Korembi are going to need to brave the DMV at some point. Maybe they won’t make the same demands.”
Cordie shook her head. “Olivia, no. It’s inconvenient, I know, but I have a feeling about this. I’d rather you not. I could lose my job for saying this, but I don’t want anyone taking samples from my sister.”
I heard boots in the hall, and turned to see a familiar blond giant. “What samples?” asked my favorite brother.
“Leo!” I hurled myself into his arms, knocking his duffle bag out of his hand. “I missed you so much!” I held tight to him, and didn’t even realize I was crying.
Cordie gave him a tight hug, and then pushed his duffle bag over to the wall, out of the middle of the floor. “Someone’s going to trip and kill themselves. I swear you never grew up.”
Leo patted me on the shoulder. “Hey! There, there, baby sister. I know it’s been a while, but it hasn’t been that long, and just look at your new paint job. Why the tears?”
“It’s been the week from hell,” I snuffled into his BDUs. “You were supposed to be there, and you didn’t come. I was so scared we weren’t going to make it out of there alive.”
“Whoa. Make it out of where alive?”
“Our camping trip. I did the cowbells, just like we planned, but Derek turned into a Minotaur and went crazy. He was mad about Tessa, and I know he was going to rape us before he killed us. And then Stella ate him.”
Cordie stared at me, and then glared fire at the rest of the group. “Olivia almost got killed on her camping trip, and you didn’t think that was worth mentioning?”
Ted took a half step back, throwing up his hands. “I had no idea. No one told me anything about Minotaurs or anything else.”
Cordie gave me her best big-sister glare. “I want to hear everything. What haven’t the lot of you been telling me?”
Cordie sat down heavily. “No. I would have felt worse. But I still want to know what’s been going on with my sister.”
Leo gave me a rib-creaking hug. “It’s okay, sis. I’m here now. At first they said I couldn’t have leave, but then just before first light they woke me up and told me I had fifteen minutes to catch my flight. Leave was approved.”
I introduced my reprobate brother to everyone, even Gracie.
Leo sized up our little group. He, Cordie, and Gracie were the only Humans here. “Kat, Ted, good to see you again. Nice to meet the rest of you. I think I’ve seen some of you around events, but we never formally met.” He fixed himself a plate, and sat down between me and Cordie.
“How long do you get to stay this time?” I asked him. “Is this another instant turnaround?”
“Actually, I don’t know,” he said. “I wasn’t given a return date. Major Parker told me not to lose my phone and to consider myself on call. He said I had been approved for compassionate leave, given the circumstances. You know me, sis. I take one day at a time. I’m here until they call.”
“I’m glad you’re here. Maybe they’ll forget to call for a while.”
* * * *
It took a good hour to bring Cordie and Leo up to date on recent events. They had a ton of questions, but were ultimately just glad that I was now home, alive, and in one piece.
I was as patient as I could be, answering their questions, but I had a few of my own. “Cordie, it seems to me that you called and gave a Code Zombie before that purple cloud hit us. What gives?”
Forging Day (Crucible of Change Book 1) Page 17