Force of Fire

by Ali Vali

  “The man who hired me is Dr. Sebastian Petchel. He’s the retired department chair of the archeology department at the university in Costa Rica, and he was a member of the Order of Fuego.”

  “Shit,” Kendal said, and Piper squeezed her shoulder when she thought the same thing. How the hell had this guy found them?

  “I’m sorry,” Leonardo said.

  “Never mind that. Please go on,” Piper replied.

  “From my understanding, Sebastian was killed just recently, and the reason he hired me is running as best and as fast as he can to find you,” Leonardo said, wiping his head with his handkerchief. “He told me he’d stayed in the order to keep his son safe, but the fact that he couldn’t keep Oscar safe became apparent in the last few weeks. With my help, we put together a bag that would help Oscar get out of Costa Rica and come here. I haven’t heard from him since Sebastian’s death, so I need your help finding him.”

  “Is Oscar also a member of this order?” Morgaine asked.

  “Oscar is more a professor than a believer of anything, but he did what his father had asked. I think he only did it, though, to dig up the past, not anything to do with any cult, as he liked to say.”

  “Was he involved in a dig in northern Costa Rica recently?” Kendal asked.

  “I don’t know how you found that out, but yes. From what Sebastian said, some of his men died in the pits they found there, and Oscar left to do more research before going back. The last time we talked, Sebastian told me that whatever the leaders of the order were looking for was about to be uncovered.”

  “We’ll help you any way we can, but how did you find me?” Kendal asked. “Why come to me and Piper?”

  “Sebastian also found old documents about something called the Genesis Clan and somehow tracked you down, but we know there are others, though we haven’t found them yet.”

  “The bag you put together for his son, what was in it?” Kendal asked.

  “A passport, money, and a ticket to New Orleans.” Leonardo pressed his hands together. “I gave Sebastian my word I’d keep his son alive.”

  “Charlie, get the information from him and check. I’ll be right back after talking to Rolla,” Kendal said and kissed her before leaving.

  Piper wasn’t going anywhere, knowing Kendal would fill her in on what she needed from Rolla later. Leonardo gave Charlie the name on the passport and of the airline that had issued the open ticket for when Oscar needed it. Morgaine kept Leonardo occupied while Charlie printed the information and gave it to Piper. The ticket had been used, and the man who was traveling was actually arriving in a few hours.

  “Keep looking, Charlie, and let us know if you find anything,” she said, slipping the paper into her pocket. “Lenore will keep you company, but Morgaine, you need to come with me.”

  Rolla appeared aggravated when they went up to his room, where Kendal was already pacing like a caged animal, but he had no idea how Sebastian had found anything about the clan, much less Kendal herself. “Who exactly is this guy?” Rolla said, smashing his fist into his palm.

  “Right now all we have is what he’s told us and who hired him, and whoever Sebastian’s son is, he’s getting here soon so we can ask him.” Piper handed over the information Charlie had found. “I’m sure if Leonardo is a private eye like he said, he didn’t need us to look for that. He should’ve known it, so I have to question his motives.”

  “I’m sure it’s a setup,” Morgaine said. “If they lure us out to pick Petchel up, then whoever’s behind this has a way to get to us and whatever information we have, not that it’s much. So how do you want to handle it?” Morgaine glanced at Kendal.

  “We could threaten to remove his kidneys in the most painful way possible, but I don’t think they know exactly what the Genesis Clan is. If they think it’s something like the Order of Fuego, then Leonardo knows the answers won’t be easy to come by, so let’s go pick up Oscar. If you’re right, it’ll be a hell of a surprise when we don’t go all that willingly.”

  “So you don’t believe any of his story?” Piper asked.

  “I believe that Sebastian probably is trying to save his son and that Oscar is running from something, but Leonardo’s part doesn’t ring true. No one hired for something this important is that incompetent, or maybe he is. We’re not going to know for sure until we see what happens next,” Kendal said.

  They all went back to Charlie’s place, and Kendal nodded slightly to Charlie, so he printed the same thing again. “Found it, and it looks like he made it out.”

  “He’s coming?” Leonardo asked, pressing his hands to his face. “When? I need to be there when he gets here.”

  “Morgaine and I will go get him. You stay here, and you can talk to him when he arrives. If his father thought it was important for us to meet, then that’s what we’ll do.”

  Piper saw the swift panic that flashed across the man’s face, but he hid it well and nodded. “You’re right. I’ll wait here and trust you to find him.”

  Kendal was right that Leonardo wasn’t all he seemed, and hopefully they’d know what his game was as soon as Oscar was found. “Relax out here, then, and I’ll have something brought out to you. I’m sure a nice meal and some wine will help you pass the time,” Piper said, and everyone stood. “Charlie, you don’t mind, do you? We’ll give him some privacy.”

  “Sure. I’ll even leave the computer up, if you need to use it for anything,” Charlie said, and was the first one through the door.

  They left Charlie to watch the monitors strategically placed in every room of his home after Kendal had suggested using it as a guest cabin every so often until some more places could be built since Charlie didn’t mind staying in the house when asked. For something like this it was easier to keep an eye on someone than if you gave them full run of the house and property, and Leonardo didn’t disappoint when he immediately got on his phone.

  “He made it out, so I’ll have him back by the morning, along with whatever information Sebastian thought these people had. They didn’t exactly seem surprised when I mentioned the dig and Oscar’s part in it. Bring enough men so we don’t have any problems.”

  “Bastard,” Kendal said, shaking her head. “And you offered him dinner too.”

  “I guess it takes more than Southern hospitality, baby,” Piper said and pinched her cheek. “Charlie, can you figure out who he was talking to?”

  “That’ll take more time, so it might be easier to go in there and beat him to death with his phone,” Charlie said. “I’ll have Hill help me with that.”

  “Okay, but I doubt we’ll find out who he was talking to if we go that route, and I think that’s who needs to be beat to death,” Kendal said, watching Leonardo walk around opening each drawer and reading what he found. “Go ahead and take him the meal Piper promised him before he gets to your journals. If he doesn’t know what he’s looking for now, those books will give him all the answers. I’m not willing to give that up to him or anyone involved with him.”

  “You got it,” Charlie said, standing next to the young woman putting a tray together. “Should I babysit until you get back?”

  “If you don’t mind. I’ll make it up to you later,” Kendal said and patted him on the back when he followed the man carrying the tray. When they were out, she held her hand out to Piper, and Morgaine did the same to Lenore. “The kids okay for now?”

  “Fed and napping, so we’re up for whatever you have in mind,” Piper said.

  “How about a trip next door to set up our torture chamber?”

  “Torture chamber?” Piper asked, more curious than upset.

  “Would you talk if I threatened to beat you up?” Kendal said and laughed. “Or would you talk if you thought a pack of really big scary wolves was about to rip you to shreds before they enjoyed a little bald appetizer on my command?”

  “I see your point,” Piper said, shaking her head. The members of the Order of Fuego were playing with matches when it came to butting heads with her
partner, so they were going to learn the meaning of getting burned.

  The four of them took a car together, since Kendal told her the horses knew what Tala and the others were and got skittish around them. Tala was downstairs with Trudy, and they seemed to be looking through the volumes of new and old books, but she was glad to see them.

  “You can’t have missed me that much already,” Tala said, taking her and Kendal’s hands.

  “I might have an answer to one of our unknowns sitting at our place, but he’s setting me up for something along the lines of death, if I had to guess,” Kendal said as they moved to sit.

  “I take it he doesn’t know that death isn’t your thing,” Tala said and laughed.

  “No, and I doubt he could imagine that he’s next door to the ultimate pack leader,” Kendal said, and from the way she said it, Tala seemed to understand what she was talking about. “I have to go get someone this guy Leonardo dropped in our lap, and when I come back I need to have a talk with Leonardo with some furry backup.”

  “Furry backup?” Tala said, shaking her head. “You do have a way of putting things, so you should be glad I like you so much.”

  “Try to forgive her, your highness,” Piper said, pinching Kendal’s side and mouthing Behave. “Oscar Petchel is arriving soon, and if you’re willing to help, I’ll call you as soon as I hear from Kendal.”

  “Please, Piper, it’s Tala to you, and we’ll be there. I think I have enough people to make an impression.”

  “Leonardo might’ve brought some men with him, and he’s in my house close to our baby,” she said, and Tala took her hand again.

  “Don’t forget what Lovell and I promised yesterday. Hali will be fine, as will Anastasia,” Tala said, glancing at Morgaine and Lenore. “Go home and tell any staff that isn’t aware of us not to worry. Lovell and I will take care of the rest.”

  “Thank you, highness,” Kendal said, bowing over Tala’s hand before kissing it.

  “She does have a way of making things up to you, doesn’t she?” Tala laughed before hugging Piper, then Kendal.

  “She does, but you do have to give her a good pinch to keep her in line,” she said, holding her fingers up in Kendal’s direction.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Mr. Pinchon,” the customs agent in New Orleans said, taking Oscar’s arm and leading him away from the line he was in. The airport’s customs area wasn’t very big, but it was crowded. Oscar had thought he was clear of danger when he went through security in Costa Rica, but something must’ve tipped these guys off even before he showed them the passport his father had given him.

  “Is there a problem?” he asked, not trying to give any sign of a fight.

  “Just come with me,” the man said, and he opened the door to what looked like an interrogation room.

  If they were going to arrest him, it would be in the United States, away from Alejandro and his killers. “Did I do something wrong?” He tried again, not wanting to be on a plane back to where he wouldn’t live out the day.

  “Not yet, but that’s why we’re here,” the tall woman said as she handed the man an envelope and he left them alone. “Oscar Petchel?”

  “Who are you?” He gripped the handle of the bag his father had given him and wondered when he’d lost total control of his life. The scary part was that he’d never get that back.

  “I think I’m someone you’re looking for.” The woman held out her hand, and he simply stared at it but then decided to take it. “I’m Kendal Richoux, and I’m an elder of the Genesis Clan.”

  “My father wanted to find you, but I’m not a big believer in secret groups.”

  Kendal laughed and nodded. “I know what you mean, but if you walk out that door without me, a guy named Leonardo and his men are waiting to kill you. You don’t know me, but I’m not some crazy who wants to do that. I’d like to know exactly why you’re here.”

  “And if you don’t like my reason, then you kill me?”

  “Then I let you go to run the gauntlet on your own, and believe me, there is a gauntlet. This first step, I’m sorry, isn’t voluntary. Once we talk, you have my word that if you want to go, you can.”

  “Why do you think my father wanted to find you?” The honesty in the way Kendal spoke made him want to know everything about her.

  “I’m not sure, but he hired and trusted someone he shouldn’t have. He led a man to my home who’s waiting to kill us both, along with my family. Anyone who’s that dedicated to getting at you and me is after something one of us has. At least he must think so.”

  “If what my father told me right before he died is true, I know exactly what he wants. He got killed after serving these people all his life.” He was tired of crying, but that last glimpse of his father waiting to die so that he could get away was still like a knife through the heart.

  “Your father died for something he believed in. At least I hope so, but I’ve found that whatever starts as a noble thing can become twisted and dark. If the people he followed were with this Order of Fuego, and you believe the same things, then we’ll still talk, but after that I’m going to kill them one by one. Run back and tell them, but that won’t change what I’m planning.”

  “He died trying to keep me from those idiots, so if that’s where you’re going, I want you to take me with you.”

  “Let’s have that talk first,” Kendal said and stood up. She pointed to the door at the opposite side he’d entered and led him out. “Do you know who Leonardo is?” she asked as they walked down a long corridor that led to a bank of elevators. Kendal punched the up button and studied him as if trying to see if he’d answer truthfully.

  “I don’t know anyone by that name, but until right before his death, I really didn’t know my father at all. If he hired him to watch out for me, this man lied to him.”

  “Unfortunately your father made it easy for whoever is after you because they’d know exactly when you ran and what name you’d use.” When they stepped out they were overlooking the ticketing area of the airport, and Kendal stopped and stared down, but not for long. “Let’s go.”

  It was a short walk to the parking lot, and at the door a large SUV with darkened windows sat waiting for them, and Kendal made a call. The only thing she said was to tell someone to leave in fifteen minutes. It obviously gave them a head start, but he wished he knew where they were going and who Kendal and her friends were.

  “Do you want to talk now?” he asked as they headed away from the city.

  “You won’t have to wait long, but I’m not the only one who needs to hear what you have to say.” She smiled at him, and her eyes intrigued him. “Don’t worry. Your father was right to look for us.”

  “I meant what I said. I hardly knew anything about him, and I wasted a lot of time with him because I had the wrong impression of what his true beliefs were.”

  “You can make it right and ease your guilt by doing the right thing. And you’re going to do that if it takes me prodding you along with something sharp pointed at your backside.”

  * * *

  Leonardo sat and ate with Charlie and glanced at his phone every so often. When the damn thing finally buzzed, he smiled at his host and excused himself to go outside. “Did you find him?” he asked in Spanish, recognizing the number of one of his men. Leonardo had been in this place too long and was ready to go home to his young wife.

  “Those two women went in, but they never came out. We’ve been waiting, and the line out of customs has slowed, and there’s no sign of Petchel. Are you sure you didn’t tell them anything?”

  “I know my job, and remember that you work for me, not Alejandro. Richoux must have planned on the welcoming committee, so come back and tell the others to try to surround the house without giving these people a chance to fight back. I want this done and Petchel back in our control by tonight.” He glanced up at the window of Charlie’s place, expecting to see him there, but the blinds were unmoved. Whoever these people were, they didn’t know crap about h
ow to defend themselves.

  “Are you sure you want us to leave?”

  “They’re not there, and we can’t take the chance Petchel will say anything until I have some backup, so get going.”

  “Problems?” Charlie asked when he entered again.

  “No, but would you mind if we went back up to the house? I’d like to talk to Ms. Richoux’s partner before they get back.” He needed to be close to the little blonde and the other woman to take control of the situation. Kendal Richoux would do whatever he asked her to when she saw a gun trained on her bitch.

  “Sure, but Piper’s going to want to wait for Kendal. We can wait for her inside, though, if that’ll make you more comfortable.”

  “I’m just worried about Oscar. His father had faith that I’d keep him safe, so until I see him, I’m not going to relax.” He tried his best to convey worry and emotion, and Charlie nodded, so he relaxed and placed his hands on his waist. The feel of his gun secure in the holster at his back made him smile.

  Piper was sitting at Kendal’s desk when they got into the house, and she waved them in without really looking up from what she was doing. “If you give me a minute, I need to approve some contracts for the shipyard,” she said as she typed sporadically. When he started to touch the sword on the desk she flattened her hand over it and shook her head. “Sorry. You can look but don’t touch. It’s a new one, and Kendal’s a little protective.”

  “She’s a collector?” The weapon was beautiful, and the etchings on the blade were like none he’d ever seen. Whoever had made it was a master craftsman.

  “A collector and a master swordswoman,” Piper said, her hand not moving. “If you ask her when she comes back, I’m sure she’d be happy to show you.”

  It would take his men at least another twenty minutes to make it from the airport, and if Kendal had left before then it was time to explain the situation to these dumb bastards. He reached for his gun and aimed it at her head as he waved Charlie next to Piper. “I’ll pass,” he said, reaching for the sword. “Maybe next time, but for now all I’m interested in is Oscar Petchel and any information you have on why he’s here. If you think about playing stupid and say you don’t know what I’m talking about, I’m going to—”