Bree glanced at the clock in the kitchen. “Shit! We better get some sleep then.” Bree got up and patted Jason on the head then headed to the spare bedroom. She stopped and turned around to look at Jason. A warm flutter flashed through her.
She smiled at her brother. A full smile. She loved him. Brain-trauma-quirks and all. She’d hit the jackpot when it came to brothers. “Good night, bro. See you in a few hours.”
As she reached her bedroom door, Max whispered her name.
Oh, hell. She thought about ignoring his call and going straight into her room to get a little sleep. As it was, she’d only get a couple of hours before taking Jason into town for work.
“What?” Though low, her voice held a clear sharp edge.
“Can we talk?” Max switched on the light next to his bed where he was sitting with his clothes and boots still on.
Curiosity won. Bree detoured into Max’s room and shut the door behind her so Jason wouldn’t hear them. She sat on the bench at the end of the bed and looked at Max, waiting in silence. He had something to say, he needed to say it.
“I know you’re very good at what you do, and you’ve always had great instincts. I’m just worried about you. And Jason. Dealing with humans and human problems is one thing, but this is a different world, Bree. None of us really know what the Kusharians are capable of. No matter how many times they tell us they’re here to help and that if we don’t drop the threat levels we’ll be annihilated by the T’Lalz, I don’t trust them.”
“That’s just it. I don’t either. That’s why I’m looking into this. As far as I know, the Kusharians are the ones behind these fucking zapper things. Hell, maybe they’re trying to provoke us into violence so they can get rid of us. You wanna stick your head in the sand? Go for it. I can’t stop you, but I’m not willing to go down like that. Can you imagine if Jason got zapped by one of those things? He’s got enough issues without being brain-fucked by some rage-inducing alien device.” Bree’s anger made it difficult to keep her volume at a whisper.
“You’re right.” Max shook his head. His voice was barely audible. “You’re right.”
This stunned Bree silent. Her jaw nearly hit the floor. Max didn’t admit to being wrong. Ever. “You’re damn right, I’m right.” Well, that might not’ve been the most eloquent response, but it slipped out anyway.
“I’ll call Spyder and see if he’s got any intel on the silver boxes you found,” Max offered.
Bree knew Spyder from the few ops she and Scarecrow had completed for Max’s black ops unit. She figured Spyder had taken command of the unit when her uncle left, but she had so many questions. Was the unit still in operation? Under whose authority? What the hell could they even do given the restrictions of IKS?
“Thanks. I appreciate the help.”
“You’re welcome.”
“What’s going on with you, Max? Will you please tell me why you’re acting so damn strange?”
“I’m just concerned about you. There’s nothing more to it. Now, get outta my room and get some sleep.” Max’s tone made it clear he was finished with this conversation.
“Fine. But, Max, please know I’m here for you whenever you’re ready to talk. You know you can trust me.” Bree headed to her own room, still feeling a little stunned by their conversation and more relieved than she cared to admit.
Even the best of the best needed help at times.
Plus, as Max said, dealing with alien plots to take over the Earth fell a bit out of her wheel house.
13
“Thanks, Rick. It looks like you and Nina were busy yesterday.” Bree looked up from the map.
“We were both happy to help. I used the information from all the reports we could find to pinpoint neighborhoods for you and Jason to focus your search.”
“This is a tremendous help. Honestly, I don’t even know how we would begin a search without this.”
Rick folded the marked map to give to Bree.
Bree waved her hand to dismiss the offering. “I’m good. I plugged it all into my phone.”
“Two is one and one is none. Take this just in case, I’ve already marked it for you. And you know how spotty cell service can be around here. Now, what else can I do to help?”
Recognizing and appreciating the Special Forces code of being prepared with duplicate tools, Bree nodded and took the map from Rick. “Can you check around and see if you find anyone else in the area that might have been zapped? Lock up any possible ragers? At least try to keep ‘em safe.”
“Sure. I’ll get the old crew to help me out. And I’ll contact the other cities’ forces and put them on it too.”
“That’s great.”
“Do you really think the Kusharians are behind this?” Rick’s lip twitched.
Bree let out a loud breath. “It’s not human tech, so chances are pretty damn good they’re behind this. Maybe they got tired of waiting for us to implode from the pressure of IK and decided to speed things up. I don’t know? I just know I plan to shut this shit down.” Bree stuck the map in her ruck sack.
Rick gave a somber nod. “Well, good luck. Stay safe and stay in touch.” He patted Bree on the shoulder.
Bree tipped her head. “Back atcha.” She appreciated Rick’s trust in her. Unlike Max. Armed with a plan, she headed out the back door.
Despite Bree’s earlier doubts about her brother’s ability to handle himself during this investigation, Jason had grown a lot in the last year. They’d made a great team collecting three of the zappers. In fact, it had been pretty easy so far. Whoever had placed these boxes hadn’t made any attempt to cover the evidence of their activities, and Rick’s intel had been very accurate.
Bree pulled up to a small parking lot by a trail head in Cottonwood. She grabbed her backpack and the helmets. Jason picked up the tool box before she needed to tell him to. Bree stuck a couple of cold waters in her pack before slinging it on. She was happy to have developed a routine with her brother. It also made her miss Scarecrow; the two of them had always been so in-sync they rarely needed to talk about their roles.
They walked at steady pace, scanning the ground for spoor. The early afternoon sun beat down on them. Bree wiped sweat from the back of her neck. No matter how hot the damn helmet made her, she had to wear it so Jason would keep his on. The tingling sensations inside her head had become more like prickling. The change bothered her, but damn if she’d allow dread to take hold of her.
“Are you okay?” Jason asked, breaking the silence.
Bree looked over at her brother. “Yeah, I’m fine. Why?”
“You seem really tense. And you look like you’re in pain.”
“Nah. I’m just hot. We’ve been out in this sun all day. You’re supposed to be looking for tracks, not at me.”
Jason rolled his eyes and huffed, then focused back on the ground. They continued walking in companionable silence for another quarter mile.
“There. Look at this.” Jason pointed to footprints heading off the beaten path through a group of desert broom bushes.
“Good job, Jase. This looks like number four.” Bree led the way between two of the bushes. About five feet from the path, she hit a wall of fear. It nearly sent her tumbling backwards.
Bree froze and immediately reached her arm back to stop Jason. The fear had disappeared, but her senses were on high alert.
What the hell? In all her years as a security specialist, even in extremely dangerous situations, she’d never experienced anything quite like that feeling.
She turned and put a finger to her lips.
Jason’s face scrunched up and he shrugged one shoulder.
Bree pointed to a large boulder about ten feet in front of them and then cupped her hand behind her ear. Jason got the message and the two stood silent, listening.
Scraping noises came from beyond the boulder.
It didn’t sound like the rustle from a bird or lizard. The middle of the day meant that another run in with a mountain lion wasn’t likely. Javel
inas were typically nocturnal as well. Bree took a deep breath through her nose, but didn’t detect the pungent odor of javelinas. It could be a dog or a cat.
It could also be an alien planting one of their zapper boxes. Her breathing quickened and heart pounded, adrenaline spiking at the thought of catching one of the perps. Could they actually be that lucky?
Bree motioned to Jason to get behind the bush to his right. He scowled but complied. She took a few centering breathes, then drew her gun. Fuck it, she’d risk getting k-snagged to protect Jase.
She pushed forward with careful heel-to-toe steps, elbows tucked in close and her upper body slightly forward to keep the rucksack from bouncing and giving away her movement.
Bree pulled to a stop at the boulder. In addition to the scraping, she heard breathing sounds.
She bounced twice on the balls of her feet, held her gun out in front of her, and charged around the big red rock. “Hold it right there! Don’t move or I’ll blow your fucking head off.”
“Whoa… whoa… whoa.” The man crouching by the shiny brain zapper put his hands in the air, but didn’t turn around. He held something that looked like a flashlight in his right hand. “Take it easy.”
“Put your flashlight down carefully, asshole. Do it, now.” Bree spoke with a clear and authoritative voice that came from years of training and experience.
The dude complied and risked a quick look back at Bree.
What the fuck? He had human eyes. Too bad she wouldn’t be kicking any alien ass today; however, a human would be easier to deal with.
“Okay, jackass, lay down on your belly, put your hands straight out above your head, and lock your fingers together.” Bree’s tone left no room for question.
The man had enough smarts to comply.
Bree kicked at his leg. “Feet, spread eagle.” After the man complied, she yelled for Jason. “Jase, come on over.”
Her brother trotted around boulder. His eyes widened and flashed between his sister and the man on the ground.
Damn it, she’d left her cuffs in the Jeep. She hadn’t been expecting to capture anyone. “I’ve got some rope in my pack. Get it out,” she ordered Jason.
The man turned his head to look up at Bree.“What’s going on here?”
“You don’t move a fucking muscle or open your mouth until I tell you to. Do you understand me?”
The man gave a small nod and put his face back to the dirt.
Jason pulled the rucksack off her back, then fumbled through it until he found the parachord.
“Can you tie his hands?”
“Hell, yeah!” Jason looked like he would explode with excitement.
Bree put her left hand on her baby bro’s shoulder and applied a slight pressure. She needed Jase to stay calm and keep his head on straight, but she didn’t want to announce that for this disgrace of humanity on the ground to hear.
“Okay, fuckwad. He’s going to tie your hands. You flinch, I shoot. Sure, I’ll get k-snagged, but you’ll get dead and my brother will be safe. Got it?”
“I got it,” he answered when he saw the gun pointed at his head.
Jason crouched next to the man and grabbed one hand, then tapped the other arm for the guy to bring it back behind his back. To his credit, he did so willingly.
Jason proceeded to tie the man’s hands securely behind his back, then he beamed up at Bree. He looked like a little boy who’d just tied his first shoe lace and wanted to show his mommy. Bree bit back a smile and nodded instead.
“Okay… now roll over and sit up, you sack of shit. Back against the rock and legs straight out in front of you with your ankles crossed. Do it, fucking now!”
Jason reached down to help the guy.
“Step back, Jase. He can manage on his own.” The kid had done well securing the bad guy, but he still had a lot to learn. Like, ‘never trust a prisoner - even if his hands are tied behind his back.’
The man rolled over, pushed himself into a sitting position, and wiggled himself backward until he could lean against the boulder. He cocked his head and smiled at Bree as he lifted his right foot and crossed it over the left. He looked more like a guy hanging out with friends versus one held at gun point by two strangers.
Of course, with their bizarre looking helmets on they might have looked more ridiculous than threatening.
Bree kept her handgun pointed at the jackass and kicked the flashlight away from him, then she snapped a quick look to Jason. “Get my gloves on and get the zapper into the tool box.” She didn’t want to worry about it going off while they chatted with this guy. Plus, she wanted to take off the hotter-than-hell hard hats.
“Really? Awesome.” Jason pulled his shoulders back and puffed his chest out.
“Remember not to tilt it or jiggle it.” Bree kept one eye on the prisoner and one on her brother’s progress. “That’s it. Keep your hands steady.”
Jason blew out a loud sigh of relief as he closed the lid of the tool box with the zapper safely inside.
“Good job.” Bree nodded at her brother before turning all of her attention to the assface on the ground. “Who the fuck are you? Who do you work for? And what the holy hell are these things?” She pointed to the toolbox.
“Do you kiss you mother with that mouth?” Assface asked.
“No, but I kissed your mother with it and she fucking liked it. You asshead. Let’s try this again. What. Are. Those. Things?”
The man looked at the helmets and smirked. He fucking smirked.
Damn, if she didn’t want to knock that smug look right off his face, but she wouldn’t allow the cocky bastard the pleasure of seeing her get k-snagged. She had better self-control than that. “Answer my fucking questions, rat bastard.”
The man laughed and said, “And if I don’t, what are you going to do? Cuss me to death?” He snorted. “Shoot me?” He shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
“You’re right, I probably won’t shoot you. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have ways to get you to talk.” An idea came to Bree as she stared at the man. One that brought a satisfied smile to her face. “Jason, grab one of the water bottles and cut the top off.”
Jason did as she’d asked, cutting a bottle just below the screw top.
“No. Cut down lower. Right here.” Bree pointed to the part of the bottle where it was widest. Jason cut the bottle with his pocket knife, then handed it to his sister.
The man on the ground watched the exchange, his head cocked to the side and his eyes squinted.
Bree had a plan, but she couldn’t do it alone. She cursed Scarecrow under her breath; the two of them could have pulled it off easily. She weighed the options, trying to decide which task would carry less risk, then she whispered to Jason.
He took the cut-off bottle and walked around the boulder and out of sight of their captive.
Bree concealed the flash of anxiety that flooded through her at the thought of Jason’s safety.
Maybe she should’ve left him on guard duty.
No, he’d be careful. She’d made the right call.
Shit. She hated waiting. “I’ll give you one more chance to talk willingly.” Bree kicked at the man’s foot.
He looked up at her, flashing a shit-eating grin. He thought he had the advantage.
Bree chuckled. This assclown didn’t know the plan. He’d change his mind soon enough.
“I got it!” Jason yelled from somewhere beyond the boulder.
The man’s eyebrows rose and he turned his head in an attempt to see Jason.
“Good! Now be careful and bring it to me!” Bree yelled.
Jason came back into view, carrying the bottle with one of the maps held tightly on top. He put one foot in front of the other, walking like he carried a bomb. The man followed Jason’s deliberate movement. The map flopped over the side of the bottle, blocking the man’s view of the contents.
“Excellent! Way to go. Oh, that’s a good one.” Bree smiled at Jason. He beamed back.
“Okay, y
ou traitorous son of a bastard… let me introduce you to our little friend here. Perhaps he might motivate you to talk.” Bree nodded to Jason, who maneuvered the map so the man could see the scorpion inside, but did not uncover the bottle.
“Oh, shit! You wouldn’t.” The man recoiled into the boulder.
Jason and Bree looked at each other. They both shrugged and nodded.
“Yeah, we would. And, to be honest, it’ll be fun to watch.” Bree’s cheerful tone matched her words. “However, I’m going to be nice and offer you two choices. One, you can start talking now. Two, we can let Mr. Scorpion loose down your pants, and then you talk. Either way, you talk and I don’t get k-snagged. See how that works?”
“Are you crazy?” The man yelled.
“Crazy like a fox.” Bree nodded in triumph. She smiled at Jason, glad they’d found a way to wipe that sneer from this asshat’s ugly mug. “This is most fun I’ve had since the start of IK.”
Sweat dripped down the dude’s bald head and into his eyes, causing him to blink rapidly to clear the burn of the salt.
Bree cupped her hand by her ear. “You want a date with Mr. Scorpion. Is that what you said?”
“No! Stop. I’ll talk.” The man squirmed.
“Mr. Tough Guy,” Bree said. “Not so tough now.”
“My name is Nicky. Nicky Farino. I was supposed to mess with that silver box over there.”
“Keep going Nicky-boy. That’s nowhere near enough information.” Bree glanced between Nicky and the scorpion.
“One of those weird little aliens paid me to come and use that thing.” Nicky nodded towards the flashlight that Bree had kicked away. “On those silver boxes.”
“Nicky. If you don’t start making some damn sense, I’m going to lose my temper. If you don’t want to have this scorpion and a few of his little friends crawling around your prized jewels, you need to do better than this, ‘kay?”
“Wh… what else do you want to know?”
“Well, let’s see. How about, who in the hell paid you? I need a name. What are these fucking boxes? Why are they out here? What is that thing supposed to do to them?” Bree scratched her head. The prickling feeling added to her frustration.
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