Lucy Kelly (7 page)

He leaned back in his seat and rubbed his hand over his face.

“It’s my fault, Becky. I saw those two women in the elevator and judged them non-threatening.  I should have looked closer at the video,” said Jett in an agonized voice.

“Jett, now you listen, you told me about the guys in the stairwells and the snipers.  You can’t be in three places at once.  You made a judgment call and to my mind, the right one.  Don’t beat yourself up.  Grace needs you to be strong, remember?” 

Becky hoped she was getting through to him.  He didn’t need to carry this guilt.

“I called for another reason, too.  Jett, did you get images of the assailants?  Would you scan them over to me?  I have an idea how to track down who hired them,” she said.

“We know who is responsible for this, Becky,” he said, anger creeping back into his voice.

“That’s right.  We have valid suspicions.  However, I’m going to need proof.  The Kadyrovs obviously still have access to some funds.  We need to find that money and cut it off.  Hitters won’t work on spec, we cut off their funds, and he’s rotting in prison for the rest of his life.  We cut off his access to money, and he won’t be able to buy favors or bribe anyone.  Now, can you get me the pictures?” she asked.

“It’ll take me a few minutes, but I’ll get them to you,” he said.

“Good.  In addition, keep texting me updates.  I’ll text you back every time I hear from Addie.  Bye,” she said, and hung up.

While she waited on Jett, she got up to get a Mountain Dew and make herself a PB&J sandwich.  Fruit, protein, and caffeine were just what she needed to get through another all-nighter.  It was a good thing she’d slept in this morning.  She glanced at the clock - make that yesterday morning.

Chapter Four

While Becky waited for Jett to send over images of the assailants’ faces, she got to work.  She went to her safe, after punching in the code and scanning her biometrics she opened it to pull out the BEIP that Jett had made for her.  She wanted to work faster at this than her normal speeds.  She’d already calibrated it to all of her computers.  She also reached in and grabbed a pair of oversized glasses.  Jett had embedded two special lenses for her, one in the corner of each lens.

She then walked back to her desk.  This room was in the middle of her home and had no windows.  The office door was reinforced, as were the walls.  When she shut the door, she was in a safe room.  Her desk was more of a U-shaped console.  She had a standing rack in the corner with numerous servers clustered to form her very own super-computer.  She could perform hundreds of multiple tasks simultaneously.  On the desk were eight monitors, two for each of her four discrete systems. 

The information came in from Jett as she finished setting the left lens to monitor incoming text messages and the right to monitor her second computer.  She was able to send the data from Jett's email wirelessly from her PC directly to a flash drive.  However, it did slow her down a little, moving the flash drive to the secured, encrypted computer she used for government work.  She could pierce the encryption with just a thought.  After all, she’d written it herself.  Good thing she didn’t have to.  She gave a fleeting thought to the hacking she’d be able to pull off with the BEIP at her control.

As she sorted through the images, finding good clear ones of each assailant, she also connected to a database at the FBI and opened up the Finder software.  This groundbreaking software had been developed by a brilliant programmer named Sarah Kline and her partner, Jack Walthers. 

They were based out of Silicon Valley and – damn; she wished she’d been in on this.  The tech was brilliant.  She had practically drooled over the program when the FBI purchased it.  She had put in a strong recommendation for the NSA, CIA, and Homeland to have copies in their various sector headquarters. 

I’ve got to get some free time to go visit with them,
she thought.  She’d been trying for that free time for over a year now.

While musing, she’d also been sending out commands.  She noted the time – one minute past the quarter hour and Addie hadn’t called in.  She reached for the bat phone, and it rang just as she picked it up.

“You’re late, Addie.  What’s happening?” she asked.

“This isn’t Addie.  It’s Arjun.  Do you have updates on Grace and Justyn?” he asked, looking over at his wife tending to Ari.  They’d gotten the situation under control here at the farmhouse, but not without casualties of their own.

“Catherine Woods, Johanna’s sister, met them at the hospital.  She’s taken Justyn into surgery.  Another doctor has taken Grace into surgery.  Catherine wasn’t happy about having to perform surgery without adequate training on Nephilim anatomy and other medical requirements.  She was most concerned about his reactions to anesthesia,” said Becky.

“He should be fine.  Zephyr and Delpha have left.  Rune is driving them to the local airport.  One of the deputies is flying them into a small airport near the City.  It will take more than an hour off the trip.  Can you have someone pick them up and take them the rest of the way?” asked Arjun.

“No problem - Valerie or Johanna - probably Johanna, as I’ve already woken up her household,” she said.

“Good, one less thing to worry about.  Rapha stayed here to treat Ari, who was wounded, and monitor Addie for stress.”

Arjun ran his fingers through his hair.  His mind was racing, trying to think of what to do first.

“Addie says you sent for our men to come now, instead of Friday.  What are you planning, Becky?” he asked.

“You know Addie isn’t going to agree to leave Earth until after Saturday.  Frankly, you need her to speak at the Convention event.  Therefore, I’m planning to inundate the city with tall men.  You guys need to hide in plain sight.  She’ll have to stay in the hotel and make sure she’s not seen.  We won’t register her, but you and your brothers are getting new IDs again.  This time, I’m using your real name, Azazyel.  You’re going to be an Egyptian businessman, so brush up on your Arabic.”

“Why does Addie have to hide?” asked Arjun.

“Because she’s the only female, it’s a lot harder to find three specific tall men in a large group of tall men.  It would be easy to find one woman checking into a hotel with three seven-foot tall men. 

“How tall is she now, by the way?”  Becky asked.  “I need it for her ID.”

“She’s five-foot-five and a half,” Arjun answered.  “Her growth has slowed down because of the pregnancy.  She’s grown thinner, too.  All her nutrition is going to the babies.”

“Okay.  Her official records still say five-foot-four.  I’ll make the new one as five-six.  I just got an incoming text from Jalen.  No news yet on either surgery.  He wants to know what’s happening there.  And why wasn’t he or anyone else able to get through to you,” she relayed.

Arjun stepped away.  He didn’t want Addie to hear what he was about to say. 

“The police have arrested all the men we stunned.  They also apprehended one car with two others.  There was shooting and those two were killed.  Two others escaped that they know of and two here at the house are dead.  They hit us on all sides and used a device to block cell signals and kill the power and phone lines from a distance away.  Blocking the Wi-Fi meant any text messages sent through our BEIPs wouldn't go through either.  This is farm country, and they could cut the power without us realizing it.  There was a big diversionary attack around back, through the field.  Then an ordinary, out in the open, attack came from people we at first thought were innocents.  They managed to wound Ari and they also killed one of the dogs,” he said.

“From what I understand, they used similar tactics for the attack at Grace’s.  Oh man, Addie’s going to be upset because she loves those dogs.  Which one was it?” Becky asked.

“It was Sasha.  The intruder tried to come in through the mudroom and that’s where Sugar is with her pups,” Arjun said.

“They’re such lovable dogs, but Sasha would help defend the puppies’ big time,” replied Becky

“Yes.  I don’t know how to tell her.  Sugar is grieving and we’re worried about her, too.  We’re looking for the other two dogs now.  They were in the yard and aren’t coming in when we call - hold on…”

While Becky was waiting for Arjun to come back on the line, she related everything he’d said so far in a text message to Jalen and Jett.  A minute later he was back.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.  We found Lucy and Ricky, the other two dogs.  It looks like they were drugged.  Kylan and Nyal, two of the other guards, are bringing them in now.  Everyone else here is fine and the house took minimal damage.  Relay all this to Jalen and tell him help is on the way.  We should have our cell phones working soon because the jammer can’t be far.  I need to move these officers along for the pod to land.  Thank you for insisting on getting the ground transportation in place early, just in case,” he said.  “All your hard work is very much appreciated.”

“I’ve been friends with Addie for a long time, Arjun.  I love her, too.  I’d like to think I’d help anyone in the same situation, but Addie is special, and not just because she’s now my Queen.  We’ve been BFFs since college.  She and Grace made me one of the family.  I don’t have any family; they are it for me. 

“After you drop the Nephilim from the shuttle-pod at the campground, you stay here at my house, there’s plenty of room.  It’s going to take a day to get everything in place so everyone will have to camp out until Thursday morning. 

“That reminds me, I better have Valerie get in touch with her volunteers,” added Becky.

She paused to check something on the computer and send new commands before resuming.  She also needed to take a second to pull herself together.  Arjun understood and remained quiet during the lull.

“Her two security guys are around six-foot-six, right?  We’ll have them sneak her into the hotel; they won’t stand out as much as you guys.  Better yet, have her check in by herself as a convention attendee and she’ll blend right in.  I’ll put you guys on a floor with a lot of others attending the sci-fi convention.  Gotta go.  Call back or text at the next scheduled check-in,” she said before hanging up.

She hoped Arjun wasn’t upset about her abrupt behavior.  From what she could see on screen, her search was netting results.  She’d identified three of the assailants.  While the program continued looking for the rest, she started multiple searches on the three known men.  Where were they born, who their friends and known associates were, who they did time in prison with, and most importantly, where they banked.

She was using all her skills to
‘follow the money,’
as the saying goes.  She didn’t expect it to be easy, so she kept plugging away.  She had stopped glancing at the clock because the ringing of the phone for Addie’s next check-in startled her.

“Addie, is this you this time?” she asked.

“Yes Becky, it’s me.  Did Arjun tell you about Sasha?” asked Addie.

“He did.  I’m so sorry, Addie.  Are you going to be okay?  Do you need me to come over?”

“No, what you’re doing is more important, but I appreciate the offer.  I’m leaving Saturday night, and I’ll be safe.  We’re cancelling the wedding on Sunday.  I don’t mind.  I was only going to be able to marry one of them in the church.  This way, we can have the wedding in the Arboretum on the Space Station, and I can marry all three of them. 

“I’m babbling about weddings when there is more important stuff going on.  Anyway, Grace and her
Ankida
will be here testifying for quite a while.  So keeping that maniac from trying to hurt her again is paramount.  I’m going to send the rest of the dogs, plus Sugar and the pups, up to the ship when the shuttle arrives. 

“Arjun told me about your hotel idea, and it’s great.  I’m glad we’re going to stay with you tonight and check in tomorrow.  I want to go to the hospital and see Grace,” said Addie.

“Prof, I can see that pout from here!  You know it’s too dangerous,” Becky said.  She manipulated a few more files, read a text from Jalen, and answered it. 

This BEIP technology is rocking,
she thought.

“I tell you what, Addie - be a good little Queen and stay hidden in my house where no one will find you.  Seeing Grace is the last thing she would want you to do, and you know it.  Give me the time I need to find the last of this monster’s money and he won’t be able to come after you with a toothpick.  Work with me here, Oh Pregnant One.”

“Damn it, Becky!  I was counting on you being on my side,” said Addie.  She was back in bed. 

The shuttle would be landing in an hour and her
Ankida
wanted her to rest until it was time to leave for Chicago.  They were downstairs packing up the last of the things they were taking with them to HeVan.  The house looked much the same because this wasn’t a normal move.  There was no need to pack pots, pans, or furniture.  She wasn’t even taking very much clothing.  She expected the guys to be back upstairs quite soon.

“I really hate the fact the some asshole in a jail cell is controlling my life.  It’s not fair,” said Addie.  “And don’t you dare tell me that life isn’t fair, Becky!  My sister is lying on an operating table and Justyn is lying on another one.  I should be there for her.  Granny Mac won’t be back from Ireland until Thursday night, and I don’t care what Grace says.  Grace tries to look after everybody else.  Deep down, though, she needs her family, and you know it, Becky.  Now you find a way to make it happen.” 

Addie wasn’t aware of it, but in her high emotional state, she’d turned up her
Nam-Nin
powers and was giving off a golden glow and golden flickers.

“Addie!  Wow, you really are growing stronger.”  Becky leaned back in her chair, shocked at the pull she felt to do as Addie asked.

“I’ll tell you what I’ll do.  I’ll call and speak with Captain Udaka, if he’s awake.  Remember, he was shot tonight too.”

“Oh, no!  I didn’t know that, is he okay?”

“From what I understand, he needed stitches and has been released.  I’ll get his opinion on whether or not it could become safe.  I seriously wouldn’t count on seeing Grace until tomorrow sometime, at the earliest.”