Authors note- Sorry this one took so long and I hope you enjoy it even if it's a little rough on around the edges. I will be trying to get the next installment out sooner.
Chapter 26- Family Reunions
A lone car slowly pulled up to a small farm house as the morning sun slowly ascended to its place in the sky illuminating a light layer of frost clinging to the plants in the brisk morning air. Having left Rome far behind the ex SWA agents made their way to a small far buried in the agrarian south hoping for a chance to regroup before Olga caught their scent once more. Pulling up to the house Ferro caught a glimpse of a red Alfa Romero that looked vaguely familiar.
"So Patricia…. are you sure this friend of yours won't mind if we stop her for a while?" Priscilla yawned as they exited the car.
"More importantly are you sure this is safe?" Ferro added still unsure of the new addition to the group.
"Yes, Katerina has been a close friend of mine for years, we go all the way back to grammar school. This farm belongs to a relative of hers that passed away recently so it's probably deserted." Patricia replied rubbing sleep out of her eyes.
"We should still knock just to be polite," Tea added skipping in front of the group looking entirely too perky for the early hour. Her loud rapping on the door echoed through the farm startling the still half asleep members of the group.
"Tea was it necessary to use that much force it's a miracle you didn't smash down the friggin door," Bernardo grumbled still upset at doing all the driving.
"Well they still might be asleep so I had to make enough noise to wake them up," Tea replied with a smile as they waited several minutes before entering the farm house.
Figuring the fifteen minute rule would apply in this case Bernardo had them wait the obligatory fifteen minutes before they resorted to breaking and entering. "Alright, times up, so Patricia do you want to do this the easy way or the hard way," Bernardo asked.
"The way that doesn't destroy the door please," Patricia replied.
"Nut's the hard way then," Bernardo sighed kneeling in front of the door. "It's been a while since I've had to do this."
"How did you open doors then," Priscilla asked.
"Wait I don't want to know," Ferro said quickly.
"I let Beatrice do it," Bernardo replied with a shrug
"Well that explains a lot," Tea said.
"What?" was everyone's shocked reply.
"Lorenzo was always annoyed with the amount of collateral damage Beatrice created on some of her missions. Beatrice really is a sweet girl, she just likes making things go boom too much. Did the doctor's make a mistake or was that something you did?" Tea added looking at their shocked expressions. "Hey I was the agency maid and the maids hear everything remember."
Patricia was still struggling to keep up with their conversation as the door flew inward dumping Bernardo on the ground. "What the hell," Bernardo exclaimed.
"I don't know who you people are but would you kindly get off my doorstep," a female voice called out from beyond the doorway.
"Katerina, is that you?" Patricia called out.
"Patricia what are you doing here?" as a long haired blond woman asked as she hobbled out on an improvised crutch.
"It's a long story, but do you think my friends and I could stay for a couple of days," Patricia replied.
"Why don't you introduce me to your friends first," Katerina said glaring at the unknown arrivals.
"Name's Bernardo, I'm Patricia's new boyfriend. When she got a new assignment I thought I'd take some leave I had built up and give her a hand." Bernardo replied throwing an arm around Patricia pulling her close much to her own embarrassment.
"Really, and here I thought you were still pining over Marco," Katerina asked with a finely arch eyebrow.
"Female, tall, blond hair, blue eyes, Romeo where have I seen her before," Ferro thought taking a closer look at the woman.
"And this is Priscilla my new photographer," Patricia said.
"Hi," Priscilla waved nervously.
"Ok, moving on," Katerina asked flipping her long hair back revealing the beginnings of a faint scar running along the right side of her temple.
Head wound, drove an Alfa Romeo. "Flanca," Ferro growled as the end of the assault on the Cristiano compound ran through her head.
"Agency bastards, Priscilla how could you," Caterina growled pulling out a Beretta 8000 cougar on the astonished crowd.
"Katerina what the hell is going on?" Patricia asked.
"Why don't you ask your government friends here? Make anymore abominations recently," Katerina growled.
"Blow up any buildings recently Flanca," Bernardo shot back.
"Destroy anymore children's lives you bastard," Caterina responded in kind slowly losing her composure.
"Like you're any better you old hag," Tea yelled out from behind everyone.
"What did you say," Katerina exclaimed bringing the gun down on the young girl.
"Don't go throwing stones at glass houses bitch. That bastard child of yours Pinocchio nearly gutted Triela. While he wasn't a cyborg he was just as ruined as the rest of us, but at least the girls handlers tried to make it right which is more than I can say for you bitch." Tea said marching right up to Katerina.
"You have no idea what you are talking about little girl, the government has ruined more people than you can possibly imagine," Katerina shot back.
"And they have saved just as many!" Tea retorted loudly.
"What! Those bastards only have the capacity to hurt and destroy," Katerina roared!
"Shut up!" Tea yelled easily pulling the woman down to look her in the eye. "Where was your precious Padania when I was rotting away in that hellhole of an orphanage wondering what could have possessed my worthless parents to place their daughter in that circle of hell." Tea paused as if she was looking for an answer in Katerina's shocked face before driving the woman against the door. "It was the government that saved me from that hellhole and a life of whoring myself out to any man available like my bitch of a mother," Tea spat. "So yeah I took Lorenzo's offer to join the agency in return for repairing my broken and used body."
"But they turned you into a monster," Katerina choked out as Tea's grip tightened around her throat.
"My sisters and I are not monsters, we are young girls who are trying to deal with the rotten hand life has dealt us. We thought we were protecting the country from the bad guys not testing the weapons for some arms dealer." Tea said dropping Katerina to the ground.
"What?" Katerina gasped her addled mind reeling at the revelation.
Tea began walking away from the stunned woman before turning to face her one last time. "I want you to take a message for your Padania friends so listen carefully. Tell them that we have a bigger menace in our sights then a bunch of idiots from the north so they better stay the hell out of our way if they want to survive. If they don't the Padania will wish it was the MOSSAD after them," Tea said with a flip of her long blond hair.
"Well now that, that is over with can we hole up here for a couple of days or not seeing as how we both are on the same side." Bernardo asked as the others stared at him. "What she hates the government, we hate the government. You know the enemy of my enemy is my friend and all."
"Katerina," Patricia called out to her still crumpled form lying in the doorway.
"Hey wake up lady I didn't even hit you," Tea said joining Patricia over the comatose woman.
"Let's get her inside. We can at least stay here until she wakes up," Bernardo said not willing to leave a woman passed out on her doorstep even if she was a wanted terrorist.
With a sigh Tea easily lifted the surprisingly light Katerina into the house shocked at how little the woman weighed. "Dang she is burning up," Tea commented as she laid her down in the main bedroom.
"I'm sorry Teana," Katerina mumbled as she curled up on the sofa.
"Who is Teana," Priscilla asked Patricia as the others left to explore the rest of the house.
"I don't know, we were close friends growing up until we lost touch after college. It could be someone she knows from the Padania.
"Never would have left you there," Katerina continued to mutter. "I didn't know,"
"Not much we can do about it now though," Priscilla said her gaze slowly passing over the few pictures adorning the walls. "She looks so happy in these pictures. I wonder what made her join the Padania?"
"I've wondered the same thing, she was always happy and full of life but that changed not long after she met him." Patricia replied. "Armando was a few years older than us and a total sleaze but Katerina thought the world of him at the time. She was an early bloomer and caught the eye of an upper classman for her first boyfriend, and you know how that goes," Patricia said as Priscilla nodded her head in agreement.
"They were together for a short time before Katerina got really sick and had to spend the rest of the year home schooled. When I saw her again she had broken up with him and loathed his very existence. The chip on her shoulder about the government began growing then. I think it was the death of her father in prison that made her go over the edge." Patricia said as Tea walked past the room on her way back out to the car for supplies.
"How long was she out of school for?" Priscilla asked as her gaze slowly drifted from Tea's retreating form back to the pictures.
Patricia paused for a moment trying to remember before answering. "I'm not exactly sure but it was at least seven months why?"
"Doesn't Tea remind you of a young Katerina?" Priscilla replied pulling her to the window.
"That's impossible Tea's much too young," Patricia shot back.
"The cyborgs don't age while on the conditioning meds, her chronological age makes her almost 20 years old." Priscilla stated.
"You were my precious child," Katerina murmured again in her dreams.
"Then that bastard, she told everyone she had mononucleosis," Patricia gasped.
"The evidence seems to point that way, but why hate the government," Priscilla asked.
"Everything makes sense now, that bastard Armando was the son of the local prefect," Patricia stated.
"I thought he loved us, never should have let him take you," Katerina continued to mumble as both woman reeled back as if struck.
"Priscilla, I don't care who you have to do, just find that bastard Armando and get to the bottom of this. If she really is Tea's mother then it's long past the time for a family reunion." Patricia said silently adding another expose to her list.
Section Break
A black limo slowly came to a stop along an old dirt road as the last rays of sunlight departed from the sky. "Are you sure this is the place girls," Frank asked stepping out of the car surprised at the remote location.
"Yes," Claes replied curtly as the other girls exited the posh limo bringing their large packs with them
"Alright then," he replied as Beatrice struggled to lift a delirious Triela from the limo. The bleeding had finally stopped and but she was still asleep groaning in pain each time they had to move her.
"This way," Rico called out shouldering her pack as she made out an old mailbox partially covered by the roadside weeds.
"You never saw us," Claes said as the girls followed Rico down the dusty road.
"Saw who, last thing I remember was waking up next to a beautiful woman in Speil-Bank Baden Baden with a splitting headache," Frank replied with a laugh before leaving the girls to their hike.
"Claes where are we headed, we need to find some place to rest for the night and take a look at Triela's injuries," Angelica said as Triela groaned in pain.
"Rico turn right up ahead," Claes called out leading the girls up a narrow gravel drive way leading back into the thick woods surrounding them.
"Where are we going," Henrietta asked none too happy about traipsing through the woods again.
"Hillshire's summer vacation home," Claes responded as they entered a large clearing with an old German farm house sitting in the center of the clearing. It looked to be an older timber frame construction from the late gothic or early Renaissance periods. Honestly she was expecting something a little more modern from the hardnosed German, he never really seemed like the outdoorsy type. As they crowded on the small rough framed porch she was taken aback by the shiny door lock and deadbolt combination. Shit so much for small favors.
"I can open that if you want," Beatrice giggled as Angelica helped her place Triela in one of the porch chairs.
"I want to open the door without destroying it Beatrice," Claes replied as Beatrice scowled.
"Are there any slugs for the shotgun," Rico asked.
"Yes," Angelica answered handing over the shotgun..
Rico made short work of the door coring the dead bolt with the solid metal slug demolishing the heavy duty lock while the residual kinetic energy shattered the doorjamb allowing the door to slowly swing inward. Not like that was any better. The last rays of sunlight reflected of the lacquered wood beams supporting the interior of the foyer despite the somewhat older and rundown exterior the inside of the house was surprisingly luxurious. In fact the only problem Claes could find with the house was the slightly musty smell of stale air and the dust kicked up by the force of opening the door.
"Hey what's wrong with the lights," Rico asked flicking the light switch back and worth repeatedly.
I hope the generator for this place still works. "Angelica, take care of Triela, Henrietta, Beatrice scout the house, Rico you're with me." Claes ordered heading for the large generator and fuel tank she spotted along the side of the house.
"Triela we made it so you have to wake up now," Angelica stated as she laid her down gently on the Sofa in the darkened living room. "You've come too far to die from a few bullets," Angelica said doing her best to make her oldest sister comfortable.
"So what do you think we are going to do now?" Henrietta asked as they headed upstairs.
"I don't know, that's up to Triela to decide when she wakes up," Beatrice replied.
"What if she doesn't wake up?" Henrietta asked.
"Don't worry she is stronger than she looks." Beatrice stated looking down at her feet for a moment in contemplation before continuing. "We all are," the younger girl added as they slowly cleared each room their eyes struggling straining to take in even the smallest detail as they went through the house room by room. "She is the strongest, it will take a lot more than a few bullets to keep her down," Beatrice replied with a smile.
"You're right," Henrietta chimed thinking of all the feats she and her sisters were capable of. They trained us to be unstoppable nothing but the best will stop us now.
"So does that mean you'll help me get it back," Beatrice asked as they entered an eerily familiar room with several large stuffed animals.
And they think I'm obsessive. Henrietta picked up one of the ornate bears thinking Triela might like to have something familiar to hold onto as she slept. Triela, you'd better wake up before she gets any ideas. "Let's check out the basement," Henrietta said as they finished their sweep of the upper level.
"So where's the start button on this thing?" Rico asked scanning the smooth metal exterior of the generator.
"Rico don't touch anything," Claes ordered as the hyper little girl pulled open the control panel gazing at the myriad of buttons and switches.
"Why all we have to do is press the right button and we will have electricity right," Rico asked itching to push some of the shiny buttons. Just one won't hurt, maybe the big red one.
"Unfortunately it's not that simple," Claes sighed pulling her pack from the open panel. "Go check the gauge on the tank over there," she ordered pointing to the large above ground tank a few feet away from the generator.
Rico's enhanced eyesight easily spotted the large gauge attached to a small tube leading off the main tank connecting it to the generator. "It's about a third of the way full, 150L" Rico stated.
Good that should last us for a while, now how to start this thing without blowing us all to pieces. Following the instructions laminated to the inside of the access panel Claes slowly primed the generator double checking the electrical connections trusting that whoever used the house last shut down the main circuit breaker to reduce the electrical load on start up. The last thing she needed was for was the main circuit to fry when she started the generator like those genius's Amadeo and Georgio when they had to start the backup generator at the outdoor training facility once. Marco wanted to throttle those two idiots as they had to rough it in the sweltering heat and humidity with no power for the air conditioner. "Rico do you see the regulator next to the fill gauge,"
"Yes," Rico replied.
"Good now I want you to slowly turn it until you can hear the gas beginning to flow," Claes ordered.
Rico saw a small red line in the regulator as she slowly let the liquid propane into the line, "Ok, do you want me to turn it to the line that says generator,"
"Yes," Claes replied thankful that some of the guess work had just been removed from the equation. Waiting a moment she hit the start button and hoped that the generator was as idiot proof as it appeared to be. She didn't have long to wait as she heard the machine begin running through the startup sequence and the starter began to kick over with a quiet roar. So far so good and now for the real test. With the generator now running Claes opened the main circuit sending power over to the house as several automatic outdoor lights kicked in illuminating the house from the inky darkness. Let there be light.
Claes must have got the generator running might as well give it a try. Wow, who would have thought he had a vacation home like this. Looks like he wasn't as cheap as you thought he was Triela. Angelica was amazed by the blending of classic German architecture and modern décor that had an understated elegance equally impressive as the Italian décor they were used to back home. The open timber frame construction was unlike anything she had seen before giving the interior of the house a very rustic feel while maintaining a modern charm unlike their dorms back at the agency. Their rooms at the agency were nice but they couldn't hide the fact they were living at an old monastery located on the outskirts of the Vatican City in Rome. The rooms were drafty and the classical décor always kept the girls a bit restrained afraid they might damage some priceless artifact. "Not that it stopped us." Angelica giggled remembering some of their more childish antics.
Angelica waited patiently for the others to return her gaze falling on the Steiff bear Henreitta found for Triela while searching the rooms upstairs. Given Hillshire's usual gift for Triela she wasn't all that surprised at finding a designer stuffed animal in the house, but what really bothered her was how similar the bow and decorations were to the bears Triela left behind at the agency. "Could this be a link to your past Triela," Angelica thought as the sleeping girl pulled the bear to her chest.
"We found food," Henrietta called out carrying an armful of glass masonry jars.
"Yeah, some of the canned stuff was bad but the rest of it was ok," Beatrice called out stepping out from behind Henrietta munching on a long brown stick.
.
"Oh what's that," Rico said pointing to the stick Beatrice was munching on.
Claes scowled in disgust wonder just how long the jars were sitting in the basement. I'd rather eat Henrietta's cooking.
"Here, I think it's beef jerky," Beatrice thrust a long stick of dried out meat into Claes's hand.
Claes looked at her youngest sibling in shock before slowly replying, "You do realize that this is even worse right."
"I'm hungry and you can't taste what you don't chew," Beatrice said before stuffing another piece down her throat.
Reluctantly the girls dove into the many jars of food Henrietta and Beatrice discovered in the root cellar in the basement. While not much better than the trail food they had been forced to live of the jars of pickled vegetables, fruit preserves along with some beef jerky and other salted meets that were still edible. Their bellies full, the events of the day began to take their enhanced bodies as the moon rose high in the night sky. Despite the rather posh accommodations that no doubt waited for them upstairs they decided to rough it on the floor one last time before they fully explored the house in the morning. They bared the now broken door with a large easy chair Rico manhandled over from the living room to prevent any unwanted visitors during the night. As they all slowly drifted off to sleep huddled around Triela the one thought on their minds was the health and safety of their big sister.
Section Break
A cool breeze drifted through an open window disturbing a young blond haired girl resting peacefully on the couch. "Ugh, where am I," Triela groaned rubbing her temples as she slowly roused from her slumber. Unsure of her surroundings she began to survey the scene like the expert detective Victor trained her to be. Her body stiffened in shock as her gaze locked onto an intricate metal structure dominating the skyline in the distance.
"Paris! Schiebe, gottverdamt Claes I thought you knew how to use a fiken karte," Triela screamed in frustration. Her body suddenly froze in shock as a gentle breeze brushed across her legs. "and why the holle am I wearing a dress you scheissekopf," She shrieked stunned to find her body draped in a light and airy sundress.
"What's wrong with the dress, I think it's rather cute," a woman's voice called out breaking the silence.
Triela spun around in surprise locking eyes with the older woman, "Who the holle are you de hure,"
"Did Victor teach you to speak like that," the woman replied shaking her head. "You looked like such a nice girl the last time I saw you. I'm going to have to speak to Victor about that the next time I see him."
A torrent of emotions surged through Triela as she pounced on the woman pinning her to the floor, rage, confusion, embarrassment, including a distinct feeling of déjà vu like she had seen this woman before. As she stared down into the woman's warm grey eyes Triela couldn't shake off the feeling that she should recognize the kind face staring up at her. "Who are you, are you with the agency, start talking," Triela stuttered unable remain angry at the woman trapped below her for some reason.
"I assure you I am not with that particular breed of lowlife scum found at the Social Welfare Agency even if I was partially responsible for you ending up there," the woman replied sadly.
Triela's eyes widened in shock as she slowly recognized the woman lying beneath here, "Mother," She gasped as long forgotten memories slowly began to surface.
The woman slowly sat up pulling Triela into her lap as tears began to run down the younger girl's cheeks.
"Why am I here, I've been a terrible person," Triela cried overjoyed to see her mother one last time before she was punished for her sins.
"No, you're not and do not let anyone else tell you otherwise," the woman replied pulling her daughter into her lap.
'But I've killed so many and I'm not even human anymore," Triela cried.
"Stop," the woman said forcefully causing Triela to bolt upright. She looked right into the questioning eyes of her daughter before continuing. "Triela, you did what you needed to do in order to survive in the harsh cruel world the SWA placed you in. Any one in your position would have done the same to keep their sisters, the people you are up against can't be stopped by just talking." The woman said pulling her into a gentle hug. "Now what is this about you not being human?"
Triela paused not wanting the moment with her mother to end. "I'm a cyborg, Claes said that over 60% of our bodies are of cyberorganic construction," Triela said as the tears threatened to fall once more.
"And 40% of you is human, it doesn't matter what your body is made of," She replied placing her hand on Triela's chest over her heart. "The only thing that matters is what is inside here." She added as Triela started to cry into her chest once more.
"So what happens now, do I get to stay here with you, can I still watch over my sisters,"
"No I'm afraid that it is not your time just yet," She replied as Triela's body began to fade.
"But I have so many questions," Triela cried out as she continued to fade. "Mother" Triela screamed bolting upright in her bed.
Section Break
Time passed fitfully for the girls as they settled in to their newest safe house as Triela continued to slumber. With Triela still incapacitated the mantle of leadership was passed on to Claes as she struggled to keep everyone occupied and moving forward. Dam it not again! Claes winced squeezing her eyes shut tightly as another bout of painful cramps ravaged her body as she marched down one of the many dirt roads that meandered through the Black Forest heading for a small family store she spotted several days ago when they first entered the forest.
Claes dropped to one knee overwhelmed with pain. "Claes are you ok," Beatrice shouted running up to Claes.
"Oh yeah I'm doing wonderful, thanks" Claes sniped biting back the pain as she struggled to stand up. If this is what Triela goes through every month she is stronger than I thought.
Beatrice slipped under Claes's arm helping the larger girl to her feet with her good arm. "Let's get you back to the house then I'll go to the store."
Claes shook her head and continued to limp on using Beatrice as a crutch. "No you were sleeping on the drive in and Fleda will be more convincing than Annabelle."
Beatrice frowned as the pair continued to limp down the gravel road. Working without cowardice doing that is your job. Orders that were ingrained into her mind by the conditioning process took on a new meaning as she helped Claes down the gravel road in the middle of nowhere. If any of my sisters perish I will show you what working without cowardice truly is and there will be nothing left standing when I am through.
"Don't worry once I get a few painkillers I'll be good as new," Claes added brining a small smile to her face. Too bad they won't be some of the experimental ones I got to test once., those were nice.
Beatrice smiled in response trying to shoulder more of the load spotting the small store at the far end of the road. "Ok,"
The store was quite small maybe the size of a large classroom with shelves running almost to the ceiling. There appeared to be a small room in the back behind the counter but most of the storage appeared to be on the packed shelves full of a variety of foodstuffs and other items. Claes made a beeline for the limited over the counter medications the store offered while Beatrice loaded up premade frozen meals. Ugh, this tasteless crap has more crud in it than I care to know, but at least it's better than anything Henrietta and Rico can make. Beatrice shuddered at the memory of the chocolate chip and cotton candy cookies they made once. None of the girls would even touch them so the duo took them as part of their cover for reconnaissance against a possible Padania hideout offering free samples under the guise as students selling them for school. Their ploy worked until the entire cell stumbled out after them begging for the antidote. Jean was very happy with their results but Lorenzo banned the duo from cooking ever again screaming about possible violations of the Geneva Convention.
Tylenol, Advil, Aleve, dam it, all the good stuff is prescription. Having reached her limit Claes torn the top off a bottle of Tylenol swallowing a handful of pills before repeating the process with a large bottle of Advil desperate for what little relief the medications would provide. Not one of her smartest moves but she was banking on the fact that each drug had different active ingredients, and the fact that her hybrid liver would more than likely breakdown the overdose before it do any real damage. Claes slumped to the floor waiting for the medications to take as she began forming a mental list of the medicals supplies she would need for Triela. Cloth tape, gauze, iodine, more painkillers, gloves.
"Excuse me, are you alright," an older woman's voice called out in german.
A startled Claes looked surprised to find an older woman looking down at her examining her haggard appearance. Her cargo pants were riddled with caked in mud stains, while her dark turtleneck had seen better days still caked with Triela's blood. I must make quite the sight. "I'm fine thanks," Claes replied slowly pulling herself off the ground sighing in relief as the painkillers kicked in.
"Did you walk here, I can give you a ride if you'd like?" the woman asked.
"No, thank you. I'll be just fine,' Claes answered her German a bit rusty gathering an armful of medical supplies.
"Alright just be careful," the woman replied watching another young girl join Claes with a massive stack of frozen dinners. What an odd pair.
"The usual Hilda," the elderly woman running the counter called out as the woman slowly rang up the large pile goods arrayed on the counter.
"Yes, but take your time there is no rush," Hilda replied content to let what appeared to be two runaways purchase their food in peace.
"What brings you up here so early? You typically don't wander in until just before the holidays."
"Victor, called and asked if we still had the vacation home, seems he might be bringing some friends by to visit so I wanted to make sure the house was ready for them." Hilda replied as Claes's head whipped around while Beatrice body went stiff as a board.
Dam it, Triela, what did your idiot of a handler do! Claes struggled to remain calm as she slowly began evaluating the woman resting reassuring hand on Beatrice's shoulder. Hilda stood taller than average for a German woman at 5"10" and looked to be 150 pounds and carried it well seeing the way her chest strained against the light green dress shirt she was wearing. What confused Claes however was the fact that this woman looked too old to be his sister but far too young to be his mother. Hillshires mother at best should be in her mid fifties and this woman looked barely a day over 40 despite her bright silver hair. Shit we can't move again not now. What the hell am I supposed to do now?
Hilda's soft voice brought Claes of her internal musing. "Is everything alright miss?" Hilda asked moving closer to the shocked girl.
"I'm fine, thank you. Come on Beatrice," Claes said grabbing their bags and quickly exiting the store Beatrice hot on her heels.
"Do you know those two," the store owner asked surprised by their sudden exit.
"Never saw them before," Hilda replied.
"Well the dark haired one seemed to know you," the owner replied. "She went stiff as a board when you mentioned Victor."
"I know, but Victor has been down in Italy for the last five years," Hilda sighed.
"Either way could you run out and give this to them, they left their change behind," the owner asked handing over a large bunch of euros.
"No problem, just have my order delivered to the house," Hilda replied heading after the young girls.
What the hell. Where did they go? Hilda walked to her car dumb founded the pair just seemed to vanish into thin air as she looked down the deserted road running past the small store. Well than can't have gotten too far. What the hell? She was caught completely off guard as she was roughly thrown to the ground her arms held tight behind her as the cold metal of a gun was pressed against her head.
"Who the hell are you," Claes growled easily hold Hilda against the cold hard ground.
"Hilda Hartman, and who might you be," Hilda replied shocked by the actions of the pair of grungy but still normal looking girls.
"I'm asking the questions here. What is your relationship to former Europol police officer Victor Hartman?" Claes asked tightening her grip on the woman beneath her.
"I'm his mother, and the two of you must have something to do with that mess in Italy right now." Hilda replied.
What the hell. Claes fell back in shock at the unexpected revelation as Beatrice's Micro Uzi clattered to the ground.
Hilda slowly stood up trying to wipe the dirt off her clothes. "I'll take that as a yes then. So what exactly has my wayward son gotten into and you wouldn't happen to know a girl by the name of Aisha. She has dark skin, and long blond hair and would be a couple years older than you now. My son took her to Italy for medical treatment before he disappeared." Hilda explain to the stunned girls.
Beatrice was the first to break the silence. "We attacked Triela's grandma she is never going let me have fun ever again."
"That's if she doesn't kill us first, and you know she knows how to hold a grudge," Claes added.
"I don't know this Triela but I'm sure she will understand now why don't get going," Hilda said. Too stunned to speak the girls followed along entering Hilda's sleek sedan BMW 335xi sedan wonder how the other girls would react.
Authors note- Things should get interesting when Triela meets her grandmother and just how badly will she punish Claes and Beatrice. Plus how will the long awaited family reunion play out.