From the writer:

My new friends from France and South Africa, Singapore and Vietnam, thank you for your support. That goes for everyone that has found the time to read this or part of this story.

Now!

Let's get right into this chapter.

Chapter 47

Not a good day for men

The meeting at Ben and Ryn's home brought all the players of this undersea saga standing around the dinner table.

"This is a layout of the beach area." Xander spreads the three by three foot map on the tabletop. "Now, even if that guy Torello isn't involved, whoever it is, is a human."

"Yes," Ryn nods. "That's why she wants the stem cells."
"She didn't invite me." Xander says after taking a sigh of relief. "So me, Cal and Chris will cover the path to the beach. It's impossible to walk through that mess of bushes and whatever. They or he or her must come by that path."

Cal picks up one of the shotguns.

"You guys will use these Remington 870s." Xander explains. "You used similar firearms before, just these are Police property." He takes the shotgun back from Cal, "so be careful."

"Ryn, when is she supposed to call?" Ted asks. His growing anxiety has caused a nervous tick. His teeth are constantly rubbing themselves over a flaking lip.

"Dad, you have to be in control. We need you to stay calm." Ben explains.

Elaine holds his hand, the squeeze brings a measured smile to her husband's face.

"Ted, you are right about Hope. She is our granddaughter." Elaine, the stem cell champion of vim, vigor and strength breaks down in tears.

"Xander, you have to get her back." She pushes through quivering lips.

Ryn moves around the table and embraces the trembling woman.

"No, you need not worry. My daughter, your granddaughter will be back." Ryn looks at her. "And I will kill Tia for sure, this time."
"Hey, Xan," calls Chris. "I thought this house had that no-bugging stuff in it?" He stands at the window peering through the white drape.
"It's the Navy." Yells Cal.

"How did they know, they'll ruin everything," shouts Ted.

"It's Maddie and…" Helen becomes mute at the sight.

Before they hear a knock on the door, Ben opens it ready to blast one or both of the two women before him.

"How could you tell them?" His stern expression underlines the question.

"Shut up and get in that jeep. She didn't tell me anything." Nicole holds Maddie's hand.

"Hope is alive cause of her." Nicole turns after her statement and orders Chief Hawkins to set up a perimeter around the house.

Ben is speechless while Ryn leaps to Maddie, the two close friends talk between tears.

"You are love. You are my sister. You will always be with us." Ryn looks at the attaché case with the stem cells. "Always…"

"Ryn, I love you. Joe…Agent Torello helped us. I'll explain."

Ben puts his arm around Maddie.

"Ryn is right. She is my Queen and she will be yours soon." He adds.

The three of them walk to the jeep. Nicole is talking to Xander, her expression is not a pleasant one.

"Not you, Maddie." She barks. "Ryn, Ben I need to talk to her."

The young woman walks back into the house passing Xander and Nicole. The camouflaged female officer whispers to Xander.

"I'll talk to you later."

The little cabin in the woods

A high pitched scream emitting from the structure sends a flock of rousting Rofous hummingbirds fleeing to the sky. The chubby little fowls with their long, straight and slender beaks block out a large gray cloud hovering overhead. Another screech breaks the back and two front windows. Warped timber crackles weakening the foundation of the already decrepit hovel.

Storming out the front door, Tia in all her rage hollers to the sky.

"He will pay for this. He will pay." She tosses one of the four foot long chains used to bind Hope at a Mountain Hemlock. The force of the throw causes the chain to wrap itself around the thin trunk of the tree. Her eyes widen as she visualizes her hands doing the exact same thing to her disobedient lover.

"A scent of a woman. Not the brat. I scent another woman here." Her voice still remains boisterous.

"If it is the whore I saw at the Inn. Oh, what was her name? Maddie?" Her grin shows a set of pearl white teeth pressed against themselves.

"I will only torture him. Brutally! But you, human slut."
Tia's laugh is reminiscent of the witch in the Wizard of Oz. Her beige blond hair twirls about the air as she calls to the heavens.

"Him, I will beat her memory from him. But you, my little Maddie."

Her breath expands the body covered by her tight short blue jean jacket.

"I will kill you! Kill you…slow."

Re-entering the cabin, Tia picks up her cell phone. It is among the other contents of the shoulder bag scattered about the floor. A casualty of the rant by this crazed woman.

She stands straight and begins to compose herself as she waits for the call to be answered. She uses one hand to pull her shoulder length hair into a more manageable position. Then, she hears a familiar voice.

"Tia." Ryn answers.

"Bitch, you have your daughter. Congratulations, but nothing has changed." She smiles as Ryn responds.

"What do you want?" Ryn puts it on speaker for Ben.

His parents see the couple upon their arrival at the hospital. They rush to them.

"One of us most die. You know that. I am coming to Bristol Cove. If you are a real Queen, you will settle this without the help of the humans. Even that freak you have turned into your submissive consort must not be there."

Elaine's head twitches after hearing the description of her son. Ted remains expressionless except for an open mouth.

Tia disconnects the call and walks in a calm stroll to her rented vehicle.

"My darling Joe, Wait till I find you?" Her nose flairs over a round of loud, heavy breaths.

"You will learn to obey my commands."

Author's notes to the reader:

Yikes! Wouldn't want to be in Agent Torello's shoes now.