Hello: Things may have become normal in our favorite small fishing town, but...is it the quiet before the storm?


Chapter 71

Minds come together

The previous night and tense morning in the hospital offered little sleep to the Pownall clan. Maddie may not have been an official member of the family but her night matched theirs. However there would be one difference.

Sleeping in Ben's old bedroom, offered by Mrs. Pownall, everything stimulated her emotions. A swimming trophy awarded long ago mixed with the lingering scent of a true love encased the young tossing woman till pure exhaustion sent her to sleep. Though this state did little to ease her mind.

"Bitch, I am here."

The familiar voice rocked the slender body sending a bedspread to the hardwood floor.

With eyes open, Maddie scanned the bedroom. Her dark eyes spread wide in hopes of seeing nothing.

Her hopes did not accommodate.

"Hello, please do not fret." Through a milk white haze, a figure stood in the far corner.

"Ahh…ahh…" Maddie's only response.

"I may want to rip your throat out…but you are carrying my lover's child." The floating figure glides toward the bed.

"Tia, you are not real." The shaken young woman's tone is soft and weak.

"You carry in you Joe's son." Tia's tone rises. "This is real!"
As if the sound of thunder, the apparition's cry sent Maddie slamming into the headboard.

"Listen well, you slut…whore." Tia's hazel eyes blaze "You are nothing but a tool to help continue my lover's bloodline."

From the floating mist the nude figure drifts over a trembling Maddie.

"Forgive my anger. I cannot hurt you, even if I wished."

"Why are you here?" Spoken as Maddie straightens her stature. "I am not afraid of you…my imagination or not." Shaking her loose curls, "all I or any of us care about is Ben. Ben!"

"That hybrid will recover."
Maddie inhales. She looks at Tia as the young woman runs her pearl white teeth over a trembling lower lip.
"I don't have much time." A gauze like material appears to wrap its way around Tia. "He will recover. And I know that hybrid mother of his will make sure you two raise that human baby together."

Showing an annoyed look, "a fortune awaits the mother of his son. It will be my gift to the slut…" A sinister smile arises on her face. "Excuse me again…let me rephrase that." A short giggle leaves Tia's lips. "It will be a gift to the woman chosen to bare his child."

"I don't need anything from you," Maddie lifts her face close to the floating form. "Money or otherwise."
A roar shoots from Tia's mouth, sending Maddie backward to the headboard.

"Listen to me…doctor." Tia's twisted face softens as it returns to normal.

"My dear Maddie, I choose you for that fortune cause you are not a greedy, evil

typical human."

The bedroom is filled with a deep sounding and pulsating round of giggles.

It pierces Maddie's hearing as she thrusts stretched palms to cover her ears.

In an instant, she finds the room quiet and vacant. The horrendous visitor has left

Maddie's expression sports eyes ready to explode with tears over a taut and stressed face. Her teeth bite into a lower lip.

"She's real." The whisper is low but powerful.

"Why can't I just be insane."

"Remember the day insects overran your country." One last message from the otherworldly figure.
The white sheet pulled to her face gives off a sense of safety and protection from her new reality. Gentle sobs can be heard behind the fragile barrier.

As the sheet drops, she speaks.

"At least let this maniac be right about Ben."


Naval Facility located outside Bristol Cove

Vanessa and her brother Eddie are seated in front of Lieutenant Commander Martinez's desk.

The redhaired woman speaks first. She sits in a desert camouflaged fatigue uniform. Her brother remains in an orange jump suit, but unbound.

"I know that the money is located in three European capitals." She takes a deep breath and focuses her vision on Nicole. "Some public place…I can't figure what that crazy woman did." Turning to her brother, "how do you hide millions in currency in a public place?"

"Maybe in banks?" He asks in a low tenor. The long hours of interrogation still remain in his mind.

"No," Vanessa answers. "It can't be. I mean she had no identification…really. You can have a fortune…but you have to prove something."

"Your sister is correct." Martinez nods. "We'll put some people on it. Get the CIA to do whatever the hell they do." Nicole pushes a button connected to her desktop. The door opens and two armed guards enter the room.

Both sister and brother freeze.

"Now, you'll accompany these men to your new quarters. You will have free reign for most of the facility."

"But Lieutenant Martinez…I mean Commander." Vanessa's nervous breathing has made it hard to talk.

"My dear girl," the naval officer smiles. "A deal is a deal. You have been cooperative. At this moment, a section of our government is figuring out where we will locate you." Nicole stands up. "You can have a fulfilling life. Just remember," she presents a stern expression. "Keep your mouth shut or you'll be taken to quarters you may not like."

Vanessa and her brother both nod before turning and following the two armed guards.

As the door to her office closes she takes out her cell phone.

"Chief Hawkins," the young woman licks her lips. "Yes, are you free?" She takes a seat on the side of her desk. Taking a moment to fix the camo top. She waits for the Chief to finish.

"Good, come to my office. We have to talk." A sly smile arises on her face. "Yes, we have to talk about that matter."

Martinez snorts a laugh as she remains on her desk waiting for the Chief.


Note to reader:

Tell me what you think or would like to happen.

Thanks for your interest...GJ

PS:

Welcome to my new Argentine reader.