Hi: Things are getting a little sinister in this small fishing community.
Chapter 74
The enemy of my enemy is my friend
After a short visit to Ben's hospital bed, Maddie and Xander excused themselves from a tense and impatient Ryn. Feigning worry over exhausting the recovering patient, they speeded to the seafront diner to speak.
"Maddie, she seems unhinged as it is. Imagine if we told her about what we know."
"I know Xan. Ben's getting stronger, but even our short conversations with him cause him to be fatigued." She takes a breath as Ben's condition and the unexpected visits of Tia have sapped her strength.
"I know," He agrees as he leans toward the transmitter and receiver attached to his breast pocket. "Excuse me, Mad. It's Annie."
He continues, "I know. I'm with Maddie now." His colleague has not recovered from Elaine Pownall's unsettling talk. She asks to meet him later on in the day.
"Annie is flipping out." Xander takes a breath.
"I don't blame her Xan, she just found out about…" Maddie stretches her sparse eyebrows upwards. "This underwater realm." She exhales a breath, her expression is one of disgust. "Sometimes I lay in bed thinking I've imagined the whole thing."
"Well, this is real." Xander expresses his opinion through a stern expression.
"Mrs. Pownall sounds," he leans back on the vinyl lined booth. "Maddie, what she is talking about…I mean Ryn has to be…" He licks his full lips. The bull of a man is unable to continue.
Maddie finishes for his statement.
"Killed." The whisper shoots through Xander's hearing as if an arrow piercing his ear.
All he could do is flash a blank stare to Maddie.
The Pownall Residence
Elaine Pownall with a stern tone had told her husband to have a visit with Ben. She sensed that his submissive demeanor toward her general demands come into question concerning this apparent coup, and anything that might harm Ryn or Hope. Ted is not a fool. His wife's wishes cannot be fulfilled without bloodshed.
The confident woman sits across from an important visitor.
"Mrs. Pownall, the male called Brother was sent to you to ask for this meeting."
"Cami, I'm ready for our little talk." Elaine slowly inhales as a smile covers her expression. "Or should I say, Queen Cami."
With the words, a silent Brother stands in the corner of the dining room his head bowed.
"I know you say you support me, but why?" Cami asks.
"As months, sometimes weeks or days go by I feel more and more that I am one of you. The treatment is no longer needed." Elaine's expression is joyful. Her eyes twinkle from the dining room's chandelier, as a flush of excitement covers her skin. "I went by myself to the secret little beach used by your people." The woman's smile is so broad it seems to stifle her ability to speak. However, nothing will stop her final admission.
"I stripped my clothes off and dived into the surf." Elaine reaches for Cami's hand. "I transformed. My Queen…I transformed."
Sitting in his bedroom, Ted Pownall is stunned. A headset connected to a small receiving device drops to the bedspread.
Elaine thinks he is at the hospital. If she discovers the deception, he will explain fatigue. A condition which causes Elaine to laugh and poke fun at this human wreck.
However, this little ruse has caused him to discover more that he intended.
"She's lost her mind. Oh, Elaine?" His eyes appear ready to flood with sorrow. "You aren't thinking straight."
Downstairs in the brightly lit dining room, an oblivious Mrs. Pownall continues with her apparent secretive exploits under the surface.
Cami's eyes move to a stern faced Brother. This contact means his queen needs to speak to him.
"I have worked out everything. My son will never know we are involved." Elaine's tone ebbs back into a controlled state. "I will supply an assassin. An assassin. Do you know what I mean?" She asks a bewildered Cami.
"A hired killer. He will kill her at a particular time and place." The young woman sits in silence. Nodding her head sends long black strands of hair to the front of her confused expression. "It will look like the bastard that tried to kill my sone came back to kill her. Like maybe she was the original target."
Elaine's hand gestures increase Cami's mystified state of mind.
This woman is dangerous. Why did she involve me and my people?
As Mrs. Pownall continues with the plan, the younger woman contemplates the situation.
She sounds like she wants to…
Cami needs to inhale before completing her thought.
She sounds like she wants to be…a member of my tribe. I don't understand.
Brother stretches his neck catching her attention. Elaine's proposal has him thinking.
Cami is too stupid to realize what she is talking about. This woman, this strong rich powerful woman wants to be leader of both worlds…above and below the sea.
He nods to his queen agreeing that they must talk.
She will get rid of Ryn for us. The surface people know about such things. She might even have the Navy people helping her when she declares herself Queen.
Upstairs, Ted continues to listen. His mouth has been open for some time. He is glad this insane and criminal discussion taking place in his home is heard by him and no one else.
Something he should not take for granted.
Naval Facility located outside Bristol Cove.
"Ma'am, all of the intercept is singular. I arranged that it will not be transmitted to NSA." The young Ensign whispers to Nicole Martinez.
"No recordings either. Like I said when you informed me of the first discussion…you only speak to me or Chief Hawkins.
It did not take long for this electronic genius to hack into the software protecting the Pownall home.
"Griffin," her voice is raised. There is no need to speak in a lower tone. When Ensign Griffin receives information from the once impossible to tap Pownall home, he gives his staff in the communication's room a short break.
"Keep me posted, Ensign. I told you, your promotion has already been put on the fast track.
The young African-American graduate of The Rochester Institute of Technology had spent at least a month trying to break the Pownall anti-bugging system after others had failed.
Looking at his commanding officer as she leaves the Com. Room, Charles Griffin takes time to ponder this state of affairs.
Yes, Ma'am. You forget, I heard about that bundle of clean money spread over Europe. Hawkins isn't your only partner.
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GJ
