"Good morning, Angel. It's time for you to come back home."

And Melody's cup crashed on the floor as she recognized the voice of her father.

Chapter 2: Coming back?

Madison's head shot up as she heard the cup shattering on the floor. She was about to tease her sister when she saw her pale face and the shaking hand holding the phone. The young woman was instantly next to her sister.

Melody was having difficulties to process everything that was going on in her head. The same thoughts were going in circle in her mind:

But he's dead.

I was free.

It can't be.

I don't want to go back.

He's dead.

I'm free.

Jarod is in danger.

That last thought shook her out of her trance. She felt Madison's hand on her shoulder and the silent support of her sister gave her the strength she needed. And instinctively, Melody reverted to the Ice Queen.

"Daddy, how nice of you to call."

This time, it was Madison's turn to stiffen. And Melody turned to put one of her hand on her sister's shoulder. Both the sisters had plenty to tell to this man. And neither could tell anything right now.

"I was quite surprised to discover that you had run away when I came back. It wasn't very nice to let your brother alone to get Jarod back where he belongs."

Melody tightened her grip around the phone. How this man dared to talk to her as if she had been a naughty child? Madison, who was near enough to have heard everything, clenched her fists on her sides, her blue-green eyes turning steadily cold emerald under the violence of her emotions.

"Well, I thought I could take some vacation. Very long and overdue vacation."

Melody's tone couldn't have been more colder. But Mr Parker didn't seem to register.

"Well, the Center's jet will be in Los Angeles in about three hours. Welcome back to work."

With that, Mr Parker hung up. With a very slow move, Melody put the phone back as well. A soft chuckle made her look at her sister.

"Our dear 'father' doesn't know about Lyle's change of heart."

It was a statement and Melody, running the talking again in her mind, agreed with it.

"Yes. And it would be wise to keep things that way. If Debbie's right and my twin brother has effectively really taken an interest into answering some of the questions concerning his past and our mother, it is a very good thing indeed."

"And from what we've heard from Tyson, Jarod is helping him, as he was helping you. And even with the history between them, they seem to work pretty well together."

Slowly, Madison walked across the room to a cupboard. She opened it and retrieved a large wooden box from it. She undid the first of the two locks, then presented the box to her sister. Melody undid her own lock and opened the box. Inside were loads of papers. An innocent person would not have understood half of it: plans of far away places, written words using four different codes, names listed alongside a series of four numbers… What anyone would have understood was that those two had a well kept secret in there. As well as weapons…

Melody took hold of her Smith & Wesson. She had always loved the feeling of the cold steel in her hand. And she was still loving it. Madison let her fingers run lovingly over her Berretta, before taking it out of the box and pointing it straight at a vase on the other side of the living room.

"The plan has been laid long ago by Mum." Madison said calmly.

Melody looked deep into the now dark green eyes of her sister. And she saw through her: she was a predator waiting to strike and her apparent calm was nothing more than a very well fake one.

"All the savagery of the jungle." Melody said softly, her eyes still fixed on those of her sister.

"And all the coldness of the Antarctic." Madison replied, returning her sister's gaze.

The two smiled to one another and secured their gun in their holster. Then Madison ran upstairs to pack some clothes. Melody turned back toward the window, looking at the sun, now quite high in the sky. The Ice Queen was back. But the Center and all those who had stolen her life away would soon wish they had let her sleep, under the sun of California.

Melody took her mobile and pressed one of the three pre-set dial touches. On the other end, the phone rung two times before someone picked up.

"Yes?"

"Hi, Tyson."

"M... Uh... Hi Marty."

"You're not alone?" Melody chuckled slightly.

"Well, no, I'm not. But I'm still very happy to hear from you."

"Give the phone to Jarod."

"You actually want me to tell him that I knew where you were all along and never told him!"

"No, silly! I want you to tell that I want to meet him."

Tyson sighed slightly as his friend avoided answering his half-question, half-statement. Then, another thought came in his mind.

"You know about your father."

And this was a pure statement.

"Yeah, I've just received a phone call telling me to go back to Blue Cove immediately. And I can tell you that I'm not about to do that. So, what about talking to your brother?"

"Well, he's not here at the moment. And I don't have his mobile number. Neither does Dad, for that matter. Ethan, Lyle and him are up to something, but I honestly don't know what."

A slight pause from Tyson made Melody tense a bit. A voice began whispering in my ear.

"Ethan let slipped they were going to California."

"They know I'm here." Melody said softly. "Thanks, Tyson. If you hear from any of them, give them my number. And I hope you're going to like your Christmas present."

"You've sent one? What is it?"

"If I tell you, it won't be a surprise anymore. Talk to you later. Bye, Tyson."

"Bye, Miss Parker. And be careful."

"I will. Promise."

The both hung up and Melody turned round to see her sister throwing two bags on the floor from the top of the stairs, holding her mobile between her ear and her shoulder.

"Thanks, love... Yes, I will... Yes, she sill too... Be careful too, OK? Love you. Bye."

Seeing the question in her sister's eye, Madison walked don the stairs.

"A team from the Triumvirate is on its way here."

"Jarod, Ethan and Lyle are coming as well."

"This is not good. How come that everyone discover art the same time that we're hiding in Los Angeles and suddenly decide to pay us a visit?"

"I have no idea, Madie. And quite honestly, I don't want to stick around to discover. Mommy made the plan, we modify it to stick with the losses we've suffered. We're not quite ready for action, but it seems we don't have any choice anymore. Operation 'Death Angels' is under way."