Chapter 8
"So, Lexa, you'll be picking up the computer stuff from the three different suppliers. And we've got fake names and businesses to use for that."
Lexa nodded from the backseat of the rented Toyota 4Runner. "All I need is access to a computer so I can order them online – it'll be more plausible.
Brennan turned off the main highway onto a rural road that Jesse had indicated. They had been driving for over an hour. No one wanted to ask Jesse about the file that they had found in the printed documents, though they all wanted to know if he had meant for them to read the information, and how he felt about having to confront his family again. But given his recent behavior, they were a little anxious about talking to Jesse about it. So instead, they had limited their conversation to their plans for the new Sanctuary.
"Ok, you'll take care of that," Brennan vocally reviewed. "Shalimar will get the appliances from a local chain store, playing a dumb young housewife." He chuckled as he spoke, which earned him a growl and a stare from Shalimar, who was sitting in the backseat beside Lexa. When Brennan saw her reaction in the rearview mirror he raised his eyebrow and placed an addendum on his description: "who is beautiful and charming and exceptionally talented everywhere except the kitchen."
Shalimar sat back, momentarily appeased, but then decided to get her own jabs in. "And your job is to go to the steel depot and play big hulking construction worker who thinks with other parts of his anatomy besides his brain. Hmm, not much of a stretch."
"Ha, ha. Very funny." Brennan risked taking his eyes off the road to glance over at Jesse, who was leaning against the window, chin in hand. He hadn't even cracked a smile at the banter between himself and Shalimar, which normally had him laughing. "He bro, you doin' okay over there?"
Jesse looked away from the window. "Yeah. I'm fine." He gave a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "You guys'll take care the shopping and I'll take care of whatever equipment is already there."
Once again, silence fell over the group. Finally, Brennan decided it was time to break the tension.
"Hey, um, Jess man. When we were looking through that stuff you printed out we found a copy of Adam's personal file on you. We couldn't help but read it. Are you going to be okay with this? I mean, going back and seeing your family? 'Cause if you're not, then I'm sure we could find some other way into the cave.
"No, no. We don't have the time to find another way, even if there is one." Jesse glanced at and put down his copy of the file information, which he had dug out of the backpack that was resting between his feet. "Sorry, about that guys. I knew the file was linked, and I'd read it, but I forgot about it when I printed this stuff. I just dumped everything into a system file and told the computer to make 4 hard copies of it all." He stuffed the papers back into the pack. "I'll be fine. I know what to expect this time. Turn here."
Brennan followed Jesse's direction, thinking about what he just said. "Okay, then, bro. You don't mind us knowing about it all, though?"
"No, not really, I guess. I mean, I know all about your guys' past, I read Adam's files."
Lexa leaned forward against the back of Jesse's seat. "Oh, really? And just how did you manage that."
Jesse turned his head and blessed her with one of his 'I-gave-you-your-chance-but-only-because-you-wanted-it-because-I-know-somethig-you-don't-know' grins. "I cracked Adam's personal files months ago."
Lexa smacked him on the back of the head.
He shifted to face her. "Hey, hey. It was after Adam disappeared. It was when we were dealing with your implant. I was looking through everything. I was desperate."
Lexa looked him in the eye. "Really." Her voice was obviously trying for sarcastic, but instead contained a bit of disbelief mixed with wonder and hope.
Shalimar met Brennan's gaze through the rearview mirror, one eyebrow raised.
"Ahem." Lexa and Jesse looked over to Brennan. "That's real sweet and all, but we're here."
Jesse turned back around in his seat. He let out a breath, glanced at Brennan and Shalimar, who were sitting on his left. "Well, then. Here we go."
He stepped out of the car.
Inside the house, Josie Ives let the curtain fall back over the window. She had watched the vehicle approach after the security system had alerted her that a car had entered the drive. Furrowing her brow, she brought one fingernail to her lips, then immediately brought it back down again. Her latest resolution was to stop biting her fingernails, and she was doing well. Now wasn't the time to start.
Josie directed her thoughts back to the strangers in the drive. This was a very secluded house. Well, secluded mansion. She had been working here for nearly half a decade in the position of estate manager / housekeeper. The address was so remote that strangers never came. In fact, the only people who ever came were invited and placed on a schedule that she knew about. Whoever they were, the homeowners were definitely not expecting them. She moved over to the intercom system located on a nearby wall and pressed a button.
"Yes, Josie?"
Depressing a second button, Josie spoke into the microphone. "Sorry to bother you while you're working, but a strange car is pulling into the drive. Are we expecting anyone?"
"No. Hmm. See if you can figure out why they're here, but don't let them in. I'll be down shortly." The voice on the other end of the line ended the connection.
Josie nodded and moved back to the window. Frowning, she pulled the curtain back again, this time to watch the strangers exit their vehicle.
The first one to step out was a young man in the passenger seat. As he straightened, she could see that, beneath the loose fitting jeans, tight t-shirt and fitted suede jacket his body was lean and trim. She couldn't see the color of his eyes, but his dirty blonde- almost brown hair was neatly combed and had obviously been recently cut short in the simple style of a young businessman. There was something familiar about him. Perhaps he had been here before.
She looked at the others that had stepped out after him. There was another man and two women. All of them were fit and fairly young, no more than 30, she guessed. The second man was taller than the first by several inches and had dark neatly trimmed hair. He was dressed much like the other man, except he was wearing a black leather jacket and blue jeans.
Of the two women the one on the near side was of average height with long dark hair pulled back into a ponytail, making her face look youthful, though a touch of battle-weariness was still evident on her face. She, too wore blue jeans and a short t-shirt, but it seemed as if she were uncomfortable in her clothes. Maybe she was used to wearing skirts.
The second woman was a petite blond. She had drawn her hair up on the sides with small clips. The way she carried herself, combined with her khaki-colored cargo pants and midriff-baring shirt, make Josie think that she looked like a marine's younger sister.
She watched as the blond woman reached out to place an arm around the taller man's waist. She could see the four of them speaking in hushed tones. She wondered what they were saying, but didn't have to wait long as they soon reached the door and rang the doorbell.
"Jeez, Jess. This place is huge. Did you ever live here when you were a kid?"
"Not much. I don't think I ever stayed longer than a month. It was usually when I was between schools or research facilities. It was a nice quiet place away from the public where no would be around if my powers started acting up."
"The security cameras I saw in the trees certainly help keep people away. But I don't think many people come around here. I can only smell the lingering scents of a few people. In fact, one of them is on the other side of the front door waiting for us."
"Well let's not keep them waiting." Lexa reached out and rang the doorbell.
After a few moments, probably so they would think she had come from a distance, a middle-aged woman of indiscriminate features opened the door. Her shoulder length auburn hair was draped artfully around her face. Her features held the look of someone who was pleasant, but could be tough as nails when necessary. "Hello. May I help you?"
"Yeah, um…well." Jesse laughed at himself. He actually hadn't thought of what he would say if someone he didn't know answered the door. He should have, though. There had always been some member of the household staff to answer the door.
The woman in the doorway arched an eyebrow, awaiting an explanation.
Jesse cleared his throat. "Well, you see, I, uh, I used to live here."
The woman's eyebrow arched even higher. However, Jesse was saved from further explanation when a voice emanated from inside.
"Josie? Who is it?"
The five people gathered at the door all glanced inside to see a striking young woman descend the stairs. The way she walked simply screamed elegance and wealth, as did the tan cotton capris and knit sleeveless top she wore. A small movement of her head sent her blond bangs out of her eyes to rest on her long hair, which had been pulled back by a tortoise-shell clip.
"Oh, God." Attention was brought back to Jesse as the words escaped his lips.
"What's wrong?" Lexa tentatively placed a hand on his arm.
Jesse didn't answer, but continued to stare at the woman, who looked to be in her early twenties, as she approached the door. When she finally got a good look at the strangers, she stood still for a moment, but then her eyes widened and she gasped.
"Oh! Jesse!" she cried, one hand covering her mouth, the other reaching out to touch his face.
The moment her hand made contact with his face Jesse suddenly reached out and embraced her. "Katie. Oh, Katie, I've missed you."
Standing in the doorway Lexa, Shalimar and Brennan looked, surprise etching each of their faces. They were all thinking the same thing.
Who was this woman?