Chapter Eight

I stared out at the doors that the teenager just went through. My head was spinning with information. I knew that he spoke the truth it was in his eyes. So now, I knew what was going on, and what I had to do. However, the fact that the two people that I've spent so much time and energy chasing down were actually right under my nose. So now I had to plan some form of action to retrieve them but.

"Cheryl? Cheryl!" I heard Mike calling.

"What? What's up?" I asked looking around. The others laughed lightly.

"Look we know you want to get out there and capture the two but we have other things to attend to." Amanda reminded me.

"I know, but it's just so weird. I have looked in Asia, Africa, and even South America for the two. Yet I never thought they would be this close to me, in Flute territory at that...on that same note, where's Emily?"

"She went home after delivering some information to me."

"But we still need to handle this Soprano Clan. Lets head back to the palace and see what we can find out." Suggested Mike.

We all agreed and made our way outside. It was there I started to get this feeling that we were being watched. I stopped and glanced around for something, anything, out of the ordinary.

"Hey, you okay?" Asked Katie as she rested her hand on my shoulder.

"Don't act suspicious or anything but I think we're being watched." I whispered barley moving my lips or looking at her.

"I'll get Amanda and Mike to the limo right away." She said before making her way over to them.

I watched as she brushed past the two and explained what was the matter. They then made their way a little faster to the limo. I stayed in my spot and looked around. My hand went to rest on my revolver before I realized that I was still wearing my judge's cloak. I mentally cursed myself for being so careless. If I were to be attacked then I would be defend less. I then saw what I wanted. It was a glitch of light on one of the nearby buildings. I saw a cloaked figured with a sniper up there. The sniper was aimed the three leaders. I took off in a run towards them. I was in better shape than I was when I still went to school.

"Hit the deck!" I yelled grabbing onto Amanda and dragging her to the ground.

Corey and Andy did the same to Mike, Maria, and the girls ducked.

Then a moment later there was a sound of breaking glass as a bullet went through the window of the limo. Glass went everywhere covering us.

"Get into the car! Quickly!" I shouted, pushing Amanda towards there.

The others scrambled to the limo and jumped in. I closed the door just as another shot went by. The driver, in so much fear that he probably wet himself, sped away from the courthouse. All of us were ducking and I was already on the phone to Cat.

"Cat we have a code red here, I repeat a code red." I said calmly, despite all that was happening.

"Roger that Cheryl." Cat's voice boomed out of the cell phone. "Anyone hurt?"

I took a moment to look at the others.

"No everyone's fine. I want you to send some men here. I want some evidence."

"All right. Get your self to a safe place right away." She said before hanging up.

"Driver!" Snapped Mike. "Get us out of here!"

The driver did not have to be told twice as the car went faster. I turned my head to look out the broken window as the car sped away. Things were happening too fast lately. I have to capture the remaining Trumpeters and now deal with this Soprano Clan. What are they after exactly? Is it the world's highest leaders like most people, or is it worse? Am I the only one that they want? Moreover, if that is the case, why? I shivered at the thought. I need to figure out things before they get out of hand. I closed my eyes. Life use to be so easy sometimes.

I was standing in the front of the room. The others were watching me closely. I could feel it, but I was not looking. Instead, my head was down and my hands were rested on the table. I was in deep thought.

"I think the attacker was a Soprano Clan member." I started saying.

"What are they after? Amanda?" Andy asked.

"No.I don't think so..."

"Then who? The other leaders?"

"Cheryl, do you still believe in your thoughts from earlier?" Katie asked quietly.

I did not answer her right away. I took a slow breath in and let it out in a low sigh.

"I don't think this group has any desire to hurt those three." I said waving to Mike, Amanda, and Maria.

"Then who?"

I looked up and started seriously at them.

"The only person who has any power over the law."

They did not say anything. Actually, I was not expecting an answer for it. We had a very new problem to handle. This is the first time that I was in danger...

"What do we do?" Whispered Stephanie.

"Only thing we can at times like these."

"Scream like a little girl and hide?" Asked Andy.

The room got quiet as we stared at the General. He was trying to balance a pen on his nose. When he noticed we were shearing he stopped and stared back.

"What" He asked confused, putting the pen on the table.

"Andy you truly are a dork." I said shaking my head.

Katie and Stephanie laughed at that. He glared at us and looked away.

"No Andy that's what you do." Mike said laughing.

"But seriously what should we do?" Asked Amanda.

"Well we still don't know much of this group." I started looking around. "Since we practically know where the Trumpeters are, lets deal with this new group. Katie, Stephanie, I want you two to find all information you can about the Soprano Clan. There has to be something.

"All right. They said nodding their heads.

"Lauren and I will discuss our plan with the Trumpeters. Everyone else should rest."

They all agreed and stood up to leave. I watched as the last person left the room and sighed.

"Remember the good old days when we weren't in danger, and the only thing we cared about was surviving the next winter guard practice or getting a boyfriend?" Asked Lauren from her spot.

I laughed and nodded my head. "Yeah, life stopped being normal when we first built the Clarinet Tower."

"Yeah, do you miss it?"

"No."

"Me neither."