Chapter 23: Confronting Claire

A heavy traffic jam formed half an hour from Royal Woods. It was an awkward situation for Lori. She hated traffic jams. Marie had her problems with it too.

"When are we there?" Marie asked inpatient.

"Soon Marie." Cynthia said annoyed.

"God I hate that." Lori said.

"Why didn't they say in the radio that this traffic was here?" Natasha asked.

"I don't know. Maybe because the radio is really quiet?" Lori said annoyed.

"Make it louder." Marie said.

Lori turned up the radio volume. Music was heard from the speakers.

"Let's just wait until they say something." Lori said.

The traffic jam continued slowly. Ten minutes later they noticed a lot of smoke coming from the woods.

"Dang that's a lot of smoke." Natasha said.

"Maybe the traffic is because of the smoke so bad." Marie said.

"Probably." Cynthia said.

At some point they saw the forest two kilometers away, which was ablaze with flames. When they got home an hour later and got out, they found themselves in the middle of a rain of ash.

"Jesus." Natasha said.

"Big fire?" Marie asked.

"Pretty big."

"Get in the house girls." Cynthia said.

Cynthia turned to Lori.

"You too Lara."

"Stop calling me that!" Lori said angry.

"What?"

"My name is Lori."

"I'm sorry that I can't remember your name. Duh."

The four entered the Stevensons' home. Mike sat on the couch in the living room and waited.

"Dad we are back." Natasha said.

Mike looked to Natasha, and saw Cynthia and Marie. Hey instantly frozen. After a few seconds of silence, Cynthia spoke.

"Yes. I'm actually here."

"Ahmmmmmmm." Mike Said, sounding like he had a stroke.

Lori sat next to Mike and held a hand on his back.

"Mike. Cynthia is Kira. Your wife… Natasha's mom is right in from of you."

Lori pointed to Marie.

"This is Marie. She is Natasha's sister… your daughter." Mike did more sounds no one understood.

"Don't overthink." Lori said.

"I think my heart just stopped."

"Stop joking!" Natasha said.

Cynthia went close to Natasha and whispered in her ear.

"He has a shock. Just don't be mad at him for that."

Marie sat next to Mike and leaned at him.

"If you have a heart attack, I call an ambulance."

Mike wrapped his left arm around Marie, shaking.

"I'm sorry... for acting like this..."

"You understand now?" Lori asked.

"Yes..."

Then Mike stood up. Mike and Cynthia walked to each other.

"It's good to see you again Kira." Mike said.

"It's been a long time. I'm sorry." Cynthia said.

Marie stood up and went to Natasha.

"I feel kinda happy."

"Because you feel happy."

"Maybe because your parents are reunited again." Lori whispered.

Mike and Kira hugged. Marie watched curiously.

"Are they married again?" Marie asked.

Cynthia slowly turned to Marie.

"I don't think it's that easy."

"We haven't seen each other in fifteen years." Mike said.

Natasha whispered into Marie's ear.

"Don't think that everything will be perfect."

"I want them to be married again!" Marie said stressed.

"Calm down." Lori said to Marie.

"I can't. My wish to have a real family just broke in a thousand pieces."

"Marie, I think you are tired. It's eight pm." Lori said.

"No I'm not!"

"Just go with Lori please." Natasha said.

"No! I don't leave until mom and dad are together again!"

Lori grabbed Marie by her arm. Marie didn't like this at all.

"Let me go! Don't touch me!"

Lori took Marie to Natasha's room, closed the door and let her go. Marie ran around in this room and looked at everything. Then she sat in a corner.

"I want to go back."

"No. It's time to sleep Marie." Marie shook her head.

"No." "Put your pajamas on Marie." Lori said.

"That's not possible."

"Why Marie?"

"My clothes are still in the car."

"Oh my… wait here. I get them."

Lori left the room and went to her car. Her car sat in the middle of falling ash. Lori took out the bag with Marie's clothes and went back to Natasha's room. She gave Marie the bag.

"Put on your pajamas."

"I don't know. Will you watch?"

"No." Lori said.

"Can you turn away please?" Marie asked.

"Yes."

Lori turned away from Marie. After two minutes, Lori felt Marie pull on her shoulder. Lori turned and saw Marie in her white pajamas with pink flowers.

"Do I look good?" Marie asked.

"Yes. Why?"

"I want to look good if I meet a potential boy who could become my boyfriend."

"You have no idea when this is gonna happen." Lori said.

"What do you mean? Do I need more makeup?"

"No. Actually, no make up. That's better."

"Why is no makeup better?"

"Well, Natasha never used make up. And she is beautiful. And you don't need it."

"Am I pretty without make up?" Marie asked unsure.

"Sure."

"Thanks for the information Lara."

Lori angrily grabbed Marie by her neck.

"My name is Lori!"

Marie got really afraid and started crying.

"I'm sorry. My mother called you so often Lara that I forgot your actual name."

Lori let Marie go. Marie ran to a corner of Natasha's room and sat in this corner. She scared looked at Loris shoes. Lori felt sorry for that.

"I'm sorry Marie."

"I accept your apology… I wanna sleep."

"Okay."

Lori went to Natasha's bed and lifted the blanket up. Marie went under it.

"Good night." Lori said and left the room.

Lori went into the living room. But nobody was there. She looked around and heard voices coming from the basement. Lori went downstairs and saw Natasha, Mike and Cynthia standing in front of the lab.

"You stored it safely? Are you sure?" Cynthia asked.

"Yes. We got storage systems with professional grade and military grade equipment." Mike said.

"I'm sure not on a legal way."

"We don't talk about this... Natasha said, kinda looking sick again.

"I wanna see the fuel rods and the core." Cynthia said.

Mike gestured to Cynthia that she could. The three donned surgical masks and gloves, and entered the lab. Lori donned the same gear and walked into the lab. Lori saw Cynthia peering into the open container directly on top of the core. Lori felt uncomfortable seeing that. "Uh. Don't touch the core." Lori said.

"Yeah. You're right Lara. We should close the container." Cynthia said.

Cynthia closed the container.

"Great. A plutonium core wich could wipe out whole Royal Woods in the basement of father and a daughter."

"We didn't have the idea that we end up with this here." Natasha said.

"Not to mention the neonazis." Lori whispered.

"What do you mean Lara?" Cynthia asked.

"Well… we… kinda got in contact with a gang that follows a right Extremist ideology…"

"Great. A white power gang. Do we all lift our right arm now?"

"No we don't." Natasha said.

"Can I go to bed now? I'm really tired and just want some sleep." Lori said.

"Sure. Just go." Mike said.

Lori left the lab and tossed the mask and gloves into a bin labeled hazardous waste. Lori went up the stairs and washed her hands in the bathroom. Lori walked in Natasha's bedroom.

"Hi Lori ."

"You are still awake Marie?" Lori asked.

"You left the room just five minutes ago."

"Right…"

"Why are you here again?"

"I'm tired and wanna sleep."

"Okay. Wanna sleep next to me?" Lori nodded.

Marie lifted the blanket and Lori layed Down. As Lori wanted to sleep, she noticed how Marie came close to her.

"What are you doing Marie?" Lori asked.

"That's my first Pajama Party." Marie said.

Lori closed her eyes without comment. But Marie had something else in mind.

"Do you have a boyfriend Lara? Sorry, Lori."

"Uhm yes… why do you ask?"

"Could you teach me to get one?"

"I don't know Marie."

"Please Lori. I don't want to be alone anymore."

"Okay. I help you. And Natasha."

"Thanks Lori."

Lori closed her eyes. Half asleep, she felt something. And she heard Natasha whisper.

"God. They stole my bed. And they lay together... god... Marie is my sister. Not cool Lori. I sleep on my couch. Good night girls."

After that, Lori didn't notice anything anymore. In the morning she was woken up involuntarily.

"Lori it's morning." Marie said and shook Lori.

"Let me sleep please." Lori said half asleep.

Marie shook Lori harder. Lori became pissed.

"Go to your sister!"

Lori turned away from Marie. Marie got up and went to Natasha. She woke her up using exactly the same method.

"Hmm… who? Hi Marie." Natasha said with a sleepy voice.

"It's morning. Wake up."

Natasha stood up.

"Are you hungry that you wake me up like this?" Natasha asked.

"I just want you to wake up at the right time." Marie said.

"We don't have something to do today to wake up. It's summer school break. We don't need to wake up that early."

"I wake up my mother everyday."

"She doesn't mind you to do that?"

"Negative."

"Okay… wanna breakfast?"

"Yes please."

Natasha and Marie went into the kitchen, and Natasha started frying scrambled eggs with bacon. When she was done, she gave Marie and herself a plate. They both began to eat.

"Hey Natasha."

"Hmm?"

"Lara said yesterday that she will help both of us to get a boyfriend."

Natasha wided her eyes.

"Wow. But two things, first, you got her name wrong again, second, I don't make hope for me."

Natasha took a bite of the scrambled eggs.

"Can I ask you something?"

"What exactly?" Marie asked.

"How have you been all this time?"

"What do you mean?" Marie asked confused.

"What have you done, how did you live until yesterday?" Marie considered."

"It's hard to say. I lived normal. I just wondered why my father died so young from a stroke."

"But he is alive."

"Yes. I know now that he is alive."

"Yes. But you didn't seem so happy about it." Natasha said.

"I am happy about it. But I don't know why my mother had to leave."

"It's a long story. But be sure, we are on the right side."

"Right side?"

"Yes. There are some guys who forced your mother to leave."

"Are we safe here?"

"Yes. But forget that. Tell me about yourself."

"What exactly?"

"What's your hobby?"

"I kinda like music. But I don't prefer a special type."

Lori entered the kitchen looking tired.

"Morning Lori." Natasha said.

"Shut up and let me wake up properly." Lori said.

"Mom says similar things." Marie said.

Lori sat at the table next to Natasha.

"Didn't you sleep well?" Natasha asked.

"Not at all. Your sister threw me out of the bed three times." Lori said.

"Come on Mary!" Natasha said angry.

"I don't know what she means." Marie said.

"Don't blame her. She did it while she was asleep." Lori said.

Natasha grumbled.

"It's the last time I sleep next to Marie." Lori said.

"Then I sleep next to Natasha tonight?" Marie asked.

"Your decision. I share the bed with Natasha."

"I share my bed with you. It's my bed." Natasha said.

"Never mind. Do you still have some breakfast?" Lori asked.

"Yeah. Take what's there." Natasha said and pointed to the pan.

As Lori began eating straight from the pan with a fork, Cynthia entered the kitchen. She was wearing a light blue business shirt and black pants. She looked freshly showered because her hair was wet.

"Good that you are awake Lara. Go take a shower and come to me. I need your help."

Lori grumbled angrily and walked into the bathroom with fresh clothes under her arms. 15 minutes later, freshly showered, Lori walked over to Cynthia.

"I'm here." Lori grumbled.

"Perfect. Get your car ready." Cynthia said.

"For what?"

"You see when we are there."

Lori made a silent sight, and went to Natasha and Marie.

"I gotta go." Lori said.

"Why?" Natasha asked.

"I don't know."

"Who will be with you. Only mom?" Marie asked.

"Your mother only." Lori went to her car, unlocked it and got in.

"Come on. Don't waste time Lara." Cynthia said.

"Stop calling me Lara!"

"You wasted time so I did it on purpose now."

"This is so goddamn annoying!" Lori said full of anger.

"Deal with it and start your car." Lori started the engine and drove off.

"Where do you want me to drive to?" Lori asked.

"I lead you."

Cynthia led Lori out of Royal Woods towards the woods. Lori felt uncomfortable. Though it wasn't the section of the forest that was burning. Cynthia led Lori down a path next to the forest. Ashes fell from the sky again.

"Here." said Cynthia.

Lori stopped next to a house at the edge of the forest. Next to the house were some men with chainsaws and a yellow and red tractor. Cynthia got out. Lori got out too. She followed Cynthia.

"What are we doing here?" Lori asked.

"I need a new gun." Cynthia said.

Lori facepalmed herself.

"Right. Here lives Hickok."

And exactly on Hickok the two went to. He cut down a tree to protect his house from the forest fire.

"Hello. I heard you sell some precise rifles. The friend of my daughter showed me how fun sports shooting is. I wanna buy a own one." Cynthia said.

"I see. What do you think of? I don't have much time I have to protect my house from the fire." Hickok said.

"Okay. I imagine something like an AK-47. But more precisely. And robust."

"I have an idea what you like. Wait a minute."

Hickok went into his house, and came back with a long and big assault rifle.

"Here. That's the STGW 57. The old Swiss assault rifle. Semi and fully automatic. Robust. And one of the most precise assault rifle of the world. I like American assault rifles. But I love this Swiss one. It uses the same ammunition like the Karabiner 31 I sold to the young lady there." Hickok said and pointed to Lori.

"The one with the wooden stock?" Cynthia asked.

"Yes." Hickok answered.

"Oh yes. Looked nice. But it's too old for me."

"I see. So you take the STGW 57?"

"Yes. How much?"

"900 dollars."

"Good price. I want some ammunition for me and her."

"Of course. Wait a second."

Hickok went into his house and came back with several boxes of the GP11.

"So. How much do you need?" Hickok asked.

"Give me 500 rounds." Cynthia said.

"Okay. That makes 1400 dollars."

"One dollar per round. Super offer."

Cynthia took out a wallet and gave Hickok 1400 dollars in cash.

"I appreciate that. Safety works with this lever. White S is the safe position. E means single shot. The M position doesn't work, they took the fully automatic function away when the Swiss army sold them."

"That's okay." Cynthia said, took the STGW 57 and checked the bolt.

No round was chambered. Cynthia said goodbye to Hickok and Lori walked to the car with 500 rounds of GP11 in her arms. As the two drove away, all they heard was the noise of chainsaws and the tractor. Cynthia began giving Lori instructions again. Lori drove to a far away part of the forest. Lori stopped at the forest. She got out, and sniffed the air.

"Oh yeah. Fresh air. No smoke."

Cynthia got out with her assault rifle.

"Wanna have fun Lori?"

"Finally you got my name right." Lori said.

"I'm glad I managed to remember it. It may happen again that I call you Lara, because I can't remember names." Cynthia answered.

"Are you that dumb?"

"That has nothing to do with dumb or smart. I just have problems with names. I called Mike almost a month long with the name Mitch."

"What Natasha already born there?"

"No. That was two years before her."

"I see. Why are we here?"

"We're gonna have some fun." Cynthia said and took out the magazine.

"Get some ammunition."

"Okay."

Lori said and got two boxes of the GP11. Cynthia loaded the magazine and put it back in the STGW 57.

"So. Let's aim at this tan there." Cynthia said and put the lever of the STGW 57 to position E.

Cynthia aimed at the tan, and shot. It was extremely loud. Louder then Loris K31. Lori's ears were hurting.

"Oh my gosh that's really loud." Lori said.

"Yeah. But that's something guns are."

Cynthia aimed again and shot.

"I like that one. Really nice." Cynthia said.

"Can I try it too?" Lori asked.

"Sure."

Cynthia gave Lori the STGW 57. Lori aimed at the tan and shot once. It was even louder than before. But the recoil was nice.

"It feels great."

Lori said. She shot again at the tan.

"Really nice. Here. Take it back." Lori said and gave the STGW 57 back to Cynthia.

Cynthia aimed at the tan and shot again. The tan showed some signs of destruction.

"It's a really nice rifle. I don't know why this man gave you some time ago and then me a Swiss gun, but I guess he knows what's best." Cynthia said.

"Before I got my K31, I thought the US is a gun country. What I actually disliked back then." Lori said.

Cynthia and Lori kept shooting until the magazine was empty. Then they got in Lori's car and drove towards Royal Woods. But then Loris phone rang.

"It's Mike. Take the call."

"Okay." Cynthia said and answered the call.

"Lori! Claire knows everything!" Mike said in panic.

"Okay… first, this is Cynthia here. Second, who is Claire? Third, what does she know?"

"She knows about the core and the fuel elements. She told me that I have twenty four hours to admit my crimes to the police or she does."

"Hmm… what's her address?"

"What? Why her address?"

"Because I will take care of her."

Claire walked around the neighborhood she lived in. She was angry and felt betrayed. With tears on her cheeks, she entered a side street that was never busy. But with screeching tires, a 1990s car pulled up next to her and nearly ran her over. Lori and Cynthia, holding the STGW 57 in their hands, got out. Lori approached Claire who was obviously in shock and scared. Lori went to Claire.

"Hi Claire. Sorry for almost running you over. But we had to reach you. Come in my car, and we will talk about everything."

"What is the gun for?" Claire asked scared. "We were on a shopping trip." Cynthia said.

"So, we didn't plan to go to you with a gun." Lori said calmly.

"Okay. But please don't kill me."

Claire and Cynthia climbed into the back seat. Cynthia quickly reached into Claire's pockets and picked up her phone. Lori drove to the Stevensons' house. Once there, Cynthia wrapped her STGW 57 in a jacket and the three of them went into the house. Where they heard strange conversations.

"The FBI wants to arrest us!" Marie said in total panic.

"What's going on there?" Lori said confused.

"Obvious. They prepared to leave." Cynthia said.

Lori, Cynthia and Claire behind Cynthia entered the living room.

"What's going on here?" Lori asked Natasha.

"Lori. Run away! To Mexico, or Brazil. Run away."

"Why?"

"Because Claire will tell everything."

"No she won't." Cynthia said, pointing to Claire behind her.

"Oh my god..." Natasha said surprised with wide eyes.

"We did whole work." Cynthia said full of pride.

"You kidnapped her…"

"No. We invited her for a talk." Cynthia said.

"You said that in a weird way." Lori said.

"No. We invited her."

"Nah. We definitely kidnapped her."

Cynthia facepalmed herself.

"When you do something illegal, you have to say it in a fancy way so it doesn't sound illegal."

"How, just how am I supposed to know that?" Lori said annoyed.

"Because you are a criminal."

"I... I understand." Lori said nervously.

"So. And now to the other." Cynthia said and grabbed Claire by the collar.

"So now Listen! How did you get the stupid idea to tell something to the FBI?!"

"Please don't hurt me." Claire said begging.

"Cynthia you should stop." Lori said.

Cynthia let her go.

"Okay. You are highly criminal. That's why." Claire said scared.

"Yes. And you shouldn't mess with us." Cynthia said.

"Yes it was. Other question, what's your relation to Mike?"

"She is my girlfriend." Mike said.

Cynthia looked at Mike, then at Cynthia. She was obviously overwhelmed by that.

"Well… although you're over 40 and she is… 20… I hope you are happy."

"I saw the girl. Wich looked like Natasha. And one thing came to another and I found what you're hiding."

"And why did you come here?"

"That's something I have to talk with Mike alone." Mike looked at Claire and the two went into his bedroom.

"She seemed to be worried." Natasha said.

"Normal behavior." Cynthia said.

"Why do you have a gun, Mom?" Marie asked.

"Reasons."

Mike closed the door and turned to Claire.

"Mike. I have to tell you something..." Claire said stressed.

"What is it?"

"Remember that night we got freaky?" Mike blushed.

"Yes…"

"Well, you said you pull out."

"Yes…"

"So… it happened…"

Mike widened his eyes and slowly sat on his bed.

"Of course in the worst moment."

"Mike. I need your help." Claire said, sitting down next to him.

Mike took Claire's hand.

"I promise you that I will help you forever."

"We have to tell Natasha."

"Yes we have to."

Mike and Claire walked back into the living room and joined the others.

"Guys. We have to tell you something..." Claire said.

"Claire is pregnant..." Mike said.

Everyone widened their eyes. And everyone knew how Natasha felt, because she was the first person who spoke.

"Fuuuuuuuuuuuuck!!!" Natasha yelled.

She turned away immediately and left the house.

"What's the problem?" Marie asked.

"It was too much for her." Mike said.

"I follow her." Lori said and left the house.

Lori ran onto the street and looked around. She was nowhere.

"Natasha?!"

Lori turned around and called in the opposite direction.

"Natasha!"

End of chapter