Sunday, January 1st, 2017
Later that day
Safehouse F
"Hey, Abigail – I'm spending the night!"
Abigail's grin vanished at Lauren's comment. Abigail looked horrified and she looked around, seeking out urgent assistance. Her eyes caught sight of Mindy standing with Stephanie and Anne-Marie over by the barricade. The eleven-year-old almost sprinted across the safehouse before skidding to a halt in front of Mindy just as Jamie and Danny appeared.
"Problem, Abigail?" Mindy asked as the youngster smiled briefly.
"It's Lauren – she's coming to stay."
"So, what?" Mindy replied.
"She and Brad will be 'at it'," Abigail said, using air quotes, "all sodding night – Oh, Brad! Oh, Lauren! Ooooh! Oooh! Faster, Brad! Faster Brad!"
Mindy laughed although Stephanie was cringing.
"I do not sound like that!" Lauren yelled out across the safehouse.
"You ever heard yourself being boned, Lauren?" Abigail retorted.
Lauren's face went very red as Rachel Murphy simply nodded at her son's girlfriend. Brad too was blushing furiously as his Dad chuckled.
"Please, Mindy, can I come and stay," Abigail begged. "Pleeeease!"
Mindy looked over at Rachel who simply nodded.
"Okay, Abigail," Mindy laughed.
"Thank you – you're a lifesaver!" Abigail grinned.
"I see nothing but pain coming out of this," Jamie offered sagely.
"Tell me about it," Anne-Marie added as she went to hide behind Dave who had just descended from the upper level.
"After all we've been through, Jamie-boy," Abigail grinned. "Why would I ever want to hurt you?"
"Because you're a girl and you're evil," Jamie grinned.
"True and true," Abigail acknowledged.
"He's quick, huh?" Stephanie grinned. "There are days I see you as completely nuts, Abigail . . . but that would be seriously hypocritical of me."
"Steph, you spend hours talking to Horatio and Razor," Danny pointed out. "You're wacko!"
"They like listening to me," Stephanie replied defensively.
"Yeah, right!" Anne-Marie retorted. "Razor falls asleep after thirty-five seconds."
"Horatio listens to me," Stephanie pointed out.
"To him, your droning must sound like purring," Anne-Marie challenged.
"We're going to have such fun, tonight," Stephanie growled as Anne-Marie squealed and went to hide behind Dave again.
"Save me, Dad!"
"Leave me out of it, sport," Dave chuckled. "Don't let them get at you – fight back."
"Tonight is going to be such fun," Abigail grinned.
That afternoon
West Columbia
Megan was helping her mother in the kitchen.
No, that was not a typo, Megan was actually in the kitchen and being helpful. It had surprised the hell out of Paige and Marcus had almost fainted with the shock of seeing Megan being helpful. Curtis was nowhere to be seen as he was out walking Piper. Marcus was so astounded that he had vanished to go sit and watch the game on TV.
"You are being safe, aren't you, Megan?" Paige asked her daughter.
"Huh?" Megan replied, caught off guard by the probing question.
"You and Curtis are having sex, yes?"
"What . . .? How . . .? No . . .? Yes . . .? Maybe . . .? How . . .?" Megan stammered.
Paige chuckled. She had caught her daughter out.
"Megan, you're my daughter – and I'm not stupid."
"Does Marcus know?"
"Curtis would have been long dead, if he did."
"Oh."
"I just want to make sure that you're taking the right precautions, sweetie. I assume you're using condoms?"
Megan felt her cheeks blushing bright red.
"Yes, Mom."
"Maybe, we should have you fitted with an IUD or an implant of some sort and put you on the pill – that's what I use as I can't use other methods – or maybe some other form of contraception."
"I do love him, you know," Megan stated.
"I know you do. I just want you to be safe. Do you want to be pregnant before you're even thirteen?"
Megan shook her head emphatically.
"I won't, Mommy . . . I'm sorry if I've let you down."
"You haven't let me down, Megan. You've been through hell ever since Dad died and this new life has made such a difference to the both of us. You found Curtis and I found Marcus. I trust you, sweetie, and I trust Curtis. However, you get yourself pregnant, then I cannot vouch for your health or that of Curtis, once Marcus and Mindy find out."
"Good point," Megan conceded. "I'll probably go for an implant thingy, I suppose. We only do it on Wednesday night and on Saturday night – we're not like Brad and Lauren."
"Glad to hear it."
"What about Marcus?"
"I'll tell him when the time is right – okay? I'll speak with Jen and get you booked in for a physical."
"Great!" Megan grinned.
That evening
Glenview
Abigail was busy annoying Jamie, so Stephanie went off in search of Mindy to ask an important question – she found her in the kitchen.
"Mindy?"
"Stephanie."
"Got a minute?"
"Always, Steph. What's on your mind?"
"It's been a while since my run in with Willow, and I need to decide what I'm doing with my hair. Should I grow it, or leave it as is? I'm stuck."
Mindy considered that as she sat down at the kitchen table waving Stephanie to do the same. It was a question which Mindy had been expecting to hear, eventually.
"That is up to you, Steph. You look good with short hair – more grown up, I think – but, you also look good with long hair."
"I know – I spent almost an hour staring into my mirror the other night . . . until my adorable little sister said I might crack it . . . while I tried to decide. Well, it's growing, so I needed to decide if to get it cut or just to leave it."
"It's a decision you need to make, honey – you're going to be eleven in a few months."
"I know – scary, right?"
Mindy laughed.
"You've got long hair and I want to be like you."
Mindy almost dropped the plates she was holding.
"What does Tommy think?"
Stephanie's cheeks turned pink and the youngster studied the kitchen floor as she responded.
"He likes me no matter what I do with my hair – you see my problem?"
"Yeah," Mindy replied. "None of us are helping – sorry."
"She looks like a boy," Anne-Marie commented as she entered the kitchen. "If it weren't for those pitiful mounds on her chest that she calls boobs, then she would be a boy."
"Please, can I hurt her?" Stephanie begged. "A sprained wrist . . . a dislocated shoulder – nothing lasting – maybe a broken neck?"
Mindy laughed as Anne-Marie looked horrified. However, Anne-Marie's potential demise was thwarted by Jamie's yell as the boy thundered down the stairs and sprawled across the floor into the kitchen. Abigail was inches behind, and she dropped to her knees, wrapping an arm around the boy's neck.
"Abigail!" Mindy called out.
"Yes."
"Please release your boyfriend for a moment. . ." Mindy continued.
"My what!?" Abigail exclaimed as she released Jamie.
Stephanie grinned at her friend's appalled look.
"We know you fancy Jamie," Stephanie teased.
Abigail did not bother to fight it.
"He's nice," she admitted.
"She's a bitch!" Jamie grinned.
"Fucking Predators!" Mindy exclaimed.
After dinner
"It was only fair . . . I suppose."
"Abigail – you started a fucking food fight and I think that you are lucky to be able to walk, let alone talk. Doing the washing up was the least that you could do to try and make amends. However, why I chose to stick my neck out and help your sorry arse, I have no goddamn idea! Mum is fuming and I am still expecting her to feed you into the meat mincer, piece by miserable piece, all while you're still alive."
"Jamie opened his massive gob once too fucking often," Abigail retorted. "He was goading me."
"Yes – and you fell for the little dweebs goading!" Stephanie exclaimed angrily. "He wanted you to get into trouble."
"I know that . . . now!" Abigail groaned as she finished drying the last plate. "I said sorry."
"I think you're going to be very sorry, Abigail," Dave chuckled. "As is someone else."
Jamie looked miserable as he stepped into the kitchen.
"Sorry, guys."
"You will be," Stephanie hissed.
..._...
Abigail flattened herself against the wall as Mindy walked past.
Mindy was being a bitch and she glared at Abigail, enjoying the scared look on the eleven-year-old's face. Mindy wasn't mad – okay, dinner had been a little dramatic – but she had been determined to remain in control. Abigail was a wonderful girl and she had been through a lot. But the girl was a total nutcase . . . not a lot unlike herself and her kids, Mindy had quickly realised. Anyhow, being a bitch was fun and Mindy loved the fearful flinching. After Abigail had passed, Mindy scowled at her eldest son and she fought down a grin as Jamie flinched slightly.
"You're so evil," Dave chuckled.
"Doesn't do them any harm – character building."
"I suppose," Dave responded dubiously.
..._...
Stephanie was annoyed with Abigail, but she had enjoyed watching her friend fall for Jamie's devious goading.
Jamie had some great skills when it came to twisting people, but Stephanie was immune to them, however, Abigail and Shannon both appeared to be easy targets for the boy. As for Rachel, she was immune too – maybe that was because she had a little brother and did feel a certain type of bonding with the boy. There was something special between Jamie and the two girls which Stephanie fervently hoped was nothing sexual . . . ewww!
"You had better put something on," Stephanie directed as Abigail emerged from the bathroom stark naked. "You are not getting into this bed nude."
Abigail rolled her eyes as she grabbed a large T-shirt and pulled it on.
"Happy? Not a snatch in sight!"
"Yes, I am happy," Stephanie grinned as Abigail jumped onto the bed and sat down cross-legged on the duvet.
"I'm sorry for causing trouble, tonight," Abigail said.
Stephanie could see that the girl really meant it. Abigail had a wild spirit and she tended to let that spirit take control. That was fine when she was a Predator as it was that same wild spirit which had often protected her from the abuse and the training. It had given her the willpower to fight in the Virginian forests against Psyche and it had carried her through some difficult and trying times in England and Chicago. Whilst that wild spirit had its place, the dinner table and polite society were not exactly two of those places.
"You are who you are, Abigail . . . we're kind of used to it."
"I don't know how to take that."
"For you, Abigail, anything is a compliment."
That night
"I'd forgotten how much fun it was having Abigail over," Dave chuckled.
"She's a handful," Mindy admitted.
Dave tentatively nudged open the door leading to Stephanie's bedroom and they both peered in.
"Ignoring the fact that they are both stone cold killers, it is kinda cute," Mindy stated.
Stephanie and Abigail were fast asleep, facing one another, each holding the other's right hand.
"Maybe they'll get married . . . when they're older."
"Dave!"
"This is the modern world, Mindy."
"Ewww!"
"They are both very special young ladies," Dave insisted.
"Yes, they are special – ladies? No fucking way! They would never admit it in public, but I know that they care about each other deeply. They've been through hell together and come out the other side. They have a friendship born of fire. I suppose their relationship could be called one of love for one another – like sisters, I suppose."
"They are both lucky to have each other, a family they can each call their own, and lots of friends," Dave confirmed. "Besides, who ever wanted a peaceful life."
"You, for one."
"Yeah – then I made a trip to Rasul's," Dave admitted dryly. "Another fucked up kid turned an otherwise peaceful evening into a blood bath."
"As I recall, somebody was about to get knifed," Mindy responded smoothly.
"The dude in the wetsuit had everything under control."
"Well," Mindy responded, "that dude had one gay-looking taser but as for control - nada."
"Something purple saved my life and for some strange reason, I married her."
Mindy hugged Dave.
"Saving that dick in the wetsuit was the best damn decision of my life," she stated.
The following morning
Wednesday, January 2nd
Glenview
Jamie entered the kitchen and the boy stopped dead.
He saw that Stephanie and Abigail were both there before him. They were looking at him – that could only be bad. Even worse, there was a plate sitting between the two girls on which sat a single uncooked pork sausage. As he watched, Stephanie took hold of a fork and she stabbed the sausage three times while looking directly into her little brother's eyes. She then passed the fork onto Abigail who repeated the same exercise while grinning fiendishly.
"You two are just evil," Jamie complained.
"Yes, little Jamie, we are," Abigail admitted gleefully.
Mindy sighed as she watched the standoff.
"Girls – I am going out. If you do insist on hurting Jamie, keep the bruises hidden so he does not get into trouble at school next week. Also, mutilating his genitals is not allowed."
Jamie scowled at Mindy's declaration not really liking any bit of it.
That same time
Vancouver, Canada
Lucy pulled the hire car to a halt at the curb.
"Number 3535 West 47th Avenue," Saoirse commented. "That's the one."
"So, your navigation has improved, I see," Lucy chuckled as she turned off the ignition.
Saoirse simply grinned. Lucy knew her intimately and had done since she was ten. There was no getting away from that fact. Lucy had helped mould the young Saoirse Doherty into a fearsome killer who had then failed miserably at her very first tasking: killing Stephanie Walker. Such was life.
"Come on," Lucy called out as she climbed out of the car and began to head towards the house.
They both climbed the short sloping driveway before turning left to follow a curving pathway along the front of the house and then stopping at the front door. Lucy rapped her knuckles on the front door which flew open less than a minute later.
"Yes."
The young girl was about fourteen-years-old with long black hair which hung loosely down her back and over her shoulders. The piercing green eyes flashed pleasantly.
"Lucy Ford and Saoirse Doherty to see James and Amelia Milligan, Ella," Lucy replied.
"You know who I am?" Ella Milligan scowled.
"I think so," Lucy grinned.
"You'd better come in then."
Ella led the two older girls into the living room where they found Mr and Mrs Milligan, Ella's parents. Both stood up to greet their visitors and they all shook hands as they were introduced.
"Ella, could you nip down to the store for me, please – the list is on the kitchen side with some money."
Ella's mouth dropped open.
"Ella the slave will do as she is ordered," the girl groaned as she pulled on a jacket and grabbed the list and cash from the kitchen side.
After the front door slammed shut, Amelia Milligan turned to Lucy.
"I figured from what you said on the phone that this meeting was best kept just between the four of us," she said.
"That would make things a little easier," Saoirse commented.
"Irish?" James Milligan asked.
"Born and bred in Belfast, Northern Island," Saoirse replied. "Until I was ten."
"You mentioned that this was about Carrie and her parents," Amelia said, bringing things back on track.
"Yes," Lucy replied. "Am I correct in saying that Carrie's father was your brother, sir?"
"Yes, Paul was my brother," James confirmed. "He, his wife, and Carrie went missing, mid-September 2010. They declared all three dead the following March."
"Well, we have un update to the status for all three," Saoirse said slowly. "We can confirm the deaths of Paul and Katelyn Milligan. We can also confirm that Carrie Jenna Milligan is alive and well."
"My God!" Amelia said as her husband's face turned very grave.
They had somehow known that James' brother and his wife were dead, but they had always held out some kind of hope on their coming back safely from wherever they had gone. However, to suddenly find out that their little niece was still alive. Only, she would no longer be the little ten-year-old who would tease her younger eight-year-old cousin. The girls had always been kind of close due to their birthdays being so close – two years and a day apart.
"Where is Carrie?" James asked.
"Currently, she is in Chicago," Lucy explained. "She is now sixteen. The past six years have not been good to her – partly thanks to me."
"What do you mean?"
"Right back at the beginning of 2010, a scared ten-year-old was taken off the streets and thrown into a sick wet dream belonging to a narcissistic doctor. That little girl was me. . ."
Safehouse Q
Chicago, USA
Carrie appeared nervous.
Most of that nervousness was caused by the young woman who sat across from her, perusing a folder of papers. Then, Mindy looked up and she smiled.
"Carrie, thanks for letting me come see you."
"Wasn't exactly doing very much."
"Well, that is about to change," Mindy grinned. "Do you remember having an aunt in Canada?"
Carrie scrunched up her face as she thought back over six years to before Urban Predator. There was something there, but it was foggy, and she could not remember enough to retrieve a proper memory.
"I suppose."
"Well, they are willing to take you in, Carrie."
A home. Carrie was stunned. It would also be with family – family she had not known in six years and whom she could not even remember.
"You would be cared for and you would be provided with financial support until you are twenty-one," Mindy explained.
"What about Jay?"
Mindy knew how close Carrie was with Jay and she grinned, unable to tell the boy's secret.
"That's for him to tell you – he is being briefed by a colleague at the moment."
..._...
Carrie emerged from her interview much happier than when she went in.
She saw Jay emerging from another room and she was about to say something when the boy cannoned into Carrie.
"My parents – they're alive!"
"Good for you," Carrie responded.
"I'm off to Canada."
Carrie grinned but then she hesitated – Canada was a very large country.
"Whereabouts in Canada?" Carrie asked
"Vancouver – my parents moved there with my little sister after I . . . went missing."
"Did you say Vancouver?"
"Yes."
"That's where I'm going," Carrie said happily. "I'm off to live with my aunt and uncle."
"That's amazing," Jay admitted. "We'll still be able to see each other."
"Yes, we will."
That afternoon
Glenview
All sanity had gone.
Actually, it was buried under a foot of snow.
The girls had challenged the boys to a snowball fight. Like that could never go wrong. It had started calmly. . .
"Anne-Marie!"
"What!?"
"Hat on properly," Mindy responded, pulling her daughter's woolly hat into place. "Scarf around neck. . ."
"I can't . . . breathe!" Anne-Marie complained as Mindy tied the scarf – tightly.
"Breathing is optional," Mindy reasoned. "I just don't want you to freeze."
"Aarggh!" Anne-Marie yelled as she pulled away from Mindy and bolted outside into the descending snow.
Outside, the snow was falling, adding to the two feet already covering the back garden at Glenview. Jamie and Danny were busy building a defensive fort at one end of the garden while Stephanie and Abigail were preparing defensive positions twenty yards away. Kiara and Razor were busy chasing each other from one end of the garden to the other while Sophia dug her own fortifications. Here and there a bright orange blur could be seen as Horatio leapt from snowdrift to snowdrift, occasionally landing face first in a pile of snow but quickly shaking his thick winter coat off and prancing in the direction of the two boys. Dave was visible preparing his own weaponry ready for Mindy's arrival on the scene. Mindy was taking all this in as she watched Anne-Marie fall flat on her face as she tried to make for Stephanie and Abigail.
She had her own plans of how to beat the lot of them.
..._...
The pitched snow fight had soon lost all pretence at being friendly fun as it quickly became a free for all.
That was principally Mindy's fault as she succeeded in ambushing Stephanie and Abigail during their precision attack on the boys which was covered by Dave who was also attacking the boys and had formed the perfect distraction for the girls' attack. Mindy had swiftly dumped both girls into the deep snow, ignoring the thump of snowballs from Anne-Marie. The two young dogs, Razor and Kiara, were barking excitedly as they enjoyed the action – although, the yelping Razor bolted when Abigail caught the dog on his nose with a badly aimed snowball. Mindy's attack was succeeding; however, she was ambushed by Horatio who landed on Mindy's back and climbed up onto her shoulder, putting Mindy off balance and she fell into the drifting snow.
"Ha!" Stephanie announced as she pulled Abigail to her feet and proceeded to pummel Mindy with snowball after snowball at close range.
Horatio hissed and bolted, chasing after Kiara who barked at the approaching feline. Jamie thought he was protected from the flurry of snowballs but then Sophia smashed through one of their walls at a signal from Dave who had caught Danny off guard with a flanking attack as he grabbed the boy and threw him a few yards into the nearest snowdrift. But before Dave could attack Jamie, Mindy had broken away from Stephanie and Abigail and she was advancing on Jamie when she was seized around the waist by Dave. Mindy screamed as she was lifted high into the air. She struggled but Dave was stronger, and he was holding Mindy in a vice-like grip. Mindy was then unceremoniously thrown into the same snowdrift as Danny.
"You Mum screams like a girl!" Abigail commented to Stephanie.
"She is what she is," Stephanie replied with a grin as she watched Jamie came up behind Abigail.
Abigail screamed out a very girly scream as Jamie seized the older girl and threw her into the same snow drift currently occupied by Danny, Mindy, and a curious Horatio.
"The boys win!" Dave yelled out and Mindy scowled.
..._...
"That was awesome!" Abigail announced as they retreated into the warmth of the house.
"Get those wet clothes off and I'll get the hot chocolate on," Mindy said. "Razor! Horatio! Get in here!"
The dog and cat duo bolted in from outside to find Sophia and Kiara hogging the kitchen fire as they dried off. Instead, they both made for the living room fire and settled down to dry. It did not take long for everybody to change and Mindy herself was standing in just her long johns and fleece top as she poured the hot drinks for everybody.
"Thanks, Mindy," Abigail said as she was handed her mug of steaming hot chocolate with marshmallows. "You've made my life a happy one."
Mindy grimaced, hating to receive praise.
"I mean it. I spend a lot of time laughing now. Whether it's with Stephy or with my new family – it's all thanks to you."
"You're always welcome here, Abigail," Dave confirmed with a wink. "One more wacko won't be noticed."
"You two," Mindy said as she sat down in the living room. "Don't forget that you are flying out on Thursday night."
"Huh?" Abigail responded.
"Don't you remember?" Stephanie asked her friend.
"Oh!"
"I've told Amy that you two will behave or suffer the consequences – I have authorised Tasers," Mindy advised the two girls.
"I love having Hit Girl as my Mum," Stephanie said. "But sometimes it sucks!"
The following afternoon
Thursday, January 3rd
Vancouver, Canada
The day came for them, to fly north.
Somehow, Dylan was joining them – apparently, he was to live with Jay. There had been some almost tearful goodbyes as three more of the reformed Predators had departed their half-way house and set out to begin the rest of their lives. Carrie had been fighting increased nervousness as she had packed her entire life into one large holdall. Her life was changing for the better and she had to consider her future, putting all thoughts of doing wrong way back in her mind. She did not dare to cross Hit Girl and failure was not an option. During the flight, Carrie had felt her hands shaking as she worried about what was awaiting her. She was about to join a family who she had not seen in six years. Dylan and Jay had talked about their own apprehensions as they too worried about what was awaiting them with Jay's family.
At Vancouver International Airport the three teenagers were met by two families with Lucy on overwatch.
..._...
"Hello, Carrie."
Carrie looked up into the eyes of a man who seemed very familiar. Her memory flew back unbidden over six years. She remembered the man – the image she had of him was wearing a red serge jacket, midnight blue jodhpurs with a yellow stripe down each leg, brown leather riding boots, and a brown wide-brimmed felt campaign hat. He had looked amazing . . . but what was his name? Then it hit her.
"Uncle James?"
The man smiled and he pulled Carrie into a hug. Carrie felt tears welling up inside her as she remembered what a meaningful hug was like for the very first time in many years. Even better, it was from somebody who she knew loved her.
"You must have been about nine, the last time we saw you, Carrie," James Milligan said as he pushed Carrie away and studied the mature young woman before him. "You remember Amelia?"
Carrie turned to the woman who was also smiling. The same images played through her mind, more images of red serge and leather Sam Browne belts.
"I do . . . him, Aunt Amelia."
Another hug later, and Carrie heard a not so subtle cough. Carrie saw an image of a scruffy little girl, two years her junior, and about seven-years-old. After breaking the hug, Carrie looked over at an impatient-looking young girl of now fourteen-years.
"Ella – you've grown," Carrie stated.
"So, have you, Carrie."
"Let's hit the road, shall we," James suggested as he shepherded his expanded family towards the car park.
Lucy watched the first family move off before turning to the second.
..._...
Jay was very nervous as he walked towards the small group which made up his family.
What worried him the most was that while he knew who they were, he could barely remember any of them. His parents were coming back into focus as far as his mind was concerned, but as for the young girl who stood holding his mother's hand – he could not even remember her name. The last time they had seen him, he had been a boy of ten, but now he was a young man five months short of his seventeenth birthday.
"Jay!" the young girl yelled out as she pulled away from her mother and ran at Jay.
She jumped into his arms and hugged him tightly.
"I missed you so much – never go away again!" the girl said angrily as she punched him in the chest before hugging him again even more tightly than before.
Then her name came to him as he remembered a little four-year-old girl who used to follow him around everywhere.
"I've missed you, too, Emily."
"Hello, son," Jackson Hilton offered. "It's been a while."
"You looking as handsome as your father," Olivia Hilton added.
"Dad. Mom."
Jay found himself with tears running down his cheeks as he hugged his parents even with his little sister squished in between. It had been so long, and it was an event which he never thought would happen. He had been made to forget his former life and in six years, his mind had completed what the drugs had begun. Did they know? Did they know what he had become? Did they know what he had done in Chicago? Did they know the decision he had made which had almost cost him his life? It took a few moments to pull himself together and he suddenly remembered that he was not alone.
"Err, guys, this is Dylan."
"Hello, Dylan. I'm Jay's mother, Olivia, and this is Jay's father, Jackson. The little lady is Emily, Jay's sister."
"I'm not little," Emily pointed out as she squirmed out of her brother's arms. "Hi, Dylan."
"Hello, Emily."
Dylan felt like the proverbial fifth wheel.
"Come on," Jackson said. "Let's get you both to your new home."
That night
West 47th Avenue
Vancouver, Canada
Carrie was still nervous.
"You okay, honey?" Amelia Milligan asked as she sat down on Carrie's bed.
"It's all a bit different," Carrie admitted.
"Give it time. We're all really happy that you're back in our lives. You need to talk, then I'm here."
"How much did they tell you?"
"Lucy told James and I about Urban Predator. She and Saoirse expanded on a few of the nastier aspects. They told us that you were trained to be an assassin. They touched on you making a bad decision on Chicago and joining up with some bad people. We know that you've done some bad things, honey, but we're not going to judge you for any of them."
Carrie felt really low and full of guilt. Above all, she felt ashamed.
"Do you hate me for what I have done?"
"No!" Amelia said forcefully. "You are still only young, Carrie. You have been forced to make adult decisions in an adult world when you were still so very young."
"Thanks, Aunt Amelia."
"Get some sleep, honey – night."
"Night."
A few miles away
East 12th Avenue
Emily would not go to bed until she had said goodnight to both boys as well as to her parents.
Jay had happily accepted the hug and kiss from his little sister, however, Dylan had not been so sure.
"Just allow it, Dylan," Jay suggested. "Otherwise, she won't go to bed. I kind of remember her being really stubborn."
"Fear it!" ten-year-old Emily grinned.
Dylan allowed himself to be hugged and Emily gave the fourteen-year-old boy a single kiss on the cheek.
"Night, Dylan."
"Night, Emily."
Earlier that same day
Thursday, January 3rd
Safehouse E
Level 8 – Detention Level
Chicago, USA
She was all alone.
Everybody else had moved on, leaving her the only occupant of a space that had been intended for sixteen. Her self-loathing mind told her that she was happy to be on her own, but another part of her had enjoyed the freedom she had been entrusted with in Scotland and at the Christmas party in Chicago. She so wanted to be a part of something, only she was too scared to make a move and possibly screw up again. But everything had suddenly changed at Christmas and for the first time in five years, Willow had more than herself to think about.
"This place is horrible."
Willow turned to look down at her little sister.
"Yes, Kendra, it is."
"You actually lived here?"
"Yes. I . . . we deserved nothing better. We made some very bad choices, but two people saw good in us . . . they saw good in me. I hate to think that that little bitch got the better of me, but she did."
"Who?" Kendra asked.
"Me."
"Hi, Steph," Willow grimaced.
"You ready to go somewhere better than this place and that other place?"
"Yes," Willow replied before she hesitated. "We're not going back to the Safehouse?"
"No, Willow – you've earned something much, much better."
"Thank you, Stephanie. Thank you for believing in me. I've been my own worst enemy, wallowing in self-pity. I owe you my life."
"Let's not go there, shall we?" Stephanie said quickly, feeling more than a little uncomfortable with the way the conversation was going.
The three girls left the empty detention area and headed upwards.
North Lakewood Avenue
Chicago
Willow was worried as they pulled up at the curb and Mindy climbed out.
"Willow – just you, for now," Mindy said.
"What about me?" Kendra demanded.
"Annoy Stephanie," Willow suggested with a scowl in Stephanie's direction.
Willow followed Mindy as she walked a dozen yards down the sidewalk before stopping at a steel-grilled access gate. Mindy punched an eight-digit code into a keypad located to the left of the gate which buzzed open. Willow followed Mindy up half-a-dozen stone steps before Mindy punched in a code into a keypad set into the stonework beside the glazed front door. They passed inside and once the door clicked closed behind Willow, Mindy turned to face the sixteen-year-old.
"There are four apartments here . . . Stephanie said that I should call them the Predator Apartments!" Mindy chuckled. "I am giving you and Kendra the top floor."
Willow was too stunned to speak as they jogged up one and a half flights of stairs before stopping at a door. Mindy inserted a key and unlocked the door. They climbed another half flight of stairs before Willow stopped dead. If Willow was stunned before, she was whatever came next as Mindy pushed her gently inside the apartment and closed the door behind them both. Willow found herself standing in the open plan main level. There was a dark wood dining table directly in front of her. The oval table could seat eight. A large picture adorned the wall at the head of the table. To her left, Willow looked into a comfortable living room and to her right into a well-equipped kitchen.
"I want to make your life better, Willow," Mindy said.
"I don't deserve any of this," Willow said as she looked around the apartment.
"Yes, you do."
Willow was completely overwhelmed, and she sagged onto the large L-shaped couch in the living room where she put her head in her hands and sobbed. Mindy sat down across from the girl and she waited a minute for Willow to regain control of herself. Then, she held out a small piece of material to the girl.
"This is yours, if you want it, Rampart. As is this."
Mindy handed over to the girl a blue card. Willow focussed on the two items before looking up at Mindy in surprise.
"You want me?" she asked, astounded.
"Yes, I do."
"You want to bring me into Fusion . . . and let me fly?"
"You enjoy flying, yes?"
"Yes, I do."
"You have made some bad decisions which were not, entirely, your fault, Willow. You can continue being a bitch – it's my favourite pastime – however, I know you have a warmer side. Kendra loves you very much and she looks up to you. I think you deserve a new start. I want you in Fusion. You will start as an Operator and you will be Fusion's second pilot – Mist being the first. I am going to give you URSULA."
"Ursula?"
"An MD530F – nearly new and with only 220 hours on the clock. She is in perfect condition with the latest gadgets. Single engine which should be perfect for you. I want you to know the helicopter from nose to tail and more intimately than you know your own body."
"What will I use it for?" Willow asked.
"Whatever we need," Mindy replied. "Flying passengers as yourself. Flying overwatch as Rampart. URSULA can also be armed – unofficially, of course."
"Of course. What about Kendra?"
"That will be a decision for Kendra to make, but I would expect you to give her guidance, there. I would expect you to teach her how to defend herself – we can help there, too. Let's go find Kendra – she and Stephanie must be very bored by now."
Mindy took the card and patch from Willow.
"I'll keep these safe until you've decided."
..._...
Willow was still feeling more than a little overwhelmed.
Mindy purposefully took the long way around, passing through the kitchen to where Willow could see a large deck with garden furniture. They turned right and walked through a circular area. To the left were an elevator and the laundry. To the right was a long corridor which appeared to lead back to the entrance foyer. Ahead, there was a bathroom and two of the apartment's three bedrooms. Mindy then ambled down the long corridor but turned left at the foyer where Willow was floored by the master suite.
"Oh, almost forgot," Mindy smiled. "House keys – you'll find money, bank cards, and ID for you both in one of the kitchen drawers."
They headed back downstairs and then out the back to where Mindy stopped beside a double garage door. Mindy held up what appeared to be a car key. "This is to help you and your sister get around."
Mindy pressed a button on the fob and the garage door opened. Mindy pressed another button on the fob and Willow saw the indicator lights of a Ford Focus flash twice. The girl felt totally overwhelmed and worried that she might start crying again – no way was she going to do that in front of Stephanie!
Willow smiled.
"Thank you."