Registry's Secrets (The Mengliad Series Book 2) Page 5

  Two things occurred to Craddock as he listened to Wade speak. First, he knew that Jessica was pregnant, and second, he wasn’t reluctant to share details and top secret information because he didn’t trust them. His reluctance was a form of protection, for himself, for Pardaze Ahme, and for them.

  “If you insist on doing this,” Wade continued, “I’ll help. Of course I’ll help, but I really wish you would reconsider. The chances of us rescuing them successfully are nil. Less than nil. You need to think long and hard before you make this decision.” He fell silent as he watched her closely for her reaction.

  “I have thought about it.” She dropped her gaze to her lap. “And time is short. You said so yourself.”

  “This is a bad idea,” Wade muttered to himself. He then faced forward, released the brake, and shifted into drive. “We need to get moving.” His voice was heavy with concern. “If we get caught in one of their roadblocks, we’re screwed.”

  In the severe quiet that followed, Wade pulled back onto the road and edged over the posted maximum speed limit.

  ‘He knows I’m pregnant.’

  ‘I told you he did. He was a high ranking official who was assigned to us. Makes sense.’

  ‘Do you think he heard us, too?’

  ‘Maybe. Don’t worry about that, okay?’

  ‘Easy for you to say. You’re not the screamer.’

  Craddock pulled her closer to him, resting his chin on her shoulder. ‘Hey, I like it when you scream. Love it, in fact.’

  ‘It’s a pride thing. It boosts your ego.’

  “Any ideas about how we’re gonna do this?”

  Josiah’s question broke the silence, and interrupted Craddock and Jessica’s in-thought-only conversation.

  Wade’s inherent ability to plot and problem solve rendered the only feasible option within moments. “We have a very small window with this, but there are a lot of ‘if’s involved. If they don’t imprison them right away; if they don’t force them to change their routine… They take the subway together, when going to work. If they have minimal guards assigned to them, that would be our best window of opportunity.”

  “How will we know if they have a lot of guards assigned to them?” Bibi asked.

  “If you know what to look for, they can be pretty easy to spot. You’ve even spotted one before, though you didn’t know that was who he was, or that he was assigned to you.”

  Bibi scowled as she tried to remember. “When?”

  “At JFK International, when you were catching your flight out here to California.”

  “The guy we thought was a pervert was actually a guard that was assigned to us?” Jessica asked, and Wade nodded.

  “He realized you were suspicious of him, and was ordered to lay low till you all had to board.”

  So much of what had happened, from that time a year ago, was starting to show itself in an entirely different light. They weren’t being chased or hunted. They were being manipulated and lied to. Jessica wasn’t sure, upon reflection, which of those scenarios was worse.

  ‘Being hunted is. I would rather be lied to.’

  ‘Maybe. But they didn’t just lie. The manipulation… The games…’

  ‘I know, baby.’

  “If we do this, it’s going to have to be now.” Wade’s tone still conveyed his disapproval of the idea. “In probably less than a week, their routine will be changed, and it’s going to take something like two days to drive there.”

  “Drive?” Josiah asked, scowling. “We’re not gonna just fly out there?”

  Wade shook his head. “Too risky. They’ll be staking out the airports, looking for us.”

  “What’s the plan?” Bibi asked.

  “For how to rescue them?” Wade asked in return, and as Bibi nodded, Jessica took intense interest. “I don’t know yet, but I have a few hours to work that out.”

  “Thank you, Wade,” Jessica whispered gratefully. He only nodded in response.

  “If we’re gonna be on the road for days, what are we gonna do about food?” Josiah whined, his expression shifting into a concerned pout.

  “Buy some,” Wade answered simply.

  “How?” Craddock asked. “We don’t have any money.”

  “They wouldn’t let us have any,” Jessica added. “And now I guess we know why.”

  “I have money,” Wade said. “We have enough gas to get us out of the area and a good distance away. Later, when we stop to fuel up, we’ll grab some food.”

  “Are we going to take turns driving?” Bibi asked.

  “We’ll divvy it up amongst the men,” Wade answered, then called over his shoulder, “Okay by you guys?”

  Before Josiah or Craddock could respond, Bibi scoffed. “Women can drive!”

  “Yes,” Wade placated, “women can. You’re not going to, though. Not on this trip. The men will handle it.”

  Bibi scoffed again and crossed her arms, but remained silent.

  Jessica wasn’t offended like Bibi was. She didn’t want to drive. She didn’t want Craddock to, either. All she wanted was to stay wrapped in his arms, where she felt safe. Where she felt like her entire world wasn’t crashing in on her. Again.

  ‘I’ll drive while you’re sleeping. You won’t even miss me.’

  ‘I’ll miss you. There hasn’t been a single night in the past year that we haven’t fallen asleep in each other’s arms, or woken up the next morning the same way.’

  ‘Then I’ll wait till you’ve fallen asleep, and I’ll be back before you wake up.’

  “I don’t mind driving,” Josiah answered Wade, “but can I take my turn after I’ve eaten? I’m so hungry.”

  As everyone in the car rolled their eyes, Wade sighed, struggling for patience. “Yes, Josiah. I’m fine for a while.”

  “I don’t mind, either,” Craddock added, and Wade nodded, just once, in response.

  “The men will handle it,” Bibi muttered under her breath. “Why not just club me over the head and drag me into a cave while you’re at it?”

  “Stop being so butt-hurt,” Wade muttered back. “I didn’t mean it like that.” She only huffed and turned to stare out her window.

  ‘This is going to be a long drive.’

  Jessica nodded in agreement.

  ****

  Hours dragged on in silence. Bibi, still irritated over Wade’s almost-sexist comment, did little else beyond stare out her window. Josiah, trying to distract himself from his hunger, spent the time trying to spot out-of-state license plates. The only words uttered in just over two hours were from him, when he spotted New York plates.

  Craddock continued to hold Jessica in his arms, the two of them immersed in their private thoughts, until he started to drift off to sleep.

  His nap had been interrupted, and he was still exhausted from weeks of getting little to no rest at nights. Sympathetic to that, Jessica didn’t attempt to wake him. She was enjoying his dream, anyway.

  In his dream, they were lounging on a perfectly manicured lawn with their son between them. Craddock was blowing bubbles, and the little, what looked to be one-year-old was attempting to catch them, giggling as they would pop between his fingers. The scene was so sweet, Jessica couldn’t help but smile. But then suddenly, the dream turned into a nightmare.

  Out of nowhere, five men appeared. The sky grew dark and the beautiful lush green grass turned red. The Jessica in the dream screamed and grabbed the baby off the ground, attempting to run for the house, but before she could reach it, she was seized from behind, and the baby snatched from her arms. The dream Craddock cried out to her as he was tackled and restrained, struggling for his release so that he could get to his wife and son, all to no avail.

  Jessica could no longer see the dream version of herself, or Craddock’s vision of their baby, as the men had dragged them both away, all while Craddock watched helplessly. He continued to fight and call out to her, but he couldn’t free himself.

  As he collapsed and sobbed in his dream, Jessica felt him flin
ch and take in a shaky breath. Tears fell as she nuzzled against his neck, then she whispered in his ear, just loud enough to wake him, but not so much that it would startle him too badly. “It’s just a dream. I’m right here.”

  The dream, or nightmare, vanished as she felt him jerk in her arms, indicating that he was awake. His grip on her became stronger.

  ‘It was so real.’

  ‘I know. I was right there with you.’

  ‘We can’t let it happen like that.’

  ‘We won’t.’

  ‘Do we have to do this thing with Shea and Stacy? I mean, I know we do, but do we? It’s so dangerous.’

  ‘If it was me in their position, wouldn’t you?’

  Though just barely, Craddock nodded in answer. ‘I’m scared. I can’t live without you.’

  ‘So am I. And I can’t live without you, either.’

  “Gas station in three miles,” Wade announced, causing Josiah to lurch to the edge of his seat like an excited child in response. Craddock smirked, despite his emotional state.

  “Finally!” Josiah exclaimed. “I’ve had to pee since forever!”

  Ignoring the comment, Wade called back, “We’re probably out of the perimeter of danger, but err on the side of caution, ‘kay? Eyes open, and don’t get careless.”

  ‘I’ve had to pee since forever, too.’

  ‘It’s little Junior in there, changing things around.’

  ‘You seem pretty sure that it’s a boy.’

  ‘Call it a feeling.’

  ‘What, you think you’re psychic now? Like Bibi?’

  ‘I don’t think Bibi is as psychic as Bibi thinks she is!’

  ‘If she is psychic, wouldn’t she know about the pregnancy?’

  Craddock shrugged. ‘She’s always saying it’s not an exact science. She’s going to know eventually, you know.’

  ‘I know. It’s just, with all this, I think we should wait to tell her. And Josiah. Why add to the worry?’

  Pulling into the nearly deserted gas station, Wade started spouting off instructions. “Josiah, you pump the gas. I’ll buy the food, and Craddock, you escort the ladies to the bathroom and keep an eye on them, okay?”

  Josiah groaned but nodded anyway, his squirmy dance indicating that he was uncomfortable with having to wait to relieve his bladder.

  “No problem.” Craddock pulled the door open and hopped out, helping Jessica immediately after. They were only a few feet away from the van, Jessica at his side, Bibi following close behind, when a voice called out, startling Craddock noticeably.

  “Matt? Matt Fisher?”

  Chapter Six

  The loud voice calling out through the quiet surroundings was enough to startle him, but more so than that, was the name used to address him. A name he hadn’t used in well over a decade.

  Turning hesitantly, Craddock eyed the woman on approach, trying to determine how he could possibly know her, or how she could know him. As she neared, the memory clicked into place.

  “Matt Fisher! Oh my God!”

  “Nina Brooks?” he asked carefully.

  Jessica’s tension skyrocketed, radiating from her as she possessively tightened her grip on his hand.

  “Not anymore!” The woman laughed, throwing her arms around Craddock once close enough to do so. Instantly, Jessica grew jealous, even though Craddock had not so much as even cordially returned the embrace. “It’s Sydney Fitzpatrick now!”

  Smiling politely, he gave a nod, but then winced and looked to Jessica, who had dug her nails into the flesh of his palm. “Oh, sorry, this is—” He suddenly looked panicked. ‘Jessica? Allie?’

  ‘Lie.’

  “Nancy,” Craddock blurted out. He forced the smile back onto his face. “Nancy, this is an old friend from school.”

  ‘Nancy?’

  ‘Sorry.’

  “Nice to meet you.” It was a struggle for Jessica to sound pleasant through her jealousy. ‘I thought she didn’t know you existed.’

  ‘I guess she did.’

  ‘She can’t have you. You’re mine.’

  Craddock laughed, but cleared his throat to stop himself, diverting attention away from the fact that he had. “So, how are you?” ‘You’re cute when you’re jealous.’

  ‘Don’t even start.’

  “Oh, pretty good,” Sydney reported, completely at ease and unaware of any tension. “How have you been?” she asked in return.

  “Married,” Jessica answered aggressively, even though Craddock’s mouth was literally open and at the ready to. “For a year now! In fact, today is our anniversary! We’re just on our way to a romantic bed and breakfast!”

  When she pushed up against his side, he instinctively wrapped his arm around her in response, smirking. What she was doing was almost painfully transparent.

  ‘Why don’t you just pee on me? Mark your territory.’

  ‘Shut up or I will!’

  Sydney was muttering something congratulatory, but Jessica had tuned her out, and Craddock was distracted by the concerned expression on Wade’s face as he neared them.

  “Agent Fitzpatrick?” Wade inched in, physically and conversationally, between the three of them. Fear shot through Craddock and Jessica, her previous jealousy on hold.

  “Agent Cosker?” Sydney looked shocked, but pleasantly. “Small world! I’m just running into old friends all over the place today! You know Matt?” she asked, glancing over at Craddock, to which Wade raised an eyebrow.

  He schooled his expression a second later, though, answering with poise. “Oh, sure. Matt and I go way back! So,” he changed the subject, “what brings you to California? Last I saw you, you were stationed in New York.”

  ‘Are we in trouble here?’

  Craddock shrugged imperceptibly. ‘I don’t know yet. Maybe.’

  “Oh, yes, well, I’m… I’m not with the Registry… anymore,” Sydney stammered, her eyes downcast. She then lifted her gaze. “You?”

  “I’ve been… seeing some changes there as well,” Wade answered; the both of them fell silent for several seconds as they only stared back at one another.

  ‘What’s going on?’

  ‘Not sure.’

  “I see.” Sydney’s intense expression was still aimed at Wade. “Taking a break to spend time… among friends?”

  Raising his eyebrow once again, Wade answered in Menglianese, triggering the launch of a fast paced conversation in the foreign tongue that Jessica found near impossible to follow. Craddock, however, understood it perfectly.

  ‘What are they saying?’

  ‘They’re being careful, almost talking in code, but I think Nina — Sydney, I mean – is a member of Pardaze Ahme.’

  ‘So, that’s a good thing.’

  ‘Good? Maybe. Not sure yet. Definitely better than the alternative.’

  ‘The alternative being?’

  ‘Her being a current agent, in good standing with the Registry.’

  ‘She’s pretty.’

  ‘But you’re gorgeous. Why would I want to downgrade?’

  ‘You wouldn’t. Because you’re a smart man.’

  ‘Who knows how lucky he is to have found Chimie with the most amazing woman on the planet.’

  ‘You’re forgiven.’

  Smirking, he pulled her closer. ‘For what?’

  She smirked as well. ‘For knowing her at all.’

  Craddock’s amused smile grew as he nuzzled against her neck.

  “Awwww!” Sydney’s cooing brought Craddock and Jessica’s attention back to her, and to Wade, who was watching them with a curious scowl.

  “Um, Wade?” Josiah interrupted, reluctantly, “I sorta need the money for the gas?”

  As Wade turned to deal with Josiah, his focus on that, Bibi nudged Jessica and gestured with a jerk of her head towards the bathroom.

  Jessica took her cue. “We should get going.”

  Sydney nodded, implying that she needed to as well. “It was great seeing you again, Matt.” When she went to hug Cr
addock, as she had before, Jessica wedged herself in between and extended her hand.

  “Pleasure meeting you.” Jessica’s tone did not support her words.

  “Yes,” Sydney agreed stiffly, with a now-fake smile. “Too bad my wife of eleven years and our three kids aren’t here, enjoying this same pleasure.” She raised her left hand, waggled the ring finger to show off the jewelry there, then scoffed as she turned and walked away.

  She did it on purpose, and everyone knew it. Jessica now felt foolish, which was obviously Sydney’s intent. When Craddock laughed, and tried to gather Jessica into his arms, she huffed indignantly and pushed away from him.

  ‘C’mon, baby! You were being a little… possessive.’

  ‘I didn’t do anything that extreme!’

  ‘The only thing you didn’t do was straddle and ride me!’

  ‘I didn’t pee on you!’

  ‘Surprising, since you haven’t been to the bathroom yet.’

  “Yeah, well, I was just about to remedy that!” Jessica shot at him. “Alone!” She changed her tone before calling out as she marched away, “C’mon, Bibi.”

  Craddock laughed as he watched her storm off, then tucked his hands into his pants pockets and gave Wade a shrug.

  Wade only stared back in silence for several seconds, but by the expression he wore, Craddock knew that something was definitely on his mind.

  Finally, he asked, “How strong is your Chimie with her?”

  Craddock scowled. “I don’t know. Strong. Why?”

  The question was brushed aside, unanswered. “Is it, like, a vague understanding of her emotions, or can you… read her mind?”

  “Both.”

  “You can have actual conversations with her?”

  Craddock’s scowl deepened, trying to decipher Wade’s train of thought. “Yes.”

  Wade looked away for a moment before reinitiating eye contact. “You don’t know much about Chimie, do you?”

  He shrugged. “I know a little. Obviously. Why the interest?”

  “This level of connection is rare. Rarer than feeling Chimie in the first place. Usually, the connection gives glimpses into emotions. Rarely, can one read the actual thoughts of the other person. Your connection with Jessica is unique. She is unique.”