Cross Waves, page 16
Geneva hunched in her chair, fighting to calm her raging temper. She had to help Rolf. She would go crazy otherwise. But how to convince Peter she wasn’t a liability? “Peter, you need me. Please. I want to help.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“What do you mean? It’s simple. You assign me to the case. I join my brothers, find Rolf, and put this nightmare to rest.”
“I’m afraid I can’t let you.”
“Why the hell not? And don’t give me some bullshit about Rolf trying to kill me.”
Peter let out a sigh and ran his hand through his hair that seemed whiter since the last time she’d seen him. At any other time, she might have retreated, not wanting to add to his stress. But right now, she could strangle him.
“Your latest tests indicate your talent has grown. Maybe out of your control. Explains the incidents you’ve been having when you get lost in the colors around Rolf. I’ve been ordered to have you watched.”
“What are you saying?”
“I can’t involve you in this case for your own protection. If you were to lose control and cause someone’s death, I’d have a hard time convincing the government of your innocence. They’d lock you away for a long time. Forever.”
Geneva kept her gaze trained on Peter’s. “The man at Grimshaw’s funeral. I didn’t recognize him, but he was from the CMU. You had me tailed, didn’t you?”
Peter hunched his shoulders and added the papers he’d collected during her temper tantrum to the piles on his desk. “For your own good. If anyone else dies, I’ll need proof it wasn’t because you lost control of your ability.”
Geneva sat on her hands to stop them from fisting. “Do you expect me to do nothing while Rolf’s turned into something he’s not? I’m sorry. I can’t do it. I will find him.”
Peter shook his head. “It’s too dangerous. We suspect his captors are forcing him to manipulate dark energy. A dark master who uses his energy without reprieve will let it overtake him. If he cannot control his energy, he will turn on anyone he has a strong connection to. He will kill you and Julia and show no remorse. You will be the target of all his hate and rage. He will show no mercy.”
“I’m not afraid of Rolf.”
“You should be.”
She stood, crossing her arms. “Peter, I’m helping my brothers find Rolf whether you assign me to the task or not.”
“I had a feeling you would say that.”
The office door opened wide and in walked Nate and Danny as though they’d been summoned. Geneva looked at Peter, suspicion edging her voice. “I’m not budging.”
“I told you it was pointless to argue with her,” Nate said to Peter.
“Yes, you did,” Peter said, coming from around his desk to stand in front of Geneva. “I will allow you to join your brothers.”
“Wonderful, I…”
Peter held out a hand, cutting her off. “On one condition.”
“What?”
“If Rolf Jorgensen has turned into a killer, my orders to you and your brothers are to shoot first and ask questions later.”
“He’s not a killer.”
“That remains to be seen. You wanna help track Rolf and protect Julia? You will agree to this condition.”
“And if I don’t?”
Peter nodded at her brothers. “That’s why your brothers are here. And if I have to pull your father out of retirement, I’ll do that too. This is for your own protection. We can’t let a dark master destroy you and everyone else around you.”
Geneva looked from Nate to Danny. They watched her, eyes unblinking. Her brothers could be a fierce combination working together. They would never harm her, she knew. But they were also not above forcing her cooperation if they thought it would protect her.
“So, what’s it to be?” Peter asked. “Will you agree to my condition.”
“Yes,” she said and winced when a painting fell from the wall, the glass splintering.
“Good.” Peter did not look at the wall. Instead, he gave her a small smile, straightened and returned to his seat behind his desk. “Now, here’s what we’re going to do.”
31
Contact
Rolf shouldn’t have been so hard on the woman. She’d been trying to comfort him. But he’d turned on her like a lunatic. It was too easy to read her thoughts. She never bothered to disguise them. She didn’t want him remembering Geneva. She was jealous. Still, she should not have wished Geneva dead.
He made his way to her section of the room. Amazing how his eyes had grown accustomed to the dark. How many days had he been trapped in this cave? Time lost any meaning when the sun never rose or set.
He sat on the edge of her cot and reached a hand to touch the woman, who lay curled in a ball in the center of her bed, rocking back and forth. She let out a small kittenish sound.
“I’m sorry.” He found he meant it. “I didn’t mean to turn on you. Being in the dark messes with me. Makes me irritable.”
The woman found his hand. “It’s okay. I didn’t mean to think what I did. About her. Don’t hate me.”
He clasped her hand. “I don’t. But you need to understand. Geneva is important to me. She keeps me sane.”
“Do you love her?”
The woman’s words hung in the darkness between them, like stars glimmering in the night, forever out of reach. Love. Was that what this was? This craving, raw, protective feeling whenever he was around Geneva for more than a second? Like he needed to be better—deserving of all her desire and admiration. Like he would do anything to have her attention. Like they were meant to be together forever? Was this love?
And when they were apart for any length of time, his temper grew short and mood sour.
He shook his head before he remembered the woman couldn’t see him. Geneva made him long for something greater than himself. To be the kind and generous and honorable man she thought he was, instead of the dark, cold, dangerous man he was fated to be. Why would he argue with Mother Nature? He would never be good enough to deserve Geneva. He wouldn’t attach her to a monster.
“I don’t know.”
“Well, in that case, maybe I can provide some distraction.” She ran a hand up his arm, stopping at his biceps. “You’ve been in my mind, haven’t you? You know I have feelings for you.”
“Yes.”
Her hand stroked his arm until it reached his shoulder. He placed his palm on hers, stopping the movement.
“There’s something I need you to do for me.”
Geneva followed her brothers out of the downtown Cleveland headquarters. They each had their marching orders. Peter had demanded she return to her apartment. She needed to fill Julia in, and they were to continue with their normal routine. Geneva hated the plan. But Peter had been insistent it was the best thing they could do to find Rolf.
“You’re a target,” he had told her. “Julia, as well. You know too much, and Gemcatcher is aware of it. He can’t afford to keep you alive.”
“So, our sister and Julia will be bait?” Danny had asked. “I don’t like it. What if he kills them?”
“You two won’t let that happen, will you?” Peter had left the question hanging in the air.
Her brothers’ pride in their abilities prevented an argument.
Geneva drove to her apartment and used the remote to open the garage door.
“Everything feel normal?” She could hear the question in Nate’s words, who had followed her in his car. One of her brothers would be watching the apartment all night. Nate had this evening’s duty, Danny would take over during the day, and then Nate would be back for the next night’s watch.
Geneva gazed at the ebb and flow of colors in the garage—normal yellows. “Yes. Everything’s fine.”
“Good. Make sure you tell me if anything seems suspicious when you get inside.”
“Aye, aye, Captain.” She hated taking orders from her protective big brothers. Of course, she would tell them if someone was inside.
She opened the door.
“What took you so long?” Julia called from the kitchen. “I’m a nervous wreck.”
Geneva set her purse on the table. “Oh, you know. Family obligations.” She sniffed the air. “Smells good in here. Whatcha making?”
Julia turned from the stove, where she stirred something in a pot. “Tomato soup. Your dad called from Florida. He’s worried about you. Wants you to stay close to your brothers until he gets back next week—said they’re in town.”
“He’s right. Peter assigned them to the search for Rolf, and he didn’t invite us to the party.”
Julia dropped the ladle she held. Tomato soup went everywhere. Her face turned white.
“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” Geneva rushed to Julia’s side. She grabbed the ladle and placed it in the sink, careful to step over the mess of soup on the floor.
“I’m sorry. I know this is silly. But the man in my dream told me your brothers joined the search. I had forgotten until now.”
“It’s not silly. But also not hard to imagine. They’re a good team. The best ones to find Rolf.” Geneva studied her friend’s muted red aura. “Tell you what, you sit, I’ll clean this mess and serve.” She forced a smile. “Nothing like a bowl of soup to put it all in perspective.”
Geneva grabbed the dishrag and wiped the soup off the floor. She filled two bowls. She’d take a third out to Nate later, along with a sandwich. She didn’t like that her brothers had agreed with Peter to put her on house arrest, but she wouldn’t see them go hungry.
“Why didn’t Peter involve us in the search?” Julia’s emotions must have settled, and her mind now worked on the problem. “Is everything okay?”
Geneva took a spoonful of soup. Her stomach rumbled in response. It seemed ages since she’d had a decent meal. “Our emotions are involved. We’re liable to slip and cause bigger problems.” She sighed. “He compared me to a heat-seeking missile ready to detonate.”
Julia giggled. “Sorry. I can see how he might say it, though. You pretend to be cool and off-limits, but you like my brother. I’ve known it forever. You act as if you hate him, but I can always see it in your eyes whenever you talk about him. I see it now. There’s no way you’ll ever stop searching.” She released her spoon, the smile on her face dying a slow death. “It’s me who’s falling apart.”
“You’re not falling apart. You’re worried about Rolf. I am, too. I know what you’re feeling. I can’t stop thinking about who has him and what they might be doing to him.”
“Have you tried again to reach him?”
Geneva wiped her face with the napkin. “Not today. Today, I was told to act normal. You, too. This is about as normal as it gets for me.”
Julia grinned. “Me, too.” She stood and placed her bowl in the sink. “I think you should keep trying to reach Rolf. If he would find a way to communicate with anyone, it would be you.”
Geneva watched the spoon in her dish rattle on its own. “Settle.” She touched the vibrating object to silence it.
Julia joined her at the table. “What’s got you so annoyed?”
Geneva sighed, wiped her sticky fingers on her napkin, and took a drink of her coffee. “Something Peter said.”
Julia’s eyes widened. Geneva read concern, fear, and a host of other emotions.
“About Rolf?”
Geneva nodded, swallowed. “Yes.”
Julia didn’t say anything, but Geneva knew she waited. Waited for the horrifying truth. Who was she to withhold it? She was not a fan of subterfuge. There was power in knowledge. “Peter thinks Rolf has turned. That he’s being forced to use dark energy on a regular basis.”
Julia covered her mouth. “Oh God, no.”
“That’s what I told him. I don’t believe it. Rolf’s an honorable man. The only way he’d turn is if whoever’s holding him has a way to coerce him.”
“The dream man warned me Rolf would try and kill me.”
“I know, but remember your dreams aren’t always accurate. Many times, they’re symbolic. You have to remind yourself of that.”
“You said you joined your brothers on this assignment. What does Peter want you to do?”
Julia had always been perceptive. Geneva searched the colors in her aura for any sign of a nervous breakdown. Violet dominated the landscape.
“He wants to use us as bait. He believes Gemcatcher wants me dead. I know too much.”
“He suggested you return home and wait for Gemcatcher to attack?”
“That’s about it. When he does, my brothers will be here. Together, we’ll prevent him from succeeding.”
“But that’s awful. What if he kills you before we can stop it?”
“If it helps us find Rolf, it’s a risk I’m willing to take. I would hope my talent would offer us some protection.”
Geneva’s phone buzzed, and she glanced at the incoming call. A jolt of fear surged through her system. Her hand shook so hard, the phone fell to the tiled floor before she could answer. The kitchen lights flickered, but she didn’t pay any attention. She dropped to the ground, scrambling for her phone.
“Geneva, what is it? What’s wrong?”
“It’s…It’s…him. It’s Rolf.” Geneva’s hands shook as she slid her finger across the screen. Julia hovered over her. “Hello? Hello, Rolf? Where are you? Are you okay?”
“It’s about time you answered. Listen, I don’t have much time.”
Rolf’s deep, familiar voice sent a wave of aching relief through her stomach. He was alive. He was not dead, and he didn’t sound like a hardened killer, or that he’d been missing for days. He sounded like he had the last time she’d talked to him. “Where have you been? What have they done to you?”
“I don’t know. I’ve been kept somewhere dark. Some kind of room. Listen, I don’t have much time. I need you to pay attention.”
“Okay.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m home. In my apartment.”
“Are you alone?”
“Julia’s here.”
There was a short pause, and Rolf spoke again. “You and Julia need to leave your place immediately. Go to the coffee shop around the corner—Coffersations. Don’t tell anyone where you’re going. No one. If you do, they’ll kill me. Do you understand?”
“Yes, but Rolf…”
“They’re coming. I have to go. Remember, tell no one. I’ll meet you there.”
“Rolf, wait.”
The call ended. How had Rolf managed to make a phone call? Why hadn’t he answered all the countless messages she had left since he’d been gone?
32
Mistake
“We should alert your brother. It’s probably a trap,” Julia said. Vivid red sparks flickered within her aura.
“What if it’s not? What if Rolf’s found a way to escape and needs our help? If we take Nate along, he’ll kill Rolf. Peter has told him Rolf is rogue or close to turning. He’ll shoot him before he’ll listen to what he has to say.”
“My dream man told me Rolf would try to kill me, remember? We’d be foolish not to tell Nate.”
Geneva sighed and ran a hand through her hair. Much as she didn’t want to believe Julia’s dream, she’d be foolish to ignore the warning. “Okay, I’m sure you’re right. But I swear, if Nate shoots Rolf, I’ll never forgive him. Let’s go then.”
Julia turned toward the door, but Geneva laid a hand on her arm. “No, wait. Someone could be watching the house. Let me get his attention first.”
She opened her mind. “Rolf’s alive.”
Almost immediately, Nate answered. “Stay inside. I’ll be right there.”
Twenty seconds later, Nate appeared at the door, and Julia let him inside.
“He’s been in touch?” Nate’s eyes glittered, and his aura was tinged with lime green, indicating his excitement.
Geneva nodded. “He called a few minutes ago—said he was being held somewhere in the dark, but he’ll meet Julia and me at Coffersations. We’re to come alone. He said they’d kill him if we didn’t.”
“Who’s they?”
“I don’t know. He hung up before I could find out.”
“I don’t like this. Does Peter know?”
She shook her head. “There hasn’t been time to contact him.”
Nate pulled out his phone and called Peter. “Rolf contacted Geneva. Yeah, says he’s at the coffee shop around the corner. He wants Geneva and Julia to meet him there alone. Claims whoever has him will kill him if they don’t.”
There was a pause while Nate listened to whatever Peter had to tell him. “No, he didn’t tell her…you’re kidding. All right. All right. I’ll tell her.”
Nate ended the call and turned toward Geneva, his expression a thin line.
“What is it?”
“Peter wants us to meet Rolf at the coffee shop.”
“And?”
“There’s a good chance Rolf has gone rogue. Peter’s contacting Danny and others for help. We’re to shoot at the first sign of danger. Got it?”
Geneva wasn’t sure she could pull the trigger. The mere thought had her stomach turning over. But she nodded because she was anxious to get moving.
“You two go first.” Nate motioned toward the front door. “I’ll follow close behind. But try and make him think it’s just the two of you.”
Geneva opened the door and started the short walk to Coffersations. She didn’t hear Nate leave, but when she looked back a few seconds in, he was gone. She pointed toward the street corner. “It’s that brown building up ahead.” Her pulse quickened at the thought of seeing Rolf again. God, how she’d missed him.
They reached the corner, and she held out an arm to keep Julia from crossing the street, so she could do a quick scan of the building up ahead. She searched for Rolf’s familiar green energy waves. Nothing. “Let’s go.” She motioned Julia to cross the street.
