THIRTY-TWO
Barclay watched as the last council member finally took his seat in the chamber before he let the gavel drop onto the table to ask for silence. He knew he would have to go slowly in order to give Pearce and Aiden sufficient time to upload the tracking software to all council members’ cell phones. Beyond the closed doors of the council chambers, the two of them were already working on the cell phones, Barclay having made sure that the council assistant would be called away from his post at the door so the two could work unobserved.
The knowledge that he had violated the rules of the council by giving away how the members had voted, made him feel uneasy; but, as his son had insisted, it was the only way.
He glanced at Cinead, his gut clenching at the thought that he could be a traitor. The Scotsman was his oldest friend, his opinions valued by all, his character beyond reproach. As he looked into the round, the thought of any of the others turning out to be a traitor didn’t suit him any better. All members of the council were honorable men and women, chosen because they were just leaders.
Yet, Barclay trusted his son, although something about him had been different when he’d visited. He appeared less angry than usual, despite the seriousness of the issues at hand. Almost as if something or someone had a calming influence on him.
“I’ve called this special meeting to update you on the case of Dr. Cruickshank.”
Murmurs went through the room. It was rather unusual to discuss individual cases once a vote had been taken and the charge assigned to a Stealth Guardian. He would have to be careful not to raise any suspicion as to his true agenda: to set a trap for the traitor.
“There have been some setbacks. I’m afraid after an attack on their safe house, Aiden and his charge had to flee.”
“Are they unharmed?” Riona asked.
“For now, yes. However, I am surprised at Aiden’s decision of how to go forward.”
Cinead raised an eyebrow. “Your own son’s? Weren’t you the one to convince us that he was up for the job?”
Barclay bowed his head. “I don’t always agree with his ideas. However, there might be some merit to his decision. He’s taken her back to their last hiding place, figuring it will be where the demons won’t look for him again.” Cautiously, he glanced around, searching for tell tale signs in the eyes of his fellow council members. Would somebody take the bait?
“That is against protocol,” Geoffrey piped. “Once a safe house is compromised, it will never be used again.”
Barclay raised his hand to pacify his old friend. “I understand, however, Aiden has gone to radio silence, and since he selected his last safe houses anonymously, I have no way of contacting him. We’re in the dark.”
“What about Manus, his second?” Finlay asked. “He would know where the safe house is.”
“I’m afraid I’ve already checked into this avenue. Aiden cut off contact with Manus before claiming the safe house. Manus never knew where Aiden had taken her,” Barclay lied.
“That’s highly irregular,” Finlay said. “Are you sure your son hasn’t gone rogue like his friend Hamish? What if he’s kidnapped his charge and is now using her as a pawn?”
Barclay felt anger about Finlay’s accusation boil up in him. “My son is doing what’s best for all of us.”
“Primus, your son is putting us in danger,” Deirdre snapped. “Without his second and any support from us, how does he expect to defeat any demons when they attack?”
“They won’t find him. By using his previous hiding place, he’s outsmarting them. They’ll never go back to where they’ve already found him earlier.”
Wade rose from his seat. “I agree with Deirdre. I think Aiden should be pulled off this assignment. We can’t risk his erratic behavior endangering us all.”
Barclay glared at Wade. “Aiden will remain on this assignment. I might not always see eye to eye with my son, but he is a capable Stealth Guardian and can protect his charge without our help.”
“You’re making a huge mistake.” Deirdre rose and glared at him. “Have you forgotten what can happen when our guardians don’t comply with rules?”
“What are you implying?” Barclay ground out. “Are you questioning Aiden’s abilities?”
“What if I am?” She thrust her chin up in open challenge. “Has he not cost us dearly once before?”
Barclay gasped, shocked at what she was hinting. “You’d better let the past remain where it belongs, Deirdre.”
“You know as well as I do that I can’t do that. I was Julia’s godmother, I loved her like a daughter. I—”
Barclay shot from his seat. “No further! I’m warning you!”
“You shouldn’t be warning me, you should be warning your son. He’s putting us all in danger. He’s being irrational just as he was then,” Deirdre continued from between clenched teeth.
“My son is a fine guardian—”
“Yet you have no influence over him,” Finlay suddenly interjected, “just like you can’t control anything else, not even as Primus. Sad, really, to hold such a powerful position in our society, yet to be so powerless.”
Barclay shifted his attention to the council member. “Is there something else you have to add on the powers of this council? Or are you quite done?”
“Since you’re asking,” Finlay gritted, “yes, there’s more. All we do is sit, debate, and vote. But we take no decisive action. We let the guardians dance on our noses. You can’t even control your son. How do you expect to lead our race?”
The words surprised him. He’d never realized that Finlay harbored so much discontent.
“Maybe you would like to become Primus instead.”
Finlay scoffed. “I hold no such ambition.”
“Anybody else who doesn’t like the way the council operates?” He glared into the round.
Murmurs rippled through the chamber.
***
Aiden stood watching over Pearce’s shoulder as his friend looked at the different colored dots that moved on the digital map on the monitor in the command room.
“Everything set up?”
Pearce nodded. “I’m locked onto them. It’s time to move. I’ll send you word as soon as anybody is on the move.” He pointed at the dots. “Looks like the council meeting is just breaking up.”
“Are Enya and Logan in place?”
“Yes, they’re waiting. Time for you, Hamish, and Manus to go.”
A door opened behind them. Aiden turned to see Leila slip in, followed by Hamish. When he saw her, he felt his body fill with warmth. She smiled at him and walked toward him. Without hesitation, he put his arm around her and pulled her to his side.
“You’re back,” she whispered.
He pressed a chaste kiss to her forehead. “Not for long. We need to leave now. Pearce is the only one to stay. He’ll protect you while I’m gone.”
“Can’t I come with you?”
“No. You’re safest here. I want you nowhere near the demons.”
She pressed herself closely to him, and her gesture of trust strengthened him. Everything would be all right. He knew it in his gut.
“Let’s go!” Hamish ordered.
With a last glance at Leila, he followed Hamish out the door. Outside the portal, Manus was already waiting for them, weapons in hand.
The three of them would go to the old farmhouse where they’d been attacked by the demons earlier—but this time, they’d be lying in wait for them.
Pearce would record the council members’ movements and alert them to their positions.