The Turning Tides

CHAPTER Eight

ARMED



~



I walked into the basement security center in the morning, finding myself alone with Yuri. He stood respectfully, but I averted my eyes and skirted around him. I’d decided the best way to deal with Yuri was to simply ignore him. Unlike Boris, I wasn’t entirely convinced that his bizarre obsession with me was a thing of the past. I still didn’t like the way he looked at me.

I turned the corner to look in the lounge for Paul, and found him sitting on the couch with a laptop. He snapped it shut and set it aside.

“Hey there,” I waved. “Ready for my de-bugging lesson?”

“Yes ma’am,” he replied, gesturing to the couch next to him. I set my purse down between us and looked at the gadget he produced from his breast pocket.

“This,” he held up what appeared to be an old cell phone, “is an electronic detection device. This baby can detect GPS trackers, hidden cameras– even wireless phone taps.”

He led me out into the parking garage, stopping at one of Evie’s sports cars and demonstrating how to sweep it both inside and out, showing me how to adjust it to test for different transmission frequencies. He pointed out some of the less obvious places that a bug or tracker might be hidden.

He motioned to a row of cars and handed me the device, “Go to it.”

I took it from him with a grin and started in on the first car in the row. Nothing. I looked at him with narrowed eyes, but he just grinned and looked away. I started in on the next car.

“Aha!” I cried, when a few beeps led me to a little magnet stuck to the undercarriage of a bright red Ferrari. I continued on down the line of cars with no success. I looked up with frustration and he started whistling.

“Are you finished?” he asked. Then it struck me.

I went back to the Ferrari and scanned the dashboard, finding one more. There was a third one tucked into the side of the headlamps. When I finished, I handed him all three.

“Well?”

“Well done,” he nodded. “Rule number one: Never leave a job unfinished. Now let’s go try an interior room.”

I swept the kitchen and lounge of the security center, learning how to adjust the device to compensate for the electronics in the television, refrigerator and microwave. I found one hidden in the cushions of the couch and another inside the coffeemaker.

“You got them all,” he announced proudly.

“So I get to keep this, right?” I asked, reaching for my purse. The thing started beeping like crazy.

“Yes, but you’ll have to keep it turned off around the Taser,” he pointed out. “Interference.”

“Thanks.” I smiled, “Now can I shoot some real guns?”

I followed Paul through the soundproofed door and into the shooting range, watching as he punched a code into a lock that opened a large storage unit. I looked over his shoulder to see that it contained an arsenal, bristling with guns of every size and shape.

He cocked an eyebrow at me, “Are you sure you’re ready for a .45?”

After a few rounds of practice with a purse sized pistol, he graduated me to some higher caliber handguns, wearying me with more gun safety lectures. We went over loading and unloading procedures until I could do it without looking. I could tell he was impressed by my progress, but he wasn’t going to allow me the satisfaction of any praise.

I didn’t care, I was on a mission.

“Let’s see,” he held out his hand. I passed him a weapon with the barrel pointed down, watching as he checked and re-checked my loading skills. Once we started shooting them, I was glad for his thorough approach. The more powerful guns required a better stance, and a more focused approach to aiming. They kicked back harder, but I fully was prepared to handle the powerful jolt.

Now we shot at paper targets shaped like men, that moved both sideways and directly towards us. He had me stow the gun in my purse, and practice retrieving it, removing the safety, and firing in a few seconds. We both took aim at a target that was coming at us, comparing the holes we made.

I’d shot my man in the shoulder, lungs and belly, while Paul had put a bullet right between the eyes and directly into the heart. He looked at me smugly, pointing.

“There’s your killshot.”

I nodded to mine, “Wouldn’t that be enough to stop him?”

“Rule number one…” Paul said meaningfully.

“Never leave a job unfinished.” I said, looking at his target.

He got a faraway look in his eyes, and I imagined he was remembering some terrible battle fought long ago, “Never forget the objective of the mission. The target must not be allowed to escape.”

My hair stood on end, and I thought of Edwards and Olivia. “I won’t,” I whispered.

He looked down at me with a wink.

“Now, may I have a gun?” I asked.

“Soon enough,” he smiled, “We’ll take care of you soon enough.”

Our lesson ended with Paul denying me a weapon, ignoring my insistent pleas. I stormed back up to my dad’s apartment, frustrated that he was still putting me off despite the fact I’d proven myself capable. Doctor Permala was checking my father’s arm dressing, and I saw him wince with pain as she pulled some tape away.

“Hey!” I rushed to his side, “Take it easy!”

She startled, and looked up at me with surprise.

“Marina, the doctor is doing a great job,” he nodded his encouragement at her, and I could see her regain her composure and relax, turning back determinedly to the task at hand. He cast me a reproachful look.

“It looks painful,” I observed.

He sighed, “Don’t you think it’s time you got back to school?” he asked gently. “There’s no reason for you to be missing out on so much.”

I felt like I was being dismissed, and the doctor’s nervous eyes met mine. I looked at her with narrowed eyes. This was all her doing. She was the one Fatima warned me about, and here she was, trying to come between me and my father. I got up and stomped out of the room.

When I came slinking out of my bedroom a few hours later I found him resting quietly, alone. He seemed distant, so I picked a book from the shelf and curled up in a chair alongside him. We sat silently together, until I looked up and caught him watching me.

“You know, the older you get, the more you look like your mother.”

I was surprised that he brought her up, and after a few minutes I couldn’t resist asking, “Dad… did you know that she… that she went back– back and forth between the land and the sea– when she was carrying me?”

He looked paler than ever when he closed his eyes and answered, “Yes.”

I sat up in the chair, shocked. There was no point in telling him my theory about my enhanced abilities being due to it. He didn’t know that Evie was a hybrid like me, nor was he aware of the fact that we possessed any special muse powers.

“Did she know that you knew about it?”

He nodded, drawing a ragged breath as he opened his eyes. He stared at the ceiling, eyes unfocused. I watched as he dragged the murky depths of his painful memories.

I leaned forward, grasping for the smallest detail, “What did you do?”

He squeezed his eyes shut tightly.

I pressed on, “What did she say about it?”

He looked at me with fresh agony in his eyes, speaking quietly, “She didn’t want to stop… But when I found out, I made her promise…” His voice trailed off.

“Promise what?” I asked intensely.

He turned his head away from me as his voice grew thick with emotion, “I didn’t know… I didn’t realize...”

This was the most he’d ever spoken about her, and I took his hand, “You couldn’t have known what would happen… It wasn’t your fault.”

He shook his head, “You don’t understand… I could feel her slipping away, and… and, I begged her not to take you away from me…” A tear slipped out of the corner of his eye and splashed onto the pillow.

“Dad–”

“She swore she wouldn’t leave me alone.”

I took a moment to let in sink in. Did she know what it would mean for her to stay when she made her fateful decision? I knew how difficult it was to tear yourself away from the carefree bliss of swimming free in the ocean, to give up the unimaginable strength and freedom. It was hard to conceive how she summoned the will to go back and forth between the two worlds.

My eyes filled with tears, and my throat tightened, “She loved you more than life itself.”

Maybe I shouldn’t have said it out loud.

His face twisted with pain, and he turned his head away from me.

Just then, Doctor Permala walked in. She took one look at my father and her black eyes flashed with outrage.

“Miss Vanderpool, may I have a word with you?” she asked in an icy tone.

“Can you give us a minute?” I snapped at her. She cast me a warning glance and disappeared down the hallway.

“Dad, listen to me,” I said, groping for the words to explain. “I know how much she loved you because I know how much it takes to come back after back after being one of them– it’s nearly impossible. Swimming in the sea makes you forget everything.” I paused to sigh with frustration, “I don’t know exactly how to explain it, but I do know that the only thing stronger than that feeling is love.”

He turned back to face me, and our eyes locked. It was hard to tell whether he felt regret or gratitude, but for the first time in a long while, I felt like he really saw me.

“You’ve been through a lot this past year.”

I smiled through my tears, “I think we both have.”

I bent to press my cheek against his, “Get some rest.”

I straightened up and went to my room, sitting on the edge of my bed and dropping my head into my hands. So my mother came ashore to have me as a final selfless act, offering me up as a gift to him. I could understand why he never wanted to bring her up. I was starting to feel guilty simply for being born.

I took a deep breath and stiffened my spine. I would pay her back. I was born with unique skills, and now I’d been presented with an opportunity to put them to use. I clenched my fists with determination.

I would make my life worthy of my mother’s sacrifice. I would keep working to protect my sisters– her sisters. I would throw a monkey wrench into Edwards’s evil plans, and keep my sisters safe no matter what it took.

Doctor Permala came barging in without knocking. Her eyes were fiery, but her voice was low and controlled, “You are interfering with your father’s recuperation.”

As much as I resented her meddling, I had to admit she was right. Talking about my mother had always upset Dad, but in his weakened physical state… well, it might be too much to handle. The doctor seemed competent. I could always come back to deal with her later.

I looked up at her tiredly, “I’m leaving today.”

She looked shocked, and her black eyes flew open with surprise, “That isn’t necessary– I simply wanted–”

I held up my hand, “I should get back to school. I’ll be up to visit soon.”

The truth was, I wanted Ethan. He was the only one who knew everything there was to know about me, and we belonged together. Knowing that I was still being followed and hearing about my mother only confirmed what I already sensed; however much time I had should be spent by his side.

“But–”

“You were right. He needs peace and quiet.”

She looked down shyly, “Thank you Miss Vanderpool.”

“Call me Marina,” I said, “And promise me you’ll take good care of him.”

“You have my word,” she said, “And… please call me Amrita.”

I gathered my things and reached for my purse, pulling out my phone and calling Ethan.

“How’s everything going?” he asked.

“I’m thinking about coming home a little early.”

“Good! When?”

“I’m leaving right now. I have a surprise for you.”

I could hear his smile in his voice, “I’ll let Stumpy know you’re on the way.”



On the way out I stopped by Dad’s bedside to tell him that I’d decided to get back to my studies. I promised to come up for a visit in a few days, kissed both his cheeks, and hurried out the door before I could upset him anymore. I took the elevator down to the basement, looking for Paul, but finding Yuri again.

“Is Paul here?” I asked him. He pointed towards the garage and I turned to go.

“Marina–” He seemed to have something to say, and I paused. To my relief, Boris came into the room.

“Hey Sveetie,” he smiled, “What do you want?”

“I’m going back to Aptos,” I said confidently, “And I need a gun to take with me.”

Boris looked skeptical, “I have to ask Evie.”

I rolled my eyes in frustration. Boris was Evie’s man, and would never consider going against her wishes. Evie had left the decision entirely up to Paul, who seemed to be operating with an overabundance of caution.

I made a face, “Don’t bother. I’ll talk to Paul.”

When I stepped into the garage to look for Paul a huge figure suddenly loomed out of the shadows and I flinched. It was Yuri, and I nearly turned and ran. I looked all around, but we were alone.

“Please,” he said beseechingly. “I haff for you.”

I looked down to see a gun balanced on his massive palm, facing away from me. I looked into his dark eyes.

“Take it,” he said.

I reached for it, recognizing the short barreled Beretta that I had practiced with that morning. I checked the safety before removing and reloading the bullets. He reached into his pocket and handed me several more clips of ammunition. His eyes were anxious.

“Thanks,” I squinted up at him, accepting his paradoxical peace offering.

“Be careful,” he warned me, turning to go back the way he came. I opened my purse, zipping the gun away securely into an inside pocket. Knowing it was there gave me a little thrill of satisfaction, and it felt like a weight rolling off of my shoulders. I was finally starting to feel like I could take care of myself.

I went to go fetch my new surfboard and wetsuit from the Rolls, wondering what possessed Yuri to arm me. It didn’t matter, I decided, I needn’t tell Paul about it.

“Marina,” Paul came trotting up to me, “Were you looking for me?”

“Yeah, I was wondering if I could get a ride back to Aptos.”

He looked at the board I had tucked under my arm, “You’re going surfing? What about our lesson on Sunday? Can’t the boyfriend wait?’”

I shook my head firmly, “I can’t wait. I’ll come back up for the lesson.”

He shrugged, “Alright. Why don’t you drive, and I’ll give you a few pointers.”

“Fine,” I smiled, waving my board, “Pick something that can fit this.”

We chose a sporty BMW convertible, and Paul turned the drive home into a fun lesson in evasive driving. We took a few random exits, doubling back and checking for any possible pursuers. He took me out on some quiet frontage roads to practice what he called “mayday” turns, ambush avoidance, and high speed reverse. He advised me to vary my routes, and keep my patterns unpredictable.

“Follow these rules and one will ever be able to trail you again,” he said. “Just be sure to keep the Taser with you at all times.”

When we pulled into the harbor parking lot the sun was sinking into the water, painting the sky infinite shades of pink and orange and red. I parked between Ethan’s blue truck and my teal Rover, handing Paul the keys and climbing out into the crisp autumn air to fetch my gear from the backseat.

“Thanks Paul. See you on Sunday,” I told him, stowing the board into my Rover and waving as he pulled away.

Bounding up the stairs two at a time, I pulled out the miniature surfboard keychain and tossed it in my hands with a smile. Using my key for the first time, I burst through the door with a grin, stopping short.

Ethan was sitting uneasily on the couch, and when his eyes met mine they looked completely shell-shocked. Sitting next to him was a woman with a puffy head of bleached blonde hair. She had obviously been crying, and daubed at the corner of her heavily made up eyes with a tissue. I’d never met her before, but I recognized her immediately.

It was Ethan’s mother.





~