Gabby entered the main house and got the same greeting from the same weary Pledge, as if he had never seen her before. “May I ask the purpose of this visit?”
Gabby smiled and repeated the same words she had spoken earlier that day. He handed her the clipboard, and after signing it, she proceeded to her station. As she was dashing up the stairs, she almost bumped into Noah. Sensing someone behind him, he turned. “Whoa. Take it easy,” Noah exclaimed. Then he realized it was the same woman he had reprimanded the day before, and several weeks before that. “Oh. it’s you,” Noah said sourly. “I understand my brother has entrusted you with phone duty.”
“Yes, sir.” Gabby wasn’t about to offer any other chatter.
“I don’t understand why he would, but this is your last chance to prove you can be trusted.” Before Gabby could say a word, he turned around, continued up the stairs, and went into his office, slamming the door behind him.
What is up with this guy? she asked herself. Could he really be related to Liam? A twin no less. Shaking her head in bemusement, she watched Maxwell lock the drawers, then took her place behind the desk. No covert calls this time. She knew that Maggie would be worried. She had, after all, left a cryptic message from a flower shop phone.
Several ominous-looking men approached the desk. “Liam and Noah please.” She recalled the accent she had heard earlier that morning. It was the same. Russian? Ukrainian? Romanian? Somewhere in that part of the world. They all sounded like Dracula to her.
She buzzed Noah’s and Liam’s offices. “Three gentlemen are here to see you.” They hadn’t given Gabby their names, and she knew well enough not to ask.
“Send them into my office,” Noah snapped.
“I’ll be right out,” Liam replied. He was smiling when he exited his office. “Gentlemen.” He offered his hand and led them to Noah’s office. “This way, please.”
The three men entered Noah’s soundproof office and closed the heavy door behind them. She strained to hear any conversation, but the only sound was the hum of the ceiling fan above her head. It was then that she realized that the night she had overheard Noah and Liam arguing, the door to Liam’s private quarters had been ajar. So much secrecy. Gabby was getting a lot more cynical about this place, which was purportedly a haven. A haven for what? she wondered. She was startled out of her reverie when Liam exited Noah’s office.
“That was quick,” Gabby said, belatedly realizing that she shouldn’t have said anything and putting her hand up to her mouth.
Liam smiled at her. “Noah said he could handle the meeting and that I should plan a trip to Tibet.” He shook his head and went into his office.
The meeting ran past Maxwell’s lunch hour. When he returned, she gave him the messages she had taken and left. She had no idea how much longer the meeting went, nor what it was about. But the whole thing certainly seemed strange to her. Why would well-dressed foreigners be interested in The Haven? They definitely didn’t look like anyone she had seen before. And those accents. Again, she tried to pinpoint them.
On her way back from lunch hour duty, she spotted Rachel heading in her direction. Rachel looked elated. “You are not going to believe this.” The excitement in her voice was palpable.
“You know about the other sects to The Haven, right?”
“Not exactly. I thought this was it. No?” Gabby was intrigued, her misgivings growing.
Rachel explained what little she knew. “Apparently, there is another branch of The Haven. It’s an elite group that travels to other places to spread the word.”
“I wasn’t aware of it. Tell me more.” Gabby feigned excitement.
Rachel looked around. A dozen or so Pledges and Tyros were milling about. She gestured for the two of them to take a path far enough away from the center of the compound so no one could hear.
“Well ... it seems that every so often they pick someone or several someones to join the traveling staff.”
“Does Liam go with them?” Gabby tried to sound interested, not suspicious.
“No. We’re like recruiters, I guess. We meet with people and discuss the teachings and the programs. From what I’ve heard, some of the people we meet with have a lot of money and The Haven wants them to become benefactors.” Rachel’s elation was growing. “They told me that there is one person in particular who is interested in funding a local cable program for Liam’s work. Isn’t that exciting?”
“Yes. Yes, very.” Gabby was now even more dubious than earlier in the day. “So, tell me. What does this mean?”
“They send us to a special seminary to teach us exactly what to say. They also give us civilian clothes to wear.”
“How many people at The Haven know about this? Tyros? Pledges? Luminaries?”
Rachel shrugged. “Definitely not the Tyros or Pledges. I dunno about the Luminaries. It’s very hush-hush. I didn’t know about it until Noah told me this morning. He also said I wasn’t to discuss any of it with anyone. But I had to tell you! You’ve been such a good friend to me.”
“Your secret is safe with me. I promise.” Gabby gave Rachel a hug, but she had a feeling of foreboding that this might be the last time she would see her friend.
“I have to get ready. Not like I have anything to pack,” Rachel said with a big grin. “Although I will miss my bicycle. Even though I haven’t used it since I got here, I knew it wasn’t far away. Silly, I know, but that bike got me around for a long time.”
“If I see it, I’ll let it know.” Gabby chortled.
“Thanks for being such a pal.” Rachel gave Gabby a big hug and hustled to her dorm to pack the few items she had made in the crafts shed.
After stopping to talk to another Pledge, Gabby was walking to her dorm when she noticed Noah pulling his car around near the garage. It was a black Cadillac Escalade with tinted windows. Just like the one the Guardians were driving when they picked her up from the florist’s shop. A few minutes later, Rachel joined him, got into the vehicle, and they drove off. Something didn’t feel right to Gabby, but whom could she ask? Obviously, no one.
After her afternoon class, she walked toward the main house to relieve Maxwell for his break. She got the same routine from the Pledge on duty in the foyer, signed her name, and went up the stairs. The hallway was empty except for Maxwell standing ready to retreat for his break. “You’re on your own. Liam is teaching a class, and Noah has left.” Maxwell turned and walked away.