“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”Never admit anything.First rule of… something.
Apparently, I’m not a very good liar because black beard deftly places a firearm under his napkin and slides it across the table, pointed at me.“Where is Commander Rygar?”
Shit.We’re in trouble.
They know his name.
Sixteen
B.I.L.L.: I cannot stress this enough, but I told them so.
Tahoe Triple Treats, Sunday 2:30 pm
“Is there a problem here?”My dad asks, standing behind me.He stares at the guy with the gun but speaks to the idiot holding my wrist.“Take your hand off my daughter.”
Douchebag number one with the severe blond buzzcut curls his lip.“I’m Special Agent Johnson.This is Special Agent Brown.Miss Hawthorn is harboring a fugitive.We will do whatever’s necessary to take him into custody.”
Asshole number two, with the trim black beard, leans back in his seat and sneers, his hand and weapon a terrifying bulk under the napkin .“If you don’t play nice, we can lock you both up for a very long time.”
“You need to leave the café.You’re not welcome here.”I twist my arm but can’t break blondie’s hold without making a scene.I don’t want to play nice.I want them to go far, far away so I never see them again.
Special Agent Johnson’s threat is spoken quietly, his words clipped as he squeezes my wrist hard enough to make me wince.“We’re not going anywhere.One phone call and I’ll have this place shut down within the hour.We’ll take the whole family into custody and lock you up in special place no one has ever heard of.”The unspoken threat is there, behind his fanatical, shining eyes, that no one would ever hear from us again.
Black beard chuckles to break the tension.“So, be a dear, get us another coffee and tell the commander to turn himself in.We have the entire area locked down.He’s not going anywhere.All he’s doing now is putting you and your family in danger.”He looks from me to my father, who hasn’t said a word, but I can practically feel him analyzing our options.Apparently, Special Agent Davis can feel it as well.“We have the utmost respect for your service, Master Sargeant, but if you get in our way, we’ll make sure you and your wife have a cell right next to your daughter’s.”
The only reason I’m not panicking is my dad’s hand squeezes my shoulder.I paste a tight smile on my face, but inside I’m shaking.“I’ll be right back with those coffees.”
Grinding my teeth, I walk away, attempting to act as if nothing is wrong.But of course, all eyes are on us.I see a few customers who were at the church yesterday whispering to one another, judgment in their eyes.Ignoring the curious onlookers, my dad is hot on my heels as I wind my way around tables.When we reach the counter, I lean over and whisper, “Dad, we need to get out of here.I don’t know what to do.”
“Leave it to me, sweetie.I didn’t spend all those years as a SEAL for nothing.”He presses a kiss to my forehead.
Max, the adorable ten-year-old grandson of the restaurant owner next door, and our resident tin foil hat maker, joins us at the counter.We’re his favorite hangout.I like to think it’s me, but I suspect it’s all the cookies he gobbles down every day after school.
Max’s wheat blond hair sticks out from beneath his Viking inspired, tin foil hat.The precocious gleam in his blue eyes indicates he heard everything.Bat hearing, this one.
Max bounces on the balls of his feet, his excitement palpable as he adjust his hat.I hold back a sigh.He’s just a little boy.These agents are dangerous.“I’m working on a new hat for you, Madison.You’ll need it with theMen in Blackin town.”
TheMen in Black, I grimace.Their presence here is just more confirmation that everything Rygar’s been telling me is true.
I glance over my shoulder at the agents regarding me with stony expressions and an air of expectancy, like they’re waiting for me to make one teeny mistake before they swoop in and murder all of us.No.They wouldn’t kill us.Would they?
“Thanks, Max.”He’s a sweet kid, always making tin foil hats for everyone.The whole town of Stargazer Village adores him.The local UFO community has adopted him into their ranks.Between the UFO fanatics and the locals who love his grandparents’ Italian restaurant, he knows just about everyone in town.Quite an accomplishment for a fourth grader.My dad treats him like part of the family.Since Max’s own father was killed in the line of duty, they share a unique bond.
My dad leans down, using a quiet, serious tone, and says, “I’ve got a job for you, soldier.Are you up to the task?”
“Cool, Master Sargent.I’m reporting for duty.”Max hides the movement as he salutes my dad, excitement rippling off his ten-year-old shoulders.
My dad whispers.“We need you to pull the fire alarm and distract the suits by the window.I promise you won’t get into trouble.Think you can do that for us?”
“I’m on it, sir.I won’t let you down.”Max replies with total sincerity and races away.
Double damn.Max pulls that alarm, and the sprinkler system will go off.We’ll lose inventory and have a huge mess.We’ll be closed for weeks doing clean-up.I won’t be able to bake.There has to be another way.“Dad, the festival cookies.”
“I’ll talk to the guys at the country club.Phil owes me a favor.I will cash it in so you can use their ovens.I know it’s not ideal, but your mom and I will help.”
Taking a fortifying breath, I nod as I realize my primary concern is protecting Rygar.One way or another, the cookie situation will get figured out.Or it won’t.All I care about right now is making sure those assholes don’t get their hands on my husband.Who knows what they would do to him.Torture?Kill him?No.I can’t let that happen.
The memory of Calypso and Sasquatch talking about the deep underground military bases sends shivers through me.When we were standing in front of those two saying our vows, I thought it was all a show, costumes and fantasy fun.Now I’m not so sure.Calypso said they treated the Sasquatch like a slave and forced him to guard their underground base.Is that where they would take Rygar?If they did, how would I get him out?
