“Has he ever approached you before?” asked River.
“A few times. Usually just asking silly questions like, ‘what kind of shit is the bureau starting today?’. He was seriously obsessed with finding something on the bureau.”
“Where is he located? In D.C.?” asked Christopher.
“No. We actually don’t know where. He broadcasts from a mobile station.”
“Mobile? Like a moving radio station?” asked River.
“Exactly. He’s always on the move, living and working out of a motorhome. He’s serious about the conspiracies and chases down everything. I’m talking UFO’s, AI generated media and press conferences, even doubles that are sitting in for high profile officials.”
“What a fucking nut job,” frowned Gator.
“Is he?” asked Priscilla. “Listen, I don’t agree with this guy and his methods but he’s proven some things.”
“Like?” asked River.
“Like the government actually covering up things that happened at Area 51. Like congress taking massive kickbacks from private donors, corporations, and foreign governments. There’s even talk that he’s fed all of you information,” she said with a grin.
“What?” Gator looked at AJ and Hiro, both with surprised expressions. “Is that true?”
“No! I mean, I don’t think so,” said Hiro. “We know our sources and I don’t remember getting any anonymous source material recently.”
“It wasn’t recently,” said Angel sitting in the back of the room. “He provided it about twenty years ago. It was solid, verified information and helped us close a trafficking case. The agreement was that we wouldn’t breathe his name or try to find him.”
“And yet here he is watching your great-grandson,” said Priscilla.
“Or watching you,” said Angel. “I think we have to find out which of you he was observing. He might have information that he wanted to share with us but didn’t know how to do that or didn’t know who River was and if he could be trusted. We have to go to him.”
“But that requires us leaving the property,” said Priscilla. River hugged her tightly, kissing the top of her head.
“No, babe. It requires me to leave this property.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
“I don’t like this, River. This is about me as well and I should be going with you,” she said pacing the cottage.
“Honey, I know how you feel but you heard the man on the call, he wants you.”
“He probably wants you as well, River. You’re risking your life for something that could be nothing,” she said.
“Priscilla, you’re not nothing. You’re everything,” he said making a move toward her. She held up both hands, shaking her head.
“No, no, no. I heard all about the instant love connections on this property and how you boys sweep in and take a woman by storm.”
“You did?” he laughed.
“It’s not funny, River! Someone murdered a woman whom I thought was my work friend and partner. They may have tried to murder me, or you, or both of us. We had to run, in the middle of the night to God knows where, and then you introduce me to four-hundred of your closest family and friends, including more than a dozen ghosts.
“I’m trying to remain calm and keep my head but this is a lot to take in. On top of all of that every time I look at you my stomach does back flips and my heart aches because I can’t believe you would want me!”
She circled the living room one more time and then took a seat on one of the bar stools. River walked slowly toward, taking the seat beside her as he turned her chair to face him.
“I’m sorry. You’re right. This is hard and confusing and I haven’t made it any easier for you. Here’s the most important thing for you to know. Somewhere between walking into the bureau on that first day, having coffee with you at the damn shop, and landing here, I discovered something amazing.”
“What’s that?” she asked with tears.
“That I love you, Priscilla. You’re the most amazing woman I’ve ever met and I want you in my life. Long term. Not a fast thing. I’m talking lifetimes here. I know that probably freaks you out even more but you are the woman for me. I just know it.
