"You have no idea where you might go? There's no way to keep in touch?" Ashe toed the ground. Sali sat on the grass beside Ashe, his tongue lolling from his mouth as he followed the conversation, still in wolf form.
"Director Jennings won't allow it," Steven Pendley sighed.
You're a quarter child, aren't you? Ashe sent to Steven Pendley.
Yes. That was a very good guess, Ashe. And I have mindspeech. I only discovered that when we met you, Edward's father replied. That makes Edward more than half Elemaiyan. I don't know what this will mean for him eventually. I have to worry about keeping him safe for now.
I hope you can tell me about them, someday. The Elemaiya, I mean, Ashe said, sipping his soda.
I hope we live to tell you, Ashe, Steven Pendley replied.
* * *
"Director, I'm afraid I have bad news," the Captain of a local police precinct in Silver Spring, Maryland informed Bill Jennings over the phone. "We've located your assistant—his body was found in Chesapeake Bay, near Cape St. Claire. Looks pretty bad, sir. If I didn't know better, I'd say he'd been chewed on by animals."
Bill went cold at the news. "Send the body to the forensics specialists at the FBI, please," Bill said. "Did you find any personal effects?"
"His wallet, but the money is missing. Credit cards are still there with his identification. I don't think this was a robbery, sir. I get the idea that the killer knew who he was."
"And likely who he worked for," Bill muttered. "Get the body to the FBI as quickly as possible. I have some investigations to make. If Vince was killed for information, we may all be in danger."
"Understood," the Captain agreed. "I'll send word when the body is delivered."
"Thank you, Captain." Bill hung up. "Vince, what have you done?" Bill whispered, raking a hand through his hair.
* * *
"You'd better hope they don't tie the two incidents together," Josiah hissed at Trina over the phone. "I got a call from my contact, here, and he's ready to take everybody apart. The body was found, and found quick. What the hell were you thinking, letting somebody else do this?" Josiah raked fingers through his thick, brown hair.
"I had to work late," Trina snipped at Josiah. "And you said it had to be done in a certain place at a certain time. I trust the person who did this for me, so stop complaining. The human's dead. Wasn't that your goal?"
"You mucked this up. You owe me and I won't forget," Josiah snapped and ended the call.
* * *
"We have to move them a night early," Bill Jennings was on the phone with Winkler. He stood at the airport, ready to board a flight to Oklahoma City. He had assignments sorted out already—Vince never had that information, so it was still safe.
"I'll make sure Trace, Jason, Roger and Toby are ready," Winkler said. "I'll be there as well, and I'll inform Marcus and the vampires so we can prepare for the move."
"We'll move the families first—we can haul belongings later. Have them take one small bag each and we'll get them to the airport. I'll have private jets there to take them away. The trucks will come in at the time we originally arranged."
"I'll take care of things from this end, Director," Winkler promised.
"Thanks. At this point, I don't know whether to curse Vince or mourn his death."
"We'll investigate, Director. Let's just sort out the families first."
"Right."
* * *
"Are you capable of fireblasts?" Wildrif contacted the warlock by phone to ask the question.
"I and one other. Will we need them?" The warlock was puzzled over why they might be needed.
"Just in case," Wildrif shrugged. "Get those kids out at all costs, and meet at the designated location. Someone will take the kids off your hands and hand over the rest of the money."
"Good enough," the warlock agreed and ended the call.
* * *
"We have to leave tomorrow?" Edward looked up from the video game that he, Ashe and Sali were playing. Bryce and Keith sat behind them, waiting their turn.
"I'm afraid so," Winkler said. "Something happened and the Director thinks it's for the best. Pack one small bag to take with you; trucks will come later to gather your other things."
"So much for having a party before we go," Bryce grumbled.
"I'm sorry, son. The Director just wants all of you to be safe," Winkler apologized.
"Yeah. I get that," Bryce sighed.
"We can have popcorn, sodas and watch movies tonight," Steven Pendley suggested.
"Sounds good," Ashe said. "Can we help?"
* * *
Ashe was getting ready for bed later when Ren appeared inside his bedroom. "Ashe," Ren began uncomfortably, "I have to say good-bye, tonight. I can't come back."
"What?" Ashe was in the middle of reaching for pajamas when Ren made his admission. "But you can't just leave. You're my friend. I don't want to lose all my new friends at once."
"I do not wish to leave you behind, either, friend Ashe. But I must. The half-blood children are leaving, and they are the ones I am studying. My father and my uncle will not allow me to return."
"But," Ashe argued.
"I know. I feel the same," Ren studied his feet. Ashe looked at Ren's feet as well, noticing for perhaps the first time that the tall blue youth wore sandals made of woven fibers.
"Ren, we haven't had enough time together," Ashe mumbled. "I want to be your friend—always."
"Then we will remain friends always, Ashe. I will remember you as long as I live."
"Same here," Ashe said.
"I must go." Ren disappeared.
"Damn," Ashe muttered.
* * *
"We can't even give them snacks to take with them," Adele said as she, Ashe and Aedan walked through the field behind their home the following evening. Director Jennings had arranged to move the families as soon as the vampires were awake. Winkler, Trace, Jason and the other two wolves were already helping the families load into several black SUVs that the Director had sent to collect them.
"This is so messed up," Ashe said softly. His skin was itching, just as it had been when he'd known his mother was in trouble. "Dad, they shouldn't be going."
"Son, the Director is calling the shots. We cannot interfere."
"But Dad," Ashe breathed, scratching at his arms.
"They have as much protection as anyone can give them. And Mr. Winkler and his wolves are going with them, just in case."