“Trust me, girl, you don’t want to find out,” he spits out through clenched teeth.
“Do you remember what we talked about when we first met six years ago? I mean sure you were just the Vice President then but surely your memory isn’t wiped from position to position. Allow me to refresh your memory; I told you never to talk to me as if I were a worthless piece of trash, so I suggest you change your tone sir or else. And trust me when I say this I’m the only one of us that will actually deliver on her threat. Now put Parker back on the line.”
“How dare you, you insubordinate chil-”
“Parker. Now.”
“I’m here Gavy.”
I take in a measured breath in an attempt to calm my annoyance; I glance up at Mom and with just one look she ushers everyone out of the room, “Is there anyone else on the line?”
“Nope, it’s just you and me, Gavy.”
“Good. What do we know so far?”
“There are no more than five operatives in Oregon. And it’s more likely that there are only two but our sources can be unreliable and it’s better to prepare for more rather than less. We also believe that they won’t try to kill you. They most likely want you alive so they can study you.”
“Do we know their skill set or when they’ll make their move?”
“No. Would you like me to send a team to help you?”
“No, that would confirm what they think they know. If they know who I am and where my family is we might have a mole, so just keep everything low-key. I’ll take care of everything here.”
“Are you sure Gavy? Jessie could come out there and help or at least give me some peace of mind.”
“Parker I’ll be fine, but if it makes you feel better keep Jessie off missions until I get back so that if I need her help I won’t teleport her from anything important.”
“It doesn’t but I’ll do it anyway. Watch your back out there Gavy.”
“Will do Parker. Let me know if anything changes.”
“You got it, Boss.”
I hang up the phone and close my eyes. A map of the entire town and its inhabitants comes to life in my head. I search through the energies and find nothing hostile, so if they’re coming for me they aren’t here yet. Temporarily satisfied, I make my way back into the dining room. Everyone watches me silently waiting for me to sit down so they can begin their assault of questions. I look at Reid first and wish that I hadn’t, because the look on his face is like that of a child who has lost everything. He looks down at his bowl and speaks softly, “You have to go back don’t you?”
“Sorry little brother, but you’re stuck with me for a little longer than just a couple of hours.”
His head snaps up as he processes what I said, “So you’re coming to the game tomorrow?”
“Nothing could keep me from it.” His face spreads into a wide smile that I can’t help but mirror.
“Are you in trouble for coming home?” I glance at Mom.
“Not really, no.”
“What do you mean ‘not really, no’? What’s going on? They never call you when you’re here.” If there was any question as to where I got my endless library of glares, it was answered by the look on my mother’s face.
I suddenly feel like I’m fifteen again and on the verge of getting grounded. “I might have not told anyone I was coming home and there may or may not be a few foreign agents trying to find me because there may or may not be a significant bounty on me. Oh and there might be just a few of them in Oregon. So in the long run it’s a good thing I came home because now I’m here and they can’t use you guys as leverage against me.”
She just makes a disgusted sound, “Can you handle them?”
I look over at Dad, who as usual is the level-headed one, “Of course. I’m prepared for anything and if I do need help Jessie will be available.”
He gives me a curt nod, and shares a look with Mom across the table. “Why didn’t you ever tell me that your sister was a Chipped?” Corey demands, looking to his left at Reid.
“Because it’s classified information,” I answer before Reid has a chance, “If the families of the Chipped are disclosed to anyone it creates a huge security problem. Most people don’t even know their family member is chipped.”
“What makes you so different?”
“I’m the commander. I can do anything I want, within reason. I missed them every day I was in training and I miss them every day that I’m not here. There are some things happening that have me off balance and any time I feel off balance like this I come home.”
“So what does being Chipped let you do?”
“Really you’ve never been around one of us before?” He shakes his head, so I explain my abilities; when he finally runs out of questions we’re nearly done with supper. “So Reid, what universities are you sending an application?”
Reid’s nose scrunches, “I haven’t decided yet. Coach thinks I should be able to either get a full ride to Boston College or University of Minnesota or I could be scouted and drafted by a team. I’m hoping to get drafted but I’m no Thomas Grubeller so even if I do get drafted it would be years before I actually get to play in the NHL.”
Corey slaps him on the shoulder, “Puh-lease we all know you’re going to be playing in the NHL within a year of getting drafted.” Corey looks at me across the table, “I’m not sure when the last time you saw him play but he plays with everything he’s got.”
I smile proudly and look at my little brother, “I haven’t seen him play in a while, so tomorrow should be a lot of fun.”
Author: Kailan Counahan 