Chapter 15 #3
Everyone quickly sprang into action. They had a lot to do before their fake party started.
They spread the supplies around the obstacle course, so it was readily available.
Agent Talbot snagged a donut that was left over from brunch before disappearing.
She would stand watch between WANC and the obstacle course to warn them if trouble was on its way.
Trina, Lyla, Gabby, and Agent Quackenbush took their lunches and supplies to the hippo pond that sat between WANC and the fenced perimeter.
If Agent Quackenbush had any ideas about why they were standing on watch near the hippos, she didn’t let on.
The rest of them set up their tables, balloons, streamers, and food at the start of the obstacle course.
They’d warn any cadets who came their way to practice that the course was out of commission for the day.
The snares were for Grimm and his men, not unsuspecting cadets.
With any luck, the club members would be able to lure the henchmen and evil scientist into the traps that were hidden in the course.
Then this nightmare could finally be over. And Ariel and the others could move on.
Ariel hated that she was so shaken up after the strange man came into her dorm room.
After all those months she spent in the hospital in her youth, she didn’t like feeling helpless.
She glanced at Joline as she taped the last streamer to the folding table they’d set up earlier.
Ariel smiled. She did feel safe with Joline at her side.
It seemed Joline believed in her when no one else did.
They chatted to pass the time. Simon and Arty discussed what they hoped to do once they were able to leave the hospital wing. Jennifer chimed in with her plans. Ariel had never seen them so hopeful. Or happy. She hoped it meant they were healing.
Ariel was about to add her plans to the conversation when the table rocked. She turned to see Agent Talbot come into focus, her shadows sending black whisps in every direction as she suddenly appeared. The agent braced herself against the table, heaving in deep breaths.
“You were right about the trap,” Agent Talbot said between clenched teeth. “Agent Stone sniffed out a bomb right before it went off. He was able to warn everyone in time, but the building—and any evidence that was inside—was destroyed.”
Ariel’s shoulders sagged. “That just means that our plan has to work.”
Joline inhaled sharply as if about to say something, but, before she could, Agent Talbot squinted her eyes, looking toward WANC. “Is that a cheetah herding the hippos?”
“It’s Trina!” Joline nearly shouted. She turned to the club members. “Everyone in position!” She pushed her glasses up on the bridge of her nose as if trying to get a better look. “My animal doesn’t have great eyesight. Can anyone tell if the hippos are chasing anyone?”
The eagle swooped down, too close for comfort in Ariel’s opinion.
Her hair was blown back. Before the bird’s yellow talons touched the ground, she shifted into a beautiful woman with long, silky black hair.
Her brown eyes glared at Ariel as if they could burn her with laser vision.
Ariel suspected she deserved that. She did attempt to kill ASS Agent Nari Lee last summer.
“Your brother sent me,” Agent Lee said in way of explanation. “He and Agent Kipp were able to use the tracking device he planted at the diner on the man who passed you that note.” She glanced to the hippos off in the distance, closing the gap fast. “They are headed this way.”
Ariel was about to make a snarky remark that they deduced as much.
A herd of hippos were hard to miss. She decided to hold her tongue.
Her brother sent the agent, and she was only trying to help.
That didn’t explain how her brother was able to plant a tracking device.
She was about to ask when Joline exclaimed, “That’s what he did in the diner!
” When Ariel gave her a confused look, she explained, “I saw Anson quickly flick his hand out as the man with the note walked by. He denied doing anything, but he must have planted the device on him.”
“Anson always was the smart one.” Ariel beamed with pride. It was all hands on deck to take out Grimm. She was glad both FUC and ASS were making it a priority.
“Fill me in on the plan,” Agent Lee demanded as she crossed her arms. Ariel noted she deferred to her and not the other agent. Maybe they were starting to trust her.
“We have traps inside the obstacle course. It’s probably best if you stay in the air so you don’t get snagged by one,” Ariel explained quickly.
The hippos and the men in front of them were closing the distance quickly.
A lot of men. And as far as she could tell, Grimm wasn’t one of them. That was disappointing.
“Maybe they’ll be out of breath by the time they get here and just give up,” Joline offered, although she didn’t look too convinced of that.
Ariel schooled her face, trying her best not to roll her eyes.
She knew Joline was only trying to help.
She gave Joline a quick kiss on the cheek to let her know how much she appreciated her optimism.
With a slow smile Ariel said, “They won’t give up, but you’re right.
They will be very out of breath by the time they get here. We’ll use that to our advantage.”