No News is Bad News
Not even a word…
The next morning, the day after meeting with her parents and Ari, Xander sat at JJ's breakfast table eating oatmeal and scrambled eggs with Simo. He was decked out in black combat pants, boots, and a dark gray short-sleeved shirt; under that was a ballistic vest with a ceramic insert. His uniform matched Chen’s and Theo's.
He watched Simo, who sat hunched over the table, reading through the previous evening’s reports on Joel's comings and goings. Simo shook his big head as he read the pages once more.
“Problem?” Xander asked.
Simo looked up at him without expression, then went back to reading. Xander shrugged and finished his breakfast. As he was about to get up and wash his plate, Simo looked back up.
“No news is bad news in my line of work,” Simo said casually as he rubbed his nose. “Joel is up to something, and I have to assume he knows all of our capabilities… when was the last time you checked in with your daughter?”
“I usually text her in the afternoon. Why?”
Simo's eyes widened instantly. “Get on it right now, right now! Find out exactly where she is!”
Xander felt his blood rush to his head. He yanked his phone from his pocket, skipping the burner number, and texted Athena:
Where are you right this minute?
He looked up at Simo as fear crept up his spine. “What is it? What are you thinking?”
“I had to pull our resources out of Oregon when we brought Selena back. Annabeth and Christina are supposed to be coming down soon.”
Xander’s phone vibrated. He held it so both of them could read:
Dad! I'm on the way to meet you! What's up?
“Oh my god!” Xander yelled. He immediately dialed Athena and put the call on speaker.
“DADDY!” Athena cried out.
“Athena! No time to talk. Where are you right now?” Xander practically shouted.
“I’m in Weed. I’m at a Chevron gas station. I just filled up and I’m on my way to meet you in Los Angeles, just like we’ve been texting since last night. Is there a problem? It’s so good to hear you, Daddy!”
Simo motioned for him to speak. “Koukla, listen. That wasn’t me. Simo is listening in on this call. You need to follow exactly what he says.”
“Athena! Lock your doors right now!” Simo ordered.
“They are, Simo! You’re scaring me! What’s going on?”
“Can you see a street sign?”
“Yes. It says Main Street.”
“While we’re talking, I want you to look around discreetly and see if anyone is taking an interest in you.”
“Ok,” Athena replied meekly.
Simo pulled out his tablet and brought up a map of Weed. “Got it. You see anything, Athena?”
“No. I don’t think so.”
“Good. When did you get the call or text?”
“Yesterday evening. It said to come down and get you—er, Dad. He’d be at Union Station in LA. He lost his ID and needs help to talk to Halo... to make things better. Dad… are you ok?”
Xander ran his hands through his hair. “Yes, koukla, I’m fine.”
Simo cut in. “I want you to make a right, heading east on Main Street. There’s a police station about a mile up the road. Listen carefully. Do not get out. When you park, honk your horn in an SOS pattern. You know how to do that, right?”
“Yes.”
“Only when you see a police officer come out do you roll down your window. Tell them you were led to believe your dad texted you to come get him in LA, and I just checked in and confirmed it wasn’t him.
Tell them who you are and that you might be being watched, and that you’d like to wait at the station until we can fly you out. I will notify them. Repeat it back.”
Athena repeated it almost verbatim.
“Good. Keep your eyes open. If someone rams your vehicle, do not—do not—get out. Leave your phone on and get moving now.”
“Ok… I’m going. Heading up Main.”
Simo turned to Xander and tapped his earpiece. “Chen, call the Weed Police in Northern California. Tell them Xander’s daughter was duped into driving to LA by unknown persons, possibly media or individuals intending harm. We’ll arrange pickup.”
Xander watched Simo nod as he continued. “Gunnar, sweep Halo’s again, then come up to JJ’s and sweep here. After that, sweep all vehicles. On my count, three taps, switch to the secondary tactical frequency.”
Simo tapped his earpiece three times, then pulled a small transceiver from his jacket and changed the channel.
“Athena, how are you doing, baby?” Xander asked into the phone.
“I’m ok… there’s no traffic and, oh! There’s the police station. I’m pulling in. I’m parked in front. I’m honking.”
They listened as Athena honked out an SOS twice more before speaking again.
“A cop’s coming out. I’m waving.”
“Athena, keep your hands on the wheel,” Simo said.
“He’s at the window, asking me to roll it down.”
“Do it. Follow instructions. Keep your phone on. Don’t mention your dad, only me. You haven’t spoken with him.”
Simo tapped his earpiece again, then looked at Xander. “The police know.”
They listened as Athena told the officer the story. The officer replied that they’d just received the call and instructed her to roll up her window and follow him inside.
“I’m getting out and going in. Phone’s still on.”
They heard the car door open, then close. Voices followed… one officer, then another. A chair scraped.
“Ok, Simo. They’ve got me in the back.”
“Let me talk to them.” Simo took the phone from Xander, switched off the speaker, and raised it to his ear.
He explained that Athena was a close personal friend of Halo Raines and that he was responsible for Halo’s security.
Arrangements would be made to fly Athena out and store her vehicle.
He added that Athena might be being used as leverage—either to reach Halo or to locate her father.
He didn’t know how her number was obtained, and he didn’t know where Xander was, but he was in contact, which was how he knew the message wasn’t from him.
Simo thanked them and ended the call.
“That lie about you was thin...” Simo said.
“Hell, that was close. Thank you!” Xander sat back down hard in his chair.
“Fuck. We need to get ears on Joel and his mercs. Now they are going to know we have you.” Simo sighed and straightened his ponytail.
“They sweep twice a day, and we can't get a laser on any window to listen in that way. Shit, fuck.” Simo reached into his inside jacket pocket and pulled out an earpiece and transceiver.
“Here. This is yours now. Listen all the time; speak only when spoken to, or only out of need.”
Simo showed Xander how to change channels, and which frequencies were which.
In a few moments, Xander was wired in. “One tap on your earpiece is ‘yes.’ Two is ‘no,’ or to speak to the group. You will be hearing Halo when she is in range. In fact, I will be calling her later; you will have to listen in. Understand so far?”
“Yes.” It was weird hearing himself through the earpiece.
“Next! You will go over the blueprints for Halo's house. You are going to have to pull your shit together and go inside her house and get the layout down in your mind. Read them, go in, get the layout, and return. If you can't? You are useless to me. Understand?”
Xander sighed and ran his hands through his hair again. “Yes.”
“Listen, it's just a house. One that Athena may well be in soon. If shit goes down and she or Halo ever needs you? You better fucking know where you are going. Katalaves?”
“Yes,” Xander said, nodding, trying to convince himself.
“You have ten minutes to study!” Simo ordered, pointing to where the roll of blueprints lay.
Xander grabbed the roll of blueprints and spread them out on JJ's dining room table. He examined every sheet and did his best to commit them to memory.
Simo came up to him and handed him his dark sunglasses. “Keep your head down and walk slowly as you go up to the house or when you are outside. Remember: you belong there...” Simo gave him a smile and a nod. “Take my car.” Simo tossed him his keys.
Xander saw Simo reach up to his earpiece and heard two beeps in his ear, then Simo’s voice: “Xan incoming to main house.” He heard six separate single beeps, then saw Simo point to him and his earpiece. Xander pushed it once and got a longer beep. “Oh!”
“You have thirty minutes to get there and back. Weapon overview when you get back, so move your ass.”
Xander went out to the garage and quickly started Simo's car, and soon found himself pulling into Halo's driveway.
He saw Chen wave to him from the huge double doors of the main entry.
Xander got out and did his best to shut out where he was; he wondered if they could all hear how fast his heart was beating, because it sure sounded like timpani drums pounding in his ears.
He took his time and kept his head down as Chen guided him into the soft-colored, travertine-tiled foyer.
Xander's mouth fell open at how beautiful it was… even just the foyer. Tall stucco arches separated the foyer from the living room to the left and the formal dining room to the right. In front of him, about twenty feet ahead, was a staircase that curved upward toward more arches. Thick black wrought iron formed the handrail and lined the top floor’s hallway.
“Xan, get the difficult part out of the way first.” Chen pointed upstairs and to a closed door. “Halo's bedroom. Look down where both doors meet. You will see what I mean. Don't forget the closet. Go.”
Xander nodded and made his way up the long flight of stairs, his heart pounding like crazy.
He felt cold by the time he stood in front of the two large, dark doors to Halo's room.
As he reached for the ornate black iron handle, he looked down and saw a tiny black piece of paper tucked between the doors.
With a shaking hand, he slowly opened the door, letting the piece of paper fall away.
He picked it up and placed it in his pocket.