Behold ! Read online

  Ham was immediately at Pris’ side, calling her name. “Are you okay? Did they hurt you? Look at me. Say something, Pris,” he rapid-fired questions and demands.

  “If you’ll shut up for a second, I will,” she replied, laughing.

  “What could possibly be funny about this?” he bellowed.

  “You saved me,” she smiled. “You really saved me,” she said again. “And, did you make that woman disappear?”

  The question brought them both up short. Students were piling into the hallways, and Ham worried one or more of them had witnessed the woman vanishing. That would be really hard to explain. But all the students and teachers had apparently seen was the man charging out the door and the van careening away. One older male student had run out the door behind it. He came back in now, using his cell phone.

  “This is Adam Banicker, I’m a senior at Chickasha West,” he said. “I’m a Citizen’s Corp VIPS cadet, and I just witnessed an attempted kidnapping. I have a vehicle description and partial license plate.” Adam continued to walk toward the front of the school, and the rest was unclear. Pris recognized him as the tall young man who had held the door for her the first day of class.

  Pris looked at Ham with unfettered adoration in her eyes, immediately embarrassing him. “Aw, come on, Pris. Make a snide remark, be mean if you have to, but don’t look at me like that; I don’t know how to respond,” he groused.

  She only laughed out loud before directing her chair as close to him as possible. Speaking softly, she said, “You’ll just have to get used to it, bucko. If I could kiss you, I would.” Blowing softly on the tube, she turned her chair toward the front of the school. “We need to talk to Frank, right now,” she called.

  ELEVEN

  “WHERE DO YOU SUPPOSE they went?” Frank asked finally.

  They had been trying to recount the story in Clara’s bedroom for the better part of an hour. They would make it through about 10 minutes of recalling the event before one of the three adults would stop them. Whether it was to clarify a point or express amazement at the brazenness of the would-be abductors, Ham and Pris were both running out of patience. Ham had just retold the scene where the woman had disappeared.

  “I don’t know, and I really don’t care,” he replied.

  “And I’m not saying you did anything wrong, Ham, but I am concerned they might turn up again,” Frank explained. “If your teleportation was...unpleasant for them, they might come back with a vengeance.”

  Clara had quietly listened for most of the tale, but now addressed Ham. “The possibility exists you may have sent them to another dimension, another planet, or absolutely nowhere; into the void. I know so very little about it.”

  “What?” Ham burst out. “You mean, I might have killed them? Does Raquel know?”

  Clara shook her head. “If she does, she’s not saying. Wait; she says we shall know when we must.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?” Frank asked.

  Clara shrugged. “She can be very disingenuous when she wants.” She looked at Pris. “If I help you understand how to see someone, perhaps you can find them, if they’re still in this plane. Your connection to Ham will facilitate it.”

  Pris looked doubtful, but rolled over next to Clara’s bedside. When Clara touched her arm, it was clear from the brightness in her eyes that Raquel was also involved. Marrisa was still uncertain about this whole training thing, but after all, Raquel was an Archangel, so what could possibly go wrong? Archangels were supposed to be the epitome of faith and trust; weren’t they?

  Pris’ hair lifted from around her ears, and her face went slack. Marrisa was about to say something, when Clara released her arm. Pris turned her chair to face the rest, and her eyes appeared to have some of the same residual glow in them, but it faded quickly.

  “I can see the woman, probably because she was next to me, but I can’t see the man from the closet at all,” she informed them.

  “That actually makes sense,” Frank said. “When Clara helps me locate someone, I have to give her their picture, or something they had close to them recently. You saw the woman, but not the man.”

  “Where is the woman?” Ham asked fretfully. He had been inconsolable after Clara had explained he might have sent them to another dimension, or another planet.

  “Lake Tahoe,” Pris said.

  “Huh? Do what?” Ham replied.

  “She was found swimming fully clothed in Lake Tahoe,” Pris clarified.

  “How do you know that?” Marissa asked.

  “When I thought about her after Clara or Raquel showed me how, I saw her fall into a lake,” Pris explained. “She fell from about 20 feet, I’d say, and came up spluttering. She immediately started swimming toward the nearest shore, and when she got out, there was a sign which read Welcome to Lake Tahoe.’”

  “So she’s alive?” Ham enthused.

  “Yep, and mad as a wet hen,” Pris chortled.

  Everyone grinned. “Well then, I guess we can assume the man got sent somewhere on earth as well,” Frank said, sounding as equally relieved.

  “There is a way to test it,” Marrisa offered.

  “No!” Pris exclaimed.

  “You haven’t even heard what I was going to suggest,” Marrisa said curiously.

  “Yes I did, and no, Ham is not going to send you anywhere,” Pris said with cold finality.

  “So, you can read my mind now?” Marrisa asked hesitantly.

  “Not so much read as hear ideas, and only ones which elicit strong emotions,” Pris responded. “And Ham is of the same opinion.”

  “Wait, how...oh, never mind; strong emotion,” he said lamely. “So I guess I have to start guarding my thoughts now,” he finished morosely.

  “You can never guard that part from me, Ham, and I don’t have to be a mind-reader to know it,” Pris said, grinning widely.

  Ham flamed crimson, and closed his eyes in the eternal gesture of the all-suffering male in the presence of an argument he can’t win with a female. Clara and Marrisa laughed, and Frank walked over to pat him on the shoulder.

  “Welcome to adult relationships,” he said. “I’m sure you’ll do as well as Clara and I have. Let’s have some dinner, and we’ll talk more about who I think these people are who tried to grab you. How’s Chinese?”

  AFTER FRANK AND MARRISA had cleared away the take-out containers and fortune cookie wrappers, they settled in on the sofa and chair in the living room. Clara had insisted on being the hostess, and Frank had obligingly placed her in the motor chair kept in her bedroom closet. She could use both arms, although the left one had little strength, and she had a joystick similar to Ham’s for guidance.

  “The van was stolen, and has been recovered. We pulled several recent prints off the interior, and one came back as a twice-convicted felon. He was probably the big guy you saw outside,” Frank said, looking at Ham, who nodded.

  “The prints off Pris’ chair and the door at the school have yet to yield any results, but we’ll keep them on file. Everyone on the detective force is working to connect the dots on known associates from the one we have,” he informed them. “And there’s a BOLO out on him. Now it’s just a matter of grunt-work and luck to find the others.”

  “We still haven’t addressed the question of why they tried,” Marrisa reminded him. It had been her first question, but Frank had asked her to hold off on that until he had a better picture of the day’s events.

  “I’m sure it has something to do with Pris and Ham’s abilities,” Clara said suddenly.

  And just like that, the pieces fell into place. Any doubt as to their abilities, or the importance of their mission, was set aside. Marrisa was nodding vigorously, and Frank had a deadly serious expression on his face. Pris and Ham looked worried, but one look at Clara, whose eyes were blazing bright, led them to know they had extra protection, should they need it.

  “Ham and Pris shouldn’t go back to school until these people are arrested,” Frank said.

  “
They can’t miss that much school,” Marrisa countered.

  “It would be even more embarrassing for us to go around campus with a police escort,” Pris added.

  “I have to work,” Marrisa said. “Who will look after them if they’re not in school? I still say they need to be in school. What chance is there they’ll even try again, now that they know Ham’s abilities?”

  “That may be all the more reason for them to try again,” Frank responded. “And there’s nothing saying they won’t try it in the school parking lot or anywhere on campus. Professional snatch and grab artists will use any means necessary to accomplish their goal; be it tranquilizer darts, a club to the head, or whatever.”

  “And Ham isn’t their target,” he persisted. “Pris is. He just happened to be in the way, so I can’t risk they’ll try to take him out of play.” He paused for dramatic effect. “And yes, that means exactly what you think it means.”

  They discussed, and argued, and discussed some more. It was finally agreed that Pris and Ham would spend their days training with Clara and Raquel. Marrisa would bring Pris by in the morning and collect her in the evening.

  Frank would pick Ham up in the morning and take him home in the evening, once Mr. Nichols was home. All transportation of the two teens would have a police escort. All three residences would have a patrol car with two officers outside at all times, and Frank would be inside except for the times he was transporting or running errands. They felt like they had everything covered.

  TWELVE

  “MOM, CHECK THIS OUT,” Pris announced as Marrisa walked through the front door of the Kratos house.

  As her mother turned to observe, Pris turned her chair toward the flat screen TV hanging on the wall at the foot of Clara’s bed, and closed her eyes. The screen flared for a moment before watery images of a woman swimming in a large body of water became visible. The woman was fully clothed, and swam to the nearby shore, where she strode out of the water past a sign which read “Welcome to Lake Tahoe.”

  “What is that?” Marrisa asked, staggered. “Is that the woman who tried to kidnap you?”

  “Yes, and Frank has been able to record it and take it to his IT people, who have sharpened the image enough to make a positive ID on her,” Pris beamed proudly.

  “How did you explain coming up with the recording?” Marrisa asked Frank heatedly.

  “Do what?” Pris cried. “Not how did you do that? Or even that’s absolutely amazing, Priscilla, just how did he explain having it?” Pris was evidently hurt. She had expected her mother to effuse over this newfound skill.

  “I’m very impressed, in fact, I’m dumbfounded,” Marrisa replied. “But I’m more concerned with how Frank explained to his department the origin of the recording, being as he’s a reasonable and logical man.” She rounded on him. “How could you possible endanger my daughter by prompting questions you obviously couldn’t answer?”

  Frank’s face was a mask of impassivity. He waited for Marrisa to pause before he spoke softly. “I explained that a contact I have in Tahoe had seen the posting of a local fisherman taking a video of a woman swimming in the lake in the fall, when the water is pretty darn cold, and fully clothed. I explained he found it on a chat site about odd things people do in Tahoe.”

  Holding up his hand, he continued as Marrisa deflated. “I have a lot of contacts across the western states because I’m known as the detective who deals with odd, unusual, and even paranormal sightings.”

  Marrisa stood with her face downcast for a long while before Frank approached her and touched her arm. “Do you honestly think I would do anything to jeopardize these children?”

  Marrisa pulled away from his hand and walked to where Pris sat, still glaring at her. Kneeling in front of her daughter’s chair, she reached and took one of Priscilla’s hands. “I’m sorry I overreacted. I’ve been worried sick since the kidnapping attempt. I just wish we could all go somewhere that no one could find us until this all goes away.”

  Shaking her head before anyone could retort, she continued. “I know that’s not possible, as I truly believe there is more at stake here than most people could even imagine. But it doesn’t stop me from wishing it.”

  Rising, she walked back over to Frank. “I apologize for thinking less of you than I should,” she offered.

  Tears were brimming on the verge of her lower eyelids, and she squeezed them away with a pinch of her thumb and forefingers. Frank reached out and gathered her into his arms, holding her quietly as she cried into his shoulder. After she recovered, they all shared their thought on how they could possibly capitalize on Pris’ newfound ability.

  “Have you tried any other electronics, like an LCD display on an appliance, or a computer screen?” Marrisa asked.

  “No, we just discovered it late this morning,” Clara replied. “Frank actually sent it to his IT person on that computer in the corner,” she said, pointing at a small laptop. Priscilla was already facing the computer and focusing on it. The screen bloomed, then settled into the same display they had seen before.

  “Try thinking about someone you know,” Frank recommended.

  “I really don’t know anyone that well,” Pris replied. “And I’m certainly not in complete control of this ability yet.”

  “How about Butch?” Marrisa suggested. “Isn’t he the one you said shoved Ham into a closet?”

  “I really don’t like thinking about him,” Pris replied.

  “This isn’t about like or dislike, it’s about pushing your talent,” Raquel reminded her sternly, causing Clara’s eyes to flare.

  Turning back to the flat screen TV, Pris closed her eyes. Instantly, the screen blossomed and they could all see Ham sitting in a room, staring out the window. As they watched, he wheeled backward from whatever it was he saw, recoiling in fear.

  “I thought you were thinking about Butch?” Frank asked.

  “I am, but this is what I see,” Pris replied, confusion apparent in her voice and face.

  The door of the room burst open, and they could see a sidewalk and grass, with a street further away. Three men rushed into the room, and Ham punched at one as soon as he cleared the threshold. The lead man flew backward, taking the second one with him back out the door.

  The third man had dropped to a prone position and now extended a pistol in Ham’s direction. Before Ham could change his focus and draw his arm back, a dart appeared sticking out of his chest. He raised a shaking hand toward it as he slumped forward against the restraints of his wheelchair.

  Priscilla screamed and fainted.

  Frank was immediately on the radio to the unit outside Ham’s home; they had seen the front bumper of it through the open door. Even as Ham collapsed, Pris’ vision had turned back to the door and they had watched the man on the floor disappear. Two other bodies sprawled unmoving on the sidewalk. The patrol officers did not respond.

  THIRTEEN

  “MR. NICHOLS HAD GONE to the store for some groceries, and had only planned to be gone an hour. The officers knew Ham was alone and one offered to remain inside with him, but Ham said he was fine,” Frank explained. His face was haggard, and he drew a ragged breath before continuing.

  “Both officers are in the hospital expected to make a full recovery. One had been shot with the same or a similar dart pistol; the other had been punched in the head and knocked unconscious through his open car window,” he finished.

  “That must have been some punch,” Marrisa commented.

  “You’re telling me,” Frank replied. “The ER doctor said he has torn muscles in his neck like he’d been in a car wreck.” He continued, “In fact, the doc said it could have broken his neck.”

  “What kind of a person can punch hard enough to break a person’s neck?” Marrisa asked, startled.

  “Oh, it’s very possible to do so,” Frank confirmed. “It only takes 64 pounds of pressure to snap the neck, and I’ve seen training videos of men hopped-up on PCP and other hallucinogens who could punch through a solid
wooden door. The explanation on that video stated the pressure required to do that is in excess of 200 pounds.” They all sat mute for several minutes, astonished by this revelation.

  Pris finally broke the silence. “Does anyone know if Ham is alright?”

  “They took him to the ER with the officers, and he’s coming around by last report. Apparently, the kidnappers wanted to make sure they put him out quick, so they gave him a very heavy dose,” Frank said, shaking his head. “The two he punched have yet to awaken, they appear to be in some sort of unusual coma.”

  “I wish I could go see him, I feel so helpless,” Pris said morosely.

  “Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name,” Clara said monotonously, staring straight ahead; trancelike.

  “What did you say?” Marrisa asked, moving alongside Clara’s bed. Clara’s eyes were open but unseeing.

  “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life,” she said again in the vacant monotone she had used the first time.

  “She’s quoting Revelation,” Frank said. “The first one is about your power, I think, and a reminder that you have it. The second one, I’m not so sure about.”

  “Try to see Ham,” Marrisa said in a rush.

  “Oh, of course,” Pris exclaimed. “I’m sitting here feeling sorry for myself instead of using God’s gift. But there’s no TV out here.”

  They were in the kitchen, having gone in to eat an early dinner. Frank had placed Clara in her chair, because she had little company and wanted to take full advantage of it when she did. She was positioned at one end of the counter, and Pris was at the other.