Going Under (21 page)

It took everything she had not to sob right then.

“You’re so very kind. Thank you, Meriel. I need all the friends I can get just now.”

* * *

“GAGE.
Hold up.”

He shifted his bag, turning to catch sight of Lark approaching. He’d been at the range
for a few hours, working on his aim. He was good, but he wanted to be better. Needed
to.

“I just got off the phone with someone at the National Pack. There was a fucking pitch
battle on a two-block section of Holson, Indiana, last night. A group of humans busted
into a shifter bar and started shit. It spilled out onto the streets. Three structures
burned down because the fire department was held up by the cops, who simply cordoned
off the area while the fight happened. Burned-out cars. A few humans in intensive
care. The cops made arrests. Others only.”

He blew out a breath. “What the fuck? The humans started it? Who’s on the ground there?”

“The local pack, they were wolves, has lawyers involved. The FBI may be called in.
There’s a mediator at National who is an expert on all this stuff. He’s involved as
well.”

“Damn it. All right. What can we do to help?”

“Their next call was going to be to Molly, so I guess they have that part handled.
They already spoke with Meriel. I think we should put out a general all-clan notice
about it. Dominic is going to be dealing with stuff for Heart of Darkness I wager.”

They walked back to his truck. “I’m heading back now. You need a ride?”

“Simon is here with me. He’s finishing up inside. I’ll go back with him.”

“I’m going to coordinate with Dominic on extra security at Heart of Darkness. Just
let Simon know I’m doing it.”

“He went to Lycia yesterday. They’re sending some of their warriors here to protect
him. He’s vexed but I laughed. Until they said it was about me too.”

“Take all the help you can get. If they’re all as big as Simon, we can use the muscle.
Faine has been awesome so I can’t imagine it’s going to hurt.”

“These warriors live, eat and breathe this stuff. And they have for hundreds of years.
I have no doubt they can work with Faine and teach us a few things.”

He nodded, already thinking about Molly.

But it wasn’t until he got back to the office and found everyone gathered around the
big television in the conference room that he realized just how much more he needed
to worry.

Chapter 22

“WELL,
now I hope at long last the true Americans in this country can understand the threat
we’ve been talking about for the last several months. These supernaturals, Others,
whatever you want to call them, they’re absolutely out to kill you and yours. They
want to harm your family. They do not care about morals or values or the rule of law.”
Carlo Powers sat back, a smug smile on his face.

Without thinking, Gage moved to Molly, putting a hand on her shoulder. She looked
up and his stomach clenched at the expression she wore.

Molly put her hand on his and went back to watching the screen.

“The unprovoked attack on humans beings last night is a perfect example of this.”
Powers lifted his hands. “We must act now. To protect the decent people in this nation
from these demons.”

Molly tightened up and he squeezed her shoulder.

The newscaster finally spoke. “There are reports, Mr. Powers, that contradict the
claim that the attack was unprovoked.”

“If that was so, why didn’t they arrest anyone else? I’m sorry to see you’re so naïve,
but we can’t afford not to face facts. Gangs of animals hunting through the streets
of small-town America, attacking humans beings. One of these men, a family man, is
in the hospital fighting for his life. Heaven knows if he’s been infected with their
disease. They are a
threat
. Like terrorism, only inside our borders. They need to be dealt with. For our safety.”

“Why isn’t there a spokesperson there from the pack?” Meriel muttered, twisting and
straightening the bracelet she wore as she jiggled her knee.

“They weren’t asked. Or that’s my guess. I’ll call when this massacre ends.” Molly
never tore her gaze from the television screen. He knew that expression. Molly was
planning.

Like a war. He knew she was lining up plans of attack and defense, even as she watched
Powers for any weaknesses she could exploit.

Powers rattled off the number for the White House switchboard and then for Congress.
He urged the decent hardworking Americans who were not going to be threatened anymore
to call their president and their congressional representatives.

When the segment was over Meriel already had her phone to her ear and within moments
she began to speak with someone Gage figured was affiliated with that local pack in
Indiana.

One-handed, she grabbed her pad and pen and began to take notes as Meriel quietly
gave orders on the other side of the room. People rushed out and those left in the
room waited quietly.

Dominic snarled as he burst from his chair and began to pace. “This is bullshit.”

Molly sighed. “Yes, it is. So, no one was invited to speak from the pack. Two of their
wolves are being held in solitary confinement at the jail. They’ve had a hell of a
time getting their attorney in to see them.”

“We sent a letter an hour ago to the Justice Department asking them to get involved.
These wolves’ rights are being violated right and left,” Meriel added.

“I’m headed to D.C. day after tomorrow. But I think we may need to move it up so we
can meet beforehand and get a strategy together. The vampires are on the verge of
pulling out of this confederation and declaring war on humans. The wolves are justifiably
angry and are having trouble keeping their people in check right now. The cats have
been waiting to see what the wolves will do so if the wolves decide to pull out of
our group and declare war, they’ll follow.”

“Which leaves us where?” Sami asked. Gage hadn’t even noticed her in the room until
then.

“It leaves us bowing down to humans because we’ve got a mouthpiece who doesn’t care
about witches at all.” David Collier spoke from his place in the doorway. Collier
did administrative work for the Hunter Corps at Owen. He’d lost several members of
his family, including his fiancée, because of the Magister.

“What are you talking about?” Sami’s tone made it clear she had little patience.

“I’m talking about her.” Collier pointed to Molly, who cocked her head at him, taking
his measure. “She’s so human you can smell it on her. She’s working so hard to protect
humans she’s endangering the rest of us. Why isn’t she asking us what we think? She
just goes off and meets with these humans in private. We don’t even know what she’s
promising them.”

“You’re out of line, David.” Meriel shook her head in Dominic’s direction. Gage hadn’t
even noticed the wave of anger radiating from Dominic until that moment. “I told you
when you came to me last week that Molly gets her direction from me. She’s following
very careful plans laid out by the Full Council.”

“Because she tells you what to think.”

Gage stepped forward but Molly touched his wrist. Just a ghost of a touch, but she
meant for him to stand aside so he would. For a moment or two.

Sami snorted. “You can’t mean to stand there and tell me I’m so stupid I need to be
told what to think.”

Collier looked to Sami. “You were against her from the start. Why are you letting
her sell us out?”

“I wanted to know where her allegiances lay. I found out because I made it a point
to work with her. I’m beyond satisfied that Molly has this clan’s best interests at
heart. So much so she’s got a twenty-four-hour-a-day guard. You’re wrong. And more
than that, you’re rude.”

“What is painfully ironic is that I have to face humans telling me I’m an evil beast
set out to eat their infants and kick their puppies and when I get back here I’m being
accused of selling out witches to humans. I’m beyond sick and tired of it. From them
and from you. You have an issue? Own it. Be an adult and come talk to me. This silly
sixth-grade tantrum is not impressive. It does not speak well of your intelligence
on this or any other issue. I don’t see you at any of the community meetings I’ve
set up to hear concerns from members of this clan. I don’t see your comment cards
or your emails. I’ve never even seen your face until this very moment. What’s keeping
you from speaking to me? Or would you rather just whine and stir trouble behind the
scenes? I’m busy, you see, so excuse me if I don’t take your whining seriously. I’m
working on big-girl stuff with all the other adults.”

Gage had argued with her more times than he could recall. He’d seen her disagree with
people pretty much daily. Even people she didn’t like. But the set down she’d just
delivered to Collier was the harshest he’d ever seen from her.

Damn. She made him tingly all over.

Utter silence ruled the room for long moments as David tried to figure out just what
had happened.

Then Molly brushed her hands down the front of her skirt and turned back to Gage.
“So can you please get in contact with Cascadia about flying me out early? I’ll need
a guard, obviously, so you’ll need to arrange that too.”

Meriel interrupted. “I’ll get on the phone. I know a few people at Justice. Maybe
I can help. Do you think I should go to D.C.?”

“Not this time. But there are other times coming up that I think you’d be good for.
I’ll get you the information on that later today.” She walked past Dave, who still
stood in the doorway.

Gage touched her arm to stay her. “I’m going to get in contact with Cascadia. I’ll
let you know what I hear.”

She nodded absently, plotting, always plotting in her head.

Once she’d gone around the corner he turned back, pinning Collier with his gaze. “You,
in my office in ten minutes.” Gage kept walking before he did something remarkably
stupid like punch him.

Shortly after he’d arranged for their flight to D.C., Lark strolled into his office,
grinning. “Looks like Sweet Molly Ryan has claws.”

“She does.”

“I know you’re mad at David, but I think you should be careful how you handle this.”
She tossed herself into a chair.

“He was insubordinate. That’s not to be tolerated. Molly or anyone else he works with,
or under as in her case, deserves civility.”

“All right. I buy that. What’s your solution?”

“Clearly you have an opinion here. Spit it out.”

Lark rolled her eyes. “Touchy. I know she’s your girlfriend. So does everyone else,
especially after the way you were with her today. So however you deal with him, take
that into account. Don’t undermine her. She kicked ass today. She shut him down. Broke
his spirit. God, I love her. Anyway, so I vote you put a note in his personnel file
along with a warning. We can’t fire him. He’s good at his job and until now he’s only
been an irritant. Can’t fire someone for being a dick. Or for not liking your girlfriend.”

He knew she meant how people would perceive it. But man, he wanted to fire David Collier
so much.

He sighed. “Fine. I suppose punching him is out of the question too?”

She kept grinning and he deliberately did not rise to the bait.

“You may as well stay. He’s due in here in like three minutes.”

“Fine, fine. By the way, send Faine. That way you don’t have to go. I know you have
meetings here.”

“I can video call for those meetings. I’m going to D.C.”

“Really?”

“No offense or anything. I believe he’s great and a super warrior. I’ve seen Simon
in battle so I really do mean that. She’s out there, exposed to a greater threat each
day. I’m the only person I trust with her at this point. He can come along though.
I’m happy for the backup.”

“Come to Heart of Darkness tonight. Bring Molly.”

“She won’t want to go. The night before she travels she’s got a routine. She’s going
to want to listen to Led Zeppelin, drink red wine and make note cards.”

“Led Zeppelin? Molly? I totally underestimated her, clearly.”

“On vinyl no less. Anyway, she won’t want to go out to a club. Maybe I’ll stop in,
though. See what’s going on.”

He had no idea why he’d even said that. He knew he wasn’t going to leave her alone.
In fact, he liked to sit on the couch while she worked, reading a book while she made
her cards. He’d refill her wine; they might bicker. They’d definitely have really
hot sex.

Lark just looked at him. “Don’t even think you can play that this is casual.” She
said it in an undertone as David’s voice came down the hallway toward Gage’s office.

“It
is
casual. I like her.” He put his hand up to keep Lark quiet. “We’re having a good
time so it’s not like I’m denying that. But we’re not engaged or anything. And not
joined at the hip either. I think it’s best to keep things slow and easy. Now isn’t
the time to go getting serious. I’m sure I’ll stay home though. I should pack and
stuff.”

“Now is exactly the time, dumbass. What else do we have other than a scary, uncertain
future? Oh right. Packing.” She rolled her eyes before hardening her gaze as David
came into the office.

* * *

RITA
popped her head into Molly’s office. “Senator Sato’s office just called to tell you
to check your email.”

“Lovely. That sounds just swell,” she muttered, turning back to her computer to open
her email.

“His assistant said to tell you to read Senator Sato’s note before you read the bill.”
Rita shook her head. “I can only guess. I’ve got coffee brewing for you now. I’ll
be back shortly.”

“Thank you,” Molly said to Rita’s retreating form. She turned back to her screen.

HR 877—The Domestic Security Act.

That wasn’t a header that made her feel any better. She opened it up.

Molly, this just hit my desk a few minutes ago. There’s a Senate version being shopped
around now as well. We’ll talk about this tomorrow. I will do all I can to block this.

Call me when you arrive. I’ve put you on my
calendar at two. Come here and bring your people with you. We’ll go over it then.

Tosh

She opened the attachment and began to read.

* * *

GAGE
stopped by her office when he hadn’t heard from her in hours. It was already nearly
eight and he wanted her to eat and rest before the trip tomorrow. Wanted to get her
fortified.

“Yes, I’m aware you’re busy. That comes with your job, doesn’t it?”

Well. Today was her day for being the ice queen obviously. Gage got himself situated
in a chair near her desk and watched her in action. She tapped her pen on a thick
sheaf of papers dotted with Post-it notes of varying colors. Her mouth was a flat
line. His sweet Molly was pissed.

“No. I don’t understand. I’m out of understanding today so you’ll have to come up
with a better reason for not contacting me about this ridiculous legislation than
I’m busy
. It’s impossible for the show to air without even a comment from my people. To do
otherwise would be irresponsible of you.”

She listened and blew out a sharp breath. His aunt Rita came in, putting a mug of
something at Molly’s right hand. Losing the hard expression, Molly smiled up at Rita
in thanks. She patted his shoulder on the way out.

“Yes, that’s more like it. I’ll be happy to be interviewed then.” Molly hung up and
Gage had to laugh, imagining the face of whoever the hell she was talking to as she
disconnected without a good-bye.

“It’s your day for smackdowns.”

“If people didn’t act like jackwagons, it wouldn’t be necessary to call them at home
at”—she looked at her watch—“eleven at night. Imagine the media not even consulting
us about this situation in Indiana? Or worse, this new legislation? I shouldn’t have
to smack anyone down. They should have called me right away. Or someone from the pack.
Or anyone to give a reaction from the Others.”

“Legislation?”

She held up the sheaf of papers. “House Bill 877. They’re calling it the Domestic
Security Act. Sounds promising though slightly ominous. What it does? Well, I’m glad
you asked. It strips all Others of their citizenship and gives them a new status.
Domestic Threat
. Lovely, isn’t it? We’re anthrax or dirty bombs now.”

He blinked, stunned.

“Oh, but that’s not all!” Molly looked down at the papers, flipping through until
she found the right page. “All Domestic Threats will be tracked for the safety and
well-being of United States Citizens and put into one of five installations across
the country where their numbers and activities will be managed by the newly formed
Department of Domestic Threat Surveillance.”