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"I know," she said quietly.
Olivia felt sorry for the young woman. She was clearly terrified. The young man, Garrett, was excited, and he sprinted to the houses on the left. The older man strode toward the houses on the right. He'd mentioned Malcontents. Was that a gang? Were they the ones who'd committed the murders? And what was the deal with psychic guards?
Alyssa remained close to the car, swinging her flashlight back and forth. "Great," she muttered. "You just stay here, all alone, with a bunch of murdering Malcontents close by."
Olivia wanted to know who these people were, so she stepped out of the cornfield and moved slowly toward the woman. "Alyssa?"
The woman squealed and dropped her flashlight.
"I'm sorry." Olivia held her hands out so the woman could see they were empty. "I didn't mean to scare you."
Alyssa drew her gun. "How did you know my name? Are you one of them? Did you read my mind?"
Olivia raised her hands higher. "I heard your conversation with the other two men, and they used your name. I'm with the FBI. Would you like to see my badge?"
"You're FBI? You're not one of them?"
"Who are they?" Olivia assumed she was referring to the men who had teleported in. "Are they the Malcontents?"
"Alyssa?" The middle-aged man came running back. "I heard you yell." He spotted Olivia and drew his weapon. "Who the hell are you?"
She cursed silently. She should have remained hidden in the corn. "I'm Olivia Sotiris, FBI. Who are you?"
"CIA." He moved closer. "Show me your badge."
She did, and squinted when he beamed his flashlight in her face.
"Ms. Sotiris, what you are doing here?"
What did he think? She was on a picnic? "I'm investigating a multiple homicide. May I see your badge, please?"
"I don't have time to fool with this." He holstered his weapon. "We're taking over this investigation, Ms. Sotiris. You may leave."
His attitude was seriously annoying her. "This is an FBI matter. The local sheriff requested our help."
"I don't care," the CIA man snarled. "Get the hell out of here."
"I don't take orders from you, Mister...?"
"Whelan." He stepped closer to her. "And you will do as I say. We're a special presidential task force assigned to this mission, so you have no jurisdiction here."
She lifted her chin. "I suggest you rethink the situation. You could use our help. There are only three of you, and there are about a dozen of...I don't know who exactly they are."
Alyssa inhaled sharply. "Did you see them?"
"If you're referring to the guys who magically materialized in the front yard over there, yes. They're heavily armed with guns and swords."
"Did they see you?" the CIA man asked.
Whelan, he'd said his name was. Somehow that sounded familiar. "No," Olivia answered. "Who are they? Did they commit the murders?"
Whelan snorted. "No. They're hunting the murderers. But don't make the mistake of thinking they're innocent. Do yourself a favor and get out of here before they see you."
"I can help - "
"Forget it, Ms. Sotiris. You'll have no defense against them. They can take over your mind and make you do whatever they want."
She gulped. Was that what had happened to Harrison and the sheriff?
"They're dangerous," Alyssa whispered. "We've lost two members of our team because of them."
Olivia winced. No wonder this woman was so afraid. "I'm sorry for your loss."
"Oh, they weren't killed," Alyssa said. "They're just...gone."
A shiver skittered down Olivia's back.
"Get a grip, Alyssa," Whelan growled. "And you, Ms. Sotiris, you've wasted enough of my time."
Olivia stumbled back a step when a spurt of heat shot across her brow. Her mind went fuzzy, then sharpened with a sudden compulsion to leave. "I must leave." She wandered down the road to the driveway.
What was she doing? She glanced back and saw Whelan and Alyssa following her.
Keep going. Leave.
She shook her head. This wasn't her decision.
Go to your car and leave. Now.
She turned onto the driveway. Dammit, what was wrong with her? She kept walking toward J.L.'s car. She glanced toward the cornfield, wishing he and Barker would emerge. She looked in the other direction and spotted the mysterious men who had materialized earlier. They were leaving the barns and the storm cellar. They were headed in her direction.
She veered toward the cornfield so they wouldn't see her.
No. Go to the car. Leave now.
Her steps slanted back toward the car. Damn! What was she doing? She felt exposed.
She pulled J.L.'s keys from her pocket and hit the unlock button. The car's headlights flashed. She winced. Those guys would see her for sure now.
Hurry up. Leave.
She walked up to the driver's side door.
"Olivia?" someone shouted.
She froze. Robby? She turned and saw a man break apart from the group that had materialized. He sprinted toward her, passing through the light of the second house.
"Robby," she whispered. It was him. He was wearing a kilt that swished about his knees as he ran toward her.
"Ms. Sotiris, leave now!" Whelan yelled.
She saw the CIA man and Alyssa walking up the driveway. It was Whelan who was making her leave. Somehow, he was projecting commands into her head.
A hot blast seared her brow, and she flinched.
Get in the car and leave.
She reached for the door handle.
"Olivia!" Robby called.
She paused, and suddenly he was there.
"Olivia." He touched her arm. "What are ye doing here?"
"I must leave."
He peered closely at her. "Are ye all right?"
She shook her head. "I must leave."
"Back away from her, MacKay!" Whelan yelled.
Robby glared at the CIA man. "Release her. Ye have no right to control her."
Whelan snorted. "Better me than you. You know this woman?"
"Aye. Release her now, or I'll do it."
"Fine," Whelan growled. "But you leave her alone."
"I willna harm her," Robby said between gritted teeth.
"Right," Whelan snarled. "Just like no one's harmed Shanna or Emma."
A hot wind swooshed through Olivia's mind, and she swayed. Her keys tumbled to the ground.
Robby grabbed her forearms to steady her. "Are ye all right now?"
"Robby." She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Thank God you're here." She shot an angry look at the CIA man. "He was trying to control me."
"You idiot!" Whelan shouted. "I was trying to protect you."
Robby hugged her tight. "'Tis all right, sweetheart."
"Shit," Whelan muttered. "Another woman compromised."
"He seems to actually care for her," Alyssa said.
Whelan slanted a suspicious look at her. "Go back to the car and wait for us."
As Alyssa walked away, Whelan crossed his arms and scowled at Robby. "Why can't you bastards pick on your own kind?"
Robby rubbed a hand up and down Olivia's back. "Go on about yer business, Whelan, and leave us alone."
Whelan. Now Olivia recalled where she'd heard the name. Robby had mentioned it on Patmos. As her mind continued to clear from Whelan's control, she realized that Robby was one of the guys who had magically appeared.
She stepped back, pulling out of his arms. "What's going on, Robby? What are you doing here?"
"Great," Whelan grumbled. "Now she starts thinking. A little too late."
Robby gave the CIA man an annoyed look, then turned back to Olivia. "Ye know I work for an agency that specializes in investigation. We're working with the CIA on this case."
Whelan snorted. "That's a cleaned up version."
Robby scowled at him. "Ye called Connor an hour ago about this place. Ye wanted us to come here first."
"I thought the Malcontents might still be here," Whelan said. "Are they?"
Robby shook his head. "They've already left."
"Who are the Malcontents?" Olivia asked. "And how did you magically appear in the front yard?"
Robby stiffened.
Whelan chuckled. "Yeah, try explaining that to your girlfriend."
