Cloud Invasion: R-D 2 (R-D #2)(43)
"Holy, f*cking hell," Auggie muttered.
"In fact, make sure all photographs sent to me from now on are current. If he's hiding behind somebody else's face, I want to know."
"Anything new on the fifteen?" Opal asked.
"No new sightings, but that could change. We have people-and dogs-in the Juneau area, but so far, nothing has turned up," Auggie replied. "Tracks end in water, that kind of thing."
"So, other than looking at politicians, our hands are tied," Maye huffed.
"For now. We have to lead them to believe you're dead," Leo pointed out. "Don't forget you're all in danger if they learn otherwise."
*
Merle Askins' Office
"Sir." A tablet was set in front of the CIA Director.
"Hunter and Shaw went to lunch?" Askins watched the video.
"You asked that they be followed-this is all we have."
"Look at that jerk in the gray suit at the end," Askins snickered. "Bet they're sorry they didn't get their sandwiches to go. Shaw and Hunter are just sitting there, grimacing while the idiots at their table are laughing and joking."
"Want to retain these images?" Askins' assistant asked.
"Hell no. Don't bring me more of the same, either. If it doesn't look useful, trash it."
"I will, sir."
*
Corinne
"Home again, home again." I studied the kitchen after we landed in it. A shopping trip to the grocery store was in order-I'd brought what we had from the facility, but supplies had run low before we left. I'd also traded appliances-the ones in our new home weren't up to my (or Rafe's) standards.
"Want to make a list?" Rafe asked, pulling the phone I'd given him out of a pocket.
"Yeah. Put milk and bread on there first."
*
"How did you create a bank account for all of us with our new IDs?" Rafe asked as we browsed the produce aisle later.
"It was easy," I shrugged. "I didn't want Auggie connected to anything like that-we could be found out. I had the money stashed in a private account, which I don't care to name, so I just created accounts for all of us. Everybody gets a credit card to match their ID, which is connected to their new bank accounts. End of story."
"Under what pseudonym?" Rafe demanded quietly.
"Not under a pseudonym. Under a Swiss bank account, registered to Harriett Majors, which only I and my husband knew about," I snapped. "I pulled the money out and redistributed it. Congratulations-you now have a million or two at your disposal."
"What about the others?"
"They only have a few hundred thousand to spend. I love you the most," I shook a bunch of celery at him.
He rubbed his forehead, but I didn't miss the slight curl at the edge of his mouth. "Are you going to beat me with that celery or will it go into the soup tonight?" he dropped his hand and grinned.
"Soup," I said.
"Very good. Onions next on the list, cabbage."
The Range Rover we'd inherited with the log cabin was filled with groceries when we got back. Grateful that there'd been a freezer in the garage for extra storage, we unpacked with help from Nick and Opal.
Although it was made of logs, the house looked as if a wealthy family had built and owned it at one time-it had five bedrooms, an entry, living area, media room, large kitchen with pantry, and six bathrooms. It also had several fireplaces and two wood burning stoves-in case the power went off, I suppose.
We now owned it-utilizing James' technical expertise, I'd bought it, Range Rover included, from someone looking to leave Alaska before cold weather set in.
Still, we needed at least one more vehicle. "Who wants to buy another truck?" I asked, once all the groceries were put away.
"I wouldn't mind," James grinned.
"I'll come with you," Nick offered.
"Get something useful," I called out as they headed for the back door and the Range Rover.
"They'll come home with a Corvette," Rafe said.
"I sure hope not," I said. "It'll be snowed over until spring if they do that."
*
"Another sighting-different ones, this time," James handed a tablet to me while Rafe and I cooked dinner later. He and Nick had come back earlier with a four-wheel-drive SUV, which warranted a hug for James. I might have hugged Nick, too, but Ilya was watching.
"There isn't a single thing on the planet-even in mythology-that looks like that one," I sighed, pointing to one of the creatures. To me, it looked as if a giant capybara mated with an alligator. The head and long tail-all alligator. In between-capybara.
The whole animal stood around five feet tall at the shoulders and looked meaner than a rattlesnake. Its partner was smaller and looked more like the other one's dinner.
"What the hell are they doing-out for walkies?" Nick asked, peering over my shoulder.
"I think they're still trying to draw us out, testing whether Auggie was telling the truth," I said. "Any damage?"
"Nothing reported," James said. "The tabloids are going crazy with this, and I gotta tell you, some of them may be closer to the truth than most people believe."