CHAPTER EIGHT

August, 2044


Early the following morning, Nikky and Winter got their intel.

"Look, brother, it took practically an act of Congress to get this shit, and when I was asked why I wanted it, I only had to tell them Uncle Jere's name," Vixen Vincent said when she met with her twin brother and cousin at a pre determined location near the Capitol.

"So what's in the report, Vix?" Nikky asked, "The condensed version."

Vixen thought about that for a minute, then asked the men to sit down. "This is rough shit, guys, especially for you, Winter," she said.

What Vixen told them make Nikky sick and Winter boiling over with anger. "Who's responsible for this?" Winter asked angrily.

"Some creep called Carl Hardwicke," Vixen said; "He ran a children's home in Maine until he was removed for abusing or allowing abuse of his charges. This info about him goes back years, long before any of us were thought of."

"So he's a pedaphile," Nikky said.

"Pretty much," replied his sister. "His own children aren't even immune. He pimped out his 16 year old step-daughter so often it was a wonder she ever made it to school. His twelve year old daughter is next. The 16 year old got pregnant and Hardwicke and his wife sent her away. Wifey's even worse. She is suspected of murdering her own husband, the 16 year old's father, when the girl was three or four. She was pregnant with Hardwicke's child, now twelve. The man's remains were never found."

"Nothing like family values, huh?" Winter asked sarcastically. "Wyatt and I were in a children's home before we were adopted by Mom and Dad. This Hardwicke sounds like a sick motherfucker."

"Collins-Ross says you can take him and any accomplices out," Vixen said; "Wifey included. No harm is to come to the younger daughter. Her name is Hannah. The older daughter, the one who got knocked up, is named Gwendolyn Ste. Pierre."

Winter gasped. "I know Wendy! She had a mad crush on Wyatt. Poor girl. Where is she now?"

"With relatives in Canada somewhere," Vixen said. "Her parents don't know she's there, nor would they care if they did. To them she no longer exists."

"If she's your age, Winter, why did she have a crush on Wyatt?" asked Nikky.

"They're both artists," Winter said; "She sculpts. She's good. I had no idea of the shit she and her sister had to endure at home, though. And Wyatt certainly didn't know."

"You think that Hardwicke knew about Wendy's attraction to Wyatt?" Vixen asked. "Could that be why he was attacked?"

"I have no idea, nor do I care," Winter said, allowing his rage to take over; "I just want to wipe the scum off the face of the earth."

"Well good luck to you," Vixen said; To Nikky she whispered, "Don't let him do anything stupid, okay, Nik?"

"Gotcha, sis," Nikky said.

===


It was a long night for Joe and Tracy Donovan. They sat in the waiting area where the ICU was, waiting for Wyatt to return to his room after a second surgery to essentially rebuild his colon.

He was in a drug induced coma, and it killed Tracy to see her son like that. Then she'd remembered how brutally he'd been assaulted and was glad that for now, he had no idea what was going on.

His sisters, however, did know, and both expressed disgust at what happened to their little brother. Danica told her father that Winter was on his way back to Maine with Nikky, only saying in a note that there was "trouble at home".

What Danica, Kendree, nor their parents knew, was that Winter had plans for the man who committed the crime against Wyatt. Carl Hardwicke would wish he'd never heard the name Winter Donovan, because it was the last thing he would ever hear.


===

"Okay, I am officially bored," Rina told her husband, Jeremy. They were on a beach in southern California, where their two daughters, Aida and Natalia, were playing in the surf.

"How can you be bored, Rina? It's beautiful out here," said Jeremy; "I wouldn't mind living here. The girls are having a great time!"

"Maybe it's because I'm as big as a barn," Rina said. She was six months pregnant with their third child, a son they were planning to name Alexander Jeremiah. They were already calling him "Xander".

"Well Jaime and Jared; and Helene and Alexei are coming in tomorrow for fun in the sun with their families," Jeremy said; "We can't disappoint them now, can we?"

"I suppose not, Jeremy," sighed Rina. "I can't wait to see the new ballet Helene and Alexei are in! And Kaitie is getting to be such a big girl! I wonder when they'll start her with ballet lessons."

"Maybe they already have," Jeremy said; "you never know!"

"This is true," Rina agreed; "She is almost one and a half years old. I bet she looks adorable in her little tutu!"

Just then the girls came running up from where they were playing in the surf. "Mamma, Mamma," Aida said excitedly, "Abbiamo visto una balena!"

"Una balena!" Natalia parroted her sister.

"Ahh," Jeremy said, taking the one year old and placing her on his lap, "you and Aida saw a whale? Wow! I've never seen a whale up close!"

Rina laughed. She loved how Jeremy was slowly becoming bilingual right along with their daughters.

"You've never seen a whale up close, Daddy?" asked Aida.

"Nope," Jeremy said; "just in picture books."

Soon, the family headed back to their hotel so Rina could take a nap. Tomorrow was going to be a long day with all three families being there.

And an unexpected observer.

===


"Oh, fuck," Vixen said.

"What's up, Vix?" the Director said.

"Feebees are going after the same guy that Nikky and Winter are going after," Vixen said; "I've got to tell them not to complete their mission!"

"Not so fast, Viktoria," said the Director; "Maybe FBI and us can work together on this one. I'd like nothing more than that pedophile dead or behind bars for life after what he did to Wyatt Donovan."

"Mr. Director," Vixen said, "Winter is hellbent on revenge, which is why I sent my brother with him. FBI may not realize it and 'accidently' take out the wrong people."

"I'll talk to Vincent Cooper," the Director said; "He's a reasonable man. He's also the nephew of the one and only Morbus, which makes us cousins."

"The FBI Director is your cousin? How?" asked Vixen.

"My dad and Cooper's mom were siblings, Vixen," the Director said; "We didn't know each other well until we were adults. Vince is a bit older than I am."

"I  see," Vixen said, "but back to Nikky and Winter. What can you do or say to Vincent Cooper that assures that my brother and Winter aren't collateral damage?"

"You'll have to trust me, Agent Vincent," said the Director; "I won't let anything happen to Nik or Winter."

Vixen slouched in her chair. She knew she had to trust JT Collins-Ross on this. It wasn't like she had a choice.


===

After Collins-Ross spoke to FBI Director Cooper, he gave Vixen an assignment.

"Contact Nik and let him know that FBI agents will have his and Winter's back," Collins-Ross said; "Then go to Maine and see that the Feebees keep their distance. If they get out of line, just mention your mother's name. Several senior agents know of Natasha's reputation during the Occupation."

"Okay, Director, I'm on it," Vixen said.

"I'll take care of your travel stipend. It should be available this afternoon before you leave."

Vixen said nothing; she got her brother on the phone and let him know what was going down.

"You and Winter can still take the piece of shit out, okay? FBI will be your back up."

"Shit, sis, how did you get so much fuckin' pull?" Nikky asked.

"Friends in high places, brother mine," Vixen said; "Tell Winter what's up and let him do what he needs to to wipe that scumsucking rapist off the map. However, don't let him do anything stupid."

"I'll watch him like a hawk, Vix."

"Good," Vixen said; "because I'm on my way up there and I'll be watching you and FBI like a hawk."

She heard Nik sigh and knew she got to him.

He's going to be a good agent, she thought. Him and Winter both.

===


He didn't recognize where he was.  All he knew was that it was like no place he'd ever been. It was quiet, welcoming, serene. But he had yet to see a single soul.

Where am I? he asked himself.

"Is there anyone here?" he asked. He got no answer.

Now he was scared.

He looked through a window and saw what looked like a hospital room. He saw a figure in a bed, hooked up to machines that measured their blood pressure, pluse and heartbeat. He couldn't see a face, as it was covered by a mask that helped the person in the bed breathe. 

A nurse and a doctor entered the room and checked on their patient. The doctor looked at a clipboard, made some notes on a piece of paper, then put the clipboard back in a holder at the end of the bed. 

The doctor left and the nurse checked the machines, changed the IV, and made sure that the breathing machine was delivering the right amount of oxygen to the patient. Then, she, too left the room.

He then saw someone else enter the room. It was someone he immediately recognized. Before he could say anything, he heard a very familiar voice behind him say,

"Boy whatcha doin here? It's not your time ta be here."

He turned and saw who spoke to him.

"Grandpa Frank?" he asked.

The old man only nodded. He then saw that Grandpa Frank was not alone. With him were two people; a man about 30 and a woman who was a little younger.

"Young man, these people are Renda and Matt," Grandpa Frank said; "They're the ones who brought you and your brother into the world. They've been asked not to speak, but they did want to see you."

He saw the woman, Renda, say something to her husband, but he could not hear her voice.

"Where am I and why was I brought here?" he asked.

"You're in a holding area," said Grandpa Frank; "normally this would be your first stop before you head off to see the Gatekeeper, but you were brought here too soon. So I was sent to tell you that you still have a lot of time left to do what you need to do.

"There's a young woman who thinks about you, and you are meant to find her. She has challenges to face just like you will. I can't tell you when, where or how you meet again, but I can tell you that you will come through your current crisis just fine, physically. You'll go through a stage where you doubt yourself, and those who love you will be  your best allies. Just remember that, my boy, and you'll be fine."

"Grandpa Frank?" he asked.

"Yes?"

"I know you said that Matt and Renda couldn't talk to me, but can I at least see what they really look like?"

His grandfather looked back at the young couple, and they nodded. They walked a few steps into the light so he could see them.

As he looked at them, he felt his eyes widen. The man, Matt, looked just like...

===

When Wyatt awoke from the drug induced coma, he saw his mother sitting next to the bed. She looked tired.

He tried to talk, but there was a tube running down his throat. He also felt sore on one side. He couldn't move his arms to feel what was laying on his stomach.

Tracy saw that he was awake. Her son's dark eyed gaze asked more questions than she was able to answer for him.

"Wyatt," she said; "you're in the hospital in Bangor. You were hurt pretty badly. You've had several surgeries to repair some injuries. Dad and I have been here the whole time. Winter is on his way back from Washington with Nikky. Danica and Kendree know what happened and they'll come visit when schedules permit. Your job is to rest and get better. You got that, kiddo? Nod if you understand."

Wyatt nodded, and his mother continued; "we'll tell you more about what happened when you get stronger. Dad and I wanted you to know that we love you and none of this was your fault. Okay?"

Wyatt nodded again. He suddenly felt tired. Tracy could sense that and said, "You rest now, Wyatt. Dad will be here when you wake again."

But Mom, Wyatt thought; I saw Grandpa Frank, and I saw my birth parents! My birthfather looks just like Winter! My birthmother gave us her coloring. Why don't I remember them?

He knew he couldn't give voice to his question because of the tube down his throat. He fell asleep instead.


===

Winter and Nikky arrived in Maine and went straight to the hospital. Tracy was getting ready to leave and Joe was just arriving.

"How's Wyatt?" was the first thing out of Winter's mouth when he saw his parents.

Joe led the group to some chairs and told the whole story of what happened at the Art Show.

"Two siblings who were taken with Wyatt haven't been found," Joe said; "police fear the worst. Wyatt was very, very lucky he was thinking clearly and went to find help. The doctors said that's the only reason he's still alive."

"What about the lowlifes who are responsible for this?" asked Nikky. "Have they been found?"

"They found the man who was the ringleader," Tracy said; "the others may have met a similar fate as Wyatt and the siblings that are still missing."

"What's going to happen now?" asked Winter.

"The FBI has been contacted," Joe said; "and apparently, operatives from CIA are also enroute."

"Because Uncle Jere's running for President?" asked Nikky.

"That's what I think," Tracy said; "This is a form of candidate intimidation, which is a felony in all fifty-one states. Uncle Jere isn't the only one things like this have been happenening to. At least one other candidate for president is being harrassed in a similar fashion."

Winter thought about that for a moment, then said, "The only other candidate I can think of that this could be happening to is Alveta Craine. She has the misfortune of being Mixed and female."

"I hear that she's thinking of dropping out," Joe said; "Jere is thinking if she does, that he'll ask her to be his running mate if Angus Hammer does what he's been threatening and asks Jere to find someone else. Hammer isn't taking this candidate intimidation thing well at all."

"He's a pussy then," Winter said.

"Agreed," said Nikky. "Give Hammer the boot and replace his ass with someone who can handle it."

After talking for a while, Winter asked to see his brother.

"He's resting right now," Joe said; "He's going to need all his strength to get better."

"I can understand that, Dad," Winter said; "Let him know I'm home and I'll come visit when he says it's okay."

Tracy then left and Joe went into Wyatt's room in the ICU. Winter and Nikky just sat there for a few moments, then Winter said,

"Nik, I'll take you to the house and you can bunk with me. We need to form a battle plan and let Vixen know when we're going to strike."

"I'm down with that, cuz," Nikky said, laughing.

Inside though, he thought, Winter's parents wouldn't be too thrilled to learn that Winter was the CIA operative sent to eliminate the scum who raped his brother and left him to die.

===

Angus Hammer wouldn't get to decide whether he still wanted to be Jeremiah Donovan's running mate. That decision had already been made for him.

And not by Jeremiah Donovan.

===