"All right, y'all," Marlene said in a tight voice designed to reinsert order back into the situation that was dissolving into sure mutiny. "A lot of what we've had to do recently is outside of normal sanctions- dealing with Carlos being one of them, but you see how the Light worked that crazy scenario out. And I can name a hundred other ex�amples. But all of it worked out because we did it under prayer, with guidance, good intent, and..."
Marlene threw up her hands. "Lawdy, I don't know. All I'm sure of is we've gotta do something, and these, uh, beings, are giving us some�thing to work with right now. Plus, after that brand-new vision of Inez's kicked in, we oughta try and locate the source of the distur�bance. The Aztecs ruled in Mexico, and if you haven't noticed, people, that's where we are-so sticking our heads in the sand and acting like nothing is coming for us isn't an option. Good job, 'Nez. We needed to know that." Marlene glanced back at the flaming hacienda. "Any�body else got any suggestions about how to hunker down, create a fortress on the beach while we wait for Hell's gates to open?"
When no one spoke and the grumbles of discontent subsided, Marlene pressed on. "Okay then. First off, we're gonna have to move waaay down the beach, maybe go find Carlos and Damali's honey�moon villa to hole up in until they get back, because we can't stay here. That place was covered in nothing but white Light from the marriage. If these guys honed in on the hacienda, then anything else will come here as a first stop. Plus, if Carlos and Damali see this de�struction, I'm pretty sure they'll instantly scan for us and lock in where only they can see in-their last protected hold up-the villa. We can pretty much guarantee that they'll head toward it and I'll keep a sweeping telepathy channel open for them. We might be remote from the town, and things in Mexico move slow, but sooner or later investigators and a fire company will come snooping around. I just hope we got all the ammo out so nothing blows."
"Then the newbies can, uh, do their protection thing and we'll set up a perimeter," Shabazz said, his tone weary.
Rider nodded and held up the T-shirt rag. "We'll pass on your call�ing card. Thanks for the info."
"That was some deep science that our team has been trying to crack for days," Jose admitted. "We have all these new team members and gotta get 'em up to speed with the quickness. We owe you on that."
"Much obliged," Hubert said. "You gave us possible amnesty and a potential meeting with, your generals. Therefore-"
"We know, we know," Rider said, shaking his head. "Fair exchange is no robbery. Sheesh!"
"How come what starts out as a fairly normal day," Rider said, jump�ing down out of one of the Jeeps that had been salvaged before the hacienda blew, "never works out that way?"
No one responded to Rider's sarcasm as the team cased the perimeter of the villa, groups of Guardians piling out of Hummers, Jeeps, and Land Rovers on full alert. Once satisfied that the coast was clear, senior team members went in first, all senses keened, and en�sured the house was vacant.
"All clear!" Berkfield shouted out the front door.
Immediately hands and arms began moving supplies into the villa in a fast-moving assembly line of bodies. Shabazz's locks crackled and arced a charge, and Rider smiled a half-smile.
"Don't say it, brother," Shabazz muttered with a chuckle.
Rider raised an eyebrow and gave Shabazz a sheepish grin, and then inhaled deeply. "You think our young tacticals are gonna be able to hang in here?" Rider motioned with his chin toward J.L., Bobby, and Dan as he unpacked ammo to spread on the counter with Shabazz, moving away the refuse of half-eaten dinners and dishes.
Shabazz chuckled. "The charge coming up off this joint ain't no joke," he said in a private mutter. "I'm more worried about Jose, though. Brotherman looks like he's about to drop fang up in this piece."
"Well," Rider said in a philosophical tone, sighing hard. "At least there's no sulfur trail in here." He stopped and looked at Shabazz. "Did you notice that about the hybrids? They don't trail warning sig�nals like general, regulation demons."
"I know," Shabazz said, glancing up at Rider. "They've got a more human vibe to them, almost. In the hacienda, I could sense motion but wasn't registering blue-arc from their presence."
Rider nodded and shoved the half-eaten meal Damali and Carlos had left into the trash. "I gotta get to Gabby."
Shabazz nodded. "You call her?"
"Yeah. Since her initiates came, I've been calling every number I had for her. Everything's been disconnected. Last I heard, she was heading toward Vegas to set up shop there, since New Orleans was gone, L.A. was hot... I'm worried, man."
"We'll get Mar on the case, as soon as we get Damali and Carlos home. She can't do a double sweep like that." Shabazz laid a hand on Rider's shoulder.
"I know... but maybe since Marjorie is her sister..."
The two older Guardians stared at each other.
"Worth a try, but Mar's gotta teach her quick how to open a chan�nel without having it tracked," Shabazz said cautiously. "Feel me?"
"Yeah, I do," Rider said, his shoulders slumping. "You wouldn't wanna make a run with me, though... to, uh, maybe go by a lair?"
Shabazz closed his eyes and let his hand drop away from Rider's shoulder. "Aw... man... I forgot. Tara."
Rider nodded and looked away. "I don't wanna open it to possibly injure her to daylight, but if I can get a word to her somehow..."
"Man, listen," Shabazz said. "Me, you, and Mike, we'll ride at sun�down. You go to Yonnie's spot during the day, armed, and surprise him, some real f**ked-up shit could happen. But the minute the sun sets, we can holla at him with a little distance between him and us. I'm with you. Cool?"
Rider leaned against the counter, his line of vision roving the group that had fanned out and was securing entry points to the villa. "Yeah. That makes sense." Rider dropped his head back and closed his eyes. "I'm between a f**king rock and a hard place on this one, 'Bazz... just like old times."
Dan walked beside Heather along the beach, and then slowly slipped his hand into hers. Hot current ran from his palm into her soft fingers and he watched her breath hitch as the blue-white static charge eased up her arm and covered her breast. She flinched and briefly closed her eyes as the static charge circled a pouting nipple, licked it, and then encompassed the other one. Tempering himself, Dan released her hand and clasped his hands behind his back, humiliation scalding his face.