He gulped, his Adam's apple bobbing hard. "Will you protect me from her kind if I tell you?"
"No promises." Hernando stood tall. "Tell us what you know or we'll see if you can skydive as well as you drive a limousine—and without a parachute."
The driver gulped again and followed Hernando's gaze toward the forward door. "All right, I'll tell you what I know. I'm an underling anyway, and they don't have much confidence in me. I'm a goner, either way. I'm essentially working for a company called Krotz Brothers, but get this," he lowered his voice in case his employers could hear him from hundreds of miles away, "I hear tell they're just a strong arm for Goldbar-Staks."
"The crooked Wall Street bankers?" Olivia blinked. "Why would a bunch of billionaires want to kidnap an ambassador? They don't need the money, and don't they exercise enough power on this planet already?"
He shrugged. "They don't want to harm the ambassador from what I understand. They just like to cause... unrest. Keep the world on its toes. It's good for business, if you take my drift. Everyone fighting everyone else means more weapons sales—private, police, military, terrorist and otherwise. Everybody will want more guns and ammo. More dead and wounded can equal big bucks in pharmaceuticals and health services, too. Lots of money in the stock market to be made that way."
Annara frowned, unable to hide her disgust. "What kind of people would do such horrible things to their own race, and why?"
"Profits over people." Olivia sighed and shook her head. "Greed over compassion. Why am I not surprised?"
"But why me?" Hernando asked his driver. "Wouldn't it be easier for these amoral billionaires, who want to provoke endless war, to create a domestic dispute and manipulate the public to focus on that issue alone?"
"Beats me. All I know is that they have new vampire friends who will pay well for causing trouble between the governments both here and there and the peasants. You as half-breed do-gooder serve the bill. They figured they'd get two things done for the price of one."
Hernando nodded. "I see." He turned to Valori. "Now it's time for this gentleman to go to sleep with the others. If you'd be so kind?" Valori closed her eyes and the limo driver did likewise.
Hernando turned to Olivia and Annara and lowered his voice. "Someone on BloodDark is paying to stir up enmity between the ruling council and the people. We all know who she is, don't we?"
"In Clan Alpha it's got to be the high priestess Drucinda." Annara sighed as she reached for her side arm then grunted in annoyance, realizing it had been checked in. "She's been demoted in the eyes of her brethren since signing the armistice and promising to cooperate. She's not one who will take such a slight lying down. It's impressive to what lengths she'd go to re-establish her power."
"Who'd have thought they'd want to dirty their pointy-nail hands doing business with lowlifes on Earth?" Olivia thought out loud. "How have they been able to make contact with these Earth billionaires? I thought every person had to be screened before traveling to and from BloodDark? We've sent government ministers and scientists from Earth so far—no bankers."
"They are screened thoroughly," Hernando said, "and we're keeping records, but it doesn't mean all Earth travelers are telling the truth, or some aren't doing double duty."
Annara scowled. "I knew this would happen. We need to keep closer watch over the Earthers when they are on BloodDark. Our enemies will constantly look for assistance for their cause. This incident makes it more obvious they've found friends in unlikely places."
"We still don't know what we're going to see when we land, either." Hernando sighed. He turned to Valori. "Can you read the pilot's mind from here?"
"The woman flying the aircraft?" Valori stood very still for a full minute, staring at the cockpit door. "She's wondering how they will pay her when we land—in cash or a check. She hopes it's cash. She's had her eye on some diamond earrings she wishes to purchase for her lover."
"Can you find out where we're landing?"
Valori closed her eyes and furrowed her brow. Drops of sweat formed from her intense concentration. "I see... I see a small airport, not a large one. It's located on a long island not far from a big city."
"Your driver did say we were going to New York. Could be we're going to a small private airstrip on Long Island?" Olivia pursed her lips. "What happens when we disembark? Valori, can you make another bunch of hired henchmen go to sleep on their feet?"
"I can try. This ability is very new to me. I'm not sure of its limits." Her face turned pale. She clutched at her stomach. "I'm not feeling well."
Olivia rushed to her friend's side and helped her to settle back into her seat. Tugging the small paper bag free from the pocket on the back of the seat in front of her, she handed it to Valori. I hope it's either too much pumpkin pie or simple airsickness. We're going to need your help when we land, Valori. Who knows what we'll meet?
Chapter Six
The plane landed without much fanfare on a small but well-lit airstrip. Olivia peered out the window and scanned their surroundings as they taxied toward a hanger. She was certain she'd guessed their location right. They must have landed somewhere on Long Island. A lighted walkway led toward a white colonnaded mansion in the distance. Could it be their destination? It looked familiar, but where had she seen it before? She turned to check on her quiet friend.
"How are you feeling now, Valori?"
"Very weak."
Olivia observed the older woman's discomfort. Her pale complexion and clammy hands indicated Valori was in need of medical attention. Using her new-found psychic powers must have taken a toll on her body. A sense of dread came over Olivia. They'd have to
