speak, it grows stronger in your energy field. You need to learn how to disguise it before we can communicate again.
Teach me how.
I can’t, it’s a strength that comes with age. Find me again when you’re older.
How old?
Wait at least another seven years. Your Hunahpu powers will strengthen as you get older.
Father, I can’t wait that long -
You have to. I’ll be all right. Time isn’t the same here as it is for you. Go now, quickly, before the Abomination pierces my defenses!
Father, I love you. Father?
Jacob awakens, staring into the teary eyes of his mother. ‘Jake? What happened?’
‘I spoke with-’ Don’t tell her, she’ll only worry. ‘It’s okay, Mother. I’m fine.’
Dominique turns to the president. ‘That’s it, Ennis. No more remote viewing, do you understand? No more training! No more tests!’ She looks at her son. ‘And no more talk about Mayan death gods and Xibalba. Somehow, some way, we’re going to find a way for you and Manny to live normal lives.’
12
8:37 p.m.
The delivery truck stops at the gated entrance of the Mabus Estate.
Mitchell Kurtz lowers his driver’s side window to speak with the security guard. ‘Hey, pal. Got a delivery for your boss. Three surf-and-turf specials, and a bottle of wine. Should I leave it with you or take it up to the house?’
The armed guard steps out of his booth. ‘Where’s Murphy?’
‘Out sick. Probably at the track.’
‘Put the food on Mabus’s tab and leave everything with me. I’ll take it up in the cart.’
‘Sure thing.’ Kurtz hands the guard a thermal delivery pouch. ‘Do me a favor and take the food tray inside, the pouch has to stay with me.’
The guard reaches inside the insulated pouch and grabs the metal tray – and is jolted into unconsciousness behind ten thousand volts of electricity.
Kurtz opens his door. He steps over the body and pulls off his jacket, exposing a brown-and-gray uniform identical to the guard’s. Hoisting the unconscious man over his shoulder, he carries him inside the guardhouse, then unceremoniously drops him to the floor.
Looking into the videocam, he dials into the main house.
Peter Mabus’s voice bellows over the intercom, Kurtz’s screen remaining scrambled for privacy. ‘What is it?’
‘You have a food delivery, sir. I’m bringing it up in the cart.’
‘About time, we called forty minutes ago.’
The line goes dead.
Kurtz tucks the metal food tray into its thermal pouch and resets the stunner, then taps at the tiny communication device hidden inside his left ear and speaks into his wristwatch. ‘I’m good. You in position?’
One hundred yards behind the beach house, Ryan Beck emerges from the dark Atlantic, dressed from head to toe in a black wet suit. Using his night-vision glasses, he verifies the beach is deserted, then makes his way past the sandy dunes and wild grass to the private boardwalk.
‘Stand by.’
Beck switches to a thermal scanner, focusing the invisible beam on the back of the Mabus mansion. ‘I’m detecting three people. Kid’s upstairs in a third-floor bedroom. Servant’s waiting for you at the door. Our target’s drinking out back on the screened-in porch.’
‘Roger that, I’m on my way.’ Kurtz starts the golf cart and drives it up a narrow walkway that leads to the front entrance of the mansion.
Belle Glade, Florida 8:45 p.m.
‘Been taking care of ya’ll for seven long years, your mama longer than that!’ Quenton Morehead stumbles into his granddaughter’s bedroom, the alcohol flowing through his bloodstream like poison. ‘Two of ya’ll took and took… drained me like a ’ho.’
Lilith Eve Robinson’s heart flutters like the wings of a dove.
‘Ya’ll owe me, you know that don’t cha? Seven years’ worth, uh-huh.’
Her adrenaline pumping, Lilith’s mind searches desperately for the white light as Quenton stumbles out of his trousers, falling sideways onto her sofa bed.
‘Okay, okay, don’t start yer slobberin’. Ya’ll been comin’ along nicely lately. Tonight it’s time to let you feel heaven for yourself.’
Lilith squeezes her eyes shut, her consciousness taking refuge inside the nexus.
Jacob?
I’m here, Lilith. But I can’t stay. My mother’s calling, I have to go.
Please don’t go yet, he’s doing it again! Her energy reaches out for him, entwining his mind like a vine.
Hey, let go, you’re… you’re too strong for me. Let me go Stay with me-please! I really need you tonight!
I’ll come back as soon as I can, I promise.
Jacob, he’s hurting me.
He’s always hurting you. Stop being a victim, Lilith. Call the cops. Run away. Do something!
It’s not that easy for me. I have no place else to go.
My mother’s coming, Lilith You don’t love me anymore, do you?
I do love you, I just can’t do this right now. I’ll be back as soon as I can.
Jacob-wait! Don’t go, please!
Lilith, do you trust me?
Yes.
Then here’s what I want you to do. Tell him that if he puts that thing near you again, you’ll tell everyone in his church.
He’s threatened to kill me if I ever told.
Then kill him. Wait until he passes out, then get a real sharp knife and cut his throat.
I… I can’t do that.
Then I can’t help you. I’m sorry, I have to go.
Jake, wait Jacob’s mind pushes free and slips out of the netherworld, his vacancy tossing Lilith’s own consciousness back into reality.
The girl opens her eyes in time to witness Quenton step out of his boxer shorts, exposing himself to her. ‘Now don’t ya’ll worry. See this? It’s slidey cream. Slidey cream makes every-thin’ feel real good inside.’
Jacob help me…
‘Jacob!’
Longboat Key, Florida
‘Jacob!’
Jake opens his eyes. He is on the beach, his mother calling for him.
The white-haired boy hustles up to the house.
‘Jake, I want you to meet someone,’ Dominique says. ‘This is Craig Basedorfer. Mr. Basedorfer will be overseeing internal security while Salt and Pepper are away.’
Jacob nods at the older gentleman, who looks more like a librarian than a security expert.
Solomon Adashek nods at the boy, his thin lips pursing in a forced smile. ‘A pleasure to finally meet you,
