Anna glanced down at her notes. “Sorry, Dad. I was listening to music.”
Jack put his worry behind him. Let it go. He wanted peace. Sparks flew between them too often now.
He smiled and handed Anna her jacket. “Got a surprise for you.”
Anna attempted a smile. What now? Popcorn and a movie? With Dad? Borrring. She said, “What’s up?”
Jack ignored this irritating lingo. “Your uncle called. He’s probably at the house now. I thought we’d go out. Want to tag along?”
“
Uncle Joe’s here?” Anna’s face brightened. Her uncle was more like an older brother. Anna always loved his visits, but she seldom saw him now that he’d become a lieutenant commander. “Sure,” she said, hopping down from her post.
“
He’s got a friend with him,” Jack announced.
“
That’s okay.”
“
I’ve got a couple of rounds to make before heading home. You want a ride?”
They descended the short stairway to the roof. Anna glanced out at the fog and shivered. She did want a ride but... “No, thanks. I’ve got to synch this data. It won’t take long.”
Jack Carter almost insisted. If they hadn’t caught that cougar, he would have. He fought the impulse. He had to let her grow up. They descended the stairs and entered the building. Anna headed for the back offices, Jack for the front door. “Okay, then. See you at home in about an hour?”
Anna forced her mind off the thickening fog.
It’s just fog,
she reminded herself. She smiled brightly at her father, perhaps a little too brightly and a little too forced. “I’ll be careful. I’ll hold my cell in my hand.” She reached up and kissed his cheek. “See you soon.”
* * *
Anna let herself out of the observatory’s back door and sniffed the air.
Fog covered the grounds just below the large building. She thought it was strange how the fog crept up the hills and surrounded the observatory, but never rose further. She looked around. The fog spread through the grounds, but left the grand building alone. Standing at the top of the stairs that led to the lawns she could no longer see, Anna glanced up at the clear sky above her, the stars and moon, and then down at the mist that blanketed the Los Feliz neighborhood and most of Los Angeles.
She loved the night view of the City of Angels when it was clear. It reminded her of Christmas lights, a metropolis of lights to delight anyone lucky enough to see them.
But when it was foggy like this, there was no view. Only fog. Clouds, she supposed. A layer of mist was just a few steps down. Anna felt as if she were floating in the sky on these nights. She was safe as long as she stayed up here.
She took a deep breath and took the first step down into the thick mist.
It was darker than she’d anticipated. Anna glanced at the time on her cell, then quickened her pace. The hike down to their home just above Los Feliz seemed to take longer than normal. She should have taken the main route, but this way was shorter. The little-known trail cut the trek by almost a half-mile.
Still, it was darker than she’d anticipated. And quieter than she remembered. Anna could hear her breath. She moved silently, but her footsteps sounded loud to her. A twig snapped nearby. Just a squirrel. Right? She checked her cell phone again, this time to ensure that she had reception.
Anna had one secret that she’d kept from everyone. It was dumb, really, but she was afraid of fog. A stupid fear. She knew fog didn’t change anything. Every tree, rock and path was the same, clear or foggy. Still, Anna likened this fear to swimming in the ocean. Not being able to see what was moving around underneath her scared her. It didn’t mean anything. That’s what she usually told herself.
This fog, however, was becoming seriously dense. She tried to shake off her growing anxiety. Anna knew that she only had about fifteen more minutes of fog, and then she would be under it and come onto the main road where there were houses.
Her heart was beating fast, though, and she was only fourteen. Anna imagined she was being followed. She stopped abruptly to listen. Nothing. She held her breath, invisible on the steep trail. At the edge of her peripheral vision, she caught another movement off to her right. Anna looked, even though she could not see.
There it was again. A little closer. Anna’s brain knew it was a raccoon or perhaps a deer. But in her mind’s eye, she could see long, cold, slimy arms reaching out to grab her ankle or maybe even her hair.
Arms reaching slowly though the mist.
Arms waiting for her.
Arms grabbing for her.
Despite herself, Anna yelped and took off running.
Joe strode to the car and Mike hurried to keep pace.
After a total of six hours of questioning, plus the two hours driving from San Diego, he was exhausted. He and Mendoza had signed the confidentiality, top-secret papers without even reading them. He wanted to get the hell out of there, if only to have the privacy to vomit. They beat feet before the Agent in Black changed his mind.
In the car, Mike cranked up the air conditioner.
Joe forced his foot to ease up on the gas pedal until they exited the base. He drove to a local taco place and parked. He really felt like shit. Every bone and muscle in his body ached. He realized that he’d forgotten to go see a doctor and ask for antibiotics. He tried to think straight, concentrate. He took off his shades and winced as he eyed himself in the rearview mirror. He frowned at the reflection. He was pale, his lips chapped, his eyes bloodshot.
Mendoza was dozing already. Joe nudged him. “Take off your shades,” he said.
Despite the warm day, Mendoza shuddered. “Why?”
“
Do your eyes look like mine?” Joe asked.
Mendoza reluctantly removed his sunglasses and the two regarded one another.
“I guess so,” Joe said, answering his own question. “How do you feel?”
“
Like my stomach is full of worms or something, man. And I’m fuckin’ tired.”
“
And thirsty?”
“
Yeah, but I can’t drink anything, or I’ll vomit. Not even a beer.”
“
We were damned lucky to get out of there,” Joe said.
“
No shit.”
“
I mean, if you went through what I did, something big must be going on.”
Mendoza nodded, then looked like he was going to puke. He opened the car door. Put his shades on again and bent over. Retched. His stomach emptied quickly.
Joe tried to think straight. Whatever they’d found the other night was big. It was important, so important that he doubted anyone knew exactly how to respond. He knew very well that he and Mendoza could have been locked up, just to keep them quiet. Joe guessed rightly that the Agent in Black and his Clone had made the least conspicuous choice by letting them go. He also felt they were being followed. Was the car bugged?
Joe held his hand low and signaled for Mendoza to stay quiet. No one watching could have seen this. “Let’s try to eat,” he said, motioning for Mendoza to bring his small duffel bag and cell phone. “Let’s wash up, eat, and find a place to stay.”
* * *
AWOL.
An hour later, Lieutenant Commanders Joseph Carter and Michael Mendoza sped up the 605 Freeway. They’d changed into civilian clothing and hotwired a nearby car. Joe knew these actions were serious offenses, but he wasn’t thinking totally straight. He didn’t think the Agent in Black had caught on, but one could never be too careful.
“
So, why are we doing this?” Mendoza asked again.
“
I think we’re in trouble, either way. I don’t want to be locked up. We may never get out.”
“
That thing from the sky. What the hell was it?”
“
I don’t know, but I think it’s making us sick.”
“
Sick,” Mendoza echoed.
Joe was a good driver, which was a good thing. The light traffic helped. Joe kept careful watch; he really didn’t think they were being followed. Much as he hated to, though, he did zig-zag across the Los Angeles freeways for a while before entering the Los Feliz area.
“
Where we going again?” Mike’s voice was weak.
“
My brother’s.”
“
And why, again? Sorry,
hermano
, I can’t think straight.”
“
We agreed that we don’t want to be locked up. Something is happening.”
“
That meteor.”
“
Right.”
“
We fucked up by touching it.”
“
I suppose so.”
“
Are we...infected or something?”
Joe paused. “I think so.” Finally, he exited the 5 Freeway. It took all of his concentration to maneuver through traffic. “I don’t think we’re contagious.”
“
Why’s that?”
“
Our interrogators didn’t wear masks.”
I was making dinner when Joe arrived.
I’d made my rounds at the observatory. Around this time of year, when night came early, Goths, troublemakers, and a few gang members always frequented the place—part of my job was to work with the police to keep these punks in line.
I was a little disappointed that Carla wasn’t on duty. She was a great cop. Smart, intuitive. Someday, she’d probably wind up as a detective. More than that, she was a little flirt. As I sautéed onions and garlic for my killer spaghetti, I wondered if she flashed that sexy smile for everyone or just for me. I hadn’t dated much since the divorce. Being a single dad came with more responsibilities than I’d ever imagined. But I wouldn’t trade raising Anna for anything.
I frowned a little. Anna was getting older. I knew she was making friends, mostly at the zoo. Some of those friends were boys. I blew a deep breath as I mixed spicy Italian sausage into the pan and checked the pot of water for the pasta. It was inevitable, I knew. Growing up. I thought about the hell I’d put my own parents through. At least I was savvy enough to keep Anna safe and in line. I hoped so.
Anyway, the sauce was simmering when I heard the knock at the door. Anna raced down the stairs of our Los Feliz home and beat me to the door. I leaned against the wall and watched as she threw the front door wide open for my brother and his friend.
Anna pulled him inside and gave him a big hug. Joe was wearing shades and staggered a little as he returned the hug. He looked hung over. That was rare, given the time of day. Evening. Anna sensed it as well, and withdrew.
Another guy held back in the entryway, waiting politely to be invited in. He was also wearing sunglasses. They must have had some party.
Joe smiled wanly. “Anna! You’re taller.”
Anna smiled up at his glasses. “Yep. Come on in, I want to hear everything.”
I crossed the living room and gave my brother a hug. “You look horrible,” I halfway joked. I glanced over his shoulder to his friend. “
Oh, Mike, come on in.”
Mike obliged, acting oddly, stiffly. Anna led them both to the couch. She sat next to her uncle and took off his glasses. He winced. Mike courteously removed his own. That was when I knew something was wrong.
My brother and his Navy buddy’s eyes were a dark red. Not just bloodshot. I was thinking pink eye, but that wouldn’t explain the gaunt faces and chapped lips. Anna jabbered about everything: a stream of information for her beloved uncle that he didn’t seem to fully take in. His buddy, Mike, leaned into the couch and tried to look sociable.
I returned to my post in the hall. “You guys want a beer or something?”
“
No thanks,” Joe answered quickly.
Mike just shook his head.
Since when did my brother turn down a beer?
I frowned.
“
Anna, could you check the sauce? Make sure it’s not burning. Stir it and turn it off.”
Anna’s energy contrasted their lethargy. “Sure! Want me to set the table? Uncle Joe, Dad made your favorite!” She didn’t wait for an answer. Just bounced into the kitchen.
Joe let down his guard. He leaned back, closed his eyes and drew his thumb and forefinger to the bridge of his nose to soothe an obvious headache.
“
You okay?” I asked. A stupid question.
“
Man, I don’t feel all that great. Hate to say it, but we’re not hungry.”
Mike indicated his agreement.
“
Helluva time to catch a bug, on leave,” I commented.
“
Yeah. Listen, I hate to be a downer, but do you think we can just crash? I’m sure we’ll be better in the morning.”
I sighed, and accepted that sometimes things just didn’t turn out as planned, or imagined. I didn’t know at the time what an understatement that was. I’d been looking forward to blowing off some steam, having a few beers, talking football. Brother stuff.