Dealers of Light (38 page)

Rolf’s feet
seemed cemented in place. He stared at the tall shape before him in wonder. Suddenly, Atum’s figure shrank to the size of a normal man, his head now level with Rolf’s.

“Why am I here?” Rolf managed between awe-frozen lips.

“Walk with me.” Atum’s voice lowered. He set out past the obelisk, through the deserted streets of the city. 

Rolf followed and
Atum waited so he could walk by his side.

“You are an ancient. One of the first to whom I gave the power of touch,”
Atum said. “One of my special children.”

A flash of amazement and enlightenment shot through Rolf. If
Atum claimed to have created him, a thousand questions rose in his mind, but he remained silent, waiting for Atum to resume.

The god continued to a ridge
overlooking a valley below—fertile green land that continued to the Nile in the far distance. Atum’s expression held a tint of sadness as his eyes traveled over the distance. Sorrow rose in Rolf, too. He had shared this scene with Sakhet numerous times.

“Many of my children have passed over the years. Very few remain. This saddens me.”

“Was Sakhet also your child?” Rolf couldn’t help asking.

“Yes.”
Atum nodded. “Her death pained me greatly. Even more painful was that of my beloved Iusaaset, although it was necessary in our plan.”

Rolf pondered this news.
Iusaaset was considered the mother goddess. How did she die, and to what plan did Atum refer? Were Atum’s children only good or did they include the evil ones? “And Desmond?”

Atum
frowned. “That one is not mine. He cannot make the Light in his own body—an abomination. He belongs to another. One who should be destroyed.”

So many questions
churned in Rolf’s mind. He opened his mouth to speak, but Atum waved a hand, cutting him off.

“Your time here is short. I have followed y
our actions and I know the good in your heart. You have remained true over the years and shall be rewarded in time. Your path has been honorable, but you have lost sight of a most important goal.”

“What
goal?”

Atum
turned to face him and his dark eyes bore into Rolf’s like a laser. “You must not let our race die out. The balance of the universe must be maintained. My Iusaaset left the earth for this reason. Our plan must not fail or the world will perish in evil.”

Rolf’s mind raced. “I don’t understand.”

“You must not let our race die out,” Atum repeated. His image grew foggy and his voice faint. “Remember…” The sound trailed away into the roar of rising wind.

A cloud of sand obscured Rolf’s vision again
, and he put an arm up to cover his face. Stinging particles whipped into his flesh, and he struggled to walk against the buffeting power of the moving air. “Atum!” He waved a hand in front of him, but his fingers found only the biting particles of windblown sand. “Atum!”

Abruptly
, the buffeting of the wind stopped, and he opened his eyes. Gone were the sandy roads, the tall obelisk and the dust in his nostrils. All that remained was darkness and the legacy of Atum. His father.

Chapter Thirty-Five

“So, the first step is for Rolf to go to the Guns ’n Ammo store, here, and try to purchase some automatic rifles.” Sean pointed to a map laid out on the dining table with Cara and her friends gathered around. Sunlight from the windows cast a yellow glow off the walls. “We know the owner is in Desmond’s pay and has sold him quite a few weapons in the past month. We also know Desmond sent out a description of Rolf and Cara to all the people he’s bribing in the different areas. This guy will hopefully recognize you and call Desmond.”

“What if he just sends police?” Cara asked.

“Not likely,” Rolf said, gritting his teeth. He knew what Desmond wanted. “He wants to have me himself, to torture me himself. It will be better for him to have his men take me so no one will ever know. Besides, Tor will monitor the police channels and know if they do.”

Tor nodded
. “Rolf will have to fill out an application for the rifles. We’ll expect some type of delaying tactic with this, like telling Rolf he’ll have to come back later. This will give Desmond time to send his men there to capture him. Rolf’ll use Cara’s house for his home address so they’ll think the two of you have come back there. This should make them split and send a group to capture Cara while the others go for Rolf.”

“And if they do involve law enforcement?” Cara asked.

“We’ll have to abort the mission and come up with another plan.” Rolf felt confident this would work, knowing how Desmond operated from the past.

“Won’t Desmond be with one of the groups?” Tor asked.

“I know him. He’ll put his men in danger and sit back to wait.” Rolf crossed his arms over his chest. “Like the typical murderous dictator.”

“Cara
and her team will go to her house after Rolf leaves the gun store. Then we’ll be ready to spring the trap.” Sean sat back. “Questions?”

“You’re still willing to let me dim you down?” Rolf
patted his longtime friend on the back.

Sean nodded. “It’s the only way you’ll get into his house. I can disable the alarm system but only if I’m there, and they’ll detect my energy if I’m not a dimmer.”

“I want you to return to the boat when it’s done. It’s too dangerous for you, even if your Light is only slightly depleted.” Rolf didn’t want Sean in danger because of his agreement to be dimmed.

“If you
want, but the only lingering issue is getting the remaining Takers out of the house so you can go in and retrieve the stone.”

“I have a plan,” Cara said. “Trust me.”

Rolf opened his mouth but closed it when she held up a hand.

“What?” Shana raised one brow.

“I have to check it out first, while Rolf goes to the gun store.”

“Is it safe?” Amber frowned.

“Don’t worry. I promise I won’t put myself in danger.” Cara smiled. “I’ll meet you guys at my house afterwards.”

“
Okay, are we ready?” Rolf’s gaze traveled to each member the group.

“Yes. I want to get this over with
in the worst possible way.” Cara winked at Rolf. “I think luring them out is a good idea. There’s no way we can defeat them if they’re all together, and we have to get the opal secured before Desmond can use it.”

“Good, let’s get started,” Rolf said. “You know your parts
. Good luck.”

Chapter Thirty-Six

“Can I help you?” the tall man behind the counter asked as Rolf walked closer.

“I have some special needs
, and I’ve heard you might be the person to help me.” Rolf glanced around the store. It was a large store with numerous glass display cases around the side. Shelves behind the cases held stacks of ammunition beneath racks of rifles. Crossbows, camouflaged gear, and targets took up the center section. The sulfur smell of gunpowder ripened the air.

The man
squinted at Rolf, eyes only slightly hazy. Desmond’s dimming was running out it seemed. He sported a crew cut, his body big with muscle gone to fat. “Depends. What do you want?”

“I’m interested in some assault rifles and a sniper rifl
e.” Rolf met the man’s gaze with a steady stare.

The man stepped back and crossed his arms, studying Rolf’s face.
I think I’ve just been recognized.

“Assault rifles, huh
?” the man said. “Do you know specifically what you’re lookin’ for?”

“M4’s if you have any, but M16’s will do also.” Rolf turned his head
to keep the front door in his peripheral vision.

“Hmm, and for the sniper?”

“Heckler and Koch PSG1 or an M40.”

“
You know your weapons, I’ll say that. How many of the M4’s?”

“Four
, if possible.”

“You have to have a background check in this state.”

“Of course, here’s my driver’s license.” Rolf handed him the fake ID Sean had made for him with an alias and Cara’s address.

“
It’s gonna take a day or two.” The man held the card up and glanced between it and Rolf.

“I’d like to expedite the process if possible.” Rolf
pulled out a roll of bills and peeled off five one-hundred dollar bills. He placed them on the counter and slid them forward.

The man’s eyes followed the money. He glanced at Rolf
then scanned the store, took the money, and put it in the pocket of his jeans. “All right. I got the M4’s here, but I have to call a friend in the business for the H and K. You got a price limit?

“No. I just need the guns
quickly, with no questions.”

“I’ll have them all ready to pick up in two hours.”

Rolf made a show of hesitating before nodding. “Very well. I’ll be back in two hours. I’ll be in a black van and park in the back so you can load the guns.”

“You got it,” the man said, beads of sweat blooming on his forehead.

Rolf walked to the door, paused to look up and down the street, and strode away. He got in his car, parked down the block and called Sean. “It’s done. I’m headed back to the boat. We’ve got two hours.”

###

Cara climbed out of the taxi at the address where she had dropped Nicki before leaving Norfolk. If she was lucky, Nicki would still be here. Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door. She touched the amulet beneath her blouse, hoping it hid her from Desmond and his goons.

There was no answer, and her heart sank.
No way could she find Nicki and her gang if she wasn’t still here. Cara rested an ear to the door and thought there were footsteps inside.

“
Nicki? It’s me. Cara. Let me in.” She knocked again and waited.

After several seconds, she sighed and turned to leave. The door creaked open a crack. She whipped back.
Nicki’s pale face peered through the opening, eyes dull.  “Miss Cara?” She blinked several times.

“Yes, yes,
Nicki. It’s me.” She stepped closer.

Nicki
frowned but she pushed the door open. Cara slid inside.

She surveyed the apartment. Old plates sat on the coffee table and trash littered the floor.
Nicki stared at her with sunken eyes, her arms limp at her sides.

Cara stepped close and put out her arms, the girl fell into her embrace and
lay her head on Cara’s shoulder. Her body was even thinner than before. Cara soothed and patted, murmuring words of comfort. She slipped a hand to her portal and let Light flow into the girl. She detected the diminished level of her energy, but it wasn’t as bad as she thought. Desmond would need to renew his hold soon, or people would start to regain their full senses—if they hadn’t already.
This might actually work
.

Nicki
stepped back and frowned, shaking her head. A spark returned to her eyes. “Cara? What are you doing here?”

“
We need to talk. It’s a long story. Can you call your gang friends and have them come over here?”

“What?”
Nicki glanced about the room and put a hand to her head, rubbing her temples.

Cara took
Nicki’s arm and led her to the sofa. “I need your help, and we don’t have much time.”

###

Desmond climbed the steps to the second floor and entered the room where Carlton worked on the computer. “Any word from those idiots in Charleston?”

Carlton pressed a few more keys,
then swiveled around in his chair, face gone pale. “I just got an e-mail from the police chief there. Their house was attacked and they were all killed. The police think it happened a couple days ago.”

“How can they not be sure?” Desmond’s anger rose like a hot poker
, stabbing his chest.

“Because they found out
as a result of some calls about a disturbance in the neighborhood, of someone driving recklessly down the streets. They found two of our men dead in a car that had gone over an embankment. They knew it was the general location of our group’s house and checked it out while they were there. The door had been bashed in and the insides trashed, like a fight had taken place. Two more men were dead in the living room.”

“And the fifth man?”

“Missing.”

Anger turned to fury. “Rolf!”

“Who else would target our people?”

“How did he manage to kill them all with only the woman to help?”

Carlton’s cell phone rang and he answered after looking at the number of the caller. He listened for a few seconds then said, “Good job. We’ll be in place when he returns. Did you get any information on his location?”