Rock Hard (27 page)

She sent him a mental picture instead, just like he’d done with the things he hadn’t been able to verbalize. She spared nothing and watched his face darken and his nostrils flare.

“He must have realized he’d gone too far because he dumped my unconscious and bleeding body on our front lawn. Luckily my dad didn’t find me. Hux picked me up and drove me to the hospital a couple towns away so no one would recognize us.” Tess could finally breathe after disclosing the worst from her past.

“And the rest, you know. I cleaned up my act, went to meetings, and here I am, leading a perfectly normal life in bed with a god after being kidnapped by a rogue immortal lunatic.” Attempting to inject some levity, she hiccupped back her tears.

“First, I want you to know that I will kill him.” Tess had no doubt as to who Marduk meant, and wondered if she’d have the strength, or even want to stop him, if it came down to it. “Second, I’m overwhelmed at the adversity you’ve had to face,” Marduk responded softly.

“Me?” Tess tapped him on the chest. “You’re the one who was exiled from Earth, only to be the lunch menu for scaly guys over thousands of years. How could you possibly think that I did anything extraordinary?”

“Because you’re human, Tess. Gods are used to taking a lot of crap. You, on the other hand, should have been married years ago, with little ones trailing after you, doing nothing more dangerous than going to the grocery store.”
But I’m glad you didn’t.

Tess caught the thought and nuzzled deeper into his chest. She felt smug.

“You better learn how to hide your thoughts better, big boy, or I’m going to have you wrapped around my little finger.”

Once again he broadcast his feelings loud and clear.
One can only hope
.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Shamash hadn’t found much at the adoption agency. He had hastened back to town when Marduk’s frantic call had gone out. The information he’d gleaned was the last thing on anyone’s mind as they looked for Tess.

Besides, it would require a lot more research to discover the family’s roots. So when the latest crisis had arisen—the need to unearth the key—Shamash volunteered to head back to Quincy to use a GPS and locate the burial site.

Hux and Enlil would make the trip back to Quincy on their bikes, but Shamash, Ninurta, (the earth opener), and Enten (Mr. Freeze) would travel the fast way and lay the groundwork for the excavation.

The corporeal pair made the trip at breakneck speed and, as they maneuvered the dirt road into the Blue Hills, Hux was blown away when he got his first look at the compound. “You guys live like…gods!” was the brilliant comment that he dropped on Enlil. The place was huge and could only be described as a palace. It was certainly nothing like the McMansion Hux had envisioned. More like the Taj Mahal.

When he entered the garages, he almost forgot his mission in Quincy. “What? You’ve got to be kidding me!” Without even looking hard, he spotted three antique bikes he’d coveted his entire adult life. Hux stepped off his ride and pointed his feet across the garage.

“Later, dude,” Enlil said, not unsympathetically. He collared Hux to drag him from the machinery. “We have work to do.”

Reluctantly, Huxley walked away, taking short looks over his shoulder as he attempted not to trip over his feet. He was brought to an elevator, which led them up to a light-strewn atrium hallway, then hustled into what could only be termed “command central.”

Computers, monitors, closed-circuit equipment—you name it, it was crammed into wall space.

“We have a problem,” Shamash spoke as soon as Enlil and Hux entered the room, ignoring the two gods hovering nearby who had remained at home. Absu was not to be denied.

Who is this scoundrel, pray tell?
Absu gave a disgusted look at the human who’d been allowed to enter their abode.

“I’m Huxley, Tess’s brother.” The god-seeing mortal stuck his hand out toward Absu, not commenting on the old-timey speech. “And you two are…”

Absu and Emesh, the brothers who hadn’t met Huxley, were momentarily struck dumb. Shamash tried to hold a straight face, but finally gave in to some strangled snorts.

“We are corporeal to you?” Absu sounded incredulous and not in the least bit pleased. He reluctantly shook Hux’s hand. “My name is Absu, and the fellow at my side is Emesh.” He looked down where their hands were clasped. “I feel your flesh!”

“Oh my gods! I want a hug,” Emesh emoted.

He didn’t wait for an invitation. The dark-skinned, bald giant swept Huxley up into a rib-crunching clinch, and Huxley started turning blue before Enten made him stop.

“You’ll have to forgive my twin,” Enten said, less coldly than usual, disentangling his brother from the human. “He tends to get carried away and, like the rest of us, he’s been tactile-y challenged for centuries.”

“You guys are twins?” Huxley choked while regaining his breath. He gave Emesh an enthusiastic grin. “Best greeting I’ve ever had in my life, except maybe from Archie…that’s my dog.” He slapped Emesh on the back, and the two looked to be instant friends.

“Hate to break up the love-fest, but what’s the problem, Shamash?” Enlil got down to business.

The computer-loving immortal pulled a map up on the screen and zeroed in on a portion of the city that the gods knew well. He had a residence tagged with a red pin.

“That’s where the key is buried.”

“Shit,” they all said in unison.

“I’ve looked up the address, and the house belongs to Irving and Linda Schapiro.”

“You have got to be kidding me!” Ninurta was not pleased. “How am I supposed to open the earth under someone’s house?”

Enlil took charge. “We have to get the key. Put your scruples aside. I think that Linda and Irving are about to become our new best friends.” He began barking orders. “Emesh, go acquire a bunch of Chinese takeout. Hux and I will take Furnace Brook on the bikes and meet you in front of their house in fifteen minutes. Ninurta, Enten, I’ll need you guys there as well.”

Ninurta, Enten, and Emesh misted from the room. Enlil and Huxley took the elevator back to the basement garage and grabbed some bikes. It was late in the day when they finally reached their destination, and Huxley wondered how the Schapiros were going to feel about company.

“You’re sure this is it?” Ninurta wondered aloud as they all stood in the street. They were waiting for Emesh, who had not yet shown up with the food.

“Yup, and this is the right number,” Enlil confirmed. They looked up at the moss green arts-and-crafts style home, clearly the pride and joy of Irving and Linda who maintained it impeccably. Emesh appeared holding a large bag.

“Sorry it took me so long.” He placed the bag in Huxley’s hands, and “unacquired” it.

“Okay guys,” Enlil said to the remaining group. “Time to do this. Hux,” he said, turning to the only human, “leave this to me.”

“It’s all yours.” Huxley looked uncertain as to how this was going to be accomplished.

Enlil knocked on the door. No answer. Maybe the couple wasn’t home and it was going to be easier than they’d thought. He knocked again and, from deep within the structure, he heard grumbling.

“I’m coming, I’m coming. Hold your horses. It must be someone young, Linda.” They heard a man complain. “Only the young are so impatient.”

Irving opened the door and looked up…and up…into the faces of Huxley, and then Enlil.

“Cool braids, man.” He raised an eyebrow, clearly not intimidated, and smiled. “What can I do for you?”

Huxley marveled at the man’s aplomb. He was easily eighty years old, and held himself with irrefutable confidence. The sparkle in his eye was evident, too. He obviously couldn’t wait to find out why they were on his doorstep.

“You know us,” Enlil looked deep into Irving’s eyes. “We’re your great nephews from California. We brought Chinese, just like we said.”

Irving nodded, thoroughly pleased. “Linda, the boys are here,” he called loudly back into the house. “Have you got the table set?”

Huxley looked nonplussed. He’d never seen the compelling thing before.
Damn! You have to teach me how to do that!
Enlil smirked.

Linda walked to the door and stood behind Irving. “Who?”

“You know,” Irving repeated. “Our great nephews from the West Coast.” He sounded a little impatient at being questioned.

A crease appeared between Linda’s brows. “Do I know you?”

“Absolutely,” beamed Enlil, staring and completing mind-compliance number two. “We haven’t seen you in a couple of years, but surely you remember us?”

Linda’s face lit up, and the couple backed out of the doorway. “I just didn’t recognize you right away. It’s so good to see you. Come on in!”

Linda led them through a charming living room, where Emesh sat, already ensconced in an easy chair. The furnishings were authentic Stickley, and Emesh was clearly enraptured!
I want to adopt them as grandparents!
His enthusiasm was effervescent.

Enlil shot back, in his head.
They can’t even see you. Now settle down while Hux and I chat them up and eat. Head for the basement and help the guys do their thing.

Emesh dissolved with a pout. Ninurta and Enten followed. Linda continued to lead Hux and Enlil through to the back of the house where a well-loved mission oak table nestled between two upholstered benches in a dining room with built-in china cabinets done in the Eastlake style.

“Linda! You haven’t set the table.” Irving raised both hands. “I’m sorry, boys. We thought you were coming a little later and were listening to NPR. I’ll turn the radio off,” he indicated to Linda, “and you put out the dishes.” As he left the room, he called back. “I’ll want to know everything that’s been going on with the family.”

Hux rolled his eyes at Enlil as if to ask, how was he going to pull that off?

In the basement, the subterranean explorers were at a loss. There were several rooms off other rooms. Some holding heating equipment, some stacked high with shelves of jarred foods, and others with long poles running their lengths, filled with hung clothing.

“Oh my gods!” Emesh nearly tripped over himself. “That’s a Jean Patou cubist sweater!” He plucked at the plastic that covered the item. “If I could smell it, I bet it would be saturated with Joy!

While Emesh went nuts over the clothing, Ninurta and Enten pondered a bigger problem. Where to start?

They mind-called the compound. They needed Shamash’s help.
Can you give us a clue as to the key’s location?

Enlil has a phone. Go acquire it from him and then ghost out up above the house. The GPS in his new phone should be good enough so you can find the key after I give you the exact coordinates.

Ninurta flashed upstairs and interrupted a spirited discussion in the dining room on the pros and cons of synthetic fiber ropes versus the more natural hemp. Ninurta didn’t even want to know how the subject had come up.

Enlil, I need your phone.

Enlil reached into his pocket and without thinking, held it out to Ninurta where it disappeared.

“Whoa!” Irving put his hands up to either side of his head. “Unbelievable! What just happened to your phone?”

And how the hell do I turn it on?
demanded Ninurta.

“Uh, magic trick!” Enlil was stumbling a bit. “Don’t you remember how Mom had us enrolled in that magic camp one summer?” Stare. Stare.

“That’s right! I remember now.” Irving was very entertained. “Make it come back.”

Ninurta handed the offensive item back and it regained its tangibility. Enlil brought it to life.

Put it on the GPS thingy, will you?
Came Ninurta’s next demand.
Shamash is going to talk me through it.

Be gentle with him,
Enlil broadcast to Shamash, and was soundly flipped off by the disgruntled god before him. The phone was snatched back and misted away.

Irving was delighted. “After we finish eating, I’ll show you a few things I picked up over the years that might interest you. I have one of those magic top hats that I bought at auction for a song.”

Above the house, the three celestials groused and swore for a good long time, trying to make sense of the device. Shamash finally joined them, spent a total of four seconds with it in hand, hovered and pointed.

“There,” he exclaimed. “And I hope you’re better at retrieval than you are with technology.” He poofed out in a huff. The gods descended to the cellar.

Irving had drawn Hux and Enlil away from the table and was showing off his extensive and varied collection of artifacts. “I have these Mayan ocarinas, and the remnants of this one stringed instrument that the experts tell me can’t possibly be Mayan because there’s scant evidence that the Mayans had such things. I think they’re wrong, but…” He continued down the line of antiquity.

“And here are my Mesopotamian lovelies.” He picked up a clay item shaped like a cone that was covered with cuneiform. “We all agree that this was a dedication nail that came from the wall of a temple.” He put it down. “But this…” he held up another item and Enlil’s face lit up.

“…this the experts tell me is an item used in religious ceremonies. See how it resembles a chariot? Notice the god wearing a tail and a horned headdress?” He looked more closely at Enlil and barked a laugh.

“I think he looks like you!” Irving crowed with a devilish grin.

Because it is,
Enlil sent to Hux, who was completely out of his league.

“Anyway, these so-called experts think that because the items the god holds are associated with divine justice, that it’s a religious artifact. I say bullshit.” Irving was way cooler than any grandfather Hux had ever known. “If you ask me, I think it’s a child’s toy.” He put the item back down.

Hux put the question to Enlil.
Well?

Enlil coughed to cover his vast amusement.
He’s right. Child’s toy.
And they continued on down the line.

Emesh misted back to the Blue Hills while Ninurta and Enten cleared a spot in the basement. The treadmill covered in dust was tucked under the stairs, and the exercise bike was lifted onto a workbench.

“You ready?” Enten stared at the cement floor, which slowly turned white with frost. As the intensity of his gaze increased, the floor became ice and buckled. With more concentration, the slab finally ruptured and boulder-size chunks were thrown about the room. Up above, Enlil compelled Irving and Linda not to feel a thing.