Untrained Eye (9 page)

“For now.” She smiled at me like I was a dumb kid. “Renee and
especially Lilia can’t know. They’ll both blame Renee.”

That didn’t sound fair. “It weren’t her fault.”

Frei stood and pushed the sleeves of her jacket up. “They’ll think
it is.”

Annoyed that she was closer to the truth than I’d like, I sunk
back into the sofa. “So, what’s this favor?”

Her jaw defined as if she was clenching her teeth. She looked
away, tapping her thumb on her ring once more. “Huber called me to tell me that
two kids with great promise will be auctioned from an academy soon.” She
sighed. “He wants them for himself
but
if I get him them, I could save
the other twenty-eight of their classmates.”

I blinked at her, wondering if I’d heard right because, to me,
any
kids being bought was terrible.

“I can’t risk those kids. The people bidding for them are the kind
who I can’t take on.” She dropped her chin and stared down at her feet. “If I
could, I swear I would.”

I didn’t need to see an aura to know it was the truth, I could
hear it in her voice. It was kinda hard to wrap my sizeable skull around. “If
Huber is one of these people then why don’t he just bid for them.”

Frei headed to the chair to my left and perched on the edge.
“Huber likes to acquire not buy. No one will argue if he does it because
otherwise he’ll turn his beady eyes on what they have.” She tapped the ring
again. “He’s the kind of pest most don’t want to stir.”

“And you think giving him two kids is a good idea.”

Frei glared at me like she was thinking of impaling me on something
sharp, slowly. “No, I don’t, but those kids are beyond my help. The
twenty-eight others aren’t.” She leaned forward, clasping her hands together.
“CIG can make sure they are safe.”

“And how will CIG help. They’d want all thirty.”

Frei laughed. Something I hadn’t ever seen before but she had a
real nice set of teeth. They looked pretty Hollywood.

“Even without the gifts, you’re still sharp.” She smiled at me.
That made me nervous. “Quick summary: I can get those kids out, twenty-eight
and CIG can give them new identities.” She looked at me as if waiting for me to
catch up. “They just need a reason to get involved without attempting to go
after the hornets’ nest.”

“Hornets?”

Frei sighed. “If Lilia or anyone else realizes that this goes on,
they will want to stop it.” She smiled a thin-lipped smile. “They can’t stop
it. It’s too big and it’s
not
our mission.”

I held up my hand. “Don’t yell, but why not?”

“In short, national level, too dangerous, too many powerful people
involved.” She fixed me with a stare. “And you bring one down, another sets
up.”

“Hopeful picture.” I wasn’t sure why she was bothering then. “Why
do you want to get involved?”

“I was one of those kids. I know what will happen to them. Caprock
is one of the most respected.” She smiled. This time it was cheeky. “We may not
be able to bring them down but kicking them where it hurts makes me feel
better.”

At least she was being honest about it.

“I need a team. I need you and Renee more to the point. I need
Renee to protect those kids and stop anyone hurting them.” She stretched out
her back. Her gaze raked over something outside the window.

I held up my hand. “Excuse me?”

Frei sighed. “Auctions are like a statement of power. Those who
can’t afford the kids on sale will find a way to get back at the ones who can.”

This got more horrible every second. “Hurt them?”

“At the very least,” Frei said with a nod. “I need you to help me
convince Renee to go in there. I also need you as a wing man.”

“But I ain’t got no burdens.”

Frei blew out a breath. I knew I wasn’t being dumb so why was she
looking at me like I was? “Lorelei, you being freakish is the least of your
skills.”

“It is?” News to me.

“I’m not pampering you.” Frei’s tone felt like she was trying to
cut me with it.

“What
do
you want me to do?” I shot back with as much
cutting curtness as I could manage. Take that, Frei.

“Teach kids to lift weights and build muscle.”

“What?”

Frei rubbed her nose. “Do I have to repeat everything?”

Probably. It was alright for her, she knew what was going on. I
felt like I needed to read the book or something. “How would that help you save
kids?”

“Skills. The more you can build them up and teach them, the more
they will be worth.” She held up her hand. “It buys me time. If we can get as
many through to the auction. There’s a window of opportunity to get them out.”

“What would you be doing?” It sounded risky and well, I weren’t
sure just how I could pull that off.

“Teaching the same kids to be useful in other ways.” She held my
gaze. “A few of them will understand what will happen when they get to auction.
They will all think it’s a private school and they have a sponsor who is paying
for it.”

“So it’s a cover?” Sneaky and sly and well . . . sneaky.

“Yes, the majority of the staff won’t know either.”

“And Renee can’t know why?” I felt more confused than I had done
in math class.

“For Renee’s cover to be safe, she just needs to think she’s
protecting kids. She doesn’t need to know who from or why. If CIG thinks this
is a simple POI mission, they won’t look further.”

“Which will keep them from looking where they’ll get hurt?” I
picked at my thumb. I didn’t know if I liked it. I could see why Frei was being
cautious but I’d have to lie to Renee.

The thought of Renee finding out made me shiver. She’d go looking
to bring the entire thing down, no matter what. She was gung-ho like that.

Frei nodded as if to say, “finally, dumbass,” and sat back in the
rocker. “To the academy, I’ll be there as Huber’s representative. You will be
there as an ex-con I’ve recruited.”

“And Renee?” I didn’t know how she wouldn’t notice all of it in
ten seconds.

“Just a teacher. Nothing to do with us.”

How was that going to work? Sure, Renee could cope but I couldn’t
pull that off. “So you want me to lie to her, pretend I don’t know her as she
protects kids for sale?”

Frei smiled. “Now you’re getting it. Renee will think we’re there
to protect two gifted children being sent threatening letters.”

Oh man, this sounded like one huge lie. “How will she know that?”

Frei raised her eyebrows.

“Oh no, Lilia knows I don’t get visions. Renee will see right
through me. I can’t fake that. I can’t lie for nothin’.”

“My sister wasn’t useful but she was beautiful. She was sold to a
man . . . do you need me to continue?”

I swallowed.

Frei stared down at her hands. “I feel responsible. I will always
feel responsible.”

I’d seen the way Yasmin had been in Serenity. I’d seen what damage
that being someone’s property had done. I couldn’t bear thinking that those
kids were going to be treated that way. I didn’t want them to end up like she
had. Burdens or no burdens, I could help them.

I met her eyes, hoping she wouldn’t throw something at me. “What
happened to you?”

“Huber is a pig but I was the best. He treated me well, like a
person sometimes. He’s vile to everyone else but I was useful. Too useful to
touch.” Frei seemed pretty nonchalant about the fact she’d just described
herself like she was a prize motorcycle. “If those kids are as good as he
thinks, they will be better off with him than anyone else.”

“I’ll help . . . on one condition.” I was pretty certain I was
gonna help anyway. I couldn’t not help. Whether I had burdens or not, if I
could stop people getting hurt . . . I guess it was just part of me.

“Name it.”

“That everything you’re telling me is the truth and that means
knowing what you were so good at.”

Frei reached inside her jacket. She pulled a small padlock from
her pocket and flipped it open. Her eyes flickered with memories, with a ripple
of energy I’d never seen. She was letting me beyond the barrier into a deeper
layer of her. “I acquired things.”

“A thief?”

“The best.” She seemed a bit too proud of that but I’d been locked
up with way worse than thieves. “My skills made sure Renee got out.”

I could deal with that. That was good enough for me. “So, how do I
go convincing my mother that I had a vision and what do I need to see.”

Frei sat forward. “Lilia often talks in snippets. In St. Jude’s
she talked about random things like fish and touching the stars.”

I shivered. I’d had that vision. No, no, it weren’t really a
vision. I didn’t get them like that. But, stuff in that weird . . . well . . .
dream thing, had made sense, afterward.

“So, I need to see . . .” I waved my hand, hoping she’d help.

“A violinist, female and a genius, male.” She frowned. “Think
scrub land, dust storms, cotton country. Think open expanse you can see for
miles. Think prestigious school.”

I looked for a pen to write it down but Frei shook her head. “No notes.”

I sighed. Right. Make up stuff and try to remember what I’d said.
It had been easier when I was committing crimes with Sam. Then again, I’d
always got busted for it.

“Okay so a stringed girl and a bright star stand on a huge flat
stretch.” Hey, that was so good I could see it. “The school hangs on the edge,
its walls hide truth from prying eyes.”

Ooh, I was getting into it. “Letters make them hide and hands
reach out, money thrust at them. It’s too bright, the light, they cower from
greedy hands. Broken lock, noble heart, and shield understand with faith how
they can soar. Heart and faith holds firm. A solid foundation holds her steady
when others break apart.” I rubbed my head, feeling kinda woozy. Where had that
come from?

“Hands recoil as shield, heart, and lock hold firm and all bright
stars safely fly on solid wings.” I shook my head. Not getting where it was all
coming from. I was making it up. I knew that but it felt a bit too much like
the real thing. “That good enough?”

Frei handed me a glass of water. I guess I hadn’t seen her move.
“Great.”

I swigged down the water, hoping it would make me feel better. It
tasted like it had sugar in it, a lot of sugar. “So did you have a job title?”

Frei smiled, handing me some iron tablets the doc had prescribed.
“The Locksmith.”

I slammed back the rest of the water. Oh, way too close to a
vision.

Frei tidied the collar of her jacket and headed for the door.
“They called me Locks.”

“Oh.” That didn’t make any sense.

Frei laughed. She had a laugh that said she could be trouble when
she wanted to be. “They named you by trade. I was Locks because no one could
keep me out with them.”

My hands trembled and I sucked in my breaths, trying to calm
myself. “I need to see somebody first. Nan said I needed a foundation.”

Guess burdens or no burdens, I still had my fair share of freaky.
I was going to take Nan’s advice and go and see Father James McLaughlin. Nan
had mentioned grounding myself and I had a feeling that I knew what shield,
lock, and noble heart meant already and in that case, I would need solid
ground.

LILIA SMILED WHEN she listened to what Frei had told her. It was
an interesting development.

“So she is claiming to have visions now?”

She knew more about the young Ursula Frei than anyone realized. If
Renee thought she could cover up Frei’s lifetime of criminal enterprise from
her, she was sadly mistaken. However, it was amusing how she’d tried.

“I didn’t think she did but it sounds like something you would
say,” Frei said. There was an element of truth to cover the mighty whopper she
was concealing.

“Strange, Nan tells me different.”

Frei let out a ragged breath. Yes, even Icy, as Nan liked to call
her, couldn’t stay poker faced at that. “You know, don’t you?”

“What do you think?”

Frei clicked her tongue. “She’s trying to help me. It
does
sound like a vision.”

Lilia looked out of the window, Eli was whistling as he walked
down the dirt track toward the cabin. She couldn’t see him physically yet, but
her mind’s eye filled with his handsome face. “That’s because it
is
a
vision. You beat me to the call. It’s mine.”

Something clattered in the background. “You had the same one?”

Even Frei could be fazed it seemed.

“Yes, seems you have some loose ends to tie up.” Lilia played with
her wedding ring. “Assemble the team, send Renee in ahead of you. It’s a risk
worth taking.”

Frei held her silence but Lilia could hear her slow breaths.
Trying to calm herself. It meant so much to Frei, Lilia was more than willing
to help.