Chapter 17

Late April-Early May, 2039

"Jules," Nik said when he called Julia later that evening, "JT made contact with that Ryan Kendall, and Kendall stated that he will call that number we set up just for him. You still want to talk to him?"

Julia didn't even have to think about it. "Fuck yeah I still want to talk to him," she said emphatically. "What were you and Jere able to find out about this sleezeball?"

She heard Nik rustling papers and tapping on a keyboard, then he said, "Gambling problem for starters. Casinos mostly. Lives on East Coast, close to places like Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun. He also owed more than eight grand in child support for a child he fathered with an ex girlfriend. Told JT he took the job of following Jaime because the pay was enough that he could get the gambling and child support debts paid off. He has less than twenty-five hundred of that left."

"Loser," Julia said; "A.R.M. is still recruiting the dregs of the earth to work for them. You'd think that after going broke they'd know better. Who's backing them?"

"No idea," Nik said; "They stay in the shadows and send shit like Kendall to do their dirty work."

"JT probably scared the shit out of the poor kid," Julia said. "He has that effect on people just like Jacob did. JT doesn't have the added 'benefit' of being horribly disfigured, but JT means business. Getting a visit from JT Collins-Ross means you're not going to have a good day."

Nik laughed, "No I suppose not. Good thing we're on his side."

"Or, he's on ours," Julia said; "He does our dirty work, Nik. Plus he has training and education behind him. What does this Kendall kid have?"

"Believe it or not, Jules," Nik said, "he has a BBA in finance. Got canned from his last real job for cooking the books because of his gambling debts. He's lucky he's not some convict's bitch right now."

"Dumb shit," Julia said. "We'll fix him up right. If it means putting the fear of God in him, then we'll do it."

"We'll?"

"Me and a certain bovine stud muffin," Julia said; "I'm going to take the Running of the Bulls to a whole new level."

"Dr. Summers, watch yourself."

"I plan to," Julia said; "He'll see things my way before it gets too far. And no one will believe him if he tries to tell anyone. After all, he's an addict. All anyone has to do is plug his name into a search engine, and there will be a long list of his crimes."

"So you used the same method Jere did," Nik said.

"And who taught Jere all his fancy tricks, Nik?"

"Well, shit, Jules," Nik said, "Makes me wish Ryan were still here to help us with this."

"He is, Nik," Julia said sadly; "He is."

===

Rina returned to Evanston with more answers than she had before, but even more questions.

She couldn't think about any of that for the time being. She still had classwork, projects and papers that needed to be completed. She had to finalize plans for Helene and Jaime's surprise birthday party; and she had to fill out paperwork to renew her fellowship for the following term.

At night, when she should have been sleeping, she was surfing the internet, looking for anything about Charles Richardson DeWitt.

It was almost like his life stopped at age 17 upon the discovery of his mother's beaten, mutilated and quite lifeless body.

She found an article, dated June 5, 2020, that read, in part:

No one seems to know what happened to Darlane DeWitt's younger son, Charles. After discovering his mother deceased, he seemingly disappeared. His father, DeWitt Corp. CEO Christian DeWitt, Sr., has no idea where Charles may have gone.

"He was pretty shaken up," the elder DeWitt said; "as we all were. I can only imagine what finding his mother's body did to him psychologically."

He went to Italy, you dopes, Rina thought, getting angry. He had a passport and a considerable amount of cash. Didn't any of you think of that? No! Of course not!

She calmed down and thought, maybe that's why her father was the way he was with her and Vito; he was trying to do the opposite of what his parents did. His parents fought constantly, if she was to believe Christian DeWitt's account of his marriage to Darlane, and finding himself in a similar situation,  perhaps her father decided that his children were going to get his attention, whether his wife wanted to acknowledge their existance or not.

But was faking your death the only way out, Papa? Rina thought sadly as she powered down her tablet. Are you still alive or are you really dead? If you're still living, I will find you, I swear to my dying day!

===

Jaime put the being followed episode behind and looked forward to April 26th: her 17th birthday. She was sure Uncle Nik had plans for the dipwad who she caught following her.

I wonder what sick scheme he and Uncle Jere came up with, she thought as she finished up her biology homework and started on her final essay for English Comp I. The essay was due the following Monday, and it was supposed to be about a book she was to have read for class. The thing was, it was a book she had read when she was eleven years old: "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand.

Boring... she thought as she outlined her essay and wrote the thesis statement. Maybe I could skip Comp II next semester, too.

But her mind almost involuntarily went back to tracking Ryan Kendall to Chicago-O'Hare airport. Was he really that dumb? she thought. If he had done any research on my family at all, he'd have known about Summers Tech Systems and the kind of work we do there. Duh, Mr. Kendall. You aren't so smart after all.

Summers family- 1; incompetent boob- 0.

Within the hour, her essay was done. It was now time to go to work and sell flowers to more incompetent boobs who piss off their girlfriends.

Can't wait for my birthday, Jaime thought; At least I have five days off in a row. C'mon April twenty-sixth!

===

Helene's spring recital wouldn't be open to the public as the fall one was. This recital was really a series of auditions for teaching dance at local dance schools, camps, and for private clients. Helene was one of four dancers who were being considered for a paid internship with Chicago Ballet, teaching underpriviledged children ages four to twelve.

Though teaching at a dance school wouldn't be that bad, Helene thought. It would almost be like Erin's teaching at the Art Museum back home.

If she had to be honest with herself, dancing with the Chicago Ballet would be a dream come true. But giving back to the community is something that her parents, especially her mother, stressed as she was growing up. We are fortunate, her mother would say; others are not so lucky. The next prodigy might be someone whose family can't afford the things we take for granted. If we can help out, even a little bit, to get such people on the right path to their dreams, then it will all be worth it.

I am lucky, Helene thought. I have parents who instilled community service as a way of giving back. But what if I had been born poor, to an unwed mother with an uncertain future? Or had mental problems like Mom had? Or was a drug addict? Would there have been someone who wanted to help me reach MY dreams?

Helene thought that was why her mother insisted on selfless giving: the life you save just may be your own.

And she was glad that Alexei felt the same way. He had been a poor boy in Russia with an amazing gift. Without the intervention of people like Mikhail, where would he be?

Helene then wondered if she'd ever get to meet Alexei's family.

===

"Um, I was given this number to call," Kendall said nervously when a woman with a foreign accent answered his call at the number he was given by the stranger who accosted him on the street; "I was told I'd receive further instructions."

"You are Ryan Bernard Kendall, born April 3, 2012, correct?" he was asked.

"Yes," he said with a huge lump of fear in his throat.

"And the number you're calling from is where you can be reached in the next 24-48 hours?"

"Yes."

"Someone will call you with directions to where your meeting will be within that timeframe, Mr. Kendall. I suggest that you answer the call when it comes in. We will only call once. If our call goes unanswered, you may receive another visit from the man with whom you spoke previously."

"I'll take the call," Kendall said. I don't want to have to meet with that man again, he thought.

"Very good, Mr. Kendall. Please have a pen and paper ready when we call. You will be receiving written directions. Do not use a GPS unit. We will know if you do, and that won't make the boss happy. She'll insist on destroying the device."

What the fuck did I get myself into this time? Kendall asked himself; I don't care what that guy said about the SpineSplitter being a doctor and took an oath to do no harm; I mean, she's the SpineSplitter after all!

"Okay, no GPS," Kendall finally said. Then to the woman on the other end of the line he asked, "Will it be you who calls me?"

"No, Mr. Kendall, it will not," she said; "The person who calls you may sound vaguely familiar to you, especially if you've studied the history of the Occupation."

"Okay."

"Have a good day, Mr. Kendall." The line then went dead.

Kendall felt himself shake. Even he had to admit that he was scared to death of meeting the dreaded SpineSplitter face to face.

He would be very surprised to learn who the SpineSplitter really was. He would not be expecting a five-foot-three inch, one-hundred twenty-eight pound middle aged woman.

And a 1500 pound, 8 year old bull named Sarge.

And  that's how she liked it.

===

Twenty-six hours to the second after he called the number he had been given by the stranger, Ryan Kendall got the call he was told to expect.

"Ryan Kendall, please?" said a voice Kendall thought sounded vaguely familiar.

"This is he," Kendall said in reply.

"Mr. Kendall, do you recognize my voice?"

"It sounds familiar, but I cannot place it at the moment," Kendall said. It was the truth.

"Good. I hope you have a pencil and paper handy to take down directions. I'll only give them once. You can ask any questions about them after I'm through. Understood?"

"Yes."

"First, get on a plane and head to Chicago's O'Hare airport. Then rent a car. Then follow the directions I'm about to give you," the familiar, yet unknown voice said. "A ticket for your journey will be waiting at United's counter."

Kendall was then given precise directions from Chicago-O'Hare to an address in a town called Belvidere. He was even given instructions on where to park when he got there.

"You have seventy-two hours total to make this trip, speak with the doctor, and go back home."

"I'm seeing a doctor?" asked Kendall.

"Since hanging up her guns, the SpineSplitter has made a penance to help people. To that, she attended medical school and is now a general practice physician. She's not going to examine you. Interrogate, yes. But nothing that requires her medical training. Unless of course, you do something stupid."

"When do I leave?"

"I strongly suggest you leave as soon as we hang up. Remember, Mr. Kendall. Seventy-two hours total. That's all the good doctor can spare for you."

"I'm heading out the door now, okay?" Kendall said as he threw clothes and toiletries into an overnight bag and headed to the garage to get his car.

"Very good. And don't fuck this up, Kendall."

The line went dead before Kendall had a chance to reply.

Oh, fuck, what kind of shitstorm am I heading into? he thought as he drove to the airport.

He'd soon find out.

===

April 25 (five days before surprise party)

The plans were all now set in stone for the surprise party that Rina was giving for Jaime and Helene. She had received word that her brother and his fiancee would be in attendance, as well as Sandy San Marco-Springer (her husband Alex would be unable to make it due to his military commitment) and her daughter Alexandra (called Lexie by her parents).

Rina had booked a huge dining room at one of the hotels near campus, and would tell Helene and Jaime that it would be just the three of them and their beaus in the hotel restaurant.

It's perfect, she thought. They'll never know what hit them when we walk in and everyone says surprise!

The attendees would arrive approximately an hour before the guests of honor. Rina hoped that the young children who would be there could be quiet that long. She especially worried about Helene's brother Eric. Little boys were quite boisterous she gathered from her observations. Hopefully, Eric's parents would prepare him a few days in advance.

Rina hoped that whoever had been following Jaime would keep his (Jaime was convinced it was a man) distance. It took a lot of cajoling on Rina and Helene's part for Jaime to tell them about her sixth sense, and that she had been followed on several occasions since shortly after her grandfather, Jacob Ross, died when she was thirteen.

Now, though, Rina was going out to find suitable birthday gifts for the girls she thought of as sisters. As if either of them needed any more sisters, Rina thought with a laugh. Both girls had two sisters and a brother. Rina just had Vito. It was nice to be thought of as a sister, thought Rina as she locked the suite door and headed to the bus stop.

===

"Jules, this kid is fucking clueless," David said when he called to tell her that he had spoken to Ryan Kendall; "He had no idea it's you he's going to meet. All he knows is that he's meeting the assassin formerly known as the SpineSplitter, who, by some weird twist of fate is now a fucking doctor!"

"Did he recognize your voice?" Julia asked her stepfather.

"I asked him that, and he said it was familiar, but couldn't place where he'd heard it," David said; "He was born in 2012, so he was seven when the Occupation ended. It's probably a hazy childhood memory for him."

"Did he write down the directions that Jere and Nik gave you?"

"I heard a pencil scratching, so I am assuming so," David said; "If you're trying to scare the shit out of him, I'd say you're doing a pretty good job. Wait til he thinks he has to race that bull of yours. He'll probably have a heart attack!"

"If he does what he's told, that won't need to happen," said Julia. "I'm not a sadistic motherfucker like my dear half brother, JT. I just want to know what Kendall knows."

David laughed, then said, "I hope you know what you're doing."

"I do. Jere, Nik and I discussed it in great detail before we set up the number for him to call and sent JT out after him," said Julia. "If he doesn't want to go to jail for stalking a minor, he'll tow the line."

"A well placed threat to his freedom ought to do that," David agreed.

"Or he'll have to race the bull," Julia said; "And for an animal that weighs over half a ton, Sarge can run pretty fast. He's always been protective of his humans. He must have been a dog in another life. It wouldn't do for Mr. Kendall to piss off the bull."

"I'd say not," David said.

===

Getting to Chicago was no problem. Everything was in place, just as the man with the vaugely familiar voice told him it would be. The thing Kendall was worried about was getting to the address he was going to meet the doctor formerly known as the SpineSplitter.

The remtal car was already reserved when Kendall got to the rental agent at the airport. All he had to do was make a payment for the days he would be needing it. The contract for the car ended two days later.

There was no GPS unit in the car, Kendall noted. Probably at the request of the woman he was going to meet. How would she know if I used a GPS unit? Kendall asked himself, then it dawned on him: Jaime Summers' family owns Summers Tech Systems! That's probably how Jaime knew I was following her! he thought suddenly. How stupid of me not to realize that. He shook his head at his own stupidity.

Summers Tech System software did help some, but it wasn't the only thing that got Jaime on Kendall's trail.

Ryan Kendall didn't know about Jaime's sixth sense.

===

Julia was in the barn, supposedly to muck out the bull's stall. She had given the Walters family the day off. She had Zach help her with the chores that the Walters and Schuylkill families usually did. Zach didn't utter one complaint.

"When I get this phone call, Zach," Julia was telling him now, "you will go back to the house and stay there until I say it's okay to come out. It's a good thing that Rachel is in Chicago with Aunt Kimber today. She takes her guns way too seriously at times."

"Just like you did, right Mom?" asked Zach.

Julia sighed. "Yes, your sister is so much like me it scares me. And you know nothing scares me. Except becoming a grandmother in August."

"Once Miri has the baby, you'll be all over that kid like white on rice, Mom," Zach said, laughing; "Don't lie."

Julia looked at her only son and thought, he's probably right about that.

The phone rang before she had a chance to tell him what she was thinking.

"Dr. Summers."

"Jules? Nik. Kendall's picked up the rental car and is headed your way. You give the kids instructions about what to do?"

"Nik," Julia said, "Rachel is with Kimber until tomorrow, so Zach is the only kid here. And he knows what to do."

"Good. I don't want to see your name in the papers tomorrow that you've done something to this kid, got that?" Nik asked.

"I'll follow the script, Nik."

"Okay," Nik said; "I've got to get back to work. Jere generates a lot of press these days. For some reason, people here think he's gearing up for a White House run. He's not, but that doesn't stop the tongues from wagging."

"For once it sounds like my job is easier than yours is," Julia said.

"Keep me posted on what happens," said Nik. "You may want to have Zach at the ready with his crossbow and his guns, just in case things there get ugly."

"I'll tell him."

Nik hung up without even saying goodbye. Just like the old days.

===

Kendall found the house.

It's a fucking ranch! he said to himself. Is the cavalry waiting in the north forty?

He parked in the location he was told to, right next to a barn. As he got out, he could smell the shit that animals produce.

Just then, a woman about 40 walked outside. She was short, maybe five-two or three. She was tiny, but had muscles if the ones in her arms were any indication.

He was just going to ask her where he might find the doctor when she said,

"Mr. Kendall, I presume?"

"Um, yes. I'm Kendall."

The woman offered her hand for a handshake, saying, "I'm Dr. Julia Summers. I'm so glad you are prompt and can follow directions without a GPS."

Kendall stood and stared at her, his mouth agape.

She's the SpineSplitter? he thought, not believing his eyes. No way in hell this tiny woman is the assassin that everyone in the Occupational government feared. No fucking way!

===

Chapter 16

April-May, 2039

"I'm sorry, signore," Rina said; "I was hoping you could give me some information about my father. Like where the hell he is, for example."

Christian had just gotten over his shock, but he was shocked all over again. Where's Charles? he asked himself. Why would she ask that?

"I apologize, Rina," he stammered; "It's not everyday one of my daughter's best friends comes to my office to ask me where her father is. As far as I know, he died five years ago. And I only found that out after the fact. I wasn't even sure he had children until a few weeks ago."

Rina looked at him and knew he was telling her the truth. "So you know I am related to your family, then," she said.

"Yes," Christian said; "You and your brother are my grandchildren. Biologically, you're a niece to all of my children, including my oldest child."

"Chris," Rina said.

"Yes."

"So you can imagine my dilemma," said Rina. "I'm not only related to one of my closest and dearest friends, but it turns out she is my aunt. She has no idea about what I found out. The only reason I asked about my father is that I don't believe he is dead."

"Why do you think that?" asked Christian; "You did go to his funeral, didn't you?"

"Of course," Rina said; "But I saw someone on the streets of my village a few days before my father's funeral that looked so much like him, he could have been a twin. I've never been able to shake the idea that an impostor is buried in my father's grave, and that he still walks amongst the living."

"If you can prove that Charles is not dead, what will you do?" asked Christian, not knowing the answer he'd give if asked the same question.

"I will hunt him down and ask him why he abandoned his family," Rina said. "I'm sure that faking ones demise is a crime."

"It is," Christian said; "He could be charged with fraud, among other things. If  your mother accepted any money from his estate, she would be charged as well. At least, that's how it works here in the U.S."

"All of my father's financial dealings left my mother out," Rina said. "Vito and I received money from our father's estate. Neither one of us can touch it until we're twenty one, when our titles of Conte and Contessa d'Alessandro are bestowed upon us."

Christian looked at Rina with surprise. Their mother was a member of European royalty. A minor title, but a title nonetheless.

"Why do you use the surname 'Alexander'?" he asked.

"Because it is the Americanized version of our surname, d'Alessandro," Rina said. "When we were born, my mother insisted we carry her name instead of our father's. Apparently he agreed, but I have my doubts of that."

"Why is that?"

"Because my mother tricked my father into marrying her," Rina said. "He tried to give us his surname, but my mother, having lawyers and retainers and hangers-on, convinced her that her way was best."

"I'm not sure I like your mother too much," Christian said, finding out more about Charles' whereabouts after he disappeared at 17 than he ever cared to know.

"That's perfectly fine," Rina said; "I have nothing but contempt for her."

"And your brother, he feels likewise?"

"Even more so," Rina said; "Our mother, for lack of a better word, is a whore. She entices young men into her lair, and she doesn't care how old they are, as long as they satisfy her. Not even my brother was immune. She sodomized him for about three years, until she got caught one night. By my father. He held it over her head for years. Neither of them spoke about it. Vito told me when I was 14. We were in separate boarding schools by then, far away from our mother. He only told me because he couldn't keep the secret anymore. He also told me that our father had been abused like that as a child by his own mother."

"Oh, God..." Christian said under his breath. "Charles had been abused sexually by his mother! I only found this out after my ex wife was murdered. I was furious and ashamed I didn't know how sick she was. By that time, your father had disappeared, and I guess resurfaced in Italy."

That probably explains Charles' behavior as a teenager, Christian thought. How could I have been so blind!

"Rina, let me assure you that anything you told me today will not leave this office," Christian said; "I don't know how you found out about what happened to your father as a child, or why you want to find out why you think he's not dead, but I do think you and your brother have a right to know. As for Helene, only you can decide what to tell her and when a good time for that might be. I will not mention anything about your visit to her mother, and I tell Kathryn everything. What did you tell Helene and Jaime about why you were coming here?"

"That I was going to visit Vito and his fiancee in Boston for the weekend, which is true," Rina said. "I want to be completely sure of my facts before I tell anyone what I know. If it means I have to lie to my friends for a while, then it must be done. It kills me to have to resort to this, but I don't want any half truths about any of this. If Helene wants answers to any questions she may have, I have to have all my facts. I will not lie to her if she asks me point blank."

Christian nodded to show he understood. Then he said, "I would like to meet your brother one day. I'm sure he is a fine young man."

"You've accepted the invitation to Helene and Jaime's birthday party at the end of the month," Rina said; "You just might get your chance to meet Vito. He's not sure he'll be able to attend yet."

"And we all plan to be there," Christian said. "I think Eric is looking more forward to it than anyone. He likes birthday parties."

After two hours, Rina left Christian's office, grabbed a taxi and started the trek back to Boston.

The whole way to the airport, Rina thought, how do I tell Helene we're related? Do I tell her at all?

She decided that she wished for once to have let things alone.

===

A man approached Kendall on the street of his hometown and asked if he was, indeed, Ryan Kendall, born April 3, 2012.

Kendall froze. The first thing that went through his mind is that the people who hired him to follow Jameson Summers had turned on him.

"Who wants to know?" he asked the man who stood in his way.

"I do," the man replied. "I was sent by Jaime Summers' family."

Kendall sighed with relief, but it was a brief respite. The man before him said,

"Do you deny you were hired to follow a 17 year old university student?"

"No," Kendall said; "I only took the job because the pay was so good. I didn't know I would be getting into trouble over it."

"You're not in trouble," the man said; "The people who hired you are. You're aware that an pro-Occupation group called the American Republic Movement hired you to intimidate one of the daughters of a Resistance member."

Holy shit! Kendall thought; Is that who I spoke with? A.R.M.?

"I was not aware of that," he said; "had I known, I may not have accepted the job."

"You have a lot of debt, Mr. Kendall," the stranger said; "gambling, child support, overdue bills. What you were paid for the job you did is nearly depleted, isn't it? Taking the assignment was a quick way to make that debt disappear."

"How do you know all this?" Kendall asked. "My finances are my business."

"We have ways of finding out about anyone," said the stranger; "You owe child support for a daughter you had with an ex girlfriend. You denied paternity and you were taken to court. DNA proved you were the father. You needed eight-thousand dollars in a hurry to keep from going to jail. Court records are public files, Mr. Kendall. Anyone can find out about that."

Kendall could not keep from sweating. His secrets were being laid bare on a public sidewalk.

"Suppose you tell me who you spoke with to accept the job of tailing Jameson Summers," said the stranger.

"But I don't know who I spoke with," Kendall said; "It was a man, and he knew all this shit about me, too. He offered me twenty-five thousand dollars for the job, and being desperate, I took it."

"How about you come work for me, Mr. Kendall?"

"Why would I do that?"

"Because I work for the woman known as the SpineSplitter, Mr. Kendall," said the stranger; "And she would like to speak with you."

Julia Terranova wants to talk to me?! Kendall thought. This can't be good, but what choice do I have?

"Say I agree to speak with her," Kendall said; "Is she going to blow me away if I don't give her the answers she wants?"

"I doubt that," the stranger said; "Physicians take an oath to do no harm."

"She's a doctor?" Kendall asked, surprised.

"Indeed she is."

Kendall decided at that moment to speak with the SpineSplitter, and told the stranger so.

"Here's a phone number," the stranger said, handing Kendall a slip of paper; "When you call, give your name. You'll be given further instructions at that time. Goodbye for now, Mr. Kendall."

And the stranger seemingly disappeared before Kendall's eyes. He stared at the slip of paper he'd been given. All it had on it was a phone number. No name, no address, no indication of who he was really going to speak with when he called.

He then ducked into the nearest local business, went to the men's room, and threw up in a sink.

===

"Nik, contact has been made," JT Collins-Ross said when he got back to his hotel. "Kendall states that he will call the number. It was fun watching the kid squirm."

"He's not that much younger than you are," Nik said, relieved that Julia's half brother made contact with the man who was hired to follow Jaime.

"I thought he was either going to shit his pants or throw up, especially when I told him what we found out about him," Collins-Ross said.

"You're a sadistic motherfucker, aren't you?"

"You know who my father was, Nik," said Collins-Ross; "Why are you surprised?"

"I shouldn't be, I know," Nik said; "Are you going to freak out the boys who come to date your little girl one day?"

"Considering Juliet is only six years old, Nik, I still have a long time yet to mellow out."

"Right," Nik said, "and I'm Santa Claus. You aren't going to change, JT. You're your father's son through and through."

"You're probably right," Collins-Ross said; changing the subject, he asked, "You're going to this surprise party that's being held for Jaime, right?"

"Jaime and her suitemate Helene," Nik said. "The other suitemate, Rina, is planning the whole thing. Wouldn't miss it, but I'll have to. Kate will be there, though."

"What about your kids, though?"

"They're all on their own, JT. Whether they come is up to them. I don't think Sandy's going to make it though she said she'd try when I asked. The shop is pretty busy these days with the June wedding season coming," Nik said. "And Danica's baby is due any time, so we'll see."

"I'll call Julia and tell her what happened with Kendall," Collins-Ross said; "Unless you want to."

"I'll do it, because I have to call her anyway," Nik said.

"Good, because I have a Kindergarten graduation to attend and I don't break promises to my family. Juliet would never forgive me!"

Nik laughed and let JT go. He then sent an email to Julia with the information he and Jeremiah were able to find on one Mr. Ryan Bernard Kendall.

===

With her rounds and reports finished and her shift about to end, Julia couldn't wait to get home.

It had been an interesting year as a full fledged physician, and Julia was glad she had decided to go back and finish her medical degree. Not that she needed the money, it was sort of a penance for her.

But it meant sending Zach and Rachel back to a regular school, where they were far ahead of others their ages academically. Unfortunately, there was no comparable school in or near Belvidere that was like the Academy of Gifted Students on the old Disturbed Ones compound.

Both Zach and Rachel were in high school; Zach, at 15, would be a senior the following fall, while his sister would be a 13 year old sophomore.

Being so far ahead of her peers bothered Rachel a little. Her boyfriend in Chicago, Cole Nichols, was the same age as she, but he going into eighth grade. Cole didn't let it bother him. He knew Rachel was academically gifted. Her family was well known because of her mother's legendary feats during the Occupation.

But none of that was on Dr. Julia Summers' mind as she prepared to leave Loyola Hospital for four days off. She had work to do once she arrived home.

It was hard being a legend. In fact, Julia detested all the accolades her feats had garnered her. She just wanted to be the best mom, the best sister, the best doctor she could be and not let her illustrious past get in her way.

I'm almost 39 years old, and all people still want to talk about is my service during the Occupation, Julia thought. I wish people would just give it a rest.

But in her heart, Julia knew it would follow her to her grave.

===

"Mom, I've got dinner in the oven and on the stove. We'll be eating in half an hour, okay?" asked Zach as Julia walked into the house.

Julia looked at her 15 year old son. When did he get so mature? she asked herself.

"That's fine, Zach," Julia said; "How did training and school go today?"

"I can take my archery certification test next month," Zach said; "then I can teach others what I know. Or I can continue to improve the skills I already have. As for school, I can't wait til I'm out of there. I am so ridiculously bored I can't stand it!"

"Would you like to test out?" his mother asked.

"Yes," said Zach. "Now I know how Miri and Jaime felt. I feel like a freak sometimes because I know more than an 18 year old. But if I test out, could I go to the Academy? Maybe live with Aunt Kimber and Uncle Jamey?"

"I'd have to look into that, Zach," Julia said; "Aunt Kimber would be thrilled to have you stay with her and Jamey and the kids. I know that Drew adores you!"

"Drew is a pretty cool little dude," Zach said. "And Joanna's cute as can be. She  can charm the socks off of Granpa David."

"Kimber and Niki could do that, too," Julia said; "Where's Rachel? Not hanging out on the computer talking to Cole again, is she?"

"No," Zach said; "She's down at the barn hanging out with Jenna Skuylkill. Next to Aaliyah, they're best buds. And Jenna is floored that Rachel can charm Sarge. But I think that Sarge always liked Rachel best, even more than Jaime!"

"That doesn't surprise me in the least," Julia said; "Please tell me we're not having hamburger or steaks for dinner."

"No, Mom. We're having roast chickens with plum sauce, garlic mashed potatoes and green beans," Zach said. "I got the recipe from one of your cookbooks."

"Sounds great, Zach!" Julia said, suddenly famished; "I'm starving! Some girl will be lucky to land you as a husband!"

"I think Lisette wants that honor, Mom," Zach said. "I made dinner for her and her family last week and Lisette proclaimed that she was going to marry me. I wanted to die!"

"I thought you liked Lisette," Julia said; "but I understand the embarrassment factor."

"I do like her, Mom, and she likes me," Zach said; "but she said this in front of her whole family! Let me finish up dinner, Mom, okay?"

Julia laughed; "Okay kiddo, but you aren't telling me anything I don't already know. I was a 15 year old girl once, you know."

Zach only went, "psssh..." and went back to the kitchen.

Julia looked after him as he walked away. He was a lot like Ryan, she thought. Fifteen and already six feet tall. You can stop growing now, kid.

Right, Jules. Like that's going to happen because you want it to be so, Julia heard in Ryan's voice in the back of her mind.

===

"How was the trip to the Embassy?" Carrie asked Rina when she came home from work at a local pub.

"Quite enlightening, actually," Rina said. "I have all the information I need  to complete my project."

"What's the project?" asked Carrie.

"To develop a government database where citizens can get information about a wide variety of subjects, from passport renewals to practice citizenship tests," Rina said. "My trip to the Embassy was to get information for people who want to become American citizens, yet keep their citizenship in their home country for cultural or family reasons."

"Dual citizenship," Carrie said; "but people can do that now."

"Not without going through a lot of different channels and possibly getting conflicting information," Rina said. "The info would be very basic, and there would be a way to contact the government if they were interested in pursuing that goal."

"What are you going to do with the information you have?"

"Write a program that would be easy for people to use, even if they're not computer literate," Rina said.

"I think it's cool you can do that," Carrie said; "Was it hard to learn?"

"I think it was all second nature to me because I could always do it," said Rina; "I guess I taught myself. I devoured books and articles on coding and web design. My father encouraged it and bought me books, computers, and other stuff to help me learn and master the basics. Everything else I know was built from that basic knowledge."

"Your dad would be proud that his encouragement led you to where you are now," Carrie said.

Perhaps, Rina thought as Carrie went to change out of her work clothes, but Papa doesn't know how I'm using that encouragement to find out what really happened when he supposedly died. Boy, will he be surprised!

===

Chapter 15

April-May, 2039

Early the following morning, Rina took a cab to Logan Airport and boarded a shuttle flight to New York City. Once there, she would transfer to another shuttle that would take her into Syracuse.

Usually not a nervous person, Rina was concerned that Christian DeWitt would not believe her claims that she was his granddaughter. After all, she thought, I am his daughter's roommate at school. Why should he believe me?

She didn't know that she had nothing to worry about, that Christian DeWitt had already worked it out for himself.

All Rina wanted was to know if her grandfather knew of her father's whereabouts, or did he, too, believe that his son was dead?

To allay her nervousness, she thought about the surprise birthday party she was giving for Jaime and Helene. The plans were coming together nicely, and nearly everyone who received one of Alexei's invitations indicated they planned to attend.

Including Christian DeWitt, his wife and their children still living at home. Helene's grandfather, his wife and their son would be unable to make it, as Krysta Hope had given birth to a baby girl named Alexandra less than two weeks before.

"How weird does it feel to know that the new baby is your aunt, Helene?" Jaime had asked her.

"A little weird, but not unusual nowadays," Helene replied; "The Occupation brought together many couples who are far apart in age; like my parents, for example."

"I think it would freak me out a little bit," Rina had replied. "I mean, there are people who have aunts and uncles who are either much younger than themselves, or the same age, even. How does one explain that in primary school?"

"I have two brothers who are roughly the same age as my mother," Helene said. "Their kids are my nieces and nephews. Chris, for example, has a daughter not much younger than me, and I'm her aunt! I don't know if Charles had any kids before he died, but I would imagine so. We just haven't met them yet, I suppose."

Rina looked out the window and saw the skyline of Manhattan below her. That didn't take very long, she thought.

But the unsettling idea that her best friend was her aunt had Rina on edge. How am I going to explain that one? she asked herself.

===

Julia had been expecting the call since she found out that someone was following Jaime. So she wasn't surprised when the phone rang the following morning, and Jaime's secure phone number popped up on the Call Identify screen.

"Mom, was the person you sent to follow me yesterday named Ryan Kendall?" Jaime asked barely a second after her mother said hello.

Julia sighed to herself. What do I tell her? she asked silently.

"No, Jaime, Ryan Kendall is a stranger to me," Julia said. "It appears that you are being followed by this person."

"Great," Jaime said; "Now I have to watch my back. What did I do to get such special attention?" she finished sarcastically.

"I have no idea, James," Julia said; "but I've got Uncle Nik on it. We'll find out who this guy is, and why he's following you."

Julia could almost hear Jaime slump down in the chair she was sitting on in her suite.

"What can Uncle Nik do, Mom?" Jaime asked; "He's in Washington working as Uncle Jere's chief of staff."

"He still has access to a wide database of search options, James," Julia said; "One of them is bound to find this Ryan Kendall."

"I wish my sixth sense worked like that, then I would figure out what to do on my own," said Jaime. "Are we headed for a second Occupation, Mom? Am I one of the Undesireables?"

"James, I don't know what to tell you," Julia said; "but there will be no second Occupation! Not if I have anything to say about it."

"You're not going to go all SpineSplitter on us, are you?"

"You are my child and I have an obligation to protect you," Julia said. "I know you have weapons skills and can take care of yourself in that regard, but it shouldn't have to come to that. I won't be pulling any disappearing tricks like I did after Jack died."

"Good, because that was scary, not knowing where you were," Jaime said; "or what you were capable of doing in the frame of mind you were in then. You still don't remember anything about those three weeks, do you?"

Julia sighed; "No Jaime, I don't. I may never know what I did during that time. I'm not sure I want to know. In the mean time, we'll get some answers about this man who was following you. Who he works for, if he's acting alone, if he's an obsessive stalker...fun stuff like that."

"Okay, Mom," Jaime said, "you know what's best. But if he comes back and hurts my family or my friends, then I'm going to make him wish he was never born."

===

Ryan Kendall laid low for a day before reporting to the mystery man who sent him to Chicago to follow a 17 year old girl.

What I've heard about the Summers family is true, he thought; that they somehow know they're in danger. Who is watching over them?

Kendall only took the job because he needed the twenty-five grand to pay off his debts. At this point, he didn't care if he got paid. If this douchebag stiffs me, I'll offer my services to The Triad, he thought. At least they've got their heads screwed on straight.

His secure phone rang. The number on the display was that of the man who hired him for the job of following Jaime Summers.

"Kendall," he said as he answered the phone.

"Tell me about Miss Summers, Kendall," the man on the other end of the line said.

"One, she leads a pretty typical college student's life," Kendall began; "She goes to classes, has a job in a flower shop, and on Wednesday, she was with a group of students who toured the veterinary sciences building at Loyola. Yesterday, she got her hair cut, went to a firing range," he paused, then continued, "then somehow figured out she was being followed and tracked me all the way to the airport."

"A firing range?" asked the mystery man.

"Yes," said Kendall; "She goes there a couple of times a week when she isn't working or studying."

"What about her roommates?"

"Miss DeWitt went to dance rehearsals for the spring recital, and the other girl took a shuttle bus to the airport. And no, I don't know where she went."

"Still no name for the third roommate?"

"I think it's Gina, but I can't be certain that's right," Kendall said; "All I know about her is that she has dark hair, grey eyes, stands about five-seven or eight. She also works at the flower shop, but she wasn't working  for the last three days, possibly because she was leaving town."

There was more silence on the line that Kendall was comfortable with, then he heard, "Your fee will be in your account by close of business today, Mr. Kendall. We never spoke, and the deposit will bear the name of a local company. If we need your services again, we'll be in touch. Goodbye."

The line then went dead in Kendall's hands.

I hope that they never call me again, he thought as he put the phone away in his pocket. I'd hate to be on the wrong end of any weapon wielded by the SpineSplitter's daughter.

===

Rina arrived at the impressive building that housed the DeWitt Corporation offices and suddenly had second thoughts about confronting Christian DeWitt.

She hoped he forgot about their meeting, but somehow, she doubted that.

Looking at her watch, she saw that she was nearly 25 minutes early for their meeing.

Let's go get this over with, Audrina, she told herself. The worst Signore DeWitt could say is that he doesn't know who my father is or where I might find him.

All her research led her to this point. Christian DeWitt had a son named Charles who was deceased. The son had lived in Europe, married, and had at least one child. The son had the same birthdate as her father, grew up in the same hometown; and had a rap sheet a mile long before he was of age, mostly with reports of mischief. He was never convicted of anything or served time in jail. At seventeen, he simply disappeared.

Rina's research may not have uncovered anything, she realized, if people never remarked how much she and Helene looked alike.  Total strangers sometimes resembled each other. Most times, they weren't related.

But she had wanted to find out if her father was really dead, something she doubted from the time she heard about the car accident that supposedly killed him. Had I not saw someone who looked like him out in town before the funeral, she thought, remembering how shaken she felt when she saw a man who looked so much like her father it was scary, I might not be here now. I have to know!

And she honestly thought Christian DeWitt had an answer. Or at least a clue.

Just maybe, he was a grieving father, just like she was a grieving daughter.

But she wouldn't know anything if she didn't go inside the impressive building and find out.

===

Dark hair. Grey eyes. Five-seven or eight.

If I didn't know better, I'd swear that kid was describing Audrina.

Pike sat at his home computer, wondering how Jaime Summers figured out she was being followed. Her family owned Summers Tech Systems, after all, he thought; they could have provided the girl with a means to find people who didn't want to be found.

He had no knowledge of the family's special gifts, ones that extended to all of The Triad's families.

Including those of Joe Donovan and Natasha Vincent.

Maybe I should back off for a while, Pike thought. If Jaime could figure out she was being followed, it might lead to me.

And a scandal was something he did not need right now. Not when his political future hung in the balance.

Richard Pike wanted to be President so badly he could taste it. But if it didn't work out this time, there was always the election in 2044, five years off, to consider.

And A.R.M still needed a lot of work and a lot of people to make his candidacy happen.

But, he would stage a Second Occupation, and put people like The Triad in their place once and for all.

All he needed was one person.

And she didn't even know he existed.

Yet.

===

"Jules," Nik San Marco said, "I may have found Ryan Kendall, but I must warn you that it is a rather common name."

"How many were born in 2012?" asked Julia.

"Lots of them."

"Great," Julia said; "Of those, how many were born in early April that year?"

Nik looked at his information, then came back on the line. "I have four born on April first, two on the second, and one born on the third."

"Look into the one born on April 3, 2012, Nik," Julia said; "That's the DOB that popped up on Jaime's screen. I want to know everything about him, including who he's sleeping with and what he's had for breakfast for the last six months."

"You're kidding about the breakfast thing, right Jules?"

Julia laughed, "Of course, Nik. But the other stuff I was serious about. Find out who he's associated with, if he's in debt, whether he's working, his schooling, all of it. And if you can happen upon his breakfast habits, that's a plus."

"Funny, Jules," said Nik. "When you find this stuff out, what are you going to do?"

"I don't know," Julia said; "Maybe invite him to the house and see if he can beat Sarge across the pasture."

"Isn't Sarge pretty old for a bull?"

"Maybe, but don't tell him that!" Julia said, laughing. "He thinks he's this bovine stud muffin. All the ladies, bovine and otherwise, love Sarge."

Nik laughed and said, "Okay, seriously, what are you going to do with any info Jere and I come up with?"

"Make him an offer he can't refuse."

"Such as...?"

"Turn him against the bastards who sent him to spy on my daughter, that's what," Julia said.

"Give us a couple of days and we'll get something damning to you about this kid," said Nik.

"Great. Look forward to reading your findings, brother," Julia said. "Give my love to Kate. How are the grandbabies doing?"

"Considering that only Matt and Sandy have kids," Nik said, "the grandbabies are fine. Matt and Lisa are taking Karina and baby Gabriel to Seattle with them before the end of the summer because Matt got a great job out there. Sandy and Alex just have Lexie. She's a year old now and is keeping her parents on their toes!"

"I'll bet," Julia said. "How's Sandy and Danica's wedding planner business doing?"

"Making a mint," Nik said; "But Sandy will be doing everything with only Vixen to help her while Danica is on maternity leave."

"Oh, I know Joe and Tracy are loving the grandbaby thing," Julia said; "I know I can't wait til Miri and John have theirs in August!"

"Joe says he feels old now," Nik said, laughing; "Turning 40 wasn't easy for him. Now he's going to be a grandpa. Seems unreal, huh?"

Julia sighed; "I know what that's like. Miri was just a baby a minute ago, now she's having one!"

"You ain't preachin' to the choir, Julia, trust me!" said Nik.

===

Rina took a big gulp of air conditioned air and exited the elevator on the ninth floor, where DeWitt had his offices. She walked up to the receptionist's desk and said,

"Alexandra St. Claire to see Mr. DeWitt, please?"

The receptionist looked up and did a double take. The young woman in front of her strongly resembled her boss. She then regained her composure and said, "I'll let Mr. DeWitt know you are here, Miss St. Claire. Please have a seat."

"Thank you," Rina said, taking a seat on the leather sofa behind her.

Normally, the receptionist would have just called into DeWitt's office to tell him he had a visitor, but she got up from her desk and went to the office instead.

"Sir, Miss St. Claire is here to see you."

Christian looked up from his desk. He caught the look in the receptionist's eyes like she couldn't believe what she saw. Instead of remarking about it, he said,

"Please send Miss St. Claire in."

The girl left and returned to the reception area, and told Rina that "Mr. DeWitt will see you now."

Rina followed the receptionist to the office, stepped aside so Rina could enter, then left.

Rina looked around the office. DeWitt was working on something and didn't see her enter. Without looking up, he said, "Miss St. Claire, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"

"I was hoping you'd be able to answer some questions I have about my father," said Rina.

Christian looked up, recognizing the voice immediately. Instead of a stranger, in front of him stood Rina Alexander. Helene's suitemate.

He couldn't believe his eyes! How did she come to be here? he asked himself.

Aloud, he only exclaimed in a voice that betrayed his surprise, "Rina! What the hell are you doing here?"

===

Chapter 14

April-May, 2039


Toward the end of April, Rina got this idea to have a huge birthday blowout for her two suitemates who had birthdays four days apart. She even contacted Jaime's boyfriend, Jared, and Helene's boyfriend, Alexei, about helping her set it up. Jared suggested that it be held in Evanston, as it was between Belvidere and Chicago so no one had to travel too far. Rina knew of a restaurant in town that could accomodate a big group of people, seeing that Jaime's family in particular was rather large. Alexei offered to obtain and send invitations, and keeping it a secret at the same time.

Of course, neither Jaime nor Helene had a clue as to what Rina was planning. They both realized that Rina had her secrets, and knew not to ask about them.

They would be very surprised when, on April 30th, they were Rina's big secret.


===


The invitations went out on April 2nd. Alexei had made all one hundred of them by hand, and addressed them in an elegant script. Those who received them were very impressed with the artistry involved.

Vito was one of the lucky receipents. The envelope was address as:

Mr. Vittorio d'Alessandro
Miss Carina Comeau
150 Fanueil Commons
Boston, Mass.

"These are really nice," Carrie had remarked when she opened the envelope. "The person who made these has an incredible talent!"

"Indeed," Vito had replied; "I understand from Rina that Helene's boyfriend made them. So he's apparently more than a dancer. I daresay that both Jaime and Helene will be surprised. I've never met either of them, though I've spoken to both on the phone. I'm going to see if my schedule will allow me to attend."

"I'm free on the 30th, but I won't go unless you come with me," Carrie said.

"That would be a bit awkward, would it not?"

"Just a little."


===


Before the big party, Rina called her brother and asked him a favor.

"You want me to lie to your friends about where you're going? Do I understand this correctly?" asked Vito in Italian.

"Yes," Rina said; "I think I found our grandfather, but I don't want Helene or Jaime to know that I've decided to see him. You're my cover story. Will you help me?"

"You think you've found our grandfather?" Vito asked.

"Yes," Rina said; "and the reason I want you to back me up is that I believe it's Helene's father."

"That would make your suitemate our aunt, Rina!" Vito said, shocked; "Does she even know that Charles DeWitt is related to her?"

"She does. She's known all her life," Rina said; "She seems to think that our father's last name is d'Alessandro, so the thought that we might be related has probably never crossed her mind."

"She'll be in for a shock if what you're telling me is true," Vito said.

"That's why I need your help, Vito," Rina said; "I want to be sure of my facts before I rattle her world and everything she's ever known about her family."

"I will help you, sister, but I don't like lying to people," Vito said; "Not about something as big as this."

"It will only take me a couple of days," Rina said. "I've already made an appointment to see him on Friday."

"Does he know it's you he's going to be meeting?" asked Vito.

"No. He thinks a woman named Alexandra St. Claire has an appointment with him in his office in Syracuse," Rina said.

"Alexandra St. Claire? Where did you come up with that name?"

"Yellow Pages, of course."


===

Christian looked over his appointments for the week and saw the Friday appointment with "Alexandra St. Claire" and asked his secretary,

"What does this Alexandra St. Claire want to speak with me about?"

Diana, his secretary at the office (Kathryn functioned in that capacity when he worked at home), said, "She said that she would only discuss it with you when she came in on Friday."

"Is she a new hire?"

"Not that I know of," Diana said; "I'll ask HR if someone by that name is on the new hire list."

Christian nodded and Diana left his office. He wondered who this woman was and what she wanted to talk to only him about.

I hope she's not another one of those golddiggers who is looking for Charles, he thought. In the years since Charles' death, several women had come to see Christian for "compensation" for the terrible things they said Charles did to them. The stories sounded for the most part made up, and covered everything from rape to child support.

Christian sighed. Even dead,  Charles was still making trouble. He wondered how many children his younger son fathered other than the two he recently found out about. And would they expect something from his estate?

He couldn't possibly know that "Alexandra St. Claire" was someone he had already met, and she would be asking some hard questions of him about Charles.

And questions about his oldest daughter as well.


===

Rina was packing for her "trip" to Boston to spend the weekend with her brother and to get to know his fiancee, Carrie, better.

"You're going to miss that party your computer programmers club is holding on Saturday?" asked Helene; "I thought wild horses couldn't drag you away from that?"

"It's not everyday that Vito has a free weekend and wants me and Carrie to get to know each other better," Rina said, closing her duffle bag. "I like that she makes Vito happy, and I do want to let her know that I approve of her relationship with Vito. Not that either of them need that from me, of course. There will be other parties."

"True," Helene said; then, "I have to run off to work now, Reen. Have a safe trip and give my regards to Vito and Carrie."

"I will, Helene," Rina said. "By the way, when will Jaime be back? Do you know?"

"She had that field trip to the veterinary school in Chicago," Helene said. "She should be home tonight. I'm taking her shift at the flower shop."

"Damn, I'll be at the airport by then," Rina said; "We'll have just missed each other."

"I'll tell her you stayed as long as you could," Helene said; "The shuttle will be here any time now. You better be ready or you'll miss your flight."

Helene left and Rina was alone.

I hate to lie to them about where I'm going, she thought, but I have to find out if this Christian DeWitt is the same man as Helene's father. Rina's search had turned up four men named Christian DeWitt, and three of them were in the same age range that her grandfather would be in.

What do I tell him about why I've been looking for him, though, Rina said to herself as she boarded the shuttle the school provided to take her to Chicago-O'Hare Airport. That I don't think my father is dead and does he know where I might find Charles DeWitt?

So many questions that needed answering. Rina wasn't completely sure that she really wanted to know the answers, but felt she had to ask.


===

God, I'm tired, Jaime thought at she dragged herself up the two flights of stairs to her suite. She had found out a lot about what it takes to continue her schooling after getting her undergraduate degree, and knew she had it in her to succeed. Veterinary school was covered, she knew. It was in Jack's will.

She opened the door, expecting to see at least Rina. Helene had just gotten home moments before, and it was she who greeted Jaime as she came in.

"Rina not here?" Jaime asked.

"She took an early flight to Boston," Helene said as she went back into the kitchen to get something for Jaime to eat; "She waited as long as she could, but the shuttle was due soon after I left for work."

"What is she going to Boston for?"

"Her brother invited her because he had a free weekend," Helene said; "Rina and Vito's fiancee Carrie are going to get to know each other better from what I understand."

"Oh," Jaime said; "then she should go. This was kinda last minute though. Rina talked about that party that her programming group was having this weekend. I guess getting to meet your future sister in law trumps that, huh?"

"Rina said something similar," Helene said as she handed Jaime a plate of sandwich fixings; "Now would you eat something, James. You look like you've not had a thing to eat all day."

"I am hungry," Jaime said, making a sandwich with what Helene brought her; "We had lunch at like 1pm, and it's almost six-thirty now."

"Don't they feed you on those day trips?"

"No," Jaime said; "I had to spend my own money. Fortunately, I remembered to put my debit card back in my wallet after paying for my summer courses."

"You're not going home for the summer before we move into the new house?" asked Helene.

"Maybe for a couple of weeks, but not until after we move out of here and into Kimber's house," Jaime said; "It's only one class, and it's in July."

"Ah," Helene said. Then, "I'm already starting to pack stuff. The end of the semester will be here before we know it. Rina's practically done with her packing. All she has left is her furniture, clothes, and the bookshelf she bought at Ikea over Christmas. Most of her computers are packed away, too. She just has her laptop and tablet available, and she took those with her to Boston."

"What does an almost 17 year old girl needs four computers for?" asked Jaime.

"When your name is Audrina Alexander," Helene said, "not even four computers are enough!"

Jaime laughed, "Oh I know that's right!"


===


The actual flight time from Chicago to Boston didn't take long at all, and Rina was soon touching down at Boston's Logan Airport. At least this part of the trip was the truth, Rina thought as she waited for the plane to empty out enough to get her computer bag from the overhead storage compartment.

Other passengers didn't pay her much mind, and that's what Rina wanted. To most everyone in the U.S., she was just another teenage girl. In Europe, it was another story. Everyone there, it seemed, knew who she was. The European press was especially bad about making up stuff about her when she refused to talk to them. Snotty, aloof, and spoiled were some of the adjectives used to describe her. The one that really got her was, "just like her mother, the spoiled recently widowed Contessa d'Alessandro".

In the United States at least, they didn't yet know who she was, and Rina wanted to keep it that way.

After going through the security check point at the gate (it always amazed Rina that she didn't have to go through Customs in every state, like she did when she visited other countries in Europe), she stepped out onto the concourse leading to the waiting areas. It was there that she would hopefully meet her brother and Carrie.

She wasn't disappointed.

She saw Vito right away, and assumed that the dark haired girl with him was Carrie.

Vito turned just in time to see Rina walking toward them. "She is a pretty girl, Vito," Carrie whispered to him.

"Indeed," Vito said as he waved his arm to get his sister's attention. Rina returned his wave.

"Welcome to Beanville, sister," Vito said, to which Carrie laughed, saying, "BeanTOWN, Vito."

Rina said, "Sounds like my suitemates at school! Somehow, they've gotten used to my mangling of American English idioms. I'm Rina. It's nice to meet you, Carrie."

"Vito has said so much about you, Rina, that when he said you were coming to visit, I cleared my schedule for the entire weekend," Carrie said.

"Is that all you brought, Audrina?" asked Vito, indicating her carry-ons.

"No, I have a small checked bag," Rina said. "It wouldn't fit in the overhead compartment, so I had to check it."

"Let's go get it and get you settled at the house," Vito said. "You're still going to New York tomorrow for the day, right?"

"Yes, I am. I need to speak with someone at the American Embassy for a report for a class, and thought I'd combine the two events," Rina said in keeping with the well rehearsed lie she and Vito discussed on the phone earlier in the week.

"Isn't there an Embassy in Chicago?" asked Carrie.

"There is, but they referred me to the one in New York," Rina said, "and since I was going to be here anyway, I thought I'd make a day trip out of it. Otherwise I would have just called them."

"Rina is an overachiever," Vito told Carrie; "Always has been. That's why she's so good with computers. She had to either learn everything she could, or figure it out on her own."

Carrie just nodded as the three of them headed to the baggage claims area to pick up Rina's small suitcase. Then they went out to dinner near Vito and Carrie's apartment.

Just before heading to bed that evening, Rina thought about what she was going to tell Christian DeWitt about why she was there to visit him, and decided to tell him of her suspicions that her father wasn't dead and show him her research.

After that, she had to figure out a way to tell Helene they were related without freaking her out.

It would take a life or death situation for Rina to tell her because she thought she was running out of time.


===

Jaime Summers had two things to accomplish on Friday; one was to donate her long hair to Locks of Love, which she took care of within an hour of leaving the dorm (she had asked Helene to come with her, but Helene chickened out).

The second was to find out who the hell was following her now.

As an early birthday gift, Julia had sent her daughter a new secure phone. Not just any secure phone, but one with Summers Tech Systems software in it. Julia wanted Jaime to test out how well the software worked before the company made it available to potential customers.

Jaime started having her sixth sense go haywire just after Rina left to go to Boston, and Jaime, quite frankly, was tired of being followed.

And that's what the software installed on the phone was supposed to do: identify someone following the owner of the phone.

"James, I'm going to have someone follow you on purpose, just to test out the software," Julia had told her. "It will be someone you do not know. I'll get a copy of whatever you find out at the exact moment you find it out. Does this sound like fun?"

"Mom, someone following me does NOT sound like fun," Jaime had said; "But if it's for the business, I'll play along."

"That's my girl," Julia had said; "The test will be either Friday or Saturday. Probably Friday. Just go about your business and the phone is your birthday gift from Summers Tech Systems."

"Cool," Jaime said.

Jaime was headed to a firing range that she knew about from Miri's time at Northwestern. She'd shoot a few rounds, go on an orienteering trek, then head home.

However, the phone went crazy as soon as she walked out of the salon after making her Locks of Love donation. As she headed outside, she was thinking that her hair hadn't been this short since she was a little girl...

BEEP...BEE-BEEP...BEEP

Jaime looked at the phone, annoyed. Its display stated that person or persons unknown were shadowing her. Thanks, Mom, Jaime thought while she walked to her car to head to the firing range.

When she arrived at the firing range, she saw someone who she knew didn't belong there. She knew who belonged and who didn't, even if she didn't know them by name.

With the phone's camera, she took a discrete picture of the man following her, then put a code into the phone.

IDENTIFY? Y/N

Jaime hit Y and waited for the next message.

IDENTITY OF SUBJECT BY NAME? Y/N

Jaime hit Y again and waited.

SUBJECT NAME: RYAN KENDALL
DOB: 040312
HT: 73IN
WT: 185LBS
AGE: 27
FOLLOW? Y/N

Fuck yeah I want to follow, Jaime thought. She hit Y.

TRACKING SUBJECT RYAN KENDALL...
HEADING TO PARKED CAR AT 4234 LIGHTFOOT DRIVE...
CAR ENGINE STARTED, HEADING NORTH ON LIGHTFOOT DRIVE
MAKING LEFT ONTO SR430
CONTINUE FOLLOW? Y/N

Jaime got into her car and started following a brown coupe with Kentucky plates. This Ryan Kendall is heading back to Northwestern, she thought. Had he gone right, he'd be heading to Chicago.

SUBJECT CHANGED COURSE, HEADED EAST ON SR430

Hmm, Jaime thought, he's lost.

TURN ON VOX? Y/N

Jaime hit Y and continued to follow, then the voice, who sounded a lot like her mother's said, "SUBJECT TRYING TO LOSE TAIL. CONTINUE TO FOLLOW? SPEAK YES/NO"

"Yes!" Jaime said. Soon, she had followed him all the way into Chicago. She realized that he was heading to O'Hare. She spoke the command, "Subject taking flight out of area?"

After a few moments, the response was, "YES. SUBJECT BOARDING PLANE. DESTINATION WASHINGTON, DC."

Must have spooked him but good, Jaime thought. She dialed her mother's phone number, but got the voice mail. Jaime didn't leave a message. She turned around and headed back to Evanston. She thought it strange that her mother wouldn't have someone local to follow her.

But someone local was following her. It wasn't the man Jaime tracked to the airport, though.


===


"Oh, shit," Julia said.

"What is it, Jules?" asked Yancy Carter, the author of the software that was placed into Jaime's new secure phone.

"I just got a report from my daughter's phone," Julia said; "Someone named Ryan Kendall was identified as the person following Jaime. That's not who I sent out to follow her."

"Then who is Ryan Kendall?" Yancy asked.

"Damned if I know, but the thing that concerns me, Yance, is that Jaime is being stalked," Julia said; "Why? I don't know."

"At least we know the software works," Yancy said; "But Jaime should know someone is following her."

Julia looked at the young woman who was just a couple of years older than Miri, and said, "Jaime knows she's being stalked. Her sixth sense kicked in. It may not have if the man following her was someone I sent out to test the software, because I told her I would be doing just that. Jaime, and possibly her suitemates, are in danger."


===

Chapter 13

March-April, 2039


Alexei woke up the following morning and glanced at the blonde angel sleeping next to him.

Ah, Helene, he thought; I hope the "dance" was everything you expected it to be.

The night before, the talking led to kissing; the kissing led to exploring; before either one of them realized what was happening, Alexei found himself about to take Helene's virginity.

"Are you sure you want this, Helene? We can stop now if there are any doubts," he said.

"I'm ready for this, Alexei," she had said; "...please?"

"It might hurt a little."

"I don't care! I want you, Alexei," Helene had said; "I'm sure about this."

He had entered her gently, watching her face. She grimaced, but otherwise said nothing. Soon, he felt her moving with him.

"My God, Helene!" he said; "Yes, my angel...ahh, you have no idea how much I want you!"

"Alexei..." she said before her orgasm; "yes! Yes! Take me! All of me! I am yours to command my darling...!"

She let go and arched her back as she rode through her orgasm. Alexei wasn't that far behind her.


He watched as she lay there sleeping. So beautiful and so unaware he was watching her as she slept. He knew he wanted a life with her. One that included marriage, children, and a life of love and laughter. He had to wait for these things, he knew. When the time came, he would ask Christian DeWitt for his oldest daughter's hand.

But for now, he was content in watching his angel sleep. There was still plenty of time for them to fulfill their dreams.

===


The message left no doubt as to what the caller wanted.

Rina played back the message for Jaime, and both of them sat there dumbfounded.


"Audrina, you are to come home immediately!" her mother raged on the recording. "I've had quite enough of your little 'experiment' of going to university in America. You have become involved with someone who is not suitable. Your studies will end and you will come back to Rafaello at once!"


Rina only had one thing to say to all that: "Fuck you!"

"Wow, Reen," Jaime said; "Can she do that?"

"No," Rina said; "Part of the requirement of me coming to school here was to be made independent of my mother. In the eyes of the United States government, I am a legal immigrant with the full protection of said government. It also helped that my father was an American, so my mother cannot make that demand of me."

"Apparently she doesn't realize this," said Jaime.

"I know she doesn't," Rina said. "Since I'm no longer on a student visa, I am considered an immigrant. A decision I made in concert with a lawyer and the immigration service. I did not have to consult my mother in making this decision, so she can rant and rave all she wants. My father having been a citizen of the United States has helped me more than even I realized."

"Is that guy still spying on you? The one Helene and I thought was your father when you moved in?" asked Jaime.

"Apparently," Rina said resignedly; "He found out our phone number. The only person I gave it to was Vito. I know Vito didn't tell our mother what it was. He changed his own number when she started bothering him about unsuitable companions."

"We probably should do the same, or we can just block international numbers all together," Jaime suggested; "But let's wait for Helene before we make any kind of decisions."

"In the meantime, I'm going to call my mother's bluff," Rina said, picking up the phone.


===


"I hope the weekend was everything you hoped it would be, Helene," Alexei said as he drove Helene back to Northwestern.

She took his free hand as he drove, saying, "Yes, it was, Alexei. I kinda wish I didn't have to go back right away."

"It will be hard for me to watch you walk into Mathison Hall, knowing that I won't see you again for a while," Alexei said. "We both have work to do before summer comes."

"And we're going to move into our own house," Helene said; "I'm really looking forward to that. Between the three of us, we've saved enough money to easily make expenses. Rina will finally get to work for money now that she has a resident alien visa."

"She must be excited about that," Alexei said; "Making her own money and not having to rely solely on that bitch that birthed her. What is that woman's problem, anyway?"

Helene sighed, then said, "I honestly have no idea, but I get really tired of taking her crap; she treats me and Jaime like we're lucky to have Rina as a suitemate. Then she demands; not asks, demands, that we make Rina call her back. Neither Jaime nor I ever do that. The Contessa d'Alessandro or whatever her stupid title is, is a royal pain in the ass."

"She'll find out soon enough that all her bitching and moaning is for naught," Alexei said.

"I hope you're right, Alexei," Helene said; "But, we can't let that woman run our lives. It's our time now, and if Rina's mother can't see that, then she's a bigger fool than I thought."

"That's exactly what she is, Helene. A fool."

Alexei drove through Northwestern's picturesque campus until he got to Mathison Hall. There he knew that his time with Helene would end for now. But they had agreed on one thing.

That they would be together forever, no matter what.

Alexei walked her to the lobby of the building and kissed her goodbye with a little more passion than he intended. Helene didn't seem to mind.

As he held her he said, "You know I love you, right?"

Helene glanced up at him and replied, "I know. I love you, too, Alexei. Even before last night," she added in a whisper.

He watched as she ran up the stairs, then took his leave.

Alexei decided then and there that he would be calling Christian DeWitt sooner rather than later. He wanted nothing more than for DeWitt's permission to marry his daughter.

As he drove back to Chicago, Alexei decided that he was going to call his parents and invite them to visit him during the summer, if his mother's health allowed it. He wanted to meet in person, at last, the little boy he'd only seen in photographs and talked to on the phone. He wanted to be a real big brother, and not some mythical figure to Ivan.

And, he wanted his family to meet Helene.


===

Caterina would not be satisfied with the message her daughter left her. Rina knew this for a fact. Her message, left in English, left no doubt there were no warm feelings between Rina and her mother:

"Mother, I have absolutely no intention whatsoever in interrupting my education and returning to Rafaello just because you have a problem with me living my own life. It's my life and my business who I see or don't see. Besides, it's not a concern of yours any longer. I have procured the services of a lawyer, both here in Chicago and in Rome, to make sure that I never have any sort of contact with you again. I changed my status here to resident alien, and I fully intend to become an American citizen in my own right.

"You have treated my friends with contempt, you have cast your aspersions upon anything I might do as a reflection on you. You have never been a mother to me and my brother in a real sense, and as he has done, I too will cease contact with you. If you would like to contact me, do it through my lawyer in Rome, Pietro Constanzi. I know you know how to reach him. Do not call me here at home. If you do, you will find that your number has been blocked. When it comes down to it, you're angry at Father for any and all slights, real and imagined. Vito and I are convenient outlets for your anger since Papa is no longer here to be angry at.

"Have a nice life Mother."


"Damn, girl, that's harsh!" Jaime said, a little shocked at her friend's anger, but understood the reasoning behind said anger; "I hope she gets the message and leaves you alone."

"If not, then Signore Constanzi will set her straight," Rina said; "He was my father's lawyer before Papa died. He is not one of my mother's biggest fans."

"And that's why you chose him?" asked Jaime.

"Partly," Rina said; "Vito got me in touch with him. I wish I could be a bug on the wall to watch her squirm."

Jaime rolled her eyes, laughed and said, "A fly, Reen. A fly on the wall..."


===


Stupid little cunt, Caterina said as she listened to her daughter's message. She's whoring it up and doesn't care about my concern for her welfare.

Caterina d'Alessandro lived in her own little world. The only one in that world who mattered was her assistant/lover, Giuseppe Talarico. She was delusional to the point of madness, but no one could tell her that. Everyone around her knew she was mentally ill, except perhaps herself and Giuseppe.

Stupid little whore, she seethed for hours after erasing the message that sent her into a fit of anger. Her and her brother, seeing unsuitable people, tarnishing the d'Alessandro name and bloodline.

Caterina was only a mother on two fronts: one was when she gave birth to her children; the second was when it was convenient for her to appear to be a loving, caring parent.

She concluded that they were both like the bastard who fathered them. She was glad that Charles was dead and no longer able to wield his influence on her children. It was at her insistance that he marry her when she turned up pregnant, then again at her insistance that the child and any subsequent children would carry her name, and not his.

He was young and stupid, just like all Americans, Caterina believed. It had been so easy to manipulate him. Then he got wise and left her. She'd beg for him to return, but after so many instances, he grew tired of the charade his life had become.

Then the bastard died on her and she no longer had her whipping boy. She sent the children to boarding schools and forgot about them until they got their diplomas. Then she would mold them into her image.

They had other plans that didn't include being isolated at the villa that had been in the d'Alessandro family since the eighteenth century.

And that was what was, unbeknownst to her, driving her insane. Near total isolation.

It was a family trait, insanity.

It was one that Audrina and Vittorio did not inherit.

But Caterina didn't know or care about that. All she saw were two insolent children who needed to be reigned in.

In her mind, they were still little children. Charles had stolen them.

Caterina totally and utterly believed that.

===


Helene no sooner walked through the door of her suite before Jaime and Rina peppered her with questions about her weekend with Alexei. Both girls had seen the look on Helene's face to know something significant had happened between her and Alexei.

"All right, Leenie," Jaime said, "tell us all about it, and don't leave anything out."

All Helene could do is smile. She was so incredibly happy she could scream.

"Ah," Rina said; "So a little amore went on, yes?"

"Yes," Helene said in a near whisper; "I'm so happy I could sing, dance, scream, and do cartwheels!"

"And Alexei? How is he feeling?" asked Rina.

"He loves me. I didn't want to come back. I wanted to spend all my time with him."

"How was it?" asked Jaime. "He was gentle, right?"

Helene took one of the pillows from the couch and screamed into it, then said, "He was gentle, yes. He gave me an out in case I had doubts. I told him I was ready. It was the most incredible, beautiful awakening any girl could ever have. He's the one, you guys. I found my soulmate. I'm so happy I could cry."

She then burst into tears. It surprised even her. Jaime and Rina weren't sure what to do, but certainly knew how she felt.

"I've got to call my mom," Helene said suddenly; "I have to talk to her about all this. Mother/daughter stuff."

She then ran off to her room to do just that.

Rina just looked at Jaime and said, "My mother called me a whore. I wish I had a mom like Helene's. One you could tell everything to. I feel cheated."

Jaime took Rina's hand and said, "I know, Reen. I have a mom like Helene's. And my mom could be a surrogate mom for you, too. That's the way she's always been. And Helene's mom is the same way. Your mom is a bitch, and we all know it; You always can go to my mom, since she lives here. I know she would be flattered if you confided in her."

"Thank you, Jaime," Rina said; "I might just take her up on that. I am glad that Helene is happy. She and Alexei are meant to be together. They are really soulmates. I hope that Jeremy is mine."

Jaime grinned and said, "There's only one way to find out, and that's to spend more time with him and get to know him better. Time will tell if you two are meant to be."

"How did you get so wise, James?"

"It's the family I was blessed with," Jaime said; "We all have respect, admiration and love for one another. We're all very close."

"All I have is Vito," Rina said.

"You and Vito will do great things, and make your father proud of you, wherever he is spending eternity," Jaime said. "Your mother, though, is a lost cause."

"You're not singing to the priest, James," Rina said. Then, "I got that wrong, didn't I?"

Jaime laughed, saying, "Don't worry about it, Reen. I've kind of gotten used to your mangling of our idioms."

Rina laughed. Jaime was right, of course.


===


"Don't tell me, Kathryn," Christian said, "let me guess. Helene?"

"You got it," Kathryn said playfully. "But there is something I need to discuss with you."

Christian looked at her and asked, "And that is?"

Kathryn sighed, not knowing how Christian was going to take what she had to tell him.

"It seems that our oldest daughter has taken a very serious step."

"And what that might be?" Christian asked, almost knowing that Kathryn was going to tell him something he had suspected for a while.

"Our little girl lost her virginity last night, and she is absolutely over the moon about it."

"With Alexei, I'm gathering," said Christian.

"Who else?" Kathryn said; "At least it was with someone she cares deeply for, and not the way I lost mine."

"She's not even 17 yet!" Christian said. "But still, if I had to be glad of one thing, it's that it was with Alexei. I like that boy, Kathryn. He's a good man. And he cares for Helene very much."

"I like him, too," said Kathryn; "You think they're soulmates? Like we are?"

"They're still kids," Christian said; "Only time will tell."

"So if he came to you at some point and asked your permission to marry Helene, you'd give it to him?" asked Kathryn.

"Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves," Christian said cautiously; "I'd like to see Helene turn 18 and finish college first before anything like that happens."

"Well, I didn't say it was going to happen tomorrow, Christian," Kathryn laughed; "but I understand your concerns. No 17 year old girls are getting married on my watch, I don't care how in love she is."

Christian kissed Kathryn's cheek, then said, "I wonder which of the three of them will marry first? Helene, Jaime or Rina."

"Rina just started seeing someone over Christmas, so I'd say it's not going to be her," Kathryn said. "I'd put my money on Jaime, personally. And not because her sister just got married, either."

"Okay, okay," Christian laughed; "I just wondered."

"Mommy? Daddy? Where are you?" they heard Eric call from down the hall.

"Daddy's office, son," Christian said. He and Kathryn then heard little footsteps running toward the office, then Eric appeared in the doorway.

"I want breakfast," he said.

"Really?" asked his mother; "And how do we ask for breakfast?"

Eric had a thoughtful look on his face before saying, "Mommy, may I have breakfast, please?"

"That's better," Kathryn said; "Now come with me to the kitchen and help me pick out what you would like, okay?"

"Okay!" he said and ran out of the office towards the kitchen.

"What about you, Christian? Breakfast?"

"In a bit," he said; "I have some work to look at, then I'll be down there. I'll get Erin and Lili up on the way."

Kathryn nodded and headed to the kitchen, where Eric sat quietly on a chair in the dining room.

Christian turned to his computer, where the night before, he found something that looked promising.

Government forms for visa status changes for Charles' probable children.

He clicked on the one that was marked "United States Office of Immigration, File Number 1130-2038US-IL, Application for permanent resident status."

Name of Applicant: d'Alessandro, Audrina Aida
Known Aliases: Audrina A. Alexander
Date of Birth: 30 June, 2022
Country of Origin: Italy
Name of Mother: Caterina Tosca d'Alessandro (Born 1994)
Country of Origin: Italy
Name of Father: Charles Richardson DeWitt (Born 2003; Died 2034)
Country of Origin: United States
Reason for Application: Father was a US Citizen; Permission to work legally in U.S.
Application Status: Approved 3 January 2039
New Visa Mailed: 15 March 2039


My God! Christian thought, Rina is my granddaughter! And Helene doesn't know!

He then clicked on the second file. It was the same application that made out in the name of Vittorio Matteo d'Alessandro. He was two and a half years older than Rina, and went by the names Vito Alexander and Victor Matthew Alexander.

Looking at the two forms, Christian realized that Charles had heirs. But why, he thought, do they carry their mother's surname and not Charles'?

Christian decided to do a little research into the d'Alessandro family before he drew any conclusions. And he would keep the information to himself for a while.

Instead of the three grandchildren he thought he had through Chris, he now had two more through Charles. And his daughter was her best friend's aunt, and had no idea!

It's up to Rina to tell Helene about their familial connection, and not mine, Christian thought. But does Rina know?

There still far too many questions for Christian's liking.

In a few weeks, he'd get confirmation of his suspicions when he got a visitor he wasn't expecting.

His granddaughter.

===