The tassel kept swinging into my eyes. Eyes that scanned the crowd for a familiar face. I had had a weird feeling for the past two days but had put it down to being nervous about graduation.
*Where was Lucas?*
This was one of the moments we had waited so long for. All of the hard work and planning we had done, so long ago in the hospital, was close to paying off.
I thought back to those last days in the hospital. Lucas and I had, in essence, given birth to a new me. I had watched in amazement as he opened accounts in my new name. Driver's license, school reports, bank account, bills, etc.; all the background that a normal person would have to explain their existence.
He had even deposited a little money into the bank account. He couldn't finance my education directly, but I had to somehow get there from here. I would be leaving with the clothes on my back and nothing else. I didn't mind, since I didn't have much. We had talked it over and I would leave a couple of days before Lucas's discharge, to avert suspicion.
I could still feel the panic that had gripped me the last time I had hugged him. This good-bye was going to have to last us for a long time. I had never wanted to let go. He had come to mean everything to me. He was the brother that I had never had.
Tugging at the stiff robe, I squirmed in my chair to get a better view of the grandstands. The family and visitor section had plenty of blonde teenagers, brothers and sisters of my classmates, but not the one I so desperately wanted to see.
*Where was he?*
The speaker droned on and on about the wonderful futures that were waiting for us. I passed the time watching for him and thinking about how I had come to be here today.
I had arrived at M.I.T. after a roundabout journey from the hospital. Lucas had set up a Western Union money transfer to be picked up with a code word because my id. wasn't ready yet. It had been so funny standing in the grocery store with the hospital sweat suit on and sneakers. I must have looked very suspicious. The clerk had looked me over very carefully when I told him I was Holly Murphy and I was expecting a wire for 2,000 dollars. Lucas had put a password on the money so I didn't need any id. All I had to do was answer the code word 'Einstein' and he had to give it to me.
The cash allowed me to 'lose myself'. I first made a stop at the local department store and got a change of clothes and a backpack. I tucked the money in various placed on me so that even if I was mugged they wouldn't find all of it.
I had walked to the nearest bus station and took the first bus going out of town. The ticket had been one way for California. Just before the third stop in a little town I don't even remember the name of, I tucked my hair under the baseball cap and put on the sunglasses I had purchased. I waited in the truck stop bathroom until the bus had left. I hadn't told Lucas about how I was going to get to school. He would have had a fit if he knew I was planning on hitching. It wasn't the safest thing to do, but I didn't want anyone tracking me down and ruining our plans before they could even begin.
In the diner portion of the truck stop, I chose a booth in the back and waited. I ordered a big lunch so I could linger and watch everyone. One lady looked safe enough. She was sitting at the counter by the cashier. I heard her tell the waitress that she had a haul going to Atlanta. This would work. I had been planning my approach all morning on the bus.
I tugged the brim of the cap down a bit and pushed the sleeves of my shirt above the cast on my arm. I went up to the cashier to pay my bill. I had made sure to get a lot of change from the department store clerk, saying it was for the Laundromat. Slowly, I counted out the money for the bill. I did my best to look helpless and a little afraid.
The waitress asked, "Are you okay, honey?"
Stifling a sob and with a tremor in my voice, I asked, "Do you have the address for the nearest shelter?"
"Oh, honey! What's wrong?" I had the waitress's attention and I could see that the trucker was watching me also.
I hesitantly told my made up tale of an abusive boyfriend that I was trying to runaway from. Playing on their sympathies was making me feel guilty but I knew this was the only way I could get lost. I continued on with my tale explaining that I was trying to get home to my family on the east coast.
The waitress tried to give me back the money for the meal. "You need all they money you have to get there. This is on me."
At this the trucker broke in and said, "I'm going to Atlanta. I'll give you a lift as far as there."
I thanked her and the waitress for being so kind. I made sure that the waitress took the money for the food, since I was going to be getting a ride instead of having to pay for a bus ticket.
We set off and in twenty minutes I knew I had made the right choice. The trucker told me her name was Sarah. She was kind and tried to help me all she could. The miles passed so quickly, that I almost hated to part company with her in Atlanta. She had talked to a friend on the CB to arrange another ride for me. The last I saw of her was as she pulled out of the truck stop. I had promised to wait for her friend there so I could get a ride to New York. After she turned the corner, I called a taxi.
I had written an apology note to Sarah and explained that I couldn't take her up on the ride she had arranged with her friend. I told her everything was going to work out fine and that I appreciated all she had done for me. I had tucked it into the visor knowing that she would find it before she had the chance to worry about me.
In the motel room, I pulled off the cap that I had never removed in Sarah's presence. I had made sure that a grocery store was close by. I was going to hate doing this but it had to be done. Pulling out the scissors and hair dye I had purchased before checking in, I cut my waist length hair into a short shoulder bob. The hair dye was a rinse that would be out by the time I got to school. Looking in the mirror, I hardly recognized myself. Short red hair with a slight curl were what I saw. The weight of the long hair I had had for so many years had hidden the curls. No one had seen me in short hair. I was sure that no one would put it together that I was Morgan Smith/Elise Hunter.
I arranged to take the train to Cambridge Massachusetts. I had settled for arriving on the moving in day and got lost in the general confusion that was on campus. I checked in with my liaison for the scholarship and got everything set up. Lucas had thought of everything. I picked up the key to my room from the advisor and went to go see my new home for the next four years. The computer had already been set up for me. It had been decorated in early college dorm but that wasn't what surprised me the most. Sitting on the bed was a stuffed bear with a tag attached to his collar and a under him a book.
I had walked over and looked at the tag first. 'Einstein' was etched into the silver i.d. plate hanging from collar. Picking it up, I noticed that the book he had been sitting on was a hard cover copy of "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Lucas had signed the front cover. "I wish I could be there for your first day of classes. I remember how tough it was for me. I hope the bear and book help. Love, Lucas."
I had sat on the bed, with tears in my eyes. He was so thoughtful. I just hoped I could do my part in his plan.
We had stayed in contact through the 'net. Once a month, he could arrange to call me to see how things were. Several times, I had seen faint bruises on him. He would turn the conversation away from it though no matter how hard I pressed. The frustration and anger I felt towards his father kept getting stronger. If Lucas hadn't made me promise to just let his plan unfold, I would have gone to get him the first time I saw the evidence of more abuse. He had assured me that his father hadn't seriously hurt him before we met and I had accepted his excuses. As the semesters had come and gone though, I suspected there was more going on than Lucas wanted me to know.
It was like an awful conspiracy. He wouldn't talk about his home life and I wouldn't let on how lonely I felt. What good would it have done? He couldn't get away from home and I was busy with classes and reserve duty. Mainly, I had floated through college like I had floated through my foster families. Doing well academically, but I had no social life at all. No friends just acquaintances. These two habits were so ingrained from Elise's past that I didn't change them. They had served well enough in the past. She was still there, I could feel her as a vague presence, but she had never come back from the incident. Not that I missed her, but I didn't have anyone else to talk to.
Between calls from Lucas, I would confide in the bear he had sent me. I told that bear everything that I couldn't tell Lucas without making him feel guilty. It had helped a little but illogically I felt abandoned again.
The years had passed.
I had been so excited last week to call him and tell him I had aced my last final exam.
That joy had been nothing next to what I had felt when he had told me his good news.
He had arranged to participate in a computer seminar hosted this weekend on campus. His father had agreed because it was on a project Lucas was working on for his Ph.D.
I had called just this morning to see if he had checked in for the seminar. I was disappointed when they had said no.
Finally the speaker was done with his speech. I shaded my eyes from the sun and looked around again for Lucas.
Soon it was my section's turn to pass across the stage. We stood and gathered at the foot of the stairs. One by one we were called forward to shake hands with the dean and get our diplomas. Suddenly a wave of nausea swept over me. Dizzy, I clutched at the person in front of me. A cold sweat had broken out all over me. I felt incredibly ill.
*Was it something I ate? No. Then what was happening?*
For some reason at that moment, I knew I had to find Lucas. I brushed off the concerned hands of the people around me and left without my diploma.
*Let them mail it to me*
I had something more important to do.
Hurrying back to my room, I stripped off the gown and threw it in the corner. Turning on my computer, I made a quick call to the seminar's front desk. A perky grad student answered.
"Has Mr. Wolenczak signed in yet?" I asked.
"No," was the reply, but she went on, "He canceled due to a sudden illness."
*Yeah, I could just guess- it was the Lawrence Wolenczak 24 hour flu bug again.*
Hanging up, I made a quick check to see if Lucas happened to be online. After searching several of the regular chat rooms with no luck, I sent an emergency message to his stock persona. We had arranged it as a back up, if we ever had a life or death emergency.
The next couple of hours were sheer torture. Waves of nausea overtook me at irregular intervals. As a last resort, I called the house. I was glad that Lawrence didn't answer. In my current mood I would have said all the wrong things. I didn't recognize the maid who picked up the call so I decided to be vague.
"Is Lucas in?" I asked. "I'm a friend."
"Young Mr. Wolenczak is in the hospital," she said hesitantly, as if someone else was in the room with her. "He had an accident and broke his arm. He'll be in the hospital for a day or two."
*Yeah right* I thought in disbelief. Tell me another one.
"Oh, too bad," was my nonchalant response. I didn't want the other person to think I was overly concerned. "We were going to work on my computer tonight. Tell him I'll get back to him later. It's no big deal."
I disconnected the call and threw the bedside lamp at the vidscreen. It hit with a resounding crash and a spray of parts and plastic shards. It helped a little, but didn't solve anything.
"Damn it!" I screamed in rage. Now I couldn't call anyone until I got it fixed.
I would never understand why Lucas put up with that monster he had for a father. In my opinion, the mother wasn't any great prize either for ignoring it all.
At least the computer was still intact. I started looking through hospital admission records in Lucas's area. I was no where near as skilled as Lucas, but I had picked up some things over the years.
*Bingo! There it is.*
Hurriedly, I wrote down the address. It was University Medical again.
I started to pack my bag, stuffing is more like it, planning how to get there. At least I could go directly to Lucas, instead of the roundabout way I had left him.
I booked a plane ticket and rental car for when I landed. When the online reservation system said that the soonest I could get out was 10 p.m. the next night, I overrode the usual bickering by typing in that it was a family medical emergency. Wouldn't you know; they had an opening at 3 p.m. today.
I sat through the flight half numb. I knew deep down it had to be worse than a broken arm. I was afraid to find out how much worse. The nausea had stopped thankfully. But it added one more concern to my growing list. If I couldn't 'feel' him, did it mean he was better or worse?
I turned it over in my mind. Over the years I had pieced together that Lucas and I shared a weird connection. Every few months, I would feel lousy a couple of days before his monthly call, which was unusual since I so looked forward to them. Invariably it would be one of the times when I would see bruises on him. This time putting together how badly I felt and that he had been admitted to a hospital , I didn't like the conclusions I was coming to.
After the plane landed and I picked up the car, I set off.
In the parking lot, I planned on how I would get in to see him. It was after visiting hours, but I didn't care. I had to find out how badly he was hurt this time.
I had to hide the dislike I felt when I walked through the entrance doors. In four years, it hadn't changed much, but I had. Quickly, I located the public elevators. I knew that the service ones had to be located nearby. If anyone questioned my presence, I would pretend to be lost.
Getting on the service elevator, I waited until two nurses got on. When they got off and headed down a corridor, I got off too and went the other way.
They hadn't even spared me a glance. Half the trick in blending in was looking like you belonged there. I waited around a corner for the two to leave. I had guessed right, because they were no longer wearing their uniforms. Waiting a little while longer to make sure no one else was inside, I snuck in.
*Perfect* I thought as I saw they had an in-hospital laundry service hamper. Checking a little more, I found some clean scrubs tucked into a closet. I pulled out the scrubs and changed quickly. I left and went back down the hall to the elevators.
I had gotten his room number off the admission record. I just hoped they hadn't moved him. I didn't want to run into anyone in the halls if I had to go searching for Lucas.
There it was. My luck was holding. I pushed open the door. After closing it quietly behind me, I set down my backpack and turned to see how Lucas was.
I could barely suppress the noise that wanted to crawl out of my throat as a full fledged scream.
Not only was his arm broken, he was hooked up to practically every machine they had. Cords, monitors and tubes snaked like a web around his bed. Cocooned in the middle was Lucas. He was so very pale, where he wasn't bruised. The reassuring beep of the heart monitor drew me like a moth. Gently I touched it and then him to make myself believe that he was still alive.
The massive bruising on his face made me imagine all sorts of horrible things. I pulled back the sheet and gasped. I quickly cataloged the damage. Two black eyes, a split lip, the broken arm of, course, and bruising on his torso that pointed to only one thing in my mind.
*Please don't let him die.* I prayed. I couldn't stay by his side like I wanted almost more than anything to do. I was off to hunt and nothing on this earth would stop me before I was done. This couldn't go unpunished.
A low growling rumbled in my throat.
*Lawrence Wolenczak has to die!*
And this time, I would be in full control of myself.
I pulled Einstein out of my pack and tucked him gently beside Lucas. I bent down and kissed Lucas on the forehead, trying to avoid doing anymore hurt.
*Let the hunt begin.*
Morgan didn't remember the drive to the Wolenczak house. She had memorized the directions years ago. Lucas had been hesitant about telling her, but she had pressed him on the issue until he told her. It was an upper class suburban neighborhood, but there were a couple of cars parked on the street. She parked her car across the street from the front gate and formulated her attack.
The house was dark, but Morgan knew there would be security to override. Starting the car, she pulled around the block and parked in the jogging park behind the Wolenczak property.
After parking the car, Morgan got out and moved to the trunk. The cool and methodical way she moved belied the fire that burned in her eyes. Morgan had grabbed the black duffel along with the backpack on the way out of her dorm room without even realizing it. The backpack and the duffel held everything she would ever need. The backpack had held normal travel items and a change of clothes along with Einstein. The duffel was anything but normal. It especially was going to come in very handy tonight. It held a black outfit and some equipment that would be useful.
Changing her clothes first, she continued refining her plan in her mind. Lastly, she pulled on black leather gloves. Snugging them down to her fingers, Morgan reached into her bag of tricks and came out with a pair of night goggles and mask. The goggles gave everything a greenish cast. But at least she could see now; so making her way through the trees, Morgan came to the fence that marked the end of the jogging path and the beginning of the backyards for the houses. Setting the duffel down beside her, Morgan opened the zipper.
From the time she had received military training she had been preparing the duffel. As her training progressed she added more and more equipment to it. It had been packed and ready to go in the back of her closet for the past year. Something had warned her that someday it might be useful. It was filled with a variety of tools that could get her into or out of practically any situation.
Taking out the wirecutters, Morgan started snipping through the links. On this side of the property, the fence was not electrified. When she had an opening big enough, she slipped inside. Remembering to keep low to avoid being detected by the cameras, Morgan crawled around to the side of the house closest to the trees.
The side door had a dog entrance built into it. It had been installed by the interior decorator Cynthia had hired. The decorator had thought no family could be complete without a pet. Lucas had always wanted a dog, but his father was allergic to them. Fortunately for Morgan, Lawrence had never ordered the door replaced.
She was just slim enough that she could work her shoulders through the opening. Easing the rest of her body though the dog door, Morgan carefully stood up and felt for the security pad beside the kitchen light switch. Entering the code Lucas had given her during on of his calls, Morgan deactivated the alarm. Lucas had once bragged about sneaking out of the house. His father would have been angry if he had found out; so Lucas had overridden the system so it couldn't record his exit or reentry hours later.
Stealthily, she made her way up the stairs like a ghost. It was the first door on the right. Cynthia's was the first on the left. Lucas had told her that his parents had had separate rooms for as long as he could remember. Morgan didn't care one way or the other, but with just one person she knew that she could control the situation.
She floated through the house and noted that for whatever reason they would be alone to have their little talk. An evil grin bloomed on her face.
Morgan carefully opened his door just enough to squeeze through. There he was, on the bed. Sound asleep as if he had nothing in the world to worry about.
*Lucas is in the hospital and this bastard's asleep at home!* raged Morgan.
She knew that if she had a choice she would be holding Lucas's hand right now instead of hunting Lawrence down to see that justice wasn't denied once again. She couldn't allow another episode of abuse. Lucas had to be protected at all costs.
Making her way over to him, Morgan's fury at him grew with every step until it peaked as she reached his side. Looking down at him, Morgan set down her bag, reached into it and pulled out a set of handcuffs and set them on the bedside table. Morgan pulled off the goggles and set them on the table, making sure that her mask remained firmly in place. She stood silently beside the bed as her eyes adjusted to the dimness. Reaching back into the duffel, she next pulled out a knife. The wickedly sharp blade gleamed faintly even in the darkness along its edge as she drew it out of the sheath.
Holding it to his throat, Morgan leaned in closer. The urge to flick her wrist and end Lucas's torment was almost overwhelming. With great force of will, Morgan stayed her hand. She wouldn't kill him in his sleep. That would be too easy. She wanted to know why he had done what he had.
"Wake up, Lawrence," Morgan hissed in his ear.
Her other hand slammed down to cover his mouth. His eyes flashed open and he started to struggle. Confusion and disorientation were obvious in his eyes. He hadn't realized the danger he was in, but self preservation instincts made him fight her. Not moving either of her hands, the one with the knife or the one covering his mouth, made the next maneuver difficult but not impossible. Morgan threw on of her legs over his bucking hips and straddled him, thereby trapping him with her legs.
Done right this could hold anyone no matter what the size of the opponent. However, too many people either settled too high and left the legs free to kick or too low and the person would raise up and throw off the attack. The advantage was the leverage was even better from this angle to press the knife to his throat.
Lawrence couldn't see who was attacking him. The moonlight shone through the french doors, but the figure was dressed all in black and masked. He couldn't even make out the identity of the guy holding him down.
Slowly, Lawrence stopped struggling as he realized that his attacker held a knife on him. The cold razor edge had bitten into his neck. It had sliced in during his struggles and a thin line of blood was welling up over the blade. He could feel the warm wet promise of blood slide down his neck to pool on the pillow.
"Now look what you've made me do," Morgan growled lowly at him. "Promise not to struggle and I'll let you talk." At his slight nod, Morgan removed her hand from his mouth. The knife at his throat didn't move at all.
"The money is in the safe. Just don't hurt me." *Probably just a burglar* he gambled. Money could buy anything in his experience.
"I don't want your blood money. I want answers." Morgan bit out angrily.
"Anything. Jut let me go," he bargained. Thinking the intruder had been sent by a competitor sent in an attempt to commit industrial espionage, the next question threw him for a loop.
"Why did you hurt Lucas?" she asked.
Clearly female now, the higher tones were not muffled to Lawrence's ears. *A woman?!* thought Lawrence.
Struggling earnestly and bucking his hips strongly, he was surprised when he couldn't throw her off. Lawrence wanted to reach up and strangle her but the implacable way she held the knife gave him pause. The frigid tones she spoke in as she held him down had scared Lawrence at first, but he arrogantly assumed that he could outsmart and overpower any female. Grimly he began to realize that his struggles were in vain. His intruder, female though she be, had him well and truly pinned. Realizing that he was helpless, Lawrence began to know true fear.
*Who was she and what did she want?* This and other questions started forming in Lawrence's mind.
"Lucas?" he asked a little shakily. Puzzlement clear in his voice. *Keep her talking* was the most prominent thought he had right now.
"Yes, your son, remember?" Her voice returned to an angry low growl.
"It's none of your business." He responded in an angry hiss.
Lawrence was convinced that he was in the right. She could hear it in his voice. Needing to see his face and especially his eyes, Morgan turned on the bedside lamp with her free hand. Both of them were momentarily blinded as their eyes dilated with the sudden light.
"There is no one in the house." Morgan stated.
"No" he answered. Right away he could see that was the worse response he could have given. The speculative gleam in her eyes warned him that what was going to happen next would not be pleasant.