Chills & Thrills: Three Novel Box Set by A. K. Alexander Page A

there’s something very big going on.”
    “But, I mean...c’mon,” said Noah. “Other dimensions? Multiverses? Parallel universes? Did we just step into an H.G. Wells novel?”
    I wanted to laugh. In fact, under any other circumstances, I might have laughed. Instead, I bit my lip and thought of Hope. My sister? Jesus...
    “Remember,” said Ayden. “There are many skeptics who scoff at what we do. ‘There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.’”
    “We all love Hamlet ,” said Noah, “but I hardly think he was talking about multiverses and time travel and the eradication of all known—and unknown—life.”
    “We need to find Orlenda,” I said, dismissing them both. They could bicker with each other for hours, time we didn’t have. “What do we have on her?”
    “Moves around a lot,” said Noah. “Officially, last known in Paris.”
    “And unofficially?”
    “Only what I saw,” said Ayden. “She’s in a hotel or palace of some sort. An ornate one, at that.”
    “That rules out only about half of Morocco,” said Noah. “Which is why I have my wife and her team combing through our contacts—”
    “Your wife?” I said, looking up sharply. “I thought we were keeping this in-house.”
    “Hell, I thought we were keeping this between the three of us!” said Ayden.
    “She’s my wife, you guys. She also works for us. She’s taken the same oaths as we have.”
    “I don’t like it,” said Ayden.
    I knew the feeling. I instantly felt sick to my stomach as well. Always trust the gut, my father would tell me...a message that Simms reiterated from day one. All we had was our guts, our instincts.
    “I’m trying not to take offense at your words—” began Noah, making a move to stand.
    “Down boys,” I said. “We did agree to keep this between us, but now that the cat is out of the bag, there’s nothing we can do but move forward. Noah, we’re not saying anything against your wife, so please quit being so goddamn sensitive.”
    He took in some air, held it, then nodded. “You’re right. I should have talked to you guys about it first.”
    “Well, get on with it, man,” said Ayden. “What did she say?”
    “We have an agent here—”
    “CIA?” asked Ayden.
    Noah nodded. “Yeah, one of her own people. And he knows where to find Orlenda.”
    “Then let’s go,” I said.
    Noah nodded grimly, looked at us, then got up and headed off. I was about to follow when Ayden pulled me aside. “I don’t like this.”
    “I don’t either,” I said.
    “Mighty convenient that his wife has an agent here, who knows how to find Orlenda.”
    “The Lord works in mysterious ways,” I said.
    “Don’t be flippant, Ky. We could be walking into a trap.”
    “Have you seen anything?” I asked.
    “No, not yet.”
    “Until then, let’s move out...and keep our eyes and ears and minds open.”
     
     
     
    Chapter Twenty-four
     
     
    Noah made the meet with the agent and, like Ayden, I wasn’t feeling too good about it. Something wasn’t right.
    As dusk descended upon the sea and the glitzy town, the night had turned to an inky blue. The reflection of the moon on the water gave way to an eerie glow. In other circumstances, I may have thought that glow peaceful. I liked moonlight just as well as any other girl did, but I knew with every passing second we could be losing Hope. I meant that in not only the most literal of meanings, but obviously the little girl as well.
    Ayden stood on deck where I knew he was keeping watch. We were both waiting for a signal from Noah as to where we needed to go and what was to be done. In the meantime, as a subtle current lapped gently against the sides of the sailboat, I tried once again to make a connection with Hope. Maybe if I could “hear” her or her surroundings, I would have a better idea as to where to find her.
    I leaned my head against the wall and breathed myself into the deepest meditation that I could.