The Turner Chronicles Box Set Edition by Mark Eller

Author:Mark Eller
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: White Wolf Press, LLC
Published: 2014-04-17T23:00:00+00:00

* * *

"Is this the place?"

Celine looked through the warehouse window and studied the building across the street. Frowning, she shook her head. "I don't know."

"Well, there are four others," Aaron reassured her. "I'll take you to them once this is over."

"If you two would quiet down a mite, we could get on with this business," Larns said. She looked animated, her face alight and grim with purpose.

Twenty troops surrounded Aaron. Only half were IFBIS; the other ten were N'Ark Guards who had been pulled secretly from the ranks early that morning. Almost all were older veterans of the streets. The only exception was one young woman who wore the uniform of a trainee. She seemed out of place in this crew, but her face showed no less determination. Sergeant Walker, the trainee's shepherd, looked grimmer than the others. The pair seemed thoroughly disappointed that they had been given the task of watching over the two civilians.

"Five children lived," the young trainee said to Celine. "One died."

"And the others?" Celine asked. She stared at the woman with an intensity that told Aaron she was using her Talent to discern lies.

"They all have homes. Makky is apprenticed to a locksmith." The trainee smiled momentarily, the only smile Aaron had seen all morning. "I'm not sure if that apprenticeship is such a good idea for a thief."

"Thank you." Celine's expression relaxed.

"It's noon by my watch," Larns said. "Every house is scheduled to be hit sometime in the next thirty minutes. Our go is ten minutes from now, so everyone get to your positions."

With grim nods, three-quarters of the troops slowly filtered out of the warehouse but did not head directly across the street. Some turned left, some right, some went into the playground. Within seven minutes they would cover three sides of the house. Three minutes after that the troops left inside the warehouse would head directly for the front door.

The wait was interminable. Aaron sweated and touched his .38. He was not the only one having problems. Even Larns seemed impatient and nervous and anxious. She tapped her foot during the entire ten minutes. The corner of her mouth twitched, but her eyes grew harder as she peered out the window.

Finally, she gave a curt nod, then swung open the door and headed out. Five troops and Aaron and Celine followed. The mood was grim satisfaction.

"Remember," Larns admonished, "make it fast. The fewer children harmed, the better."

The front door was locked. Aaron's key did not work, so they simply knocked.

They waited, toes tapping impatiently on the walkway until the door slowly cracked. Aaron briefly saw a taut safety chain stretch between the door and the frame. "Yes?" a thin female voice asked. "Can I help--?"

Crowley kicked in the door. Wood splintered; the woman screamed, and people streamed through the opening. Aaron was almost last, so he missed the action, but he did see Crowley kneeling on the floor, placing handcuffs on a fifty-something woman.

Crowley glanced up at Aaron. "Always wanted to kick a door in.

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