The Rising (Darkness Rising 3)

"I am not riding with a killer." Hayley's voice traveled to us. "Shouldn't she have her own van? With padded walls?"

"We'll switch," the guard said quickly. "Come on."

Annie leaned in before she left. "I'll see you soon," she said to Rafe. Then to me, "Take care of him."

"I will."

It turned out we had a doctor, too. While Dr. Wiley went in the second van, we got Dr. Inglis. Other than the driver, she was our only guard. Well, the only one in the vehicle, that is. Another car swung out in front of us and I was sure it was full of big guys with guns. The second van pulled in behind, followed by another car of guards.

Rafe was studying the situation, too, and not looking very happy about it. Hayley just curled up in her seat, legs pulled under her, eyes closed. Great. She wasn't going to be any help at all. I tried prodding her awake, but she only grumbled sleepily and pushed me away.

Rafe rolled his eyes, then discreetly gestured at the cars in front and behind. Even if Hayley was awake--or had some defensive power--it didn't look as if we were going to get a chance to escape. Was this really Antone's grand opportunity? If so, he'd given me far too much credit for ingenuity.

"Are the Cortezes another Cabal?" I asked Dr. Inglis.

"Yes, they're one of the four North American Cabals. There are the St. Clouds and the Nasts, then the Cortezes and the Boyds. The Boyds are the smallest."

"But the Nasts are the biggest, right? So why the emergency evacuation?"

"While the Nasts are a larger organization, the Cortezes are widely considered--" She glanced at the driver and cleared her throat. "Some people consider them the most powerful. I wouldn't agree, but for both size and power, they come close enough to present a serious threat."

"And someone tipped off the Nasts that the Cortezes are launching a . . . a what? An attack? A mass kidnapping?"

"We aren't sure what they have in mind, but it seemed wise to move you temporarily. While I'm sure we could handle the Cortezes, we certainly don't want you kids caught in supernatural cross fire."

"So the attack is supposed to come tonight?" I said.

"Oh, no. The information was simply that the Cortezes have discovered the existence of the project and the location of the house. It would take them at least a day to mobilize. They're based in Miami."

The driver murmured, "But they have a Seattle office."

Dr. Inglis looked over sharply. "Do they? Well, it would just be a satellite office, ill-equipped for an operation of this size, and certainly none of the staff would have the authority to lead the incursion."

"Lucas Cortez lives in Portland." The driver shot a meaningful look Dr. Inglis's way. "He is Benicio's heir."

She fluttered her hands. "Everyone knows that's just posturing. Benicio would never turn over the Cabal to Lucas. Not when he does all that"--another disdainful flutter--"anti-Cabal crusading nonsense."

"Maybe it's just Lucas, then," the driver said. "He's found out about this and decided to get involved. Save the kids." His tone was sharp with sarcasm.

"He doesn't have the means to pull this off. Idealism is all well and fine, but it doesn't buy proper staff and equipment." She cast a glance out the window, and in her reflection I could see anxiety as she scanned the night. "No, I'm sure he couldn't do this."

Rafe looked at me and lifted his brows. He mouthed "Maybe . . ." I agreed and mentally filed the information.

I looked out my window. We were almost off the mountain now, in a densely populated neighborhood near the bottom. Lots of houses, mostly dark, the road quiet.

"Where are we being--?" I began.

The squawk of a radio cut me off. The driver answered.

"We're being followed," said the woman on the other end. "Could be nothing. I'm dispatching a backup car to handle it, but you need to follow protocol."

The driver said he'd do that. He'd barely hung up when the lead car made a sudden, unsignaled left turn, tires screeching slightly. We followed. The van behind us didn't.

"Splitting up?" Rafe said.

Neither Dr. Inglis nor the driver answered. He kept both hands on the wheel, gaze straight forward. She watched out the side window. After a minute she said, "There. The next street over. An SUV with its lights off is on a parallel course with us. I've seen them down three side streets now."

As we passed the next intersection, the driver looked. So did I. There it was--a dark, unlit SUV a short block over.