Available Darkness Season 2

had to get answers, now.
    They arrived just after 10 p.m., and John and Tiny waited outside the van, parked just outside Cromwell’s posh riverfront estate. The van, a white utility vehicle with a magnet on the side displaying the local cable company’s logo, didn’t seem like it would draw the sort of attention that might prompt a phone call to the police. The pair were waiting on Larry, who was tapping away at his computer in the back of the van, accessing a backdoor into Cromwell’s security system so they could control it remotely.
    “OK, everything’s good to go,” Larry said over their headsets. “Head on in and make yourselves at home. I’ll keep an eye out here to make sure no one surprises you.”
    John and Tiny casually approached the house as if they were meant to be there on a routine service call, just in case anyone was watching on closed-circuit camera or otherwise.
    They stopped at the front door. Tiny held a pistol. John had no weapon other than his left hand ungloved.
    “Can you sense him?” Tiny asked. “Feels like he’s upstairs, sleeping. Someone’s with him.”
    “Yeah, his wife, I’m guessing,” John said. “They’re both asleep.”
    John waved his hands over the lock, moving the pins and chamber with his mind, then turned the knob and opened the door.
    They crept inside, closing the door softly behind them but leaving it unlocked. The house was beautiful and sprawling, with high ceilings and thick moldings. It looked to John more like a model home used to sell others, than one where anyone actually lived. They quietly made their way through the front of the museum, then slowly up the stairs to Cromwell’s room.
    They stared at the bed, Cromwell was on the right side, sleeping on his stomach. His wife was on the left, on her side, facing the window. John nodded at Tiny to do as planned — aim the gun not at Cromwell, but at his wife instead.
    John leaned over, slid his gloved hand over Cromwell’s mouth and whispered, “Wake up.”
    Cromwell’s eyes shot open and bugged with surprise.
    John turned to acknowledge Tiny standing over Cromwell’s still sleeping wife. John whispered, “Make a peep, and he blows her brains all over your sheets. Nod yes if you understand.”
    Cromwell looked over nervously at Tiny and then back at John and nodded.
    “Good, now get up.”
    Cromwell obeyed, slipping out of bed, dressed in boxers, a white T-shirt, and a pair of red and brown argyle socks. John pointed toward the doorway. “Go.”
    Cromwell stepped out of his bedroom and into the hallway, then turned back to John in the darkness. “What do you want?”
    “Just wanna talk,” John said. “Got a place we won’t disturb the Misses?”
    “My study,” Cromwell said, then led John to the end of the hall.
    As they stepped into his office, Cromwell turned to John. With an authoritative voice that harbored no fear, he said, “If anything happens to my wife, I will kill you.”
    “Nothing happens if you answer my questions,” John said, matter-of-factly.
    “What?” Cromwell asked, not bothering to turn on a light or take a seat. “Tell me what you want.”
    “I need to find Hope. She’s in danger. Jacob is searching for her. If he finds her, she’s dead.” John didn’t bother explaining that Hope was a vessel. If Omega knew of the vessels then they would kill her themselves, just to keep Jacob from getting the crystal. And if Duncan knew of the vessels, it was possible that someone in Omega did, too.
    Cromwell asked, “Why is Jacob looking for her?”
    “He wants to get to me, I guess,” John lied. “But the why isn’t important. What matters is that Hope’s life is in danger, and I highly doubt you all can keep her safe.”
    “We’re not handing her over, John. Not to you or anyone else until every last member of Harbinger, and that includes Jacob, is dead. That’s the deal you signed on for.”
    “I’m not giving you a choice,” John said. “Duncan Alderman is dead, and Jacob is winning his war. Hope will not become collateral damage. Where is she?”
    “Alderman is dead? What?”
    “Tonight,” John said. “Jacob’s men killed him. Now tell me where Hope is.”
    “She’s safe. That’s all you need to know.”
    John stepped toward Bob. Through clenched teeth he said, “Don’t make me find out the hard way. You won’t like it.”
    Cromwell had balled fists and narrowed eyes. He wanted to punch John, and probably would have if it weren’t for the