Diana Racine 02 - Goddess of the Moon

Mountain Man about Diana , and the man assured Lucier in monosyllables that she was fine. The answer didn’t assuage the terror of remembering his last image of her, bound and unconscious.
    Think, Ernie . He needed to find a way out and fast. One possibility kept cropping up, but he d oubted this guy would fall for it. Maybe he was all brawn and no brain. With nothing to lose, Lucier made up his mind to try after dinner . Otherwise, he was a dead man.
    To give him self an extra advantage, after the midday meal he launched into a serious set of push-ups and stretches. Gotta get back in shape .
    * * * * *
    M aia put her faith in Cal as they raced through the woods toward Anat’s building. She hear d the rapids , fe lt a fine mist in the air that turned her shirt into a soggy rag pasted to her skin. Cal thrust out his arm to slow her down when their destination emerged from the e erie shadow of trees.
    Cal pointed skyward to the small black box high on a pole topped by a solar-generated light. “There’s a camera aimed on the front door . ”
    “ H ow do we get inside?”
    “ A door in back. Stay here for a minute while I make sure the area’s clear.”
    “But ― ”
    Cal disappeared. What were they doing? Even with Anat free, her plan depended on Seth, and Seth would surely fight what they needed him to do. Escap ing from the compound, surrounded by mountains, woods, and rough-rapid waters would be impossible without him. No one walked out of there.
    Cal stuck his head around the side of the building and crooked his finger for her to come . She followed his path to a narrow service door.
    “We gotta make this fast ,” he whispered. He slipped the master key into the lock. It didn’t work.
    “Damn . They’ve even separated her by keys.”
    “I thought you visited.”
    “I do, but I have to get clearance . Anat and I eat together, spend some time, then I leave.” Cal shrugged. “They’re scared of her. Think she’s plotting something, which of course she is .”
    The thought that her father and Phillip were afraid of Anat made her smile . They’d come this far and were in too deep. No stopping now .
    Cal proceeded to try one key after the other until he found one that worked . They enter ed and climbed the four flights to Anat’s aerie. When Cal opened the door , Anat ran to him and flung her arms around him. They kissed.
    “Okay,” Maia said, looking at Anat and Cal. “Now I’m totally confused. I thought ― ”
    “I couldn’t tell you,” Anat said. “I wanted to, but I didn’t know if I could trust you .”
    “Explanations later,” Cal said. “We’ve got to get out of here. Give me the sling, Anat. I’ll carry Chloe.”
    Anat picked up the sleeping child , and Cal arranged the sling on his chest. The baby didn’t wake. T hey hustled out the door. Maia now believed Chloe was indeed Cal’s daughter, but she didn’t ask. Too many questions begged answers, and she hoped to live long enough to get them.
    “Where’s Diana Racine?” Maia asked as they hurried do wn the stairs to the back door.
    When they got outside, Cal locked the door behind them. “She’s in the visitor’s quarters , receiving the royal treatment. Phillip uses the suite when he’s tempting someone he regards deserving of our great order. The suite is newer and even more plush than his.”
    “ Where’s the cop?”
    “ I n one of the out-cabins . They’re secluded and soundproof.” He held everyone back. “Wait. Let me look around .”
    “Are they the cluster of buildings on the other side, in the woods?” Maia asked Anat.
    “Yes. Cal and I have both been guests there,” Anat said. “ Lovely place .”
    “Why?” Maia asked .
    Cal returned and put his hand on Maia’s shoulder . “ Later, when we have more time. ”
    “Bottom line is their conversion didn’t work,” Anat said. ” T hey gave up on the both of us.”
    “ Later, ladies. Time is important, and we don’t have much. The cabin is far . Are you up to making the trip , Anat ?”
    She nodded.
    “What about me?”
    “ Anat and I have had this plan for a while, but we needed Seth, and you were the only one who could persuade him to go along with us.”
    “I haven’t persuaded him , Cal. I drugged him. What makes you think he’ll do what you want because I ask him?”
    “ I’m an optimist. I can’t think otherwise. The kidnapping of the babies and the two outsiders make stopping this debacle necessary . Even to Seth. It also puts a