24 : Read Between the Lines

Evelyn held both hands to her chest. Rose swallowed hard as tears started to form in her mother's eyes. All her life, she'd never seen her mother cry. She could still see the stoney, unfeeling look she had when her father passed away. How she'd been shocked when within a week, it seemed the world had lifted from her shoulders. That was when she'd finally become like a mom to Rose. Her smiles came more frequently, and they acted more like a family.

That this was the moment that would break that fierceness she'd always carried. It was Anna who finally broke the silence that enclosed them. "MIL - Full of Secrets, please, place your hand on the pad to be scanned."

Evelyn wiped at her unshed tears, blinking them away before a single one could fall. "I'm going to try this one more time before you send me away completely. But, also know, if we all walk away from the events of tomorrow night, I may be able to provide you that hand scan and answers to your questions. Once again, Machias Venderbend Cheshire is my grandson. And there are very dangerous shifters watching how all this goes down." Her hands fell to her sides and she kept her eyes locked on Henry. knowing he was the only one who could actually send her away.

"The Vanderbend files are encrypted. No access allowed without proper clearance." Anna announced. Her screen blinking red. "Calling the Bosses in 60 seconds if request to terminate or protocol access is allowed. Forbidden file count down begins now."

"Everyone get out. NOW." Henry commanded, reaching over to the computer to type something in while reaching for the phone.

Evelyn was shaking as Rose grabbed both Kai and her pulling them toward the door.

***

Henry watched Rose jump into action the moment he asked. She was pulling them out the door almost before he asked.

Henry didn't have time to ask questions. Instead, he gave Anna his ultimate password, the clock stopped counting down and she went into think mode. A moment later, the count resumed. Fumbling for the phone, Henry felt panic bubble in his blood. He'd not been this unpreppared for a call ever in his career.

He immediately dialed his superior. "Hello, Henry! I wasn't expecting-"

"The passcode for the Vanderbend files. Now." He left no time for questions. "I have 20 seconds left to stop this count down. Evelyn Vanderbend is currently in my house."

"What the fuck did you--"

"Boss... NOW." Henry huffed. He didn't have the time.

"Anansi, Capitol Alpha, 1962 verbatim, 201f, capitol Alpha,2036. Stay on the line Captain." Henry had the prompts entered with three seconds to spare.

Anna's voice chiming over the speakers was a god send, "File access allowed." Henry collapsed back in his chair as the file opened. This was the first time he'd ever needed to call his super for a password.

"What the fuck have you gotten yourself into while on leave, Captain?" His Boss's excitement when he first called disipated into anger. Henry had never been in a position where he had done something stupid or wrong, but he was definitely feeling it now.

What had he just asked for? "My apologies, Boss." Henry could only rub his arm. Everything still hurt. "I knew my mate’s mother had secrets, but... I had no idea it went that deep."

"Their names." Not a question.

"Rose Cheshire, my mate, who may be rouge. Evely Cheshire who wouldn't scan her prints, Rose's mother, and Macias Vanderbend Cheshire, who is coming of age tomorrow; her son..." He continued on telling his boss the whole story. Henry already knew he needed help. That's why he'd called his team. For the first time ever, he was truly afraid of what was about to happen. After the explentation he ended with, “But the moment she said his full name while we were in the Home Office, Anna went nuts. That’s when I had to call you. Can you tell me what this is all about?”

“No. And you would do well not to ask questions.” Gary had never been so short with him.

“Listen,” Henry stappled his hands over his mouth, “Kia, otherwise known as Machias, is a shifter who is going to turn 16 tomorrow night. We were attacked last night too. I need to know what I’m up against. I think the attack will be worse tonight, the night of his birthday. Boss, I’m going to need all the help I can get.” Henry looked up at the screen to see his boss, shoot out of his chair.

“You’re fucking kidding me.” He said, starting to pace, scratching his head. “This file has been locked since I started office. No one knows the full history. But Machias Vanderbend is the Alpha of Alphas. Like, King of Europe kinda shit.”

Henry barked out a laugh, “No way. I’ve seen the way Evelyn and Rose are living. I find it hard to believe her Grandfather is anything that special.”

“The family was caught doing some really shady shit, from what I can remember. Then they disappeared. Unfortunately, we’ve been looking for them since. They were doing research on shifters and killed a lot of them. Unforgivable things. We believe they’re still going, but we’ve not been able to prove it. They’re believed to be a huge contribution to the dark web as well.” He leaned forward conspiratorially, “You have to tell us everything you know, and everything you learn. I’ll start by sending more help. It will take a while to collect enough people, but if you think they’re going to be around your area because the grandkid is of shifting age, we need to… see what we can learn from them. I’m logging into Anna, and will be watching everything.”

“There’s nothing to tell. I don’t actually know anything about the Vanderbends. Just Rose, and even that is limited, as we’ve only dated a few days. But she and Kia are just as clueless about all this.”

“You think they’re clueless. They very likely know more than you think and are afraid to talk.”

Henry shook his head. “No. I don’t think so.” He knew she was clueless, he was the one who saw the fear and confusion in her eyes. He could FEEL it. “I don’t believe for a moment that Rose or Kai know anything. I’ve been around them enough and talked to them enough over the years to be able to say that. Besides, like I said, we're mated. I can feel her fear and confusion.” That didn’t ease any of the terror that had crept into Henry at all.

“Henry, listen to me. That family is a set up. Either get out while you can, or get me all the information that you can. This is a ghost family with a huge reason to want to stay that way. The fact you’ve only interacted with that girl for a few days tells me that there would be no reason for her to trust you enough to let you into her own secret life. Mate or not. Not these people.” From there, Gary started to talk more and more about what the possibilities could be of the Vanderbend family. Things they were believed to do, and in great detail. Vanderbend was worse than Dr. Frankenstein mixed with Hitler. It was believed that this mixture was what made the Nightmares in the first place, and others that would have been worse, but were never unleashed.

The only thing Henry walked out of that room knowing for sure was that he absolutely, could not provide Evelyn access to the Home Office. He was starting to question if he could trust Rose and Kai as well, and that, hurt more than anything else. He…. Just needed to know for sure.

***

“What the hell was all that?” Rose demanded outside the room. Evelyn headed downstairs and to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, she pulled out a beer and cracked it, drinking it all in one shot. “You’re being ridiculous. It’s *6 o’clock in the morning* you need to start talking because I’m not willing to go out there.”

She was so tired. She sunk down on to one of the bar stools.

“I wonder how much they know. Because I’m pretty sure Henry is going to walk out knowing more about my family and history than I do, mom.” Rose hugged her arms to her chest and Kai was there to rest an arm across her shoulders.

Evelyn took a deep breath before answering, “Just so you know, they’re going to want to kill me.” Her eyes were glassy orbs as they stared ahead. “I just hope I’m not the reason they’re doing this to you.”

The silence drew on, “Well, sounds like we’re about to learn more than any of us knew.” Kai deadpanned.

A grunt echoed from up the stairs, so Rose ran over to see Henry making his way back down to them. “Henry?” She asked, hesitantly. There was a darkness, an anger, that reminded her of her father’s features when he was drunk and angry.

“I need you and Kai to stay up stairs with me.” His eyes went to Evelyn. “I don’t know how you fit into what I just heard, but I can’t risk letting you stay here. At least not freely. I’m going to give you a choice. You can leave, today, while it’s still safe, or I can put you in the prison I have downstairs. However, I can’t promise your safety in there should we be over run. Ultimately, I want to believe you mean to do well by your daughter and grandson. But I can’t trust your alpha or the chance that he may try to get to them through you. Considering how dangerous your clan is, I assume you understand what I’m saying.”

Evelyn looked away, nodding. “I understand.” She went to Rose, opening her arms. “The one thing I can say is that your side is the only one I’ve ever wanted to be on. Even if they can still control me.” Rose embraced her back hugging her close. “I don’t want them to use me to get to you. I’ll go into the basement. I don’t care if anything happens to me.” Releasing Rose, she went to Henry, placing her hand on his should. “I wasn’t lying yesterday when I said I hoped you could read between the lines. You’ve done well so far. I’m counting on you to protect and save my daughter. Just as your father did so many years ago.”

“Did he know? Did he find out what you guys were?” Henry had to ask. Looking back at how this all transpired and how close they had been for those few sweet years, made him think his father may have had at least half a clue.

“I earned the ire of my entire clan that year. But my daughter was never beaten again. But, was it worth it? Is this all happening now because of those choices? Because I dared to think I could go against my alpha?” She didn’t answer the question, but Henry was sure he understood the context. That was the year she half exposed her family. She must have confided in his father about some of what they were doing to Rose. And Harry Mason was not the kind of man to allow that to happen. The question left him wondering, how much did his father know? The implications started to stir in his mind, and he didn't like them.

Henry placed a hand on her shoulder, “Why not just deny him? You could join me right now. Come be part of my clan.”

“My loyalty has already shifted. But I’m not strong enough to severe and be free until they prove themselves. My only option is to continue waiting.”

Henry nodded, opening the basement door and waiving Evelyn in.