Revelation and Reckoning - 8

"I don't have to testify," Cody said, voice quavering despite her best efforts to hold it steady. "If you let us go, I promise I won't." She meant it, much as it galled her to admit so. It went against every instinct she had to let people like these get away with their crimes, but...just then Bryn's survival - and her own - outweighed more noble sentiments. After all, what good were they if her brother was dead?

The man chuckled almost admiringly, then sighed and said, "Actually, my dear...you do. If you were to just suddenly refuse to speak at the trial, that would be a fairly blatant sign that you had been coerced. Anyone who knows you would be able to tell that in an instant. No... We need you to testify, but not to the actual truth of what occurred. You are going into that courtroom, but you will say that the men on trial were not the ones who broke into your home on that unfortunate day. You 'were mistaken' before...over-wrought after your ordeal. You were confused and traumatized when you picked them out of the lineup. And you will be convincing. The case will be thrown out, and we all get what we want."

"And if she refuses?" Bryn asked into the little silence after the villain's condescending explanation, the young man's voice low and challenging.

The criminal mastermind sighed again, the sound full of weary resignation the twins almost half-believed he truly felt. He intoned ominously, but rather matter-of-factly, "Then there are more...permanent ways to ensure that the facts don't come to light in this case. Silence is not as preferable as a conveniently-sculpted story in this kind of situation, but it will serve if no other options are available to us. While your abrupt disappearance would open up a whole new set of questions and problems for our Organization, having to deal with suspicions and innuendo is infinitely preferable to having to fend off even one indisputable charge. I had truly hoped our efforts during this incident would have convinced you of the seriousness of our demands - and the inescapability of our resources and wrath - but now...I can't be sure that even if she accepts and goes through with our 'request', it will suffice. While your sister seems to have some common sense, you my boy...do not. So it may all be academic in the final analysis. Whether she agrees to do as we ask or not, the bigger question may be: Will you go along? Or do we just get rid of you both now and be certain?"

Cody interjected quickly then, before Bryn could answer. She could tell by the steely glint in his eye what he was about to say. And she didn't blame him; in his place she'd have done the same. But it was she on whom this whole deadly business hinged, it was her responsibility to get them out of this alive, and so she moved quickly to save her too-brave brother from himself. "No, wait... I'll do what you want. And so will he. He won't interfere, or tell anybody about any of this." Bryn stared white-hot daggers at her, but she pointedly didn't meet his gaze, continuing to look at the "boss" as if she didn't notice Bryn's reaction. To his credit, her brother kept his mouth shut, though that may have been as much because of the way his jaw clenched and ground as anything else.

The man looked down at her appraisingly, openly trying to weigh the truth in her words. He seemed satisfied that she was on the level - and Cody herself actually thought she was as well, hard as it was to accept - but a glimmer of doubt still flickered in his eyes. He folded his hands behind his back and asked evenly, "Your 'Uncle' Brandon is going to be away for at least a week, correct?"

"Yes," she said warily, a little warning tingle going down her spine. The savvy young catgirl already didn't like where this was going...

"And the trial is in four days?"

"Yes," she repeated, voice a little softer this time. She knew their uncle had wanted to be there for the court proceedings, to lend his support, aid, and - if for some it reason proved necessary - protection. But Cody had told him to go ahead with the trip anyhow - had insisted that he do, in fact - and in the end had won out. After all, the firm had been working toward this contract for almost two years, and if he didn't go on the trip everything would fall through. Besides, the bad guys were already in jail, so what could possibly have happened? The irony and her own naievete stung like fire, now...

The criminal mastermind glanced meaningfully over at the steaming Bryn, then back at Cody. She felt an icy stone drop into her gut, and could already hear the words the "boss" was about to say a half-second before they left his mouth. "Here is how we're going to do this, my dear. In order to insure your...sincerity...and good faith in this matter, we are going to hold onto your dear brother. Provided you do as instructed, he will be released unharmed, after the deed is done. In the meantime, you are to go about your business as if nothing is wrong, and if anyone asks, you are to tell them that Bryndan is away or staying with friends somewhere out of town. If we get the faintest inkling that you have tried to enlist help or have gone to the authorities on this matter, your brother's body will never be found. Do I make myself clear?"

Cody's heart was rolling thunder in her ears, and fresh tears stung her eyes. The mere thought of leaving Bryn in the hands of these fiends was almost more than she could bear. For even a second. But four-plus days! That thought was more than she could bear. And what if they didn't let him go? Or if he made too much trouble for them during his captivity? After all, four days was a long time to ask anyone to meekly accept being held prisoner - and for Bryn, she knew it would be a virtual impossibility.

"I am waiting for an answer, my dear", the sinister mastermind intoned icily, eyes flat and glittering, as cold and unforgiving as diamonds...


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On to "Revelation and Reckoning", pt 9