Storm Chaser: Chapter 35

Running a day late, v

Chapter 35

After Benjamin left Elena took out one of the note cards she routinely used for thank you notes. She wrote a short message to Peter, thanking him for the gift and explaining that she could not accept it. She placed the note with the box and felt extremely relieved when the messenger picked it up. She busied herself the rest of the day with routine tasks and by the time she made her way home felt confident that both Calabrese Imports and Nibbles would survive and even thrive in her absence.

“Thank god for that,” she muttered to herself as she climbed the stairs. She was more than ready to get underway. She had a Christmas Eve feeling in her belly and recognized it as the same sort of giddiness Mateo showed the closer he got to trying out one of his new toys. She was just as eager to road test her new abilities. She knew she could open the new channel but with the recordings she could find out if her dreams were true representations of what they would find on the other side. She grinned as she unlocked her door. Her grin froze when she saw the box she had returned to Peter sitting in the center of her living room floor. Her note was gone but another was tucked under the elastic ribbon. She bent and retrieved the note. It had the Baranov crest emblazoned on the envelope. She slit the envelope open and pulled out the card.

“Keep it,” she read. “Trust me. Peter.” Elena sighed, picked up the box and carried it to the closet in her spare bedroom. She placed the box in the closet and closed the door. She then went to the kitchen and poured herself the remaining glass of wine from the bottle in her fridge.

“I am definitely going to have to talk to Kiera about those locks.” Elena spent the rest of the evening crunching numbers. Due to construction and basic start up costs Nibbles was still in the red but as those were one time fees she estimated the red would fade to black in very little time if things maintained their present course. She went to bed feeling relieved and tumbled into the same dream as the night before. Every detail was the same, from dancing with Andre, to the necklace, to the deepening of the channel. She woke in a sweat from the exertion, still unable to hear the voice from the radio and still unsure of her cargo. Again her first thought on waking was of Kiera’s garden. Elena ran a hand across her throat, relieved not to find a necklace there.

“Apparently I am going crazy into the bargain,” she muttered after recording the dream in her journal. She glanced out of her bedroom window, pleased to see that the icy rain had stopped and the sun was peeking through.

Today she had no choice but to drive. Mateo was renting a van to take equipment to the Storm Chaser for installation. She would be driving down in her car separately for security reasons. She pulled on a pair of faded jeans, a thick sweater and heavy wool socks. She laced her boots over the socks and covered the whole outfit with a jacket. She headed out to her car. It was still early enough that the sky was still a luminescent gray but knowing her cousin he had probably left when that gray was still hugging the horizon.

“Unfortunately he doesn’t have the pass code to get into the warehouse,” She said as she warmed up the car’s engine. She eased the car out of the garage and headed for the docks. About halfway to Grant’s Inlet her cell phone rang. She smiled as she recognized the number and pressed the talk button.

“So how long have you been waiting at the docks?” she asked.

“For your information I am not at the docks,” Mateo told her.

“Really?” Elena said. “I thought you’d be all fired up to get going.”

“I am. I’m just not at the docks.”

“So where are you?” Elena envisioned everything from a flat tire to a military seizure of equipment.

“I am at Dockside Annie’s,” Mateo informed her.

“And that would be where exactly?”

“It is the restaurant Consuelo McCracken opened.”

“So you got tired of waiting and went to get breakfast,” Elena guessed with a laugh.

“Something like that,” Mateo confessed. “I didn’t think picking the lock would be a very good plan with all that security down there.”

“Security isn’t that bad,” Elena said.

“Maybe not last time you were here but it is pretty hopping now,” he told her. “In addition to the many visitors in town for the grand opening several of your newly acquired pilots are setting up their home berths. Lots of activity down here.”

“I’m about an hour out,” she told him. “Just have another cup of coffee and I’ll meet you at the restaurant.”

“Will do,” he said. He hung up and Elena sighed. Apparently the new pilots for her area were moving in before the visitors had a chance to leave. She had the feeling hopping was a bit of an understatement. Luckily all of them had plenty of experience at not drawing attention to themselves and they were well aware of the military presence. Since Smith knew what port was being used she had the feeling someone was watching it.

“Even he isn’t that incompetent,” she muttered as she took the necessary left turn. Somehow she had a feeling that a quiet day spent helping her cousin outfit the Storm Chaser with new equipment was not in her immediate future.

“Probably for the best I expect,” she told herself philosophically. “At least for Mateo.” Elena realized she was less than useful in the installation process but unwilling to let anyone, Mateo or not, tinker with her ship without her supervision. “I’d probably just be in the way anyway. Except for the things that require two people to carry.”

As she expected Mateo had underestimated the increased activity. She had to circle the restaurant parking lot twice in order to get a spot to park. Shaking her head she went into the restaurant.

“I wonder who Annie is,” Elena wondered while searching the crowd for her cousin. She spotted him at the bar, a cup of coffee in his hand and a blonde by his side. “Figures,” she said to herself. Unwilling to interrupt, Elena caught his eye and waved. He spotted her and waved back. She saw him put some money on the bar, presumably for the coffee and stand up. The woman handed him a slip of paper that Elena would have bet half of Nibbles annual profits contained her phone number. Mateo smiled, tucked the number in his pocket and walked over to her.

“About time sleepy head,” Mateo said by way of greeting. “I parked the van by the docks and walked over, so I’ll have to ride down with you.”

“No sweat,” she answered. “Of course I’m parked halfway to the docks as it is.”

“Elena,” Consuelo’s voice called out from behind her. She turned and smiled.

“Good morning,” she said. The shirt Consuelo had decided on for the day was an eye searing yellow. Elena found herself blinking hard.

“You have come for breakfast?”

“Um, no actually I was just picking up Mateo for some work at the docks.” Consuelo frowned apparently not liking the answer.

“You will be back for lunch then?”

“Sure,” Elena said. “If we can grab a table.”

“Of course there will be a table. We get busy for lunch around 11:45. If you show up at 11:30 you will have your pick of tables and I will have a chance to ask some questions of you.”

“11:30 it is,” Elena said.

“Good. Enjoy your work.” Consuelo turned and the crowd parted before her, closing back in her wake.

“We better get going if you are going to make it back in time for your 11:30 appointment,” Mateo said. “I have the feeling it would not be a good idea to be late.” Elena shot him a dirty glare but there was no heat to it. After all, he was right. They made it first to the car and then to the docks without incident. It was as they began to unload the van that the interruptions started.

“Uh oh,” Mateo said under his breath as he hopped in the back of the van. Realizing that whatever had occasioned the comment was behind them, Elena did not turn. Lately she was working on the if-I-don’t-notice-you then-maybe-you will-realize-I-am busy-and-leave-me alone theory of problem solving. So far the only time it had more or less worked was when she and Andre were watching Peter and Jonathan. Elena still had hopes.

“Isa,” Mateo Clarified. “Lets grab the large box that needs both of us,” he suggested.

“Agreed,” she said. Mateo moved behind a large box and slid it towards the open doors where Elena stood.

“It isn’t that heavy but it is oddly balanced,” he told her. He slid his end around so it was balanced on the edge. While Elena steadied it Mateo jumped back out of the van. Elena gave an experimental lift of her end.

“We will need to shift it down and lock the van behind us if both of us are going inside,” Elena said thinking of Isa.

“Okay,” Mateo confirmed. “Ready? 1, 2, 3.” On three they lifted the box and set it on the ground. Mateo swung the door on his side closed and Elena followed suit with hers. Mateo locked the doors. As he was tucking the keys into his back pocket Isa arrived.

“Morning,” she said as she approached. Elena looked over and was surprised Isa’s attention was solely focused on her. She saw the corner of Mateo’s mouth quirk up in a grin before he squashed it back down.

“Morning,” Elena responded with a nod.

“Ready?” Mateo asked her.

“Yeah,” she replied. They both bent down to grab the handles and again lifted on three. They started towards the security doors that stood between them and the Storm Chaser. Isa followed.

“So is this cargo?” Isa asked, continuing to ignore Mateo.

“Yes,” Elena replied.

“Watch out for the stairs,” Mateo told her. They shuffled down three steps and back on to level ground.

“Thanks,” she told him wondering why they had not just sloped the sidewalk instead of adding the steps.

“Oh,” Isa said. “They aren’t modifications then. So where is the cargo bound for?” Isa asked as though she doubted them. Elena fought hard not to roll her eyes.

“The ship,” she said. Mateo fought another grin while Isa pouted. They reached the security doors before Isa could come up with another probing question and Elena remembered why she had always had a problem with Therese’s friends. Like the Council they always had some kind of plot or scheme going. Unlike the council they did not have the intelligence to pull off deep seated plots. It is what made dealing with Riko and Peter scary but dealing with Isa tedious. Elena and Mateo placed the box on the ground and Elena turned to the key pad to type in her code. As she reached for the keys one of the security guards rounded the corner and walked towards their group. Elena smiled as she recognized him.

“Morning Ted,” she called.

“Good morning right back at ya.” He said.

“They keeping you busy?” She asked.

“Certainly are,” he said grinning. “It’s getting so a man can’t finish a single episode of his favorite show before he is called out of the guard house.” Elena laughed.

“And last time I asked you were bored out of your skull.”

“What can I say? You can’t win for losing. These folks with you?”

“I am,” Mateo said.

“This is my cousin,” Elena said making introductions. “He’ll be working with me a while.” Ted shook Mateo’s hand and turned to Isa.

“Now ma’am, why don’t you go on and let these people get some work done.” Isa looked ready to protest.

“Have a nice day,” Elena said. Mateo waved as she angrily turned and stomped off.

“Not our most politic parting,” Elena commented.

“But it did get her to go away,” Mateo said. “Thanks Ted. You are a prince among men.”

“That’s what I keep telling folks,” Ted replied. He inclined his head in Isa’s direction. “We seem to be getting a lot of that lately. Johnny thinks its whatchacallit, corporate espionage.” He seemed to savor the words as he said them. “Everyone trying to get everyone else’s secrets. I’ll be around if you need me.” Ted nodded at them and ambled off to continue his patrol. Elena turned back to the key pad and typed in her code. The picked up the box and took it inside.

It took several more trips to unload the van and several times people hailed Elena. They were usually easy to brush off. Once Elena caught sight of Riko but the councilor merely waved instead of coming over to chat, a fact Elena deeply appreciated.

“You know she just wants to let you know she is watching,” Mateo said. “She won’t really have anything to say to you until you are ready to form an alliance with her.”

“I know,” Elena responded. That is what makes it so creepy.” They worked through the morning, Elena mostly serving as manual labor, holding bits and pieces in place while Mateo did his thing. 11:30 rolled around and Elena went to meet with Consuelo. She promised to bring Mateo a sandwich back since he resolutely refused to leave the ship.

Consuelo had been right; the restaurant had not yet gone into full swing at 11:30 but Elena thought is was a close thing. She could almost feel the crowds beginning to circle. Elena decided a short lunch would be best. To her relief, Consuelo had no problem with brevity as she was needed in the kitchen. After all what she wanted did not require a lengthy conversation. Consuelo merely wanted to arrange for bulk orders of some of Nibbles’ wares. Since the chef did not mind the original packaging Elena arranged for the goods to be taken directly from the ship when it docked. With a sense of relief that Consuelo found highly amusing Elena escaped back to the ship. Three people stopped her on her way back. Thursday passed much the same way and by the time the last of the modifications were in place Elena felt her store of small talk had been completely depleted.

“Tomorrow,” Mateo reminded her as they were leaving. “Tomorrow you can get on your ship and sail off into the sunset.”

“I know,” Elena replied sighing dreamily. “And as Captain, I absolutely refuse to allow small talk on my ship.”