Chapter 373

Art met Jeff as he came out of the General's office. "Jeff, we need to talk."

"My office, or will one of the alcoves do," the Prime returned as he motioned down the hallway.

"An alcove is fine," the young agent replied.

A moment later, the two sat facing each other, oblivious to the beautiful, snow-covered mountain scenery outside. "What can I do for you?" Jeff asked, guessing by the look on Art's face generally what the problem was.

"How long are we going to let Moreau get away with this shit? And you know damn well it was him that sent Charlotte – however indirectly. Hell, he sent his personal assistant to kill me while wearing a fucking explosive necklace as incentive. No reason to think this attempt was from anyone else. And the assassin at Ada's..."

Jeff calmly leaned back in his seat to study his brother Alpha as the young agent wound down. When he did, the Prime quietly asked. "Air strike? Send in my team? Send in an FBI swat team led by you? What? How many civilian deaths are acceptable? Ten? Twenty? How many of those would be women and children?"

"Ah, fuck," Art snarled, turning to stare out the window, but noticing little of the mountain's grandeur.

"You know we've had the compound under surveillance via satellite, and he hasn't so much as stuck his head out the door since he sent Nichols out here. Even before that, he was about as reclusive as one can get. He knows we're after him, and so far, he hasn't made any mistakes."

"Gas the compound?" Art suggested, hopefully.

"And are you certain there is no one there with asthma or someone who might have a reaction to the gas. There is something in the news from time to time where a person has died from the police spraying them with pepper gas, or from being stunned. There are people who have heart problems or other abnormalities, and their bodies shut down or an artery or blood vessel ruptures at the first sign of violence or stress. Are you certain no one in that compound fits that criteria? Are you certain his minions won't be able to get gas masks in place before we enter? Do you want to gamble innocent lives on your assumptions?"

"Ah, fuck, Jeff, there has to be some way," he almost groaned. "Can't Ship do something?"

"Ship might be able to snatch him with her version of a tractor beam if he comes outside, but so far, he hasn't. Then again, how long would I have to leave her hovering over the compound before she gets a chance at him? A month? A year? Besides, she won't leave me for very long, and even then, very reluctantly."

"Shit, Jeff. Shit!" Art growled, slamming an open palm against his thigh. "How long do we just sit and let this asshole take pot shots at us? If you hadn't gotten that hunch and gone to Ada's so fast, she would be dead. And by the way, how did you know he would do that so quickly? Surely, he couldn't have known that Charlotte would just hand me the gun and confess everything. And for that matter, how did he know she hadn't shot me?"

But Jeff was shaking his head. "Look at what he has done so far. I suspect he intended killing Ada from the start. He had no way to know how much Charlotte had told her mother. Charlotte might have told Ada what she had to do. If Ada were dead, she couldn't tell what she knew. Look what he did to Nichols. A fucking explosive necklace, for crying out loud. He likes to kill – or have people killed – I suppose, and he doesn't leave anyone around to talk to the police. Besides, like I mentioned to Diana earlier, he might well have just been cleaning up loose ends. Again, dead people don't talk. No way to trace anything if everybody involved is dead. You can bet that Charlotte would have been next, whether she succeeded in her mission or not."

"But how in the hell could he manage that with her up here?"

Jeff let out a frustrated sigh. "Money. Moreau is a fucking billionaire. In addition to that, he uses intimidation. Do it or die. Do it or your family dies. That kind of thing. That's what he did with Charlotte. You know that."

Art stared at his Prime. "Shit, Jeff," the young agent groused, "sooner or later the bastard is going to hurt or kill my wives, or... yours. The motherfucker needs to die before he manages something terrible. We have enough probable cause for a warrant..." He didn't bother to finish the sentence, knowing what the outcome of trying to serve a warrant on Moreau at his compound would be.

Waving a hand negligently, Art went quickly on, "Don't even bother to say it."

After a silence had settled over the two, Art came to his feet, started to say something, then just turned and left.

"Shit," Jeff muttered under his breath. "Shit. Shit. Shit."

After the women had finished putting everything away, Arlene insisted that they all have a piece of cake with a soft drink or coffee, the young wife hoping to calm the obviously worried Charlotte. As they sat quietly chatting, Ada, a faint smile on her face, slept on.

When Susan answered a soft knock on the door, a frowning Jeff entered. With cake and coffee, he relaxed in a nearby seat. "Baby," Diana said, "Charlotte needs to get her things from the construction trailer."

Jeff's frown increased. "And what if Moreau has another agent in the crew whose job is to kill her?"

"Moreau?" Charlotte questioned.

"The person we think is behind all this," Jeff replied. After thinking for a moment, "I can have you escorted, but I would rather not have you in close contact with the crew over there. Didn't I hear you mention someone – a friend – earlier?"

"Danielle."

"How long have you known her?"

"Several years. Right after I started working for the boring company. I trust her."

With your life? Jeff wondered, but didn't voice it. Instead, "Suppose we give her a call and ask her to pack up your things, and maybe meet you near the gate? As a matter of routine, Security will scan her before she gets near to make sure she doesn't have a weapon. You can talk to her for a few minutes and give an excuse for having to quit your job. Assuming, of course, that the supervisor told the crew what I told him to say about your having a family emergency."

Charlotte hesitated. "I hate to lie to her."

"So, don't lie. Tell her that your mother is worse and there is a new procedure that you hope will cure her, but you have to be with her, and the Matthews have decided to help you. If she asks how you are going to manage financially, tell her you are pretty sure you will have enough income. Everything is the truth."

Except the income, Charlotte thought. But if this cures Mom, I'll get another job somewhere. The tunneling company might even take me back, but I guess that's wishful thinking, because I know there are many people who would love to have my job.

When Jeff realized that Charlotte would do what he asked, he took out his SAT phone, stepped into one of the bedrooms and called the tunneling supervisor.

Returning to the suite's living room a few minutes later, he smiled at Charlotte. "Done. Danielle will meet you at the gate with your things in thirty minutes."

Charlotte, wearing one of the Retreat's heavy coats, walked beside Jeff who was clad in jeans and a tee shirt, but, in deference to the snow, wearing his favorite well-worn combat boots. As they crossed the mostly cleared parking lot behind the Retreat, she subtly glanced at the tall man beside her. How does he stand it out here dressed like that? I'm cold without my usual full cold weather gear on, even though this coat is well insulated and thick, yet he's strolling along as if it's a spring day.

A few more steps and her thoughts changed. Oh my. My nipples have popped, and it isn't from the cold. Just being near him turns me on something fierce. He's married, she scolded herself mentally. As a matter of fact, he's married to two women. She had been so concerned about what was going on with her mother that she hadn't allowed herself to think much about his two wives, but now, she fully realized just what that entailed. He's married to his mother-in-law. I don't even know what to think about that. Grudgingly, she continued her thoughts, And his mother-in-law is hot, just like his wife. I would normally think that a situation like that was because of his wealth, but it's obvious that both of them actually love him, and unless I miss my guess, it is a very deep love, indeed, and ... that love seems to be reciprocated by him.

Then it hit her and she remembered. But Arlene kissed him, too. And it wasn't a daughter's kiss for her father. Hmmm. He never actually said he had just two wives. And all those women were hanging around him at lunch ... Can it be? Unconsciously, she shook her head. No, there's no way, but ... Arlene's eyes light up when she looks at him...

A young woman and the tunneling supervisor were approaching, the woman carrying a case, the supervisor carrying a slightly larger one and also a hanging bag draped over his shoulder.

"Wait," Jeff quietly said as he put a hand out when Charlotte continued toward the gate.

"Clear, Sir," Jeff heard over his implant a few seconds later.

"Okay, now," the Prime said, moving aside to allow her to pass through the now opened gate.

"What's wrong?" Danielle said, putting the case down to hug Charlotte as Jeff stepped in to take the case and hanging bag from the supervisor.

After hugging each other, Charlotte pulled back a little. "Mom's arthritis has been steadily getting worse. There is a new procedure that is supposed to cure her, but I'll have to stay with her for an undetermined length of time."

"I'll leave you two to have your conversation," the supervisor interrupted. "Ms. Bankston, I hate to lose you, but you realize that the company will have to replace you. We can't afford to work short for any extended period of time. When I send in the daily activities tonight, I will instruct Payroll to deposit your final check into your account."

"Thank you, Sir," Charlotte said as she held her hand out to shake with him. "I appreciate the confidence you have shown in me, and I hope I'll be able to work for you again one day."

As the supervisor turned away, one of the Security troopers picked up the other case while the women continued their short conversation. A couple minutes later, Charlotte and Danielle hugged again before the young woman also turned away, both of them with tears in their eyes.

"She has been a good friend," Charlotte said past a lump in her throat.

"Maybe you'll see her again," Jeff commented as the two followed the troopers toward the Retreat.

"I can take that," Charlotte said as she reached for the case the trooper was carrying.

"Respectfully, no, Ma'am. Please let me carry it," he finished as another trooper took the other case and hanging bag from Jeff.

"But..." Charlotte started, used to doing things for herself.

"Let them do their jobs," Jeff quietly replied.

As the two troopers put the bags down in the suite, Charlotte thanked them before taking the hanging bag on into her bedroom. Jeff thanked the troopers and dismissed them to return to their regular duties. Susan and Arlene grabbed the cases and followed Charlotte.

When they finished putting away Charlotte's things, she turned to the other three. Nodding to Susan, "Mother-in-law and wife." Then to Diana. "Wife." After catching Arlene's eye, Charlotte lost her nerve and didn't quite voice what she thought.

But Arlene said with a grin, "Yep. Daughter-wife." Then, with a chuckle to ease the way, she continued, "And before you get your panties in a bunch, there are a lot of things you don't know. Under normal circumstances, this would never have happened, even though I had dreamed of it ever since I reached puberty."

Diana broke in, "Please don't judge us too harshly until you know everything. There really is no other way this could work. And please don't even consider blaming Jeff. He fought it tooth and nail. Our marriage could never function without the man being an Alpha, and Jeff is more than that. He's a Prime."

"A Prime?" Charlotte wondered aloud.

"An Alpha of Alphas," Diana returned.

"An Alpha of Alphas," Charlotte repeated, wondering just what that meant.

"He wanted me when I was thirteen," Diana proudly said. "Rather than risk that something would happen and we would not wind up together, he bred me."

"Bred you?" Charlotte said, almost balking at the term.

"Call it what you will, he deliberately impregnated me so there was no chance I would wind up with someone else."