Redemption (Bennett Sisters Book 5) (4 page)

The General placed his hand on her shoulder. “It’s okay
Lydia
.”

General Lister nodded to Jonah. “I suggest you figure out another way for
Lydia
to gain access other than using her hands for now. At least until she learns to control it.” The general glanced down at her. “Tell me, what were you thinking about when you fried our machine?”

Lydia
glanced at the doctor in the lab coat and nodded in his direction. “Him.”

“I see.” The General rubbed his neck. “That’s my fault
Lydia
. I ordered him to put you to sleep. You have my word that it won’t ever happen again, without your permission.” The General motioned across the room to a door. “If you wouldn’t mind following me, I’ll explain.”

Chapter 5

Lydia
, Briggs, and Thompson followed the general into an oversized conference room. Nondescript white walls closed them in. No pictures hung on the wall. The whole place was very sterile and reminded her of a hospital instead of a military compound. Rick pulled out a chair and sat to the right of
Lydia
, and Briggs sat to the left. Across the table, the general leaned forward, placing his elbows on the table. He cleared his throat. “I don’t apologize for knocking you out.” Rick half pushed out of his chair, ready to stand and take the man on. “Let me rephrase that. I apologize for not getting your permission and the way I handled it.” Rick plopped back down in his chair, his temper appeased for the moment. “But I need you to understand that I was concerned for the welfare of everyone on the flight.”

The general pointed toward the door. “Can you imagine if that little incident with the computer had happened on the plane? You would have single handedly taken us out of the sky.” The general stood and walked over to the coffee pot, pouring her a cup. He glanced over his shoulder. “How do you take your coffee?”

Rick answered for her. “Sugar and cream.”

Lydia
glanced at Rick, surprised he’d even noticed that trivial fact, and whispered, “You do pay attention, don’t you?”

Rick’s lips tilted up in the corners. “You’d be surprised
.
”

The general returned to the table with two coffee cups in his hand. He sat one down in front of her and retook his seat. “Boys, you can get your own.”

Both of the guys remained planted next to her. She made a mental note that neither of them was addicted to the black juice, another Bennett family trait.
Lydia
’s heart expanded with a feeling she’d long thought a lost cause. She hadn’t had a lot of time to actually get to know her family in person, but she’d grown up dreaming of her siblings. She’d witnessed every trial and tribulation they’d experienced and assumed they were just dreams, her own fantasy friends, until recently. Remembering that she’d left them made her heart ache. She’d wanted to stay and let them get to know her, as she’d come to know them. She’d wanted to find her place in their world and figure out what she wanted. All of those dreams had been ripped from her the minute she’d dreamed of the general and learned that he was taking her away.
Lydia
crossed her arms over her chest, ignoring the peace offering the general had tried to give her.

“Start talking, old man. I understand about the plane, but what else is it that you
think
you know? And how do you suppose you’re going to
train me
to use my gifts if you don’t even know what I’m dealing with?”

Those had all been valid questions. If for one minute she didn’t like his answers, then all bets were off. It ended here and now, and the only thing the general gained from her short visit was a fried computer and one pissed-off employee.

The general set his coffee down and searched her face. “
Lydia
, please relax. We don’t need a repeat of what happened out there.” He motioned with his thumb. “Do we?”

Lydia
took a deep breath. The general was right, no matter how much she didn’t want to admit it. She picked up her coffee and took a sip. The warm liquid slid down her throat and soothed her nerves. It was the only drink that could manage to take the edge off her nerves the more she sipped it. She shifted in her seat and pasted a fake smile on her face. She could pull off calm if she got the answers she wanted. “Please explain what I’m doing here and how you can help.”

The general leaned back in his chair. “Let me start off with where we are. We’re on the outskirts of
Henderson
,
North
Carolina
. That is about one hundred and fifty miles north of Southall.”

The fact that he trusted her with their location helped release some of the anxiety she’d been feeling.

“As for the how, I command a special force of elite soldiers. We’ve been nicknamed Phantom because we work and live under the radar. Each member of my team possesses special abilities just like you and the rest of the Bennetts. There aren’t many higher-ups that know about us. We report to one man and one man only.” The general’s lips tilted at the corners. “It cuts down on the red tape.”

Lydia
was stunned into silence, her mind trying to comprehend the possibility. She’d never heard of any other people being as gifted as her and the rest of the Bennett line. She’d just assumed they were the only screwed-up ones in the world. I mean seriously? Her sister Emma had PMS symptoms when her family was in trouble and had the ability to see a ghost named Momma Mae. Her sister Claire could read minds. Abby, her baby sister, had psychometric ability, and then there was her brother, Mike. The police officer could touch someone and know what had transpired in vivid detail in the moments before he’d arrived on any scene. They were all freaks, but those freaks were her family, and she loved them. Was it really possible there were others just like them? She’d buy into his story for now, but a time would come when she would make him prove his claims.

Lydia
held her coffee cup to her mouth, trying to cover her perplexed look. “Please continue.”

“Ten years ago, our government stumbled onto a few soldiers with special talents, and they ask me to head a task force. Like you, these soldiers had been caught in the act, doing some type of noble deed and were asked to join with no pretense that their conditions didn’t exist. The phantoms specialize in specific assignments that only they can accomplish. We work to help each one embrace and strengthen their abilities. It’s a win/win situation. They don’t have to hide who they truly are, and they’re serving their country.”

Lydia
shared a look with Rick and Briggs, each of them now leaning forward in his chair. It sounded too good to be true. There were several questions burning in her brain she was dying to ask.  Once she knew the information that General Lister shared, she would be in even more danger from potential threats. Bad guys would be standing in line to be the first to kidnap her, or worse, just to get their hands on the Phantom’s secrets?
Lydia
wasn’t stupid; she wasn’t trained for this crap. The possibilities of the potential danger ran through her mind and sent a shiver down her spine. Even though Briggs and Rick had come with her, there was no way she was going to rest easy in this establishment.
Lydia
pushed the strap of her dress back up her shoulders. She really should have changed at the wedding reception into something more comfortable, something easy to run in. The need to flee intensified the more she was told. 

“Why me? Why not Mike, who has military training, or Claire, who can read minds, or even Abby with her gift of psychometry. Why choose me over the more qualified members in my family that have a better grasp at their gifts?”

“That’s simple. Your ability to use telekinesis
was my first thought on why he
wanted me to recruit you. I’ve seen the video of the two guys you took out without lifting a finger. Now that I know about your…” The general ran his hand over his face. “What do you call your dreams or visions of future events?

“A pain in my ass.”

The general shook his head. “Anyway, I’m now convinced that is why I was told to bring you in.”

“Who told you to bring me in?”

The general leaned back in his seat. “I’m afraid that’s classified for now.”

Rick stood from the table, grabbed her cup, and went to get her a refill. While there, he fixed a cup for himself. It seemed like he needed the stuff too, just like she did. When he returned, he set the refreshed mug in front of her. “I’m thinking we’re both going to need more of this.”

Lydia
sipped the fresh coffee.

“We’ve been hunting a man named
Floyd
. He’s been evading us for the last ten years, and as each year passes without capturing him, his army of followers grows by leaps and bounds. We believe he’s been recruiting his own gifted soldiers, but we haven’t figured out why. All of his minions we’ve captured have ended up dying from unknown causes while we had them under lock and key.”

Lydia
bit her lip, still unsure of how her presence was going to help. “I’m not sure how I can help you. I don’t have any control over my visions and very little over what you’re calling my telekinesis. On good days, my visions point me to things that are going to occur. I can’t pick what I want to dream about, and even further, sometimes outside forces and decisions can alter the outcome. I don’t see how I’m going to be any good to you.”

The general rose from the table. “Give me two weeks,
Lydia
. If in that time I haven’t helped you learn to control your gifts, then you can leave, although I wouldn’t suggest it. I’m not sure that you can take care of yourself yet.”

Lydia
crossed her arms over her chest and huffed. “I’ve been doing just fine for thirty-eight years.”

The general raised his brow. “You and your aunt have been running for half of it. Don’t be naive in thinking that the bad guys don’t know about you. They will be coming for you, if not today then another day. Your gifts are too much of a temptation for him to ignore.” The general picked up his coffee cup and gulped the remaining contents. “I just want to return the favor you did for my girls. Please indulge me.”

Lydia
pushed from the table and covered her mouth with her hand to stifle her yawn. It had been a long day. Even longer since they’d traveled here. “You’ve got two weeks to prove to me that you can help. After that I’ll decide if I want to stay.”

The fine lines in General Lister’s face softened. “I knew you were a smart girl. Now let me show you to your quarters.” He pulled the door open and started walking down a long corridor. Each of them followed, their gaze taking in all of their surroundings and quizzical looks of those they passed. “I’ve taken the liberty of calling ahead and sent someone into town to pick you up some necessities since I didn’t even give you a chance to grab a change of clothes.”

She held up her arms. “What you see is what you get. All I have is this dress and the contents of my purse.”

He stopped in front of a door and turned the knob, pushing it open. He stepped out of the way, letting
Lydia
cross the threshold first. She stepped into the decorated room. It wasn’t as sterile as the rest of the building. The walls in the living space were a crème color accented by brown suede furniture and a flat-screen television on the wall. A few end tables and lamps accented the room. It was a nice room, a comfortable room, nothing like she’d imagined. To the right stood a small kitchen that would only hold a few days’ supplies. A fridge, microwave, and small oven made up the tiny area. And then she spied it, the Holy Grail for all Bennetts. The coffee maker. The tiny kitchen, as small as it was, still gave her peace of mind that she could stay holed up in her little room if she ever felt the need. The general walked to another door leading off the main room and pushed that door open.
Lydia
stepped inside. A queen-sized bed stood in the middle of the room. A rich chocolate and burgundy comforter, inlaid with greens, covered the bed.
Lydia
ran her hand against the silky comforter and picked up a bag that sat on top of it. She thumbed through the contents.

“You can go into town and get some other things, but this should hold you over for a few days.”

Lydia
nodded and wandered over to the dresser. Four picture frames stood atop of it. She picked up the first one. It was of Elizabeth and Mike.
Lydia
smiled and whirled around to face the general. “How, when?”

The general put his arm around
Lydia
’s shoulder. “
Elizabeth
thought it would be a nice touch, to remind you that you’ve got family waiting on you.”

Lydia
clutched the picture to her chest and lowered her head. All the anxiety she’d felt about leaving them behind drained from her body. “Thank you.”

The general gave her a light pat on her back. “You know, once
Elizabeth
marries Mike, that makes us family too.”

He turned and left her in the bedroom. “Gentlemen, if you’ll follow me. You two have the rooms on either side. Briggs, yours is on the left, and Thompson, yours is on the right.”