The car Asteroth had used to drive here was a Z-69 Subaru. While it was a nicer car than the average income family could afford, it was unassuming enough that no one would suspect it belonged to a group of former assassins.

  Adam tapped the bottom with his foot, unlatching the passenger side door, which hissed as it opened upward instead of out. He placed Susan gently on the seat and closed the door as she strapped herself in. Then he went around the other side, entered the vehicle, and started it up. A soft whine echoed around them as he flipped several switches to engage the CO-O8 engine.

  As he drove out of the parking lot, he spoke to Susan without turning his head. “You should probably call your father to let him know you’re safe. I imagine he’s out of his mind with worry right now.”

  “Oh. You’re right. I’ll do that now—uh… where is my phone?”

  Adam cursed as he realized he’d forgotten to grab Susan’s phone. With a sigh, he pulled back into the driveaway, got out, and grabbed Susan’s phone. He also grabbed his helmet and placed it back on his head. Adam might have decided to trust Susan with his identity, but he didn’t want her father or anyone else to learn about him.

  He handed it to her after he sat back down. The girl scrolled through her list of contacts as he drove out of the parking lot once more. They passed a large gray van on the way here. He nodded at the familiar face in the driver’s seat.

  “Hello, Father—” Susan began after making the call.

  “Susan?! Is that you?! Oh, thank God you’re safe! I didn’t know what to do when your location suddenly vanished from the app! Are you okay?!”

  Most people in this day and age used phone apps to track the location of their family members. It was an extra security measure many people implemented to ensure the safety of their loved ones, though not everyone used it. Some people thought it was a gross violation of privacy. It was clear that Susan’s father was not one of those people—and with good reason given what just happened.

  “I’m okay, Father. Sorry for worrying you.”

  “What happened?!”

  Susan did her best to explain what happened over the phone, but it was difficult for the poor girl. Eugine kept interrupting the girl with startled exclamations and cries of despair. Adam could feel the sweat building up on his forehead just listening to this man. It was no wonder Susan was such a meek girl. Her father was quite possibly the most doting man in the entire world.

  “So you’re coming home?”

  “Yes. Ad—I mean, the friend who rescued me is driving me home right now.”

  “Very well. I will wait for you outside.”

  “Th-there’s no need for that, Father. It’s very late.”

  “Nonsense! My daughter who was kidnapped is being returned to me! How can I sleep at a time like this?! I will be outside! See you soon!”

  “Father! But—”

  Susan was unable to get a word in edgewise as the call ended. She stared helplessly at her phone.

  Adam chuckled. “Your father loves you very much.”

  “Sometimes… I feel like he loves me too much,” Susan confessed with an embarrassed smile. “Don’t get me wrong. I love my father with all my heart, but… I feel guilty because of how much he dotes on me.”

  “I can see how that might be a problem.”

  Eugine gave his daughter whatever she wanted. While some might grow up spoiled from being treated this way, Susan had grown soft and meek. She was unable to tell her father not to waste money on her. At the same time, she felt guilty that he gave her whatever she asked for, and even things she didn’t ask for. That was also why she never went against her father when he wanted something from her.

  “It’s hard to say no when you are treated with such kindness and don’t feel like you deserve it,” Susan confessed. Then she smiled. “But… I do feel like I am getting better. Just the other day, I told Father I didn’t want to marry Connor Sword, and he agreed to cancel our marriage talks.”

  “Oh? That’s good. I’m glad you were able to tell your father how you felt about Connor. He’s not a very good man.”

  “I agree. I don’t have any proof, but there are just so many rumors about the way he treats women. The fact that they all get swept under the rug has made me suspicious of him.”

  Adam had not known this, and now that he did, Connor Sword had risen to the top of his list of potential suspects behind Susan’s kidnapping.

  “Um… Adam?” Susan began as they drove across Queensboro Bridge. It was still late, so the waters below were so dark as to be invisible.

  “Yes?”

  “… No… never mind.”

  Adam didn’t look away from the window, but he did glance at Susan out of the corner of his eye. She was blushing. Even the tips of her ears were red. He wondered what she was thinking about, but he didn’t want to push the girl into answering after what she had been through.

  It took another fifteen minutes to reach Susan’s house, though calling her mansion a house was a misnomer if there ever was one. The massive, four-story building spanned several acres of land and contained at least three wings.

  This place had once been the location of many tall skyscrapers. Those had been destroyed during the bombings in World War III. Eugine had paid many contractors to clear out this space and built his estate atop it. This had happened after his inauguration as one of the American Federation’s leading politicians.

  A man stood outside in nothing but his expansive silk pajamas, shivering from the cold. Adam could only imagine he’d been there for the past half an hour it took them to reach her home. The color of his hair was just like Susan’s, but his face was masculine. He had sky-blue eyes, a refined goatee, and was a little on the heavy side.

  “Suuuuuu!” The man was sobbing as he threw himself at the young woman mere moments after she emerged from the car. “My little girl has returned! Oh! I’m so grateful!”

  “F-Father… I… I…”

  Her father’s emotions must have caused her own to boil over once more, for she latched onto her father and began crying seconds later. Her wails might have been even louder than after Adam had rescued her.

  Adam stood off to the side and awkwardly watched the bawling pair. He glanced at the sky. The twinkling stars spread across the black canvas, but the dull light of the sun was beginning to shine from the east, signifying the start of a new day.

  Everyone Loves Pancakes

  Adam arrived home in the early morning, just as the sun was beginning to rise. He wasn’t tired despite having stayed up all night—at least, not physically. His mentality was a different story.

  Eugine Forebear had been far too enthusiastic about repaying his debt to Adam. He had offered all kinds of rewards, from staying the night to marrying his daughter to offering Adam untold riches. That second offer had caused poor Susan to blush from the roots of her hair all the way to her chest.

  The ding of the elevator snapped Adam out of his stupor. He exited after the door slid open, walked down the hallway, and entered the apartment room.

  “I’m home,” he said to no one in particular. It was late, and he was certain Fayte and Aris were asleep.

  “Welcome back.”

  That was why he felt surprised when someone answered him.

  After removing his shoes and setting them aside, he walked into the living room to find Fayte sitting on the couch. He thought she was alone at first. Then he saw Aris sleeping with her head on Fayte’s thighs. The blonde woman was stroking the brunette’s hair. Adam wondered if the woman realized she looked like an older sister doting on her younger sibling.

  “I didn’t expect you to still be up. Couldn’t sleep?” asked Adam as he wandered into the kitchen.

  “How can you expect me to sleep with the current circumstances?” Fayte asked back.

  “I suppose… I can’t,” Adam acknowledged.

  He opened a cabinet, pulled out two cups, and set about making coffee. Fayte had a very nice coffee maker that didn’t require much effort. Just place a pod inside the machine and let it do its thing. The coffee took less than five minutes to prepare, and then he was bringing both cups into the living room.

  “Thank you,” Fayte said as he set a cup down in front of her.

  “You’re welcome,” Adam replied with an easygoing smile.

  He sat down and sighed as he allowed all the tension to drain from his muscles. Adam had been very high-strung ever since he learned Susan had been kidnapped. Now that the situation had been resolved, his body felt like jello.

  “Also… thank you for saving Susan,” Fayte added in a soft voice. “That girl means more to me than anyone else in the world. I’m… I’m very grateful to you.”

  Adam pretended not to hear the hitch in her voice or the tears in her eyes. Fayte liked to act strong in front of others. That was how she had survived this long in a world where women like her were used as pawns to form alliances through marriage. He took a sip of his coffee, sighing as he realized it tasted better when Fayte prepared it.

  I don’t understand. She doesn’t do anything differently, so why does it taste so much better when she makes it?

  “It was no trouble. Susan has become important to me too. She’s a member of our group. I wasn’t about to let someone take her away from us,” Adam said.

  Fayte smiled at him. Her tears had dried. Unlike Susan, who had bawled her heart out and clung to him after her rescue, this woman did no such thing.

  A long silence that was neither uncomfortable nor stifling passed between them. Adam considered telling Fayte what he knew about the kidnapping, but he currently didn’t have any info on the kidnappers themselves.

  However, he did have a name.

  “Does the name Catherine Herring ring any bells?” he asked.

  “I’m afraid not.” Fayte shook her head as she set down her now empty mug and shook her head. “Why do you ask?”

  “The person who kidnapped Susan said he was hired by a woman named Catherine Herring,” Adam admitted.

  Fayte frowned. She began stroking Aris’s hair again. Adam wondered if it was an unconscious gesture that helped calm her down. If so, this woman was more like Adam than either of them realized.

  “The name doesn’t ring any bells, but it’s possible the name is just an alias,” Fayte said.

  Adam nodded. “I considered that possibility, but I don’t think it’s likely.”

  “Can you tell me why?”

  “Because mercenaries are cautious people. They have to be in this day and age where they’re basically considered criminals.”

  Mercenaries might have been widely used back in World War III, but after the war, their use was banned and anyone caught hiring them was sentenced to life imprisonment and slave labor. The mercenaries themselves would follow the one who hired them. Any merc worth their weight in gold would do an extensive background check on whoever wanted to hire them before accepting a job.

  “If nothing else, I believe Catherine Herring is a real person,” Adam continued, only to pause. “Of course, I don’t expect this woman to be the one who ordered the kidnapping. She’s most likely a middleman.”

  “So her purpose is to hide the true kidnapper’s identity,” Fayte said.

  “Yes.”

  “Can you find out who was responsible?”

  “I’m going to try my best, but I suspect I’ll hit a dead end. Whoever wanted Susan has to be a fairly powerful individual with a lot of influence, and people don’t become influential or powerful by being stupid. I’m certain whoever did it will have covered their tracks well.”

  “I see. Well, at least Susan is safe.”

  “For now,” Adam added to Fayte’s blanket statement.

  Adam didn’t think this would be the last time someone tried to kidnap Susan, but they wouldn’t try something again for a while. Eugine Forebear would now be on guard for any potential kidnappers. He suspected the man would also place several restrictions on Susan’s movement and who could see her.

  She probably won’t be allowed to go outside for a while.

  Adam glanced at the sleeping Aris, then smiled wryly as he said, “I should probably put that one to bed.”

  “I would appreciate that. My legs are going numb,” Fayte admitted with a wry smile of her own.

  Adam scooped Aris into his arms and carried her like a princess to their room. He needed to use his toes to pull back the covers, but he soon set Aris on the bed, then crawled in himself. Aris, as if sensing his presence, rolled over onto her side and wrapped an arm and leg around him. He almost chuckled when she hooked her leg around his.

  It took him some time to fall asleep, but darkness did eventually consume him. It only felt like he had slept for a few seconds before he was woken up again by the sound of his phone vibrating in his pocket. He must have forgotten to place it on the charger.

  “Astaroth? What do you have for me?” asked Adam after accepting the call.

  “We sought out the woman called Catherine Herring,” Astaroth began without preamble. “She is not located in New York City. She owns a small house outside city limits. Belial took a team to confront her, but…”

  “She was dead when you arrived?” Adam asked.

  Aris shifted against him, crawling over his body until she was pressing her entire front against his chest. He stifled a smile to focus on his conversation with Astaroth.

  “She wasn’t even there.”

  Adam closed his eyes for a moment and pondered that. There were only a few reasons Catherine would not be at this location if she lived there, and none of them were good.

  “Are there any social cameras in the area?” he asked.

  “There are, and we checked them. According to the social cameras, Catherine arrived at her home at exactly 1500 yesterday. Our research indicates she works the morning shift at a convenience store on Greenpoint Avenue and Kingsland. She never left her house during that time. However, there was a brief period of five minutes when the social cameras shut off. It took some effort to discover this. Whoever shut off the cameras made it so those five minutes looped.”

  The social cameras contained advanced security measures to prevent tampering, which meant whoever had tampered with them was either a master at hacking or had government aid. Either one of those was bad for them.

  Creating a repeating loop within a social camera was done when someone wanted to enact a covert operation. It was a standard procedure for anyone who wanted to accomplish an objective that was against the law… such as assassinating someone who had become a liability.

  “Was there any evidence that she had been assassinated?”

  “Negative.”

  Adam gnawed on his lower lip. “Meaning either the people responsible for her assassination are pros like us, or she was never assassinated to begin with and Catherine Herring is just an alias. Either way, it looks like investigating further will prove fruitless.”

  “I concur.”

  The world of intelligence gathering was a constant battle between people trying to gather intel and those trying to hide it. Sadly, the ones trying to hide something often held the initiative. While that didn’t mean much if the person in question was careless, it would prove fruitless to the opposing side if the person they were trying to gather intel on was an expert at covering their tracks.

  Yet even covering their tracks like this gave Adam several ideas as to the identity of this person.

  “Whoever was responsible for this not only has a lot of power, but either has access to the underworld, government aid, or both,” Adam said at last.

  The underworld was what they called the world of crime. No matter the laws, no matter the era, crime would always exist so long as humans continued to exist. There were many people who did not care for society’s laws. Murderers, thieves, spies, rapists. It was impossible to remove people like that forever. Even if you went around and killed every criminal in the world, more would just appear to take their place eventually.

  “In other words, a noble,” Astaroth said.

  “Yes, a noble.” Adam paused for a moment to gather his wits about him. “I’d like you to create two teams. Send one to investigate the criminal underworld for signs of activity that could provide a lead to Susan’s would-be kidnapper. The other should investigate the American Federation’s government.”

  “It shall be as you command,” Asteroth said before hanging up.

  Adam sighed as he set his phone on the charging stand. Susan might have been saved, but that didn’t mean their problems had ended. He needed to figure out who had tried to kidnap her, which meant utilizing the Soul Reapers in the real world.

  Soul Reapers always acted in squads of four. One person gathered intelligence, one person watched the intelligence agent from afar in case they needed rescue, another acted as general support, and the last acted as either a bodyguard or body double depending on the situation. This was how they managed to avoid getting caught for so long.

  To further ensure their success and safety, all of them were masters of disguise and had several IDs they could use to throw anyone off their trail. These IDs were technically real. The people in the IDs did exist. They were just no longer of this world, their identities subsumed by the Soul Reapers.

  If there was any information to be found, they would find it.

  “It sounds like you’re dealing with something serious,” a voice said.

  Adam looked down to find doe-like blue eyes staring at him. He reached out and stroked Aris’s hair. It was soft like silk, parting as he threaded his fingers through it. Aris hummed contentedly.

  “It’s not polite to listen in on a private conversation,” Adam teased.

  Aris grinned. “Hee-hee. If you really didn’t want me listening, you would have said something when I woke up.” Her grin left. “Do you think Susan is still in danger?”

  “She’s not in any immediate danger,” Adam confessed. “But yes, she is still in danger. I doubt whoever attempted to kidnap her will give up.”

  “Is there anything we can do to protect her? I don’t want my friend getting kidnapped again,” Aris said.