Alien Love Read online

  “Are you taking your meds?”

  “Yeah, I’m not sure how much good they do, but I take them.”

  “How’s your hip?”

  “Back to full motion. I’m jogging again.”

  “Are you sleeping any better? Tell me the truth.”

  “It’s starting to improve.”

  “Well, the doctors said it would take awhile. Have you talked to your father lately?”

  “You know the answer to that.”

  “He misses you because he loves you so much. I don’t understand why the two of you can’t have a nice conversation without fighting.”

  “He’s not going to change. How’s he doing?”

  “Something’s bothering him. He used to sleep like a log, but now he’s up pacing half the night.”

  “Are they still trying to drum him out of his department because he keeps writing that NASA is lying about little green men?”

  “Don’t make fun of your father. To answer your question, the administration cooled any plans it might have had to get rid of him when the Anderson Foundation gave him that very well endowed tenured chair. Still, he seems genuinely frightened about something. He’s very secretive about some of the calls he gets at home, and he comes home late several times a week.”

  “You don’t think…?”

  “Of course not. I’d trust Aaron if he were the only man on an island filled with women. I know you’re not being serious, but I don’t even want to joke about that. You and he always used to be so close. Maybe you could drop by his office.”

  “He’s still talking about me going back to school, isn’t he?”

  “Yes, I won’t lie to you, but I just don’t understand why you can’t get past that.”

  “Mom, you know I love Dad. I just can’t go through another argument with him over what I should do with my life. I’m not strong enough to deal with all that emotional stuff.”

  “You’re probably right, but I’d love to see you both in the same room without any shouting.”

  Jack shrugged. They’d had this conversation too many times already.

  “Have you thought about grad school now that you’re out? With your grades, your father says you’re guaranteed a fellowship.”

  “I’m not ready. You sound like him now.”

  “Let’s change the subject.”

  “Were you able to find out any more about my birth parents?”

  “Things were much more secretive back when you were born. Don’t give up. I have someone working on it right now, and I’m hoping I’ll have something for you very soon.”

  “Thanks, Mom. It would really mean a lot to me. You’ll always be my mother, but I just want to know what they were like.”

  “I understand because I run into this at work all the time. Your father doesn’t understand why you’re rejecting him for someone who never raised you. I’ve tried reasoning with him, but he’s very emotional when it comes to that subject.”

  The food arrived, and they both ate silently for a while. Marjorie reached over and put one hand on her son’s arm. She opened her purse with her other hand and placed a check on the table near Jack’s plate.

  “Take this to help with your expenses until you can get back on your feet. If you won’t take it as a gift, take it as a loan.”

  Jack felt his face redden; he hesitated, and then reluctantly put the check in his wallet and thanked her. He turned away so she couldn’t see the expression on his face.

  “Have you started dating again? Twenty-five is too young to live like a hermit.”

  “The only people I’ve met lately have been at the hospital, and they’re more screwed up than I am. When I meet someone special, you’ll be the first to know.”

  “I’d like to have a grandchild before I’m too old to enjoy it.”

  Marjorie sighed as she looked at her watch and then signaled emphatically for the waiter to bring the check. When it came, she studied it as if it were a court document before placing two twenty-dollar bills on the tray. “I have to get back to the office. If you don’t want to call me at home, reach me on my cell. I worry about you.”

  The two embraced, and then Jack watched his mother barrel her way through some tourists who were blocking the exit. He took two of the candies from the tray and put them in his pocket as he rose and headed back to where he had parked his car. The sidewalk was crowded with tourists radiating all the colors of the rainbow. A man radiating a black shadow hurried past him while avoiding making eye contact. He watched the man until he was out of sight before his heart slowed to normal.

  Jack started to relax as he passed A Street with its bumper-to-bumper one-way traffic and turned on to Ash where it was almost deserted. He caught sight of his car a couple of blocks ahead as well as a woman about a half block ahead of him. He couldn’t see her face, but she was a real knockout if her blond hair and figure were any indication. He picked up his pace slightly when he realized she reminded him of Suzie and began daydreaming about her and about the time when everything had been great between them.

  Suddenly a dark gray van sped past him and pulled up beside the blond. A door opened and a hulking figure jumped out and began grappling with the woman who, surprisingly, seemed to be holding her own. The man wrapped one hand around her mouth to keep her from screaming and tightened his grip around her with his other arm as she continued to struggle. As Jack drew closer, he noticed a bulge in the attacker’s pocket that he assumed was a weapon. The man released his hand on the woman’s mouth and delivered a forearm to the side of her head that stunned her into submission. He started dragging her toward the van.

  Everything slowed down for Jack except his heart, and that speeded up. He took in the distance between them, the fact the van had moved slightly ahead of the couple, and the lack of any other bystanders. He began running and quickly drew along side. It felt good to feel healthy again. When he played linebacker at El Camino High, his coach taught him how to bring a ball carrier down. “Follow through on the tackle,” he had lectured and often demonstrated. Jack crashed into the man and knocked him to the sidewalk. The woman collapsed on the ground. When the assailant began to pull some kind of weapon out of his pocket, Jack grabbed the large man’s arm and felt his strength.

  They battled for control of the weapon. Jack could feel the man gaining leverage on him, and he realized that he had to win that battle before the accomplice joined them. He rarely fought anyone who could match his strength, but this man’s arms felt like steel. His SEAL instructor had told him while training him in hand-to-hand combat, “There are no Marquis of Queensbury rules when you’re trying to survive. Use any vulnerability, and don’t worry about fighting fair.” Jack slammed his elbow into the man’s groin, but there was no reaction.

  How the hell could he not feel that? Jack thought. Desperate now, he kneed the man’s stomach and felt the fight go out of him. Jack grabbed the weapon. It was small and shaped like a gun, but it had a button rather than a trigger. The barrel hadn’t been hollowed out. Why was the man carrying some kind of toy around with him? The man suddenly lunged at Jack. Instinct and training kicked in as he aimed the weapon and pressed the button.

  He began to feel a little dizzy, but he saw the man fall to the ground as blood seeped out of his shoulder. The van backed up and the passenger door flew open. The attacker struggled to his feet, lunged toward the van and staggered inside as it accelerated accompanied by screeching tires.

  Jack looked at the blood on the ground. He’d seen too much blood in Afghanistan, including the stained ground where the traitor’s bomb went off. Still, none of those bloody puddles were as thick as what was on the sidewalk. As he studied the puddle, he thought, the blood must have mixed with some oil on the road. Why risk getting shot or arrested to try to kidnap someone in broad daylight downtown? He heard a low moan and turned in that direction.

  Chapter 4

  THE WOMAN LAY FLAT on her back on the sidewalk and groaned as Jack studied her. He didn’t see any b
leeding, but she might be suffering from internal injuries. He debated whether or not to call 911. Would the police assume he did this? Her blond hair piled high on her head reminded him of murals he had seen in history books that depicted upper class Roman women. Her high cheekbones and generous mouth balanced a small nose, but an ugly purple bruise covering one cheek ruined what otherwise would have been perfection. She opened her eyes as he bent over her. When she saw him, her eyes opened even wider.

  “Gliese,” she said in a weak voice.

  “I’m not sure what language you’re speaking. Do you speak English? My name is Jack, and I’m going to take you to a hospital because you might have a concussion.”

  The woman shook her head. “No, don’t take me to the hospital. Please.”

  “I’ll take you home then. Where do you live?”

  The woman’s eyes closed and she lay still.

  Jack became aware of her shallow but regular breathing. He reached down and placed his hand on her carotid artery and smiled in relief. She was alive and seemed coherent, wherever she was from. Her English sounded perfect, but somehow it didn’t quite ring true because it seemed too perfect. He couldn’t place her accent, although it reminded him of the way some of the Afghan guides spoke, at least the better-educated ones who had visited the states. He decided to take her to his apartment where he could administer first aid. He lifted her easily and, placing one arm under her arm, he half-carried her to his car, placed her in the front seat, and then carefully buckled her seatbelt while his mind flashed to how difficult it would be to explain her unconsciousness and her bruise if a cop pulled him over. The last thing he needed in his life right now was to be accused of assaulting a woman he didn’t even know.

  Jack carefully observed all the traffic laws on his way home. He kept mouthing the word she had spoken, Ga leese. It had a musical sound, but what did it mean? Why did she look at him so strangely, as if he were some kind of ghost? Cars honked and passed him, but he didn’t care. He glanced at the woman several times, but her eyes remained closed. Her breathing seemed to deepen, though, and his SEAL training told him that was a good sign. He pulled into his apartment complex parking lot. Once again, he placed one of his arms under her arm and maneuvered her toward his apartment, breathing a sigh of relief when he didn’t see anyone watching them.

  Jack held her with one arm as he reached the door while using his other hand to find his keys. His hand brushed against the strange weapon, and he realized that its toy-like size had caused him to forget that it still lay buried in his pocket. He opened the door and carefully placed the woman on his sofa before rushing back to the door to double-lock it.

  Jack studied her face and saw that she remained beautiful despite her ugly purple bruise. Suddenly she opened her eyes and stared at him as she struggled to sit up. Recognition flooded her eyes.

  “Do you remember your name?”

  “Cassandra. You’re Jack? Thank you for what you did.” Her voice was soft and musical.

  “Who were they? What did they want with you?”

  “I … don’t know. Tell me who you are.”

  “There’s not much to tell. I was a Navy SEAL. Now I’m just another guy looking for a job.”

  “A seal?”

  Jack laughed when he saw the confusion on Cassandra’s face and explained.

  “So, you are good at killing people?”

  “Just people who want to hurt our country. When you first saw me, you said something. It sounded like ga leese. What did you mean by that?”

  She didn’t reply immediately, but studied his face first. “I…was confused. You reminded me of someone else.”

  “If you feel up to standing, I’ll give you a ride back to your home.”

  “Please, could I just rest here awhile?”

  “Sure.”

  Jack took one of the blankets off his bed and bent down to wrap the blanket around her. Cassandra lifted a hand and tentatively touched his shoulder, moving down to his biceps and pressing her fingers into the muscle. She seemed totally absorbed.

  “Are you sure you feel okay?”

  Rather than answering his question, she responded with several questions of her own. “Do you live here alone?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you have any children?”

  Jack smiled. “I don’t even have a girlfriend.”

  “How old are you?”

  “Twenty-five.”

  Jack started to ask Cassandra her age, but then he bit his tongue. He’d been in the SEALs and away from women far too long to feel comfortable talking to one, especially one so beautiful. He felt her eyes studying him.

  “Tell me again what a SEAL does.” Despite her soft voice, the request sounded more like a command and Jack complied. He told himself that he just wanted to keep her talking because she needed to stay awake as long as possible in case she had a concussion. Still, part of him realized that he just wanted an excuse to be near her.

  “What about you? What do you do for a living?”

  “I’m …a scientist; there’s nothing exciting about what I do. You would find it boring. What does a SEAL study in school?”

  Jack hesitated and then told her the truth since he had chosen a major far different than anyone he knew in the service. Anxious to keep her interest, he described his college classes. She questioned him about some of his advanced math courses.

  “And you were number one in your class? That’s very impressive.”

  “I feel like you just gave me a test. Did I pass?” Jack tried making his question sound like a joke, but he realized just how little he knew about her. She had managed to deflect every question with one of her own.

  Cassandra’s deep blue eyes seemed guileless. “I just wanted to know more about the man who saved my life.”

  “I don’t know anything about you.”

  “There is not much to tell. I studied biology in school, and now the work I do is very technical and boring. Could we talk later? I need to close my eyes for a little while.”

  Jack studied the beautiful face marred by that purple bruise that seemed to grow larger as he watched. Her slow rhythmic breathing convinced him that she had fallen asleep almost immediately. He went to his room and closed the door softly. He crept into the kitchen later and fixed himself dinner while Cassandra slept through the noise. When he checked on her before going to bed, she lay still and apparently hadn’t moved in hours.

  When Jack awoke, he threw on some clothes and hurried into the living room and found it deserted. Cassandra had folded his blanket very neatly and left it on the sofa. He searched the rest of his apartment, but she hadn’t left a note. He flung the door open and surveyed the parking lot but saw no sign of her. Where could she have gone without a car? Jack asked himself. Part of him worried that he imagined the whole thing, but he felt the smooth touch of the toy-like weapon when he reached into his pants pocket and sighed. He’d never see her again; they weren’t even in the same league.

  Chapter 5

  JACK SAT in a sports bar in Coronado a few days after meeting Cassandra and realized that watching the tables filled with people enjoying their lunches made him feel even more alone. When he saw a blond at the other end of the bar, he studied her more closely because from a distance she resembled the woman he had rescued. Cassandra. What a knockout but way out of my league! She’ll never call or come over, and I don’t know where she lives, he thought. He looked at his watch and wondered if Maurice would show up. He decided to give him another half hour because traffic out of the base at lunchtime could be miserable.

  The TV on the wall was showing a Padre game. He didn’t bother to look at the score because he didn’t care, even though two greybeards at a table behind him were watching every pitch and second-guessing the manager. Only diehards rooted for a team that never won. He glanced at the table to his right and noticed two men about his age clad in almost identical dark suits with expensive looking ties; they sat across from each other talking on their cell
phones. At another table two ramrod straight men with gray short-cropped hair sat on high stools while they nursed their drinks. They must be ex-Navy officers enjoying their retirement in paradise, Jack mused.

  The network suddenly interrupted its broadcast of the game, and Jack saw Frank Buchanan’s very recognizable face on the large screen. He read the text crawl below the picture and noted that the famous astronaut had died of a heart attack. Another one of the good guys is gone, he thought as he remembered the time their paths had crossed when the astronaut had spoken at his college; later he had joined the legend along with his father for lunch. He imagined his father would be devastated at the loss of one of his personal heroes.

  A rail thin black man with a receding hairline entered and studied the customers before heading for Jack’s table. He paused and glanced around the room once again before sitting down.

  “Man, I shouldn’t be here. You are trouble with a capital T.”

  Jack smiled. “I’m happy to see you too, Maurice; I’m not going to get you in trouble.”

  Maurice wasn’t smiling. “Too late for that. I’m here, but I can’t stay long. If anyone sees me talking with you, words going to get back to the base. I don’t need that kind of trouble.”

  “I appreciate you coming. I won’t keep you long. I just need some information because I’m out of the loop now.”

  “You bet your ass you’re out of the loop. You’re damned lucky they didn’t hang you by your balls for what you done.”

  “I saved my team and that’s all that counts.”

  “Fat lot of good that done. They out in the street just like you.”

  “They’re alive.”

  “I give you that.”

  Maurice looked around once more before speaking. “Most folks including me think you done the right thing by your boys. It’s just the system that’s screwed up, and ain’t nobody going to fix it. Tony and his boy gonna keep kissing ass until they both make Admiral.”