Chapter 1 Where It All Began Huge, billowing clouds were drifting by with the late- afternoon wind, and the temperature was mild. A man stood on the front steps of a large, handsomely built house, with a long drive lined with poplar trees on either side, bor- dering an immaculate landscape of grass and flower beads, leading to a gate that was just opening as a silver Mercedes SUV pulled into the drive and came to a stop at the steps leading up to the porch, where the man was standing, his graying black hair fluttering in the breeze. The sun shone down on a very masculine face with somewhat elegantly carved cheek bones and a distinctly lined brow, connect- ing with an ample square and abrupt nose, the only feature marring the ruggedly handsome face being a slight hint of a scar running from on corner of his chin, nearly three inches along his jawline, on the left side of his face. The man’s hands were clasped behind his back, and his eyes were riveted to the newly arrived vehicle. His face might have looked per- plexed, but the fact was that it was not perplexed at all but was mildly interested in what it was seeing. A man in a black suit with dark sunglasses opened the driver’s door and took a quick look around as he stepped to the back door on the passenger side to open it. Out of the car stepped a woman dressed in a white silk outfit that had a dress-style jacket and blouse with a separate white silk skirt that tapered down, terminating just below the knee, and white satin shoes with tall slender heels. Her hair was lovely auburn, and her eyes were like the deep blue ocean. She walked up the walk and stopped at the bottom of the stairs and looked up at the man with a quizzical smile. “Jason Harris,” the lady said, “you must be surprised to see me, no?” She smiled, revealing two perfect little dimples. “Yes and no, Carla,” the man on the porch said. “How is it in Russia’s prison system? I have been told that has been your home for the past sixteen years.” The woman’s smile fell just slightly, but only for a moment. “You haven’t been too bad off, it seems,” she said admir- ingly, effectively changing the subject. “Well to do, a good job, a loyal family, and a tight group,” she went on, looking appraisingly at the house and grounds with a swift passing glance. “It suits you,” she stated. “The real you, I mean,” she corrected. “Why are you here, Carla?” the man said. “You wouldn’t come to me unless something was really wrong. Am I right?” Carla paled slightly, then she looked him in the eye, won- dering just how much she could tell him, and also wondering just how much he already knew. The man’s mouth slightly twitched into a smile, waiting for an explanation. Carla glanced around again. “Yeah, it’s been a while, but for better or worse, here I am,” she said. Jason waited. He could tell something was on her mind, and he wanted to hear it; maybe he could help. “How is she?” she asked shyly. “Oh,” Jason said, “just as lovely as the blossoms in sum- mer. She looks just like you, ya know. In fact, the more I see her going about her daily life, I see a little bit of you in everything she does,” he said with a wistful little smile. “Is there somewhere we can talk privately?” Carla asked, looking around with that feeling of being watched. “Sure. Smith Park on sixth. Eight o’clock,” he said. “Thank you,” she said as she turned and entered her car, her driver following suit. Once the automatic gate had opened, they drove off. Brian and his younger sister, Rebecca, had happened to see the car enter the drive, and not recognizing it, came into the yard from a side entrance and were concealed from view by a large hedge of lilac and rose bushes, heavy with blos- soms. They had overheard the conversation, they knew that they must act as if they hadn’t until an opportunity presented itself to get further info, so on cue, the two children wheeled their bicycles around the hedge and up to the garage, tak- ing off their helmets and hanging them on the pegs in the garage. “Hay, kids!” Jason called out. “How was school?” “Great, Dad.” Brian said. “No more problems with Miss Maynard?” Jason asked. “Only the usual stuff. But I did win the picture contest again,” Brian answered. “That’s my boy. Come on in and tell me all about it, Reb! How did you do on your big spelling bee today?” “Twenty-nine out of thirty. Ten up from Freddy Peters; he was next under me,” Reb answered. “That’s my Reb,” Jason called out behind them as they slipped off their shoes and placed them in their slot on the shelf. “Well, hurry along with your lunch. Maria is waiting for you in the training room for your fencing lesson for today. Once you are done there, come into my study. I have something to share with you before I leave for work.” “Sure, Dad,” they sang out in unison. Brian scrambled up to his room, tossing his backpack on the bed. Ten minutes later, both were sitting at the table. “Brian!” Reb hissed. Brian nodded for her to go on. “I can’t think of any possibilities of who Carla might be. What do you think?” she said. “I don’t know, but something is kind of, ya know, famil- iar about her.” And then the door opened up, and my big sister, Amy, came in. “Hey, munchkins,” she said with a laugh. “Save some for me. How did your math test go, Brain? Did those tips help any?” she asked, both Reb and Brian blinked in unison, Brian stammered, “Yeah, thanks. I think it went good. She didn’t grade them yet, so I guess I’ll find out in the morning.” “Just make sure you are higher than Poly Burns,” she teased. Then Reb pitched in, “Oh, Amy, look. He must be having heatstroke; his face and neck are bright red.” they all laughed and settled into a nice lunch. “Hey, guys,” Amy said excitedly, “I got the pull to go up to Loomis Lake and get some wildlife photos for the state wildlife drawing. Also Mary Watkins will give me eight hun- dred dollars for every picture I can bring her of the white- tail falcon; this is said to be one of their nesting grounds. She is doing a living-art piece and wants to include one of them in it, but…best of all is that they have given me permission to take three friends.” “No way!” Rebecca replied. “That sounds so awesome!” Then she paused, and a sly smile crossed her face. “Are you going to ask Blake Becker to come with you?” Now it was Amy’s turn to blush. “I did, but he has a try- out tomorrow for the motocross team. It would be nice. Wouldn’t it, sis?” she replied with a knowing smile. “That’s too bad. Maybe Haddi and Ellen could go,” Reb added. Amy shook her head. “Nope. I have decided to invite you guys. What do ya say? Brian, you could bring Jake along if you want.” Brain spoke up. “It sounds a little too good to be true. Reb, are you hearing this too?” Amy laughed. “You guys.” “Just checking to see if I am awake,” Brain said. “Amy, do you really want us to come?” asked Reb. “I mean, of all the people you could ask.” Amy smiled and said, “Well, I have thought about it, and there just isn’t anyone I would rather go with than you guys. You could bring your sketchbook, Brian, and Reb, you could snap photos and videos of interesting plants on the way. We will only be gone two days. What do you say?” they both nodded, then Maria came into the kitchen. “I can’t do your fencing for you,” she said in her heavily accented voice. Maria is a friend of Jason’s; he hired her as a housekeeper and a tutor for Amy, Brian and Reb. She is a master of martial arts and is teaching them fencing as well. She is a native Japanese. Reb and Brain jumped up from the table and ran to their lockers, suiting up. In a few minutes, they were all standing at attention in the training room, hel- mets under their arms, ready for a lesson. Maria looked them over. “Brian your stance is too tense; you need to relax and be loose but firm. Start your warm-up.” The door opened, and Amy walked in, suited up. Maria smiled. “Miss Amy, thank you for joining us.” Amy had already gone through basic fencing and was now studying the higher arts. She smiled and got right into the warm-up, watching Reb and Brian closely, offering tips here and there; they always thought they were the best of scholars under Amy’s encouraging insight and motivation. “Brian! A master doesn’t slump but keeps his back straight, and Reb, precision is the key. Focus on doing it perfectly, and speed will come, but it will be useless without precision.” Maria stood in silence, observing the exercise with a slight smile on her face. When the warm-up was complete, Maria said, “Ok, assume fighting stance, draw your blade, position one, position two, position four, position seven, block, hook, spin, and again, flow with it, Brian. Let the movements be like flowing water.” She then turned to Amy, who had come up beside her. “Miss Amy, they idolize you. You mustn’t spoil them.” Amy laughed. “Well, with everything else in our lives, they are my family. Many of my friends in school don’t have much of a family life, like I do, and for that I am truly thankful. Could I talk to you a moment?” Amy asked in a lowered voice. Maria raised her eyebrows. “Miss Amy, what’s wrong?” “You seem to know some of Dad’s past,” Amy said. “Yes, miss!” Maria answered. “Do you remember anyone by the name of Carla?” Maria stiffened ever so slightly, but it was as if she had hit a nerve; the color drained from her face. “Amy, tell me what happened,” Maria said, an edge to her voice. Amy blinked a few times, then in a low voice, she began to speak, and she described how she had been mending a bird feeder when the car had pulled up. She had been home early from school, then she noticed her father standing on the porch, so she was going to go to him and be waiting with him, but something held her back, so she just listened from behind the rock fence on the driveway. Maria’s face became pale for a moment, and then she quickly snapped out of it. “It was probably a client of your father’s,” Maria said. Amy thought for a moment. “No, I don’t think so,” she said. “She was someone out of Dad’s past. What did Dad do in Russia? He mentioned that she had been imprisoned in Russia. And he said something about a girl. That’s it. Maria?” Amy said. Maria was beginning to feel a panic come over her. “Maria! Tell me something. Was Carla Daddy’s ex? And perchance did she have a daughter?” Amy asked anxiously. Maria turned, trying to hide her face, trying to think of something to say. Amy could read her like a book, before letting Amy see her face again. She thought to herself she would have to know the truth, but it must come from her father. Amy asked again, “Was she?” “Yes,” Maria said. “Yes. Daddy’s ex, or she had a daughter?” “Both,” Maria said quietly. “So, I have a stepsister probably a bit older than me,” Amy was going on. “Don’t get your hopes up, child. I am sure there is more to the story. You might ask your father about it some time, but Amy! Do it alone, ok?” Maria said softly. “Ok,” Amy replied. After an hour of training, Maria separated the two children. “Rest now for fifteen minutes, then Brian, you with Amy, and Rebecca, you with me—spar in three-minute intervals; start slow, then progress until I stop you. Push yourselves, find the rhythm of the fight, and stay one step ahead. Go.” Four blades clashed slower at first, then they grew in speed, accuracy, and force, sounding like a giant blender whipping its blades together. After forty-five minutes, Maria called a halt. “Very good, young masters. Remember accuracy. Brian, try to focus your power with your thrust. Reb, your footing needs to match the fight. Get it so you don’t have to think about it; learn the technique, and you will never have to think of your footing again. It will be muscle memory. Very good. Clean up. I believe your father will be waiting for you in his study.” With a merry salute, they were off. Brian wasn’t at the top of his game. he couldn’t stop thinking about what had happened with his Dad and the women. he resolved to ask him when he got a chance. he ran to his room, dashed in, and showered. Focused or not, one could never get out of a good workout with Maria. he slipped into blue faded Levi’s and a comfortable T-shirt and walked to the study. Amy and Jason were already there. Reb was right behind him. They all found their favorite spots to sit and waited. Jason didn’t like being interrupted when he was reading. He knew when you walked in and would address you when he was ready, so they waited a few minutes, and the door opened again. It was their Mom returning from work. She was an accountant, as well as a nurse part time at the hospital. Wherever Lovisa went there was sure to be sunshine. Brian felt like he had the best gig in the whole world. His mom was smiling that kind of maternal smile that can only be under- stood by a mom and a child. “Hello, everyone. Everything go good today?” all nodded. Jason put down his book and looked lovingly at his wife. “Well, Lovisa, you had something to tell us.” she gathered Brian and Reb close, hugging them. “Children,” she began, “how do you feel about…” And she paused and looked at Jason. “Another baby?” she finished. “That’s great,” Jason exclaimed. All were ecstatic. Another baby—wow! Life just kept get- ting better. After everyone calmed down, Jason cleared his throat. “Ok, kids. Listen up. In a month your mother and I have planned a trip out to the Grand Canyon and up through Zion Park. We are going to be gone for one week, and we have decided to let you bring one friend of your choosing each, so what do you say about that?”