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.”