Project Guardian.

Book one: Angel

By SaraUK

 

Chapter 14 of 15

Synopsis:

How far would you be willing to go to protect your sister? Find out how far one brother's willing to, to protect his sister.

Story:

Previously

    Lexi was looking at a man up a telegraph pole working on the phone line and another man just getting out a gas repair van at the other end of the road in her mirror. The thing that had Lexi worried was the boots the two men had on looked to clean and shiny for normal work boots. They looked more like military boots.

     “Lana! I need you to run facial recognition for me on two men.” Lexi said as she put on her special glasses to get an image of the man up the telegraph pole while she pushed some buttons on the dash and soon had an image of the man that had just got out of the gas repair van.

     “You think you got trouble G?” Lana asked, all joking forgotten as she pulled up the two images that Lexi had just sent her.

     “Not sure yet, but these two guys look like ex military to me, and they keep taking little looks at Tim’s house.” Lexi said as she watched them without them realising it.

     “Well you’re spot on with the trouble again G.” Lana said with a whistle at she looked down the two guys files. “They’ve both done work for the CIA in the past. Mostly off the books stuff so it can’t be traced back to them. They both specialise in blowing things up.” Lana added with worry in her voice.

     “They’re going to kill Maggie and Tim as well as Mellissa, and I bet they plan to do it tonight!” Lexi said with anger in her voice. “I’m going to take them out now Lana.” Lexi said as she went to open the car door.

    Lexi wait!” Lana said. “Think about this first. If you kill these two guys, Doug Green will just get the CIA to send a couple more, or find some other way to kill Mellissa.” Lana added with a pleading voice to keep Lexi from making a mistake because of her emotions.

     “So what would you have me do Lana? Just let them all get blown up?” Lexi asked sarcastically.

     “Yes we have to let Mellissa, Maggie and Tim die, Lexi. It’s the only way this will all end.” Lana said with a pained voice at what they had to let happen.

Five hours later

    Two men sat in a car just down the road from Tim’s house; they watched as a woman pulled up in a black mustang and let two of the three targets out of the car before driving away again.

     “Why don’t we just blow the place now?” One of the men said to the other.

     “They want us to take out the mother as well. No one to start asking questions that way.” The second man chuckled an evil laugh. “Just some poor family killed by a gas explosion while eating their evening meal.” He added, like he was reading the headline in the paper already.

     “I hate all this waiting around man!” The first guy said as he sat tapping his foot.

     “I like the wait myself.” The second man said with a sigh. “What we do is an art form, you need to take the time to enjoy your work every once in a while.” He added with passion.

Eight hours later

     “I see a woman walking up the road.” The first guy said to the second one sounding all excited now. “Is that her? The mother of the boy?” He asked.

    The second man got out a photo and looked at the woman walking up the road and then the woman in the photo. “Yes that’s her.”

    Both men watched as the woman walked up the path to the house and then let herself in using a key. The men waited another ten minutes before pushing a button on a little remote. The next thing they saw was flames shoot out all the windows and then a second later a loud bang as the house went up in flames.

     “I never get tired of that.” The second guy said with a smile as he put the car in gear and pulled off down the road as people came running out their houses to see what was going off.

And now the story continues

Eight hours earlier

     “What are you trying to say Lana?” Lexi spat out in anger. “I was being sarcastic when I said about letting them get blown up.” Lexi added.

     “I know you were Lexi, but don’t you see? Making it look like they did their job will take all this pressure of Mellissa.” Lana said in a calm voice as she tried to calm Lexi back down again.

     “What about Tim and Maggie? They will have to be relocated with new names and I.D.” Lexi pointed out.

     “Yes, but they can do it as a family Lexi. A single mother with two beautiful daughters.” Lana said with a smile in her voice.

     “Can we pull all this off in such a short time?” Lexi asked.

     “This is what you do best Lexi.” Lana giggled. “Thinking on your feet.” She added as she waited for Lexi to form a plan.

     “Okay then, I need Bill and Ted to track down three bodies that match Mellissa, Tim and Maggie. Then I’ll need them to match up dentil records from the three bodies to Mellissa, Tim and Maggie.” Lexi told Lana.

     “Bill and Ted are already on the case and have three bodies ready to go as soon as you say the word.” Lana said.

     “I’m going to pop back into the house and plant a couple of mini cams so you can keep an eye on the place while I go and get everything else sorted out.” Lexi said as she got ready to re-enter the house before Maggie came out. “Can you pull up an image of Maggie and get Bill and Ted to make up a mask of her face for me.” Lexi added just before she got out the car and went to the boot before she walked back up to the front door and knocked.

     “Hello again Lexi, long time no see.” Maggie joked with her.

     “Hi Maggie.” Lexi giggled like nothing was wrong. “I’m sorry to be a pain, but can I just pop to your bathroom before we get off? That coffee went straight through me.” Lexi asked.

     “Sure, you know where to find it.” Maggie said as she let Lexi wander off down the hallway while she went to finish getting ready for work.

    Lexi moved with lightning speed as she placed little cameras all over the house, so they could watch what the men did in the house while they were setting everything up for later. Lexi was stood back in the hallway when Maggie finally came out her room ready for work.

     “I can’t thank you enough for doing this Lexi.” Maggie praised her as they walked over to the car and got in it. “I can see why Tim loves this car so much now.” Maggie added as she looked around the inside.

     “It gets me from A to B.” Lexi smiled. Lexi decided it best to not let Maggie know that something was wrong as this would just make people notice things that they didn’t want them to know. It would be better if people thought it was just a gas explosion that killed them all. That’s if it was going to be an explosion that took them all out. Lexi couldn’t see them doing it any other way and still making it look like an accident.

     “Has anyone ever told you that you’re way to modest for your own good Lexi?” Maggie asked with a giggle as Lexi pulled away from the curb.

     “All the time Maggie, but it’s just who I am.” Lexi shrugged.

     “You’re not so modest when you’re beating the crap out of some guy who looked at you funny.” Lana said in Lexi’s ear.

    Lexi wanted to tell her to shut up, but couldn’t with Maggie sat in the car next to her, so she settled for making light conversation with Maggie instead. “Are you looking at another long day then today Maggie?” Lexi asked, hoping to tie down what time she’d be getting out of work and going home.

     “The surgery closes at six, so I should be on my way home by six thirty and walking in the door to a nice dinner by seven.” Maggie said with a dreamy look in her eyes.

    Lexi had to hide a little grin when Maggie was so forthcoming with the information she needed. Lexi knew she would have to wait for Maggie outside work so she could whisk her away to meet up with Tim and Mellissa before she returned to the house dressed as Maggie to fool the bad guys into thinking Maggie was in the house and it was safe for them to blow it up.

     “It must be nice to get home to find Tammy and Mellissa working on dinner together?” Lexi asked as she drove Maggie to work.

     “It’s nice to see Tammy so happy full stop and Mellissa always seem happiest when she’s with Tammy as well.” Maggie said with a thoughtful look.

     “If we did have to move Mellissa for her own safety, would you and Tammy be willing to move with her if she wanted to be with Tammy still?” Lexi asked, hoping to find out if there could be any problems after tonight.

     “I can’t speak for Tammy, but I wouldn’t have any trouble moving some place new, and I know that Tammy would just want to be where Mellissa was.” Maggie said with a thoughtful look. “I was thinking we’d have to move when Tim became Tammy full time anyway.” Maggie added with a shrug of her shoulders.

     “I’ll see what we can sort out then to keep Mellissa and Tammy close friends.” Lexi smiled. Lexi was glad that Maggie was open to the idea of accepting Mellissa as a member of her family. Lexi could already see that Tammy and Mellissa were like sisters to each other. It reminded Lexi of how close her and Alice were at their age.

    Once Maggie had been dropped off at work Lexi went to the school to make sure Mellissa and Tim were okay through the lunch break before she went to help Lana move the three bodies that would replace Mellissa, Tim and Maggie in the fire.

     “Is everything okay Lexi?” Tim asked when he saw Lexi starring off into space deep in thought about something.

     “Yes fine.” Lexi smiled. “Just thinking about some stuff and making sure I haven’t forgotten anything.” Lexi added in a vague answer that Tim or Mellissa wouldn’t understand.

     “Did the chat go okay with my mum?” Tim asked, hoping it wasn’t anything to do with that that had Lexi looking worried.

     “The chat went fine and I told her about me being just like you.” Lexi said with a grin. “She seemed much happier knowing that you could be a normal woman in time. She really cares about you Tim.” Lexi added with a smile.

     “Just as I care about her Lexi.” Tim smiled. “She loves having Tammy around, so that makes her a super mum.” Tim added with a giggle.

     “I think Maggie is amazing.” Mellissa said with a sigh. “Her and my mum would have got on great together if she hadn’t died.” Mellissa added with a sad tone to her voice.

     “Maybe Maggie will adopt you so you and Tammy can live together?” Lexi said with a giggle as she bumped Mellissa with her shoulder.

     “You have no idea how much I wish that would happen Lexi.” Mellissa said with pain in her voice. “I dream of being able to call Maggie mum all the time. She already treats me like another daughter as it is.” Mellissa added.

    Lexi was glad to hear that because after today she just might get her wish. “Was it your mum that taught you how to get that cute gothic look I saw you both with the other night at the mall?”

     “Mum showed me the basics, but I watched a lot of how to’s on you tube. Mum has never been keen on the Goth princess look, but she says I look nothing like Tim, so she lets me get away with it.” Tim giggled some more.

     “What about you Mellissa? Why did you start playing the Goth princess?” Lexi asked with a smile.

     “I liked how cute it made Tammy look, and it was nice to be someone else for a bit.” Mellissa said with a smile. “But most of all it was cool to hang with my Goth sister here.” Mellissa added with a giggled as she bumped shoulders with Tim.

     “I’d love to see how you get the look you both have when all Gothed up.” Lexi said.

     “You’re welcome to watch us anytime Lexi, just as long as you give us a ride to the mall in that sweet car of yours.” Tim said with a grin.

     “I’m beginning to wonder if the only reason you like me is because of my car?” Lexi said with a pout.

     “I love everything about you Lexi.” Tim said looking worried. “If I had a big sister, I’d want her to be just like you.” Tim pleaded with Lexi.

     “I’m not sure I’d want a little Gothic freak for a baby sister though.” Lexi said as she pulled a funny face, but she was soon grinning, so Tim and Mellissa knew she was just teasing them.

     “What about two baby Gothic freak sisters then Lexi?” Mellissa asked with a giggle.

     “Oh if it’s the two of you, then that’s fine.” Lexi giggled as she threw her arms up in the air. This had all three of them laughing.

     “Will you keep in touch with us after your mission is over Lexi?” Tim asked as they got up to head back over to the school.

     “Do you even have to ask me that Tim?” Lexi asked with a hurt look. “How am I going to help your mum bring Tammy out if I didn’t?” Lexi added as she playfully punched him on the arm. Lexi wanted to give him a hug, but didn’t want to cause any trouble if a teacher saw her getting to friendly with a male student.

    Tim and Mellissa both smiled as they thought about having a friend like Lexi to talk to when they had a problem.

    Lexi walked the two kids back into the school and left them at their first class of the afternoon before she went back to her car and set off to find out what the two bad guys had been up to. Lexi had told Lana to leave telling her anything until Mellissa and Tim were back in class.

     “You got an update for me Lana?” Lexi asked as she sat in her car.

     “Yes G. The bad guys have planted a device behind the cooker just like you thought they would, so it will look like the cooker blew up.” Lana filled her in. “We’ve got the van loaded up and ready to go as well. Bill and Ted are tracking the bad guys at the minute, but it doesn’t look like they have anyone watching the house for the time being.” Lana added.

     “No need to watch the house as they know what time Mellissa and Tim will get home, and also what time Maggie will arrive.” Lexi said. “Hanging around all day waiting for them all to get home would only get the cops called out on them. She added with a sigh.

     “This will work Lexi, have some faith in yourself.” Lana said as she tried to help make Lexi feel a little better about their plan.

     “I just hope they wait for Maggie to get home, or I could be sending Mellissa and Tim home to get killed.” Lexi said with some doubt in her voice.

     “You know the bad guys will want to take out Maggie at the same time as Mellissa and Tim.” Lana said. “They won’t want some grieve stricken mother forcing the police to investigate the gas explosion.” Lana pointed out.

     “I know your right Lana, but I just feel bad about letting them go into the house without me going in with them.” Lexi growled with anger towards the two men willing to kill a couple of kids and a single mum just because some asshole told them to.

     “I know how you feel Lexi, but just drop them off and tell them to get changed into their cute little gothic girl outfits and then head to the mall so I can pick them up with Alice’s help. Then you can head over and meet up with Maggie and stop her from going home so you can take her place.” Lana explained the plan to Lexi again to get her mind back on track.

     “Are you sure Sarah will be okay stopping in the command centre with Bill and Ted while we do all this?” Lexi asked with worry in her voice about Sarah watching Lexi walk into a house that was about to be blown up around her.

     “Sarah will have to get use to watching you go on dangerous missions sooner or later Lexi. You could call this a trial by fire.” Lana giggled. “Sorry bad joke.” Lana giggled some more.

     “Glad to see someone’s still got a sense of humour.” Lexi said heavy with sarcasm.

    Lexi now found herself in a waiting game. She was waiting for Alice and Sarah to get back from college so Alice could put on a mask to make her look like Lexi did at the minute, so her and Lana could drive the already dead bodies over to the house and wait for Mellissa and Tammy to get ready and leave, so they can then set up the bodies around the table in the kitchen ready for when the house blows up.

    Lana wanted to set up the bodies before Mellissa and Tammy left to go to the mall, but Lexi had said no to that plan. Lexi didn’t want them seeing the dead bodies before they left the house as it would freak them out to much. Lexi was planning on keeping most of what would be happening tonight from them until it was all over.

*****

    Lana was just checking some details on the computer in the coms room when she saw Alice and Sarah walk in looking worried. Lana had called them in the middle of a class and told them to come home right away. Lana had used the code words that Alice’s Gran was sick. Alice knew it was an emergency.

     “What’s wrong Lana? Has something happened to Lexi?” Alice asked.

     “No, but we have found out that they plan to blow up Tim’s house with Mellissa, Tim and Maggie in it tonight, so we’ve got to let it happen, but plant some bodies at the crime scene to make it look like they really did die in the explosion.” Lana told Alice and Sarah as she walked over and pulled them both into a hug.

     “What can we do to help?” Sarah asked wanting to do anything to feel like part of the team.

     “Alice will need to come with me so we can pick up the girls from the mall.” Lana said. “You need to use a mask to make you look like Lexi does at the minute, and I need you to help Bill and Ted here in coms and keep in touch with Lexi while the mission plays out.” Lana added as she looked at Sarah.

     “Why can’t Lexi meet the girls at the mall?” Sarah asked as she sensed Lana wasn’t telling her something.

     “Lexi will be stopping Maggie from going home and then taking her place.” Lana said looking worried as to how Sarah was going to react to this piece of news.

     “What! Are you trying to tell me that Lexi is going to enter the house and then get blown up?” Sarah asked as it finally sank in.

     “Yes Sarah that is what I’m telling you.” Lana said looking very series. “This is what she does, and she’s damn good at it as well.” Lana added not looking worried.

     “Lexi will be fine Sarah.” Alice said with a smile. “I’ve seen her get shot and blown up a number of times and she’s always survived them.” Alice added.

     “Yes, but you didn’t know it was Alexis at the time! You can’t tell me that you’re not a little worried for her safety?” Sarah asked.

     “I’m always worried about her safety Sarah, even before I knew who she was, but Lexi is very good at this and I know she will be just fine.” Alice said as she pulled a shaking Sarah into a hug.

     “Lexi is waiting to speak to you on the coms Sarah, and Alice and I need to see about getting off.” Lana said as she led Sarah over to the coms unit and got Sarah set up to feed Lexi information as it came in.

     “Hello Lexi, are you there?” Sarah asked in a whisper once Lana had her sat down and set up.

     “Hi Saz. Has Lana explained everything to you?” Lexi asked.

     “Yes and I’m not happy about you getting blown up.” Sarah said trying to make light of it all, but Lexi could still hear the worry in her voice. “If you go getting yourself killed, I will bring you back just so I can kill you myself.” Sarah said in a warning tone.

     “That would be something worth dying for.” Lexi giggled.

     “Don’t joke about any of this Lexi.” Sarah snapped angrily. “This is all still new to me, and I’m having trouble dealing with it.” Sarah added much calmer this time.

     “I’m sorry Saz, but this is just a normal every day thing for me, apart from having a couple of nice kids involved.” Lexi said with a sigh.

     “I’m not worried for them Lexi.” Sarah said with a smile in her voice. “If anyone can get them and Maggie out of this in one piece, you can.”

     “I’m glad to hear you have so much faith in me.” Lexi said.

     “I’ve seen you in action remember?” Sarah giggled. “Lana and Alice have just left. Lana said she’d call you when they got close.” Sarah added.

     “I better go and pick Mellissa and Tim up from school then and get this little party started.” Lexi said looking at the time.

     “Okay lover.” Sarah purred in Lexi’s ear piece. “Bill says the bad guys are parked out on the road again waiting for the kids to get home. You don’t think they’ll blow it up earlier than you said?” Sarah asked with panic in her voice.

     “No, they will just sit and watch to make sure they get all of them when they blow it up.” Lexi said angrily.

     “Well go and play nice with the other boys and girls dear.” Sarah said in a motherly way just before she giggled.

     “Okay mummy, but I like it rough.” Lexi whined using a little girl voice.

     “Make it home safe and I’ll let you play rough with me all night long.” Sarah said with a smile in her voice.

     “Now that’s something to live for.” Lexi giggled.

    Lexi had been driving her car back to the school as she spoke with Sarah, so they ended the talk as Lexi parked up in the school car park and waited for Mellissa and Tim to walk over to her.

     “I’d wish you luck Lexi, but I know you make your own. I’ll see you later.” Sarah said before turning off the mike. Lexi thought it sounded like Sarah was telling her that she would see her later, like it was an order.

    Tim was soon opening the car door and getting in the back, and then Mellissa got in the front and closed the door. Lexi was soon taking a slow drive back towards Tim’s house so she could speak to them about what she needed them to do when they got home.

     “I don’t want any questions about this from either of you, but I want you both to get changed into your gothic girl clothing when you get home. I then need you both to sneak out the back like you did the other day and head to the same mall I followed you around.” Lexi said as she looked at Mellissa sat next to her.

     “Are you expecting trouble Lexi?” Tim asked from the back seat.

     “What did I just say about no questions?” Lexi asked with a frown. “Please just get in, get changed and get back out the house and head to the mall as fast as you can. Lana will talk to you on this when she gets there to meet up with you.” Lexi handed Mellissa an ear wig to put in her ear so Lana and Alice could let them know when they got to the mall. “I need you both to leave your mobiles at home when you leave the house, and don’t call anyone once you’re out the house either.” Lexi warned them.

    Will you be at the mall as well Lexi?” Mellissa asked.

     “I should be, but if I’m not I’ll meet up with you later back here.” Lexi said so as not to worry them too much. Lexi knew that Alice would be meeting them as her, but she didn’t want them thinking it odd that Lana would be the one doing all the talking to them on the ear wig. Alice hadn’t had any dealings with Mellissa or Tim, so she wouldn’t be able to hold a conversation with either of them for long.

    Tim and Mellissa looked at each other with worried looks but both said okay. Lexi was soon pulling up outside the house, she sat and watched the two of them get out and walk up to the house. Lexi drove off again once they were safely inside. She just hoped they were now getting changed into the little gothic princesses she’d seen the other night at the mall.

     “Lexi, it’s Sarah here, Bill asked me to let you know that he’s blocking all radio signals to and from the house just in case the bad guys don’t want to wait. He said they won’t have a choice now.” Sara said the last part like she didn’t understand what Bill was trying to say.

    Lexi understood perfectly, and she let out a sigh of relief knowing that Mellissa and Tim would be safe until they got out the house. “Thanks Bill, and you too Ted. You’ve both done an amazing job today with all this.” Lexi said as she parked up just down the road from where Mellissa and Tammy would be getting on the bus. She wanted to make sure they got on okay and weren’t being followed by anyone.

     “We all did our own little part dudette. It’s all part of being a great team.” Bill’s voice said in her ear.

    Lexi sat in her car looking at the bus stop for just over half an hour before she saw the same two gothic girls from the other night step out of the alleyway and stand near the bus stop like they were waiting for friends. The bus pulled up and they waited unit the last minute to get on it. Lexi had told them about this trick to make sure you weren’t being followed. They weren’t, so Lexi let out another sigh as she watched the bus pull away with the two girls safely onboard. Lexi thought that both girls looked pretty in a very gothic way. One of them was dressed in a black t-shirt with the word Princess wrote across the front in silver, and she was wearing a short tartan skirt over fishnet stocking with holes ripped in them. She was also wearing a pair of pink Doc Martin boots.

    The second girl was wearing a red velvet dress with a black studded choker around her neck, she was also wearing fishnets, but hers were purple in colour and she was wearing black knee high boots. Lexi had no idea which girl was Tammy, and which girl was Mellissa. They both had very gothic looking makeup on, and both had black wigs on to give them very wild spiky hair to go with it.

    Lexi got out her car and made her way up the alley to the back of the house and then slipped into the back garden to wait for Alice and Lana to arrive in a van with the bodies. She didn’t have to wait long for Lana to pull up in a van. Lexi soon had the back doors on the van open and was taking the first body into the house, she then came back and did the same with the other two. Alice and Lana let Lexi do the heavy lifting due to her being much stronger than either of them.

     “Please come back to me in one piece sis.” Alice said as she gave Lexi a hug in the kitchen.

     “Don’t worry sis, I plan to go on a lot more missions with you yet.” Lexi said with a grin as she hugged Alice back. Lexi then pulled Lana into a hug. “I’m counting on you to look after my sister on the off chance that this does go wrong.” Lexi whispered in Lana’s ear.

    Lana broke the hug and gave Lexi a look that said she didn’t need to ask that as it was a given. Lana also had a look that said you better come back. “I’ll see you later back at base G.” Lana said.

     “Mellissa has the ear wig, so give her a call once you get to the mall, and you should be able to act like me long enough to get them to safety. I’ll meet you here.” Lexi said as she pointed out a spot on a map. It was a quiet road where Lexi could let Maggie out of her car and into the van Lana was driving without any risk of being seen while they did it.

    Alice and Lana hugged Lexi once more before they left the house out the back again. Lexi changed into her cat suit and armour, leaving her guardian helmet in the house near the front door so she could slip in on as soon as she entered the house later. Lana had already given her the mask and wig to help her fool the bad guys into thinking she was Maggie coming home from work. The outfit would look wrong, but Lexi was hoping the thugs wouldn’t be looking that closely at what she was wearing, and the face would match any photos they might have.

*****

     “She’ll be alright Alice.” Lana said as she drove the van towards the mall, so they could meet up with Tammy and Mellissa, and get them to safety.

     “I know Lana, but it just feels different knowing that my sister is the one taking all the risks,” Alice said from the passenger seat.

     “Do you know I had the same talk with Lexi while you were going on every one of them missions before you knew who she was?” Lana asked with a smile. “Lexi wanted to go in your place, even though she’s nowhere near as brainy as you. She just wanted her sister to have a happy normal life.” Lana added as she put a hand on Alice’s knee to comfort her.

     “Sounds like Lexi doesn’t it? Always trying to protect her baby sister.” Alice giggled at her and Alex’s old joke about him being older than her by a couple of minutes.

    Lana was soon parking the van in the car park and then she and Alice made their way into the mall. Lana called Bill on her mobile and got him to patch her through to the ear wig Lexi had given Mellissa.

     “Hi Mellissa, can you hear me?” Lana asked. Lana heard a little squeal before she heard Mellissa speak. “Yes I can, but you just scared me to death.” Mellissa said in an angry whisper.

     “Sorry about that, but these things don’t come with ringers attached like a mobile.” Lana said as she walked with Alice into the mall. “Did you and Tammy get to the mall without any trouble?” Lana asked.

     “Yes we got here without any trouble, but we did see Peter and Ken on the bus, but they never realised who we were.” Mellissa told her. “It freaked Tammy out a little bit, but she’s calmed down again now.” Mellissa added.

     “Where are you now?” Lana asked, wanting to find the girls and keep them safe from anymore trouble.

     “We’re sat in the food court having a drink. Lexi said it was good to stay in public places if anything like this happened.” Mellissa said. “Is Lexi with you Lana?” Mellissa asked with worry in her voice.

     “Yes Lexi is stood with me know, and we’re making our way over to the food court to meet up with you.” Lana said as she pointed for Alice to go in the direction of the food court. “We’ll be with you soon Mellissa.” Lana added before ending the call and getting a move on.

    Tammy and Mellissa where sat at a table with a drink between them when they saw Lexi and another woman walking towards them. They both thought that Lexi looked a little distracted and not her normal self, but they just put it down to her being worried about whatever the reason was for all this cloak and dagger stuff.

    Lana and Alice took a seat each at the table before either of them spoke. “Hi girls, I’m Lana. It’s nice to finally meet you face to face.” Lana smiled.

     “Hi Lana.” Tammy and Mellissa said at the same time.

     “Can you tell us what’s going on now Lexi?” Tammy asked as she looked at Alice thinking she was Lexi.

     “Not yet, and not here Tammy.” Alice said as she looked around like they were in trouble if they stopped any longer. Alice was trying to act more like she’d seen Lexi do for the past week.

     “Let’s get the two of you out of here and some place safe, and then we can explain the reason for all this secretive stuff.” Lana said in a lowered voice just before standing up and helping Alice to her feet.

    Tammy and Mellissa got up and followed Lexi and Lana out of the mall and over to a white van parked out in the parking area, not realising for one second that Lexi wasn’t really Lexi. They all got in the van and Lana set off to meet up with the real Lexi so they could pick up Maggie and then take them all to the complex and safety.

     “Why are we stopping here?” Mellissa asked looking worried when Lana stopped the van on a quiet road away from any traffic. “And why aren’t you saying very much Lexi?” She added as she realised that Lexi had hardly spoke two words since leaving the mall.

    Tammy was just about to ask something when the side door opened on the van and they got the shock of their young life’s.

*****

    Maggie was surprised to see Lexi parked just down the road from the surgery she worked at, but she got in and smiled at Lexi until she saw the worried look Lexi was giving her.

     “What’s wrong Lexi? Has something happened to Tim or Mellissa?” Maggie asked in a panic.

     “Tammy and Mellissa are both safe and sound, but I must warn you that none of you will be if you go home.” Lexi warned. She then went on to explain everything to Maggie as she drove her to the meeting place.

     “Why is he doing this Lexi?” Maggie asked once Lexi had finished telling her about the house being wired to blow up and the fact that it was Mellissa’s step dad doing it all with the help of some nasty friends from the CIA.

     “Same thing as it all ways comes down to Maggie. Money, plain and simple.” Lexi told her. “Mellissa is worth a lot of money, and I think Doug tried to kill Mellissa and her mother that night they were in the car crash, but Mellissa lived, so he’s been trying to get her to kill herself for the past two years using pressure to make her commit suicide.”

     “I never did like that man from the first time I ever spoke to him.” Maggie said angrily. “Won’t he just keep trying to kill her when he finds out that we didn’t die tonight in the house?” Maggie asked looking worried again.

     “No, because as far as him or anyone else will know, you, Tim and Mellissa would have died in the explosion.” Lexi said. “We’ve planted some bodies in the house for the police and fire service to find after the fire is put out, so everyone will think you all died.” Lexi added as she drove along.

     “Oh god Lexi, you didn’t kill anyone to make all this work did you?” Maggie asked as she put her hands up to her mouth in shock.

     “Relax Maggie; no one has been hurt yet. We have accesse to bodies for things just like this.” Lexi said in a soothing way.

     “Relax? How can I relax when you’ve just told me that I’m going to be blown up in my own home?” Maggie asked.

     “Sorry Maggie, bad choice of words.” Lexi said just before she held up her hand to stop Maggie speaking when she heard Sarah start talking to her.

     “Alice and Lana have the girls and are on their way to meet you now Lexi.” Sarah’s voice said in her ear.

     “Thanks for that Sarah; I’ll let Maggie know they’re safe.” Lexi said with a sigh of relief that Alice and Lana had got to Mellissa and Tammy without any trouble.

     “Thank me later in person baby!” Sarah shouted at her.

    Lexi just giggled as she looked at a very puzzled Maggie sat next to her. “Don’t look so worried Maggie. I’ve got headquarters on coms in my ear telling me that they have Tammy and Mellissa safe and sound in the van with them, and they are on their way to meet up with us.”

     “Will we all be going someplace safe after that?” Maggie asked.

     “You and the others will, but I have some things to do before I can join you.” Lexi said, not wanting to tell Maggie that she’d be taking her place and going back to the house.

    Lexi pulled up behind a white van and got out before helping Maggie get out and then they both walked over to the van and opened the side door. Lexi had to stop herself from giggling when she saw the look Mellissa and Tammy gave her.

    Tammy and Mellissa looked at Lexi stood next to Tammy’s mum, and then they looked at Lexi sat in the front seat of the van next to Lana who was behind the wheel. Both girls looked very pretty in a gothic way, but they also looked cute as they looked puzzled as to how they could be seeing two Lexi’s.

    Maggie couldn’t work out the shocked and puzzled looks she was seeing from the two girls at first, but she too had the same look soon enough when she saw Another Lexi sat in the front of the van with another woman.

     “I see you’ve met my sister then?” The real Lexi asked with a grin.

     “How can there be two of you?” Tammy finally asked in a very feminine sounding voice. “Which is the real one? She added with a puzzled look.

     “I’m kind of the real Lexi, and this is my sister Alice.” Lexi said as she held her hand up towards Alice sat in the front of the van.

     “Have you both been looking after us at school then?” Mellissa finaly asked once she found her voice.

     “No, that’s just been me doing all that. Alice was just helping me out tonight, so I could go and get your mum and bring her here.” Lexi said as she helped Maggie get into the van and give the two girls a hug.

     “I’m so glad to see you both safe and sound.” Maggie said as she pulled the two girls into a hug with her.

     “What’s wrong mummy?” Tammy asked. “Why wouldn’t we be safe?”

     “I’m sorry Maggie, but I haven’t told them anything about this yet.” Lexi pointed out to Maggie. “I need to get going now, but I’ll see you all later back at my place.” Lexi added as she slid the side door shut and then went to the front passenger window, so she could give Alice another hug before she went back to her car and then a date with a bomb.

     “Please come back in one piece sis.” Alice said with worry and pleading in her voice as she leaned out the van window and gave Lexi another hug.

     “You know me sis. I’m like a cockroach, no matter how many times you try to kill me, I just keep coming back for more.” Lexi said with a grin before she left them to drive one way, while got in her car and headed back towards Tammy and Maggie’s house.

    Lexi parked her car in the alley behind the house so she could make a quick get away after the explosion. Then she changed the mask she had on for the one that would make her look like Maggie. Then she pinned her hair up and slipped on the red wig to make her hair match Maggie’s. She didn’t look perfect, but it was close enough to fool the two guys sat in the car watching for her to return home.

    Maggie had left her purse in the car after Lexi told her to, so Lexi got out the car and threw the purse over her shoulder like she’d seen Maggie do, and then walked out of the alley and then made her way round to the front of the house just like Maggie did most nights of the week. She was also wearing Maggie’s coat so most of her cat suit and all her body armour was covered up for her short walk to the house.

    Once in the house Lexi ripped of the mask and wig before putting on her guardian helmet and then running for the bathroom and the safety of the bathtub full of water that she’d filled before leaving to go and meet up with Maggie. Lexi had only just made it into the tub as a loud explosion ripped through the house and flames engulfed everything.

*****

    Sarah let out a scream as she saw all the monitors showing the inside of the house go to static and Lexi’s coms go silent. “Lexi? Lexi? Speak to me baby!” Sarah said with fear in her voice.

    Lana and Alice ran into the coms centre with Maggie, Tammy and Mellissa following close behind. Alice and Lana had told them on the way back to the base what Lexi was going to do. They were all worried about her, and the way Sarah was panicking right now wasn’t helping to calm them down.

    Sarah lost it when she saw Alice enter the room and she let Alice wrap her arms around her as she sobbed on Alice’s shoulder. “She’s not answering Alice. Why isn’t she answering me?” Sarah asked.

    Lana had taken over the coms again now and she was not having any more luck than Sarah had trying to get Lexi on the coms.

 

To Be Continued Tomorrow  

 

Story by SaraUK

 

Edited and Posted by SamanthaK