Chapter 212: Chapter 212 - TAL
Iyisha slowed at the entrance without meaning to as she stepped inside and looked around. The floor beneath her was smooth and polished, and the chandelier above gave off a steady warm light that reflected under her feet.
She moved forward and felt the rug under her shoes, thick and placed along the path where people actually walked.
A long table stood against the wall with fresh flowers arranged in a glass vase, the stems cut evenly and the petals full. A tray sat beside it with glasses lined up clean and untouched.
A couch rested near the corner with light fabric pulled tight over it, with cushions arranged and a folded throw placed over the arm.
The house looked expensive.
Darius’ place in Whitewater felt rough compared to this.
Iyisha stepped closer to the flowers and touched one lightly.
"My wife wants fresh flowers every day," Arnulf said from behind her as he stepped into view holding a glass of dark liquid. "Cognac?"
Iyisha turned while the others shook their heads, and Arnulf only smiled before setting the glass down. "Then let’s get to business," he said as he turned. "Follow me."
"You heard the man," Aljun said as he moved first, and Iyisha glanced at Malcolm for a second before following.
They moved deeper into the house as the open space narrowed into a hallway, and the air felt cooler. The walls were lined with paintings in heavy frames with gold trim.
Arnulf slowed at a turn where a large painting filled the wall from floor to ceiling, showing a war scene with bodies and smoke.
"Don’t freak out," he said with a grin as he faced them.
The painting slid to the side and revealed a metal door.
"That was cool," Lance said as he stepped forward.
Iyisha looked at the door. It was thick and heavy, with a panel on the right.
Her hand moved to her holster as the thought came fast. A hidden door like this meant something was being kept in.
Arnulf stepped forward and placed his hand on the scanner, then leaned in as a light passed over his eye.
The lock clicked and the door opened.
Cool air came out from inside as they stepped through into a bright room where screens covered the walls in rows.
Men turned at their entrance. Some stood from their seats while others set aside the folders they were holding.
This looked like an operation. People moved around the room with purpose, some wearing headsets and listening in, others focused on the screens, and a few flipping through folders at their stations. It was active, organized, and hidden at the same time.
"Arnulf," one of them said, pointing to a screen, "they’re moving."
Arnulf turned and walked toward it. "Come," he said, and they followed.
A truck moved across the screen and slowed at a building, then the gate opened and it drove inside before the feed went still.
"What was that?" Iyisha asked, her voice tight.
Arnulf looked at them, then back at the screen. "People," he said.
"People?" Marybeth stepped closer, eyes fixed on the screen.
Arnulf crossed his arms, his jaw tightening as he looked at the empty feed. "We believe they’re sneaking people out of Manhattan, and we’ve been tracking movements like this for months. Since my family..." He paused and exhaled.
"Since your family is what?" Lance asked.
Iyisha turned and shot him a look.
Arnulf didn’t react. "My wife and daughter were reported to have escaped Manhattan more than a year ago, and I never believed it."
"You think they were taken," Iyisha said.
He nodded once.
He stepped away from the screen and moved toward the center of the room. "We are the TAL."
Aljun stepped forward, too quick. "Truth and Liberation."
Arnulf gave a small nod. "Yes. Thank you, Aljun."
Marybeth frowned. "You’re what? Like a terrorist?"
Arnulf shook his head.
"A rebel," Lance said.
Arnulf glanced at him, then gestured around the room. "We’re just people trying to find our families, and trying to understand what’s happening to those who disappear."
Iyisha’s chest tightened. "Wait," she said. "We came here to look for my sister, Cenabelle Clarcke."
"Iyisha," Malcolm said low.
She looked at him, her eyes already wet, but she didn’t back down.
He held her gaze for a second, then exhaled and stepped back.
Arnulf nodded once. "Aljun told us, and we’ve already read her file. She was transferred, right?"
"She came here three years ago," Iyisha said, "to help with the hydro energy project. She was one of the engineers."
"And like hundreds of others, she disappeared," Arnulf said, his jaw tightening again.
Iyisha pointed at the screen. "Do you know what that place is?"
Arnulf shook his head. "No. It’s heavily guarded, and even someone like me couldn’t get access."
Iyisha’s shoulders dropped as the weight of that settled in.
Malcolm stepped closer and touched her arm, and she leaned into him, holding on as she tried to steady her breathing.
"Where is she?" she said under her breath.
"We’ll find her." Malcolm whispered in her ear. She nodded in earnest. Yes, they will.
Arnulf turned. "Come on."
They followed him into an adjacent room where a long table sat at the center with chairs around it, set up for meetings and planning.
"This couldn’t be the place," Arnulf said as he leaned over the table and spread a map of Manhattan. "We believe there’s a subway system used for transport out of the city." He pointed to a marked line. "It runs through here and connects to the Bronx."
Iyisha leaned in and followed where he pointed. She remembered the subway lines that once ran out of Manhattan.
"What are you going to do?" Malcolm asked.
Arnulf exhaled and straightened. "Just as people aren’t allowed in, getting out of Manhattan is just as controlled," he said. "The guards at the borders aren’t only there to stop people from sneaking in."
He looked at Iyisha. "We want to use you."
Iyisha frowned and pointed at herself. "Me?"
Arnulf nodded. "They’re already looking for you. After you were identified on the cameras, the radios started buzzing with your location."
Iyisha’s chest tightened.
Arnulf shook his head. "That hospital was a trap. They were trying to draw you in."
She straightened and gripped Malcolm’s arm. "What do you want me to do?"
Arnulf held her gaze. "We want you to act as a distraction."
