Page 6 of Enchanted Hero
A powerful senator stepped forward. “There was someone outside during the tornado, but she didn’t return.”
“I saw her from the window,” Alexander acknowledged. “The lady is unharmed.”
“Do you know who she is?” A senior editor from the New York Times, one of the few media outlets he allowed to cover his events, raised his cell phone, no doubt already recording. “We could only tell it was a woman from her dress.”
“I’m not sure,” Alexander fibbed, relaxing slightly. While her exclusion from the official guest list would help hide her identity, it was possible someone would recognize her. “It was too dark to distinguish her features.”
“What about the man?”
Alexander froze. Fought to remain calm. “What man?”
“The man in the tornado.” A tall, willowy influencer with purple hair and matching fingernails clutched her phone. “I shot video through the window. A man was controlling the tornado.”
As a thousand eyes widened, Alexander stood to his full height. “A man controlling a tornado? I’m sorry, Dara, but that’s almost as believable as your last video – the one with the dancing crocodiles.” He softened the words with a light grin, and she smiled, yet not all in the crowd laughed.
The senator’s face remained stoic. “I don’t believe in dancing crocodiles, but I also saw a man in the tornado. And unbelievably enough, he appeared to be controlling it, until they both disappeared.”
Dara tapped her phone. “I’ve already uploaded the video to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. There are over fifty-thousand hits, and most agree it’s not natural.”
Not good.Yet there was no time for rebuttal as loud shouting shook the room, amidst the arrival of a legion. Police workers, medical personnel and more flooded the area, and behind them a gaggle of reporters, their cameras raised high, microphones poised beneath rapidly-moving lips. Security personnel stopped the last group from entering, but they had a good view through the open door. Yet even they weren’t as threatening as the large man in the dark suit, leading an army of similarly suited men and women.
Really. Not. Good.
The man stopped in the center the crowd. “I’m special agent Dax Andrews, and I have questions for everyone. Unless you require medical assistance, remain where you are until you are cleared by our agents.”
Not in his domain.Alexander strode forward. “I’m Alexander Stone. What agency do you work for?”
“We know who you are, Mr. Stone,” the man responded curtly. “I work for the Federal Department of National Security, but I’m on special assignment with the Scientific Institute of Research and Investigation. This is their representative, Dr. Edmund Garrison.” He pointed to a thin man with wavy blond hair, crisp clothing and intelligent green eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses.
Alexander stiffened. Why was a scientist in his home? “Now that the danger has passed, my guests would like to continue their evening.”
“And they will, as soon as we get their statements.” The agent gave him a speculative look. “I’d like a longer conversation with you, though.”
Not going to happen.“I have nothing to share. I was dealing with business in my private quarters at the time of the incident. I only just returned.”
“That’s interesting,” Agent Andrews removed a tablet from his jacket pocket. “Was anyone with you?”
“My head of security.” Alexander gestured to Carter, who scowled.
The agent barely noticed. “Do you know the man in the tornado?”
“A man in a tornado?” Alexander let out a low chuckle. “Don’t tell me you believe that nonsense. Did you catch last week’s viral sensation – the dancing crocodiles?”
“This is different.” Dr. Garrison peered closer. “There are hundreds of witnesses.”
“Hundreds of witnesses looking through a torrential rainstorm.” Alexander straightened his sleeves. “Not exactly a crystal-clear picture. Clearly, it was an illusion.”
“A lot of people – and the video – disagree with you.” Agent Andrews typed furiously on the tablet, before turning it toward Alexander. It displayed a still shot of the video playing on cell phones around the room, and likely the world. Alexander barely managed to retain his stoic expression at Everleigh’s grainy image. “What about the woman? Do you deny her existence as well?”
Protective instincts flared to life. “Of course not. The woman was unharmed. She left after the storm.”
“We would like to talk to her.”
So would he.“There were over two thousand people here today, many of whom were guests of guests. I could not possibly keep track of every person.”
“But you are meticulous with security.” The agent’s gaze was unwavering. “Don’t you record everyone who enters?”
“I do,” Alexander acknowledged. “But that still wouldn’t tell you which of the thousands of guests, or hundreds of employees, it could be.” He kept his face impassive, even as the researcher’s eyes narrowed, as the agent regarded him with blatant disbelief. Lying was a necessary art of his people, and it usually worked well. Yet now…
