Sons of Abraham: Pawns of Terror Read Online Free Page A

positioning herself in front of the two screens. “I swear I saw a dead body back there somewhere.”
    Jones offered no reply, instead pulling a pad out from his pocket and pressing a sequence of orders into the device. The two screens, previously showing a blank gray screen, came to life. Jana Wilkes stared back at two other Jana Wilkes’, their outfits matching hers down to the pendant on her shirt. The view was disorienting as the two digital avatars moved and swayed as she did. It was a mirror program, intended to keep the viewer from knowing the identity of whoever was on the opposite end of the transmission. The part she cared the least for was that the unknown users could switch out with someone else and she’d never know it. The program even used her own voice, which was what the group was waiting for. The program needed a sample to generate a voice.
    “We need to make this quick,” she stated. “The sun will be up soon and the President is holding a press conference concerning the courtroom shooting.”
    “Relax Vice President,” the left screen told her. “We assure you that you will be back in time for breakfast. We need your status update.”
    “Yes,” the right screen tacked on. “We NEED your status update.”
    Jana looked to Jones, noting that the man seemed off put by the location of the meeting. His eyes continuously circled the room, as if every dark corner were about to unleash a demon upon him. The clean, tall figure was only a middleman to her, but she’d rather deal directly with the tall man than the two Jana’s on the screens before her.
    “Our status remains unchanged,” she snapped. “We have fulfilled our end and are moving along as scheduled. What news have you?”
    The avatars went back to mimicking her, a sign that those on the other end of the feed were having sidebar conversations. Just once, she’d rather meet face to face. It was impossible to take the upper hand when she couldn’t judge body language, tone, and facial expressions. She guessed the use of the avatars also served to prevent her wishes. She was about to ask Jones to check the connection when the left avatar suddenly stopped mirroring her movements.
    “We are not concerned with your endeavors with the courtroom,” the left screen stated. “We want to know your progress of locating the packages. Have they been found?”
    “Of course not,” she yawned. “You know damn well we’ll never find it.”
    The right screen came alive as Jana was greeted with a displeased version of herself. She made a mental note to make a trip to the beauty clinic after she burned her shoes. The wrinkles between her brows were more concerning than the angry voice of the avatar.
    “YOU HAD BEST FIND IT!” the right screen shouted, the speakers built into the screen cracking. “Our patience is wearing thin, Vice President Wilkes. Perhaps you are in need of motivation?”
    Wilkes closed her eyes and swallowed hard. The last time she needed ‘motivated,’ she found herself short one family member. Still, she hadn’t reached her position by being timid.
    “Yes,” she replied, her eyes snapping open. “I believe I did as you demanded then, did I not?”
    “You did.”
    “Then when do I get to see my sister? I assume she’s dead, but it’d be nice to know where to grieve.”
    “Your sister is no longer your concern. You daughter, however, is. I wonder what the Queen on Eden would do if they discovered Emilia’s planetary documents had been forged? You know how they pride their population control.”
    Jana did her best to keep her jaw straight, her eyes locked forward on her target. Little by little, she wanted nothing more than to tear her own face off the screens, wringing her hands around her own neck. Despite the threat, she held her composure intact.
    “You know full well that the schematics for….” She started.
    “Do not say it!” the left screen interrupted. “We cannot guarantee the security of this