Anaz-Voohri by Vijaya Schartz Read Free Book Online Page B

appeared as they should—his blog, his drawings, the portraits of Ashley, and some of the information he’d gleaned through his communications with his sister.
    The thought of Ashley squeezed Zack’s heart, but although she probably wouldn’t communicate anymore, he believed her to be safe. If the Anaz-voohri had wanted her dead, they’d have killed her long ago.
    Lobo stretched on the rug and yawned. “Got a blanket?”
    Zack threw him a pillow and a comforter, then slipped between the covers, exhausted. He’d probably flunk anthropology by not turning in his paper tomorrow. So be it. His sister came first.
     
    *****
     
    Kavak couldn’t believe she had been so blind. She hovered around her personal chamber, then stopped in front of the clear bulkhead to gaze at the blue planet, Earth. All this time, the little brat named Ashley had been sending messages to her brother down there. How much did the young man know? At least, the girl wouldn’t blab again. Kavak made sure the surgeons erased her memories for good this time. Again she castigated herself for not killing the brother when she had the chance, two years ago. Now he’d become a nuisance.
    At her console, Kavak scanned the various wave frequencies around the blue planet, trying to figure out how much information had leaked. She came upon something flaunting the name Anaz-voohri. Surprised, she explored on her three-dimensional screen the information posted there for all to see. She hissed when she saw her own face, along with an accurate rendition of the nursery where the girls were kept. Little Ashley had been busy, indeed.
    Kavak couldn’t afford a slip up in the current political climate among the Anaz-voohri, and this young man constituted a liability. But Kavak couldn’t go there or send someone to take care of...Zack. That was the brother’s name. At least not now. Any intervention would be an admission of her mistake. And although it might seem like an easy task, it could very well be a trap. Besides, any further Anaz-voohri sighting on Earth would rally the population to the very belief Kavak wanted to suppress.
    No. Kavak would have to go on as planned and bide her time, but she also needed to silence the exasperating Zack Duncan once and for all.
     
     
     

Chapter Five
     
     
    Los Angeles – Summer 2005
    Elated, Zack grinned at Lobo as they walked out of the NBC studio on Alameda Avenue. “Told you they’d go for it." He unbuttoned his navy blue blazer, wishing he’d brought a change of clothes.
    Lobo, who hadn’t gone on stage, looked comfortable in his black leather jacket. “All they want is ratings, right?”
    “I know. But I don’t care, as long as people hear the true story.”
    Lobo flipped back his long black hair. “It was awesome how you showed that talk show host you could handle him.”
    Zack chuckled. “The guy wanted to make me look like a loony, but I have the truth on my side. I’m young but not stupid." He winked. “After all, I did write a darn good book." He patted his inside breast pocket where he kept a copy of Alien in my Sister’s Bedroom . The title reeked of sensationalism, but it brought a lot of media coverage. It was part of the strategy.
      “After an interview like that on national TV, we’re going to get a lot more hits on the website, dude." Lobo sounded even more excited than Zack.
    The sun had set already, and dusk quickly turned to night as they strode toward the parking garage where Zack had left the Kawasaki. He stopped before crossing the driveway. “Even if they don’t buy the book, more people will find out what’s going on. That’s what we want."
    They waited on the curb to let a security guard in an electric car pass by at a snail pace. The guard gave them a vacant stare. The show audience had long left and the place looked deserted.
    Lobo stepped onto the tarmac. “Dude, they’re entitled to the truth. It’s their planet."
    Once inside the parking garage, Zack pushed the