“You put that shit inside me?” Struggling against his bonds, Schmidt sniffed hard and twitched his nose. Doubt morphed into anger then twined with fear, their toggling results surfed his expressions yet were unable to settle until horror triumphed.
“Ah, wrong location, doc. Look again at the stitches.” Lucas chuckled in the face of Schmidt’s terror. “We decided to give you a chance you haven’t given others. You see, this way no one will guess you’re secretly working for us now. Hence, there’s a possibility, however slight, that you may survive the nightmare you’ve developed.”
“I’m wondering where you inserted the one in Jackie.” Megan asked.
“I-I only did what they told me to do. I didn’t kill her. The stupid reporter—”
“And this doctor only did what I told her to do.” Lucas nodded to the bloody surgical side table bearing one item that didn’t belong. A tablet.
“You put a chip in my liver? Gall bladder? What the fuck? What’d you do to my sinuses?” Smoke should’ve risen from the invariable wheels turning. “The antidote might not work.” His questions were marked by sour sweat, barely repressed hot tears, and relaxation of fists, culling the last of his courage and pious reserves to reveal a capitulation no one could fake.
“A girl never kisses and tells.” Megan picked up her electronic tablet. On it, Lexi had installed a replica of the schematics found on Reinhardt’s computer. “Recognize the program? And though we already had this from another forced spy, we’ve dubbed and modified your computers.”
Lucas frowned before asking, “As for my brother, Billy, did you have a predetermined schedule to release the chip’s contents?”
Mute, the doctor simply nodded.
“Thank you for your cooperation. You’ll live a little longer. Now, for each wrong or hesitant answer you give, I click a button on my tablet here and release some of the nanos. Got it?”
Another nod couldn’t negate the resentment smoldering in the patient’s gaze.
“We’ll start with the easy questions.” Megan nodded to the glass-front refrigerator sandwiched between cabinets. “Which is the antidote? And mind you, we’re taking all your supplies. If you forget to point one out, you will experience a sudden, terminal case of rage.”
“Actually, I’d prefer to send our info to Morfran to see what he’d do,” Lucas murmured.
“Good call, partner. I like your idea better.”
Schmidt babbled his answers, describing how the antidote was administered and length of time for effect. When Lucas questioned the use of city maps and the net blanket, Schmidt shook his head.
“I’ve lost track of time and Morfran wasn’t forthcoming with his schedule. I just do the job I’m told.”
“What about the newest batch of nanos?” Luc asked.
“They’ve been upgraded, so to speak. We’re trying to figure out how to contaminate the water supply, to control a larger population.”
“If you contaminate the entire water supply, what’s the plan for protecting your chosen few?” Megan envisioned how easy it would be to deliver the self-replicating miniature weapon to all the major populations.
“Once the antidote is taken, the antibodies remain, preventing reinfection. But the nanos aren’t stable at that temperature, yet.”
“What happened to the two doctors in Delaware, Sorenson and Kalinar?” Lucas asked after Lexi’s question whispered through their mics.
Schmidt proved forthcoming in describing how his coworkers got cold feet and Morfran’s intervention of tracking down errant employees. “Dr. Sorenson balked and introduced the targeted water supply with the antidote as a precaution. Kalinar was a traitor.”
“Did Morfran intercept my brother, Billy?” Lucas closed the distance to stare directly in Schmidt’s eyes. “If I find out or even suspect you make any further moves on my family, I can promise you Morfran won’t kill you. He won’t get the chance.” Lucas left no doubt as to the validity of his claim. “You want to know what happened to Reinhardt?”
“No. No I don’t. Morfran plans on using your brother as leverage against the rest of you—only he couldn’t find you.”
“Do you have access to the device controlling Billy’s implant?” Megan understood Luc’s panic.
“No. Only Morfran does. And he carries it with him all the time. He has to be within range to change the parameters.”
“Do you have feds on your payroll?” Lucas added.
“Kilregard has been chipped, but not his supervisor. We hoped one would lead us to Kilregard’s partner without having to resort to violence, which would draw undue notice. But since the McAllisters stuck their fingers in the pie, the plan has been shot to hell. Everything’s falling apart.”
In listening to the number of key personnel infected, Megan wondered how many lived within city limits and how many used well water.
To prevent chaos from erupting among the masses, they’d have to work fast and have help from an untainted source. To do that, they needed a united front. The idea of testing the antidote on Billy dotted her forehead with sweat.
If Morfran had scheduled a massive release of Billy’s nanos, the antidote wouldn’t repair damage already done. Every minute they delayed equaled borrowed time for the McAllister brother. They’d either have to take Schmidt’s word the antidote worked or risk trying it on the wolf, not knowing what part anatomical differences played in the recovery process. Luc’s pallor accentuated her alarm.
Fear lined his furrowed brow. “We need to go. Now.”
She nodded. As usual, on the same page.
“Why don’t you give your patient a sedative then loosen his bonds while I make a call.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Exfoliated leaves and broken limbs concealed the root system thwarting Luc’s balance, its mission to see him face-plant foiled by an overhanging branch. Panic hurried his steps and augmented his clumsiness when combined with fatigue and pain.
The antidote in his backpack wouldn’t help his brother if not administered in time. The total upheaval in his life yielded an uncertainty he had never faced. His job had put his own life on the line on various occasions, but he’d never risked his family.
“Hold on, Luc. I need a break, just a second to catch my breath.” Lexi huffed as she sat on a fallen log with Hoover by her side. The shepherd mix licked her face then circled around, sniffing the air and whining.
“Me, too,” Megan admitted, taking a seat beside her.
The fact they provided cover for his temporary ineptitude, for he wouldn’t call it a disability, softened his anger. Regardless of biological or marital status, they were family. “All right. But let’s make it quick. We’re almost home.” Predawn light charted their path but failed to expose the finer details of the briars and vines along the way.
His partner had declared Luc gifted with a nose for trouble. At present, it itched like hell. Normal woodland sounds combined with the earthy aroma strongest after a heavy rain to foil the source of his uneasiness.
Over the protective canopy of bare limbs, a flock of crows cleaved the curdled clouds like sharp knives in butter, their sequences of grating coos, caws, rattles, and clicks, a menacing detail. Mother Nature concurred with the current madness and spurred its messengers to spread the word.
“Its been a long night and unlike cops, vets don’t pull graveyard shifts.” Megan patted the log beside her. “Take a load off, Luc.”
“I’m fine.”
Soft murmurs between the women didn’t obscure the delicate songs of nearby warblers and robins while light rustling among the forest’s organic debris guided his attention to a squirrel scampering through fallen leaves. Alert to the smallest sound, he failed to detect the buzzing whine of a drone in search of a signal. My brother’s chip.
He couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. Prior to the injury, he could sneak through the forest almost undetected. All that changed with the speed of a bullet tearing into flesh and bone.
“Okay,
I’m ready.” Megan helped Lexi up before adjusting her pack.
The last leg of their journey stretched the limits of his patience despite the women keeping the chatter down.
When they neared the edge of the clearing, Luc halted Megan and Lexi to observe the cabin. Each ducked behind a snarled thicket.
Lexi held Hoover’s collar to keep her quiet. “What’s up, Luc?”
“Just being cautious. You two keep still for a minute.”
Inside the cabin, dogs alerted to visitors.
The front door opened to emit Matt, holding his pistol at his side. Damien, his shepherd, stood sentinel while Leyna cantered past to welcome her mom. The canine’s greeting with Megan included much cooing, rubbing of foreheads and bellies, followed by a short exam of the dog’s injury.
“Hey, Matt. Everything okay?” Lucas barred Megan’s exit until assured no one had compromised the occupants.
“Yeah, your brothers are just as much a pain in the ass as when they snuck out of the house as kids. A bit mouthier, though.”
Referencing something from their shared past confirmed their sanctuary unchanged, just as when they’d played pirate games as kids. “Good. We come bearing gifts.”
Without preamble, Lexi darted past and dashed for the steps. “Ethan?”
Like his oldest brother had done, Ethan strode out and took a confident stance. Open arms enfolded the white-hat hacker in indisputable passion and something else—that elusive thread Lucas had sought but failed to find.
Megan wrapped her arm around Luc’s waist, keeping pace while confirming their news. “We certainly did, along with the outline of their plan. But we’re gonna need to move fast.”
“Thank God he took off your restraints.” Lexi’s concern overflowed into a gentle tactile exploration of Ethan’s face and torso, confirmation he remained whole.
“Yeah, just a few minutes ago. Guess he didn’t want to embarrass me in front of my better half.”
Matt snorted. “Huh. I was afraid if I didn’t, she’d electronically wipe me from the face of the earth.” A meaningful nod toward the cabin and slight frown carried the weight of an older sibling’s concern. “Did you get it?”
In the distance, the whine of a small motor gained volume as it moved closer.
“Shit. It’s a drone. Everyone inside.” Megan hurried up the steps while patting her leg for Leyna to follow.
“Hiding isn’t an option if it’s loaded with thermal-R imaging.” Matt turned to Lucas. “You’re the best shot. Take it out when it breaks into the clearing. I’ll help Megan and Ethan with Billy.”
Luc dropped his pack at the door, catching a glimpse of his infected brother.
Bedsprings creaked from the savage contortions while crimson smudges smeared the cloth barrier protecting tender wrists from the friction of Billy’s restraints. Blankets had been tied, waist high, to restrain his movements when in the throes of periodic madness. A bandana covered his eyes.
Megan approached with caution. “We have to talk before I administer the antidote.” She winced after stepping close. “How long has he been like this?”
“It comes in spurts every two hours,” Ethan murmured.
“You fucking pricks. I’ll eat your brains with gravy for dinner.” Billy’s guttural threat originated from the freakish nightmare ensnaring them all.
Megan laid a calming hand on his forehead.
“I’ll put a pipe bomb in your cunt and watch it explode.”
Turning away didn’t wash away the image etched in Luc’s brain. If he hadn’t embroiled his brothers in his problems, he wouldn’t be standing on a porch with Glock in hand. Weeks ago, he and Millner had charged into a dangerous situation. As a result, Millner died, and Luc was injured.
The incessant whine increased, drowning out nature’s white noise. When he’d heard one at the edge of city limits, he’d prayed it belonged to the kid playing in the park. It hadn’t followed them. Should’ve known better.
One shot was the best he could hope to get. If the situation were reversed, he’d fly the drone in a quick pass to ascertain the number of occupants and then maintain a perimeter outside shooting range. “Let’s see how smart the bastards are.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Megan averted her eyes and took a deep breath to slow the progression of acid boiling up her esophagus. She was a vet. Vets worked on animals. Despite the wild twisting and demented threats from the man bound to the bed, he was human, agreeable from the short time she’d known him, outgoing yet empathetic—and innocent of the sick conspiracy which submerged his mind and body in a world that shouldn’t exist. Their prior conversation concerning his military stint and work with explosives belied the instinctual creature writhing on the mattress.
Billy arched and contorted in his bonds, his face a mask of hatred and rage. Ethan and Matt sat on either side, adding their weight to his arms and legs to subdue his struggles.
“How long do the fits last?” With an air of calmness she didn’t feel, she deposited her pack on the table and collected the necessary items. “Because we have a choice to make and I need your input, Matt and Ethan.” Both men fixed her with a horrified gaze.
“This solution is supposed to be the antidote. I have no way of knowing if Schmidt was telling the truth or not. For all I know, it could be poison. I don’t have the training or equipment to check it out.” Setting the vial back on the table, she continued as she held up the hypodermic. “We can either take the chance in giving it to Billy, or I can inject the wolf and see what happens, but Schmidt didn’t formulate the antidote to work on an animal.”
“If the injection kills the wolf, we’ll assume it’s poison but won’t know for sure.” Ethan’s jaw hardened as he struggled to contain his brother.
“You’re not putting any more shit in me, bitch. Speaking of which, I’m gonna eat you while Luc watches.” Billy arched his head back and roared.
“Understand that waiting increases the chance of internal damage and that whatever is done—can’t be healed. Not a good choice either way, I know. But it’s the best we have.”
Successive gunshots outside caused Megan to fumble the needle. When it rattled harmlessly to the table, her demeanor crumbled. This wasn’t her bailiwick and despite no one turning accusing glares in her direction, she knew. Because of her, they’d all risked their lives, for a stranger. All because of their love for Lucas.
“Try the wolf.” Matt’s gentle voice commanded.
Exhausted and unsure, she looked to Lucas striding through the door. Anger and defeat twisted its threads to form a blanket around him.
“I hit it twice but couldn’t knock it down. I’m pretty sure I took out their camera.”
“Doesn’t matter. Whoever sent it may know our location, if they discover we realigned their maps. We knew our time here was limited.” Matt nodded toward the back door. “Luc can help you with the wolf.”
Megan couldn’t fathom the magnitude of her stupidity. “If I’d just turned all the information over to the federal authorities in the first place, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
Tears slid down her cheek when Lucas lifted her chin. The gentle slide of calloused fingers down her throat to her nape ended with him pulling her close.
“If you hadn’t involved us, they still would’ve infected the feds and there’d be no one to fight this battle.” Luc molded her body to his harder frame. “Then we would all have chips.”
Quiet respirations fanned across her face until Billy’s snarl brought her back to the moment. “Let’s get this injection into the wolf. We’ll see what happens. With the way Billy’s twisting, I don’t know that I could hit a vein now anyway.”
“Are you going to tranq the animal first?” Luc asked.
“If I do, it’s going to add time...” Megan glanced over her shoulder. Heaving breaths marked Billy’s struggle, though he appeared slightly calmer than when she arrived.
“I’ll hold the wolf down.” Luc narrowed his eyes and shoved
the chair against the table.
Outside, the crisp aroma of damp pine needles reminded her of prior years’ camping. No telltale whine indicated an electronic snoop, which didn’t mean information hadn’t been relayed. The atmosphere remained strangely quiet while nature held its breath awaiting the advent of mankind’s next perverse pleasure.
The twine used to muzzle the wolf provided one handhold to control the animal’s head. Luc leaned on its shoulder to keep him immobile while gripping a furry leg.
Natural instincts served up the animal’s reply in twisting motions and growls rumbling through its deep chest.
“Just like in the office when Mrs. Shelby brings in her schnauzer.” Megan gave the injection and prayed. “I think I got it all in a vein. Placement won’t affect the result, just the timing. Venous injections work faster.”
“Considering its metabolism is different, how long you think it’ll be ’til we know something?” Lucas leaned back then stood once Megan gained her feet and stepped aside.
“I’ve no idea. It’s up to God and nature to decide.” Megan couldn’t wipe the sympathy from her gaze. Luc was torn between watching the wolf for results and checking on his brother.
“I know what you’re thinking, Megs.” This time when he held her, there was no hesitation, no uncertainty. “We’re in this together because we chose to be. My family’s in this because they love me. It’s what families do.”
“But there’s a warrant out for your arrest. I knew the risks and chose to pursue it anyway.”
“We’ll clear this up and find Reinhardt and Jackie’s killer. Maybe Morfran paid Reinhardt a call and realized the entire operation has been compromised.” Lucas stroked her hair and back.
“Or maybe they dumped the contents of Kilregard’s chip to make him go berserk. They’ve already perfected that scenario. Schmidt admitted that’s what happened with those two guys who jumped Ethan.”
Despite their bleak prospects of a future, warmth and acceptance suffused her chest with shoulder-to-knee contact. The light rumbling from Luc’s chest induced an answering purr. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be than here, Luc. The rest we can figure out as we go.”
McAllister Justice Series Box Set Volume Two Page 20
