Dr. West began toward the door and as she passed Sampson and Marcellous she reminded them not to agitate the patient. They both agreed and she walked out of the door.
Both Sampson and Marcellous filled the vacant space left by the doctor. They pulled chairs that were sitting a few feet from the bed and sat so that they were all at eye level.
Donatella cleared her throat and with a raspy whisper asked, “Where am I?”
“You’re at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center,” Sampson stated. “We brought you here directly from the museum. Do you recall what happened?”
Donatella fought once more with her brain, but the memories were slow – disjointed. “No, not all of it. Fragments of a fight in the museum are trying to resurface but I cannot make sense of it all.”
“The doctor said your memory may be spotty for a while; however, it will come back. Let’s see what we can fill in.
Once I secured Jasmyn within the Exhibition Gallery, I began my exfiltration. Just as I exited the building, your transmission for an alternative exit from the library came over the comms. Although your voice was calm, the request came across as dire. Marcellous,” he said nodding at the younger man, “heard the request as well. He left from his location and hastily approached the museum. In the meantime, BJ continued to work on the new encryption for the library door. At the three-minute check, your voice was haggard and Marcellous here burst into the museum searching out the library.”
Donatella looked over at Marcellous – he averted eye contact.
“He reached the library as BJ was able to break the encryption. He entered the code, opened the door, and saw you laying on the floor. A purple haze sat like a dim fog in the room, nonetheless, he rushed in, scooped you up in a fireman’s carry and bolted out the room.”
Donatella’s hazelnut eyes were still locked in on Marcellous. He looked back in her direction and this time he did not break eye contact.
“Dr. West said had you been exposed to the poisons circulating throughout the room any longer, the damage may have been irreversible. Had it not been for the quick feet of Marcellous,” he patted the younger man on the back, “and the fast fingers of your computer genius, BJ, we would have lost you.”
Donatella contemplated this for a moment, “Marcellous,” she said in the still low raspy voice, “Thank you! Thank you for risking your life to save mine.”
Marcellous, unsure of what to say, simply nodded his head and said, “You’re welcome.”
Donatella turned her gaze back to Sampson. More of the puzzle pieces were connecting in her memory. “What happened with Terri Buckley?”
“She escaped and has not resurfaced. It’s been nearly three weeks and we have not heard a peep from her.”
Three weeks, she thought, how long have I been out?
“The woman, nurse, in the room with Jasmyn when I found her was Patti Jones.”
The name sounded familiar to Donatella, but she was having a hard time placing it.
“She was the one recently hired as the director of nursing at the hospital where Jasmyn worked. I’m sure there is some connection to Buckley, but we have been unable to link the two – other than the fact she was holding Jasmyn captive.”
The door to the room swung open; however, Donatella didn’t look to see who had entered. She was still studying Sampson and the meaning behind what he hadn’t said.
“Dr. West made it clear you were to have no more than two visitors at a time. Seems like my time is up. That’s ok, I have another case I’ve been asked to lead. A young college coed was found with her skin filleted and I need to be return to Charlotte. It’s good to have you with us again and be sure to look me up when you are back home.”
Sampson stood and clasped Marcellous on the shoulder one more time. Awkward in what he should do with Donatella, he just nodded and made his way to the door.
Donatella was surprised when her next visitor sat down in the chair. In front of her sat Jasmyn Thompson and in her arms, she held her newborn.
“Donatella, I would like you to meet your godson, Sebastian Xavier Thompson.”
Terri Buckley, a notoriously light sleeper, was partially awake when her phone rang. Picking up the handset and eyeballing the clock, she realized it was just after 4 a.m. Upon answering the phone, the voice on the other end started immediately.
“As you are aware, Donatella survived your latest encounter at the Cleveland Museum of Art. We’ve given you the leeway to deal with her as you have seen fit; however, it’s time we properly plan for her demise. In your normal drop, you will find the outline of the plan we have developed. See to it that it’s executed flawlessly, or we will be forced to step in.”
The line on the other end went dead and Terri was left holding the phone in her hand. She was unaccustomed to being spoken to in such a manner and did not take to kindly to the tone or the threat. She squeezed the phone in her hand until it snapped in half.
The voice next to her spoke, “What is it?”
“Nothing I can’t handle. Turnover and go back to sleep.”
“I can’t, I’m awake now. I think I will go downstairs and make some coffee.”
Terri watched as Veronica King stood from the bed, wrapping herself in the robe Kyle bought her many Christmas’ ago. Veronica pulled her straightened hair from underneath the collar of the robe and let it fall past her shoulders.
When Veronica exited the bedroom, Terri turned, dropped the pieces of the phone in the trashcan and made her way to the shower.
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Read ahead for a preview of:
Annihilation
The final chapter in the Terri Buckley saga.
Prologue
D onatella ran, arms pumping, lungs burning. Her mind told her she still had time, her heart told her that she was too late.
She blocked the competing thoughts from her mind, focusing on the fury emanating deep in her core. She should have seen this inevitable outcome - she should have prevented it.
She conquered the corner moving at top speed. The first sign that her heart was right tugged at her emotions and she ran harder. Black smoke billowing ahead. A building, normally present in the landscape, was ominously missing.
Wordlessly, she internalized a prayer. Outwardly a tear began to materialize. Distantly she heard the horn blaring from her left as she ran through the intersection.
The smoke previously in the background now gave glimpses of its origin. Concrete, normally smoothed to a finish, lay crumbled, tangled with previously invisible metal.
Upon later reflection she would recall hearing the screams and pleas, but at this moment she could only hear her failure. She could feel her mind beginning to side with her heart as despair began to settle.
Fire trucks and EMS crews raced past her seeking the reason for the frantic calls. Donatella knew the reason and she knew the arbiter of this heinous act.
Arriving at the scene of what was once a five-story building, she now saw smoke, rubble, ash, and destruction. Resigned to the fact that she had failed those she swore to protect, her mind and heart agreed at last.
While her eyes took in the scene, the agreement between her heat and her mind was resolute - Terri Buckley would not live to see the sun rise tomorrow.
Hour of Reckoning (Donatella Book 2) Page 28
