After Dr. Gillon left, she sat for a few minutes caressing Jade’s hand, and thinking about Josh. If he were alive, he would be devastated by what had happened to his little girl. Victory wanted to do the right thing about the DNR. Her stomach clenched, and tears welled up in her eyes. Victory wanted more than anything for Jade to stay with her as long as possible but deep down she knew the heart-wrenching truth. If it came down to it, and she prayed it wouldn’t happen…she might have to let her daughter go.
✽ ✽ ✽
After visiting the cafeteria and downing an egg salad sandwich, about the only thing that didn’t look stale, Victory walked into the waiting room where Ryan and her co-workers were waiting, clutching her phone.
Her boss, Joe Mains, greeted her first.
“How’s Jade?”
All the agents gathered around in a circle to listen to the news.
Victory lowered her head then looked up at everyone. “Right now, she’s holding her own.”
“That’s good news,” Sean said.
Ryan gave her a small smile. “Great news, Vic.”
Her boss put his hand on her shoulder. “I’m really sorry this happened. We’re all rooting for her to pull through. If you need anything, just ask. We’re here for you. Curtis is back at the office. He sends his regards.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Is there anything we can do?” Mike Andrews asked.
“Not much anyone can do at this point. It’s out of our hands. Hope and pray that Jade gets through this. Thanks for being here, Mike.”
“No problem. You know we’ve all got your back and Jade’s.”
Victory felt a sudden calm course through her body, comforted by the feeling of being surrounded by her FBI family. She appreciated their support. But she still had a difficult decision to make, the toughest decision of her life and it was eating her up inside.
“You want me to go for another coffee run?” Ryan asked. “That watery crap in the machine sucks.”
Victory noticed Derrick standing in the corner on the other side of the vending machine, talking with a tall and slender woman in her thirties with shoulder-length dark brown hair. The woman wasn’t with him hours earlier. She was dressing in two-tone green army fatigues, a green T-shirt and black boots.
A mixture of anger and gratitude flooded her body and she wasn’t sure which of the emotions was about to surface.
Derrick’s eyes met hers.
She looked away and turned her attention back to Ryan. “Coffee would be good. I’m going to talk to Derrick for a minute.”
Victory headed to Derrick. He met her half-way. “Thanks for getting us here in time.”
“No problem. I’m happy I could help. I’m glad she’s holding her own.” He rubbed his forehead. “I want to talk to you about something.”
The woman eyed her up and down and was making Victory uncomfortable.
“This is a friend of mine, Tamera Harris.”
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m really sorry about your daughter.”
“Thanks.”
“Can we talk in the hallway, away from the others?” Derrick asked.
Victory nodded, somewhat confused.
In the hallway, Derrick and Tamera stood next to each other.
“I didn’t want to talk about this in waiting room. I asked Tamera to come because she can help Jade.”
“How?” Victory glanced at the woman then back to Derrick. “Is she a doctor?”
“Not exactly. She’s is a psychic surgeon.”
“A what?”
Tamera smiled. “A psychic surgeon. I’m able to heal and remove diseases by using energetic incision. I’ve been working with the military, healing our own soldiers in the field. I can help your daughter.”
Victory raised an eyebrow and glared at Derrick. “Is she for real?”
He twisted his head and glanced up and down the hallway then lowered his voice to a whisper. “Yes. She’s with the Elara Project.”
A new round of hope replaced the anger Victory had felt earlier. If this woman could help Jade, Victory was all in.
“We can’t help her here, though. I have an air ambulance ten minutes from here on standby ready to take you and Jade to Fort Meade where she can be treated out of the public eye.”
Something stirred in Victory’s stomach. She wasn’t sure if it was a warning. She didn’t know what to think. In the matter of days, she’d learned Derrick was a government assassin, The Shadow, and had been killing for decades. She’d witnessed him using his paranormal abilities, learned about a secret government project and now he’d brought a woman with him who claimed she could heal Jade using psychic surgery. Victory didn’t even know what that was. It seemed too unreal. A joke.
“I know you’re having a tough time believing that Tamera can help,” Derrick said.
“That’s an understatement.”
“She can help, Victory. I give you my word.”
Victory looked at Tamera and the woman gave her another soft smile. Tamera had better not be playing games. Jade’s life was on the line. “If what you claim you can do is bullshit, I’ll shoot you between the eyes.” She knew she sounded tough and desperate because she was.
The woman gave her a nod and didn’t flinch at her threat. The odd stirring in the pit of Victory’s stomach disappeared.
“Fair enough,” Tamera said. “I’d like to meet your daughter and get a sense of the severity of her injuries before we leave, if that’s okay?”
“Fine. And you’re going to tell me exactly how this works. Don’t leave out anything out.”
As they walked through the hospital’s busy corridors toward the burn center, Tamera explained to Victory how she planned on helping Jade.
The woman claimed she was a gifted healer who had been blessed with the ability since an early age. She could completely heal and remove disease with her bare hands.
“I supply the patient with a massive dose of healing energy powerful enough to heal the outer body and heal internally any organs like the heart for example. In your daughter’s case, I can heal the burns and any internal damage they have causes as well as boost her immune system to help fight off any infection. What I do is not instant healing, but she will improve over a few days compared to months or years using traditional treatments.”
Victory was skeptical. It still sounded too good to be true. “Are there any risks?”
“None.”
“Tamera’s been healing for decades. I can vouch for her. I’ve seen her in action. She wouldn’t be involved with the project if she was a fake,” Derrick said.
Victory looked at him, wanting to believe him. He was a killer. He had lied to her. He’d threatened her. But he made a good point. The woman wouldn’t be involved with the Elara Project if she wasn’t for real.
All the other things Derrick had told her and shown her were true. He was the one who’d gotten Jade to the hospital. She needed to believe this was the best option for her daughter.
From what she had understood from Dr. Gillon, it could take months or perhaps years before Jade would be healed completely which included countless surgeries to treat the extensive burns. Would her daughter want to go through all of that if there was another option?
Nervous hope bubbled up inside her. Victory had her answer.
As they rounded the corner to Jade’s suite at the end of the hallway, she heard glass doors slide open.
A nurse yelled from the doorway of Jade’s room. “She has no pulse!”
Seconds later, a female voice droned loudly over the hospital’s PA system. Code blue. Room 16-B. Code blue.”
Within seconds, a swarm of doctors and nurses bolted from every direction of the hallway and around the nurse’s station, their feet pounding hard against the floor. Some were pushing carts with medical equipment.
Jade! No! Victory ran.
Dr. Gillon rushed into the room at the same time as she slid to a halt in the doorway. He put his arms out across the d
oor to block her from entering.
Monitors were beeping long solid beeps and other medical alarms were going off.
Victory gasped. “What happened?”
“I don’t know. Stay out here.”
“No. My daughter needs me.” Victory grabbed his arm and tried pushing him aside and failed. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
He nodded to a hefty male nurse beside him. “Keep her outside.”
The nurse grabbed her arm and gently dragged her out of the doorway.
She violently shook his hand away. “Don’t touch me.”
The nurse held up his hands. “You need to stay out here, or I’ll have to get security.”
“That’s my daughter!”
The glass doors closed.
Victory ran for the door. She felt Derrick’s arms around her waist, pulling her, lifting her feet off the floor, holding her back.
“Victory. Let them do their job. It’s Jade’s best chance right now.”
“You don’t understand. I need to be with her.”
“I know.”
“She needs me.”
“I know.”
Victory wiped her eyes with hand and watched through the doors. Her heart pounded so fast she thought for a moment she was going to pass out. A nurse applied adhesive electrode pads to Jade’s chest, studied the machine, and shook her head.
“Clear!” Dr. Gillon yelled.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and stepped back. Afterwards, another doctor started chest compressions then paused, giving Dr. Gillon a chance to use his stethoscope to check if there were any signs of life.
They did the same procedure over and over. One minute turned into two. Then into ten.
From the corner of her eye, Victory noticed a female teenage with long red hair, who looked like she was about sixteen. She looked like Jade when she was young. The girl glanced at Victory and smiled as she walked by with Jade’s favorite song, “Sign of the Times” by Harry Styles, blaring from her phone.
A lifetime of memories sped through Victory’s mind. She knew what she needed to do.
She raised her foot behind her and kicked Derrick in the shin with her heel. The force of the hit took him by surprise. He dropped his arms and let go of her.
Victory ran inside the room. “Stop!”
Nurses glanced up at her briefly as the doctor kept doing chest impressions.
Dr. Gillon yelled again. “Someone get her out of here!”
“Let her go!” Victory dropped to her knees and looked up at him, begging. “Please. Do not resuscitate. Just let Jade go…”
✽ ✽ ✽
Derrick stood in the hallway outside of Jade’s room, his heart broken for Victory. He looked at Tamera and noticed the tears in her eyes. “Thanks for coming and offering to help.”
“I wish I could have saved her daughter. There just wasn’t time. It wasn’t meant to be.”
“You did what you could. Being here means a lot to me. We tried.” His gaze shifted to Victory sitting on the bed crying, holding Jade, cradling her, rocking back and forth. He wanted more than anything to comfort her. He wasn’t sure how.
“I’m going to take off if that’s okay. I really need to go home and hug my daughter.” Tamera gave him a weak smile. “I can still help Victory by taking away some of the pain using energy medicine. If she’s open to it down the road, let me know. I’d be happy to assist her. She’s going to need a lot of support.”
“Thanks. I appreciate that. I’ll let her know when the time is right.”
Tamera turned and put her hand on his arm. “Take care of yourself. If you need me, just call.”
He nodded, and she headed down the hallway toward the nursing station and rounded the corner to the elevators.
Derrick let out a long breath and continued to observe Victory. He couldn’t imagine her pain. She’d lost her husband and now her only child. He wasn’t sure how anyone could get over such huge losses.
Victory lowered Jade back onto the bed and pulled the blankets up to her chin. Then she sat on the edge of the bed looking at her daughter.
Derrick stepped in front of the glass door. It automatically opened. Nervous tension pulsed through him. He walked inside the room, his nerves tight, unsure of what he was going to say.
“Victory? Is there anything I get for you?”
She turned her head and glanced at him, then looked back at Jade. She was silent for a few minutes.
“How dare you come in here. This is your fault. You could have helped find Jade earlier and she wouldn’t be…”
Her words spat out like hundreds of daggers.
“Victory, I’m sorry. You know why I couldn’t. Whether you want to believe it or not, I did everything I could.”
“You didn’t. This is on you.” She pointed her finger at him. “You killed my daughter. You and your Elara Project can go to hell.”
“Victory, I know you’re upset but please keep your voice down.”
“Upset?” She jumped off the bed and stalked toward him. “You think I’m upset? My daughter is dead. Did you really believe your friend’s special psychic surgery crap was going to save Jade? It was already too late.”
He stepped closer to her, wanting even more to hold her. “Please. We can’t talk about this here. We have an agreement.”
“Why? Are you going to kill me too?” Tears ran down her face. “Then kill me because I have nothing left to lose.”
Derrick grabbed her arm, pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her. He held her tight not wanting to let her go.
Minutes later, Victory stepped away from him. She wiped her red, swollen eyes with her hand and straightened her shoulders. “I want you to leave and never contact me again.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“Get out. If you don’t, I’ll call security.”
“Victory, please.”
“Get out.” She went to the side of the bed and picked up the phone.
He held up his hands. “Okay. I’m leaving.”
“If you ever contact me again, I’ll make sure you’re arrested.” Her eyes narrowed. “I’ll put the cuffs on you myself.”
Derrick walked to the doorway and stopped. He glanced over his shoulder. Victory was sitting on the bed with her back to him and her hand on Jade’s arm.
It was his fault. She was right. He should have helped sooner. He’d have to deal with that decision for the rest of his life.
When he exited the room he almost bumped into Ryan.
“Hey. Why is she so angry with you? What did you do?”
Derrick shook his head and walked away.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Seven days had passed since Victory said goodbye to Jade, the images of the funeral still fresh in her mind as if it had happened yesterday. She’d buried her daughter next to Josh at Westport Cemetery on Monroe Avenue in Cleveland where Jade’s spirit could feel her father’s closeness, love, and safety. Each day since, had blurred into the next. She missed her daughter every second of each day. Another piece of Victory’s heart had been ripped away and never would be replaced. Except this time, she wasn’t sure she was going to get through the loss. She felt numb, lost, and dead inside. Even the world around her looked and felt fuzzy.
At ten o’clock in the morning, Victory walked into Joe Mains’ office and closed the door. Her boss was sitting behind his desk. Curtis was standing next him with a file folder in his hand.
Her boss looked up at her. “Have a seat, Victory,”
She sat in one of the two chairs in front of his desk. “Thank you for putting in a good word and all your help with my transfer request, sir.”
He leaned back in the chair. “Happy to help. I hope after your leave of absence you’ll be able to focus on work again. You’ve been through a lot. You’re a damn good agent, Victory. We’re sorry to lose you. I hope the transfer will bring you peace and a fresh start.”
Curtis opened the file folder and handed her the transfer paperwo
rk. He smiled at her which was odd because he rarely smiled at anyone. Usually, he was too busy yelling.
She took the paperwork. “Thank you both—for everything.”
“Does Slater know what’s going on?” Curtis asked.
Victory shook her head. “Not yet. I’ll speak with Ryan after I clear out my desk.”
“He’s going to be upset about the transfer,” Curtis said.
“He’ll get over it.” Her stomach stirred. She was actually nervous to tell her partner the news. She was going to miss him too.
Joe Mains leaned forward in his chair. “Is there anything else we can do for you?”
“You’ve done enough, sir. I appreciate it.” Victory stood and pulled out her FBI ID from the back pocket of her pants and placed it on the desk. Then she reached for her gun in her holster. After removing the magazine, Victory laid the gun on the desk.
Her boss stood and held out his hand. “Take care of yourself. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call. We’ll always be here for you. We’re family. We take care of our own.”
“Thank you.” She shook his hand, and then gave Curtis a nod.
“Good luck,” Curtis said.
She walked out of the office feeling like the heavy boulder that had been sitting on her chest for days had been removed. She could finally breathe.
Angie met up with her on the way to her desk with a small box in her hand.
“I’m going to miss you when you’re on your leave of absence. Six months. That’s a long time.”
Victory smiled. “I’ll miss you too.”
Angie gave her a hug. “I’m really sorry about Jade.”
“Me too.” Victory inhaled a deep breath and let it out. She took the box and placed it on her desk. “Is Ryan around?”
“He’s out grabbing coffee. He’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“Can you let him know I need to talk to him when he gets back?”
“Sure.” Angie’s gaze shifted to the cardboard box. “Do you need any help?”
“I think I can handle it. There isn’t much.”
“If you need anything, buzz me.”
“Thanks.”
After Angie went back to her desk, Victory put the transfer paperwork in the bottom of the box and began to load her personal items from the desk drawers. She felt everyone’s eyes on her, watching to see if she was going to break down. She wasn’t. Not now. Not here. She’d already spent days locked in her apartment crying.
Deadly Shadow Page 19
