The Finding

by Nicky Charles

  “A security breach, my dear. That’s why we’re taking the helicopter. We have to leave immediately.”

  “Oh.” The woman blinked. “So that’s why the lights were flashing? I thought Swanson was running another test, especially when they just turned off after a few minutes.”

  “Never mind, Sylvia. Just come over here and we’ll wait together—”

  “No!” Marla stepped forward, her hand held out. “You can’t leave me here! Please Leon! I mean, Mr. Aldrich. You have no idea what they’ll do to me. Leave the Greyson girl. She’ll be in no danger.”

  “Back off, Miss Matthews.” Aldrich’s soft gentle tones of a moment ago disappeared and his face was an icy mask. He pointed his gun at her. “You’ve served your purpose. Now it’s time for us to part ways.” A contemptuous look filled his eyes as he looked her up and down. “Why don’t you just use your ‘charms’ on them. That’s how you usually operate, isn’t it?”

  He gave a dry laugh and then flicked a glance at Sylvia, urging her closer. “Sylvia, come here.”

  “I...I don’t know, Leon.” The words stuttered from Sylvia’s lips and she nervously fumbled with her handbag, clutching it close to her chest.

  Marla paid no attention to the nurse. She was frozen in place staring at the gun, her mind racing. Surely this couldn’t be how it all ended? There had to be a way out. Sylvia was expendable, so was the Greyson girl. Aldrich had to see that! Perhaps once they were outside, she could push the nurse off the roof...

  Chapter 24

  Cassie sat in the chair watching the scene that played out before her. Mr. Aldrich had his gun trained on her, but his attention was divided between the woman he called Sylvia and a blonde he called Miss Matthews. She assumed Miss Matthews was Marla though no one had used that name yet. Surreptitiously, she sniffed the air and confirmed her supposition. There was definitely another werewolf in the room, not that it would work to her advantage. From what she’d been told Marla wasn’t to be trusted.

  Slowly Cassie exhaled, realizing she was on her own. A moment ago, she’d tried to teleport out of the room, but nothing had happened. Kane had said it was important to relax and focus in order to teleport successfully, but that was hard to do when someone was holding you at gun point. Besides, she couldn’t seem to form a mental picture of where she wanted to go, since the only place she really wanted to be was with Bryan. He was somewhere in the building; she had a vague sense of him drawing closer, but exactly where that might be she didn’t know.

  Sighing, she moved onto her second plan. With Mr. Aldrich distracted by the conversation, she began to work on the tape that bound her wrists together. It was the silvery-grey kind with fibres worked into it and didn’t seem inclined to come loose easily. Still she twisted and tugged, hoping to make some progress. Anything was better than just sitting and waiting for fate to play out the scene.

  The wolf inside her wasn’t happy with the situation either, disliking the feeling of being captured and bound. Cassie was beginning to find it comforting to have the creature with her; at least she wasn’t totally alone in her predicament.

  She wondered if it were true that werewolves had superhuman strength. If that were the case, she should be able simply to break through the tape, but unfortunately it didn’t seem to be happening. The only result of her struggles was that her wrists hurt from the tape digging into her flesh.

  ‘Why aren’t you helping me when I need you?’ She inwardly muttered to the wolf but it didn’t answer. It seemed distracted and kept wanting her to look at Marla, though why she didn’t know. The woman wasn’t doing anything except standing there. In fact, she seemed...odd almost as if her body were present, but her mind wasn’t. Was Marla busy talking to her own wolf? And if so, what were they saying to each other? It likely wasn’t anything good, since her expression wasn’t a happy one.

  Mentally shrugging, Cassie concentrated on her bound wrists again. The chair she sat in had a wooden arm. She felt the edge with her fingers; it was a nice ninety degree angle so it might work. Shifting slightly, she began rubbing the tape against edge trying to keep her movements small and unnoticeable. Her arms protested the unusual motion and awkward position but she persevered.

  ‘Hello? Wolf? Are you there? Can you help me out a bit?’ Cassie again tried talking to the animal within, but she only got a distressed whimper followed by a shiver that ran over her. Was the creature trying to channel some energy her way, but didn’t know how? Maybe this was another skill she had to tap into and practise, like understanding scents and teleporting. Or maybe it required her to be—what was it that Bryan had called it—at one with her wolf? Perhaps the strength came from the beast and until she integrated with it, the extra muscle power didn’t emerge.

  Discreetly huffing in frustration, she decided that at this point, it didn’t really matter. She was stuck for the time being, so she might as well concentrate on what was going on around her since the werewolf route wasn’t going anywhere.

  Continuing to work on the tape binding her wrists, she flicked her eyes between the room’s occupants. Marla was in a daze, Mr. Aldrich was trying to cajole Sylvia into escaping with him, and Sylvia herself was biting her lip and nervously fumbling with her purse.

  “I’ve never been in a helicopter before, Leon.”

  Mr. Aldrich smiled, his eyes taking on a gentle expression. “There’s nothing to be nervous about, Sylvia. You’ll enjoy it.”

  “Actually...I don’t think I will.” Suddenly, Sylvia’s worried expression was replaced by a ruthless sneer. No longer was she nervously playing with the clasp on her purse. It had dropped to her feet and a gun was in her hand!

  Cassie stifled a gasp as she swung her eyes between Sylvia and Mr. Aldrich.

  “Sylvia?” Mr. Aldrich blinked rapidly, shock momentarily showing on his face before he schooled his features. “What’s this all about?”

  “I was hired to carry out a hit on you by the end of the month, but the job is taking too long. You wouldn’t leave the building and go for a walk like I initially planned and shooting you here wasn’t my first option, too many witnesses, you understand.” She snorted inelegantly. “And now that I’ve finally convinced you to go with me, it’s too late! You know, I’ve found this to be a very frustrating job.”

  “My apologies for not cooperating sooner.” Mr. Aldrich inclined his head, his face expressionless. Cassie wondered what he was feeling. Just a moment ago it had sounded as if he cared for the woman and now...”

  “I won’t be cheated out of my commission.” Sylvia continued. “I’ll have to shoot you here and unfortunately, these two ladies as well.” She flicked a glance at Cassie and Marla. “Sorry about that, but I can’t leave witnesses. The helicopter is a bonus though; it will provide my escape and the people who are presently breaching your security can take the blame for your deaths.”

  Mr. Aldrich frowned and cocked his head to the side as if trying to figure the woman out. “Who hired you?”

  “Anonymous.” She answered in clipped tones. “In this business you don’t ask for names.”

  Mr. Aldrich sighed heavily and shook his head. “I actually liked you, Sylvia. Do you know how few people I’ve ever said that about?”

  Sylvia shook her head and spoke with mock regret. “Sorry. I should feel honoured I’m sure. If it makes you feel any better, I did briefly consider forgoing the hit and staying with you.” She glanced around the room. “You’re wealthy enough, but after considering the matter I decided you were too unreliable. I know your type. You dispose of ‘friends’ when the novelty wears off and by then my reputation as an assassin for hire would be ruined.” She shrugged and raised her gun. “So unfortunately...”

  The quiet yet unmistakeably muffled sound of a bullet fired from a gun with a silencer filled the room. Cassie started at the noise, staring at Mr. Aldrich in dismay. His arm fell limply to the side, his face greying. “You’re right Sylvia. I am the type to dispose of friends...” His head fell forward and his sh
oulders slumped, then he slowly slid down to sit on the arm of a chair. “... and enemies who pretend to be friends.”

  For a moment the room was silent, expectation heavy in the air. Then he breathed deeply once more and straightened, tightening his grip on his gun. “Goodbye Sylvia. I did...care for you.”

  Realizing that it hadn’t been Mr. Aldrich who was shot, Cassie snapped her head around to look towards where Sylvia had been standing. The woman was now lying on the ground, a red stain showing on her prim white shirt.

  “So Cassandra, it’s just me and you now.” Mr. Aldrich shifted his attention back to her. His face looked worn and tired.

  “And me?” Marla suddenly jerked as if coming out of a trance and began wringing her hands, looking nervously behind her, then at the dead body and then back at Mr. Aldrich. She’d been surprisingly quiet throughout the whole dramatic event almost as if she were unaware of what was going on around her.

  Mr. Aldrich looked at Sylvia’s body, then gave a negligent one shouldered shrug. “Sure, why not? There seems to be an empty seat on the chopper now. And at least I know where I stand with you. You’re a conniving bitch, but I won’t make the mistake of expecting anything more than that from you.” He flicked a glance up and down her body and then barked out a laugh. “It might even be fun availing myself of you after all these years of resisting your attempts to seduce me.”

  Cassie watched as Marla frowned, her eyes seeming to grow unfocussed, but then the woman gave her head a brief shake and stepped forward. “Whatever you need, Mr. Aldrich. I’ll be happy to help.”

  Using his gun, Mr. Aldrich indicated that Cassie should stand up.

  Cassie obeyed, but her vision blurred and there was a buzzing in her ears. She hoped she wouldn’t faint. Maybe it was the shock of another person being killed in front of her. Her stomach felt queasy and she swallowed hard to keep from being ill as she cast a final look at the body on the floor.

  “What are you going to do to me?” She forced the words passed her numb lips.

  “I have big plans for you Cassandra, don’t worry.” Mr. Aldrich opened the French doors and ushered her out onto the roof top.

  The terrace appeared to cover about a quarter of the roof. There was a hot tub and several groupings of patio furniture as well as a barbeque with a wet bar beside it. Several lattice screens and some large cement flower boxes surrounded the space, serving to delineate the entertainment area from the rest of the roof. Beyond them, Cassie could just make out the painted markings for a helicopter landing pad and several jutting metal objects that appeared to be air vents or other structures to deal with the internal workings of the building.

  “We’ll wait here.” Mr. Aldrich sat on the edge of the planter, near an opening that allowed access to the rest of the roof. He was seemingly oblivious to the strong cold wind that blew across the open space.

  Cassie shivered as the wind buffeted against her body, actually forcing her to take an unplanned step before she steadied herself. At this height the wind was stronger and colder than at ground level. It tugged at her hair, pulling strands free from her pony tail so that they whipped about in her face, stinging her eyes and making it hard to see. She wished her hands were free so she could at least push the hair behind her ears. Tugging and twisting her wrists, she tested the strength of the tape again but it was holding firm.

  Marla stood silently beside her, seemingly lost in thought again. The woman occasionally brushed the hair from her own face but didn’t seem to care that the wind was blowing her skirt scandalously high.

  After a moment of studying her, Cassie ignored her, deciding that despite the men’s warnings, Marla posed no threat; she seemed more like a wind-up fashion doll than an evil villain.

  A noise in the distance caught her attention and she looked up to see a helicopter approaching. It was like a huge dark bird of prey, waiting to pluck her up and carry her off. The sinking feeling in her stomach grew as she wondered where Mr. Aldrich might be taking her and what his ‘big plans’ might entail once they arrived.

  Desperately, she wished Bryan were there, holding her close as he’d done last night. It had seemed so right to be with him, like she’d finally found her home. She cursed herself for not making use of the opportunity to share her feelings. Instead, she’d just absorbed the security of his presence and listened to the rise and fall of his voice as he spoke. Why hadn’t she said something more than ‘I really like you’ when she’d had the chance? ‘Like’ was so banal. ‘Like’ was vanilla ice cream or toast with butter. There were lots of things she liked, but her feelings for Bryan were so much more. And this morning in the alley, she’d told him to be careful, but something had held her back from saying more. She’d wanted to, but the words wouldn’t come.

  Swallowing hard, she faced the cold reality that now it might be too late.

  *****

  They’d finally done it. They’d reached the penthouse. Now, only a door separated him from Cassie. Bryan wiped the sweat from his eyes and grasped the handle only to jerk back swearing.

  “What is it?” Ryne was breathing heavily as he pulled himself up the final steps followed by Kane.

  “Damn! The door has an electric charge.” Bryan growled in frustration as he examined the burn marks on his palm. His skin was already healing, but it still hurt. He shook his arm trying to rid it of the tingling feeling the electrical jolt had caused.

  Kane immediately began examining the door. “There’s no obvious wiring for us to disconnect.”

  “What about behind this plate?” Ryne hunkered down by a rectangular piece of metal located beside the door. He tried to work his fingers around the edge and pry it off but couldn’t find anything to hold on to. “Anyone have a screwdriver or a knife on them? If we can get inside here, maybe we can short out the system.”

  “Sorry, didn’t think to pack one.” Bryan answered distractedly as he stared at a metal grate near the ceiling. “This looks like an air vent.” He reached up and worked his fingers between the slats and pulled. There was a screeching sound of metal against metal. Taking a deep breath, he pulled even harder and suddenly he was stumbling backwards as the covering came loose. Setting it down, he grasped the edge of the opening and chinned himself to peer inside. “Damn! Too small. None of us would fit inside.” Dropping to the floor, he ran his hands through his hair in frustration. “How the hell are we supposed to get in? We haven’t climbed forty storeys just to be stopped by a door.” He reached out and grabbed the handle only to jerk back as, once again, it shocked him.

  Kane had his hands spread before him and was hovering them over the door’s surface. “The charge doesn’t seem to be deadly, at least not for me. I think I can drain it or maybe even short circuit it.”

  “No way. It’s too dangerous.” Ryne looked up from where he was still trying to loosen the metal plate, a frown on his face.

  Bryan shook his head. “I agree with Ryne. We use energy from our surroundings when we transform, but we only absorb the minimal amount required. The energy in the door will come at you in one big jolt. Your body won’t know how to handle it.”

  “I don’t think so.” Kane was studying the door, his eyes narrowed. “I can almost see the electrical current. I’m sure it’s only marginally more than what I use when I change. Besides, without sounding like I’m bragging, I’m a strong Alpha. Controlling a bit of extra input might tire me out, but that’s all and it will only be for a moment. If I touch the door and channel the energy into a transformation, it should give you a chance to grab the handle and yank the door open. Once you’re in, I’ll let go.”

  Rising to his feet, Ryne nodded slowly. “I hate to say it Kane, but you’re on to something. The plan just needs one modification.”

  Kane quirked his eyebrow. “Such as...?”

  Ryne grinned. “We both do it. Two Alphas absorbing the energy are better than one.”

  Bryan shifted uneasily. The idea of both men risking their lives at the same time didn’t sit w
ell with the Beta in him. Protecting the pack, taking the risks; that was his job. Yet he knew he didn’t have the mental control needed to channel an external charge of that magnitude.

  “You two better be right about this because I don’t want to face Mel and Elise if something happens to either of you.” He expressed his concern through a joke.

  Ryne clapped him on his back. “It’d be a good experience for you. Who knows, you might be placating an irate mate sooner than you think.”

  Bryan didn’t have an opportunity to respond as suddenly Ryne was all business. The two Alphas stood side by side, hands outstretched ready to touch the door.

  Kane looked over his shoulder at Bryan. “As soon as we touch the door, we’ll start to transform. It’ll be fast and probably won’t be pretty, but don’t worry about us. The charge in the door will have dropped sufficiently that you’ll be able to pull it open safely. Once it’s open, we’ll let go and the door will recharge so don’t brush against it when you go through.”

  “We might need a minute to recuperate but don’t wait for us.” Ryne added. “Just get in there and find Cassie. Make sure she’s safe before you start to deal with Marla and Aldrich. We should be there to help you by then.

  Nodding, Bryan braced himself, his hand held out, ready to grab the door. His teeth were clenched and he felt a muscle throbbing in his jaw. If there was any other way, he’d try to dissuade them, but another solution wasn’t apparent. And Cassie was inside and in trouble; he couldn’t not do everything possible to get to her. Taking a deep breath, he called out. “Ready.”

  The brothers looked at each other, their faces grim and then as one leaned into the door.

  Immediately they gave a loud cry of pain and their bodies went rigid. Wincing, Bryan forced himself not to look and grabbed the handle instead. Only a slight tingling affected his palm as the Alphas absorbed most of the charge. He yanked the door open with all his might, kicked the attached door-stop into place and immediately released the handle. The momentum dislodged the Alpha’s hands and they dropped to the ground, writhing as the forced transformation swept through them.