Chapter 8
A Few Hours Ago
Dr. Alayna Sessions stared at the file sitting on her desk, not really seeing it. She’d been away from her office for several days now and couldn’t come up with any more excuses to justify her absence. If she could just finish updating her patient files she could call it a day without raising suspicion.
Right now, that was easier said than done.
She was so close to success, she could almost taste it. Months of experiments had yielded nothing, but now she was on the verge of triumph.
When she first met Gayle Costa last year, Alayna thought she was just another drunk. Covering a couple shifts per month at the free clinic had her treating more than her fair share of addicts, and Gayle fit right in. In a drunken stupor, she’d apparently taken a tumble down some stairs and broken her arm. One of the clinic’s nurses had witnessed the fall and, seeing that the bone jutted through the skin of her forearm, convinced her to come in for treatment.
By the time Alayna got to the exam room Gayle had passed out. Either the alcohol or the pain from the compound fracture had proven too much for her. Alayna remembered being relieved at the sight. Addicts could get quite belligerent when they were under the influence and in pain, and Alayna was more than happy to set the bone and cast the arm in relative quiet.
That was when things got strange.
The nurse’s report clearly stated that the patient’s right arm had an open fracture of the radius, but when Alayna examined it, the bone was already set. That, in and of itself, wasn’t entirely uncommon. People had been known to push a protruding bone back in place when the adrenaline rush created by whatever accident caused the fracture was still coursing through their veins. What piqued Alayna’s interest in this case was what she saw on the X-ray. Not only was the bone set, but it had also already started remodeling— something that should have taken months.
The nurse, Cori something, had interrupted her exam. “Dr. Sessions? I need to draw some blood to do a blood-alcohol test. I gave her a Breathalyzer when she first came in but it must be malfunctioning. It said her blood-alcohol level was 0.42.”
“She should be dead, if that reading’s right.”
“It can’t be. Don’t get me wrong, she was definitely drunk, but she was able to walk here without any help from me.”
“All right. Do the test and get me the results as soon as you can.”
The nurse stepped up to the examination table and tied a rubber strap above Gayle’s left elbow. Once she found an appropriate vein, she inserted the needle, but that was as far as she got.
With the reflexes of a highly trained athlete, Gayle shot to a sitting position, pulled out the needle, and pushed Nurse Cori away with enough force to knock her to the floor.
“Calm down, Gayle.” Alayna raised her hands in a manner she hoped conveyed that she wasn’t a threat. “You were hurt. You’re at the Bay Street clinic. We’re just drawing a little blood.”
“No!” Gayle screamed. “You can’t take my blood.”
At that point Alayna was stuck. She couldn’t perform any procedure, even a simple blood draw, without her patient’s permission. But she needed to run tests. She had to find out how this woman was healing her fracture so quickly, and if that healing ability extended to other injuries or illnesses as well. If it could be isolated and duplicated it could change the face of medicine. She could change the face of medicine.
Before she had the chance to ask even her first question, Gayle was up and out the door. Taking with her any chance Alayna had to make medical history.
Now, sitting at her desk, staring at the unfinished medical chart in front of her, Alayna thought back to that fateful day. At the time, armed with only her patient’s first name, she’d had no choice but to let the matter drop. She couldn’t very well start research on a subject that she couldn’t even identify.
Then, a few months later, her desire for fame and fortune in the medical community was trumped by a much more personal, and desperate, need. There was absolutely nothing that would stop her from getting what she needed. Nothing.
The buzzing of the intercom, followed by the voice of her secretary, brought Alayna back to the present. “Dr. Sessions? You have Mr. Hamilton on line one.”
The mention of Mr. Hamilton’s name, or pseudonym more likely, sent a shiver down her spine. He was the leader of the less-than-ethical mercenary group she’d hired to find and capture Gayle Costa. It never ceased to amaze her what could be done with Google.
Forcing more strength and authority into her voice than she felt whenever speaking with him, Alayna picked up her phone. “Mr. Hamilton. What have you got for me?”
“The other two. We’re on our way to your house now.” A click on the line signified their conversation was over.
With one last glance at her still untouched patient files, Alayna grabbed her purse and headed out the door, ignoring the quizzical look from her longtime secretary. “I’ll be back in an hour.”
She didn’t know who these two were. According to Hamilton they’d been spotted leaving the Costa house by one of his men on a scheduled drive-by. He’d gotten there just as they pulled out of the driveway. There’d been no cause for alarm until they ran the car’s Duvall County plates. Classified.
Hamilton put his man on recon duty, having him follow the car and its two occupants, until a plan of action was decided upon. By the time the car pulled into the Hyatt hotel the decision had been made. Alayna needed these two off the street, so Hamilton pulled his man off the tail and put his plan in motion.
Now it was up to Alayna. Although she hadn’t intended on taking anyone but Gayle, she couldn’t allow these people to get in the way of her success. Once she had them restrained and sedated, she’d come back to her office, finish her charts, and be home in time for a late dinner. Then her real work could continue.
Chapter 9
“Mom? Is that you?” Greco said.
“Yes, it’s me. I’m on a gurney right behind you,” she said, sounding even more fragile. “There isn’t much time. The longer the sedation is in your system, the weaker you’ll become. If your friend has teleportation powers, she needs to use them before it’s too late.”
“But I can’t,” Mirissa said in frustration. “I’m not strong enough to teleport more than a mile.”
“You may not be, sweetheart. But your ring is. Remember, your ring is a part of you. Your power belongs to it, and its power belongs to you. Focus. Draw on its power, and you should be able to teleport much farther than you could on your own.”
Greco watched as Mirissa closed her eyes and slowed her breathing. “Wait!” he yelled. “Mom, before she tries this, we need to know who took you.”
“Her name is Alayna. I met her a few weeks ago at my A.A. meeting. I don’t know any more than that, sorry.”
Greco tried to turn his head enough to see his mother but couldn’t. “Why did she take you?”
“She wants something from my blood. That’s all I know. Please. Your friend needs to go. Now.”
“Your blood?” Greco asked. “How much has she taken?” As the reality of their situation sank in, fear exploded in his chest.
“Not enough to do any permanent damage—at least I don’t think so.”
Blood loss was the one thing that could seriously mess with an Amazon. When Artemis imbued their blood with special abilities all those years ago, she’d known there could be problems. Anyone that knew about their unique metabolisms and healing capacity would covet them, making all Amazons targets. Even if they were able to conceal their unique physiology, there was still the very real danger of them choosing to share it. Amazons had always helped those in need, and Artemis knew if they were able to spread their capabilities to others, they would—even if it meant forever changing the natural order of the world.
That was why the goddess put a safeguard in place. If an Amazon lost more than a small amount of blood at any given time, their body would decay—one organ at a time�
�until they were dead.
“Please, Greco. She’s running out of time.”
Greco gave Mirissa a quick nod and watched as she called upon her ring’s power. Then she was gone. He only hoped she made it somewhere safe.
Chapter 10
“Are you alright, Miss?”
Mirissa felt the hard floor beneath her. She rolled onto her side and slowly opened her eyes.
“Where’d you come from, girl?” The image of the man standing over her slowly came into focus. He was wearing military fatigues but looked like he was anything but a soldier.
“I asked you a question!” The man bent down and grabbed Mirissa’s wrist, pulling her upright.
“You leave her alone, Benjamin!” A woman’s voice boomed from behind the unknown man.
Mirissa, still struggling to clear her mind, watched as a familiar person approached. “Miss Maggie?”
As the fog in her brain receded, Mirissa realized she was sitting in the warehouse where she and Greco had begun their search for his mother. As she pushed herself to a standing position she felt her knees wobble underneath her. Note to self—never take drugs.
Miss Maggie wrapped a steadying arm around Mirissa’s shoulders. “We need to get you away from here.” Her voice, previously harsh while speaking to Benjamin, had turned soft. “Two men came here after you guys left earlier. They offered cash for information.”
Mirissa, remembering Maggie’s request for money from Greco, turned an accusatory gaze to her.
“Don’t you look at me that way. I didn’t say nothing. Greco’s like family.” Maggie glanced at the other occupants of the warehouse. “These others, though, won’t be so tightlipped.”
Mirissa nodded her agreement, and her apology. “I need to get back to my hotel. Will you help me?”
“Of course,” Maggie said. “We’ll take Benjamin’s car.”
“That guy has a car?” Mirissa couldn’t hide the surprise in her voice.
“Yes, dear, he has a car. It’s the last relic from his old life, and it still runs. You’re going to have to give him gas money, though.” Maggie paused a moment then continued, “Just give me the money and I’ll put the gas in the car.”
“I tell you what, Maggie.” Mirissa smiled. “I’ll give you the gas money, but I’ll be back to ask Benjamin if he’s got a full tank when this is over.”
“Fine.” The disappointment evident in Maggie’s voice.
They exited the warehouse using a back door in what must have been an office at one time. The bright sunlight made Mirissa cringe. “What time is it?” The look of incredulity on Maggie’s face told her that a wristwatch was not on her list of possessions. “Sorry. I’m just trying to figure out how long we’ve been gone.”
“Can’t be more than a few hours. Ricky never misses dinner at the shelter and he’s still here.”
Benjamin’s car was definitely what Mirissa would call a relic. Twenty years ago it was probably a nice family sedan, now it looked one step removed from the junkyard.
“Beggars can’t be choosers, darlin’.” Maggie cocked an eyebrow. “Maybe I should drive. You still look a little shaky.”
Mirissa simply nodded. “Can you take me to the Hyatt on Bay Street?”
Within a few short minutes the old, dilapidated car pulled in front of the hotel, much to the chagrin of the valet clerk. Before Mirissa could get out, Maggie put a hand on her arm. Mirissa reached into her left boot, pulled out a folded fifty dollar bill, and handed it over. “Thanks for your help.”
Maggie took the money and shoved it into her front pocket. “You know, I saw you come in to the warehouse earlier. You just appeared out of nowhere.”
Mirissa took a deep breath. “That’s all the money that I have, Maggie. My wallet's gone.”
“I don’t want your money! I mean, I do want your money, but that’s not why I said that. I just wanted you to know that your secret is safe with me.”
Mirissa smiled. “Thank you. For everything.” As Mirissa walked into the lavish lobby of the five-star hotel, she couldn’t help but feel guilty. When she looked over her shoulder, Miss Maggie was gone.
Time to go to work.
After securing a replacement room key from the front desk clerk who, thankfully, remembered her from check-in, Mirissa made her way back up to her room. As she exited the elevator she saw a bellhop using his master key to open their door—the Do Not Disturb sign still hanging from the handle. The adrenaline coursing through her at the site of the intruder succeeded in clearing the last effects of the drug she’d been given. Once again in full control of her faculties, Mirissa waited for the man wearing the hotel uniform to notice her. When his eyes finally met hers she saw recognition in them. Either he knew who she was, or her height gave her away as an Amazon. Either way, he was no bellhop.
Mirissa sprinted down the hall, reaching the intruder just as he turned the handle and pushed the door. Two yards from her target Mirissa jumped and extended her right foot in a flying sidekick. The impact sent the bellhop crashing through the door, gasping for air as his lungs emptied instantly. Mirissa reached down, grabbed his shirt collar, and yanked him fully into the room, kicking the door shut behind her.
“Who are you?” Mirissa was having a bad day and relished the thought of taking her aggression out on this man.
The look of fear on his face told Mirissa everything she needed to know. He was most definitely not a professional. Even if she hadn’t seen his face, the growing wet spot in the groin area of his pants would have told her just as much.
“I’m going to ask you one more time. Who are you?”
Opening and closing his mouth like a guppy out of water, the man finally found his voice. “John. John Anderson.”
Mirissa waited for him to continue but he just stared at her. “Who sent you and why?”
“I don’t know.” He cringed as he spoke, as though afraid of her reaction. “I’m telling the truth! They just gave me five hundred bucks and told me to search your room. There wasn’t supposed to be anyone here.”
“What were they looking for?” Mirissa asked.
“I don’t really know. They told me to grab your luggage and any papers that you had around the room. That’s all I know. I swear.” Tears were streaming down his face.
“They must’ve given you a time and place to meet so you could hand over what you stole.”
“I’m supposed to bring everything I find to the parking garage by the Lucas Theater at six o’clock.”
The beginnings of a plan formulated in Mirissa’s mind.
“Uh, what’s going on?” Asteria asked from the edge of the bed.
Chapter 11
“Thanks, Mom. I’ll call you later.” Mirissa ended her phone call and turned to Asteria. “You ready?”
“Aren’t I always?”
Mirissa grinned at the girl who had quickly become her best friend. They’d only worked together with the Omega Group for a few months, but their friendship felt life-long. Asteria filled a void in Mirissa’s life that she hadn’t even known was there. Her friends from high school had fallen away, slowly at first, as she became more and more involved in her Amazon duties. It wasn’t just the time involved, but the secrecy that made her close herself off to the very people she used to run to for advice. When the Daedric thing was finally over, she realized she had no friends left. Sure, she’d send and receive the occasional text or email, but that was as intimate as it got. She thought for a while that she and Greco might become friends—more than friends—but he’d always made sure to keep her at arm’s length, squashing any hopes she had for more. Asteria was someone from her tribe, who knew and accepted everything about her and, most importantly, didn’t shut her out.
“All right, then. Let’s get our friend over there and head on out.”
The plan was simple. John Anderson would keep his six o’clock appointment at the parking garage and she and Asteria would follow whomever he met back to their headquarters. Their uninvited guest had ea
gerly agreed to be part of their sting operation, as he called it, once they told him he could keep the money he’d been paid and they wouldn’t have him arrested. Of course, they’d needed to give him a pair of Greco’s pants to wear in place of his own pee-stained pair. All they needed then was a car, and Greco’s dad had graciously loaned them his. Convincing him to stay at the hotel while they rescued his wife and son had been a little more difficult, however.
After arriving at the parking garage and letting their newfound spy out at the entrance, Mirissa found a parking spot near the building’s only exit. They needed to keep their eyes on John and be ready to follow whatever vehicle held their target at a moment’s notice, so it was decided that Asteria would stay with the car and Mirissa would watch John. He’d been instructed to wait at the northeast corner of the uppermost level, so Mirissa quickly climbed the stairs and slid between two parked cars.
A moment later, the door to the northwest stairwell opened and a nervous looking John Anderson poked out his head. Mirissa let out a breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. At least he didn’t run, she thought. He walked to the opposite corner with their two overnight bags and casually leaned against the wall. Mirissa had to give him credit. Not only had he shown up, but he was playing his part well—and had yet to wet himself.
Although it felt like an hour, less than ten minutes passed before a white Honda Pilot emerged from the ramp. Passing dozens of empty parking spaces, the SUV came to a stop a few feet from John. Here we go.
Mirissa took a deep breath and focused on expanding her senses. Since discovering this power a few months ago, she’d trained with Greco until she was able to isolate each individual sense and increase its sensitivity to just the level she needed in any given situation. For now, she expanded her auditory capability enough to hear John’s conversation but not so much that the sounds of the surrounding city overwhelmed her.
“Did you get everything?”
Greco (Book 1.5) (The Omega Group) Page 3
