by Sandra Cox
“Yes. No. It’s complicated.”
“I think I’ll take the no. I like that answer best.”
Joel raises his hand as we pass the security station then slip onto the elevator.
I look at the buttons, one through four. Joel presses four.
I’ve been on every floor but three. “What’s on the third floor?”
“Labs.” Joel’s voice sounds strained.
I shake my head feeling muzzy. “But the labs are on the first floor.”
“Those are general labs. Blood work, that sort of thing.”
I’m confused. Normally, I can pick up on whatever it is he’s not saying, but I’m not at my best right now. “What’s on third?”
“The experimental labs.”
“Oh.” My voice trails off. I wish I hadn’t asked. I close my eyes. Experimental labs are the last thing I want to think of right now.
I’m barely awake when we get to my door. As if I’m no more than a feather, he picks me up and lays me on the bed. “Sweet dreams, Piper.” He kisses my forehead and leaves.
“Good night.” I fall into an exhausted sleep.
* * * *
“Good morning, Piper.” Casey’s perky voice wakes me. I don’t know how long I slept but it had to be a good ten hours. Other than being ravenous, I feel better.
“Good morning.”
“Dr. Stranger would like to see you.”
“Again?”
“Yes. More blood work.”
“I’m hungry.”
“Shower and I’ll order your breakfast. What would you like?”
“Coffee and a bowl of oatmeal.”
“It’ll be here when you get through. I’ll be back in forty-five minutes.” She gives me her usual cheery smile and leaves.
I shower, blow-dry my hair, and put on the shorts and top that is laid out. This time the shorts are blue and pink plaid with a pink top.
The oatmeal and coffee are sitting on the table in front of the couch. Memories of Gramps, and the many times he’s fixed me this breakfast, crash down on me. My throat tightens. I will not cry. I repeat it like a mantra until I can take a breath and look at my meal with equanimity.
I plop on the couch, take my first sip of coffee. My world rights. It may be decaf but it has a wonderful flavor. If I order coffee when I’m not seeing Stranger, would they send me caffeinated? Cranberries and pecans sit in a separate dish to sprinkle on the oatmeal. I take a deep breath and dig in.
With uncanny timing, Casey comes back as I finish the last mouthful.
She keeps up a running dialogue as we walk down the hall.
Dr. Stranger glances up from his computer as I enter. His office is a lot like him, well appointed but cold and sterile.
“That will be all, Casey.”
“Yes, sir.”
“How are you feeling, Piper?” He motions toward the black leather chair in front of the desk.
I sit on the edge of the chair, my spine straight. “I’m fine.”
He looks at me over his glasses. “We’re going to start hormone injections today.”
“Excuse me?”
“We are going to start hormone injections.”
“Why?”
“To help you produce more eggs.”
“My eggs are fine the way they are.” Embarrassed heat floods my face. I wouldn’t want to have this conversation with my own doctor, let alone this madman.
“For a normal girl, yes. But you are so much more. You are an amazing creation. A creation we would like to duplicate.”
“What you are doing can’t be legal.” If I can keep him talking, maybe I can find something out and when I do, I’ll blow his operation sky high.
He flicks his hand as if to wave off such a trivial notion. “Science is above legalities and so are you.”
I can’t decide whether to run screaming from the room or dive for his throat. The throat.
As if he read my mind, he says, “If you don’t cooperate, I could always use Amy. She’s a sweet little thing, don’t you think?”
Appalled, I whisper, “She’s only fifteen.”
“Yes, but she’s a mature fifteen. And if that doesn’t bring you around there’s always ‘your’”—he makes quotation marks with his fingers—“dolphin.”
“You bastard.” I jump from my seat and spring toward him.
“Don’t think I won’t do it.”
I let my hands drop to my side. I was so close to having them around his scrawny throat I could feel his body heat. My chest heaves. I force out the words, loathing it. “You win. Did you try to harvest eggs from me yesterday?”
He leans back in his chair and smiles tolerantly. “Why do you ask that?”
“Because I remember you saying something about getting or finding one.”
“You don’t need to worry about your eggs until it’s time to fertilize and implant them.”
Oh my God. My breath stutters in my throat. I dig down deep. Gramps didn’t raise a quitter is my mantra. I bring it out and repeat it whenever I need to give myself strength. Somehow I’ll be out of here by then. And I’ll free the dolphins and take Amy and Joel with me, even if I have to cut their trackers out myself.
“Let’s go into the examining room.”
“Why?”
“I’m going to give you an injection on the fatty portion of your stomach.”
“I don’t have any fat on my stomach.” I want to hide my head. What a stupid thing to say. It just slipped out. I must be more nervous than I thought, but maybe that’s the way to play it. Let him think he’s won. That’s he’s just dealing with a typical teenager worried about her looks.
He laughs. “Don’t worry, it won’t hurt.”
“I don’t have any belly fat,” I mutter.
“Hop up on the table.”
He draws fluid into a syringe. His thumb on the plunger, he pushes down to release air. Liquid spurts like a miniature fountain. “Lift up your shirt please and unzip your shorts.”
I look at the door and give serious consideration to making a break for it.
He looks at me and guesses my thoughts. “I’d rather not strap you down, but I will without hesitation if you don’t do exactly as I say. Remember Amy and your dolphin.”
I look in his eyes and know he means it. I bite my lip and comply.
After I do, he swabs my tummy and presses the needle into my skin. Moments later, he’s done. “There, that wasn’t bad was it?”
I don’t answer.
“Tomorrow, we’ll get a tracker chip in you.”
As if I’m his damn pet. I bite my lips together. I will not scream. I will not scream.
“I’ll call Casey to come and get you.”
“I can find my way back.” I scoot off the table.
“Good, I’m glad you are feeling comfortable here. It’s your home now. We like our subjects to be happy.”
As if this hellish place could ever be my home. My lips curl. “Why?”
“That’s a good question. It’s easier for everyone, myself included. When I first started my work, I didn’t realize how important it was to keep the subjects happy.” He shrugged. “Trial and error.”
Without responding, I walk through the door. Once on the other side, my breath goes out in a whoosh. I hate that man. He’s creepy, a modern day Dr. Frankenstein. I wonder if he tried to keep my mother content or if she was one of the trial and errors in the happy department.
Determined to put distance between myself and Dr. Stranger, I go in search of Joel and Amy.
I spend the rest of the day with my new friends. We make a couple of trips to the tank to check on the dolphins, mine in particular. I know she pines for the sea and her own pod. We swim with them for about forty minutes. That seems to cheer her up, though her color still isn’t good.
From there, we spend the evening playing games on the Xbox in the lounge pretending we’re normal teenagers, no
t mutant lab rats. I’ve never had time for video games. I decide I like them. They keep the dark at bay.
Curious, I ask Joel and Amy what they do about schooling. They tell me most of their courses are online. For a moment, I think about Rosemont. I’m a bit nostalgic. I wouldn’t even mind seeing Edgar the Asshole. My situation has to be bad if Fahrenbacher looks good.
At eleven, I’m ready to go to my room. They’re beating my socks off anyway. My attention is elsewhere. It has been all day, trying to figure out how to get us out of here. Deep into the game, Joel doesn’t offer to walk me to my room, just waves absently.
The game den is at the farthest end of the lounge. I walk past the alcove where the snacks are stored, and head to my room.
Once there, I change into thin sweats, randomly grab a book from the shelf and turn on the TV. Anything to take my mind off today’s events. It’s unusual to do absolutely nothing productive. Tomorrow I’ll talk to Joel, feel him out. Underneath that casual, boyish charm, I sense deep passion. He just keeps it buried so no one can see it. For now, my brain is cooked. I need to recharge, escape this place mentally if not physically.
I can’t get into the book. I toss it on the bed and surf the TV. The door opens. Amy and Joel must have finished their game and decided to come in for a while.
My breath catches. It’s not Amy or Joel. Shoulders hunched forward, I clutch the blanket in an age-old gesture of protection. “Who are you?”
A dark-haired man in a black diving suit slips in. He’s lean and muscled, and his eyes spell danger. He puts his finger to his lips. Someone else slides in behind him.
My breath catches in my throat. Tears well up and spill over. “Tyler! How did you find me? You came for me.”
Again the diver motions me to silence.
“Your distress watch,” Tyler whispers. In three long strides, he crosses the room and scoops me into his arms. “Are you all right?” His arms are tight around me, his heart thumps rapid and hard.
“Oh my God, you’re here.” I touch his face, unable to believe it, afraid I’m asleep and dreaming.
“Are you all right?” he repeats urgently, clasping my arms.
“I am now.” Relief floods me. I push my head into his shoulder. We stand there silent, holding each other.
The stranger in the wetsuit comes closer. “We’ve got to get you out of here.”
“Where are we going?” I mumble into Tyler’s shoulder.
“My uncle and I have come to take you home.”
I raise my head and study the man with interest. “Oh, you must be his uncle in the Mafia.”
“For God sakes, Piper.” Tyler exclaims in low tones.
“Mafia?” his uncle whispers.
“This is my Uncle Jackson Sweet. The SEAL I told you about.”
“Oh, yeah, sorry.” Once again, my mouth has worked before my brain. Before the conversation can go further downhill, the door opens again. In one smooth motion, Jackson grabs Tyler and steps behind the door.
“Hey, Piper, I was wondering if you wanted some company.” Joel steps into the room.
“Finished the game, huh?”
“Yeah, trounced her. So do you want company?” He moves forward. There’s a gleam in his eyes. His lips tilt up and he reaches out his arms.
I chew on the tip of my index finger and glance over his shoulder. “Actually, I’ve got company, Joel.”
Tyler and Jackson step forward. I notice Tyler’s teeth are clenched.
The boys size each other up.
Joel’s sharp gaze takes them both in. He drawls, “This wouldn’t be the boyfriend that’s not really a boyfriend, would it?”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Tyler snaps and moves toward Joel.
“What are you doing here?” Joel growls.
“We’ve come to take her home.”
Joel pauses. His whole demeanor changes. After a long uneasy moment, he nods. “It would be in her best interest. She doesn’t belong here.”
The tension in the room notches down, Tyler visibly relaxes.
Before he can answer, the door swings open, again. Tyler and his uncle dive behind it. An attendant dressed in white, carrying a metal basket filled with empty vials and a syringe, stands in the doorway. The light from the hall halos her. She’s young, blonde and pretty, a few years older than Joel, perhaps. He lounges against the open door, giving the two men cover and a chance to slide into the bathroom. “What are you doing here, sweet cheeks?”
“I could ask you the same thing,” she responds tartly.
Uh-oh. There may not be any dolph-girls around, but it looks like Joel’s made at least one human conquest.
“I asked first.” He gives her a lazy, teasing smile.
“I came to take blood.”
He arches a brow. “Isn’t it a bit late for that?”
“Dr. Stranger’s orders.”
He sweeps out a hand. “Be my guest. I’m just leaving.”
The pretty girl stalks over to me. I raise my arm. She jabs in the needle hard enough to make me jump. She fills several vials with blood and leaves, never speaking to me.
“You can come out,” I say softly.
Jackson and Tyler glide cautiously out of the bathroom.
“We better get moving,” Jackson says.
There’s a soft knock on the door. Joel slides inside.
“Are there any guards on this floor?” Jackson asks Joel.
“No, but there’s hall cameras. Oh and one attendant, but he wasn’t around when I came in.”
“We took care of the cameras. Or I should say my nephew did.” He gives a quick grin and thumbs up to Tyler. “He’s a whiz with electronics.”
“He must be,” Joel says.
“I didn’t know that,” I admit.
Jackson cracks the door and looks out. “Let’s go.”
Impulsively, I reach for Joel’s arm. “Come with us.”
His face softens. For a moment, his hand covers mine. “I can’t leave Amy.”
“Of course not, bring her.”
“Piper, I’m wearing a tracker.”
Jackson shuts the door. “What do you mean? Take it off, man, and let’s go.”
“Unfortunately, it’s buried under the skin and before you suggest cutting it out, I was told they’ve taken pains to make sure it stays in place.”
Jackson whirls in my direction. “Do you have one, too?”
I lift up my wrist and show the band. “I was to be fitted tomorrow.”
“What is this place?” He demands as he whips a deadly-looking knife from his scabbard and cuts the band from my arm. It falls harmlessly to the floor.
“Not now, Uncle J.” Tyler shifts from one foot to another. He, too, is dressed in a black diver suit. He rubs his knuckles with his fingertips, his expression edgy.
“You better go.” Joel nods and gives me a small smile that doesn’t reach his eyes.
“I don’t want to leave you here.”
He places a finger over my lips. I feel more than see Tyler and Jackson exchange glances.
“When I figure out how to get rid of this tracker, I’ll find you. I promise.”
“I’m in Santa Cruz County, in a little town call Ortega.”
Tyler cuts in. “We’ve got to go before somebody finds the guards we knocked out.”
I remember my dolphin. I can’t believe I’ve forgotten her, even for a minute. “There’s something I’ve got to do first.”
“I’ll do it.” Joel looks at me. He knows exactly what I’m thinking.
“Are you sure?”
He turns toward Tyler. “The security screens and alarms are down, right?”
Tyler gives a short jerk of his chin.
“Leave it to me. Now go.”
“Thank you.” I walk over and kiss his cheek.
He turns into me and kisses me swift and hard. “Go.”
“Take good care of her
,” he tells Tyler.
“Kiss her again, and I’ll break your face.”
“You’re welcome to try.”
They eye each other like snarling dogs. The strain in the room thickens.
“We don’t have time for this,” Jackson snaps, exasperated.
His cheeks flushed, a pinched expression on his face, Tyler leads me to the door, his hand possessively on my arm. Jackson steps in front of us, takes a quick look around, and motions us through.
“Wait a minute. I’ll be right back.” Joel steps out.
Tyler and Jackson look at each other. Jackson looks at his watch. “He’s got two minutes; then we’re out of here.” He concentrates on his watch.
Tyler shifts from one foot to the other. He throws me a worried glance before looking quickly away.
“All right let’s go.” Jackson reaches for the door as Joel comes through it. He’s holding two lab coats. “They keep them in the closet in case the dietician or a technician spills anything on their coats. You’ve probably noticed this is a pretty sterile environment.”
“Thanks, kid.” Jackson and Tyler quickly slip on the coats. They cover enough of the wet suits that they can pass for attendants if they’re not looked at too closely. Even their black water shoes will pass inspection. He holds out his hand to Joel. “I’ll be back for you. It won’t be tonight. After the guards wake up, all hell’s going to break loose. But I’ll be back.”
Joel nods. “I’ve got to get going. I’ve got a job of my own to do.” He winks at me and saunters out.
We slip out behind him. I start down the dim lit hall toward the elevator. Jackson grabs my arm and heads in the other direction.
“Hey you, where are you going?” An attendant steps out of the elevator. He puts his hand on his Taser.
Jackson turns and walks toward the young man. “Hi there. Tonight’s my first night on the job. I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Henry Mason.” He holds out his hand.
“Stuart Puckett. Where are you headed with the dolph?” He eyes Jackson suspiciously.
If the question throws Jackson, he gives no sign of it. “Taking her down for blood work.”
“At this hour?” The attendant purses his lips.
“I just do what I’m told.” Jackson shrugs.
The attendant nods, but is still frowning. “Why the stairs?”
