by Grady, D. R.
Frederic was on the phone and wasn’t paying the least bit of attention.
“I’m waiting for my ride.” Anna shrugged.
“They’re usually this late?” She scrubbed a particularly nasty tube with more force because it wasn’t coming clean.
Bending to grab the heavy-duty detergent from under the sink, her hair fluttered as something heavy smashed into the sink edge with a reverberating, metallic bang. The sound of a woman’s cry of frustration and rage echoed as Helena caught sight of a hammer from the corner of her eye. It slammed into the metal sink edge in a horrendous blow as air whooshed by her like the car that nearly ran her over. She gasped and dropped the glass tube into the sink where it shattered. Rolling to the side, she viciously scissored her legs, taking her attacker down.
Anna screamed as she wrestled for possession of the hammer. By that time Vlad and Frederic both arrived. Vlad took seconds to subdue Anna. He had no trouble removing the makeshift weapon from the crazy woman’s tenacious grasp. Frederic started spouting off but she couldn’t follow as shock and horror vied for preeminence inside her beleaguered brain.
Graham arrived soon after and by that time her heart was merely trotting as opposed to the all out gallop. “What happened?”
Still a little uncertain herself, she was surprised again when Vlad offered a succinct, accurate, and emotionless account of how Anna had crept up behind her with the hammer, and aimed for the back of her head. That he knew shouldn’t have surprised her, but it did. Apparently the man had been watching her all day. While that was spooky, it also comforted her.
Especially in light of the fact Anna had just attempted to kill her. With a hammer. Her stomach twisted as bile spurted into her throat.
“I’ll check the security videos.” Graham hefted his phone. He turned and spoke quickly into the device.
Vlad finished securing Anna and once satisfied, turned to her and tugged her close. She latched onto him and the shaking started. He smoothed some hair off her forehead. “The shaking is due to adrenaline.”
“Why did she attack me?”
“Once the police arrive, I’m sure they’ll want to know that as well.”
Anna was still struggling within her bonds and Vlad focused on her. His narrow eyed gaze didn’t daunt her as she continued to fight the flex cuffs. It appeared she had slipped over the edge into utter insanity. The police poured into the lab and started asking a lot of questions. Some of them apparently knew Vlad. All of them watched the security video Graham provided.
It was all recorded on the video, absolute evidence that Anna tried to kill her. Apparently this wasn’t her first attempt. The deranged woman kept repeating that she had failed - first with the car now with the hammer. Apparently she feared failure because her agitation levels elevated noticeably. The police took her into custody and eventually dragged the still resistant Anna off.
She gave her statement, as did Vlad, while Frederic was miffed because the police didn’t seem as interested in speaking to him. He tried to take it out on her, but she stared at him with cold eyes, so he retreated to his office.
“Why didn’t they take his statement?” she asked Vlad.
“Because he wasn’t here. He left the lab a few seconds before Barstow attacked you.” The utter coldness in his voice made her shiver.
Again, she was heartily grateful this man was on her side.
Chapter 32
“I called DuBois. He’s meeting us at the restaurant. As are my friends,” Vlad stated after he bundled her into the car and set off.
She started then peered at him. The city lights streamed across his face as they drove. The hard planes somehow reassured her.
“You’ve had a shock, so we thought it best if we all met up at a restaurant.”
“Us, Beau, and your friends?”
“My parents and Molly are also coming.”
“Does anyone else know?” The adrenaline that had pummeled her veins ebbed to a mere trickle now. She was restless and a little down, but not hungry. On the same token, she also wasn’t in the least bit interested in cooking tonight.
“I’m sure Aleksi will be notified, if he hasn’t been already.”
Vlad signaled to turn right and took the turn expertly before sliding into a parking space. “Stay there.”
He stalked around the car and opened the passenger door to assist her. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” His eyes were busy, watching, scanning, taking in the area around them.
She walked with Vlad into the restaurant, aware that he kept himself between her and any supposed threats.
She savored the feel of his hand on her back. Savoring also that she was finished with the hospital. The anticipation of returning to the palace lab was nearly exhilarating. Despite the fact that she would be there alone tomorrow.
When they entered the foyer, they met Vlad’s parents and Molly. Maria and Molly both engulfed her in tight hugs. “Please tell me you finished today and are coming to the palace tomorrow.” She grasped Maria’s arms.
Maria shook her head. “I still have work to finish in the morning, but I plan to be with you by the afternoon.”
“Thank goodness.” That was acceptable.
Graham also hugged her. “I had no idea your old lab was that bad.” He frowned at her, and she was surprised at how much like Vlad he looked. Perhaps it was because she caught sight of a warrior poking through his usual manner.
She yanked herself back into the conversation. “I should have said something to you, but the thing is, I didn’t have proof.” Or backbone that nasty little voice snidely added.
That backbone was in evidence now so she took great pleasure in flicking the voice away.
“I would have helped if I had been informed there was a problem.” Graham settled a determined gaze on her. It showed hints of his displeasure.
“Not to worry. I grew a backbone today.”
He nodded, again looking remarkably like Vlad.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Beau’s arrival. His eyes were flat and hard as he swept the restaurant, taking in everything until he finally located her. Then he crossed to her and wrapped her in a tight embrace. Tears collected in her eyes and tried to escape, but she blinked them back.
“Do your parents know what happened?”
She shook her head. “They’re out of the country, remember?” She thought for a moment. “Karis and Emerson are as well.”
“That’s why I called you,” Vlad said.
Beau didn’t release her but did lean forward to shake his hand. As well as Graham’s. When he finally did release her back into Vlad’s care, Molly slid into his arms for a quick squeeze.
Vlad’s friends arrived then. Their eyes were identical to Vlad and Beau’s as they stopped to greet her. Derek messed up her hair, Ben hugged her, and Rex smiled at her.
“It’s a good thing Tia isn’t here, or you’d be thoroughly hen-pecked,” Ben said cheerfully.
“I miss Tia, but I’m really happy to be returning to the palace lab tomorrow.” She glanced at Maria. “I’m hoping certain individuals will hurry up and join me.”
“I’m planning to.” Maria smiled as the host approached. “I’m as eager as you.”
Beside her, Vlad stiffened very subtly. She caught the impression that like Aleksi, he wasn’t thrilled that she was returning to the palace lab. Why?
She turned to ask Vlad just as the host offered to lead their party to a private dining room that was cozy and would allow them to talk. The space met with approval from the men in their party.
After the host left them with menus, Graham said, “I’m looking into the lab personnel. Too many of you are having uncomfortable experiences. That shouldn’t be.”
She exchanged looks with Maria. “Those stuck there will appreciate that.”
Maria nodded vigorously.
Everyone ordered and then the SEALs leaned back in their chairs and questioned Vlad, Graham, and her about the incident.
Vlad sat close and she leaned a little into him. He nudged his chair as near to hers as was possible. Their thighs pressed together and she rested her hand on his thigh, where his hand curled around hers. They sat quietly together as the others joked and laughed and appeared to enjoy themselves. It was typical of friends gathering together for a meal.
Yet all of it felt surreal.
Someone had tried to kill her. Twice.
Her parents were going to panic when they arrived home.
She sincerely hoped all of this was well behind them by then.
***
Vlad arrived the next morning just as she was locking her door. There was a bit of tension about him.
“You didn’t come for breakfast.”
“No, I ate at the palace. Are you going to be alone in the lab this morning?”
“Yes, as far as I know. Jorge will probably be at the hospital all week, training his replacement.” She turned and followed him down the stairs. “Your mom should be with me this afternoon.”
He nodded, and held the outer door for her before they crossed to where he had parked the car. After he helped her inside, he didn’t waste time climbing in and starting the motor.
“Why do you ask?”
“I’m gathering facts.” He didn’t take his eyes off the fairly heavy traffic.
She doubted that was true. “Why do you ask?” This time there was an edge of hardness in her voice.
He slanted her a quick, sardonic look. His lips even turned up in a momentary smile. “I really am gathering facts. I will continue to do so while you work this morning.”
Suspicion crept into her mind. “You’ll be gathering these facts from the cozy comfort of my lab.”
His smile was quicksilver but it set her pulse racing. There should be laws pertaining to his smile. “That is correct.”
With no fanfare, but great ease, he turned into the palace parking area. Any trace of a smile disappeared as he scanned the space. The hair on the back of her neck stirred and she swallowed.
There was an air of expectancy, and not the good kind, about the place as he coasted to a stop in a parking spot close to the door. He was there, like a human shield as she exited the car and bustled her inside. Without any sign of hesitation. Here was a man on a mission. It was strange to think of herself as his mission.
Especially in light of the fact that she wanted quite a lot more from him than his current businesslike manner. Where was her good morning kiss? What about a little hug?
She stopped to scowl at him.
Vlad didn’t stop. Instead, he hauled her forward as though she weighed no more than her niece, Nadia. This was untrue so surprise spurred her forward.
Once they were inside the palace, she relaxed a bit, but Vlad did not. He continued to scan their surroundings as though he expected the boogey man to pop out of the wainscoting. The palace magnificence was a bit lost on her though, because she was too busy enjoying the feeling of homecoming. This was where she belonged.
They ambled down the hall to the room where palace staff stored their belongings. She left her purse and lunch before she led the way to the lab. She unlocked the door and snapped on the lights. The black benchtops gleamed in the light and as the familiar smells of the space greeted her, she smiled.
“It’s good to be back,” she declared as she moved quickly toward the incubator. The well water plates looked good, and she planned to record the data later.
She booted up a computer, checked supplies, opened Tia’s office door to start a pot of coffee, and in general peeked into each space to make certain all was well with the lab.
Vlad seated himself at the bench where his mother typically worked. He carried a small computer and within moments was tapping away at the keys. It didn’t take him long to immerse himself in whatever he was doing.
She left him to his business to concentrate on her own. Tia had sent her an email with new projects so she printed that out now. There was one especially that she was eager to start and now she highlighted it. Then, after reading through Tia’s specific instructions, with a cup of coffee in Tia’s office, where Vlad joined her, she started her preparations.
It would take her most of the morning to prepare for the first leg of this experiment and that was exciting. This entire project should keep her busy for a week, perhaps longer.
The storage room looked exactly as it had when they left. At first. But after staring at the shelf where the five millimeter pipettes should be, she decided that wasn’t quite true.
Peeking out of the room she called to Vlad.
He was beside her in the time it took to blink. That’s exactly what she did when he conjured himself up right there in front of her. Blinked at him.
“What’s wrong?”
“The five millimeter pipettes aren’t where we previously stored them. Your mom and Jorge have both been here since then. They probably moved these items.” She bit her lip. “You told me to mention anything that didn’t seem right.”
“Even little things are significant. Go through the rest of the space.”
When she did so, she found a few more items that had been moved. All of this was minor, and probably meant nothing, yet they disturbed her. The taut, grim lines of Vlad’s body told her he also found her suspicions valid. He took out his phone and appeared to send something. She didn’t know what or to who, but she suspected he sent their findings to his friends.
“Is there anything else that’s raising your alarms?”
She trailed through the lab again. Then she crossed the room, slid the stainless steel work table to one side, and entered the smaller storage closet. Vlad was right behind her. A huge, menacing shape casting shadows into the room before she flipped on the light.
She stepped inside and started inventorying the contents. There didn’t appear to be anything amiss here. When she finished she shook her head.
“This is fine.”
He nodded before he followed her out. Her timer dinged before she could question him further. She completed the next task and soon lost herself in the work at hand. Every time she stepped into the large storage closet though, the hair on the back of her neck stood on end.
A disconcerting sensation at best. So she wasn’t upset when lunchtime came and they left the lab.
The sensation didn’t follow them.
Chapter 33
Vlad escorted her back to the lab. When they arrived it was to find his mother there. She shrieked and hugged her tight.
Maria laughed as she also hugged her son. “I’m back.”
The lab suddenly seemed like a friendlier place.
“I have to go,” Vlad told her. “Since my mother is here, you should be okay.” He glanced around the lab. “Remember the tunnel if there’s a problem.”
She nodded. She didn’t expect trouble, so they should be able to relax. When he left, she noticed that nape-hair-stirring-sensation disappeared with him.
Was Vlad the cause of her uneasy feelings all morning?
That thought formed a tight knot of denial in her throat. It couldn’t be him. He was working hard to keep her safe. Of course it was ridiculous, but the sensation of impending doom still disappeared.
She and Maria chatted happily for a while and Helena showed her what she was working on then handed the project sheet over. Maria read through it and selected her own experiment, also highlighting it.
“I’m only going to have time to work on the preparations today. But I can take some water samples when my prep work is finished.”
“Once I’m finished with my test today, I was thinking the same thing.” They shared a smile of relief as they both reveled in the fact they were together in this lab again.
“All we’re missing is Jorge.”
She measured
out her final ingredient. “And Tia.”
“Of course Tia. I can’t wait until she’s home.”
“I’m sure she’s feeling the exact same way.” She laughed and shared a knowing look with Maria.
“Yes, and reminding Aleksi it was his idea whenever she talks to him.”
Smiling, because she could well hear that conversation, she wondered when Tia could come home. Hopefully this cousin of hers did decide to buy her condo.
She opened her email and sent off a message to Tia, hoping that lady was flying through everything she needed to do there so she could hurry home. It wouldn’t be long now, thank goodness. Soon they would have all fulfilled their obligations and could thus get on with their lives and research.
A little giddy about her future, at least professionally, she set the last tube in the reader and shut the lid. She pressed the start button and watched as numbers scurried across the paper, looking like a receipt from a cash register. Indeed, it was the same type of paper and ink.
She tore the precious data sheet from the side printer and opened the door to remove her tube. Now that she had some data to play with, she should be able to figure out the next phase of the experiment.
On the other side of the lab, Maria was humming. She looked up and caught her eye. They both broke into happy, relieved grins and met halfway to hug.
“I’m so happy we’re back,” they said at the same time.
She laughed, and Maria wasn’t far behind her as they separated to resume their work. “I didn’t think the days at the hospital would ever end.”
“I know, love. The three and a half days there dragged.”
“This is where we belong.” She took the tube to the sink.
“Yes it is. So, is my son planning to stay in Rurikstan?”
The question was so unexpected that she dropped the tube. Fortunately it fell harmlessly inside.
“I don’t know.”
Maria stopped and turned full on to stare at her. “You don’t know?” She sounded aghast, and like she didn’t believe Helena was telling the truth.
She wished she knew. Little niggles of doubt gnawed at her. Vlad had stopped kissing her as much. He was still protective, still he-man like, but he didn’t kiss her nearly like he used to.
