In the Shadows (Metahuman Files Book 3)

by Hailey Turner

  They exited the jet onto the main road that once led to North Star International and was currently doubling as a landing strip. It may have been hours since the raging fire was brought under control and put out, but the air still smelled like smoke. Sean coughed a little as they walked, mindful of where he put his feet on the broken ground.

  Gracie had healed the tenderness in his lungs, but then injected him with lung-scrubbers to fully fix the damage so she didn’t stretch her power. Several MDF agents would be off field duty for a while and quite a few Strike Force operatives had been injured as well, some critically. Gracie had opted to heal a lot of people only a little in order to spread out the use of her power.

  Sean squinted through his goggles at the bright morning light as they walked. Only a few scattered twists of fog coiled over the brown mountainsides, the morning sun having burned most of it away. Sean could barely see the few high-rise buildings of the neighboring city of Dillon rising into the sky from their current location. Reporters traveled back and forth between the small city and the massive staging area the media had set up at the perimeter of the crime scene.

  The federal government had slapped a no-fly zone over the area once the dust settled. The exits leading on and off I-15 near the property were closed for at least the next twenty-four hours. The Wolcotts’ ranch was located beyond the city limits, and only a small portion of it had been zoned for commercial buildings. After the fight wound down and prisoners were apprehended, the private property was cordoned off by multiple agencies. The MDF, FBI, and ATF all descended on the location to help secure the area and begin the laborious process of documenting any and all evidence left behind.

  It would take weeks, especially because excavating the collapsed building and near-sinkhole where the hangar was would require authorities to go slow. Sean knew the spinmeisters already had their stories hitting the news streams. He’d watched a couple of talking heads argue about the fight while getting injected with the lung-scrubbers. The arguments hadn’t been pretty. People were debating whether the situation at hand constituted a callous attack by the government on innocent civilians or a preemptive attack to stop terrorists in their tracks. Either way, Sean knew the public would shuffle into their respective partisan camps soon enough.

  It wouldn’t matter that the MDF had solid evidence of an American biotech company colluding with the enemy, or that a private military company had been helping them sell Splice on the black market for years. Some people would always question the truth. Considering the investigation would eventually focus on a sitting senator and a high-ranking CIA official only made the process of looking for evidence more stressful. They had to get it right.

  Alexei led him to the makeshift command tents where Jamie was holding court with other high-ranking officers and agents from the various agencies onsite. Jamie still wore his filtration mask, less because of the air quality and more because his voice came through a shade different, making it easier to hide his identity that way.

  “Glad to see you’re back on your feet, Wraith,” Jamie said, looking away from the layered command windows everyone was studying. All Sean could make out were timetables, maps, and the detailed outline of a collapsed building.

  “Couldn’t stay in Idaho when there’s work to do, Apollo,” Sean replied. “Where do you want me?”

  “Check in with Viper and Reaper. We’re getting ready to transport the prisoners and the more eyes on them, the better.”

  Sean had no idea where they were keeping the prisoners, but Alexei seemed to know. He snapped off a salute in Jamie’s direction before waving at Sean to follow him out of the command tent. A couple of aides hustled out of their way, giving them a clear path back outside.

  “We managed not to kill everyone?” Sean asked as Alexei headed in the direction of Vitae Neurotherapeutics.

  “Some surrendered. Most didn’t. Tried to incapacitate when we could, but hard to do when get shot at.”

  “They seemed uninterested in surrendering when I ran through the facility.”

  “Yes. Loyalty to Wolcott and Hayes, not to country.”

  Alexei sounded annoyed by that, but Sean knew loyalty wasn’t always easily categorized into black and white. Anything from propaganda to promises could change what a person would be willing to die for.

  Sean saw countless men and women in lightweight jackets and shirts with their affiliated agency letterings on the back. The FBI and ATF were taking orders from the MDF when it came to processing this particular crime scene due to the risk from Splice. Only those in positive pressure personnel suits were allowed past a certain marked-off point. Sean saw quite a few of them the closer they got to the midpoint area between the biotech lab and what remained of Declan’s company.

  Heavily armed Strike Force operatives and six MDF metahumans stood guard over fifty or so prisoners who sat on the dry grass in rows of five. Their hands were restrained behind their backs, and a good dozen or so sported bandages from non-life-threatening injuries sustained during the battle. Sean caught sight of Faraday cages on three of the prisoners who were separated from the main group and being watched over by Kyle and Katie.

  “Give you trouble?” Alexei asked when they got within speaking range.

  Kyle never took his attention off the trio of terrorist metahumans. “Not if they want a bullet through their heads.”

  “The director would probably like them to remain alive,” Sean said.

  Kyle shrugged indifferently, his expression hidden behind his tactical goggles and filtration mask. His uniform was filthy, as if he’d been crawling through dirt for hours on end. Considering his role as a sniper last night, that was a distinct possibility. His .50 caliber Barrett M293A sniper rifle was slung over his shoulder, resting at an angle across his back. In his hands, he carried an AKR-75 assault rifle and had a tactical handgun strapped to each thigh. If anyone tried anything, Kyle had a weapon for every conceivable range.

  Not that anyone would get very far with Katie monitoring everyone’s minds. The Telepathy Warrant was still in effect and she had clear authority to read the prisoners’ thoughts in order to keep everyone else safe. Katie would know their intentions before they even subconsciously made any decision.

  The metahuman sitting cross-legged in the middle of the small group glared at them with his one good eye, the left one swollen shut. Someone had fashioned a strip of synthfabric into a makeshift gag to keep him quiet. The edges were cutting into the corner of the man’s mouth hard enough to tear the skin. Whoever had tied it hadn’t been gentle. Sean found he didn’t particularly care about their comfort.

  “When do we transport?” Alexei asked.

  “Humans will go by secured prison transport on the road. We’re just waiting for D.C. to clear a flight plan for these three,” Katie said, tilting her head in the direction of the three metahumans.

  Sean eyed the slumped over men and women sitting on the ground, waiting to be officially processed into federal custody. The FBI’s closest office was in Chicago, a megacity more than capable of handling the group. Sean had a feeling quite a few judges would be working overtime once they got everyone transported east.

  The three metahumans wouldn’t be going with the other fighters. The MDF was the only agency capable of keeping metahumans safely secured and contained. Those three would be transported to Washington, D.C., for their initial arraignment before ending up in an MDF-monitored prison cell.

  Sean looked up at the big blue sky, thin wisps of clouds drifting high above. It would be a long, long time before any of these people saw the sky again as free men and women.

  “Who’s going to ride with them?” he asked.

  “Delta Team drew the short straw, but they’ll have company. A few Strike Force operatives will tag along,” Katie said.

  Alexei nodded. “Is good to have backup.”

  “Crazy backup,” Sean mused.

  “Won’t argue that,” a voice behind them said.

  Sean half-turned, watchin
g as Matthew strolled up to them, holding his weapon against his chest with one hand. The Strike Force captain held a cup of synthcaf in his other hand, the smell making Sean’s nose twitch.

  “Where’d you get that?” Kyle wanted to know.

  “Some nice folks from the FBI set up a drinks table near command. I got some before the rabble descended.”

  “And you didn’t bring us any?”

  “I was coming to relieve you so you and Viper could get some. Didn’t know Inferno and Wraith had already shown up.”

  Sean turned to look at Katie. “We’ll keep watch while you two take a break. Transport probably won’t be approved before you finish your synthcaf anyway.”

  Kyle knocked a fist against Sean’s shoulder as he walked on by. “Glad you pulled through and came back. Would’ve never heard the end of it from Inferno if you hadn’t.”

  “Walk faster,” Alexei told him.

  Kyle laughed, flipping Alexei off over his shoulder. “If they move, shoot them.”

  “He hasn’t changed a bit, has he?” Matthew asked, watching as Kyle walked away at a fast clip, lured by the promise of a hot drink.

  “If you’re asking if he’s still a sarcastic little shit who can shoot the wings off a fly at two klicks, then yeah, he hasn’t changed,” Katie agreed. She readjusted her grip on her weapon before heading after Kyle. “But really, shoot them if they move.”

  Matthew didn’t stop laughing for a good minute after Katie and Kyle left.

  “I like her,” Matthew finally said when he caught his breath.

  “She eat you alive,” Alexei warned.

  “Probably, but what a way to go.”

  “For what it’s worth, you only ruined two major cities over the course of this mission. I’d say I was impressed, except we have pretty much every news stream calling for our collective heads over how we handled containing North Star International,” Nazari said.

  “Should we be worried?” Jamie asked.

  “If I cared what the media thought, I’d be a politician, not a general. Our image might take a beating, but the mission was the right call. Even the president thinks so.”

  Alexei shifted in his seat, trying to find a more comfortable position. Two days since the fight in Montana ended and twenty-four hours since Alpha Team was recalled off the field, and Alexei had spent what felt like every waking hour in a meeting. His ass was going numb and they still had at least another hour left of discussion before anyone could even think about asking for a dinner break.

  He glanced around the long conference table at the other members of his team, glad to see he wasn’t the only one who was tired. Everyone’s synthcaf was running low, but the director’s aide had yet to bring in a new pot. Alexei desperately wished she would hurry up so he’d have an excuse to stand up and stretch until his spine cracked.

  Someone kicked him in the shin, hard, and Alexei glared across the table at Kyle. His brother wasn’t looking at him, but Alexei took the hint for what it was. Stifling a yawn, Alexei tried to pay attention, but the English was starting to make his head hurt.

  Jamie was fielding most of the debrief questions, absorbing all the answers for later review, when he’d have the time to process everything more. Everyone knew Jamie was flying out tonight after the debrief finished for a weekend of fundraising with his father. He wouldn’t be able to take any files with him, which was why this part of the debrief was moving at such a quick pace. Alexei would review it all later, on his tablet, after getting Ceres to translate everything into Russian for him.

  “They were married?” Sean asked from his spot next to Alexei.

  Alexei refocused on the drone of conversation happening around him, staring at the new document that popped up on his terminal.

  “Three years,” Nazari said. “They knew each other longer than that.”

  Alexei dragged the holographic marriage certificate closer, studying the names on it. “We kill his wife. Not think he forgive for that.”

  “Considering what his wife did to innocent people, I’m not inclined to lose sleep over it,” Jamie replied.

  “Not what I say. He won’t forgive, so will come back.”

  “Revenge,” Kyle agreed with a nod. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Declan tries to get in contact with Pavluhkin. Our mission on that front might be over.”

  “We’ll keep a close watch on chatter coming from that area,” Nazari said. “Declan Wolcott most likely fled the country through Canada. With his background, locating him will be difficult.”

  “What about Adrian?” Madison asked. “Are he and his wife still in Las Vegas?”

  “They’re currently being investigated by the FBI. Their nights of boozing and partying will be severely curtailed in the coming months.”

  “Aw, bless their hearts,” Annabelle drawled.

  Alexei hid his grin behind his empty mug of synthcaf while a few others laughed.

  “What’s the MDF’s plan of action with the CIA?” Sean asked.

  Whatever humor Alexei felt at the moment disappeared at that question. He knew the subject of the CIA was a sore one for Sean at the moment. It wasn’t easy on the rest of them either, knowing that a faction of the CIA was now their enemy in a way. It reminded Alexei too much of his early childhood, when he didn’t know whom to trust, and that wasn’t a feeling he’d ever thought he would feel in this country.

  “Anything concerning the CIA is still up in the air,” Nazari said after a brief pause. “It’s not something we can just jump into. We need evidence, and following the Wolcotts’ money trail is what will get us there. The shell company Carter Bennett owns needs to be unequivocally linked to him. In order to do that, we need to take this investigation slow. You don’t go up against the CIA and the people who run it without a damn good plan of action first, otherwise you end up dead.”

  “Then what about my family?”

  “We’ll be able to keep a security detail on your parents for the foreseeable future due to what happened in Montana with the Sons of Adam. Keeping your brothers safe will be more challenging because of their touring schedule, but we’ll do our best. We’re providing the same level of protection for Dvorkin and Brannigan’s family.”

  Sean nodded slowly, face an expressionless mask. Alexei wanted badly to comfort him, but the meeting wasn’t over yet, which meant their job wasn’t done despite the mission having finished up days ago. The government really did run on red tape and paperwork as opposed to the blood and tears of those who worked the daily grind.

  The meeting went on for at least ninety more minutes before the director wrapped things up with a reminder about their after-action reports.

  “I want them by tomorrow night,” Nazari said. “This was a hard mission, I know, and I want to thank all of you for your composure throughout. But we aren’t done, so be mindful of the fact that your reports could be evidence at trial.”

  “Even if they’re marked Top Secret?” Trevor asked.

  “Where this trail of evidence is leading us, I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the majority of what will be submitted to a court under seal.” The director stood up, prompting everyone else to get to their feet as well and salute him. “Get some rest, if you can. It’s been a difficult week.”

  Nazari left, giving Alpha Team the freedom to leave as well. Alexei’s stomach growled from lack of food. He tapped Sean on the shoulder.

  “Dinner?” Alexei asked.

  “Is the mess even open at this hour?” Sean replied.

  “If it is, there probably isn’t anything good left,” Madison said. “Who’s up for off-base food?”

  “I should get started on my reports,” Katie said.

  “Work on them tomorrow,” Jamie told her. “I’m giving you permission to take the rest of the night off.”

  “Need a ride to the airport?” Kyle asked him.

  Jamie didn’t even blink at the question. “Sure. I need to stop by the apartment first.”

  Alexei ducked his head to hide
his smirk. He didn’t have to wonder how that side trip would end. It was a good thing Jamie’s family was so rich he could afford to leave his private jet waiting on him for hours and not blink an eye at the bill while he and Kyle stole some alone time together.

  Katie waved them off. “Good luck with the fundraising.”

  “One of these days I’m going to make you join me,” Jamie promised.

  “And I will have a pressing engagement somewhere else the second you try.” She smiled at him. “I’ll have everything ready for your review when you come back.”

  Kyle and Jamie slipped out of the conference room after saying goodbye, leaving the rest of the team to figure out what they were going to eat.

  “The Eagle?” Annabelle tossed out as a suggestion.

  “No can do. We have Sean with us,” Donovan reminded her.

  “Right. Damn. Was hopin’ for their loaded French fries.”

  “Is military bar. Only military personnel allowed,” Alexei told Sean before he could talk his way out of a team dinner. “We go somewhere else. Topsy’s?”

  “I could eat a burger or three,” Trevor said. “All in favor?”

  Everyone called out an affirmative, so hamburgers at the circus-themed restaurant it was.

  “I’ll hack us a reservation on the way over so we don’t have to wait,” Katie offered on her way out of the conference room.

  Alexei snagged Sean by the elbow and led him to the hallway. “Take my car.”

  “All right,” Sean agreed easily enough.

  It didn’t take long for all of them to make it down to the sublevel garage and part ways to their cars. Alexei’s vehicle was the closest, and they were buckling up before the others even got their cars started.

  “Will beat them,” Alexei said as he pulled out of the parking spot.

  Sean rolled his eyes. “With the way you drive, I have no doubt.”

  “Rude.”

  “I call it like I see it.”

  Alexei tilted his head a little as he drove them to the security gate and scanned them through. “You call your parents?”