The Complex (The Omega Protocol Chronicles Book 3)

by Courtney McPhail

  A sob came from Janet and Malcolm hugged her tighter. “It’s going to be okay. We’re going to get the meds, I promise.”

  “Why can’t it just ever be easy?” she said, her breath hitching as she tried to wipe away her tears. “I’m just so tired of everything being so hard.”

  “I know,” Malcolm said, rubbing a palm up and down her back. “You just gotta hold on a little longer, yeah?”

  “Who’s going to go?” Veronica asked.

  “Me, Travis, Nas, Banks, Mendez and Claudia,” Malcolm said. “I haven’t asked them yet but I know none of them will say no.”

  “I want to go,” Veronica said, “And before you say no, I am one of the best shots you have and know how to handle myself out there. You need me.”

  “I know I do,” Malcolm said, a wry grin on his face. “I was hoping you’d come.”

  Veronica blinked a couple times and Quinton knew she hadn’t expected a yes and had worked out a whole scenario where she’d have to argue for it.

  “Okay, well...good then.”

  “I also need Jackson to come,” Malcolm said. “I know it’s asking a lot for both of you to leave your girls but we need as many good people out there as we can get.”

  Veronica bit her lip and glanced at Jackson before they both looked at Audrey.

  “You both should go.” Audrey’s voice was soft, muffled by the mask she wore, but the eyes that peeked over the mask were hard with determination. “I’ll stay here with Hannah.”

  “Audrey, you don’t have to do this,” Veronica said but Audrey shook her head.

  “Hannah needs both of your help,” Audrey told them.

  “Ya sure?” Jackson asked. “What ‘bout the promise?”

  “It doesn’t matter now,” Audrey replied, her chin jutting out as she looked at them with determination in her eyes. “Hannah needs you, not me. She’s all I have left of my family. She can’t die.”

  “She ain’t gonna die,” Jackson told her, his voice catching on the last word and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “We ain’t gonna let that happen.”

  “Alright then, it’s settled. We will leave at first light,” Malcolm said and then looked down at Janet. “You going to be okay?”

  “Yeah,” Janet said, giving Malcolm another hug. “Go take care of business.”

  Malcolm nodded and stood up. “Travis went to get the others so we can go over the plan.”

  Veronica looked down at Hannah, who had curled up on her side, in the first restful sleep she’d had in days.

  “Go,” Audrey said, patting Veronica’s hand. “I’ve got this.”

  Veronica leaned over and ran a hand over Audrey’s ponytail and giving it a playful tug. “I’m proud of you.”

  Jackson nudged her shoulder with his own. “Me too, kid.”

  Quinton felt a spike of jealousy inside as he watched the little family together. He was happy for his sister but he was also envious. He had a chance at something like that but he’d fucked it all up. He knew he should be focused on the self-loathing instead of the envy but this was easier.

  Veronica and Jackson followed Malcolm out while Lorraine grabbed the biohazard bag and went to dispose of it. It left him and Janet alone in the room for the first time since their break up.

  Quinton fell back on the familiar rhythm of checking vitals, making notations on the charts that hung at the end of each bed. It helped with the awkwardness as Janet sniffled from her spot between the boys’ beds.

  He wanted to reach out to her, say something to comfort her, but he knew she wouldn’t welcome it. The last thing he wanted to do was upset her further because he wouldn’t listen to her when she told him to leave her alone.

  When he went to the opposite side of Matthew’s bed to check his heart rate, he took a chance to glance up and found Janet staring right at him.

  “Tell me the truth,” Janet said. “What happens if they don’t get the medicine?”

  Quinton didn’t even hesitate to tell the truth. He already knew the consequences of lying to her.

  “There is a chance that the antibiotics they are on now will take care of it but there is also the risk that they won’t. If they don’t, it will make it harder to treat the meningitis. The longer they stay sick, the more at risk they are for permanent neurological damage.”

  “Is there a chance they’ll...” She took a deep breath, glancing between her sons and then looking back at Quinton with fresh tears clinging to her eyelashes. “That they’ll die?”

  Quinton nodded, unable to actually say the words. Janet closed her eyes, leaning her head back as she mouthed a silent prayer.

  “It won’t come to that,” Quinton said, needing to reassure her. “We’re going to find the antibiotics they need. Travis has already been to one of the hospitals and said it was still standing with supplies inside. It’s just a matter of them going over there and getting it. Nothing complicated.”

  Janet let out a watery laugh. “Nothing complicated? You make it sound like running to the corner store for milk.”

  “Come on,” he said, smiling at her. “We’ve got two CIA agents, two National Guards and my sisters going out there. It pretty much is the equivalent of running to the corner store for them.”

  Janet smiled back at him and his stomach flipped. It had been so long since she had looked at him with anything other than loathing or fear and it felt good. He reached over and put his hand on hers. “They’re going to get the medicine and everything is going to be fine. I promise.”

  She glanced down at his hand on hers and he was quick to snatch it away. He was an idiot to push her boundaries like that.

  “Sorry, I shouldn’t have done that. I leave you alone and send Lorraine back in to keep you company.”

  “It’s okay,” Janet said and he halted his retreat. “You can stay. I feel better knowing their doctor is right here.”

  It wasn’t an admission that she needed him but it was enough to make him smile. “Then I’ll stay.”

  PART 3

  Subject File #744

  Subject: I hate it when he goes out there.

  Administrator: But you never stop him. Why?

  Subject: Because it is who he is. He’d never ask others to put themselves in danger while he stayed safe. He has to be the one leading the charge. I couldn’t ask him to be someone he’s not.

  Kim leaned against the bathroom doorway, watching Malcolm splash cold water on his face. He looked rough, heavy bags under his eyes and thick stubble on his chin.

  He hadn’t got much sleep last night. They had stayed up late going over the maps and then, during the few hours he’d laid next to her in bed, he had tossed and turned until the sky began to lighten with the rising sun.

  She didn’t blame him. Sleep had been just as elusive for her. Worrying about the people in the clinic and worrying about the mission to the mainland had kept her staring at the ceiling all night. The only saving grace was knowing that Trey was safe. He had been given a meningitis vaccination a couple years ago at school.

  Part of her felt guilty for that selfish thought. Janet was sitting with her boys right now, wondering if they’d make it through this. It was hell for a mother, something she wouldn’t wish even on her worst enemy.

  But they were going to fix this. Malcolm and the others were going to find the medicine they needed and everyone would be just fine.

  “You’re going to do it,” she told Malcolm. “You’re going to save them.”

  He turned to her, water dripping from his chin, dark circles under his eyes, his shoulders heavy with the burdens. She wished she could take those burdens from him but all she could offer were her words. She just hoped that would be enough to help him.

  He ran a towel over his face and dried his hands before stepping up to press a kiss to the top of her head.

  “I will.”

  His voice was strong, no hesitation whatsoever, and she knew that despite his exhaustion, he’d make it happen.

  “Auntie
Kim, is it time for breakfast?”

  Kim turned at the sound of the little voice and found Ruthie standing in the living room, clad in her pink PJs, rubbing a fist over her sleep filled eyes.

  With Janet at the clinic, they’d brought Ruthie to sleep in their cabin last night. With all of them vaccinated, it was the safest place for the little girl.

  “It is, sweetpea,” Kim said, laying a hand on the girl’s forehead. It was cool to the touch and Kim sighed in relief. Still no fever. “How you feeling today?”

  “Tired,” she replied with a frown. “Trey was making noises all night. Like haaaaaa, shooooo, haaaaaa, shooooo.”

  Kim smiled. “Yeah, he snores like a lawnmower.”

  “No, I don’t,” Trey said as he emerged from his room, already dressed for the day.

  “Yes, you do,” Ruthie replied with a giggle. “Haaaaaa, shooooo, haaaaaa, shooooo.”

  “Sweetpea, why don’t you go pick out the clothes you want to wear today then we’ll walk Uncle Malcolm to the dock,” Kim told her and the little girl dashed back to the bedroom.

  Kim put a hand on Trey’s forehead, needing to check his temperature. “You feeling okay?”

  Trey nodded. “I’m fine. Remember, I’m vaccinated.”

  “I know. I’m just paranoid,” she admitted, cupping his cheek and feeling the rough stubble of his facial hair. He might be on the brink of manhood but he would always be a little boy in her eyes. “I love you.”

  She expected him to roll his eyes at her sentimentality but instead he smiled. “I love you too, Mom.”

  Malcolm came out of the bathroom and crossed over to the kitchen table, where the maps were spread out from their late night planning.

  “Why don’t you wash up and we’ll head out?” she told Trey and he headed off to the bathroom as she joined Malcolm.

  He was bent over the table, reading over the maps for what had to be the hundredth time. They had plotted out multiple routes to the five hospitals, each of them a different colour and marked either one or two. They would take the satellite phones and use them to communicate with Elaine. She would relay information between the two groups. If they didn’t find anything at the first hospitals, they would head to the next one on the list until they found something. One way or the other they were coming back with the medicine.

  She stroked his arm, feeling the tension in him as he gripped the table’s edge. “You’re going to do it.”

  Those words had become their own little mantra and she knew he needed to hear it as many times as he could. She wanted her voice to be echoing in his ears when he was out there, something he could hold onto to give him faith.

  “I will,” he said as he began folding up the maps. “I will.”

  “Found my clothes,” Ruthie called out as she came back with a little dress covered in flowers clutched in her hands.

  “Good choice,” she said as Ruthie handed over the dress. “Come on, let’s get changed.”

  When she was dressed, Ruthie twirled out of the bedroom, her skirt fluttering around her in a wide circle. “I feel pretty.”

  “You’re the prettiest girl I know,” Malcolm told her, a smile softening his face as he gazed at his niece. She smiled back at him for a moment and then her smile fell into a frown.

  “Why are you sad, Uncle Malcolm?” Ruthie asked in her sweet little voice. “Is it ‘cause the twins are sick?”

  “It is,” Malcolm told her. “I don’t like it when people are sick.”

  “Me neither,” Ruthie said. “I miss Mama and Mattie and Mark.”

  “It’ll be okay soon,” Malcolm reassured her. “I’m going to go and get them medicine and then you can see them.”

  “I hope so.”

  Kim grabbed Ruth’s shoes from the door and brought them over to her. “How about after breakfast we make a get well soon card for the twins?”

  “Okay,” Ruthie said enthusiastically. “We can make one for Craig and Hannah too.”

  “Alright, sounds good, but let’s go brush your teeth first.”

  It didn’t take them long to finish the rest of their morning routine and soon they were all leaving the cabin. A pinkish hue was filling the eastern sky as they walked to the dock.

  The boats were out of the boathouse and tied to the dock, Javier and Elaine already at the helms. Jackson and Veronica appeared on one of the other paths that met at the boathouse.

  “How are they doing?” Kim asked Veronica in a quiet voice as she fell in step with her. She knew that Veronica had spent the night at the clinic with Hannah.

  “About the same,” she replied. “They’re sleeping a lot and their fevers haven’t gotten any higher.”

  Veronica looked as exhausted as the rest of them but there was an air of determination around her that Kim hoped would fuel her on this mission.

  “Audrey wanted to stay with Hannah. She’s there now, but would you mind checking in on her?”

  “Of course I don’t mind,” Kim said. “I’ll check on both of your girls.”

  Veronica gave her a strained smile. “Thanks.”

  As they reached the dock, Kim did a scan over the others that were gathered there, ticking off each of the group members. Malcolm, Veronica, Travis and Nas would head south to the hospital that Travis and the Reyes family had passed through, while Mendez, Banks, Jackson and Claudia would go north to the closest hospital. They were all here and accounted for.

  “Alright, let’s load up and head out,” Malcolm called out and the others began their goodbyes.

  Malcolm knelt down and hugged Ruthie, squeezing the little girl tight and telling her to be a good girl while he was gone. He stood to hug Trey, telling him to take some coffee with him on watch to stay alert for the eight hour shift he’d pull today.

  When he turned to Kim, she saw the determination in his eyes that seemed to erase all the signs of exhaustion that had etched his face earlier.

  “Do me a favour, yeah? Get Janet to come out of the clinic for a little bit. Ruthie needs to see her.”

  “I will,” she told him before she kissed him soundly. “You do me a favour and get back here quick.”

  “Don’t worry, I got a fire lit under my ass,” he said, squaring his shoulders in determination.

  She knew that he was afraid for Craig and the children but he was keeping it together.

  He was their rock, the one they could all rely on to get them through a crisis just as he had a dozen times before. He had a plan for them. They were going to execute it perfectly and everything would be fine.

  “You’re going to do it,” she whispered to him and he smiled at her again.

  “I will.”

  Subject File #750

  Administrator: In our first session, you didn’t want to talk about what happened at your parent’s house. We’re now a few weeks into our sessions, would you be willing to talk about it now?

  Subject: It’s still too hard. Not just losing my parents but the way it happened. We were attacked for no good reason. They didn’t even want anything other than to hurt us. I still can’t wrap my head around the kind of people who would do that.

  Veronica kept pulling at the frayed ends of the tear in the knee of her jeans, widening it as the minutes ticked away. It had been over three hours since they had split off from the others at the marina and headed south to the hospital. She wished there was a way to get there faster but Malcolm was already doing his best to cut down on the travel time. He’d forgone their usual tactic of taking rural roads and kept them on the highway.

  “We’ll be there soon.”

  She looked up and caught Malcolm watching her in the rear view mirror. She nodded, acknowledging his words, but that didn’t stop her from yanking on the thread hard enough to snap off.

  An elbow brushed against her arm and she looked over at Travis next to her.

  “It’ll be easy when we get there. We only found two freaks in the hospital lobby and put them down easily. We’ll be in and out and back on the road heading
home in no time.”

  She knew that they were all just trying to keep her calm but she still felt resentful of their platitudes. She wasn’t worried about the time it was taking. She’d looked at the maps herself, she knew how long it would take to make it there and back.

  She was worried that they wouldn’t find what they needed here or at any of the other hospitals. If they couldn’t find the meds they needed she knew what would happen. The line of graves at the fishing resort was burned into her memory.

  But she wasn’t about to voice those concerns. She knew that Malcolm was still doubtful of her capabilities. He was watching her carefully for any sign she might crack and go rogue like she had the last time she believed one of her girls was in danger.

  And they were the same worries Jackson had about her. He’d wanted to be in the same group as her, she assumed to be there to pull her back if something went wrong, but she’d disagreed. They had to be practical. They were going further out than they ever had, and there was potential for things to go really bad.

  If she and Jackson were together and something went wrong, the girls would be on their own. They needed at least one of them to make it back to the island to be there for the girls.

  Jackson had finally agreed to the plan but she knew he wasn’t happy about it. When they’d seen each other off at the marina, he’d been grim faced, eyes filled with apprehension that she knew wasn’t only about the girls. She’d done her best to reassure him, plastering on a smile and telling him that she’d wish him luck but he didn’t need it. He’d given her a quick kiss, mindful of the others around them and told her the same.

  It was a lie. She knew him well enough now to know when he was lying to her. He believed she needed all the luck in the world because she wasn’t ready to be out there.

  It didn’t bother her though. Truth was she worried too. She was desperate to get the meds they needed and desperate made you reckless. Reckless wasn’t good for her. She needed to be in control.