Rick turned to Mitchell. The general sagged against the side of the van. He held the small receiver in his palm. All of their hopes of getting through security lay in that tiny receiver but Rick didn’t like the pale, faded look on the man’s face.
“Maybe the Sister should handle the receiver,” he said.
The general stirred, straightening in his chair. As he shifted in the light, Rick could see sweat glisten on his forehead.
“No, I can do it,” Mitchell said. “It’s better if I do it. I have to go first anyway and it needs to be done in order.”
Rick opened his mouth to protest but the general pulled himself up and stomped to the door of the van. As he passed Trina, the girl huddled away. The badge in her hand dropped to the floor. Peter scooped it up and handed it to her even as he watched Mitchell tug the door open.
“Show time,” Rick said. “Let’s go.”
As they stepped out of the van, security spotlights flashed on, Rick heard Trina whine and Peter’s voice mumbling in low tones. Rick knew how the girl felt. Beyond the light in that gloom were people watching who could decide their fate on a whim. With this important council meeting, there was no telling how jumpy they’d be.
“Step forward for inspection,” a voice boomed out tinny from an unseen speaker.
Rick itched to step forward but held back. Mitchell moved forward, holding his arms away from his sides. Rick could see how the general’s left hand tightened where the receiver sat in his palm.
“Squad name,” security called.
“I’m General Mitchell, authorization Delta Alpha Niner Oh Seven Twenty-Three Omega, reporting on special assignment to the Council.”
Silence. Rick counted off five seconds and still nothing. Dammit, would this work? It had been the only way to avoid giving a squad name. They’d counted on Mitchell’s name getting them in. If it didn’t, everything ended here.
The harsh light snapped off, leaving the regular security lights that blanketed the area around the door in twilight. Standing just outside the perimeter of the harsh spotlight, half a dozen armed troops pointed Uzis at them.
“Step forward for identification confirmation and decontamination.”
Rick could see the speaker grill now, mounted just above the door. As Mitchell stepped forward, the guards parted, forming two lines to allow them to pass. As they’d agreed ahead of time, Peter followed right after Mitchell, then Lucy and Trina, with the Sister and Rick bringing up the rear.
The general stepped into the decontamination pod. As the door swung open for Peter, Rick held his breath. Now they’d know if that receiver worked, if the authorization codes Mitchell had programmed in would actually override the system. Assuming the general’s defection hadn’t already been reported, assuming security in the surrounding cities didn’t have copies of their DNA, likenesses and any other identification, assuming the receiver broadcast as planned and didn’t break down. Assuming, assuming, assuming. Peter stepped through and the door slid closed behind him. Rick held his breath.
Another pod slid open. One of the security guards gestured to Lucy. She flinched away from him and stumbled to the pod. Rick could see the panic in the way her hands fluttered around her waist, clutching at the fabric of her top. He wanted to say something to her but he couldn’t risk it. Anything out of the ordinary could trip them up.
The pod holding the general cycled through and opened up, empty. Mitchell had made it inside. Trina glanced back at Rick. He nodded to her. She stepped into the pod and the door slid shut.
The Sister went next and finally it was his turn. The same gelatinous sides pressed against him. Tiny stings pricked him. Finally the door hissed open and he stepped out. The Sister stood waiting for him. She grabbed his arm, her thin fingers digging in.
“The others are waiting for us,” she said.
Although her voice was smooth and bland, he could see the excitement in the twitch of her smile. He patted her hand. One step down. Now they had to get to the council meeting.
He let her led him to the others. The security guards signed them in and they walked in, leaving the van behind. Rick didn’t like leaving it but arguing would have created delays. Better to just conform to this city’s procedures.
He caught up to Mitchell and matched pace with him. “We have to get in to the council now.”
The general shook his head. A flare from a light above reflected against the sweat on his forehead. His eyes looked bloodshot. Deep lines etched alongside his mouth.
“Mitchell?” Rick said. He reached out to the man.
The general straightened, waving away Rick’s hands. “I’m fine,” the man said. “I can get us in. Follow me.”
He started off, his steps uneven and stomping. Rick almost called out after him but felt a presence at his side. He looked over. Peter stood there. He put a hand on Rick’s arm. His fingers felt cool even though Rick’s jacket.
“Let’s follow him, Rick,” Peter said. “He knows what he’s doing.”
Some instinct made Rick want to pull away but he didn’t. Pressure from Peter’s hand let him know the young man meant it. Something was going on, beyond just stopping Elliott. Dammit, he should have paid more attention to Peter, to this cure but there was so much happening. Had he lost track of the most important thread?
“It’s all going to work out,” Peter said. “It’s all going to stop here. Tonight.”
“What do you mean?” Rick said.
“It’s going to be okay. We’ll stop Elliott.”
“Is he the only one we have to stop?”
Peter’s head cocked to one side. “What are you talking about?”
He knew exactly, Rick thought. He didn’t respond but nudged his arm out from Peter’s grip. The young man released him and fell back a step to walk beside Lucy. She grabbed onto his arm, her fingers tightening until they turned white.
Mitchell turned down a side street then into an alley. Orange light from the hovering streetlights bled over the tops of the short buildings but left dark shadows at street level. Rick caught up to the general.
“Where are we going, sir?”
“Back way.” The man’s voice came out in a pant. “We’ll have to sneak in through an auxiliary entrance.”
“I thought you could get us into the council chamber.”
“I can but they’ve got the main building on lock down. My authorization won’t stand up to more than one use.”
The Sister came up to match their pace. “What’s up?”
“We have to break into the building,” Rick said.
The Sister took a deep breath and let it out. “Okay. I think I can manage that.”
Rick’s head jerked around toward her. “What?”
“I used to sneak out of the university for poker nights with one of the monsignors. He loved Texas hold’em and we’d slip the cab ride to the tables.” She shrugged. “What can I say, it gave me something for confession.”
“Pretty lively confession.”
The Sister grinned. “Not compared to some.”
At the end of the alley, she led them through a small side street to a three story building. Conferring with the general, the Sister then picked the lock and led them inside. In the back storage room, she hustled them inside before closing the door.
“According to the map and the general’s recollection, this building shares ventilation with the main council building adjacent. I can get through and unlock the side door to the alley. Should take me twenty minutes to get through and disable the lock but I can only hold it open for a few minutes before the alarm triggers. You’ll have to be ready,” the Sister said.
“We’ll be ready,” Rick said.
“Too late.” Trina’s whisper caught Rick’s attention. He turned to her.
The girl hugged herself, shoulders hunched up to her ears, forehead crinkled in concentration.
“What is it?” Rick said.
“Wait.” Peter closed his eyes then they snapped open. “Move. The
y’re onto us!”
“Not possible,” Mitchell said. “How?”
“Your signal interruption didn’t fool them,” Peter said. “We have to get out of here.”
“Elliott,” Lucy said. Her voice cut through the rush to the door. Her hands clutched at the waist of her pants.
“Let’s go, now.” Peter grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the door. Before he reached it, a security guard filled the doorway. The Uzi locked onto them.
“Freeze! You’re under arrest for trespassing.”
“Do as he says,” Rick said. He held his arms up.
The Sister glared then held up her arms. The others followed suit.
After confiscating everything but the clothes on their backs, the guards escorted them back out of the building and to Rick’s surprise, into the main council building. A quick glance at the others told him they were just as confused as he was; why not take them directly to a holding cell?
One cramped ride in an elevator and a walk down a long thick carpeted hall, and Rick had his answer. The large room the guards escorted them into held a desk large enough to host a dinner party for twelve. Three guards took up station at the door behind them, holding their Uzis at ready.
From behind the mammoth desk, Malcolm Bennett smoothed the lapels of his stylish jacket before standing up. He held his head in such a way as if he were surveying them from above. Rick wondered if he needed glasses.
“That’s an interesting device you’ve got,” he said. “Managing to divert our scanners for several of your party. I’m afraid that contravenes our policy and you will have to be expelled.”
“Sounds like you have a malfunction in your equipment,” Rick said. “We came to observe the council meeting.”
“That meeting is closed to the public at this time,” Bennett said.
“I thought all council meetings were public by right,” the Sister said.
“When we have such obvious security breeches, it’s plain why this meeting is to be private.”
“Quite right,” Rick said. “It would be terrible for people to know that you are negotiating with the vampires.”
Bennett frowned, looking like he’d swallowed something sour. He tapped a covered display on his desk. “You’re Richard Collins. You resigned your commission as squad captain under dubious circumstances.”
Rick barked out a laugh. “If by dubious you mean threatened and railroaded, you’re right.”
“Of course you would claim that,” Bennett said. “Especially since you could be accused of filing a false report. You did claim the loss of squad member Peter Masterton and yet here he is alive and well.”
“I did claim he was lost,” Rick said. “Now he’s found again.”
Bennett folded his arms across his chest. “Found with traces of vampire virus in his system. Were you going to put that in your next report? Is that why you’re sneaking into our city?”
“We’re sneaking to stop you from making the biggest mistake of your life,” Peter said. He stepped toward the edge of the desk. Behind them, the guards stepped forward. Peter didn’t seem to notice them but stopped as he reached the desk.
“Well isn’t that sufficiently dramatic,” Bennett said. “Thank goodness you got here in time. I’d hate to think that brokering a peace would be a huge mistake.”
He held up his hand as Rick opened his mouth.
“I know you think fighting is the only answer. You’re soldiers and that’s what soldiers do. But I’m a diplomat and we find other answers. Ways to compromise, to save lives. Now I’ve wasted enough time with you. You’ll be detained until after the session. Then I’m sure the USC will be laying charges against you.”
He moved around his desk toward a side door. Pressing his palm against the reader, he motioned the guards forward.
“Take them to the detention level.”
Rick cocked his head to the right. The Sister touched the left side of her nose. Peter scratched the back of his hand. The side door slid open. The first guard reached them and took hold of Lucy’s arm.
The Sister leapt forward. Her right arm came down, breaking the guard’s grip on Lucy and throwing him off balance. Rick spun to his left, his right knee catching the second guard in the stomach. The man groaned and doubled over. A hard chop to the neck sent him to the floor.
The third man managed to put his hand on his gun before Trina knocked him off balance. As he struggled to right himself, the Sister stomped on his foot, grabbed up his gun and smashed him in the face with it.
Rick glanced up in time to see Peter disappearing through the side door. Mitchell was right on his heels. The door started to slide shut.
“Stop it!” Rick shouted.
Lucy dove for the door but it shut before she could reach the pad. She slapped her hand at it.
“We have to unlock it.” Her voice rose in panic.
“We will,” Rick said.
“You’d better be fast,” Trina said. “Before the general turns.”
Rick glanced back at the girl. “What?”
She tilted her head at him. “Didn’t you know? He’s infected. He’ll go any time now.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Sami waited in the dark. The urge to turn on the light was strong but if it wasn’t the children, she didn’t want to lose the element of surprise. And if it was the children? How human were they? She wanted to believe they were human enough to save, needed to believe it. The desire was like a live thing inside her, pushing her forward. Michael, she realized. She was still trying to compensate for his death. As if helping these children could make his death more meaningful when there wasn’t any meaning to be had, death was just death.
She took a step forward then felt the presence of something in front of her. Some one. The faint whisper of a breath hung in the air. The harsh iron smell of fresh blood floated forward. If it was death, she wasn’t going to meet in the dark. She triggered her head light.
The beam caught the child in the face. She raised her arm, shielding her eyes. Blood dripped from her hands. It smeared on the front of her top.
“Katey?” Sami said.
The child snarled. In her open mouth, Sami saw the jagged fangs still covered in gore.
Turned, Sami thought. Elliott’s manipulations hadn’t stopped the virus. Her fingers tightened on the stake. She raised it to a ready position.
Katey’s snarl died down. She shook her head and rubbed her eyes with the back of her hands. Blood smeared on her cheeks. When she looked up again, the wild look was gone.
“Thisss way.” The fangs made it difficult for her to speak properly. “They came this way.”
She turned her back on Sami and began heading up the corridor. Sami looked back at Josh. Kill the girl or follow? He shrugged, again abdicating to her. She frowned at him. There seemed only one real choice.
She started to follow, keeping her grip tight on the stake. Josh’s footsteps echoed on the tile behind her. He was allowing some distance between them, presenting more targets in case they had to fight fast. She just wished she wasn’t in the lead.
Katey began to move faster, almost gliding down the hallway. Soon she was an ethereal form at the edge of the light. Sami quickened her steps to keep up but the child soon vanished in the gloom. Sami slowed down. She didn’t like this at all. It could be some kind of ambush. She felt Josh’s presence just over her right shoulder.
“There’s something up ahead,” he said.
She could see it now, a sliver of light along the floor, probably bleeding out from under a door. The stake felt slippery in her hand from her own nervous perspiration. She switched hands and wiped her palm on her pants. She reached back to touch Josh’s forearm and tapped out the message ‘go in three, left-right pattern.’ He tapped an acknowledgement on her wrist.
The sliver of light drew them forward, a tantalizing suggestion. Had any of the squad members from Light’s Fury or Black Shadows survived? The odds weren’t good, they’d have tried to contact her
or Josh by now and although she scanned their squad frequencies, she’d heard nothing in her ear buds, not even static from an active, open throat mike. Only silence.
Josh tapped one on her right shoulder. Sami crouched as she approached the door. She snapped her fingers once then triggered the door. As it slid open, she rushed in, darting left. Josh went right. Light blinded her but she kept moving, arms slashing in front of her as she kept her back to the wall. She heard Josh’s yell of attack even as she stayed silent.
After a moment, her eyes adjusted. Details swam into focus. They were in one of the makeshift dorm rooms. Cots were scattered around the room, shoved aside during an obvious fight. Several bodies lay on the floor or across the cots. One sat just three feet from Josh, legs splayed out, the head lolling to the side. Sami didn’t recognize any of them. Vampires, she thought.
At the far end of the room, a group of children huddled together. Katey stood with them, her back to Sami and Josh. The younger boy, Marc, detached from the group and moved to the center of the room. From his slack expression and loose limbs, Sami thought he looked drugged but she knew it had to be the psychic connection they shared. She remembered it from her first encounter with them. She stepped forward to meet Marc. Josh shifted, ready to spring. Her slight stand down gesture stopped him but she felt him waiting, cautious.
“Who are you?” she said.
Marc tilted his head, as if considering her question. “We are.”
Sami glanced at the back of the room, trying for a quick count of the children. “Are you all here?”
The boy shook his head. “Some are not.”
“They’re dead?”
He nodded. A spasm crossed his face before it settled back into impassivity. For a moment, he’d looked like a lost little boy, maybe the same one who had been taken, before the treatments.
The Night Killers Page 36
