Another officer interrupted the group’s discussion, “Sir, something’s wrong down in the morgue. Detective Sage’s and Jenna Bell’s bodies are gone.”
Johnson glowered, “What do you mean?”
“They are missing and no one signed them out or came for them,” the officer reported.
The officer asked if Johnson wanted him to stay but the Chief only told him to leave. Johnson looked at the four of them and reluctantly told said, “There isn’t any investigation, do you understand me?” He walked over to Sage’s desk, retrieved a set of keys from his pocket, unlocked a drawer in his desk, dropped the file he held in his hands on Sage’s desk, and walked out of the room.
Felton grinned and stood up from his seat to instruct them. “We’re already running on a rather cold trail,” he told them, “It’s already been two days since Detective Sage and Jenna Bell were killed, which means…” he opened the file and found a piece of scratch paper with the numbers four, six, five, five, eight, two, one, and nine written on it, counted back through the list of victims to learn where they were in the pattern, and told the three of them, “We only have six days to figure out who the next target is.”
“Alright,” Sergeant Murdock folded his arms, leaned against the door, and asked, “What do we need to know?”
---*---
8:57 PM
London, England
The explanation to Jason’s recovery and revival took some finesse, though ultimately it boiled down to complete uncertainty. Audrey’s mother claimed it was not only a miracle but also a sign that Jason was healed by someone with an uncanny power, akin to the unexplained phenomena she read so frequently about. The couple and their doctor agreed to leave his regenerative properties out of their accounts. Doctor Reynolds thought it best to hide his abilities until they knew more, lest they draw the attention of the press and bring unwanted conflict into their lives.
Audrey and Jason dined at a small restaurant near where their home once stood and tried to get away from Audrey’s family and their smothering amazement and overall intrigue. Jason initially wanted to stay in but Audrey insisted. She had lost him and now that he was back she wanted to celebrate. But even once he relented and they were seated together outside the restaurant, he was distant. Jason's gaze wandered and he remained away from their table for minutes on end before he would bring himself back. He was quiet too, rather nearly silent. Audrey asked questions and he either ignored her altogether or grunted replies.
“What’s on your mind Jason?” Audrey asked. She waited for acknowledgment but it never came from him. “Jason!” she finally shouted and tore him from his thoughts. “What are you thinking about?”
Jason sighed and remarked that his thoughts remained on Joshua Todd. “I don’t even know the man and I can’t recall we’ve ever met, yet he tried to kill me. I can’t understand it Audrey.” He paused for a moment to concentrate before he added, “I can just make out his voice, but it isn’t enough to use.”
“What are you talking about?”
Jason had a habit that always acted as a tell when he was nervous or anxious, and Audrey learned what it was and what it meant early in their relationship. Jason sat hunched forward, fingers laced and in front of his mouth, eyes away, and his foot raced in place madly. He only ever seemed this on edge when he was genuinely stressed out about their finances or if there was a hint of layoffs at work. It worried Audrey.
Jason finally answered her, “I want to find him Audrey, I need to find him. I need to know what possessed him to burn our building down and single me out for execution.”
Audrey frowned and slowly told him that their building was the target of a terrorist attack. “Honey, it wasn’t Todd, it was the Dáfù.”
“No it was Todd,” he spat. “Don’t try and tell me it was someone else. I know it was him.”
“There are recorded messages from members of the Dáfù who claim responsibility for it Jason,” she informed him. “It’s been in the papers and on the news for weeks since the attack.”
“You’re wrong Audrey, they’re wrong and they’re lying. It had to be Todd.”
Audrey looked away from him and did her best to quell her frustration. Jason remained focused on the table before him, as if it was a chess board and he contemplated his next move. She glanced back and saw how tense the muscles in his face and neck were. Audrey also noted how he kept his teeth grit and how tightly he gripped the edge of his chair.
She shook her head slightly and openly asked him what was wrong with him. “You are alive and whole through miraculous means and you’re bent on revenge. Jason, forget about him and move on with your life. Why can’t you be happy and celebrate the fact that we’re together again and that we’re safe?”
“How the hell can I find relief with a madman out there?” Jason finally looked at her and asked how safe she could feel knowing that Todd might return and try to kill them once he learned that Jason wasn’t dead. “For all we know he’s already hunting us down, of maybe some of our neighbors who made it out soundly? He could have already slaughtered them and–”
“The doctor already checked the security videos Jason,” Audrey cut him off. “No one came in your room the night you died who wasn’t a member of your medical team. There’s no way he could have infiltrated your room and tried to assassinate you.”
“Then how did I end up with those chemicals in my bloodstream? Why did I die and what caused me to come back?”
“I don’t know Jason.”
“It was Todd; Doctor Reynolds and her crack team of guards must have missed it, or Todd managed to tamper with the footage.”
“Jason.”
“Why not Audrey? It’s what I would have done. It’s what any villain would have done.”
“But what reason does he have to attack you in the first place?”
“I don’t know Audrey, that’s what I’m trying to figure out.”
He nearly shouted his last words which ended their argument. Jason looked away and Audrey tried not to make eye contact with the others at the restaurant. All she wanted was to leave, to walk away from the scene they created and talk, discuss, or fight over the issue elsewhere. She didn’t want to fight, though she knew any discussion would escalate there. They were on edge, Jason especially. She thought they should be happy, glad he was alive and ecstatic that he’d recovered fully in such a short period of time. Instead they fought over a phantom who caused ire and fueled their contention. If they should worry about anything it should’ve been over their loss of home and possessions and their stress over locating a new home and property, as well as all of the paper work through their insurance. She didn’t want to argue but plainly saw her husband’s obsession and grew worried.
Audrey composed herself and gathered her thoughts. Had the attack never happened the pair would have been out in eager anticipation of their holiday, which only stood a few days away. They still had their tickets and Audrey never canceled their reservations. Alan offered to handle the cancelations but Audrey never managed to give him their information to make the changes. For a brief moment she considered leaving, only to further consider it.
“You know, we’re only a few days from our vacation,” she started.
Jason told her they couldn’t go. “We need to stay here and start rebuilding; we have too much to do.”
“Yes but luckily Jack has already found us a place to live,” she told him. “One of his mates is leaving for Brussels for a few years and there’s an opening at his flat. It’s further from your work but the price is very reasonable, and considering how desperately we need another home, I think it’s a great opportunity.”
Audrey saw her husband’s attention waver. “Yes, that is wonderful but we need to refurnish wherever we live and get our life back in sorts.”
“It could wait though,” she replied. “We wouldn’t be gone for more than a week, and we’ve already reserved enough of our funds for the trip and our flight tickets are already booked. Why not u
se them?”
“We can’t be that irresponsible Audrey,” he stopped her. “If anything we need to take the time we already requested off from work to handle our affairs. And what if…” he trailed off for a moment before he continued, “What happens when they find something? What if we’re away when they discover the video of Todd killing me? And what can I do from Greece if Todd strikes and kills someone?”
Audrey looked crossly at him and demanded to know what he would do in any case. “Why would you want to track him down Jason? Revenge isn’t the answer.”
“What if he tries to kill you Audrey? How could I live with that? And what if he tries to burn another building to the ground?”
“Jason he didn’t–”
“Don’t start that again,” he snapped.
Audrey stopped herself for a moment before she told him she was leaving. “I don’t want to stay here and listen to this Jason.” She gathered her purse and started out of the restaurant. Jason didn’t voice a word of protest.
She was nearly a block away before Jason caught up with her and apologized. “Audrey, I’m sorry.” Jason took a breath and admitted he was fixated on the circumstances of his near death experience and couldn’t get it out of his head. “I don’t know what came over me; I shouldn’t have yelled and caused a racket. I shouldn’t yell at you to begin with and I’m sorry.”
Audrey stood with her arms crossed and asked why he was angry with her.
“I’m not, I swear.”
“Then why are you yelling at me?”
“I honestly don’t know.” He let his arms fall to his sides and he admitted he felt stressed from everything that happened to him. “It’s a lot to take in Audrey.”
“And how the hell do you think I feel?” she asked with hot tears in her eyes. “You died Jason. I had to battle with the thought of never seeing you again and living alone without you. It crushed me, and when I saw that you were actually alive and recovering I was relieved, elated even. Yet your paranoia has only burdened me further and you’ve hardly paid me any mind since your return. I can’t have that Jason, I can’t.”
She trembled and started to cry when he walked over and kissed her. They remained still together for a moment before Jason apologized again. “I don’t know how I could have missed that Audrey. I’m sorry, about everything.”
Audrey still trembled but she asked, “Now do you understand why I want to leave? I want to be with you Jason and this opportunity won’t come along again for quite some time. I need this vacation to recover from everything myself and I want you to come with me. I need you to relax and forget about what has happened. We need to be together and celebrate all of the good that’s come our way. Please, please come with me.”
Jason took only an instant to reply. “Of course, of course Audrey, anything you want. I’m sorry I haven’t been here for you and that you had to endure all of this without me.”
Audrey wrapped her arms around Jason and held him there on the sidewalk. She ignored the people who passed them by and only thanked her husband for his small sacrifice.
---*---
1:15 PM
Bothell, Washington
Jordan followed Rachel through the forest and hills at Blythe Park. She never said why she wanted to go there, but Jordan assumed it was either to smoke or fool around. They finally reached the littered opening where Jordan often brought Rachel. He took a seat in one of the plastic lawn chairs without so much as batting an eye at any memory of the place. “Did you bring anything with you? Because I haven’t really had a chance to meet up with anyone to buy anything.”
Rachel shook her head and told him that it wasn’t the reason she brought him up there. “I need to show you something.” Rachel took a seat next to him, took a small exacto-knife out of her pocket, and looked into Jordan’s eyes. “Do you trust me?”
He nodded, hesitantly, “Sure.”
“I know what happened last Friday at the party.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I know how you were saved.”
He stared at her, but told her to go on.
Rachel flicked the blade out and quickly cut Jordan on the hand. He recoiled and snapped, “Shit Rachel, what the hell are you doing?”
She tossed the knife away and tried to calm him down. “Trust me. Just show me your hand.”
He reluctantly agreed and gave her his hand. She examined it, saw how deep the cut was, how it bled, and how long the cut was before she closed her eyes and tried to focus. Rachel hadn’t ever tried it on someone else before but she believed in what the armored stranger had told her. She’d cut herself a few times and learned how to heal herself, but as for another person’s injury, she had yet to consciously mend someone.
A small beam of light shot out of his hand and sealed the wound. Jordan wiped the blood that remained on his hand away and examined the space where the wound once was. There wasn’t a mark or bruise at all.
Jordan looked back at her, alarmed and taken aback. But he finally smiled and told her what she did was astounding.
“You aren’t going to freak or anything are you?”
“Yeah right, that was amazing. Almost as cool as Ian’s pow…” he stopped himself.
“Ian’s what?”
“Huh? Oh nothing, nothing…”
“What? Jordan what about Ian?”
“His…power.” he said slowly.
“His power? Wait, Ian has powers too?”
Jordan nodded, “Yeah, he does. He can control electronics and can shoot lightning out of his hands and everything.”
“Does anyone else have powers?” she asked.
“Not anyone that I know of…”
She paused, “Do you?”
“Me? I wish.” He sighed, “If I did I wouldn’t have such a crappy job and a crappy manager…”
“Are you talking about your new boss?”
“Huh? Yeah, he’s always watching me; it’s really annoying…But whatever.”
“Where do you work now?”
“Some stupid burger flipping job,” he said with as much distain as he could inflect. Jordan changed the subject and asked if she wanted to get something to eat, which she agreed to. They walked the trails back to the roads, but once they made it out of the woods Jordan noticed her bracelet and asked where she’d found it.
“Oh,” her hand slid to it. “I…It was just on my bed, I guess I did just forget about it last week,” she lied.
“See, I told you that you just left it at home.”
“Yeah…” She looked away from him and mentioned that he’d need to pay for them.
Jordan only scoffed and muttered that he wouldn’t mind. “It’s only money after all.”
---*---
10:43 PM
Las Vegas, Nevada
“Desert Eagle.”
Nick and Strom sat on two separate beds in one moderately sized hotel room. There were two beds, a small bathroom, a television neither of them used, a small nightstand littered with empty beer bottles Strom consumed, some chairs, and an air conditioner neither of them were sure could actually turn off. The only belonging Nick had with him was his jacket which he kept draped over one of the chairs. Strom had his duffle bag, which only contained weapons, and a second black duffel bag with his clothes and a few other personal belongings.
Nick concentrated on the type of gun Strom rattled off. He remembered firing the weapon a day earlier, he knew what it looked like, what each of the pieces were (as Strom showed him how to take apart each of the weapons as well as how to put them together again), and all of the details he needed to know about the weapon to form it.
A small cloud of smoke burst from around his right hand and after it cleared a silver bodied pistol with a black grip and bronze barrel. Nick recited, “Desert Eagle XIX. American patent, Israeli made. Semi-automatic, gas powered, with a nine round magazine.”
“TT-33.”
Nick quickly tossed the weapon over his shoulder, which erupted in
to another smoke cloud before it hit the bed, though before it vanished, Nick created the next gun which was a silver handgun with a black grip. “TT-33. Soviet, semi-auto, eight round mag.”
“Alex.”
Nick then disposed of the previous weapon and produced a large army green rifle. “Alex, Polish, ten round magazine, and has roughly an eight-hundred meter range.”
“Kimber Eclipse.”
He let the sniper vanish in a dark cloud and out of the same smoke came a black steel pistol with a black grip. “Kimber Eclipse, American, semi-automatic, and an eight round magazine.”
Strom grinned and congratulated him. “I think you’ve got the hang of it.” He told Nick to relax and after the final firearm was gone Strom rested against the back of his bed and told him they were done.
“We’re done?”
He nodded. “I think Mizuno’ll be pleased with the results. I mean, you’re a much better shot, you can withstand the recoil of most firearms, you can utilize your ability well enough to defend yourself in a fight, and from here on out as long as you continue to practice you’ll continue to grow.”
“So we’re done?”
“Yes.”
Nick let out a breath and eased up. Strom got off of his bed and walked over to their room phone, called room service, ordered two different wines Nick wasn’t familiar with, a whiskey, some beer, and only paused once to ask Nick if he wanted anything.
He shook his head, “I’m fine.”
“Are you sure? I’ll pay.”
“I’m okay.”
Strom finished his order by adding a turkey sandwich and hung up.
The two had only spent a very short period of time together, but what Nick hated the most were the moments when they weren’t training. He felt out of place in the company of an assassin (as he expected anyone would be), yet Strom seemed completely sane, calm, and aware of who he was in relation to the world.
“Is something wrong?”
Nick looked at him and lied.
Strom accepted the answer, grabbed his duffle bag, unzipped the front pocket, and retrieved a small paperback novel. Nick glanced at the title and asked, “Why are you reading that?”
Regenesis (Book 1): Impact Page 28
