by Kit Fawkes
Carol burst into tears, though they seemed like happy tears. She reached over and clasped North’s hand in a tight hold.
North left hers in the other woman’s grip, engaging as much as a limp fish would have as she stared at the doctor in shock. “You’re sure?”
He nodded. “Almost one hundred percent certainty that Carol is your mother, which naturally means Jim is your father.”
Clinging to straws, she darted an apprehensive look at Carol. “There’s not any chance at all that Sam is my father, Carol?”
Carol gasped and froze, looking betrayed. “Of course not. He was only ever my doctor, and nothing more. What a horrible and filthy idea.”
“Now, Carol, calm down. This is a lot for North to take in, and you have to be understanding.”
Carol looked like she would argue for a moment, and then she sighed. “Yes, you’re right, Pytor.”
He turned his attention on North. “Your scans were clear.”
“I told you he never hurt me. He was my father. Or he acted like my father.” She clasped her hands in her lap, pulling free from Carol’s grasp in the process. Staring down at them, she realized her belief that she had the same fingers as Sam’s mother was another lie he had spun for her benefit. He always told her she had long, elegant fingers like his mother. And he’d attributed her looks to her mother, who’d supposedly died when she was an infant. The threads of her life were quickly unraveling, and she wasn’t certain how she would keep everything together.
“I’m going to give you a prescription, Carol. I want you to give North a sedative when you get her home, and then another one later this evening. It looks like she could use some synthetic calm.”
North wanted to refuse the idea, but she was incapable of speaking at the moment. She wasn’t capable of doing much of anything, and it felt like a stiff breeze would shatter her into a million pieces. Everything circulated rapidly in her head, making it impossible to grab hold of even one tangible idea.
Simultaneously, the truth beat down on her that her entire life had been a lie, and the man she believed was her father had kidnapped her from the Allises when she was a newborn. What kind of monster could do such a thing?
It made no sense, and it didn’t seem like the kind of thing her father could even think about doing, let alone follow through on. He’d been a good and kind man, but he had also been a kidnapper and a liar. How was she supposed to reconcile that?
Chapter Six
She was still in a daze when they pulled up in front of the Allises’ home more than an hour later. Carol—her mother—no, Carol felt better than calling her mother…she had stopped by a pharmacy on the way home to fill the prescription, which she clutched in one hand while coming around to North’s side to help her out with the other. The hand on her arm was probably meant to be comforting, but it felt restrictive and almost as tight as a handcuffed as Carol led her to the house.
They were on the porch before she realized there was someone standing in the shadows cast by the big pillars of the sunporch. She gasped and took a step back, suddenly on edge. Conversely, the panic seemed to snap her world back into focus, and she could think again.
“Who’s there?” Carol sounded annoyed.
“It’s me, Dr. Elias Scott. I met North last night, and I’m the one who cared for her father.” As he spoke, he stepped out of the shadow, and he wore an affable grin, but there was a hint of tension in his shoulders.
“Why in the world would you come here?” snapped Carol. “We don’t want anything to do with that man, or anything he touched. He stole my daughter from me for twenty-one years.”
Eli ignored her mother. “So you are their daughter?” His question was focused solely on North.
She licked her lips and nodded. “Yeah, I guess so. We got the DNA back today.”
He arched a brow. “That’s pretty fast. In fact, it’s almost unheard of. Even a rush case for the police takes about a week, I think.”
“Are you questioning the veracity of our test results?” Carol took a step toward him. “We saw a highly respected geneticist, who is also a family friend. He pulled strings to get us an immediate answer.”
The doctor held up his hands. “I wasn’t trying to offend you. I was simply surprised the speed it occurred, since I hadn’t heard of such a thing.”
“You are an emergency doctor, not a geneticist. One could hardly expect you to keep up with the latest advances.”
North frowned at Carol before looking at the doctor. “Thank you for stopping by, Eli. Did you need something?”
He shook his head. “I simply wanted to check on you. Are you hanging in there?”
“She’s fine, and she has all the support she needs.” Carol put an arm around her and urged her toward the front door. “You won’t need to visit again to check on her. She isn’t your patient, Dr. Scott.”
North shot him a helpless look, but allowed Carol to lead her to the door. She was still somewhat in shock, but thinking much clearer than she had earlier. She was able to empathize with Carol’s position, though flinched at the other woman’s rudeness. She had to resent the fact that Eli had tried to save Sam. That had to be why she was so standoffish.
“Of course. Feel free to call me if you’d like to talk about anything though, North.”
“I’m sure that won’t be necessary,” said Carol in a cold voice as she half-pushed North into the kitchen. North gave him a smile the collapsed immediately when Carol glared at her, and the door slammed shut a moment later. It blocked her sight of Dr. Scott, but she could hear his feet moving across the porch a few seconds later.
Carol seemed to take a moment to compose herself, and when she spoke again, she sounded more in control. “Well, let’s get you medicated and resting.”
North shook her head. “I don’t think I need a sedative. I’m much calmer than I was.”
Carol frowned, and her displeasure was obvious. “Nonsense. Pytor said to give you a pill now and one later, and that’s what we must do. You need all the time you can to recover and process everything. Now come along.”
North couldn’t explain why she didn’t protest, except maybe she felt the need to treat the other woman gently. When she reminded herself that Carol and Jim were probably still reeling from the news just as much as she was, it was easier to be more compassionate and understanding. This was a shock for them that had surely turned their lives upside down as well, and they were handling it as gracefully as possible.
They’d been nothing but welcoming, though at times irritating and overbearing, but they had her best interests at heart. She allowed the older woman to take her up the stairs and even slid on a pair of new pajamas from the drawer in the bathroom. When she emerged from the bathroom, Carol held out a white pill and a glass of water. North took both, slipping the pill between her cheek and tongue as she swallowed some of the water.
Carol looked satisfied. “There, that’s much better. Why don’t you lie down and rest for a while, and I’ll be back with your other pill and some dinner later on?”
“Thanks.” It was all she could manage to say without sounding like she was mumbling and give away the fact that she was holding the sedative in her mouth without swallowing. She didn’t want to hurt Carol’s feelings, or make her think she didn’t care about the other woman’s attempts to nurture her, so the easiest thing to do was discard the pill as soon as she was alone.
That opportunity came a moment later, after Carol let herself out of the room and closed it behind her. North immediately returned to the bathroom, engaging the lock behind her when she recalled how casually Carol had let herself into the bedroom before. She tossed the pill into the toilet and flushed before quickly brushing her teeth with the toothbrush and toothpaste she’d used last night.
Then she returned to her room and slid into the bed. Her intention was simply to try to think through everything and try to decide what to do next. She was puzzling through Sam’s motivations for taking her from the Allises when
her lids felt heavy. It couldn’t be the sedative, so it must be more of the exhaustion from the last twenty-four hours catching up with her. To her surprise, she managed to fall asleep.
Chapter Seven
North woke abruptly, at first uncertain what had roused her. It took a moment, and she didn’t identify until the sound came again—the sound of raised voices, though it was difficult to tell if it was from anger or excitement. Her first thought was the Allises were having an argument, and she decided to take a shower to avoid overhearing anything that might embarrass them later. It was only as she got out of bed that she realized she was hearing more than two voices.
Curiosity peaked, she changed her mind about the shower and crept closer to the door instead. It felt a little wrong to eavesdrop, but she was certain she was the topic of discussion. She was also sure that if she walked out and tried to join the conversation, they would stifle themselves. Subterfuge was the only way to hear.
When she reached the door, she spent almost a minute opening it, turning the knob just so and easing the door open a scant millimeter at a time to ensure nothing squeaked. When it was finally open, she breathed a sigh of relief and leaned against the doorjamb, angling her head so that her right ear was facing outward and she could hear.
At least she could hear well enough to make out bits and pieces. With a sigh, she eased the door wider and slipped out into the hall, leaving the bedroom door open in case she had to make a run for it back to the room. The voices appeared to be coming from downstairs, so she scooted across the wooden landing on her hands and knees and moved closer to the rail. From here, she could hear everything.
“But why does it have to be so soon?” asked Jim.
A chill went down North’s body when she recognized the voice of Pytor Douglas. “We’ve been waiting almost twenty-one years, Jim. If Campbell hadn’t derailed our plans, she would have begun training almost from birth.”
“But she would have been with us during most of that process, at least for the first few years. We just got her back.” There was a hint of a whine in Jim’s tone.
“We’ve lost so much time, and we can’t afford to waste any more. You know she’s the pinnacle of the program, and our best chance of success. We just haven’t found the right combination with the others, but I’m optimistic she’s the one.”
“What if she doesn’t want to go with you? What if she wants to stay here with us for a bit longer and get to know her family?”
She gasped and clapped a hand over her mouth to hold in the sound when there was a harsh crack in the air, like flesh against flesh.
“There are ways to ensure compliance all around, Jim. Have you forgotten our goals? I thought you and Carol were on board with our plan, and what we’re trying to do here, but you seem to be more concerned about the girl than our group.”
“Of course he isn’t,” broke in Carol, sounding nervous. “It’s just a lot for us to take in, Pytor. We half-believed we’d never see her again, and then there she was. And now you’re telling us that her brain lit up all the scans, and you think she’ll achieve what the others haven’t...” She trailed off with a nervous laugh. “We’re just processing it all.”
“Well process faster, because she’s going into training this weekend, whether you like it or not.” His voice was harsh, but sounded calmer when he spoke again a moment later. “I’m not unfeeling, Jim, but we’re beyond our timeline, and we need her activated as quickly as possible. Enjoy the next few days with her, but remember she belongs to the group, not you. Don’t get your loyalties conflicted, because you’ll lose.”
North held her breath as she waited to see what the man who was supposedly her father, at least biologically, would say in return.
“Of course, Pytor. My first loyalty is to the group, and you must take her this weekend then.”
“I’ll take her to the mall and buy her some new outfits for her stay. We’ll have such a good time, and it won’t be long before we get to see her again. Right, Pytor?”
“That depends on Nara. If she’s cooperative and learns quickly, she’ll be back to you in no time, except for the occasions when we need her. If we have to break her first, the process could take a while, and she might not be returned to you the exact person she left.” He sounded unemotional about the process, whatever it was.
“Oh, okay.” Carol sounded nonplussed for a moment and then her tone brightened almost too much when she spoke again. “I guess I should enjoy our shopping trip then, since I might not have the chance again.”
“It’s about time for her pill. You don’t want her waking up and overhearing something she shouldn’t.” Pytor said matter-of-factly.
North didn’t wait to hear Carol and Jim’s response. She crab-walked backward across the floor of the landing to her room, not getting to her feet until she was behind the door and closed it as carefully and silently as possible. As she hurried to the bed, the sound of footfalls on the stairs made her stomach clench, and she was certain she wouldn’t make it back in time to get under the covers and arrange herself to appear to be sleeping before her door opened.
Fear was a great motivator, and she moved faster than she would have imagined possible, sliding under the covers and laying her head on the pillow just as the doorknob rattled slightly. Somehow, she was able to compose her breath enough to sound calm and regulated. The door opened a moment later, and the light clicked on.
“North?” asked Carol softly. “Are you awake, sweetheart?”
The endearment made her skin crawl, but she struggled to keep her repulsion out of her expression as she turned over slowly and blinked her eyes as though they weighed a thousand pounds each. “Is that you, Carol?”
“It is. I have your other pill.”
She feigned a yawn. “I don’t think I need it. I’m feeling much calmer now, and I’m still pretty sleepy.”
“We must listen to the doctor. Take your last pill like a good girl, and maybe tomorrow we could—”
She yawned again, though this one was authentic. “I was hoping you might be able to take me shopping tomorrow, Carol. I have no clothes with me besides the one outfit.” It was imperative to get to the mall, which seemed to be her only option to escape whatever was going on with the Allises and the mysterious doctor. If her mother thought she was an enthusiastic participant, she might drop her guard and give North an opportunity to slip away.
“Why, of course we can. I was just about to suggest that very thing. I’ll bring you a breakfast tray in the morning, and then we’ll head out for a day of shopping.” She trailed into silence for a moment, reaching forward to squeeze North’s hand. When she spoke, she sounded choked up. “I thought I’d never have an opportunity for such a thing with you. I was sure you were gone forever, and you don’t know what it means to me to have you back.”
North managed a wan smile as she silently marveled at the woman’s capacity for deception. She took the pill Carol extended and popped it in the side of her mouth as she had done before. The woman handed her a glass of water from the nightstand, and she made a production of swallowing, though the bitter pill was still dissolving against her cheek.
“We’re going to have such fun. I’ve missed you.” Carol took the glass of water to return to the nightstand and paused long enough to press a kiss to North’s forehead before leaving the room.
As soon as she was gone, North spat out the pill in a tissue from the box on the nightstand. She balled it up into a tiny piece of garbage that she clutched in her hand until she could make it to the bathroom. She repeated the same process as earlier, including brushing her teeth, all while her mind whirled.
Carol had an agenda, but the strangest thing was, she also seemed to be sincere that she had missed North and had missed out on her life. North was unexpectedly sorry for her, but that made her no less afraid than she had been moments before upon overhearing their conversation with the doctor.
She had no clue what was going on, or why they were targeting her, but
it was obvious Dr. Douglas had plans for her, and her parents were fully on board with them. She had to escape, and she couldn’t let sentiment or guilt prevent her from doing so. At the first opportunity, she had to run away.
Chapter Eight
North struggled to remain calm and appear to be having an enjoyable time as she rode beside Carol in her Saab on the way to the mall. The woman kept up a steady stream of light chatter, and she did her best to respond to it, though it gave her a buzzing headache. She was unused to the noise of all the people talking at once, and though it was just her and Carol in the car, she had the talent for seeming like a crowd of magpies converged together rather than a single woman.
“Here we are,” said Carol with what seemed like genuine delight as she parked the car. “I bet you’ve never been to the mall before, have you?”
North shook her head, overwhelmed by the sprawling structure and parking lot crowded with cars despite it being only late-morning. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like this.” There had been similar pictures of gatherings of people in large crowds in her books, but she had certainly never seen them in real life.
A hint of anxiety swept through her as they exited the car, and she wasn’t faking it when she held onto Carol’s arm to cross the parking lot. She needed an anchor at the moment to face the task of entering the building with all the people inside.
“Are you all right? If this is too much for you, we can order you some clothes, and I’ll get them to you…give them to you when they come.”
Carol’s slip of the tongue helped North focus, and she shook her head as she slowly released the other woman’s arm. “No, it’s okay. I can do this.” She spoke confidently, though she felt like a quivering mass on the inside. Still, she managed to walk without her steps faltering, or giving into the urge to turn and run back to the vehicle to lock herself inside, where it was safe. That was just an illusion, because she wasn’t safe with the Allises.
