Chasing Victory (The Winters Sisters)

by Joanne Jaytanie

  Taking in the unfolding scene, Morgan charged through the exam room door heading into the lab with every intent of helping Noah. Noah saw him coming and waved him off. “Tristan snap out of it. Where’s Victory?”

  Agony showed on Tristan’s face at the mention of her name. “Victory. God damn it. Collin took her.” A look of surprise showed on Tristan’s face as he realized he had Noah pinned to the wall by his collar. Suddenly he dropped his hands and stepped back. “Jesus, I’m sorry.”

  Noah shook his head and shrugged it off. “Don’t give it another thought.”

  “So she was the other person in the helicopter,” Morgan said stepping farther into the lab.

  Tristan turned toward Morgan a menacing look shadowed his face. “That’s probably a good bet. And if he puts even one hand on her I will skin him from head to toe.”

  “We need to get out of here and back to the helo pad. We’ve been here too long and our chopper will be here any minute.”

  “Down,” Morgan snapped. Both Noah and Tristan dropped to their knees at the second the word left Morgan’s mouth. In a flash they saw a small silver lightning bolt pass over their heads. They heard a slight gasp and then a thud behind them. “Clear,” Morgan reported. Both men stood and turned looking down at a guy with a scalpel protruding from his neck. In his hand he still gripped his MP5 submachine gun.

  “Damn Morgan, you have one hell of an aim. You can be on my team anytime,” Noah stated. “On that note, I think we have overstayed our welcome.” He bent down and pulled the MP5 free from the dead man’s grip. “He won’t be needing this anymore.” He patted him down finding a pistol and radio. “These could come in really handy,” he said.

  “Let’s drag his body into the exam room. It will take them longer to find him in there,” Tristan said as he bent down to grab the man’s legs.

  Noah smashed the outside light above the lab door, leaving the lab enveloped in darkness. He closed the door and followed the other two men into the next room. “Let’s exit via the back door, in case he has a friend outside,” Noah commented.

  The three men left the building and headed back toward the helipad.

  TWENTY-TWO

  Mr. Braxton, I have some bad news,” Max started in as Braxton answered his cell.

  “What?” Braxton snapped.

  “Seems that Collin and Morgan broke out tonight, and to confuse matters they started the book store on fire.”

  “Forget about the damn book store. Have you located them on their receivers?”

  “I have one blip on the screen and I believe is that it’s Collin. I think Morgan disabled or removed his tracker, but my best guess is that they are together,” Max replied.

  “Then why are you standing around talking to me, go and find them,” Braxton barked.

  “That’s where it gets tricky. They took the small chopper that was on the tarmac.”

  “What?” screamed Braxton.

  “I am assuming that you want me to pursue them,” Max said ignoring the man’s tantrum.

  “Yes,” Braxton responded tersely. “For chrissakes contain the situation Max. I would prefer that you take them alive, but if not, dead is better than loose. Take Victory with you. I’ll call you later with a meeting place.”

  “Yes sir. Should I still dispose of Grant?”

  “Get rid of him any way you see fit. I don’t want him leaving that island.”

  “I’ll take care of it,” Max said.

  “I’m relying on that.” Without another word from Braxton the connection was cut.

  Max took two of his men and headed off towards Victory’s suite. He was sure that he would also find Tristan there. He knocked on her door; when he got no answer he knocked harder. “Ms. Winters it’s Max, I need to speak with you.” Still no answer. He turned to one of his men and stuck out his hand. The man handed Max the master key card. Max opened the door to Victory’s room.

  “Victory? It’s Max, sorry to intrude but you are needed at the lab.” He listened. Not hearing any response, he walked through the living area and opened the bedroom door. There were clothes scattered all over the floor and bed. All the drawers were pulled open, and no other personal items were left anywhere. Studying the room again, his glare stopped at the wide open window. “Shit,” he sputtered.

  He turned around and ran out to the main room and out the entrance door, going across the path and up to Tristan’s room where he repeated the process with the key card. Neither Victory nor Tristan where there either. “Damn it,” he spun around facing the man behind him. “Organize a search party; we need to locate Victory and Tristan as soon as possible. I want all five of you to each take a small group of employees, spread out and cover this compound. Then he noticed there were only four of his men present. “Where’s Ed?” he asked the group.

  One of his men spoke up. “Ed contacted me a while ago. He thought he saw someone enter the lab.”

  “And you’ve waited till now to bring this to my attention, you idiot? If I didn’t need each and every one of you, I’d shoot you myself.” Max pulled his walkie talkie from his belt and bellowed into it. “Ed! Come in.” No response came back, only the crackle of static. “Ed!”

  “Should I go to the lab and see if he is still there?” the same man asked.

  “No,” Max barked at him. “I’ll do it myself. All of you go and search the compound as I said, and stay in touch. Check in with me every five minutes, sooner if you find anything. Fucking find them or I’ll disappear you!”

  Scattering the group dispersed. Max headed for the lab, having a feeling he wasn’t going to like what he found there.

  As Max approached the lab he noticed that the outside entrance light was out. As he got closer he realized it was smashed, glass littering the ground in front of the building. He pulled his pistol from its holster and tried the knob, it was unlocked, another bad sign. Standing to one side of the door he cracked it open and slid his body inside pinning himself to the wall, pistol held at the ready.

  He waited briefly for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. Not seeing any movement he lowered his gun and flipped on the switches, lighting the entire lab. No one was inside and it didn’t look like anything was disturbed, but then he noticed Victory’s computer was gone. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something else wasn’t quite right. His gaze dropped to the floor in front of the door where he saw a few large drops of something dark. As he pushed the lab door farther open the drops turned into a small dark pool of blood. Drag marks led from the pool through the lab and into the exam room. He walked across the lab to the exam room and switched on that light. At first glance nothing looked disturbed except for the streak of blood. Dropping his gaze to the floor and found Ed, under the table, scalpel sticking out of his neck. “Shit.”

  An hour later after combing the compound and having no luck locating Victory or Tristan, Max made a decision. He rounded up his men and headed toward the helo pad.

  Tristan, Noah, and Morgan met up with Logan a few yards off the helo pad. “Update,” Tristan said.

  “Our extraction is seven minutes out. They are coming in dark,” Logan reported. “What’s the plan?”

  “We need to locate Collin and Victory as soon as possible. He already has a substantial head start on us.” Tristan looked at Morgan. “Tell me he didn’t remove his tracker chip.”

  “Not as far as I know. I don’t even think he knows that he has one in him. We need to confiscate a receiver,” Morgan replied.

  “Okay. Logan, contact the pilot to stand ready, but outside of the island’s airspace. Noah and I will head back and find one of those receivers.”

  “Hold on,” Noah broke in. He started searching his pockets. “Here it is. I thought this might come in handy.” He pulled a small black box from his pants pocket. “I took everything the dead guy was carrying, even his half empty pack of gum.” He shook the box and tapped against his other palm. “Shit,” he said as he continued to play with the box. “I must have damaged it in
all the commotion.”

  In the near distance they heard the sound of a helicopter approaching. Tristan spun around looking at Logan. “Logan, I thought you said the chopper was seven minutes out?”

  “I just finished talking to him. He’s five minutes out waiting for instructions,” Logan snapped back.

  “Then who the hell is that approaching?”

  “Shit.” Morgan popped up. “It’s got to be the island’s other helicopter. It didn’t even cross my mind, last time I saw it, it was at the maintenance shack, with parts scattered about.”

  “And exactly when was that?” Logan asked.

  “A couple days ago,” Morgan answered.

  “It looks like someone got it up and running and its heading this way,” Tristan said.

  “We need to scatter and stay down,” Logan remarked. He was keeping a look out with his night goggles, and down at the bottom of the path he saw two tiny flashes of light and two men heading towards them. “Two men, ten minutes out, heading our way. I can’t tell for sure but it looks like one of them might be Max.” All four of the men melted back into the trees, waiting for the enemy to approach.

  The glow of the helicopter came into view, its lights getting brighter and brighter as it advanced toward the landing pad. There were three men all armed with submachine guns sitting on the edge of the chopper, feet on the skids, ready to pounce on anything that moved. Max and the other man were passing Tristan’s team, scant yards between them.

  Max with a receiver in his hand was looking at the screen. “Son of a bitch, I’ve lost Collin’s signal, how far did Braxton say the range of this thing was?” he asked the guy beside him as they kept moving toward the chopper.

  “Twenty five miles,” the man responded. “Don’t worry sir, that helicopter Collin stole is equipped with a homing beacon. All our helicopters have sonic tags on them. As long as he’s in that helicopter we can track him, no problem.”

  “You had better pray that’s the case or you’re all dead.” Max barked.

  “Should we take them down?” Logan whispered through his ear bud to the team.

  “Negative,” Tristan whispered back. “We call in our own bird and follow them. There’s too much firepower showing, it’s not worth the risk. Seems Max has the only working receiver, so for now we follow them.”

  “Yeah, and from what I’ve read Max could track down Collin with his nose alone,” Noah snorted quietly. “Oh, sorry Tristan, I didn’t mean anything by that.” Noah chuckled.

  “Right, you wait till this is over wise guy. Stop wasting time and slither up there and tag that bird,” Tristan responded.

  “Yes sir Commander,” Noah said.

  “Any problems?” They could hear Max yelling to his team over the sound of the blades.

  “No sir,” one of the men responded as loud. “No sighting of Grant either.”

  “We’ll worry about him later. He’s here on the island somewhere, and after we leave there’s no other birds left on this rock. Let’s go.” He jumped into the passengers’ seat and tapped the pilot on the shoulder. Seconds later the helicopter was airborne.

  “Mission accomplished,” Noah rejoined the group. “They won’t be getting away from us.”

  As soon as Max’s chopper was out of range the four men stood up. “I contacted our ride, the chopper will be here in six minutes,” Logan informed the group. “Let’s go get our stuff,” he said turning toward Noah.

  Tristan and Morgan headed for the tarmac to wait for their ride. “Do you have any idea where Collin might be heading?” Tristan asked as they walked.

  “Not really. I do know that he is from Washington State. That’s why he volunteered for this assignment with Biotec. He was hoping to get some weekends off and take a trip home. Fat chance that was.”

  “Really. Do you happen to know where in Washington?” Tristan asked.

  “I can’t recall. Seems like he told me at one time, but I was probably only half listening. Why, are you familiar with Washington?”

  “That’s where our team is stationed. We’re on the peninsula across the sound from Seattle. So yeah, I know it pretty well. I’ve spent most of my off time traveling throughout the state,” Tristan said.

  Noah and Logan came strolling up to the helipad, loaded with backpacks. “Man am I looking forward to taking a shower and sleeping in a real bed,” Logan uttered.

  “What a pussy boy, what are you getting soft on us,” Noah bantered. “Here comes our ride, they’re right on time.”

  TWENTY-THREE

  Victory woke with a throbbing headache. She put her hand up to the back of her head and felt a golf-ball sized lump. “Ouch,” she hissed as her fingers hit an especially tender spot.

  “Sorry about that. I needed to make sure you came with me and I didn’t have the time to discuss the matter,” Collin said.

  “Here, this will help with the lump.” Collin handed her an ice pack. “And this is for your headache,” he said offering her a glass of water and some aspirin.

  She took the items he offered, not wanting to upset him. “So, may I ask where we are? I’m not familiar with this part of the island,” she said.

  “That’s because we aren’t on the island. I brought you out to my cabin. I know the place needs a little work,” he said as he looked around the tiny interior. “I haven’t been able to get out here much the past couple of years, but it’s got good bones.”

  The room they were in consisted of a small kitchen and living area containing an overstuffed chair and small sofa. It also served as a makeshift bedroom. She sat on the edge of a bed across the room from the kitchen and put the glass and bottle down on the nightstand next to her. She saw one interior door leading to what she assumed must be the bathroom.

  “Why did you kidnap me?” Victory pressed. She was beginning to get a feel of uneasiness; she didn’t hear any other people outside, only birds, realizing that they could be completely isolated with nothing and no one around for miles.

  “Kidnap is such an ugly word. I didn’t kidnap you; I am in need of your undivided attention and your expertise,” Collin said.

  “Is this how you treat someone whose help you need?” she protested. “If it is, then I should think you don’t get much cooperation. You’re no better than Braxton,” Victory said.

  “No, it’s not. For argument’s sake, let’s say that I haven’t been myself lately,” he sneered. “I figured you did this to me so who better to fix me.”

  “As I told you before Collin, I was not the one that did this to you. If it had been my decision, I would have never let them inject you or Morgan. There’s simply too much research left to do before jumping in with human subjects.”

  “Braxton obviously did not agree with you,” he fired back. “Why didn’t you stop him?”

  “I tried to tell him, but it was too late. He’s a mad man and is only out to make money. I have been researching the genetics of genus canis for over ten years. I’m considered the leading expert in the field, and still I would not have introduced the serum into anyone’s system.”

  “I guess that’s why Braxton decided to solicit your help, because of your extensive research. That is why I took you from the island, and why I brought you with me. You are probably the only person that can cure me,” Collin said.

  “I can’t cure you. The best I can do, with time and research, is to find a way to get both your DNA and the foreign DNA to co-habitat together. As far as Braxton soliciting my expertise, that depends on your definition. If you call threatening my family and kidnapping me soliciting, then I guess so,” she snapped back at him.

  He glanced at her, complete surprise on his face. “What do you mean? You and Tristan weren’t employed by him?”

  “No. Morgan said that he told you about us,” she hesitated, perplexed that he didn’t already know about their situation.

  “He didn’t. At least I don’t think so. I can’t remember,” he replied jamming his palms up to his temples.

  “W
hat’s the matter?” Victory asked with sincere worry in her voice.

  “It’s this damn throbbing in my temples. I’ve been trying to fight it back, but sometimes no matter what I try I can’t stop it,” he said as he paced the entire cabin.

  “How often does the pain persist and for how long?

  “No, not the pain, I can deal with the pain,” he nearly screamed at her. “It’s this damn feeling of overwhelming rage. It’s wild and fierce, and at times it completely overpowers me. When I lose control and the rage takes over, I black out and lose time. I have to get out of here.” Collin continued to pace the floor. “Lock the door and stay inside. Don’t try to leave, we’re miles away from anyone else and the woods are dangerous, believe me.” Collin walked towards the door. “Victory, lock this after I leave, I mean it.”

  He walked out the door and left her there. The question was, where was there? She walked to the door and contemplated making a break for it, but all she could see was forest. Not knowing how far the nearest neighbor or town might be, or even what country she was in, she figured for now her best bet was to stay put. She closed the door and threw the deadbolt. She turned and leaned back against the door, listening to the sounds around her. She caught the sounds of birds, squirrels, and a couple of cougar way off in the distance. Then she heard the blood-chilling guttural growl of a wolf. For a split second the forest fell silent.

  “Tristan, can you hear me?” Victory attempted to make contact with him. She wasn’t sure how strong their connection was, or what distance they could cover, but she was giving it her best shot. “Tristan,” she yelled in her mind. Nothing. There was only silence.

  * * *

  The SOCOM helicopter was tracking Max’s helicopter up the west coast. “I think Morgan is right,” Noah commented. “Looks like we’re heading straight up to Washington, now the only question is, where in Washington. I would prefer not bringing up the rear throughout this entire mission.”