by Blake Banner
“What is it about Frank and Marni’s research that is so dangerous to Omega? Surely every climatologist in the world knows what is happening to the climate. And as far as population is concerned, there is Wilson and a host of others. What is so vital about Frank and Marni’s research?”
He frowned. “You haven’t read it?”
I sat forward. “I haven’t got it, Dad. She never gave it to me. We were both bluffing, so one or both of us could get inside the organization and find out what the hell you were about, and how we could stop you.”
He closed his eyes. “Then she must have it still…”
“I don’t know. I gathered some evidence. Some of those golden bugs, some shipping manifests…”
He smiled at me. “I wish I’d had the wisdom to appreciate you, Lacklan. You’re a good boy. A good man. You realize now that she was never going to join Omega…”
I nodded. “I got that. When I lied about having the research, she went along with it and it dawned on me then. She said things, about London, that were designed to make me understand… But I was so mad. Why didn’t you tell me you were working against them?”
He shrugged. “I told you I wanted you to protect Marni. I couldn’t tell you more. You hated me so much, frankly, I wasn’t sure I could trust you. We have wasted so many years, Lacklan. And I have nobody to blame but myself.” He sighed again. “How did you realize, anyway?”
“It dawned on me, you kept manipulating the situation so that either Marni or I could blackmail our way into Omega. You wanted us on the inside.”
He nodded.
I looked down at my hands. “Dad, what was in the letter that Marni received, that made her leave like that?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know. I can only guess it was from her father.”
I frowned. “From Frank?”
“From his attorneys, to be sent on a particular date.”
“So it contained the whereabouts of his research?”
“I imagine so.”
We stared at each other for a long moment. “What do we do now, Dad?”
“Find the research. Read it. Understand it. Find Marni, Lacklan. Protect her.”
He closed his eyes and his labored breath rasped once and stopped. The steady bleep of the monitor turned into a single, high-pitched tone that sounded in my mind like a scream. And then doctors and nurses were running in their green jump suits, snapping instructions to each other, trying to save what could not be saved. Trying to hold on to a man who was dead.
I went down into the dawn. I climbed into the Zombie and slipped silently into the traffic, accelerating away from my dead father, speeding, refusing to allow myself tears, refusing to allow myself feelings, not knowing even where I was going. Knowing only I had to find Marni and make her safe. Knowing I had to find the men who had done this. Knowing I would hunt them down even to judgment day, and I would destroy them.
* * *
What'd you think?
First of all, thank you so much for giving my work a chance. If you enjoyed this adventure, then I would be extremely grateful if you would consider writing a short review for the book on Amazon. A good review means so much to every writer, but means even more for self-published writer like myself. As it allows new readers to find my books, and ultimately allows me to spend more time creating stories that I love! :)
You can do so directly down below:
US Review Link
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AU Review Link
* * *
Ready for the next mission?
If you are ready for the next adventure in THE OMEGA SERIES, then you can continue reading with book 2, Double Edged Blade, right now! (free for those in Kindle Unlimited). The links are down below:
US Link - Double Edged Blade
UK Link - Double Edged Blade
CA Link - Double Edged Blade
AU Link - Double Edged Blade
That's it for now :)
Take care,
Blake Banner
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ALSO BY BLAKE BANNER
Up to date books can be found on my website: www.blakebanner.com
DEAD COLD MYSTERY SERIES
An Ace and a Pair (Book 1)
Two Bare Arms (Book 2)
Garden of the Damned (Book 3)
Let Us Prey (Book 4)
The Sins of the Father (Book 5)
Strange and Sinister Path (Book 6)
THE OMEGA SERIES
Dawn of the Hunter (Book 1)
Double Edged Blade (Book 2)
The Storm (Book 3)
