Part 33 (1/2)
”A favor? What kind of favor?” Joe opened the door to his office for her, but she didn't come inside, instead hovering by the door uncomfortably. ”I didn't think you considered me an ally, Ms. Brookings.”
Leisha frowned. ”We're on the same side, Doctor. There's an Immortyl looking for them in LA, probably some bounty hunter hired by the Wolf. I'm taking them out of here but it'll have to wait till I get back. In the meantime, I've had security doubled at night, and no other staff here after hours. That's why I sent Lydia home. Obviously, he can't do much until after dark. Lydia is aware of this but I'd feel better if you'd keep an eye on them till I get back.”
”Me? What good am I against one of those things?” He realized too late what he'd said, but she didn't take offense. Apparently, she didn't put herself in the same cla.s.s.
”Immortyls can be killed in conventional ways. Shoot 'em in the head or heart with a large enough caliber bullet and they'll die. Take my word for it. I've mowed down a few. We just have to be ready for them. You've earned Kurt and Mia's trust. I obviously haven't done such a good job of that. If there's a crisis, they'll follow your lead. Believe me, I don't want them harmed.”
”And if something happens? Where do I take them?”
”Anywhere they'll be safe. I'm entrusting their welfare to you, because I know you'll protect them.”
She turned away, tawny skirt and copper hair swirling with her movement, metal and tortoise sh.e.l.l tinkling like tiny bells on her long limbs. Joe's breath caught. Her hips swayed as she walked slowly down the corridor, her stride loose and swinging. A lioness on the prowl, a magnificent creature, no doubt about that, but one who could devour in a single lethal bite. Despite her rea.s.surances they were on the same side, he was terrified. What were they loosing on the world? She turned, regarding him for a moment with her steady golden gaze, before stepping inside the elevator.
Joe was scared of a lot of things now. Making his way back to the lab, he started backing up all his files on disc, unable to shake the feeling of impending doom as he packed them and the notes he'd made with Mia into his bag. Put them in a safe place, he figured, just in case. The air conditioning dripped, plop, plop, like water inside a cave. In the dim light, the equipment cast strange skeleton shadows on the walls. He was exhausted, but he couldn't leave now. Setting his watch alarm, he leaned back in the chair and dozed off.
The alarm pinged at four a.m. Stomach acids churned and growled. He hadn't thought to eat anything since the previous morning. He rubbed his eyes, rising stiffly from the chair.
Making his way to the lounge, he surveyed the choices available in the snack machines. Honey-roasted peanuts and chips weren't going to do it. There were better offerings upstairs in the cafeteria machines. He could grab a dry sandwich or wilted salad, at least.
He pushed through the doors into the corridor, pa.s.sing the cells on his right, trying not to imagine Mia and Kurt behind the closed doors. Drawing each other's blood, f.u.c.king like rabbits, or both?
This strange connection between blood and brain was deeply disturbing, yet spurred his curiosity. No instrument could test this. It was something he'd personally never understand even if he studied them for a century. As Mia said, the only way to understand was to experience it. He'd have to find a way less dangerous. But if Leisha took them away, how would it affect his research? He'd done rudimentary neurological tests, the usual scans, but he needed to study them over time. Would he ever get the chance?
At the elevator, he stopped and listened- no sound, either in the corridor or above his head, only the omnipresent air-conditioning, humming and dripping from the ductwork overhead. The door opened and he stepped inside.
The doors opened on the lobby. Joe looked across at the guard desk. Strange, it was empty. Usually, at least one guard was seated there. Perhaps they'd just gone on rounds or to the restroom. His heartbeat accelerated as a burst of adrenalin hit him. Sweat broke out on the surface of his skin, leaving his s.h.i.+rt damp, sticky, and clammy against his back in the artificially chilled air. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. Then halfway across the terrazzo floor to the employee cafeteria, he saw the blood.
A large pool with bits of brain matter lay spattered beneath his feet. A sticky maroon trail led off in the direction of the cafeteria. Joe flattened against the wall, sliding his way stealthily to the swinging doors to peer in. Soft, power saving, after-hours lighting glowed overhead.
Its back was toward him, clad in black leather, with long, pale hair flowing over its broad shoulders like a cape. It was bent over a ma.s.s of wires attached to a box, a bomb. Nearby, mangled bodies of three security guards lay in a b.l.o.o.d.y heap, brains and guts spilling onto the floor. Joe broke out in a heavy sweat, willing himself not to breathe, or make any sound as he slid backward toward the elevator and flashed his id card at the scanner. The electronic voice betrayed him.
”Good morning, Doctor Ansari, please move forward for identification.”
Joe threw himself toward the retina scanner. The intruder roared, running toward the elevator at lightning speed.
”Identification complete.”
The doors opened and Joe fell inside the elevator. A dark shape hurled itself toward the doors. Just as a withered hand reached in between, they closed. Joe grabbed the fire extinguisher, swinging it with all his strength at the probing fingers between them. A painful howl erupted from the vampire, as the bleeding fingers drew back and the doors shut completely. The elevator swiftly descended underground and Joe fell out running as soon as they opened. He flung himself against the outer door of Kurt's cell and went through the security procedure, cursing the delay. As the outer door opened, Joe stumbled to the next, banging frantically on the gla.s.s and buzzing the intercom.
Kurt's voice called out, ”Go away!”
”Kurt, it's Joe,” he panted. ”There's a problem.”
Kurt came to the gla.s.s, totally nude, hair damp and body covered in sweat. Tiny streams of blood ran from the corners of his mouth, and small wounds on various parts of his body. Joe turned away in shock, and explained the situation. Kurt cursed, calling Mia to get dressed. Joe leaned back against the wall struggling to catch his breath and calm down. He waited until they were both at the door before he opened it. Their faces were flushed, and they smelled strongly of s.e.x.
Mia looked obviously annoyed. ”What the h.e.l.l is happening?”
”There's one of them here. Upstairs, he's killed the guards. We have to get out. He's got a bomb.”
Kurt's head inclined slightly to the side as if an unpleasant thought occurred to him. ”Did you get a good look at him?”
”From the back. It was pretty dark. He's big though and has long hair, like a biker. We need guns. There's some in a closet down here. Can you break the lock?”
Kurt's voice betrayed impatience, ”Of course.” Slinging his laptop over his shoulder, Kurt set off with Mia and Joe following into the corridor to the closet, where the weapons were locked. Kurt twisted the steel handle until it broke, clattering to the floor. The door swung open. Inside, hung two high-powered rifles, a small pistol and a few tazers and dart guns. Kurt took down the firearms, checking to see if they were loaded. He tossed one of the rifles to Joe. ”Can you shoot, Doctor?”
Joe nodded.
”Mia, my love?” Kurt handed the other rifle to Mia, who shouldered it, peering through the sight. Kurt caught Joe's amazed expression. ”She's an expert marksman. She never told you? She's deadlier than you know. It seems you have some some secrets, secrets, Liebchen. Liebchen.” Kurt took the pistol, and grabbed extra boxes of ammunition stuffing them into the pockets of his suede jacket and the rest into Mia's battered black leather one. ”Aim for the head or heart, Doctor. Is he armed?”
”Probably disarmed the guards.”
Kurt looked around, his face tense. ”Any other way out of the building from this level?”
”A freight elevator to the loading dock.”
”We'll need a vehicle covered from the sun, like a van or truck.”
”The company van, I've used it to move equipment. The keys are in Lydia's office.”
Kurt nodded. ”Let's go.”
They ran to Lydia's office where Kurt kicked in the door. Joe went to the key safe and rifled through the keys. ”s.h.i.+t- not here. Lydia must have them.”
Mia spoke up, ”I can hot wire a car.”
Joe and Kurt both looked at her in disbelief.
”Ethan taught me.”
Kurt smiled. ”You're an amazing woman.”
Joe led them through a set of double doors into a storage room where lab equipment and office supplies were stacked on shelves and pallets. The three of them stepped into the freight elevator. Joe closed the gate and the elevator lurched into operation.
”Christ, this thing is noisy,” said Mia.
”Be ready to fire,” warned Kurt.
They raised weapons in antic.i.p.ation of attack as the elevator opened into another storage area with swinging doors leading out onto the loading dock. They stepped cautiously outside the elevator. Kurt tilted his head, listening. ”Can't hear him,” he whispered. ”Mia?”
She shook her head.
Joe pointed with the rifle. ”There's the van.”
Kurt nodded. ”I'll cover this door. You go with Mia.”
Kurt leaned against the swinging door, training his gun on the doors leading back into the building. Joe covered Mia as she broke the window to open the van door. She crouched down and went to work on the wires, cursing under her breath.