Part 14 (1/2)
They've poisoned him again. Sons of b.i.t.c.hes. How many times can they keep doing this to us?
She knew the answer, of course. Nova would continue to use them until he didn't need them anymore. Then they'd end up dead someplace, just two more unsolved murders in a city full of them.
”Tal called,” one of John's guards said. ”He's on his way. We're supposed to keep the girl out here until he gets here.”
”Sorry. We've got other plans.” Before Leah knew what was happening, one of the men who'd taken her from her cell pulled out a gun and fired two shots. Blood splattered the walls as John's two guards fell to the floor.
”Let's get the h.e.l.l out of here.” The men grabbed Leah and pulled her away from John's cell.
”Wait!” She tried to break free but they held her tight. ”He needs my help! He's dying.” She saw John pressed against the gla.s.s, pounding on it with both fists.
”Too bad. Our orders are to get you out of here, n.o.body else.”
Leah kicked and screamed as the men dragged her to the end of the hall and out a small side door that opened onto what had once been the loading dock. Three more men waited next to an unmarked gray van, their faces cloaked by the night. It was only when she got close that Leah recognized one of them, an average-sized man with mousy-brown hair.
”You were the one at my clinic that night. With the dog. You work for Tal Nova.”
”Not exactly,” the man said. ”I do jobs for him on occasion; but I work for myself. You might say I'm an independent contractor.”
”You have to let me go back inside, there's someone dying in there. I can help him.”
The man shook his head. ”Believe me, Doctor, I know exactly what you can do. That's why I'm here. You're going to make me a very rich man.” He motioned for his men to open the back doors of the van.
Leah muttered a curse as she fought to break free. Did everyone know about her abilities? ”If you don't let me go back, I won't help you.”
The man held up his hand and everyone stopped moving. ”What do you mean?”
”You said you know what I can do. Well, you can't make me do it. I control it.”
The man shrugged. ”Then maybe a bullet or two in the right places will convince you.”
”And what if it doesn't? You'll kill me? I'm no good to you if I'm injured or dead.”
For the first time, the man's face showed emotion. His lips grew tight and his eyes narrowed. He stared at Leah for a moment, and then swore. ”G.o.ddammit. You did a hit for Nova.”
Leah stared back at him. ”That's right. Because he injected the man I love with poison. The same man who's going to die soon if I don't get back in there. Without John, I wouldn't have done s.h.i.+t for Nova.” She knew she was putting John in danger again, basically moving from one frying pan to another, but at least he'd be alive.
”d.a.m.n it to h.e.l.l.” The man signaled his people to move back to the loading dock doors. ”Let's go. This isn't finished yet.”
”Del, we don't need him. We can find someone else-”
”Quiet.” The man named Del pointed at the stocky thug who held Leah. ”Keep her here. Don't come in until you get the all clear.”
The man nodded and tightened his grip on Leah's arm as the rest of the group headed inside.
Thirty seconds later, the angry sound of gunfire reached them.
”What's going on?” Leah asked, her head filling with visions of the mousy-haired man shooting John.
”Shut up.” Her guard maintained his grip, but with his other hand he pulled out a gun and aimed it at the loading-dock doors.
”We have to go in!” Panic rose in Leah's chest.
”I said shut up!” The man gave her a shake, just as Leah tried again to pull free. This time it worked, and she found herself stumbling away. Before the man could do anything, she found her balance and ran for the door.
”Hey! Stop!”
Leah cringed, antic.i.p.ating a bullet in the back, but didn't stop running. Instead of the explosion of the gun going off, she heard pounding footsteps behind her. She threw open the door and burst into the hallway, just in time to see one of the stranger's men turn in her direction, gun in hand. There was no time to stop or yell; she could only watch helplessly as bright light flared from the front of the gun and a deafening roar filled the air. A split second later, something hot stung her cheek, followed by a buzzing sound in her ear.
”Don't shoot!” the man behind her shouted.
After that, everything seemed to slow down to quarter speed. Images clicked through her head like a slide show.
Someone running past her.
Raising her hand to her cheek.
Staring at her blood-covered palm.
People on the floor.
A white tile smeared in red.
The last picture faded to black, and Leah wondered who'd turned off the projector. Turn on the lights, she tried to say, but her mouth refused to move. Something cold hit her face, feeling good against her skin. How did I get sunburned on one cheek? Who's holding the wet cloth for me?
Far away, someone called for help. Something about a man being shot.
I can help him, she thought. That's my job. I Cure the sick with a touch. My name is Jesus.
Wait. That doesn't sound right.
My name is Leah. I'm here to help someone. Someone named...
”John!” Leah opened her eyes, saw she was lying on the floor next to a dead body.
With a gasp, she pushed herself away and sat up. The memory of being shot came back to her, and she raised a hand to her cheek. No pain now, just smooth, undamaged skin.
No time to worry about that. Have to help John.
She got to her feet, but someone grabbed her leg. Looking down, she saw the mousy-haired man who'd tried to kidnap her.
”Help me,” he said, his words coming out in a hoa.r.s.e gasp. The reason for his pain was obvious; blood poured from a bullet wound in his leg. Based on the flow, Leah figured the bullet had nicked his femoral artery, possibly cut it in two.
”Please. I...” His eyes closed and his head fell back.
d.a.m.n! All she wanted to do was save John. But she couldn't let a man bleed to death. Telling herself she was a fool, Leah knelt down and placed her hands over the wound. An electric shock ran through her, and the man's body twitched as if from an epileptic seizure.