Sleeping Player (Project Chrysalis Book 3) by John Gold (novel24 TXT) 📕

Golden Hand clan expresses its deep gratitude and would like you to join us. If you accept our invitation, you’ll start off by working with me on…delicate projects as a trusted partner. Come to Airis Castle and find me.”

“Thanks. I’ll think about it.”

Revenge, revenge, revenge, revenge, revenge, revenge. Kirk remembered the last day at the old Airis Castle in the tiniest detail. He remembered feeling Lira’s senseless body in his arms. He remembered the blood and dirt caked in her hair. He remembered the pendant that he’d taken to wear around his own neck, one he’d given her for their engagement. The pain building up in him all that time exploded. Sagie… He was nearby, he was there, and he was mortal.

For the first time in half a year, Kirk knew exactly what he wanted to do. That thought, that desire, filled his consciousness. Kirk had decided to kill.

***

Eliza Donovan was perplexed. She’d just had a conversation with Supervisor Vaalsie, her old acquaintance thanks to the Angie Ganet deal. Station security had just visited him with questions about their ward, as well. They’d also been followed by six more people asking about the same boy.

Two months prior, Eliza had submitted a request to review the details of Angie Ganet’s death at the private orphanage in the resort city of Arpa five years before. She’d heard nothing since then. The city’s ArtIn told her that everything had been checked and rechecked—the boy died of complications he’d suffered from his stroke three days after the incident. The cause of the stroke had been his accelerated development syndrome and the boy’s psychological exhaustion. That had been it. But suddenly, people were lining up to ask questions about him. She’d turned down the first ones, alluding to doctor-patient confidentiality, but the security people invoked the right to disclose information after the death of the patient.

Vaalsie had mentioned that he knew the boy, selling confidential information for a separate fee. Then, he contacted Eliza to see if she’d be interested in a share if they sold the information she had, too. She had a hard time not laughing at the old scoundrel.

What Eliza knew about Angie Ganet stayed a medical secret, even from her. The mystery intrigued her—she wanted to find out more. He was a genius who had refused recognition; a child who had gone to work while the rest of the kids still hadn’t even thought about what they wanted to be when they grew up. His knowledge far exceeded normal adolescent interests. Then, there was his ability to quickly learn new things. Even the last conversation they’d had and his knowledge of his transfer to an orphanage in a different colony was an enigma for Eliza. His urge to protect those closest to him at such a young age was impressive, too. Angie had been through hell, both in real life and in the game, and he’d still done his best to take care of the people he loved to the very end. The possibility of his bogus death just represented one more secret swirling around him.

Interesting patients are what doctors live for when they love what they do. And so, Eliza had to figure that there was one person who knew more about Sagie than she did.

“Moro, put me in touch with Mrs. Full, Angie Ganet’s old psychologist, and set up a meeting. Whenever is best for her. Let her know that nothing is covered by doctor-patient confidentiality, as the patient died five years ago.”

“Miss Donovan, that’s a manipulation of the facts. Actually, it’s a lie if Ganet is alive.”

“Exactly—if he’s alive. And for now, that’s just an act of faith. There are no laws being broken, no confidentiality being betrayed.”

Moro found Mrs. Full, though it took a little time to set up the meeting.

“Miss Donovan, Mrs. Full is prepared to meet with you in eleven days. As soon as she finishes up her research and gets back to the station, she’ll be available whenever you want to see her.”

“Thanks, Moro. You’re a doll.” Eliza’s spirits lifted significantly.

***

Femida logged out of the game and pulled herself out of her med capsule. She’d been in there for seventy hours. Her mother was sitting next to her, her happy face betraying that she knew something.

The latter put her book down and started with a direct question.

“Well, are congratulations in order now that your chosen one is back?”

“So, you already know everything?”

“Baby, the whole world knows that Bloody Sagie is back! A couple of hours ago, they started a new talk show looking at life in Airis Castle. The producer’s hinting that they’re waiting for Sagie to come kill Leon, and people are already betting on when the battle for Airis Castle will start. Just let me know who to bet on, and what date, okay?”

“Mama!”

“Mama what? I’m a person, too! And I’m really happy he’s back.”

Off she headed toward the kitchen to make a late dinner for her daughter. Fiji jumped in the shower before joining her to hear what was going on in the real world.

“Fiji, you should hear some of the theories going around about your escape. From the looks of it, you two just disappeared into the darkness of the mine, with some people talking about a black spot and demons. They’re saying only Femida died—she fell to her death, while Sagie got away. Then, that puppet was issued an official acquittal for what happened five years ago, so she’ll be getting compensation.” Fiji’s mother put a plate down in front of her. “So, where did you go? How’s your Sagie? Tell me everything!”

“Five years in a coma, half a year out of his mind, brain damage. If there were just a quarter of him that was a normal person, he wouldn’t have recovered.”

“What are you talking about?”

“He went through Hell at