Brain Storm by Cat Gilbert (ebook reader computer .txt) 📕

THE AGENCY WAS ablaze in light when we returned, the grounds busy with security guards.

“What’s happened?” I asked Jenny, who had run to meet the car.

“Dr. Connors is missing!” She was nearly in tears and clung to my arm. “No one’s seen him since he left you this morning. They’re combing the grounds now.”

I barely had time to think before Lars grabbed my other arm, wrenching me free only to drag me through the door and into the waiting elevator.

“Hey!” I managed to gain my feet and jerk free of his grip just as the doors closed, trapping me inside. “Don’t you dare push that button. I’m getting out.”

I shoved him aside, intending to open the doors only to be jerked to the back of the car and held there while he sent the elevator streaking down to the lower floors.

“Hughes has ordered you be secured in your quarters.” It was the first time I’d heard him talk, and it froze me in my tracks. Low and gravelly, his voice came out more like a growl from some animal than anything human, so faint I questioned whether I had heard it at all. The look on his face told me I had, and before I could stop myself, my eyes flew to his neck and the turtleneck that covered whatever damage had done this to him.

Before I could say anything, the elevator came to a stop, Lars dragging me out as soon as the doors opened wide enough for us to squeeze through. His long strides ate up the distance to my room so fast, I had to run to keep up, nearly slamming into the guard that was waiting there for us.

“Hughes wants you topside,” he informed Lars. “I’m to stand guard here.”

Lars nodded, pushing me into the room. The other guard slammed the door shut, and I stood there in shock as I heard the key turn in the lock. They’d taken Connors and I was locked in my room. Didn’t get better than that. I tore off my jacket and threw it across the room in frustration. I’d been so relieved that Hughes hadn’t tried to take me while I was in town, I hadn’t even stopped to think about why he hadn’t. I hadn’t counted on this. It wasn’t part of the plan. I hadn’t just underestimated Hughes. I’d never even seen this one coming, and now Connors was paying for it.

I paced off most of my anger and flopped down in one of the chairs to wait for Hughes. I’d been locked up for nearly thirty minutes, and unless I was totally off the mark, he’d be coming for me soon.

Hughes didn’t disappoint me. Within ten minutes, I heard the key in the lock and stood up in an attempt to be ready for whatever came through the door. The last time Hughes had tried to take me, he’d sent men armed with guns and tasers to do the job, and I’d lost control. Something I couldn’t afford to do this time. I had to go with him. I had to find out who he was working for and who else was involved. It was a risky plan, but the only one I could think of that would give me the answers I needed.

I just hadn’t anticipated it being this difficult to go with him. I tried to still my growing sense of panic as the door began to swing open. Hughes came rushing through the door, and I felt the power snap through me with each beat of my pounding heart. Fight or flight. The response was instinctive when faced with an enemy, and the battle to contain it was raging inside me.

Hughes reached to grab my arm, and I jerked back avoiding him. If he touched me now, I would lose it, no doubt about it. I would end up killing him before I found Connors, found out the information I needed. We would be on the run forever, constantly looking over our shoulders, waiting for the next attack. It was a sobering thought, and one I wasn’t prepared to live with.

He started forward again, reaching out, but as his hand closed around my arm, it was if the universe suddenly shifted on its axis as a moment of total clarity engulfed me. I was afraid I would lose control and kill Hughes too soon. Somewhere, deep down, I knew I could actually kill him if it came to that. I was the one with the power here. Not him. I wouldn’t allow panic to force my hand. Hughes was going down, but I would be the one to pick the time and place.

The drop in my anxiety level was so unexpected that I was momentarily stunned, and I stumbled, my legs refusing to work as Hughes started to pull me toward the door. I quickly recovered my feet and looked up to see Jenny standing there with her arms wrapped tightly around my leather jacket, an encouraging, if fearful, smile on her lips.

“Here, Taylor, you’ll need this.” She shoved the coat at me, managing to give my hand a hard squeeze in the process.

“Did they find Dr. Connors?” I asked, dislodging Hughes’ hand and sliding into my jacket.

“No,” Hughes answered for her. “We haven’t, and that’s why we’re moving you. The Agency’s been breached, and we can’t keep you safe here.”

“What about Sean?” I stepped out of the room to find Lars standing at the ready, car keys in his hand. Whatever Hughes had in mind, Lars was coming along.

“Sean’s gone, Taylor,” Hughes said roughly. “He didn’t survive his injuries.”

Stunned, I whirled back to Jenny, the unspoken question in my eyes.

“He’s right, Taylor,” Jenny confirmed, sadness in her voice. “Where Sean is, no one can hurt him anymore.” Hughes hadn’t bothered to turn around when Jenny answered me, so he never saw the hatred in her eyes as she stared at his back. Nor did he see the cunning smile and knowing look she threw my way before she followed him out into the hallway.

I doubled over, my hands braced on my thighs for support, taking in deep breaths, as I absorbed what she’d just told me. Sean wasn’t dead, but Hughes didn’t know that. Wherever Jenny had stashed him, he was safe. For the second time that day, Jenny had surprised me. She was much more devious than I’d given her credit for.

“I’m sorry,” Hughes said, the toes of his shoes coming into sight. “I know you two were close, but we don’t have time for this. We have to move.”

I nodded and stood up, sniffling and wiping at my eyes as I moved away from him. Lars led the way down the hallway, and I followed, Hughes bringing up the rear. I shuffled along, trying to look the very picture of misery. I turned around to see Jenny waving goodbye from down the hall as the doors slid closed. Within seconds we were gone, speeding to the surface and whatever lay in wait beyond the gates of the Agency.

Lars was driving, and Hughes took the seat next to him in the front, leaving the back seat free for me. I stared at the back of his head as we sped down the mountain in silence, wondering how he had become the monster he was. Was he born that way or had he, at some point in his life, stepped too far over the line and got sucked into the dark abyss of evil. Because there was no doubt in my mind that Hughes was evil.

The lights of Estes Park disappeared into the darkness behind us, and the thought passed through me that somewhere back there, Mama D was praying for us all, praying for me, and the thought brought me immeasurable comfort. Tonight, God willing, it would be over. I could never put things back the way they were. I knew that. But maybe, just maybe, I could put things right. Dear God, don’t let me mess this up. Don’t let me be blinded by anger or hate. Please don’t let me lose control. I joined my voice with Mama D’s as we emerged from the mountains onto the plains that stretched far into the distance and prepared myself, the best I could, for the battle to come.