Ionshaker (Part I) by Felix Timothy (best short novels txt) 📕

audience, so he excused himself and went back into his room.

As he closed the door behind him, Audrey’s phone rang too.

Inside his room, Trey was busy on the phone, “…what time?” He asked impatiently.
“No that’s too long. I can’t wait that long,” he said turning and then looking up to stare at the ceiling.
“Let me try in the next thirty,” said the voice on the phone.
“Call me in thirty, it’s urgent,” Trey responded.
“I’ll try my best, but no guarantees.”
The line went dead and Trey hung up and returned to the living room where Audrey wore a jovial face.
“What’s up, you had a bee-stung face when I left you, and now you look…happy?”
“Mom’s up,” she said excitedly walking to him with her arms spread in anticipation of a hug.
“Really!” He was excited too, “that’s good news! Wait, how did you know?” He asked still hugging her.
“The hospital called just a few minutes ago. We should go see her now.”
“You’re right about that.” Then letting go of her he said, “Let me grab my coat.”
Though Robin Ironside was up, Trey understood that the danger was far from over. Those seeking her soul were still out there scheming on how to take her out, and it was upon Trey to do something and do it as soon as possible.


12


Brett had left for Rendell’s office and Nicole was at her desk trying to figure out the next step. The investigation had turned out to be another quagmire with no leads. Her desk phone rang, it was the FBI reception desk calling.
“Nicole Anderson,” she answered casually after picking the call.
“Hi Nicole, there’s a Miss Judy Stoke here to see you,” Said the voice on the other end.
“A Miss who again?” Nicole asked with a brow on her face. She had never heard of that name before.
“Judy Stoke,” the caller hesitated a bit then added, “She says you met yesterday…?”
“Yesterday…?”
“Yes…at…Jordin Stevenworth’s office?”
“Is she the secretary?” Nicole asked brushing her left hand through her hair. The lady on the phone paused for a few seconds then answered, “Yes.”
“Oh, tell her to wait, I’m coming down,” she said then hurriedly banged the phone on the cradle.

* * *

Brett returned from Rendell’s office and found Nicole sitting in his chair. He smiled.
“What’s so funny?” She asked.
“You, trying to usurp power from me.”
“Not funny,” she said getting out of his chair.
“Any news about the three guys?” He asked walking to his chair.
“Four, where’s your mind today?”
“Anything about the fantastic four?” He asked sinking into the chair.
“All those names are bogus. John Crowley is a schizophrenic patient currently admitted at Jackson Memorial in Miami, Ted Goblet – dead; died in Marion Federal Penitentiary Illinois two years ago, Sam Therizion is a law abiding citizen; actually a chemist professor at Stanford, and Peter McGill is a gulf war hero who brags of serving with John McCain. He lives just next door - Pasadena. They’re using other people’s identities. Your turn.
“Mine is much better,” he said gently rubbing his chin.
“Much better than mine?” She asked standing next to him.
“Nicole’s body is gone,” he said calmly, looking up at her.
“What do you mean gone, was it stolen?”
“Not at all. Brooke’s lawyer took it.”
“And I’m guessing you went to see him, otherwise why would you ask me for his address?” She said sitting at the edge of the desk looking down at him.
“I did.”
“And?” Curiously, she asked.
“He burnt it yesterday.”
“What!” In surprise, she tapped on the desk.
“Hey, no need to break my desk, its done.”
She paused for a while just staring into the air before softly saying, “I’m so lost here, why, was it her husband who…?”
“Nope,” Brett cut her short and continued, “It was all Brooke, she had a will.”
“Wow, the story gets better,” she remarked sarcastically.
“She left her lawyer specific instructions, to cremate her body within twenty four hours of her death, and that was to happen with or without her husband’s consent or knowledge. Can you believe that?”
“So the husband doesn’t know?” She asked looking down at him.
“Yep, he has no idea,” he said almost feeling sorry for Trey.
Nicole paused for a while to process then asked, “Did you actually see the will?”
“Uh-huh.”
“How do you know it’s authentic?”
“Don’t even go there.”
“Why not, we should at least find out if…”
“She left an audio message for her husband, telling him to back off from interfering with the cremation. It was her choice.”
“I see,” she said rising from the desk.
“I know Rendell is hiding something but he’s covered his tracks pretty well. He’s untouchable for now.”
“So what’s our new game plan; my mind is totally blank,” she said sitting in the other chair.
“We leave Brooke for a while and focus on Ironside.”
“Great – where do we start?” She asked leaning back in the chair and crossing her arms across her chest.
“Bring in the fat guy from the junkyard.”
“On what grounds?”
“Lying to federal agents, obstruction of justice, identity theft...”
“Okay I get it.”
“Shirley will help you sketch his face.”
“Why do we need to sketch his face, can’t we just go and pick him up? I mean we know where he is.”
“I have a feeling we won’t find him at the junkyard. So we’re being proactive.”
“I’m gonna have to pay Brooke’s shrink another visit.”
“Why? You said she was devastated by Brooke’s death, right?”
“Or it was all just an act.”
“Why the change of heart?”
“Someone from Jordin’s office paid me a visit early this morning,” Nicole said standing to leave Brett’s office.
“Who?” Brett asked anxiously.
“Her secretary.”
“And what did she say?” His interest certainly aroused.
“I’ll hold on to that one for now,” she responded exiting the office.
“Nicole!” Brett called out as she left his office, the suspense definitely driving him insane. After leaving Brett’s office, Nicole headed straight to Jack’s desk. She had a job for him.
“Jack Bauer.”
“You always call me that when you want something.”
“That’s not true,” Nicole said leaning behind him on the left side of his desk.
“I’ve got something for you.”
“I’m busy, find somebody else,” he said, his eyes still glued on his computer monitor, his right hand on the mouse. He was not buying into her cajolery.
“There’s no one else.”
“In this whole dump you can’t find anybody else? What are all those things sitting behind desks, aliens in human bodies?”
“Come now. I have a job for everyone,” Nicole said lifting her head to look at Shirley sitting at her desk. Coincidentally, Shirley was at the same time looking over at Jack’s desk.
“So you expect me to just abandon whatever I’m doing? What about her?” He asked turning his eyes to Shirley.
“You know she’s not half as smart as you,” Nicole said gazing at Shirley before turning to look at him, “And I need the best brains on this,” then she smiled clearly tying to pat his ego.
Jack stopped typing and turned to her. Bingo! She’d got him.
Afterwards, Nicole instructed him to thoroughly investigate Jordin Stevenworth; her friends, family, patients, lawsuits, accounts – everything worth knowing. After leaving Jack’s desk she headed to Shirley’s.
“I need your help,” Nicole said standing next to Shirley who immediately stopped typing and turned to her, “With what?”
“A criminal face.”
“And what are you waiting for?”
“Pardon me?”
“Pull up a chair.”


13


As soon as they confirmed the room she’d been moved to, they hurried into the elevator. It was only after the elevator doors closed and they found themselves sharing the lift with an elderly woman carrying a bouquet that it hit them – they didn’t have any flowers for Robin.
“For my grandson,” she told them with a warm smile.
“Tiiing,” the elevator bell rang after hitting the third floor and they rushed out.
“You’re awake!” Audrey shouted as Robin slowly turned to the people entering her room.
“I was so worried, Mom. I didn’t know what to do.”
Mother and daughter hugged softly as Trey pulled up a chair next to Robin’s bed.
“No need to worry honey, I’ll be fine. My name is Ironside, remember?”
Robin joked and Audrey chuckled. Robin then continued, “I was worried about you too sweetheart,” then turning to Trey she said, “But Trey took good care of you, didn’t he?”
“Yes he did,” Audrey answered smiling at Trey.
“Thank you Trey,” Robin told Trey, her expression being worth more than her words.
“Don’t mention it. So how are you feeling, druggy?” Trey joked.
“Woozy, like I smoked all the pot in Jamaica.”
They all shared in a light laugh. Then turning to Audrey, Robin said, “Honey, will you give us a minute please?”
“Sure,” Audrey kissed her mother on the forehead and then excused herself.
“This place is not safe…” Trey began, but was immediately interrupted by an incoming message on his phone. It read: “Garden Square, in ten.”

* * *

Two anonymous men were in dark rooms conversing over the phone.
“You messed up,” the first man said angrily with a hoarse raspy voice.
“I don’t understand,” the other man responded.
“Of course you don’t idiot. The subject is still alive at Kaiser Hospital.”
“I’m sorry boss,” responded the junior.
“I don’t need your apology, I need you to finish the job, do you understand?”
“Yes sir,” the man responded quickly.
“Then listen carefully because am only gonna say this once. I’m sending you a fake ID that reads Jake O’Dell. It will be your cover. You’ll be Dr. Jake O’Dell, a new doctor expected to start his shift today at 7 pm. You need to get there ahead of the real doctor. Ask a nurse to assist you transfer the subject to room 7A, on the ground floor. Purposely forget the subject's medical file until you get to the elevator, then ask the nurse to go get it. Make sure you remain alone with the subject in the elevator. One problem though. The doctor is cute, but you – you look like an ogre.”
“Don’t worry sir, with the fake ID I don’t need to meet the nurses. Just tell me the room number and I’ll go straight to the room.”
“Room 18C.”
“Got it.”
The line went dead.

* * *

Trey was five minutes early, so he sat on