This deal was feeling more and more shaky. Maybe Williams didn’t really know anything about his biological parents and was just pulling on Creed’s heart strings to get him to jump through hoops.
After all, Creed thought, Williams has done nothing to earn trust. I don’t know if Gavil’s alive or dead. I was promised more time to heal before being put on this assignment. I was told Dr. Winter was a thief when it’s pretty clear the woman was just trying to protect the meta children. He told me the ‘gift’ was ‘just for show’ and now Meg’s life is hanging in the balance, Creed thought furiously to himself.
He felt sick to his stomach. Nothing about this was feeling right at all. The eighteen-year-old soldier continued to mumble to himself furiously the entire time it took him to pack his hotel room. And by the time he was ready to leave, he still hadn’t decided what to do. There had to be a way to do the right thing, but he was very worried it was too late for him to wind up a good guy.
30 June in the Month of March
“Hello, dear. How are we feeling today?” Dr. Kenneth Williams leaned down and kissed the papery dry cheek of the young woman lying on the hospital bed. He didn’t expect an answer after fourteen years of silence. He was just accustomed to speaking with his daughter like this in some vain hope that someday she might hear and know he loved her.
He visited June often, though not often enough, his guilt-ridden conscience told him. He made sure she had the best of care in the basement of this hospital building he designed specifically around her needs. Out of habit, he checked her chart clipped to the foot of her bed. No change.
Long ago, he assigned a trusted meta female named Esther to oversee his June’s every daily need. The meta stood discreetly outside the doors now, allowing the doctor time alone with his daughter.
“Well, I’m working on your cure, my dear. I’ve sent two of my top soldiers to retrieve the serum I just know will get you feeling better,” he said as he absently adjusted her sheets up around her shoulders.
“You remember Farrow. She is working with a meta named Creed to make it all happen. We’re just days away from your cure, then we’ll get to enjoy walks in the garden and shopping at only the most exclusive shops; just as I used to do with your mother.”
“You have your whole life before you, my sweet June. You’ll see. Daddy will fix everything for you.” He smiled as warmly as his leathery face would allow at his pride and joy.
June lay as still as a stone. No matter what he did, Dr. Williams felt her accusatory silence pierce his soul, but not for much longer. Farrow and Creed would bring back the cure. They had to.
Chirping came from his breast pocket. A phone call.
“Reporting in, sir,” Farrow said obediently.
“Status?” Williams said, still staring at his baby girl lying helpless in the hospital room bed.
“Creed has followed directives thus far, and we’re on schedule,” she informed robotically.
“Well done, Farrow,” Williams smiled at his daughter feeling more confident than ever things would be different soon.
“What are your feelings about Creed? Is he going to follow through? Or has he gotten too close to the subjects? Do I need to send you reinforcements?”
“So far, he seems on target. I’ll keep a watchful eye and let you know. But sir, no reinforcements will be necessary. I’ll take care of things myself if need be,” Farrow concluded as any soldier would.
“I am confident in your abilities. Keep me informed.”
“As you wish, sir.” Her voice was like syrup on the phone, but that was exactly why he had chosen her to aid in this most important assignment. She was a valuable weapon, as he had determined female metas could be. Farrow was beautiful and voluptuous but as deadly as a viper. Yes, women had their secret weapons no man could duplicate.
“If you find it helpful, feel free to befriend the male metas,” Dr. Williams added knowingly.
“I will do whatever is necessary to complete the objectives, sir.” Her voice was like butter on a piece of hot bread.
“I know you will,” Williams smiled into the phone. “If Creed becomes a liability, I know you’ll take care of him, too.”
“As you wish, Director,” Farrow smiled widely.
31 Professional Courtesy
“Leaving so soon, Creed?” a sultry voice whispered from behind him at the hotel’s checkout desk. He didn’t even turn around. He knew who she was. He could smell her perfume.
The guest relations guy, who had been helping with the checkout, stopped to look up at the exchange. He couldn’t help but stare. The girl was gorgeous. Creed ignored his envious ogling and finished signing the receipt in front of him. He grabbed his large suitcase easily, turned and started walking away.
“You can stop following me, Farrow,” Creed growled once they were out of eavesdropping range.
“Oh, but I can’t. I have my orders, too, you know,” she said with a smile on her beautiful lips.
“Your orders are to follow me?”