chapter 26
After hours of traveling, Audrey smoothed down her skirt while sitting in the back of a plush limousine. The urge to let her hair down hit her again, and she fought it.
The senator tipped back his head to drink a bottled water. The good kind. “It was nice of the commander to send a car for us,” he said pleasantly.
Audrey smiled and tried not to laugh. The senator hated limos and anything with pomp or luxuriousness. “The partition is up, Senator Nash. The driver can’t hear you.” Although it had been fun to listen to the senator be polite for the long drive.
He rolled his eyes and leaned toward her to whisper, “I bet the place is bugged.”
Audrey coughed into her hand. The place was bugged—by her. Maybe it wasn’t ridiculous to wonder if the commander had bugged the limo, too. “Good point.”
“How bad was your apartment this morning?” the senator asked.
She swallowed down bile. “Actually, the only thing out of place was a big pool of blood on the floor. I didn’t find anything out of the ordinary.” Nate had thrown on another fat suit and accompanied her to the apartment before she’d gone in to work. “My lawyer called a cleanup crew, and it should be good as new tonight.” Of course, the smell of death might take a while to leave.
“I’m glad to hear it.” The senator plucked on his tie, only stopping when Audrey lifted an eyebrow. “Why would somebody plant George’s body in your apartment? Any new theories?”
“No, and I don’t understand the connection to Darian and his death. I mean, with both men having that odd brand on their bodies.” Audrey studied the senator, wondering how the commander was going to fix this one, considering he’d already framed somebody for Darian’s murder. “Any thoughts?”
“No.” The senator rubbed gray whiskers. “I forgot to shave, darn it. Oh well. Let’s see if we can figure it out. Darian was a top lobbyist who wanted funds for his military group, and George was a brilliant scientist who considered building manufacturing plants in Wyoming. They both wanted something from me—money.”
Audrey eyed his whiskers. He should’ve shaved. “That’s not a motive for murder.”
“I know.” The senator tensed as they approached the first guarded gate. “Plus, they found Darian’s murderer. So what’s up with the weird tattoo? Here come the guns.”
Audrey nodded and scooted closer to her window, making sure to point her ear toward the soldiers manning the gate. “They do have a lot of firepower,” she murmured. The enforced gate connected to a small hut where one man stood in a standard black uniform, his hands and weapons out of sight. Two men flanked the gate outside the hut, each armed with automatic weapons, sidearms, and knives. After looking inside the limo, a guard opened the gate.
Two gates later, the car finally pulled up in front of the main building of the compound.
The commander waited, dressed in the standard black uniform, his hair cut like a steel brush even in the rain. The downpour didn’t dare muss his hair. At the odd thought, Audrey accepted his hand in exiting the limo.
He glanced down at her, black eyes fathomless. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine.” She brushed by him, not wanting to discuss the pregnancy.
He shook hands with the senator and led them both inside to a common conference room. The senator protested without sitting down. “I’d like to tour the entire facility, if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind.” The commander executed a perfect pivot, his hands clasped at his back, his boots polished until they reflected the light. “This way.” He led them through the main facility and right into the private areas.
Audrey’s heart galloped, and she made sure to look around so the camera could catch everything. While she could’ve drawn the layout for the Deans, there was nothing like a live recording. They went through the armory, the offices, and finally the labs, where people in white lab coats worked with vials, microscopes, and buzzing machinery.
At the last lab, the senator glanced through a closed door with a hazard warning on the window. “What type of experiments do you do here, anyway?”
The commander glanced at Audrey, and she nodded. While she certainly hadn’t told the senator about the creation of soldiers in laboratories, he’d gotten the information from his sources.
“We use the labs for medical research in order to assist soldiers in healing quicker and better.” The commander stood straight and tall. “We did have a failed experiment when we tried to raise soldiers from birth, but that program is long shut down.”
Baloney. Audrey smiled and nodded. “That makes sense.” She slowly walked around the lab, her camera catching everything.
A clicking of heels on tiles announced her mother’s arrival. Audrey turned. “Hello, Mother.”
Isobel slipped an arm around Audrey’s shoulders and gave a somewhat maternal hug. “Audrey. How good to see you.” All manners, the brilliant doctor held out a hand for the senator. “This handsome man must be Senator Nash. We haven’t formally met.”
The senator took her hand, standing tall and tugging on his tie. A dark flush covered his weathered face. “It’s my pleasure, ma’am.”
Good Lord. Audrey stifled a grin.
Isobel twittered. “My daughter didn’t mention how handsome you were.”
The senator snorted. “That’s kind of you. I was asking about the experiments here.”
Isobel patted his arm. “We try to make things better for soldiers. That’s good, right?”
“Maybe.” The senator glanced around at the expansive equipment. “But you don’t clone people, do you? I mean, you don’t use science that would be better left to God?”
Isobel’s eyebrows lifted to her hairline. “Of course not. God has His place, now, doesn’t He?”
“Yes.” Relief crossed the senator’s face.
“But weren’t you offering good deals to George Fairbanks and his crew if they built in your state?” Isobel asked sweetly.
“They work on technology that speeds up computer processing,” the senator said softly, as if speaking to a lady of years ago.
If the man had any clue how tough her mother really was… Audrey glanced down at the small-boned beauty who’d held the lives of thousands in her hands at one point or another.
Isobel nodded at the senator. “Yes, George’s former group does work on computers, but they also have a grant for nanotechnology that might be used to change human biology if it works out. How do you feel about such matters?”
The senator’s eyes widened. “I do not agree with changing biology at all, and I had no idea Fairbanks was into such experimentation.”
Audrey coughed. Wow. Talk about a bad turn of events for Fairbanks. First he gets murdered, and then he loses an in with a senator.
Isobel turned back to her daughter. “If you gentlemen don’t mind, I’d love to steal my sweet daughter for a moment.”
Warmth flushed through Audrey, even though she knew her mother was playing it nice for the senator. So she forced a smile. “Is it all right, Senator?”
“By all means,” the senator said, his smile wide.
“Good. Plus, Audrey should take a break. Pregnant women need rest, you know.” Isobel beamed.
The senator’s gray eyebrows rose to his forehead. “Pregnant?”
Isobel clapped a hand over her mouth. “Oh my. I let the cat out of the bag.”
Heat rose through Audrey’s face. “That’s all right. Um, I’m pregnant.” She felt like she’d been caught making out in the barn.
“That’s wonderful.” The senator beamed, reaching out to pat her arm. His chest puffed out. “I’m so happy for you.”
Audrey shuffled her feet. “Thank you.”
He studied her, obviously trying to think of a way to ask the obvious question.
She forced a smile. “Um, I briefly dated a college professor for a while. We kept our relationship very quiet.”
“I understand.” Delight filled the senator’s eyes. “A baby. Oh, I can’t wait to go shopping. Do you have a crib?”
She faltered. “Um, not yet.”
“Excellent.” He rubbed his hands together. “Ernie has been teaching me woodworking, as you know. I’ll make one for you.” Pure, unabashed delight filled his face. He smiled again at Isobel. “Ernie is my chief of staff.”
Audrey’s heart thumped. Chances were she’d be long gone when the baby was born. She was going to miss the senator. “That would be very nice.”
He nodded. “Well, you go rest. The commander and I are going to look at the outbuildings where weapons are stored and the barracks where the soldiers bunk down.” He gave a short bow and turned to follow the commander.
Audrey glanced down at her mother. “I’d like another ultrasound.”
“Why?” Isobel’s brow furrowed.
“Just to make sure everything is all right.” Audrey shrugged. “Maternal worry.”
“Very well.” Isobel slipped her arm through Audrey’s as they walked back toward the main medical facility. “I remember being pregnant with you. Morning sickness for the entire nine months.” She smiled and revealed perfect teeth.
Audrey stumbled. Were they having a moment? Actually bonding? “I haven’t been too sick.” She glanced behind them. “Mother, the senator believes there’s another compound somewhere, and he isn’t going to recommend funding for you until he knows where it is.” Maybe she could get her mother to reveal the information.
Isobel hissed out a breath. “Why does he think that?”
“I don’t know, but he’s certain.” Audrey smoothed her face into concerned lines, actually feeling a little bad to be manipulating her mother in such a way. “He won’t give the money.”
“You’ll have to convince him.” Isobel led her into the examination room.
“I tried,” Audrey lied again. “Why not tell him the truth?”
Isobel shook her head. “We can’t. You know the kind of experiments we do—and you heard what he said about science. He can never know.”
Audrey’s stomach lurched. “You’re still creating soldiers?”
“Of course.” Isobel tsked and gestured toward the examination table. “I thought you were on board with us.”
“I am. It’s just a surprise after the fiasco five years ago. I’d assume you’d be afraid those soldiers would be coming back for you.” Audrey unzipped her skirt and lay back on the table. Fear trembled down her spine. Nate was listening in, and he’d just discovered Isobel was experimenting again.
He might kill her this time. Dread dropped like a lead weight into Audrey’s stomach.
“Oh, the soldiers from years ago will probably seek us out at some point.” Isobel smiled, her canines seeming a bit too long.
“Why?” Audrey asked, holding her breath.
Isobel squinted behind the glasses. “No reason. This is where they belong.”
Baloney. But there was no way Isobel would confess about the kill chips.
“Where’s the other compound?” Audrey asked idly, as if they discussed the weather, her heart battering against her ribs.
Isobel’s gaze narrowed. “I don’t think you need to know that.”
“Okay.” Audrey shrugged, letting go for the moment. Isobel was still creating soldiers, and the commander was training them to kill. But at least Audrey had gotten her mother to admit to there being another facility. That was enough for now. “Let’s check out this baby.” She sat back to watch the monitor.
* * *
Nate turned his rented BMW onto the newly asphalted road and glanced at his watch, his muscles relaxing for the first time that day. Audrey’s ultrasound had proven the baby was fine, and now Audrey sat safely in her office returning e-mails and phone calls as the day wound down. She’d done an excellent job recording every section of the commander’s facility.
Pride filled Nathan at her resourcefulness.
Now he had a meeting at TechnoZyn, and it was time to quit. Since he no longer needed the cover, he was happy to move on, and after quitting, he’d drop by and escort Audrey home. But first he wanted to ask some questions. The connection between the deaths of Darian Hannah and George Fairbanks remained unclear, and he had to find out who wanted to point the finger at Audrey.
The three-story building sprawled in an industrial area of Virginia, complete with its own parking lot. Nate had liked the strong lines and square concrete shapes forming the outside walls on sight. The place looked like a successful technology firm should. Not for the first time, he wondered what career he would’ve chosen if he hadn’t been created to kill.
Probably not one in computers, although his skills reached well above normal. But Jory was the computer genius in the family. Maybe Nate might’ve done something with his hands, like building boats or fixing cars. Or even racing cars. He’d always loved speed.
Thunder cracked overhead as he parked near the exit and dodged out of the car. He’d donned slacks, a white shirt, and a dark gray jacket, nixing the tie. No need for a tie since he’d be tendering his resignation. Even so, he tugged at his collar while striding inside. Give him worn jeans and a ripped T-shirt any day of the week instead of a monkey suit.
He showed his security card to the yawning guard in the vestibule and rode the elevator to the third floor. Long paces brought him to Lilith’s corner office.
She glanced up from reading a printout, her blond hair mussed, a drink at her hand. “Rotten day.”
“I agree.” He settled his bulk into a guest chair, facing her over a mountain of papers on her glass desk. A sophisticated set of cabinets made up one wall, while an original oil painting of a mountain range took up the other. Windows spread out behind her. “Sorry about George.”
“Me too.” Lilith made a production of standing and stretching her pencil skirt over her toned butt. Moving with sinewy grace, she crossed to open two doors in the cabinets. A myriad of crystal and bottles filled the space. “Join me in having a drink?” she asked, pouring him a glass without waiting for a response. Leaning a bit, she dropped ice into the glass with sharp tinks. Gliding toward him, she handed him a drink and sat in the other guest chair, her shapely legs crossed.
Nate accepted the drink and held out the glass. He needed to get a move on to meet Audrey after work. “To George.”
“To George,” Lilith repeated, clinking glasses. She took a deep swallow and sighed. “The poor lost soul.”
Nate took a drink of the Scotch and hummed with appreciation. “Good Scotch.”
Lilith smiled, her gaze remaining sad. “Yes.” She lifted her glass. “Where have you been all day, anyway?”
“I told you when you brought me over from Neoland that I didn’t sit in the office very often.” Taking a moment, he punched a button on his phone and pretended to read notes. “Mangatech is going public next year, the CEO of Talcon is resigning due to scandal, and RT Technologies just lost its biggest benefactor when Frank Filsome married some model who talked him into donating to monkeys instead of technology.”
“Monkeys?” Lilith sat back. “You found all of that out today?”
“Meetings and gossip,” he said. Actually, Shane had hacked into computers and e-mail accounts all morning for the information, but close enough.
Lilith leaned forward, her blazing pink blouse gaping open. “What’s the scandal at Talcon?”
“CEO and underage nanny.” Nate forced a shrug, hoping the guy got the book thrown at him. Hard. “How was your day?”
She sighed, rubbing under her eyes. “Exhausting. I’ve been trying to make sense of George’s files and not having much success. He did so much around here.”
“I know.” Nathan leaned forward and slid charm over his face. “Have the funeral arrangements been made?”
“Yes. The funeral is next Saturday.” Lilith sat up and stretched her arms over her head. “No news on who killed him, though.”
Sadness filled the woman’s eyes, and Nate nodded with sympathy. “You’ve known George for a long time?”
“Ten years.” She smiled, making her look years younger. “He recruited me right out of college, and we’ve worked together ever since. For so long, we shared the same vision. Faster computers and government assistance.”
Nate extended his legs and leaned back. “Have you heard about the brand on his back? The same one as Darian Hannah recently got?”
“Yes.” Lilith lifted a small shoulder. “Though I have no clue what it means.” She relaxed in her chair. “If you ask me, the police should take a gander at Audrey Madison’s ass. I bet she has the same brand.”
Nate knew for a fact that Audrey’s butt remained unmarred by any brand. “Why do you say that?”
Lilith scoffed. “Everybody knows the woman who was with Darian when he died had to be Audrey. Then George is found in her apartment? There has to be a connection, and I bet a trip to Vegas it’s all about that brand.”
“I wonder what it means?” Nate scratched his neck. He took another drink, his mind calculating facts. “Why was George a lost soul?”
Lilith uncrossed and recrossed her legs. “He went from computers to science and tried to mess with biology. Tried to do unnatural, unclean things.”
The facts slowed in Nate’s brain. His feet suddenly became too heavy to move. “Unclean?”
“Yes.” She claimed his glass before it fell to the floor. “Do you know that when we acquired Neoland, we didn’t have time to properly vet all of the employees and independent contractors before getting to work?”
“Is that a fact?” His head lolled forward. He struggled to stay awake, and realization smacked him in his fuzzy brain. “Wh-what did you give me?”
“A drug stronger than morphine—much stronger, actually.” She leaned into him and brushed his jaw with her lips. “I did so like you, but you’re going to tell me everything. I promise.”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.” He fumbled for his phone, and it fell to the floor.
“Sure you do. I have connections that would shock you.” She bit his chin. “But I don’t like secrets. You’re keeping secrets from me, and Audrey Madison is keeping secrets about Darian. My sweet Darian.”
Nate shook his head, and the room whirled around him in slow motion. “I’m not connected to Audrey.”
“Sure you are. I saw you at the restaurant, and you two are definitely connected.”
He thought he’d been discreet. “You and Darian?”
“Yes. I trusted him, and not only with my body.” Lilith’s hand slipped down Nate’s neck. “We believe the same things—and he joined us. But he turned against us.”
“Leave Senator Nash and Audrey Madison alone,” Nate ground out, his eyelids fluttering shut.
“Not a chance. Nash believes as I do and is valuable to me. Audrey, though, according to Darian, is connected to people who create evil, and she’s going to tell me all about it. Tonight.”
“Darian told you?” Nate gasped out.
“Yes. Darian told me all about Audrey, the senator, and somebody named the commander who’s doing all sorts of terrible things,” Lilith said.
Nate reached for Lilith’s neck, and she slipped easily out of his way. What had she given him? How had this happened? His last thought as he fell forward was that he had to protect Audrey… and that he was a complete dumbass for making such a rookie mistake.