But seeing the miraculous results of her healing power on the screen took it out of the abstract and into the here and now.
“Now that we have a baseline for your heart, we can move on to the exertion testing,” Kerry said, pushing his glasses up with his forefinger. He turned from the bank of computer screens to smile at Faith. “Later today we’ll get you on a treadmill and hook you up for monitoring, take a look at that heart of yours in action. But so far everything looks normal.”
He turned back to the screen to survey both sets of images before shaking his head, an expression of awe creeping across his face. “It’s remarkable, Commander, the strength of your sister’s ability. She’s markedly stronger than Will or One Bird.”
Commander? Obviously the doctor wasn’t addressing him. He turned, unsurprised to find Wolf standing behind them, his huge body swallowing what little space remained in the computer room.
And then Kerry’s comment registered.
Sister? Kait was Wolf’s sister?
Well shit, of course she was. How could he have been so obtuse? The facial resemblance was strong, now that he’d thought to look for it.
After a second of studying the two computer screens, Wolf appeared to dismiss them. Shifting slightly, he caught Rawls’s eye. “Walk with me.”
The words weren’t a request, but Wolf wasn’t his priority. He turned back to the radiologist.
“When are you doin’ the stress test?” He’d make certain he was there when they strapped those sensors to Faith’s chest and cranked up the treadmill.
Faith’s hand, which had been still as a frightened bird within his own grip, stirred and squeezed his fingers.
“Later this afternoon?” The lift in the man’s tone turned the words into a question. “I’m sure Dr. Ansell would like to get some rest. And I have a couple of patients I need to check on.”
A radiologist making rounds? Rawls reassessed this guy’s role at the facility. He was obviously a hell of a lot more than a simple radiologist, as Wolf had introduced him. But then . . . Rawls turned to consider the man waiting patiently behind him. Wolf was a hell of a lot more than a simple commander too.
Maybe taking that walk with their host would give him a better sense of what kind of organization they were dealing with. At the moment, the only thing he knew for sure was their hosts were exceptionally well stocked on everything from weaponry to aircraft to medical equipment.
Hell, the medical bay was as well-equipped as any high-tech hospital. Their ultrasound, X-ray, CAT scan, and MRI machines were all the current incarnations within an ever-changing technology. And from what he’d seen of the lab— Which reminded him . . .
“They find anythin’ in Brendan or Benji’s bloodwork?” he asked, looking over his shoulder at Wolf.
They’d scanned the children for microchips or implants while he’d been waiting for Faith to return from the last round of testing. According to Amy, they hadn’t found anything inserted into her sons’ flesh . . . however, following a routine blood test, they’d found an anomaly in the red and white blood cells.
They’d taken the boys to the lab for additional testing.
A grim shadow fell over Wolf’s normally taciturn face. “A genetically modified biological isotope was found in their blood cells. This compound appears to have bonded with every cell in their bodies.”
An engineered biological compound?
“They’re usin’ this compound to follow the kids?”
“It appears so,” Dr. Kerry said. He sighed and scrubbed at his forehead. “The isotope is siphoning off the cells’ electrical impulses and using them to power a high-frequency signal. If the people who injected the compound know the frequency the isotope emits, theoretically they could locate and follow it.”
Considering how quickly their camp had been attacked after the kids’ arrival, there was nothing theoretical about it.
“Sweet Jesus.” Rawls’s throat tightened. “They’re just kids. What’s wrong with those people?”
You didn’t target children. You sure as hell didn’t fill their bodies with experimental chemical shit. If the isotope was hijacking the electrical output, the cells would break down much faster. As more and more cells failed, the health of the host would decline.
Those Goddamn bastards had effectively condemned two children to a prolonged and likely agonizing death.
He took a deep breath and forced the rage back. There had to be a way to counteract the compound they’d been injected with.
“Can the isotope be neutralized?” Rawls asked.
“We’re looking into that.” Kerry’s gaze shifted back to the MRI of Faith’s heart on the monitor. “Along with other possibilities.”
Wolf dropped a heavy hand on Rawls’s shoulder. “Walk with me. There is much to discuss.”
“Such as?”
“Your biitei.” Wolf’s hooded black gaze dropped to the leather cord circling Rawls’s neck.