McAllister Justice Series Box Set Volume Two

by Reily Garrett

  “I’d like to know what you did to Reinhardt before we left. What’s the big secret?”

  “Don’t worry. It’s not worth mentioning.”

  They’d worn gloves during their nocturnal activities, yet he’d still asked Megan to wipe down surfaces while he’d finished up with the CEO.

  “If he calls the police, the little misdirection from your impromptu cleaning will help.”

  “I wonder how long he’ll avoid going to work and how well he’s acquainted with makeup,” Megan snickered.

  “I bet he takes the rest of the week off, at the very least. I wonder if his housekeeper showed up on time and what she thought.”

  Megan snorted. “A man like that doesn’t explain himself to anyone. But yeah, I’d love to be a fly on the wall there.”

  “Shame we couldn’t have left a hidden camera. With the time constraints and other variables, it wasn’t a good idea.” Luc stopped Megan at the edge of the clearing.

  Leyna’s excited bark affirmed she still guarded their temporary home. She stood on hind legs with front paws on the sill to peer out the window. Damien, Matt’s dog, and Hoover stood beside her.

  “Never thought I’d be glad for a dog barking.” Tangling his fingers with her smaller ones, Luc kept her pace across the small clearing.

  “Jeez, I’m glad to be back,” Megan murmured while ascending the steps beside him, exhaustion written in every line of her frame.

  “’Bout time you all arrived.” Matt opened the door and stepped out on the porch step. “You see Billy on your way?”

  “No. I thought he was with Ethan.” Lucas held out his hand to greet Leyna and Hoover. Each made a beeline for Megan.

  “Shit. Ethan has been with me, he had a little mishap at work—or something.”

  “What kind of mishap?” Rubbing her arms didn’t dispel Megan’s sudden chill.

  “Got in a tussle with some gang members. He’s on a few days leave.” Matt’s cliff-notes jargon ended with a grunt.

  “How about Caden?” Luc glanced around Matt, looking for Ethan.

  “I asked Caden to stash Kaylee with the folks, then spot Billy until he headed up the mountain. I can’t imagine anyone predicting Billy’s trip to the morgue.” Matt’s jaw hardened as he ran his hand through his hair.

  “If he’s not back by noon or so, we’ll search.” Luc glanced back at the woods and wondered if Reinhardt had given them the complete picture.

  Lexi guided a blindfolded Ethan into the cold morning breeze with an arm firmly about his waist. “Two more steps, hon.”

  “Explain mishap a little better, bro.” Luc barred Megan from getting closer. “What happened?”

  “Not sure. No visual memory deficits that I can tell, and his balance is fine.” Matt stood aside when Luc approached.

  “I’m not doing another sobriety check, assholes.” Ethan’s early-morning surliness represented a normal response to stress.

  “I can check to see if he’s had recent surgery.” Megan nudged Luc’s protective arm away before leading Ethan and Lexi inside. “Lay him on the bed, Lexi. I have a small scope I can use to visualize his sinus cavity.”

  “I’m tired of this fucking blindfold, damn it.” Ethan’s growl softened when Lexi palmed his cheek.

  “It’s for your own good and the protection of those you love.” Lexi guided Ethan to the mattress, with continued grumbles filling the small confines.

  “It’ll only take a minute.” Megan set her medical bag on the bedside table.

  “But even if I have one of those damn chips, it can’t transmit signals that far. We already know that.”

  “Correct, but if they fly a drone overhead or even nearby, they might get a signal before you can get inside. We don’t need to risk Morfran acquiring further information. ’Sides, with the feds involved, well, we just don’t know all the players in this twisted tale or who is on whose side. At least not yet.” Lexi’s cajoling seemed to settle Ethan for the moment.

  “For the record, Megan. The next time you design a puzzle to see if someone’s been chipped, especially for a McAllister, can you at least make it more lifelike in proportion? Unless of course you were judging by Luc’s anatomy, in which case you were spot on.” Ethan maneuvered himself to settle in the bed’s natural dip.

  “I configured it that way because I thought tests shouldn’t be boring.” Megan grinned before nodding to Lexi to remove the blindfold.

  “At least he hasn’t lost his sense of humor.” Lexi sat beside him and smoothed her fingers up and down Ethan’s arm.

  From her backpack, Megan retrieved the small scope. “Ethan, I’m gonna slide a small tube in your nasal cavity. It’ll be a little uncomfortable but not painful, per se.” A flick of her finger lit the battery-operated scope. A sigh of frustration was as much consent as she’d get.

  “We’ll have the antidote tonight,” Lucas promised. “Lexi, did you get this Dr. Schmidt’s location?”

  “Yep. I found everything you’ll need. I’m guessing by your reactions that you did a real good job convincing the Reinhardt weasel you’d implanted him with his own technology. Good job.”

  “I believe he was convinced.” Megan slipped the lighted, flexible scope in Ethan’s nose, cringing when his lips flattened to a straight line. “The nasal speculum on the end will magnify the camera’s viewing angle.” A rumbled growl reminded her to proceed carefully. “There’s no evidence of interior changes. Looks like you have an honest shiner—and nothing else.”

  “Imagine that.” Ethan remained still for the examination. With eyes tightly clenched and one hand fisted at his side, he scrunched his nose as the tubing came out.

  “He’s clean of chips as far as I can tell, which doesn’t mean he hasn’t been injected with nanos.” Looking first to Lexi, then Matt, “Has he displayed any unusual behavior?”

  “Naw, he’s been his regular charming self.” Matt replied, straight-faced.

  “Good.”

  “As far as Reinhardt is concerned, I can’t tell you how much I wanted to try and insert one of the chips from his own safe, but under the conditions, he would’ve developed an infection pretty quick. Not only that, but I’ve had neither the training nor the equipment to do the job, properly or otherwise.”

  “Would’ve been satisfying to watch the attempt.” Lucas slipped his arm around Megan’s shoulders and pulled her snug to his side. “I should’ve realized when you tranq’d me that your devious streak ran soul deep.”

  “Never underestimate a determined woman.” Lexi held up her hand for Megan’s high-five.

  “Luc and Megan, you two go ahead and get some sleep.” Matt nodded toward the bed. “Lexi, you can take the four-footed menagerie for a walk but stay within sight. I’ll stand in the doorway, so I can keep an eye on both you and Ethan.”

  “Christ, I haven’t had a babysitter since I was twelve,” Ethan grumbled and stood when Lucas urged him aside.

  “Sure you have, you just didn’t realize it,” Matt retorted.

  “I’ve not been injected with those fucking mini monsters. I told you one of the pushers popped me on the scene. That’s how I got the black eye. Do you see me wobbling all over the place? No.”

  “Just the same, I prefer we remain on the safe side. We know you’re not transmitting anything, but we’ve no way of knowing if you’re infected.” Matt’s tone dropped in sympathy to his brother’s frustration as he helped him up.

  “Ethan, your brothers just want to see you safe.” Megan’s reassurance received a snort.

  “Hey, bro. Look on the bright side. By tomorrow, we’ll have the antidote for those that need it. Our little chipmaker said the antidote won’t hurt anyone if given, but we’ll check with Dr. Schmidt to be sure. You’ll be back in your glass and cement jungle before you know it,” Lucas added.

  “Good. I’m damned tired of outhouses, cold sandwiches, and hiking roundabout trails with a blindfold, not to mention tripping over the furball obstacle course.”

  “Th
e microchips are on the table but leave them in the insulated container.” Lucas climbed on the bed after Megan, never so glad to rest. Waiting at the base of the mountain until light to pick their way up the trail had been the strangest couple hours of his life. Yet he’d never regret the time spent talking then napping with Megan as they snuggled in a blanket at the base of a tree.

  Her logical and practical sides had reared their heads in the face of each trial she’d faced, steadfast and strong. The only time he’d seen her waiver was when talking about her friend, Jackie.

  More boxes lay stacked against the wall near the kitchen corner, foodstuffs and supplies. “I see Matt and Lexi have been thinking ahead as well.” It wasn’t until laying down Luc noticed that Megan’s bag had been unzipped and spread out.

  “I’m too tired to care.” Megan snuggled beside him, offering her back. “I’m glad they did a little cleaning. I don’t have the energy.”

  “Hmm, you still smell nice.”

  “I smell like pine trees and rotting leaves.” She’d been the one to trip while navigating down the steep ravine. Her tumble-roll had ended with landing in a pile of leaf litter.

  “I love camping. You smell great.” He didn’t mention that neither had bathed in the previous twenty-four hours.

  Within minutes, his own breathing fell into rhythm with her soft snores. He imagined how natural it would feel if it were just the two of them on a normal camping trip. But all too soon, she’d be heading back to her practice and her world, hours away. With all that had happened, he hadn’t begun to think what he’d do with his life until Megan broached the subject during their wait for daybreak.

  Concern for Billy kept his thoughts wondering. Caden would never abandon a family member in need yet had no way of contacting them in the event of an emergency. On the other hand, they may have found a new lead to follow.

  In the end, trouble always found Billy, resulting in either explosions or a significant body count.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Sleeping with the soft curve of Megan’s waist under his hand granted Luc a sense of normalcy amid a world gone mad. Spooned under the blankets, they seemed to fit as well as they worked together. When all was said and done, he intended to see where their burgeoning relationship led. The combination of abstinence and her heat cradled by his larger form was about to take him to paradise if she wiggled back against him once more.

  Lexi’s scream and three barking dogs jettisoned awareness to a fight occurring outdoors. Megan jerked upright at the same time he threw the covers off and heaved himself from the bed. Except for the two of them, the cabin was empty.

  Grabbing his gun from the bedside, Lucas bolted for the door with Megan close behind, dart gun in hand.

  Dappled shade painted an ominous scene of uncontrolled rage unfolding on the porch. “Megan, get the dogs inside.” Luc tucked his gun in his back waistband.

  An enraged Billy stood locked in battle with Ethan, each trying to gain the upper hand on his sibling. Flying fists and guttural growls filled the air. Billy shook his head several times, the split-second hesitation giving his younger brother time to land a solid punch to the gut.

  Matt yanked Billy sideways, receiving an elbow to the ribs for his trouble while Lexi wrenched Ethan off balance from behind. Her effort earned an awkward shove and stumble-step back. Ethan’s failed attempt to maintain balance ended with a solid thump to the rustic floorboards, arms and legs tangled with his better half.

  “Shit. Lexi. Stay clear. He’s not in his right mind.” Luc had witnessed Billy fighting his brother in the past, but never with hatred guiding his fists.

  Scrambling to his feet, Ethan stalked toward the ongoing battle between Matt and Billy, whose veins bulged on his neck and growls rumbled in his chest. It appeared as though animal instinct commanded his every move. He was past the point of reasoning. Whether artificially induced from nanos or current circumstances, remained unknown.

  Two steps brought Luc behind Ethan. The grapple to enforce a sleeper hold resulted in several bruised ribs. Luc had never bested Ethan in a fair fight. Years of lighter squabbles proved Ethan’s greater size and mass gave him the advantage. The roar of rage and wild expression proclaimed his fight unfinished.

  Subduing an enraged bull with spaghetti noodles would have been easier. The crazed brute within his grasp wheeled around, trying to dislodge his aggressor.

  In a different tack, Ethan rammed backward against the cabin’s walls, knocking the air from Luc’s lungs, and butting heads in a bid for freedom. Seconds passed in a bizarre pattern of growled threats and slamming bodies.

  “Damnit, he went for Lexi’s throat!” Ethan’s bellow made little sense.

  Lexi approached from the front and grabbed his wrists. “Ethan, I’m fine. Stop it.”

  “Megan, dart Billy.” Luc nodded toward his brother while attempting to catch his breath. “Lexi, grab some cuffs from our gear. We’re gonna need them.” Ethan’s physical struggle lessened amid epithets and promises of evening the score.

  Billy swiped Matt’s legs from underneath him then followed him to the floor and rustled him in a choke hold. Matt twisted to roll them down the steps, each tread connecting with first one head, then the other.

  Megan skirted the pair down the steps, trying to aim her gun. “Damn it. I’ll only get one shot and they’re moving too freaking fast!”

  Lexi appeared by Luc’s side with handcuffs open and ready. As she wrestled Ethan’s right arm behind his back, he used his waning strength to twist his body, his gaze locked on Billy.

  Using his brother’s distraction against him, Luc angled Ethan away after the first clink indicated one hand secured, then jerked Ethan back and off balance. The force of momentum carried him straight into Luc’s upraised knee. Pain exploded in his injured thigh but didn’t prevent him from arching Ethan’s back.

  Circling around, Lexi wrestled Ethan’s other hand down and back to cuff his other wrist. Once done, she swept her leg behind Ethan’s knees to take him down.

  It was the first time in ages Luc had fought with an older sibling. Everything about Ethan’s demeanor screamed the need for blood in a way never witnessed.

  “Damn it, Ethan. Knock it off or I’ll give you a shiner.” Lexi straddled Ethan’s chest then leaned low until inches separated their faces. Breath sawed in and out of Ethan’s throat.

  “He was going for your throat. What’d you expect me to do? I wasn’t going to hurt him.” The words fired back with a promise of the ultimate revenge.

  “So, the blood on both your shirts is ketchup from lunch?” Lexi asked while ignoring the ongoing skirmish between Matt and Billy.

  Luc joined the unfinished struggle. Like Ethan, Billy’s rage was uncontrolled, wild, and as mysterious as it was unearthly. Animalistic sounds resembled that of an instinctual beast fighting to the death.

  Matt’s nose dripped blood, as did Billy’s. The two were locked with muscles straining, each unable to turn the tide. On the perimeter, Megan braced her feet shoulder width apart. Her gun wavered in shaking hands.

  Luc grabbed Billy’s arm and pulled up to provide a more open target. “Do it, Megan. Now! Matt’s not gonna be able to hold—” Luc’s words died after receiving a kick to his injured leg.

  The soft pffft of the dart gun signaled the conflict’s end approaching. Billy glanced at his shoulder with the dart sticking out. Confusion and belligerence twined with fury before he locked onto his next target. “Bitch.”

  Matt and Luc used the momentary fumbling to bind Billy’s hands, each struggling for breath.

  “Fucking pricks. I’ll kill every damn one of you.” Savage intensity arched and twisted Billy’s frame for long minutes until the drug left him limp except for heaving breaths. Moments later, he was unconscious.

  “Damn, my vet can handle herself.” Lucas glanced at Megan, frozen in time with her jaw gaping and hands limp at her side.

  “She can handle you, too, from what I’ve heard.” Matt patted Bi
lly on the chest. “Now we know firsthand what the nanos can do.”

  Frowning at her dart gun, Megan added. “It shouldn’t affect him this fast. Something else is going on. Let’s get him inside.”

  With a few mumbled words and a grunt, Luc helped Matt haul Billy up and under cover. “Let’s put him on the bed where we can restrain him until we figure out what the fuck is happening. I pray there’s no drone within signal distance.”

  Lexi had helped the now-calm Ethan to stand and followed them inside. “When I got into Reinhardt’s files, I installed malware. If he was telling the truth about that being their control center, I threw off their drone’s guidance system when I realigned their digital map.”

  Inside, Matt positioned Billy on the mattress while Luc retrieved some rope from their supplies. All three dogs whined and paced the room, sniffing at Billy, then checking the others.

  “I brought more rope in case our wolf had any tagalong friends.” The need to tie his brother’s hands to the headboard and feet to the bedframe created a new hell in Luc’s mind. “Jesus. What a goat fuck.”

  “Look at his eye. He’s got a shiner, just like Ethan. Dammit, I’m ready to find the exit to dystopia.” Matt helped with the bindings.

  “For the last time, I got hit by a fucking wretch at the scene of a crime. Did you see the way Billy walked on arrival?”

  “Yeah, like he was drunk, or beyond exhaustion,” Matt answered.

  “Yeah, but his eyes, he couldn’t focus. And why would he attack Lexi? Then me?” Ethan countered.

  “He’s been chipped, Matt. Just by the description, I’m sure of it.” Megan went on to explain about ocular nerves controlling eye movements and the dizziness that occurred when something interrupted control.

  “Fuck, fuck, fuck.” Ethan glared at Matt. “I should’ve gone to the morgue instead of him.”

  “Then you’d be tied to the bed and we’d still be in the same scenario.” Megan’s logic brought enlightenment. Anything that threatened one sibling shook their bond and challenged their ability for rational thought.