After the weeklong visit ended, Lydia, Jando, and Aidan returned to sneaking into the holding cells. “Okay, the shift change is at 5:00 pm,” Aidan said. “Lenny comes in then.”
“Jando, go in with Lenny,” Lydia said. “Once he runs off, open the wall for us and we’re in.”
They settled on the day after Debra and Dariela left. Jando and Aidan met Lydia and Wren at the swimming pool on the second floor. Aidan had borrowed a lighter from one of the labs and passed it to Wren. “Good luck,” Cooper said as Jando ran out. A minute after the change, Lenny stumbled into the restroom across the hall, clutching his stomach. Then Jando opened the closet and wall for them. They dashed to the guard’s post and, while Aidan punched in the code for the door, Jando grabbed Heather’s filter and handcuffs from the guard’s desk and handed them to Lydia.
The group made their way down to Heather’s cell. She looked up and Lydia passed her the filter and handcuffs. Heather put them on and sat on her bed. Wren touched the keyhole, formed a key, and unlocked the door. “Lock it behind me,” Lydia said. “Aidan, watch the guard post. Jando, the hall outside. Wren, this door.” They went to their assigned positions and she entered. The door clicked shut behind her.
“I would say I’m surprised to see you,” Heather said. “But you have a habit of showing up where you’re not supposed to be.” She eyed the door. “I take it Arthur doesn’t know about your little visit?”
Lydia was taken aback, as up close Heather’s features were worse, and her body was thinner. Her shoulders sagged, and her complexion was unhealthy and sallow. Her chestnut roots gave way to shocking albino. “Just tell me who your boss is,” she said, regaining herself. “That’s all I want to know.”
“And give up my only card?” Heather shook her head. “Not on your life.”
“Why not? You’ve already told us it wasn’t Rooke.”
“That’s because anyone with two brain cells to rub together could tell you that,” she said. “Rooke may have been a medical genius, but he was always a mental case. Leonard’s death simply jiggled the final screw loose.”
Lydia pulled up a chair and sat across from Heather. “Tell me and we’ll—”
“What? Catch them? Put them in jail?” Heather sneered. “You can’t. Not this person. They’ll fight whatever accusations you throw at them. Or,” her eyes narrowed, “were you planning something more severe?”
“No,” Lydia shook her head. “We don’t kill if we don’t have to.”
“Don’t feed me that BEP crap,” Heather said. “You have a reason to kill this person after all.”
“I’m not killing anyone else.”
“Anyone else? You mean Finster?” Heather laughed as if she had heard a ridiculous joke. “Oh, don’t tell me you feel guilty about that. You were partly responsible at most.”
“No, I killed him. I could’ve walked away.”
“It was one big accident. You didn’t break his neck or shoot him or anything. If you really killed him, the weight would still be crushing you.” Heather leaned in. “Besides, aren’t you glad he’s gone? He did a lot of bad things.” She stared directly into Lydia’s eyes.
“We’re getting off track.”
“You are glad, aren’t you?” Heather said, pushing further. Lydia tried to remain calm and in control. But her hands curled and her shoulder shook. “Glad he’s dead. And you would try to kill him again, wouldn’t you?”
“No, I wouldn’t. Tell me who your boss is.”
“Yes, you would,” she said. “I can see it in your eyes. Is that the BEP Division’s way?”
“Shut up and tell me.”
“They don’t kill if they don’t have to, but you would.”
“The name!”
“That anger, that hate there.” Heather smiled. “Good. You’ll need that to kill my boss. That’s the only way to stop them. ‘Don’t kill unless necessary’? This is necessary. It’s the only option you’ve got. After all, my boss ordered us to kidnap your parents. They are responsible for your father’s death. That’s as good a reason as any. Your conscience will be as clear as the only choice.”
Lydia slammed her fist into the bed, breaking it in half and just missing Heather. The woman slid to the middle and tumbled onto the floor. Lydia retracted and berated herself. She was being manipulated. She had to stay in control and fight the overwhelming desire to knock Heather out. Or worse. She couldn’t give in. “Don’t even breathe a word about my dad,” she said coldly. “He was a saint compared to you. I just want to know who your boss is. Then we can capture him or her.”
“Oh, do I detect a touch of that drive to do me in, too?” Lydia scowled. “Upset you missed your chance at Golden Springs?” Heather scooted to the bed and sat up. “Bet you’d like to kill me right now. You’re just fired up to tear someone apart, aren’t you? Well, you can’t touch me.” Lydia’s hands trembled and her knuckles cracked. How she wished they were out in the middle of nowhere, alone, no one for miles. “There is, however, one person you can let loose on to your heart’s content, pummel to a bloody pulp.”
The door flung open and Arthur and Morella stormed in. They grabbed Lydia and dragged her out of the room as she kicked and fought them. Morella tasered her, and her muscles locked up while a strange sensation rushed through the nerves in her body. Heather waved farewell as they carried Lydia out. “Don’t be a stranger now,” she said.
Rogues of Overwatch Page 29