Reed chose his next words with care. “They misused valid research like yours to do this.” Her head dropped and Sarah mumbled something he didn’t catch. “What?”
“I said, I know. For me that’s the worst part.” With that, she fell silent, and Reed accelerated, anxious to get back to the facility and let Sarah learn what she could from the hybrid wolves. As for deciding what to do next, well, they’d deal with that later.
Chapter 22
Soter Research Facility
Northwestern Tanzania
May 26th
Reed stopped outside the back of Soter’s facility and cut the ATV’s engine. When Sarah got out, he didn’t move to join her. Their conversation from earlier had been running through his mind the entire time, one point sticking with him. Reed pulled his hat off and ran a hand through his hair, then scratched his chin for good measure. She hadn’t asked him to do anything, yet here he was, considering one of the dumber things he’d ever done, which was saying something.
They had to save those wolves from Soter.
What in the world he’d do with them after that was another problem. The idea really made no sense. Why step into harm’s way to help creatures that would almost certainly have to be killed anyway? These animals were genetically mutated predators – killing machines. Saving them meant taking the problem home, with no end game in sight. Despite this, he kept coming back to two things. First, how causally Ray Dorcy had dismissed the wolves when Reed arrived.
“How will you make sure they don’t get out again?” Reed had asked.
Dorcy frowned. “Kill them. What else?”
“Can you change them back?” He’d been probing a bit for any kind of information but was also genuinely curious.
“Why bother? They need to be put down.”
Reed had dropped the subject, but his chest had tightened as Dorcy walked on. One day these animals had been normal wolves, and the next, science had turned them into new creatures and set them loose with no regard for the consequences.
But there was a second reason, the tipping point, in his view.
Sarah Hall. Principled and unflinching, she had offered a different viewpoint. In Reed’s opinion, the correct one. Yes, these wolves were dangerous, she had acknowledged, but she was determined to do something about it, to take action simply to protect wildlife. The world needed more people like her.
“You okay?” Sarah called from behind the ATV now as the rear tailgate thumped open.
“Never better.” A wave of relief washed away any final doubts. Reed didn’t feel guilt over what he’d done in the past; that didn’t serve any purpose. He could control what happened going forward and be the voice for those creatures who didn’t have one. “Let’s get these wolves inside,” he said. “Then you and I need to chat.”
The bay garage door rattled open before she could respond.
“It is a good day,” Paul exclaimed, moving towards them faster than a man with his wounds should. “You got them both. I knew you would do it.”
“We had help.” Reed detailed how the Maasai had aided them, along with a herd of wildebeest and one thoroughly confused cheetah. “If you move the ATV, Sarah and I will get them unloaded and into cages. Can’t have them waking up out here.”
When Reed and Sarah returned with carts, Paul had the ATV turned around to transfer the slumbering wolves into secure cages.
“Their vitals are steady,” Sarah said after a quick exam. “I imagine when they do wake up they’ll be in a foul mood.” She stepped back from the cage and snapped rubber gloves off her hands. “Now, what was it you wanted to talk about?”
“Let’s take a walk. I need to stretch my legs.”
Sarah didn’t argue, following him outside and away from the building.
Air warmed his skin as leaves rustled silently ahead of them. Reed stopped once they reached the long shadows and squinted against the sunlight, still bright enough to glint off the metal fence around Soter’s facility. The three of them couldn’t get the wolves out of here by force. This escape called for a light touch.
Reed turned toward Sarah. “I’ve had a terrible idea.”
Sarah frowned. “What?”
“I agree with you.” He nodded to the open garage door. “About getting those wolves away from here.”
Her mouth opened. Then closed. She put a fist to her lips, then quickly wrapped both arms around her chest. “What makes you think I want to do that?”
“You know those wolves aren’t going to survive in this world.” Her eyes narrowed as he spoke, but she didn’t interrupt. “It’s not fair to them, or to other animals, but these creatures were created before their time and tossed out. What did Soter think would happen?”
Now she had a hand on each hip, her chin sticking out. “And you think you can save them.”
His head shook. “Not save them. And not me.” He pointed to her. “I think you can learn from them and see that no other creature is forced to live like this, in skin not their own. So far nobody’s tried to help these animals. I say we do. Let’s get them out of here.”
“Then what?”
“You study them. After that, I don’t know. I didn’t get that far yet.”
“When did you think of this?”
He glanced at the orange dial of his Timex. “About ten minutes ago.”
Now her look softened for the first time. “And why?”
An excellent question. To help the wolves? To please Sarah? It wasn’t about sticking it to Soter Corporation, though that was a nice side effect.
“A lot of reasons,” he finally said. “Mainly because it’s the right thing to do. I haven’t always done that.”
Sarah touched his arm. “You’re a good man, Reed. This is the right thing to do, which is all that matters sometimes.”
He smiled, and then it vanished as he stared at a cloud of dust in the distance. “People are coming. A couple of cars at least.”
“Which cannot be good for us.” He hurried to catch up as she moved toward the garage door, running into her when she stopped abruptly. “Wait a second. I was so excited you wanted to help me I completely forgot.” She looked up at him, shielding her eyes against the sunlight. “How do we get them out?”
“With my team’s help.” One actual good thought led to others. “They can be here in a few hours. You stall Dorcy until then. Tell him you have to stabilize the wolves, make sure they don’t have any contagious diseases.” She frowned at that. “Just make it up. All I need is a few hours to get my guys here. Then we’ll need at least two more vehicles to get the wolves out.”
“I can sedate the wolves for the drive,” she said. “If we bring them out through the garage to your vehicles, all we have to worry about is the gate guard.”
“Which isn’t a problem if he doesn’t know we have them,” Reed said.
“What about Ray Dorcy?”
“Leave that to me.” An opaque column rose in the distance, reaching toward the sky. People were coming, and they weren’t his men. “If I find Dorcy now, can you give him a reason to leave the wolves alone for a few hours until my men can get here?”
She hesitated, studying the ground. “I could say there is some evidence of disease, a contagion.” Her resolve grew with each word. “And a thorough review is needed to determine whether it could affect people or other animals in the area.” Now she looked up at him. “Even if he sends in another veterinarian to check them, it will take at least a few hours.”
Voices came from behind them. “Good deal.” Dorcy came into view, headed their way. “Make the bullshit count.”
“You’re as good as advertised, Kimble,” Dorcy said, slapping Reed’s back as he slipped a phone in his back pocket. “Damn fine work.” He waved vaguely toward Sarah, who kept her head down. “If you have time this afternoon, we’re taking our research team on a tour, sort of a mini-safari. It’ll be nice for them to relax and get out into the wild. You’re invited.” He turned and walked inside without waiting
for a reply.
Reed turned to Sarah. “OK, you’d better get inside now. When he shows up asking about the animals, tell him about possible disease.”
Hustling back inside, Reed didn’t see the Mercedes sedan stop at the front entrance. A woman stepped out and walked inside, flanked by two men in fatigues. They had pistols on their hips, and one carried a weapon Reed would have recognized as a Heckler & Koch MP5. The trio walked through the front door that Ray Dorcy had used just moments before.
Chapter 23
Soter Research Facility
Northwestern Tanzania
“See you in a few hours.” Reed laid the satellite phone on a table and turned to find Paul standing behind him. His employee had managed to lose his arm sling in the last twenty minutes and had replaced it with a pistol strapped to his belt.
“Where’s the sling?”
“My arm is fine.” To demonstrate, Paul whipped his wounded arm around in a circle. Reed pretended not to see him grimace. “Good as new.”
Reed took care to slap him on the uninjured arm. “Glad to hear it. Our guys are headed here now. You and I will get the wolves ready for transport after Sarah sedates them. Then we wait.”
A metal cabinet clanged shut. “Soter stocks plenty of sedative,” Sarah said, holding a case of clear vials aloft. “I can prep the doses, but without knowing when we’ll leave, sedating the wolves now isn’t a good idea.”
“Sounds like a plan to me,” Reed said. When she didn’t respond, he stopped loading his equipment into the various containers and looked up. Sarah had both arms around her chest, as though giving herself a much-needed hug. “Everything okay?” he asked.
She frowned. “I’m not sure. Telling Dorcy he can’t have the wolves right now is risky. There are only three of us here, and we are trying to deceive a man with a security team who is also probably sitting on his own arsenal.”
Reed barked a laugh. “Security team? How many men have you actually seen?” Sarah shrugged. “I know, because I’ve counted them.” Reed began packing tracking equipment away. “Ray Dorcy has five men working for him. Five. I’m going to get my team out here and we’re taking the hybrids home with us.”
“You’re certain?”
“Of course. I’m positive there are only five. When my team gets here, we’ll have even numbers, and I’ll take my guys in a fight any day.”
There was a sharp knock at their suite door. Sarah opened it to reveal a Soter security guard. “May I help you?” she asked.
“Mr. Dorcy is taking the research team on a safari,” the guard said. “Your team is invited.”
“Thanks for the offer, but we’re having a medical issue with the animals and need to take care of that before we leave.”
The guard nodded. “I wouldn’t worry about them. Those creatures need to be dealt with in a permanent way.”
Sarah’s eyes narrowed. “Tell Mr. Dorcy we won’t be able to join him.”
The guard turned to leave but stopped with one foot out the door. “Oh.” He looked back over a shoulder. “We’re doing a safety audit before the tour leaves, so I’ll need everyone to muster at the front entrance in ten minutes.”
“Safety audit?” She looked out of a window at the dark clouds crowding the horizon. “That storm will be here soon.” Lightning flickered inside a thunderhead.
“It’s routine. Won’t take long. Just be out there in ten.” He tipped his tan cap. “We appreciate your cooperation.”
Thunder rumbled in the distance as he walked away.
Chapter 24
Soter Research Facility
Northwestern Tanzania
Reed wiped an arm across his brow, and it came away glistening. They’d been outside less than five minutes and every piece of clothing clung to him, the humidity pulling the oxygen from each breath. Paul and Sarah stood beside him, motionless in the sultry heat. Above them dense clouds moved onward, lit by ominous flashes. His heart beat faster.
Where the hell were the safari guides? He squinted against the evening sun, but only his team and a half-dozen Soter staff Reed hadn’t seen before milled around, all casually dressed without their lab coats. There wasn’t a guide in sight. He turned to Sarah. “Have you talked to those scientists?” He pointed to the little group.
“No,” she said. “They must work in the off-limits area. I only see them going in and out of the locked doors. Not the friendliest people.”
“Any idea what they’re up to over there?” If they were veterinarians, Ray Dorcy could pull one over to check Sarah’s claims about disease and mess up his timeline.
“None.” She shaded her eyes against the falling sunlight. “Though if you’re worried about another vet, I haven’t seen anyone using veterinary equipment or carrying instruments like I use.”
“Fair enough. I have no doubt you can bamboozle Dorcy. Once this safety audit is finished, we should go find him. Better to keep him off-balance. Remember, I only need a few hours for—”
She cut him off. “I remember the plan.” She looked over his shoulder. “The guides are here.”
Ray Dorcy emerged from the building, trailed by a man Reed didn’t recognize. A group who could only be the Soter safari guides walked to the vehicles parked out front and turned toward the security chief, who stopped on the front steps.
“Good afternoon, everyone.” Dorcy surveyed the small crowd, eyes hidden behind dark sunglasses. “I apologize for interrupting your day, but it will be well worth it. Soter has organized a safari to thank you for your hard work, and we expect to see elephants, giraffes, and possibly even lions during our trip.” The man beside Ray Dorcy stepped out of his shadow, peering over the crowd from beneath a low-slung ball cap.
“For those of you who are staying behind,” Dorcy continued, “our safety audit will take approximately fifteen minutes, during which you will need to remain outside.” He looked up at the clouds. “Cover will be provided if the rain gets here, though we expect it to pass quickly.”
The front door opened as three people stepped outside and paused. Inside lights backlit each, making them no more than dark specters. Reed pulled his hat brim down and squinted. Two of them wore camouflage. Dorcy’s prattling faded into the background. Military uniforms, it looked like, with two tall men standing on either side of a shorter one.
It took him a minute to realize the third person was a woman. A familiar woman.
He leaned over and spoke in Paul’s ear. “You see those three back by the entrance?” Paul said he did. “Recognize any of them?”
“They are soldiers. Three men.”
“Not quite. The one in the middle is a woman. Look at her face.”
Paul’s eyes widened. “I know her.” He snapped his fingers. “It is the government minister. The one who sponsors the anti-poaching team.”
“Good. I thought I was seeing things. Why in the world is Deka Conteh here?”
Beside him, Sarah drew in a harsh breath. “It’s him.”
Reed didn’t take his eyes off the Tanzanian minister. Was she looking his way? “Who’s him?” he asked distractedly.
“The man who took my research.”
Reed’s head whipped around. “Where?”
“Beside Ray Dorcy.” Sarah pointed to the other man on the steps. “Ian Napier. It’s him.”
“Why would he be here?”
Sarah turned to face him. “Now it makes sense. That’s how Soter created the wolves.” In a whisper, she quickly recounted her association with Napier, a scientist who had pushed the boundaries of their research and had ideas even further out. “Ian wanted to do things nobody was comfortable with.” She waved a hand toward the research facility. “Things like alter the human genome and create new humans. Better ones. He was dangerous. Then he left our university, and I hadn’t heard of him since.”
“You think he took your research to Soter?”
“It makes sense.” Fire flashed in her eyes. “Ian was involved every step of the way. I actually had the b
asis for my method while he was still on my team, but I didn’t share it with him. He could have accessed my data and used it to combine the wolf and leopard genomes. The process was in my notes, if you knew how to use them.”
Thunder cracked. Reed clenched his fists, the scars on his arm tingling. Not now. “Paul,” he hissed. “Are you armed?”
Paul patted his waist. “My pistol. Nothing else.”
“Dorcy said the tour starts in a minute.” By now some of the scientists had started climbing into off-road vehicles, engines running and windows up against the heat and potential storm as the tour guides loaded gear. “Sarah, I need your help.”
She couldn’t take her eyes off Ian Napier. “What can I do?”
“Go back inside to our quarters.”
“What if security won’t let me in?” Sarah asked.
“Don’t take no for an answer. I need you to distract Dorcy’s men, keep them out of our hair long enough for Paul and me to grab our guns.”
“What if they won’t let us leave?”
“I won’t get many arguments when I’m carrying my shotgun.”
“And after that?”
“Hopefully nothing.” They needed to move quickly. Dorcy had stopped talking and was going back inside. The two military men and Deka Conteh followed him.
Sarah laid a hand on his shoulder. “We’re still taking the hybrids with us, right?”
“Of course we are.” He looked to Paul. “Ready?”
Paul grinned. “Always.”
Just what Reed needed to hear. The man might be hurting, but he was a gamer.
Hoping like hell that Sarah’s distraction would work, Reed set off around the building with Paul and Sarah at his side. When they were halfway, they halted: there was a thrumming noise, soft and high, like a distant cymbal being drummed rapid-fire, hiding behind the approaching storm.
“You hear that?”
Paul frowned. “Yes. What is it?”
The Turn Series Box Set Page 32