Kingsley realized this was the only thing that he could do to somehow settle the score. In the end, he was not a doctor.
“Ah, yes. I’d much rather face the younger blood in the family. It only seems right that you should pay for your bloodshed in blood!” Leona hiked her dress up high above her waist. She revealed that under her skirt she was wearing fishnet stockings. Woven in these were leather garter loops. These garter loops sheathed two slender rapiers. Leona drew each of them and tossed one to Kingsley.
“En garde!”
She smiled, truly giddy now.
Joseph went to Jane and Harrison, who had stood dumbly watching the room’s chaos, unable to intervene.
“Come, both of you. Come on! If we can zombify you miraculously, then perhaps miraculously we can bring you back to life!” He took each of their arms in careful hands and guided them towards the safe.
*****
Chapter 18
The citizen-soldiers were stunned by what they saw as the small VW van approached the cancer center’s lab. There was a commotion echoing up to them from the basement level that would have sent tremors of terror into even the most seasoned fighter’s guts.
“Jane!” Lindsey pounced at the door, breaking into horrified, unintelligible screams. It was understood even though they couldn’t see her that Jane was inside. The ruckus told them things were not going well for Jane down there. It was a mercy that they couldn’t see it.
“Wait! Never storm in blind like that!” Captain Matheson swept Lindsey into his arms before she could open the door.
“My God!” Ivy screamed. There was an ominous revving of engines right outside the van’s doors. In the midst of the mad dash to save Jane, Leona’s hired trigger girls had been forgotten. Now the killer ladies had set upon Jane’s friends and their protectors; menacing vehicles tore across the landscape on all sides of them.
“What’s happening?” For the first time, Dexter’s resolve began to break. He was feeling panic wolfishly rip him apart inside.
“Looks like we’ve got some playmates!” Sergeant Manson loaded the MG3, lips gone white.
A black Jaguar slid u like the Grim Reaper’s personal taxi, slowing to a crawl beside the van.
“Well, hello, gentlemen!” said the thuggish strumpet behind the wheel. “I’ve always been a real sucker for a man in uniform!” Her voice purred from the blackness.
Captain Matheson trained his rifle on the window. “Put your car in park! Step away from the wheel. Hands where I can see ‘em!” The Captain’s voice shook the van’s creaky walls. Ivy clutched her hair, descending into full blown hyperventilation once again. Lindsey and Mickey tried to console her.
“Sorry, baby,” said the driver. “I’d love to show you my hands, but the rules are rules. Mrs. Kelley finds out I tangoed with a soldier boy, I’m in hot water.” Annie let the Jaguar purr. Dexter could see her white teeth glitter in the dark with her rebel smile.
The Jaguar shot off into the night. A Shelby soon took its place. Dexter looked in the rearview to see that the Jaguar had just made a big circle. He tried to brace himself for impact as Annie smashed into the van’s back bumper. All of the passengers rolled forward. Lindsey and Sergeant Manson hit their heads on the backseat window. Blood darkened the glass. Ivy started crying.
The Captain had rolled backward and sprawled across the wheel and Dexter’s lap. He craned his neck to look up into his eyes. His brows twisted in a look of concerned bafflement that really unnerved him. It wasn’t a clueless expression, but one that looked like he knew something more than he was letting on.
“That’s right, little man. You thought you and your apple pie homeboys had put a stop to us, huh?” Libby stood up in the Shelby. Even in the dark, they could see her eyes simmering with hate and the will to slaughter anyone that stepped in her path.
Cary sat up, eyes wide. A less experienced soldier, she wasn’t aware not to say what she knew even in the company of alibis.
“The Offshore Firestorm, boss? This-I thought we’d…” She shook her head, lips twisted in an appalled “O” shape.
Sergeant Manson looked sidelong at her.
“Word got through the ranks. Even to you greenhorns then? Guess we can’t keep the kids safe forever can we Captain?”
“Afraid not, Sarge. I guess if we can’t shelter them we might as well break them in for the field. Wear some miles into that shoe leather and make the boot fit.” Captain Matheson lifted a walkie to his lips.
“Operation Automatic Fire Suppressor. Repeat, Operation Automatic Fire Suppressor. Red team closes in on the Lab. White team flags the VW. On my six.” The Captain spun on his boot heel and took Decker by both shoulders.
“You with me?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Like your spirit, kid. You and your friends are going to have to fasten your seatbelts for this one. These chicks we’ve gotten mixed up with are part of a crime syndicate that makes the Mafia look like the Kiwanis Club. They’re going to try and hunt us like coyotes preying on ducks. We’re going to have to beat them at their own game if we want to loop back in and rescue Jane. Follow my lead and I’ll get you through this intact, you hear me? When I say go, you punch it! This here vehicle is like my mother, old as hell but twice as tough— you can always count on that.” Captain Matheson slapped the van’s dash with a boyish grin.
“Tonight’s Bootcamp for you, ladies. I’m going to need one of you to man the door and one of you to man the sights. I’d make Mickey and Cary, but they’re my backup guns.” Sergeant Manson pressed a pair of night vision binoculars into Ivy’s quaking hands.
“For Jane.” He took her chin in his hands. She swallowed her tears, highly relieved that he was okay despite the blood flowing from his head. Mickey had gathered Lindsey up in her arms and carefully dabbed the blood away from her face, making sure there was no blood.
“For Jane.” Dexter, Ivy, and Lindsey said it in unison. She had given them the power to cowboy up. They were ready to face whatever they had to so that they could get her back.
*****
Chapter 19
Joseph held his breath. He knew the code by heart, despite the fact that it would have made Einstein’s head hurt with its length and complexity. It had taken him decades to master it and longer to memorize it.
His conscious nagged at him. None of the serums had ever been cleared for human testing. He’d never had tangible evidence that they could work without serious side-effects. The counter drug for the chemical Leona had used for her twisted brand of euthanasia was no exception. Joseph could clearly see from both the reluctant test subjects that the cons far outweighed the pros in the serums so far.
Would the only way to save Harrison and Jane from this living death be to kill them both?
The safe cracked open. Joseph stared at the vial within. It still glowed the same florescent green as a fire fly’s tail, although he’d placed it in the vault over five years ago.
He looked over his shoulder at Jane, who was on her knees, head in her hands, muttering words that strung together in a rapid mantra of confusion. Blood poured from her foaming lips and her eyes. Harrison watched her quaking with horror but unable to move to help her.
Think, Joe. These kids’ lives depend upon it!
He’d been the consulting physician for this experiment, and not actually the designer in the lab. He knew what effects certain serums would have on the brain given, the right amounts and theoretical circumstances, and he’d given educated counsel to the research teams. Still, he’d not been the one to actually mix the potions. He couldn’t know for certain that the counter-serum would work if he wasn’t entirely certain of everything the chemists had put in it. With Leona Kelley having taken the helm during Harrison’s illness, God only knew what kind of spice had been added to the proverbial Jambalaya.
“I have to be sure.” Joseph felt his knees knocking together. Harrison was his friend. He’d lived in guilt for years when the serum he’d administered had caused
Harrison to contract Lou Gehrig’s. He could not be responsible for his further pain and possibly finalized death.
Then there was beautiful young Jane. She was in such obvious suffering. He wanted to rush. To take daring risks like in the movies and save the damsel from her obvious torment.
I need to be sure…
Harrison moved slowly. He could see his friend’s reluctance. Even with his altered thought process, Harrison understood why Joseph was so hesitant. He never had blamed his friend Joe for the unfortunate side-effects of the serum that healed him of AIDS. He was actually grateful to him for risking health and reputation to try and save him. And here he was once more, risking health and reputation to save him.
Harrison moved to the counter and lifted empty beakers and vials of other chemicals. He might not be able to speak, but some things don’t have to be said with words.
“Play kitchen? You’re right, Harry!”
It was frightening, but then in this bizarre situation, they were bereft of cop outs. He’d been working on the cure-all remedy for autoimmune sabotages for years to no avail.
Tonight he would be successful. He had no choice.
“Okay. She’s obviously the one who needs it first. We don’t have time to wait for the juice to cook either. We’ll have to try and give her something to slow the crap that’s already in her down. First, we have to know what’s in it.”
Joseph carefully handed Harrison the green vial. He swept Jane off the floor and sat her on a cleared off spot on the counter like a pediatric patient.
“Liars, thieves! He sold us! He sold us!” Jane took Joseph’s face in both hands.
“Look at me, honey. It’s… it’s gonna be okay, right? I’m here to fix what Lu broke.” All the while he spoke to her, he swabbed the inside of her mouth with a long Q-tip.
“Your blood is riddled with the stuff. If I can find out what exactly she stuck you with, then I can think of something to give you for it.”
Joseph felt Harrison’s hand on his shoulder. He realized that he wanted to help.
“You understand everything I’m saying to you, right?” They could take no chances with this one.
Harrison nodded.
“Right, then. Take just a smidge of the liquid out of the vial I gave you. Start running some diagnostic tests on it. We have to break it chemically down and see all the ingredients before we can forecast what the neurological reaction to it would be.”
Harrison nodded and got to work.
“Jane, honey. Hold on for just a bit.” Joseph mixed her blood into a chemical solution that was slightly more advanced than a litmus test which would turn different colors depending on what specific chemical had contaminated her bloodstream.
He froze when it turned a deep purple. It was a reaction he’d never seen inside human subjects before, living or dead. Only on the outside, just from trace amounts of certain chemicals on the skin, after certain types of especially severe gunshot or blast wounds. But it seemed impossible that those same materials could be pumping through this girl’s veins…
“She’s turned you into a human explosive, kiddo!”
*****
Chapter 20
Kingsley had met his match and then some.
He’d always prided himself on his intimidating strength. It was a trademark of his, something that made neighborhood kids run and ladies swoon. But he was no match for Leona Kelley. She was stronger than 10 linebackers and as quick as any quarterback.
“You’re wondering how it could be possible. A woman of slight build such as mine with strength, agility and speed that overwhelms yours by powers of 10.” She swung her razor heavily over the top of his head, in a precise angle that shaved the top of his head in a bright pale patch.
“I might be arrogant and trigger-happy, but I’m not an imbecile. You have a pharmaceuticals company at your fingertips and an all-girl Mob. Weapons-grade performance enhancers, definitely, the kind the most corrupt athletes wouldn’t risk so much as sampling.” Kingsley swung in a straight downward cut toward her face. In the fashion of by-gone swashbucklers, Leona brought up the barber’s straight razor to block him.
“No, you’ve mistaken me, Lucien. I’ve never thought you to be an idiot. I would never have recruited an idiot. I’ve merely found that you waste your intelligence from time to time.” Leona set to spinning in tight ballerina circles. Kingsley decided the best way to deflect this confusing dance pattern was to plant his feet heavy in the floor.
“Impressive. That usually backs even the bravest up.” Leona tossed her head with a girlish giggle. Kingsley swung his blade upward, cutting her dress straight up the middle.
“Ooh! Getting dirty now, are we? Remember what I said about favors? You have delivered the package as requested. Granted, you had different motives in delivering it… but you’ve delivered it nonetheless.” She flashed a grin that would have made the Devil nervous.
“No, really. I just wanted to trip you up. The thought of you ever touching me again makes me want to slit my own throat!”
“I could arrange that for you. Then again, I’d still like to do you some favors. Maybe not the X-rated kind, but favors nonetheless.” She reached into her bra and pulled out a USB drive. She threw it to him and he caught it midair and mid-swing.
“Weigh the odds, Kingsley! You’re going to prison. I can hear the dogs already closing in on us. You are going to prison until the end of time. Now, you can either rot there, or you can take my proposition. A lifetime of service, with the benefits of profit shares, all the women and drink you could ever desire, enough blood for the both of us, commission on those jobs you actually manage to pull off yourself, and guaranteed safety from the powers that be. You’ll be set for this life. The only thing I can’t do is guarantee deliverance from the Lake of Fire. Pros and cons considered, it isn’t a half bad trade.”
Kingsley swallowed. Her words were smooth as honey. It was almost convincing. With a bit of liquor in his blood, he’d probably have taken the deal. After the sight of Jane dying, he’d sobered enough for 10 years.
“I’ll die first!” He sliced into the top of her arm.
She grabbed the blade with her open palm and twisted it free of her flesh. Kingsley gasped as she stood there bleeding, face twisted with disgust and not pain. She tossed her head.
“That you shall. The little you know is a little too much. I’ll give you three weeks to consider my proposition. After which, I’ll have to send Bleach to deal with you.”
Bleach? Kingsley puzzled over the word for a moment, but then Leona tore the sword free and threw both the blades into Kingsley’s shoulders, pinning him against the opposite wall in a spread-eagled position.
Kingsley watched in despair as she turned and swept something off the table.
Joseph spun around from his desperate emergency drug development to aim the Model 29 at her.
“It was a pleasure, Joseph Kingsley.”
“You’ve taken the Andromeda1 extract? I’d recognized that rare shade of topaz anywhere.” Joseph’s face was molded in petrification.
Leona blew him a kiss.
“In a matter of days, the world as we know it will be coming to an end. I’ll send you flowers to spread over humanity’s grave when the time comes.”
“Your husband’s death by the wild card drug substance. This was your plan from the beginning. To discover all the deadly possibilities of the Kelley empire’s various experimental, unapproved drugs. To find the one with globally destructive power.” The gun was quaking in Joseph’s hands. He was one trigger pull away from stopping her.
“You know me all too well, Joseph. A pity for you that you couldn’t stop me. I plan to clean the planet of dreamers first. Your already numbered days have been greatly lessened.”
Joseph pulled the trigger. Leona seemed to corner the market in miracles. She dodged the bullet with ease. Inching backward, she stumbled into the elevator.
She raised the vial as though it were a drink.
; “Cheers. To the end of the world!”
She disappeared behind elevator doors and chimes.
The windows blew. The White team rolled across the floor training tactical weapons on Lucien Kingsley.
*****
Chapter 21
“Drop your weapon!”
It took a moment for Joseph to realize that they were shouting at him.
“Wait! Wait, listen, I’m— this is not what you think!”
“On the ground!” The soldier shook the rifle at him and Joseph dropped to his knees, pushing the pistol far away from himself.
“Listen, I don’t want any trouble, okay? The girl and Mr. Kelley. The girl is dying; I need to help her! Let me help her!” Joseph was on the verge of mental breakdown. Soldiers began to pour into every corner of the Lab. Six of them circled Kingsley, pressing rifles into his spine and chest.
“Wait, I know him. You’re the neurosurgeon at the big hospital, right?” Lance Corporal Erica Stern lowered her rifle.
“Yes, I’m Joseph Kingsley, M.S.!” He flashed his wallet open to reveal his medical license.
The Corporal nodded. “I have to take you into military custody either way. Think you can stabilize these kids? Better question, can my medics help with that?”
Joseph smiled. “I was just on the verge of an emergency breakthrough. I could use all hands on deck. Including the boy there. He may be a dangerous criminal, but he does have a medical degree.” Joseph nodded toward Lucien.
“Get him up and let’s get to work!” Stern waved her team on. They moved in a clock’s envy synchronicity to convert the Lab into a makeshift emergency room.
“Do we have eyes on Leona Kelley?” Stern whipped a walkie out of her belt.
“Southbound moving from the research center’s premises. She’s been retrieved in the back of a Shelby 427 Cobra.” An anonymous soldier spoke over the line.
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