by G. K. Parks
My stomach lurched, and I didn’t know how much longer I could sit here without becoming ill. “I’m trying to figure this out. To figure myself out. I need to find a way to let things go. I’ve done it before, but when it comes to you, I fail every time.” I forced my eyes to meet his. “It’s good that you’re seeing other people. I wish you the best.” Another pain shot through me. This conversation wasn’t helping matters, and I pushed myself out of the booth. If I didn’t leave now, I’d be spending the rest of my night in the diner bathroom. “I have to go.”
“Alex, at least let me finish what I was going to say. You can’t keep avoiding this conversation.”
“It’s not that. I must have caught Jace’s stomach bug. We’ll catch up the next time I’m in town. I promise.”
He grabbed my hand before I could move away from the table. “When are you coming home?”
“I don’t know.” Another painful cramp shot through me, and I bent forward, squeezing my eyes closed.
His hand brushed against my cheek, and he frowned. “You feel warm. You’re not making up an excuse, are you?”
“No, I’m not,” I growled.
“Let me take you home.”
I wasn’t sure I’d make it the four blocks to my apartment on foot. Hell, even the five minute car ride might be pushing it, but it was a better option. Following him out to his sports car, I willed myself not to get sick and ruin the leather interior. He stopped the car at the front entrance to my apartment, and I bolted out the door and up six flights of stairs. The key stuck in the lock, and I abandoned it, dashing toward the bathroom. The good thing was there wasn’t much in my stomach, but that didn’t prevent me from tossing up plenty of bile and acid. My throat burned, and I lay against the tile floor, knowing that another round was imminent. When I got back to California, I was going to murder Decker. It had been two weeks since he came home with a stomach virus, but somehow, he managed to give it to me at the worst possible time.
Martin entered through the open door and placed my keys on the counter. Then he came into the bathroom and held my hair while I got sick again. After several repeat performances, the pain in my stomach eased. That was around the time the shivers started. Leaving me on the bathroom floor, he went into my bedroom, returning five minutes later.
“I changed the sheets and turned down the bed,” he said.
“You didn’t have to.” I pulled myself off the floor, rinsing my mouth in the sink. “Thanks for the ride home.” Dismissing him, I stumbled into the bedroom, crawling onto the bed horizontally and burying the front half of me under the blankets. My back was exposed, but I didn’t care. I just wanted warmth, and moving would expose me to more of the cold sheets. I started drifting, but footsteps in the doorway made my eyes flutter open.
“Why don’t you lay back?” Martin asked.
“This spot is warm. I’m fine right here.”
“The hell you are.” He kicked off his shoes. “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll share some body heat if you decide to rest like a normal person.” He tugged the blankets free from around my arms and legs, and I shivered again, happy for his warm arms pulling me toward the top of the bed.
“You shouldn’t be here. You’ll get sick.”
“I don’t care.” He tucked the blankets tightly around us. “I won’t leave you, Alex.”
Thirty-five
My sleep was broken. I had to change twice because I sweat through my clothes, even though the air felt frigid. At some point, Martin became concerned that I was dehydrating and woke me to drink some water. That, in turn, led to another trip to the bathroom. Obviously, until this thing was out of my system, it was pointless to try to keep anything down.
After a couple hours of sleep, I awoke to the morning sun, a firm chest beneath my cheek, and strong arms around me. “What time is it?” I asked, my voice scratchy and my throat sore.
“It’s a little after seven.”
“I have to get up. My flight’s in a few hours.”
“I spoke to Mark a few minutes ago and told him what’s going on. He’s rescheduling your flight. Alex,” he said patiently, “you’re too sick to travel.”
Struggling to sit up, I felt dizzy and weak. My entire body ached. “I don’t have a choice. Decker needs me.” Deciding a bit more rest couldn’t hurt, I gave up on getting out of bed.
“Decker,” Martin asked, a hint of jealousy in his voice, “is that the same guy that made you sick in the first place?”
“Yep.”
“Are you together?”
I snorted, feeling an unpleasant ache in my stomach and ribs. “He’s my partner. My work partner.” Old muscle memory had my forehead against Martin’s neck without a second thought, but I remembered he wasn’t mine. I tried to scoot away, but he held tight. “You really shouldn’t have stayed. This virus strikes when you least expect it. And believe me, you don’t want it. I imagine your girlfriend probably won’t be too thrilled about the fact that you spent the night either.”
He didn’t say anything; he just ran a hand through my hair. At this point, even my skin hurt. Last night, the bedclothes felt like razor blades, but at least that had subsided. Everything was just sore and achy. I dozed off for a while until Martin nudged me awake.
He whispered in my ear, “Jabber’s here.”
“Mark?” I asked, confused and foggy from sleep.
“We’re in here,” Martin called, and Jablonsky entered my bedroom. “She had a rough night. You seriously can’t expect her to go back to work like this.”
Jablonsky glanced at the pile of damp clothing on the floor before studying me. “I’ll make sure she’s okay.” He looked at Martin. “It’s Saturday. You have a prior engagement. Get going.”
Martin shook his head. “This is more important.”
“Don’t argue with me. It isn’t, and you know it. Alex will be fine. We’ll get some fluids into her, maybe let the medics take a look, and I’ll make sure that she’s cleared before we let her go anywhere.” He jerked his chin at the door. “Now get going. You can’t afford to be late.”
Gently, Martin wiggled his way out from beneath me. “Give us a minute.” Once Mark left the room, he knelt next to the bed. “I’ll stay if you want. You just have to ask.”
I shook my head. “You have something to do. I don’t want to ruin it. I’m okay.” I looked at his sweat-stained shirt. “You might want to change. A few of your shirts are in my bottom drawer.” Nodding, he stripped off the shirt. His chest looked broader and his arms thicker. His torso appeared even more chiseled than before. “Someone’s been working out more than usual,” I noted.
“I needed an outlet.” He pulled a shirt from the dresser and put it on. “I think you’ll be pleased with my choice.”
Suddenly, the obvious dawned on me. “You stayed here all night.”
“I guess I did.”
“Why?”
He leaned down and pressed his lips against my forehead and whispered in my ear, “It’s because I love you.”
Before I could say anything, Jablonsky was back in the bedroom, ushering Martin out of the room. He was gone before I even had a chance to say goodbye. My body, my mind, and my heart all felt wrecked.
Jablonsky took a seat on the edge of the bed and lifted one of my eyelids. “Martin told me about the night you had. He thinks it’s the stomach flu. Is this the same thing Decker had two weeks ago?”
“Yep.”
Mark chewed on his thumbnail, the wheels in his head turning. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah.”
“How long was he away?”
“Two days.” I pulled myself into a sitting position. “What are you thinking?”
He licked his lips. “I don’t think you’re sick. I think you’re going through withdrawal. When’s the last time they ran a drug screen?”
“It’s been three weeks, I guess. We were supposed to do it last week, but we were so busy bringing in evidence and getting our ducks in a row, it didn’t happen.
But I’m clean. Decker’s clean. You know me.”
“Then humor me and submit to a full drug panel.”
I nodded. “Even if you’re right, you probably won’t be able to find anything left in my system after last night.”
He picked up my clothes. “We’ll see. We can always analyze your sweat just to be thorough.” He made a face. “Go take a shower. You stink. Then we’ll get business out of the way, and I’ll get on the horn with the DEA and see where to go from here.”
* * *
After a banana bag and some clear broth, I was feeling a bit better. With any luck, I’d be able to graduate to soup by dinnertime. Jablonsky had put a rush on the results, but there was nothing particularly conclusive. The test showed trace amounts of cocaine, amphetamines, and a few other nasty things, but they were so minuscule that they didn’t register as positive. Frankly, it could have been a blip with the equipment. However, that information had given Mark an idea or perhaps an excuse, so he accompanied me on the late afternoon flight.
Before our departure, he phoned the assistant director. At least the DEA knew what to expect. At this point, I didn’t have a clue. Leaving the airport, we headed straight for HQ. When we arrived, Decker was already waiting for us. He didn’t look particularly pleased by the change of plans, and I wasn’t sure how any of this would play out with Wilde, who had every reason to be suspicious of us by this point.
“Alex,” Decker said, “how are you feeling?”
I blew out a breath. “Probably about the same as you did. I’m still thinking this is a stomach bug, but my boss is convinced it’s withdrawal.”
He rubbed at the scruff on his cheeks. “Our drug tests have been negative.” He thought for a moment. “Let me go grab them. He might be right.”
“Of course, I’m right, kid,” Mark said, joining us with the DEA’s assistant director in tow. “Since you stopped eating on campus, it’s probably in the air. This shithead probably figured out how to create an inhalant to keep his followers calm, happy, and remove their will to leave.” Jablonsky laid the toxicology reports on the table, saving Decker a trip to retrieve them. “When I ran a test on Alex earlier, she had trace amounts, but they were too far below range to test positive on a quantitative test. I’m guessing they might have even been too minor for a qualitative test. However, I’d say that this obvious increase,” he pointed at the discrepancies from before I joined the cult and after, “is worth investigating further.”
“Son of a bitch.” Decker took the words right out of my mouth. “We didn’t even consider that.”
“The levels were too low,” Ben said. “And yours weren’t nearly as linear as Alex’s.” He had pulled the results up on the computer and created a line graph. “The exposure can’t be from living in the dorms. The amount increased after she moved out.”
All eyes in the room turned to me. “Your results are more consistent, showing an obvious accumulation.”
“The meditation classes.” My gaze shot to Decker. “It’s the damn aromatherapy diffuser. Tim turns that thing on for every morning and evening ritual. I’ve been doing two a day, almost every day, plus whatever afternoon sessions I feel like attending.”
“That’s gonna come to an end,” Jablonsky muttered. “I don’t know what you people do, but we don’t approve of our agents getting dosed at the OIO.”
“We need to get a sample,” Decker said, ignoring Mark. He turned to Stella. “If Jablonsky’s right, does that give us grounds?”
She nodded. “It should. If that tests positive, we’ll be able to prove that he’s connected to drugs. We’ll get warrants to search every nook and cranny of that place and find what he’s hiding.”
“Even the tunnels?” I asked.
She smiled. “Even the tunnels.”
“And an arrest warrant for that asshole,” Eckhardt chimed in. “We can squeeze him. From the evidence we’ve already obtained, we have grounds for multiple counts of blackmail, coercion, and possible identity theft, not to mention conspiracy to commit or accessory to murder. He’s probably looking at life with the number of counts. We might be able to flip him with the promise of a deal, get to his cartel connection, and do what we can to shut them down, at least on this side of the border.”
Decker eyed his team and nodded to Jablonsky. “Anything else, sir?”
Mark checked his watch, glancing up at me. “You good, Parker?”
“Yep.”
“Okay,” Mark exhaled, “my return flight leaves in a couple of hours. I’ll use that time to review what you’ve done so far.” He stared down at Decker. “Don’t let anything else happen to my agent.”
“I won’t,” Decker promised.
“Then get back to work,” Jablonsky ordered, giving me a quick wink. “And get your ass home soon.”
I followed Decker out of the room. Thankfully, he told Tim that I was having car trouble. It was a nice excuse and one that would give us the ride back to work out any logistics.
“We should continue on our current course of action until we know more. The money has been flagged. Later today, you will share the verdict with Tim and tell him that you want to donate to the church. I’ve already told him your trust fund will be unfrozen on Monday. I imagine he’ll want to go to the bank that morning to set up the transfer. We have electronic trackers ready for the cash transfer. Whenever he uses it, we’ll know. We’ll trace it and figure out with whom he’s in bed.”
“Okay.”
My silence caused some concern, and he shifted his gaze to me. “I can pull over if you need me to.”
“It’s not that. Did Eve fill you in?”
“Yeah. DuBois sublet her apartment, but the tenant wasn’t home. We’ve made a few calls to her closest relatives. We’re waiting for a call back, but we will find her.”
“How are we coming along on locating the access points to those tunnels?”
“I’ve been all over that property. There are no cellar doors or manhole covers or anything that would indicate an entrance. The surveillance teams have scouted the area immediately around the perimeter. The drones have used infrared scans, but they haven’t found anything either. Perhaps he just tunneled straight down to China. I should have listened to you when you said we should explore. At least we’ll get our chance if this new lead pans out.” He watched me from the corner of his eye. “How’d Jablonsky realize it was withdrawal and not the flu?”
“I don’t know. At first, I thought it was stress. A day in court will do that to a person, and then…well, you know how things progress from there.”
He snorted. “Don’t remind me. Here’s a horrible thought. Whenever we actually finish this op, we’ll probably get to go through the entire experience a second time.”
“Don’t say that.”
“It’s probably too late for me. I’ve already been back on the sauce for two weeks. You might have a chance to avoid it though.”
“That’s easier said than done. How do I appease Tim while avoiding every class and function at the commune?
Decker shrugged. With plenty to chew on, I remained silent for the rest of the ride. Decker spoke briefly about what he’d already said to Wilde concerning my hotel accommodations, the court proceeding, and the reasons for my sudden generosity. It was simple, straight to the point, and nothing that would garner any further scrutiny or require follow-up questions. But I had plenty of questions that I wanted to ask Wilde.
Thirty-six
When we arrived at the compound, the Perpetual Lighters were pulling in their unsold wares and making sure that the tables and stalls were secure. I went in search of Tim, hoping to keep him distracted while Decker took a sample of the oil mixture used in the diffuser. I didn’t spot Tim among the group, but the smell of the baked goods and leftover bagged lunches turned my stomach.
“Hey,” Hannah bustled toward me, holding a tray of uneaten scones, “you look a bit green.”
“I got sick on the plane. Traveling sucks.”
Sh
e laughed. “You’re home now. How was your trip, minus the air sickness?”
“It was eventful,” I looked around the emptying field, “but I want to share the news with Tim first. Can you point me in the right direction?”
“He was on his way inside. Come on, I’ll walk with you.”
We headed toward the main building, joining half a dozen other people that were lugging in chairs and boxes. Once inside, Hannah returned to the kitchen to begin serving supper, and I wandered the hallways. Inside the multipurpose room, Jace was speaking to Tim. They were really close to the aromatherapy equipment, and I wasn’t sure if Decker had taken a sample yet.
“There you are,” I called. “I turn around for half a second, and you disappear.” I gave Tim a smile while I slipped my arm around Decker’s back and leaned into his shoulder. “And you’re just the man I was looking for. Do you think we can speak after dinner? I have another favor to ask of you.”
“Of course,” Tim’s brow furrowed. “We may speak now if you like.”
“Go ahead, babe,” Decker insisted, slipping the empty collection vial into my back pocket, “talk to Tim. He’ll be able to put things in perspective. I’ll give you some privacy.” He pecked my cheek. “Meet me back at the trailer.”
“I heard you had car trouble,” Tim said, his left brow arching slightly.
“Yep. My car was towed to the shop. They’ll get to it on Monday. It’s not a big deal. Actually, it would have been if it wasn’t for you. Everything I have right now is because of you. I have a home, a boyfriend, a sense of security and safety. I’m not afraid anymore, which goes back to the favor. Originally, my stay was only supposed to be temporary, but I was hoping,” I looked up, giving him puppy dog eyes, “that perhaps you’d let me become a permanent member.” He opened his mouth to speak, but I held up a hand. “Before you say anything, I also would like to donate to this place. What you do is amazing. And regardless of your answer, I want to help you help others like me.” My internal voice cringed. I sounded like one of those ads on TV with the sad music and the starving children or neglected animals. Perhaps I was laying it on too thick, but it seemed like everyone in this place was a bit over the top. “Ever since the judge handed down the verdict, I couldn’t help but think that my father’s money shouldn’t define me. I should be better than that. I should make my own way, without his help. I didn’t want it when he was alive, and I sure as hell shouldn’t want it now. It’s a safety net, but I don’t need it anymore.”