Cursed Blessing (Trilogy of the Chosen Book 1)

by J. M. LeDuc

  “What’s this all about?” one of the officers asked.

  “Shift change. It’ll be like this until a little after eleven,” Susan said.

  She pushed the bed back into the room and then shut the door as she left. “Excuse me, guys, while I go do my paperwork. Thanks for being here. We all felt safer knowing you were here.”

  “Yeah, no problem. Have a nice night.”

  Susan went to the desk and saw her replacement. “Greta, would you do me a favor and punch me out? I forgot the MRI report downstairs and I’ll need to go get it.”

  “Sure.”

  “Thanks,” Susan said and walked toward the elevator as quickly as she could without drawing attention to herself. Inside, she pushed the ‘B’ on the console and waited for the doors to close. Her heart pounded as she leaned back against the wall of the elevator. To calm herself, she closed her eyes and thought, Thank you, God. The elevator pinged and Susan opened her eyes. She nearly ran back to the mechanical room where Brent waited for her.

  Brent had cleaned up the room. He wiped it for prints and made sure it looked exactly like it did when they first arrived.

  “Don’t touch anything, I just wiped it all down,” he said, and motioned her to the tunnel entrance. “Everything go okay?”

  “Except for peeing myself, everything’s good,” she answered and descended the steps.

  Chloe heard Susan. “You didn’t,” she said.

  “No, but I sure could have. I’m talking major bladder control.” They all laughed, and it broke the tension.

  “Quiet, the mission still isn’t over,” Brent said, as he stepped through the opening. “It’s about to get very dark in here,” he cautioned. He closed the vent and replaced the air filter. At the bottom of the stairs, he flipped the breaker and the lights went on.

  “Huh?” Susan gasped as she looked down into the mouth of the tunnel. “Unbelievable.”

  “Welcome to your new life,” Brent said. “Let’s start moving. We need to get to the library and get Lucille settled.”

  CHAPTER 41

  Maddie checked herself in the mirror one last time. She wore nursing scrubs and matching, white rubber-soled nursing shoes and a black wig. She’d altered her complexion with a dark foundation. To finish the disguise, she had on a pair of wire-framed glasses.

  “Show time,” she said as she looked at her reflection.

  She was a bit apprehensive. This was her first assignment without Joseph’s help or support. Maddie walked to her closet and opened the safe located behind a false electrical panel. She removed her handgun, a Glock .357 stubnose and silencer. Earlier, she had filled the gun with hollow-point bullets, just as Brent had ordered. She released the clip and checked it one last time. She pushed the clip back up into the handle and heard it snap into place.

  She picked up her Prada overnight bag and placed the gun inside along with a change of clothes and her toiletries. She shut off the lights as she walked out of her bedroom and left her apartment. In order to avoid all security cameras, she took the emergency stairs to the garage, then carefully made her way to her car and drove away from her condo. She checked her watch: ten thirty. Perfect timing. The drive to the hospital was ten minutes. She allowed another five to ten minutes to park and get past security, then up to Lucille’s room. She turned on the radio and scanned the dial until she found the Christian station Joseph liked to listen to. A preacher was speaking on the misconceptions that non-believers have in freedom—more specifically, the freedoms taken away from people when they become believers.

  “My brothers and sisters,” the preacher said, “God, does not take away our freedoms. He does not look to stagnate our spirit and limit our lives. Belief in the Almighty opens up all the opportunities in our lives. We gain the freedom to give our troubles, our stresses and strife up to God and let him take care of it for us. We gain the freedom to live our lives without the chokehold of the world around our necks.

  “Oh, but they say,” the preacher continued, “what about all the rules and commandments? Aren’t those limiting? No, I tell you. God’s laws, if followed, allow us to be the very best we can be. They free us from death. Belief in the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will give you the freedom to love, the freedom to forgive, the freedom to walk this world, protected by the Holy Spirit, and finally, my brothers and sisters, the freedom of eternal life with God in Heaven.

  “So, in closing, let me reiterate. God’s laws are not limiting, rather, they are freeing. God gave us these laws not to punish us, but because he loves us.”

  Maddie turned the radio off to digest what she just heard. It went against everything she had been told as a child. Her parents did nothing but tear her down. They told her that God would punish her for being a bad girl. They said, “How could God possibly love a girl who is as bad and stupid as you?” She grew up believing that God was mean, vindictive and hurtful. She believed that God only loved the good people and could never love someone like her.

  Joseph had tried to tell her the truth, to tell her with words and actions, but she wasn’t ready to hear. Not until recently did Maddie open her heart and let God enter her life. Only then did she accept Jesus as her personal savior, and only then did she feel the love, forgiveness and freedom of his laws. This whole God thing is tough, she thought. It goes against everything I’ve ever been told. “I hope I don’t disappoint you too badly, God,” Maddie said out loud. She was so deep in thought that she nearly missed the entrance to the hospital. Maddie parked on the ground floor as close to the front as possible. Before getting out of her car, she took her gun out of her bag and screwed in the silencer. Then she placed it in the holster she wore around her waist, under her top. She walked to the front entrance, sure to walk past the security guard.

  The security desk was located at the far end of the lobby. She showed her ID and signed in. “Hi, I’m Gloria Montroux,” she drawled. “I’m subbing on the fifth floor, orthopedics. Could you direct me to the correct elevator?”

  The guard checked her ID, making sure the picture matched the person standing in front of him. “Nice to have you here, Nurse Montroux. Walk directly behind me and take the elevator on the left side of the hall.”

  “Thank you, I appreciate your help.”

  “Have a nice night,” he replied.

  Maddie walked to the elevator. Once inside, she pressed number three on the panel, then she checked her watch: Ten Forty-Eight. She breathed in deeply to calm her nerves. She stepped off the elevator and walked with purpose so that anyone who saw her would think she belonged there. The officers were standing outside room 311, just where she’d expected to see them. She took the patient chart off the wall and stepped between the officers. Once inside the room, Maddie closed the door and flipped through the pages in the chart until she reached the log. She filled in Lucille’s vitals and noted she was asleep and stable at Ten Fifty-One p.m.

  She then reached under her blouse and pulled her gun from the holster. For the first time, she looked at Lucille, or whoever was in the bed. She pointed the gun, thinking, Joseph, I pray Brent knows what he’s doing. Squeezing the trigger, she fired a bullet into the back of Lucille’s head. The moment of impact seemed as if it was happening in slow motion. It was as if she could see the bullet enter the back of the skull and explode through the front, scattering pieces of the woman’s face. Blood spattered everywhere. Maddie quickly put her gun away, grabbed the chart and left the room. She replaced the chart in the wall pocket and walked directly to the stairwell. She climbed the two flights to the fifth floor and walked to the nurse’s station where she asked for the charge nurse.

  “Hi, I’m Marjorie Strand, may I help you?” she asked Maddie.

  “Hi, Marjorie, I’m Gloria Montroux. Med Temps sent me.”

  Marjorie looked confused and then excused herself. She came back moments later, holding the logbook for the late shift. “I’m afraid th
ere’s been a mistake,” she told her. “Everyone has reported for duty and we didn’t call for a temp.”

  In an exasperated tone, Maddie said, “Wait till I get hold of them! This is not the first time they’ve sent me on the wrong assignment. I’m sorry for the trouble.”

  “No, I’m sorry that you had to come all the way out here for nothing.”

  They smiled at one another. Maddie turned and walked back to the elevator. On the ground floor, she went back to the security desk and told the guard that she wasn’t needed after all, so she’d be leaving. He said goodnight and Maddie left through the front entrance, the way she’d come in.

  Maddie’s heart pounded wildly. She hadn’t pulled off the lot before her cell phone rang. She knew it would be Ferric. “Good evening, Mr. Ferric. I hope you’re convinced of my loyalty.”

  He gurgled. “I had my doubts, Miss Smith. I’m happy to tell you that you’ll be waking up in the morning.”

  “I’m relieved to hear that, sir.”

  “Now, Miss Smith, there’s still the very pressing matter of the formula. Since you have proven your ingenuity, I need your assistance in finding Mr. Venturi and his girlfriend. It seems they’ve been able to stay one step ahead of my men. You have twenty-four hours.”

  “We still don’t know if the formula you speak of is even in their possession. Give me two days and I’ll have what you need.”

  Ferric spoke in an agitated voice. “You have one day, Miss Smith, to find the persons I speak of. When you do, you are to turn them over to me. I can assure you that Thomas will obtain whatever information they may have, or not have, concerning the formula. If you fail, then our last deal still stands.”

  “What deal?” She could hear Ferric coughing and gurgling.

  “Dead by morning.” He coughed uncontrollably, and the call ended.

  Maddie threw her phone into her bag. I’ll worry about you later, she muttered in frustration. Right now, I need to make sure Lucille is safe. Following Brent’s instructions, she drove straight to the library, making certain she wasn’t followed.

  CHAPTER 42

  Maddie arrived at the library at 12:15 a.m. To avoid drawing attention to herself, she drove two blocks away and pulled into an apartment complex, which had security parking. The admittance gate had two sides: one for residents and activated by a key card and the other for visitors. A resident had to buzz the visitor in. Maddie parked approximately one hundred feet behind the residents’ entrance and waited for someone to drive up to the gate. A car pulled up and the gate opened. Maddie quickly pulled in right behind the car and followed it into the complex.

  She parked in a visitor’s spot, grabbed her bag and headed toward the library on foot, avoiding the main streets. Instead, she walked through dark parking lots and access roads where her chances of being seen were next to nothing. She felt a sense of relief when she arrived in the alley behind the library.

  Just as she let her guard down, she heard a loud bang that sounded like a gunshot. Maddie dropped to the ground and, in one swift move, rolled onto her side and pulled her gun from its holster. She turned toward the sound and watched as a raccoon ran from the dumpster. She got to her feet, not sure whether to be happy or angry.

  It had been a long day. The last thing she needed was to be scared to death by a raccoon. She re-holstered her weapon and picked up her belongings. As she walked to the back door, she brushed the dirt and gravel from her clothes. Once again, she had a huge sense of relief when she found that the door was unlocked.

  The storeroom was illuminated in an eerie red glow from the lit “Exit” sign above the door. Carefully, she made her way into the main room, where the luminescence was even less. Maddie stood still for a moment until her eyes adjusted to the reduced light. Once they had dilated enough so that she could see and maneuver safely, she made her way to Brent’s office.

  She closed the door behind her then flipped on the lights. Scanning the room she saw a note taped to the bookshelf.

  Dear Miss Smith,

  Brent said to make yourself at home, and that, if all goes as planned, they should be arriving between one and one thirty a.m. I put fresh coffee in the machine and filled it with water. All you have to do is push the on button, if you’re so inclined.

  Joan

  “I am definitely inclined,” Maddie muttered and headed to the coffeepot.

  When she pushed the button, she noticed she’d broken a nail when she fell to the ground outside. “You may be meeting my manicurist sooner than you thought, Chloe,” she said to herself.

  While the coffee brewed, she opened her bag and removed her change of clothes. The wall clock said it was only 12:40, so she knew she wouldn’t be interrupted if she changed now. Maddie walked into Brent’s private bathroom and washed off the makeup. She applied eye shadow, blush and lip-gloss. Then she changed out of the nurse’s uniform and put on a pair of designer low-rise jeans and a sleeveless white, button up, linen blouse. She brushed her hair and then flopped into Brent’s desk chair. She closed her eyes and deeply inhaled the aroma of the coffee, a smell that had always been a comforting one. Quickly, she drifted to sleep.

  She was awoken by the coffee machine’s beep, letting her know the coffee was ready. Maddie walked over to the table where the coffee awaited her, picked out a cup and poured the fresh brew into it. She took her first sip as she read the diplomas on the wall above. Hmm, a master’s degree in fine arts from Harvard. Captain, you’re full of surprises, aren’t you?

  Maddie walked around the office, exploring to see if she could get a better idea of who Brent was and what made him tick. The first thing she noticed was that everything had its own place. He’s definitely organized. A product of the military, I suppose, she mused. On closer inspection, she noted there were no personal items in the office other than a picture of Brent with his grandfather, taken at the beach when Brent was eleven or twelve. He’s pretty detached, Maddie noted. A loner who doesn’t like being tied down. Then she thought, Very different from Joseph, much more like…me! He’s a male equivalent of me! That’s scary. It made her smile as she took another sip of coffee.

  Sitting back down at Brent’s desk, she set the cup down on a coaster and looked at the things on his desk. The desk itself was antique, made of mahogany and meticulously restored. It was devoid of clutter and personality. She pulled on the brass handle to the top drawer, expecting it to be locked. She was surprised when it opened. Feeling a bit guilty, nevertheless curious, Maddie opened the drawer all the way. It contained nothing of any interest, just typical top-drawer stuff like pens, pencils, sticky notepads, and etcetera. All in their separate spaces, neat and tidy. She closed the drawer and her eyes moved to the matching antique two-drawer filing cabinet on wheels that sat to the left of the desk.

  The top drawer was again typical: hanging files containing receipts, invoices and paperwork pertaining to the library. The bottom drawer appeared to be empty except for a ball cap. Maddie removed it, wanting to see what insignia was embroidered on the bill. Then she saw a bunch of envelopes rubber-banded together. Maddie flipped through them, not recognizing any of the return address names. She did notice they were all addressed to Captain Venturi, the Pentagon building, Washington, D.C. I suppose, she thought, as covert an operation as the Phantom Squad was, all correspondence would have to be delivered directly to D.C. They would be the only ones who would know where to find him. She was about to put the envelopes back in the drawer when she noticed that the bottom one was different from the rest.

  It, too, was addressed to Captain Venturi, but it had no return address. Turning it over, she saw the seal of the Vice-President. Maddie pulled the envelope from the rubber band and slipped the letter out. It was handwritten from the vice president to Captain Venturi, thanking him and the Phantom Squad for saving his only daughter from the Omega Butcher.

  “The Omega Butcher!” she exclaimed.

 
; Maddie didn’t have to think very hard to recall that psychopath. The Omega Butcher was a serial killer who terrorized the Ivy League campuses from 1999 to 2001. He had tortured, raped and killed nine sorority members and no one had a clue who he was. Then the vice president’s daughter was reported missing from the Penn State campus and everybody thought the worst.

  Every three-letter agency in the U.S. was called upon to hunt him down, including the S.I.A., but nobody could break the case. There was simply no evidence that could lead to the whereabouts of the vice president’s daughter or link her disappearance to the Butcher. Then, as if by a miracle, the vice president held a news conference stating that his daughter had been safely returned to him. In a separate statement, it was announced that the Omega Butcher had been apprehended.

  The letter went on to say how it was an answer to their prayers when the Phantom Squad was able to find and rescue his daughter from the Butcher and, at the same time, capture him. The vice president said that he was forever in the debt of the squad, especially Captain Venturi, for risking his life in a one-man dramatic rescue. He went on to say that he hoped and prayed Brent’s injuries would heal fast. The letter ended by saying that his daughter, who had been severely traumatized by the ordeal, was doing well in therapy.

  Maddie folded the letter and returned it to its place in the drawer. “Well, Joseph,” she said out loud, “I guess you did know what you were doing when you picked Brent as the next Ambassador of the Endowment.”

  “I’m glad you approve.”

  Maddie jumped out of her chair and spun around, gun drawn, only to stare in disbelief at Brent. “How did you…? Where did you…?”

  “They didn’t name us the Phantom Squad for nothing,” he replied.

  Maddie lowered her weapon and immediately turned red with embarrassment. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to snoop, I just…”

  “Don’t worry about it. We said no secrets, right? Come on, there’s someone who wants to say hello.”