"Her eyes have gone dark blue. A unique characteristic I need to edit out in time. Apis has grown actively aggressive, it seems she has latched onto Micrapis in the last few weeks. The two have had a drastic attitude change since I finalized the regeneration test on Hive. Micrapis has been agitated since the finalization of his steroid course. I fear it may take more persuasion to get the two into the next phase with Hive. I have decided to bring in a therapist to help me regain control over Apis and Micrapis, they are beginning to upset Honey and rile up his aggression level. Until then, I think tomorrow I shall introduce more of the heat testing to Apis and Micrapis, show them that a bad attitude is not welcomed in my lab."
I frowned, throwing the file to the side. I didn't bother to look at the photographs Dr. Bourne took of Jessica's progression from injured soldier to mangled test subject. I had seen the end result of Dr. Bourne's work and that was enough.
I leaned against the side of the jet, looking out the window and over the clouds, catching glimpses of the earth below. I had as sinking feeling that either Micrapis or Alistair would be waiting for me in San Diego. Chances was it was Micrapis since Alistair seemed to be beneath doing the dirty work with his own hands.
I had to figure this out, maybe I could get a small sample from whoever was in San Diego, send it off to Rebecca and have her do her black magic. I had to find out who the last two where and chase them down.
I closed my eyes, flashes of Jessica in the snow flooded my eyelids. Her words replaying in my head. That's when it struck me, her last few words to me. "You're smarter then you were back then, you don't let love cloud every thought in your head." My eyes flicked open, the way she spoke it, it was as if she already knew me and knew my past.
I reached for the files and dug through them again. There was nothing in either of them to point to me having ever met Jessica in my Secret Service days or after. She had been over in Afghanistan when I left to join Roberts detail, then she was in the hospital when Montreal happened. I shoved the files in my bag and returned to look out the window.
There was something that wasn't sitting right in my gut, Jessica felt too comfortable, too close with her words. Like she had been following me or been a part of my life so much so she knew exactly what to say. I let out a breath, it could be Alistair playing tricks again, his obsession with Claire leaving no one around her untouched. The way he moved like a ghost, I would not be surprised if he had dug into files left to the dark dusty basements with the governments other secrets. Regardless, it left me very unsettled and determined to ask more questions when I came face to face with the second bee.
_______________________
Davey met me outside of the San Diego police station. He did not wear his pissed off face very well. "Kit, what the hell did I tell you? And where is Claire?" He looked around me, expecting his childhood friend to pop around the corner so he could also lecture her.
"She is in Geneva with Rebecca. We opted to keep things on a need to know, face to face basis." I shifted the thick coat I had left Connecticut in off, enjoying the warm west coast weather in my simple t-shirt. I took off my sunglasses to look at Davey who was frowning at me confused and still pissed.
"Um, Claire is in Geneva, with Rebecca and you are here?" He set his hands on his hips, "Please tell me you two didn't break up, because I will have to kick your ass like I promised then I will throw you back on a plane to Geneva."
I laughed at him, moving closer to him so I could grab his upper arm, "Davey, it was Claire's idea to split us up. Rebecca and I are, friends? And she has promised to take care of Claire."
Davey sighed hard in agitation, "What part of don't come to San Diego and don't leave Claire's side did you not understand? You can imagine my surprise when Sam called me to tell me that you would meet me here in an hour." He pulled off his sunglasses, squinting at the late afternoon sun, "Claire called me after you were stabilized, told me about the attack and how you flew out the window like a trapped bird, killing that woman." His eyes dropped to mine, "And almost got yourself killed again."
He breathed in slowly, "Don't take this personally, but try not to do that anymore, Kit. I kind of want you around as much as Claire does." The air grew thick with his awkward way of saying that he cared about me. I bit my lip nervously, I was still getting used to people giving more than two shits about me and if I saw the next day.
Davey smiled tightly, breaking up the tension, "So this is Claire's idea, huh?"
I nodded, "Yep, she wants to tie up her projects in Geneva and wants me to meet this second possible link to Alistair. She thinks if we take the divide and conquer path, it will throw Alistair off. Give us a bit of a head start in ending this." I squeezed his arm, "Trust me, Davey, the last thing I wanted to do was leave her side. For more than just being her bodyguard." I swallowed hard, feeling the first twinge of missing her hit me. "Anyways, Tito?" I wanted to know how my big friend was faring after his tussle.
Davey studied my eyes with his copper ones for a moment before speaking, acknowledging that I didn't want to discuss Claire and I splitting, further. "Tito is here. I asked the Captain to let me use one of the back interview rooms so you could talk to Tito. He's beat up pretty good, but still happy old Tito." Davey motioned towards the door, "I’ll let him tell you what happened. He has a unique way of storytelling I cannot replicate."
I chuckled, "I am very aware." I followed Davey into the station, "What about the burglar?" The station was bustling with uniformed officers, the desk Sergeant nodding and waving at Davey and then winking at me as we passed.
Davey raised an eyebrow at me, "If you want to call him that, but he, it, is in the psych section. They had a hard time keeping him behind bars with his unusual super strength, he kept pulling them apart like they were plastic straws. It took the doctor ten horse tranquilizers to get him down to a calm non combative state. The thing is currently sitting in a padded cell in a strait jacket. Just staring at the walls repeating one phrase over and over. No one can get near him to take fingerprints or DNA, they are all mildly afraid of him. For good reason."
I paused in my steps, "We are three. We are one. All in the same, all as none. But always one."
Davey spun on his heel, "Yea that’s the phrase. How did you know?"
I took a deep breath, catching up to Davey so we could continue to the interview room. "The girl at Claire's house said it to me when I asked if she was Alistair." I glanced at Davey, "Either that is Alistair in that room or it's Micrapis. If it's Micrapis, I am not leaving until I get a DNA sample."
Davey stared at me hard as we rounded the corner to the last interview room in the station. This part of the building was lighter with officers, only the occasional plain clothes detective would walk by with a cup of coffee or unsolved case files. Not one paid either Davey or I much attention. "Kit, I did just tell you that no one wants to go near that thing, Micrapis. When you look at Tito, I think you'll get a better understanding."
I blew out a breath, "I have to, Davey." Davey stared at me for a minute longer before shaking his head and opening the door to reveal Tito sitting on a chair far too small for his massive body, eating a huge plate of fried chicken.
Tito looked at me, his face splitting into a huge grin as he hopped up from his chair. Wiping his greasy hands on his jeans before he charged me for one of his huge rib crushing hugs. "KT! Holy shit is it great to see you!"
I laughed awkwardly patting the massive back of the man, trying to get him to let go so I could breathe, "Tito, it's good to see you too."
He set me down and stepped back, giving me a clear view of his face and how bad it was. His right eye was swollen up and closed, a huge red welt covered most of his forehead and the rest of his face and arms were covered in bruises and lacerations with fresh stitches. "God, Tito. What happened?" I ran my hand down the side of the gentle giants face.
Tito smiled, gently grabbing my hand from his face, "It's nothing KT. Just a little scuffle." He stepped back and sat down in th
e plastic chair that groaned from the weight he placed upon it. Tito focused back on his fried chicken, "Like I said in the message, I went to your house to get the mail and shut off the gas since the Senator lady told me you would be staying with her for a little longer." Tito grinned at me, "She's a keeper. Called me to see how my car was and how I was, we talked for a few minutes about music." Tito pointed a chicken leg at me, "Did you know she likes Johnny Cash? I told her the next time she was out on the west coast I'd take her to the best Cash tribute band in the country."
I moved to sit across from Tito while Davey leaned against the closed door. I smiled softly, hating that one of my best friends had gotten tangled up in this mess. "I know she does, Tito."
Tito chewed the chicken, talking between mouthfuls, "Anyways, I went to your house and picked up the mail. When I got to the front door, it was open. Now in the past I wouldn't think anything of it because you had a bad habit about leaving your door open when you had a few too many, but this time, I knew you were in D.C. with your lady." He dropped a clean bone, picking up a fresh piece, "I grabbed my bat and went in, only wanting to scare off whatever shithead thought it was okay to steal from my KT." Tito paused, looking up at me over his chicken, "I was blindsided, like a wall fell on me." He blushed a bit, "I broke your couch and that table you liked, but he knocked me to the floor like I was nothing. I got back to my feet, up swinging with the bat. Connected a few times, but man, whatever steroids that guy is on, the baseball players will want it." Tito bit into the chicken, "He and I went toe to toe. He picked me up and threw me around like I was a tiny little girl, not a three hundred pound man."
I kept my smile, listening.
"Anyways, after a few punches, I kicked him in the balls." Tito pointed at me with a thick finger, "That is the lowest I will ever go and only if the time calls for it. He went down after that, crumpled and that's when I took the bat to the back of his head. I had to hit him so hard that I was scared I killed him." He sighed, "But I didn't, I just knocked him out and when the cops showed up, I was hooked up and dragged out with that beast of a man. He woke up when they tried to get him in the back of the car. Fought at least ten cops before I pushed past them and kneed him in the balls again." Tito giggled, "Even the 'roid monsters still have sensitive balls."
I laughed, reaching over to place my hand on his thick forearm. "Thank you Tito, for keeping my house safe." I paused as he blushed again, "Did the guy say anything while you fought?"
Tito covered my hand with his, dwarfing mine, "He kept saying that he had to find you and kill you, KT. Make you suffer so that your lady would feel the ultimate pain she had started. That the Senator lady was to blame for him being like this and that death was the only way out." Tito frowned, "Then he babbled some weird stuff that sounded an awful like my crazy aunt's bible babble." He patted my hand before grabbing more chicken, "I wasn't going to let him get away." He looked deep in my eyes, "I would have killed him before he ever got the idea to get close to you or your lady. I am not afraid to say it, KT, you're my family, and I will kill for family." Tito shot a look at Davey, "You didn't hear that Janes."
My stomach dropped at hearing what Tito went through. I could feel the tears well up, this was a directed attack by Alistair and I was the main target. It also told me he was unsure where I was at all times, telling me that his constant surveillance of Claire and I was starting to falter. I stared at Tito, clenching my jaw and trying not to let the big man see me cry at his words, that I was his family.
Davey placed his hand over his heart, "I swear, I heard nothing and saw nothing."
Tito laughed, "Good." He chucked the last of the bones back into the large red and white bucket. "Am I free to go? I need to take some aspirin and chase it with some tequila."
Davey nodded, "Yes. The cops dropped all charges after I spoke with them, they had intentions of doing it already after you helped corral the burglar at the scene." Davey stepped from the door and opened it up, "If you wait a few minutes, I’ll give you a ride home."
Tito smiled, picking up his bucket and groaning, standing his sore body up. He walked around the table, kneeling to be eye level with me while I still sat. He reached up, holding my cheek delicately. "KT, I mean it, if you or your lady need me, call me. I will be there in a second with my bat." He leaned forward, kissing me on the forehead, "You're finally happy and I don't want anyone to fuck with that."
I whispered so only he could hear, "Thank you, Tito. For everything."
Tito winked at me, knowing exactly what I was thanking him for and stood back up, using the table to steady himself, he turned to Davey. "You think we can get one more of these on the way home? I'm starving."
Davey laughed, "Anything for you Tito." He stepped to the side to let the big man amble out the tiny door. I took a deep breath and stood from the chair, shaking my head lightly as I heard Tito high five a few officers around the corner.
I steeled my jaw, folding my arms across my chest, "Let's go to the padded cell. Get this over with." I looked down at the floor, I now, more than ever wanted to be back with Claire. Keep her safe and close.
Davey nodded, "Just be prepared to get nothing from him. He's doped up and babbling." He took the lead and walked out of the interview room. I followed as he went through winding halls, passing more offices until we passed through a set of secured doors that Davey had to swipe a card to open.
The doors opened up to reveal the psych ward of the station that connected to the county jail. The hallway immediately had an eerie feeling, one that made me feel like I was being watched and not in a good way by the cameras hanging in the corners on every other wall. I walked slowly behind Davey, hearing the moans and groans of incoherent men locked up behind thick doors. A few yelled as I passed by, making me keep my head down. I was feeling the nerves rise, even as Davey stepped back to me and held onto my elbow, "We can go in Kit."
I shook my head, "I'm okay." I smiled weakly, in reality I was getting scared, after hearing what Tito said and went through, how in the hell would I keep my composure with a superhuman who wanted me dead?
Davey and I met with an orderly who escorted us to the back of the hallway. He said nothing as he opened a single door that led into a small sitting room that looked onto a large padded cell encased in shatterproof glass.
The orderly looked at the both of us, "If he gets riled up, hit the red button then leave immediately. This guy is like wrestling a horde of rhinos." He glanced at the clock, "You have fifteen minutes, and then you have to go."
While Davey thanked the orderly I stared into the padded cell, walking close to the thick glass. It was a white room, the walls covered in padding that couldn't be torn or ripped to make a noose or be eaten. There was a small window that was pointless, the thick glass only poured cloudy light into the cell.
In the middle of the cell was a large, white mass wearing a white jumpsuit made specifically for suicidal prisoners. The mass was breathing, sleeping, by the way the side moved up and down.
I stared at the mass that was shaped like a man, he was smaller than I imagined based off of Tito and the police stories of how he was a physical force to be reckoned with. He looked to be maybe an inch or two taller than Davey and half the size of Tito.
The orderly pushed past me, hitting a button that activated a speaker within the cell, "Hey. Wake up, you have visitors." The orderly, pointed at the button, "If he decides to talk, use this. You will be able to hear him but he won't hear you unless you use the speaker. Keep in mind, this nutcase has yet to speak a word to anyone over the last forty eight hours. He just repeats some weird phrase over and over. It gets annoying after a bit." The orderly looked at the man, shaking his head he pounded on the glass with a fist. Filling the room with a loud, sharp bang, waking the man up.
The man sat up, hearing the voice of the orderly. His back was still to us when he moved to stand. When he slowly turned to face us, I swallowed hard at the sight of his face and took a step back. The dead dark blue eyes st
riking me first, void of life, but full of a frightening intensity that I had seen over and over before in the last few weeks in Stansfield, Michael, Jessica, and Michaela.
The eyes were almost overshadowed by the amount of scars on his face. Long, thick ones that ran around the edge of his scalp of his light brown hair, and down his neck. Those drew me down to his hands. Hands that were covered in old burn scar tissue, puckering his skin and ligaments, making his hands look like claws, not human hands. I squinted when I saw that there were no signs of him ever being in a fight with Tito. No bruises, no cuts, nothing. Just scars.
The man walked closer to the glass, his eyes never leaving mine. He stopped in front of me, only the glass holding him back from getting closer to me. I took a step back, feeling more intimidated than I had ever been in my life. This man wasn't huge like Tito, but he scared me. The look in his eyes and the unfaltering stare, scared the living hell out of me. I felt Davey's hand on my back, steadying me.
The man reached up and pressed a mangled hand against the glass, when he spoke his voice was raspy and broken like Jessica's. "Caitriona. I've been waiting for you."
I barely heard my own voice as I whispered, "Alistair?"
Chapter 27
The beast of a man before me held his steely gaze, only acknowledging me in the room, not Davey or anything else. A thick silence filled the room like air rushing out of a balloon.
His left eye twitched ever so slightly, "No. I am not Alistair. I don't want to discuss him, either." I watched as his eyes flicked over my face, as if he was comparing a mental image with the real one in front of him. "It's you, Caitriona, whom I’m far more interested in."
Breathing through my nose, trying to control my fear one breathe at a time. Even with Davey next to me, a thick Plexiglas wall in a secured room, I was scared. Petrified. I forced my voice to not sound meek, "Why am I such an interest to you?"
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