Rescue Me
Page 33
She did. It flashed to a scene that had both their jaws dropping. Turbo came charging in and collapsed at their feet. Apparently, he wanted to watch the news as well.
“And now we join Jane Foreman live in Washington D.C.” It flipped to Jane Foreman, TV reporter, standing in front of the marble staircases of the courthouse.
“It's official. They read the indictment only moments ago. Senator Patrick Murphy, along with the majority of his senior staff, has been indicted by a grand jury for murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and racketeering. Since the start of the investigation six months ago, prosecutors have gathered enough substantial evidence that they will be seeking the death penalty.”
Kat and Spencer glanced at each other, both stunned into silence.
“You see,” Weber went on. “TREX has a long reach to make sure we find what's been missing. In this case it was justice.”
“You did this?” Kat and Spencer said in unison.
“Still ready to turn down my offer?”
The TV flashed back to the woman in the newsroom. “The senator's downfall can largely be attributed to one individual. Kathryn Allen, the owner and CEO of K-SAR, a private search and rescue firm based out of Washington State, will meet with the president later this summer to discuss plans for nationwide implementation of a National Incident Management System known as NIMS in the SAR community. She will receive a commendation for her actions in bringing Senator Murphy to justice. Because of her bravery, more people are breaking their silence about the corruption they've seen firsthand.”
Her mouth ran dry as her heart shot to her throat. “I'm doing what?”
“Meeting with the president,” Weber repeated. “It's been arranged. Your NIMS system will be implemented nationwide. Rand has had TREX using it since the system's inception.”
Kat couldn't believe it. TREX used her system? How cool was that?
“I'll be in Washington with you to make the TREX and K-SAR merger official. Even though we aren't sanctioned by the government, we still need the commander-in-chief's okay for something this big. We'll talk at that time. Until then, rest up. I hear parenthood is harder than being a covert agent.”
“I haven't given you an answer,” Spencer pointed out.
“Yes, you did. You didn't say no this time. I'll see you in Washington.”
The call ended, leaving Kat and Spencer staring at each other. And then she smiled as it sank in. “I can't believe my NIMS system is going to be implemented nationwide.”
“I can't believe you brought down a senator,” Spencer countered with a wide grin.
“Not without help,” she pointed out. “Do you think we should merge?”
Spencer shrugged, but she saw the excitement shining in his eyes. He wanted this as much as she did. He'd finally get to come home to TREX. “Unlimited resources. We could really use that. What's the harm in hearing him out?”
“Here's to new beginnings.” She lifted her orange juice.
“And happy endings.”
EPILOGUE
Two months later…
Project LEON Lab - Seattle, WA
Dan Weber gathered with his team as they waited for the demonstration to begin. No matter how much he warned the scientists about the dangers, they wanted to move forward with it. They were so determined to prove that Project LEON worked that they refused to think about what would happen if it actually did.
He turned to Bruce Aims, the computer hacker of the team, as he ran his hand through his hair, a trait he picked up from his former team lead. Dan then switched his attention to Alan Cummings, their radio expert. He'd let his hair grow out even more since the board handpicked him for this team. Good thing he kept it tied back out of his eyes. Steve Gessler sat next to Cummings, nodding off as they all waited for the scientists to get on with it.
“What's on your mind?” Charlie Cole, the oldest member of the team and the one who kept the rest of them grounded, approached and rested his arms on the banister in front of them. When Dan didn't answer, he stared through the two-inch thick glass separating them from the lab. “Do you really think these sons of bitches really did it?”
“I hope not.”
“How deep is the shit if they did?”
“Deeper than we can dig out of.” Dan scanned the seats behind him, his gaze landing on the empty one. “Where the fuck is Peck?”
“He's just late.”
“He's always late,” Dan countered in a growl. “It's starting to piss me off.”
“He'll be here.”
As if on cue, Jason Peck waltzed into the observation room, that smug smile on his face. He glanced at Dan, gave him a nod, and took his seat.
“See?” Cole said.
Dan looked at him.
“Don't give me that Weber glare. I taught you that glare. My little niece Jessica hates it when I look at her like that.”
Not yet another story about his wonderful, talented, can do no wrong niece Jessica. The team could never go on any find or apparently even attend a demonstration without Cole bringing her up.
“I don't know what you have against Peck,” Cole went on. “He's just a kid.”
“He's too green for something like LEON.”
“He's a member of the team, Weber. Deal with it.”
Dan didn't want to deal with it. He didn't have a choice when TREX shoved Jason Peck down his throat as some whiz kid Einstein with a knack at cutting through the bullshit and deciphering a real threat from a conspiracy theory. So far, he'd fallen for more theories than he'd solved.
At least with the rest of this motley crew, Dan had veto rights. Not for the first time, he questioned whether or not he made the right decision giving up his SAC role to take the lead position on this team. Charlie Cole begged and pleaded with him to join the team, even giving up his role as the special agent team lead to Dan.
The scientists walked into the lab and Dan settled into his chair, Cole on one side and Gessler on the other. He kicked at Gessler to wake him up, who snorted as he jumped awake and glanced around.
“Late night?”
“Twins,” Gessler said with a grin. “They kept me up late.”
Dan rolled his eyes and gave the lead scientist his attention as Dr. Killion stepped forward. “Good afternoon, gentlemen. We thought we'd share our tremendous breakthrough with you. TREX has spent a great deal of time making sure we had the protection we needed to see this project through.”
“Get on with it already,” Gessler muttered. “Some of us have better things to do than watch yet another failed attempt at creating their little robots.”
“Nanobots,” Dan corrected.
“Whatever.”
“No, not whatever. If they actually succeed in creating LEON, the entire world will be in some seriously deep, deep shit. Nanobot technology has its place.”
“In a science fiction movie,” Cole added.
Dan nodded in agreement. “Exactly. Not in a lab with only two-inch glass separating us from the world's deadliest weapon.”
“I don't like this,” Aims commented, an intense look in his eyes.
“That makes two of us,” Cummings added.
Cole shifted in his chair, clearly agitated. No one seemed anxious to see LEON succeed. Why was this demonstration any different? The scientists had tried at least half a dozen times, each one ending in failure and them back at the drawing board.
But this one felt different. Dan couldn't explain it but knew better than to ignore his gut.
“You don't think he really did it this time, do you?” Dan asked Cole.
“I think ever since he lost his son to the cancer he contracted from that diseased bone transplant in his leg, Killion hasn't stopped searching for a way to bring him back.”
“This isn't going to bring him back.”
“Try telling him that.”
Dr. Killion walked over to a table in the center of the room and pulled off the cover, revealing a fresh pig carcass. “Since the dawn of our time mankind
has been searching for a way to prolong life. It's been masked as many things. The fountain of youth. The Holy Grail. Even more realistic and tangible masks such as plastic surgery. All for the chance to turn back the hands of time or freeze them altogether.” He turned to the window to face the team. “Now, while I would love to promise you everlasting youth, that's not why we created LEON.”
“Oh, my God.” Gessler groaned into the air. “Come on, doc. Just do it already.”
Something else was off. Dr. Killion usually couldn't wait to start in on one of his many failed LEON attempts. Why stall on this one? Dan's unease edged higher.
Dr. Killion held up a syringe full of pale yellow liquid. “Inside this syringe is the answer to disease. Birth defects. Even insanity. The number of nanobots in a single drop of liquid is enough to repair an entire strand of broken DNA. These little guys are hungry for imperfection. They will find the irregularities in a person's DNA and repair them. No more irreparable birth defects that shorten a child's already short life. No more cancer.”
He fell silent as he turned and injected the pig with half the contents of the syringe. Stepping back, he stood next to his assistant as all eyes rested on the carcass. Nothing happened.
“Told you,” Gessler grumbled and grew restless. Aims and Cummings both sat back, clearly relieved. Dan shot a quick look to Cole to gauge his reaction. When he gave a single nod and let out a breath, Dan finally released the one he'd been holding.
“I-I don't understand.” Dr. Killion looked at the syringe and then back to the pig. “I gave it twice the dose necessary.”
“I told you that you needed a live subject.”
What the fuck was he doing in there?
Dan jumped to his feet as his friend and fellow TREX agent, Ron Donovan, walked into the lab. Fuck, no. He wasn't this stupid, was he?
Donovan grabbed the syringe from Dr. Killion and brought it up, needle-side toward him.
“No!” Dan screamed at the same time as the scientists. He bolted out of the room and barged into the lab, but he was too late. Donovan had already injected his leg with the nanobots.
He flashed a cocky grin as he squared his shoulders. “I'm going to be patient zero for a new race of super agents. I already feel it working.”
“Sweet Jesus! Dr. Killion!” His assistant pointed at the pig. The flesh below the skin had started to melt. It was a gruesome scene as the nanobots devoured it from the inside.
And then Donovan screamed.
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Allie K. Adams is the bestselling author of several award-winning stories. An active member of the search and rescue, as well as previously served as a reserve deputy, Allie has firsthand experience in most of the dangers she writes about. Known for her highly erotic, deeply intense suspense romances, she can be found most days in front of her computer, saving the world one sizzling story at a time. She grew up in Seattle and now currently lives in southwest Montana with her husband, two kids, and two fluff ball dogs.
She loves to hear from readers and encourages them to reach out to her through her website at www.alliekadams.com.
Also by Allie K. Adams
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MURPH & GRACE — Thriller
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Writing as Eve Adams
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Riding Series 2: Riding Lessons [Tasty Treats, Volume 1]
Riding Series 3: Riding Cowboys
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Covert Lovers 2: Between the Covers
Gideon’s Ring 1: Trio
Gideon’s Ring 2: Temptation
Songs Remember When 1: Suspicious Minds
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Brides of Bachelor Bay 5: The Banished Bride
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