“This isn’t a game, Tuck. You’d better take it seriously. Megan could be in a lot of danger and we certainly will be. Have you forgotten what we went through in Antarctica?”
“No, I remember every detail of what Henry Brubaker put us through but you seem to have forgotten, Wolf. Otherwise, why would you be so concerned about his granddaughter? It’s not like he’s going to let her come to any harm, is it?”
“She is nothing like him. I’m pretty sure her grandfather won’t allow anyone get in the way of his plans, not even family. I think Henry Brubaker is capable of anything,” said Wolf.
The van traveling in front was a rental, driven by Harley. Concealed in the back were Kaden, Jake Matthews, Lloyd Seagar and Duke.
Three rooms had been booked at a motel, not far from the Brubaker ranch and clinic. They passed a sign advertising their destination and Wolf followed Harley as he turned off the road. The two vans pulled up outside reception and Lloyd went inside to get the room keys. Stretching their legs while they waited, everyone was edgy and silent.
Lloyd re-joined them, suggesting the three men share one room and the boys divide the other two between them.
“Let’s all freshen up and grab a bite to eat. We can meet up at the diner in an hour,” said Jake.
He followed Lloyd and Duke into their room. Kaden and Harley had the key to one room, while Tuck shared the other with Wolf. Everyone was tired after the long drive and a shower would help wake them up.
Wolf was tempted to go straight to the ranch and ask to see Megan but he respected the older men’s orders that nobody do anything without their consent. They had yet to form a definite plan and that could change as circumstances dictated. As he lay on one of the beds, Wolf waited while Tuck had a shower. The hum of the air conditioner and the sound of running water made him sleepy. Just as he was drifting into a welcome slumber, splashes of cold water landed on his face.
“Wake up sleepy head, the bathroom’s free,” Tuck said, drying his hands.
Wolf rubbed his eyes, yawning, “I could sleep for a week. That drive doesn’t usually take so much out of me.”
“It’s the tension, we’re all a bit wound up. Look, what I said earlier, you know, about Brubaker’s granddaughter being a damsel in distress - I didn’t mean it. I know you like her and I’ve never met her so I shouldn’t judge. Anyway, from what Amelia says about her she sounds pretty okay.”
“Yeah, you’re right, she is pretty and she is okay, so don’t get any ideas when you do meet her,” Wolf shouted back as he headed for the bathroom.
Tuck smiled at that and wished he could have ideas about other girls but Amelia was stuck in his head and there was no getting her out. He was going to have to make a decision soon about where he should live. Being over the age of eighteen, Tuck was no longer a ward of the Seagers and was free to live anywhere he chose. He had been assured of a home for as long as he wanted with Kaden’s family but it wasn’t easy being around Amelia and keeping his distance from her.
The young man was seriously considering moving away, hoping that she might miss him when she couldn’t see him every day. Although she was determined to focus on the Olympics the following year, it didn’t seem to stop her thinking about Ethan, who was in Chicago.
“Maybe I should take a trip up there, see if I can dig up a little dirt on Mister Squeaky Clean,” Tuck said to himself.
By the time the three older men arrived at the diner, the four younger ones were already there and had placed their orders. They had agreed to eat separately and then meet up in Lloyd’s room, so as not to draw attention to themselves in public. Two stunning, young waitresses arrived at the boys’ table with their food.
“You boys in town for long?” one of them asked. “There’s a rock concert on in the park tonight if you’re interested, our friends over there are going too.
She pointed towards the kitchen and two more smiling girls waved to them.
“Unfortunately, those three are unavailable, however, I’m free as a bird. Maybe I could go with all four of you. Can I take a rain check on that,” said Kaden.
“Well, don’t spend too long thinking about it, our shift finishes soon.”
The girls flashed a big smile at the boys and, hips swaying, walked slowly away from the table.
The three boys laughed and mocked Kaden about his chat up line.
“Here, birdie, have some bread,” said Tuck as he threw one of his rolls across the table. Harley and Wolf did likewise. The laughter helped them to relax for a while and they almost forgot why they were there in the first place. Everyone except Wolf. He had thought of a way to get into the clinic. When they had finished eating, Kaden looked over at his father. Lloyd nodded and stood up to leave, his companions following him. The boys waited about fifteen minutes, then Kaden paid the bill.
“Don’t forget about the concert, we’ll be watching out for you,” shouted one of the waitresses as they left the diner.
Jake looked around the group gathered in his motel room. He asked for any suggestions about gaining access to the clinic. It would be up to the boys to do this, except for Kaden, who might be recognized.
“Myself, Duke and Lloyd are known to Henry Brubaker, as is Kaden. I’m sorry to ask this of you and it’s a big risk to take, so there’s no pressure boys. If any of you feel it’s too dangerous, that’s okay with us,” said Jake.
“We all agreed to come so I don’t think any of us are going to change our minds now, are we?” Tuck looked at his friends, who shook their heads.
“I had an idea in the diner when that girl mentioned the rock concert,” Wolf said. “I could pretend I was on a delivery to the caterers for that concert and the van gave me trouble. If I approach the cook about repairing it at the ranch I know she won’t mind. While I’m there I’ll ask her about Megan, when she’s due back, where she might have gone, that sort of thing.”
“That sounds plausible, Wolf, it shouldn’t arouse suspicion,” Lloyd said.
“Tuck, are you much of an actor?” asked Jake.
“Depends on the part, what have you got in mind?”
“Harley drives you to the clinic, because you are writhing in agony. You were both on your way to that concert when it happened and Harley sees the sign for the clinic. Do you think you can pull it off, Tuck?”
“Well, it won’t be the first time I’ve been in pain because of Henry Brubaker. Sure, I can do it. What do we do once we’re inside?”
A thought struck Kaden, “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Didn’t you bring us to that clinic when you took us out of Chicago, Duke? Won’t Tuck and Harley be recognized by someone? There are armed guards there, too.”
Duke had been thinking along the same lines. It was the reason why he couldn’t join them. He had been there too many times and would easily be recognized.
“I definitely can’t go in,” Duke said rubbing the scar on his face.
“It’s been three years since I was there, nobody is going to remember me,” said Harley. “I could be the patient. He can drive me to the clinic instead.”
“Is that okay with you, Tuck?” asked Jake.
The young man nodded his head, “I guess that makes me the one to nosey around, eh?”
“I get the feeling it won’t be the first time you’ve been prowling around places uninvited,” Jake was alluding to Tuck’s past life on the streets.
“Nope, but I promise it will be the last. I’ve lost my enthusiasm for it.”
“Okay, let’s put our heads together and form the rest of Plan A. We also need to have a Plan B, just in case,” said Lloyd.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
As the two doctors were about to perform their delicate procedure, a red light flashed brightly throughout the room. Henry Brubaker immediately stopped what he was doing, along with his assistant. It was a warning there had been a breach of security. Doctor Boyd removed his mask and gloves, looked apologetically at Henry, then left the room.
The old man switched off
the machines they were about to use and sighed, gazing sadly at the woman lying before him. Her breathing was shallow but steady. He tried to imagine that she was just sleeping and gently closed up the open wound on her scalp. Laying a sterile gauze strip over it, Henry reached into a drawer and took out a wig of blonde hair, arranging it on top of the dressing. Framing her face with the soft, wavy tresses, Henry kissed her forehead, tears in his eyes.
“I am so very sorry, my dear, after all these years for it to come to this. I tried my best but it just wasn’t good enough. Please forgive me.
The door opened and Henry’s assistant hurried in with another man.
“Doctor Brubaker, Ernst has come back. A serious situation has developed. We have reason to believe there are some among the Alliance who might have broken our vow of secrecy,” Boyd said.
“Ernst, I thought you were well on your way. You knew we would be joining you tomorrow, there was no need for you to take such a risk. Besides, I don’t think I will be able to go with you after all,” said Henry.
“Please, Doctor Brubaker, we must hurry. I have spent this past week organizing your transport and the safe keeping of your life’s work. I was told just before I boarded the plane for New York that I must return and personally see to it that you and Boyd leave immediately. There is no time to lose, tomorrow is too late. We must go now.”
While Ernst was speaking Doctor Boyd walked around the trolley that held the woman’s duplicate brain. He carefully placed it back into its glass case, which he put inside a large container on wheels. After pressing a few buttons and making sure they were switched on, he turned to Henry and pleaded with him to go with them.
“See what I have here, Henry. We can bring this with us. We can still carry on with our experiments. You are so close now, surely you don’t want to give up yet.”
“I want to thank you Ernst, for inviting us to a place where our work is appreciated. I am old and tired. My place is here, now. Take Doctor Boyd with you, he knows as much as I do and can carry on from where I have left off.”
Ernst stepped forward and took Henry firmly by the arm.
“I am sorry, Doctor Brubaker, but those are not my orders. You must come with me now, our transport is waiting. If you refuse to cooperate then you will suffer the consequences.”
“Wait Ernst, maybe we should bring Megan along with us. She might be useful, her DNA I mean,” said Boyd.
He knew that Ernst would never leave Henry or his granddaughter alive to identify him. Although he had agreed to give her a lethal injection before their planned departure the following morning, Doctor Boyd had no intention of carrying that out. With Ernst out of the picture it would have been easy to give her enough serum to induce a short coma. This would give them plenty of time to be well out of harm’s way and to inform her parents of her whereabouts.
“I have been ordered to personally see to it that no evidence is left behind. That includes any witnesses who could connect me with this chamber. However, what you say makes sense. If we bring the girl with us then we have left no evidence and she would certainly be a good specimen for your research. Don’t you agree, Doctor Brubaker?” Ernst smiled callously at Henry.
The old man was visibly weary and confused. Doctor Boyd made the decision for him by getting a wheelchair and filling a syringe with a drug. He entered the room where Megan lay unconscious on the floor and gave her the shot that would keep her from waking up. Gently lifting her into the wheelchair, he covered her with a mask and gown. Placing a blanket around her body, he wheeled her towards the elevator calling for Ernst to bring the old doctor with him, along with the organ transport case.
Stopping at Henry’s office, Boyd collected another smaller organ case that had been connected to the power supply. It was charged and ready to be moved. They all left by the back door, where an ambulance was waiting for them. Henry, who had become anxious and even more confused, had to be sedated and was strapped into a stretcher beside his sleeping granddaughter. Just before he lost consciousness, he turned to look at Megan.
“Sleep well, Rebecca. I will be here at your side when you wake up, my dear,” he whispered.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
As Tuck neared the gates of the Brubaker clinic an ambulance rushed towards him, sirens blaring. He pulled in to give it room and the vehicle sped by, almost touching their van.
“I hope they make it in time for whoever is waiting for them. Glad it’s not me, that’s one crazy driver,” Harley remarked.
“Well, let’s hope your acting is good enough to convince the doctors here that they need to keep you in, or we will have to resort to Plan B,” said Tuck.
“Remind me what Plan B is.”
“We never got round to making one, Harley.”
“Then I will just have to put on an Oscar winning performance, won’t I?”
Tuck drove right up to the front entrance, the brakes screeching to a halt. Jumping out of the van, he raced around to the passenger side. Shouting for help, he staggered backwards taking Harley’s weight on his shoulder. Two nurse running with a stretcher followed a doctor outside. Tuck answered questions that were fired at him as Harley was wheeled, groaning in agony, through the sliding glass doors. Satisfied with the information they had been given, the medical team wheeled Harley into a cubicle and asked Tuck to move the van and report to reception.
Having parked up at the rear of the clinic, Tuck ran back to the front entrance. At reception he filled in forms for his friend and was asked why he hadn’t brought him to the county hospital, which was not too far from the clinic.
“I didn’t know it was so close. We’re not from round here, we were on our way to a concert when my friend got sick. He looked in such bad shape, it scared me. I saw the sign for the clinic and turned in. Sorry for any inconvenience I’ve caused.” Tuck felt his own performance deserved an Oscar.
The nurse at reception gave him a friendly smile.
“That’s okay. Go down the corridor to the waiting room and we’ll let you know how your friend is as soon as the doctor has finished examining him. It could be a while, as they will probably run some tests so you might as well grab a coffee while you wait. There’s a vending machine in the room.”
Tuck thanked her as he left the desk. Being sure he had enough time to snoop around, he walked straight past the open door of the waiting room. If anyone asked what he was doing wandering around the clinic, he could always say he was lost. A crackling in his ear made him wince. It was Jake Matthews’s voice.
“Tuck, can you hear me. We lost the connection for a while.”
Jake, Lloyd and Duke were in the back of the van parked outside.
“I can hear you fine now. Is the camera working?” asked Tuck.
There was a chuckle from Jake.
“Hah, I guess so but all we can see is your feet. Can you adjust it?”
Tuck unpinned the badge on the pocket of his shirt and straightened it.
“How’s that? What am I looking at?” Tuck asked.
“A fire extinguisher. Now move on along the corridor and look for Brubaker’s office. Duke said it should be near the pharmacy.”
Jake was getting nervous for the two young men inside the clinic. From what he could gather, the place should be crawling with guards. A lot of wealthy clients were treated there. They would expect a tighter security operation than the average clinic provided.
“Tuck, how many guards have you seen so far?”
“None, Jake, except an old guy asleep in a chair at reception. Last time I was here there were at least four, all armed. I’ve found the pharmacy. The door is open but there’s nobody inside and next to it is Henry Brubaker’s office. Do you want me to knock on the office door?”
“Go ahead, Tuck. Ask about Harley if someone is in there. Just say something along the lines of wanting to talk to a doctor about your friend,” said Jake.
The three men watched as a door opened on the screen. As there had been no reply to his knock, Tuck entere
d the room. Duke remembered being in that office, just once, with one of the doctors who worked in the clinic.
“Tuck, search through the drawers and look for a keycard. I remember seeing one clipped onto a doctor’s pocket when I was there.”
“I wish you were here now, Duke, to keep an eye on the door for me.”
That gave Lloyd an idea and he spoke into the microphone.
“Tuck, unpin your badge and place it on the fire extinguisher in the corridor, we can watch out for any one coming but it will only be from one direction.”
“I’ll face it back the way I came. The guard at reception might wake up and decide to do a tour of duty down this corridor.”
Feeling a bit more confident, Tuck returned to the office and searched every drawer. There was nothing significant that stood out and the safe, which was in plain view, was locked.
“I think I’m wasting my time, anything important is probably in the safe. No keys here, either. What do you want me to do now, Jake?” asked Tuck.
“Go on back to the waiting room. We are going to check in with Wolf and see how he is getting on, then get back to you. Be careful, son.”
As he pinned the badge back onto his pocket, Tuck smiled at how many times recently he had been called that. In all the years he lived with his own father, not once did he ever address him as “son.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
As Wolf checked the engine of the van, Jake filled him in on the situation at the clinic. Wolf spoke quietly, his head down, in case anyone was watching.
“I can hear you fine, can you hear me okay?”
Jake assured him they could and asked if he had seen any sign of Henry Brubaker.
“The cook said he was at the clinic. When I asked about Megan she told me she seems to have disappeared very suddenly, without even saying goodbye. Her grandfather had found a note on his desk from her, informing him that she needed to get away for a while and spend some time alone. The strange thing is, one of the cleaners found a parcel that Megan was going to send to Amelia. Henry gave it to the cook asking her to post it today, with specific instructions not to send it by courier. Why would he want it to take longer to get there?” asked Wolf.
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