Veil of Justice, Shadows of Justice Book 3

by Regan Black

  "I am ever your happy guinea pig." He cleared his throat. "Did Kristoff tag Kelly too?"

  His sister blanched and Nathan used his telekinesis to whisk a chair to her side. "Are you okay, Pet?"

  "Thanks," she said, sinking into the chair. "I'm just not ready to believe Kristoff is operating at full strength already."

  Nathan wasn't sure that was the real issue, but he wasn't feeling strong enough to breach Petra's mind. "He was causing all kinds of hell when I went undercover." He studied his sister's face, picking up on the clues. "Kelly said he came after you." It was his worst nightmare to have his work putting his family at risk.

  "The reverse actually. Well, not really." Was she blushing? "A little of both is the most accurate answer.

  "I thought I was losing my mind and my gift," she began. She shared bits and pieces, filled in the blanks, and he cringed frequently during her recitation.

  "Remind me to thank Gideon when I'm up and able."

  "What, you don't want to kill him anymore?"

  "Didn't say that."

  "Moving on," she said with an aggrieved sigh. "I've continued researching Kristoff and his connections. And I've stumbled on a few things we can talk about later. For now, let's get you feeling better."

  "Good plan." He winced again, as another icy lance of pain pierced his temple. "Where's that list of plants?"

  She pulled a small notebook out of her pocket. He laughed. "Still afraid of the modern conveniences?"

  "Of course not," she snapped. "If you'd put half as much energy into your health as you put to irritating me, you'd be walking by now."

  Nathan laughed, but he was terribly afraid she was wrong.

  * * *

  Kelly heard Nathan's laughter, and the steady voice Petra used with tough clients. She hoped Petra never discovered the truth about Nathan's mental connection to her, though unless she left right now, she'd be hard pressed to explain her presence at the breakout.

  She sighed. It was too late to lie and she sucked at it anyway. Her father –

  The raw emotion associated with her father brought her to tears. She blinked furiously until she regained control. She'd promised herself grieving time when the map box was secure again. Maybe her uncle could point her in the right direction.

  Though Nathan had promised to help her, she wouldn't hold him to it. Not only was his physical condition sketchy, she was frightened of the talents he'd demonstrated while they were running. Who could drive a car by memory, with a remembered map as well? And the little choking stunt in the car made her wary. He was an unknown commodity and a risk her personal mission couldn't afford.

  He'd nearly killed her. While she cared for him more than was practical, it sounded like he was safe. He could recover with family and friends, maybe get a little psychiatric help for that black-out-and-choke-your-rescuer problem and she could move on. It was for the best.

  Really.

  It was time to make her investigation the priority. She threw back the sheet and swung her feet over the bed. They dangled, the curse of being short, so she hopped down. Except her head swam and her knees buckled, dumping her in a graceless heap.

  "Miss!" a nurse in a stark-white uniform nurse rushed over. She was a very young woman with coffee-colored skin and odd golden eyes. "You must be more careful."

  A timely warning. "Yeah, I noticed." When Kelly was steady, leaning against the bed, she glanced around the room looking for a clock or calendar, but any clues to her location were conspicuously absent.

  The fresh, mildly antiseptic scent, new bed, crisp sheets, and upgraded peripheral furniture screamed private hospital. They couldn't possibly be selling fast service if they hid the clocks from their patients.

  "Where am I?"

  "You are in Chicago General Hospital."

  The nurse was lying. Oh, they might be in Chicago, but Kelly had done volunteer work at Chicago General. Great place, but they didn't boast suites like this. She'd love to know how she got wherever she was, but she didn't think this mouse of a nurse would tell her if she did know.

  "How long have I been here?"

  "They assigned me to you yesterday morning, miss."

  A statement open to many interpretations. "Am I in any danger?" she asked.

  "From disease?"

  Not really the point, but it was a start. "Sure."

  "No, miss. No danger from disease."

  Well, that was something. And Nathan was in the next room, visiting with Petra, so they were most likely in Chicago and couldn't be in too much trouble. Unless.

  "Is this a police ward?"

  The nurse positively hooted with laughter. "No! Oh, no, miss," she sputtered between guffaws. It took several moments for the nurse to regain her composure. "They tell me you are here as a guest of Jaden Michaels."

  "Oh." No comfort there. Kelly had deceived Petra, and most likely caused her former boss significant concern. Jaden wouldn't take those offenses lightly.

  "Your blood results were perfect, too," the nurse added with a beaming smile.

  Kelly turned away until she could get her face under control. They surely ordered more than the typical labs for cell counts and antibodies and with her DNA they would soon find she didn't really exist. Not on their systems anyway.

  "May I have a shower then?" she managed after a moment.

  "Certainly, miss. This way."

  Kelly became an instant fan of Jaden and her creative resources. On her way to the bathroom, she'd passed a bank of windows. While the run down cityscape was hardly inspiring, this infirmary – she'd never believe she was in an actual hospital – boasted every convenience. Right now, the real, running water was her favorite.

  In the rural area where she'd grown up, water hadn't been regulated and while she'd gotten used to the ionic variety after a few years in the city, she was grateful for the singular feel of the clean, fresh wet pouring over her skin.

  She knew she should make it quick, but it was so nice to wash off the stress of escape and evasion. So she lingered, tipping her face into the spray and hoping a little grief went down the drain too.

  After drying herself with a luxurious terry bath sheet better suited to a fine hotel, she opened a jar of body cream and sighed. A rich blend of botanicals tempted her and she rubbed the shea butter balm into her aching muscles, marveling again at the healer's power. Mira had erased all trace of the bullet's path through her leg. If Kelly hadn't washed the blood out of her combat gear, she would've thought she'd dreamed the whole thing.

  But now she was in one piece, Nathan was safe, and the original goal of freeing him so he could help her was shot. They should part ways.

  He had his family and after action reports to write. She had seven deaths to avenge and an imperative secret to recover. She would say her goodbyes and move on.

  Before that DNA result came back.

  She would find her uncle, who hopefully knew where to find the real map box, and get back on task protecting her family and their secrets. Her mind sorted details like transportation, food, and clothing while she traded her towel for a robe by the bathroom door. Ready to ask the nurse for her clothes, she was startled to find the sick room occupied.

  Jaden sat in the visitor's chair, her feet casually propped on the hospital bed. Her fingers were busy with a cell card, but the rest of her, from her long blond braid to her scuffed boots looked thoroughly at ease.

  "You took your time." Her green eyes flashed hot in a dangerous contradiction to her cool voice. "Feeling better?"

  "Yes, thank you," Kelly replied.

  "Good. Your presence is required in the kitchen." She rolled to her feet with cat-like grace, then reached down for several shopping bags. "Petra thought you needed a fresh start."

  Kelly recognized the logo from the elite Water Tower Place. Anything inside those bags was far more generous than she needed. An itch started between her shoulders, a weird combination of discomfort, gratitude, and worry. "I had some things in the Mustang."

&nb
sp; Jaden simply stared, unrelenting, making Kelly's itch worse. "Now you have new things. Get dressed so we can get moving. People are waiting on you."

  "What is this place?"

  "You're in Slick Micky's place."

  Kelly gaped, forgetting the wealth of clothing. "The smuggler's hideout?"

  Jaden nodded. "Didn't you notice the coffee in the air?"

  She hadn't. The room started to spin a little. How odd, when she'd felt fine a moment ago.

  "Hey. None of that. Sit down," Jaden ordered, jumping up to steady her.

  Kelly obeyed, thinking how her straight-laced mother would react to know she was under the protection of the most notorious full-caff coffee and real sugar dealer. If she ever got this whole mess resolved, it was a conversation she'd savor. "How does he hide all this?" she asked, amazed.

  Jaden's stern expression melted into an amused half-grin. "I can't give away all his secrets. Let's just say business is good and he takes care of his mules."

  "Mules?"

  Jaden amusement turned wary. "You know, the people who haul smuggled goods?"

  "Oh. Don't they mind the reference?"

  "Why care when it comes with these sorts of perks?" she gestured to encompass the whole set up.

  Kelly could see the attraction for women who might not have other options or resources. Living in the city was expensive and dangerous. "Working for Micky is safe?"

  "As safe as it gets around here." Jaden laughed, settling back into the chair, propping her feet up on the bed again. "So, tell me, how safe are you?"

  Kelly blinked. "I don't know what you mean." She tugged at the tie on her robe.

  "Sure you do. It took us three days to find you and Nathan after the escape alert went out. When we did find you, Nathan was in a daze and you were being strangled by an invisible hand."

  Kelly touched her throat, remembering.

  "We had to sedate you, since the second you got some air, you went after Nathan. So I'm here to find out if you're friend or foe."

  "I was Petra's assistant!" Kelly stood up, pacing away from the confrontation. "You know me. She trusts me."

  "Trusted," Jaden countered. "You disappeared with a great deal of information and stole a car."

  Kelly didn't need any reminders and the guilt shadowing her didn't need any help. Suddenly the posh medical suite looked more like a pretty prison. She'd had enough. Her own agenda was more important than the opinions of the uninformed masses.

  "Am I free to go?"

  Jaden studied her, the examination stretching out, until Kelly nearly snapped.

  "Petra wants to speak with you. She's concerned. And she seems to think you can answer a few things about her brother's paralysis –"

  "What?" Her eyes darted to the door between their rooms where she'd heard Nathan talking with Petra. "He was better. He flatlined, I revived him, and he was totally better."

  Jaden arched a brow. Kelly wanted to slap the arrogance off her face.

  "He's paralyzed again now. He had no motor control when we pulled him out of that Mustang."

  Kelly refused to comment. Jaden clearly believed she'd done something to Nathan and no amount of protesting would change her mind. Though she worried about what had really happened, she folded her arms across her chest and asked again, "Am I free to go?"

  But her eyes were on the connecting door once more.

  "Yes, Kelly, he's in there. But I won't let you see him before you meet with Petra. Will I have to dress you myself?" Jaden finished with a snap.

  Kelly looked around, certain this wasn't any simple residence. "Just tell me where I'm going and I'll be there in a minute."

  "Oh, no." Jaden's eyes narrowed. "You lost that privilege six months ago. I'm not letting you out of my sight."

  Her temper surged to meet challenge. "As if I've been out of your sight since you picked us up. This place has a net tighter than NORAD." Jaden blinked and Kelly caught the smidge of respect in her eyes before it was doused by that cool composure.

  With no sign of her own clothes, Kelly resigned herself to Petra's gifts. Pulling what she needed from the shopping bag, she dressed her bottom half under the robe, then turned her back on Jaden to don a bra and a remarkably soft, long sleeved tee shirt in a rosy color. In another time and place, she'd indulge the urge to sink into the fabric, but not in front of a hard audience like Jaden.

  "Shoes?" she asked.

  Jaden's mouth tipped up on one side and she turned to the door. "You won't need them. Let's go."

  In other words, she'd get shoes when Jaden trusted her. It would be awhile.

  She followed Jaden out of the room and into a brightly lit corridor. The tile was cool under her feet as they passed several closed doors on both sides before the corridor gave way to an atrium. The unexpected burst of nature was lush and beautiful, and topped with a peaked, frosted glass roof. Various shades of green were broken by bright pops of flowers and the scents of the garden made you forget about the clinical antiseptic. There was only one sort of place in Chicago that could pull this off.

  At the elevators, Kelly vocalized her awe. "Slick Micky has everything."

  Jaden's mouth curved into a wry smile. "You're smart. I'll give you that."

  Smart enough to leave despite recriminations and repercussions. She didn't feel the need to give Jaden those explanations any more than Jaden felt the need to give her shoes.

  "He put us in suites on the third floor. Pet and Gideon are in 325. It's our current staging area."

  The elevator took them down and this time the hall was carpeted and the air was redolent with coffee. Jaden entered 325 without knocking and walked straight back to the kitchen. Behind her Kelly blinked.

  The small, modern space had been turned into a low-rent laboratory. Beakers, bowls, and ingredients congregated on one countertop, while the other people in the room contemplated a list in a hologram that seemed to sprout from a potato.

  "What's all this?" Kelly asked no one in particular.

  "They hijacked my old recipe holder," Petra complained. "Oh, Kelly, it's so good to see you again." She beamed and held her arms wide. "Come here."

  Kelly obliged, rounding the counter, only to stop at the sight of Petra's rounded belly. "Oh. Wow. Umm. Congratulations." The last was said as Petra simply enveloped her.

  The physical contact was more surprising than the pregnancy. It was the type of greeting Petra normally avoided at all costs. Kelly fought the urge to wriggle free so she wouldn't overwhelm Petra with her recent memories and emotions, but the woman seemed determined to greet her properly.

  Jaden was all business. "Nathan was injected with Paracuron. We got a tip about an antidote, but only the ingredients, not the proportions."

  "I was hoping you might help," Petra said.

  Kelly was confused by Pet's warm welcome. Her former boss had a right to treat her coolly after she disappeared. At some point, Kelly would have to explain, but she wasn't quite ready, even if she'd known how to put the words together.

  Was there an easy way to say, 'You were getting too close to unveiling secrets my family would die to keep? Oh, and I stole your brother's car to get away because I was infatuated with him.' It all sounded so lame inside her head.

  "Kelly?"

  "Pardon?" She blinked, looking in turn at each of the faces staring back at her. Jaden and Petra the most daring, strong women in Kelly's acquaintance and they were well matched with their tough, handsome husbands. She hadn't seen any of them since they'd sent her back to Petra's office last spring. At the moment, all of them wore expressions of grave concern.

  "Did I say something?"

  "Nothing helpful," Jaden said. "We found herbs and stuff inside Nathan's car. A couple of them match this list. Care to explain?"

  Kelly knew they were all good people; she just hadn't planned on dealing with a team. She focused on the common goal of making Nathan better. "I didn't know what to expect, so I brought a variety of supplies. You make it sound like I'm dealing fu
ll-caff coffee or something when I've never seen this list."

  Jaden crossed her arms and waited.

  Kelly tried again. "Those weren't drugs in the car. Well, not exactly."

  "Then what exactly?"

  "You sound like my mother," Kelly snapped.

  "So you do have one then."

  "Stop it," Petra said, coming between them. "You're worse than the guys."

  Gideon and Brian objected, but she sent them a quelling look. Kelly admired the skill. Her brothers never shut up that quickly.

  "She's had you worried for months," Jaden said to her sister.

  Petra waved off Jaden's concern, turning to Kelly. "You broke my brother out of prison. That alone earns you some latitude. Is there anything on our list here that makes sense to you?" She turned the potato so Kelly could read it better.

  Reluctantly, Kelly moved closer to the group. It was like being swallowed by a forest. Only Petra was of average height, but even she had an inch or two over Kelly's smaller stature.

  "Is your hair blue?" Brian asked, getting Jaden's elbow in his ribs for the trouble.

  Kelly ignored him. Her black hair always took on that deep blue sheen when it was wet. Concentrating, she studied the list, trying to think like her herbalist grandmother. There were seven ingredients, the right number to lend power to the concoction. Too bad Mira wasn't around now to just lay hands on Nathan. "Who sent you this list?"

  "We're not sure," Jaden grumbled. "We've got someone trying to trace the signal back."

  Kelly hoped her next questions had answers. "Do you have the Paracuron formula yet?"

  Gideon answered. "Not entirely."

  This obviously aggravated him, because he stalked away muttering about lab rats. Petra just smiled and smoothed a hand over the swell of her pregnant belly.

  "Okay, then. Do you have a sample of Nathan's blood?" She didn't hold out much hope. From what she'd seen of Nathan's battle with the paralytic agent any clue in blood work was unlikely. Smart viruses were designed to continuously circumvent a patient's immune response.

  Petra slid a printout to Kelly. "For all the good it's done. Lorine is working on isolating the parts of Paracuron and attacking it with the ingredients on this list."