“Easy now,” a voice soothed. “You are back. Calm down and look around. You are here with me, and we are alone. I believe, however, if these walls were not sound proofed, we would now have an army in here with us.”
Dr. Blakely looked up into Thomas Connor’s concerned face with a growing realization of where she was. He released her. She stepped away from him, clutching her arms around her upper body, searching the room around her for remnants of rats, and beetles. She collapsed on the couch behind her, crying in relief and residual fear, covering her face in her hands. Connor watched her recover little by little with admiration. She took out a handkerchief and blew her nose. She wiped her face, and straightened her dress. Karen Blakely looked up finally at her host.
“You should let me know if you wish to see me,” Connor said quietly. He sat down next to her and held out his hand. “I am Thomas Connor, which I assume you already know, and you would be?”
“Ka. Karen Blakely,” she answered shakily as she grasped his hand. He held her hand without releasing it for a moment. Warmth, and comfort, flowed through her. Energy gathered within her body, and the horrific image of rats and beetles receded to nothing. Connor released her hand.
“You were observing me today Ms. Blakely.”
“How did you know.never mind. I work for Mr. Quenton. I was recruited out of Harvard ten years ago to join him in the agency. My principal field, behavior modification, was the reason I observed you today and a couple of times in the past.” Karen watched Connor lean back smiling and nod.
“Go on Doctor.”
And she did. Karen Blakely talked for the next hour and a half, revealing things to Thomas Connor she had not told her closest friends or family. She told him of her dreams and ambitions. She explained how she thought they should be in control of him, rather than let him control them. Karen tried to stop talking, but his eyes compelled her to go on. With each new revelation, she felt a warmth flow into her. Finally she stopped, when nothing remained for her to say.
“Quenton warned you not to do this, didn’t he,” Connor asked.
“Yes,” she replied, finally able to avoid his eyes.
“Karen,” Connor paused, “may I call you Karen?”
She nodded and he went on. “You should pay more attention to Mr. Quenton. He is an honorable man, and he wishes to protect you from yourself. I can see in this instance he had to step aside, and let you learn this lesson on your own. I am glad it did not cost you your sanity. How do you feel?”
Karen blinked at the question as she formulated an answer. “I feel wonderful Thomas, thank you.”
Connor laughed briefly. “Sorry my dear, but the feeling of euphoria you feel will take a while to dissipate. I do not want any of the leftovers, from your entrance into my aura, to creep you out later.”
“You bastard,” Karen said angrily.
“Uh oh, maybe I better hold your hand a bit longer.”
Karen jerked back away from him, although he had not moved to touch her. “What did you do to me? What in hell are you?”
Connor laughed at her again, “Karen, I did not enter your room without permission. I certainly did not wish you any harm. Get over yourself, and tell me what you want. I am sure Quenton told you honesty would indeed be the best policy with me.”
“Fuck you, you bastard,” Karen hissed. “I’ll.”
Connor grabbed her hand, and momentarily the rats and beetles returned. He allowed her to jerk her hand back in horror. Her composure had again crumpled, and he glimpsed the little frightened girl within. She ruefully met his eyes as she rubbed the hand he had grasped.
“Do not threaten me Ms. Blakely,” he whispered. “I admire your courage; but at some point, courage becomes stupidity. You can only impress me with knowledge. I am way beyond threats of force. I am not a Care Bear, nor will I ever be one. If you seek to bend me to whatever will you have or envision, you will fail.”
“I am not afraid of you Mr. Connor,” Karen said haltingly.
Connor smiled, “I saw a joke once in Playboy magazine where a young woman was forced to orgasm, because she did not believe the young man in front of her could make her do it with only his eyes.”
He had her. She could not look away. The pleasure of his eyes enveloped her. The desire for him built within her until she exploded in an orgasm she had not thought possible. She shook and clutched herself, physically unable to resist the sensations coursing through her mind and body. She cried softly.
“Don’t cry Karen. Although you could not help it, you upset me a little. I’ll tell you what. Do not invade my space, and I will not invade yours. You can pretend like I am your lab rat, but never for a moment try and treat me like it. Remember, I can know you right down to the color of toilet paper you use, and when you use it. I am not an evil force, but I will not be used in the manner you had envisioned. Are we clear about that?”
Karen’s world lay in shambles around her. None of what she believed existed any longer. The image she had of herself had been crushed easily by this man. She looked at him now with fear and respect. This man could destroy her without a thought, just as Quenton had warned her. She had never believed a man could bring her pleasure, yet this one had, without even touching her. The residual pleasure he had caused her still made her tremble. She nodded her understanding. He helped her to her feet and then to the door.
She stopped just outside his door and looked back. “Can I see you again?”
Connor watched her for a moment before speaking. “You are a good person inside Karen, but never come to me again without asking. You may observe me in secrecy all you wish. Never enter a room I am in without my permission. Can you do that?”
“Yes.”
“Very well Karen, goodnight.” Connor closed the door, leaving the Doctor more alone than she had ever been before.
Quenton found her in her office the next morning, typing furiously on her computer keyboard. He breathed a huge sigh of relief and walked over to her desk. Quenton sat down and waited for her to finish. She looked up moments later. Dr. Blakely blushed under Quenton’s concerned gaze.
“You need not have come to tell me I told you so.”
“I would never do that Karen,” Quenton replied honestly. “I cannot tell you how relieved I am you are still alive and in your right mind.”
Karen leaned back in her chair, “I do not know about the right mind part Derek, but I am still alive. You were right about everything. Connor functions as a force of nature, not a man. I was a fool to even think for a moment we could control him. He knew what I planned instantly, and nearly drove me to the brink of insanity by accident. I can observe him whenever I like, but I must seek his permission to enter into the same room with him. You will have to have him killed somehow.”
“Really Karen,” Quenton replied in confusion, “Connor presents no danger to our work as long as we remain truthful in our dealings with him. I do not know what he did to you, but it could have been much worse. How would we go about killing him anyhow?”
“A bomb if need be.”
“And if he senses it? What then my dear Dr. Blakely? Tell me of your experience with him Karen, which would make you so vengeful.”
“He humiliated me.”
“Definitely a crime punishable by death.”
“What if he decides to take out a world leader, or a President he thinks does not measure up?”
“You mean to carry out a pre-emptive death sentence on him because of what he might do? We give murderers and child molesters better treatment.”
“Did you see the papers today Derek?”
“No, I was too worried about you. I came right over to your office as soon as I got here.”
Karen took a newspaper off of the shelf behind her and placed it in front of Quenton. The headlines read eighteen dead in gang related tragedy. He skimmed the story for a moment and knew it to be Connor’s work. He began to hand it back to Karen, but she pointed at another story at the bottom of the page concerning
a Devon Lewis, found dead with his skull crushed and his legs taped together.
“They found Mr. Lewis in between the gang’s hangout and here. Mr. Lewis, the article states, had been rumored to be the leader of the now deceased gang from the top of the page. Do you think this might be a coincidence Sir?”
Quenton sighed. “No, I do not. I also know we do not have him here for him to read criminals their Miranda rights.”
“So you just ignore our little combination judge, jury, and executioner?”
“You just don’t listen Karen. What would you have me do other than try to guide him? You called him a force of nature. What would we do with a hurricane, if we could communicate with it? We would try to direct it to a place where the least innocent victims would be affected. We could not stop it. Influencing it would be the best we could hope for Karen. If Connor ever found out we were trying to kill him, we would die. We would have deliberately placed ourselves in the path of a hurricane, and we would pay the price.”
“Our superiors would not agree with your assessment Derek. They will want control, or they will want him dead.”
Quenton shook his head at her in disbelief. “Please let me know when you plan on going over my head Karen, so I can at least have a head start out of the area with my family.”
“You would inform him of it?”
Quenton laughed, “Connor would not need me to warn him, and he certainly would not need my help. He would find out soon enough who betrayed him, and God help you when he does.”
Karen remembered the cellar full of rats and beetles. She shuddered visibly. Seeing this, Quenton began to have hope. “I see you have had a taste of what he can do on a personal level,” Quenton said. “I do not envy you the experience, but you better keep it in mind when you think of betraying Connor.”
Karen stood and turned away for a moment. “What do you think should be done then?”
“I don’t know Karen, but it will not have anything to do with controlling, lying, or using. If we help him to do what he seems to know to be right, we will probably be okay. If the pressure gets to be too much, or I find myself at odds with Thomas, I will tell him goodbye. I will take my family and find a place to live a long ways away.”
“What could I do?”
“I can get you into another department or you can help me with Thomas. Your study can be valuable in charting his progress, and letting us know if he begins to change in a bad way.”
“And if he changes in a bad way?”
“We say goodbye and go on a road trip.”
“If he lets us.”
“You are beginning to get it. Yes Karen, if he lets us. I could sure use a person I can trust in on this, who knows the risks.”
Karen nodded, “I’m in. Are you going to see him this morning?”
“Right now as a matter of fact. Would you like to come?”
“Yes, but if he does not answer the door when you knock, take some advice and come back later.”
Quenton laughed, “I’m glad you will be staying. Come on, let’s go see Mr. Connor.”
Chapter 5 Direction
Quenton knocked on Connor’s door. The door handle turned and the door swung quietly back against its stops. Quenton had expected to see Thomas at the door, but Connor sat at his small kitchen table, sipping from a coffee cup. Without looking up from the book he was reading, Connor gestured for Quenton to come in.
“Good morning Derek.”
Quenton walked into the room. Karen followed, but as she began to cross the threshold, the feeling of tiny beetle legs on her skin stopped her cold. Connor looked up and smiled.
“Hello Karen, good of you to join us this morning.”
She had stepped back out a step and the terrible feeling left her. Karen looked into Connor’s smiling face and blushed. She quickly looked at her feet and asked, “May I come in Mr. Connor.”
“Why of course Karen, come in and sit down with us.”
This time when she crossed the threshold, the feeling of well-being returned to her. Connor shook hands with Quenton and motioned for him to sit down. He went into his tiny living room and brought a chair for Karen to sit down. He offered her his hand and she shook it reluctantly. Desire swept through her momentarily as he guided her into her seat and then released her hand.
“Would you two like some coffee? I just made a fresh pot.”
“Yes, thank you Thomas,” Quenton replied. Karen nodded affirmatively and Connor placed two cups of steaming coffee in front of them, along with a small milk pitcher and a bowl of sugar. He placed two spoons on napkins by their cups and sat down. Connor folded his hands in front of him and leaned over the table comfortably.
“I read in the paper you were rather busy last night,” Quenton began.
“Yes, I accomplished quite a bit last night. I even met your lovely assistant Karen last night. She came over while I was journeying to check up on the lead I received from the gang.”
“Did you really have to kill them all Thomas?” Quenton asked.
“We do not really need to go over that ground again Derek. They died to make the city safer: a noble, albeit reluctant, sacrifice on their part. I found a French connection to this dirty business. The gang leader Devon kindly gave me the name of his contact. A man named Pierre runs the kidnapping operation from a base in France. From there he directs the victims through
Mexico and South America to their final destinations. They never get into the air until they are in a less conscientious country. Pierre only handles orders and pickup. He directs others after that.”
“You have been busy,” Quenton said as he sipped his coffee. “You make excellent coffee. What can I do to help you in this and will you still be available for interrogations?”
“I need a very, very good computer in here with modem hookup. I do believe in your work here Derek. I will continue to interrogate anyone you bring in.”
“Uh.can I depend on you to try and leave them alive afterwards. I mean. you won’t be executing all the prisoners now, will you? That may make my job here tenuous at best.”
Connor laughed, “As you know, Mr. Hutchison struck a nerve. I will exercise more restraint on your behalf from now on.”
“Excellent Thomas,” Quenton said happily.
“Mr. Connor, what do you plan to do with a computer?” Karen asked.
“I plan on taking every cent Pierre has to his name, and putting it into an account of mine.”
“So, this whole thing is.”
“Careful there Karen,” Connor interrupted. “You intend to jump off the cliff of false conclusions. The victims I manage to find will need a new start on life. I will need a separate source of money for my endeavors, which does not reflect back on you two.”
“I will get it done right away,” Quenton agreed. “What about codes.”
Connor held up his hand, “I’ll get whatever I need before I log on, but I will need to bounce my signals around to prevent any problems.”
“How will you be able to travel around and poke into other countries’ business without drawing attention?” Karen asked. “You will light up like a beacon.”
“I can manage,” Connor replied in perfect French; and then repeated the same sentence in Chinese, Vietnamese, Russian, Italian and Spanish.”
“Simply astonishing,” Quenton laughed. “Just another small trick you do like opening the door without moving?”
“Yes,” Connor replied. “I can speak any language or any dialect of a particular language. I found out Pierre gets money from a Red Chinese connection. I have not found out yet if it has anything to do with the slave trade, drugs, or technology.”
“Technology,” Quenton repeated. “You mean defense secrets or just industrial type stuff?”
“All of the above. I looked over Pierre’s books with him on his computer last night. He subcontracts the drug trade to another bunch in Mexico, but he gets material and funding from the Chinese. Pierre pays money into Swiss Bank accounts for a numbe
r of agents he has working within our Commerce, Energy, and Defense departments; all on behalf of the Chinese.”
“My God Thomas,” Quenton exclaimed, “how did they get them into the loop?”
Thomas laughed. “You have not been paying much attention to current events, have you? As soon as you get me hooked up here, I will begin to relieve monsieur Pierre of a large bit of his fortune.”
“Don’t you think it would be better for national security if you give us the names of the people selling our secrets out?” Karen asked. “You should keep the priorities straight about what we do.”
“I guarantee Ms. Blakely if you were one of the young women being taken off the street and sold into slavery, you would have a different attitude. I will confirm who the traitors are when Derek here gets me set up. I will take everything they have, and then I will take care of them.”
“You mean murder them?” She persisted.
“I hear a tone of voice I find offensive Karen. While I do not mind discussion, and I welcome any constructive input you might have, remember whom I represent here. The best interests of slave traders, drug dealers, traitors, and enemy foreign countries do not impress me.”
“Do you wish to create your own credentials or do you wish me to provide you with them?” Quenton asked.
“Now you are talking Derek,” Connor replied. “I would rather have the materials myself, and keep you out of the nuts and bolts stuff. Every request from you on my behalf will bring more unnecessary scrutiny.”
“What if you get caught?” Karen asked, and then shook her head. “Forget I asked that. Can you do all of what you want without leaving any trail at all?”
“I believe I can. If I make a mistake in that vein, whoever discovers it will not be able to trace it back here.”
“It sounds like you have many of the details worked out as to starting this operation Thomas,” Quenton observed. “The FBI wish to drop off a woman they have taken into custody, concerning the disappearance of a ten year old boy. They will be here with her in about twenty minutes. Would you get into your suit and meet them. Secondly, can you let her live no matter what you find out? If this one dies in our custody, there will be repercussions. By the time you are through, I will have your room set up.”
American Mutant Page 3