by J D Lasica
“The media and marketing magnate?” Alex interrupted.
“The same. I met Blackburn at Allen & Company.”
“Wait.” Charlie was a good reporter and always wanted to check his facts before moving on. “That’s the annual conference at Sun Valley in Idaho for multimillionaires, media titans, one percenters with luxury yachts—.”
Redman broke back in. “Very exclusive, invitation only. Blackburn had a modest proposal that, looking back, wasn’t so modest. He wanted to make a very generous contribution to the Axom Families Fund in support of homeless families—in return for a story about a glitzy new high-end resort called Fantasy Live.”
“But we don’t do pay-for-play journalism,” Alice objected.
“Ordinarily, no. But it was for charity, and it seemed harmless enough.”
Alex stepped past the bookcase and positioned himself in front of Redman. “But the Fantasy Live story was my idea.”
“Was it?” Redman looked up at him. “We seeded your in-box with intriguing headlines and wire reports about a mysterious new enterprise that would soon launch just off the coast of Florida. And with your love of VR and AR, I wasn’t surprised when I heard Alice green-lighted a story. I just didn’t expect you to turn it into an exposé.”
“So you played me.” Damn it to hell! Alex knew he could never work for a Redman publication again.
“Who else knew about this?” Charlie looked upset enough to quit on the spot.
“The corporate counsel and me, that’s all.”
Alex threw up his arms in disgust. “So all along you wanted a harmless puff piece, a publicity blast, not a real in-depth report.”
“We’d let you run with some negative details, but you’re right. For Fantasy Live, the thinking was that a little bit of scandal was good publicity.” Redman turned to face Alex. “But let me be clear. All that changed the moment you called in with news about that missing girl.”
“Changed how?”
“It turned everything. You think I knew about that? We’re not in the business of shilling for a criminal enterprise.”
“So what did you do?” Alice asked.
“Within five minutes I was on the phone with Blackburn. He claimed he didn’t know about it. He put me in touch with this eccentric strongman, Incognito.”
“Maybe a bit more than eccentric,” Charlie pointed out.
Redman turned from the window and met Charlie’s eyes with a steady gaze. “I left Incognito a series of messages promising a million-dollar payment and a pledge not to publish anything about Fantasy Live or Samana Cay in return for your release.”
“You did what?” Alex felt a rage boiling at his billionaire boss. “A secret deal, without asking us?”
“I wasn’t able to get through, so I agreed to Alice’s suggestion that the three of us visit in person, see what it would take to spring you. Your life is more important than any story.”
Alice clasped her hands and leaned forward. “But what about Bailey Finnerty, getting her back? I told her mom we knew where she was. Maybe the other girls from the Disappearance are here, too.”
“It’s a mess,” Redman agreed. “But I promised not to publish a story. I didn’t promise not to notify the FBI.”
“So you contacted them?” Charlie asked.
Redman hunched forward in his chair. “Not yet, but I plan to.”
They all went silent. Alex shook his head. Good intentions. Not worth jack.
“So now what?” Alex asked.
Redman didn’t hesitate. “The stakes have been raised—there are four of us now. Maybe they’ll ask for more money. Or maybe no amount of money on earth will work. Would they trust us not to publish if they let us go?”
“If I were them …” Alex weighed their chance of survival. “No, I wouldn’t trust us. Absolutely not.”
52
Samana Cay
Two quick knocks at the door jolted Kaden awake. She’d lost track of time and place. She barely remembered who she was or why she was tied down on a slab of wood. But she recognized the face of the man torturing her.
Savić turned toward the door. “Who’s that?”
“The Chairman.” She didn’t recognize the new voice.
At the edge of her field of vision, she saw Savić’s face tense up. He moved toward the door and she heard it open. At the same time, she sensed something was different in the room. Another person nearby. She detected the faint hum of short, quick breaths.
Someone stepped into the room. Everyone went quiet. The Chairman. The boss of bosses on Samana Cay. Even in her fevered state, even as Savić’s water torture continued to assault her, she knew the Chairman was her true enemy. Out of the bottom right corner of her eye, she spotted a figure approach the table. He was wearing a black ski mask that was doing a poor job of hiding his brown and gray beard.
“So these are the sisters that Finnerty mentioned,” a deep voice said.
“What are you talking about?” The voice of a girl lying right beside her. “I don’t have a sister.”
“Oh, this is good.” Incognito reared his head back. “Raise the table to the vertical position. I want to look them in the eye. And remove this one’s head brace, goggles, and nose clamp.”
Kaden shook her head when Savić freed her from the brace. After hours of being immobilized, every inch she moved sent ripples of pain radiating through her neck muscles.
She turned to her right and looked at Bailey Finnerty. Over the past week she had imagined the first conversation she’d have with her half-sister. Hey, sis. Too bad we didn’t know about each other. Shame we missed out on all those sisterly fights growing up. Isn’t Dad a character? Like some action movie hero. The flawed silent type but with a good heart or something.
That conversation would have to wait. She tried to smile but couldn’t. She whispered, “Bailey.” Then her eyes closed from exhaustion. Couldn’t tell if Bailey replied or understood. Guess Bo didn’t read her in on this whole having-another-daughter thing.
Incognito positioned himself in front of Bailey. “Ordinarily, I like a spitfire. But last night was your chance at redemption.”
“I’m not sorry.” Bailey’s eyes flashed a fierce, defiant shade of green. Kaden could only imagine what she’d been through these past six months.
“And this one.” Incognito stepped in front of Kaden. “Has she told you the location of the digital files with the names of the Compact?”
“Not so far,” Savić reported.
“It appears our methods are too mild.” He picked up the iron head brace to inspect it and then leaned six inches from Kaden’s face. “Why are you here, Kaden?”
“To stop you, you monster.”
Incognito let out a laugh devoid of mirth. “Another rebel. Must run in the family.”
He placed his finger under Kaden’s chin and bobbed it up. “Let’s play a game. Which Finnerty will live or die?’”
“Go to hell.” Kaden searched for saliva to spit in his face but her mouth came up dry.
“The rules are simple. In the next sixty seconds, you get to play God. You decide who lives and who dies. Your sister or your father.”
“I won’t play your game.”
“Oh, but you will. Because if you don’t, everyone loses. Now, choose.”
Kaden said nothing.
“Thirty seconds left.”
“Take me. Kill me,” Kaden said.
“I’m afraid that’s not an option. That’s a given. Either Bailey will be exposed to a fatal infectious disease. Or your father gets a bullet in the brain. Fifteen seconds, or they both die. Oh, the drama!”
“Pick me, Kaden.” Bailey teared up. “It’s okay. Don’t kill Dad.”
Kaden wasn’t sure what to do. If she didn’t choose, she was certain Incognito would make good on his threat. They’d both be dead. If she followed Bailey’s wishes and saved Bo—
“Five seconds.” Incognito pursed his lips behind his gutless ski mask.
Kaden
banged her head back against the table and let out a guttural I-want-to-gut-you growl. “Save Bailey.”
Bailey burst out crying. “Nooooo. Don’t hurt my father.”
Incognito ignored her. “Excellent. We have a decision. The father will get a bullet between the eyes.”
Kaden knew she’d never forgive herself. My own father brought me here. And now I’m responsible his death before I even get to know him.
Incognito moved over to Bailey and stroked her long dark hair. “I’ll see you in another Fantasy Live session—after we tame you.”
He nodded toward the figure in the far corner of the room. “Lucid, come with me. We have some further business. Where’s Bo Finnerty?”
“Solitary confinement in the Archery Center. Only space available.”
Incognito started toward the door when Savić signaled toward Kaden and called out, “What about her?”
Incognito paused and turned around. “Judging by the progress of the infection, she’ll be dead within the hour. See if you can persuade her to cooperate, by whatever means necessary. She’s all yours.”
The two men left the room and their footsteps faded up the cobblestone walkway.
Savić walked to a chest of drawers and removed a black leather pouch. He placed it on the counter to Kaden’s left and began removing items. She recognized some of them. A pair of carpenter's pincers. A mini-blowtorch. A carbon-steel gravity knife tucked inside a black Grim Reaper pocket folder—a small but efficient weapon. During past wars, paratroopers used the gravity knife to cut themselves free from their rigging if they landed in a tree.
Savić placed the weapons on the large portable metal tray to her left. He dipped into his pouch again and removed a case that looked like a drill bits holder. He pulled them out one by one—she recognized some of them from the time she needed a root canal. Stainless-steel dental probe. Tartar scraper. Dental pick. And the pièce de résistance, the dreaded dental drill. Dr. Mengele, call home.
“What are you gonna do to her?” Bailey yanked at her tied wrists. “Leave her alone!”
“Shut up or you’re next.” Savić rummaged in the bottom of the bag. “Ah, here it is.” He pulled out what looked like a rusted, old-fashioned crank telephone with two pairs of long, ragged-looking exposed copper wires connected to the back. He placed the thing on a new tray and wheeled it over next to the Dr. Mengele tray.
“Have you heard of the Tucker telephone?” Savić’s body stench was as foul as ever. “No? Gruesome history. In the sixties, doctors at Tucker State Prison Farm in Arkansas began using it on some of the more unruly prisoners.”
He loosened the restraints on Kaden’s wrists above her head. Her shoulder was in agony, and even a half-inch of movement was a relief.
“American soldiers liked the idea so much they used it on Vietcong prisoners.” Savić took an exposed ground wire and wrapped it around her left thumb. “All it takes is a few cranks and the battery cells shoot a nice electric shock. Next, we hot-wire the genitals. Mmmm.”
Savić lowered his head and started to unbutton her jeans.
She was almost about to pass out again, but an idea came to her. “Wait. Not in front of Bailey.”
He straightened and looked at her dead on. “No negotiating.”
She cast her eyes to the tray for just a second, but long enough for Savić to see it.
He looked down at the tray. “Are you nervous about these?” He picked up and stroked the dental pick. “I’m saving the best for later.”
She glanced at the tray again, tried to pretend she was hoping he wouldn’t see.
“Or maybe you’re concerned about something else.” He reached down to the far end of the tray and retrieved one of the contact lenses he’d removed from her eyes last night. He held it up to the light. “Bionic contact lenses. I read about these. Only a few thousand worldwide.”
“There’s nothing to see on those,” she said. And that was true. She’d programmed it to authenticate only against her own retina.
Savić smirked. “Sorry if I don’t take you at your word.”
He took the first lens, raised his face to the ceiling, and slipped it on. Then he did the same for the second lens. “If the Project Ezekiel files are on here—”
Savić let out a scream of agony. He doubled over and reached to gouge out the lenses from his eyes. But she knew it was too late. The built-in failsafe system recognized the intruder. It gathered all the ambient light in the room and amplified it to shoot directly at the optic nerve. It was the equivalent of staring at the sun during a solar eclipse. It wouldn’t permanently blind anyone but it would disorient them for several minutes.
Time enough.
She pulled her arms downward with a violent motion. She felt a sprain in both thumbs, but her hands slipped through the restraints. She reached with her left hand, grabbed the gravity knife, tossed it to her right hand. With one motion she flicked the trigger open, exposed the blade to Savić’s jugular vein, and plunged it with all her force. She wanted to make this count, so she brought the knife up to puncture the external carotid artery.
Savić’s eyes couldn’t see but they got wide. He reached to cover his throat to stem the bleeding. Blood poured from his neck down his arms and chest. She could tell the wound was fatal, but to be certain, she drove the knife up through his throat toward the half-moon scar on his forehead. He gurgled once, twice, and crumpled to the ground.
“How’d you do that?” Bailey looked a little wide-eyed. Maybe scared of her, too.
Kaden used the bloody knife to free her legs. “Let’s get you out of here.” She stepped to her left, woozy after regaining her feet, and cut the ropes from Bailey’s wrists and ankles. “Follow me. We have to find Bo.”
She retrieved her contacts from Savić’s corpse and stashed them in her pocket. She retrieved her pendant and earpiece from a corner table. Then she opened the door and was brushed back by the bright afternoon light. She shielded her eyes, feeling disoriented.
Is that Nico at the edge of the woods? Looks like Nico and three others running this way.
She took one step toward them and collapsed.
53
Samana Cay
When Kaden came to, she was sprawled on the ground where she’d collapsed. A doctor daubed the sweat and blood from her forehead. “You’ll be okay, but you need to rest,” the doctor said as she put away a hypodermic needle.
“Rachel led us to the cure,” Nico said.
Rachel smiled. “I had a feeling those green vials might do the trick. Thank you, doctor.”
“I administered a painkiller, too,” the doctor said. “But you should stay off your feet.”
Kaden looked up at the five faces above her. Nico, Bailey, the doctor, Viper from the nightclub, and this new person, Rachel. Introductions can wait.
“Let’s get you off this island,” Viper said. “We’ll take you back to my boat.”
She sat up and checked her arm. Just a dot of blood where she’d gotten the shots. She wobbled to her feet, still lightheaded. “No time. We have to find Bo before—” She looked at Bailey.
“Before they do something,” Bailey said. “He’s being held at the archery range.”
Rachel was already on her phone looking at a map of the area. “That’s less than a quarter mile from here.”
There was no way in hell Kaden was leaving without Bo. “Nico, Viper, come with me.” She took a good look at the map on Rachel’s phone and figured out the quickest route. She looked up at Rachel and nodded toward Bailey. “Can you take care of Bailey for now?”
“Consider it done,” Rachel said.
Viper offered Kaden one of the HK416s. She looked it over and decided there was nothing like an ex-Special Forces bad ass to get them out of a jam. She took it and checked the magazine. More than ample ammo.
Kaden watched Rachel and Bailey about to head off, then stopped them. She grabbed the gravity knife from her pocket and wiped Savić’s blood on her shirt. “Lean over,�
� she prompted Bailey. With one determined cut, her sister’s choker fell to the ground. Security would know the choker was removed, but they wouldn’t be able to track Bailey.
Kaden took off her necklace, removed the photo of her mother from the front of the pendant, and stashed the picture in her shirt pocket for good luck. Then she wrapped the necklace around Bailey’s neck and turned the pendant over to expose the digital display on the back. “This way I’ll know you’re safe. It’s synced to Nico’s phone so we’ll be able to video chat.”
Bailey smiled and clasped the pendant in her palm. “Thanks.”
“Hurry!” Kaden said.
Rachel grabbed Bailey’s elbow and led her away.
Kaden, Nico, and Viper headed toward Immersion Bay’s sports park. This part of the island didn’t seem to have a high concentration of guards. Must be because the girls had those electronic monitors around their necks and every incentive to cooperate while being held prisoners. From the information Annika had sent earlier about the so-called Guardians, these dudes were bad news. Mercenaries and hired guns with track records of human rights abuses.
Damn, spoke too soon! Two guards at the corner of the last apartment building spotted them and opened fire.
“Cover me!” Kaden shouted to Viper, and he laid down an impressive line of fire. In fully auto mode, the HK416 could fire 900 rounds per minute. Nico followed on Kaden’s heels.
They reached the sports complex. According to that map, the archery building should be at Kaden’s two. They headed that way, exposed on a ridge that dipped down onto a grassy field with woods to the north and south. Soon they came upon the squat building with an arrow and bullseye above the door and two guards framing the entrance.
At her four o’clock, two men approached the building on foot. She recognized them. Incognito and Lucid. She wouldn’t be able to reach Bo in time, so she let out a high-pitched whistle and waved her arms. The guards, already on alert after Viper’s burst of gunfire, saw her and began to approach—just what she wanted.