“Colin mentioned your dad is friends with the Chief of Police,” Egan replied.
“Yup,” Lauren replied. “They’re besties.”
“Good. Then tell him. It’ll be your word against Colin’s. I’m pretty sure he’ll believe you over the brother of Curt Thackery.”
“Where will you go?” Kevin asked.
Egan smiled. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.” He fished the keys to the flower delivery van out of his pocket. To Kevin, he said, “Can you drive?”
“I’ve got my learners permit.”
“Good enough. The van parked out back... think you can drive it inside?”
“You bet!” Kevin said.
“Great.” Egan tossed him the keys. “I’ll get the door. Hurry.”
Kevin caught the keys and ran to the back of the factory. “Gimme a minute,” he yelled.
Egan walked to his former hiding place behind the wooden pallets with Lauren hot on his heels. He double-checked the area to ensure no indication of his presence in the factory would be detected.
“The receiving doors at the back are padlocked and rusted shut,” Lauren said. “You’re going to need to open it before Kevin can drive the van inside. Good luck with that.”
Egan raised his hand. The bracelet began to glow. He smiled at the girl.
“Oh yeah,” Lauren said. “I forgot. You’re Ironman.”
Egan smiled. “Something like that.”
Kevin was running back toward them as they stepped out of the room.
“Mister!” he yelled.
“What’s wrong?” Egan asked.
“Outside!” Kevin gasped, fighting to catch his breath. “Two police cars just pulled in. They’ve blocked in the van!”
CHAPTER 22
A WAREHOUSE…
Screaming…
Pure energy, massive power, intensely focused…
“Jordan, are you alright? Jordan? JORDAN! Hanover caught his partner as she fell into his arms. He helped her into a chair.
“I can feel him,” Jordan said
“Feel who?” Chris asked.
“The killer.”
Jordan sat forward and placed her head in her hands. Her mind and body had been weakened from the interaction. She ached. The connection with the killer had manifested itself physically as well as psychically. “My hands feel like they’re on fire.”
“Relax,” Chris said. “You’re fine. Take it easy for a second.”
Jordan took a few deep breaths.
“Let me have a look,” Chris said. “Open your hands for me.”
Jordan gingerly opened her hands.
“Jesus!” Hanover called out. “I need a first aid kit over here now!”
Jordan assessed the damage. The assault had left her with first degree burns on both hands.
“You’re going to be okay,” Chris said. He held her open hands in his. “I’ve got you.”
“The intensity of his energy is off the charts,” Jordan said. “I feel like I’ve been struck by lightning.”
*******
From the comfort of his ocean side bench at Aliso Beach, Jason Merrick locked on to the commander’s brain neural interface and connected with his subject.
He saw the warehouse, observed the activity in the building...
Saw Egan and the teenagers...
Heard the cries coming from inside the locked room...
Nuisances, he thought. Unnecessary distractions standing in the way of the completion of the mission.
He issued the kill order.
CHAPTER 23
TARAS VERENICH answered his phone on the first ring: “Verenich Law.”
“Who have you been talking to?”
“Marina?”
“Who the fuck have you been talking to?”
“Jesus, calm down. What are you talking about?”
“He knows everything! The girls, our routes… all of it! Do you have any idea what The Company will do to us if they even suspect that we’ve been compromised? They’ll kill us and do it in a way that won’t be pretty. Do you want that to happen? Do you?”
Verenich paused. This was not the calm, cool, collected Marina that he knew. Nothing ever ruffled her feathers. She paid others very well to do her ruffling for her.
“Tell me who called and what was said.”
“I don’t know who it was. But he knows everything about us. He said he’s been watching my son. Which means he’s in California. Which also means he’s probably been watching you.”
“I’ve been very careful, Marina.”
“Apparently not careful enough!”
Taras stood from his desk and walked to his office window. He observed the two men seated in the now-familiar silver Mercedes on the upper deck of the parking lot across the street from his office. When they weren’t there, they followed him from a distance as he went about his day.
He continued. “Marina, we both know The Company keeps its people under constant surveillance. There’s no way I could have talked to or met with anyone without you or your superiors knowing about it. If I had, we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now. I assure you that whatever was said to you did not come from me. I’ll help you, but you’re going to have to trust me on that. Now, what is this about your son?”
Marina was quiet. She collected her thoughts. Anger had gotten the better of her, which was not her way.
“My son, Ilya, is studying at Cal State University. He’s being watched.”
“Then assign a shadow detail,” Verenich said. “They'll watch over him, keep him safe.”
“Impossible. The Company would find out if I did that. They’d want to know why I felt it was necessary to place my son under protection. They’d suspect a problem, maybe even think I was making plans to get out or turn over on them. No, I can’t do that.” A hint of panic had returned to her voice.
“Then what are you going to do?”
“I’ve booked a flight to Los Angeles. I’m at the airport now. We depart in thirty minutes. I need you to meet me at my hotel tomorrow at 1:00 P.M. I’ll take care of this myself.”
“Where will you be staying?”
“Downtown. The Ritz-Carlton.”
Verenich confirmed. “Very well. I’ll be there.”
“Good. I’ll email Ilya and let him know I’ll be in town for a few days.”
“Would you like me to make any special preparations for your visit?”
“I’ll need a weapon.”
“That won’t be a problem.”
“I wouldn’t expect it to be,” Marina replied. She hung up.
Taras slammed down the phone. “Fucking bitch,” he said.
CHAPTER 24
THE MIRROR-GLASS walls of Dynamic Life Sciences reflected the fire of the afternoon sun. The fronds of the palm trees flanking the main security gate danced in the gentle breeze and shone the sunlight, giving the illusion that the tree might at any second burst into flame.
Chief Jenkins slowed the Jeep as the security guard stepped out of his booth and raised his hand. Although the parking lot was full not a single soul was in sight.
Jenkins eased the car to a stop as the guard walked to his door.
“Sorry, sir. We’re closed,” the guard said.
Jenkins checked his watch. “Seems a little early to be shutting down for the day. What’s going on?”
“Evacuation drill,” the guard replied. “Company requires us to do one every year in the case of an emergency. Keeps everyone on their toes.”
“Makes sense,” Jenkins said. “I guess you can never be too careful, especially given what you guys do here.”
“Sir?”
“I mean, it’s pretty high-tech stuff, right?”
The guard placed his arm on the roof of the Jeep. “Is there something that I can help you with Officer?"
“Actually, it’s Chief. Corona Police.” Jenkins tapped the department emblem on his car door. “Says so right here.”
“I can see that,”
the guard replied.
“Who’s in charge here? I have a few questions.”
The guard leaned closer and read the nameplate on Jenkins lapel. “Like I said, Chief, we’re closed.”
“It won’t take long. Ten, maybe fifteen minutes, tops.”
The guard folded his arms. “Exactly what part of evacuation drill don’t you get?”
Jenkins took off his sunglasses and tossed them on the passenger seat. “I need to speak with one of your employees.”
“Then I suggest you come back tomorrow.”
“See, that just doesn’t work for me,” Jenkins replied. “Here’s why.” He pointed down the road. “Back there, I have an active crime scene that’s really fucked up. I’d share the details of it with you but I’m pretty sure you’d soil those crisply-pressed pants of yours on the spot. Right now, I’ve only got two leads. One of them my guys are following up on as we speak. The second is what brought me here. So as much as I’m enjoying your company I’m going to ask you for a second and final time. Who’s in charge?”
The guard smiled, tipped his hat, then turned away from Chief Jenkins. “Have a good day, Officer.” He headed back into the guardhouse.
Jenkins called out. “Does the name Dr. Jason Merrick mean anything to you?”
The guard stopped.
Jenkins opened his door and stepped out of the Jeep. “I want to talk to Merrick.”
The guard walked back and faced him. “This is a military facility, sir, and we’re in lockdown. You need to leave.”
“Lockdown,” Jenkins repeated. He stared at the guard. “You just told me this was an evacuation drill.”
Caught in the lie, the guard didn’t respond. Jenkins pressed him. “It can be only one or the other, so which is it? Lockdown or evac?”
The guard relaxed. “I can’t help you.”
“Can’t or won’t? And you still haven’t answered my question.”
“I could lose my job.”
“Oh, there’s no could about it,” Jenkins said. “Interfere with my investigation for one more minute and I’ll guaranfuckingtee you’ll lose your job.”
Above the gate a camera panned, whined and focused. The guard looked over his shoulder. The security team stationed inside the front desk had taken note of the activity at the main entrance. A voice sounded through the guard’s walkie-talkie.
“Main One, communications check.”
The guard answered his radio. “Go for comms check, Main One.”
The front desk security officer sounded concerned. “Everything okay down there, Noah?”
“Yeah, we’re good,” the guard replied. “Just a friendly visit from the local P.D.”
Jenkins smiled, looked up at the camera and waved.
“Copy that. Give them our best.”
“Will do.”
The camera panned away from the gate.
“Nicely handled, Noah,” Chief Jenkins said. “So…”
“We’re in lockdown,” Noah replied.
“Why?”
“We had a problem this morning. A poisoning, or something like that. It happened in Dr. Merrick’s lab. I arrived late for my shift, so I didn’t get the full story. They shut the whole place down. I’m under strict orders to make sure no one enters or leaves.”
“How bad was it?”
“Two dead. Research scientists. They worked with Dr. Merrick.”
“Was Merrick hurt?”
“Don’t know. We can’t find him.”
“What does that mean, you can’t find him? You guys lose scientists around here on a regular basis?”
“I mean just what I said. As far as we can tell he’s not in the facility. He’s somewhere off campus.”
“So no one’s around?”
“Just security and the E.A. team.”
“Where’s the rest of the staff?”
“Everyone’s been bussed to JFTB Los Alamitos as a precaution until Environmental Assessment and Hallier give the place the all clear.”
“Who’s Hallier?”
“Colonel Hallier. He’s with DARPA. Dr. Merrick and his research team report to him.”
“Hallier’s with the Department of Defense?”
“Yeah.” The guard was getting even more nervous. “Look, Chief, I’ve already told you too much and probably way more than I should have.”
“You did the right thing, Noah.”
“This can’t come back to me, okay? If I’m ever asked I’ll confirm that we spoke. But we never had this conversation.”
Jenkins offered his hand. The guard took it. “We’re good. I appreciate your help, Noah.”
“Sorry I couldn’t help you find Dr. Merrick.”
“It’s all right. We’ll track him down.” Jenkins climbed into his Jeep and shifted the car into reverse. Noah walked back to his post.
“Hey, Noah,” Jenkins called out. “Just one more question.”
Noah turned around. “Yeah?”
“What kind of car does Merrick drive?”
“Porsche 911. Black.”
Jenkins nodded. “Thanks.” He spun the Jeep around and headed back down the road.
“Sweet Jesus,” he said to himself. “What the hell is going on?”
CHAPTER 25
MINUTES AFTER leaving the FBI field office, on his way to the Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos, Quentin Hallier’s cell phone rang.
“Hallier.”
“Colonel, this is Commander Rod Aikens, JFTB Los Alamitos. Just wanted to let you know your team is prepped and waiting for you, per General Ford’s request.”
“And the DLS staff?”
“All tucked in, sir. We’re taking good care of them.”
“Good. I’m forty-five minutes out. I’ll brief them on arrival.”
“We’re ready for you sir.”
“Let our guests know they’ll be going back to the lab as soon as DLS gives the all clear.”
“Copy that, sir.”
No sooner did Hallier end the call when his phone rang again. Ann Ridgeway was on the line.
“Good news, Quentin,” the Assistant Director said. “We may have a lead on Dr. Merrick.”
“Talk to me.”
“We entered your information on Merrick into our system. It flagged a hit. An hour ago, Corona P.D. requested a VIN search on a black Porsche. The Vehicle Identification Number came back to Merrick.”
“We need to talk to Corona Police. Find out what they have on Merrick.”
“I thought you might want to do just that, so I took the liberty of calling them. I caught their Chief, Riley Jenkins, just as he was just leaving Dynamic Life Sciences. He was told they’d shut the place down and asked me if I knew anything about it. I told him no.”
“Why did Jenkins go to DLS?”
“Corona’s dealing with a homicide, but he admitted they’re not really sure what they’ve got on their hands. Their coroner confirmed finding liquefied human remains in a Dumpster at the back of the Corona Mews Shopping Mall. Their K9 tracked trace evidence from the Dumpster to a Porsche in the parking lot. They found Merrick’s employee ID in the car. Jenkins went there looking for Merrick.”
“Dammit!”
“It gets worse,” Ridgeway replied. “When Corona ran the tag, it came back to a Chevy Suburban owned by a local contractor and not the Porsche. The guy’s cell phone and personal effects were found in the Dumpster along with the remains.”
“Merrick switched plates and killed him.”
“Looks that way,” Ridgeway said. The Assistant Director was quiet for a second. “Quentin,” she said, “Could Merrick actually do that? Cause a body to liquefy?
“Channeler is a weapon, Ann. One with many uses. Unfortunately, the only one who knows the full extent of its capabilities is Dr. Merrick. But if I had to state with confidence whether or not I thought Merrick was behind this my answer would be yes.”
“This is insane,” the Assistant Director said. “How do we stop someone with that kind of ability? I�
�ve never dealt with a situation like this before. I have to admit that I’m a little worried about my people.”
“I’ll understand if you want to change your mind,” Hallier replied. “You don’t need to do anything you’re not comfortable with. But you should know that I’m on my way to JFTB Los Alamitos right now to brief my assault team. The moment we locate Merrick, or Commander Egan, I’ll deploy my people. And trust me, they’ll give them the fight of their lives.”
Ridgeway said, “We’re not standing down, Colonel. I know if I came to you with a similar request you wouldn’t say no.”
“You’re right.”
“Then we’ll support you, all the way. I’ll give you whatever resources you need.”
“I appreciate that.”
The Assistant Director paused. Hallier caught the hesitation. “If there's something else you want to say, Ann, now’s the time.”
“It’s a question, actually.”
“Shoot.”
“Has the Department of Defense ever used a psychic in an investigation?”
Hallier reflected on the dozens of reports he had received over the years referencing the advancements of Project Channeler and the multi-million-dollar budget DARPA had committed to researching the battlefield application of telepathic and brain-based speechless communication. “Yes,” Hallier replied. “Projects Channeler and LEEDA are, in part, based on that principle.”
“But those are man-made technologies. What if I told you that I knew someone who might be able to help? A person with, let’s just say, very unique skills.”
“I’d say you have my attention.”
“Good. I’m talking about one of my agents. Her name is Jordan Quest. And she has an exceptional gift.”
“And you think Agent Quest can help us find Merrick and Egan?
“I believe so.”
“Then that’s good enough for me. How soon can you get her in play?”
“Right away.”
“Then set it up. But the clock is ticking on this, Ann. Agent Quest will need to be brought up to speed as quickly as possible. Can you both meet me at JFTB Los Alamitos in an hour?”
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