“No, that’s not what I’m saying,” Kim countered. “But I’ve offered to help them. If they need military resources or support to find out where he’s keeping their loved ones.”
“Maybe one of us should talk to him,” Jessie said, with a head shake. “But it shouldn’t be me. Look what happened last time.”
“It’ll be me.” The words burst from Kim’s lips before she could stop them. “I’m not mad anymore. I mean, I can handle myself with him. I can control my temper.” When no one objected to the idea, she took a deep breath and released it in a soft whoosh. “Okay, great. Please report any vaccine side effects you might have. I’m going out to hit Dex, Weissman, and Garcia.”
*
An hour later, Kim stood in front of the door to Room 30 with her pulse thrumming in her veins. It wasn’t fear that drove her racing heart, but anger toward the man who’d helped kill the world. Resentment that he still held a massive hammer above their heads, ready to fall at any moment. The ensured production of the serum and vaccine depended on the people at Redpine. And their happiness depended on him giving them information about their loved ones and how they might be released.
It would take some slick talking to get Burke to agree to anything, but she had to try. She hit a button on the touchscreen and waited.
“Who is it?” Weissman asked. “What’s your business?”
“It’s Kim,” she replied. “I’m here to talk to Burke.”
“All right. Come on in.”
The doors slid open, and Kim stepped inside, her eyes moving from Burke to Weissman. The soldier returned to his desk chair and sat heavily.
“How’s the prisoner?”
“Quiet.” Weissman gave the man a glance before his eyes fell to his tablet.
Kim nodded and stepped further in, turning to lean against the desk. She studied their prisoner, and he stared back with a blank expression.
Since receiving the new serum, Burke looked much better. He didn’t seem so feverish, and the dark circles beneath his eyes had receded. Black spittle clung to his chin and stained his shirt.
“I want to thank you for treating me,” he said. “I’m feeling much better. My lungs are clear,” he nodded downward at his messy shirt, “though I apologize for the mess.”
“That’s okay.”
“I think you’ll agree Redpine is a top-notch facility.”
“The people are amazing,” Kim conceded. “The Brewers are patient and efficient. The Branch software is powerful, and the manufacturing possibilities are through the roof.”
Burke grinned.
“In fact, I’m having batches of serum and vaccine produced right now.” Kim twisted her expression in thought. “We’ll have dozens of cases of both within a few days. That’s thousands of vials ready for distribution.”
His grin faltered.
“I’m even thinking about starting a missionary.” Kim touched her index finger to her chin. “What if we called it Redpine Missionaries? How’s that sound? We go around dispensing the serum and vaccine to the tens of thousands of people and uplift them from the darkness you helped create. We could even distribute it worldwide.”
Burke scowled. “If you’re trying to rub it in, it’s working.”
“Oh, I’m not rubbing it in,” Kim said, taken aback. “I’m here to see if you want to finally jump on board and be part of the solution.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “Why?”
“I’m going to be honest with you. While we do have the serum and vaccine being produced, we want to make sure the Redpine folks keep working happily away. And the only way we can do that is to help them with a little problem.”
Burke feigned confusion.
“Oh, come on,” Kim scoffed. “We know you’ve got their loved ones tied up somewhere.”
“Not true.”
“It’s very true.”
“Did Bonnie tell you? No, I bet it was Nancy.”
“We didn’t need anyone to tell us. Why else would anyone work for you? Richtman. Lexi. The Redpine folks? It wasn’t because you were paying them a good salary. Money is useless now. We knew it had to be something else.”
Burke’s expression softened, and he released a defeated sigh.
“If you cooperate and help us return their loved ones, we’ll talk to General Miller on your behalf.” Kim shook her head and crossed her arms over her chest. “You will never go free, but you’ll get to live. Over time, maybe you can win back some privileges and have a decent life. It has to beat dying at the hands of an angry mob.”
“Why should I trust you?”
“You have my word.”
Burke gave a pitiful laugh and shook his head in disgust. “Why don’t you just take over the facility and make them keep producing? You don’t need me at all.”
“That’s the difference between you and us. We’re thinking of the future. Of tomorrow. The last thing we want to do is keep tabs on other people. In order to achieve peace, they need freedom. They need trust, and the promise of getting their loved ones back.”
“It’s weak,” Burke spat.
“Look where you are and look where I am.” Kim gestured at the space between them. “Tell me who’s weak. All you think about is yourself and how to use others to further your own selfish needs. That’s why you should take this deal. The alternative is far worse.”
Burke seemed to consider his options, his eyes pinned on Kim with something like hope and understanding. “I could give one word, and they’d be released.”
“And we could move on with some positive solutions,” Kim agreed, suddenly feeling more hopeful than when she’d first entered. But she knew better than to trust him completely.
A deep sound resonated in the ventilation shaft above her head. A switch of airflow she’d grown used to hearing. She glanced up with mild annoyance before turning her attention back to the former CEO.
“No extra deals,” Kim added. “The release of your prisoners for us sparing your life.”
His face fell slack and unreadable, his eyes drifting up and looking beyond her. Kim imagined him thinking about a lifetime of imprisonment, his only comfort three square meals every day and an hour of watching old movies.
What if he preferred death to that?
Kim shook her head to clear a brief wave of dizziness. Her eyes started to cross, and she suddenly felt like she’d stayed up all night studying for a test. Her chest grew heavy for a moment, making it hard to breathe.
She breathed deeply, then gasped. Her head cleared for a second, but a more powerful wave of dizziness hit her like a stone. She lifted from the desk in panic, catching herself as she swayed.
“Weissman...” Kim said. She spun and threw her arms across the desk to steady herself, sending coffee cups and dirty plates to the floor in a clatter. She reached the end of available territory and fell forward, smacking her head into the wall, turning as she slid down.
Her eyelids drooped, her body slackening. Her head screamed to wake up, but she could only lift her eyes and stare at Burke. What had he done?
The man looked as dreary as Kim. His face had gone slack, his eyes half shut as he grinned at her drunken performance. Before she could contemplate it any further, darkness closed over her head and turned off the world.
Chapter 36
Moe, Redpine Facility, Little Rock, Arkansas
Moe caught the basketball, dribbled a step to his right, and launched a shot that banked off the rim and backboard.
Bryant half-jogged over to the loose ball, snatched the rebound, and passed it back to him.
Moe caught it and dribbled again, careful with his ankle. After a week in the helicopter, and several days at Redpine, the pain had all but vanished. Another day and he wouldn’t remember having an injury at all.
“You know, Chinle has one of the best high school basketball teams in the state of Arizona.” He bounced the ball, and the sound echoed through the stark white gym. It was late, and the soldiers and Redpine residents had g
one. They had the gym all to themselves. “We’re called the Chinle Wildcats. I know the captain, Josiah Cooper.”
“That’s curious.” Bryant bent over and waited for Moe to take a shot. “I didn’t think the Navajo were into basketball.”
“Just the opposite,” Moe said. “It’s very popular in my town. Some people see it as a way of bridging the gap to the future. A few believe it will cause our kids to forget the old ways of the Navajo. It’s a hard balance.”
Bryant gave an appreciative nod.
Moe squared up for another shot. He didn’t have perfect form, but it sailed cleanly out of his hand and swished through the net.
“Nice.” The soldier gave a low whistle.
“You like basketball?”
“I played a little in high school, but I was more of a football guy.”
“I can see that. You’re huge.”
“And I’m not even as big as Bishop,” Bryant said. “That guy played in college. He may look like a soft-spoken guy, but I wouldn’t underestimate him for a second.”
“I never underestimate anyone.” Moe thought of Carver and the mess at home. “I can’t wait to get the serum and vaccine back to the canyon. Then I have to deal with some problems there. A very evil man.”
“Carver?”
“Yeah.”
“Melissa told me about him.” Bryant chased down the ball and bounced it back to him.
“He’s everyone’s worst nightmare.” Moe dribbled. “I’m worried what he’s up to with me not there. We cannot exist together in the same town. I see that now.”
“So, you think we’ll see action while we’re there?”
“We will.” Moe fired off another shot that hit the rim on its way through the hoop. “But I don’t expect you and Melissa to fight for my people. It’s already enough that she brought me here and will take me back. You can’t risk your lives more than that.”
“Are you kidding?” Bryant scoffed. “You’re a soldier and an American. I’d never abandon you or your people. Melissa feels the same way.”
Moe nodded and accepted another pass. He dribbled twice and drove toward the basket, going for a layup. The soldier’s big hand came out of nowhere and swatted the ball into the back court. Moe landed gently on his good ankle and turned to grin at the taller man.
“Maybe I should have played basketball,” Bryant puffed out his chest in mock pride.
“Perhaps,” Moe laughed.
“I think I’m going to head back downstairs. How about you?”
“I want to check on Randy. It’s been two days. He could probably use some company.”
“That’s the guy you brought in from Tulsa, right? I heard he was in pretty bad shape.”
Moe nodded. “Shot three times in the back. He’s a strong kid. He’ll recover.”
Bryant whistled low. “Tough deal. The world’s a dangerous place. Tell him we’re all wishing him a speedy recovery.”
“I will,” Moe said.
He bounced the ball out to the 3-point line, squared up, and took another long shot, arching it high. He crouched and winced, willing the ball to go in. But it clunked on the front of the rim and fell short.
*
The kid lay face down on the bed like before, still surrounded by plastic and quarantined from the other patients. The thick bandages on his back looked freshly changed, and his well-muscled arms were stretched above his head, framing his bright red hair.
“Hey, Randy. Are you awake?”
The young man shifted on the bed. “Moe, is that you?”
“Yeah, it’s me. How are you feeling?”
“Oh, man. I’m glad you came.” Randy turned onto his side much easier than he’d done before. “Did you get my message?”
Moe held his hands apart and shook his head. “No. What message?”
“I told Rachel I needed to see you.” He made an angry face. “She probably didn’t even try to reach you. I guess it makes sense, being friends with that lady.”
“What lady?”
“Her name is Lexi.”
A mysterious chill touched Moe’s spine. “How do you know her? Did she come to see you?”
“Yeah. It was yesterday, or the day before. I can’t remember. All the days sort of run together now.”
“What did she want?”
“It was one of the strangest conversations I’ve ever hand,” Randy explained. “She looked me over like I was an animal under a microscope or something. Then she said I wasn’t a threat.”
“That makes sense, considering you’re in a hospital bed with bullet wounds. Then again, it is very strange thing to say.”
“Right. And that’s not even the weirdest part. She knew I wasn’t sick, but she asked my nurse about the treatment plan for Asphyxia. That’s what I have, right? The spores?”
“Yeah, that’s right.” Moe was even more confused. “It could be the plan Kim helped assemble as a guideline once we start treating more people with the cure. But--”
“And one more thing.”
Moe winced, not sure he wanted any more surprises.
“I think I know where I remember Kim from.”
Several low alarms blared at the nurse’s station, getting Moe’s attention. He stepped back and put his head through the split in the plastic, listening as a nurse ran to the desk and shut off the alarms. They still rang out in another part of the facility. She shuffled around and picked up a radio.
“Dr. James, are you there? This is Cara at the nurse’s station in the hospital ward. Yes, sir. I’m the only one on shift. Well... All three wings are alarming, plus the security barracks. Yes. Yes. No, all of them. The error says it’s an air quality warning. Something’s wrong down there.” Pause. “Yes, I’ll call Mueller right away. Okay, sir. Bye.”
Feeling his world start to split three different ways, Moe turned to bid Randy a hasty goodbye. The young man had already climbed out of his bed, shirtless in his standard issue white pants and bare feet.
Moe blinked. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going to help.”
“Help what?”
Randy reached out and grabbed Moe’s shirt, surprising him with his strong grip. “Help fight.”
“You can’t go in that condition.” Moe grabbed the young man’s wrist and tried to remove his hand, but he couldn’t do it. The kid was too strong.
“Look, man.” Randy tightened his grip. “Something is going on down in the wings or whatever. I think it has to do with that Lexi woman.” He pushed his face closer to Moe’s until the two were just inches apart. His dark eyes had a hard look, and his red hair stood up like a lick of flame. “And if Kim is in trouble, I need to help her.”
Feeling the young man was right, he let go of his wrist. “Okay. But I’m not waiting for you to catch up. Got that?”
“Got it,” Randy released his shirt, and the pair shuffled from the hospital room.
They stepped into a wide, tiled hallway that stretched away from them in either direction, interspaced with a dozen doors. The circular nurse’s station split the hall in two. A woman in white scrubs with the Redpine emblem on her left breast pocket feverishly pressed buttons on a control panel.
“Did you reach Captain Mueller?” Moe asked as he came up.
The nurse jerked back. She blinked at the pair, eyes darting between them.
Moe slammed his fist on the desk. “I asked if you reached Mueller?”
“No, no.” She shook her head vigorously. “He’s not responding. Hey, what are you doing? Mr. Tucker is a patient here...” The nurse moved through a gap in the circular desk. “What are you doing, sir?”
Moe had opened a storage room and was going through the contents. He tossed latex gloves to the floor and shoved aside cases of alcohol swabs. He lifted a box of surgical masks, frowned, and pitched them over his shoulder.
“Stay back, ma’am,” Randy told the woman, using his arm to block her way.
“You can’t do this, Mr. Tucker.” She practically b
egged him. “You’ve got some very serious wounds. You could re-injure yourself.”
“I take full responsibility.”
Moe found a box of N95 masks, narrowed his eyes, then tucked them under his arm. “Getting warmer,” he murmured, shoving more hospital items aside. He noticed an emergency box at the very back of the room. He grabbed the handle and jerked it open. Inside were three full-visor air filtration masks.
He snatched one out and held it in front of his face. “Bingo.”
Chapter 37
Lexi, Redpine Facility, Little Rock, Arkansas
The elevator for the apartment opened, and Lexi stepped out into the security barracks. Four of Mueller’s soldiers stood waiting for her orders with air filtration masks strapped on their faces.
While she’d not made a lot of friends among the ranks, a few had grown tired of taking orders from Mueller over the years. It had taken very little coaxing to convince them to join her in abducting Burke.
She jerked her head toward the hallway leading to the next wing, and she strode ahead of the group as they fell in behind her. They’d reached the connector hall when a sliding door zipped down and locked itself to the floor.
“Damn,” Lexi frowned. Jessie or Kim must be blocking her from entering. But she had Burke’s primary handheld which overrode the others.
She pulled the device from her pocket, hit a few keys, and reactivated the door. It flew open, and they strode down the hall and entered the Wing 3 rec room. She lifted her hand, and the four fighters spread out across the space.
They aimed their barrels toward the hallway, and she stepped over one or two unconscious children laying between the tables. One of the soldiers grunted, and Lexi looked to see them pointing their rifle at a little girl with a blue team jersey on.
She repressed a disgusted snarl and shook her head slowly. The soldier nodded and moved on. They converged at the head of a long, empty hallway with a makeshift guard table. None of the soldiers or their leaders were around.
Lexi turned to her people. “I’ve locked all the doors, and everyone should be out cold.” Her eyes drifted to the connector halls. “Stay here and guard the area. I’ll be right back with Burke.”
Spore Series | Book 5 | Torch Page 28