Cross Waves, page 18
Her dad smelled like the great outdoors—all campfires, apples, and fresh air. That and the familiar endearment caused a rush of tears to roll down her cheeks, wetting the front of his shirt.
“It’s going to be okay.” He smoothed a calloused palm across her hair as if she were five and had awakened from a bad dream. He would take her pain away if he could.
But he could not. This was real and not a dream. Plus, she was no longer five and afraid of the dark.
“Thanks, Dad.” She pulled her head from the comfort of his burly chest to get a better look at his larger-than-life presence. Her father could be Santa Claus’s twin. He always wore red, and he sported a full head of blond hair and a matching beard. He had the heart of Santa, too, always willing to help or lend a hand.
“Sit down now and tell us what happened.” He gestured to the couch. “Don’t you worry. We’ll figure this out.”
She complied, and he sat next to her. Nate took the overstuffed leather chair across from them, and Danny occupied the loveseat.
“They know the basics already,” Nate said. “But you’d been about to talk about the figure you saw in the shop. Who was it? Do you know?”
She frowned. “I couldn’t tell. It was much too dark to see anything.”
“What did you observe with your psychic senses?” her dad asked, stroking his beard.
She glanced at her dad, then Nate and Danny. They studied her with three pairs of bright gray eyes. Blue light in various shades bounced from their hands toward her.
She took a deep breath. Her family was much too observant and caring for her to keep secrets. “The energy, it was an odd shade of yellow. I’m certain I’ve seen it before. If I could only remember where.”
“You’re going to need to remember everything you can if we are to get you away from the Corvey Institution,” Danny said.
Geneva’s eyes widened. “What do you mean?”
“Peter’s been ordered to have you removed from the CMU. He wants you under evaluation at the Institution until he can decide what to do. You’re classified as a potential threat.”
Adrenaline ripped through her system. She curled her hands at her sides. “I’m not a threat to anyone. I was trying to protect Julia from Rolf.”
“We know. Peter does, too,” her dad said.
“But the fact remains, you didn’t take him out,” Nate said. “And if Rolf’s on the loose killing people, you and Julia will be first on his list. When dark masters turn rogue, they go after the ones they care about the most. The theory is they want to blot out their past feelings. Frankly, the safest place for you both is the Corvey Institution. Grimshaw is gone. There’s a new head doctor in place, and he’s got a great reputation from all accounts. You’ll be in good hands until we can find Jorgensen.”
“Why, so you can kill him?” She stood and faced her family. “He needs help, not a death sentence. I can find Rolf. You said yourself he wants to kill me. What better way to draw him out in the open? Let’s find a way to take him peacefully.”
Her brothers looked at each other. “You aren’t thinking,” Danny said.
Nate stood and resumed his pacing. “Danny’s right. You’re talking about finding a peaceful way to terminate a cold, hard killer capable of blotting out our existence with a single shot of dark energy. It’s too dangerous. If Rolf were in his right mind, he would be the first to tell you he would not want to live as a sociopath. He’d be begging you to kill him so he wouldn’t kill you.”
“No.” She swiped tears from her eyes and rubbed her aching head. “No. I don’t believe this.”
“It’s true,” Nate said. He placed a solid arm across her shoulder. “Geneva, I promise you. If there’s a way to take Rolf alive, we’ll do it. Please don’t make this difficult for us. We cannot allow Rolf to harm you or Julia or anyone else. Let us escort you to the Institution where you’ll be safe. We can have Julia moved there, too, so you can watch over her—keep her from harm.”
Geneva gazed at Nate’s calm demeanor. Her brothers were hardened members of the CMU, but they’d never outright lied to her, and the turquoise color coming from their tall forms meant they told the truth. Her gaze moved to her dad. He nodded, letting her know he agreed with her brothers.
She stood and moved to the windows, parting the curtains and looking toward the empty street. Rolf was somewhere out there. Right now. On the loose. Capable of killing multitudes. She thought again of his dark, soulless blue eyes and of Julia, lying on the hard coffee shop floor, pale as a corpse. She couldn’t stop the shiver that traveled down her spine. My fault. No one else’s.
She turned to face them. “All right.”
34
He Speaks
Geneva left her apartment, suitcase in hand. Rolf and the woman watched from the bushes across the street. Rolf grimaced and grabbed the side of the house, as if it would keep him standing. When he had lain in his bed in his prison, fighting the dark energy sweeping through his system, he’d imagined seeing Geneva again. But the sweet image paled into insignificance next to the real thing. Her soft face glowed in the moonlight, striking next to her long blonde hair.
God, he’d missed her. An incredible urge to launch himself across the yard, pull her into his arms, and kiss the hell out of her swept over him. He took one step forward, then two. Nate appeared, followed by Danny, triggering Rolf’s internal alarm system. He stepped back into his hiding spot. Where were they headed? And why were they carrying suitcases?
They put their luggage in the trunk and piled into Geneva’s car. She gave the keys to Nate.
Rolf frowned. Why wasn’t she driving? For that matter, why wasn’t she more aware of her surroundings? If she had been, he and the woman wouldn’t have been able to hide this close without being detected. She would have spotted the shift in his energy that accelerated upon seeing her.
He clenched his fists, his mind racing with possibilities. He found a crack in her defenses, then latched onto a thought and another and another.
Rolf…killer…Coffersations…Corvey Institution…Julia…coma…my fault…airport.
Julia, my God, how had he forgotten her? His sister. But why was Geneva imagining Julia in a coma and himself a killer? What had happened, for Christ’s sake? What had Cynthia and her partner made him do?
The slam of the car door snapped him to the present. He would have answers. He moved from his hiding place. But it was too late. He watched as Geneva’s Honda Civic sped south, toward what he suspected was the Cleveland airport.
He turned to the woman. “We need to figure out where they’re taking her.”
“You do realize this could be disastrous for us.” Gemcatcher kept his voice cool, although he was anything but. “I warned you your infatuation with Rolf would cause us trouble. You should have heeded my warning.”
After Rolf’s escape from the abandoned glass factory they used for their experiments, Cynthia had followed him to his Cleveland condo, out of breath and full of apologies. Now she sat at the kitchen counter, gazing at him with wide eyes.
“I didn’t think he was interested in Kaitlyn Girard. Why would I? He seemed indifferent to her. I did tell you, if you’ll recall, that he’d remembered Geneva. I assumed she was the one he wanted.”
Gemcatcher rubbed his chin and regarded Cynthia with what he hoped was a calm expression. He needed to make sure she was following the right plan—his—and understood the severity of the situation. “And you assumed right. He’s using Kaitlyn. A man would never endure the kind of pain he endured to remember a woman he didn’t care about.”
He didn’t wait for Cynthia to respond but moved to the liquor cabinet, poured himself a shot of Maker’s Mark, tilted his head, and downed it in one swallow. He set the glass in the sink and turned to face Cynthia, who opened her mouth to argue. He held up a hand. “I’m not sure you comprehend the consequences of your actions. I promised our buyers two hundred and fifty charged crystals. We’re only able to deliver fifty.”
She made a so-what face and shrugged a shoulder. “Still fifty million dollars. Not bad.”
Blood rushed to his head. A vein pulsed at his temple. His left eye started its damnable twitching. “Not compared to two hundred and fifty million, it’s not.”
The words came out on a hiss and hung in the air, but Cynthia didn’t seem to notice. She rose and stretched. “What do you expect me to do? I can’t very well chase after Rolf, can I?”
If she hoped to stump him, it didn’t work. He had an answer. “Why not? You know where he’ll go, don’t you? Don’t look at me like you don’t know what the hell I’m talking about. He’ll go after Geneva, of course. I understand from Ortiz she’s staying at the Corvey Institution. I’d suggest you hightail it out there on the fastest flight.”
“Alone? What about you?”
“What about me? I can’t be seen at the Corvey Institution. Someone will recognize me. It’s too dangerous. You, however, are a roving reporter. Isn’t it interesting your latest assignment involves interviewing a few of the patients at the renowned Institution?”
Cynthia stared at him a moment, a blank look in her pale green eyes. He waited for her brain to catch up. “You want me to travel to the Corvey Institution on the pretense of interviewing Geneva? Whatever for?”
He gave a short bark of laughter, although his thoughts were far from funny. “Brilliant deduction, Watson.”
“She’ll never agree to talk to me.”
“Ah, but then, you’re not really going to interview her, are you? You only need to use your position as a member of the media to get access to the Institution. Once you’re in, you’ll corner Geneva in her room when no one else is there. Threaten her life and allow her to alert Rolf. If he’s there, Jorgensen will show, I promise.”
“You make it sound easy.”
Gemcatcher tightened his jaw. “All you have to do is zap Jorgensen and make him charge the rest of those crystals. Got it? We’ll be able to collect the full two hundred fifty million. Get moving and call me when you get into Chicago.”
Cynthia frowned and found her purse and keys. She moved to the door slowly and grasped the handle, turning at the last moment to fling a final question his way. “And how do you expect me to zap him? He’ll be on the lookout for me. He won’t get close.”
“Simple. Make him believe you’ve harmed Geneva Ericksen. He’ll get close if he thinks it’s necessary to save her.”
“I assume you’ll make sure I’m cleared with security?”
“Of course. But be ready with that talent of yours. Jorgensen’s probably turned rogue. You won’t have more than a second to react.”
Geneva pressed her fingers against her temples and counted. One-thousand one, one-thousand-two, one-thousand-three. Maybe if she applied pressure, it would keep the nasty headache from turning into a migraine.
She sat next to Julia’s hospital bed at the Corvey Institution and studied the still, silent figure. Julia’s father and her own had stopped by earlier but left to get some sleep at a nearby hotel. Her brothers had left her alone for a moment so they could consult with the doctor and nurses.
The blood caking Julia’s forehead had been wiped, her head bandaged. An IV ran from her hand to a tube, pumping water and nutrients into her system.
Geneva should never have allowed Julia to go with her to Coffersations today. Her friend had warned her about what was in store, and Geneva had downplayed her concerns. Why hadn’t she listened? If she had, they’d both still be hanging out in her apartment instead of this damn Institution. And Julia would not be in a coma.
A nurse entered and checked Julia’s vitals. She must have been satisfied because she left. Silent tears slid from Geneva’s eyes. She did nothing to wipe them. Her thoughts raced in every direction. Oh, dear Rolf. Why would you do this thing? I can’t believe it. I can’t believe you’re a cold, hard killer. That person in Coffersations was not the man I know. It wasn’t you. It couldn’t have been. What have they done to you to make you want to harm your sister?
“You’re right. It wasn’t me. I don’t remember any of it. I didn’t do what you’re thinking.”
She straightened and looked around the room. “Rolf? Rolf? Is that you? Where are you?”
“I’m nearby. What’s happened to Julia?”
But of course, he was nearby. They weren’t linked. He couldn’t speak to her in her mind unless he was close. But what if this was a trap? “Why’d you do it? Hurt your sister. Try to kill me. Do you hate us that much?”
“Never, Geneva. I would never try to kill you or Julia. I didn’t hurt her. It wasn’t me. Believe me.”
“I saw and talked to you. You told us to meet you in Coffersations. When we got there, you tried to kill us with dark energy. I stopped you, but Julia got hurt. She’s in a coma.”
“I’ll kill them.” Rage and frustration and panic vibrated over their psychic link before Rolf swept it inward. “I didn’t do it. I swear. I wasn’t in Coffersations. I didn’t call you.”
“You were there, Rolf. I saw you. Did—did someone make you do it? Who? Tell me.”
“No. I mean, I don’t remember doing anything. I wasn’t anywhere near Coffersations. I would have had to be to attempt to kill her. And I would never kill my sister. I swear it.”
Voices sounded in the hall. “My brothers. They’re coming for me. I can’t talk now.”
“Wait. Don’t go. Why are you there?”
“Ortiz’s orders. He believes I’m a problem because I didn’t kill you when I had the chance and allowed Julia to be…to be injured.”
Her brothers entered along with a nurse. Their stoic expressions gave nothing away, but the various shades of red enveloping their bodies recorded their deep anxiety. “Okay, Geneva. Time to go. They’re putting you in the quiet ward so you can get some rest. You’ll be safe there.” Nate gathered her suitcase and gestured toward the doorway.
Rolf spoke in her mind. “I can’t believe they would place you back with Grimshaw.”
“Rolf, Dr. Grimshaw is dead.”
Danny slung an arm around her shoulder. “We’ve got you checked in. It’s been a long day. Let’s get you to your room. Diane, here”—he gestured toward the nurse—“will take care of Julia and let you know if there’s been any change.”
Geneva followed her brothers across the hall and around the corner to the elevators. Nate pressed the button, and when the doors opened, ushered her inside. Danny followed.
Rolf was somewhere close, otherwise he would not have been able to exchange thoughts with her. She shivered. Nate, of course, noticed.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m fine.”
“Cold?”
“Yes.” Her brothers wouldn’t be happy to learn she and Rolf had spoken.
Nate’s gaze sliced into her brain. Energy slammed into her mind before she could stop it. She sucked in a breath and blew it out in a rush and fought off his entry. She snarled. “Stay out of my head.”
“You’ve been talking to him, haven’t you?”
She wouldn’t answer. It wasn’t a lie if she didn’t answer.
“I know you care about Rolf. But the Rolf you care about is gone. You can’t trust the new Rolf. He’s not the same person. Don’t believe anything he tells you.”
“What if he didn’t do it? What if someone made him do it?”
Nate blew out a breath, crimson fog spewing into the air around him. The elevator doors opened, and they got out on the third floor. “That kind of thinking will get you killed.”
Soft lights and plush carpet gave a homey atmosphere to this portion of the Institution. For now, she was being treated as a guest and not a patient. Her family’s doing, Geneva suspected.
She trailed Nate through the hall with Danny close behind, as if they feared Rolf would snatch her from under their noses. When they arrived in front of room 406, he stopped. This wing of the Institution was designed to include small efficiency-style apartments. Nate swiped a keycard in the lock and opened her door.
The small room contained a bed with a purple bedspread, a flat-screened TV, a maple dresser, nightstand, bathroom, and a small kitchenette. Nate set her suitcase by the bed, and Danny drew the gray shades on either side of the large window. The Corvey Institution was set on ten acres in a beautiful resort atmosphere. Elm trees outlined a grassy landscape. The evening sun sank against a backdrop of a purplish skyline.
“Rolf, are you still here?” Silence. To calm herself, she spoke. “When’s your return flight to Cleveland?”
Her brothers glanced at each other. Nate answered. “We’re sticking around. If Rolf’s talking to you, he’s close.”
Geneva looked from Nate to Danny and back to Nate. “You’re planning to kill him, aren’t you?” She didn’t wait for an answer but rushed on, her voice deep and raspy and hardly recognizable even to her own ears. “What if you’re wrong about Rolf? What if he hasn’t turned? How will you feel if you kill an innocent man?”
Nate sighed. “I’ve been thinking about that. I have. I hope to God Jorgensen hasn’t turned, and he’ll come out of this whole thing unscathed. We know you care about him. Contrary to what you believe, we don’t want to hurt him. But our job is to keep you safe. We’ll do what we have to do.”
“I don’t need or want two babysitters.”
“You have no choice,” Danny said. “Peter’s ordered us to stay close. Besides, Dad’s worried. He’s not leaving. He wants to try and get you released into his care. In the meantime, we promised to look out for you. And we’re all concerned about Julia.”
She grimaced. Her brothers’ ideas of looking out for someone and her own ideas weren’t the same. “You can’t stay here.”
Nate raised one eyebrow. A small frown marred his features. “We’ve rented hotel rooms down the road. One of us will be here every day. That’s final. Now get some sleep. You won’t see the doctor until tomorrow morning, and we’ve been assured no one will disturb you until then.”
