KnightForce Deuces, page 10
“Gerri and Lopren, one lab assistant who worked with Passen and Lopren worked the front gate on security.”
Two different jobs - one worked outside, the other in. What was the connection? “Contact the doctor, have him and Hawke meet me there.”
“Already on it, Sir.”
Silas opened the door leading to the living quarters for staff and heard the weeping before he reached the corridor. Five people, still dressed in uniforms stood around two doors on opposite sides of the hall. The randomness of the deaths mystified Silas.
“Get forensics down here,” he told Hank.
“Yes, Sir.”
As he reached the first door, it stood open and two security guards were inside. They moved aside when he entered but remained. “Who found him?” Silas looked at the young security worker and then at the others.
“I came to wake him up, we planned to chat before he went on shift but he didn’t wake,” the man said. Silas read his name tag.
“Kropt, was there anyone near his room?” Silas asked knowing Hank already pulled the security cam disk and would have mentioned anything unusual.
“No… no Sir. Not that I saw.” He looked at the other two and they shook their heads.
“Did he act strange today, or do anything different?”
“No, Sir. He got off his shift 10 hours past, grabbed a bite to eat then came below as he always did.”
At the mention of food and drink, Silas looked around the room. “What did he eat and drink?”
Kropt’s eyes widened. “I don’t know, Sir. Maybe those who changed shifts at the same time or the kitchen could say…”
Silas nodded. “Hawke, is Damian awake?”
“No. Do you need him?”
Silas thought about it for a few seconds. “No.”
“Almost there,” Hawke said.
Silas looked at the three men in front of them, read the fear in their eyes and understood their need to do something. “I need the three of you to track his movements for me. From the time he left his post, went to eat and came here to rest. I need a re-enactment. This is critical, I’m trusting the three of you to get this right. Can you do that?”
Kropt straightened, his gaze sharpened and fear morphed to purpose. “Yes, Sir. We will turn our reports into Officer Hank when we are done.”
Silas nodded and watched them leave. Turning back he placed his hand on Lopren’s chest, it was cold. Regret and determination swirled through him, they needed to lock this down now. Hawke and Passen entered the room at the same time.
“There’s another down the hall, I hadn’t made it there yet but I smell the same scent on Lopren as Froggy. These are connected.”
“I agree,” Hawke said after inhaling. “Isolated, no one around, similar circumstances but how does that factor into anything? Coincidence? Maybe because they were in a resting state?”
Silas hadn’t thought about it but it could be a qualifier. He left to check on the lab assistant and found a similar situation.
After cordoning off the area and watching Dr. Passen leave with the two bodies, Silas and Hawke moved down the hall. Silas stopped Hawke as they reached the elevators. “Let’s search for that scent down here. I didn’t smell it upstairs, maybe we missed something.”
“Why not examine the rest of the staff for the scent?” Hawke said.
Silas agreed. “We’ll do this floor first and go up each level until we have examined each person.” He wondered why they hadn’t thought to do this before. They turned and headed to the living quarters. Silas required each person on that floor to line up. It took a few minutes, some were asleep and he woke them. When the entire floor lined up in front of him, Hawke started at one end and Silas on the other they crossed each other in the middle, both of them examining each person. Silas placed his hand on the head of a female near the end.
Hawke nodded.
“How many of you have eaten or drank something recently?” Silas asked.
A few hands went up.
“Great. I want all of you to follow Hank to the gym and run a few laps. Afterward you can return to your room.” The incredulous expressions gave way to consent as each person left the line, dressed and returned. By the time the line reformed, Hank had arrived and received instructions.
Hawke took the young lab tech upstairs and drew her blood while asking questions. “What did you eat?” he asked Kira.
“Hamburger, fries and tea.”
“Did you make your tea or was it supplied by the kitchen?”
“I made the first glass but I used my last sugar packet and drank the other tea.”
“How do you feel?”
“Nervous now. Scared. Why did you pull me from the line?”
“Just a few minutes, La Patron is on his way to speak with you.”
Her eyes bugged. “Whaaat? Did I do something wrong?”
Hawke regretted his frank speaking. “No. I’m just –” The door opened behind him.
“Kira? What are you doing here?”
“Damian,” she said with too much feeling in Hawke’s opinion. She tried to move but he held her in place.
“Why are you talking to my dad? He can’t make me change my mind. I’m not ready for a steady relationship. I told you that,” Damian said.
Hawke’s brow rose.
Kira’s cheeks reddened. “That’s not why I’m here,” she snapped and looked away.
Frowning, Hawke looked at Damian. “We’ll discuss this later. Next time knock when I have someone in a room with the door closed.”
Hawke cleared his throat. “Leave now, Damian. You’ve interrupted my work and made Kira uncomfortable.”
She glanced at Damian and then looked away again.
“I apologize on both fronts.” Damian left the room.
Kira released a long sigh. “He’s a handful but he’ll come around eventually.”
Fear no longer oozed from her pores, Hawke had no intention of discussing his son’s sexcapades with anyone.
“La Patron I’m done examining her. Does she remain here?” He prayed the answer was no.
“Yes, give her several bottles of water to flush her system. If the scent doesn’t dissipate, we’ll feed her an IV as a cleanse. Any idea how she came in contact?”
“My guess is the water. Somehow it’s been contaminated,” Hawke said handing her a bottle of water. “Drink,” he told her.
“We checked the water.”
“Which makes this worse, it’s either the water or food. My gut says it’s the water. The cooks have been preparing food the same way for years, nothing’s changed,” Hawke said watching as she guzzled the bottled water.
“Three pack members are dead.”
“True.” Hawke couldn’t argue those facts. “Are you ready to scan staff on the next level?”
“Yes, as soon as I finish in the living quarters. Now that everyone is in their rooms, I’m conducting another scan to verify the air is clean.”
Good idea. “Let me know when you need me, I’m running preliminary tests on Kira’s blood.”
“Kira?”
“The lab tech.”
“Right. I’ll let you know when it’s time to continue scanning staff,” Silas said.
Two hours later, Hawke and Silas had examined all the staff and found three cases of potential poisoning. The only thing these three had in common was eating or drinking. Kira didn’t develop any further symptoms and the odor of the poison disappeared. Silas had bottled water brought in from underground storage and had everyone drink three bottles of water to flush their systems.
Those with traces of poison were quarantined for observation. Exhaustion kicked Hawke’s ass; he’d been at this for 24 hours straight and needed a break.
“I’m in the lab if you need me,” he told Silas.
“Okay. Things seem to be stabilizing,” Silas said.
“Yes, let’s hope we caught it in time.” Hawke checked on the four employees, they seemed to be resting. Yawning, he stretched and lay on the leather sofa. After turning on his side he got comfortable.
A few minutes later, he coughed. His throat tightened. He grabbed his throat trying to force more air inside. Gasping, he half-sat up and then fell to the floor.
“Hawke?” Asia screamed through their link. “Damn it, Hawke.” The next moment his body stilled.
Chapter 15
Asia’s chest burned as if hell fire took residence. “Hawke?” She called his name again, sensing he couldn’t answer, she dove into their link. His body jerked at the intrusion.
“Hell no,” she yelled realizing the poison attacked his system.
“Asia, what’s wrong?” Jasmine asked.
“The poison is attacking Hawke.”
“What do you need?” Jasmine asked.
Asia sensed her Mistress’ energy and refused to give into the fear knocking on the door of her heart. “I’ve got to stop it from damaging him. I’ll push it out.” She shoved her energy into Hawke, fighting the enemy that had entered his body.
The poison resisted.
But she was his mate, his other half and nothing could stand between mates. Not a computer chip regulating his movements, not an out of control group of old men and certainly not this chemical concoction. She sent another blast of her energy through him breaking through the blockages.
Jasmine’s warmth surrounded her, reminding her of additional resources, if necessary. Asia wondered how La Patron would respond knowing his mate was so close to an infected body.
“Silas is there with Hawke Asia; he’s lending you his strength as well,” Jasmine said.
Asia continued sending energy through her mate, destroying the poison or sending it out through his skin. “Tell La Patron to collect the sweat from his skin, Hawke will want to see it later.”
Jasmine chuckled. “The Goddess picked the right mate for Hawke.”
Asia agreed and continued battling the intruder. The poison traveled fast and created lesions on the surface of some organs. When he shifted, his wolf’s antibodies would heal the abrasions.
She sensed Hawke reviving. “Stay still, let me work on you. The poison is attacking your lungs and heart.”
“Okay.”
Now that he was alert, it was easier to take hold of his energy, braid it with hers and flood his bloodstream with their combined forces. Hawke stiffened and then collapsed. His legs shook for a few seconds and then he stilled.
Heart pounding from the adrenaline rush, Asia searched for more poison. A few strains reappeared and she pushed them through his skin.
“Hawke?”
“Asia?” he sounded weak.
“I’m staying merged with you for a while longer in case the poison is hiding or regenerates. You need to drink water and rest.” She sensed he had worn his body down which weakened his natural defenses.
“Tired.”
“I understand, rest. I’ll stand guard.” She sent warmth, love and affection through their link, wrapping him in her care.
“He’s resting,” she told Jasmine.
“Thank the Goddess. I’ll tell Silas and take the kids out front while you rest with him.”
“Thank you Mistress.” She lay on the lounger and closed her eyes. “I love you Hawke. You scared me when you fell out. Please don’t do that again. I need you. Our pups need you.” She poured out her heart to her mate as his body healed.
“I love you too. Did you save a sample of the poison?”
She chuckled knowing her mate was on the mend. “I asked La Patron to take it from your skin.”
“Good. Smart mate.”
Asia remained alert destroying remnants of poison as they reappeared. For hours, the toxin regenerated and each time she would destroy the mutant cells with energy or push them through his skin.
“Silas wants to know how he’s doing,” Jasmine asked.
“Resting. The poison regenerates somehow. I think it’s because he’s so tired. I’ve been fighting various strains since he passed out. Are they flooding him with liquid through an IV?”
“Dr. Passen just finished the autopsies and is doing that now,” Jasmine said.
“It’ll be interesting to see if that makes a difference,” Asia said. A few minutes later she noticed an increase in his fluid level. She still battled the poison but not as often. Her eyes grew heavy.
“Asia? Asia love?” Hawke whispered through their link.
“Hawke? How do you feel?” She bathed him with love.
“Better but you need to rest now. I’ll shift to rid myself of anything lingering and then merge with La Patron to completely destroy any remnants. He says you’ve kept them informed of everything and now we have a better idea of how this poison works. There are very few organisms that can withstand our combined energy blasts like you used earlier. Now we can target our search and find an antidote to combat it.”
She shook her head. The man comes out of a death-like sleep talking chemicals, solutions and laboratory gibberish. “Glad I could be of some help.”
“You saved my life, again.” His voice dropped an octave and slid down her skin.
“As you have saved mine on many occasions.” Hearing his voice created an ache low in her belly. She needed to touch him, to assure herself all was well.
“We cannot, not yet but soon.” He spoke before she could voice her request.
“How soon?” Asia rubbed her thighs together and fought to keep her beast leashed. Their mate almost left them and her animal needed to scent and taste him.
“Soon, my beast demands it as well,” Hawke said in a ragged voice. “I will speak with La Patron but once we… come in contact you cannot offer his den protection. One of Tyrone’s pups is weak and must be kept separated for now. An incubator was sent a few hours past I’m told.”
Her wolf howled and swatted against her belly. Asia bent forward, curling against the pain. “I need you,” she said panting.
“I can tell,” Hawke said.
“Asia, what’s wrong?” Jasmine asked. “Is it Hawke? Is he worse?”
“No, Mistress. Now that he is well…my wolf demands to see him.” She rolled to the side with her arms wrapped tightly around her waist, growls slipping through her mouth.
“Oh…oh… let me see what um, can be done about that,” Jasmine said.
Asia’s stomach clenched, pinpricks rolled across her skin as her wolf fought to go to Hawke. Sweat beaded and ran down her forehead as she wrestled her beast to prevent shifting in the bunker.
“Hold on, Asia. I will meet you halfway. Can you make it to the elevator?” Hawke asked. His voice cool on her heated skin.
Attempting to stand, she fell to the floor. Pain radiated through her body. She had used most of her energy to heal Hawke. Weak, she crawled to the door. Before she reached it, it opened and David stared at her.
“You are going to be all right but you have to stand up. Grandfather will help you so you can meet Hawke and do what you need to do.” Before Asia could move or speak, he touched her forehead with his finger.
A stream of fire shot through her system causing her beast to retreat. Gasping for air, she stared wide-eyed at David as he closed the door and left. Did he say Grandfather? Whose grandfather? Silas’ or Jasmine’s? Maybe hers? She thought of her mother’s father and dismissed the idea.
Asia always suspected David was special and after that display, which still rattled her bones, she knew with certainty that he would be a force to deal with as he matured. She grabbed the door handle, pulled up and still shaky from that last jolt to her system, left the room.
Three pairs of eyes watched her from the middle of the hall. Glad her wolf calmed a bit and her incisors had receded, she smiled at her daughter. “Mommy has to go meet Daddy.” Sarita stood between David and Renee. Silent, they watched Asia leave.
“I know.” Sarita ran and grabbed Asia around the waist, hugging her tight. “Be careful. And come back home soon, please.”
Asia’s chest tightened. This little bundle of energy totally captured her heart and made each day better. “I will, I promise.”
Sarita didn’t look convinced and Asia wondered what David shared with the little girl. A vicious stomach cramp almost brought her to her knees. Her wolf reminded her to get moving. She dropped a kiss on Sarita’s forehead and hugged David and Renee.
Jasmine entered as she left the foyer. “Oh, I see you got the message to meet Hawke in the employee elevator.” She looked at the children and frowned. “Is everything alright? Why are they looking at you like that?”
“I will tell you what happened after I get to my mate, it’s hard for me to focus on anything else,” Asia said moving steadily to the exit.
“Right,” Jasmine said. “I’ll see you when this is all over I suppose. Silas explained everything. I’m going to miss you.”
Asia stopped and looked at Jasmine. “I need to be with Hawke but that won’t take long. Am I missing something? Has something happened while I was away?”
Jasmine’s cheeks pinkened. “Yes, but Silas made me promise to allow him to share it with you.”
Asia nodded and continued out the room to the elevator.
Jasmine spoke. “What happened you three? What did you do? Or say?”
Asia nodded to Davian, who was seated in the hall, and wondered if anyone else would be brought in for security. Not that Jasmine needed help, if one of hers was threatened; she morphed into a mini-Silas Knight without hesitation, wreaking havoc on whoever transgressed.
Hawke stood in the elevator watching her approach. Her wolf howled and she ran the distance, leaping into his arms. He caught her and held her tight, placing kisses all over her face. Somehow he managed to push the button, the doors closed and they descended. When the doors opened, he lifted her and took her to a room at the end of the long corridor. Inside, as soon as he put her down, she shifted. Her wolf rubbed against his leg, sniffing and licking. Hawke rubbed her belly and then shifted. He cleaned and groomed her while sniffing. She bumped into him and ran to the corner of the room. His much larger beast followed, content to play for now.
But that didn’t last long, his beast became more and more aggressive, demanding she yield. Asia morphed to human and crawled on the bed watching him. Hawke remained wolf a few more moments before shifting and then leapt on top, pinning her to the bed. Their gazes met and then he claimed her lips but that was just the beginning. Their wolves needed to reconnect, reaffirm that their bond remained intact.
