KnightForce Deuces, page 14
Sensing no subterfuge or guile in Melch, Silas pulled out a chair, leaving a seat between him and Kalid. Hawke sat across from Silas with a seat between him and Dr. Hickle.
“Tell me about the poison,” Silas said determined to find out what he wanted first. He understood they were anxious over the flesh-colored bombs but he had been burned too many times in the past to share information first.
Melch met his gaze and then nodded. “Kalid?”
After spending five minutes explaining the name and ingredients of the compound, Kalid finished with what Silas considered the obvious. “The poison is highly contagious and extremely toxic.”
“Who owns the poison?” Silas asked in a soft voice to mask his rising anger.
“I’m not at liberty to say,” Kalid said staring at the page in the folder.
“Somebody needs to explain how a highly classified poison created for chemical warfare disappeared from wherever you secure it and wound up in West Virginia on my front door.” Silas stared at Melch.
“There was a breach, one we’re looking into. Samples were taken,” Melch said.
“Breach? Samples?” Silas looked at Hawke, glad he wasn’t buying this BS either.
“He’s not lying, he’s repeating what he was told but what he’s saying is not true,” Hawke said.
Silas and Hawke stood. “Goodnight gentlemen, now you understand why I don’t do these fireside chats - you forget we can smell deceit.”
Melch frowned, the first sign of emotion he had shown since they arrived. “Deceit? I’m speaking the truth –”
“As you know it,” Silas said looking at the genuine confusion on Melch’s face. “Let me guess, you were called in at the last minute and only have the barest facts on this whole exchange, while these two and others know what actually happened. You were told to answer me honestly, which you’ve done but you don’t know anything. Which is a waste of time.”
Melch’s conflicted gaze proved Silas read the situation correctly.
“You believe these men know more than they are saying?” Melch asked, surprising Silas.
Silas glanced at the doctor, noticed his slight frown and nodded. “Of course they know more than they’re saying. Especially the doctor, he was involved with creating the poison. Chances are he removed the sample.” Silas took a wild guess at the reason for the doctor’s discomfort and was surprised at the man’s guilty reaction. The gall of some humans never failed to amaze him. To sit in front of the person you tried to kill as if you’ve done nothing wrong… because you think you’re so much smarter than everyone else and no one will know. Silas shook his head at the man’s arrogance.
Hickle’s head whipped around, his mouth dropped open and then snapped shut as he started speaking. “No, no, that’s not true. You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Silas and Hawke smiled and returned to their seats.
Melch looked at Hickle’s red face and then at Silas. “He says it’s not true,” he said.
Silas shrugged. “He’s lying.”
The doctor jumped up. “I won’t tolerate this.” He moved to leave the table.
“Sit down, Hickle,” Melch said in a hard tone.
“But…but…” the doctor stuttered looking around the room.
“Sit down. We have a situation where several citizens were killed with undetectable bombs and there is a chance several more bombs are at large. My one job here today is to receive any pertinent information regarding those devices.” He tilted his head in Silas’ direction. “Mr. Knight and his associate came in good faith to exchange information and that’s what will happen.”
Silas looked at the doctor’s panic-stricken face and knew Hickle either stole or took the chemicals. The question was why? And for who?
“Hickle, did you take the chemicals?” Hawke asked.
The doctor jerked as if Hawke placed a live wire next to his skin. “No.”
Melch and Kalid looked at the doctor, frowning.
Hawke shook his head and pointed to the men across the table. “Even they knew that was a lie.”
Hickle stared at Melch and then dropped his gaze.
“How do we stop the effects of the chemicals?” Silas asked, his gaze volleying between Kalid and Hickle.
“I am not aware of a method to stop the effect, this particular chemical is still being researched,” Kalid said, his tone apologetic.
“May I see the properties of the chemical, please?” Hawke asked.
“No,” Hickle said when Kalid prepared to slide the folder across the table.
“No?” Melch said looking at the doctor.
“What if he memorizes it and uses it against us? We’ll have no defenses and be at their mercy,” the doctor said, glancing at Silas and then Melch.
“Why would he or anyone at this table do that?” Melch asked.
Dr. Hickle frowned. “Because… you know.”
Melch frowned and signaled for Kalid to release the folder to Hawke. “No doctor, I don’t.” He looked at Silas. “Corrina Griggs had the flesh-covered bombs developed, do you know the name of the scientist person she used?”
“No. By the time we met up with Griggs, there were no others besides her sons and minions.”
“We were afraid of that. Can you tell us a little about your involvement with the bombs?”
Silas told of the first bomb inside Boggs, the male contact Tyrese met at the bar and then the women on suicide missions.
“I think we can create something to counteract this,” Hawke said.
“Did they give you the right formula?”
“For the most part, they left out the ingredient we have at the lab but since I’ve isolated it, we can test it with the other components. This is a nasty brew, I’m not surprised they don’t have a solution for it.”
“They want us to find or create an antidote so if the need arises in the future we can have another one of these chats,” Silas said.
“I gathered that,” Hawke said.
“You have scanners in all your buildings that detect the bombs?” Melch asked.
“Yes,” Silas said.
“Can we look at your specs for the scanners?” Melch asked.
“Sure.” Silas glanced at Hawke, he reached in his shirt pocket, pulled out a flash drive and slid it across the table to Melch. Hickle reached for it but Melch’s stern look stopped him. Melch picked up the flash drive and handed it to Kalid who installed the drive in his laptop.
Silas looked at Hickle. “Is there anything else we should know about the poison?”
Hickle frowned but didn’t speak.
“Like the name of the people or group you stole the chemicals for? Are they done? Or should I expect more attempts to test an unauthorized chemical at my home where my woman and children live?” Silas asked in a hard tone.
The doctor flinched.
“Answer him,” Melch said.
“I don’t know the answer,” Hickle said and Melch shook his head.
“It should’ve been an unqualified no, or an honest, I don’t know,” Melch said, his tone filled with disgust.
Hickle’s eyes widened and then he stood.
Melch stood as well. The two stared at each other for a long moment. Hickle looked away and dropped into his chair.
Kalid removed the flash drive, handed it to Silas and then left the room. Melch unbuttoned his coat and sat.
“It seems we have a problem,” Melch said staring at a red-faced, tight-lipped, Hickle. “Doctor, please explain why and when you removed classified materials from a secure Federal location and how those chemicals were used against Mr. Knight and his family.”
Hickle turned his head slowly and stared at Melch. “You can’t be serious.” He glanced at Silas who sat with his hands clasped together on top of the table staring at him.
Hickle pointed at Silas. “Don’t you know who he is? What he is?”
Melch frowned. “According to all the information I’ve received, Mr. Knight is a high-caliber businessman with financial assets all over the globe. Is that what you’re referring to?”
“No. He’s not human. He’s something… like a wolf or dog. They both are.” He pointed at Silas and then Hawke.
Melch’s eyes widened and then he took a long look at Silas. “Hickle, I don’t understand what you mean. I’m looking at him and don’t see what you see.”
“He changes, they all do, into great big wolves,” Hickle said making wild gestures with his arms.
Silas’ lips quirked. “A dog? Really?” he said to Hawke.
“More like a vicious pony, perhaps?” Hawke retorted.
“Wolves?” Melch questioned with just the right combination of incredulity and sympathy.
Silas almost felt sorry for Hickle, his career was over and he would probably spend the rest of his days in a mental facility.
“You saw Mr. Knight and his associates turn into big dogs or wolves?” Melch asked slowly.
“Stop talking to me as if I’m crazy. I’m not!” Hickle yelled.
Melch held up his hand in a placating gesture. “Okay, okay, take it easy and tell me about the time you saw Mr. Knight turn into an animal. Any kind of animal.”
“I never saw him of course, they’re too smart for that. But Lancaster has. He’s shown videos of this man working in a lab for him.” He pointed at Hawke.
“Lancaster, should’ve known,” Hawke said.
“How is my good friend Boris Lancaster?” Silas asked smiling.
The doctor frowned. “Friends? He never mentioned anything about the two of you being friends.”
“Boris didn’t mention a lot of things I’m sure. How’s he holding up these days?”
“Alright, I suppose.” He turned to Melch. “See this proves I was right. He’s a werewolf or something. We need to prepare against them turning on us.”
“His knowing the same man you know proves what?” Melch asked. “Why don’t you tell us about Lancaster and how you met him? I’m sure you’ll feel better after you get it all off your chest.”
“It’s not what you think, this isn’t about money, it’s about national security,” Hickle said. The stench of his lie stung Silas’ nose.
“It’s about money,” Silas told Hawke.
An hour and a half later, Silas and Hawke walked toward their car in the parking area. Hickle gave names, dates, locations and somehow connected Lancaster to the bombings, which wasn’t true but Silas didn’t call the doctor out on that. The thought of Lancaster sitting in front of Melch answering questions, trying to double talk or bribe his way out of the situation pleased him. Maybe Melch would hold Lancaster for contempt or just lock him away for being an asshole.
Silas sent Tyrese the names of the two men, John Crawford and Ollie Brown, who Hickle named as the ones financing the deal. Supposedly one of them came up with the idea of poisoning the pack of wolves and holding the antidote for a huge bounty. The fact there was no antidote didn’t stop them from releasing the deadly mixture on his pack. A visit from Tyrese tonight would even the score. Froggy and the others would be avenged.
“Incoming,” Silas warned just as a dart landed in Hawke’s upper arm. The next second, two darts hit Silas in the thigh. He pulled them out and tossed them on the ground next to Hawke’s. Silas ducked as two darts whizzed past him.
“Two behind the van over there,” Silas told Hawke.
“Five waiting behind that concrete beam. There are no cameras in that section and I’m not sensing any on those five. That van is loaded with electronics, we need to take it out or be prepared to see ourselves on the news,” Hawke said.
“You take the van and I’ll corral the five.”
Hawke ran straight to the van, pulled off the door and went inside. Silas heard some yelling, a sizzling sound and a loud crash. The five men hiding ran and he took off after them. They split in different directions. His beast panted in the excitement of the chase. He caught the first three easily, bashed their heads together and tossed them in a heap before taking off after the last two.
Silas dived and brought the two men down. They rolled twice, stopped and he grabbed them by their shirts lifting them from the ground. “What are you doing out here?” he asked walking back to the other three.
“Nothing.” One of them said struggling to break free from Silas’ strong grip.
“I’m done here, nice set-up, pity it’s not working. Found their stash of darts. There’s electronic surveillance all through this garage, why hasn’t security made an appearance yet? They should be back online by now,” Hawke said.
“Humans,” Silas muttered looking at the three men moving slowly on the ground. “Someone is watching. Grab the darts and let’s leave. After listening to Hickle’s lies and half-truths for the past hour, I’m ready to leave this place and breathe fresh air.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Silas released the two men and walked toward their vehicle. He pulled out a small device from his pocket and scanned the SUV for tampering. He sensed the attack and sidestepped two more men seconds before they reached him. Their heads collided with the steel-reinforced passenger door, knocking them out.
Three others ran into him, driving him back a few feet. Silas noticed an unusual scent that had been absent when he encountered the first five men. The three men landed several hard punches to his face and torso before he backhanded one, sending him flying across the parking lot, landing on a late model car creating a sizable dent and then sliding to the ground. He grabbed the other two, knocked their heads together hard and tossed them aside.
The two who charged first, regrouped and came at him again. Silas grabbed both by their throats, turned and walked toward Hawke who leaned against a concrete pole watching.
“Smell them,” Silas said lifting the two men higher. Hawke walked forward and inhaled. Frowning he sniffed again.
“What’s that odor? It’s not the poison, it’s different.” He looked at Silas.
“When I chased them down the first time, they smelled human. But now, it’s human with something extra. They moved faster,” Silas said looking over his shoulder at the three men on the ground. “Now that I think about it, there was some power behind their punches.”
Hawke snorted.
“If they’d attacked humans, this would’ve turned out differently.”
“Another test?” Hawke asked. “Someone wanted to test a drug that increased human strength against us? They knew we wouldn’t be hurt or killed.” He tipped his head back toward the media van. “Maybe that’s what all the equipment was for.”
“Why use poison darts first?” Silas asked.
“Good question. I don’t see the end game here. Hickle teams up with humans who planned to charge money to stop poisoning the pack. Lancaster knew that would never work, chances are he’s using them, the question remains, why? What’s he up to now that the Liege has fallen?”
“Wish I knew,” Silas said watching the men on the ground move slowly. The two he held remained still.
“Then we are greeted by these lovely buffoons on drugs with their personal camera crew. I’m not sure if they wanted to test the effectiveness of the drug in the darts or whatever these men ingested,” Hawke said looking around the lot.
“What do you suggest we do with these?” Silas released the men in his hand. They hit the concrete with a thud and lay still.
“I’d love a sample of their blood. If Melch is still here, think he’ll give me some needles?” Hawke smiled.
“No, he wouldn’t but if we told him these men were hyped up on some type of super drug that might endanger humans, he’d have them tested. What about the two in the van?”
“They ran into the wall and are taking a nap.” Hawke shrugged and walked to the elevator. The door opened and he grabbed the red phone. When he finished the call, he returned and stood next to Silas. “They saw nothing; the poor sap answering the phone sounded shocked when I told him we were attacked.”
Moments later, the elevator opened. Melch and five men quickly strode forward. His gaze took in the five bodies littering the parking deck. “How’d they get in here?” he yelled.
“There’s a van with recording equipment over there,” Hawke said, pointing.
Melch’s eyes widened and then narrowed as he signaled for the men to check out the van. He stepped around the two men lying near Silas’ feet. “What happened?”
“We were attacked,” Silas said. “They packed a hard punch, I think they’ve been altered in some way.”
“Hard punch,” Melch scoffed. “You were leaving and five, no make that seven men attacked. They are all on the ground but they packed a hard punch?”
“Listen to what I’m telling you,” Silas said slowly. “If they had punched you, you wouldn’t be standing here.”
Melch met his gaze and then looked down at the men. “Altered? Who? How?” He rubbed his forehead.
“I have no idea, perhaps this was testing day, there may be some clues in the van. They had to transmit somewhere,” Silas said. “Consider my alerting you to a possible new threat payback for the information from Hickle.”
Melch nodded. “And I thought this would be an easy assignment.”
Hawke chuckled as they moved toward their vehicle.
“Gather these men.” Melch waved to the men on the ground. “I want them all tested.”
Chapter 20
Angus and Jasper walked along the sidewalk listening to loud, heavy metal music escaping from the nearby club. Men and women strolled about freely, enjoying the cool evening breeze.
“You hear it?” Jasper asked.
Angus filtered through the beats from the band, conversations, and sounds of lusty lovemaking and then he heard the subtle clicks. His chest constricted with the knowledge of what those sounds could mean.
“I hear it.”
Jasper contacted Chase while Angus tracked the sound. In unison, they crossed the street, walking away from the crowded area. Relieved there would be some distance between the main street and the bomb, they continued down a well-lit road. The clicking grew faint. Angus stopped, backtracked and picked up the sound again. They turned into a courtyard leading to a warehouse.
