Mimics of Rune 02- Surrender (28 page)

Maggie crossed her arms over her chest. “Give me a little credit. I said someone could have done it for you. That implies they could do the same for others. But, Lily … there are people who don’t want to be parents, and if they’re Mimics, what are they going to do, huh? Just think about that while you become the hamster in the plastic ball.”

A knock on the door had Lily turning, though her ability to stop the shaking had long since failed.

Maggie angled her head toward the bedroom. “We’ve got another few hours before Matthew wakes. At this point, whatever happened in the past is in the past. We’re in the today. So suck it up and do it.” She scooted closer to the door.

Way easier said than done.

Even as Lily faced Maggie again, Maggie’s face contorted into Matthew’s, and her body retook a male shape.

“Come in,” the Maggie-Matthew said as he let go and switched the privacy setting to green.

Marlie stood just outside. “Ah … Kevin asked me to come—”

“That’s right. Miss Crane is ready for processing now.”

No, she’s not.

“It seems we simply had a minor misunderstanding.”

At Matthew’s nod, Lily followed Marlie.

• • •

Eight hours after they’d landed, Cael and James found themselves in a yacht, directed by armed guards, on their way across twenty miles of sea. The wind chapped Cael’s cheeks as the boat bounced in the waves. He stood on the bow in contemplative thought, James at his side.

That only the two of them had been authorized suggested to Cael that they’d been targeted. Wyatt, Charley and Pat had all been taken into the airport, the equipment and plane locked up in its place with strict instructions not to let it depart.

Land lined the horizon as the captain navigated them forward, and the sea spray cooled Cael’s body as well as his nerves.

“What’re you thinking?” James asked.

“I’m thinking we’re either being set up, or someone has figured out who we are.”

James chuckled. “Or someone has figured out we sent in an extra?”

“Or something has gone wrong.”

“What hasn’t gone wrong? We have no communication. We’re traveling on a massive yacht across the water to get to an island where we have no idea what’s what. That, to me, is way wrong.”

Cael turned to his friend. “Yeah, but this kind of stuff,we’ve done before. Remember Italy about twenty years ago? That was you, me and—”

“And that’s where I met Maggie.” A smile flitted across James’s lips.

“Shit, man.”

James shook his head. “It’s okay. Mags and I are coming to terms now that she’s admitted she left Chase with me because she’d have been a terrible parent.”

Cael chuckled. “Mags? You know you’re back to some of the nicknames you called her …
before
.”

James’s jaw muscles flexed. “So.”

Cael’s laugh continued as he raised a brow. “What’s going on between you two?”

A scowl etched itself into James’s features. “Nothing. We have one common interest, and that’s it. What’s going on with you and Lily? Now that you’ve finally made your move, what’s next?”

“I’m going to ask her to marry me just like I said I was.”

“You going to blend with her or wing it?”

“Whatever she wants.”

James held out his fist. “Well, if you decide to call it quits, I, for one, will understand.”

Cael met James’s fist with his own. “Thanks.”

A horn signaled. The boat slowed, the island in front of Cael and James spreading out for miles to the right and left.

“We’re going to get them out. Then we’re going to go home. Right?” Cael asked.

“Absolutely.”

On the end of a long pier stood two military guards with machine guns strapped to their backs. Engines idled before they reversed. The guard on the left stepped back as the boat reached the edge of the dock. He swung a huge anchor knot up to Cael who looped it around the boat’s hook.

Once on the dock, they both stood in front of the guards.

“Welcome to Fantasy Island,” the one on the right said.

“You’re kidding, right?” James asked.

“Of course …” the left guy said, “or maybe not.”

23

Cael and James sat on a couch in the middle of a living room. Around them, a few people milled about, among them two women with bellies as wide as Cael figured they could get before exploding. They walked back and forth, dropping to a chair and propping up their feet every once in a while.

“Gentlemen,” a woman’s voice called out.

Cael nudged James, who stood at the same time.

The woman strode toward them, long legs peeking out beneath a short skirt and white lab coat. “I’m Marlie, Mr. Williams’ assistant. I’m to escort you to his office.” She stalked right back to the doorway through which she’d come.

Cael and James followed the click of her heels on tile. The little bit of video they’d gotten before it died failed to detail the scene before them.
White must be their favorite color.

At a door, Marlie knocked.

A gruff ‘come in’ came from the other side, and the door slid into a pocket.

“After you, gentlemen.”

The view out the window couldn’t have been better ,with direct access to the ocean and blue sky. A table held the remnants of a breakfast that had Cael’s stomach grumbling as he marched farther into the home-like room.

From within a doorway opposite, a man in a suit emerged, his stride long and powerful. “Mr. Aldridge? Mr. Henry? I’m Matthew Williams.” He held out his hand.

As James took it, Cael stared into Matthew’s eyes. They flashed blue, green, purple and ended on blue—the distinct color coding Maggie had taken as her recognition pattern.

Cael’s lips failed to stay straight. “Nice to meet you … Mr. Williams.”

James cocked his head toward Cael, who inclined toward Maggie. As the dawn of recognition broke, James smiled.

“Let’s have a seat, gentlemen.” Matthew waved them toward the seats. “Marlie, would you please get these men something to drink?”

“Just water for me, please,” Cael said.

James nodded. “Same here.”

Marlie moved to an open kitchen and returned with three glasses of water. She sat in the chair to the side of the desk, her pencil and pen in hand.

Matthew propped his elbow on his desk. “I understand you were detained on our sister island. That’s a precaution we take with all unauthorized vessels. So … what can I do for you?”

Cael took a swig of the cold water. “I think this conversation should be kept private.”

Matthew inclined his head toward Marlie.

She put her materials down.

“And I believe it would be best if we held it in complete confidence,” James said. “I’m sure you understand, given your operation?”

As Matthew tilted up his chin, Marlie left the room, turning a red button next to the door as she did. Matthew leaned forward again. “You’re free to speak now.” He went on to explain about the privacy function—in Matthew’s voice.

“Where’s Lily?” Cael asked.

“She’s in processing.” Her voice shifted to a higher pitch.

“What’s that mean?”

“It means, I had to send her in to keep up the pretense while we figure out what’s going on. It’s coincidental enough that one base talks to the other, and they called over here as I took this guy out last night.” Maggie’s more feminine voice had replaced the deep voice she’d been using. “Sorry I couldn’t authorize your entry until this morning.”

Cael chuckled at the voice which didn’t match the body.

James adjusted so he sat on the edge of his chair. “What does Matthew do?”

“So far, I’ve figured out he’s the head honcho. From what I can tell, he’s actually a good guy with a good motive and a good mission. Kinda like what Charley wants to do now. But then there’s Kevin. And him … I don’t get. And I don’t believe Roy was forcibly separated … not for a minute.”

Cael’s brows shifted to the center. “Huh?”

Maggie waved a Matthew arm in the air. “When we got here, they took Roy away in this big show, but there was this underlying … communication between the two of them.”

“Why would Roy let Lily out of his sight?” Cael asked.

“No idea,” Maggie said.

“What underlying communication?” James asked.

“Strange eye contact. Tones of voices that weren’t dead on realistic. I think it was a setup. That’s why I’m keeping Matthew’s form and chasing after information in the computers first.” Maggie slid paperwork in Cael’s direction. “Didn’t Roy tell Lily to come down here so she could put this place out of business?”

“Yeah,” James said. “He did.”

Cael stood with the pages. “That’s why I wondered over their separation.”

“And remember I said he had a motive for self, too?” Maggie asked.

“Yeah.” Cael and James both said.

“I think it’s
more
‘the something he wants for himself’,” Maggie said.

Cael agreed. “But what is that?”

“Her paperwork says pregnant … so maybe the child? Which, by the way, you moron.” Maggie slapped Cael with the back of her hand. “What were you thinking having sex with Lily this week?”

Cael held up a hand. “Whoa. What the hell? How—”

Maggie tapped her temple. “Here’s my theory …” She continued on as if Cael hadn’t responded.

“Because you’re the expert on Lily and me?”

“No, Cael. You want Lily because you love her. I get that.” She shot a glance at James. “But Roy told her, the people who took Leigh want her for her genetics. The only people even remotely scheduled to see her today or tomorrow are Kevin and this Doctor Ontawabe. That’s it. Nobody else. But from the little bit of computer work I’ve done, every person in this facility has weeks worth of plans already scheduled.”

“They’ve been here longer than Leigh?” James asked.

“Could be.” She tapped her chin.

“But you don’t think so,” Cael said.

“Roy’s reputation is ‘all for one and one for Roy’. There’s something more with him and, dammit, I want to find out!”

Cael leaned into the back of the chair. “So where is he?”

“That’s just it. I don’t know. Not a record exists about him here—or Kevin, either. I couldn’t find Roy in all the traipsing I did last night, but like Charley said … he’s always one step ahead. He’s got a plan.” Maggie stood. “And my guess is, he’s just waiting for the moment to put that little plan into place. Kevin said this morning that they only have two days to ‘do’ whatever it is they need to do. Whoever ‘they’ are. That probably means Roy has less time.”

“What’s your vibe, then?” Cael knew Maggie would have one.

She leaned forward. “Roy’s using this place just like he’s using Lily.”

“Aren’t they holding people against their will?” Cael asked.

“Only Lily and, technically, not even her. Signed papers from everyone. There are at least six Mimics here, two pregnant women and three kids … plus Lily.”

“But—” Cael started.

“This ain’t the same kind of place Lily was in when she was young. It’s a lab, yes … but it’s more like a training facility, slash adoption center, slash refuge. There’s a staff of two
hundred
. Who needs that many people for five residents unless …”

Cael nudged himself forward. “There are more residents.”

Maggie pointed her Matthew finger toward Cael. “Exactly. And I don’t think they’re all Mimics. Who knows what else is going on? Who knows what all those doors lead to—some of them are without windows.” She bent that finger back to herself. “I can’t beat the info out of this guy, so I need your help, James, digging through the records. Like the activities and practices, time in classes—all sorts of stuff … by residents … for years. I’ve barely gotten through the last week of data, let alone the last month’s. There’s something bigger than Roy here, and we need to know what it is.
Before
we destroy it.”

Cael dropped the papers onto the table. “Roy could easily be in there in another form … just like you are.” He started for the door intent on getting Lily out. “Fuck Roy and this place, Maggie. Let’s just get Lily, get Leigh and go!”

“No, she’s right,” James said. “We need to find out more.”

“By sending Lily into the line of fire? Can you two comprehend what this is going to do to her?”

“She’s a big girl, Cael. She can handle it,” Maggie said.

Between pursed lips, he seethed.
No, she can’t. Not without me.

• • •

Several corridors and hallways later, Lily found herself in a small room with a curtain, a bed, and a bunch of hospital-like storage cabinets with glass fronts giving a view inside.

Trays, drawers, lights, the bed.

Stuff she wanted nothing to do with.

She hugged herself, wishing she had Maggie in dog form or even Leigh to hold her hand.
God, what I wouldn’t give to have Cael here.

At that point, she’d even have taken Roy. Almost.

Like everywhere within the facility, the door slid into a hidden pocket. A dark-skinned woman in a lab coat walked in. She smiled bright red lips, her solid black hair tied in a tail at the nape of her neck. Green eyes said friendly while the black pants and white shirt said professional.

“Good morning, Miss Crane. How are you?” An upper New York accent capped off Lily’s impression of ‘friendly’.

Lily kicked her legs out from the chair as nerves danced along her skin. “I’m all right.”

The woman set her tablet down, dropped onto the spinning stool that resembled those in every doctor’s office Lily had ever been in and rolled toward Lily. “I’m Doctor Herrick Ontawabe. Most call me Herri for short.” She held out her hand toward Lily.

Reaching for Herri forced Lily to bank the uncertainty and unease flowing through her. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Herri’s smile stayed in place. “I’ll be guiding you through the testing process today. It’ll probably take all day, but I assure you, we’ll take breaks and see to any needs that you have as we go along.” She patted Lily’s knee. “How are you feeling, by the way?”

“Um … good?”

A deep and genuine laugh left Herri’s lips. “No sickness? Overtired?”

Oh, god.
“Uh … no.”