Page 56 of Stryker

“I get that logic,” Johnsaid.

“I need you to be verycareful of your surroundings because it seems these divisions ofthe Noah Group are going around retrieving what they considerassets.”

“Assets? You mean liketest subjects?”

“Yes. I think it’s like anarms race: whoever has the most strength in numbers or abilitieswins.”

“That means none of us aresafe.”

“That’s why I need you tobe vigilant until we have a chance to deal with these people andshut them down for good. You still have your gun?”

“I take it everywhere Igo, along with my inhaler. It’s become my favorite fashionaccessory,” John joked.

“Good. That, along withnever going somewhere alone, should at least deter and preventsomebody from trying something rash.”

“I hope so. How long doyou think you’ll be in North Carolina?”

“We want to stick aroundfor a bit and ensure if they bring any former test subjects here,we can free them before putting them out of business.”

“Is that why Gator’sheading down there? You planning on blowing something up?” Johnasked.

“It’s a distinctpossibility. We don’t like leaving shit behind that someone cancome back in and use.”

“What’s going to happen tothe people you free? Will they have a home to go back to? Will iteven be safe for them out there because maybe one of the otherdivisions will come looking for them?”

“We’re working on a planfor a safe place for those who don’t have anywhere else to go, evenif it’s temporary. We’re being forced to make this up as we go. Thevariables keep changing.”

“I understand. It’s not asif you guys planned on being the saviors to a group of geneticallyaltered victims of the Noah Project. However, I know that the teammembers’ hearts are in the right place. We’ll figure thisout.”

“I’m glad you have faithin us.”

“I’ll always have faith inyou.”

“Miss you.”

“I miss you too, Stryker.We’ll talk soon.”

John disconnected the call and set hiscell phone back on the desk beside his gun. He missed Stryker morethan he ever thought possible. It was a strange paradox consideringwhen Stryker was in twenty-four/seven protection mode, John wassearching for some free time, but now that he had it and Strykerwas several states away, maybe it wasn’t truly what hewanted.

“Relationships areconfusing,” he muttered to himself.

John returned to work on a set ofchairs they’d been commissioned to create. The orders kept rollingin, and they were booked up several months in advance. It meant heoften stayed behind to do a little late-night work.

The deputy assigned to him fortoday—Charlie, a fit forty-year-old man with a bald head and ajacked body—waltzed in, looking a little gray. He was an ex-SASBrit with an impressive list of military commendations.

“I’ll be in the bathroom,got a bit of a dodgy stomach. Be back soon. Don’t goanywhere.”

“Oh, something you ate,perhaps? Sure, take your time.” John went back to hiswork.

He lost track of time, and when thebell above the store's door rang, John frowned. The shop wasn’topen and he didn’t expect anyone. A frisson of panic swept his bodyand he picked up his gun. He noticed then Charlie was nowhere to beseen. He checked his watch.

“Fuck, it’s been over halfan hour. Is the man still in the damn toilet?”

He heard another noise from the front.“Charlie, that you?” he called out, thinking perhaps he’d gone outfor a smoke or some fresh air. He walked to the front of the storeand when he got to the front, he looked around but found no onewaiting.

He walked to the front windows andlooked up and down the street but saw nothing out of the ordinary.He went to the front door and opened it, making the bell chime. Itappeared to be in working order. A cold chill racked his body. Hewas sure the door had been double locked earlier.

Holding his gun as he’d been shown,John went back into the shop. Everything seemed clear. He startedto relax, thinking he’d been overreacting, when a sharp painexploded from the back of his head. He fell to the floor, the gunstill in his hand. As he lost consciousness, he caught sight of theoutline of the deputy tied up in the corner, bleeding from themouth. Then there was nothing.

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