Page 27 of Dark Medicine

Fiona looked at him without expression. It was the ‘later’ she was worried about. When they all left, she would be alone and more vulnerable than ever. The idea of leaving Ireland was more than she was prepared to give.

“I’ll stay through Monday. Then I need to return to my apartment and work. I’ll come back up here for the wedding next weekend."

Adam started to speak, but Kane gave a slight shake of his head, and he stopped. He nodded in agreement with Fiona, but in actuality, he wasn’t agreeing with a damn thing that was coming from her mouth. She was being stubborn and unreasonable. If he had his way, and he would, he would change her mind.

“What do you say tomorrow, I take you all on a little tour of my favorite places? It will be lots of driving, but worth every minute,” said Fiona.

“I think that sounds wonderful!” said Aislinn.

“I’m in,” said Flip.

“Me too,” said Spook.

“Then it’s done. We’ll load up by seven a.m. tomorrow and have a splendid day.” Fiona stood and stretched her long body. “I’m off to bed then. Goodnight, everyone.”

“Goodnight,” said Aislinn, hugging her friend. “And thank you for helping to make today special. I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Me too,” whispered Fiona against her friend’s ear. Fiona turned toward the stairs and spotted Adam standing at the foot of them, waiting patiently for her. As she approached, he held out his hand to her, and Fiona stopped, staring at the strong, long fingers. The same hand that pulled her off the wet pavement and kept her safe. The same hand that drove her mad with desire last night and this morning. A hand. How could one appendage send so many messages to a woman’s body?

“Ready?” he asked in a silky-smooth tone.

“Ready, Adam Thorn,” she smiled.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Flip watched his friend walk up the stairs, holding the hand of the woman he was certain Adam loved. Fiona was everything Adam needed. She was strong, willful, and complemented Adam’s gifts perfectly. Flip frowned at the thought, wondering if Fiona and Aislinn’s assessment was spot on. Maybe someone did plan for them all to meet. The only piece of that thought that gave Flip comfort was the idea that there might be someone out there for him.

“Well, I’m headed to bed as well,” said Aislinn. “Wedding stuff makes a girl tired.” She smiled down at Kane and kissed him soundly, then walked around the table kissing Flip and Spook’s cheeks.

“Good night, Aislinn,” said Flip, smiling. She gave a small wave as Kane stood to join his future bride.

“Spook, see what you can find on that e-mail address. Flip, see if you can find out anything about other children at the base.” They both nodded as Kane walked away.

“What do you think?” asked Flip.

“I think someone is fucking with our lives, and I’m going to stop it,” said Spook. “I’m heading up to check the program I have running. It should tell me soon where that address originated.” Flip nodded, momentarily distracted by a news flash on the television.

In other news this evening, local con man Roman Cherznevky was found dead on the upper trail of the Cliffs of Moher. Cherznevky was a known gypsy, having conned men and women alike for years. His body was taken to the coroner’s office, but reports from the scene say he died of a bullet wound to the head.

“Holy shit,” said Spook. “Should we let Adam and Kane know?”

“I’m texting them,” said Flip, pecking away on his phone.

In global news, a massive fire occurred at Sierra Depot on the California-Nevada border in the United States. The depot houses armaments for Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command, the United States Army Medical Material Agency, and the Soldier Biological Chemical Command, as well as others. In the 1970s, ‘80s, and ‘90s, it was also used for the storage of unarmed nuclear weapons. Authorities are still unclear of how exactly the fires started but say the fire is contained and all weapons are secure.

“This is just one clusterfuck after another,” said Flip. “Did you know it housed biological command?” Spook shook his head.

“I had no clue.”

“Alright, let’s go up and see what we can find.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The faces around the table showed expressions of fear, concern, anger, and in some, a blend of all three. They knew what he was going to say. They knew what his emotion would be, and they knew that they would be the target of his wrath. Some served with him for years, the strain of those years showing in the lines on their faces but more so in the scars on their bodies.

When questioned, he was brutal. When crossed, he was lethal. Every man in the room experienced it at some point in their career, no matter how long or short. To look at the man was to see the face of evil, even in sickness. Their fondest hopes were that he would die before finding the girl. The problem was they were charged with finding her, and if they didn’t, one by one, they and their families would be massacred.

The anxiety and tension were so thick you could cut it with a knife. They waited patiently for him to open the doors, his withered, diseased body creeping into the room with the help of his ever-present assistant.

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