Page 76 of Gluttony
“He was Pinkerton’s lab partner,” Sloan added, eyes lighting up with recognition. “He specialized in botany. The entire other side of Pinkerton’s lab was covered with cages of different types of plant species.”
“Well, one of them somehow ended up alive and eating humans.” Tony grimaced, remembering the dried husks. “Did you find the bodies of the Faithful?”
Liza, who’d remained stoically quiet, spoke. “They were gone.”
“As though it had never happened.” Tony blinked and squeezed Bailey’s hand. “It obviously happened. We have the evidence to prove it. Is it too early to get any info about the plant parts we sampled?”
“At this stage, all we can tell is that the bio-matter is constructed of some sort of flexible DNA binding agent. It has a molecular structure we’ve never before seen.” Parker went over to Sloan. He tapped her screen. “See what you can find out about this man, Bosch. Even if he’s dead, looking into him might help us understand the creature.”
“Um,” Evan cleared his throat, looking awkward. “There’s something else about the dreams I failed to mention.” He shot an unguarded glance at Misha. “Some of the women being tortured were pregnant.”
Wyatt shot to his feet. He chopped his hand through the air. “No.”
“I’m sorry, bro.” Evan shook his head. “I know what I saw. Misha wasn’t involved as far as I can see… but… maybe the faceless woman looks indescribable because her identity is fluid, and with the special DNA growing inside her, she’s still a target.”
“Way to set everyone’s mind at ease,” Liza snapped, twisting to scowl at Evan.
Tension sizzled in the air. Tony could practically taste Wyatt’s wrath as it simmered uncontrolled. Wyatt took his woman by the hand and helped her from the chair. “We’re going.”
“But…” Misha started, then fizzled off. She rubbed Wyatt’s arm and said softly to him, “It will be okay. Don’t worry, love.”
Still, Wyatt’s eyes darkened, and he moved toward the exit.
“Wyatt,” Parker warned. “You can’t run from this.”
Near the door, Wyatt tugged Misha under his arm, and pivoted with a dark glare.
“Honey,” Misha said, looking up at Wyatt with big, glistening eyes. “I’m going to be okay. I’m more worried about the actual birth than anything else. You guys have me protected. Don’t worry. Stay a bit longer and hear them out.”
His eyes softened on her, but when he took in the family, there was panic in them. “This is out of control. We don’t have the resources to deal with all this.”
Liza hugged herself. “I agree with Wyatt. There’s no way we can mount an assault on them, not with our limited intel and manpower. Yes, half of you with your powers count as ten men, but they’re building an army ofus. They’re close to completing it. Even if they let the incomplete clones loose until they expire, that’s still a minimum two-month shit storm we have to deal with.” Her worried glance went to the sketches Parker had rested on the coffee table. “And not all of us will get out of it unscathed.”
Her heavy words settled with a storm of tension crackling through the room. Everyone began to argue. Wyatt, barely retaining his stance in the room, placated Misha with hushed tones. Others were barking suggestions on how to get more resources. None of them were practical, and for once, Tony was at a loss for words.
When Bailey shifted awkwardly next to Tony, he realized she would be feeling very out of the loop. Most of what they spoke about had happened before she was in on their secret. He moved their entwined hands to his lap and covered it with his other hand. When she looked up, and he gave her a reassuring smile, she froze.
“I just thought of something,” she mumbled.
“What?”
“Back in the agency, if we needed more intel, we would turn someone to our side—create a double agent.”
Coming to stand near them, Parker interrupted, somehow having heard Bailey over the din of the family arguing. “We’ve already got Pinkerton, and the information he gave us hasn’t led to much that we didn’t already know. It seems like the Syndicate keep most of their information contained in pockets, or silos. None of it runs on a central server. There are probably precious few who know enough to do harm to their organization.”
Bailey straightened her spine. “I’m talking about Daisy.”
Parker shut her down. “We’ve tried to turn Daisy. I think it’s time to accept the fact she’s a lost cause.”
On his words, the arguments stopped.
Mary gasped. “Don’t you say that,mijo. Don’t you ever say that.” She wiped her glistening eyes. “That’s what the Sisterhood said about you all when you were just babies. Thank God I didn’t listen to them, or none of you would be here. Frankly, I’m ashamed at your callous outlook. I taught you better than that.”
Parker’s jaw twitched. “What will you have us do, Ma? Beat her around the head and drag her home?”
“Now that you mention it…” Griffin murmured.
Lilo slapped him on the chest in outrage. “She’s your sister. Your lost sister. Your mother is right. You need to stop thinking of her as a lost cause.”
