Page 123 of A Touch of Treachery
“Fucking Lockes,” he muttered.“That Legacy family hasalwaysbeen a thorn in my side.Always thinkingtheyknew what was best for Section.What was good and just and right.As if there are such things asgoodandjustandright.There’s only evil and more evil and less evil.”
“Finally, something we can agree on,” I drawled.
The General snorted, then poured himself another glass of whiskey.He threw it back just like the first one, then looked at me.“For a moment there, I didn’t think you were going to come with me.”
“You’re my father.”
He eyed me.“Is that the only reason?”
I walked over and tapped the photo of my mother on his desk.“I came because of her.”
My father stared at the photo.A shadow passed over his face, grief filled his eyes, and the same emotion flickered in his icy aura.For all his many faults, my father had truly loved my mother, and he still felt Iylena’s loss as keenly as I did.
The General pulled his gaze away from my mother’s photo and set his empty glass down on the desk.“I need to start working my sources and calling in favors to get ahead of this accusation.”
“Is it true?”I asked, careful to keep my voice neutral.“Did you really fund Henrika’s research?And give her the three-million-dollar ransom payment for Jack Locke to help start her company?”
My father looked at me, and I stared right back at him.After a few seconds of silent contemplation, he leaned down and hit a red button on the desk.A second, softer buzz sounded, and a telltale tingle of electricity swept across my skin.
“What’s that?”I asked.
“A small electromagnetic pulse.One that temporarily disrupts cell phones, along with spy cameras and listening devices.Basically, anything electronic that could be used to record this conversation.”
“You don’t trust me?”
The General peered down his nose at me.“Verify, then trust.Especially since we both know you are emotionally compromised where Charlotte Locke is concerned.”
I shrugged.My father could say whatever he wanted about my relationship with Charlotte.I knew the truth of what it was.
The General studied me, his eyes cold and assessing.Then he jerked his head in agreement.“Yes, I did fund Henrika’s research.”
“Why?”Once again, I kept my voice neutral.
His gaze dropped to the photo of Iylena.“I did it for your mother,” he replied in a soft voice.
Surprise shot through me.I hadn’t expected that.
“When your mother first got sick, I reached out to all my contacts to make sure she would have the best treatment possible—the best chance possible to get well.”He clasped his hands behind his back, his eyes dark and distant with memories.
“Okay, I can understand that.But how does Henrika fit into the equation?”
The General kept staring off into the distance.“We tried everything, but Iylena just kept getting sicker.”
My heart twisted with memories.I remembered my mother’s decline all too well.How she had stopped eating.How thin she had become.How her hair had fallen out in clumps.How pale and waxy her skin had become.
“One of my contacts came across an experiment Henrika had done.Something about using a specific formula tailored to an individual’s DNA to target and kill cancerous cells and leave healthy ones behind.”The General waved his hand.“I didn’t understand it back then, and I still don’t understand it now.But your mother was slipping away, and I was running out of options.”
“So you set up Seashell Imports and gave Henrika a grant.I can understand that too.How did it all go so wrong?”
The General started pacing back and forth behind his desk.“At first, Henrika’s research was extremely promising.But as time went on, it became less and less so.At least when it came to healing people.But eventually, I realized Henrika’s formula could have other, more practical applications.”
I did try, you know ...to be good.To make some great medical breakthrough that would help people.I tried—for years, Itried.
I hadn’t known what Henrika had meant when she’d said that in the lab, but I did now.“Weapons.You saw the potential to turn Henrika’s research into weapons that could kill paramortals.”
The General shrugged.“Of course I did.Section 47 is always looking for advantages over our enemies.Henrika had already taken my money, so she was already on my payroll.Besides, if I hadn’t approached her, someone else would have.”
As much as I hated to admit it, he was right.Eventually, someone else would have found out about Henrika’s research, seen its deadly potential, and sunk their hooks into her.The General had just beaten everyone to the punch.
