Page 10 of The Jaguar's Flower

She held a skill in genetics that he could never hope to gain.Did the need for a geneticist outweigh what he accomplished with his programs thus far?His eyes stayed on the monitor as he flipped through the personnel files to retrieve the professional reprimands and criminal records for the latest round of employees.

When 007 entered the room, even Renfield could not distinguish which of the soldiers stood and conversed with Dr. Morris. The softness of her voice, along with her demeanor, disgusted Renfield. She would be seen as a weakness among the staff. He would need to ensure the rest of the staff did not follow her lead. His finger hovered over the mute button. Before he could click it, he was gifted with information he had not expected.

“Until you are completely willing to give a sample, I will not take one from you, 007. I won’t let you return to your tasks too quickly because I don’t want anyone to question if you gave a sample. I’ve learned enough today to know that there’s no difference between the ones that gave samples and those that didn’t. It’s all about timing.”

The young doctor was naïve if she believed herself capable of any change inside Renfield’s facility. He tapped the button to mute the feed, then made a note to review the footage from that exam room at the end of his day. He observed the infinitesimal reaction of 007 to Dr. Morris.

The computer dinged with another reminder. He needed to know which version of 007 was with the doctor. Then he would see if both specimens reacted to her. This could be the piece he lacked in the puzzle.

Chapter six

Duringtheshortwalkto Violet’s apartment, they exchanged no words. She slipped Draven a few more of the candies he liked. He showed no external reaction until she stood in front of the door to her new home while she fished her keys from her bag.

“Thank you, Dr. Morris.”

She glanced over her shoulder and smiled. “You’re welcome, 002. Hopefully, I’ll see you soon.” The urge to ask questions about the facility almost strangled her, but she refused. With a little wave, she locked the door behind her. As she dropped her bag, she kicked off her sneakers beside the front door and fell onto the couch.

When Violet went to reach for the remote, the tablet issued with the keys caught her eye. Vaguely, she remembered the HR representative’s explanation of the tablet. It linked to the employee portal and allowed anyone in residence to order any items needed for their stay. She powered it on and typed in her apartment number.

After a few seconds, several applications appeared on the screen. Randomly, she tapped one. It brought up a map of the facility and what accommodations were available to the staff that called it home. Her nose wrinkled when she noticed the main building that housed all the atrocities committed under the guise of scientific research.

That app was quickly closed, and she opened another. It provided different options for furniture, which surprised her, given their work. Another app brought up different household items she could order, including food and paper goods.

While she debated whether to order groceries, she found an app that reminded her of a restaurant menu. A small smile curved her lips when she realized she could order groceries and something to eat so she didn’t have to cook.

Half an hour later, she set the tablet aside to wait for her order. As a test, she only ordered a few things. If the quality was poor, she would have to suffer until her weekend off. Then she could go into the city to pick what she wanted.

Exhausted, she picked up her phone and sighed. There were few notifications. A handful popped up from the games she played and teasers from the various reading and streaming services. The reality of her social life outside of the facility depressed her, so she watched a movie. It played in the background while her mind wandered as she waited for her delivery.

When the knock sounded at her door, Violet blinked her eyes open and yawned. She winced as she rose from the couch. “One second.” Her leg throbbed as she limped over to the front door, expecting another shifter to stand behind it.

However, she didn’t recognize the face on the other side of the door. His uniform differed slightly from the soldiers’. Instantly, she wondered if someone had infiltrated the grounds. About to slam the door in his face, she heard him speak.

“Dr. Morris?” His head tipped to the left as held up the bags at his side. “I’m here with your delivery. Planning a party?” A smile formed on his face when he asked the question.

She blushed and opened the door wider. “Oh, thank you. Would you mind bringing them in? Please?” When her leg continued to throb slightly, she leaned against the side of the door. “I’m sorry, I didn’t get your name.”

He looked around for a moment before he settled on the coffee table and deposited the bags he brought. “William, ma’am.”

“I appreciate you taking the time to bring my items to me, William.” She tried to smile, but her suspicions grew when he immediately gave her a name.

As soon as he set the bags down, he turned to leave. “Part of my job, Dr. Morris.”

“Do you work in the facility, too?” At that moment, she realized she still wore her lab coat. She laughed as she brought a piece of candy out of her pocket. “I’m a new hire, so I’m still trying to figure everything out.” Just like with the shifters, she offered him a piece of candy.

He took the candy with a shrug. “No, ma’am. I patrol the grounds, work the gate, and occasionally deliver items for the staff.” His eyes dropped from hers to the candy in his hand. “What kind of candy is this?”

Her suspicions only grew with his explanation, but she tried to hide it. “Strawberry. Why are you working at this facility?”

His hands paused while he unwrapped the candy. “I’m not sure what you mean, ma’am. This is where I’m stationed. This is a military medical facility.”

Slowly, her head nodded as she noted the way he seemed unsure of himself. He didn’t speak as though he told a lie, but it sounded like he was confused. “Oh, I should have guessed.” She blushed and dropped her eyes to the floor.

“Sorry, I shouldn’t be keeping you from your duties.” Then she wondered if she should give him a tip like any other delivery person. Rather than risk a misstep, she pulled a handful of candy from her pocket. “My way of thanking you for bringing my food.”

He tucked the candy into his left cargo pocket with a chuckle. “Anytime, Dr. Morris. I’ll see you another time.”

As soon as he left, she dropped back onto her couch. Somehow, she felt even more uneasy after the strange interaction with William. She needed to eat and sleep before she tried to figure anything else out.

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