Three minutes later, Lieutenant Reid Kincaid had claimed a high vantage point and watched as Jessica began to slip through the foliage. Her pale-blue pajamas stood out, much more than her suit had, from the darker greens and browns around her. It shouldn’t take long for her to be picked up. He aimed his sights around him, focusing grimly.
To his surprise and shock, he’d apparently taught her too well. She slipped through two clearings and around numerous trees with no one the wiser. He grinned. She probably considered it a point of pride to not make it too easy for their enemies to capture her. Thankfully, she made an error before too much time passed.
One man held her wrist behind her back as another searched her purse.
The leader spoke clearly into his communications unit. “Command, I have the doc.”
“And her guardian angel?”
“There appears to be no sign of him.” The man gave Jessica a suspicious look.
Amazing woman that she was, she didn’t hesitate to smear his name. “You mean the groping bastard that pulled me out of a helijet into the most terrifying minutes of my life? He’s probably still on the ground, holding himself, praying for mercy. I do not like to be touched. You should remember that.”
The soldier took in her proud stance, the arrogant tilt of her head, and the determination in the set of her shoulders. The commander spoke into his unit again. “She claims to have incapacitated him, sir.”
Soon after, Reid watched them leave. Several others joined them, guarding their retreat. When they were out of sight, Reid descended the tree and watched the screen on his forearm bracers for the digital tracking arrow to match the one she’d placed inside her bra.
Aerie would’ve seen the signal as soon as she started to move. Now Reid just had to follow it, and map the details of the area for his reinforcements.
Jessica’s heart hammered as she was led to the small clearing with a large cavern entrance at the back.
Her father was visible, sitting on the floor in the cavern with his hands behind his back and a bandage wrapped around one ankle. He was pale and seemed to be in pain. She rushed forward, only to be jerked back by men who clearly did not understand not to touch her. At least they’d been mostly respectful up until now.
“Not so fast, doc. There’s someone who would like to speak with you.” The soldier tilted her to her left.
A familiar man approached her, though his clothing was far from the formal apparel she normally associated him with. His wavy blond hair was the same. His sparkling green eyes and charming grin.
Stephen Carson had cornered both her and her assistant, Sally, at more than one public event. Only now did she see the seriousness behind his everyday good looks, and the sinister intent he’d hidden behind all those questions about TERA. She’d assumed he was faking an interest in her work in order to get closer to her. It had been vice versa and, though she’d resisted his advances, she now felt like a complete fool.
“Dr Cross.” His gaze raked her thin nightwear, making her wish she wore heavier materials to bed.
“Mr Carson. Fancy meeting you here.” Jessica trotted out their typical greeting, infusing it with bitter sarcasm.
“Don’t be angry, Jessica. It had to happen this way.”
“I truly doubt that, Stephen.” Jessica crossed her arms. She’d purposefully tripped over branches and dragged her feet on her way to the clearing, giving Aerie time to arrive and position for their rescue. If she could delay even further by fighting with Stephen Carson, all the better. “If you have done anything to hurt my father, I will kill you.”
The bastard laughed. Jessica glared at him until he stopped and cleared his throat. “He received some nicks and scrapes when he fell. I would never hurt him.”
She snorted.
He gave her his most sincerely charming expression, spreading his hands palms up. “You don’t understand. Neither of you were ever truly in danger. It just had to look as if you’d died. Your work must carry on. They were trying to stop it.”
Jessica narrowed her eyes. “‘They’?”
“The Naturalists, of course. TERA is too important, too life-changing. Your research must continue.
We knew the army would catch wind of the assassination attempt and save you in time.”
“If the government shuts us down, faking our deaths and kidnapping us won’t help our research continue, Stephen.” Jessica used her most biting tone, realising for certain what he wanted – a behind-the-
scenes scientist who could continue research into unnatural ways to enhance a human body. To change people at a genetic level by playing God. That kind of research violated every medical ethic. But if she and her father were believed dead, they could continue that research and experimentation in secret, with no checks and balances to stop them. That was Stephen’s intention and he actually thought she would be tempted by the offer.
Stephen gave her a look as if he’d just offered her an ice-cream sundae and a large spoon. “You know what I’m suggesting, Jessica. You could make this drug everything that it’s truly meant to be.”
In her peripheral vision came a movement she’d been expecting. Their time had run out. Before all hell descended into the clearing, she looked Stephen straight in the eye. “TERA is already what it was meant to be. A drug that cures disease and fixes physical impairments. Why is that never enough for people like you?”
Eight
Men began yelling and firing tasers. Stephen spun toward the commotion. Jessica ran to her father’s side.
Tears filled her eyes at his pain-filled face. There were scratches all over him and a bandage tight around his ankle. She began untying him. “Is this really from the fall?”
“Yes.” He smiled at her, the love only shown for his work and for her shining in his eyes. “The blast made the foam disintegrate faster. Mike grabbed me before I could fall, but our position made landing awkward.”
He nodded behind her and she turned to see an injured man lying on the ground. Her father continued, his voice suddenly grim. “Mike, on the other hand, was not hurt in the fall. All his traumas came after, when he wouldn’t give up intel on your possible hiding spots.”
Jessica pressed her lips together, glancing at the chaos outside the cave as she worked on the knots binding her father. Both sides of the conflict stayed well away from the cave. The scientists would be no good to any of them if they were injured.
Jessica freed her father and pulled him into her arms. She could have lost him today. It was a fear every day, of course, since he’d been forty-nine when she’d been born. After decades dedicated to medicine, one glimpse of her mother had shifted his focus. He’d been a loving husband and father until her mother had died. Afterwards, it had become the two of them, fighting the ills of the world together. But no matter how many medical advancements they made, the human body would only go so far before it quit.
The fighting was over and men were shouting and organizing. Her father pulled away, taking in the anxiety on her face. “Airborne 81 out there?”
Warmth spread over her face. “Yes.”
She caught the eye of the injured soldier on the ground. “Mike?”
Beautiful brown eyes peeked up at her. He grinned. “That’s me.”
“Are you bleeding?”
“No, ma’am. Sore ribs, broken leg, otherwise I’m fine.” He winked.
Judging by the way the light hit his eyes and splashed across his face, a concussion and multiple cuts and contusions could be added to that list, but she nodded. “I’d better go check the others, then.”
Mike frowned. “Be careful.”