Voice (14 page)

If something on this scale could be engineered, what else could they do?

How was the Event so dangerous? Were there going to be any lasting effects?

Jemma closed her eyes, blocking out the blurring on the edges of her vision. It had gotten almost normal to be able to see only what she looked at directly. The blurring had improved slightly, she thought; she could see movement in those areas a little easier, but no detail, not yet.

With her eyes closed, though, there was less to distract her from the pain in her head.

“Jill sent us a text.” Jack sounded uncertain, and Jemma opened her eyes and joined him at the computer.

Is this mess with the senator what you were mixed up in? Please tell me it was something else. That sounds way more dangerous than what you said.

Jemma frowned. “There’s not really a safe way to respond to that, is there?”

“Not until we’re ready to tell them everything, I don’t think. Not truthfully, anyway.” He hesitated. “Tricorp probably has bigger concerns than finding us after that broadcast. We could risk it.” Jack turned back to face her.

She stared at the screen, hearing her sister’s voice, and shook her head. “We’ve waited this long. It doesn’t seem like it should be much longer before it’s safe, right? So we wait until we know.”

Jack nodded, and she moved back to the couch, focusing on the television again. She had started zoning out when the news anchor’s tone changed.

“Jack, come watch.” He joined her as a new segment started, the female anchor watching the camera earnestly.

“We’ve just been informed that those taken by Tricorp BioD have been successfully rescued. They’re being taken into protective custody while authorities continue to track down missing employees of the company, who may seek to do them harm.

“Most employees have already been apprehended. They will be held while authorities determine the amount and severity of their individual involvement, and the prosecution of these cases may take some time as a crime of this particular scope isn’t exactly covered under normal statutes. Matters are further complicated by the fact that the U.N. is lobbying for involvement, not wanting to leave the decisions exclusively in the hands of the United States government. Though the corporation and the individuals responsible were all located in the U.S., their actions did affect the entire world.

“We’ve been asked to announce that those who were able to leave the Tricorp BioD facilities on their own, those who escaped or those whose facilities were abandoned, should report to the nearest large hospital to be treated, without charge or copay. If you call ahead, police protection will be provided.

“We’ll report further news as we receive it.”

The news changed to a commercial break, and Jemma looked over at Jack. “Is that something that we trust?”

He ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t know. I think maybe we should wait until we hear from Myles. He might be getting more information and more direct news than we are.”

Nodding, Jemma sighed. “More waiting. Right.” Jack reached over and squeezed her hand.

“Barely any time has passed since his announcement this morning. It’s amazing what they’ve done with just a few hours. Let’s give them a little bit more time before we get too impatient.”

They kept the news on while they waited, taking turns at the computer to help pass the time. Updates continued trickling in. After a few more hours, photos of some of the employees were displayed on the screen along with their status, either apprehended or still missing. Jemma didn’t recognize most of them.

“That was one of mine,” Jack said, pointing before an image marked “Apprehended” could change. They continued watching. Jemma felt a little nauseated when she saw neither Dr. Harris nor Josh.

It was nearing dinner time before Myles’s phone finally rang. As he’d asked them to the night prior, before they’d gone to bed, Jack checked the ID to make sure the call was from Myles’s cell phone, then clicked the button to put the phone on speaker while he and Jemma remained silent.

“It’s me,” came Myles’s voice. Jemma released a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. It was just a phone call. “Did you watch?”

“Yeah, we watched,” answered Jack. “You’re an impressive speaker.”

“It’s being taken better than I expected. I’m not sure whether I’ll keep my position, but I’m not as sure that my political career is over as I was when I woke up this morning, either. Have you been watching the news since this morning?”

“Yeah. They said we should go in to the hospital, but we weren’t sure whether to trust that. Especially since the ones that were directly working with Jemma haven’t been taken in yet.”

“Caution is good.” The senator’s voice was firm. “The offer is legitimate, though. If you wanted to drive there, the signs are easy enough to follow.”

Jemma shook her head. “I know you kept us out of your speech, but Josh knows who released the cure. Dr. Harris could have put it together, too, from what you said in your conference. I’m not as worried about him, but…” She shook her head, pushing down the same fear she’d been waking with. Jack took her hand, sending calming emotion until she could continue. “Josh blames it all on me. It would be too easy to figure out what hospital we’d be going to if we came to you for help. My eyes, my head, they’re not getting worse, at least, so I don’t want to go until I know he’s out of the way.” Jack squeezed her hand and nodded, and she heard the senator sigh.

“We’ll wait a little longer. They’re trying to get all of you accounted for as much as they are the employees, and I haven’t said where you are. They got a list of both, and it wasn’t from me. They’ve got another source of information.”

“We guessed that.” Jack shifted, moving his hands to the desk where the phone sat. “They’re showing pictures of the people who worked for them. Didn’t figure you had copies of those.”

“No. Look, a lot of people have a lot of questions, so I’m going to be staying in the city overnight, and my best guess would be that I’ll be flying out to D.C. in the morning. I really think that you two should get to the hospital as soon as you’re comfortable. Take them up on that police protection. Make sure the house is locked before you leave.”

“We will,” answered Jack, hanging up the phone when it switched to dial tone. “He seems all right, at least.”

“That’s true.” She took a turn on the computer, and she quickly found a site that displayed the photos that had been released. There didn’t seem to be any system, as far as Jemma could tell, to whose photos they were showing. Some of the employees had high ranks—the CEO was listed, as well as the vice-president—and some were assistants and lab techs. She had no way of knowing whether Josh would be listed even if they’d found him.

The phone rang again shortly after they’d eaten a pizza they found in the freezer.

“I put in a few phone calls,” Myles told them after they’d answered. “I found a guy named Joshua Stevens that was employed at your facility. He was listed as an assistant to a Dr. Eric Harris. Does that sound right?”

“That’s him,” said Jemma, her stomach threatening to release its hold on the pizza. “Where is he?”

“They’ve already got him in custody. His supervisor, too. You’re both safe. You’ll go get checked out now, right?” Jemma closed her eyes, leaning her head against Jack’s shoulder and nodding. Jack relayed the affirmative for her. “Okay. Use the urgent care entrance, but ask for directions to a Dr. Riley Johnson. I’ll call ahead for you and get the security arranged and have the wait as short as possible.”

“Thanks for everything, Myles.”

“Not a problem, Jack. Just make sure you lock up on your way out,” he reminded them again.

“Will do.” Jack hung up and put his arms around Jemma.

“We’re safe. They’re locked up, Jack. We’re out, and they’re locked up.” She took deep breaths, trying to stop herself from shaking, and Jack ran his hand up and down her back. Finally, she pulled back to look at him.

“Ready?”

“Ready.” They’d started toward the door when Jemma stopped. “Wait. Can we message our family first? Let them know what’s going on? I know they don’t have everyone yet, but they’ve got the ones who worked with us directly, and they’ve got all the top people now.”

“I think we can do that, yeah. We probably shouldn’t take long. You want to send an email?” Jack led the way back to the desktop, standing back so Jemma could take the seat, but she shook her head.

“I don’t like typing right now. It feels too weird not being able to see the keyboard while I type, even though I don’t need to, like I’ve got a sheet over my hands.” He watched her for a moment before sitting.

“I keep forgetting how bad it is. I’m sorry. Remind me not to hand you the keys to the car.” He grinned when she pretended to smack his shoulder. “Okay, I’ll go ahead and address one email to all four of them: your mom, your dad, Jill, and my dad. That’s probably the easiest.” He held his hands over the keys. “You’re the wordsmith. I’ll be your hands.”

Jemma watched as he typed what she dictated.

Hello, family, from Jack and Jemma.

First, we’re safe, and we’re okay.

We don’t have a way for you to contact us at the moment, but we’ll be in touch as soon as we can, and we’ll be home soon after.

We were involved in some of the things that have made news today, and even though it’s probably safe now, we’d rather not say more until we’re in person.

Please don’t worry. Take care of each other until we can get there.

Hope to see you very soon.

Love,

Jack and Jemma

“Look good?” he asked, and she nodded. “Okay then. Let’s send this and get out of here.”

They left, locking up behind them as instructed, Jemma checking the handle one last time, still carrying the GPS scrambler in her other hand, just in case. She stared at it after they’d gotten in the car, waiting until Jack had pulled out onto the road to speak.

“I wonder where they found him. Josh, I mean.”

“We might be able to find out. I’m not sure how much they will or won’t tell us, you know?”

“How we’re treated at the hospital might give us some idea.” Jemma leaned her seat back and closed her eyes, swallowing. “Jack? Something still doesn’t feel right.”

“Do you mean physically or with the situation?”

“With the situation.”

He was silent for several seconds. “I think it’s the hospital. Not that there’s anything wrong with it, just the fact that it is one. I’m not happy about going back to any sort of medical facility for any sort of testing right now, even if it is for our health. There’s a very large part of me saying to drive the other direction instead.”

“Why aren’t you listening to that part?” She opened her eyes and turned her head so she could see him, the furrow on his brow as he watched the road.

“I think we’ll both be able to relax better if they can get that thing out of you and we can stop worrying about being tracked, if anyone’s still out there. Maybe you can get some sleep, and maybe your arm won’t hurt every time you move it.” He lifted a hand from the wheel to run it through his hair, then gestured as he continued. “Then there’s the eye thing and the fact that your head still hurts, both of which I think should be checked out by someone other than the mad scientists who were holding us captive.”

“So basically you’re doing it for me?”

He looked at her and back at the road. “Not only that, but yes. It also seems like it’s the next step in going home, safely, and that’s something I’d really like to be able to do. Wouldn’t you?”

Instead of answering aloud, Jemma reached forward to touch his arm, letting him feel just how ready she was to go home.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN:

Studied

They entered the hospital, following the directions they received for Dr. Johnson. Jemma felt her jaw clench as they walked through the nearly empty hospital, and Jack took her hand, letting her feel his own trepidation. It was reminding her far too much of the facility she’d been held in, with a few people going about their business. The large hospital had a number of people who stayed overnight, but it was still very late, and the low traffic in the sterile environment was too familiar.

“We’re not telling anyone we can still Talk, right?” sent Jemma. “Not even doctors? I know it’s usually counterproductive to lie to someone trying to treat you, but…”

“Right. That doesn’t seem like something we should tell anybody, no.”

They reached the room number they’d been given, name plate on the door announcing the office as Dr. Riley Johnson’s, and Jack took an audible breath before knocking on the door.

“Come in.” His voice was calm, soothing. When Jack hesitated, his hand on the doorknob, Jemma nodded at him, and he moved forward.

Once the door was opened, they both stopped. Inside, two guards waited beside the doctor. She felt her stomach churn. Dr. Johnson looked up, glanced between them, then looked at the guards, his eyebrows raising as he seemed to quickly grasp the problem.

“Would it help if I had your protection wait outside?” he offered in the same even voice as before. Jemma shook her head. The guards had waited outside or at the door too often while she was left in the room with the person in the lab coat, and she couldn’t relax in a situation so similar. She knew she was gripping Jack’s hand, but she felt some comfort in the fact that he returned the pressure. She closed her eyes, remembering his admission of discomfort in the car.