Cold Sanctuary (John Decker Series Book 2) (4 page)

4

Decker relaxed into the seat next to Hayley Marsh and observed his new surroundings. There were only a handful of roads serving the town of Shackleton. They passed a souvenir shop, a place that rented kayaks by the hour and also offered tours of the glacier, and a couple of restaurants, a bar, and a small motel that looked like it had seen better days. Decker half expected Hayley to pull up into the parking lot, but instead she kept going.

“We don’t use the motel for official town business,” she explained. “We have room in the tower, so we maintain guest quarters there.”

“I see.” Decker nodded.

“It costs less to put official visitors up in our own accommodations. The budget gets tighter each year, so we save where we can,” Hayley said. “The motel is primarily for the few tourists and other out-of-towners who stop here. I hope you’re not disappointed.”

“No. Not at all.” Decker’s gaze drifted back to the window, his eyes settling on a café that advertised all day breakfast and also served as the town pizza joint. A couple of curious locals looked their way as the truck passed, one of whom, a tall man leaning in the café doorway, raised his hand in greeting when he saw Hayley’s truck. She beeped her horn and waved back.

“That’s Jack Mason,” she said by way of explanation. “He runs the Rest-A-While Café. It’s the only place to eat outside of the tower, at least in the winter months, and even then he closes up if there’s a storm coming in or the snow gets too bad.”

“I see,” Decker replied, his gaze wandering over the buildings. Finally, he turned toward Hayley. “Tell me about the murders.”

“I sent you the reports,” Hayley replied. “It’s all in there.”

“I would like to go over them again, first hand.” Decker had received some information via email, which he’d read on the flight, but he wanted to hear it from her.

“Alright. There have been five so far.” Hayley drew in a deep breath. “It started with the disappearance of two construction workers working on the tunnel project. They went out for a night on the town and never came back. We haven’t found the bodies yet.”

“So how do you know they were murdered?”

“It’s not like they could just drive out of town, Mr. Decker. Initially we thought they might have gotten roaring drunk and fallen into the docks, figured we would eventually find their corpses floating in the bay. But then another worker was killed in the tunnel several days later. Lastly, a young couple went and got killed out by the glacier. That was not a pretty sight.”

“A bear?” Decker repeated the conclusion entered into the official report.

“That’s what our town sheriff says. He thinks we are dealing with a spate of animal attacks.”

“And you?”

“I don’t believe it’s a bear.” She lapsed into silence and steered the car toward the tower.

Decker nodded.

He wanted to press her further, ask her why she had decided to contact him, of all people, but they were nearing their destination. Decker craned his neck to look up as Hayley pulled into a parking space near the main doors and killed the engine.

The building looked just like something the government would erect. Boxy and functional, it was built of smooth concrete. Rows of single pane windows were the only relief to the towering edifice, which had been painted a mix of tan and powder blue, no doubt in an attempt to make it look more inviting. It hadn’t worked. In a word, the structure was ugly.

Next to it, separated by an expanse of icy asphalt, the north tower was even worse. Although both buildings had, presumably, been built to match, the abandoned tower was showing signs of age. Dark black stains crept down the unpainted concrete façade, starting at the roofline and edging lower like rotting fingers. Three wings jutted back from the structure, their windows oblong black voids. Between the wings a few trees had grown, their branches free of leaves, limbs twisted and gnarled.

Decker shuddered. He could not imagine living in a place so bleak, surrounded by nothing but ice and enduring months of perpetual darkness each year. His mind drifted to Nancy, back in warm, sunny Louisiana. He wished, not for the first time, that she had been able to make the trip with him. But perhaps it was for the best that she hadn’t. He had been hard to live with lately. Bad dreams still plagued him at night, and then there was the State investigation into the Annie Doucet affair, which had not gone well. He took a deep breath and pushed the maudlin thoughts from his mind. It did no good to dwell on the past, and besides, he couldn't change what had happened. Right now, right here, he had a job to do, and the quicker he did it, the sooner he would get back to Nancy.

“Mr. Decker?” Hayley spoke, breaking his train of thought. “Are you ready?”

“Yes. Sorry.” He reached out and took hold of the door handle. He was about to open it when Hayley stopped him.

“Wait a moment.” She gripped his arm. “Before we go inside, there is something else.”

“Alright.” Decker turned to her, perplexed. “What about?”

“It’s nothing really, hardy worth mentioning, but I just want to give you the heads up.” Hayley looked uncomfortable. She adjusted herself in her seat and met his gaze for a moment before continuing. “Some of the town folk are a little put out that we brought you up here.”

“Ah. I see.” Decker nodded. He’d wondered if there would be a conversation like this. “My reputation precedes me.”

“Exactly. We might be stuck up in the middle of nowhere, but we still see the news, still have Internet, at least most of the time. You were quite the celebrity for a while.”

“Tell me about it.” Decker remembered the headlines, the news segments.
Local Sheriff Shoots Werewolf
.
Only that wasn’t the worst of it, because instead of a grotesque monster, he had to explain an old woman riddled with bullets. It didn’t matter that there were witnesses, or that the town mayor looked like he’d been pulled through a meat grinder. What mattered was that Decker could not explain things. He especially could not explain how a frail old woman managed to commit such atrocious crimes. In the end the only thing that saved him from jail was the DNA pulled from the mayor’s body. DNA that supported the idea that Annie Doucet was the killer. He felt the familiar rush of anger that always accompanied thoughts of what the media had done to him.

“I was a laughing stock.”

“Which is why there was some resistance to the idea of having you here.” 

“If people feel like that, why did you contact me?”

“Don’t get me wrong, most people are glad you are here, but…”

“But not everyone.”

“Right.” Hayley looked away, perhaps embarrassed. “A few people have expressed concerns that your presence might exacerbate an already tense situation. They think…”

“They think I’m a nut job?”

“I wouldn’t put it quite like that, but yes.”

“And you?”

“Me?”

“What do you think?”

“I think we have something very strange going on here, Mr. Decker. A few weeks ago I would have scoffed at the idea of bringing someone like you in, but now…” Hayley peered through the windshield, a faraway look crossing her face all of a sudden, as if she were remembering something terrible. But then, just as quickly, she shrugged it off and changed the subject. “Look, forget I said anything. Most of the town is happy to have you here. Why don’t we get you inside? You look dead on your feet.”

5

Dominic Collins fidgeted while the elevator descended, drumming his fingers on the side of his leg, releasing a measure of the pent up nervous energy that had been building inside him. Judging by the time it was taking to arrive at their destination, he knew that they were going deep underground.

Next to him Adam Hunt stood stock still, his face an emotionless blank, a small bag in his hand, retrieved from the trunk of the car.

After an eternity, Hunt unzipped the bag and turned to Dominic. He reached inside and fished out a small black object. “Here. Take this.”

“What is it?”

“Two-way radio.” Hunt pressed the object into Dominic’s palm. “It will be the only way we can communicate if we are not together. Cell phones don’t work this deep. Keep it on you at all times.”

“Okay.” Dominic was distracted. He pushed the radio into his pocket, still thinking about the long descent. When the elevator finally stopped he came to a startling conclusion. They were at least one hundred feet below the surface.

“Follow me, and keep close.” Hunt instructed as the elevator doors opened. He threw the bag over his shoulder before stepping out. Without another word he made his way along a featureless corridor to a closed access door at the other end and used his key card to open it. He stood back to allow Dominic to enter before leading him past offices, recreational areas and briefing rooms, to the labs buried deep within the complex.

“What is this place?” Dominic asked, his eyes scanning the new surroundings. The laboratories were outdated, ancient, in fact, the machinery and instruments big and bulky. Not a microchip or printed circuit board in sight. “Everything looks so old.”

“That’s not important.” Hunt dismissed the query and continued on. “We’re not here for the technology. At least, not
that
technology.”

“I would really like to know what we
are
here for.” Dominic was getting anxious. He hated these blind arrivals. Coming into the situation with little to no information made it hard to prepare, mentally and physically. Not for the first time he decided that this would be his last job
. Just one more and you’re done,
he always told himself. After all, he had more than enough money stashed away in accounts all around the world. There was some in the Cayman Islands, a bit more in a Swiss account, and even some in a small South American bank. That was the easy part, because he could never spend any of it while he was on the job. Harder was the actual separation. He never could quite extricate himself. Whenever he came to the conclusion that enough was enough, that he was going to leave, he would take a look around at the other opportunities, and then he always stayed, because nowhere else paid as well by half. However, that wasn’t the only reason, because even though he didn’t like to admit it, he found a certain thrill in the cloak and dagger stuff. It made him feel special, and he liked that feeling. What he did not like was the arrogance of some of his co-workers, like Hunt, especially when he had travelled a long way, and was tired. “Well?”

“Eager to get started?” Hunt chuckled.

“I’ve had a long trip, and the last few miles, on that boat, were intolerable. I really don’t care if we start or not, but I would like to be afforded the common courtesy of being told what my job here is to be, and where I will be laying my head this evening. I don’t think that is too much to ask.” Dominic did his best to keep his voice flat and even, but even so, a small tremor of frustration weaved its way in.

“Finally. Some backbone.” Hunt grinned. “I can respect that. Your quarters are back the other way, near where we came in. As for why you were sent here, that’s what I’m about to show you.”

“I’m sleeping here, in this place?” Dominic’s frustration was replaced by disbelief.

“Don’t worry. The sleeping quarters are more than adequate. Where do you think the original scientists lived?”

“What about the motel back at the docks?”

“You know the rules. Leave no footprint. Besides, the motel is a roach pit, trust me.”

“You’re staying there?”

“No. I have an apartment. But I did spend a few nights there when I arrived here three years ago.”

“How is that fair? You get an apartment and I get to live in a windowless box.”

“Quit complaining. You have the radio if you need me. You’ll be fine.” They reached a flight of stairs. Hunt led Dominic up. “The base is divided into two levels. The upper level is where the most sensitive stuff went on.”

“I only saw one button in the elevator.” Dominic climbed up behind Hunt.

“You can only reach the upper level from inside the base.”

“What if something happens? We would be trapped up here,” Dominic said.

“Don’t worry. There is an emergency exit on each level, accessible only from the inside,” Hunt explained.

“Good to know.” They were at the top of the stairs now, in another long corridor with labs off to each side.

Hunt led Dominic down the corridor to another sturdy looking security door equipped with a card reader, just like the entry door. He pulled out the key card and inserted it. When the door clicked open he stepped through and motioned for Dominic to do the same.

“This place has all the comforts of home. I even brought a flat screen TV down here and set it up in your room. You can stream movies, TV, even porn if you get too lonely.”

“I don’t watch TV. It rots the brain.” Dominic glanced at the door and the red lettering stenciled on it as he passed by. A shiver ran up his spine.

QUARANTINE WING

“Your loss.” Hunt shook his head. “It can be pretty abysmal up here, I can tell you. After a few weeks you might change your mind.”

“I doubt it, but thank you anyway.” Dominic looked around, noting the decidedly different atmosphere since they had passed by the last door. Where the rest of the facility was bright and open, this area felt more like a prison. The floors and walls were rough unpainted concrete. The ceiling lights were nothing more than exposed fluorescent tubes with wire cages surrounding them, and the air felt colder, as if the heat in the rest of the place didn’t get this far. On his left and right were rooms with reinforced glass panels fronting them, surrounded by thick walls. The rooms were small, with a concrete ledge along the back wall that was meant to act as a bed, and a metal toilet. Each room h
ad a small metal grate set into the wall near the floor, no doubt to pass food and water through. Thankfully the cells were empty, but he couldn't help wondering who had been held here and why they needed such security. He shivered and hugged his arms around his torso, a feeling of unease coming over him. Whatever he was here for must be linked to this dire holding area, and that meant it was not going to be good. Not good at all.

“Here we are.” Hunt stopped at the last cell, the one furthest from the door. He stepped close to the glass and peered in. “Come take a look. I think this will clear up any questions you have regarding your task here.”

Dominic edged close to the small cell, his heart pounding in his chest. He wiped a trickle of sweat from his brow despite the chill air and took a deep breath before peering into the room, but all he saw was darkness, which was odd considering that every other cell was lit up by an overhead light in the ceiling. “I don’t see anything.”

“I’m afraid that’s because he broke the light bulb out,” Hunt stated, matter-of-factly.

“Who?” Dominic peered closer, his face inches from the glass. “Who broke the bulb?”

“Wait for it.” Hunt stood stock still, a wry smile on his face, as if he knew what was coming. “Trust me, it will be worth it.”

“I still don’t see anything.” Dominic scratched his head and adjusted the spectacles on his nose. “Are you sure there’s anything in there?”

“Oh, there’s something in there alright,” Hunt replied, his eyes darting from the cell to the scientist and back again. “I put it there myself.”

“Really?” Dominic cupped his hands and pressed his face so close that his nose touched the glass.

“I wouldn’t get too close if I were you.”

“Why?” Dominic asked, noticing movement for the first time. It was barely perceptible at first, a slight shift in the darkness, but then, before he could react, something barreled from the gloom toward him, a nightmare with milky white eyes and a twisted, disfigured body. It slammed into the wall inches from him, sending shock waves through the glass.

Dominic staggered backwards, a look of horror on his face. He watched it claw and scratch at the smooth surface, saw it open its mouth to display rows of sharp teeth that reminded him of the jaws of a piranha. And then he saw something else, the remains of a shirt clinging to the pallid, lumpy flesh of the creature’s torso. He felt his knees turn to jelly, and fought to stay upright. The urge to turn and run was overwhelming.

“For chrissakes, what is that thing?”

“That thing is your job, Mr. Collins.” Hunt leaned against the wall and eyed the creature as it pounded on the glass and paced back and forth, its eyes darting between the two men.

“I’m a biologist, not a zoo keeper,” Dominic said, his voice shaky. “What am I supposed to do with that?”

“You’re supposed to study it, find out what makes it tick,” Hunt replied. “There’s a file folder in your room that contains everything you need to know, and full instructions regarding your duties. I suggest you study it, and then we will talk again.”

“One more thing,” Dominic said, his eyes riveted on the creature behind the glass. “Why is it wearing a shirt?”

“Come along now. I’ll show you to your quarters, and then I have some other business to attend to.” Hunt ignored the question and turned to walk away.

“Wait, you didn’t answer my question,” Dominic said.

Hunt turned back toward him, a grim look upon his face. “Because it used to be a man, that’s why.”