The Winning Element (29 page)

Authors: Shannon Greenland

Tags: #Suspense

BOOK: The Winning Element

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“Sprinkle it,” Beaker answered. “Like it’s salt.”

I glanced around my area and located a plastic-wrapped block of what looked like green cheese. Its label read METAL LAPH. Carefully, I peeled the plastic off the green block. A grater sat right beside the bowl of gold powder. I picked up the grater and ran the green block across it, watching as it sprinkled the top. I studied the sprinkles, realizing I salted things lightly. Beaker might salt things heavily. I was dying to ask if she would come look, but went on instinct instead.

Taking a stirring rod, I slowly stirred counterclockwise, watching ten seconds tick by on my watch. What if I stirred slower than her? Or what if she stirred slower than me? I pushed the doubtfulness from my mind and kept going counterclockwise. Ten seconds passed, and I glanced up.

Beaker and Ms. Gabrier stood across the room at a very intimidating-looking row of fiercely boiling liquids. Ms. Gabrier handed Beaker a blue balloon.

"GiGi,” Nalani whispered, dragging my attention behind me. I realized Adam and Curtis were gone and Nalani was already back in her black hood.

She motioned to me. “Let’s go. That’s the last one. Beaker and Ms. Gabrier will take care of it.”

I shuffled over to the side door where she was waiting and took off my safety gear. Slipping my black hood back on, I stepped out into the night and took a deep breath. We headed left toward where all the people still knelt. I checked my watch. Only eight minutes had gone by since I’d disappeared into the lab. Seemed a lot longer.

I surveyed all of our guys, looking for David. But with their hoods and camouflaged outfits, they all seemed alike. One, two, three, four, five . . . I couldn’t remember how many TL said we had. Or if he’d even said how many were dressed in black like David. For all I knew, he could’ve changed into another outfit. I looked at their bodies, unable to distinguish one from the other.

More handcuffed people ushered from the warehouse with our guys behind them.

One of the bad guys strutted out, his head up, all haughty, like he hadn’t just been busted. “My father is a very powerful man,” he back talked to an agent.

The agent shoved him, and the bad guy went face-first into the sand.

That’s the least he deserved.

Nalani and I crossed in front of all the kneeling people. I scanned their angry faces, searching for Eduardo’s. I passed by a sobbing woman.

“Shut up,” the old man beside her snapped.

These were some of the richest, most powerful people and terrorists in the world. They’d probably never been busted for anything. Most likely they’d always succeeded at getting away with their illegal dealings. They probably thought their money would buy them out of this one.

Sad truth was, for some, it might.

And the women. Boy did they pick a bad time to be a rich guy’s decoration.

“I don’t see Eduardo,” I whispered to Nalani.

She shook her head.

Then it hit me. Maybe he was dead. I wouldn’t be able to confront him about my parents. I wouldn’t get any answers. And as those thoughts slammed into me, he walked straight out the back door.

I froze.

An agent behind him jabbed a gun in his side, pushing him forward. They strode away from me, past all the kneeling people, and into the night.

Wait. Where were they going?

“No.” I sprinted across the sand. Nalani made a move for me, and I brushed her off.

The agent and Eduardo cut the corner of the warehouse, disappearing around the side.

“Wait!” I screamed, bolting after them.

“Stop!” Nalani yelled.

I rounded the corner, eating up the distance between Eduardo and me, and grabbed hold of them both. They stopped and turned.

I shoved Eduardo in the chest. “You killed my parents!”

His lips curved into an evil smile. “Did I now?”

Rage rocketed through my body, vibrating out every pore. I reared back and slammed my fist straight into his jaw.

His head moved slightly with the impact. Blood welled in the corner of his mouth. Staring straight into my eyes, he licked it off and spit it in my face.

I yelled and reared my fist back—

“No.”

The female agent’s command brought me to a halt, and tears immediately poured out of my eyes.

“Why?” I sobbed. “Why did you kill them?”

“Little girl, I don’t know who you are, or your parents.” Eduardo shrugged. “If they died, they must have deserved it.”

His casual brush-off made more angry tears come. For the first time in my life, I wanted to kill someone. "Y-you took away everything. You made that plane go down. You shot my parents in the head. I-I was only six. You ruined my life.”

Blankly, he stared at me. “Ah, yes, the plane crash. Your father was one of my best men. Such a shame to find out he was double-crossing me. Bad things happen to double-crossers. You need to always remember that.”

My breath hitched at his admittance to being connected to my father. “What did you do with my mom’s body?”

He shrugged again. “Sorry, don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“My mom’s body!” I screamed.

Eduardo’s brows lifted ever so slightly. “Sure she’s dead?”

“Okay, that’s enough,” the female agent spoke.

I switched my gaze to hers, and through her hood in the moonlight, I stared into her blue eyes. I had the unnerving sensation I’d looked into those eyes before.

[15]

The female agent broke eye contact with me and manhandled Eduardo along. In the darkness, I turned and stared as they strode down the side of the warehouse toward the front.

I took a step toward them.
Wait,
I wanted to yell.
Where are you taking him? Who are you? Do I know you?

Lightly, Nalani grasped my arm. “Let them go.”

“Who is that?” I asked, sniffing.

Nalani shook her head.

I watched as the tall, slender agent led Eduardo away from the warehouse and into the parking area. A black SUV’s headlights flicked on.

She opened the back door, illuminating the interior. A person dressed the same as her, in all black with a knit hood, sat behind the wheel.

The female agent shoved Eduardo into the back and climbed in after him. She shut the door, sending the interior into darkness again. The SUV pulled out from the parking lot and onto the dirt road and disappeared into the night.

I turned to Nalani. “What’s going on? Who were they? Where are they taking him?”

She shook her head again. “It’s out of our hands. The IPNC decides what happens now. I promise you, though, he’ll pay for his crimes. He’ll pay for what he did to your parents.” She gave my hand a tug. “Let’s go.”

I didn’t doubt he would pay. I knew he would. “But who was that agent? That one seemed so familiar. Something about her eyes. Do I know her?” I grabbed Nalani’s arm, a thought slamming into me. “They didn’t find my mom. She could’ve swum away. Hidden out. Been pursuing Eduardo ever since. She could still be working rogue for the government. She could—”

"GiGi.” Nalani squeezed my shoulder. “There’s no way Eduardo would have let your mom live. You know that, right?”

A couple of long seconds passed, and, reluctantly, I nodded. “He was playing with you just now. Don’t let him mess with your psyche.”

I sniffed again, drying up the last remnants of my tears.

“You’re an analytical person. You see things in black and white, and you don’t like gray areas. The fact that your mom’s body was never found is a gray area.” Nalani released my shoulder. “Sometimes in this business you don’t always get black and white. That’s the hard truth. Not everything gets answered, resolved.”

Taking a breath, my brain and emotions hesitantly acknowledged her words.

The sound of an engine cut through the night, and I glanced over my shoulder to see a semitruck coming down the dirt road. It rolled to a stop in front of the warehouse.

Handcuffed people shuffled passed me, corralled on both sides by agents. They made their way down the side of the warehouse to the front. The agents opened the semi’s back doors, pulled a ramp down, and led the captives up.

Minutes later, the agents filed in behind them, shut the doors, and the semi pulled out.

Nalani took her hood off. “All clear.”

I did the same. “What about the dead bodies inside?” “There’ll be another crew here shortly to catalogue evidence and clean things up.” She nudged me with her elbow. “By the way, nice punch back there.”

I curled my fingers in, noticing for the first time a slight throb. “Thanks.”

David rounded the side of the warehouse and nearly smacked right into us. “There you are. You okay?”

Nalani kept going around him toward the back of the building.

Closing the distance between us, I wrapped my arms around his back and pressed our bodies together. I buried my face in his neck, and closing my eyes, I inhaled his familiar scent, took in his warmth, and felt his heartbeat.

David laid his cheek on my head and held me snug against him. I could stand here for eternity wrapped in his arms and die a very content person.

“I couldn’t find you,” I mumbled. “I was so worried.”

“Shh.” He tightened his hold. “I’m okay.”

He slid his hands up my back, and, cupping the sides of my face, he brought my lips to his. Softly, tenderly, he kissed me, and then pulled back. And still cradling my face, we gazed into each other’s eyes. Although neither of us said a word, I knew as I held my eyes to his that our relationship deepened a level.

I didn’t know what I would do if anything happened to him.

“As soon as we get home, I’m taking you out.” His eyes crinkled. “You and me. Alone. Out. Official date. Yes?”

I smiled. “Yes.”

He took a little step back. “Did you talk to Eduardo?”

I nodded. “I hit him.”

David lifted his brows. “And?”

“He admitted to being connected with my father. Oh, and that agent that took him. Something seemed familiar about her. Do you know who she is?”

He shook his head. “Sorry.”

A throat cleared behind us. “Excuse me, David, I need to speak with you.”