Winter's Storm: Retribution (Winter's Saga #2) (20 page)

Alik and Creed slipped into the town car and sat silently for the twenty-minute drive to the airport. Alik kept looking behind them at the ambulance, making sure they were still back there and that everything seemed okay. He couldn’t stop recalling with his perfect clarity the image of his mother, Theo, Paulie, and Cole waving softly and hugging each other as they watched them drive away. Maze obeyed orders to “stay” but was howling his worry after the doors to Meg’s ambulance closed. His mom kept whisking tears away from her cheeks, and Theo kept a protective arm over her shoulder. Paulie, in his own way, was terrified for everyone, but he only stood with his arms crossing his ample belly and nodded encouragingly his farewell.

Cole was not at all discreet about his frustration at being left behind, again. He stood somewhat separate from the others, hands crammed into his pockets and chewing on his bottom lip. Cole had become even more distant over the last several weeks and Meg’s illness seemed to have pushed him further away.

Alik recalled the way the palm trees danced in the ocean breeze, and the way Paulie’s house stood happily on the hilltop. He remembered the way his mother’s brown hair whisked into her eyes and how she, without thinking about it, reached up and tucked the errant locks behind her ear with those hardworking hands of hers. He saw Maze’s body tense as he tossed his head back in frustrated howls. He loved his family so much.

All Alik wanted, more than anything in the world was to have his family healthy and happy and living right here with their friend Paulie on the beach. Alik sighed deeply, so lost in thought he was unaware that he’d made a sound there in the back of the town car.

“
There’s our jet,” Creed said softly as he nodded toward the medium-sized liner parked on the tarmac.

“
It’s larger than I expected,” Alik said, making conversation.

“
It has to be at least that size so it can carry enough fuel to get us stateside. We’ll refuel at LAX.” Creed was very much aware how tense Alik was, so he was really just trying to make idle talk, too. He was also very aware how dangerous this guy could be, especially when he felt his family threatened. He heard stories of what happened back at the Institute. And though Creed thought he could take Alik, he wanted to avoid a battle with him if possible.

The time was nearly three in the afternoon local time. The pilot stood at the doorway monitoring the lift that was bringing Meg and her gurney up to the special ambulatory door on the side of the plane. Getting her settled in the plane and properly situated was less difficult than Alik imagined. Everyone was very professional and adept at their jobs. Williams had spared no expense in hiring this team to transport his precious serum and, by proxy, his ill sister. Though Alik was thankful for the smooth transition from Paulie’s laboratory to here, he was maintaining his skepticism. Williams was evil however you try to sugar-coat it. None of this was out of the goodness of his heart. He wanted that serum, and he was getting it.

Alik settled into a plush, burgundy upholstered passenger’s seat. Creed sat closer to the pilot’s cockpit and Evan was toward the back of the plane, where they had secured Meg’s gurney. He was carefully hanging a new I.V. bag for Meg and discreetly checking her catheter bag that hung below the bed’s mattress. Alik appreciated his brother’s medical knowledge now more than ever. How would he be able to transport their sister safely without his brother’s expert care? They would have had to bring another person, and that would have just complicated things, just as Evan had said to their mom an hour before.

He smiled affectionately at his brother as they caught each other’s eyes. The three of them had always made one heck of a great team. Meg was the moxie, Evan the logical planner and Alik was the muscle. Without thinking, he whisked a tear away from his eye.

The pilot came over the intercom with a robotic hissing sound, “Good afternoon, Mr. Young and guests. This is your pilot, Captain Bob Jacobi at your service. Our copilot today is my good buddy, Vince Trainer. It is, uh, three-sixteen local time. The temperature is steady at eighty-one degrees, wind five to ten knots south-south-west, and visibility clear. Please listen carefully as our flight attendant, Missy, reviews the safety features of this aircraft and proper safety protocol.”

The overhead intercom hissed then went silent before Missy began her spiel at the front of the plane.

“
Welcome Mr. Young and guests to flight 310 Air Ambulance to Germany. Our first stop will be in LAX to refuel before heading on to New York then Europe. In the unlikely event there is an inair emergency there are a series of procedures we must advise you of for your safety and for the safety of others on this plane…” Missy droned on in her squeaky voice to recite her memorized speech about the cabin pressure, flotation devices and exit routes while the passengers barely listened, least of all, Evan. He was too worried about Meg’s monitors to think about “first placing the oxygen mask over his own face before assisting someone else.”

Missy was finally done with her canned safety speech when the overhead intercom hissed to life again. “Uh,…ladies and gentlemen, we have just been cleared, uh, by the tower for takeoff. So, please be sure your carry-on luggage is properly stowed in the available compartments, buckle up and double-check our patient’s safety harnesses as well. Thank you, and if you have any questions now or anytime during the uh,…eight-hour flight to LAX, please don’t hesitate to push the red call button above your head and one of the flight crew will come to assist you. Uh, again, thank you for allowing us to be of service to you Mr. Young and guests and we look forward to a smooth flight. This is your captain, Bob Jacobi, with copilot Vince Trainer, out.”

The engines began to roar louder as the craft taxied to the start of the runway. Alik watched his sister’s I.V. bag swing gently as the plane picked up speed. A quick glance out one of the many oval windows showed the scenic Hawaiian landscape blur by. With a swift pull, the plane was up and off the ground, rising quickly. There was no turning back now. Of course, there probably never was. Alik, Evan and their dying sister were en route to a devil’s den.

37 Farrow’s Fury

Farrow hated be left behind. Williams had informed her of Creed’s progress and told her to keep her distance from him as he maneuvered the metas and the serum to Germany.

“
Keep your head down, Farrow,” he hissed into the phone when she had objected.

“
Sir, with all due respect, Creed may need to be monitored more closely. I think he’s unsure of his true intentions. The family is getting to him, and he looks like he’s on the fence. He doesn’t even know which side he wants to be on.”

“
While I appreciate your reporting your observations, I cannot risk introducing you into the fragile mix right now. Let Creed bring them in. You will fly back separately.” Williams’ voice waffled between coaxing and barking.

He was on the verge of an emotional breakdown, but no one knew that better than Farrow. She had watched this man spiral into depression and power almost equally as fast. Farrow had been his trusted weapon for the last year. She had seen him try to work with his daughter. She saw him use humans like test rats for his scientific purposes. He was a genius and a monster, but that drew Farrow to him. She was mesmerized by his power. Besides, being his personal aide had its benefits, too. She was privy to more information than any other meta at the Facility.

“
Farrow, do you understand?” Williams asked, disturbing her thoughts.

“
Yes, sir.”

“
I’m trusting you to follow my orders.”

“
Of course, sir.”

“
Before you leave, take care of one thing for me?”

“
Name it, sir.”

“
Creed never got around to killing Margo before he left. Terminate that wretched woman.”

Farrow smiled softly, “With pleasure.”

“
Call me when she’s out of the picture. I’ve been waiting for revenge too long,” Williams’ voice had a tired hint to it.

“
I’m on my way to Dr. St. Paul’s home now, sir,” Farrow smiled widely at the prospect of finally doing something. “Do you have a preference as to whether Dr. Andrews is terminated as well?”

“
No, no preference there. He’s only in the picture because Margo brought him in. He poses no threat to us, but if he gets in the way, take him out, too.

“
As you wish, sir.”

“
Farrow, my dear. I treasure you as my assistant and look forward to many more years of you being my personal right hand, but if you fail me by allowing Margo Winter to live, don’t even bother coming home. Have I made myself clear?” The old scientists’ voice was throaty with old anger by the end of his statement, and knowing him as well as she did, she was sure he had spittle dangling from his leathery mouth. She grimaced at the image.

“
I understand, sir.” She waited respectfully for the audible click indicating he had hung up the phone, and bit her lip furiously forcing herself silent as she waited.

Click.

With that sound, Farrow felt both liberated and isolated, and the thought occurred to her. What would happen if she just walked away? She could catch a flight stateside before Williams would cut off her financial support. She may even be able to buy a car when she landed in California. All she would have is her suitcase, her sniper rifle, the clothes on her back, the cash in her wallet, and hopefully a car with a full tank of gas. Would it be worth it? Is any of this really worth it?

All she had ever known was the Facility and Dr. Williams. She thought power and prestige were the world. The more she did his bidding, the more in his good-graces she was, the more power she felt she received. All the other metas knew who she was and never even thought to challenge her. Her status as Williams’ personal assistant kept her an elite at the compound.

But she was having second thoughts now. Something about this particular assignment was making her question her personal motives.

Farrow shook her head as though swatting away a pesky gnat. It was easier not to think.
Just obey orders soldier,
she told herself.

38 In-Flight Conversations

Only twenty minutes in to the flight and Alik was already bored. Missy came by with a tray of sodas. “Is there any access to internet on the flight?” he asked.

“
I’m sorry sir, but wireless devices are prohibited because they could interfere with communications in the cockpit. I could bring you an assortment of in-flight movies that are available for viewing on your personal screen. We also have a large collection of magazines and books if you’d prefer.” Missy smiled helpfully.

“
Yeah, I could read something. Anything having to do with medical news or current events would be great.”

“
I’ll see what I can dig up for you,” she said with a wink and sashayed down the aisle.

“‘
Medical news or current events,’” Creed echoed. “A little light reading, eh?”

“
Not much else to do,” he said, obviously uncomfortable talking with Creed.

“
We have seventeen hours to kill,” he glanced up at his fellow meta warily. “No pun intended.”

“
What were
you
planning to do?”

“
Well, I thought of taking a nice long nap, myself,” Creed leaned back in his plush chair causing the leg rests to extend.

“
Didn’t you sleep well in Paulie’s guest house last night?”

“
Oh, well, don’t get me wrong. The accommodations were great. It’s just…”

“
Bad dreams?” Alik asked probing.

Creed shrugged.

“
Hum…”

“
What’s
that
supposed to mean?”

“
Nothing, man. It’s just not unusual for a guilty conscience to cause a person unsettling dreams,” Alik shrugged innocently. “At least, that’s what I’ve heard.”

Creed shook his head and gave a half laugh.

Missy was hurrying back down the aisle with her arms full of reading material. “Well, we have Science Weekly, Scientific Now, and I found a Physician’s Desk Reference,” she said proudly. “Then there are all of these I brought just in case none of the others sounded good to you.”

“
Thanks, Missy. I appreciate it,” Creed smiled back at the flight attendant as he took the stack from her.

She looked pleased with herself and sauntered away.

Alik started sifting through the first magazine. Evan unfastened his seatbelt and walked over. “Hey, I’ve got to run to the bathroom. Keep an eye on Meg, will you?”

“
Sure. How is she?”

“
Stable, for now.”

“
Do you think she’s going to crash again before we get to Europe?”

“
I have no idea. I don’t even know why she crashed the first time. Heck, I don’t know anything anymore.” He shook his head obviously discouraged.

“
Why don’t you go play with the plumbing in the bathroom? That usually cheers you up,” Alik said to his little brother trying to lighten the mood.

Evan smiled, but only slightly. “I don’t even think airplane plumbing could get me to relax right now.”

Evan walked up the aisle toward the cockpit to the lavatories slightly hunched over as the head room in the plane didn’t allow for a tall person to stand upright without regretting their attempt.