Body Thief (29 page)
Authors: C.J. Barry
Griffin walked into the detention center for the last time. He had no delusions that this would end his career, and possibly his life. XCEL gave him one chance to clear himself, and he was about to blow it. There would be no more chances. He probably should feel bad about that, but in truth, it was a relief. He’d served them on this mission, given them exactly what they wanted, and repaid any debts he owed from the mess Parker left behind.
He owed XCEL nothing more. And now, he was going to find out the truth. He and Ernest passed through the security checkpoints with no problems. It was late, so security was light, as expected. The hallways felt colder and even less inviting than normal. And luckily, much quieter.
They made their way to the cell where Cam’s father was being held. There was no guard on duty at the door. Apparently, Dewey had proven himself a low-risk Shifter. Ernest swiped his card to unlock the cell door and went inside to get Dewey while Griffin manned the door. Even though most of the regular staff was gone, it didn’t mean that getting Dewey out of here unharmed was going to be easy.
Security guards still wandered the building, and cameras monitored the corridors. All the exits were protected by layers of security—automated or manned. An alarm would send the building into automatic lockdown, making it nearly impossible to escape. Griffin hoped it wouldn’t come to that, but he anticipated the worst.
Ernest came out with Dewey shackled by his hands for transport. Griffin was surprised by how much the old man had deteriorated while he was here. He’d aged ten years. Ernest gave Griffin a worried look before they headed toward the prisoner transport dock.
They walked in silence, their plan worked out ahead of time. Get Dewey through the exit and to the car waiting outside. A quick getaway with no alarms and no trouble.
Of course, it wouldn’t go that way. It never did.
A security guard passed by them and simply nodded. It wasn’t unusual for prisoners to be transported into and out of the facility. However, if anyone knew
this
prisoner, they’d already know he was a shapeshifter. And they were never transported without being tranquilized first.
this
prisoner, they’d already know he was a shapeshifter. And they were never transported without being tranquilized first.
Cam hadn’t wanted to risk her father’s health by tranquilizing him, and Griffin had to agree with her there, especially after seeing him in person. Dewey didn’t look like he could weather the cool night, let alone a drug.
They reached the heavy steel door that led to the transfer room. This is where it would get interesting. Ernest swiped his card, and the door unlocked with a loud click. Once through, they were immediately stopped by two agents.
“Prisoner transfer,” Griffin said.
The guards exchanged a quizzical look, and then one of them checked the computer mounted on the wall. Griffin knew they hadn’t received any notification of this particular transfer.
“We don’t have a record of release for him,” he said. The guard came back to them, his rifle at the ready. “Where’s your paperwork?”
“Christ almighty,” Griffin said to Ernest. “They always screw this up.”
“No paperwork, no transfer,” the other guard said.
Griffin could see their getaway car pull up outside through the reinforced glass doors. “It’s in the car.”
Both guards blocked him as he tried to step forward.
“You are not authorized to take this pris—” Griffin didn’t wait for him to finish before pushing the rifle to the side and punching him in the face. He absorbed the punch without falling, and Griffin hit him again. This time, he went down. The other guard raised his gun to shoot, but Ernest wrenched the rifle from his hands with superhuman strength and coldcocked him in the head with the butt.
It was all over in two seconds flat. Griffin held his breath. No alarms. It was a miracle. But they only had a few seconds before the cameras picked them up. “Move!”
Then he turned to find that Ernest had shifted from mild-mannered geek into Cam—her disguise working perfectly. She was helping her father to the outer door that stood between them and freedom. Griffin retrieved both security cards from the guards and gave one to Cam. They swiped the cards in unison on either side of the dock door, and both sides swung open.
Then they hustled Dewey out into the waiting car and the real Ernest sitting in the driver’s seat. Once they were in, he gunned the engine and drove out of the compound.
“Any problems?” Ernest asked.
Griffin checked the backseat, where Cam was talking to her father in a low voice and covering him with a blanket. “None. Appears they still like you.”
Ernest looked serious in the passing headlights. “Those days are gone now.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
H
arding watched the security video in livid disbelief. They’d waltzed into
his
detention center, picked up the old Shifter, and walked out without so much as breaking a sweat. No alarms, no lockdown. Nothing. What the hell was his security for?
arding watched the security video in livid disbelief. They’d waltzed into
his
detention center, picked up the old Shifter, and walked out without so much as breaking a sweat. No alarms, no lockdown. Nothing. What the hell was his security for?
“How could this happen?” Harding growled at Roberts.
“We believe that Agent Vincent may have rebooted the security systems during the time they were in the building. Even if an alarm went off, it would have been ignored as a technical malfunction.”
The video showed them taking down the last two guards in the transfer room. And then Agent Vincent shifted into Camille Solomon.
“Sonofabitch,” he said aloud. He had hoped she was dead. Now he had to worry about both of them. “Where’s Vincent now?”
“He left work early yesterday and did not report in this morning,” Roberts said.
So Vincent was working with them now. Good, Harding could take them all out at once. He pushed up from his chair in the security center and glared at the security chief on his way out. Roberts followed silently until they reached Harding’s office. Then he closed the door behind him as Harding sat behind his desk.
Roberts stood awaiting his orders, and Harding would let him sweat a bit longer. After all, it had been Roberts’ job to keep them under surveillance and under control. He’d failed. For that, Roberts could wait.
The next steps would be crucial. Everything needed to be executed with careful precision so as not to raise suspicions now or later. The report to the special senate committee was ready but would need to be revised to include this latest treachery. They had played a better part than he could have ever hoped.
Mercer, Camille, the old man, and Vincent would need to be neutralized, and whatever information or knowledge they’d gained removed from the equation. There really was only one way to ensure that.
The next two attacks on civilians needed to be executed to solidify public opinion against the Shifters. And the completion of the large-scale manufacturing line for the toxin was scheduled for this week.
He weighed each task, adjusting them by priority and logical order. He finally settled on dealing with the traitors, then the two final attacks, followed by his report, and finalizing the large-scale manufacture completion. In a few days, he would have everything he needed to cleanse this country of the scourge that had infected it—once and for all. This time he’d do it right.
He checked his e-mails as he spoke to Roberts. “As of this moment, Mercer and Agent Vincent are declared enemies of the state. Traitors. I want them captured with all necessary force. Go to their homes, their family. I want them apprehended and brought back here.”
“Understood,” Roberts replied. “And the two Shifters?”
“A danger to society at large. Destroy them.”
Roberts didn’t reply, and Harding looked up at him. “Is there a problem with that?”
The man frowned. “If we can capture them alive—”
“Destroy them,” Harding repeated.
Roberts blinked. “Yes, sir.”
“That’s all.”
Roberts nodded and left.
Harding stared at the door. Roberts was getting soft on him. There was no room for compassion in the future of this country. Pity. Roberts had served him well up until now, but there were plenty of other agents who could do his job.
Harding hoped Roberts liked paperwork.
Cam closed the adjoining door between her and Griffin’s hotel room, and Ernest and her father’s room. It had been a terrifying adventure, springing her father from the detention center, and one she never wanted to do again.
He was far frailer than she remembered, barely able to walk on his own. It hurt even more knowing that she was blowing the chance to find her brother. But to be truthful, she’d blown that chance the day she watched her brother walk away. She could have stopped him then. She could have swallowed her damn stubborn pride and let him win. The sad truth was that she had no one to blame for her father’s death but herself.
Griffin was in the shower, and the room seemed even emptier without him in it. She rubbed her arms and walked over to the window. It overlooked a parking lot full of cars and people on vacation or here on business. She’d bet none of
them
were hiding out from XCEL.
them
were hiding out from XCEL.
She gave a great sigh, releasing the tension and strain of hoping she’d done the right thing. They were all fugitives now, and how that was going to end, she couldn’t imagine. It was hour-by-hour, day-by-day survival. Just what she’d always wanted. Freedom to run when she wanted to. No one tying her down, telling her what to do.
Or did she?
Cam stared at her reflection in the glass. She should be used to this life by now—living on the edge. Shifters were the ultimate survivors, and she had the stories and legends to prove it. She had no desire to create her own legend, but maybe there was more than just survival.
She gave a short laugh. Now who didn’t know what they wanted?
“What are you thinking about?” Griffin said behind her.
She turned around to find him standing behind her, wearing a towel at his hips. “Survival. You?”
He grinned. “You.”
Her belly trembled at the promise in his eyes. Just one look. She was in so much trouble. “Did I do the right thing? I mean, you’re going to be a wanted man by XCEL, aside from losing any chance of getting back into their good graces. Same for Ernest. My father and I will be public enemies number one. I’ll never find Thaniel now. For what?”
His grin faded as he walked up to her. “First off, Ernest and I are here of our own accord. Our choice.”
He slipped his hands around her waist and settled his thumbs along the soft sides of her breasts. A shiver ran up her spine at the intimate touch.
“This is true,” she said, wanting more than anything to lose herself in him. To forget everything.
Griffin leaned over and kissed her neck. “Your father wanted you to fulfill his legacy.”
Cam lifted her chin and let him nuzzle the tender spots on her throat. “He did.”
“And you wanted answers,” Griffin said, pulling her close to his chest as he brushed his lips against hers.
“I did,” she murmured.
He kissed her deep, and she felt her body give itself over to him. She ran her hands over his skin, marveling at the width and breadth and depth of him. He was so beautiful, so perfect for her. He pulled her toward the bed and laid her down before settling on top. His big body covered her, completing her.
She’d healed fully, but Griffin hadn’t touched her since their first time. But today, she didn’t want him to hold back. This time, she wanted everything—the hunger, the need, the man.
Cam reached between them and tugged the towel off his hips. His erection filled her hands, and a low groan rumbled through his body. She stroked the full length of him with her fingertips as he pressed against her. His kisses grew harder and more urgent, his body tight with anticipation.
“Are you alright for this?” he rasped against her lips.
“If you stop now, I’ll kill you,” she replied, her own voice husky.
“Thank God.” Then he proceeded to kiss a line down her throat. She arched as he unbuttoned her shirt, one button at a time, kissing every newly exposed patch of skin. When he reached the last one, he lifted off her and spread the shirt open, laying her breasts naked.
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