Edge of Sanity: An Edge Novel (16 page)
Read Edge of Sanity: An Edge Novel Online
Authors: Shannon K. Butcher
Leigh perked up. “We should talk to him and see if he knows anything. Maybe he met this doctor or heard something. Where is he?”
Payton’s eyes filled with guilt as he stared at his glass. “He lives in a cell next to Garrett’s. I’m sorry, but seeing him is far too dangerous too d Std Ro risk.”
“Then let Garrett talk to him. Or you do it. We can’t sit around without pursuing every possible lead. Garrett is counting on me.”
“We can’t allow contact between the men. There’s no way to know what could happen.”
“Exactly how many people do you have locked up, Payton?”
“Too many. That’s all I will say.”
“I don’t mind taking the risk,” said Leigh. “My brother is worth it.”
Payton shook his head. “I’ve already made my share of bad decisions. I know you want to help, but the answer is no. I never should have let you see Garrett. I should have let you think he was dead. It would have been kinder.”
She covered her face with her hands, but not so fast that Clay couldn’t see the look of desolation that scrunched her features.
Seeing her in pain made something dark and predatory rise in him. He went to her side and crouched in front of her. He put his hands on her knees, startling her. She jerked and her lips parted on a silent gasp. She’d gone pale, which caused the bruises along her jaw to stand out, reminding him of what was at stake.
Her gaze met his. She covered his hands with hers and gave him a silent, pleading look.
She needed him, and while she may not have said the words, he could see in her eyes how much she was counting on him to see her through this.
Her need made him stronger. It sealed up all the tiny cracks in his weary resolve and filled him with purpose.
He stood and turned toward Payton. “My patience is officially gone. You’re going to tell us everything so we can fix the mess you made. Sit the fuck down and start at the beginning.”
Payton nodded slowly. He grabbed the bottle of whiskey and two extra glasses before sitting down at the table. He filled the glasses and slid them to two empty seats. “You’re going to need this. There’s no happy ending with this story.”
Clay squeezed Leigh’s knee gently. “You don’t have to do this. You can get some rest if you want. I’ll make sure we get the truth.”
“No, I need to be here. If there’s anything I can do . . .”
There probably wasn’t, but if the thought gave her some hope to cling to, then Clay was all for it.
He took Leigh’s wrist and led her to the table. The feel of her skin soothed him, and the steady beat of her pulse reminded him that she was alive and safe. He was going to do everything in his power to make sure she stayed that way.
He sat between her and Payton and set his weapon on the table as a not-so-subtle reminder for the man to tell the truth.
Payton ignored the gun and stared into his drink. “We were trying to save the world—or at least our way of life.” He let out a laugh, but Clay heard no humor in itno LT. “Most of us were young, with no children of our own. I think they recruited people like us on purpose, because we hadn’t yet learned the true value of a child. They were simply lumps of clay for us to shape into what we desired—people we thought we were offering some grand opportunity.”
“Which was?”
“There were different focuses. Some of the experiments were designed to increase intelligence. Others to make people more physically capable. Strength, speed, stamina. Some wanted to go further, but those ideas were tossed out as too dangerous. At the time, we thought these were all great things that we were going to hand out like shiny little gifts.” He emptied his glass and refilled it. “That’s not the way it turned out. Things didn’t go as easily as we’d hoped. Some of the researchers grew desperate, worried that their funding would run out and they’d fail. They cut corners. Took risks. Not all of us knew what had happened until the gears had already been in motion for too long to stop them.”
“What kind of risks?”
He shook his head. “I still don’t know all the details of what was done. Most of the data was destroyed before I could find it. I wasn’t one of the brains—I was simply the guy who knew which buttons to push to get people to do what I wanted.”
“You were the guy who acquired the children,” guessed Clay.
“One of them.”
Leigh’s fingers tightened around Clay’s. “Did you give them my brothers?”
“No. That was someone else. But Clay, what you’re going through now is all because of me. I saw you playing with Mira when you were little. She’d invited you home because you’d scared away a bully who’d been hounding her. You had a black eye and she had a serious case of hero worship. Her dad and I were friends, and I happened to be at his house that day. You were so skinny, your clothes too small and dirty. It was obvious you were neglected. Getting your stepfather to loan you to me was easy.” Shame made his voice crack.
“Did he know?” Clay had to shove the words out. “Did he know what you were going to do?”
Payton shook his head. “That was part of the deal. No questions asked.”
“I can’t believe a parent would agree to such a thing,” said Leigh.
“Most wouldn’t. Enough did for us to continue the research.”
“So what exactly was done to me?”
“I don’t know. After you left my sight, I wasn’t told anything. I have my ideas. I’ve seen patterns over the years—things that men like you, Hollis, and Garrett have in common. But there were records. If we find them, then you’ll know for sure. I believe that whoever is activating you now has access to those records.”
“And you have no idea who it is?”
“All I have are guesses. I’ve kept tabs on everyone from back then, and as far as I know, all but one of them is working on legitimate research.”
“And that one?”
“Is a woman. I’ve been looking for her for months with no leads. She’s well funded and stays hidden. And she doesn’t use children. She prefers fully grown men.”
“Then it couldn’t be her,” said Leigh.
“I haven’t ruled her out, but we need to be sure.”
“It’s not a woman,” said Clay. As the words left his mouth, he knew they were true.
“What makes you say that?”
“I have no idea, but I’m certain. I can almost hear his voice in my head, whispering.” But the harder he tried to isolate the voice, the more his head began to throb. Finally, the pain was too much and he let go of the thread, letting it snap back out of reach.
Leigh put her hand on his in an obvious show of comfort.
Payton saw the gesture and his eyes narrowed for a fraction of a second. Clay couldn’t tell if it was anger, regret, or suspicion he’d seen flash against the other man’s features, but it was definitely something.
“So you think that if we look through all of this stuff that the person or people responsible will become known?” Clay asked.
“I sincerely hope so.”
“And then what?” asked Leigh. “Even if we know who is doing this, we still have to find a way to undo it, right? That’s what you meant when you said that killing them won’t solve the problem.”
“I’m not even sure there is a way to undo it, but taking this doctor alive is our best chance at fixing those who are suffering.”
“That’s going to make the job much harder,” said Clay.
“I know. But I have some ideas that might draw them out of hiding.”
“Like what?”
Payton glanced at the boxes they’d collected. “That code you mentioned—RC101886—refers to a specific file. My guess is that either the doctor has the file or is looking for it.”
Bells chimed in Clay’s head as puzzle pieces clicked together. “I was tasked to do some kind of job. Do you think finding this file would be it?”
Payton nodded his head. “It’s possible. Let me do some checking first. I have contacts who may have information we can use.”
“Enough with the cryptic bullshit. Just tell us what the damn file is.”
Payton shoved to his feet. His expression was hard, with a clear warning that he wasn’t going to bend. “No. Not yet. Not until I’m sure. If I guess, it could get you killed. I won’t risk your lives like that.”
“I don’t understand,” said Leigh. “How are we supposed to help if we don’t know what you do?”
“Just gman uno through those boxes. Spread out the photos for me to look at. I’ll reach out to my contacts and come back in a few hours with answers.”
Clay stood. “We want answers now.”
“I know, but trust me when I tell you that if I give them to you now, you’ll wish I hadn’t.” Payton’s gaze flicked to Leigh and back. A look of warning was in his eyes.
Either he was trying to tell Clay that it was Leigh whom Payton was trying to protect, or he was blowing a hell of a lot of smoke. Clay wasn’t willing to take the risk with her life. He didn’t want to trust Payton, but they didn’t have a whole lot of people around who had any clue what was going on. As it was, Payton was their only option.
“Do not lock us down here. Understood?”
“I’ll give you the codes to get out. But please, don’t leave. Not until I’m sure it’s safe. It will take me several hours to do what needs to be done.”
“We’re not making you any promises,” said Leigh. “You don’t have the right to ask for them. Just go and do what you need to do. The sooner I never have to see you again, the better.”
Payton straightened his tie and smoothed his hair, regret hanging heavily on his shoulders. “I understand.”
Chapter Eighteen
P
ayton hadn’t thought his guilt could be any worse, but seeing the betrayal on the faces of Clay and Leigh had driven home just how evil his actions had truly been.
He’d been deluding himself, thinking he could make up for what he’d done, but he’d been wrong. There was no way to forgiveness for him. All he could hope for was that their hatred would not keep them from letting him help.
He needed to help. He needed to do what he could to repair the damage. And this was his chance. All he had to do was set the right trap and see who walked in.
Payton called Bob Norwood, purposefully using a line with limited security. He knew people listened to his calls, and sometimes that worked to his advantage, which was why he kept this line.
“What now?” answered Bob.
“Do you remember that time in Argentina?” said Payton, purposefully slurring his words.
“You’re drunk.”
“It was spring, and we met those two busty girls in the market. They were sisters.” He let a leer enter his voice as if he remembered the day fondly.
Bob fell silent as the meaning of Payton’s words sank in. There were no girls from the market. They’d been in Argentina for a completely different reason—to trap one of the techs working with the Threshold Project. Word had spread that he was looking to make a quick buck by selling secrets to the highest bidder. Payton and Bob had been ordered to set up the lab tech, making him think thatman u limited s there was a buyer interested in the data. They’d let the whole conversation be overheard, which drew several potential buyers out of the woodwork as well. In one day, they’d taken down four bad guys. That had been one of the good days.
“I remember,” said Bob. “Are you sitting around, reminiscing with a bottle tonight?”
“It’s been a hard day. I found some of the old files. They brought back too many memories.”
Bob took the bait, working with Payton as he had years ago. “Which files?”
“The RC series.”
“Where did you find them?”
“We got a tip from some old associates. That led us to raid a storage locker today. Found the disks sitting in a box.”
“Were you able to break the encryption?”
“Not yet. I don’t trust e-mail, so I’m taking it to one of our facilities tomorrow morning. The eggheads will be able to crack it; then it will go in the vault with the others.”
“At least you won’t have to ever worry about hunting it down again. Once it goes in that vault, it will never see the light of day.”
“Thank God for that. I’m getting too old for this, Bob. I need to be done.”
Bob sighed. “You’re also too old to be getting shitfaced. Go to bed. Sleep it off.”
“Maybe I’ll dream about the sisters tonight.”
“Yeah,” said Bob. “Good luck with that.”
Payton hung up, feeling the rush of victory shoot through him. A second later, his secure line rang.
“What the hell, Payton?” demanded Bob.
“Sorry to spring it on you like that, but I knew you’d catch on.”
“A warning would have been nice.”
“But not nearly as much fun.”
“So what’s this all about?”
“It’s not Stynger.”
“How do you know?”
“Clay is certain. I need to know who is behind this. The only thing I could turn up was that they either have a specific RC series file or need it.”
“So you’re trying to draw them out with news that some files have resurfaced.”
“If they already have what they need, they won’t want us to know what they know. If they don’t have what they need, then they’ll want it. Seemed logical to me.”
Bob sighed. “I was sure it was Stynger.”
“Any sign of her on your end?”
“No. I have to play by the rules. At least for now.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means I might have an early Christmas present for you. We’ll see.”
“I could sure as hell use some good news.”
“Me, too. I don’t like having my baby girl so close to this stuff without backup.”
“Sloane is fine, and Lucas would take a bullet for her before he’d let anything happen.”
“I keep hoping she’ll get pregnant and decide to quit.”
Payton grunted. “Don’t hold your breath. Sloane is too much like you to sit quietly at home—baby or not.”
“We’ve got to stop it, Payton. We have to shut Stynger and anyone else down for good and make it all go away.”
“I’m doing my best. I wish I could say it was working.”
“Maybe your plan tonight will do some good.”
“We did get intel from a storage locker tonight. That could lead to something as well.”
“What kind of intel?”
“I don’t know yet. I was afraid to look too closely while Clay was watching. He already mistrusts me.”
“Why?”
“Because he knows the truth—what was done to him was my fault.”
“Not just yours.”
“Yeah, well, I’m the closest target.”
Bob grunted. “Tell me about what you found. Maybe I can help sort it out.”
“It was a place Clay used during the times he was triggered—a kind of secret office. There were weapons, ammo, tactical gear, paperwork, and photos. My guess is they were some of his targets. Clay’s head is in a bad place, and I didn’t want to shake him up, but chances are those people are all dead by his hand.” That was probably where the blood on Clay had come from—a night out playing assassin.
“And you don’t think he’ll remember that?”
“Eventually, maybe. For now I think it’s best if he doesn’t.”
“I agree. Heaven knows I wish I could forget.”
“Me, too, Bob. Me, too.”
* * *
If Leigh felt shaken by what Payton had told them, she could only imagine how Clay must feel.
He hadn’t said a word since he’d come back into the room after testing to make sure they could get out of their underground hiding place ifidiould only they wanted to. His face had been grim, and he’d headed right for the boxes stacked on the cart, as if something inside them would solve their problems.
Leigh lifted one of the lids and saw that the box was full of ammunition. She went to the next and found several gun cases stacked inside. The next held several spools of some kind of wire and what she thought might be bricks of explosives.
“What the hell were you planning to do with all of this?” she asked before she could think better of it.
He didn’t respond. When she looked up, she saw him staring into a box. His jaw was clenched, and his fingers had tightened into fists, crushing the cardboard edges.
She went to his side to see what upset him. Sitting on the top of one of the opened boxes was a photo of two young Hispanic children, no older than seven or eight. One boy, one girl. Both were sad and dirty, with tears leaving clean streaks on their faces.
Leigh picked the photo up and turned it over. There was writing on the back, but it wasn’t the same bold, printed letters as the rest of the notes she’d seen. This writing was smaller, with all the letters crammed tightly together.
“It’s instructions for pickup,” said Clay, sounding like he’d just taken a punch to the gut. “These are the two kids that asshole Anton sold to me.”
He stumbled to a chair and collapsed into it.
Leigh yearned to go to him and offer some kind of comfort, but she couldn’t think of a single thing to say. He’d had a hand in abducting two children, and there was nothing a few paltry words could do to fix that. All she could think to do was move his focus from guilt to something more constructive. If she let him languish in this dark place, the guilt would eat him alive, just as it had Hollis. It was guilt that had stolen her brother’s life, and she would not let that happen to Clay.
“We’ll find them,” she said. “We’ll find them and take them home.”
“I don’t know where to look. I can’t remember a fucking thing.” He hit his head with the heel of his hand.
Leigh grabbed his wrists and pulled them down. The bandages reminded her to be careful of his wounds.
She stepped forward, shoving her way between his knees. She put his hands on her hips and covered them with her own to keep them there. “You don’t have to remember for us to find them. Somewhere in these boxes may be a clue or a name—something that will lead us to the next step. Stop beating yourself up over this and concentrate on finding the doctor.”
His fingers clenched against the curve of her hip. “I can’t ignore the fact that I was the one who did all of this.”
Leigh tipped his head back so he’d look at her. “You have to. You have to pretend these things were done by someone else. Because the man who took those kids was not the man you are right now. You were used. You’re not responsible.”
“I am. Intellectually I get it that I didn’t know what I was doing, but that doesn’t change that I was the one who d th’t reid these things.” He nodded toward the photos spread over the table. “I probably killed these people, and I don’t even know why. I may never know why.”
Leigh picked up the closest photo—one of a man with graying hair and a bulging belly. “Would you kill him if I asked you to?”
“No. Not unless there was a good reason.”
“If I wanted a child, would you steal one for me?”
“Fuck no!”
“See? Not you. The man who did these things is not you.”
Clay closed his eyes and leaned forward until his face was hidden against her abdomen. His arms slipped around her in a hug so tight she could feel the strain of his guilt vibrating through him. “I think maybe it would be best if I let Payton put me in that place where your brother is.”
Leigh stroked his back, hoping it would ease him at least a little. His shirt was pulled tight over his muscles. “You can go there if you want. I won’t stop you, but how is that going to help find the doctor? How is it going to help find the kids?”
“It won’t. But it might keep me from hurting someone else.” He pulled away and headed into the kitchen, a heavy sigh falling from his lips. She missed the warmth and strength of his embrace immediately but didn’t dare admit to herself how needy that made her. Right now she had to stay strong for both of them.
“You’ve got me for that.”
He went through cabinets until he found some coffee and put some on to brew. “And in exchange, I help you help Garrett? Somehow I don’t think he would approve of our arrangement. Especially when there’s no guarantee I can do any good.”
Clay was slipping away. She could feel him withdrawing as if he’d accepted he could never fix what he’d done and was simply willing to prevent further damage. Lock himself away. Throw out the key.
A man like him would never survive that kind of life. He might not know it now, but Leigh had seen the helpless rage her brother had suffered. He hated being unable to do anything for himself. He hated depending on Leigh for filtered news of the outside world. He was allowed no Internet access, phone, or any other means of communication.
Clay would rot in a place like that. He’d be left alone with nothing to think about but his guilt, straining to remember something that might help. Garrett hadn’t killed anyone that they knew of. He hadn’t helped abduct children. The things he’d done paled in comparison to what Clay had done. Locking him up with that burden would torture him until he found a way to make it stop. Permanently.
She hadn’t seen the signs in Hollis in time to stop him. If they put Clay away, she wouldn’t be able to watch him. She wouldn’t be able to protect him.
Leigh needed to keep him safe. As long as he was still fighting, looking for answers, she had hope for Garrett. If Clay gave up . . .
A shuddering darkness squeezed the breath from her lungs at the thought of losing ght gavGarrett. He was barely holding on. If not for her visits, she didn’t know if he would have lasted this long.
“Are you okay?” asked Clay.
She plastered a fake smile on her face. “Fine. I think I’ll lay everything out as it was hanging on the wall in that storage unit. Where’s the camera you used to photograph it?”
He reached into his wallet. “Here’s the data. The camera is on the cart.”
She headed toward it, hearing his footsteps growing nearer. His fingers wrapped around her arms so gently her bruises didn’t hurt. It didn’t matter that he exerted no pressure. One touch from him was enough to bring her whole world to a rocking halt.
Clay stepped forward until her back was so close to his chest that she could feel his heat radiating into her. His hands slid around her waist, reminding her all too keenly of the last time she’d been pressed against him like this.
Her body remembered, too, and the pleasure he could give. A fine quivering warmth started in her chest and spread down into her belly. Her nipples beaded inside her bra, and her breasts began to ache. He’d barely touched them, and she couldn’t convince her traitorous hormones that there was no reason he should.
There was nothing more between them than this situation, and yet everything inside her screamed for more.
