Invasion of Justice (Shadows of Justice) (13 page)

"Like when you're close to someone up to no good?"

"Bigger. Heavier than that." Petra decided to share or be devoured by the perplexity. "No one smells in dreams, Kelly. Going back as far as I can recall, I've never experienced any aroma or scent in my dreams. Until the call that brought me out here. I think the smell is a signal of something manipulating my dreams or flights. Whoever it is either doesn't know they're telegraphing, or doesn't care."

"Whoever framed Nathan wouldn't care."

"It makes me feel better to know you believe he's innocent. Only someone at the highest authority could've railroaded him like this."

"Speaking of high authority...ever heard of Leo
Kristoff?"

"Of course."

"Do you recall where?"

"On the news most likely."
At least originally.

"Or maybe the dinner table." Kelly flipped on the overhead light and reached into the back seat. She came back around and plunked the thick file on Petra's lap. "He was your mother's obstetrician."

"You said the practice dissolved and the physicians were unnamed."

"I didn't have time to tell you I broke their coding system. Once I got the list of doctors, I researched them all.
Kristoff has the most accomplished career."

Everything and everyone pointed to
Kristoff. There had to be evidence somewhere to connect him and stop him, but stop him from what? If he'd been so integral in her mother's pregnancies, why sabotage his own 'work'? If he was behind Nathan's imprisonment, she might never uncover enough to prove her brother's innocence. It all seemed too big, too much to tackle.

Petra sighed. "Naturally, Mom would demand the best," she said.
"Someone with a huge clientele and loads of high-brow references." She thought of Gideon's rant at the hospital. "I don't recall her naming names, but Mom always raved about the doctor who helped them."

"She should. She got you and Nathan out of the deal."

"What deal?"

"Genetic experiments."
Kelly opened the file and shuffled to the correct page. "Check it out. The couple saved money, Kristoff got his guinea pigs, and hopefully the kid got a neat surprise. Everybody wins."

"Guinea pigs?"
Petra stared at the medical notes, far from pleased. Though she couldn't decipher it perfectly, she got the gist quickly. "He manipulated our DNA to make us...whatever we are? Why?"

"I'd bet to see if he could do it. Probably to entice parents to select him over the other infertility specialists. He's a real piece of work, Pet."

The shock was so complete she couldn't even be angry yet. She figured as soon as she regained some energy, fury would top her list. She'd have to be careful where she was and who she was with when it broke free.

Before she'd learned to shield and control her emotions they would spill out at inopportune times. Her toddler years and early school years had proven most challenging. Her parents laughed about how their little beauty didn't projectile vomit food–just rage, sadness, joy, and anything in between. She'd caused many near riots in nurseries and classrooms growing up. Her mother often said her only salvation were the moments she used her innate ability to give a person comfort.

"You're saying I'm genetically engineered."

"Oh, no you don't. I thought you might go there, so I prepared a speech. Are you listening?"

"Sure."

"I can see you want to tune me out, but maybe something will stick anyway." Kelly took a deep breath. "He might've messed with your DNA, but you're exactly who you've decided to be. You decided to nurture and apply your gifts for the greater good. You could've denied any of your talents and you didn't. You explored them and followed through. Whatever his initial intent,
Kristoff didn't make you who you are right now."

"Nicely put," Petra admitted. "I'll try to remember that. Right now, I'm desperately tired and trying to figure out how and why a serial killer has latched onto me."

"The guy you sensed in the hotel was the serial killer Kincaid's been tracking?"

"Yes. I was able to manipulate his memory to get us out."

"Without touch?"

"That's right."

"Whoa. That's a significant growth spurt."

"Don't credit me. That's Jaden."

"Who?"

"My sister.
The sibling I thought you'd find. She's not a blood relative in this life. We were sisters in the mid 1900's."

Kelly blinked her huge, dark eyes. "You're serious. Past lives?"

Petra nodded. "We were very close, though I was several years younger. A really nasty pedophile used us both, but he killed me to frustrate her. Theirs is another long and sordid story that goes back a thousand years. The point is the connection between her soul and mine. It seems to enhance us both."

Kelly traced the full circle of the old-school steering wheel with her fingertip. "I think I'm tracking. When can I meet her?"

"You believe me? Just like that?"

"Are you lying?" Kelly smiled gently. "Why shouldn't I believe you? The world is full of mysteries.
Eternity. Birth. The platypus. Why not reincarnation? If you've got a major, soul-deep purpose and didn't quite get it done the first time around, I can buy that you're back to finish the job."

"You constantly surprise me."

"Don't know why. I work with you, after all."

"True enough."

"You want the rest now or later?"

Petra sighed.
"Now. It might distract me from not knowing where in the hell we should go."

Kelly's chin dropped. "Today must've been something serious. You never swear." She continued when Petra only grunted. "You and Nathan are twins."

Petra laughed, aware that the sound was laced with mild hysteria. "I told you we're two years apart."

"Not genetically. Genetically you're too similar to be regular siblings. I'm not sure how
Kristoff managed the whole thing–aside from fertilizing two eggs at the same time–but you were kept on ice until your mother asked for his help in conceiving a little sister for her wonderful son."

"Mom or Dad would've said something."

"They couldn't have known. The records are clear enough, Petra. He got two embryos growing, told them about one, tweaked it, implanted it at the right time, and kept you to himself. I don't get the medical details, but you don't need a degree to know it was unethical and wrong."

Petra thought about the bells she'd been hearing; the unprecedented link to the serial killer. If
Kristoff had programmed her somehow to receive his input...the implications of that were truly frightening. "Could he have manipulated Nathan into committing murder?" the thought slid out, uncensored.

"You said you knew he didn't do it."

Kelly's voice had risen with potential panic. Petra calmed her down. "Of course he didn't do it. Unless you ask my mother. She won't believe anything other than Nathan lost control."

"Ever wonder where your mom got such major control and responsibility issues?"

"Why would I want to know?" Petra snapped the file closed, laid her head back, and stared at the roof of the car. "I've got enough of my own issues at the moment."

"I know it's a lot to absorb. And you're not allowed to go back down that nasty path where you think you're worthless or sub-human or anything similar."

"Control freak," Petra said, attempting to tease. "I did hear you and I do get it." She opened her eyes and looked out over the dark lake. "I'm more concerned about where we go from here."

"With the
Kristoff research?"

"No.
With the car." Kelly did a double take at the joke, making Petra smile. "The hotel is compromised and probably the cell card, too. Got any Windy City connections?"

"Fresh out.
Can't you go to Kincaid?"

"To say what
? 'I think the illustrious Health Chairman is the real criminal and you should forgo your search for a ritual evisceration artist'."

"
Eww." Kelly grimaced. "Ritual evisceration?"

"Yes. He's been messing with my dreams, but I don't understand how or why. He's even pulled me into his murders starting with the one they pinned on Nathan."

"So tell someone already. Your abilities have been verified as accurate evidence in past cases."

"None of those involved family. My testimony could overturn a verdict, but
it's suspect because he's my brother. If you found the DNA manipulation records, the courts can, too. It could cast doubt on everything I've ever testified to."

Kelly pounded her frustration into the steering wheel. "Do you think Jaden could help you reach Nathan to get this all straight?"

"How?"

"Well if her proximity and
your shared past has improved your sensitivity..."

"There's still the issue of the serial killer."

Kelly's sudden shriek interrupted her. Petra whipped around to see Gideon's face in the window. A startled squeak preceded a tidal wave of emotion that crashed over her. She shoved out of the car, making him back up to avoid getting smacked with the original steel door.

"What in the name of all that's holy are you doing here? How did you find us? You've got no right sneaking up on us. My assistant probably needs CPR and–"

"Then don't shout at me. Go help her."

His cool logic only added fire to her fury. "Get away and stay away. Tell whoever hired you that I'm permanently lost."

"That's the adrenaline talking."

"What do you mean?" Kelly asked, coming to stand beside Petra.

"She's been pushed too far recently." Gideon offered his hand and introduced himself to Kelly before continuing. "The surge and crash cycle's catching up with her," he said.

"Her gifts are changing, too. That can take a toll," Kelly agreed.

"She's right here," Petra snapped.

Gideon didn't look away from Kelly. "If you go to this address, we'll sort this out in safety."

"You got it," Kelly rounded the car and slid back behind the wheel.

"You're just taking him at his word?" Petra's answer was the roar of the Mustang's engine.

"You'll come with me," Gideon ordered.

"I'd rather walk." She crossed her arms and looked away.

"Why are you so testy?"

"I'm sick of being followed, startled, and ordered about." She advanced, immensely pleased when he backed up. "I'm done worrying about appearances and meeting everyone's needs but my own. I have things to do and I don't need your help to do them."

"Your friend's gone. You need someone's help just to get out of here."

"Well, it won't be yours." She looked around for Kelly, or someone who looked at least half as kind. The park was empty. "I'll manage. I can get back to the Ritz and–" She squeaked when he picked her up and then sat her down hard on a motorcycle she hadn't noticed.

"Where'd you get this?" she demanded.

"The Chicago PD
impound lot. Thank your sister next time you see her. It pays to have ties to the police chief." Holding her in place, he climbed on behind her. She was trapped by his arms, his chest, his legs. Her frustration she understood. Even her attraction, though she wished she could deny it. It was her temper, the recent and increasing surge of it that troubled her. Thoughts of disabling him filled her mind, though she knew it would be next to impossible. She'd had one brief lesson with Jaden. An effective lesson, but she had no delusions that it would be enough to defeat a black ops combatant also trained by her sister.

"I could call Jaden," she grumbled under her breath.

"She'd only tell you to come with me."